Title  ‘Acquiring a second language successfully’

Introduction

-. I have learned English as a second language since 1994.

Body

-. My failed & successful experiences of learning English

-. Teaching environments and skills are changing

-. The characteristics of adult learners

Conclusion

-. Teachers have to change their teaching skills into enabler.

-. Leaners and teachers have to focus on all four skills.

I have learned English as a second language since 1994. For when I was middle and high school student, I could not realize importance of English. After I enter the university, I had to learn English on a full scale. Because my major was tourism. As the ways to improve my English skills, I signed up for institutes like Pagoda. Even though I spent time on learning English, my English level still remained at low level. So, from now, I am supposed to talk acquiring a second language successfully.

For almost 17 years, I had failed & successful experiences of learning English. The failure experience took place when I was middle student. One of my teachers was undoubted explainer. During the class, he only concentrated teaching listening and reading skills. For example, he just had us memorized vocabularies, simple sentences, dialogues and the rule of grammar and then  explained their means directly. He had never mentioned the origin of the words and how situation is suitable using the sentences. He just required us to memorize their means. At the beginning of next class, we had to take mini test concerning them studied last class. Even If it is a mini test, he reflected in respective scores. I gained high scores at the test, however, I also forgot most them easily. My successful experience happened while on university. One of my professors was well known for his knowledge. Although he was an old professor, he was modest, humorous, kind and honest at all times. Despite an established professor, at the first day of class, he conducted the survey as to topics which we want to learn during the class. Next day, he brought a schedule listed all of them and then announced that he intends to operate our class with this schedule and discuss about them. And then he said that you should investigate each topics as scheduled by yourself and making pair or group before the class. After that he really operated our class as mentioned. During the class, he served as only helper and enabler. So we had to progress the class by ourselves. According to his speech, Knowing the answer is not important, the progress of finding out the answer by yourself is much more important than it. At that time I was deeply impressed with his speech and studied hard in accordance with his teaching tools. As a consequence, I gained high scores while on university.

Teaching environment is important as well as teacher's characteristics. I think traditional classroom includes bad environment. It has around 50~60 students and the teacher of this class become easy to explainer. Then, they will rely on teaching listening & reading skills with basic text and pronunciation books, just having students memorized vocabularies and the rule of grammar repeatedly. The students included this class have less chance to discuss, answer questions and make a presentation. And they only hand in reports as the way of the result from learning. That is why students become passive. So, traditional classroom has to be changed into the modern classroom. The teachers of it, usually teach students with various materials such as computer and media and give them diverse activities and chance to talk to other people. Teachers focus on teaching all four skills of language. For this reason. the students more active and positive of learning language.

When I was middle school student, the teachers always said If you want to success in your life, you must concentrate studying, only studying is key to success. At that time, I could not understand it since I don't have any motivation and goals. By growing up adult, I became more motivated than children. So, to become speaking fluently and get a good job, I registered for English speaking and TOEIC institutes to enhancing my English in special writing and speaking skills that are more active than others. After all, I got a good job. In short, as adult learners are self-motivated, goal-oriented and independent than children. So, they might acquire a second language well.

Considering all of things I mentioned, a lot of students have learned a second language for a long time. Still, many of them also failed to acquiring it successfully. Because lots of teachers still teach students with explainer teaching style and the environment of learning language is also kept traditional classroom style. Consequently, provided teachers change to teaching style from explainer to enabler and the environment of teaching even more than before, many of students want to acquiring a second language will accomplish their goal successfully.

Language includes listening, reading, writing and speaking. Finally, the purpose of learning language is to converse with foreigners without any problems. To be use language freely and fluently, teachers and leaners must not depend on acquiring only one skills, have to acquiring all four skills integrally.