My English Learning History

“There are many reasons for learning a foreign language, and there is no doubt that having a good reason firmly in mind will enhance your chances for success. Most people need strong motivation to attack the complex task of mastering a foreign language. In general, people tend to study foreign languages for a combination of reasons that usually complement each other; a person may need to learn a foreign language in connection with work or study, but that person may also enjoy studying foreign languages for their own sake.”

Thompson, I. & Rubin, J. How To Be A More Successful Language Learner: Toward Learner Autonomy. Boston: Heinle & Heinle, 1994.

I had my first contact with the English language when I was 11, at Colégio Batista Mineiro. I remember coming home all excited after my first English class at school. I used to tell my sister everything I learned in class in order to show her how enthusiastic I was about learning the language. I think my motivation to learn English at school was intrinsic, that is, not related to any special purpose. For me, English was an interesting language and that was enough. “To be or not to be a dedicated English learner” was not one of my doubts.

What is motivation to learn? Read about it at:

http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/motivation/motivate.html

In 1996, my mother decided to give me opportunity to learn English at a language school called IBI (Instituto Batista de Idiomas), where I studied for a year. I remember singing the alphabet song and lots of other songs there. After that, I went to a regular school near my house and therefore had to leave IBI, which was far from it. I spent one year without studying English at a language institute, but I dedicated myself a lot to the English classes at school.

In 1998, an English institute called College English Course started giving classes inside my school. When I told my mother about that, she enrolled me straightaway and I studied there for eight months. However, I had to interrupt my English studies again because I had preparatory classes to CEFET and COLTEC examinations and I needed to dedicate my whole afternoon to them.

In 1999, my mother told me she had received some discount at an English school called CCAA, and asked me if I wanted to go there and do an exam to check to check how much I knew about English. I obviously answered “yes” and went there to do the test. I got a very good result on it and they placed me in a class of Intermediate level. I studied at CCAA until the end of the advanced course, in 2003. After that, I took a teacher training course there. The course included British and American Literature , Methodology and Writing (production and correction).

My first teacher at CCAA was majoring in English at FALE/UFMG . I used to admire him a lot, and that influenced my choice of a career: I wanted to be an English teacher. In 2002, I did the entrance examinations and passed. My studies at FALE/UFMG began in July, and from that moment on, I was sure that I had made the right choice.

At FALE, I learned about different teaching methods and I read a lot about communicative language teaching . At first, I was confused about that because I had studied English at a place that did not have a communicative orientation. After some time, however, I realized that there is no best methodology to teach English; it all depends on the student’s needs and learning styles .

I graduated in 2005 but decided to take the BA, which I hope to finish this year. My monograph is about Academic English writing, a topic that fascinates me. I’m currently working as an English teacher at CCAA, where I studied, and also at MAI. I also want to work at regular schools because I believe it is possible to help those who cannot afford to study at a language school learn English.

“Teaching is not transferring knowledge, but creating means for its production or its construction.” Paulo Freire

Camilla Glória Ferreira

e-mail: camiferreira@yahoo.com.br

Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/camiferreira/myhomepage.html