Since I came here on January, 2013......
I've been studying English since I was 10 years old. But still I feel pressure to writing something in English.
I usually make mistakes when I write in English: verb tense, prepositions, and grammar errors.
In this situation, taking ENGL 1050(Thought and writing) class, and going WMU's writing center were lucky to me.
I can define my writing skills. If you compare the essays between when I was in Korea and in the United States, you might find the differences.
Here's my revised papers and essays which were written in the United States.
I usually make mistakes when I write in English: verb tense, prepositions, and grammar errors.
In this situation, taking ENGL 1050(Thought and writing) class, and going WMU's writing center were lucky to me.
I can define my writing skills. If you compare the essays between when I was in Korea and in the United States, you might find the differences.
Here's my revised papers and essays which were written in the United States.
Parenting style : authoritative [ED 2500 class paper]
Western Michigan University
Eunkyoung Kwon
Many East Asian countries believe in Confucianism and Korea was also influenced by the philosophical culture. In the past, men had higher social positions than women. Because many countries were in agricultural environment, men were important to work. Korea was no exception to this circumstance. The age changed but a form of patriarchal culture has remained in the family. Many Korean parents tend to be authoritarian, especially Korean fathers. There are three parenting styles: authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive.
I think my parents have authoritative parenting style. I will introduce several examples from my experiences.
My parents always tried to explain something how I can do and why I have to do.
First, when I was 7 years old, I entered an elementary school. My parents said to me, “Eunkyoung, do you remember Nari?” Nari was my neighbor and she was a model student in her school. And they asked, “Do you know how Nari is an excellent student?” I said “No.” My parents kept saying, “If you want to be a good student, like her, remember these two basic virtues. First, always attend school and class regularly. Did you see that she always go to school every morning? Second, study hard. Nari always gets good grades on the tests. If you study hard, you can be a good student, too!” I hoped to be a model student so I nodded my head. So I attended school as the other students, and did my homework industriously. After working, when my father and mother came back home, they never forgot to listen what I did at school and praised me even they felt tired. But when I was lazy to do homework or did something wrong at school, they scolded me. Above all, they didn’t like me to be absent school except for unavoidable reasons such as severe illness, bad weather situations, and attending relatives’ funerals. In my memory, I was absent from my school once when my grandmother passed away. Except that event, if I had a minimum power to walk, I went to the school. Consequently, I received two perfect attendance awards from middle school and high school. I became a university student but I
still believed attending classes regularly is my basic rule as a university student. Sometimes when I feel that I don’t want to go class, I remind this to myself, “My father and mother didn’t teach me like that. Be ready and go now!” Then I can go to the class.
Second, when I was 9 years old, I started to learn English after school. My school had a program named “After school, let’s learn English!” I felt interesting to take the class, and my English skills became better and better. My class teacher and classmates considered me to the best student in the class. One day, my father asked me to quit the class. Instead, he suggested me to go a private English educational institute. I didn’t want to lose “the best student” title and I didn’t want to say goodbye to my English classroom friends. I said “No, I don’t want to go there.” Then my father explained me, “Eunkyoung, I think you have good learning skills. You have full potential. You might not know what the potential is. But I can promise that you can be the best student in the new environment. The language institute will be more fun than the school lessons. I
believe in you, my daughter.” Eventually I left the school’s program class and transferred to the academy. My father’s choice was right. The decision changed my whole life. After I moved to the academy, I could study English more systematically. For example, I didn’t know what the grammar was, but I realized and learned it in the academy. My parents didn’t forget to encourage and push me. When I got a perfect score on the test or promoted by upper class, they said, “We are proud of you!” When I seemed to be lazy, they said “Don’t you want to be fluent in English?” When I heard that words, I felt that I need to study. But I got confidence from the experience and I decided to be a middle school
English teacher. When I was a middle school student, I decided by myself to enter foreign language high school, which is famous for excellent students and good school curriculum. Choosing the high school, my parents worried and explained to me, “There will be two choices. Foreign language high school is nice, but other general high schools are good, too. So think deeply and we wish you choose the best one.” I chose the foreign language school and I didn’t regret it because it was my best choice. I was satisfied with the school and I could enter the university that I wanted to attend. If I refused my father’s suggestion, I might give up studying English. Also, I couldn’t come to the United States as an exchange student.
