Where Am I Now Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Where Am I Now - Essay Example Although college was challenging, I graduated from the University of Peru with a degree in Communication. Using my degree, I published a 400-page book of nonfiction about preserving nature: I called it The Dream of the Dolphins. After this, I found a job with IBM selling large, mainframe computers to banks. In 1999, I met and later married my husband who I met at an IBM advertising conference. We married six months after the conference and we moved to the United States. Currently, we live in a small, friendly, community in Norwich, Vermont. Our home is on a farm, and we have four horses, four dogs and four children. I am currently working full-time as a graphic designer at a very successful advertising agency in Woodstock, Vermont. In addition, during my free time, I enjoy reading a good book and working out in the gym. Some of my hobbies include skydiving, hiking and horseback riding. One challenging issue for me is the fact that English is my second language. This means that I ofte n have to use an editor in order to make sure that I am writing the words correctly. What many people do not realize is that students with English as their second language have to use other ways of learning English that natural English speakers. According to Yau-hau Tse (2011) â€Å"students used six dimensions of language learning strategies: cognitive, social, association, compensation, assistance and constructive strategies† (p. 33). ... I notice that I basically ask many questions in class to make sure that I understand what is going on. I learn best through hands on learning, face to face and lectures. These methods suggest that I am a visual, kinesthetic and auditory learner (Fleming, 2011). This means that I need to hear and see what I am learning on one level and if the course adds some type of hands on ability, it allows me to totally engage in the learning of that subject. I find that if I have more than one way to approach a subject I have a better understanding of what I need to do to be successful with that subject. Luu Trong (2011) states that understanding the learning styles is important in order to engage students into specific learning. He calls learning styles â€Å"a consistent way of functioning which reflects cultural behavior patterns †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 291) which means that because learning styles are based within cultures, they also can be stretched to accommodate more styles as they are develo ped. I am not sure that I am developing new learning styles yet, but perhaps this will happen later. Barnes, Marateo and Ferris (2007) suggest that there are many different styles to consider when working with learners and students today are part of a generation that they call The Net Generation. They say that this generation is very interested in education and that they are brought up in education from a very young age. I see myself as part of this particular generation and I do believe that my education is very important to my future goals. As they state, I have been involved with the Internet for a very long time and have and I understand my learning style very well. As a teacher/counselor/mentor/leader, I