After reading the course syllabus and the assigned readings,
also after the previous experience of TE401, my goal for this semester is to
learn more about American Elementary classrooms, and try to ask more questions
while I am in my field classroom in order to have a better understanding.
During last semester’s observation, I learned a lot about American Elementary
classrooms. I observed how teachers are interacting with students and I had the
opportunity to work with students as a teacher too. I have to say that I am
still a learner. I’m a learner of English, and a learner of American culture.
Education system is part of a culture, it is so specific that American citizens
still have trouble to get use to it, not to mention I am a Chinese student, who
has been here only for three and half a year. The reading provided a lot
statistics that shows the change of America’s Education System and the needing
of professional certified teachers. It also addressed lots of problems that
American Education is currently facing at. Then I wonder, me, as a Chinese, I
grown up in China, I was educated under Chinese Education system, and now I’m
here, only after four years of learning, even if I got the teacher’s
certification, am I a professional teacher who can help the kids that in
poverty, in need, or in special situations? During last semester’s field
placement, I already felt a great culture difference impact. I experienced and
observed that as a teacher, working with students does not only mean to teach
them, but also means to take responsibility for them. A teacher needs to
understand the students’ backgrounds, characteristics, learning styles. The
more I am learning and observing, the more scared I feel as being unprepared. I
feel I have so much to learn. I think in this semester, I am still going to
focus on improving myself and try to learn more, adapt more to the American
Education system.
The reading also reminds me that one of my American friends
is doing a program called teach for America. She was placed in a school in
Chicago, but recently got life threating danger and the program has to move her
to another place. It sounds scary to be a teacher, but if the teacher’s life is
threatened, imagine what environment that the students are living and learning
in. The reading stated that America now has a highly demand on teachers for
poverty students and colored students. My major is TESOL, and I do want to
help, however, I still need to try harder.
I am so glad that I am in this section and I have these kind
and nice classmates. They have accepted me, helped me, and encouraged me for
the whole time.
