Tell me about your work experience using three or four sentences.

1.I am an experienced teacher with 19 years teaching experience, with multiple educational background about Art painting and Chinese.
I hold master degree of Art, and two bachelors,one is Art,the other is Chinese.

2.I have been studying intensively my unique teaching style.I can combine my two professional majors to blend my teaching methods with artistic and creative, let my students feel the classes are very interesting and active.

3.I am very familiar with different ages of students from elementary to college.I understand students' mentality(state of mind) and the status of their learning process,so,I can adjust varied teaching plans and methods.In addition,I am an experienced trouble solver in teaching field.

listening materials record---Oct.30,2014

1. We have few videos on phone interviews. Please click on the first link here and write down the steps the presenter has presented to start off any interview.

The first video:

How to Make a Punching Introduction in a Telephonic Interview。

How to give great intro to the telephone interview?

1.The first thing is always introduce yourself , give your name...and 

also give a brief overview of your background. 

2.Then, you will go to discuss the details of your background 

especially accomplishments， and always think why should the 

company wanna hire you. so, you speak to the accomplishments 

and your success. Then you should do amazing on your interview.

3.Also the telephone interview is typical pre-screen for in person 

interview, so you definitely wanna put your best feet for on the 

telephone interview, so you can get to the next interview level.


2.Next, click on this link for telephone interview etiquette and list 
down all the tips that the speaker has mentioned.

Phone Interview Etiquette

We have to be careful let's make sure to understand for job 

interview particularly in the phone interview.  It is formal and 

professional environment which means you can't use any slang 

term you used, you can't put someone on hold when you talking to 

the another line. you can't answer your kids questions. you can't 

have other disturbances going on.

This is professional and formal interview or phone interview. Don't 

allow your caller ID. Don't let your caller waiting, any other 

features to allow you to lose attention and possible harm yourself 

on the phone. 

Dealing with Culture Shock

Task 1:

Write a two-three paragraph essay describing your experience with culture shock, then list the ways you have personally done or will do or overcome it.

Task 2:

List some strategies/ways/activities you will use or advice a close friend or a family member to do or use in order to reverse

 any symptoms of culture shock.

Task 3:

Before publishing your experience on your blog, ask two of your peers to edit it for you, and then you can publish it 

on your blog then.

I think I have experienced big culture shocks When I landed in Toronto 2 and half years ago,  I just kept my excitement one week. Then, I realized there were a lots big differences form my own country in Canada. so, I felt the feeling of helpless and loneliness gripping me. 

I was pregnant just 2 months later , It was my lucky that I have my only baby at my age of 40, but still was not smoothly because I have been having too much healthy problems. So, a set of circumstances let me trapped in hard situation. Due to my English language just was level  2, It means that I couldn't express  my terrible pregnant feeling to doctors or nurses. I felt worried and anxious for my baby. Oh, Looking back now,  It was still painful memory. But fortunately, I met  many kindly and nice people from Christian Church at that time, they gave me a lot of great help.

I think my stage 2 of Culture Shock lasted too long period. I've got two bachelor degrees about arts of painting and Chinese, I still have master degree of art, I have almost 19 years teaching experience. I had professional  teaching job in a good college, and I had my own private schools, there are almost one thousand students in them, I  thought I was a prestigious teacher in my field when I was in my country. But now, I had to start from zero. I had no any relationship, friends, even health. I felt the best suffering was that I couldn't find my social values and  foothold in this new country, so I  had no sense of security from this new situation. There are the intrusion of so much huge differences emerging.  I spent almost one year to adjust my emotion . I sank in sad mood, the frustration was full of my heart. I couldn't stop my tears, I  got homesick. I was eager to escape from here, and desired to go back to my  motherland once. Then, such a situation brought about a lot of  health problems arising for me, I  almost couldn't sleep all day and all night,  the wrinkles and gray hair  appeared on my face and my head soon. My specialist  that I was waiting for more than 5 months in this different medical system told me you  might not keep your unborn baby  if you still fell into this sad mood. That was a wake-up call for me, I had to stick to my only baby.
 I am a typical person easily disoriented. There are  names of every stops on bus stop signs placing each bus stops in China, so I couldn't lost my way in my home country. But I always lost the directions here because there aren't bus stop signs  in Toronto, let me feel  inconvenience and dehumanized. 

