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Example Letters of Intent
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Anyoung Haseyo President Jae Hee-Oh, National Council Members, and Gyeonggi PMA Council,
I would like to be given the opportunity to assume the role as PMA Chair for the Gyeonggi PMA. Let me give you a little bit of background so that you can get to know me better.
My name is Beth Ann Riedel, and I am 34 years old. I was born and raised in Michigan in the USA. I come from a large family. My parents were foster parents, adopted 4 children, and had 3 children of their own. When I was a senior in high school, my family hosted a foreign exchange student from Japan. In the year that she stayed with us, I fell in love with Asian culture. We graduated 15 years ago, but we are still just as close as the day we graduated.
I graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint with a 3.0 GPA and a degree in Elementary Education with a major in Fine Arts and a Minor in Language Arts. I have been teaching here in Korea for 1 year. I started out in Yeongju but recently moved to Siheung City.
In college, I was President of Student Michigan Education Association (SMEA) and was a Student Advisory Committee member of Michigan Education Association (MEA). I was also Vice President of the Student Communication Association and Student Advertising Network.
In the clubs that I joined in college, I did a lot of volunteer work. I helped clean out abandoned houses so that they could be rebuilt for new families. I was also involved in a project called "Outreach to Teach" where we did an extreme makeover to a school. We also did numerous book drives where we collected books for libraries.
Here are some goals I would like to accomplish as your Chair.
I would also like to help work on making our organization (ATEK) known nationwide. Together, as a team, we can make ATEK everything we want it to be and more.
Thank you Beth Ann Riedel
“My success is measured by the success of my students” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Incheon ATEK members,
My name is Jed Mitchener, and I would like to announce my intent to continue as Chair of the Incheon PMA for another term.
I have been an ATEK member since the organization was first founded, and I have been Chair of the Incheon PMA since February 2010.
I arrived in Korea in March of 2007 and worked in a hagwon for the first year and a half. In the summer of 2008 I successfully interviewed at the University of Incheon for the position of English Converstaion instructor, where I have worked the last 2 and a half years. In that time I also managed to marry a Korean woman and start a family. In March of this year, I will start another 2 year contract teaching English Conversation at Daelim College in Anyang. In short, I am looking forward to being in Korea for several more years.
I believe I am well suited for the role as Incheon PMA Chair. For starters, I'm already familiar with the position and the responsibilities. Also, because of my F-Visa status, I am able to remain in Korea for a period of my own choosing -- not that of any employer. Prior to coming to Korea I spent 15 years as an IT consultant, first with Accenture, and then later with The Summit Group. I also dabbled in insurance-based financial planning enough to win an all-expense paid trip to Maui. I am a fairly level-headed person, and I enjoy friendly and fulfilling relationships with people of all backgrounds.
I have several items of "unifinished business" that I would like to continue working towards as a member of the National Council. Of primary importance is the identification of other officer candidates within Incheon to fill out the Incheon PMA Executive team.
I hope you will second my nomination for the position of Incheon ATEK Chairperson and cast your vote according to your opinion during the election.
Sincerely,
Jared "Jed" Mitchener
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To the members of ATEK,
My name is Rachel Bailey. I am an American English teacher living in Busan, and I would like to be your National External Communications Officer. Since I heard about ATEK a few months after I moved here, I have wanted to find a way to serve the organization as more than just the occasional volunteer. ATEK has the important distinction of being a liaison between the Korean people and those of us teaching their children every day. We also are in a position to play an important part in the training and integration of new teachers as they settle into their new lives here. As National External Communications Officer, I believe I can help ATEK accomplish these things. I want to bring my skills and experience to bear in a positive way for English teachers in Korea. I have a degree in Magazine Journalism from the University of Georgia’s acclaimed Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications. During and after my studies, I’ve done everything from motorsports television to written music criticism, working along the way in many kinds of media, including online, video, audio and visual. I believe I have the knowledge to craft messages on behalf of ATEK and express them in a clear and engaging way. I look forward to the opportunity to serve my community of fellow English teachers as ATEK’s National External Communications Officer.
Sincerely, Rachel Bailey -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Gyeonggi-Do ATEK General Members:
I am currently living in Pyeongtaek, and I teach at a public elementary school in the outskirts of town, near Camp Humphrey’s. My current contract ends in September 2011, but I have plans to renew and stay for at least another year. My public elementary school is designated by GEPIK to be in a “rural” area and only employs one foreign teacher (that’s me). You can imagine my surprise when, upon arrival, I discovered that no one can speak English at a conversational level at my school (I also cannot speak Korean-but am learning).
I am seeking the position of Inter-Cultural Communications Officer for two reasons:
The first reason is pure interest and a desire to get more experience in the field of intercultural studies. I am obsessed with learning about other cultures, other societies, other languages, and other ways of doing things than my own. I plan to attend graduate school for Anthropology in September of 2012, and I can see great ways to use this experience to benefit me academically, professionally, and personally. I feel that, in order to have a great experience here, we must all find solutions to deal with the various communication problems that can appear when people from different religious, social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds work/live together.
Before I left home, I remember meticulously researching Korea, trying to answer my questions about how I would tackle living (completely different than traveling) in a different culture than my own. I realized that, when it comes to living abroad, you cannot find solutions in a book or from a website. Solutions can only be found in experiencing the daily life here, the ups and downs, being level-headed and asking relevant questions. That being said, it benefits us greatly to be asking questions and having a support system of people who are going through the same exact things.
My second reason is as simple as my first: I am always asking “why?” I find it very easy to open up to people and often find a common understanding amongst strangers. I will talk to anyone and everyone, and I am not afraid to be wrong. I am always curious about why cultures do some of the things that they do or in the way they do, and I love to answer questions about my own life in relation to another person’s experience.
I have been very fortunate in my short time here, to become good friends with some Koreans. These friends have been a lifeline for me in acquiring the Internet, finding Korean classes, getting packages out of customs, and dealing with a plethora of other functional issues. But, what they have also been are good teachers to me. I can now explain to other expat’s who are lost, frustrated, or confused how to get help and where to find information. If accepted to this position, I will be very excited to add to ATEK’s cultural guide, finding new classes and planning new events. I am particularly interested in being the travel and tourism coordinator as I love to travel and to share my discoveries with people. Thank you for your consideration, I am looking forward to working with ATEK soon.
Sincerely,
Lexi Pope
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Dear General Members, Officers, and anyone concerned,
I am very interested in continuing my work to establish ATEK as a NGO. As president I formed a committee to research our various options. Now I would like to chair this committee and work towards realizing this goal. After the requisite announcements to GMs I hope that my application will be considered.
I am happy to serve ATEK in any way that is consistent with the mission and bylaws of the association.
Please let me know what else I can do to aid in this process.
Regards,
Greg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposal letter for Human Rights Officer on the National Human Rights Committee and the Busan PMA Council.
I am thankful to address the various members of ATEK in the hopes of becoming a Human Rights Officer on the National Human Rights Committee and the Busan PMA Council.
My name is Elissa Jo Roberts. I was born and raised in Austin, Texas. While in university, I studied Anthropology with a specific interest in Social Anthropology. Although I showed an aptitude for the scientific side of Anthropology, I was always drawn back to focus on the effect societal change has had on people cross-culturally. After graduating, I was encouraged by a friend to come to Korea and try out my teaching “wings.” I have been living and working in Korea for 1 year and 4 months. It has truly been a remarkable experience, and I have enjoyed every second of it!
I have been passionate about Human Rights issues for many years. Throughout the years, I have worked with various groups to bring to light the necessity of change in areas of Human Rights issues. In Texas, I interned with the AIDS Foundation, working specifically with prisoners who had contracted AIDS while in prison. Their basic human right to their bodies and health was denied while incarcerated, and I worked to remind them of their humanity and their right to an environment free from persecution and fear. My research also had a direct effect on bringing these atrocities to the full attention of the Texas Prison System.
I have enjoyed my time in Korea very much, and I look forward to many more great experiences. I have, however, encountered many Human Rights issues. Specifically, the rights of women in Korea have become a major focus and concern of mine. Although Korea is very forward-thinking in areas of scientific technology and international development, I feel that Women’s Rights issues could be addressed more, and this is based on what I personally have experienced with some marked social stigmas directly related to my gender. These experiences have only intensified my desire to help identify areas for change in this area.
My goals that I would like to achieve with ATEK is organizing a free AIDS testing facility and focusing more on providing comfort and support for the battered women’s shelter here in Busan. By working to understand the situations many of these women face every day and by working to alleviate the stresses they face, I believe that a definite and positive change can be realized. By implementing an AIDS testing facility, this disease can be diagnosed early and at little-to-no cost by the individual. This will only encourage other people to take a greater interest in a basic human right we all have: our health. I believe that working closely with the National Human Rights Committee will make a positive difference with any task we undertake and will possibly result in impacting lives on a much larger scale. With the support of this group of people, dedicated to making a change, I feel certain that change can be realized.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Elissa Jo Roberts
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Dear National Officers/Members of Daegu ATEK:
My name is Bryan Aguiar, and I’m running for the position of Ethics Office on the National Ethics Committee and Daegu PMA Council.
I was elected Ethics Officer on the National Ethics Committee and Gyeonggi PMA Council in February, and I served faithfully in that position until I recently moved to Hayang. Prior to that, I served for two years as a member of the Student Conduct Board at my undergraduate alma mater. This position taught me much about mediating issues and disputes as well as proper procedure and rationale for making decisions based on factual evidence.