Last, my parents educated me as a “responsible sister”. I have one younger brother. He is three years younger than me. When I was 8 years old, he started to go kindergarten. The problem was, when my brother finished the class, there was no one who can care him. My parents were working couples. My parents couldn’t afford to hire a caregiver, and there were no grandparents or relatives who could bring him back home. There was no choice so my mother asked me to bring him to the house. She said, “Eunkyoung, as you know, we can’t take care of
your brother until we finish working. Other adults are busy, too. So you need to come back home with your brother when you finish your class.” In that time, a series of abductions of young children was reported in the news and that was a big social issue in Korea. I remembered the news, and I was afraid that my brother could be kidnapped by someone. I didn’t want to lose my younger brother. So I said, “Okay, mom, I will do it!” Since that day, when I finished the school, I ran to his kindergarten and brought him back home every day. Even my friends suggested me to play together after school, I declined it, “Sorry, I should look after my younger brother. See you tomorrow!” I repeated it for a few
years until he entered the elementary school. My parents always praised me a “good sister” to other people. The compliment made me happy and I could develop a sense of responsibility through the experience. Also, I learned helping someone is worthwhile. It affected my dream, so I chose to enter a College of Education and to be a teacher.
I believe that my parents were right. They taught me how I can cope with some situations, make decisions by myself, and be a responsible person. They tried to judge by the situations, not just their moods. If my parents were authoritarian or permissive, I think I couldn’t do something what I want. If I have children in the future, could I teach them like my parents? Maybe I can’t.
For these reasons, I really appreciated my parents.
Western Michigan University
Eunkyoung Kwon
Many East Asian countries believe in Confucianism and Korea was also influenced by the philosophical culture. In the past, men had higher social positions than women. Because many countries were in agricultural environment, men were important to work. Korea was no exception to this circumstance. The age changed but a form of patriarchal culture has remained in the family. Many Korean parents tend to be authoritarian, especially Korean fathers. There are three parenting styles: authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive.
I think my parents have authoritative parenting style. I will introduce several examples from my experiences.
My parents always tried to explain something how I can do and why I have to do.
First, when I was 7 years old, I entered an elementary school. My parents said to me, “Eunkyoung, do you remember Nari?” Nari was my neighbor and she was a model student in her school. And they asked, “Do you know how Nari is an excellent student?” I said “No.” My parents kept saying, “If you want to be a good student, like her, remember these two basic virtues. First, always attend school and class regularly. Did you see that she always go to school every morning? Second, study hard. Nari always gets good grades on the tests. If you study hard, you can be a good student, too!” I hoped to be a model student so I nodded my head. So I attended school as the other students, and did my homework industriously. After working, when my father and mother came back home, they never forgot to listen what I did at school and praised me even they felt tired. But when I was lazy to do homework or did something wrong at school, they scolded me. Above all, they didn’t like me to be absent school except for unavoidable reasons such as severe illness, bad weather situations, and attending relatives’ funerals. In my memory, I was absent from my school once when my grandmother passed away. Except that event, if I had a minimum power to walk, I went to the school. Consequently, I received two perfect attendance awards from middle school and high school. I became a university student but I
still believed attending classes regularly is my basic rule as a university student. Sometimes when I feel that I don’t want to go class, I remind this to myself, “My father and mother didn’t teach me like that. Be ready and go now!” Then I can go to the class.
