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.
1 comment:
Siu-kuen visited the PTA shop but they said the software was out of stock. They could order it for us but that would take a few days. We will check and send it to you once we have bought it.
And good to hear your various developments. I always have confidence in you as a teacher. You are patient and sensitive to others needs. Coupled with your hardworking character, you are just one perfect teacher!
Voluntary work should be great. And don't lose your heart for the cold response from the interview. Maybe they just want to appear to be impartial and fair to all.
Mid-autumn festival is coming and I hope you enjoy it there as well. Do shoot us a photo and let us see if the moon abroad is really rounder! The day after the festival I will fly to Cambodia to have negotiations. Wish me good luck!
Chung
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