Category Archives: careers

MIIS Alum Adnan Al-Hammody published

MIIS Alum Adnan Al-Hammody, MA TESOL 2013, has recently been published. The paper is called When a Facebook Group Makes a Difference: Facebook for Language Learning, and was written during his time as a student at MIIS for Applied Linguistics Research and as part of his portfolio. The paper investigates what Iraqi students gain from interacting in English in a Facebook group in an EFL context.

Adnan’s paper was published by the e-journal English Language Teaching World Online (ELTWO), and can be found at this link: http://blog.nus.edu.sg/eltwo/2014/04/22/when-a-facebook-group-makes-a-difference-facebook-for-language-learning/.

Congratulations to Adnan!

Alumni in India

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Jeff Fowler (MA TESOL ’12) and Kimby Murakami (MA TESOL ’12) travelled to India to work for fellow MIIS Alum Tarana Patel’s (MA TESOL ’06) education organization, LearnEd, at Sankalchand Patel Colleges in Visnagar. They each taught two classes in the intensive English program at the college. In addition, the duo collaborated to present English for specific purposes (ESP) courses to engineering faculty.

Fowler taught English to undergraduate students with high-beginner to low-intermediate proficiency majoring in Computer Application, Business Administration, and Natural Sciences. Murakami taught undergraduate and graduate students with intermediate to advanced English proficiency majoring in Dentistry, Pharmacology, Engineering, and Computer Application. Each course incorporated a community outreach component chosen by the students. In team of two to three, students taught a 45-minute lesson to students in grades 1 through 5.

Fowler and Murakami reported that the students were enthusiastic to practice English and to share their culture with the foreign teachers. Both teachers enjoyed participating in Indian festivals (e.g., Kite Festival, Festival of Colors), exploring the ancient buildings in nearby towns, and sampling the culinary delights available in India.

Murakami heads back to India this month with MIIS alum Angie Petinos (MA TESOL ’12) to work in a 6-month teacher training program offered by LearnEd at Divine Child International School.

Job Opportunity in Taiwan

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Advisor Edy Rhodes and Professor Lynn Goldstein have been working with Fullbright Taiwan on this new opportunity. They’re looking for candidates from MIIS inparticular, so check it out! The full description is posed on Zocalo.

Description:

Opportunity to spend 11 months as Academic Advisors with the Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETA). You will work with Taiwanese Local English Teachers (LETs) on orientations, workshops, reports, teaching observations and consultations. Possibility to participate in the The Foundation for Scholarly Exchange (FSE) Research Group on “The Impact of International Exchange and Language Learning.” You must have had 2 years of teaching experience and your Master’s degree by the time you start the assignment. Duration of grant is normally 11 months starting August 1, 2013. Renewal might be considered.

Benefits:

2 awards – monthly stipend of NT$60000-NT$80000
(Commensurate with the educational degree and qualifications of the grantee)

Direct flight, round-trip economy-class air ticket

Travel reimbursement for the transportation costs incurred in traveling between location

Hotel accommodation reimbursement up to NT$2000 per night due to business travel between location.

Application Procedure:

Submit the following required documents to Zocalo through our On Campus Recruiting (OCR) Fulbright Foundation of Scholarly Exchange by March 17, 2013, midnight

– A statement of purpose in English for teacher training & research

– English CV (with your cell phone number or easy-to-be contacted number) and email address.

Only the finalists or top candidates for this position will be required to provide the following:

Academic transcripts and degree certification (if you are in your final semester you can have a letter submitted by Edy Rhodes, your Academic Advisor that you are in good academic standing and anticipate graduating successfully in May 2013. You will then need to supply a letter from Records once your grades are submitted and processed in June 2013).

Copy of R.O.C. ID card or the copy of passport of other English speaking countries

Selection Procedure

1. In late March, A Selection Committee reviews application documents.

2. Some candidates will have Skype interviews.

3. Candidates will then normally be notified by April 1.

MIIS Contact Edy Rhodes

ETA Taiwan Contact person:

Ms. Kelly Chang

Website: http://www.fulbright.org.tw

The Foundation for Scholarly Exchange

2F, 45 Yanping South Road

Taipei 10043, Taiwan

Student Summers: T&I Student at Parliamentary Assembly in France

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T&I student Chiara Salce at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France

Second-year Translation & Interpretation student, Chiara Salce, spent a week of her summer working at the Summer Part Session of the Parliamentary Assembly at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. She worked as the liaison interpreter of the President of the European People’s Party, an Italian MP, and interpreted for him at meetings and dinners during the week of the assembly. The experience was very interesting to her, as she had the chance to interpret at different meetings on different subjects, from human rights to Italian politics.

