最倒楣的一天
星期四我坐巴士到Aunt工作的地方取信件，因為差不多整整一個月沒有到她那裏拿信件了。而且她星期三晚上告訴我，有一封掛號信寄給我，我必須到郵局去一趟。因為Aunt住的地方在Markham，不在多倫多範圍之內，所以跨區坐巴士需要另外補票。為了拿掛號信，也沒有辦法。每天晚上都要上課，所以不能請朋友下班後開車送我。多花時間就多花時間，實在沒有辦法。
我先到Aunt的辦公地點取了幾封信，再趕往郵局取信。補買的車票，在兩個小時內有效。如果能在兩個小時之內啟程回去，可以省一半的路費。可是地方不好找，晚了一個站下車，結果多花了半個小時走路才能找到郵局。
郵局是一家華人開的便利店兼營的。我把領取掛號信的單子給一個看來像老闆的老男人看，告訴他我要取掛號信，他的回復覆是，“看看吧，不曉得你是否找對地方。”意思好像是，不是你說要取掛號信，就是把信遞給你那麼簡單的一回事。原來他一點也沒有錯，我最終沒有從他的郵局拿到我要的掛號信。他的defense mechanism 和經驗，說明他真的有未卜先知的能力。或許他積累了不少拒發信件的經驗和心得。
因為我來多倫多並不住在Aunt 家裏，所以我並沒有更換我的駕駛執照和Health Card，更新我的位址。夏天結束前搬到自己的地方。考到駕駛執教的時候馬上拿一張含新地址的證件。這樣就不用在兩三個月之內多次更改地址。三年前我land的時候領取的證件，位址都是Aunt搬家前的Richmond Hill 。按照郵局的規定，我沒有合法的證件領取掛號信。不管我是否能出示楓葉卡或許護照證明我就是某某某。我告訴他我從遠處坐巴士過來，也給他看了我手中幾封信件。他就是不願意把屬於我的掛號信給我。他的理由是，不能出示含照片和正確位址的證件，掛號信不能發。如果真正的某人第二天拿著合法的證件來取信，他不能交待。護照能證明我是某某，但並不能證明我就是住在那個地址上的同名的某某人。他的這個理由完全沒有可信性。多倫多的華人雖然多，但是同名同姓的，並且能找到一個跟他同名同姓的人家裏去偷取領取掛號信的條子，這樣的機會率，絕對是很低很低的。他的堅持只表示，他是一個絕對自私的人。錯誤地拒絕了一個遠道而來的我，勝於冒險把掛號信交給一個不能“完全信任”的某某人。總而言之，它自己不能犯錯，管你拿得到拿不到你想要掛號信。他固執地拒絕運用清醒的頭腦和智慧去判斷，我是否可能就是信上寫的某某人。我跟他爭辯，它的態度越發的蠻橫無禮。我很憤怒，也絕對的遺憾。想不到這個城市，竟然會培養出這種頭腦的蠢東西。
這個固執的蠢東西說，唯一可能讓他把掛號信交出的條件是，我的Aunt跟我一起再來郵局一趟當我的保證人。並且親戚必須出示含她的正確地址的帶照片的證件，它才會相信我是合法的取信人。Aunt 一個人下班以後過來領取也不行。我從家裏出發的時候是12點，我到達郵局的時候已經是3點半了。親戚5點半才下班，能開車到達郵局的時候應該是6點過後了。
本來想在這個昏暗的郵局商店裏等候親戚下班過來，錯過了黃昏6點在mid town上課也無所謂。畢竟是掛號信，一定是頗為重要的，發信人才會以掛號方式寄出。但是我心裏真的難以平復。為什麼我為了一個蠢貨，白白地浪費了自己寶貴的時間？當我在店裏拆閱剛才從aunt拿到的其他信件，得到了一些線索。或許那封給蠢東西扣留的掛號信，就是銀行，電訊公司或香港的稅務局發給我的函件。晚一點才弄清楚到底我欠了什麼費用沒有付，也不會賠上很大的代價。我最後忍耐著沒有繼續跟蠢牛爭吵，安靜的離開那個讓我倒楣透的地方。
回程的路上，我的心情糟糕極了。我花了大半天的時間和車費，卻沒有拿到掛號信，反而為此受了一肚子氣，真的很委屈。讓我失望的，第一個在多倫多讓我心情跌入低谷的人，是一個加拿大 華 人。相信老華僑當中，一定有不少正常的。郵局老闆，只是一個例外。上帝說：“不可含怒到日落！”我辦不到。
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Interpreting Assignment Being Cancelled Again
I went to the client's office 15 min before the scheduled time and were waiting there for 45 min. The patient who is a Chinese didn't come but no prior call to inform the clinic that he couldn't come. That's very bad as he is a Chinese Canadian. But I will be paid for the minimum 2 hour wage anyway. In two days, I've earned 4 hour wage for interpreting assignments without actually doing the interpreting job.
