MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL student Pujaria writes about how what she’s learnt on her course will help her career teaching English.
Why I Chose Applied Linguistics with TESOL
Being an English teacher has been my dream since the first year of junior high school. That’s because I realise English language skills are fundamental in building international experience, both in academic contexts and personal development. Finishing my in state undergraduate study in English literature led me to an 11-year experience of teaching English in high school.
However, when my students asked questions about studying abroad generally, I couldn’t answer them because I had no experience at all in such situations. For that reason, and my realisation that I’ve never formally studied English education, I decided to pursue my Masters degree in Applied Linguistics with TESOL at University of Birmingham.
What I’ve Learned So Far and Skills I’ve Developed
Of the six modules I’ve been studying, Syllabus Design and Language Teaching as well as Using Literature to Teach English Language are the most practical to apply directly in teaching practice. These modules have uncovered things in the classroom that have been there all the time but I haven’t utilised to the fullest extent.
For instance, I learnt how to formulate chunks of activities during a single session. This not only avoids students’ boredom, but also keep them engaged for the whole session. I learnt how to take students on an adventurous journey through pieces of literature while keeping the learning contextualized to their authentic needs of English both in academic environments and practical daily situations.
Being in a classroom with international students gives me experience of interacting with diverse backgrounds. This has equipped me with various practical abilities for keeping the balance of such variations. I’ve learned how to ensure differences are respected, while still focusing on achieving common goals.
My knowledge of educational technology has also grown rapidly. Especially amid the advancing development of AI, the ability to integrate these tools without causing negative effects on the learning process has become a fundamental skill for teachers. Both my hard skills and soft skills have been sharpened through the learning process and discussions during workshop and seminar sessions, as well as when completing assignments outside the classroom.
Applying My Learning to Teaching
The particular discussions of the two modules mentioned above will enhance my strategy in teaching English. As I enjoy teaching high school students, I can duplicate almost every session of my learning here into my future classroom. The course delivery, the discussions, and even the assignments are very adjustable and can be tailored to my students’ needs.
The more I study, the more I realise that learning language is about strong foundation and practical habits. I’ll put those values as the basis of my lesson plan designs. In the short term, I believe I can help my students utilise English for everyday use more effectively. As for the long term, what I’ve experienced here can help them to design their own paths in using English to reach their future dreams