Progress

Being a conversation circle facilitator this semester has been a surprisingly fun experience.  As the weeks went on, meeting with my group felt less like a school assignment and more like hanging out with friends.  I consider that a success for my circle; the goal of my group appeared to be to practice conversation in English, and because of the friendships formed between us, I think that goal was achieved.  I felt a big breakthrough moment occur when my group was working on book-binding: It would be silent as we concentrated on measuring out paper and sewing pieces together, and then Xin or Kyle would break the silence by asking personal questions to Jamie or me.  This was different from the beginning, where we would all sit in the coffee shop and have directed conversations.  Here, while we were making books, Xin and Kyle would begin talking unprompted by Jamie or me.  I think this shows that they have become much more confident with English speaking throughout the semester.

From being a facilitator, I have become a better listener.  I have also become more open to people who have different backgrounds and experiences than I have had in my life.  I think this will help me if I pursue a career in education because it will remind me to understand the goals and experiences of my students, therefore allowing me to help them in the most effective way.  I have learned quite a bit about the importance of language and of verbal communication, and that different cultures interpret aspects such as tone of voice or silence in different ways.  This knowledge will be useful for me as I interact with new people throughout my life.