That's no good for accumulating experience. But I'm sure there are many many Mandarin / Cantonese interpreting assignments to come and I will learn a lot from doing the assignments.
That's no good for accumulating experience. But I'm sure there are many many Mandarin / Cantonese interpreting assignments to come and I will learn a lot from doing the assignments.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Mid-Autumn Festival night in Toronto
I thought it was Wednesday night so I missed the chance to call my family on Mid-Autumn night. And it was exactly 2 months since I left Hong Kong.
Two month is a very short time but I have been through a lots of things. Now I feel more settled and peaceful. What made a difference is that I've got some part-time jobs to do. Teaching Cantoneses, Interpreting and private tutoring a primary kid.
Although the first interpreting assignment was cancelled in the last minute, the agent called me and arranged 2 more assignments to me this afternoon. One is tomorrow afternoon and the next will be on 4 Oct. It seems that there is a huge demand in Cantonese and Mandarin interpreting jobs in this city.
Regarding teaching Cantonese, I am making progress. Below is an extract from an email message I received today,
"I really enjoyed my first class. I was wondering ifthere is class scheduled for Oct. 5 (Thanksgivingweekend)? I am assuming that there is but I justwanted to double check. You have a very relaxed and positive approach and that is very helpful when one is trying to learn a language."
So glad that they like my teaching style and one of them expressed it explicitly.
This Friday I will go to the elementary school again to meet 3 teachers whose classrooms I will enter to be a volunteer. Basically I will station there wholeday twice per week. After class I will be doing individual tutoring to help a slow learner who lives just steps away from the school. The parent talked to the principal and then I was recommended to help. It's a paid job.
I won't be earning a lot but having some petty money to lead a decent life will not a problem.
Two month is a very short time but I have been through a lots of things. Now I feel more settled and peaceful. What made a difference is that I've got some part-time jobs to do. Teaching Cantoneses, Interpreting and private tutoring a primary kid.
Although the first interpreting assignment was cancelled in the last minute, the agent called me and arranged 2 more assignments to me this afternoon. One is tomorrow afternoon and the next will be on 4 Oct. It seems that there is a huge demand in Cantonese and Mandarin interpreting jobs in this city.
Regarding teaching Cantonese, I am making progress. Below is an extract from an email message I received today,
"I really enjoyed my first class. I was wondering ifthere is class scheduled for Oct. 5 (Thanksgivingweekend)? I am assuming that there is but I justwanted to double check. You have a very relaxed and positive approach and that is very helpful when one is trying to learn a language."
So glad that they like my teaching style and one of them expressed it explicitly.
This Friday I will go to the elementary school again to meet 3 teachers whose classrooms I will enter to be a volunteer. Basically I will station there wholeday twice per week. After class I will be doing individual tutoring to help a slow learner who lives just steps away from the school. The parent talked to the principal and then I was recommended to help. It's a paid job.
I won't be earning a lot but having some petty money to lead a decent life will not a problem.
The First Interpreting Job Was Canceled
I arrived at the client office 15 min before the scheduled time and was told that the issue ended yesterday. Someone forgot to inform the Interpreting agent. So I have not started my first interpreting job but I will be paid for the minimum charge which is a 2 hour wage. That's not bad.
