Teaching students to reflect is a skill we need to encourage and celebrate. The student voices shared here show clear evidence of reflecting - to varying extents. Our tips can help others to teach the practice of 'reflecting effectively.'

1. Virginia Robson and Sheri Henderson
TESOL Arabia Conference

2. “Before I could not looked at my
mistakes before I handout the
assignment, but now I can fix some
before I hand it out.”
Fatmah
English class, Sem 1
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

3. “It was sadly to know that goats eat
everything so when people throw
plastic bags… they eat it, they might
get sick or sadly die.”
Amira
Ecology class, Sem 1
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

4. “It was shocked to me to see where
our things go and how our thinks
damage our environment. All the
people are damaging the
environment without knowing that
including me!”
Moza
Ecology class, Sem 1
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

5. “…there are things that I
can’t control or change even
if I want to.”
Aisha
Nutrition class, Sem 1
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

6. “I want to learn more about plants
and now I become excited to explain
about plants for my family”
Maria
Ecology class, Sem 1
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

7. Virginia Robson and Sheri Henderson
TESOL Arabia Conference

8. “Well, honestly I learned a lot
on this semester, really I am
even amazed of how much
work I put in this class!”
Moza
English class, Sem 1
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

9. “When the curiosity takes us
to know about something in
our life I don’t think I will be
boring, I think it is interesting
to me.”
Maha
Ecology class, Sem 1
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

10. “Before I used to throw a bottle of water
in the sea just to see how far water bottle
can go, but now it’s different I know [it is]
abuse of the environment”
Abrar
Ecology class, Sem 1
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

11. Haleema
English class, Sem 1
“I expected that this semester will be
the easiest semester…But I was
wrong, it’s the worst semester I never
have seen it”
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

12. “I am also no long killing spiders
because now I know their
importance to get rid of the other
insects in my house”
Abdulla
Ecology class, Sem 3
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

13. Virginia Robson and Sheri Henderson
TESOL Arabia Conference

14. “Also I need to change my family’s eating
habits…most of our foods have to contain lots
of fat…in my family no one care if food is
healthy or not as it taste good.”
Aisha
Nutrition class, Sem 1
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

15. “I need to do more practice for my
presentation to improve my skills and I
need to remember my information. I
was confused when I speech. I look at
only one corner.”
Zayed
Public Speaking, Sem 2
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

16. “im dancing alot, and i need extra
rehearsal ,perhaps i were good .
but really i have to make extra
rehearsal”
Ahmed
Public Speaking, Sem 2
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

17. “I have learned to use some great
tools on the internet that im sure i
will need them later on.”
Ali
English for Computer Users, Sem 3
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

18. “I learned many things that I didn’t
know before and I know that the
information I got will help me in future
for another for another
portfolio or e-portfolio.”
AbdulAziz
English for Computer Users, Sem 3
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

19. Virginia Robson and Sheri Henderson
TESOL Arabia Conference

20. “the worst part in the portfolio to me
is the reflection which I writing right
now that’s because It’s not necessary
as I think but I forced to do it cause I
need the grades that I will get when I
submit it.”
Rashed
Academic Reading & Writing, Sem 2
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

21. “the best part of creating
my eporfolio is i dont have
to use paper”
Abdulla
Academic Reading & Writing, Sem 4
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

22. “It was difficult for me to work on
this portfolio, because to be honest
when it comes with managing my
time I’m a bad, but I really wish
that I can fix that habit.”
Faisal
Academic Reading & Writing, Sem 4
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

23. “The best part when I was creating
my profile is after I had finished
creating my profile I felt like I
achieved something that make me
feel happy and feel good about
myself.”
Humaid
Academic Reading & Writing, Sem 4
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

24. Virginia Robson and Sheri Henderson
TESOL Arabia Conference

25. What do you
mean by reflect?
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

26. Why Reflect?
“Reflection is an invitation to think deeply
about our actions so that we may act with
more insight and effectiveness in the future.”
Northwest Service Academy
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

27. Training students
to reflect
o Teach the purpose,
language and process
o Provide time for practice
o Respond to students
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

28. Ways to Reflect
o Written
•paper-based or online reflective
journals/learning logs
o Spoken
•audio and/or video recordings
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia

29. “I learned more than
what I expected.”
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia
Ahmed
Public Speaking, Sem 2

30. Follow effective action with
quiet reflection. From the
quiet reflection will come even
more effective action.
Peter Drucker
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March
2014 TESOL Arabia

31. Virginia Robson
vrobson@hct.ac.ae
Sheri Henderson
shenderson@hct.ac.ae
V. Robson & S. Henderson, 14 March 2014 TESOL Arabia
Our tips are available at:
http://tinyurl.com/nboln3j