Write a 500-750 word essay describing a second language environment that you have experienced. Was it a success or a failure as a language learning experience? Why? Relate your personal beliefs to concepts learned in the TESOL 01 module: characteristics of adult learners, traditional vs. modern classrooms, teacher types, and effective teaching.

I, personally have been spending over 15 years on learning English since I was attending a middle school. I have met a lot of teachers and attended courses with a wide range of teaching styles, activities and methods. Some experiences were effective enough to improve my English language skills and achieve the goal I wanted to attain in the first place. On the other hand, there are experiences that can be described as ‘failure of language learning’. As a student with a hope to be English teacher, I have personal beliefs about how language learning and teaching should be done. One of my beliefs is that teachers should make an effort to understand who their students really are. In other words, language learning can be successful when teachers understand their students well.

I have successful language learning experiences thanks to the teacher who was aware of the characteristics of his students. When I prepared for a job interview of foreign company a few years ago, I had to improve my communication skill in English, especially speaking skill in order to express myself and answer interview questions in English. Even though I had spent for years on studying grammar, vocabulary and reading English, I could not communicate in English. When I enrolled private language institute I had clear goal that I wanted to attain. My English teacher understood my strength in grammar and reading English and also knew some parts that I needed to improve a lot. Plus, he was aware what I wanted to achieve from the course. Based on his understanding, he tried to help me reach my goal. He tried to give me a lot of chance to express my opinion to other classmate, assisted with plenty of useful expressions and gave me clear and helpful feedback to improve speaking skill. According to, Malcolm  knowels, an American adult educator, there are specific characteristics of adult learners. In his theory, adult learners are goal-oriented. They register in a course for a reason and usually know what goal they want to attain. Therefore teachers must show their learners how the class will help them achieve their goal. Most adult learners have a clear goal that they want to accomplish in the end. Therefore teachers should create learning environment where students could easily reach their goal and help them with proper assistants. Malcom knowels also identified the characteristics of adult learners and that is adults have life experiences and knowledge. One of my English teachers considered student’s experiences as a great resource for learning. When we had a different topic, he tried to make use of students experience and knowledge. For example, when we discussed traveling he allowed students share previous experience and I could learn about new expressions and vocabulary in the discussion itself. We all had a variety of knowledge and experience from work, family and previous education, it was easy to find something related to topic and connect to learning experience. As Malcolm knowels identified, adult learners have accumulated a great deal of knowledge and experience. Hence, teachers should find out what students already know and recognize because it can be valuable resource in the learning process.

One of teachers’ important role is to help students learn and achieve their goal through class. Plus teaching is, fundamentally, about working with people. Bear in mind, teachers should understand their students and their characteristics as well. I had some of successful English learning experiences and I believe that it was successful because the teachers had understanding that I was goal-oriented and accumulated experience and knowledge in life. As a adult learner, I had these two distinctive characteristics while learning language and thanks to my teacher who was also aware of it I could make the learning experience successfully.