Reflecting on the 2009-2010 english class experience:
This year has gone by so quickly; at first, thinking back to remember and reflect seems strange. But when I think of all the ways I have grown as an English student, and all that I have learned both in language and with my overall general knowledge, I realize how long it has been and that it really is time for a reflection.
At the beginning of the term, I did not have many expectations for G10 English because I did not know much about the course or what it was going to entail. I was excited, because I had had a wonderful experience in English the year before, and I was curious about what I was going to learn. Today, after all of the classes I have sat through over the past two semesters, I am still curious about what I am going to learn next, what we are going to discuss, and if there is going to be a joke involved. I was confident coming into the introduction to world literature course because English had always been a strong subject of mine. I think that through this course, my confidence in English has expanded from knowledge of literary techniques and how to write an essay or commentary, to real-world applications of English and analysis as well as foundations of general knowledge.
The more you do something, the easier it becomes. I think that reading is no exception. My current reading comprehension is okay because we have read a lot in class, however, I think it could be better. I do not think that it has dramatically improved this year. This is probably because it was one of my most comfortable areas coming into 10th grade, and since then I have improved mostly in other areas of English. I know that by reading more outside of school, my reading comprehension would improve – but it is always hard to find time to get into a book that is not school related. I am excited to read a lot this summer!
Last year, in class, we wrote several essays and commentaries. This year, we have been less focused on writing and more on interpretation and other media (with videos, for example). I think that overall, my writing has improved with maturity; I have grown up a lot this year, and I think this has been reflected in my writing. However, I think that because we were not constantly writing, like a muscle that you don’t use, it is harder than it used to be when the time comes to sit and write a commentary. When I am writing a commentary, this year, I have been constantly asking myself how I can go deeper in my ideas and analysis. I think that, with a commentary especially, you can always go deeper in developing an idea – and that’s what I keep telling myself!!
As far as my speaking skills are concerned, it is something I really enjoy. I like speaking in front of people, and I always have an opinion (which is why I talk so much in class!). I have never really been shy to stand up and speak, and I think it was cool how we were able to have a speech unit in class, so that I could explore speaking on a new level. Now, with what I learned, I feel even more comfortable speaking up in situations – outside of class too – like in MUN, for example.
Overall, I feel like the way I structure my writing and organize my thoughts is mostly the same as 9th grade. I think that I developed a strong base in writing, and have used what I know to develop into a better writer this year. There are some areas that I definitely have improved in since last year. For example, I used to have trouble integrating quotes into my writing and transitions were choppy. Also, as I mentioned earlier, I am constantly asking myself how I can go into more depth with my ideas. I think I improved in all of these areas this year. My vocabulary also improved through class discussions, and our “SAT words of the day”. My spelling is still probably my weakest area in English…
I think that timed writing’s level on the difficulty spectrum varies greatly depending on the circumstances. I find that with commentaries, if I understand the poem from the start, I know the steps necessary to write a good commentary. But when nothing sparks in my mind, or I am not inspired, then the time limit just adds a whole new dimension to the difficulty of writing a commentary. I find that once I accumulate enough ideas for an outline, the whole process gets easier. Also, because I struggle with spelling, and I also like to re-arrange my thoughts as I write, I find timed writing to be much easier when we are able to type on a computer.
The next part of the list of what to include in this reflection asks us to think about what makes a “creative person”. I think that everyone is born with the ability to be creative. I think it is human instinct. A creative person is someone who is able to combine existing ideas or concepts in a new way. Often it takes awhile for creative ideas to be accepted. Therefore, a creative person must have courage and conviction. I believe that someone can learn to be creative once they get over the fear of standing out or making a mistake. I think I am somewhat creative but just like other people, I am self-conscious and this hinders my ability to be as creative as I would like to be sometimes. I guess this is normal as a teenager… I think there is a difference between creative writing and creative speaking. Creative writing is two dimensional - words on paper that communicate thoughts and ideas. Creative speaking introduces a third dimension of performance and voice. In other words, I think that the same written words can have a completely different meaning when spoken out loud. It is not always better and not always worse, but the ultimate effect is always different. I think that this year, the creative side of my writing has developed through this blog.
Updating my blog for all kinds of assignments in different classes has allowed me to find a voice outside from the structure I usually write under for other assignments. I think that was one of the biggest benefits of having a blog – it is a place where I can not only organize and keep my work from this year, but also a place where I can express myself and develop myself as a writer. I hope to continue it in the future!
