Letter to the Instructor - Essay Example

 At the very outset, I must confess that I was doubtful as to the point of attending an online class in English. I thought that learning a language essentially needs physical class interaction and communication. ENG 126 has proved me wrong. As an international student whose native language is Arabic, I started the course with a strong awareness of my weaknesses. I had great difficulty communicating with people: very often, my messages were misinterpreted, leading to a lot of confusion. I have come to understand that this is not only a question of language, but also one of difference in culture.

Language reflects culture and changes the meaning of words! My main objective in joining the course was to improve my basic writing and communication skills. I am glad to say that I am now able to express myself effectively and write clearly and to the point. I can state my opinions and argue about an issue. I now understand the meanings of things left unspoken in a conversation.Earlier, I was more interested in mastering simple English speaking skills than in writing. ENG 126 has made me realize that writing a language is the best way to begin “thinking” deliberately in that language.

It is only when you set down words on paper that you learn to organize your thoughts and link them together. Seeing a word on the page impresses it in the memory and improves spelling skills too. I particularly love our textbook. It is so well organized that I find it very simple to use. I find the readings particularly appealing. As a person, I like to read and write about several subjects and not confine myself to a single domain. The variety of subjects the readings include make them very interesting and fun to read.

The language of the readings is pretty simple. This gave me confidence and it was very easy to relate to the readings. I am also glad that the essays were not too long. The essays required for the class were of various levels of difficulty. I am most pleased with my persuasive research paper. I learned to collect material and to organize it effectively. I not only gained writing skills, but also extended my vocabulary and gained in-depth knowledge on the subject of vegetarianism. I see that two opposing viewpoints can appear absolutely correct at the same time!

A lot depends on the writer’s presentation. The essay I am least pleased with is my Letter to the Editor. While I am happy with my choice of subject, I now see that the letter could have been better organized. By making the letter briefer and more emphatic, the point could have been better communicated. I am aware that I still have a long way to go: particularly in writing critiques and in selecting titles for my essays. But I can definitely say that these nineteen weeks of ENG 126 have made me a different person.

My most valued take-away from the course is an increased sense of confidence. I no longer remain silent when an issue is being discussed: I am ready to express my own opinion. ENG 126 has also given me an interest in reading short essays and stories. I would like to thank you for making ENG 126 a very valuable learning experience for me. With warm regards,