Teach English in XiAnghuAqiao Jiedao - Shanghai Shi

Foreign Language ExperienceAs the world seems to grow smaller and more intertwined with each other, the words foreign language does not seem to be too foreign anymore. Different languages have been taught and studied for years, yet in the past century or so teaching english as a Foreign Language or studying it as a foreign language has expanded tremendously and methods have changed and/or improved over time as well. That being said, out on the market, there are so many books, articles, programs, and websites that assist in studying english as a Foreign Language and/or teaching it. Some well-know programs like Youth for Understanding, The Rotary Club, CIEE, and the SA- Study Abroad Programs are not just for studying and experiencing english-speaking countries but other countries and cultures as well. These programs provide students the opportunity to not only study the language of the country they are visiting but to understand the culture, the people, the history, their background and all. I feel learning a language without understanding its foundation is an incomplete experience. For that reason, teaching english as a Foreign Language, it is our responsibility as teachers to incorporate culture into our classes for the students to receive a more well-round experience as they learn this foreign language. The Foreign Language Experience does not stop at books, articles, or a program; that is only just the beginning. The foreign language experience involves comprehension, communication, relationships, and continuous improvement for the student. It requires struggle, some failures, some frustration as the student learns to use this new found language. ?Acquiring a language is learning a skill, not a body of information. It's as much like learning to swim or ride a bike as it is like learning about the, Revolutionary War. That is, you must not only understand the ideas and concepts, have information at hand, but you must also make your body accustomed to using that information in physical activity: in this case the physical activity involved is speaking, listening, writing and reading.? Therefore, as teachers, we need to make sure that these activities are included in our lessons to provide the most assistance in their Foreign Language Experience. In additions to that, I believe the journey that our students will take as they learn this foreign language should be a journey that we understand ourselves so that we can better assist them. With that said, I too, have lived the Foreign Language Experience as a child and as an adult. I studied spanish and Russian in High school; however, I did not get an opportunity to visit the country. Yet, once I discovered the japanese language, the true journey began for me. It was an amazing experience that I have been benefiting from ever since. It was an encounter, like other students, that I struggled with, I made mistakes, I lacked confidence in and the journey was long but in the end, it has been rewarding just like our students will feel once they get to a point of fluency. In conclusion, we as teachers of a foreign language need to understand the experience our students will have, know how to provide the right methods for them, and present and encourage a well-rounded experience for them. Even though books, articles, and programs will aid a student?s experience, this Foreign Language Experience starts with us as teachers. We help open up this whole new world for our students to bring them closer to others, but it is their choice what they do with their experience as they learn this foreign language. The Foreign Language Experience is a true and unique encounter for each person. I encourage the challenge to anyone who is willing to take the risk. References: 1. A Few Brief Suggestions on Studying a Foreign Language, By the Augustine Club at Columbia University, 1997 www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/study/lingua.html