Learning to teach in a real-life context

We had the opportunity to do our first internship at Colegio Abelardo Tamariz Crespo two months ago. It was a challenge for us to try to put into practice everything we had learned during the previous semesters since the reality in the classroom was different, from the beginning we could notice many problems with the students and with the teaching methods. But as the days went by we tried to find solutions to help the students with their academic performance and emotional problems.

In the beginning, we tried to adapt and get to know the students, as they were learning in a traditional way. Therefore, our first classes consisted of finding out what the student's strengths and weaknesses were. We realized that the students had a lot of knowledge that they didn't even know, but we tried to make them take advantage of their full potential. For this reason, as the weeks went by, we applied different methodologies so that they could develop all the skills. Although in the last classes we made them start to think more critically using all the knowledge acquired in the previous classes.

                                                                 However, what we were able to learn during these weeks was to get to know the students. Since some students in each course presented different problems that affected their learning. That is why we learned to plan all the classes according to the knowledge and level of the students. We also learned to distribute the different individual or group activities since there were different courses with many students. But above all, to never minimize the students because they are capable as long as we motivate them to achieve it.

In conclusion, all this was important because true and effective teaching is not only what we can do in a classroom. If not, it would also be saying how much we can know a student. Because there are no good or bad students, but students who are less motivated to learn. We just have to keep in mind that each student faces different problems every day and that our job is to make activities where they can express what they feel, tell their experiences, have fun while learning but above all want to improve every day more.

The return to the life of face-to-face classes

Many students, like me, were used to receiving classes in a different way after 2 years of the pandemic. However, this semester we have returned to virtual classes and now at the end of the semester, I was able to witness different situations. As different people found it very difficult to get used to face-to-face classes again, on the other hand, people who are getting used to face-to-face classes again and although it sounds a little unbelievable there were people who got used to face-to-face classes again just in a matter of time.

 In my case, it was very difficult to go back to classes day after day since I was working and studying in the evenings. From time to time I was late for class because I was late from work or I didn't finish my homework on time because I didn't have time in the afternoons for my other classes. In other words, everything was chaos in my life at the beginning of the semester.  But as time went by my life became more comfortable and I can give my point of view based on my experience. I was always aware that at any time I had to go back to college classes. 

Therefore, I had to learn to organize myself better. Perhaps the classes during the pandemic were more relaxed, as I did not have to move from one place to another. And this gave way to more activities while I was in online classes. However, it only remains to give up many things that thanks to the virtual modality we were able to do but in the end, we must prioritize the destiny that one day we chose which was to enter the university regardless of whether it was virtual or face-to-face.

Do violent games can have a negative impact on children?

The advancement of technology through the years has provided entertainment, such as video games, with a negative impact on children. However, there are positive aspects that influence children such as acquiring new vocabulary in English. For this reason, I believe that people at some point in life have taken to playing video games, although there are others who cannot live without them, and they are probably the most proficient in the English language. Like most children, I too have played video games since I was a child. But I think spending a lot of time with these types of activities has helped my cognitive skills and reduced stress. In general, it depends on how each person reacts, as we are all different and you have to know what are the pros and cons of playing video games at a young age.

One positive influence is that researchers confirm that playing video games makes many children unconsciously learn English more easily and quickly. For example, a video game that has been popular for years with various video game series is Resident Evil. This video game is a very violent game in which you have to perform murders throughout the game to level up. Nevertheless, this type of video game includes stories with dialogues, and individual player participation in English about real-life contexts, and consequently many students end up reproducing both the good they hear and the bad they see in each child's personal behaviors.

Similarly, other benefits for children who play video games claimed by researchers is that they improve physical and mental skills. Video game playing on a daily basis has been shown to improve visual attention and allow for more efficient multitasking. For instance, research carried out by the University of Oxford, with 5,000 children between 10 and 15 years old, found that those who played at least one hour a day presented higher levels of sociability and a lower degree of hyperactivity or emotional problems. Therefore, the video game called PES 2010, which deals with the popular sport of soccer for me when I was a child helped me develop my imagination.  For this reason, I think that video games encourage creativity and cooperation rather as opposed to violence. In other words, spending too much time playing video games can lead to a loss of sensibility, becoming a long-term addiction. The question is how to know what video game is advisable for children to spend their free time playing?

In sum, there are different types of video games that can have an effect on children. But we must not forget that all children are different and therefore have a different way of receiving new information. In order for video games not to add to the negative aspects, it depends on knowing what to choose as an educational and productive video game. That means, if parents and guardians in charge of children begin to control by choosing a video game suitable for children, which is not too violent but contains the learning of a certain subject, video games will have the expected performance in children. What we must always keep in mind is that learning at an early age will always be faster and more efficient than learning English.

The climate is changing, and so are we.

 Greenhouse gases are having an increasing impact on everyday life around the world because they have caused climate change.  Glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate, sea levels are rising due to melting ice, forests are drying up and wildlife is slowly becoming extinct.  Flora is struggling to survive in a scenario of dizzying and complex changes that often severely affect biodiversity. 

