Hello Everyone!

Wow, this week has been pretty crazy and stressful to say the least. I have been an online ESL English teacher for about 2 years. During this week I received very unfortunate news. The minister of education in China just released an official statement informing all foreign teachers that in about 5 months all Chinese ESL companies will need to shut down. This news definitely brought a great deal of sadness as I absolutely adore my job and find happiness in aiding Chinese kids to better their English. I was definitely stressed out and worried as I used the money I earned from teaching to pay for my studies. However, I decided to keep a positive mind-set and started looking for online ESL jobs outside of China. So far, I have not been successful, however, I will continue to maintain a positive mind-set. This week, I learnt about the theories of Vygotsky, Piaget, and Erikson, as well as how each one operated and what each thinker was attempting to achieve. I found it interesting to see how each theorist has their own distinct viewpoints and what ideas motivated them to pursue this line of inquiry.

Introduction

Who are you? Where are you from?

Hello there! My name is Sharfaa Abrahams, I am 20 years old. I was born and raised in the windy city, Port Elizabeth. I am currently working as an ESL online English teacher for kids in China. I absolutely adore my job as I thoroughly enjoy working with kids. I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with kids in china, this opened my eyes and allowed me to see their culture and see what life is like on the other side of the world. I would describe myself in four words; a peoples person, ambitious, passionate and adventurous. My hobbies include hiking, swimming and I often go fishing with my dad.

Why do you want to be a foundation phase teacher?

Well, to be honest, I have a deep love and a soft spot for children. Those who know me, know that I absolutely adore little kids. From a very young age I was fond of kids and always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I am studying foundation phase teaching as I hope to make a difference in the lives of others and to inspire children as I believe they can achieve so much more if they are taught about their capabilities at a young age. I adore the energy and enthusiasm that children display. In a primary school, there is a distinct sense of excitement that cannot be found in many other settings. Learning is something that children enjoy doing. They are ready to try new things, even if it is schoolwork, which makes teaching an exciting and gratifying profession. Lastly, it’s rewarding seeing little minds grow and learn.

When did you decide to become a teacher?

As has been noted, I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher, however, my history teacher has further motivated me to become a teacher. She was able to look beyond the dates and facts and brought the subject to life in ways that went beyond the conventional curriculum. Her unique teaching methods inspired me, and I hope to instill in my students the same enthusiasm for new ways to learn.

What are you passionate about?

In my personal life, I am passionate about uplifting others, self-love and improvement. I believe that kindness is an investment that always pays off, not necessarily in terms of money, but in terms of one's own mental and emotional well-being. For me, uplifting others and being kind towards others always brings a sense of joy. I am deeply passionate about loving yourself and self- improvement. I believe that it’s always a wise decision to put your enthusiasm into yourself, your self-improvement, and your future development.

AND I QUOTE :

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. – AESOP

How do you feel about LSKM 221 now, at the start of the semester?

Honestly, I'm very interested in learning more about this module. I learnt about several learning and developmental theories, as well as how music and music education may help foundation phase students develop holistically. I am excited to learn and gain more knowledge.

What are your expectations for this module?

I hope to learn more information and I look forward in reading other learners blog posts. I think blogs are quite interesting as it allows us to see what other people are going through and ultimately allows one to vent.  

1. Explain your understanding of Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development:

The zone of proximal development (ZPD), also known as the zone of potential development, is the range of talents that an individual can execute under the supervision of an expert but not on their own. Vygotsky’s theory highlights the importance of social interaction and language development. To comprehend a child’s need and development, the child’s surroundings need to be taken into consideration. Interpersonal social connections, according to Vygotsky, are essential for learning progress. By stressing scaffolding, Vygotsky developed a theory that aids learners in forming connections based on their social interactions.

2. Summarise the most important aspects of the learning theories of Erikson, Piaget, and Vygotsky for your teaching practice as Foundation Phase teacher:

Erikson - The importance of social interaction and connections on learning is emphasized in Erikson's developmental theory for the stages of psychosocial development. Important components of Erikson's theory include the age, millstones, and problems that children will experience, which are explained to make it easier to comprehend.

Piaget- According to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, children go through four stages of mental growth (sensorimotor stage , preoperational stage, concrete operational and formal operational stage) . His thesis is concerned with not only how children gain knowledge, but also with the nature of intelligence.

Vygotsky- Vygotsky is credited with the invention "social cognition," which suggests the following:

1. Culture and social contact have a significant impact on cognitive development.

2. Social connection aids the development of cognitive functions.

3.  Would you please describe your confidence in your current knowledge and skills to teach music through movement in the Foundation Phase as you start your LSKM 221 journey?

Having enriched my knowledge, I learned that all aspects of a child's growth and skills for school readiness, including intellectual, social-emotional, motor, linguistic, and total literacy, are sparked by music. I believe that music aids in the coordination of the body and mind. Early exposure to music assists children in learning the sounds and meanings of words.

4. If you have to choose between incorporating Music education OR Physical education in the Foundation Phase curriculum to meet the holistic development needs of learners, which would you choose?

Some people are of the notion that music is more beneficial than physical education since it improves learners memory, however , I believe that physical education is more useful as PE enhances motor skills, muscle strength, and bone density, making pupils more inclined to participate in healthy activities outside of the classroom. Furthermore, it teaches children about the wonderful effects of exercise and how good they can feel when they do it.

Goodbye ! see you soon