Portfolio Reflective Statement
They say that music is the universal language because everybody who listens to it understands it and can relate to it, at least metaphorically. However, in the business world, I think that English is the “universal language.” This may not be a fact, but given that it is the most widely used language in the realm of business, I think that English may as well be the universal language. Especially with the ongoing trend in globalization, I have come to believe that the ability to communicate in English is becoming even more important.
This is true not only in the corporate world. I believe that even when it comes to social interactions, the ability to communicate in English helps a lot in uniting people and in helping them understand each other and their differences. With technology making our world seem like a smaller place, I believe that the ability to communicate in English can facilitate the establishment of good relations as well as the resolution of conflicts. With communication, progress and advancement become more easily achieved.
These beliefs are what drove me to enroll for a graduate degree in TESOL at the California State University in San Bernardino. With the growing need for learning to communicate in English among the many non-English speaking countries in the world, I believe that the career opportunities in this field abound. Not only do they offer career opportunities that come with great remuneration packages, they also offer a wide range of experiences. In particular, a specialization in this field will enable me or any TESOL professional to interact with people of various backgrounds. Since so many non-English speaking countries have a great need for TESOL educators, this also gives me the opportunity to travel and meet and interact with people of different cultures. More importantly, this will give me the opportunity to gain a sense of fulfillment from being able to impart my knowledge with others and being able to share my experiences with them. Indeed, the opportunities are endless, and each one is as exciting as the other.
However, I believe that one of the reasons that I am completing my graduate degree in TESOL is so that I can share the things that I have learned with my home country of Saudi Arabia. In particular, I plan to work as a lecturer at the Yanbu University College in Saudi Arabia. The university has an English Language Center where I hope to teach English as a second language to female college students.
I choose this educational institution because I share in their beliefs and values. In particular, just like them, I also believe that Saudi Arabian students should be given the tools that they need in order to develop a proficiency in the English language, as this will be helpful for them in their pursuit of higher education. I believe that by being well-versed in the English language, they will be more capable of meeting the demanding requirements and high standards that the best educational institutions for higher education impose. This will enable them to become competitive academically, which I believe will later translate to competitiveness and a high level of competency for them once they graduate and join the employment market. In addition, this will prepare them for their future interactions with the world should they choose to travel or pursue careers in other countries. By being equipped with good English communication skills, they will be able to cope more easily with their environment. I believe that it will also open more doors of opportunities for them as it does for me.
I believe that knowledge of the English language will be especially beneficial to the people in my country. Given the limited rights and power that women in my country have, I believe that learning to communicate in the English language will empower these women and help them gain more confidence in themselves and in their capabilities, especially when it comes to competing in the corporate world. Moreover, with these women struggling to gain independence and equal rights, I believe that a proficiency in English will enable them to win in their cause. In particular, this will enable them to easily communicate and collaborate with international organizations that may able to support them in fighting for their cause.
I believe that I have learned much from my participation in the TESOL MA Program of the California State University in San Bernardino. I am then eager to have the opportunity to share my learning with the students in my country. Being a non-native English speaker myself, I believe that I will be able to easily relate to the needs and difficulties of the students there. As such, I will be able to use this understanding and insight in designing and developing a curriculum that will be most effective for them. I will use my own learning experience as a starting point. However, I believe that different students have different learning styles and the many techniques that I have learned for teaching English as a second language will enable me to use a variety of techniques in order to determine the ones that will be most effective for my students.
In addition, with the use of technology and computers becoming more popular among the youth, I will be able to apply the best practices that I’ve learned in using technology to promote and enhance learning. I have learned a lot of interesting and fun ways to combine technology and learning, which I believe will enable me to engage and motivate my students in learning the English language.
My goals in growing as a teacher have been to enrich myself both academically and experientially so that I may be able to share these back with the people in my country. Being able to complete my graduate degree in the United States, in part, helps me to achieve these. I am being educated by some of the best teachers and I have also met and interacted with so many people from different backgrounds. All of these have greatly contributed to what I know now. Although I admit that I have much more to learn, I believe that the education I gained from the California State University of San Bernardino has given me a jumpstart in my career and in my goals of being of service to my home country and my home community. Needless to say, my experience in the university has helped me grow both as a person and as a professional and has paved the way for the many opportunities that lie in store for me.
