My Philosophy and Theory about English Teaching Essay

My Philosophy and Theory about English Teaching Teaching is a performance, a journey, and a battle. It is political, it is taxing, and its rewards are often not reaped until years later. A classroom requires quick thinking and reactions, and the modern teacher must succeed in lives of teenagers that are becoming increasingly more tenuous and complicated. All of these items factor into why everything a successful teacher does must have the firm backing of his or her own teaching philosophy and theory. When I stand in front of my first English class and begin my effort at teaching, the farthest things from my mind will be the academic battles between the proponents of whole language and phonics. I will not be thinking about whether†¦show more content†¦Students can learn a number of things in the English classroom - current events, multiculturalism, self-reflection and discovery, analysis, communication, technology - and my goal and teaching philosophy is to stretch these bounds of the English classroom so that students are getting a true and limitless learning experience. What I perceive as the nearly infinite flexibility of Language Arts as a subject matter is a main reason I am entering the field. Through the study of literature and the development of ones self as a writer, students can learn an amazing amount of things about themselves as well as the world around them. I look forward to giving students a well-rounded understanding of what a firm grasp of English - and all its tributaries -- can accomplish for them. In reflecting on my philosophy as an English teacher, it is probably useful to divide the prospective goals, or outcomes, of my classroom into two parts. One of these is a more concrete area of philosophy - to meet the requirements of my position. This includes meeting the standards of the curriculum in the state of Michigan and within my school district, meeting the standards of standardized tests like the MEAP, and preparing my students for their next English class, future employment, or college. I believe these are the bare minimum for any English classroom. Meeting curricular standards will be a primary focusShow MoreRelatedESL Program Application Essay1049 Words   |  5 PagesI hold a doctoral of philosophy in Foreign, Second, and Multilingual Language Education (within the TESOL program) with an interdisciplinary specialization in Educational Technology from the Ohio State University (OSU). Moreover, I have experience in teaching EFL and ESL learners English and in administration. I am confident that my academic and experiential exposure will enable me to contribute to your Language Institute in terms of enhancing ESL students’ academic English competence and knowledgeRead MoreEssay For Purpose1007 Words   |  5 Pagesof Continuing Education Instructor, English as a Second Language, in the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD). I hold a doctor of philosophy in Foreign, Second, and Multilingual Language Education (within the TESOL program) with an interdisciplinary specialization in Educational Technology from the Ohi o State University (OSU). Moreover, I have experience in teaching EFL and ESL learners English. I am confident that my educational background and teaching experience enable me to make contributionsRead MoreLetter Sample Essay1188 Words   |  5 Pages I am writing to express my interest in the full-time position of ESL and TESL Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics. I am currently a doctoral candidate at Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus with a specialization in Foreign, Second, and Multilingual Language Education (within the TESOL program) and an additional interdisciplinary specialization in Educational Technology. I completed my dissertation oral defend in June and will officially graduate in this early AugustRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Education1476 Words   |  6 PagesPersonal Philosophy of Education Submitted by: Wessam Elamawy . Personal Philosophy of Education Introduction: From the very beginning of my life I recognized the importance of higher education. I am 34 years old. I am Egyptian. I was born in a highly educated family . My father earned a Ph.D. in chemistry. My uncle earned a Ph.D. in Engineering . My aunt is a doctor. My grandparents were highly educated and they were great leaders in the educational field. This shaped my personalityRead MoreVisiting Assistant Professor Of Teaching English1296 Words   |  6 Pagesof Visiting Assistant Professor of Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language in the Language, Literacy, and Leadership Department at Webster University. I hold a doctor of philosophy in Foreign, Second, and Multilingual Language Education (within the TESOL program) with an interdisciplinary specialization in Educational Technology. Moreover, I have experience in teaching EFL and ESL learners English. I am confident that my educational background and teaching experience enable me to make contributionsRead MoreApplica tion Letter Application Essay933 Words   |  4 PagesCommunity College (CCC). I hold a doctoral of philosophy degree in Foreign, Second, and Multilingual Language Education (within the TESOL program) with an interdisciplinary specialization in Educational Technology. Moreover, I have experience in teaching diverse learners English in EFL and ESL settings. I am confident that my academic and experiential exposure enable me to contribute to the ESL program at CCC in terms of enhancing ESL students’ English competence and knowledge of the Western academicRead MoreTeacher Interview Report1470 Words   |  6 PagesActually, this is my second time to do teacher interview. Last time, I went to Shi Pai Junior High School to interview a teacher and asked something about the class management. From the interview, I’ve learned a lot from the teacher and her belief of teaching Chinese. Though to certain degree, this time the report is quite similar to the last report that I†™ve done. However, this time, by the demand of teacher Alice and the class objective, my target interviewee must be an â€Å"English† teacher. At firstRead MoreMy Educational Philosophy : My Philosophy Of Education719 Words   |  