ENGLISH? WHAT FOR? Nowadays, it is mandatory in Colombia to Study English in all Colombian universities because of globalization. Despite English is necessary to acquire new technologies and knowledge, many students do not realize its importance to improve their opportunities in life and they do not see it will help them to get what everyone wants in their lives. Happiness. Many students only want a diploma and to study the minimum. They believe happiness is found satisfying their primitive senses and in easy life without studying enough. It is part of our culture which hasn’t permitted us to become a great country despite our great wealth, resources and people’s creativity.
But it will be extremely difficult for students to do it without teacher’s help. Teachers have a relevant roll in the society especially if we want a change in our society. Teachers have to encourage students to do what they fear and besides that we have to get our students to understand we are humans so we are not perfect. It is natural to make mistakes in a learning process. We have to quit to the hypocrisy of our culture which pretends perfect people and mock about people’s natural mistakes. Secondly,
It is evident English gives students more English permits to see the world from a different point of view and requires a mental change. When you can see the world from a different perspective you will be able to understand others and so you will give arguments in order to get someone to get your point of view instead arguing without them as Colombians usually do.
opportunities in life. But, how it helps students to get their happiness? First, to learn English is an opportunity to strength self-esteem and discipline because to learn English is not an easy matter. You need to study at least two hours at home for each hour in class and besides that you have to speak in a foreigner language in front of your classmates so you are exposed to make mistakes in front of them and mock. It implies each English student has to defeat its fears and defeat the “osos’s culture”.
In our culture many people tend to use violence instead using valid arguments. If we encourage our students to see life from different points of view we will help them to build their happiness because they will develop new skills to talk to people and they will get to defeat themselves and so they will get better relationships and our country will have the opportunity to develop itself without violence.
A great man once said: “A great man is someone who defeats others, but the greatest is the man who can defeat himself”. Besides that, English helps students to strength their spirit, because if you really want to learn a language you will have to study at least two hours at home for each our in class.
It implies sacrifice, discipline, constancy, faith, and imagination amongst others. To learn a different language develops student´s brains because when you have to do an effort of this kind you develop new connections between your neurons which permit students to get new ways to do things and see the problems and their solutions.
It means students will be able to develop non conventional thought and so they will be able to give revolutionary solutions to problems in their own lives at home and at work. Finally, English helps students to develop their patience, self-esteem and concentration. To learn a different language requires lots of hours of work, self-criticism, faith in the future, concentration and persistence. If you want to learn English you have to understand English is not pronounced in the way it is written, you have to listen many conversations and dialogues to get to pronounce words in the right way, and each individual have to persist in its aims and speaking in front of its classmates to develop its speaking skills. To be a student and a teacher is not an easy matter. It requires a lot of love, patience and wisdom. Teachers and students have to remember what Sidney Harris once said about education “The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows”
EDUARDO ARIAS ENGLISH TEACHER.