Two agents may provide interpreting job to me. I need to call them again and send my resume through. Will celebrate when I first receive a pay check in Toronto.
Two agents may provide interpreting job to me. I need to call them again and send my resume through. Will celebrate when I first receive a pay check in Toronto.
Monday, September 24, 2007
First Interpreting Job
The Interpreting and Translation Agent called me minutes ago and I was assigned my first job to be an interpreter tomorrow! Great! As I will be there for 7 hours and they are going to pay me good $.
When I received the call, I have just sent fax to the Intrepreting agent. A few minutes ago, I asked a clerk here to be my witness to complete a document to be sent. She knew that I was hired as a freelance interpreter. Then she gave me some info about interpreting opportunity. I will phone the organisation and find out what I can do. Maybe I will be busy interpreting. haha
When I received the call, I have just sent fax to the Intrepreting agent. A few minutes ago, I asked a clerk here to be my witness to complete a document to be sent. She knew that I was hired as a freelance interpreter. Then she gave me some info about interpreting opportunity. I will phone the organisation and find out what I can do. Maybe I will be busy interpreting. haha
Sunday, September 23, 2007
The Sky is so Blue Here!
I have a date with Autumn
I was standing beneath the shelter of a bus stop when taking this picture.
Some more pictures of my castle
我愛電冰箱, 但電冰箱愛我嗎? (門後就是俄羅斯鄰居的房間) 
wash, dry and iron .......
人活着不是單靠食物,乃是......
another corner of the kitchen
a door to my bedroomSaturday, September 22, 2007
Tomorrow will be better
Have not updated my blog for a week. Let me report to you what going on recently.
Job Interview on Monday (17 Sep 2007)
It went well but I couldn't give most of the well-planned answers to impress the interviewers. Three days before the interview, I called the program office and asked for the name of the interviewers. Therefore when a lady approached the door, I asked her if she was so and so. She was impressed and asked me how I got her name. I told her I phoned the program office to learn the information a few days ago.
In the interview, there were only 4 questions printed on 4 pages. When I answered those questions, the interviewers were busy jotting down something on a form. No eye contact at all. I found it bored and could not give a long answer. It's strange that they didn't ask me any questions nor any facial expression to indicate if they were interested or not. At the end I asked for their business cards. Surprisingly they didn't give me. So I couldn't email 'thank you' notes to them after the interview. I can't practise what the job search counsellor taught me.
Before I entered the interview room, I was asked to draft two lesson plans, one in Traditional Chinese and the other in Simplified Chinese. Then I needed to transcribe a short text into 'han-yu-pin-yin'. Doing the tasks is just a piece of cake to me.
The most disappointing thing is to learn that they wouldn't be calling me to be a supply Mandarin Instructor in a few days though all classes will start on 24 Sept. It would be at least a month later when I can enter the classroom. Besides when I asked them if I could volunteer to help them to receive new students on the first day of the program. They said no.
I could not smile when I left the program office after the interview. What I have learnt is the same message, 'You have to wait and wait and wait.'
Volunteering at a school
Again and again, I was told that people who want to become a teacher usually start from voluntary work at schools to build up network. For me as a new comer, I should be doing so to familarise myself with a Canadian classroom. So I planned to practise 'cold-call' to some schools near where I live.
On the night before the interview, I studied the International Languages website and learnt that there was a link to a 'Teachers and Students' Feedback document. One of the comment is written by an elementary (primary) school principal whom I met 3 years ago when I landed in Toronto. She was my neighbour and emigrated to Canada when I was 3 or 4 years old. Some people from her family know my parents, uncle and grand aunt.
I sent her email on Monday night before I went to bed and she called me at 9am the next morning. She invited me to see her at her office this morning so that we can discuss how and when I can start voluntary work at her school. I regret I didn't contact her earlier. She told me some useful advice about where to get teaching experience and what courses to take to upgrade myself.
According to what she suggested this morning, I may be volunteering there for 2 days every week and I will mainly station at their Grade 4 classrooms helping the French, Math and Science teachers.
