ASSESSMENT

ESSAY 1: TAKING INTO ACCOUNT MY PERSONAL TEACHING CONTEXT, WHAT WOULD BE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING THE ELP WITH MY GROUPS?

Firstly, I'm going to explain my context. I work in a Vocational Training school and there aren't Secundary or High School, just Vocational Training. We have "ciclos formativos de grado medio" and "grado superior". In both cases, some of them are regulated by LOGSE and the new ones are regulated by LOE. LOGSE ciclos don't have the English subject (neither valenciano or another foreign language), but LOE ciclos have English as a subject and some subject has to be taught in English (especifically in English). Each school has to decide what will be that subject. Our students mainly come from an acces test, sometimes because they don't have the Secundary degree or don't have the High School degree. This is one of the reasons because of they don't have a good English level.

In this context, can we implement the ELP? In LOGSE ciclos this is not possible, because the curriculum doesn't take into account other languages. This is a great problem, because nowadays, the knowledge of English (more than other languages)is essential. But in LOE ciclos it would be possible and recommendable. As I have said before, LOE ciclos have the English subject and another taught in English. I think the ELP can be implemented in this "ciclos" quite easily. Probably, it is easier implementing the ELP in the English subject, overall for pupils. The goals will be refered to improving the language and this make the learning process easier... Students learn in English about English. But I think it would be more interesting than it would be implemented in the subject that has to be taught in English, for a variety of reasons. Firstly, students will see English language as a tool and not as a subject. The English language will be useful for real life and things that they are going to use in their jobs. Secondly, in Vocational Training, the ELP can be very useful to look for a job. And some practical activities can be added to a dossier, as an evidence of their developing proficiency.

The principal disadvantage, from my point of view, is that the teachers are not prepared enough and we would need formation to implementing the ELP (to learn how implementing it and to prepare materials, not just to learn languages)

To sum up, I think that the ELP is a great option in Vocational Training, but I don't know where we are going to find the time to learn how to apply the ELP and to develop the materials...


ESSAY 2: IF YOU WERE NOT LIMITED BY THE DEMANDS OF THE NATIONAL/REGIONAL CURRICULUM, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WOULD TEACH YOUR STUDENTS ABOUT YOUR SUBJECT (IN A CLIL CONTEXT). HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THEIR LEARNING.

To start, I have to say that I teach in a private Vocational Training School, so I teach a lot of subjects: FOL, Human Resources and Corporative Social Responsability, Human Resources Management, Human Resources Organisation and Managent of a Small Enterprise. In this context, and forgetting the curriculum, I'm going to explain which contents I think are the most important to be taught in depth and in a CLIC context.

- Job search (FOL): Actually, this part is reduced to teach the CV and the job interview. But in my opinion, there is a previous step, to become aware the weaknesses, the strengths, which objetive they want to achieve, how they are going to achieve it... This is the first step, a self-examination and teachers don't have time enough to work it. I think this is perfect to be taught in CLIL, because of the importance of foreign languages to find a good job and because it's possible students have to look for job in other countries.

To assess this unit, I would do some activities:

• a SWOT - CAME personal analysis: the assess would be in a interview with the teacher, because it is very personal. The mark would be: "done" or "not done". "Not done" includes when it is done very bad. 
• create an original CV: this would be the same, "done" or "not done", but with an extra point if it is an original CV. If the CV is not correct (without sense, with grammatical faults...) it would be "not done"
• to look for suggestions to pass selection tests and job interviews: teacher assessment, depending on a rubric. 
• to look for sources to find a job: teacher assessment depending on a rubric.  
• I would work the personal branding too if I would have time... and the assessment would be "done" or "not done"

- Corporative Social Responsability: Actually, this part is very theoretical, about the legal framework and with few examples. I would teach it with a deep reflexion about the importance of the Ethic in Economy. And to finish with a depth investigation about companies of all around the world.

• To assess this unit: 
• I would mark the participation or not in the debates, 
• I would mark an opinion article about a documentary: "done" or "not done"
• And the investigation would be in groups and it would be in individual, group and teacher assessment. 

- And to finish, there are a lot of things very important but very difficult to mark, as the attitudes: responsability, respect, to greet... I think we have to teach more of this kind of things, but this is in every subject. And we have to leave some mark to this part, because students believe we just assess contents.


ESSAY 3: WHICH TRAINING COURSES WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ACCES TO AS A TEACHER? WHY? WHICH IS, IN YOUR OPINION, THE BEST WAY TO SHARE GOOD PRACTICE AMONGST TEACHING PROFESSIONALS? WHY?

Like in the other essays, first of all, I want to remember that I'm teaching in VET and we have to recycle our knowledges about contents, methodologies, languages and about enterprises needs.

Firstly, I would like to do a lot of courses, but I don't have time enough to do everything. I would like contents courses about human resources selection and motivation, coaching and Social Security laws. But I can find a lot of information searching the internet.

Secondly, I would like to do courses about methodologies, but I am working in cooperative learning in my classroom and I read and practice a lot of activities and resources.

Thirdly, I have been improving my English in order to teach my subjects in English, but I think I would need a C1 to do it correctly. And this requires more time and more formative offers in this kind of courses.

To finish the first question, and the most important formation that I need, I would have to do training in enterprises (in Spain and in foreign countries) In VET it is very important to be in contact with enterprises requirements. Conselleria offers training in enterprises, but they have to be out of our work day and this is very difficult, because enterprises are opened at the same time. We have a lot of possibilities with European Commission options, but if they are during the school course, it is a problem for the center and the students and in summer is a problem with the family life. I consider that we have a lot of opportunities with European Commission, but I will have to wait until my son grows up.

In other hand, inside my school, to share good practice, we have tried to  create a bank of resources in the internet, but is is not used for all the teachers. Blogs are a good way to share resources, with your workmates and with strangers, but it is not easy due to a lack of time (to share and to look for...) In my school, some teachers have enjoyed movilities with European Commission in order to share good practice, but the experience doesn't arrive to the rest of the teachers. And nowadays, some teachers in muy school are opening our classroom to our workmates and this is a good experience to learn other ways to teach. And it is cheap and enriching!