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Sample Personal Statement for TESOL
In the thousands of years’ human history, there has never been a
country that blended itself with the outside world faster than China
is doing right now. Today the Chinese people are displaying
unprecedented emphasis and fanaticism towards English study. As the
most populous country in the world, China is proud of more English
learners than any other country in the world. This is especially the
case after it joined WTO when the demand for English experts increases
by the day. As a graduate from English department, I have a clear
vision of the present state and the promising future of English
teaching in China.
To our disappointment, the enthusiasm and quantity are not merited by
quality and English teaching in China is being maneuvered into a dire
corner. The lack of scientific guideline and the need of profound
theory of linguistics and education as its support may be the answers,
among others. As a result, we are in want of not only effective
teaching methodology, but also the mechanisms for feedback, testing,
evaluation and comparison. On the other hand, empirical ideology and
out of date teaching methods prevail in the teaching practice, which
results in deplorably impotent education and serious resource
exhaustion.
On the other hand, Language is not isolated. It has, as its
background, profound culture, without the understanding of which,
language study would not only be ineffective, but also to no avail.
Yet presently in China, what English teachers learn is purely
concerned with language itself, brooding a deplorable lack in a deeper
understanding of western culture and thinking modes. During the
process in which China is opening fast to the outside world, English
is a vital means, a superficial knowledge of which will bring more
harm than good to our cause. For that reason, the renovation of
English education, an honorable duty of the English specialists,
proves to be a must. Thereby I apply to your school for PHD of
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Yours is an
accomplished one in TESOL, with first class teachers, scientific
curricula, bountiful research achievements and heuristic teaching
ideology. Above all, English teaching is particularly featured in your
school, where I will be ingratiated with the opportunity to get
acquainted with original English culture and the integration of
various cultures as well. After serious consideration, I came to the
conclusion that your school suited me the best.
The application is not filed without careful thoughts. Currently I am
working in a bank, where the income and social status are quite
respectable in China. Moreover, my English ability and 10 years
excellent professional experience render me a promising future. In
spite of that, as a graduate from the English department, I am often
lost in an unexplainable despondent mood. Considering my personal
interests and inclination, it would be unimaginable to spend my whole
life in the bank, where my specialty could not be fully exploited
whereas teaching English would make it possible. Overseas study is the
only way for me to change my career.
Certainly I am clearly aware of the academic requirement for
application to study in your school. Yet with inspective reflection, I
come to be confident of it. Owing to an instinctive love for the
English language, my English study performance has been ranked in the
forefront since primary school. In the university, I made full use of
the 4 years time and for 5 semesters I was granted scholarships. In
the end, I boasted the second highest scores in passing the English
Proficiency Test Band 8 among the students of the same grade in my
department, of whom only one out of six managed to be successful. Out
of my strong interest in American literature, my graduation thesis was
decided on the title of Commentary on Sister Carrie, in which using
rich references, convincing evidences and creative analysis, I
provided my commentary as to the artistic and ideological achievements
of the great masterpiece, which with its original and persuasive
conclusion completed my university education with perfection.
During the 4 years university study, the comprehensive development in
my listening, speaking, writing and reading abilities was well
balanced. With the substantial curricula and sufficient references, a
solid foundation was laid in Guangsi University, where I especially
preferred extensive reading and English literature. In extensive
reading class, my teacher, a copy a week, provided materials, whereby
I covered many brilliant books on literature, history and culture.
Besides I was also a voracious and voluntary reader in the library,
absorbing nutrients from a great variety of English works. Another of
my favorites was English Literary History, into which my American
teacher filled much of culture and history alongside the 17th and 18th
centuries’ literary works and turned the lesson into a kind of
enjoyment. In the senior years, I got a better idea of the rich
origin, the theoretical modes and the development process of the
English language through higher-level courses such as linguistics,
lexicology, literary history and literature study etc, where I was
further introduced to the beauty and profundity of the English
language.
Owing to the special feature of credit card department and
international settlement department where I worked, I dealt with large
quantities of English documents in my daily work. The conventions we
followed in our work were also in English. By and by my ability in
using the language was greatly improved. Besides, I also persisted in
my English study and intentionally read and collected, through
internet, library and so on, books and references such as English
grammar, language acquisition, methodology of teaching English to
speakers of other languages and cross-cultural communication, etc to
get myself prepared for further education in specialty study.
My love of English teaching is inborn. In my spare time, I applied
what I learned into practical teaching work and gave theory a chance
to perfect itself in practice. In my English teaching, I emphasized
the comprehensive ability of listening, speaking, writing and reading
and I exploited many teaching method suitable for Chinese people such
as situational teaching, happy teaching etc. The quick progress of my
students’ comprehensive English level in the shortest possible time
was the evidence of my success.
Undoubtedly the United States leads the world in the theoretical
research and practice of TESOL, I plan to learn first the theory on
the English studying process of students of other languages and at the
same time, English teaching methodology, i.e. how a teacher deals with
the problems found in the students and helps them achieve good study
results. Moreover, I will get further acquainted with the language and
culture, communicate with the locals and enhance my own comprehensive
ability of the English language. I believe outstanding research
achievements will be obtained through my careful observation, mindful
reflection plus my creativity and inspiration.
Back from overseas education, I intend to go in for English teaching
in a top university in China first and eventually establish an English
teaching school of my own, where I will be actively engaged in
searching for the English studying method that best suits the Chinese
people to turn out more students with skillful mastery of English, the
personnel required in China’s economic construction. |
