Apr 022012
 

The conference was truly a crazy few days as I started to get over jet lag and was getting up early every day to attend sessions.

My main intent for being there was to do the Leadership Certificate Program, which I had started through some online courses in the fall. At the time that I started I wasn’t yet sure that I would complete it, but when I found out that the conference was over our spring break I figured, why not?

Not only did I get to learn a bit more about the association and leadership, but I also got to meet some really awesome people.

One of the things that became clear to me was a gap in having like-minded colleagues who are in similar stages of our professional career as well as within the same age group. While age shouldn’t really matter when it comes to learning and sharing as professionals, it does matter in the level of bonding. With older people, the relationship tends to turn into one where they are like a mentor. With younger people, the relationship tends to turn into one where I am like a mentor to them. Both are great relationships to foster, but sometimes you just want someone to commiserate with and to push each other along. So, the greatest thing I gained was meeting a few new people and connecting! πŸ˜€

Me and Katie, whom I met in the program and is working in San Francisco at Skyline Community College.

Katie and Alsu, whom I met in one of the online workshops and we decided to room together.

Plus, I got to catch up a Β bit with old friends:

 

So, after our last workshop on Saturday, I headed to the airport to meet my parents in Charleston, SC. πŸ˜€

Now time for some real R&R!

-T

Mar 302012
 

Phew, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind the past few days….

I would write more, but I’m exhausted. Instead, I will just post some pics:

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28-Mar-2012 19:18, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 125
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28-Mar-2012 20:06, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 1000
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28-Mar-2012 20:06, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 1000
 
William Labov plenary
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William Labov plenary29-Mar-2012 15:40, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 4.2, 56.7mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 400
Pennsylvania Convention Center used to be the old Reading Railroad Station
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Pennsylvania Convention Center used to be the old Reading Railroad Station29-Mar-2012 16:16, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
Philly by night - City Hall
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Philly by night - City Hall30-Mar-2012 03:14, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 4.1, 15.7mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 400
 
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30-Mar-2012 03:24, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.7, 11.0mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 400
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30-Mar-2012 03:36, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.4 sec, ISO 400
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30-Mar-2012 04:08, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 200
 
Mar 292012
 

I feel like I have returned to my days of full-time studies the past day or so.

First, I arrived on Tuesday night and got settled in.

Then, yesterday I spent about 11 hours at the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the Doctoral Student Forum. It was a good day overall, if not exhausting!

Tis all to report for now. Will try to have more of interest next time. πŸ˜€

Mar 102012
 

 

After a four-year hiatus, I gave a presentation at this past weekend’s TESOL Arabia conference.

My presentation was titled “EFL Professionals’ Perceptions on Research and Leadership”. It was based on research that I had started while in Japan and then received a start-up grant to complete it when I arrived here about three years ago. So, it has taken me a while to get the results out and all that, but it is indeed better late than never!

I found that I am much more confident in my place in the profession and I knew my stuff quite well, so I didn’t fear the questions as much.

I will post my presentation on my professional portfolio site tomorrow from work.

Anyway, there’s much for me to update here, but I’ve been a bit lazy (and busy preparing). So, I will try to get back into the swing of things soon.

πŸ™‚ T

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