In high school, students were required to take a language course in order to receive a more advanced degree. I, like so many other students, decided to take Spanish as my language course. While I did like the language, the classes were not as fun as they could be, because many of the students in the class were only there for the grade and would rather goof off than focus. This made pair work a hassle, which lessened the degree to which I could improve my skills through effective communication. Instead, most of my learning in this class was done through bookwork and worksheets, as well as teacher instruction.

Things were completely different when I took Japanese as a language course in college. Many of the students there had a desire to learn the language, instead of only taking it for a grade. In this class, all forms of instruction and work were effective. However, the best way I found to improve my language communication skills was to work with a partner and hash out the grammar forms together. My teacher, Marken-Sensei, required students to really engage with the material. She would always ask questions to try and get us to relate things back to real world situations. I found this extremely effective and hope that I can incorporate it into my teaching style.

 I think my teaching philosophy is a blend between the communicative language teaching and grammar translation styles. I think incorporating both will allow my students to have great grammar skills and communication skills, both very important tools for speaking a second language.