Teach English in SAngzi Zhen - Tianjin

Foreign Language ExperienceI am going to talk about foreign language experience, since I have lived in South Korea for 2 years (with a few breaks home). When I was in Elementary School, we had to take a french class. It was horrible. I remember the students overwhelming the french teacher, and I just remember it being an overall terrible experience. I also remember him (Mr.Xavier was his name), getting so aggravated during class because the students would go wild in his class. He had no control. I did not learn any french in that class. Then, in High School, I opted to take a french course, thinking it would be easier than in Elementary school. I was wrong. It was so very hard for me to grasp the language, the syllables, and the pronunciation. Maybe it was because of my South Louisiana dialect, I?m not sure. But I do remember it being extremely difficult. When I graduated from University, I decided I wanted to teach overseas. I knew it was going to be a challenge. My experience with foreign language has been quite interesting, to say the least. As soon as I landed the first time in South Korea, I was overwhelmed by the people speaking in another language. I prepared myself before I left the US, but nothing can prepare you for the first time where YOU are the ?foreigner?. Thankfully, some of the airport staff could speak english. Culture shock is an understatement. It was "life and language shock? especially for me. I remember thinking there was riots going on outside, to later find out that it was just a truck selling electronics with a loudspeaker on top. Because I didn?t know the language, I didn?t know any different. Then I would go to the stores to buy something and they could not understand one word I was saying. I found myself playing charades most of the time my first year here. I remember before I left Louisiana, my Uncle told me ?The best souvenir you can bring back with you is the language.? Well, I would try to learn the language through some Korean friends, but it was so difficult, because they use little symbols (Hangul) , instead of ABC?s like we do, and also because the meaning of things are so different. So, when I would find myself wanting to get aggravated at my students for not knowing something so simple (something that I thought was simple) I would remember and reverse the role of me trying to learn Korean when I first got here, or trying to learn french in my school days. My point is that it is very hard for some people to learn a new language. We are so used to our native language and when we start to learn a new language it?s almost if we are re-learning how to walk. To teach your native language to a classroom full of students who do not know 50% of what you are explaining to them is quite a challenge. So I knew that I needed to take a tesol course for my second time over here. Thankfully, I decided to take it, and it has worked wonders. I am able to take things that I have learned in this lesson, and not only does it help me teach without being frustrated, it definitely benefits the students and provides a positive way for them to experience the english language. I believe foreign language experience for any person is great, even though it may be very frustrating and overwhelming at times. It makes you appreciate other people?s native language and have respect for it.