As Ethics Officer of the National Ethics Committee and Daegu PMA Council, I look forward to working with Charlotte Lawrence, the Ethics Chair, and Bryan Hollingsworth, Ethics Officer of the Seoul PMA Council, to form a stronger National Ethics Committee, giving the organization something that is much needed.
I’m currently working as a visiting professor at the Catholic University of Daegu, and this job affords me more free time than before to engage in Ethics and other related ATEK issues.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter, and I hope to work with you all in the future.
Cordially,
Bryan J. Aguiar General Member, Daegu PMA
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To the Seoul members of ATEK,
My name is Jonathan Pratt, and I would like your support in becoming the Communications Officer for Seoul PMA.
I was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, but I have lived in Korea for more than 5 years, more than 4 of which have been in Seoul. Between “Small-town”, Nova Scotia, and Seoul, I have had to adapt. It was surprisingly easy for me because, as you may have noticed, I’m still here. That’s not to say I think one place is better than the other. Rather, both have their merits and, oddly enough, similarities. Being able to take this positive view of culture exchange is something I have long wanted to share in the best way I could.
My studies in university led me to pursue a future in writing. In my four years at Acadia University, I excelled in both fiction and non-fiction, succeeding in positively-reviewed plays, high marks in critical essays, and articles in several amateur publications. In high school, I participated in the school newspaper all three years, becoming the co-editor in my senior year. This was hard work, but I powered through and succeeded in the issues I oversaw.
Since coming to Korea, I have also volunteered many hours to help edit work for friends, co-workers, and other associates. I have helped contribute to textbooks, resumes, presentations, and corporate pledges. All that being said, though my major was not in journalism, I have had my fair share of experience in the field, as well as in writing in general.
With my experiences in adapting to Korean culture and writing, I plan to serve as a voice that can speak for and to English teachers living in Seoul. Being able to relate information to others in the appropriate manner is one of many steps that can be taken in order to increase membership in ATEK. We can also, through guide books, blogs, and other media sources, make new teachers feel welcome and that they are not alone, bring solidarity to those who are here already, and generally let everyone who teaches English know that they are not alone and there are people to support them.
I strongly believe that communication is important for the success of any organization. Without it, there would be no organization. Because I believe in this so passionately, I also believe in my ability to be the next Communications Officer for the Seoul PMA.
Thank you, Jonathan Pratt
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To the esteemed members of the Seoul PMA: I am extremely excited to apply for the position of Membership Officer of the Seoul PMA; this is exactly the kind of challenge I would like to pursue as I finish my first year in Seoul and move onto the second. People who know me well call me “Hi, I’m Anna” because I have never been afraid to introduce myself! I really hope to implement this kind of bold approach in the Seoul PMA, so that others can learn about what ATEK is and what it has to offer to the Seoul community. I have many ideas to contribute, and I am looking forward to supporting Seoul Chair Reyes Galvan’s intent of finding and cultivating talent and increasing membership (as stated in his own letter of intent). My professional background is concentrated mainly in sales, administration and political advocacy. I am originally from St. Louis, Missouri. I worked as a Membership Sales Coordinator for the St. Louis Jewish Community Center. Working with my team, we increased membership there by over 200% in less than one year. Daily duties there included touring the facility and doing administrative work that included calling through lists and entering information into their database, as well as completing member retention calls. My work as a Neighborhood Team Leader (NTL) for Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change is especially pertinent because of my community outreach and recruiting experience. As a full time NTL, I recruited over 100 volunteers for my own team and others in our particular area of St. Louis. In addition to recruiting and training new volunteers, I organized and oversaw phone banks and canvasses and entered voter information into the VoteBuilder database. I also volunteered for over three years with Missouri State University’s Relay for Life (formerly known as Southwest Missouri State University). I began as a team leader, recruiting my own team and raising enough funds to be considered a Bronze level fundraising team (over $1,500.00). I then served for over two years as Chair of Public Relations & Publicity, wherein I created fundraising events such as Art for a Cure (a winter art showcase, held at a local coffeehouse) and the Dance for Cancer Event (a dance auction). My experiences and my varied skill set now provide me the sufficient tools to maintain a member database and to increase the scope of this position to include member recruitment and retention. I would appreciate your vote of confidence very much, and I hope to have the chance to get to know you all soon! Warm regards, Anna Deschatres -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Seoul ATEK members and officers,
My name is Tom Kang, and I am currently a resident in Korea. I wish the honor to become a contributor to ATEK through the position of Vice Chair, Seoul. I recently learned about ATEK via the Internet while searching for companies that aid teachers who are teaching in Korea. ATEK, after reading about the mission and organization, seemed to be an excellent match.
I hope that my qualifications prove to suffice to fill the above role. I graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in History. And, prior to coming to Korea, I worked in finance for about seven years.
I first arrived in Korea in 2004 as an instructor at ChungDahm Language Institute. After about one year, I was asked to become Director at The Princeton Review, Korea, where I managed the academic division of the institute. I worked at TPR Korea for about three years until returning to the US. I returned to Korea in 2009 and have been teaching at Ian English for the past year.
I believe that, with my experience, I will be able to offer the necessary insight and ideas to propel ATEK towards accomplishing their goals.
I look forward to fielding any questions regarding my application for Vice Chair, Seoul.
Best,
Thomas Kang -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyo Haseyo Gyeonggi PMA Members-
I would like to be given the opportunity to work as your Volunteer Officer for the Gyeongi PMA. Let me give you a little bit of background so that you can get to know me better.
My name is Beth Ann Riedel, and I am 33 years old. I was born and raised in Michigan in the USA. I come from a large family. My parents were foster parents, adopted 4 children, and had 3 children of their own. When I was a senior in high school, my family hosted a foreign exchange student from Japan. In that year that she stayed with us, I fell in love with Asian culture. We graduated 15 years ago, but we are still just as close as the day we graduated.
I graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint with a 3.0 GPA and a degree in Elementary Education with a major in Fine Arts and a Minor in Language Arts. I have been teaching here in Korea for 6 months. I started out in Yeongju but recently moved to Siheung City. In college, I was President of Student Michigan Education Association (SMEA) and was a Student Advisory Committee member of Michigan Education Association (MEA).
In the clubs that I joined in college, I did a lot of volunteer work. I helped clean out abandoned houses so that they could be rebuilt for new families. I was also involved in a project called "Outreach to Teach", where we did an extreme makeover to a school. We also did numerous book drives where we collected books for libraries. I love spending my time doing volunteer work, and I would love to be given the opportunity to do some while here in Korea.
Thank you
Beth Ann Riedel
“My success is measured by the success of my students”
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Dear Gyeonggi ATEK Members,
I would like to be considered for the Gyeonggi PMA Membership Officer position.
It is my intention to grow alongside ATEK as I draw on my past experiences largely in the fields of administration and education.
Professional discipline and tact organizational skills are what I have been trained to do for nearly a decade now.
Give me the opportunity to learn as much as there is in this position. Hopefully ATEK and its members will reap the benefits of the level of attention and hard work I am ready to devote.
Over the course of two and a half years in Korea, I was
able to learn and excel in the private education industry. I was promoted to
Head Teacher seven months into my first year contract. During this time, I was
privileged to be able to help handle human resources and exact my organizational
abilities over a whole campus.
Hopefully I can gain also enough knowledge and experience in ATEK and Korea to advance the causes of ATEK and serve its members for a long time.
Thank you, Richmond Ng
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Dear members and officers of ATEK,
Please review and accept my application for the position of Employment & Legal Issues Officer ("Labor Officer"). I possess the skills and experience needed to do well in this position and help the organization move further in its goals to advocate for and represent Members to all levels of stakeholders in English education.
My experience comes from the years that I have spent traveling abroad as well as from my university studies in Criminal Justice. I have lived all over Canada, France and, now, Korea. As many of you are aware, not only traveling but living in a country develops your cultural awareness and understanding. I possess enough cultural understanding and awareness to effectively deal with issues that arise in employment matters within Korea. I dealt with issues of my own when I arrived, and I have gathered resources that will help Members become informed. Not all people are able to deal with employment issues and gather information on employment in Korea because it is often an overwhelming situation. I will try my best to ensure that all members are given proper information on employment matters as well that they understand their position within Korea as a foreign language instructor. As well, I will be open to discussing and informing the members of labor-related issues. Knowing your rights is very important, and often we lack in understanding them.
During my years in university studying Criminal Justice, I acted as the Chief Returning Office for annual Student Association elections. My studies motivated me to become more of a global citizen and, as such, take an active role within my community to help promote social justice. My work within the Chief Electoral Office centered on insuring that a fair election occurred. I was mandated to follow the election regulations created by the Board of Governors at the university. It was over this time that I became aware of the subtlety of contracts and legal regulation. I am confident that these experiences will help me provide information that is relevant and important to Members.
It is my hope that I can serve as a "Labor Officer" for ATEK and that you accept my application for this role within the organization. I look forward to providing information and help when needed.
Regards,
Adrian Lake -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Esteemed Jeollabuk ATEK Members: There is no doubt in my mind that ATEK is an association of
vital importance to English My name is David Van Minnen. I was born in Canada to Dutch
immigrants. I have been In 2010, the question of whether or not to join ATEK has
been long in deliberation. Reflection Therefore, I offer to serve as North Jeolla area
chairperson for ATEK, and submit myself to the Certainly, David Van Minnen
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Dear All Members of ATEK,
My name is Jaehee Oh, and I am running to be the next president of ATEK.
Before I start asking for your vote, I would like to formally introduce myself to you.
I was born and raised in Busan, Korea, and I went to high school and college in the States. I lived there for 8 years before I came back to Korea to teach English to high school students preparing for their college entrance exams. I specialize in English grammar.
