cover page

MY NAME : FEEL ( Pill Ki Kim)

TEACHER'S NAME : Valerie Hamer

ESSAY TITLE : My experience of learning second language

CLASS : TESOL 31

DATE : July 14th, 2010

WORD COUNT : 637

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION

- learning English in high school as failure

PARAGRAPH

- eduction circumstance : traditional classroom

- teacher types : explainer / passive , drill a           book

- learning styles/ intelligence : I am a                   interpersonal  learner

- effective teaching : to teach or mentor others

CONCLUSION

- I want to be a good teacher

TESOL 01. My experience of learning second language

I studied English in high school for three years. It was a failure as a learning experience. In retrospect, English classes were too boring. In fact, I used to love English until middle school. What was the problem? Let's take a look at below.

First of all, I learned English in traditional classroom. There weren't any visual and audio materials. All of the students only could use the textbook. I also had to depend on my teachers, but they made me bored. Most of the teachers were likely to love to chalk on the board. For the exam, we couldn't help following them. In the old days, there were more than fifty students in a class. That was too many figures for one teacher to be in charge of. Owing to this reason, teachers asked some(2 or 3) students to be understood their lectures, and to be told 'Yes', teachers would move on next part. The further the progress of the classwork was, the harder I caught up with.

When I gradually lost interest in English, I met the worst teacher. He only explained grammar, reading the text book. Not only I but also most students didn't understand his lecture. He didn't wonder why his students didn't know, and kept lecturing on his way. Also, after we took the word test once or twice a week, he beat our hands severely as being incorrect and let us write misspelt words 100 times. It was terrible and very inefficient. He didn't feel affection for his students and have enthusiasm. He was the typical 'explainer' type.

The third problem was my learning style. I didn't like silent sustained reading, and studying alone. But I couldn't but be passive in traditional classroom. I had to memorize words and grammar like machine alone. I spent much time studying English, but I shortly forgot what I memorized . How was I interested in English, and how was I good at English? It's impossible.  I think English is a language. So I need to process by relating, cooperating and communicating with other people. Recently I have known that it is good for the kinds of people like me to use small groups. It is more effective to role play, talk about related topics, have a presentation and quiz one other on vocabulary  in groups. During my school days, I have never had those chances.

According to the materials that I have learned in TESOL class, the most effective technique among various teaching techniques is to teach or mentor others. Experience, discussion, and demonstration follow it. As you can see, teaching isn't unilateral but interactive. Students can ask their friends what they don't understand in small group at any time. Teaching must be students -centered education.  In Korea, most of the students have experienced like me. They study English for test under the circumstances above. In spite of having taken many English education, that's why they have hard time speaking in English.

In conclusion, it takes long time for me to like and enjoy English again. I hope now children who are learning English haven't experienced like me. Fortunately, there are many audio and visual equipment such as a computer, projector in a class these days. Even in a class are there over 30 students, so it's easier than the past for a teacher to manage students. Besides, there is a native teacher every school at least, therefore, students have an opportunity to speak in English. In addition to this better circumstance, it would be much better if it were for existing a teacher who loves students and has a wide array of skills. I'd like to be a teacher that enables students to get interested in English and learn easily. Through TESOL class, I want to possess qualification for being a good teacher.