English Language Learners (ELLs) in the Liceo

FAMILY TREE visual concept used with vocabulary labels. DIALOGUE to teach language in chunks in a natural conversation.

Dig my two rules mini-posters: Participate and Respect

AGENDA on whiteboard

Family brainstorm using the Simpsons Family as a motivator.


I used the music "We are Family" at the end of the lesson before the ticket to leave. Otherwise, the kids get tooo relaxed if I play music in the beginning. (I already tried that way with this group).

August 25 Wed - here is a picture of some of my 11th grade ELL students after dancing to "We are Family" (by the Sledge Sisters).

The students are learning Family Members vocabulary to which I tied the musical song to this lesson. Got to use many tools for a 90 minute class in a small room!

In a Routine

I have not written much on the blog. I've been adjusting into the various ways of school life and home. An important part of my routine is actually taking a shower before the cold night sets in.

Home life is very appealing because my families' friends come over often. I have met some really nice persons through the daily exchange and have enjoyed the conversations. For instance; Andrea brings little Maite, a witty toddler (2yrs) as close to a 6 year old. Then, there is Meche who is a quiet nurse, a long-time freind of my sister Daiana. Alexis has the twins, also long-time freinds who come over to play soccer. My brother Matias has a few friends that come over to play video soccer. Mom Margarita has many friends that at different times stop by to chit chat. Alex (husband of Daiana) has a handful of friends that stop by to see what's up.

By now, I have my own classroom with many big windows and curtains. The room used to be a storage area, although it is really a Bay window type area converted into a room. The many windows allows my room to be one of the nicest (mainly in warmth) and because it is on a second floor. Also, my classroom is adjacent to the appropriately warm computer lab.

Running To-and-Fro

Aug 6 Friday - Another long day doing errands.

We started at 8:30am going to Papudo with a friend of mom Margarita. In Papudo, we were told we needed to go to La Ligua to do step 2 of my Temporary Residence papers. To La Ligua we went by micro-bus, arrived and walked to the International Police station. Here, two happy persons took care of my paperwork (so cold inside the office!). Then, I was told to take my papers to the town of Quillota for further processing.

My oh my, another town! I decided to go some other day before my 30 days were up.

Mom Margarita and I took a coach bus from La Ligua to Vina del Mar. We needed to purchase the birthday items because my little brother Matias will turn 13 years old on Sunday. However, mom decided to have the party on Saturday. CARRETE!!

Shopping at the mall would be too expensive, we only went there to eat some lunch and because mom wanted me to know where it was, just in case I want to come some day. After lunch we went to the JUMBO and Easy stores (these are a version of Walmart and Home Depot). Hours turned into long hours shopping for groceries, gifts, and other items.

Mom Margarita called a friend, who drives a small station wagon car for a living, so we could go back home with all those packages we had. Marcelo came at about 7pm.
The trip back was comfortable and interesting as we all chatted about things in general. Two hours later we were home again.

As our entire family pitched in to bring the groceries, we were invited by the upstair friend 9sandra) of mom Margarita for some dinner. After a short relaxing time, mom and I went up to Sandra's. I met Luzmari, Ramiro, and of course Sandra. We had such good conversation, ate a scrumptious meal, and had different wines. (Chile is known around the world for its natural processed wines of excellent quality). UMMMMM...

First Days in English Classrooms

Sample first days in the Liceo de Zapallar English classrooms (co-taught):

August 3 (tue)
8:15am - 9:45am 1ero A Medio (20 ninth grade students)
Activity: Fruit/veggie language chunks: Do you like___?
Yes, I like but I prefer____.(example of dialogues)
15 minutes break students/teachers
10 - 11:30am 3ero B Medio (32 11th grade students) Room A-15
Activity: Introduce, Florida, Music, conversational English
15 minutes break students/teachers
11:45am - 1:10pm 3ero A Medio (32 11th grade students) Room A-14
Activity: Intro, Florida, conversational English
1:10 - 2pm LUNCHTIME students & teacher total 50 minutes
2 - 3:30pm 1ero B Medio (28 ninth grade students)
Activity: Intro, conversational English
15 min. break students/teachers
3:45 meet with the Director
4:15 - 6pm meet/greet other teachers/look at English textbooks/materials
English teacher & I decide to present a power point to students in English.
Then prepare a Spanish version for the teacher's meeting this Thursday.
It was a very exciting day for me!