I have been a very active member of the expat community in Busan for about two years, participating in some of the most exciting events that the Busan expat community has ever seen. All the fun stuff, however, didn't really fill my heart, for as you all know there is only so much joy you can feel by or for yourself. So, I started attentively listening to my friends' "bad day at work" stories or problems that they were having with their employers. When I realized that there was a lot that I could do for them, I started helping them out. For about a year, I was running around Busan to the Labor Board and hagwons on behalf of my friends, which prompted me to realize that I actually needed some help. It was then that Greg Dolezal, the current president of ATEK, told me about ATEK and recruited me to join. I thought that it was a perfect opportunity for me because I finally had some resources and help that I really needed.
I joined ATEK this Spring, and since then I have been working on a lot of cases as an Employment & Legal Issues Officer for the Busan PMA. I won't go into any details about the cases that I worked on, but I must say that there are a lot of people who are in need of assistance and support from the community. I have been working relentlessly for the ill-treated English teachers and, through my experience, realized that there was so much potential for ATEK. I really want to be an integral part of ATEK's future.
Now, I would like to talk to you about two very simple reasons why I believe you should vote for me.
First, I am a hard worker with hands-on experience that will be tremendously helpful when assisting the other officers throughout Korea.
Even though running the organization is one of my most important duties, I will never forget why we are here: to help those in need.
Secondly, I am going to recruit more Korean English teachers so that they can be an integral part of this organization and so that they can participate in helping native English teachers and other non-native English teachers. I truly believe that ATEK needs to be an organic entity within the Korean community. And, in order for that to happen, we need more Koreans on board. As the first Korean General Member of ATEK, I believe that I can help to make that happen.
I hope that I haven't bored you too much with my story and that you will vote for me so that I can work hard for you.
In solidarity
Jae
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Social Officer – Stacy Fontana Dear Jeollabuk-do ATEK members,
My name is Stacy Fontana. I live in Jeonju, and I have been in Korea for 3 months. Now that I have had sufficient time to explore and become acclimated, I am eager to move to the next stage of involvement in the community. I am running for the position of Social Officer because I believe that my skill set and interests fit this position best.
Since I found out about ATEK a few weeks ago, my mind has been exploding with ideas and possibilities that I am excited to put on the table at our next chapter meeting. I have not met any of you yet, but I can’t think of a better way to get to know each other than by working together to make ATEK an important part of the teaching community in Jeollabuk-do. Right now, it seems to me that not enough people in this PMA have heard of ATEK, so I would consider it my primary priority to recruit members.
Through my experience running a chapter of SSDP (Students for Sensible Drug Policy) at Boston University, I have learned several recruitment techniques. SSDP is a political organization that many people misunderstand, so I have met and overcome many recruitment challenges already. An example of my ideas to this effect: I can make a promo video (with interviews, etc.) and a brochure to put out at local bars and coffee shops.
Spreading promotional materials might seem really obvious, but one of the most important things I learned in SSDP is that the best way to recruit members is to host great events that show people that your organization is doing things that they want to be part of. I have organized many events from the SSDP Northeast Regional Conference to movie screenings and panels, some with $2,000+ budgets.
I am already friends with the owner of Radio Star, and he said whatever event I would like to organize there just let him know the idea and it can happen! I have also made a promo video for Tombstone, so I am on good terms with the owner. You can check out my promo videos on YouTube. Tombstone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XfiooHkH2U The Rock Tigers (at Deep Into): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXJWw_kfClo In Your Eyes (Cheeky Show): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbaYasCOLeo Rocket Fire (at Radio Star): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3k0hbTU56U
Art & Travel also has a collection of games and a brand new English lending library we can contribute to.
Let’s get started right away! Please consider me for the position of Social Officer.
Thank you, Stacy Fontana
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Seoul PMA:
I would like to be your new Chair.
As Chair of the Seoul PMA, I would like to lead us into a new stage of development for our organization: one where we grow to realize the potential to positively affect not just our constituents’ lives but those of all teachers of English in Korea.
My plan is simple; I have one focus and two goals for the activities of the Seoul PMA. Before I tell you about them, I will tell you about myself and my experience in organizing and labor relations.
My name is Reyes Ivan Galvan. I am a graduate of the University of Michigan (UMich). There, I studied Philosophy and Korean Studies. I decided to postpone law school and come to Korea to improve my language skills while checking to see if I was cut out to do the “Teach for America” program in the US, where recent graduates teach in underprivileged schools in inner cities or rural areas. I have been in Korea for two years; this is my third round in Korea.
As a student, I was heavily involved in organizing for both social and socio-political events and causes:
As an executive of the Korean Student Association (KSA), I led and planned the biggest events in a decade: the KSA Distinguished Speaker Series, the Korean Culture Show, the Korean Children’s Art Festival (for adoptees), among any other events. In one year I fundraised over $6,000 and created a $2,000 surplus from a balance of $0 at the beginning of my tenure--enough to fund every single event twice. (Note: $2,000 is one school year’s entire budget.)
I was chosen by the University of Michigan’s Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs to advise the board in planning and implementing the 2008 Asian/Pacific Islander-American Heritage Month. We brought in distinguished speakers, poets, and academics, including the Def Poet, Beau Sia. I am not Asian/Pacific Islander-American.
As part of Students Organizing for Labor Equality (SOLE), I marched in solidarity with the UMich Graduate Employee’s Organization (GEO) during their strike and joined them in confronting the University’s administration to get better working conditions and a living wage.
As an Associate with KangNam Labor Law Firm, I have been given the opportunity to use my time to help other teachers with labor issues. I sought the firm out to remedy a labor issue I was having. After editing his book and discussing labor issues at length, Mr. Jung, the founder of KangNam Labor Law Firm, granted me the title and authority to help other teachers with their labor issues. I became aware of ATEK through the law firm.
I see ATEK as having the potential to do great things, but this cannot be the case if it is not active or if it lacks strong leaders that are not only devoted but also willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause.
My plan is simple. I have one focus and two goals for the activities of the Seoul PMA.
Focus · Labor Issues Goals · Find / Cultivate Talent · Increase Membership We are the Association of Teachers of English in Korea. Our bylaws state that the mission of the Association is to improve the lives of English instructors. Our common denominator, by definition, is our labor. As such, that will be the focus, the theme, of my tenure: English instructors’ labor relations.
I want to focus on increasing membership through the assertion of teachers’ rights. I will go out there and spread the word that we are not helpless because we have rights. And I know those rights. I am qualified to speak on those rights, not by virtue of some anecdotal evidence, but by virtue of being an apprenticed Associate at the first labor law firm to specialize in helping teachers of English.
But I will not be there alone. I will find and cultivate leadership talent inside and outside our organization to fill the roles of officers to fulfill our mission to “improve the living and working conditions of Members”.
As Chair of our PMA, I vow to treat my role as not just a club membership, but a job, where I have to lead our board to meet set goals and get real results.
Given my leadership experience, I feel confident that I can be your leader. I know I can take our organization to a new and better place, where more teachers receive help and more members are active.
In solidarity,
Reyes I. Galvan
“The heart is a muscle the size of your fist.”
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Dear Gyeonggi-do ATEK members,
My name is Persis Momeni, and I am running to be the next Chair of the Gyeonggi Province. For your consideration, let me introduce myself so that you may have a better understanding of my background and intent as prospective Chair.
I have been teaching in Korea for two years at a Public Elementary School. I am originally from the state of Oregon, USA, but am of Iranian descent. I came to Korea to work as a teacher while I studied towards my Masters of Science in Education: Curriculum and Instruction through Portland State University. I am also in the process of gaining the Read Oregon Classroom Teacher Certificate of Literacy.
Apart from academics, I am very involved within the community. I believe giving back is a crucial part of every human beings quest to better themselves as an individual. I am involved with Volunteer for PLUR, which organizes events to feed the homeless and provides time with children at orphanages. I am a volunteer for People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE) where I help North Korean refugees that have defected from South Korea. I volunteer for Justice for North Korea, which organizes street campaigns and workshops to promote the plight of North Koreans. And, I am also a member of KOTESOL, a professional organization for teachers of English.
I hope to organize events that will draw more members from our area into the ATEK organization. I hope to find Volunteer and Professional Development Officers through organizing these events. I believe many of our members would love to be more involved in these areas and just need the chance (and the Officers organization) to be able to attend a workshop or event.
As Chair of the Gyeonggi Provincial Association I can provide:
· An enthusiastic and positive attitude towards organizing events in order to develop and help our provincial council grow.
· A strong work ethic based on hard work, reliability and efficiency.
· Maturity, honesty and the ability to see challenges as new opportunities.
· An understanding of Korean culture and the flexibility and dedication to work hard at being a liaison between ATEK and the local gu-offices, their representatives, and their mayors as well as other organizations.
· The ability to learn quickly to be able to implement and adapt ideas that are relevant to ATEK’s cause.
