Zhang Wenxuan: The correct way to open up international English teaching by playing with spoken language and minoring in psychology

May 26, 2022 | Student Growth of CLA | xiangbingling
 
In the College of Liberal Arts sharing session, a girl who holds offers from Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Southern California impressed the students and faculties with her fluent English
 
Today, she is our protagonist, Wenxuan Zhang, a girl from the English major. First of all, let us take a look at how she spends her day through a video.
 
Just as the “aha moment” Wenxuan mentioned, life is a journey of exploration. Slowing down and reflecting on this journey will always surprise us with unexpected great moments. Today, Wenxuan will also tell us about the great moments in the four years of her college life.
 
 
 
 
 
 
How to decide what to learn for graduate study? This is a tricky question for everyone, and Wenxuan is no exception. She admitted that she experienced confusion when it came to decision-making
During the summer vacation of her first year, Wenxuan went to Bali as a volunteer to teach local students English, having her first English-teaching experience in life. Within a week, she and her partner tried to involve the students in class by designing games, organizing students to perform, etc. Eventually, they turned the silent classroom into an active one. It was this experience that helped her discover the meaning of education.
In her sophomore year, Wenxuan interned at a language-learning institution. She believes that effective communication and understanding of the students are much more important than pushing the students to learn. Also, designing different teaching plans for different students made her realize how diverse her students can be as a future educator. Thus, it is significant to teach students in accordance with their abilities and personalities
To better understand the psychology of second-language learners, Wenxuan also minored in Psychology. In her junior year, she registered for Dr. Qian Li’s Psychology of Learning, learning the theories of “learning.” For example, the “motivation” in Psychology of Learning made her ponder how she can successfully promote students’ learning initiatives as a teacher.

With the knowledge of theories, Wenxuan was curious whether she could use them in practice. Thus, she applied for an internship at the Peking University New Century School – Wenzhou, learning from the experienced English teachers and seeing how they design and lecture English classes. Though she met obstacles and discovered her weaknesses during the internships, every unique experience determined her goal for the future. Being admitted to the TESOL program at Columbia University is a reward for her effort.

Some students would probably put almost all their time into schoolwork in college. However, Wenxuan does not think it would stop her from pursuing her research interest in her spare time.

During the pandemic, universities across the country implemented online courses. The new mode of teaching in China inspired Wenxuan. Accordingly, she started investigating the problems and possible strategies to cope with the new situation in primary school English classes. To conduct more in-depth research, she contacted several English teachers and students in grades four and six, asking about their opinions on online English teaching and learning.

 After that, Wenxuan joined the 2021 WKU SPF program with Dr. Elain Ng in the English Department, coming up with her ideas and helping the research to be published. To enrich the project and deepen their understanding of the research topic, they traveled together to a translation house in Wenzhou. They also did two presentations at school while the project was moving forward. These research experiences promoted Wenxuan’s ability in all aspects and laid a solid foundation for TESOL learning.

 
 
In addition to her studies, she also actively attended many activities at school. During her first year, Wenxuan joined the WKU Art Troupe, having plenty of chances to perform in front of the crowd, and when she got into her second year of school, she became the choir leader. She admitted that she was afraid of performing on the stage, but the satisfaction and happiness she was rewarded helped her become a confident person in front of the public. “Of course, I want to do something I like in college!” She always has a lot to say whenever we talk about her experience in Art Troupe.
 
 
 
In addition to that, Wenxuan served as the vice president of the Speech Club and the president of the public relations department in the French club in her sophomore year. In her junior year, she became a student assistant in the College of Liberal Arts and joined ECHO-ENG, the English major journal. She said, “indeed, I might be occupied with heavy schoolwork, but the satisfaction brought by work can always be rewarding.” Achieving our goals always requires us to overcome hundreds of thousands of obstacles. How to enrich our college life and make it meaningful is always a question we should consider. Wenxuan has always believed that to try more and experience more is the best way to understand and develop one’s potential and develop in an all-rounded way.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 “WKU is a place where I have many opportunities to explore my interests. It is a place with possibilities. The College of Liberal Arts provides us with many opportunities, and I knew I should cherish these chances to grow. The English Department is a warm family from which I have learned so much in these four years …… “, Wenxuan said after the interview. As the graduation season approaches, Wenxuan is about to unfold a brand new journey at Columbia University. We hope that the four years of college life will always remain a wonderful memory, accompanying her to keep thriving in her life.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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