The school is a bit far from where I live, but it's within 1 hour 15 min if I take buses. If I have a driving license and a car later, it will be like 20 min ride from home when the traffic is alright. As the school is located in Scarborough where most Chinese Canadian are around, I saw many Asian kids this morning. It's going to be a good start for me to become a licensed teacher here.
Interpreting Job
A fellowship leader told me a phone no. of an Interpreting and Translation company in early Aug and I called and sent my resume and application form to them a month ago. Finally they called yesterday. In the evening I received an 'Orientation' package and was asked to study it in the weekend. At 6pm on Monday, they will phone me to conduct a simple 20 min phone training, telling me what I should do and what I should not do as their freelance interpreter. The wage is good. $25 per hour and they guarantee 2 hours as a minimum wage each time they call me for a community interpreting job.
As I speak both Cantonese and Mandarin, I will be a 'hot' interpreter to them.
Mentor-Mentee Program
Last Thursday I met an employment counsellor and she told me a mentor who is teaching English Communication courses at a college is looking for a mentee as her mentee gave up joining the program. Then I was invited to be a mentee and that means I will meet my mentor for about 24 hours in the coming 4 months. She will tell me a lot of advice regarding how to become a teacher in Toronto. Most important at all, it is a precious chance to broaden my network and to learn more things about teaching here.
The Cantonese Class
Tonight is the 2nd week and 4 students stay and one new student came to the class. With the prior experience I have had in teaching Cantonese to adults, I did much better tonight. Not feeling nervous at all and I knew exactly when to say what and when to arrange class activities.
The most fantastic thing is that the learners seems to be very positive to my teaching approach. During the break they told me their experience with other Chinese schools. It seems that they were treated or taught badly and they were quite happy with the current class and the teacher.
All in all, I am so lucky to have met so many nice people and have been offered many chances to build up network here. Thank you for all your prayers and support. Tomorrow will be brighter and sunny.
Job Interview on Monday (17 Sep 2007)
It went well but I couldn't give most of the well-planned answers to impress the interviewers. Three days before the interview, I called the program office and asked for the name of the interviewers. Therefore when a lady approached the door, I asked her if she was so and so. She was impressed and asked me how I got her name. I told her I phoned the program office to learn the information a few days ago.
In the interview, there were only 4 questions printed on 4 pages. When I answered those questions, the interviewers were busy jotting down something on a form. No eye contact at all. I found it bored and could not give a long answer. It's strange that they didn't ask me any questions nor any facial expression to indicate if they were interested or not. At the end I asked for their business cards. Surprisingly they didn't give me. So I couldn't email 'thank you' notes to them after the interview. I can't practise what the job search counsellor taught me.
Before I entered the interview room, I was asked to draft two lesson plans, one in Traditional Chinese and the other in Simplified Chinese. Then I needed to transcribe a short text into 'han-yu-pin-yin'. Doing the tasks is just a piece of cake to me.
The most disappointing thing is to learn that they wouldn't be calling me to be a supply Mandarin Instructor in a few days though all classes will start on 24 Sept. It would be at least a month later when I can enter the classroom. Besides when I asked them if I could volunteer to help them to receive new students on the first day of the program. They said no.
I could not smile when I left the program office after the interview. What I have learnt is the same message, 'You have to wait and wait and wait.'
Volunteering at a school
Again and again, I was told that people who want to become a teacher usually start from voluntary work at schools to build up network. For me as a new comer, I should be doing so to familarise myself with a Canadian classroom. So I planned to practise 'cold-call' to some schools near where I live.
On the night before the interview, I studied the International Languages website and learnt that there was a link to a 'Teachers and Students' Feedback document. One of the comment is written by an elementary (primary) school principal whom I met 3 years ago when I landed in Toronto. She was my neighbour and emigrated to Canada when I was 3 or 4 years old. Some people from her family know my parents, uncle and grand aunt.
