Microteaching

   After a year of studying in Dr. Huang's grammar and writing class, I did gain a lot of new and different things from this course, for it offered various and useful activities which are hardly seen in traditional courses. The three things I learned and harvested from this class are professional presentation skills, useful learning methods, and a broader horizon of innovative English learning.

   First of all, in the course of grammar and writing, I have gained a lot from group microteaching presentations. For example, reflecting on my performance in grammar microteaching, I saw myself greatly benefiting from it. I acquired a better understanding of the grammar I taught in class. In the past, grammar was learned in a traditional way, which was quite confusing. I realized that grammar could be simple and easy to learn if you know the correct method and make full use of the English websites. In addition, leading a group in grammar microteaching activity has greatly improved my cooperation and organization skills in teamwork.

   Secondly, I learned a lot of useful learning methods and online tools. Taking the Feynman method of learning English as an example, I can enhance my knowledge by explaining it to other students in simple language, which benefits both of us. Besides, using native and authentic resources to learn English also helps me improve my English writing ability. In the past, especially as an English learner, searching for real and liable information in English is limited and difficult. After taking this course, I have come to know many useful English learning websites and applications that help me enhance learning effectiveness and apply them in the future workforce.

   Last but not least, my perspective on innovative ways to learn English has been broadened. I realized that English learning should not be confined to traditional stereotypical methods. On account that we are now in the digital age, we are more accessible to many advanced and effective teaching concepts and tools. Examples like authentic grammar materials, original movie books, storybooks, cultural exchanges with foreign teachers and students, and interesting online quizzes. All of these are of great benefit to getting students more engaged in the classroom, which frees them from the limitations of traditional English learning.

   I also encountered some challenges in the course of grammar and writing. In the cultural exchange with Japanese students, especially in the online communication process, the difficulty that challenged me most was how can I explain and introduce the Chinese culture well to Japanese students. It was not easy to interpret because some of the customs and habits that we think of as common and normal are quite special, unfamiliar, and dissimilar to Japanese students. Therefore, I needed to search for the appropriate words to make them understand better.

   In conclusion, I acquired a variety of innovative and effective English learning methods and became more aware of English majors in the increasingly globalized world. Under the guidance of my teacher, the course not only broadened my horizon and imagination but also allowed me to show myself on an international platform. At the same time, it increased my knowledge, improved my ability, and enabled me to put what I have learned into practice.