Reflection+on+“A+Sample+Lesson+for+Young+Learners”+by+Prof.+Dr.+Aydan+ERSÖZ

 This session was my favorite session because it was both prepared and conducted professionally. The content of the session was so realistic that it could be practiced in any school in Turkey. The materials were authentic and the presenter was so enthusiastic. The session referred to almost all skills in teaching language involving revision, repetition, story-telling, puzzles and fill in the blanks activities and act-out part. The aim of the session was to make attendants have an idea about real classroom environment with young learners and make them familiar with different activities that are suitable for this environment. In this session, the presenter started by a revision of family names. She activated students’ schema by presenting a breakfast table and asking students questions about the foods on the table. She also had a repetition part in which students repeated the names of the foods one by one. Later; she read a story to the whole class including the names of both family member and foods in breakfast. After reading part, she chose 5 people and asked them to act the story out. She used a lot of jokes, mimics and gestures to involve students in the activity. She also distributed a funny puzzle to the students and solved it altogether. At the end of the lesson, the presenter asked the class to finish a fill-in-the-blanks activity. Every concept and term in this lesson was familiar to me but it was the first time I saw all these concepts being conducted in practice in a real-like classroom environment. In the session the presenter focused on three main aspects of teaching to young learners. These aspects were revision, repetition and practice, which were crucial for young learners. I learned through this session that every activity or task should have the necessary support. For example, in this session all the activities and tasks have kinesthetic and involvement support. Yong learner need to be active and involved in the activities. Another point is that the demand of the activities should be balanced. Activities should not be much demanding. I would like to learn how the presenter conducted this lesson plan so properly although it was the first time she saw the attendant. She really used theoretical knowledge in a very practical way. She managed to involve adults in a lesson prepared for young learners. If I had a chance, I would ask the presenter whether it is possible for teachers to be creative with little opportunities. I think the story-telling part can be directly applied in English classes in Turkey. Because stories draw the attention of all children and the repetitive language of stories reinforce the learning process of young learners. I think the act-out part can be challenging for Turkish classroom as most of the students have an educational background based on memorization. Most of them are not allowed to be active in lessons and lessons are generally in lecture format. I found this session very useful and I can use some features of the session in my own teaching life. For example, I will not give lectures to my students. Contrarily; I would ask my students’ help to conduct the lesson with them. I will give them responsibilities for their own learning. I will also support my activities according to their levels and needs.
 * Reflection on “A Sample Lesson for Young Learners” by Prof. Dr. Aydan ERSÖZ **

Ummuhan Aslan
====I can say that I olmast have nothing to say about my friend's reflection about the session by  Prof. Dr. Aydan ERSÖZ. Like he emphasized, every concept and term in this lesson was familiar to me but it was the first time I saw all these concepts being conducted in practice in a very real-like classroom environment. In the session, the presenter focused on three main aspects of teaching to young learners which were revision, repetition and practice, which were crucial for young learners. Giving students responsibilities for their own learnings and supporting activities according to their learnings, needs, levels is a very good idea and point to mention about. But like I told my own reflection, I think that neither students not the teacher can manage that much activity as long as the organisation ia a state school.====