I sent her email on Monday night before I went to bed and she called me at 9am the next morning. She invited me to see her at her office this morning so that we can discuss how and when I can start voluntary work at her school. I regret I didn't contact her earlier. She told me some useful advice about where to get teaching experience and what courses to take to upgrade myself.
According to what she suggested this morning, I may be volunteering there for 2 days every week and I will mainly station at their Grade 4 classrooms helping the French, Math and Science teachers.
The school is a bit far from where I live, but it's within 1 hour 15 min if I take buses. If I have a driving license and a car later, it will be like 20 min ride from home when the traffic is alright. As the school is located in Scarborough where most Chinese Canadian are around, I saw many Asian kids this morning. It's going to be a good start for me to become a licensed teacher here.
Interpreting Job
A fellowship leader told me a phone no. of an Interpreting and Translation company in early Aug and I called and sent my resume and application form to them a month ago. Finally they called yesterday. In the evening I received an 'Orientation' package and was asked to study it in the weekend. At 6pm on Monday, they will phone me to conduct a simple 20 min phone training, telling me what I should do and what I should not do as their freelance interpreter. The wage is good. $25 per hour and they guarantee 2 hours as a minimum wage each time they call me for a community interpreting job.
As I speak both Cantonese and Mandarin, I will be a 'hot' interpreter to them.
Mentor-Mentee Program
Last Thursday I met an employment counsellor and she told me a mentor who is teaching English Communication courses at a college is looking for a mentee as her mentee gave up joining the program. Then I was invited to be a mentee and that means I will meet my mentor for about 24 hours in the coming 4 months. She will tell me a lot of advice regarding how to become a teacher in Toronto. Most important at all, it is a precious chance to broaden my network and to learn more things about teaching here.
The Cantonese Class
Tonight is the 2nd week and 4 students stay and one new student came to the class. With the prior experience I have had in teaching Cantonese to adults, I did much better tonight. Not feeling nervous at all and I knew exactly when to say what and when to arrange class activities.
The most fantastic thing is that the learners seems to be very positive to my teaching approach. During the break they told me their experience with other Chinese schools. It seems that they were treated or taught badly and they were quite happy with the current class and the teacher.
All in all, I am so lucky to have met so many nice people and have been offered many chances to build up network here. Thank you for all your prayers and support. Tomorrow will be brighter and sunny.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Ontario College of Teachers says ....
"We require more information regarding your application. To satisfy the practice teaching requirement the College will require:
1. A statement, sent directly from an official at the University of Hong Kong, which verifies that your completed the equivalent of 40 days (eight weeks) of practice teaching in your program.
or
2. Evidence of at least one year experience as a teacher in an elementary or secondary school in a jurisdiction in which you are certified to teach. This experience must have beeen completed subsequent to your program of teacher traininig, and be verified by an appropriate supervisory official in Hong Kong. The documentation should be sent directly to the College from the school.
"
Why do they tell me that late? When I manage to send both or either of the above to OCT to allow them to re-evalute my application, I will have to wait until Dec or Jan to start supply teaching. Besides, it depends if they will accept my teaching at a post-secondary institute (HKIVE) equvialent to teaching at a secondary school or not.
This letter has really pissed me off!
My Neighbour and the white ...
My neighbour is a Russian landy about my age. She keeps everything clean and tidy. Because of this, I always wipe the washbasin and bathtub whenever I finish using them.
I'm quite happy with my newly rented place. Actually, without my neighbour saying, 'no, I don't mind if you rent the room to a guy', to the landlady, I won't be staying here.
Guys, in your home, do you usually lift the 'toilet ring' up after you finish the 'water job'? I always did as I've been living alone, in a guys dormitary floor and a family with more men than women. Since I moved here, I learnt to lift, 'water' and leave it on the toilet again when I finish.
[Why writing this and my neighbour? A friend asked me what happened to me and my female Russian neighbour in an email message. Hope I can write more about Russian culture when I know her and my landlady better.]