Second, when I was 9 years old, I started to learn English after school. My school had a program named “After school, let’s learn English!” I felt interesting to take the class, and my English skills became better and better. My class teacher and classmates considered me to the best student in the class. One day, my father asked me to quit the class. Instead, he suggested me to go a private English educational institute. I didn’t want to lose “the best student” title and I didn’t want to say goodbye to my English classroom friends. I said “No, I don’t want to go there.” Then my father explained me, “Eunkyoung, I think you have good learning skills. You have full potential. You might not know what the potential is. But I can promise that you can be the best student in the new environment. The language institute will be more fun than the school lessons. I
believe in you, my daughter.” Eventually I left the school’s program class and transferred to the academy. My father’s choice was right. The decision changed my whole life. After I moved to the academy, I could study English more systematically. For example, I didn’t know what the grammar was, but I realized and learned it in the academy. My parents didn’t forget to encourage and push me. When I got a perfect score on the test or promoted by upper class, they said, “We are proud of you!” When I seemed to be lazy, they said “Don’t you want to be fluent in English?” When I heard that words, I felt that I need to study. But I got confidence from the experience and I decided to be a middle school
English teacher. When I was a middle school student, I decided by myself to enter foreign language high school, which is famous for excellent students and good school curriculum. Choosing the high school, my parents worried and explained to me, “There will be two choices. Foreign language high school is nice, but other general high schools are good, too. So think deeply and we wish you choose the best one.” I chose the foreign language school and I didn’t regret it because it was my best choice. I was satisfied with the school and I could enter the university that I wanted to attend. If I refused my father’s suggestion, I might give up studying English. Also, I couldn’t come to the United States as an exchange student.
Last, my parents educated me as a “responsible sister”. I have one younger brother. He is three years younger than me. When I was 8 years old, he started to go kindergarten. The problem was, when my brother finished the class, there was no one who can care him. My parents were working couples. My parents couldn’t afford to hire a caregiver, and there were no grandparents or relatives who could bring him back home. There was no choice so my mother asked me to bring him to the house. She said, “Eunkyoung, as you know, we can’t take care of
your brother until we finish working. Other adults are busy, too. So you need to come back home with your brother when you finish your class.” In that time, a series of abductions of young children was reported in the news and that was a big social issue in Korea. I remembered the news, and I was afraid that my brother could be kidnapped by someone. I didn’t want to lose my younger brother. So I said, “Okay, mom, I will do it!” Since that day, when I finished the school, I ran to his kindergarten and brought him back home every day. Even my friends suggested me to play together after school, I declined it, “Sorry, I should look after my younger brother. See you tomorrow!” I repeated it for a few
years until he entered the elementary school. My parents always praised me a “good sister” to other people. The compliment made me happy and I could develop a sense of responsibility through the experience. Also, I learned helping someone is worthwhile. It affected my dream, so I chose to enter a College of Education and to be a teacher.
I believe that my parents were right. They taught me how I can cope with some situations, make decisions by myself, and be a responsible person. They tried to judge by the situations, not just their moods. If my parents were authoritarian or permissive, I think I couldn’t do something what I want. If I have children in the future, could I teach them like my parents? Maybe I can’t.
For these reasons, I really appreciated my parents.
To lead the way someone’s life: a middle school English teacher [ENGL 1050 paper]
Western Michigan University
Eunkyoung Kwon
I believe that I’ve wanted to be a middle school teacher. Also, my FOCUS test results suggested me that ‘the helpers’ such as a school teacher,
a professor, and a counselor will be good careers. This essay, I will explain why middle school teacher fits in me. And narrow the scope of “a middle school teacher who teaches English”. There is a story why I want to be a teacher. When I was a middle school student, I had shy and introverted personality. I couldn’t easily get along with many friends. But when I speak in English, I could be a social and outgoing person. I usually helped my friends to study English. To help the peer, I could make many friends. And I could change my introverted personality to extroverted. Since that time, I’ve wanted to be a middle school English teacher.
To be an English teacher, I felt that I need to improve my English skills. So I entered Pusan Foreign Language High School instead of other general high schools. I could study English more than general high schools. When I was a high school student, I had a volunteering work to teach English elementary school students for two years. My teaching skills were not good, but the children did well in the class. Since that time, I firmly decided to be a teacher. I have started to practice and try to develop the teaching skills. I entered the Kongju National University, which is famous for the best college of Education in Korea. Now I’m majoring in Education and preparing to be a teacher certification exam.
There is another reason why a teacher fits for me. Korea has a good environment to live as a school teacher. Have you ever heard that the saying, “Students should not even step on his or her teacher’s shadow.”? It might be sound strange, but this means all students should admire their teachers. In East Asian culture, there is a culture that students have been respected their teachers from earlier ages. Parents taught children that “Teachers are the same as their parents”. Especially, Koreans have strong zeal for education. Because of the highest education fever, students and parents respect their teachers whether teachers are good or not.
