Writing/Reading Progress

Before coming to the U.S. to study, every international student is required to have an English test to check the skill level of communication. In my case it was TOFEL. I did quite okay in the exam on listening and speaking part but when it comes to writing and reading, especially writing, my brain was immediately shut down. I felt nervous, anxious, and my heart started to beat real fast. My hands started to sweat like crazy. An hour later, I was still sitting there with an empty page, nothing on my paper. I could not write anything and I hated to look at my results. Writing had always been my fear in academic study especially written exams. I have never been successful with it. Now it is a different story, my attitude toward writing and reading are very different.

I have been attending a class called Academic Reading and Composition (ESL 3202) with Professor Megan Rodriguez 3 times a week since the beginning of September, 2014 at the University of Minnesota. Professor Megan Rodriguez has taught me about processes of writing. It helps me organize my thoughts and construct my essay paper fasters. That makes writing easier for me. Many types of patterns of writing that I learned helps me to practice about critical reading. As the Professor Megan Rodriguez helps us to practice on reading essays and try to find what types of writing and what pattern that the Author uses in their essays. This types of critical reading that I have never learned before in the past and now makes my reading become more interesting. It make me think more about what I read rather than just reading the words. When I submit my homework, Professor Megan Rodriguez gives me feedback about my writing. She gives me directions to improve my writing such as grammar errors or how to use some nouns and verbs correctly. One feedback I have gotten from Professor Megan Rodriguez was the strength I have in my writing when I write about my personal experiences. These strengths I did not realize I had. I think about whenever I write anything about myself, sometimes it hard for me to stop writing, words are just pouring out of my head. I am so proud of myself that I can finally write something. I am feeling very good!

Today I am still nervous when I have to write something but those feelings are much less. The time that I need to write something has reduced to half. I still need to improve grammar and sentences structure. So far, just 2 months I have attended ESL 3202 class with Professor Megan Rodriguez, I can write much faster. I can finish my homework quicker. I am enjoy having ESL 3202 with Professor Megan Rodriguez and I am enjoying my study at the University of Minnesota.