Writing Feedback / "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray.." Childhood flashback [4]

Question: Many childhood experiences leave lifelong impressions on people. Write an essay in which you describe a memorable childhood experience and explain its effect on your life.

Memories from the past and my teaching

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray..." I remember singing when I was 12 years old as a middle school student. My class sang the song together under our English teacher's direction, Mrs. Lee. In Korea, we did not learn English until middle school, so it was difficult for us to sing an English song at the age of 12. However, singing the song, "You Are My Sunshine" took me away from my small town in the countryside and brought to life a different kind of culture far away into an unknown dreamland.

I don't know what happened when I sang the song, but the song made learning a complicated foreign language like English easier. Actually, I enjoyed singing even though I didn't know the exact meaning behind the lyrics. Through Mrs. Lee's instruction, my English class listened to the song from the cassette player as we sang the song together. Because we did this several times, I noticed myself humming the song when I commuted to school or during free moments. As time went by, we learned the meaning behind the lyrics, in addition to the grammar rules. I applied those grammar rules when I took difficult English grammar tests until I was in high school, humming the song trying to remember the rules. Without a doubt, my English score improved because of Mrs. Lee's instruction and my memory of the song.

Mrs. Lee's Korean name was pronounced similar to the word 'queen', so her nickname was 'queen' starting during her college life. The nickname was given by her favorite professor. When she revealed this to our class, she blushed a little bit and looked like she was in another world. Her tone of voice was always so gentle and nice. It's the kind of voice actor one might expect from a princess or pretty woman. Her voice made English sound sweeter and softer. Her gestures were like those one might see from a queen. They could be kind but strict with authority. I admired her way of talking and teaching especially when she inspired us to dream about bigger dreams, such as becoming a diplomat or president. Even though we lived in such a small countryside without public transportation, she inspired us to think outside the box. Thanks to her, I have dreamed of becoming an English speaking teacher since then.

It's been ten years since I came to the U.S. to study abroad. I am pursuing a teaching degree, like my queen in America. It's not easy for me to pass the many required tests, especially when they involve listening, reading, speaking and writing in English. However, I will not give up in order to make my dreams come true. I've volunteered to teach Korean to Korean Americans, in English here in the U.S for six years, trying to be nice and gentle like Mrs. Lee. In order for my students to avoid feeling as though the Korean Language is difficult, I've tried to have my voice soft and sweet. I am always dreaming that there will be more "little kings and queens" out there, waiting for my help with a sweet and soft sound.

Writing Feedback / A recent movement in education has been called "Back to Basics." Current curriculum controversy. [3]

A recent movement in education has been called "Back to Basics." Its proponents argue that the curriculum should concentrate only on reading, writing, and mathematics skills and completely ignore such courses as sociology, art appreciation, and drama. Imagine that you are a school principal faced with the task of making policy for your school. Present your argument(s) either for or against "Back to Basics."

Current curriculum controversy

Recently, a journal published that high school graduation rate in California is around sixty percent. However, that of the U.S. is not near fifty percent over the country based on the statistics shown in the press. This shows students need to improve more studying skills in main subjects: English and mathematics. Therefore, I agree the movement "Back to Basics" for students' benefit.

To begin with, students can have deeper and wider knowledge based on fundamental foundations; reading, writing, and mathematics. Basic knowledge helps students expand their learning by applying it to more advanced study. If sixth grade students couldn't learn multiplication well, they accordingly have trouble with learning division, fraction and proportion. Kevin, 11th grade student, is preparing for taking SAT. He has difficulty with math part since he is not good at it. He hasn't liked math and hasn't been good at it since 2nd grade. Undoubtedly, he has had low grade in math since then. What if he practiced Arithmetic operations more? What if he loved number to add, subtract, multiply, and divide more? Apparently, it is that for him to practice SAT in math will be easier than now.

Secondly, there are a lot of Immigrant students in schools. As shown in study, many pupils from immigrant family couldn't be successful to their school work, hardly going to college. It proves that lack of fundamental knowledge hard to lead students to a successful future. As an immigrant graduate school student myself, I've always felt uncomfortable whenever I need to read, listen, and speak in English. How much more writing in English? Even I got high education, learning English over ten years, still I am not confident. Definitely, I could not get a well paid job due to my lack of fluency in communicating with people in English in the U.S. There are so many immigrants who serve a job in restaurants, gas stations, and body shops which don't need a high education diploma. If I were fluent in English, I am sure that I will have better life than now I have.

Thirdly, students study hard for having better future to enjoy their life. Suppose that someone can't read books well. This person might go to see a popular movie based on published best seller book but can't enjoy reading the book, understanding between the lines. Suppose that someone is in cashier job. If this one is not good at math, arithmetic operations, he or she might not like to go to work and be in stressful since the chance of making mistakes going around him or her always. Building up basic knowledge can strongly lead you to have a room for adding sociology, art appreciation, and drama.

In conclusion, "Back to Basics" is not old fashion movement but very essential for students' benefit. By building up the fundamental knowledge, students can have more advanced learning. Also, they can have better life to go to college or get a better occupation. Finally, they might enjoy sociology and appreciate art and drama. As Korean saying goes," The house built on the rock is way stronger than built on sand."