We learn something new every day!

have always been a very curious person, eager to learn about history, geography, photography, cultures,
animal life, technology and of course languages which are among my favorite topics. Most of the fields I like
to learn about involve a lot of visual input. As a learner, I am a visual person who observes and details whatever
calls my attention and look for information to try to learn more about it. During this week, I have had the
opportunity to observe and learn many different things. Winston Churchill said I am always ready to learn,
although I do not always like being taught. However, I can say that this week I have been taught. I have had
the chance to learn a new framework for teaching, the importance of ELC, seven words in Korean, and several
different ways to look at myself in the mirror of teaching from the learners perspective.
I do believe that learning is a need as important as sleeping or eating; we do learn something every day from a
very simple thing to a very complex one. Thus, it becomes such a normal process in my life, and everybodys
life, that I do it unconsciously; sometimes I dont even notice when or how I learned a specific behavior. This
week, I have done a lot of reflection about what learning is all about. How many paths are involved in a learning
process that goes from scaffolding to internalization? In trying to think just as a learner and not as a teacher, I
would dare to say as many as people are in this world. Learning is so simple that it becomes complex while
trying to understand its simplicity. How many times I have been asked when I learned something, and I havent
been able to provide a precise answer. I just dont know when, I can do it because at some point I saw it, heard
it or experienced it in anyway and now I am able to do it.
When it comes to language learning, I immediately think about the theories of language acquisition and
learning styles that I have studied for years. Crashens hypotheses about monitoring, i+1, the affective filter, the
order hypothesis and others like the silent period. When I first experienced ECRIF, I started wondering where it
fits in all these theories or if it fits at all. Is this a framework founded in any of them? I am still in the process of
discovering some possible answers, but what I have already discovered about ECRIF is the humanistic part of it.
Today, we live in such a busy and convulsive world, that formal education has become a production line, and
language learning is not an exception. Going back to the principles of education and one of its pillars the
humanistic component, raises great expectations on the work to be developed in the 3 weeks to come but
above all back at my job.




I
Comentario [RR1]: Thats right!! I
am excited about reading more about
what you have learned and found
meaningful.
Comentario [RR2]: I am glad to hear
that you have had a positive week full
of learning and new experiences. Its
refreshing to hear the positive take
you have on everything you do as a
learner. I hope you continue having
meaningful learning experiences
during the rest of the course.
Comentario [RR3]: I cant agree
more with what you are saying here. I
personally believe that within the
complexity of learning possibilities
that learning in each individual
happens in many different ways and
through various ways, shapes and
forms. I find it exciting to think about
how the many layers of learning and
how it finds itself in each individual.
Comentario [RR4]: I find what you
are saying here very interesting Ileana.
I agree with 100% in that ECRIF is a
very humanistic approach to learning
and it actually looks to place the
learner in the center of learning and
planning.


DESCRIPTION

During the puzzle activity last Tuesday, I realized Miguel was trying to complete the same puzzle as me. I
decided to wait until he noticed that I was working in the same, but time was passing by and he kept working
on that one. Then, I decided to change puzzles and passed my pieces to him. It was very interesting to see his
reaction despite I couldnt look at him into his eyes.

INTERPRETATION GENERALIZATION PLAN ACTION
I was hindered by the fact that we
couldnt communicate using words
or gestures.

How did this hinder your learning?

I do not see how this
interpretation comes from the
description above. I dont see
anything related to the
instructions of the task above.

Its important to remember the
importance of body language in a
classroom situation.

I also think this is important to
think about. Why do you think its
important?
I will use more body language
while trying to communicate with
my students.

I am sure this will help them
understand you more effectively.
Something else that hindered me
was the fact that Miguel didnt
notice that both were doing the
same

I understand how this could be
frustrating. I am glad to know that
it worked out in the end.

Its always important to pay
attention what is going on around
you

This makes sense, but it needs
more specific details. Why is this
important? For what exactly?
I will have more collaborative
activities than individual.

I do not see how this connects
directly to the generalization. Your
generalization is about paying
attention and this action plan is
about collaborative work.
Something that helped me was
that Tony realized and put some
pieces for me to use with a new
puzzle

How did this hinder your learning?
It sounds interesting, but this is
not enough information for me to
understand your thoughts and
reflection.
Its necessary to provide students
with collaborative activities.

Why? I would love to hear more
here.
I will provide my students with
different activities to work both
individually and in groups.