Thank you for your consideration,
Persis Momeni
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Emergency Needs Officer – Dale Coker Dear Busan ATEK Members: I wish to apply for the position of Busan ATEK Emergency Needs Officer. I hope to serve as Busan ATEK’s Emergency Needs Officer for three reasons. First, my previous service as a probation/parole officer and my pursuit of a Ph.D. in Criminology confirm my passion for helping those in crisis situations. Secondly, my extensive counseling experience and love of teaching abroad mean that I am well-aware of the unique, emotional problems encountered by teachers living and working outside of their home cultures. Third, and finally, I have been developing some unique ideas for the Busan ATEK Emergency Needs Committee that includes developing a joint ATEK-Busan Counseling Center Emergency Needs Response Team. My passion for helping those in crisis situations has led me to helping professions such as serving as an officer as well as pursuing academic research in a ‘helping profession’ field. Since I counseled parolees about personal problems such as depression and suicidal ideation and also tried to help them retrain for future employment, I feel that I have had sufficient clinical experience to assist the foreign teachers living and working in Busan. Previous clients commented that they felt comfortable with my kind, non-judgmental but incisive approach to dealing with psychological problems. Furthermore, I am consistent when following up with inquirers by both E-mail and telephone to ensure that they are doing well. My knack for sifting through paperwork will also mean that I can help ATEK keep a solid paper trail of services offered and clients helped when cases come up for review. My time abroad and counseling experiences have also helped me to understand the unique problems faced by those living and working overseas. Social isolation, workplace conflicts sliding under the radar of cross-cultural misunderstandings, and common feelings such as homesickness or low-grade depression are all familiar to me. Social isolation might be less of a problem for foreign teachers working in cosmopolitan Busan, but cultural dislocation and linguistic isolation can help foment different mood disorders that make living in Korea a challenge. I will lend an ear to those in need and help them sort through these sorts of common psychological issues through extensive phone chats. Workplace conflicts can be hard to detect in a new cultural environment, but I will serve as a sounding board for those who need the time to delve into the details of such problems to try to seek solutions. Some of the more serious cases will be referred to the labor officer. I am open to ongoing chats with those who must face these particularly complex dilemmas. Sometimes the most common feelings like depression and homesickness can be the hardest to resolve, but I have the patience and the clinical knowledge to help ATEK members work through these issues on the phone or by E-mail at length. If the same depression has to be confronted time and time again, I will be just as willing the 17th time to listen as I was the first. Finally, I have some innovative ideas about how Busan ATEK could work with organizations such as the Busan Counseling Center to meet the needs of foreign residents in Busan. I am currently setting up meetings with the Busan Counseling Center to ensure that all teachers in Busan can reach a 24-hour emergency hotline when they are facing crisis situations. All serious crises will be referred to the most appropriate medical expert whom the person in need can access. This hotline should guarantee 24-hour, expert coverage of those in need and help prevent imminent problems such as intent to do self-harm or other medical emergencies. I hope to dedicate myself to serving as the ATEK Busan Emergency Needs Chair in the near future. Thank you for your consideration and your vote. I anticipate working with a dynamic Busan team! Sincerely yours, Dale Coker -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Seoul ATEK Members,
My name is Leigh Taublib-Kiriat, and I am running for the position of Employment & Legal Issues Officer (“Labor” Officer) for the Seoul PMA because I believe that my experience, skill set, and personal interests fit this position.
Having lived in Korea for six months, I consider myself to be extremely fortunate that I have not had any legal incidents; however, we are too well aware that not everyone is this lucky. I have heard an abundance of regrettable stories about the hardships people have encountered while dealing with legal and employment issues in Korea. As a New Yorker, I am always striving to help others and would very much enjoy being able to provide assistance in regards to employment contracts and rights, liabilities, as well as all other legal issues that present themselves.
While I am not a lawyer, I recently received my Masters in Criminal Justice. And, through my coursework, internships, and past employments, I have spent countless hours researching, organizing, and disseminating information pertaining to criminal justice and human rights-related issues. I know that this experience has provided me with the ability to aid those in search of useful legal and local resources, to provide useful advice, and to facilitate conversations. Although I have lived in Korea for only a short time, I hope that everyone who chooses to live here is able to accomplish exactly what they desire. Being a part of ATEK, not only as a General Member but also in the capacity of the Seoul “Labor” Officer, would allow me to ensure this happens and to, ideally, help guarantee legal rights.
I hope that you will choose me to represent you as the Seoul “Labor” Officer; I look forward to working with you all in the future.
Best regards, Leigh Taublib-Kiriat
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Dear Busan ATEK members,
My name is Craig Robertson, and I’m writing to ask your support in electing me Busan PMA Hagwon Representative. I am originally from Glasgow, Scotland. I currently teach elementary children at a hagwon in Danggam-dong, and I have held this position for 9 months. Although this is my first position in the Korean ESL market, it has been a rewarding and instructive experience. I have gained an insight into the Busan ESL environment, and I am sure that I can be an asset to the Busan PMA.
There may be some concern that I lack the ESL experience for this position, but I consider that I possess a number of transferable skills that will be of great use in collecting resources, researching opportunities, and forming sustainable and productive relationships with hagwon managers and employers.
My educational background is in Communication, where I developed a passion for researching. I was particularly useful in group situations, researching a wide variety of material that was then used by the group when preparing reports and presentations. My dissertation (thesis) focused on the subject of Brand Management where my researching skills across both primary and secondary sources helped me immensely.
Before coming to Korea, I worked in Marketing for Arnold Clark, Europe’s largest independent car dealer. A key aspect of my position in the organisation was sustaining good working relationships across our different brand franchises (in my case, BMW, Honda, Citroen and Kia). Despite falling under the Arnold Clark Umbrella, they all retained a certain level of autonomy. I consider the experience of managing the relationships between my department and a host of other employees from entry level to senior management positions will be valuable in the role of Hagwon Representative.
I hope you will choose me as your new Busan PMA Hagown Representative. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Craig Robertson
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Inter-Cultural Communications Officer – Ryan Cox Dear Seoul ATEK General Members: My name is Ryan Cox, I am writing you for your support in my candidacy for the Inter-Cultural Communications Officer for Seoul ATEK. I have taught in Seoul for the past two years, and I will complete my third year in June 2011. During that time, I have worked at two different private kindergartens, one of which was in Gangdong-gu, and my current school, which is in Gangnam-gu. My current school employs approximately 30 foreign teachers and about 60 Korean teachers and assistants, not including the management. My previous school was much smaller, but both of them gave me valuable experiences that increased my knowledge of the Korean private education system as well as the rights of the employees. I am seeking the position of Inter-Cultural Officer for two reasons: The first is that I want to gain more experience in this field, which will help me in my future. I plan to attend graduate school for global management in September of 2011, and I can see no better way to prepare myself for success in this field, both professionally and academically, than by taking advantage of an opportunity like this one. My second reason, which is probably more important to you, is that I want to facilitate cross-cultural understanding between Koreans and English teachers from other countries. Many English teachers have little or no Korean language skills, which can make certain day-to-day activities very difficult and which can sour their otherwise positive experiences in Korea. Also, due to the differences between the culture of the Korean work environment and the culture of the work environment in other countries, tensions can often be further escalated, creating disappointment and sometimes financial burden for the employee involved in an intercultural misunderstanding. These problems could be resolved with the help of ATEK, as could the broader social and cultural misunderstandings between Koreans and foreign English teachers. As Inter-Cultural Communications Officer, I plan to develop permanent content for the ATEK website and to develop a guide book about Korean culture and history, which is something I am interested in doing. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to contributing to ATEK soon. Sincerely, Ryan Cox -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Chungbuk ATEK Members,
My name is Matthew Phillips, and I am interested in serving as Inter-Cultural Communications Officer for Chungbuk ATEK.
First, I would like to introduce myself to you more formally, having only been a member of ATEK for a little over 15 months.
I was born and raised in Southern California. I went to university in Northern California. Come this December, I will have been teaching in Korea for 6 years and in Cheongju for the past 5 years. I am the Head Teacher in my present place of employment, BCM, where I have worked for the past 15 months. Having worked at a total of 4 different academies in Korea, I think I bring a lot of varied experience to the table, which could be quite useful to fellow members. I have been studying Korean for the past 6 years, which I think will also be of use to fellow ATEK members. In the past 6 years, I have also read voraciously on the topic of Korean culture, Korean history, and current events in Korea.
Why am I interested in this position?
First, I would like to enhance my own organizational and leadership skills. Having been in Korea for so long, this is an appropriate leadership role for me to take on, and it reflects my deeper commitment to stay engaged in the community within which I live, work, and breathe.
Second, I want to encourage intercultural understanding between Korean people and the foreign English teachers. Many English teachers have little or no experience in another country. Coming to Korea, for them, can represent quite a culture shock. Navigating Neo-Confucian styles of interpersonal relationships can be difficult for someone with no schooling in Asian thought or no experience in Asia. Inexperience in this area is bound to create many unnecessary and, perhaps, unfortunate results for all parties concerned. I want to minimize unnecessary clashes. These problems could be resolved with the help of ATEK, as could the broader social and cultural misunderstandings between Koreans and foreign English teachers.
As Inter-Cultural Communications Officer, I plan to work with existing officers to create a coherent and forceful organization of like-minded, driven, compassionate servants, most especially in the department of inter-cultural understanding and participation.
Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to doing what I can to help ATEK become a truly representative and useful organization.
Sincerely yours,
Matthew Phillips
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Chair – Abena (Kate) Nkansa-Dwamena My name is Abena (Kate) Nkansa-Dwamena. I moved to South Korea 1 year and 3 months ago to teach English and learn about different cultures. I am from Johannesburg South Africa. I live in Cheonan-si of the Chungnam-do province. This is a letter of intent to run as the Chair for ATEK in the Chungnam PMA. I have many reasons why I want to get involved with ATEK. Living and working in Korea has many challenges, some of which are very difficult to overcome because of language and cultural barriers. I have, over the past few years, developed the necessary skills in order to overcome such hurdles, both in the work environment and social arena. I have experienced some unfair treatment whilst teaching at a hagwon and, through this, have gained insight on how to handle similar situations.