First Lesson - Cantonese Conversation Class
Last night I spent my first 2 hours teaching Cantonese Conversation to 7 adults. One is a 'gui-lo' and the others are Asian who speak some, very little or no Cantonese. As the Chinese school is not a profit-making institute and most (maybe all) administrative staff are volunteers, they were not ready to give me help with the printing job as promised by the Principal. It really made me embarrased when I had to teach without handouts to the learners for the first hour. But it went much better in the 2nd hour.
I taught them 'greetings and responses', 'introducing self and others' and then 'numbers'! A lot? Yeah it is too much for 2 of them who know very little Chinese. But for the Canada Born Chinese, maybe the pace is alright. Luckily it's a small class.
As most of them don't like writing and all prefer improving mainly speaking and listening skills, teaching them Romanlised alphabets and tones is inevitable. It's tough. Luckily I was taught 'jyutping' （粤拼）when I did my MA in Linguistics at HKU with Dr KK Luke who is one of the key persons developing the system. Now I understand better why I should do the MA in 2001 without the sponsorship from my former employer.
Hope most of them will stay in the class so that it won't be dismissed prematurely.
I taught them 'greetings and responses', 'introducing self and others' and then 'numbers'! A lot? Yeah it is too much for 2 of them who know very little Chinese. But for the Canada Born Chinese, maybe the pace is alright. Luckily it's a small class.
As most of them don't like writing and all prefer improving mainly speaking and listening skills, teaching them Romanlised alphabets and tones is inevitable. It's tough. Luckily I was taught 'jyutping' （粤拼）when I did my MA in Linguistics at HKU with Dr KK Luke who is one of the key persons developing the system. Now I understand better why I should do the MA in 2001 without the sponsorship from my former employer.
Hope most of them will stay in the class so that it won't be dismissed prematurely.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
My First Job In Toronto
Tonight when I was in the classroom attending an English lesson for Internationally Trained Teacher, I received a call. The Principal of Yat Sun School invited me to teach an adult Conversation class this Friday night. Without hesitation I said, 'yes!'
They pay me well though we have not discussed it.
It's a teaching job.
I'm a native Cantonese speaker who have had lots of trining in language teaching.
It's a 'foot in the door' opening to me. If I teach well, the Principal may offer me more jobs.
Adults usually have higher motivation to learn. They are better learners than kids.
Thanks God that I will have my first job this Friday. Pray for me so that I will be a competent Cantonese teacher.
They pay me well though we have not discussed it.
It's a teaching job.
I'm a native Cantonese speaker who have had lots of trining in language teaching.
It's a 'foot in the door' opening to me. If I teach well, the Principal may offer me more jobs.
Adults usually have higher motivation to learn. They are better learners than kids.
Thanks God that I will have my first job this Friday. Pray for me so that I will be a competent Cantonese teacher.
TESL Training [by Toronto District School Board]
Finally I decided to take the course. It is because I can't stand the tedious procedures of preparing a portfolio to convince the regulatory body that the MAs and PCEd trainings are sufficient. The unreasonable requests from them are that
1) I need to submit a half-page statement to summarie /ourline each module I took and
2) to supplement the course outline with a reference list, an assignment list and
3) to state what assessments the module required
Besides, there are lots of other documents I need to prepare. It may take 20 hours for me to produce a portfolio whereas doing the TESL training again will involve much longer hours
"Why can't they trust another TESOL training institute by reviewing their program details? "
"If the information is right on hand with me, what jobs are they supposed to do? "
I'd rather spend the money, attend further lessons to refresh what I leant about TESOL, know more colleauges who teach ESL classes. Why should I comply with a silly regulatory body?
1) I need to submit a half-page statement to summarie /ourline each module I took and
2) to supplement the course outline with a reference list, an assignment list and
3) to state what assessments the module required
Besides, there are lots of other documents I need to prepare. It may take 20 hours for me to produce a portfolio whereas doing the TESL training again will involve much longer hours
"Why can't they trust another TESOL training institute by reviewing their program details? "
"If the information is right on hand with me, what jobs are they supposed to do? "
I'd rather spend the money, attend further lessons to refresh what I leant about TESOL, know more colleauges who teach ESL classes. Why should I comply with a silly regulatory body?
