In this blog post, based on practical guidance gained through actual conversation classes, we will introduce ways to effectively showcase your communication skills and learner-tailored teaching abilities in your language school application essay.
Background
As a child, I had a boundless fascination with foreign languages. Although I was not in a position to travel freely to other countries, I was able to indirectly experience their atmosphere through foreign movies and dramas. The fact that there were so many people in the world living with language systems and cultures completely different from ours, and that I was just one of them, seemed incredibly colorful and amazing to me. The fact that there are so many people in the world who live their lives traveling between countries with different cultures, and that the number of people who benefit from this is gradually increasing with the development of technology, motivated me to study foreign languages with the conviction that I too could do the same someday.
Due to my family circumstances, I had no choice but to learn slowly by listening to English tapes I got from relatives and reading old books in their original language, rather than receiving formal education. However, even that felt like a blessing that I could not easily enjoy, so I was just happy. There are many words in foreign languages that have different pronunciations and completely different spelling systems, but the fact that many of their meanings are the same as the concepts we use in our daily lives stimulated my interest and familiarity at the same time. I received regular foreign language education at school, but the boring and rigid grammar system of “English for entrance exams” did not stimulate any sense of vitality or interest in me, so I remained lackluster and did not stand out in any way. This was because the language in my textbooks was not the vibrant language used by living people, but a dry and rigid system that was scattered throughout the pages.
School life
When my friends were all talking about Korean celebrities and dramas they had seen on TV, I had a secret hobby of trying to watch foreign dramas and movies without subtitles. Rather than Korean dramas, which depicted familiar scenes and lifestyles, I found the unfamiliar world of foreign countries, which I had only seen in photos and on the internet, much more fascinating. In addition, when I felt a sense of foreignness in the subtle differences in emotions and ways of thinking that were reflected in every little incident and conversation, I was struck by how many people with different personalities and cultures there were in the world. I also wanted to go out into the big world and experience it for myself.
My hobby was often misunderstood as me staying in my room, not studying, and watching useless things, but thanks to my rapidly improving English skills, I was able to avoid any problems. In addition, my experience of indirectly experiencing various foreign cultures through American TV dramas and movies, as well as Japanese and Chinese works, became a driving force for me to learn the languages of various countries. I think I probably had some natural talent. However, what motivated me even more was my situation, in which I had to live within a limited circle without being able to save enough money, and my desire to experience different worlds someday, which made me want to learn languages little by little as part of my efforts to achieve that goal. I was able to learn languages little by little, not because of any compulsion or necessity, but out of a pure desire to experience foreign countries.
Strengths and weaknesses
Once I set a goal, I am persistent and work hard to achieve it. Even if it is a long-term goal that requires me to look far ahead, I never give up or get discouraged. I believe that only through constant effort can I achieve my goals, so I move forward slowly but surely. I am like the tortoise in the fable who promised to race the hare, even though it was impossible to win, and never gave up. When I was young, I dreamed of becoming someone who could travel freely to other countries, but my reality was far from that future, and it seemed that I would have to conform to the life I was given and live a life no different from anyone else. However, I believed that my own efforts could change my life, and as a result of my consistent preparation since childhood, I was able to reach my current position.
Sometimes people discouraged me, saying that I was dreaming too big. They said that people should set goals that are within their reach, and that if I set my sights too high, I would only end up disappointed. However, I was determined to achieve my dreams by any means necessary, and as a result of my relentless efforts, I was able to turn my principles into reality.
Life philosophy
I believe that learning languages is extremely important for gaining a deep understanding of foreign cultures and promoting exchange. Recently, translation services and programs have improved significantly thanks to advances in technology, but I believe that learning each other’s languages and understanding their characteristics is essential for understanding subtle nuances and differences in perspective. In addition, indirect communication through interpretation, rather than direct language exchange, inevitably creates a strange sense of distance, as if an opaque veil has been drawn over the words, which can hinder true communication.
In other words, in order to overcome the gap between different cultural systems and ways of thinking, we can learn the language that most deeply reflects those characteristics, which gives us the opportunity to understand each other’s differences and compare them with our own ways of thinking. This also serves as a stepping stone for building the foundation for communication.
Career
I started my career as an English instructor at XX Academy, where I taught intermediate conversation and advanced listening classes for four years. I also worked as an online video instructor at XX Internet Lecture Company for two years.
Motivation and aspirations
When I was a child, my family was not well off, so I could only experience foreign cultures through TV dramas, movies, and foreign languages. This motivated me to study languages in order to understand the cultures of other countries. Rather than accumulating superficial knowledge and indirect information about a country, I believe that learning the language and gaining a deeper understanding will allow me to grasp the meaning more quickly. I feel that my view of foreign languages is very similar to that of your company, which describes language as the most direct bridge to other countries, and that is why I decided to apply.
If I am given the opportunity to demonstrate my language skills at your company, I will place the utmost importance on providing an experience that encompasses linguistic diversity and allows people to experience the fun of learning languages, so that they can respond sensitively to the changes and trends in neighboring countries in this era of increasing globalization. If we simply emphasize language as an obligation that must be learned, people will easily lose interest and are likely to view foreign languages as mere data to be stuffed into their heads rather than something to be used in everyday life.
