I love going back and reading my blogs (only about once a year these days). Just Finished the Spring semester, teaching Organizational Leadership - Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions of Leadership. It was an on-line class and I was apprehensive about teaching it I guess, but it went extremely well! Hopefully my student have become more ethical and spiritual because of their experience in my class. I know I have! Well... Spiritual anyway. If I do not move on down the road, I'll hopefully be teaching it again in the Fall. I'll also be teaching Freshman Seminar (Piece of Cake) and this summer...wait for it... I'll be teaching ESL again for the first time in two years! I'll be at work from 8am until 9pm on Mondays and Wednesday but I CANNOT FREAKIN WAIT TO GET BACK IN THE ESL CLASSROOM!!!!!!!!!!
Looking for a job overseas. My little Benjamin Bottom is 6 years old now and I think it's time his mother and I worked out a deal to start culturing this child. 6 months in Germany is only going to make him a better person in the future. I dream about hearing him speaking German. But who knows? I might end up in Cuba or even England.
On a personal note, I'm getting kinda sick of being single. It's been two years since I've had a girlfriend and I would really like some company if I do go abroad. It's funny to think that if I had buckets of money, I'd probably also have a girlfriend. I've dealt with that recently and decided to quit being so damn charitable. As much as I like what the Catholic church is doing in this ghetto, I feel I've done my time here. 4 years! Nobody has ever been able to contain me for four years before!
Disclaimer: I used to so look forward to writing in this blog and I still enjoy reading it. Why don't I start writing in it again?
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Monday, February 21, 2011
Typos and All
I stopped by to reread some of the nonsense I've posted here in the last 3 years and holy crap did I allow a lot of typos.
Facebook obviously killed my blog and that's too bad but why not start writing in it again? I've told myself I would a couple of times in the past and I didn't so let's just see how it goes. Fortunately, my next door neighbor provided the inspiration for my current visit (that's what she does, provide inspiration) and I'm thinking of a way to keep this thing sustainable.
Day to day life - I've been promoted to Academic Advisor and only teach one night class these days. Thanks to my wonderful next door neighbor, provider of inspiration, and best co-worker ever, I can handle not teaching as much. Plus, this will be good experience for my next career move. I want to be an International Student Advisor.
Can't wait for Spring, can't wait to see what happens next.
Facebook obviously killed my blog and that's too bad but why not start writing in it again? I've told myself I would a couple of times in the past and I didn't so let's just see how it goes. Fortunately, my next door neighbor provided the inspiration for my current visit (that's what she does, provide inspiration) and I'm thinking of a way to keep this thing sustainable.
Day to day life - I've been promoted to Academic Advisor and only teach one night class these days. Thanks to my wonderful next door neighbor, provider of inspiration, and best co-worker ever, I can handle not teaching as much. Plus, this will be good experience for my next career move. I want to be an International Student Advisor.
Can't wait for Spring, can't wait to see what happens next.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
2010 Blogging
I still think about his blog, but I've been spending all of my time writing a screen play. And I know its really really really really hard to get someone to read one of these things, and it's not like I wrote it to ever have it produced, or read for that matter... So what am I supposed to do with this thing? I've almost reached my goal of 100 pages, and it might even wind up being a little longer.
I would like to add that I think it is quite readable and would make an interesting movie. I wrote it as a reaction to all the sequels, adaptations, and rip-offs out there in movieland. I really just wanted to write an original piece of work since I spent so much time with English.
In fact, I enjoyed it so much I am planning on writing an adaptation of a short story by Etgar Keret next. It's not like I dislike sequels, adaptations and rip-offs... There should be other choices, and if you have ever read Mr. Keret you will know that he isn't exactly a with-the-grain kinda writer.
Peace, love, and politics,
m
I would like to add that I think it is quite readable and would make an interesting movie. I wrote it as a reaction to all the sequels, adaptations, and rip-offs out there in movieland. I really just wanted to write an original piece of work since I spent so much time with English.