Chiara learned that interpreting during dinners may have been easier in terms of terminology, but were often more stressful because the interpretation happened in front of the other MPs and guests. Her most challenging moment was when she had to use her “C” (third) language, Russian, to do whispered interpreting into English at a meeting with human rights activists. Nonetheless, all the parties involved were very kind to her and her interpretation efforts were successful in the end. The experience was particularly rewarding because when she wasn’t working, she could listen in on various meetings at the hemicycle and hear the “real” interpreters at work.

Cover Letter Workshop

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Photo: Keith Williamson

Hey Graduate Students, you’re invited!

Who: You, the Graduate Writing Center (GWC), and the Center for Advising and Career Services (CACS)

What: Cover Letter Workshop

Where: Second Floor of McCone in CACS

When: Friday, April 29 at 12pm

Bring: Your cover letter and job description

Come to the offices of CACS on the second floor of McCone for a hands-on cover letter workshop that will provide you with the tools to:

Promote yourself appropriately without sounding arrogant
Use key words from job descriptions to maximize impact

Working with professional career advisors and writing tutors from the GWC, you will receive personalized feedback on your cover letter that will help attract potential employers.

MIIS Ranks #4 for Top Peace Corps Graduate School Programs in 2010 Participants Combine International Service with Graduate School

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With 16 participants currently in service, the Monterey Institute of International Studies ranks fourth for the number of students participating in a Peace Corps Master’s International Program, the Peace Corps announced today.
Sixty‐one graduate schools now offer Peace Corps Master’s International programs. This year’s top five schools* for participation rates are:
1. Michigan Technological University (Houghton, MI) – 37

2. Tulane University (New Orleans, LA) ‐21

3. University of Washington (Seattle, WA) ‐18

4. Monterey Institute of International Studies (Monterey, CA) ‐16

5. SIT Graduate Institute, Brattleboro, VT ‐14

2010 05 25 MIIS ranking

Participants in a PCMI program typically finish one year of graduate study in the U.S. before beginning a 27‐month Peace Corps assignment overseas, where they earn additional academic credit for their service. Upon their return, Masters International participants complete any remaining academic degree requirements at their school.
MIIS offers four Peace Corps Master’s International programs: MA International Environmental Policy, MPA International Management, TESOL, and MBA International Business Administration.

“The Master’s International programs provide Peace Corps volunteers unique opportunities to apply the grassroots, hands‐on experience they developed abroad toward a graduate degree,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams.

“These programs give returned Peace Corps volunteers the tools they need to succeed in their careers and be leaders in their communities.”

As Peace Corps approaches its 50th anniversary, its service legacy continues to promote peace and friendship around the world with 7,671 volunteers serving in 77 host countries. Historically, nearly 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps to promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 host countries. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27‐month commitment.

*Note: Based on the number of Masters International participants serving as Peace Corps volunteers overseas as of September 30, 2009.

MIIS GSTILE Students Prepare for Peace Corps Assignments

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The Monterey Institute of International Studies ranks fourth for the number of students participating in a Peace Corps Master’s International Program in 2010. The following GSTILE students are among those preparing to continue this tradition of service:

Joseph Clark
TESOL
Peace Corps Armenia: Secondary English Education
Enters Service: May 27, 2010
I was very attracted to the Peace Corps, specifically to the Master’s International Program where I was able to combine a graduate degree with Peace Corps Service. With a year spent studying how to teach English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) I feel much more prepared for my Peace Corps assignment and able to serve as a volunteer.

Rebecca Clayton

TESOL

Peace Corps South Africa: Schools and Community Resource Project

Enters Service: July 12, 2010

In serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer, my love of adventure meets my calling as a teacher. As an ambassador for the US, I hope to strengthen South Africa’s education system and learn from its people.

