Reflective Journal

Journal :2

Week : 2 (1st August 2016 5th August 2016)

Title of journal : Time Management

This week, I am having problem dealing with the time management when conducting activities
during the teaching and learning session in class. The problem was related to students involvement
in the activities that was planned in class. The students were cooperative and putting a lot of efforts in
carrying out the activities that were assigned to them. However, the class has been a little too noisy
when everybody wanted to answer a question at the same time especially during the brainstorming
activity. Furthermore, sometime students were unable to keep up with the time allotted to complete
the activities that have been given; particularly in group work activities. This matter has interrupted the
flow of teaching and learning session.

As a person who is new in teaching English, I knew that it is not easy to plan an activity for the
students. When I plan a lesson, I always assume that students will be able to do the activities that I
have planned within the time allocated. But when the lesson was tested, I found that my assumption
was wrong as students required more time to do the activity.

This problem exists because I felt that I have failed to give clear and accurate instructions prior
to the activities. This has caused students to have difficulties in carrying out the activities because
they did not get a clear picture of what they were supposed to do. The problem worsens when some
pupils in the class have different opinions and disagreements in completing a task. I guess that since
they are still kids, they are being intolerant, defensive, hard-headed and opinionated. The time given
to complete their work was just wasted and flew away like dust.

Some of the pupil especially lower level proficiency was having difficulties in writing even a
sentence. I found that these groups were too scared to make mistakes and kept asking me whether or
not the sentences were correct. I knew that as a teacher who acts as a facilitator, I should be there
whenever my students need me during the teaching and learning activity but in this situation I felt that
things went overboard. They have really annoyed me and tried my patience. Even though I have
reassured them that their work was going to be checked later, they continued to bug me to check their

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answers. I am still vague with the answer but all I can say is, their attitude has caused them to work
exceeding the time limit and hindered them from completing their work.

There are several ways that could be done to overcome the problem mentioned earlier. There
is I should be patient and firm with students when it comes to work within the time limits. I should
always remind students about keeping up with the time allocated. I should give simple and clear
instructions to students before asking them to carry out certain task during the teaching and learning
session so that they fully understand what are they required to do. Also, I need to seek help and
support from my supervising lecturer, my cooperating teacher, the senior teachers or those who are
more experienced, to discuss on the best way to overcome my difficulties related to time management
and how to handle peer disagreements in the class. At last, I will continue to do more research from
the reference books and the internet to find the best activities that can be applied in my lessons so
that students will not get bored in learning English.

What makes a good teacher? This is one of the most common questions for teachers but the
answers are rarely the same? A good teacher, as for me, should improve his/her teaching skills day by
day in order to adapt new teaching methods. According to Ajit Singh Nagpal, an ESL teacher, a good
teacher is someone who is able to relate to his/her students. He/She should be able to understand
the needs of his/her students and should be adequately equipped to impart his/her knowledge
and experience with passion. A good teacher never stops teaching. He/She is a teacher for life. A
good teacher is also a student for life, one who will continue to seek out new methods and techniques
to impart his/her knowledge to his/her students.

Checked by Mentor (Major) Checked by Lecturer (Major)

Signature Signature

Name Mdm. Audrey Wee Name Mr. George Di-ie

Date Date

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 Checked by Mentor (Elective) Checked by Lecturer (Elective)

Signature Signature

Name Mdm. Audrey Wee Name Mr. Mohd Richard Neles

Date Date

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