Technology Overload!

Webquests! Hotpotatoes! Sharepoint! Blogs! Smartphones! Ipads! Dropbox! Hyperlinks! Internet Access! Webct! Assignments Due Soon!

I have a good idea :)

I have a good idea for my research paper.  It's going to be on how ESL teachers can document English language learners using mobile technology (smart-phones and electronic tablets), so parents can be more involved in their student's academic pursuits.  The teacher will communicate the documented process of learning through a password encrypted blog.  The research will answer two questions:  Will parents be more involved from reading the blogs with the mobile technology documentation?  Will student achievement levels will rise due to the greater parent involvement?

Research Proposal Anxiety

I have a research proposal due next week and it is seriously stressing me out.  I am having a lot of trouble deciding on what to write about.  I have a few ideas but they all seems not to have much literature that supports those ideas.  I would like to write a proposal that involves TESOL.  I am finding it very challenging to do a literature review and create a hypothesis that interest me. Help!

Orientation is next week!

I got a reply from my acceptance email and the orientation will be June 6th.  They hired two other instructors.  I will fill out some papaer work and receive the text book. Yes!

I got a job!

I got an email from a representative Pacific States University.  She wanted to know if I would like to be an ESL instructor for their short term summer program.  I reply and accepted.  I am so exctied!

After the interview :)

The interview went really well.  I was on time, I wore my suit, I answered the questions, and I thought the interviewer was super friendly.  Though I was nervous and talked a little too much.   I'm sure a lot of people applied for the job and they only need one instructor.  It will be a long shot for them to hire me, because I don't have a lot of ESL teaching experience.  But, I'm not worried I have another interview with Kaplan University next week.  For the Kaplan interview I'll have to give a five minute presentation of an ESL lesson appropriate for Teenage English Language Learners.  I'm totally nervous!

I have an interview!

I'm super excited!  I got a reply! I sent a resume to Pacifica States University.  They an instructor for their ESL summer program teaching English to teenagers from Korea.  This would be a great opportunity for me. The university is close to my house and it would be a perfect opportunity to gain experience teaching ESL.
It never hurts to overdress for an interview.  So, today I'm going to Express and buy some new clothes.  The last time I bought dress pants I was a 32 waist, now I barely fit into a 34 waist.  I'm a big fat fatty....

How do teachers find their jobs?

So I've been at my job managing a restaurant in Hollywood, CA for the past ten years.  It's a dead end job, in a small family owned restaurant with owners who are crazy.  There are no benefits and there is no room for advancement.  Since I'm in school, right now I'm only working part time and it's barely enough to get by on.  I've been sending out resumes along with copies of my teaching credential, every day to different schools so I can get a job as a teacher.  I'd really like to get a job this summer teaching full time so I can get more experience as an educator, and start paying some bills.  Tho, my other option is to just get any job and start working full time.  I've sent out a few resumes to restaurants that have their act together, offering benefits and room for advancement.  Maybe teaching will have to wait...

The Quest for Employment

In my journey to to find employment I find myself contemplating what is the ideal job for me.   Teaching English to adults in the Ecuadorian rain forest overlooking the Pacific ocean sounds like a good place to me.   But back to reality.  A substitute teacher at Hollywood High Adult School would be nice for now.  Switching careers is challenging.  Finding any job that will help me gain experience while getting paid a decent wage, that will also allow me the flexibility of getting my masters degree is my basic goal.   I'm 40 years old now and really need health insurance.  I have a serious kidney disease and may need a transplant soon.  These days a college degree does not guarantee you anything, not even intelligence.  I love teaching and being social, there has to be a job for me somewhere.....