Before taking this course, I had taught
children before and done activities with young adults. I also had taken
english classes with my fellow
japanese classmates and helped them with their
english, explaining things, correcting grammar and papers, and working on pronunciation. However, I had never taught
english to someone, nor had I ever worked with adult students.
Because of this course, I now feel more prepared to teach any age of students at all levels of
english ability. I have the teaching skills and strategies to create a class that not only teaches the students but makes learning fun. As to whether these ideas and efforts bear fruit in an actual classroom is yet to be seen. But the difference between then and now is that now I have the tools to “fake it ‘till I make it” and let experience give me the polish.
To be detailed, I learned how to teach adults, what tools I will need to effectively gauge language ability and address it properly, I got a refresher on grammar and learned about why I've been taught to say things the way I do in
english. I also learned some great games and activities to do with students and get them more engaged in the learning process.
As a
teacher, I will definitely use all the units from this course as a reference for my own teaching. I have kept a notebook with the definitions of some of the grammar, vocabulary and language levels that will come in handy for quick reference when I need it. I will obviously look and use whatever course book, materials, and system my future
english teaching employers give me to teach
english, but when I able and appropriate, I will use the knowledge and activities from this course to make my lessons more fun, more interactive, and more educational for my students. Or at least, that is the goal.