A generalized rise in temperatures, extreme weather events, heat waves, and floods. We must therefore start taking care of future generations. There are many ways to start taking care of our planets, such as not throwing garbage into rivers or toxic waste into the sea or rivers. Another method is to use environmentally friendly resources and reduce energy consumption. 

I also know that there are people who waste a lot of water when they take a bath, but these are habits that need to be changed over time. Another bad habit is to use other appliances at the same time without having the need. Or leaving lights on in rooms that are not being used. I just want to make you think a step further for the generations to come who will have nothing to enjoy. Our planet depends on us. If we don't become aware now, there will be nothing to save in the future.

How to overcome a bad grad

 For many people, sometimes receiving a bad grade can be a sign that something in the world is not aligning correctly. A tragedy, a mistake, a bad day, because in truth excuses abound and it's not as if there is no possibility of error.  But when you're used to excelling, receiving a bad grade can cause, as silly as it sounds, terrible anxiety. That's why it's important that if you are going through something similar you follow the steps I'm going to give you below because if there's one thing you should keep in mind is that you are not alone.

The first thing to do is to stay calm. It is natural for your heart to race a step, for your palms to sweat, for you to shed a tear, or something similar. The best thing to do is to take a deep breath, stay calm and analyze the situation with a cool head. Is it easy? Not easy at all. But here's the challenge: if you let your less favorable emotions get the better of you, you are likely to lose control of yourself and your attitude will not be the best. One of the bad attitudes that can be triggered is bad temperament.

The next step is to review and compare the results. I know it will seem stubborn, but you need to know what you deserved. Maybe "luck" was with you and it was the teacher who got a couple of questions wrong and that's it, the matter was figured out.   But in any case, if it didn't go the way you expected, take the step of asking for guidance. The best alternative is to take a reflective stance. We all have stumbles in our lives and that doesn't mean we should stop learning along the way. 

A bad grade is a warning that we have not understood something well or that we have simply not studied it properly. Here it depends a lot to be aware of the time we dedicate to study because it is not that you are going to get the best grades without studying. The last step is to set new objectives and goals. Get excited about learning by applying a new method of study. Because there is nothing more beautiful and fascinating than studying with the sole purpose of learning.

The city where I was born

Cuenca is currently considered one of the best cities to live in Ecuador. This city has excellent attributes that are even looked up to internationally. But the great treasure that really keeps this city is the people who live in it who are friendly and the atmosphere is overwhelming for the tranquility you can feel when living in that city. Nowadays Cuenca is very much desired by tourists. It is the most colorful and joyful city to go to. Even a famous singer like Sebastian Yaltra said he would love to live in this beautiful city. So let's start talking about the many charms that make this city unique. 

Cuenca has good gastronomy and unique traditions that make it live even more.  In culinary art, we can find several dishes in the different parishes that encompass this city. But the one worth mentioning is the famous dish called "Cuy con papas". An exquisite and delicious dish, but also very traditional that has existed for generations. On the other hand, the festivities of the city are celebrated with the election of the "Chola Cuencana". This contest is autochthonous and is celebrated every November 3rd. 

Cuenca has a good historical structure and different places that year after year many tourists who visit the city fall in love with. The original and avant-garde infrastructure is what makes this city more attractive. Being in this place makes you feel like in Spain because it has a similar infrastructure. A curious fact is that most of the materials for the construction were brought from the previous city mentioned in honor of that today Cuenca is called honor a city in Spain. On the other hand in Cuenca, we can see decorated streets, churches, squares, and museums that allow us to know a step more about this city. At the moment Cuenca has totally new parks that embellish even more the city of Cuenca with green spaces. 

For all these reasons and many more Cuenca is the most famous city. However, tourists cannot communicate well with the locals because although Cuenca is visited by many tourists in the field mastering other languages is a big problem. But this information is not very accurate because there are tour guides to help tourists who can guide them during their stay in the city.

National Paro

A week ago the national paro against the current government of Guillermo Lasso began. The national paro called by the indigenous peoples of Ecuador began on June 13. The protests have intensified with the passing of the days and the arrest of indigenous leader Leonidas Iza. While President Guillermo Lasso speaks of openness to dialogue to figure out the counter verses, he also insists on the aggressive use of force, which contradicts him. 

What I think is that many indigenous people are fighting for the 10 problems that the government has brought to the Ecuadorian people and many of us do not support them. I recently saw a report of an indigenous man asking for help from all the Ecuadorian people so that we can join them. He explained in the report what they are enduring all these days in the streets without eating and without working. So I agree with the national paro in which the people have the right to protest for what they are no longer willing to put up with the government administration.

Although these days the national paro has affected a lot in my life starting from the suspension of classes face to face at university and also to the stability in my house with food supplies. I feel that my life is back to what it was when the pandemic started. But I hope that soon everything will be solved and that President Guillermo Lasso will make an effective and reasonable decision to face this problem.