May - June 2012 Num.2

With my teachers I learned a lot,

with my colleagues, more;

with my students even more.

HINDU PROVERB

With my teachers I learned a lot,

with my colleagues, more;

with my students even more.

HINDU PROVERB

Dear Readers.

In this second edition, we would like to congratulate the teachers from the different schools participating in this program, since they're just a step away from completing their Cambridge Certification. We really appreciate the great EFFORT each one of you has put into your continuing education.

Now for most of them it's just one more school year in order to receive their B. A. as “Licenciada en la enseñanza del idioma inglés”. Wonderful opportunities will come as you all continue preparing yourselves for the future.

Thank you for believing in EFFORT

If you're interested in getting your B.A. here's an invitation to join us in our next presentation where you'll be able to get more information on how to start this process next September.

Your comments are very important to us, please send any great ideas you would like to share with other teachers like yourself to

or claudiasantacruz@effort.mx estherrohwedder@effort.mx

Be the architect of your own future

INTERESTED IN GETTING YOUR B.A ?INTERESTED IN GETTING YOUR B.A ?

Join us this following May 22nd, at 5:00 p.m. in Coparmex JaliscoLopez Cotilla No. 1465 1er Piso Esq. Chapultepec Col. Americana

Please confirm your attendance at claudiasantacruz@effort.mx

Claudia SantacruzChief Editor

Esther RohwedderChief Editor

Janet StubbsEnglish Editor

I n v i t a t i o ned

ito

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Año 1 Num.2 “Effort Magazine” es una publicacion bimestral con registro en tramite.Todos los derechos reservados, prohibida la reproduccion total o parcial del contenido

incluidos medios digitales sin previa autorizacion.El contenido de los articulos es responsabilidad exclusiva de los autores.

Editor´s Desk

Index

Calendar May

Calendar June

Articles from teachers

2

3

4

5

6 & 7

Why I Am A Teacher

Why Start To Learn English During The First Years Of Life?

Dealing with stress Our job as teachers and parents.

Reading Comprehension Process in Elementary School and Preschool.

I ndex

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If you have memory problems, anxious or racing thoughts, constantly worry surely you are under stress.Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel upset.You can't completely eliminate stress from your life, but you can control how much it affects you.Modern life is full of demands, but everybody has the power to reduce the level of stress that is happening right now.Exercise such as yoga, and meditation help to reduce your everyday stress level.Eating healthy, sleeping well, displaying beautiful moments that remind you of your life, listening to music, taking and enjoying a walk, having assertive thoughts and sharing every moment with positive people, help to give you the confidence to face challenges and reduce stress.

Dealing with stress

By: Olga Gutiérrez Flores

The baby is born, the parents' happiness is beyond compare; they are anxious to bring him home and start a new life sharing it with their new addition to the family.

Soon parents realize it is not that easy. Baby cries, and someone is there to feed him, baby cries, and someone is there to change him, baby cries and someone is there to hold him. It is only natural that the baby believes he is the center of the universe. At about age two, parents and baby change roles, the care taker becomes an instructor, baby's monarchy is over, and now the baby becomes aware that his parents are not following his lead. Frustrated, he attempts to hold his ground.It is now our job as teachers and parents to hold on to the reigns of authority, since he begins to realize that his “rule” was only temporary.But, how do we do that? At about age three, a child is beginning to learn the concepts of right and wrong. Toddlers experiment how far they can push limits. Letting him do something that has been prohibited can send him a confusing message. It is important for young children to understand that if a certain type of behavior is wrong today, it will always be wrong. As authorities we don't want to become unpredictable.In conclusion, children find security in knowing the rules and knowing that the rules won't change. This way we provide security and love to our children, as either their parents or their teachers.

Our job as teachers and parents.

By: Gretel Lomeli

Right now because I have the opportunity to work with preschool children, I realize that we need to improve our classes with the communication skills that we use in the classroom. If we speak to children in English all the time, children will imitate the pronunciation and intonation that we give to each word, expression, etc. I know they cannot read yet, but this is the beginning of learning a new language and we have to encourage students to talk in English.

I recommend that you speak English all the time to our English teachers at school, because it is an easy way to improve listening and reading-comprehension. Children can develop better spelling practice and we can avoid speaking Spanglish with them. When I started to work with AMCO, I understood the importance to have a real English class.

Reading Comprehension Process in

Elementary School and Preschool.

By: Luz María Mota Hernández

Why I Am A Teacher

If you wonder why I like to teach it is because I enjoy spending time with children. They are authentic: if they love you, they'll tell you and hug you. They'll repeat words and phrases after you, imitating your voice, and when I explain something and look at their surprised faces with those wide open eyes and a naive look, I still believe in humankind. Even when they don't like the activity we are

doing (and they're going to tell you for sure) I don't give up and try to make something different. Teaching children a second language is opening a door for them to express and to communicate their feelings in a different way, but always being themselves. And what a wonderful world it will be if we can just say what we think! Now, my deep concern is to use this huge responsibility, not to harm these little hearts, but instead, to print in them a sign of love and passion for life.

Let me share with you these Tips for Teaching Children:01.Make the rules, which should be fair, consistent and clear from the first day of class.02.Remember the students' names the first time you meet them. Encourage all students to remember their classmates' names. Use their names often when teaching.03.Show your students what to do. Don't explain, just do, just be. They will follow your lead. English needs to be experienced, not explained.04.Nourish trust between you and the students with each class. Through your actions let them know that you will never embarrass them for making a mistake in English.05.Use your eye contact to communicate your praise and disappointment.06.Create well-planned, consistent lessons with a predictable format which gives the students a sense of security and balance. Students feel more confident if they know what to expect.07.Always be pleasantly surprised when students interact with each other or you in English.08.Reassure your students that you understand their English and you approve of their attempts.09.Show respect to the children (since they are worthy of it) and let them sometimes be the teacher.10.Use English as a tool to build their self-esteem.11.Be their instructor not their parent.12.Remember childhood through your students.

Learning English has been very important during the past few decades, but what is better, to do it when you are young or when you are old? Some schools are now bilingual and offer you a system where your child can learn English as they are leaning Spanish. This sometimes is hard for some children, and parents prefer to do it later when their children are older, but in my personal point of view, the younger, the better.Now we as teachers have the challenge to teach children this new language, and we are lucky when we have children that have the ability and they like it. But when we have kids that don´t have the ability and don´t like it, our job is very difficult. Some neurologists found out that in children 8 or 9 years old, their brains have the flexibility to internalize new codes, different sounds, etc. So I think this is the perfect age to start with a new language. At this age, children can make the exact sound they hear, and we know that in an adult that is very hard to do.I found some good ways to give this language to this type of children, so they can learn English and actually like it. “Cartoons”: if they watch TV shows in English, they will get to a point where they understand what the characters are saying. “Talk to the children always in English”: even though they don´t know anything, they will understand soon. “Sing songs”: always have music in English. It really helps to develop their listening skills. “Repeat the word”: as the children repeat the word aloud, they look at the written word. That helps a lot. “Flash-Cards”: the easiest way to learn new words.These are some easy ways to help the children learn English.

Why Start To Learn English During The First Years Of Life?

By: Mónica MartínezBy: Mónica Villanueva González

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