I understand the responsibilities that a Chair has, and I believe I’m the right candidate for this position. I have a good work ethic, and I’m very professional. I have 2 and a half years experience in the corporate world. At my previous job in South Africa, I worked for Absa Private Bank in the Product and Pricing department. I have a Business Communications degree with majors in Economics and Business Finance.
I’ve also been involved in numerous non-profit organisations in South Africa. I’ve worked for the Red-Cross in South Africa volunteering my time working with refugees seeking asylum. Providing them with food, listening to their concerns, and ensuring that they have clothes were my main activities. I helped do this by organising charity events and mobilising people to help. I’ve also been involved in starting up the Johannesburg branch of a political party in South Africa called COPE. My role was Fund Raising Officer, and I was tasked with coming up with ways to raise funds for this organisation.
In the social arena, I owned an event promotion company called Zhest Events with a friend. With Zhest, I organised events with over 500 people in attendance including the Ghanaian 50th Independence Celebrations. I’m skilled in this area of organising and executing such large undertakings.
In general, I am able to look at the big picture without compromising details. I know when to delegate and ask for help or clarity when I do not understand something. I take initiative, work hard, and am organised.
Your Sincerely,
Abena Nkansa-Dwamena
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To whom it may concern:
My name is Kevin O’Connor, and I would like to ask for your support in becoming the next Vice Chair of the Gyeonggi PMA. I do so with full confidence that I can meet and exceed the expectations of the position. I have monitored the growth of ATEK for quite some time now, and I feel that it is the proper time to step forward into a leadership position.
Prior to my time in Korea, I had been active in several organizations that have prepared me for the role of Vice Chair. At the University of South Florida, I was involved in student government, first as the Senate Clerk and later as a two-term Senator. To fulfill my duties, I had to keep up to date with my university’s policies and procedures while keeping a close ear to the student body. During that time, I was also elected as the Resident Housing Authority Governor of the brand new Honors College dormitory. I was also an active member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, taking several leadership positions, including treasurer and pledge educator. After graduating, I held the position of Networking Chair for my local chapter of the University of South Florida Alumni Association. I later resigned from the position when I decided to start looking for a job overseas, while still remaining active in the organization.
In addition to participating in on-campus organizations, I also held several pertinent jobs while in university. For two summers, I was an intern for Congresswoman Katherine Harris in her district office in Sarasota, Florida. In addition to typical intern duties, I was responsible for constituent research as well as working on cases with our social worker. Those cases ranged from Veterans Affairs, to Immigration, to Social Security. I was also an intern for the Economic Development Research Corporation of Sarasota County. My duties included working with the Board of Directors as a de facto youth liaison and revising our Guide to Doing Business in Sarasota County.
I would also like to mention my community service record. Up until this year, I had participated in the Florida American Legion Boys State Program as a Leadership Counselor since 2003. In 2007, I was named the Dean of the Legislative Assembly, a group of more than 100 high school juniors who were creating a mock legislative branch. I returned to the program after recognizing how it had benefitted me when I had participated in the 2002 session, where I was elected to the House of Representatives. I had also been listed in my area as a Merit Badge Counselor for the Boy Scouts of America. In high school, I attained the rank of Eagle Scout after developing prototype teaching tools for an underfunded YMCA preschool program. In university, I regularly attended the Stampede of Service, the largest community service event on campus. The program would send out over 1,000 students to different areas of the community to take part in different programs benefitting the community.
I believe that these experiences have made me into the man I am today. That man is one of action, which is something I believe our PMA needs. I am interested in advancing the ATEK banner in the Gyeonggi area, providing assistance to our fellow teachers, while also enhancing the experience of living in a foreign land. With that, I again ask for your support in becoming the next Vice Chair of the Gyeonggi PMA.
Regards,
Kevin O’Connor
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Communications Officer – Breda Lund Dear Gyeonggi ATEK Members,
My name is Breda Lund, and I’m writing to ask your support in electing me Gyeonggi PMA Communications Officer.
I’m originally from Colorado in the U.S. After studying journalism in college, I worked in the publishing industry for a few years as a proofreader, writer and editor. Then I came to Korea in 2009 to teach English, but I still enjoy writing as a hobby in the form of blogging.
I teach at a middle school in Uijeongbu, in northern Gyeonggi-do. I have lived here for a little more than a year, and I love it more each day.
Since finding out about ATEK I have wanted to get involved. Last semester I did volunteer teaching on weekends, but I would really like to give my time to an organization for fellow English teachers. My writing skills would be valuable for generating content for the website, press releases and the English Teacher's Guide to Korea.
In addition, I want to increase ATEK membership by reaching out to English teachers in Gyeonggi-do. I am already very involved in the expat community, and I delight in helping fellow teachers—especially ones who have recently arrived in Korea. Through my Meetup and Facebook groups, I organize events to help expats network and meet new friends. I could use the same capabilities to spread the word of ATEK.
So I hope you will choose me as your new Gyeonggi PMA Communications Officer. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Breda Lund
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Ethics Officer – Bryan Hollingsworth Dear members of Seoul ATEK My name is Bryan Hollingsworth and I am writing you for your support of my candidacy for the position of Ethics Officer for the Seoul chapter of ATEK. My desire for the position of Ethics Officer is twofold. First, in university, I was a Resident Advisor and an assistant to two Housing Coordinators. As an RA, I had to facilitate a smooth transition for people who had never lived away from home, while creating a nurturing environment for everyone. I had freshman, international and scholars residents under my supervision. I also helped to facilitate a constructive conclusion to many roommate disagreements, sit in on and help resolve disputes between students and the University. As an assistant to the Housing Coordinator, I helped organize two offices and assisted Student Affairs Coordinators in dispute resolution. Second, I desire more experience in the field of conflict resolution. This fall, I am applying for graduate schools for International Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution. While I would ultimately like to seek a career on an international scale, the position of Ethics Officer can help me gain needed experience in the field of interpersonal conflict resolution. As the Ethics Officer, I can assist officers in both an organization role and act as a mediator on both a local and national level. I have lived in Seoul for two and a half years and understand the difficulties of working in such a multicultural environment. I deeply thank you for letting me have the opportunity to help serve our community in whatever way possible. Bryan Hollingsworth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Secretary – Vanya Cason Dear Jeollabuk ATEK Members,
My name is Vanya Cason. I am teaching elementary and middle school student in Imsil-gun. I have been in Korea for two years and have just recontracted for a third year. I have been involved with ATEK for the past year and a half. I am currently the Secretary for the Jeollabuk chapter of ATEK. I am submitting this letter of intention to run for a second term as Secretary for Jeollabuk.
I have a background in administration, human resources and training. I am a very organized person and I plan to use all of those abilities to help ATEK grow and develop into an organization that truly helps its members and provides a needed service to the teachers who are making Korea their home for however long they will be here. I appreciate this opportunity to continue to serve the ATEK members in Jeollabuk-do.
Sincerely, Vanya Cason
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Emergency Needs Officer – John Fojut Dear Gyeonggi ATEK members:
I wish to apply for the position of Gyeonggi ATEK Emergency Needs Officer.
I hope that I can help serve my province as an Emergency Needs Officer. I have about one and a half years’ experience teaching and living here in Korea and am familiar with some of the challenges that foreign teachers face over here, including isolation and conflict. I think my prior experience as a lead teacher will help me to give guidance to those who may need assistance in emergency situations. Also, my prior experience as a teacher in America and dealing with children with emotional and mental problems would prove useful as well. While I have no formal training or education in psychology I am willing to listen to others and try and guide them in the right direction so they can get the help they need.
I feel my personality is conducive to helping others, I have been told by teaching colleagues that I am a good listener and am fair in my analysis of situations and circumstances involving problems, concerns, and questions people may have about their lives and day to day activities. I am also good at making friends and seem to be able to maintain friendships for long periods of time with some of the people I meet.
My main purpose of wanting to help ATEK is because there have been times in the past where either myself or other foreign teachers I know have had concerns or questions about situations where we needed assistance or guidance. We didn’t know who we could talk to or where to go. It is important that foreign teachers who work over here have the right information, right support network, or right persons to talk with in regards to problems or concerns they have. I think it helps them to have a pleasant experience in Korea. Korea is a wonderful country with the opportunity for people to have an experience of a lifetime. I would like to see as many people as possible reach their full potential over here and make teaching children in Korea one of the happiest times of their lives.
I will do my best in the position of Emergency Needs Officer, thank you for your consideration in this position.
Sincerely,
John Fojut
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Inter-Cultural Communications Officer – Daryung Kim Letter from Daegu Daryung Kim
How I get to know Atek A few weeks ago, I met the members of Atek at a restaurant by accident. I was having dinner with my friends so I wasn’t interested in what they were doing. But, in a few minutes, what they wanted to do with Atek got my curiosity. According to the members, Atek can help English teachers in Korea someday even though now it’s not powerful yet. I liked the passion and original plan.
Why did I work as an English teacher& My job experience I was born in Daegu and I lived most of my life time in Daegu, Korea. I accepted university with full scholarship program and it supported me to study in Korea and in the State for two years each. I have tried to study English as much as I can since I was freshmen in order to study in America. My first English teacher was Canadian. He had taught English for one and a half year at the university I attended. I still remember he was not fully contented with the contract with the university even though he was competent teacher. I couldn’t help him but at least I felt sorry for him. I got my first job as a summer camp English teacher two years ago. I worked in Ha-Yang Elementary school and tried to teach easy pop-songs to kids. Since it is a public school, I got contract with school as well as worked and paid based on the contract. I think it was a good experience for my current job. My current job is also teaching English. I work at a private tutoring school in Daegu. I own, run and teach at this tutoring school by myself and I am the only teacher. I enjoy teaching and interacting with children. I always surprised not only to see how my students learn so fast but to feel how they like to study English. It is demanding sometimes, but definitely worth to do.
