After studying Spanish for three years at high school, I thought it would be a good idea to choose the Spanish elective module. This year, I hope to develop my understanding of the language, and become more fluent.

I decided to read more on how teaching languages in the classroom from a young age would benefit pupils and was pleasantly surprised with what I found. A common thought is that children may become confused by learning two languages at the same time, which perhaps could have a detrimental impact on the child’s development. However, it’s quite the opposite. It’s been proven that exposing a second language to children at a young age, broadens their knowledge of different cultures, different people and points of view, improves creativity, and sharpens their brain, helping them enormously through their education, and in later life.

I began to wonder how much more beneficial it would have been had I started learning this language from a younger age. Our brains can absorb so much more, and adapt when we’re younger. It is similar to that of learning a musical instrument. At the age of five, I began having piano lessons, and progressed at such a fast pace, my mum, who at the time was learning too, couldn’t keep up.

The ideal time for a child to learn a second language is while they’re learning and developing their mother tongue language. Primary aged children are able to learn and mimic the often complex sounds and pronounciations of a new language, without the self-consciousness of older pupils. Children also gain that sense of accomplishment when they can say something new in a foreign language, which builds confidence and encourages performance. I think it would make an enormous difference in today’s education if children were introduced to a second language as early as primary one, and it was enforced and built upon throughout their time at primary school.

Integrity

Our job as teachers is to act as role models, from whom the children will acquire these morals and values from. Children are not born with integrity, it’s something they learn, and learning it in the classroom will benefit the children greatly throughout their lives.

Patience

When a teacher displays patience, it allows the children to see how to behave it sometimes difficult or compromising circumstances. In a primary school classroom, things can go wrong, or test us, so being patient and calm will enable us to think straight, clearly and teach and control the class efficiently.

Respect

It’s important that while teaching the children the importance of respecting their teacher, that we also respect every child, despite any factors that may effect your relationship with them. Remaining professional and taking the time to listen to the pupils and consider their thoughts and feelings.

Fairness

Equality in the classroom is key to a healthy, happy learning environment. This is probably the most important virtue to me. I believe all children should be made to feel special, and no one above anybody else. The detrimental impact this can have on pupils, lessons and learning overall can be devastating to the progress of the class. I have seen it happen in my time at school, where pupils have lacked the same preferential treatment others had, and therefore behaviour and work ethic has deteriorated. As I teacher, I aim to never put any child in that situation.

Honesty

Honesty works hand in hand with trust. Through experience, I have seen that if you gain your pupils’  trust, they will open up to you. Teaching children that ‘honesty is the best policy’ from a young age will help them enormously throughout their time in school, and life. It’s an invaluable life lesson.

In the classroom I never felt particularly limited by my gender, but when the bell rang for break time, it was a different story. Being a competitive child, I would naturally get frustrated when the boys wouldn’t pass the ball in football or include us while playing basketball in the playground. It would leave myself, and other girls feeling excluded and not as worthy because we weren’t boys. We weren’t taken seriously. However with time it became accepted that the boys had control when it came to sports and that was that. Nothing more said about it.

In Primary six, my family moved house, so I had to attend a different school that was in the catchment area. I was taken aback to find out that the massive football pitch at the front of my new school was reserved by primary six and seven boys only, at break time and lunch time. Meanwhile, the girls could be seen doing hand stands and cartwheels on the grass at the side, not daring to step on the forbidden land. These stereotypically ‘girly’ activities appealed to a lot of the girls, but many were desperate for some time on the football pitch. Looking back now, I can appreciate how unfair this was, and question why the teachers didn’t have more to say about these playground ‘rules’.

The problem that is gender inequality wasn’t addressed or taken seriously by the professionals in either of the primary schools I attended. After thinking deeper into how gender can impact learning, I’d say that it is crucial we take this issue, that is becoming ever more relevant, and bring it into the classroom, to educate children on the importance of being open minded, and not always to follow social constructs. It’s okay to do things ‘differently’ to the way we are used to.

Reading pages 3 to 33 of The Study Skills Book, highlighted the monumental differences between High School and University.

Preparing for University

Goal Setting. It got me thinking, and trying to visualise myself in five, or ten years time. It is fairly straight forward to think about what you’ll be doing i.e graduating, becoming a teacher, shaping the lives of children. However, it’s impossible to know what kind of person you’ll be then. I’m certainly not the same person I was five years ago, at thirteen. I’ve developed and changed so much as a student, friend, sister etc. So I hope in the next four years I continue to develop into the kind of person and teacher I hope to become.

I also started to think about the knowledge I already have, and how much I have yet to learn. It’s given me a much a better understanding of ways to improve my academic skill levels while being at University.

Starting Out

This section of the book was extremely useful in preparing me for freshers week, with invaluable advice about University for new students. It not only gave me tips on what to attend and to read prior matriculation, but also guidance on spending money wisely, and making friends.

General Expectations

This particular chapter, I found emphasised the importance of being organised, planning ahead and doing what’s best for you. It suggested different resources in which I can go to if I need further advice or help during the course. It’s vital that student feel supported throughout their studies, especially around exams when stress levels increase.

What Makes University Different

Various tables and charts were included in this chapter, making it easier to see the differences between High School and University. There are so many aspects of life and University that are entirely different from that of school, and for me it was slightly overwhelming! However, the “Practical tips for adjusting to university teaching approaches” made me feel a lot more at ease.

Graduate Skills and Attributes

After reading this, I feel excited knowing I won’t just be leaving university with a degree, but with skills that will aid me in all aspects of life. These range from interpersonal and communication skills, to technical and intellectual skills. I hope to enhance the skills and knowledge I have coming into University.