Teacher and C.w. Post Campus

PERSONAL STATEMENT
(applying to enter the MA in TESOL program)
Background
I was born and raised in Lapu-Lapu City, an island adjacent to Cebu City in Philippines. I graduated on March 21, 2003 from Cebu Normal University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Literature. My father works in the armed forces of the Philippines while my mother manages a small business. My aunt is a public school teacher, so was my grandmother who retired 5 years ago. I was raised with a lot of discipline and taught to work hard and have a lot of respect for knowledge. I am most grateful that my parents and relatives have given me a lot of love and support all these years.
Special Interest
Probably because of the influence of my grandmother and aunt who are both teachers, I am very interested in becoming a teacher, a teacher in English as a second language. I want to help many youngsters learn English, a language that is fast becoming a world language. Language is a communication tool. If every person around the world, in addition to his or her native language, also speaks a common language, I believe we will communicate better and have a better world. Along with this interest, I truly enjoy reading English novels and watching English movies.
Practical Experience
In my college years, fulfilling a course requirement I practiced teaching in a high school and college. I was exposed to students’ diverse behavior and personalities. It challenged me to learn more and be a better teacher. I was also an organizer in our class’ outreach program which provided weekly tutorial to children of 3-12 in an orphanage. I taught them reading and writing English. Soon after my graduation, I was hired to teach English to a youngster of 9 from Korea. This experience intensified my interest to become a teacher in TESOL someday.
Reasons for Wanting to Attend LIU
I am applying to enroll in the M.A. in TESOL program at the C.W. Post campus. I know that the School of Education is an award-winning school. The program is designed to meet the fast growing demand for qualified English teachers in many parts of the world. The campus is only 45 minutes away from New York city. The proximity will enable me to visit the city frequently and enjoy what the city has to offer culturally. My uncle lives in Elmhurst of Queens and my aunt lives in Westbury, Long Island. I know I will visit them often. I heard that there are quite a few Filipino restaurants and grocery stores in Queens. How convenient for me!
Plans for Work After Completing My Study
After completing the M.A. in TESOL program, I plan to extend my stay in the U.S. to receive empirical teaching training in a primary or high school. After completing the training, I plan to return to Philippines to teach English in a high school or college. I also entertain the idea of going to China someday to set up an English school there. As China’s economy continues to grow, the people there will demand more and better English teachers in the coming years.
I look forward to better my ESL teaching skills at the C.W. Post campus. I look forward to joining the lively and culturally diverse community of Long Island University.