A Learners Journey

My Journey as a Learner
Josue Ramirez
EDUC 455-11
January 30, 2015

A Learners Journey

Learning is a meaningful action generally associated with

students in a formal setting. However, we are lifelong learners with
something new to discover, despite the setting. We begin at birth and
continue to learn every day. This essay will reflect my experiences and
journey as a learner and relate them to portions of the selected incourse reading. I will also express my professional goals and vision as a
teacher.
One such major learning development occurred in my last job
over a year ago. While living in Texas, I worked at a shelter for
unaccompanied minors from Central America as a child care worker. I
knew what was expected of me in the shelterproviding direct care
and basic needs to the youth, learning how to prevent a crisis,
chaperoning them on domestic flights across the U.S once they left,
and serving as a role model to create a safe and positive environment.
These were all tasks that I was professionally trained for and
succeeded in. It was funI traveled twice a week, had a flexible
schedule and met youth that shared interesting stories. All this,
however, was dramatically impacted after one year when I was
coerced into filling in as a teacher for a day.
I walked into the shelter one morning expecting the same routine
when my supervisor directed me to one of the classrooms and said,
This is your classroom now, and closed the door. I was left facing a

A Learners Journey
room full of teenage boys waiting to learn something and I had nothing
prepared. On that first day, I acted quickly and planned something
instructive yet engaging. and During my time there, I taught all
subjects in Spanish. Over time, I received formal training and improved
myself. I created lesson plans, recorded student grades and managed
my classroom. The majority of the student population had never been
to school in their home country and I was able to engage them daily
with group discussions and ESL lessons. My class size started with a
group of ten but grew to accommodate at least twenty-five. I also
gained experience by coordinating events, such as science fairs and
cultural festivals and, in my final two months there, served as the
interim lead teacher. It was my time here that made me realize how
much I loved teaching. I resigned in the summer to pursue my
educational career in Calgary.
The most recent form of learning Ive experienced is the
transition between moving from the U.S. to Canada. The first few
weeks were the hardest. I experienced so many new informal learning
moments all at once, but mainly how to adapt to living away from my
family in a new country with a much colder climate than South Texas.
Groene and Kawalilak offer a metaphor of adult learning as a pathway
that encompasses roads travelled and yet to be explored (Groene &
Kawalilak, 2014). This resonates with me because as I am growing
older, Im learning about the diverse experiences and opportunities

A Learners Journey
available for me to learn. There are so many factors, and elements that
can impact our journey. These moments were essential for my journey
as a lifelong adult learner in order to adjust to a new environment.
One such learning experience during my first week in Canada
was learning the different monetary system. I spent some time on my
own learning the value of each colored dollar bill and coins. Dollar
coins are not entirely unheard of in the United States, but a two-dollar
coin was definitely something new for me. When I paid for my lunch
one day out with friends, armed with a pocketful of change and
instinctively gave the cashier the right coins in a short amount of time,
it was a proud moment. Now, after reflecting in our Professional
Development course, this moment reminds me of Groens anecdote in
the first chapter of the textbook. Groen details an experience of
ordering tea for the first time in China and the joyful feeling caused by
it (Groen & Kawalilak, 2014). I brought up this moment in a discussion
with my community of practice and shared how I was able to relate to
the readings. My group suggested that different factors influence a
learning experience. In my case, by using Canadian money rather than
resorting to using my debit card, I was forced to learn and distinguish
between the different coin values. Learning is a tool to survive. I
studied the environment around me, was aware of the factors in my
learning and prepared myself for new opportunities.

A Learners Journey
When I envision myself as a teacher, I see an integration of my
previous experiences as an educator with the new knowledge Ive
gained in the educational program. I hope to use an inquiry-based
learning method of encouraging students to develop a natural curiosity
about the world. Carl Sagan (1979) stated it is only through inquiry
can we discover the truth. If there is one message I want my students
to learn from my class, it is that they keep an open mind and always be
willing to learn new information. As instructors, I feel its important to
encourage students, both young and adult, to always seek knowledge
to promote a growing mindset. This pursuit of knowledge should not
end once the student leaves school. The teachers that made the
strongest impact in my education were those that had a positive
rapport with students and encouraged their students to be curious
about the world.
The journey as a learner has no final destination. It is in our
nature to adapt to a changing environment by always learning. Im
sure there will be times where I can learn from the student. I hope to
carry an inquisitive-based setting environment into my career in
education. I will continue to use the experiences Ive learned to make
personal connections with the students and encourage critical thinking.

A Learners Journey
References
Groen, J., & Kawalilak, C. (2014). Pathways of Adult Learning: Professional
and Education Narratives. Toronto: Canadian Scholars' Press.
Sagan, C. (1979). Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science (p.
347). Random House.

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A Learners Journey