Not only my backgrounds, but according to FOCUS test results suggested me to be a teacher. My personal type is described as follows: To be orderly when approach work, have a clear understanding of the objectives, and pay close attention to the facts. When working on a project, I prefer to collect the facts and information necessary before making decisions. I aim to provide them with practical help to support their needs. I am committed to meeting my obligations and take responsibility for them.
To support these sentences, I think I could be used this example. I was a reporter and an editor-in-chief in my Korean university students’ English newspaper. When I write an article, I always gather information thoroughly about topic and organize it before I write. Then I made several drafts. After writing drafts, I chose the best one, read and fixed it many times. To gather facts and information, I found data from thesis to academic journals. If I feel the material is insufficient, I interviewed some people as an expert in the field. And I taught how to write and organize articles to new reporters. To teach new reporters, I put the accent on “Before you write articles, you should have sufficient facts and information. Also, you have a close inspection after you write.” Looks like I was a rigid editor-in-chief, but when I work with other reporters, I paid attention what they said. I’ve mediated some disputes between the professor and reporters. The professor, who supervises the students’ English newspaper, wielded his power frequently. He suppressed the freedom of articles and scolded the reporters without any special reason. Whenever he did that, I resisted the pressure as an editor-in-chief. I suggested the professor as follows: “If you feel something wrong with articles, please give us specific reasons. I think an editor-in-chief has a primary responsibility. So if you’d like to scold us, call me first, not other reporters. And please remind that you are a helper.” After I said, he stopped the pressure. Many student-reporters who worked with me said, “Sometimes I was scared to write articles because of the professor, but I feel comfortable when I work with you. Because you always try to take your responsibility, listen carefully and respect reporters’ opinions.”
Many researchers insisted that teachers need to have particular skills. The skills are such as how to communicate with students, how to effectively teach students, how to manage the classrooms, and so on. One of the skills is communication with students. One of the essential factors for education to succeed and meet expectations is the presence of teachers who have effective communication skills. Effective communication between educators and children influences children's school adjustment, developmental outcomes in different domains, and their future relationship with teachers (Erbay, 2012). Skaalvik (2011) argued that “In their daily teaching and classroom management, teachers inevitably communicate and represent values.”
I enjoy helping and advising people. For me, helping others is the most important value. My parents always taught me helping others is one of the precious values. I’ve learned that people should help each other. So I participated in the “Let’s make knitted hats to save African babies” campaign by Save the Children. I’ve made knitted hats and sent them for 2 years. And I’ve made a donation every month at the UNICEF to help poor countries’ children since I was 16. I feel that if my donation can make someone happy, it makes me happy.
I think I have an effective communication skill. I have some teaching experiences through volunteering works. I had an internship
for becoming teacher a year ago. I volunteered some elementary students how to read books effectively, and I participated in a mentoring program, taught and counseled a middle school student last semester. Most teaching activities were successful. The most memorable teaching activity was when I taught senior citizens how to use their smartphones about three months. One of the senior who I taught, she didn’t know how to send text messages. She wanted to know how to send text messages. I taught her how to use it step by step. Two months later, she came to me and said, “My grandson lives so far, so I always miss him. I have a smartphone but I couldn’t how to use it. But thanks to your teaching, now I can talk my grandson with my smartphone. I really appreciate it.” When I heard the message, I was really happy. Through a successful communication, I taught her effectively and she learned how to use it. I felt there are many people who need my help.
The other skill that teachers need is influence to students. Persuading and influencing students can be changed their attitudes, behavior, and opinions. As I said earlier, I like advising people. I like listening peoples’ stories, and always try to pay attention to what other people are saying. For this reason, most of my friends come to me and tell their stories when they have some worries. After they tell their stories to me, they often said “Now I could see what I should to do first. Thanks for your listening.” In that time, I found the experiences very rewarding. I felt like I’m a counselor or a teacher.