I am sure this will be a great
balance for your students.
Another thing that helped me was Its important for students to have I will provide activities to raise
Comentario [RR5]: I think you have
chosen a meaningful and relevant
moment to choose. I think you have a
solid start here. I suggest trying to
make the description richer by adding
more details related to this moment.
There are some interpretations that
do not have a direct link to this
description like for example the
instructions saying that you couldnt
use words or gestures. I do not see
that in this description.
Comentario [RR6]: It would helpful
here for the reader if you included
more details related to Miguels
reaction. How did he react exactly?
What did he do? Say?
that Miguel saw what was going on
and put the pieces he had of my
new puzzle in the green area

I do not see this moment
described above. Please make
sure that all interpretations come
directly from the description you
have provided.
spaces to share ideas and
commonalities

Why do you think this is
important?
students awareness of the
importance of team work.

How can you make this action
plan more specific? What is one
strategy youll use to accomplish
this?











DESCRIPTION

On Wednesday evening we all had our first experience teaching a fluency activity. The following morning our
team decided to provide some feedback on that first experience. It has been a long time for me since someone
has provided me with some insights of my teaching actions. It was very interesting to listen to my teammates
telling me the things I need to improve. How I could have given my students some hints to solve some
scramble words in order for the activity not to take too much time.



INTERPRETATION GENERALIZATION PLAN ACTION
I was hindered by the fact that
because of my job I am the one
who usually observes and provides
Its important to put in your
colleagues shoes more often.

I will look for instances where this
kind of observation takes place
more often.
Comentario [RR7]: Again, you have
chosen a meaningful and powerful
moment to describe. However, I
definitely suggest adding more details
about what your peers said exactly,
how you felt in relation to their
thoughts, etc.
feedback to colleagues.

I would love to hear more here.
How did this hinder your learning
exactly? How did your prior
experiences hinder your present
learning?

I would add here why you think
this is important.

Actions plans need to be SMARTA.
What will you do more specifically
in order to work on this point?
Something that hindered me was
the fact I had used the same
activity before.

Please say more about how this
hindered your learning.

It is important to understand that
prior knowledge can sometimes
interfere when you are trying to
learn something.

I agree with you. Prior knowledge
can be a true treasure and can
also get in the way sometimes.

I will take my students prior
knowledge into account when
planning.

I am sure this will be helpful.
Something that helped me was
Daniela telling me about the time
that activity took.

How did this help you? Please say
more.

I do not see how this
interpretation comes directly from
the description above. I do not
seem names above and its
included here

Its important to listen to and
reflect on your activities.

Why is this important?
I will plan my classes taking into
account my students pace.

How can you make this action
plan more measurable?
Another thing that helped me was
listening to Danielas and Blancas
pieces of advice on how to cope
with a situation like this.

How did this help you?

I do not see how this
interpretation comes from the
description above. I dont see
names mentioned above. In the
description it is important to be
very detailed, include specific
names, what people said exactly
It feels good to have someone
telling you how you can improve.

For sure! Please say more here
about why this is important for
learning.
I will provide my students with
opportunities to give each other
feedback.

How can you make this more
specific and measurable?
so that it supports your
interpretations.


Complexity creates confusion, simplicity focus Edward de Bono. I am not sure about it!

Hi Ileana!
It has been a pleasure reading and commenting on your first extended reflection for this course. I particularly
enjoyed reading your thoughts about different language learning and teaching theories and where ECRIF
might come from in terms of theories. I found your thoughts to be very interesting and innovative. I also
enjoyed seeing how you identified the humanistic aspects of ECRIF and the course in general.
In terms of your DAPAs, I think you did a good job choosing moments that were relevant and meaningful to
you. My suggestion for next weeks DAPAs is to add more multi-faceted details to your descriptions. I suggest
including more details in terms of what your peers and trainer said and did, during your moment as well as
what the environment was like. My other suggestion is to work more on making sure that your
interpretations always come directly from something you mentioned in detail from your description. And
then to make sure that your interpretations, generalizations and action plans all connect directly. Please see
my comments above in the DAPA grids for more details, examples and feedback.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Your assignment for this week has met the requirements and is a pass.
Thank you for all your hard work, dedication and passion.
With gratitude,
Roger




Comentario [RR8]: I agree with you!
I actually think that we cant avoid
complexity. Complexity and chaos are
powerful means for meaningful and
deep learning.