My Portfolio

  "A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others."  Mustafa Kemal My name is Nethini Ishara Hettiarachchi. I am a fourth-year undergraduate at University of Kelaniya following a degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) at the Department of English Language Teaching (DELT). My enduring passion lies in working with children, and the act of educating them brings me a profound and unparalleled sense of joy. I am eager to play a role in realizing the ambitious dreams of our future generation.  

   Teaching Philosophy My philosophy of teaching centers around the belief that education is not just about imparting knowledge but nurturing holistic development. The role of a teacher in education is to guide and support students along the way as a guide, mentor, and facilitator. My core values in the classroom are rooted in respect, equity, and compassion. I believe that all students deserve to feel valued and respected, regardless of their background or abilities. I create a safe space where students can ask questions, take risks, and make mistakes without fear of judgment. I believe that students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process. I use a variety of teaching methods, including hands-on activities, problem-based learning, and project-based learning during my all lessons, to create a dynamic and stimulating learning environment. I also encourage students to collaborate with each other and to learn from each other's strengths and perspectives....

  Reflective summary My teaching demonstration provided me with a unique opportunity to reflect on my teaching philosophy and practice as a Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) undergraduate at University of Kelaniya, identify areas for improvement, and develop new strategies for effective classroom management. I strived to create a positive and supportive learning environment where all students feel valued and respected. I believe that students learn best when they are engaged and motivated, thus I used active learning strategies through music, and group activities for peer learning as my classroom management techniques to create engaging and meaningful learning experiences for the grade four classroom to teach body parts. The use of a song about body parts and the incorporation of teddy bears to name the body parts was a successful approach. It engaged the students and created an interactive learning atmosphere. However, I could have improved the transitions between activ...

Teacher Observation Report Date: 24.08.2023 Observer: Nethini Hettiarachchi Grade: 4 Subject: English - Simple Present Tense I had the privilege of observing a grade 4 English lesson focused on the simple present tense conducted by Adithya Perera. The lesson was conducted in an inclusive classroom with both boys and girls. The teacher employed various effective classroom management techniques such as questioning, giving instructions, explaining, eliciting, encouraging, and feedback to engage and support the diverse group of students. The classroom was arranged in a way that encouraged active participation and interaction among students. The atmosphere was welcoming since the lesson started with a good morning song, ensuring that all students felt comfortable and welcomed. The students were grouped to facilitate group work and appointing a leader for the group can be mentioned as a good technique to enhance collaboration. Involving cartoon characters for the post-task was appealing part...