How I can help community I went to the State for the first time in 2009. I never knew how hard to live and study in foreign country, so I struggled to adept in the school and new environment. I even had depression so I couldn’t sleep, cried over a night, addicted to sweets and then threw up everything. At the moment, my host family helped me to get over it. They were just happy to help other people. I was very moved to see how they were happy and influenced by them. After I got over depression, I tried to do some volunteer work for the community. I took a course named ‘Intercultural communication’ in college and participated in community works. Also, I was a member of Korean Student Association in college, I took part in a festival called “Korean Night” and arranged this festival for a month. Through this experience, I got to understand more about American culture. Also, I shared my own cultural background with people from various cultural backgrounds such as America, South America, Taiwan, China, and so on. I want to be able to help somebody I can help, especially foreigners. I know how hard to live away from family and friends. Also, different cultural background and different language could be serious stress to somebody. Or there are other people just want to know Korean culture with pure interests. Fun events such as Potluck party, movie night, or volunteering work could be ways to release someone’s stress or ways to meet someone’s curiosity about Korea. I hope I can have a chance to help them with Atek.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Volunteer Officer – Jessica Glaeser Dear ATEK Members,
I’m writing to ask for your support of my candidacy as the Busan Chapter Volunteer Officer.
Volunteering has been a facet of my life since I was in grade school, when my family and I were missionaries in Baja California. I remember feeding and clothing the poverty stricken, lice infested, hungry peoples of the Baja and as young as I was I understood that we are all connected. It was that realization that ignited the empathy and desire to help my community and our world. And since then I have “worked for free” in varied non-profits for extended and short term durations. In fact, I have dedicated myself to volunteering at every opportunity in the year of 2010.
I will bring not only my years of experience as a volunteer and my passion to volunteer, but also my seasoned skill set as a professional personal assistant/executive assistant to socialites and CEO’s for over eight years. My extensive professional background has prepared me well for the key components of the Volunteer Officer role; which are: organizing monthly volunteer events, researching volunteer opportunities/organizations and recruiting volunteer coordinators.
I grasp that even in my native country of the USA these areas of focus require sincere dedication. However, it is with my tenacious drive, empathic patience, heart, welcoming demeanor and eagerness to learn that I will succeed inclusive of the cultural differences and language barriers that being a foreigner in Korea presents. For it is with the collaboration of our host country, Korea, that we can make the greatest positive change.
Also, I ask that any members knowing of an area, non-profit or event that needs an extra set of capable hands to contact me. On that same note, if you or someone you know wants to volunteer or get involved with our community, send me an email and together we can find an organization!
Volunteering has become a great source of joy for me and I hope that as your Volunteer Officer I will give ATEK members opportunities to share in the joy of it together.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jessica Glaeser
“How do you eat an Elephant?” “One bite at a time.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Emergency Needs Officer – Sarah Walsh Dear ATEK members, My name is Sarah Walsh, and I wish to become your Emergency Needs Officer in the Seoul PMA. I have been living in Korea for about 11 months – the Seongbuk region of Seoul for the past 5. I have experienced my own fair share of emergencies! Please accept me as your Emergency Needs Officer for the following reasons: My background is in education (B.ed.). I know, from a lot of experiences (4 years in both Korea and Ireland), the effect teaching can have on our lives – in the classroom as well as out of it. I’m more than willing to share teaching experiences with you, especially if it’s getting you down. By being the Emergency Needs Officer for Seoul, I plan to set up a comprehensive list of health care services, accommodation (both cheap and free), as well as food (cheap and free) available in Seoul. This is something which is most certainly needed for English teachers. I will always be available to meet up with you. I will always do my best to make sure that you are listened to and supported, be it with accommodation, personal, and bereavement. I look forward to working for you as the Seoul Emergency Needs Officer in the near future, Thank you for taking the time to read this, Yours faithfully, Sarah Walsh
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Employment and Legal Issues Officer – Brian Carlstrom To whom it may concern,
I am writing to express my interest in the position of Gyeonggi ATEK’s Employment and Legal Issues Officer (Labor Officer) as advertised on the ATEK website. I hope to serve the expat and teaching community in Korea by providing information on employment and legal issues. This topic can be very confusing and frustrating for all of us, and I feel that I can help to mitigate the noise. I am not a lawyer and I have never studied law. I cannot give legal advice to anyone, but I am well connected to the Korean Bar Association and can help spread information on certain issues as they arise. I can also help point people in the right direction to get the help that they need. I have lived in Korea for nearly four years now and I plan to live here indefinitely. The knowledge that I have gathered and will continue to collect for my personal benefit needs to be shared with all those who need it, and I will share it regardless of whether or not I am elected to this post. Please consider me as your representative in employment and legal matters.
Be well,
Brian Carlstrom ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Social Officer – Matthew Millar
Dear ATEK leaders and members, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Secretary – Linda Flawn To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to express my interest in the position of Gyeonggi ATEK’s Local Secretary as advertised on the ATEK website.
This role will enable me to utilize my experience gained in various Project Management, Implementation, finance and leadership roles.
As a member of ATEK, I will be able to provide:
With strong communication skills, my motivation and enthusiasm extends to the ability to build and maintain relationships both within and outside the Organization.
Furthermore, as a Foreign English Teacher in my second year working in Korea, I am very keen to contribute my time and skill set to the betterment of those that do the same.
Thank you for your review and consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Linda.C.Flawn
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Chair – Christopher Kitano My name is Christopher Kitano. I am currently living in Hadan and working at a Hagwon. I would like to submit the following to show my intent to become the Busan Chair.
I believe that a few key traits I posses would serve ATEK and ATEK members well. I have been involved in many organizations over the past 7 years. I have held presidency in 3 organizations in the past as well. The last organization I was elected president to was the International Business Student Network for the University of Colorado. I also held a chair position for CIBER (The Center for International Business Education and Research) for the University. I held these posts for 2 years growing the group from 50 members to roughly 200. I also started our organizations movement with the Chamber of Commerce in Denver as well as other local businesses. Our organization not only focused on growth from within, but also education through various organizations. We utilized many components especially membership expertise to educate, grow and create knowledge base for our members in areas of need.
Second, I believe that my experience and desire to network with multiple people and organizations will serve as a great benefit to all members of ATEK. I have not been in Korea teaching very long, but there are areas of need for all teachers in Korea. I would love to be not only a part of the process but a integral partner to all who are striving to progress within Korea and their profession.
I believe that ATEK can combine its desire for growth along with the internal expertise of its its members and gain desired benefits for its members and other expats residing in Korea. I think that with my past experience and strong desire to assist ATEK members, I can serve ATEK well as the Chair for Busan.
Best Regards, Christopher Kitano
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Chair – Christopher Green To the Busan ATEK members,
I, Christopher Green, am here by submitting my intent to run for the office of CHAIR for the Busan Provincial Metropolitan Area Council.
The Busan area is in need of officers that are well in tuned with their members, Korea and the Korean work experience.
Along with this need is the need for fair and just officers that are able to not only serve the members of the organization, but also to do it in a manner that can be easily followed and undoubtedly understood.
Knowing this, I would like to give you a little background on myself.
I have recently returned to Korea from the US where I was involved in political campaigns in my hometown. One of those campaigns was RHAC (Rowland Heights Advocate for Cityhood). A group in my hometown that has been trying to get the unincorporated area of Rowland Heights California fully incorporated as a city to take control of our own local problems. As a small PAC (Political Action Committee) all members had to wear several hats. I personally was involved in almost all aspects of the PAC from canvassing, to gathering and directing volunteers to translation, and advertisement.
Before joining RHAC I was a volunteer in the non-profit organization KACLA (Korean American Coalition of Los Angeles). I worked in the 4.29 Dispute Resolution Center. This center was created in 1992 after the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles to resolve disputes among people in Los Angeles. While there I learned about the dispute resolution process, helped create, distribute community questionnaires, collect the data and find ways to this information could be useful for the community in resolving conflicts before they begin.
Since returning to Korea I have recently taken a job here in Busan. Since I was unfamiliar with Busan I often felt I was not capable of helping people adjust or with their problems. After meeting some members of ATEK and, now that I have been here for several months, I feel more comfortable with Busan and know that there are always ways to help those in need.
I have been in Korea as a student, a traveler and as a worker. I attended Yonsei university in Seoul as an exchange student. Attending Yonsei I got my first glimpse of Korea and was able to learn Korean language, history, philosophy and culture. As a traveler I have been from the west area of Daecheon, the east area of Kangneung and as far south as Jeju. As a worker, I have worked in private hagwons, a public school and a university.
For university students, and travelers in Korea, to those who are working in public, private, or university level institutions, I understand your problems and am here to lend a helping hand.
I would like to use my experiences here in Korea and from the US to help the members of Busan PMA as well as all members of the organization in any way that I can.
Christopher James Green
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Public School Representative – Emily Smith To Whom it May Concern,
It is my desire to take on the officer role of Public School Representative for my area. From February 2009 to the present, I have been an EPIK Native English Teacher in the Hoengseong district of Gangwon province working at four different schools concurrently. I teach at two elementary schools, two middle schools, and teach adults from the community on evenings. With a schedule as such, I have had extensive experience dealing with Public School etiquette and situations as well as becoming an integral member of my school and village's communities.
I am an organized, hardworking, and friendly person whose skills in these areas have made working in the Public School system a success. Through my varied experience in four rural schools, I, as the Public School representative, would serve as a good resource for other P.S. NETs as well as a good representative for the many other foreigners teaching and/or living in rural Gangwan-do.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my intentions for this position. I am confident that my experience and skills set me up for success as a Public School Representative in Gangwon province.