In fact, I enjoyed it so much I am planning on writing an adaptation of a short story by Etgar Keret next. It's not like I dislike sequels, adaptations and rip-offs... There should be other choices, and if you have ever read Mr. Keret you will know that he isn't exactly a with-the-grain kinda writer.
Peace, love, and politics,
m
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Skype
I am wondering about teaching English using Skype today. I have talked with my students about it, and it is something they are interested in. Has anyone out there ever tried it?
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
I'm back - with a focus!
I now have the most interesting and challenging class of my teaching career. At night I am teaching 5 Somalian students who cannot read or write. I am not versed in literacy education but I am learning fast. The hardest thing to do when teaching ESL to students who can't speak a lick is to go so s-l-o-w t-h-a-t y-o-u f-o-r-g-e-t h-o-w t-o s-p-e-a-k English yourself. If they can't understand you then you are all alone in the classroom. Comprehensible input is the key. In fact, I go so slow with these students that I have a hard time speaking with native speakers after I am finished; my friends asking me why I am flailing my arms and slobbering when I meet them after night classes for a drink. (After I teach advanced classes I cannot think of the actual word for anything, only the definitions for the words I would like to say.)
The 5 Somalian students are older learners, 50/60 years old I assume, and they aren't as fortunate and Arabic speakers, whose accent translates well into English, Spanish speaking students, whose alphabet and expose to English makes it easier on them, or even my Asian students, who have a knack for learning and who study more than I ever have. I guess I understand the culture, as much as this gringo can without ever going to Somalia, and I at least know about the pirates (who has pirates?) and that besides Eritrea it is the only country without a functioning government.
My students remind me of the beginning of humanity. They're from the cradle of civilization, and I can imagine that life has changed quite a bit since the beginning, but I also imagine that it has changed less for them than it has for anyone who is able to read this post.
They strictly follow Islam, they take an unsanctioned break at sundown to pray and they ask for help with the soda and snack machines. (The next lesson is on the value of money.) Islam is something I had to learn to understand because I was somewhat naive and uneducated about it before working here. There is a big difference between Saudi Arabia and Somalia when it comes to religion. In fact, the dumbed down version of course, is that there is a big difference between Saudi Arabia and every other Muslim nation.
Blah! I do not want this to turn into anything political or religilous! But the different headscarves and women's dress is IMPOSSIBLE not to mention. And the prayer breaks...
The 5 Somalian students are older learners, 50/60 years old I assume, and they aren't as fortunate and Arabic speakers, whose accent translates well into English, Spanish speaking students, whose alphabet and expose to English makes it easier on them, or even my Asian students, who have a knack for learning and who study more than I ever have. I guess I understand the culture, as much as this gringo can without ever going to Somalia, and I at least know about the pirates (who has pirates?) and that besides Eritrea it is the only country without a functioning government.
My students remind me of the beginning of humanity. They're from the cradle of civilization, and I can imagine that life has changed quite a bit since the beginning, but I also imagine that it has changed less for them than it has for anyone who is able to read this post.
They strictly follow Islam, they take an unsanctioned break at sundown to pray and they ask for help with the soda and snack machines. (The next lesson is on the value of money.) Islam is something I had to learn to understand because I was somewhat naive and uneducated about it before working here. There is a big difference between Saudi Arabia and Somalia when it comes to religion. In fact, the dumbed down version of course, is that there is a big difference between Saudi Arabia and every other Muslim nation.
Blah! I do not want this to turn into anything political or religilous! But the different headscarves and women's dress is IMPOSSIBLE not to mention. And the prayer breaks...
Thursday, April 16, 2009
An English Language Adventure
I'm thinking about starting an English Language Adventure course for the summer months! I want to travel with about seven students throughout the United States and teach English along the way. There's so much to see and do and I've got experience doing it. I'd like to share that experience with other (both teaching English and traveling the United States. I figure we can make it from KC to Southern California and back in about four weeks. So if you know anyone who might be interested please let me know.
Mark
Mark
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The Rock
Here's a rock shot for everyone. I don't start teaching until Monday. Argh, what am I going to do without my son tonight? I am going out on the town to reach out, over the counter and grab a few beers. Our album should be out soon.
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