Friday, September 07, 2007
TESL Certificate Program by Toronto District School Board
http://www.tdsb.on.ca/wwwdocuments/programs/continuing_education/docs/Tesl_brochure.pdf
I am offered a place to enrol in the captioned course because I have had very strong background and they expect me to contribute to the class by sharing my experience.
But do I really need it?
I have an MA in TESOL and another in Linguistics + more than 10 years experience in teaching English as a foreign language in Hong Kong.
The TESL Ontario is evaluating my profile and they may tell me the result in 2 months. That means I may get a license to teach ESL to adults in two months. [ TESL Ontario is different from Ontario College of Teachers as the latter will decide if I have had enough qualifications to teach in the secondary schools here]
The course continues until May 2008 with 265 hours in-class instruction + 50 hours practicum
However the cost fee is $3,700 which is quite a lot to me
The advantages are :
1) local context / qualification
2) broadening network, knowing more ESL teachers in this city
3) reviewing all the pedogical and theoretical stuff about ESL
4) improving my English communication skills when participating
5) organised by Toronto District School Board which hosts the majority ESL classes in Toronto
But do I really need it?
I have an MA in TESOL and another in Linguistics + more than 10 years experience in teaching English as a foreign language in Hong Kong.
The TESL Ontario is evaluating my profile and they may tell me the result in 2 months. That means I may get a license to teach ESL to adults in two months. [ TESL Ontario is different from Ontario College of Teachers as the latter will decide if I have had enough qualifications to teach in the secondary schools here]
The course continues until May 2008 with 265 hours in-class instruction + 50 hours practicum
However the cost fee is $3,700 which is quite a lot to me
The advantages are :
1) local context / qualification
2) broadening network, knowing more ESL teachers in this city
3) reviewing all the pedogical and theoretical stuff about ESL
4) improving my English communication skills when participating
5) organised by Toronto District School Board which hosts the majority ESL classes in Toronto
English course for Int'l Trained Teachers
The schedule is Mon and Wed from 6:00pm to 9:30pm.
The foucuses of the course are idioms, slangs and conversational English that a teacher in Canada should know.
Fee: $40
Duration: 14 weeks
I will know some friends there and learn some pratical things to improve my English.
The foucuses of the course are idioms, slangs and conversational English that a teacher in Canada should know.
Fee: $40
Duration: 14 weeks
I will know some friends there and learn some pratical things to improve my English.
Another Chance to Teach Mandarin
Yesterday I received a call from Toronto School Board inviting me to attend an interview on Sept 27, 2007 at 8:30am. They look for teachers to teach Mandarin (Traditional and Simplified) to Elementary kids. As there are about a hundred of classes every week from Mon to Fri afternoons and Saturaday morning, I guess I have had a good chance to get an offer. Although it is just a supply teaching post, it's good enough for me if I am allowed to step on the teaching podium in Toronto.
Pray for me so that I will answer questions wisely in the interview!
Pray for me so that I will answer questions wisely in the interview!
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
加拿大的色魔s
一些移民來加拿大的人被稱為‘色魔’，原因是因為他們靠'"息" "mall" 度日。
息=銀行存款的利息
魔= shopping malls
息=銀行存款的利息
魔= shopping malls
這照片攝於多倫多城西的Etobicoke 一個西人商場。可千萬別說我長胖了。
Home Sweet Home!
A TV provided by the Russian landlady. I will watch TV to improve my English. The duvet cover is from IKEA. Isn't it nice?
The mat on the sofa is a gift from a friend who will move back to Shenzhen soon.Monday, September 03, 2007
The Answer is NO!
Finally I received an email message from the Chinese school, Yat Sun. The Principal said he could only put me to their supply teachers list. If I 've had more experience in teaching Putonghua, or .... [so many 'if's ]I've been here for a month and a week. Some people get stuck for years before they can teach here. So I will look for a part-time job first. Then I won't be spending too much of my savings.
At the same time, I'll do more cold calls to explore an opportunity to be supply teacher or volunteer teacher. For survival, for bread ........
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