Going to school seems to be impossible to fit my busy lifestyle. Combining school with work, family and activities would be a multiple task. But my ambition is to reach higher education and the counselling office recommends to take English 103. Because of the limited availability of the class and for curiosity sake I decided to enroll on this on line class. I do not have any clue what I am getting into as far as reading and writing. There are a lot of struggle that I encounter during the course of this class in terms of blogging, responding, group work, essay writing and peer draft review.
Blogging is a new world for me and I am really panicking just how I will start it. I do not have any idea at all to create an account. Luckily through a lot of mess up I was able to post my first blog and the second. After those blogs, just for curiosity I check my grades and I am missing the grade. I did not even know the importance of copying and pasting it to the assigned area. I find it so hard to have all my ideas together and compose it. I have to really prepare myself reading the prompt and think how I will compose my blogs. It took hours of sitting, thinking and exploring my ideas. But then it gets better, those 6 hours of blogging get lesser each time I do it. Blogging gives me a new world of exploring my opinion ang letting out what I feel in various issues.
Responding to blogs and other related forum is not my favorite at all. Personally, I am not a very interactive person. Maybe because of my hectic shedule it is hard for me to catch up and respond of what is going around the class. I respond to blogs and other forum when it is really necessary. Honestly I do not actively participate in these manner but it open up a different perspective in views of other issues. It help me in a way getting ideas from others and was able to respond and relate my own opinion.
Students choose this on line system of education because they all deal with different lifestyle. Students do their homework depending their schedule and convinience. I sometimes do my part a little early so other member can join in but somehow other members post their collection in other area and mine was left out. I am totally confused where and when is the perfect timing to collaborate with the group.
Being away from school for a long period of time and having English as a second language is a great factor why essay writing is a challenge for me. The grammar that I learned from my college is already a history. When I am composing an essay I struggle in my grammar and my English. It is hours of reading, gathering sources, putting my ideas, constructing sentences and type it in MLA format. Just overwhelming! Compare from the first time it gets better but still not easier.
Because of my struggles in essay writing "Peer Draft Review" helps me a lot in revising my essay. I noticed some student are really gifted in this area. I am really amazed the way they critically analyzed the work of others. And with these reviews, I was able to correct my mistakes and craft it appropriately. It give me also the idea to see the differences in style of writing and evaluating variations of work.
So many times I am thinking to give up this class. But as I looked back with all the stress and sleepless nights that put into the first part of the semester, I managed to pass all those challenges.
I consider this class as a journey of life. There is always a challenge, a trial, a pursuit but it takes one step at a time. English 103 just like life it get's better but not easier. I should say in life it is one day at a time but in English 103 it is one essay at a time to finish the journey.
Oh, Nice last paragraph. You put all experiences into such simple words and it works. I am not insulting you by saying it is simple. Just because something is simple doesn't mean its easy to do. Like you, I do feel the peer draft review to be beneficial. I am not gonna lie, when I write an essay, I don't proofread. I am honestly lazy in this aspect. By having my peers check out my mistakes, it makes my writing easier to read. Grammar is a real punk in honestly. I was born here and learned to read and speak the language. Even to me, the grammar can be confusing. The English language is very odd. People think that learning Spanish or French is harder than English... Not true. I once heard that English, Chinese and Russian were the hardest to learn. I would agree. I can't imagine what it must be like for you to write in English. Well maybe I do, but English is hard. Does it really take you six hours to write a blog?! I hope this area has gotten faster for you. All I can say is that I hope this class has helped you improve your writing and typing skills. I know it has for me, in a way.
ReplyDeleteIt is really hard to balance life in general with this online English 103 class. I've found it hard. On several occasions I have had to pass up the opportunity to hang with friends because I had too much work to do for this class, which is always frustrating, but I know that I'll come out of this class as a better writer.
ReplyDeleteI had the same problem with the first few weeks of our blogging assignments, too. First of all, I also didn't copy and paste them into the space provided on Blackboard, so I didn't get that grade. Which is horrible, since all of the blogs count for so much of our work. But I guess I had done some blogging before, so I wasn't a total newbie at it, but it is definitely easy to get into the swing of things.
I'm also not a very social person, and I didn't and don't really like the idea of responding to other people's blogs and on the reading discussion board. I'd much rather do things solo in an online class. And as for the group work, I was always completely frustrated. It was definitely interesting trying to be online with the rest of my group members. Life didn't stop for this class (or in my case, work didn't).
The peer draft reviews would definitely be helpful for you since English is your second language, but you're doing very well! Even I found the reviews helpful. We can all always use a little help.
I commend you for hanging in here. It is hard when you have a full time job, as well as school and family responsibilities. It takes a lot of organizing, but also a lot of energy, both physical and emotional.
ReplyDeleteYou have the added difficulty of not having English as your first language. One of my daughters-in-law is from Mongolia and is not a native speaker either; and though I think she speaks and writes marvelously, she still feels insecure. When she stumbles over a word or phrase or needs to ask for clarification, she feels like maybe she is inferior; but she has accomplished much. And when I hear her speak her own tongue so fluently and some Russian, too, I am too aware that she has done much more than I could have done in her shoes. So I hope you will be encouraged to press on!
I know there are so many idioms and funny grammar things that it is necessary to get a handle on, but I must say I notice an improvement in your synthesis essay over the previous ones. You may not see it as clearly, but your dedication and work is making a difference. Keep at it and I know you will achieve your goals!