Last semester I had a student in her early 20s who  just came from China a 
day before my class started.  She was placed in my  Advanced Academic 
Conversation Class but you could see that she was petrified  and going through her 
silent period.  Many of her classmates had already  known each other and those who 
were new quickly made friends.  When I did  group work with the class, I 
paired my student with those whom I had taught  before and understood her fears.  I 
also would work individually with her  to give instruction.  I would offer 
her constant encouragement and positive  feedback for her efforts.  Then one day 
she started to speak - she blurted  out a word in class that we were 
learning.  She quickly covered her mouth  but I told her not to be afraid.  I had a 
big smile on my face and I  repeated to her her answer and affirmed it.  Pretty 
soon my dear student  was saying more and more.  By the end of a month she had 
made friends in  class, was participating, and had this big smile on her face 
every day.  I  gave her a certificate for her efforts telling her how proud I 
was of her and  how she tried.  Her classmates also offered their support.  
It was not  until the semester was over that I found out that my student had 
actually placed  in two levels below my class.  However, since there was no 
room, the  administrator put her in my Advanced class.  She worked very hard and 
told  me that she never wanted to miss a day of class because she enjoyed it.   
Selfishly I am glad there was no room in that other class because I know that 
if  there was one thing my student learned last semester that was a bit of  
confidence in herself.
 
Alison Cochrane
 
"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I  have ended up 
where I needed to be. " 
~ Kahlil Douglas  Adams
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