Sincerely,
Emily Smith ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Emergency Needs Officer – Caroline Barsellotti I would like to introduce myself and provide some insight to my interest in running for Emergency Needs Officer as well as why I am a good candidate for this role.
My name is Caroline A. Barsellotti, and I have been living and working in South Korea for 1 ½ years now. During my first year, I taught at a hogwan, and I am now teaching at a university. I have just started working on my master’s.
During my brief time here, I have already seen people around me experience a number of stressful events. I know from first hand experience, as most of us do, that stress is compounded when living away from the safety net of familiar systems, friends, and family. Life in Korea has many perks, but it can also be an extremely difficult place to adapt to. There is also a lack of support for emotional crisis, and what support there is lacks confidentiality.
As Emergency Needs Officer, one of the first things I would do is set up an emergency outreach network: a calling list for people in crisis to use to reach out for help. I would work with ATEK to develop and implement a list of guidelines for members on the calling list to follow.
Over the years, I have worked and or volunteered for a number of outreach groups such as the Elizabeth Fry Society, an advocacy group for women in conflict with the law. My role with EFS was to go into the prison to visit with the women, talk to them, listen to them and report any problems that may be occurring, said and unsaid.
I also volunteered with the Look Good Feel Better program, where I went into hospitals to work with women undergoing chemotherapy. The goal here was to help them to feel better about themselves by helping them manage the changes that the treatment was having on their skin and hair; changes that can be quite traumatic and cause stress that can cripple their chances of overcoming the cancer.
I have also been on the other side of peer counseling myself, so I do feel that I bring a good deal of experience and understanding to this position.
I look forward to this opportunity to help my community here in Korea and to meeting some of you.
Sincerely,
Caroline Ann Barsellotti ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Webmaster – Caleb J. Cook Dear Seoul ATEK Members,
I am Caleb J. Cook and I am good at fixing things. I can make the ATEK website function better. I have 12 years of experience designing, implementing, managing, and maintaining web sites. A portfolio can be provided on request.
Thank you for your time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear ATEK Members,
I am Caleb J. Cook and I am good at fixing things. I can make the ATEK website function better. I have 12 years of experience designing, implementing, managing, and maintaining web sites. A portfolio can be provided on request.
Thank you for your time.
p.s. More frequent email alerts about impending "involuntary resignations" from officer-ship and automatically downgraded membership have just moved to the top of my ATEK to do list. cjc
p.s.s. You can and should expect better things from ATEK.co.kr, improving member notifications of status is just one part of that. c.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Human Rights Officer – Michael Reyes Proposal letter for role of Human Rights Officer- Seoul
I am thankful for the opportunity to propose to the members of The Association of Teachers of English in Korea (ATEK) my interest in becoming a Human Rights Officer.
My name is Michael Reyes. I am 26 years old, Canadian, and I call Toronto home when I am not living in Korea. I majored in English Literature and Cultural Studies focusing in film theory, media studies and social thought. Upon graduating from Trent University, I was encouraged to come and experience Korean life and culture while teaching English. I have now been living in the ROK for more than two years.
I thoroughly love Korea, its people and its culture. However, I have encountered many Human Rights issues, particularly in the hagwon system. There are pertinent issues that need to be addressed for the benefit of creating a harmonious and enjoyable working environment for the English teacher community.
Working at a major hagwon for almost two years has given me good insight into the conditions, responsibilities, and inequities foreign teachers are confronted with. Furthermore, engaging in conversations with English instructors encourages me to work closely with ATEK and to learn about foreigner Human Rights issues in Korea. These include concerns related to employment contracts, salary, severance, employer rights, responsibilities and duties, and duties of head teachers when dealing with employee concerns. In solidarity with ATEK, I intend to find ways that will proactively find solutions to any Human Right, Labour Rights, and/or concerns that plague members of our community.
ATEK has supported me by listening and encouraging me to inform myself and participate in the effort for confronting Human Rights abuses at my work place. They have offered to help me understand my rights. I feel confident that this is an organization I want to be a part of. I look forward to offering an attentive ear to anyone that brings forth issues they would like to have resolved.
I feel confident that my experience makes me a good candidate for this position. I will work with ATEK in order to protect English teachers and uphold rights afforded us with Human Rights and Labour Laws in Korea.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to discussing this further with you.
Michael Reyes
"Know your Rights!" The Clash.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Chair – Pete Garcia My name is Pete Garcia. I am currently living in daegu and working at a private Hagwon. I would like to submit the following to show my intent to become the Daegu's Chair.
To all of you. I hope to do a Excellent job here
in the daegu area and nationally. As I Know we are needed in all areas. I feel
this position fits me best so that I may work with all of the others to gain
perspective where we are in the Changing of korea for ESL and Public teachers. I
hope to help all and all help me so we can better the teaching enviroment here
in Korea . I have always been active in student government from junior college
to finishing law school. I hope my great extensive political and legal and law
background and networking will aid in doing a great job for ATEK. I hope you
seek the same interest so we can all have aid in changing things for the better
of teacher abroad and especially here in Korea .As we have been so neglected and
separated for the nine years I have been here. I would like you to vote me Chair
of Daegu and aid this need for corpoorative Unity!
Best Regards,
Pete Garcia
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · National Internal Communications Officer - Russell Bernstein Dear National Executive and National Council,
I would like to be considered for National Internal Communications Officer.
My involvement with ATEK began as the first ever Chair of the Seoul PMA Council. Over the course of 4 months as Chair, and then 2 months as Membership Officer, I helped build the Seoul Council to +90%. I was nominated and approved to be the National Membership Officer soon thereafter. At that time, my primary objective was to centralize the National Membership (decentralized for over 6 months) and to standardize the way National Membership data was collected and recorded according to a system I built during my time as Membership Officer in Seoul. This system represents the legitimacy of our organization and all the decisions it makes as it has helped to ensure that our general members and officers are and continue to be teachers of English or any subject taught in English in Korea.
Also during the first few months in the role of National Membership Officer, the National Executive worked hard as a team to redesign the National Bylaws and organizational structure to accommodate the necessity for a system that allowed officers to communicate locally and nationally. After the approval of the bylaws on May 6th of this year, the National Executive worked hard on establishing technology and communication systems to sustain this system. Now, acting as the primary point of contact for +1000 members nationally and administering the elections and application process for all officers nationwide, there is a large need to bring someone new into the role and for me to move into a role better suited for my qualifications so that more systems can be built and so that officers can be recruited and trained for the organization to sustain itself.
As the National Internal Communications Officer, my role will be to continue administering the elections (until an elections committee can be formed) and application process for all officers nationwide as well as recruiting, training, building, managing, and coordinating +200 (currently +30) officers from 18 councils, 15 committees, and 4 commissions with the primary goal of collaborating on the development of content for our members on our website, newsletter, and guidebook as well as on providing local and national services to teachers in need.
My primary goals in this role are simply stated as efficiency of communication, ensuring the organization functions, and training officers.
Sincerely,
Russell Bernstein
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · National Membership Officer – Jeff Nunziata
Letter of Intent to run as the National Membership Officer Jeff Nunziata – Currently in the ATEK Gyeonggi PMA
Before coming to Korea, I worked as a private consultant in public health. In this capacity, I provided technical assistance, training and support as well as conducted numerous research projects. Prior to this, I served as a civil servant in public health. Some of my work involved my management of database information on clients who were diagnosed with reportable illnesses. This taught me the value of protecting client information and confidentiality. I also developed numerous training materials, workshops and classes to train the public as well as train others our staff. I have also conducted studies that collected data, which we later used to help improve our services and have supervised employees as well as volunteers. One of the best skills I learned was how to conduct quality assurance reviews, which helped us to set standards for the delivery of services, and the development of corrective action plans to fix any problems.
I have had prior experience living and working overseas and my most memorable experience was through my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Latin America. It taught me a lot about myself and was one of the most valuable life experiences I have had. Living and working in another country has always been something that calls for flexibility. Korea is different from my home nation but I think it is important to respect one another, focus on the things we have in common, and build from there. I have just started my fourth year in Korea at the same academy and even though some days are challenging, I really enjoy what I do and where I live.
I became a member of the ATEK Gyeonggi Council in the fall of 2009 when I was elected as a National Council Representative and later became the current Membership Officer for our PMA. I feel that it is important for people to not simply take, but to give back as well. I see ATEK as something that is here to help all of the English teachers in Korea to become more aware of their circumstances and thus make informed decisions. I have done volunteer work throughout my life and felt that I should do the same here. Several organizations caught my eye, but ATEK was in its infancy and I felt that there was a great opportunity to create bridges, a climate of mutual respect, and potential to become an agent of change for my brothers and sisters who are also teaching.
My experience as a Membership Officer has given me the opportunity to welcome our new members to the PMA as well as welcome back old ones. I developed an information package that is sent out our members that explains the different classes of membership and what is needed for them to become general members as well as the benefits of general membership. With the help of other PMA officers, I have also developed outreach cards that we use when meeting prospective members. I have participated in outreach initiatives with others as well as by myself in different parts of our PMA and in Seoul as well. I work hard in continually updating our membership list and keeping the information accurate. I believe I have a good relationship with the National Membership Officer and hope to be as supportive to all of the PMA Membership Officers as he has been with me. I recently had over a month’s vacation overseas and have managed to still get the membership duties taken care of in a timely manner. Currently, our PMA is the fastest growing and that is something I would like to think I have played even a small part in.
