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My First Major Mistake as a Writing Instructor
How I settled down as an International Graduate Instructor
Many of my students did help me to settle down in my first year. It took me more than one semester to understand my teaching philosophy and develop my threshold concepts as a writing instructor in the USA. The academic rapport between graduate teaching assistants and first-year writers is needed to bridge the communication gap. The more I share my struggles and strategies of writing with my students, the more they relate their experience with me. I remain humble. I tell them that I do learn a lot from my students. That is true. I read my first English book when I was 19. I had to work very hard to improve my English. I still struggle to explicate my thoughts in English. I tell my students that they do not have to be perfect. I want them to forget that I am here to judge them as writers. To me, writing is an activity that requires a lifetime investment of rigorous training. I inform them that I fail regularly. I request them not to overwhelm themselves with study pressure. There is life outside my university. I encourage my students to enjoy writing. Their sense of comfort with me dissipates their fear of writing. I do use my experience and expertise to guide them through. Because of developing a strong academic bond with my learners, we know what we expect from each other.