Then, I have been going through my  stage 3 recently. I am accepting this situation, and I can begin to learn to understand more of culture, and adapt some of the customs and different systems surround me. I have a try my best to improve my English language skill and make more friends. I'm trying to continue to develop my teaching career in this new country. I tried to work for different private schools to know more about the educational system of North America, I found my path form this way and built up my self-confidence. Hereafter,  I fortunately got some internal job posting information of TDSB from my kindly neighbor at the end of last year. I went through many times interviews and intense competitions. I finally became a registered supply teacher in TDSB. I have been trying to show my advantages in workplaces.I also opened my own small arts studio, I have eventually found my sense of  happiness and presence when I get together with my students. I know, I can't stop my step and my efforts every single day, because a new chapter of my life has been opened  in this country.

Wednesday's Assignment about Students Vote and the reasons for my choice， 22 October 2014

• Mayor
• Councillor
• School Board Trustee

Then write down the reason(s) for your choice on your blog.

1.Mayor: Chow, Olivia

 I voted Olivia Chow to be Mayor of Toronto.Although I heard that she is an aggressive person, even sometimes，she couldn't control her temper. but when I looked through her politics and propositions from her website, there are two parts touched my heart. I don't know if some of the politicians will be implemented in good faith their claims, I'd like  trying to trust and support her once.

First,I always focus on the children's favorable policies as a mother, so I agree with her caring better for kids after school plan.

Because she said, As mayor, she will expand after-school recreation programs to help working parents and their children. That will add 1,200 children and 40 neighbourhoods to the after-school program she helped create when she was a city councillor.

The second,I think her transit plan will provide convenience to people.

These are reasons why I voted Chow, Olivia.

2.councillor: Bell,Paul

I am not familiar with those  candidates of this councillors list, but I don't like someone wants to increase Taxes for achieving their desires to become a politician, but despite increase  Taxes burden of  people. Employment pressure and income low have been more severe in Toronto, Some politicians are not concerned about how to help people to improve their lives , but just want to make matters worse in an attempt to increase taxes,I think Shelly  Caroll is a one such representative. 

So, I have to support Bell Paul. At least he still advocated the construction of the subway and kindergarten.

3.School Board Trustee of TDSB：Robert Cerjanec

His views and plans are very detailed on his website, they make clear to understand, I appreciate some of his plans.
 As noted above, as a mother, on the one hand I am concerned more about the beneficial politics for kids . 
On the other hand, as a supply teacher of TDSB, I am also concerned with my own work-related reassure politics.
SO, I agree with some of  contents about  Robert's claims,  I have crossed marked them. such as：

He's running to restore integrity at the TDSB

• I will post my Trustee expenses online with receipts.
• Support the creation of an Ombudsman for the TDSB to enhance accountability and transparency.
• I will act with the highest level of integrity, honesty and professionalism.
• Work to open up TDSB meetings to the public.
• Work to ensure the TDSB budget is open, accountable and transparent.
• Work to improve TDSB policies and procedures in order to ensure accountability and transparency.
• I will build bridges with other Trustees and staff in order to foster a sense of collaboration.
• Work to make the TDSB website simpler and easier to understand.
• I will make decisions in the best interest of students.
• Ensure that every dollar is spent wisely and responsibly.

He's running for Healthy Kids

Nutrition and Physical Education

• Work to expand student nutrition programs in our schools.
• Tie nutrition programs to locally-produced, organic food to have a minimal environmental impact.
• Encouraging a focus on physical education in our schools.

Safe Kids

• Support youth mentorship and after school recreational programs to build community and self-confidence.
• Work to increase bullying prevention programs.
• Work to incorporate conflict resolution and problem solving within our schools, bullying prevention programs and the curriculum.
• Support student-led initiatives to tackle discrimination and promote acceptance of all students.
• Support increases to hall monitors, lunch supervisors and student supervision.
• Ensure that every school is a safe and respectful learning environment.

Supporting Education

• Support programs in athletics, drama, music, French, languages and the arts so students receive a well-rounded educational experience.
• Support outdoor learning to give children an early appreciation for the natural world.
• Support small class sizes and a small student to adult ratio in all classes.
• Support the use of technology in the classroom to meet the needs of today’s learning environment.
• Work to better prepare high school students for post-secondary education and the skilled trades.
• Support tutoring and mentorship in our school system.
• Support and promote diversity in our public schools.
• Work towards a renewed and transparent funding formula for the TDSB.

