First, I'd like to introduce my background and training. I am a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in Education. My specific focus was in elementary school education and I have received a year and a half of classroom training in three different elementary schools in Austin Texas, where I worked closely with my mentors to develop my teaching skills. Upon graduation in December 2008, I decided to move abroad to pursue a rewarding career as an ESL teacher in Taiwan.
My first year in Taiwan was spent living in Keelung, working for a cram-school by the name of Kojen. My school in Keelung was very low on resources, and as a result I feel that my creativity was truly tested and I was able to further develop as a teacher. Coming in to Kojen, I had an advantage on many of the other teachers, because of my background in education, as many teachers in cram-schools didn't specifically study education in the university.
Shortly after Arriving in Taiwan, I began my own studies in Chinese, and have found this to be very helpful in understanding my students. As my Chinese has improved, I have found that my understanding of Chinese grammar has helped me to help my students, because I have been through the same process as them, I know which areas of English grammar are fundamentally different than Chinese. I feel that this background knowledge better equips me to help my students and I am effective at finding and correcting their grammatical problems.
After working for Kojen, I took time off to further pursue m Chinese studies at Shida University (National Taiwan Normal University). During this time I continued to increase my knowledge and understanding of how Chinese speakers think and therefore was better prepared for my current job at a semi-American style cram-school. The curriculum at this particular school is not set and the teacher is allowed room to develop and teach their course in their own style. It is hard work, but it has prepared me for my future as an educator and now I am proud to say that I am opening my own classes.
The classes will at first be held in my home (which I will equip with a whiteboard and desks) and the curriculum is of my own design. When I initially meet with a prospective student, I will be administering a short test to gauge the level of the student's English. The areas covered in the test will be listening, speaking, vocabulary, phonics and grammar. After the testing, the student will have a few options on how to pursue their English education. 1. If the student is of a level that doesn't match that of other prospective students, then he/she will have the option of undertaking a private lesson, until a time where more students of equal ability enroll in the class. 2. If the student's level is on par with that of other prospective students, then a class will be formed. Class times are flexible, but there are two very different formats. Unless specially requested by parents, or in the case of private lessons, classes will be held on either a. Tuesday and Thursday, or b. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Tuesday and Thursday class will focus on speaking and reading, and the Monday, Wednesday and Friday class will have a much larger emphasis placed on writing.
More information on the classes to come.
In the future, I will be posting pictures of my lessons, and writing about my experiences. I will also be posting learning games and creative strategies from time to time and encourage other ESL teacher's to share their experiences and ideas as well. Thank you for reading and I will see you back here soon.
Logan Murphy
