Autobiography Analysis
DIRECTIONS: Make an
analysis of your autobiography by focusing on your inner teaching beliefs,
values, conceptualizations, thoughts, and actions. To the effect, you may
consider answering any of the following questions:
What personal or
schooling experiences can be considered to be the main sources of your
pedagogical knowledge?
I think the main sources of my pedagogical knowledge have been my
learning during the ELT and Master Programs, my experience as a teacher, and my
experience as a learner.
Do you think there is
link between your previous experiences as a language learner and your
understanding of teaching? How could you support your answer?
I think my practice as a teacher has been influenced or shaped by my
language learning experience. This is evident, when I acknowledge that the
different learning experiences and reflections have helped me to develop my
identity as a teacher.
How would you define
the knowledge-base you have developed throughout your language teacher
education and development?
I would define my knowledge based
as a center of resources from which I can put into practice my knowledge as a
teacher. To exemplify, I have learnt and used pedagogy, psychology,
linguistics, grammar, sociology, didactics, CALL, and many other fields of
knowledge during my experience as a teacher.
How do you think your
understanding of the nature of language and learning has changed over the
years?
I think that in the very beginning, I perceived language in a more
linguistic way, as most of my English courses at the ELT program were developed
following that approach. However, this conception has changed because now I am
aware that language is a complex paradigm that can be related to different
fields such as sociology and psychology.
What sort of social,
cultural, and political forces have shaped your changing conceptions?
I consider that what have really helped me to shape my understanding of
language teaching and learning are the influences and insights I have gain
during my formal education and my experience as a teacher.
Which of those beliefs,
values and understandings do you think fundamentally guide your teaching
practice?
I believe that everybody can learn to speak another language. If we did
it once, why not twice? Although I know that learning English is difficult for
some people, I try to be patient, respectful and encouraging. My experience and
understandings as a learner of English provide me with the some of the most
personal insights I have regarding the learning of other languages.
Could you identify any
mismatch between the way you think and the way you act in your teaching?
Of course, sometimes I plan and dream to do some things, but in reality
you sometimes have to deal with unexpected issues and you have to improvise.
Do you have any special
plans for your future professional growth?
I feel that it is just the starting point of my career as a language
teacher, as most of the time I have studied English but not teach it.
Therefore, I hope that the upcoming years of experience as a language teacher
bring me more insights about language teaching and learning and help me to
shape my identity as a teacher. I guess I would continue doing research, and
updating in the coming trends in ELT, and if I am passionate about it I think I
would like to do a doctoral degree.
DIRECTIONS: Once you
have analyzed your autobiography, visit five of your colleagues´ blogs, make an interpretation of their
autobiographies, and answer the following questions:
What commonalities and
differences did you find in the participants´ knowledge-base, beliefs and
experiences?
How could you explain
the occurrence of those commonalities and differences?
I would say that the occurences of these commonalities and differences are directly related to our experiences in the same and different contexts.
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