Aug 4 (wed)
8:15am-9:45am 1ero C Medio (14 ninth grade students)
Activity: power point on PR/Florida/Orlando schools
2 hours teaher planning & break
(We planned for Unit 1 Lesson 1 Listening dialogue we typed for next class)
(In teacher's lounge the English teacher & I coordinated how the
flow of this activity would be done.)

11:45am - 1:10pm 2ndo B Medio (34 10th grade students)
Activity: Lesson 1 Listening dialogue/eval also
1:10 - 2pm LUNCHTIME studenst & teachesr 50 minutes)
2 - 3:30pm 4to B Medio (19 twelfth grade students)Advance English group
Activity: I presented my power point in labrm
15 minutes break
3:30pm - 5pm 2ndo A Medio (34 students ALL KINDS OF BEHaVIORS!)
Schools out: (went w/Eng teacher to pharmacy, we talked)

HASTA PRONTO, Ms.Millie in CHILE-Zapallar

Liceo de Zapallar - Collaboration

Thoughts -----Aug 3, Tuesday -
I walked to the school with my host little brother, Matia. It's a short 8 minutes steep walk down the mountain side. I say Hello to everyone I meet inside the school. Monica, the English teacher, greets me wisking me to our first classroom.

Aug 4, Wednesday - School day 2 week 1 - Cold, Cold, windy day. Here is how my day went.

Today is my second day at school. In this Liceo the school hours encompass from 8:15am to 5pm. The schedule premits students enrichment and some have English class until 5pm on Wednesdays. Also, students are not left idle at home if they let out too early.
Yesterday and today I have been collaborating with the English teacher in each of her classes. For example, the English teacher and I deviced a listening lesson yesterday after school. Then, in just a few minutes we typed it up before the class started today.

Last night, I created two power points that cover aspects about myself as part of my introduction to our classes. One was in English the other in Spanish. Both were an overview of where I was born (Puerto Rico) and of Orlando, Florida where I live. It went super well, as the students really engaged in listening and speaking about its content. These are the two communicative areas that I am supposed to help with as part of the government's program and guidelines.

Tomorrow Friday, I will not be assisting class since I will be doing my Temporary Residence papers. The Ministry allowed us volunteers a One year Temporary Resident Visa. Later, I will need to follow up on the rest of the process and register in my town of Zapallar.
My host mom and I are going to Vina del Mar to do another part of the process. While there, she and I will also shop for items we need and for birthday party items for Matia (my little host brother). The trip to Vina is a 2 1/2 hour trip because in Zapallar (it's a resort town) there are no shopping stores. The town mainly has a few grocery type places. People here go to another town called La Ligua or to Vina del Mar to shop.

Zapallar - Host town

Here is a portion of my email to everyone of our vols.
EMAIL:
Hello everyone: The view is spectacular!!!!!! The school staff I met was really welcoming. The town of Zapallar is empty of the well-to-do Chilean vacationers because of winter season, only locals are here. Locals are the ones whose children go to the Liceo I will be working at. Today, I went with the Eng.teacher to all her classes (Medio 1 to 4to which is 9th grade to 12th grade in the USA).

The Director, English teacher and I agreed to have me for sure work with 3ro Medio (11th graders) who will be taking the English SIMCE assessment this October. Then, any time needed to cover my 25 class hours I would then work with other Medio students. The Director and the English teacher are excited about having me work with their students. So am I.

Host mom (Margarita) is like a sister, she is a single mom. We are 6 in total plus a dog. They are all very respectful, open and hard workers. Keep in touch, Millie in Chile

Zapallar, Here I Come!

