Franchesca Jones

MATL-TESOL 2016
Proficiency Self-Assessment
Being that English is my native language, and that I was raised
speaking and studying English, I can confidently say that my abilities are
distinguished in this domain of language. With adequate knowledge and
facts, I can contribute to any conversation about global issues or abstract
concepts. I have spoken before city councils in various countries with the
aim of establishing community projects for young people, and have used my
persuasive abilities to successfully encourage them to do so. Because of my
speaking abilities, I was also selected to give a graduation speech in which I
quoted Nelson Mandela as my source of inspiration. I am able to adapt my
speech, and do so on a daily basis for the benefits of my students and the
EFL community around me. Due to the numerous English courses I took in
my undergraduate career, I feel that I am naturally inclined to organize my
thoughts as I speak, as well as provide facts and evidence to support my
claims. I would say that any occasional error is a result of attempting to
communicate my thoughts rapidly without sufficient time to organize them.
While my writing is that of an individual whose first language is
English, there are some indicators in the distinguished category which I feel I
do not yet meet. It seems to me that an individual in the distinguished
category pursues opportunities to develop formal writing tasks for audiences.
As a graduate student, I do consider that I have done this, but I do not feel

that my writing pursuits and works are to the extent which is detailed in the
distinguished category. Perhaps if I partake in a doctoral program and
publish research one day, then I could say that my writing is at that level.
However for now, I can confidently say that my writing is superior. When
needed, I can produce writing on a variety of topics, which is both formal and
informal. I think that my graduate work and portfolio is a reflection of these
abilities. I can produce arguments and hypotheses in an organized and
detailed manner.
Similar to the writing category, while I feel that I encompass many of
the qualities of a distinguished listener, I feel that I have space to grow in
this domain in respect to acquiring highly specialized or technical vocabulary.
I am however capable of putting unfamiliar vocabulary into context in order
to determine meaning. I am able to comprehend extended discourse, and
have attended several professional development conferences and workshops
in which academic language did not interfere in the least with my grasp of
the discourse. I am familiar with complex structures and can make
inferences from what is being said.
Reading is an activity which I enjoy, and one I have done more often
than not as a student and as a teacher. It is an essential element of my
career field, and I can understand lengthy text in various genres. I have at
times encountered texts, especially in my graduate career, which have been
so dense in academic vocabulary, that I have had to slow down my reading
pace, and analyze the content, in order to fully comprehend it. For this
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reason I would say that my reading skills are superior and not distinguished.
Other than minor challenges due to complex and specialized vocabulary, I
feel confident in my ability to read any academic, professional, or literary
text. My awareness and exposure to a variety of cultural texts and literary
styles also make me a competent reader.
As a native English speaker, I am very comfortable and confident
expressing myself in all modes of language expression. However one
essential key I have learned throughout my MATL courses, is that being a
native speaker does not automatically qualify me to be a teacher of the
language. The role of a second language teacher is not to teach expression
through the eyes of a native speaker, but with the students L1 in mind.
English grammar for a native speaker is not the same as EFL English. There
are many interferences and obstacles which L2 students will confront in their
language acquisition journey, and there are still obstacles which I face as a
native speaker. I feel that learning any language, whether it is the first,
second, third or fifth, is an ongoing and life long process. Through increased
exposure to diverse and challenging input, I can continue to develop my
English language skills and proficiency.

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