Hello, Iโm Gaby, and Iโm going to make my mid-term reflection journal. I want to start talking about my semester, specifically my first controls. I was scared about the Phonetics and Use of English quiz, but those were my best grades, so I feel really proud and happy about that. About the other components, Reading was my lowest grade, but I think it was because I didnโt understand it very well. In speaking, I improved a lot; I was able to maintain a conversation with my classmate (to be honest, I didnโt study a lot).
I think my first achievement is my progress in Use of English. I have to admit that I study a lot before the tests. The first thing that I always do is study with the PDF from the classes; I write everything and then I make a summary about the content. After that, I open ChatGPT or Gemini and I ask for a mini test about the topic, and I spend about 2 hours making mini tests until I feel ready.
My challenge assessment is to improve my speaking skills because I think I donโt study what is necessary. For example, I donโt speak English with my classmates if we donโt stay in class, so I donโt speak too much, and the most important thing in speaking is practice. So I know I have to study more.
Now, have you noticed a link between how much time you spent studying and your recent assessment results? Of course, all my grades are very good, and little by little I learn more things and I feel more qualified to continue studying this career. I think I could dedicate more time to it, so I simply need to create a specific routine to study better.
About my confidence check: on a scale of 1โ5, how confident do you feel using English in real-world scenarios compared to the first day of class? I think it is 3 because I can understand what people say, but I find it difficult to speak automatically. I mean, I have to think carefully about what I want to say, structure it in my brain, and speak (although sometimes I make a lot of mistakes). But unlike the first year, I feel more confident with my English.
About writing: when I write, I focus more on grammar/accuracy or on communicating my ideas fluently? Honestly, I focus more first on the grammar and the structure of the text that I have to write. Then I check if my ideas can be understood well. But the first thing that I do is organize my ideas on another paper, and then I start to write. My way to study for writing is to write the type of text that will be evaluated. I use AI to give me different topics to write about, and then I ask it to review them; sometimes I write up to 15 different texts.
But, for example, in Listening I have never studied because I can understand the audios easily, and I always watch series in English without subtitles to understand more โautomatically.โ I think this is a good tool.
I canโt talk about my last feedback because it was last year, but when my classmates give me feedback, I always listen to it and I try to take their tips.
If I had to improve one specific aspect of my English, it would obviously be my speaking skills and the time I dedicate to it. I usually place more emphasis on Use of English. To achieve this, I need to dedicate more time to speaking English, even if it’s with an AI assistant, but always try to speak, listen, and see everything in English.
To be honest, I would like to have more speaking activities, but not like the typical classes. I mean making โforumsโ where we can speak with the teacher about our lives or everyday things. In this way, the teacher will be able to correct us at the moment, and it is better for us.
Well, I think this is all my reflection for now. I hope that everyone who listens to this audio will be okay! Bye.
https://soundcloud.com/gabriela-mejia-578867910/reflection-m4a
