My Statement of Purpose

I know I haven't write my journal for two weeks (>"<), so allow me to use my SOP that just finished yeaterday to make it up.

Here it is:


I, Yuan-Chun Lee, am applying for the master’s degree in TESOL at your university, starting from the autumn term of 2009. I really hope to improve my knowledge and sense in the TESOL field at your graduate school and contribute what I have learned after I finish my studies.


During the five years of my studying at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), I not only major in Industrial Management, but also minor in English. The reason why I spent five years studying at NTUST is that I also have taken the Education program and Technology and Law program. Under the rigid training of my major, I had taken several statistic courses. I believe that my statistic ability can assist me conducting quantitative research in graduate school. Although I was a non-English major student, I have never lost my enthusiasm for studying English. For example, during these years, I continue enhancing my English ability not only through taking classes, but also reading daily news on BBC website, writing weekly journal, listening to CNN news on TV, and try my best to communicate and interact with foreign students in our school.


In order to better prepare myself to be a good English teacher, I have a variety of teaching experiences. For instance, during the first two years in college, I taught high school English in a private institute and corrected composition for my students. Meanwhile, I was also tutoring a sixth grade primary school child and assisting a third grade high school student to prepare for the entrance exam. In my junior year of college, I served in SinaPalan primary school (新鄉國小) in Nantou with the social service group at our school for one week. I took charge of teaching them English and assisting them to finish their winter-vacation homework. My varieties of teaching experiences gave me a brand new look on myself. Through teaching and collaborative working with my colleagues, I became more cogitative, strong-minded and affirmative toward teaching. However, I would like to learn more theories of TESOL to enable me to teach better Therefore, I decide to step into TESOL field, devote myself to teaching English and apply what I learn to my future career.


I look forward to an in-depth study of TESOL field. I am especially interested in researching Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) and Sociolinguistics. I am taking a course of CALL this semester and I believe that with the rapid development of technology, this would be a potential area for language teachers to cultivate. In addition, Brown (2006) indicated that “a successful language learner has to use a language not only accurately but also appropriately.” Sociolinguistic knowledge can facilitate me how to teach my students to be successful language learners. Thus, I am planning to take courses, such as Computer-Assisted language Learning, Computer-Assisted Writing Instruction and Sociolinguistics after I enter your program. Furthermore, during the preparation of the entrance exam of TESOL, I realized the importance of academic writing. Therefore, I would not only take the course Thesis Writing but also read as many theses as I can so as to improve my ability in academic writing. Besides, during three years in graduate school, I will finish my education program and some linguistic courses, such as syntax and morphology because I believe that these courses can help me explain the rule of English more clearly.


After finishing my Master’s Degree, I plan to teach English in junior or senior high school in remote area because I believe that every student there can be given an equal chance at education. I am eager to break the difficulty of the shortage of information in remote area and eliminate the educational gap between urban and suburban schools. All in all, I am very confident that I have the dedication, enthusiasm and stability that will be required for outstanding performance as a graduate student at National Chiao Tung University.

P.S.If you have any suggestion, please feel free to leave your message.

I'll be glad to hear different advice and opinions.

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