Special Education

• Work towards providing more support and services for gifted and special needs children.
• Work with parents and stakeholders to address special needs issues.

He's running to build Healthy Schools

No to Cutbacks and Closures

• Oppose cuts to our schools, pools, teachers/support staff, green spaces, outdoor education and recreation programs.
• Advocate for greater public investments in our public schools to strengthen them.

He's running to create Healthy Communities

Working with You

• Directly involve residents, parents, students and educators in the decision making process.
• Hold regular and public ward forums to consult with parents and community members on a regular basis.
• Actively participate in parent councils within Don Valley East to support local issues.
• Send out community updates and create a Trustee website to keep you engaged and informed on TDSB issues.
• Committed to being accountable to all stakeholders.

Supporting our Communities

• Opposing selling off our schools, properties and green spaces to developers.
• Support the creation of daycare spaces and after school programs.
• Work to transform our public schools into community hubs on weeknights and weekends.
• Ensure affordable public use of our school facilities.

Supporting Newcomers and Adults

• Provide support for resources that new immigrants need from the TDSB in order to succeed.
• Support ESL programs, special education, and adult classes in order to ensure every student can achieve their full potential.
• Look at ways to improve TDSB adult education programs for seniors and community members. 

Tuesday's Assignment Task 2 of 21,OCT,2014

Task 2:

The use of acronyms can be hard to understand sometimes at the workplace if a person is not familiar with the term.

Now complete the chart below; then add any additional acronyms that you have heard in the workplace, street or among your friends. Write example sentences using the acronyms.

Acronym	Meaning	Example Sentence
HR	human resources
CEO	chief executive officer
ASAP	as soon as possible
ROI	Return on Investment
CPP	Canada person plan
WHMIS	workplace hazardous materials information system
NASA	national aeronautics and space administration
CSIS	Canadian security intelligence service
RCMP	Royal Canadian Mounted Police
RRSP	registered retirement savings plan
RESP	registered education savings plan
TFSA	tax-free savings account
RBC	Royal Bank of Canada
CIBC	Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
TD	Toronto-Dominion bank
OAS	old age security
OPP	Ontario Provincial Police

Tuesday's Assignment Task 1 of 21 October 2014

Task 1:

Identify three different uses for the phrasal verb fit in, and then write a sentence to clarify the meaning.

E.g. fit in: to live or work easily with a group of people.

Sentence: I hope I will fit in with my new colleagues at work.

fit in:

1.Be socially  compatible with other members of a group:

I feel I should become comfortable to fit in with my friends.

2.Be in harmony with other elements in a situation:

My teaching plan fitted in with the school's general aims.

3.(also fit into) Constitute part of a situation or larger structure:

She doesn't think she fit into the supervisor's plans for next session.

Monday's Assignment of Task 2------A email for my friend,20 October 2014

Task 2:

Use at least five of these vocabulary words to write an email to a 

friend describing to him/her the Canadian culture.

Aggressive                                     equality                                       rituals  

Annoyed                                       minimize                                       task

Collaborative                                 oblivious                                     valuable

Customs                                         promptness                                values

Embarrassment

Dear Yuyu:

How are you doing? how about your Gardening Learning Program in TaiWan? I really miss you and the time we got together.

I have learned a lot about customs and culture of Canada in our LINC class, I'd like to share with you the differences  about Canadian Workplace Culture. I think we should better know these information as new immigrants to adapt our new second country.

You  know, Canada is a democratic and multicultural country, the equality is one of  rights for each people. So we should keep peaceful and kindly attitude to treat everyone in our future workplace.  We don't be an aggressive and oblivious person, we should notice to being on time during work days. We need concern about participating team work activities, we should do our best to finish any task with promptness. Most people have their own  religions,  they have different rituals and religious customs, We should respect and  mention  less this topic in workplace. We don't ask more about personal private questions, It will make people feel annoyed, Don't make  ourselves being singled out from the others in the workplace.

It's time to stop my typing, I really like to discuss with you about these information and cultures of workplace in Canada. I'm looking forward your reply and talk to you later.

My dear friend, take care of yourself and be healthy per day!

your sincerely,

Angela Mei