Second Language Acquisition

(Busan TESOL 29th)

Student : KIM YEON JUNG (G)

Teacher : Valerie Hamer

Date : 5.19. 2010

OUT LINE

Introduction

I was in the environment of the 21th century but with the teacher of the 18th century.

Main Ideas

1. I met a very innovative English teacher.

2. He taught English to students according to the 'Natural order          hypothesis(by Stephen Krashen)'.

3. Thank to him, I could have confidence in learning English.

Conclusion

I Think the teacher have to know each student's levels and characteristics to teach step by step like when we learn the first language.

[The environment in the 21th century &

The teacher in the 18th century ]

My first time to learn English was when I was a middle school student. Although I was beginner in learning English I was interested to learn English pleasantly.

Actually there were various state of the art curriculum in learning English in my school at that time. For example 'ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLUB' 'POPS ENGLISH' and 'ENGLISH PEN PAL CLUB'. Those were subdivided into student's levels and made up with various materials.

Strangely, however, my first English teacher in the middle school didn't like that 'MORDERN' curriculum. She was goal oriented and only focused on the test. Of course, she was nice and knew subjects well but regarded the active and departmental class as a bother. Looking back on it now, she was an like 'Explainer(Scrivener, 2009)' .

Because of her I felt learning English was very borning and difficult. I just regarded English as a study not a language.

My English score was good in the school but outside the school I was a mute in speaking English.

[The teacher in the 22th century]

I met my second English teacher when I was a high school student. Actually he was order than my first teacher but very innovative and active. He tried to make the student enjoy English by themselves but

at that time we couldn't interchange our opinion in English and sing a English song not at all because most students were accustomed to joining teacher's one way lecture like traditional teaching method.

However, as time goes by, we had changed steadily through the efforts of him. He made the student cry at the top of their voice like that

" He can do it, she can do it, why not me? " . Through this voice he tried to the students gain confidence in learning English.

He also emphasized our English level. He insisted that of course, we will be good at using English in the future but when we learn the second language, we have to know our level of using English and learn it step by step like when we learn the first language.

So the teacher divided the student into three group and we could communicate in English in it without the shame.

Due to him I could recover confidence in study English and wish that I'd like to be a English teacher in the future.

Unfortunately, however, he died of lung cancer a year after I knew him. At that time I promised I'll be a good English teacher like him crying a lot in the funeral.

[ Where am I as a teacher? in the 18c or 22c ? ]

Writing this Essay I think my past behavior as an English teacher.

I have taught the middle school student English in the institute just for a year when I was 26 years old.

That time I just explained the English grammar and didn't try to know the student's characteristics. I treated the middle school students as the adults like my first English teacher.

Learning the TESOL 01 and recalling my second English teacher,

I realize the importance of knowing the student's characteristics.

and also agree the 'Natural order hypothesis(by Stephen Krashen)'

as my second teacher did back.

I could have confidence in my group as he divided into groups according to the student's level and tried to know each group's characteristics. He always demanded recalling how to learn Korean and focused on studying step by step with many experience. So I'd like to be in the 22c as a teacher after finishing TESOL course like him in the past.

[ References ]

Scrivener,Jim. 2009. Learning teaching

Larsen – Freeman. Techniques and principles in language teaching,

2ndedition.

Times Media TESOL : California State University Long Beach.