English as a Foreign Language Capstone Portfolio: Danni Zhang, Spring 2018

Abstract

This EFL portfolio reflects what I have learned in the two-year program of English Language Learners in Vanderbilt University. It combines all I have learned in different courses and my own experiences in practicums. I also demonstrate my understanding in teaching English as a second language.

There are three sections in this portfolio: philosophy of teaching, professional knowledge, and final reflection and application. In the first part, I focus on three different theories in education. They are Constructivism’s perspective, Sociocultural theory, and Chomsky’s viewpoint of language acquisition. I also show my understanding of these theories and combine them to create my own philosophy of teaching. In the second part, I use theories in my teaching philosophy to analyze my artifacts and interpret my understanding in different teaching domains. In the last part, I make a reflection about my experiences in practicum courses to show how I applied these theories in real teaching and where I should make progress. In addition, I propose some possible applications in my future teaching based on my teaching philosophy.