Journey Through Language Learning: A Teacher's Perspective

Language Learning and the Teachers who Teach Learning a second language can be an exciting and beneficial experience for many, however, for some, it can be frustrating and seen as a waste of time, especially if you struggle in your first language. Like Yvonne’s story in Between Worlds, I can relate to her experiences as a student, as a teacher, and the experiences of her students as well. Her student experiences were somewhat similar to mine and left me wanting to learn more about Spanish, however, I had little ability to explore in the way she did. Observing my teacher, there were huge issues in how she engaged and taught us, including teaching only with the book and her opinions getting in the way of how she taught us. For Yvonne’s students, there was an obvious benefit for them in her desire to really reach them and teach them about a language, be it a first or second language, which is not seen often. Yvonne’s journey from a student, to a teacher, and the experiences of her students, is much like what I

In eight grade, my language arts teacher took the time to begin the remediation process with me for my dyslexia. She helped me to understand words better and to know that I could conquer my most difficult aspect of spelling and reading. It was then that I realized that I could do more and all it took was hard work and the desire to do it. This was a turning point for me going into high school. My English teacher in high school, for my freshman and senior year, was also someone who pushed me to do more. She encouraged me to creatively write and helped me to develop more understanding of the English language. She worked with me and other students to bring out the best of our abilities and to explore who we were as readers, writers, and to learn more about the structure of the English language. These two teachers were an amazing influence in my life