<Language learning experience>

Name: Mischell

Date: Sept. 13. 2012

Class: 80th. WDT

Word count: 621

Teacher:Matt Lane

<contents>

Introduction

Body

-Who I was as a learner

-Teacher as a facilitator

-Teacher as a mentor

Conclusion

Introduction

Everybody has some memories of their old teachers. Some are bad, some are good, and some are very special. Now, I'd like to tell you about myself as a leaner and introduce  a teacher who was never forgettable to me. When I went to the US, as a foreigner who had to communicate with native speakers. Understanding such language and culture difference was the challenge for me. Thinking back those days I was autonomous , self-directed, and goal-oriented learner. Patricia, my English teacher in US ,was a facilitator, a good explainer, involver, and enabler. She is the best teacher who I have ever met.

Body

who I was as a learner

Many years ago I had a chance to live abroad, Ann Arbor Michigan. Before this in Korea I had studied English in a very traditional style for over 10 years. Teachers gave a lot of lectures, reading, memorizing, grammar lesson, and focused  on the exam. Even though I had studied for long time, when I arrived in US I found myself struggling with using practical English. Because I had to settle down there, I had to learn a live English. I was autonomous , self- directed and goal-oriental leaner. I had life experience and knowledge also. As we know, action speak louder than words. I applied for a language program that provided  by community center.

Teacher as a facilitator

I will never forget the first day when I met Patricia, my English teacher. She was very good at doing ice- breaking activities, in few minutes students felt comfortable and easily able to be involved in class. She had know-hows  that could easily and efficiently control  the class. One of her strongest point was that she always smiled, and always had a positive and open mind for the students. Because of that point, the students could easily contact her and by contacting her, the students themselves contacted each other simply and comfortably. Not only that, but also she always prepared materials for class, and gave students many choices,

such as group work, role play, presentation, and debating. While participating this her class, I myself strongly had confident that I was achieving practical English.

Her class was very active, funny, and useful.

Teacher as a mentor

According to Carl Rogers, three core teacher characteristics that help to create an effective learning. These are respect, empathy and authenticity. Patricia was enthusiastic about teaching and helping students. She really listened to students, empathized with students' needs, and showed respect. She wanted to encourage not only herself to be authentic but also students to be. Patricia also understood the importance of establishing a close rapport with student. Most students in her class were confused and depressed caused by misunderstanding about foreign language and culture. She could elicit students' needs or wants and advised students' what should they do, which choice might be better. Whenever I attended her class, I couldn't help but to like her teaching style and to respect her.

conclusion

My dream was motivated by meeting Patricia. I want to be a good English teacher who will focus on students' needs and happily help them to enjoy living as well as learning. I will be fair, patient and respect my students just like her. I wll make an effort to be a teacher as explainer, involver, and enabler. My life is still guided by the lessons that I learned from Patricia. She let me know how wonderful teaching can be and how a good teacher is supposed to be. I am not sure what kind of problems I will face in the future as a English teacher, but I am sure that I will always remember her to overcome and cope with problems.