Several times throughout the semester, students in the SKKU-GU TESOL Program are asked to write "Reflective Journal" entries as a way of exploring the theories and ideas from our course in a more personal way. These are not intended to be academic research essays, simply reflections.These writing exercises are also a way for students to practice using the jargon of our professional field and to apply it to their own lives, classes, and experiences. Furthermore, we strongly feel that deep and honest self-reflection is one of the critical elements to becoming (and remaining) an excellent teacher and professional.
Each time I collect and assess journals, I plan to feature one essay here on the TESOL blog. Of course, this will always only be done with the permission of the student. (Usually, all journal entries are kept completely confidential.)
The featured author may choose to have his or her identity revealed or kept a secret. And, indeed, our first featured author has chosen like to have her identity kept a secret. (I will use the pronoun "her" since 90% of our students are women.) However, her essay is certainly one to be shared and read by many.
I selected her essay, "The Importance of the Class Syllabus," because of the unique topic. In her essay, the author reflects upon her own teaching experience, contrasting the differences she observed in two of her classes. In one class, she began teaching in the middle of the semester and had to follow the previous teacher's course schedule. In the other, she was able set her own curriculum plan according to her own design. However, you'll have to read the whole essay if you want to find out the results.
Enjoy!
(Congratulations to the author. You know who you are. Great Job!)
PS: For everyone else, feel free to leave comments to support your classmate!