Similar to counseling my friends, teachers needs to help their students. Most middle school students are vulnerable and easily wounded. Typically, they think their peer groups are very important. We can easily find that some students commit a misdeed because of peer pressure. In this situation, teachers should take care and help their students. Baker (1997) insisted that enthusiastic teachers are particularly good at creating beneficial relations with their students. Their ability to create effective learning environments that foster student achievement depends on the kind of relationship they build with their students.
Last skill to become an English teacher is not only the knowledge of language, but the methods of language teaching skills. Teaching ESL/EFL requires skills beyond just knowing the language. Teachers must have specialized skills and know methodologies for language teaching (TESOL, 2011). My first language is not English. I need to develop my language skills and teaching skills in native country which speaks English. So I applied the exchange student program, now I’m learning not only English language, but the western culture, and the methods how to teach English.
Some people still ask me that why do you want to be an English teacher, not a Korean teacher. I can answer as follows: “Helping others always makes me happy. When I speak in English, it makes me a positive person than speak Korean. Regardless of money, I think education is the best job to help others and makes myself happy, too. If I want to earn lots of money, I would find other jobs.”
I have already known what makes me and others happy since I was a middle school student. I still believe that education is the best way to help people effectively. To realize my dream, I believe I have passed the best ways that I could. Now I leave only several paths to go. After pass the ways, I wish I could be a competent middle school English teacher in Korea.
Western Michigan University
Eunkyoung Kwon
I believe that I’ve wanted to be a middle school teacher. Also, my FOCUS test results suggested me that ‘the helpers’ such as a school teacher,
a professor, and a counselor will be good careers. This essay, I will explain why middle school teacher fits in me. And narrow the scope of “a middle school teacher who teaches English”. There is a story why I want to be a teacher. When I was a middle school student, I had shy and introverted personality. I couldn’t easily get along with many friends. But when I speak in English, I could be a social and outgoing person. I usually helped my friends to study English. To help the peer, I could make many friends. And I could change my introverted personality to extroverted. Since that time, I’ve wanted to be a middle school English teacher.
To be an English teacher, I felt that I need to improve my English skills. So I entered Pusan Foreign Language High School instead of other general high schools. I could study English more than general high schools. When I was a high school student, I had a volunteering work to teach English elementary school students for two years. My teaching skills were not good, but the children did well in the class. Since that time, I firmly decided to be a teacher. I have started to practice and try to develop the teaching skills. I entered the Kongju National University, which is famous for the best college of Education in Korea. Now I’m majoring in Education and preparing to be a teacher certification exam.
There is another reason why a teacher fits for me. Korea has a good environment to live as a school teacher. Have you ever heard that the saying, “Students should not even step on his or her teacher’s shadow.”? It might be sound strange, but this means all students should admire their teachers. In East Asian culture, there is a culture that students have been respected their teachers from earlier ages. Parents taught children that “Teachers are the same as their parents”. Especially, Koreans have strong zeal for education. Because of the highest education fever, students and parents respect their teachers whether teachers are good or not.
Not only my backgrounds, but according to FOCUS test results suggested me to be a teacher. My personal type is described as follows: To be orderly when approach work, have a clear understanding of the objectives, and pay close attention to the facts. When working on a project, I prefer to collect the facts and information necessary before making decisions. I aim to provide them with practical help to support their needs. I am committed to meeting my obligations and take responsibility for them.
To support these sentences, I think I could be used this example. I was a reporter and an editor-in-chief in my Korean university students’ English newspaper. When I write an article, I always gather information thoroughly about topic and organize it before I write. Then I made several drafts. After writing drafts, I chose the best one, read and fixed it many times. To gather facts and information, I found data from thesis to academic journals. If I feel the material is insufficient, I interviewed some people as an expert in the field. And I taught how to write and organize articles to new reporters. To teach new reporters, I put the accent on “Before you write articles, you should have sufficient facts and information. Also, you have a close inspection after you write.” Looks like I was a rigid editor-in-chief, but when I work with other reporters, I paid attention what they said. I’ve mediated some disputes between the professor and reporters. The professor, who supervises the students’ English newspaper, wielded his power frequently. He suppressed the freedom of articles and scolded the reporters without any special reason. Whenever he did that, I resisted the pressure as an editor-in-chief. I suggested the professor as follows: “If you feel something wrong with articles, please give us specific reasons. I think an editor-in-chief has a primary responsibility. So if you’d like to scold us, call me first, not other reporters. And please remind that you are a helper.” After I said, he stopped the pressure. Many student-reporters who worked with me said, “Sometimes I was scared to write articles because of the professor, but I feel comfortable when I work with you. Because you always try to take your responsibility, listen carefully and respect reporters’ opinions.”
