TESOL 01:Second Language Acquisition

Title: My Lucky Experiences in Learning               Second Language

Name: Belle(Moon Jong Hee)

Date : April 17th,  2010

Instructor : Valerie Hamer

Class: Weekend 28th

Ⅰ. Introduction

- I have several chances to study foreign languages.

Ⅱ. Body

- I studied English using GTM in my schooldays.

- I had a lucky chance to study English using CLT.

- I think teaching is the best way of learning.

Ⅲ. Conclusion

- I want to become an Enabler in teaching English.

I have several chances to study foreign languages. There are so many things to talk about language learning experiences. But I would like to describe three kinds of ELS environment.

I met with middle school. At my first English class I learned I  English for the first time when went to the Alphabets. I wrote and wrote them then I memorized all about them. The teacher was a typical type of explainer. But I was very curious and eager to learn second language. I liked everything in the classroom. I remember the teacher's all behaviors, the voice and the strict expressions. I think I was very sensitive at that time. I should have taught English by 4 skills. Then my English ability  might be  much better. Looking back into the past, I studied two types of English skills in different ways throughout the middle and high school days and in the university. One  was  GTM . I was usually taught reading and grammar skills. Students just listen, take notes, memorize new words. This way       listen, take notes, memorize new words. This way improved receptive skills but couldn’t improve productive skills. I think it could have been better if there had been a little more students’ participation. The other was what we called English conversation class. In the university a native teacher led some activities using some dialogues or debates about various topics. The native teacher was involver. His teaching type was effective to develop oral skills. But I just could study for one semester.

After marriage, I got a lucky chance to study foreign languages. My sister introduced me a language club. I and my children joined the club. We studied Several languages. They are English, Japanese, Chinese, French, Spanish. We studied English more deeply than other languages. Using ALM,TPR,CLT, DM, We studied the second languages. I repeated the listening over and over even during the house chores.  I had a lot of opportunities to meet natives. We exchanged each culture.  The various cultures make me open minded and try to study hard second languages. I often tried to speak in English with my children. Not only my English speaking ability but also my children’s English ability was improved a lot. It seemed that they became confident of speaking English. Communicative Language Teaching was very helpful to improve speaking skill.

After my children entering the school, I got a job at an English language school.  After teaching, I often feel proud of myself. I am a shy person but I get brave in the classroom. I want to make my students have great time in the class. I will try various activities fo example ice-breaking activities, the pair or small group conversations, interesting games, role playing and so on. So I will study the methodology of teaching hard and use it in my class effectively. Although I meet impolite students, I will try to show courtesy to my students. I also started TESOL to become better teacher. It is too difficult to do two things at the same time. However, I’ll do my best!!!  Remembering of my schooldays, I studied the hardest while I teach students. I think teaching is the best way of learning.

Lastly, I came to know that effective teacher should be warm-hearted, making students feel at ease and enjoy learning. I would like to become a real enabler in teaching English.

-Thank you. -

References

-Learning Teaching (Jim Scrivener)

-Techniques and Principle in Language Teaching

((Dianne Larson Freeman)