If I were a College Professor by Amiris

If I were a College Professor by Amiris - August 2017 Scholarship Essay

If I were a college professor, I would want to teach a language class. I would want to help those who want to learn a language that they may have newly become interested in and have not gotten the chance to learn as a child. It is said that it is easier for a person to learn multiple languages as a child. Since everyone does not get the opportunity to learn at a young age, I would want to guide them in a fun and interesting way. In most language classes there seems to be a lot of book work, sitting and staring at the teacher over a long period of time. If I were to teach a language, I believe it would be easier to teach someone as if they were a child but at a faster pace. This meaning that there would be children's books, toys, and videos just like most of us experienced as a child. Wouldn’t it make more sense for someone to learn a new language the same way they learned their own? This may seem odd at first but if you think about it, this can actually be more effective. Instead of just constant book work every day, students should also practice the ways of the culture to get a better understanding of the way how different people live compared to themselves.
I have taken a French language class before because I was curious about a culture different than mine and in my experience there was not much work outside of book exercises and tests. Though those things are important, this made the class not as enjoyable as I would have thought it out to be. My grades turned out well in the class but I do not remember much about what I had learned. I think a class should be filled with more than just sitting and staring at the teacher in front of the room for an hour. There could be group conversation time, learning games, and other exciting activities to make the class easier to follow. Who says learning can’t be fun? As kids we learned through repetition and games so why can’t we do that now?
In conclusion, I believe that if I became a college professor I would teach a fun language class that is different from the other classes out there. The strategy to teach students like you would teach children is something I would think to be very effective if also taught at a faster pace. The goal is to teach so that when years pass by, someone can look back and remember a good amount of information from your class. I believe instructing a class this way would have a lasting effect on anyone who chooses to learn. Since students are older and able to learn more quickly, this can lead to an easier and more enjoyable experience. A method like this may seem childish but as long as students can learn well, that is all that really matters.