This year, I learned a lot of themes, ESLRs, and academic topics. From those themes, ESLRs, and academic topics, I chose three topics that I thought I want to write about. What I chose are all ESLRs about my Anne Frank project and Poetry Unit. The reason why I chose ESLRs is because I wrote many ESLR essays in this class, and I was pretty confident with ESLRs. I don’t think that I know everything about ESLRs, but in my mind, I am confident to write essay using ESLRs, and I chose to use Anne Frank project and Poetry Unit to write this essay, because I think Anne Frank’s thoughts are one of the important things that we should learn. For Poetry Unit, the reason is easy, it’s just I liked that unit more than other unit. So here, I would like to say that this year, I learned a lot of important things that I should learn, and these three that I am going to talk about is what I learned this year.
First, I want to say that I thought poetry was the boring and unbearable thing ever in the world. The reason why I thought this way was that it was always long, and I couldn’t understand. So starting poetry unit seemed like worst unit that I can have in Grade Eight English. However, when I started poetry unit, it wasn’t bad as I thought. I actually thought it was fine. Through poetry unit, I learned how to write poetry, how to read poetry, and more. In this unit, I was able to be a Self-directed Learner, Academic Achiever, and Effective Communicator. First, I think that I was a Self-directed Learner when I was making poetry book. I needed to be a Self-directed Learner, because I had to keep poems that I wrote so I don’t have to write every single poems at last minute. I also had to write extra poems or haikus for poetry book. By doing all work, I managed time and used organizational skill, which is being Self-directed Learner. Second, I think that I was able to be an Academic Achiever during this unit. When I started this unit, I didn’t know how to write poetry. Well, poetry can be written in any ways, but I didn’t know anything like metaphor, how to rhyme words well, and I had more that I didn’t know or how to use. However, now, I can write poetry by myself. By learning how to write poetry, I was able to show progress in poetry writing, which is an Academic Achiever. Lastly, I think I was able to be an Effective Communicator by participating in Poetry Night, because I read my poetry in front of audience and I was able to show creativity to convey ideas, and be loud and clear.
Teen Life Project was very interesting assignment that I had in Poetry Unit. This was my first time to use technology such as computer and complete assignment with people in other country like U.S. However, at the same time, it was challenging. Through this Teen Life Project, I was able to be a Self-directed Learner, an Effective Communicator, and an Involved Citizen. First, I was able to be a Self-directed Learner, because even though there wasn’t exact due date, I was able to organize and manage myself to do work that should be finished. Second, I was able to be an Effective Communicator, because communicating through computer is not easy as talking to each other like face to face; however, I tried to write understandable writing to introduce myself, and to post my poetry on wiki page. Lastly, I was able to be an Involved Citizen, because if I wasn’t involved in this assignment, or interact with other group members, I couldn’t finish this project. I think it was important to involved in the situation. However, I wasn’t as involved as other member, so if I got chance to do project like this again, I would like to be more involved in the situation.
Anne Frank’s diary was the second book that we read in the class. In my opinion, it was a diary that makes people think about mercy and revenge, and which is right. At the end, my group made a memorial. Through this project, I was able to be a Self-directed Learner, an Involved Citizen, and an Effective Communicator. First, I was able to be a Self-directed Learner, because in order to finish project, we had to manage time to finish it together. I was able to be an Involved Citizen too, because I collaborated with my group members to achieve group goals, to finish project and I also interacted with my group members. I was also able to be an Effective Communicator, because I collaborated effectively, and shared and communicated ideas with others. As a result of being a Self-directed Learner, an Involved Citizen, and an Effective Communicator, I think my group and I did good job.
Overall, I learned more than what I wrote here as a eighth grader. It was exciting and difficult, but what I did was something very important. For example, Teen Life Project. This is my first step to communicate using wiki space, and I felt it was more like business. I would like to use what I learned in this project in future, like when I received assignment like Teen Life Project. I also learned a very good way to communicate, and how to read documents in front of audience. This can be useful in many situations, such as presentation. I also think reading Anne Frank’s diary was important, because thinking about mercy and revenge is not usual. It was a great chance to think about mercy and revenge. This is what I learned this year, and I would like to use these tips that I learned in future.