Last week we had our last MYP ELL seminar, and it was my favorite one so far. Instead of a usual discussion, we did an ELLmmy Awards ceremony. The leaders made fun categories like “Most Hidden Talent”, “Best Fiction & Analytical Writer”, “Best Groupwork Teammate”, and silly ones like “Most Likely to Fall Asleep During an SA” or “Most Likely to Be a Vogon”. We nominated classmates, explain why we chose them, then vote for winners. It was a nice way to end the unit, and we could look back on all memories from G6 to G8.
The whole session was really relaxed. It didn’t feel like class, more like just chatting and celebrating each other. The categories made us laugh, and it was cool to see everyone get recognized for their strengths. I liked how the leader added references to things we studied, like Holes, Vogons,or examples from this year. It made the activity feel personal and connected to what we learned. But the discussion stayed pretty surface-level. We were all having fun, so we didn’t talk deep about what the categories mean for our class. It was casual, not academic, but still meaningful.
I got an 4 this seminar, but I had more lows and middles than usual. I spoke a lot, but I didn’t make strong points. Most of the time I just agreed with others instead of using examples to prove my ideas. We also didn’t talk about both sides of some topics, so my comments felt weak. At one point some people made jokes about others’ appearance, which felt like bullying. That is not okay in a seminar. Those comments don’t relate to the topic, and should not be said out loud.
The leaders did a good job. They used a fun format, so the reflection didn’t feel boring. They managed the speaking list well, only put 2 or 3 people on it at a time, so it never got chaotic. They let people speak in the order they raised hands, even if someone else went first. They also called on quiet students to talk, which was nice. The only thing I wish we did more was balance the fun with a little more deep talk, so we could think more about what the awards mean to us as a group.
Even though it was not as academic as usual, this seminar still felt important. It helped me look back on my three years in MYP ELL, and I feel closer to my classmates now. I will remember this as one of the best parts of ELL this semester.