PERSONAL STATEMENT in 2007 spring

This is the personal statement I wrote when applying for grad school in 2007 spring. Moira did me a favor and edited it, so it sounds much better and native-like. Ivy is writing a PS for her interview, so I dig it out.

I found myself very logical when writing in English (probably also logican in Chinese, but the problem with Chinese writing is that it's very vague and void of matter, which sometimes makes it easier to get through when you don't have a clear idea about what to say).
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I've been interested in English since I first started studying it in primary school. Initially, English was just a subject in class that I wanted to succeed in, but I always thought that being able to speak a foreign language fluently would be an admirable thing. Gradually, as I became familiar with the various aspects and unique characteristics of this language, I fell in love with it.

In high school, I started to read more and more literary works in English and the elegance of the language captured my heart. China is a country with a long history and a large number of great literary works, but the things I read in English gave me a chance to see beautiful writing from a different point of view.

As a result, I deeply want to share my passion for the English language and to help others understand it. The best way to realize this dream is to become a teacher of English. As a teacher, I can function as a medium between two different languages and cultures.
Differences in geographical conditions and resources have shaped the diversity of cultures and civilizations around the world. While beautiful, this diversity has also become a hindrance for people from different cultures to understand each other. Today, the world needs people who can help to diminish these barriers of language and culture. I want to be someone who can open the English-speaking world to Chinese students, so that one day these students can also share the treasures of their Chinese language and heritage with the English-speaking world.
Truly understanding a language not only requires one to be able to use it freely, but also requires understanding the system of the language and the way the language is structured. Therefore, a good teacher should have a solid mastery of knowledge in linguistics and language systems. If a teacher lacks this knowledge, they are bound to fail in training their students how to recognize patterns and interpret the meanings of texts in a foreign language. As an undergraduate, I still have a long way to go, but I have enjoyed my language studies so far, and am eager to further my knowledge of language teaching and learning.

Experience can be extremely important for a teacher. This includes both life experience as well as the skills and training needed to effectively handle a class. From the student's point of view, I know that a teacher with rich life experience tends to be more attractive. Knowledge and degrees are important, but they are not the only factors that make a good teacher. A teacher may be taken by the students as a role model if their life experiences sound interesting and inspiring. Therefore, I am always trying to challenge myself to take on activities that will enrich my experience.

In the Foreign Language Department of China University of Geosciences, the English students produce a magazine called “English Space”. Although I am not the founder of this magazine, I am always proud to tell others about it, because I have devoted much of my enthusiasm and energy to its publication. Working up from a beginner to the Chief Editor of the Culture section, I have benefited a lot from the magazine. In our group, there are frequently conflicting ideas and opinions, just like in any other group in the world. However, I have learned how to communicate and cooperate with the other members. Knowing how it felt to be a beginner at "English Space" helped me to become a better teacher when, as a third year student, it came time for me to train the new staff. I learned that the gradual accumulation of ideas and skills is needed in order to achieve a successful output. Working at "English Space" gave me a chance to see how teaching really works.

This past semester, I had an opportunity to volunteer as an English teacher at the Fenghua Aixin Hope Primary School in Beijing. This experience allowed me to have the first taste of a teacher’s job---bitter and sweet. Fenghua is a primary school for migrant kids, whose parents come to Beijing to make a living from other rural areas in China. I loved going through the school gate and being surrounded by so many happy little kids every week; but sometimes, teaching there also made me feel disappointed.

It’s not difficult to imagine that most of their parents are uneducated farmers from remote areas, hoping to earn a living in the capital city. Although the kids are at school, they do not get good moral education from anyone. They do not show any respect for their classmates and teachers, and I, standing in the shady classroom, could do nothing to change this. Since I only taught them once a week, I knew that I could not have much positive influence on them. Sometimes, I asked myself: “Would I be able to change the way they behave if I spent a lot more time with them?” Maybe I could. Maybe I still wouldn't make a big difference. Maybe the only thing I want to teach them is how to show respect for each other.

Through the teaching process, I have gained a lot of joy from being with the kids. Also, I have seen many interesting behaviors of children in and out of class. Their concentration span is short, and they can be very easily distracted by some small items, such as a pencil sharpener, an eraser, or even my watch. It is both challenging and fun to deal with them, but I need more skills and teaching theory to manage the class well. My experience at Fenghua school has made me even more eager to continue my studies in language learning and teaching theory and practice.

The purpose of education is not only to teach English or science, but also to teach students how to behave morally as human beings. Since I was a little girl, I have admired my father as a teacher who gives both moral and academic knowledge to his students. In order to follow his example as a teacher who combines wisdom and experience with theoretical training, I want to continue my graduate studies in teaching at Beijing Normal University.

My desire to be a qualified teacher has encouraged me to persevere through the long process of preparing for the graduate examination. And now, I am so glad that I can take part in the secondary examination, which at least means that I am one step closer to my dream. Through the years in college, I have gotten good grades and scholarships, which makes me confident that I have potential to become a more knowledgeable person and an excellent teacher. I truly hope that I will be admitted to Beijing Normal University so that I can achieve my dream of following in my father's steps and making a lasting contribution to the mutual understanding between two distant cultures.