Reflective PracticeReflective Practice in in Teacher Training and Teacher Training and Teaching CLILTeaching CLIL

Delivered by Vita ValdmaneNAF Language School

Riga, Latvia

Individually:1) Look at the picture and describe it. What

does it symbolize for you? Why?2) How does it personally relate to you?3) Look at the name of the card. What does

this name/word personally mean to you? (both as a person and a teacher)

4) What do you think – why did you get this particular card? How does it relate to what is happening in your life at the moment?

Reflective Practice is:Reflective Practice is:1) Received

knowledge+experiential knowledge+practice+reflection = professional competence

2) Process of self-evaluation and self-observation

3) Looking at what you do and thinking why you do what you do and how it works / if it works.

Reflective practice isReflective practice is

1) Exploring your own practices and underlying beliefs

2) Becoming the best trainer/teacher you can be.

Reflective Practice:Reflective Practice:

1) May lead to changes and improvements

2) Can be practiced while dealing with problems

3) Is raising awareness about your strengths and weaknesses and how to exploit them in response to ever-changing environment

Reflective Practice Is Reflective Practice Is Empowering Yourself:Empowering Yourself:

My father can fly the biggest plane. My father can fight the strongest tiger.My father can swim the widest ocean. My father can climb the highest mountain. He can do anything. But most of the time he just takes out the garbage.

Reflective PracticeReflective Practice

What reflective tools are there available?

Reflective tools Reflective tools

1) team teaching2) peer observation3) reflective diary4) learner feedback5) record lessons6) reading and research7) buddy support

Reflective toolsReflective tools8) taking up another course9) learning another language10)metaphor11)storytelling12)leading workshops for teachers13) attending drama course or yoga14)gardening15) psychotherapy

Activity “Projection”Activity “Projection”Can be used as one of the

reflective tools to help us become more aware of the things about ourselves as people or teachers- strengths and weaknesses, patterns of behaviour, needs and wants.

Autobiography in five short Autobiography in five short chapters (Portia Nelson)chapters (Portia Nelson)

Chapter 1I walk down the streetThere is a deep hole in the

sidewalkI fall in, I am lostIt isn’t my faultIt takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2Chapter 2I walk down the same streetThere is a deep hole in the

sidewalkI pretend I don’t see itI fall in againI can’t believe I’m in the same

placeBut it isn’t my faultIt still takes a long time to get

out.

Chapter 3Chapter 3I walk down the same streetThere is a deep hole in the sidewalkI see it thereI still fall inIt’s a habitMy eyes are open, I know where I amIt is my faultI get out immediately

Chapter fourChapter fourI walk down the same streetThere is a deep hole in the

sidewalkI walk around it.

Chapter fiveChapter fiveI walk down another street.

1 person – tells the group the situation going through the reflective cycle

2 person – listens and then asks questions

3 person – makes a brief summary of what he/she heard + questions(optional)

Experience is not what happens to you but what you do with what happens to you.