ESL Teacher Reflection #1

Even though it has only been 3 weeks, I already feel like I’m developing into a better ESL teacher than I was when I first started this course.  Our discussions and readings have gotten me thinking a lot about what kind of language learner I am and how that translates to my ability as a language teacher.  My perspective of language and understanding language has changed and I am beginning to look at it in a different light than I did before.  One of my goals has always been to become fluent in Spanish and to be perfect at it in every way.  I am now realizing that it is not necessary for me to be perfect as long as I have communicative competence. After my study abroad experience in Spain last summer, I felt extremely confident in my communicative abilities.  Now I’m nervous to start speaking again because I’ve been out of practice for over a year.  

On a positive note, I think my study abroad experience helped me develop my strategic and sociolinguistic competence which will help influence my competence as a language teacher.  With that experience, I was able to immerse in the Spanish culture and language and learn how to use strategies to negotiate meaning and express my thoughts, while also adjusting to the role I played in the society there.  I think this experience will help me empathize better with English language learners who might be going through a similar culture shock to the one I went through.  Overall, I think it will have a positive effect on my teaching. 

I’m looking forward to the rest of this class and where it will take me as a language learner and a language teacher, and I’m also excited to start my TE 401 placement so that maybe (hopefully) I can use some of the ideas in this class with my students there.  Even though I think this class will help me be better prepared for my own teaching career and encountering ESL students, I’m nervous about being able to adapt to every student I have in the classroom, ESL or not, and teach them in the best way possible for them.  There are just so many methods and approaches that it seems impossible to get every student to the level you want them to be at.  Overall, I am excited for what the rest of the semester will bring and am excited to see how I can develop as an ESL teacher.