JOURNAL ENTRY #3: TEN COMMANDMENTS OF FEEDBACK

In my limited experience, I've learned that being a teacher is way more than only planning and showing up to teach a class. It requires patience, involvement, and nerve, especially when correcting student's mistakes, which sometimes can be a touch-and-go situation. That is why, in this entry, I am enlisting the ten commandments of feedback that have helped me maintain a good rapport with my students while providing them with comments and observations without perishing in the effort:

1. Don't overcorrect: 

Try to keep it short and simple, otherwise, students may feel unmotivated.

2. Vary the assessment type: 

Let students receive feedback from each other once in a while.

3. Don't expose your students: 

Try to not point out a specific student when a mistake emerges. Instead, address the whole class and ask for their help to solve the problem.

4. Balance positive and negative feedback:

Comment about the student's areas of opportunity, but don't forget to praise them too.

5. Interrupt as little as possible: 

When evaluating an oral performance, try to not get involved unless it is very necessary.

6. Choose the correct technique for each student: 

Repeating, echoing or hinting, try to select the best option to provide feedback according to your student's personality.

8. Be clear and specific:

Tell students precisely what their mistakes are and how to improve rather than just pointing out when something is right or wrong.

9. Remind your students that nothing is personal:

Before any misunderstanding, make it very clear to your students that you want to see them grow up and comments are made to encourage them to get better.

9. Ask students about their own performance:

Occasionally, let students reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses.

10. Be patient: 

Remember that you were a student once so try to be understanding and tolerant at all times.

Teacher's role in the classroom can be decisive for students' success, particularly if we consider that the educator's comments have an important influence on the learners' self-esteem and motivation. That is why we need to be careful when it comes to offering recommendations, therefore, it is important to remember that every single word that comes out of our mouths during feedback, rather than dispirit and create insecurities, has to aim to help out students enhance their skills, inspire them to have a better command of the language and make them feel confident with all the ground covered.