Monday, January 12, 2015

Bright Futures

Jim Rohn http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_future2.html#trUD6Y6AOMDC4GuU.99

Winter term has begun at University of Oregon's American English Institute. I'm teaching 100% online this term in our eLearning program, where I'll be teaching Building Teaching Skills through the Interactive Web (Webskills), as well as Practical Applications of Listening and Speaking Skills (PALSS). Both are incredibe courses that greatly benefit the participants who take them. Our eLearning program trains educators worldwide in different aspects of English language teaching. The high caliber courses in this program introduce participants to cutting edge research, resources, and tools that they can use to enhance their teaching practices. I always learn a great deal from facilitating these courses and am excited about the upcoming term. It is a great honor to interact and collaborate with teachers across the globe.

I've had numerous other honors recently. I've been contacted about publishing my thesis research, Interaction, Authenticity, and Spoken Corpora: Building Effective Teaching Materials for Adult ELLs. Though I wrote this years ago, it was located by someone from Lambert Academic Publishing. I've been working with my editor to accomplish publishing in the next few weeks. I'll be presenting virtually for the first time for a group of teachers from the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) in Slovenia later this month. I've been invited to present in Guadalajara, Mexico in May. In addition, someone read my tech tip that was published in the ORTESOL Fall 2014 Newsletter  and contacted me today for an interview. The short article focuses on using Blogger.com and Vocaroo in combination to facilitate interaction outside of the classroom. Check it out!

With all of this happening, I feel like I have a bright future ahead. It's a great feeling! I've been working hard and enjoying it every step of the way. It feels good to know, that even though I didn't realize it, I've been paving the way for my future. Sometimes, in the midst of our busy lives, we forget that all of our efforts will pay off, that a greater plan exists for us, that focusing on this and continuing to move forward with a positive attitude will be rewarded. We are responsible for our journey, but we must also trust that everything will work out. When life shows us this, it's a great moment. I'm in that moment, and l love it.

Here's to bright futures for all! May we work hard, play hard, smile often and know that life will put us exactly where we need to be.