I am excited to have this opportunity to further serve the members of ATEK. I believe that there need to be strong links between the National Organization and the PMAs. The National Membership Officer serves in a capacity where they must interact daily with the PMA Councils as well as the membership and the National Organization. I do not expect to always agree with everyone but I am open to listening and to compromise. There may not always be agreement on the way things are done but there is always room for people to try to work on things together. We are stronger when we are able to compromise and support one another.
When I arrived here I was lucky enough to have the support and friendship of my co-worker and her fiancé. They helped me adapt and find my way around. To this day I still remember how they went out of their way to be there for me and I continue to value their friendship and counsel. In a way, my service in ATEK is partially based on the hospitality and friendship that these two English teachers have shown me as well as another co-worker who just finished two years and is headed home. I hope I can be as supportive to others as they have been to me. Everything is a little easier when we know there are people we can turn to.
I thank you for your time, support and most importantly, your membership in ATEK. I hope you will support my candidacy for the position of National Membership Officer. I look forward to working with you!
JEFF
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Employment and Legal Issues “Labor” Officer – Jae Hee Oh Dear Members of ATEK
My name is Jaehee Oh from Busan, Korea. I would like to be considered for the Busan PMA's Labor Officer position. There are a lot of reasons why I want to be the Labor Officer, but I would like to tell you two major ones.
When I was in the States, I was always surrounded by great friends who were willing to help me in bad times. When I came back, it took me a while to settle down and, hence, I wasn't aware of the foreign community or that the community needs help in a lot of things ranging from trivial translation to visa problems to unpaid salaries. I have been making friends in the foreign community for two years, and I became keenly aware of their unfortunate incidents. I started to help out a few of my friends with simple translation cases, and then I started to help out with a lot more serious issues later on. It felt great to help my friends, not because I was needed but because I was able to pay forward what I owed to my friends back in the States.
I was born and raised in Busan, but was educated in the States, which I believe would work as a great advantage when it comes to issues involving foreign teachers and Korean directors. I am very eager, tough, but also empathic toward the predicaments in which English teachers find themselves. I believe that these are good qualities that ATEK members would look for when electing a Labor Officer.
Thank you very much for reading this letter, and I hope that I will be able to work with you in the near future.
Sincerely
Jaehee Oh
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Employment and Legal Issues “Labor” Officer – Jae Hee Oh Dear Members of ATEK
My name is Jaehee Oh from Busan, Korea. I would like to be considered for the Busan PMA's Labor Officer position. There are a lot of reasons why I want to be the Labor Officer, but I would like to tell you two major ones.
When I was in the States, I was always surrounded by great friends who were willing to help me in bad times. When I came back, it took me a while to settle down and, hence, I wasn't aware of the foreign community or that the community needs help in a lot of things ranging from trivial translation to visa problems to unpaid salaries. I have been making friends in the foreign community for two years, and I became keenly aware of their unfortunate incidents. I started to help out a few of my friends with simple translation cases, and then I started to help out with a lot more serious issues later on. It felt great to help my friends, not because I was needed but because I was able to pay forward what I owed to my friends back in the States.
I was born and raised in Busan, but was educated in the States, which I believe would work as a great advantage when it comes to issues involving foreign teachers and Korean directors. I am very eager, tough, but also empathic toward the predicaments in which English teachers find themselves. I believe that these are good qualities that ATEK members would look for when electing a Labor Officer.
Thank you very much for reading this letter, and I hope that I will be able to work with you in the near future.
Sincerely
Jaehee Oh
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Ethics Chair – Charlotte Lawrence
Dear National
Officers, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Ethics Officer – Charlotte Lawrence Dear Atek, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to ATEK. My name is Charlotte Lawrence. I am currently working as a Lecturer at Seoul Women's University. Prior to this I worked for Berlitz Korea, Gwanghwamun, for a year and a half. During that time I was elected to Center Representative of Gwanghwamun and Vice President and then President of Berlitz Union for instructors. The role of the Union was to work collaboratively with management to improve working conditions of instructors in Berlitz Korea. This was a volunteer position and involved daily communications with instructors and management. Whilst holding this position we successfully pressed management for Rules of Employment, which form part of the working contract in Korea, to gain more security and full employment contract status for employees. Additionally, we successfully introduced a grievance policy and successfully appealed and won disciplinary proceedings (at an international level) due to substantive and procedural irregularities. Furthermore, we built strong relationships with external contacts such as international HR advisors in Korea. However, it was not all a story of success. Running and operating an organization (whilst working a 6.45am-9pm split shift) has its operational and individual limitations. Not to mention trying to reach agreement and understanding on issues in an international setting with different cultural perceptions and understandings. Since leaving Berlitz I have served Berlitz Union externally in an advisory and support capacity and due to high-turnover I have noticed the potential and weaknesses of the organization. I am therefore working on developing an external advisory committee of previous executives to help the in situ team. My educational background is in law, specializing in public international laws and human rights. (I am educated to Masters level). I first heard about ATEK whilst working at Berlitz and was very interested in the organization as it is desperately needed in Korea. However, at that time, due to my commitments in the Union I did not have time to become directly involved. I am currently coming towards the end of my second year in Korea and I am contracted until September 2010. I foresee myself being in Korea beyond this time. This role allows me spare time to be able to offer my commitment to a role in ATEK, such as Ethics Officer. Understanding the commitment needed for such a role, coupled with my educational background and experience in a similar organization along with my educational background gives me a good foundation for such an organization as ATEK. I am excited to offer my time experience and knowledge to this organization to continue building on efforts to improve the working and living environment for instructors in Korea. Thank you kindly for taking time to read my bio, if you require any further information such as my CV I would be glad to forward this to you. Thank you for all the hard work you are doing and I hope to work with you in the future! Charlotte Lawrence ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Ethics Officer – Brandon Lozeau Hello ATEK Crew, Nice to "meet" you all. I'm very excited to be joining the Association and to begin work on improving life for English teachers in Korea via ATEK. I've been living in Korea for about one year and I am planning to stay for at least another year. I'm from a small town in Connecticut, USA. I graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 2007 and from the University of Kent- Brussels School of International Studies in 2008. My next step after Belgium was a mystery, and thus I ended up in Korea. Even though it was an accident ending up here, I've really enjoyed my time so far and I have met some great people. While attending both of my universities I assumed leadership roles, most notably on the Student Senate at UMass as Senate President and Senate Treasurer. I also served as the Senate Parliamentarian and the Residence Halls Council Parliamentarian for a year each. At UKent I was elected as the Victualler (Annual BSIS Dinner organiser). My experience in organizing events and facilitating meetings has been quite extensive and so I feel that I am best suited to the Ethics Officer/Facilitator role in ATEK. I am looking forward to serving with you all in this capacity and helping to develop and enhance the organizational strength of the organization and its members. As the Facilitator (upon election of course), I look forward to implementing a cohesive and concise meeting agenda that will streamline our meetings and decision-making processes. Since there is a lot on our plates it is so important that we have clear focus and operate with the utmost efficiency. I look forward to meeting you all at the meeting on December 6th. I know that, as an organization, ATEK can achieve great things. But ATEK will only be as good as the sum of its parts and so it should be our goal to work diligently to achieve what we have been elected to do. Thank you for reading and I will see you soon. Cheers! Brandon Lozeau ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- · Professional Standards Officer - Alexis Scranton Greetings ATEK members,
I would like to briefly introduce myself and give you some background information in hopes that you feel a bit more acquainted with me. My name is Alexis Scranton, born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
Having had a genuine and strong interest in working with children from a young age, I've accrued many years of experience working with children from a range of ages and backgrounds, within varied contexts. This includes working with children from ages 4 years old to adolescents 16 years of age, in the Boys & Girls club, children in foster homes and in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, private tutoring, and both educational and recreational after-school programs and summer enrichment camps.
Along the way, I've also had the privilege of training and managing adults and college students in different capacities. Surprisingly, the bulk of these experiences were prior to and during my college years.
After graduating with a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education, minor in Psychology, I taught kindergarten and third grade in an elementary school with a very diverse population. The student body was comprised of children from over ten different countries on at least three continents, consisting mainly of refugees, thus English language learners.
My journey has ultimately brought me to South Korea as an elementary school English teacher with the EPIK program where I co-teach grades 3-6 with a Korean teacher and independently teach, create lesson plans, and eventually will design curriculum for grades K-6 after-school and summer programs. I am also pursuing my Master of Education degree in Instructional Technology (and Design), with an endorsement in "Online Teaching".
During my time in South Korea, I plan to hone my skills in teaching English as second/foreign language and helping other teachers to do the same. Developing skills as a teacher trainer and curriculum developer, I believe, will eventually enable one to affect a larger number of students in dynamic ways. In the role of Professional Standards Officer, I intend to bring current trends and ideas to those seeking to further enhance the impact they are having in the lives of English students, be it elementary, middle school, high school, university or adults.
As a member of KOTESOL, (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages-Korea Branch), I will stay current on professional development regarding teaching best practices and fresh ideas to bring to our ATEK members. Seeing as how technology is the wave of the future, I look forward to being able to bring some knowledge and insight from KOTESOL, including from my personal education and other sources, on how to increase our students' skills by incorporating technology into the classroom as well as helping to increase your comfort with using and integrating some of the latest technologies available. I also think I have a fair amount of insight to teachers' wants and needs as well as an eye for strengths and weaknesses present in curriculum. I anticipate us learning and growing from and with each other.
Please consider this my formal self-nomination for the position of Professional Standards Officer. I hope to have your support in this effort.
Sincerely, Alexis Scranton --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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