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"Language shapes the way we think and determines what we can think about"-Benjamin Lee Whorf. I do not ever remember a time when I did not have a passion for the French Language, the culture or the country itself. Born from this fascination of France I enrolled in extra-curricular French lessons from the age of 7. The tuition I received at this early age from a native French speaker sparked a desire to assimilate her success in imparting a love of a foreign language upon others. Equally, the complexities of the English Language have long since been a fascination for me; the study of where our language derived from, coupled with the constant evolution and modernisation of our lexis has driven me to pursue a career in teaching.
I found the opportunity to build upon and ameliorate my teaching skills with a placement at an English Language Training company. Here I aided pupils aged between 11 and 20 to enhance their linguistic abilities in tasks ranging from basic language acquisition to advanced IELTS training. I have since been back numerous times as I found it so fulfilling and it truly cemented my desire for a career in this field. My leadership skills are also an asset to my chosen career path and I have improved these through involvement in a Community Leaders course at school. This gave me the opportunity to teach sports and sporting activities to a variety of Primary School children. As a result I found advances in my social and public speaking skills. Part-time employment in a fashion retail environment has also given me desirable qualities for a career in teaching. I am able to assess the needs of individuals and tailor my approach accordingly; this is a rudimentary skill transferable to the classroom. Furthermore I have demonstrated a capacity to converse in French by speaking to customers in their own language. My leadership and team-working skills have been recognised with promotion to a senior position and I am in training for a managerial role. I am dedicated to my school life and my passion for a career in French and Teaching is reflected in my choice of A-Levels. The study of French is directly related to my choice of course. Here I have learnt about all aspects of French society, from Politics, Culture and Social Issues to the study of Classical France through the medium of Film and Literature. I also study English Language where I have been taught about the structure and origins of our speech, but also Child Language Acquisition. With the knowledge of such a skill I hope to apply this to aspects of my teaching career. However, I found that the study of Psychology has been insightful into understanding Gender Development, Cognitive Behaviour and perhaps most importantly the impact of positive and negative reinforcement on a child's progress. This wisdom will contribute to the goal of creating an optimum learning environment. In addition I follow the course of Extended Project where I have learnt about time management, essay writing and research and analytical skills; all favourable attributes for University Study. The opportunities I have been given throughout school are beneficial for my career. I held the post as senior prefect and am currently Head House Captain where I lead the school in inter-house events. I was also delighted to receive the Spanish and Psychology subject prizes and French commendation at the annual prize giving ceremony. My hobbies also lend themselves well to a career in French and Teaching. I participate in homework help for foreign students and enjoy doing wider reading in French; I'm fascinated by the works of authors Michel Tournier and Victor Hugo and these have helped improve my wider knowledge of French Culture. I endeavour to reach my goal and teach English in France in the future and I hope to one day be the inspirational figure for a new generation of linguists.
Universities Applied to:
- University of Birmingham - Offer ABB Firm
- University of Reading - Offer BBB/ABC Insurance
- Coventry University - Offer CCC
- Essex University - Offer BBB
- Nottingham Trent University - Offer 280 points
Grades Achieved:
- French (AS) - B
- English Language (AS) - A
- Psychology (AS) - A
- Textiles (AS) - A