3 Pagesshaped their philosophies of teaching. In a world filled with beautiful places to wander to, experiencing new cultures and languages has become a love and passion of mine. Combined with my devotion to the education field and my personal life experiences, a desire to teach in the TESOL career field was one that came quite easily. My mother was once a student who had her own language barriers with needs that were unable to be met in the 1970s. With parents who did not speak English, my mother struggledRead MoreEssay Application Letter862 Words   |  4 Pages I am writing to apply for the position of ESL/English Instructor in the Department of English at the College of Western Idaho. I hold a doctoral of philosophy in Foreign, Second, and Multilingual Language Education (within the TESOL program) with an interdisciplinary specialization in Educational Technology from the Ohio State University (OSU). Moreover, I have experience in teaching EFL and ESL learners English. I am confident that my academic and experiential exposure enable me to make contributionsRead MoreTeaching Philosopy: How to Mark a Book by Mortimer Adler853 Words   |  4 Pagescollege English, they need to understand there is an intimate relationship between reading and writing. One skill reinforces the other. Competent readers make competent writers. The challenge is universal: How do we transition students from high school to college English? I would like to say I have the answer, but the answer changes with each class and every semester. There isn’t one set model, and I understand that my model will constantly evolve and reflect my student’s needs. I create my own reader

Prostitution Should Not Be Legalized An Opinion Essay

Prostitution has frequently been touted as the worlds oldest profession, for the simple fact that it has been prevalent in society for quite some time. In order to properly discuss the many social ramifications of this particular crime and possible ways for dealing with them, it is first necessary to define prostitution and to explore the reason why it is a crime. Prostitution is the exchange of money or monetary assets for sexual favors and pleasure. It is the paying for sex in all of its myriad facets, from conventional coitus to a number of lewd and arcane acts from which people derive pleasure. Prostitution is part of the sex industry, which includes legal business such as strip clubs (Weitzer 7). There are a couple of different reasons as to why exchanging money for sex is deemed illegal. One principle reason is that if it were legalized, it would be exceedingly difficult for the government to tax and to capitalize off it, which is one of the reasons in which marijuana is widely considered illegal. More importantly, however, prostitution is illegal because it promotes the objectification of women and their bodies, and inherently reduces the degree of parity between men and women in which the latter are viewed as things simply for the fulfillment of mens sexual desires. Additionally, there are a variety of noxious activities that accompany prostitution such as trafficking in which the will of another is subjected to someone elses. There are essentially twoShow MoreRelatedEssay on Legalization of Prostitution1607 Words   |  7 PagesThough illegal in the United States, prostitution is still a strongly prevalent crime happening all across the nation. Currently, a person participating in the crime of prostitution will be charged with a misdemeanor (Liberator 2). People every single day are being charged with a misdemeanor for this specific crime. Statistically, it may even seem like this crime is being caught more often than other, more extreme crimes. Prost itution is a strongly enforced crime that costs America large sums ofRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Enough Has It s Time We Decriminalize Prostitution 1131 Words   |  5 Pages A Rhetorical Analysis of â€Å"Enough Already, It’s Time We Decriminalize Prostitution† In â€Å"Enough Already, It’s Time We Decriminalize Prostitution† Patty Kelly persuades the readers that the American government should make the prostitution legal. She introduces the three reasons and the facts from both sides of decriminalization and criminalization towards prostitution to support her thesis. 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With the emergence of nation-states and democracy, the question of the legal status of prostitution became an issue now more controversial than ever. In Canada, this question resurfaced in the last decade with the Bedford case, which eventually led to a change in laws pertaining to prostitution with Bill-36 in 2014. While theRead MoreShould Prostitution Be Legal1695 Words   |  7 Pagesthat prostitution will exist no matter what because men will always degrade women, and women, in turn, can do the same to men, even though these moral aspects are not connected with the legalization process, mostly depending on moral qualities of the society members, and not on a position on prostitution. Thus, the essay will try to prove wh y prostitution should not be legal with the help of analysis of the articles of the well-known scientists. 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My paper will begin with a brief summary of the appealing nature of the industry while considering the positives of the subject; including specific facts and studies that support the legalization of prostitution as beneficial. My paper will then continueRead MoreShould We Legalize Prostitution Essay2516 Words   |  11 PagesShould we legalize prostitution in the US? The laws regarding prostitution, often called â€Å"the oldest profession in the world†, have been facing changes for many years. They are multiple attitudes regarding prostitution and opinions on the connotation this word should have but the idea people have of sex worker is usually negative. On a legal matter sex work has been discussed many time and laws regarding this act varies around the world. Some countries found this act immoral and think that it shouldRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should NOT Be Allowed Essay1218 Words   |  5 Pagesdue form of law, by which a free man and a free woman reciprocally engage to live with each other during their joint