Teach English in Easingwold - TESOL Courses

Foreign Language ExperienceI have had a plethora of foreign language experience when I was growing up. Most of younger childhood, I was taught to speak my parent?s native Korean language. In high school, I was required to take spanish for three years. Finally, during my studies in a university level language class, I took several different languages including chinese, japanese and German. In this short research paper, I will focus on my experience learning German, what motivated me to learn this language and the problems I faced while learning the language along with the solutions I used to alleviate the problem. I decided to take German my junior year. I studied abroad in Germany because Free University in Berlin had one of the best political science departments in Europe. While I was enrolled in the program, I was required to take elementary German. I enjoyed learning the language and I did well in it so that is why I ultimately decided to continue it when I returned back to the united states. I was placed in a German only speaking housing on campus and lived with other students who spoke German at an elementary or at an advanced level. Finishing up my senior year, I took another year of German and was eligible to be placed in an advanced level class once I graduated. Like all students who take a foreign language, there were many problems I faced when learning German. Fortunately for me, I was able to pick up German easily because I developed a strong foundation to build upon since I lived in Germany. I was able to practice my German in every day situation such as ordering food, asking for help or casual conversations. Once I came back to the united states, it became much harder to find time to practice. Although I lived in German speaking housing, most students preferred to speak in english and we were only united by our interest in all things German. The students in the classroom were also not as engaging as the students back in Germany. Many also carried atrocious accents, which became really hard to understand. Ultimately, I feared that my German speaking abilities I gained in Germany would disappear overtime. However, I found ways to solve many problems I faced with regarding practicing and learning German. I decided to begin a ?Stammtisch? event where students would go to a café or restaurant together to speak German. I also began to read German news websites and watch German movies to keep me on my feet. When it came to learning about difficult grammar or vocabulary rules (which all students who learn foreign languages face), I would ask the teacher to explain it to me in German and to find instances where that particular grammar rule is used. It would help me remember how to use it. I feel as though my experience with the German language helps me understand what other students go through when they learn english. My struggles will be similar if not the same with my future students as they will struggle to practice their english and learn grammar rules. My experiences lets me utilize how I will go about teaching students english by having a realistic view on their success and struggles when they are taking english in my class. My experience will be key to help make their experience a success.