Many researchers insisted that teachers need to have particular skills. The skills are such as how to communicate with students, how to effectively teach students, how to manage the classrooms, and so on. One of the skills is communication with students. One of the essential factors for education to succeed and meet expectations is the presence of teachers who have effective communication skills. Effective communication between educators and children influences children's school adjustment, developmental outcomes in different domains, and their future relationship with teachers (Erbay, 2012). Skaalvik (2011) argued that “In their daily teaching and classroom management, teachers inevitably communicate and represent values.”
I enjoy helping and advising people. For me, helping others is the most important value. My parents always taught me helping others is one of the precious values. I’ve learned that people should help each other. So I participated in the “Let’s make knitted hats to save African babies” campaign by Save the Children. I’ve made knitted hats and sent them for 2 years. And I’ve made a donation every month at the UNICEF to help poor countries’ children since I was 16. I feel that if my donation can make someone happy, it makes me happy.
I think I have an effective communication skill. I have some teaching experiences through volunteering works. I had an internship
for becoming teacher a year ago. I volunteered some elementary students how to read books effectively, and I participated in a mentoring program, taught and counseled a middle school student last semester. Most teaching activities were successful. The most memorable teaching activity was when I taught senior citizens how to use their smartphones about three months. One of the senior who I taught, she didn’t know how to send text messages. She wanted to know how to send text messages. I taught her how to use it step by step. Two months later, she came to me and said, “My grandson lives so far, so I always miss him. I have a smartphone but I couldn’t how to use it. But thanks to your teaching, now I can talk my grandson with my smartphone. I really appreciate it.” When I heard the message, I was really happy. Through a successful communication, I taught her effectively and she learned how to use it. I felt there are many people who need my help.
The other skill that teachers need is influence to students. Persuading and influencing students can be changed their attitudes, behavior, and opinions. As I said earlier, I like advising people. I like listening peoples’ stories, and always try to pay attention to what other people are saying. For this reason, most of my friends come to me and tell their stories when they have some worries. After they tell their stories to me, they often said “Now I could see what I should to do first. Thanks for your listening.” In that time, I found the experiences very rewarding. I felt like I’m a counselor or a teacher.
Similar to counseling my friends, teachers needs to help their students. Most middle school students are vulnerable and easily wounded. Typically, they think their peer groups are very important. We can easily find that some students commit a misdeed because of peer pressure. In this situation, teachers should take care and help their students. Baker (1997) insisted that enthusiastic teachers are particularly good at creating beneficial relations with their students. Their ability to create effective learning environments that foster student achievement depends on the kind of relationship they build with their students.
Last skill to become an English teacher is not only the knowledge of language, but the methods of language teaching skills. Teaching ESL/EFL requires skills beyond just knowing the language. Teachers must have specialized skills and know methodologies for language teaching (TESOL, 2011). My first language is not English. I need to develop my language skills and teaching skills in native country which speaks English. So I applied the exchange student program, now I’m learning not only English language, but the western culture, and the methods how to teach English.
Some people still ask me that why do you want to be an English teacher, not a Korean teacher. I can answer as follows: “Helping others always makes me happy. When I speak in English, it makes me a positive person than speak Korean. Regardless of money, I think education is the best job to help others and makes myself happy, too. If I want to earn lots of money, I would find other jobs.”
I have already known what makes me and others happy since I was a middle school student. I still believe that education is the best way to help people effectively. To realize my dream, I believe I have passed the best ways that I could. Now I leave only several paths to go. After pass the ways, I wish I could be a competent middle school English teacher in Korea.