lives, in the union which ought to exist between husband and wife. Many liberals argue that gay marriage should be legal in the United States. In the following essay I will attempt to argue why marriage between the same sexes is immoral and unjust. The first point I will talk about is how marriage is a traditional bond between a man and a woman. In the bible; which contains most ofRead MoreWhy Are We Still Focused On Prochoice And Gay Rights?1602 Words   |  7 Pagesfatal punishable crime. Luckily today citizens such as homosexuals and women who abort babies are not getting punish such as death or jail time for making a personal lifestyle â€Å"choice†. Why are we still focusing on prochoice and gay rights? In this essay I will focus on prochoice today verse the nineteenth century and sexual orientation freedom past and present? In my arguments, I will answer ways nineteenth-to-early-twentieth century Europe represented, in science and culture, and sought to accommodate

Law and Legal Instrumentalism Free Essays

Law, a set of coherent rules and values within a society, is a human process. As such, it is crucial to approach its application within society in a pragmatic and realistic sense rather than a formal one, which views law as a set of mechanical and abstract principles. A legal realist approach on law takes into account extra-legal factors which help shape how law is used within a social context. We will write a custom essay sample on Law and Legal Instrumentalism or any similar topic only for you Order Now This approach does not view the discipline of law as a literal set of principles to be formally detected and applied, but recognizes that the interpretation of law by legal actors is manipulated by situational factors. BrianTamanaha in Law as a Means to an End: Threat to the Rule of Law examines how law, originally understood as an â€Å"instrumental to serve the social good†, is now just a mere instrument to further the goals and agendas of those who have access in its use (Tamanaha, 4). In essence, the notion of a common â€Å"social good† is no longer a qualifiable condition of law. In a complex, multi-faceted society, it is optimistic to presume that there is a true identifiable social good. Thus, lawyers, legislatures, judges and other legal actors are capable of using law to further their personal or collective political, social and economic interests. Tamanaha examines the ways in which legal actors, specifically cause litigants and judges, instrumentally exercise law. Thus, the term instrumentalism, a form of legal realism, is a pragmatic method which stems away from a formal application of law by critically examining cause litigation and judicial activism. Although law may be used as a mechanism to achieve a certain outcome, it is not used lawlessly and without merit as lawyers are advocating for a broad social cause and judges use law based on the merits of the constitution, given the benefit of time and postulated reason of their decision making. Brown, a case regarding segregation within the United States emerged with lawyers stirring up lawsuits by informing African American citizens of their legal rights (Tamanaha 159). The process of instigating litigation was previously prohibited in common law practice; it was not professionally ethical for lawyers to set lawsuits in motion. However, it became increasingly common for lawyers to achieve change in public policy and legislation by fighting for a specific cause within the judicial arena. This ethod was forward-looking in that the courts became a battle field for interest groups seeking remedial change; the decision of the law was not necessarily to compensate for any harm inflicted in the past, but to change the policy in the future. This expansion from the traditional bilateral litigation no longer was to award the affected parties with compensation, but became a method to attain a reformative decree (Tamanaha 161). Eventually, cause litigation was an encouraged means to a dvance societal goals, in the sectors of environment protection, political reform and mental health, to name a few (Tamanaha 160). Although such issues of public policy appear to benefit society as a whole, the intent of the cause lawyers who instigate such legal actions is questionable to Tamanaha. The lawyers in these situations are no longer amoral technicians of law, but individuals who seek their own ideological implementation (Tamanaha 156). The cause which lawyers strive towards becomes the primary concern, whereas the clients themselves are secondary, fulfilling the standing requirement before the court (Tamanaha 156). This can be very detrimental to the clients because they may not be aware of the consequences of their legal actions. For instance, Baehr v. Lewin, 1993 was a successful lawsuit brought forth to legalize same-sex marriage in Hawaii. Although the litigants won, the ultimate consequence was detrimental; following it was a series of amendments nation-wide which prohibited same-sex marriage (Tamanaha 167). The battlefield within the court became not a place to determine legal rights, but a remedial catalyst in public policy. Such political battles focus on adversarial ideologies rather than legal rules and merit. However, the work of cause litigants cannot be narrowly categorized as one that is purely self-serving. More often than not, cause lawyers instigate lawsuits by informing the oppressed and disadvantaged of their rights. By doing so, they use law to encourage political change to the otherwise uninformed public. These causes often grow to become social movements as it â€Å"provides the basis for a sustained series of interactions between power holders and persons successfully claiming to speak on behalf of a constituency lacking formal representation (Austin 2)†. This formal epresentation demands change from the power holders with a strong backing of social support. Often, these groups lack the resources and skills which lawyers can provide, offering their advice to enlighten the marginalized group to â€Å"initiate and nurture political mobilization† (Austin 4). The instrumental use of law by judges is immensely threatening to the judicial system and to a democratic soc iety as a whole. Judges who use law to achieve a certain outcome