“The act of teaching is essentially a constant processing of options.”

-Jim Scrivener_

85기 WDT JULIE (JUHYE LEE)

Introduction

I am telling you my a second lauguage environment. When I was 14 years old, I learned English from teacher Jung suk Kim in Gunsan for about 1 year. Teaching style wasn't good style to read sentences and then we repeat after teacher or write down words when techer called. Most of class led to Grammar and Reading because  it was necersary to get good grades in the past.  I couldn't interest in English at that time. Teacher sometimes taught us one way communication and explaining words not any understanding. so stduents had to remember the meaning of words, grammar. As a result, almost Korean students got bored at the English class and we thought that English is just subject is not a language. I think it was mainly big mistake to study English. Learnig for the something, the most important is having attractive the object.

Teacher type

There are three kind of teacher which are explainer, involver and enabler. I usually met explainer teacher in Gunsan untill high school. I demonstrated one of my English teacher. I met him when I was 19. His name was jin ki Park about 40's.  His teaching style was totally explainer. He knows that his subject matter very well, but have limited knowledge of teaching methodology. Mr park always teached their students receptive skills. His always teached teacher centered class. We just did workbook as many as possible. There wasn't any kind of disscuss, presentation. During the English class we always bored and we couldn't concentrate the class. But anyway this style was quite easy to raise your score at a short time.

I think these characteristic of teachers show South Korea as to enter the university we had to take the exam. So most korean teacher was focus on reading and Listening. After entering the university What happen to us? As you know above 90% students who got good grades couldn't speak English fluently. This is mainly because we only led to reading and listening.

On the other hand, when I was 26, I decided to learn English again.   At that time I was surprised at my English teacher her name was Kate Park. She was a little bit young compared to other teacher and fresh teacher. her teaching style was totally different. I thoughted she had various experience. At the first class, she gave to us paper which was level test. She wanted to know our scores and then we introduce ourselves in a partner. We got into know each other very easily.

Kate used appropriate materials and organised subject. For example, when we learned about cell phone situation, we divided into 3 groups which was telephonee, phoner inspector we tried to this same situation having a real cell phone. For me it was pretty shock, I was very nerverse, had many mistake but Kate was always said to us that's ok! you're right. When we were doing these activies she always was busy to moniter to us and then gave to us feedback. The class was going well her stream.  We got a special chance to meet foreign people in the restaurant thanks to her. After that, I had more encourage and touching my mind how she was trying to our motivation? For me, she was perfect teacher and my role model.

Conclusion

Basically my second language environment was traditional style. It was exactly explain style. I think teacher role is most important during teenager because some students rely on their teacher, and decide to their dreams. Teachers can ruin them or make them change for the world. I want to be effective teacher. I will teach to students 4 skills at a balance.