My Very First Experience in Completing an Assignment

I am currently a student taking “Language Description Course” in Open University Malaysia at Sandakan Branch. The aim of this course is to analyze grammar and describe relevant grammar rules. I started this course from January 2013 and to demonstrate what I have learnt on the HBEL 1203 Language Description Course I have to fulfill an assignment. I have to select an authentic text in the printed media such as newspaper, magazines or journal of a reasonable length and then I will have to identify one word for each type of verb from the authentic source that I have selected.
After identifying the correct type of verb, I have to explain clearly the criteria used in identifying them according to the context. The first briefing of this assignment happened in an afternoon class which was my second tutorial session. The class tutor explained to us how to go on with the assignment. AS the tutor started talking about this assignment I felt so nervous that suddenly I got the feeling I will not be able to finish this assignment. In my nervous state I fumbled my book, papers, and stationary all the while stumbling over the assignment questions on my mind which was not making any sense to me.
But my classmates were really understanding, as they were old students who were aware that I am new to this subject and so they tried to calm me down, all the while the tutor was still giving her explanation on how to go about completing the assignment. I sat at the back of the classroom trying to understand the task in the assignment and I left the session as soon as the class was over without speaking to anyone. I felt so miserable at that time that I started to think about quitting the course. I was upset with my own self because of my inability to understand the task even after the class tutor explained clearly in front of the class.

I started to think that I need some time to be alone that would help me get over my nervousness. I was so mortified that I rang in sick the following week and it was only when I had calmed down that I decided I need to speak either to my classmates or the class tutor about this. I also realized later that it was perfectly natural to feel nervous, as I am not used to doing such task. I telephoned a fellow classmate and she made me feel much better. I realized that everyone feels scared at first and probably stumbles through their first few assignments.
When I calmed down I felt my actions at that time did not help me in resolving the situation. I should not have left immediately after the class session without speaking either to the class tutor or my classmates. I should have stood up to the class tutor and should have spoken to her immediately after the lesson about how I was feeling. Dealing with situations like this immediately is preferable, as Cooper (2001) points out. Instead I spoke to my classmate several days later and did not see the class tutor again until a formal class two weeks later.
Daynes and Farris (2003) say that, by not dealing with situations immediately and personally and instead taking it to an authority figure, the situation can be made worse. In retrospect, I could have done several things differently. I should have spoken to the class tutor immediately after the session and voiced my opinions. I should also have been bolder and stood up for myself so that I retained control of the task that had to be done. I think the main thing I learned from this task fulfillment is that I had not built up any relationship whatsoever with the teacher in the preceding weeks and that I should have made an effort to do so.
I would then have been able to explain easily and more comfortably to her how nervous I was feeling. In future, I will make sure to build up more of a relationship with classmates and my class tutor. I am studying along with several classmates and I will speak to each of them about my feelings about the course. I have already had a good conversation with several of them and we have worked out a way of being a team so that I do not feel so pressurized. I will also need to do this with the class tutor, as I cannot expect her to understand how my difficulties if I keep quiet.
I also need to speak to my fellow classmates more often about how they feel, as I think I will be able to learn from them. By being in team of my classmates, I discovered the advantages of working as part of a group discussion. I learned that good teamwork in a group discussion is the key to success in doing any task when time and resources are limited. As everyone had their own point of view, many different ideas could be produced and I found the energy of group participation made me feel more energetic about contributing something.
I also discovered that even the simplest things on earth could be turned into something amazing if we put enough creativity and effort into working on them. In terms of learning, I am now able to analyze grammar and describe relevant grammar rules. It also has given me the opportunity to apply the rules of grammar accurately and effectively in different contexts. I feel I need to gain more confidence and to the best of my knowledge think this is the best way to start.