undermines the rule of law. The legal system requires that judges be objective arbitrators of the law. As independent bodies, it is essential that they remain impartial in their decision making and delegate based on rule, and not personal preferences (Tamanaha 227). This is a crucial aspect of the rule of law, which binds the action of the state to pre-fixed rules, placing judges equal under and before the law, just as all other subjects of society. The rule of law ensures transparency and predictability which prevents the government from ruling coercively. It is an essential component to a democratic state. However, when judges decide a cases, they may be inclined to achieve a particular result. In essence, they are using laws to achieving another end, namely one that strengthens their own ideological beliefs and interests. Whether it is a certain political philosophy or a particular social policy which they seek, arbitrarily decided cases and manipulated law enforcement defeats the characteristics of the judicial branch of the state. Because there is no particular hierarchy of values, judges are able to promote some while extinguishing others. The general terms of legal rules allows judges to focus on the consequences of their decision. Their decisions will naturally be based on their political affiliations or ideological tendencies. Consequently, it is difficult to believe that judges are truly impartial in decision making. The result of judicial activism is that private attitudes become public law (Tamanaha 234). Furthermore, the procedural process of the case takes a backwards approach; the decision is made first, then it is justified by the legal rules which judges find applicable (Tamanaha 236) Nevertheless, there is a certain form of procedure which judges are bound to. Although values are not ranked hierarchically, there are two forms of rights obtained from the constitution: specified rights and secondary rights (Bork 17). The latter is of utmost importance as it addresses the values held by the constitution, such as the right to vote or procedures in criminal processing, all which the courts need to protect (Bork 17). The former alludes to the principled rules which the original framers of the text intended to convey (Bork 17). Because constitutional law does not have a concrete theoretical premise on which adjudicators are required to base their decision making processes on, they are founded on neutral principles. That is, issues are addressed based on general principles postulated on reason to ensure that conflicting values are not lawlessly chosen over one another (Bork 2). Granted, there are adversaries in the legal principles to which judges ascribe. Therefore, it is critical for the judges to recognize that in deciding cases, they are setting legal precedent, and therefore should have a firm belief that the values being applied are done so lawfully. These beliefs are in relation to the legal system as a whole, not their personal preferences (Bork 2). Ultimately, Bork’s concern lies not with the decisions made by judges but what makes their decisions legitimate. The courts essentially work as advocates for the minority who otherwise would have no say on the issue at hand. Helping the powerless realize their rights is a form of advocacy that judges take. It is not about undermining the rule of law, but giving opportunity to access the law (Bork 3). Nevertheless, it is crucial for judges to base their decisions off of neutral principles; just as principles and values cannot be applied lawlessly, they just the same cannot be defined lawlessly (Bork 8). The critical examination of judicial review goes beyond it’s obvious implications and expositions of undermining the rule of rule. It is unfair to presume that judges are completely unreasoned in their decision making. There is a level of predictability as judges are bound to legal precedent and cannot decide cases in an tyrannical manner. Although the courts are not elected officials who are granted the power to delegitimize legislation, they are in many ways better equipped in making such decisions. For instance, the courts are distanced from political or social pressure allows them to make sound decisions in a timely matter. Elected officials tend to act on expediency and pressure when it comes to making value-based decisions (Bickel 25). Essentially, they are inclined towards one side of the issue in order to appeal to the interest of the predominate voters, as opposed to abiding to the fundamental values of law (Bickel 25). Judges on the other hand make decisions far from societal pressures, with more leeway in terms of time. This gives the courts the ability to make more calculated decisions, taking into consideration not only the fundamental values of the state but also the unforeseen implications of a decision. (Bickel 26) In dealing with the pith and substance of a case, decisions are argued to be â€Å"sober second thoughts† (Bickel 26). Ultimately, the use of law within a judicial context by judges and lawyers is not an arbitrarily unfair process. Such legal actors are bound to the values of the laws within society. Such values are premised on the rule of law, the foundational concept of a democratic society. Cause litigants are often involved in social issues and advocate for those who require a formal delegate. These cause lawyers may use law in such a way to achieve a certain outcome, but this outcome results in change in public policy to those who are otherwise be unaware of their legal rights. Moreover, although judges may have their own social desires and political preferences, they cannot easily sway towards them. Their professional duty requires them to be consciously rule-bound and rely on the precedent. Further, the basis of their decision is on neutral principles. Such principles are not vague and abstract, but stem from the precedent of previous judges in common law. Instrumentalism is pragmatic in that it recognizes that law is not a math; there is not a formula which judges rely on. However, social movements and changes through the judiciary ensures that fresh insight is continuously brought about within society, giving room for social change and progress. How to cite Law and Legal Instrumentalism, Essays