August 2, Monday - Up at 4am, got ready for our long trip. Early in the morning the THUMPS of the suitcases being hauled down the stairs woke me up. Mind you, I am in the 4th floor with 32 flights of steps in between. The groups of Volunteers left in sessions, some at 11pm, others at 1am, another at 5am, and us at 6am.

Two motorcoaches received our extensive luggage and transported us to the Santiago bus terminal. There we unloaded the sea of suitcases, walked in the misty night two blocks to station 5. Tickets in hand we chatted until 7:25am when our motorcoach departed from Santiago to Vina del Mar.

After the two hour trek through nice mountain scenery we arrived with our sea of suitcases. No one yet meeting us. Shortly, Monica F., Elizabet, and Cinthia arrived to organize our group and split it in two. Soon, after much hugging and goodbyes our group was ready to travel to our towns. I would be the last one off the van because I am furthest north from Vina del Mar.
As we approached each family and dropped off our Vols a happy/sad feeling came over me. Maureen was first, she would be with a host family in Vina. Second, third and fourth in Villa Alemana were Ryan, Zachary, Lauren, Katie and a Vol from EOP. Finally, I was the last one off at Margarita's home, my new host mom.

It had been quite a day. My new home was like a doll house with the most spectacular view! Fresh air, beautiful mountains meeting the rocks lining the beach while the waves from the Pacific Ocean gently splashed onto them.

Mom Margarita prepared some hot tea and something to eat; I was famished by now (approx. 2:30pm). We conversed about the trip as she offered to take me to the school to meet the Director. Soon enough, we were walking about 5 minutes down the mountain's steep side to arrive at the school.

Margarita presented me to various teachers walking about until Monica, the English teacher, met up with me. Monica quickly made me feel welcomed as we went to the Administrative office. Here, I met Director Juan D.Z. and most of his staff. I would be starting tomorrow at 8:15am.
Now as mom and I go back home, I met my little brother Matias, my sister Daiana, Alexis her son, and later Alex who is Daiana's husband. I began to settle in to my room, take clothe out of the suitcases and try to arrange it to my liking. After a while friends of the family came over to meet me, then a quick bite to eat.
It was a cold evening so I wrapped real good for a nice good night. Tomorrow would be another exciting day.

Last Weekend in Santiago

It has been a week since I blogged.
July 31 Saturday - the day in Santiago was windy, cold, and with a misty rain. No desire to get up or go out. Later, a few of us vols headed to the stores to purchase last minute items to take with us tomorrow to our host homes. Turns out stores close Saturdays with only a couple large ones open, such as PARIS and RIPLEY.

Katie and I ended up together since we had specific items in mind, no luck shopping for us.
As the cold wind whipped, we walked back to the hostel at 6pm. I had to be back because I promised Lisa and Mike I would babysit for them tonight.
A quick bite of food from the Hostel kitchen and on I went to Hostel Rio Amazonas, just a 15minute brisk walk away.

Upon arrival little Gabi (18 months old) skirted about in delight. On the other hand, Berto (5 yrs old) smiled and went about his own way. Both Lisa and Mike were putting away dinner items as they greeted me. Lisa explained to me the bedtime routine and rehearsed it with Berto before leaving for their date.

Little Gabi was the first to go to sleep as she curled in my arms. Berto kept taking about his school back in Boston without stopping the bedtime routine. They are such sweet children..
Now that the children were sleeping I sat in a comfy chair to read a book. About half an hour later the night crew came to tidy up the Hostel. We exchanged questions about USA and Chile, promptly I was brought a hot cup of tea. How attentive!

Lisa and Mike came back early in the night and Mike walked me back to my Hostel. They will have a long day tomorrow being that the family travels to their host town of Chiloe (20 hour trip!!) on a couch bus. Good Night all.

Back at the Hostel I took my computer to the cozy warm room to update my blog, but first I check my emails. Yeahhhh!!! I finally have my host town and host family placement. I will be in the beach town of Zapallar with my host mom Margarita S.
I ran out as the volunteers of our group were arriving from eating out. They hooped and hollard in delight. Yes, I can now email my USA friends...

