My First English Essay in President University

Practicing English

We are now living in a global society, where everything that happens in Adelaide, Australia will be known at the same time in Cikarang, Indonesia. There is a statement, “The Earth is not round anymore, but it is flat.” Hence, this globalization era can also be said as Competition Era. Nowadays, the young generation needs to have some specific skills. And then, the basic skill to compete in this era is mastery in International language –English–. In fact, it is hard to compete with others in term of job opportunities, if we cannot use English either passive or active. 

Afterwards, we have to do some analysis, such the strength or weakness of ourselves. By understanding these parts, we will know how to solve the problems that we might deal with.

I am a student of President University and Majoring in Accounting. I realized that, I am a quite cool man, an attentive guy, a smart person and a good looking man.
 But then, I do have a weakness that sometimes I become a shy person and underestimate myself, obviously I hate it. I am a Manado guy. I spent the whole of my life in Manado, from Kinder Garden until Senior High School. Then, for my next school, which is my college, I chose President University. Furthermore, this paper tells about my current result while becoming a student of President University. In October 2008, I followed President University’s placement test. The team from PU came to my school and shared the benefits if we become a student of President University. At that time, I was interested to join this University because the label of this University, which is an International University and also have International environment. I joined the placement test and I got scholarship.

In this globalization era, I’ve to think and act globally, that is why I decided to become President University’s student. I can improve my ability to use English as my second language. That is my first reason. The second reason is I believe that I can reach the brightest future with PU. After I graduate from this University, I can get the best job based on my skills as an accountant. I have already made a promise to myself and my parents to do the best in President University and become a successful person.

I have been studied in President University since August 2009. It means that, I have been here and lived at Dormitory for around 7 months. I have some improvement in my life, such as organization skill, being independent likewise use English as the second language of my life. However, to become expert in English, we have to be mastery of these three parts, which are speaking, listening and writing. Thus, listening English music, reading some English books or newspapers and having daily conversation in English are some kind of methods that we can use.

As I told before that, I used some methods to improve my English skill. By listening to the English music–mostly religious songs–, I can learn how to pronounce some words and also it adds my vocabulary. When I heard a song, I have to know what the meaning of the song is; hence if I do not know the meaning of those words, I would directly see my “Alfa link” to find out the meaning. Therefore, my lecture’s books helped me a lot to improve my English, I could learn the grammar and how to organize sentences in term of making an essay, even my Accounting and Finance books, which is full of numbers. Then, I realized that, we do not have to translate one by one word to understand the meaning of the sentence or statement. The main way is understand what the statement or sentence talks about.

When I read the English Newspaper, like The Jakarta Post, same like listening music, when I found a new word, I searched it in my dictionary or asked a friend of mine to understand the meaning of that news. It increases my vocabulary as well. Then, by reading newspaper I have also know the up to date information. It is also important to be mastery in speaking, not only can understand what my friend or lecturer says in English, but also I can give feedback or any response to them– in English–. So, daily conversation is very important to improve my skill of speaking. And then, in case of writing, I used some ordinary methods, like understanding the grammar, know how to order sentences in paragraph and practice.

I have learned English from elementary school; I had also some experiences of joined some English competition, like speech, debate and read a poem. But, in fact I still have some problem of using English, such as make the flow of speaking and give a good response to the others. It was also quite hard for me to write something in English; to put the correct grammar. I found that, the main problem of why I still have some weaknesses in English, because I still use Indonesian in virtually any of my conversation. But then, I’m in an International University now, it’s time for me to be mastery in English.

I started to use English in daily conversation although I still combined it with Indonesian when I was talking with the others Indonesian friend. But, when I talked with the foreigners, of course I have to say everything in English. However, understanding each other is the main core of conversation. I could understand what they say and vice versa. I have also good presentation skill, because the main thing of a presentation is self confidence, and I have it. I remembered, I got A in my presentation of Management Class and the lecturer gave a good credit for me. Then, in the other presentations, such as in Economy, State Philosophy, Religion and International Business Class, I either became the leader or gave a good contribution of my group; and all of these presentations got A. I also joined President University Student Union and I was accepted as Coordinator of Sport Division. One of the events of PUSU is Sport Olympiad President University (SOPU) and for the next two months it will be handled by my team and I, supported by some adviser.

In English class, I do have a lot of experiences. The lecturer taught me from the basic like verb pattern, active and passive and prepare a conversation. I very much enjoy studying English class. This class is a one of my favorite class while studying in college. The lecturer shared his experiences while studying abroad; it was encourage me more a lot to continue my master degree abroad. And then, the most memorable words from this lecture were, “practice English in whatever the methods that you prefer to do!”

For me, President University is the best college so that I can improve my ability and also skills of my life. I still have 3 years more before I graduate from President University, thus I have to increase my capability in each lesson, being a discipline person with the great time management and also opening up the network of friendship. These three points, I think can be complete with being a religious person. Keep on pray and faith to God is the most important things to be the real successful person and can compete in this globalization era.