August 1, Sunday - Slept in, yeahhhh! Weather: Rainy, cold, with more rain.

Most of us came down to the Hostel lounge around 1pm with our computers. "We're hungy." Grace, Katie, Maureen and I wanted to have Cazuela de ave(a typical chicken soup) which we knew the corner restaurant "Castellana" does serve. On we went and had our delicious lunch, then back to the Hostel. It is just too cold and rainy to be out, besides the stores are all closed.

We all were in acticipation about tomorrows trip to out host towns.Lauren and I stayed in to pack our suitcases, while Grace had gone out to Vina del Mar early in the morning. At dinner time, about 8PM, we ate together realizing it would be a longtime before we would reunite again. Some more computer time until 11pm. It was not easy sleeping just thinking I would have to wake up at 4:30am. Our check out time out of the Hostel on Monday was 6am.

End of Training

Friday July 30 9 am- 3:50pm

Agenda: Classroom management, break, Former Volunteer Panel I, lunch, Panel II, A get together scheduled for 5-7pm at Hostel Internacional.

Most of the training centered on classroom management. Activities were incorporated to allow for discussing possible scenarios.

More discussions about class management involved the former volunteers with tales of their experiences.

We ended a bit early in order to walk and prepare for the get together at the Hostel because we were going to have a visitor from the Government Administration meet us. Sure enough the new Director, Ms. Isabel Gonzalez (just one week in office since the president's cabinet members changed after the elections in March) arrived with other administrative staff from the EOD program.

I was beat after last nite and the rest of the week, I'm not going anywhere except to bed. Goodnite all...

What did I learn today?

Class management can be dealt in conjuction with the host teacher. However, by having your own classroom you'll have to come up with a system to assist you in mangement.

I already know I would like to follow the positive behavior modification model. I believe we are here to show our students that English learning is a positive in their lives.

Group Photo

Thursday July 29 - 9 til 4pm

Agenda: Analysis of Resources, break, Surveys, Spanish online, lunch, Travel Information, Group Photo.

I can feel the final days of training nearing as the travel information is being given to us. Now I have the regional contact person information. We are to receive an email with the location of the city we'll individually be living and teaching in. Yeah!

I am excited about the Spanish classes I will be taking online. Once I finish it in 16 weeks there will be a test to take here in Santiago. A passing score will yield an international recognized proficiency score under the BULATS testing.

At about 3pm the entire group of 64 volunteers plus the Ministry of Education staff walked to La Moneda. Here we all put on different colored t-shirts to take our group picture!!!! SMILE...

8:30pm Grace had most of us girls interested in taking salsa dance classes. SOOOO, most of us went. The class started at 9pm to 10:30pm, it was fun! Learned a few turns but I don't know if I'll remember them after a while. Since we had training tomorrow, a few of us headed back to the hostel by midnite.

What did I learn today?

Examining the textbooks I will be using, being introduced to the Spanish online course, and the group picture allowed me to understand the importance of this program (EOD, English Open Doors).

Microteaching continues

Presidential Palace "LA MONEDA" in Santiago, Chile

Training 9am-4pm

Main parts of the training, Agenda: Speaking activities, break, microteaching demos, lunch, Lines of Action.

Speaking activity: trio (Lisa, Jeanina, and myself) had made a mini-lesson on Invitations. The lesson was a dialogue between two persons meeting. Basically it was one friend asking another about they are doing after school. Then the conversation is on its way as to location and the type of sport they would play. Finally the two agree to play tennis.

Our trio made the motivation warm up exciting before delving into the dialogue.

I am excited to say that tomorrow Thursday we will be having our group pictures taken in front of the presidential palace called La Moneda.

What did I learn today?

The importance of motivation leading into the dialogue. Also, using sound and exaggerated gestures to keep interest during the dialogue. Then, strategically pair or divide students to repeat the dialogue with all the bells and whistles you modeled.