Brittni Driver Brittni Driver PCMI
TESOL
Peace Corps Malawi: Teacher Development Facilitator
Enters Service July 1, 2010
I am passionate about serving in the Peace Corps not only because I want to broaden my own understanding of other cultures, but also because I want to inspire other Americans to go beyond themselves through service. By combining the Peace Corps with a Master’s Degree in the Peace Corps Master’s International program I have gained the skills, knowledge, and confidence to be the best volunteer I can be.

Monica Schneiderman
TESOL
Peace Corps Nicaragua: Language Teacher and Trainer
Enters Service: August 31st, 2010
Motivation: The Peace Corps Master’s International program is an excellent opportunity for me to serve others around the world using the skills I have and in the career I wish to pursue post graduation. I believe PCMI will be both personally and professionally rewarding and therefore I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect match!

Sky Lantz‐Wagner
TESOL
Peace Corps China: Teacher Trainer
Enters Service: June 29, 2010
MOTIVATION: The desire to serve my country, promote peace and understanding, and have a new adventure.

The LPA Specialization as a single endeavor

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By Peter Hall, LPA specialization candidate

After years of teaching French and Spanish in a public high school north of Boston, I found myself as the head of a language department of 15 teachers of six languages. Although I was able to learn much of what I needed on the job, there were some areas for which I felt unprepared.

The LPA specialization at MIIS was a unique program that was specific to administration within a language context that could give me the credentials and foundation I was lacking. As I already held a Master’s Degree in Spanish and a teaching certificate from the State of Massachusetts, I was in a unique position as the majority of LPA Peter hall LPA specialization candidates are enrolled in a Master’s program at MIIS. This required some creative solutions to complete the program. Fortunately, two of the required courses are offered online, Intro to LPA and Language Teacher Education, which I was able to complete from Boston while teaching. Dr. Kathi Bailey also orchestrated the opportunity to take Language Teacher Supervision via SKYPE during the fall semester. Although we had a few technological glitches, taking the course via SKYPE was advantageous because I could apply what I was learning in class directly to my job. By completing three courses prior to arriving in Monterey, I was able to take a one semester leave of absence from my job to come to MIIS to complete the specialization.

With the LPA certificate in hand at the end of May, I can return to Boston and comfortably take on a more administrative role or perhaps other doors will open.

Language Program Administration Certificate (LPA)

The LPA certificate program prepares students to administer language programs or schools. It includes courses in teacher education and supervision, budgeting, accounting, and marketing. The LPA certificate is not offered by any other TESOL program in the US.

GSTILE Spring Lecture Series – Anne Lafeber

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GSTILE Spring Lecture Series

anne lafeber

Lecture: Friday April 9th, 2010; 2pm-4pm; Irvine Auditorium

Anne Lafeber workshop quote

Workshop A: Saturday April 10th, 2010; 9am-12pm; MG102 (Open to all languages)

The kinds of writing international organizations want their translators to produce. Some important tips were given out in this session. Preds-writing. This workshop contained a fun hybrid activity that requires a combination of interpreting and translation skills.

Workshop B: Saturday April 10th, 2010; 1pm-4pm; MG102 (Spanish Specific)

This workshop examined the challenges often encountered in Spanish texts.

I think the visit was a fine example of how the United Nations and MIIS can collaborate in preparing language professionals for careers in international organizations and hope it will be repeated in the near future. It was a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to observe classes and meet with students and staff. I was impressed by the relevance of the programme content, the calibre of the professors and the skills and motivation of the students. I look forward to continuing to explore ways to strengthen the ties between MIIS and the ECLAC translation service. – Anne Lafeber

Windows Localization – Language for Worldwide and Local Audiences

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Who: Ulrike Irmler, Microsoft

When: Monday, April 5, 2010 from 2-4pm

Where: Irvine Auditorium, MIIS

Microsoft Windows covers a breadth of audiences from consumer, to IT professionals to developers. With more than 1 billion customers worldwide and 100 target languages, translation and localization activities span from user interface localization to digital marketing, developer kits, licensing agreements, and many other text and domain types.

Ulrike Irmler, who manages Window’s localization team, will give an overview of the Windows business by presenting several end-to-end localization scenarios (user interface, web content, developer and consumer). She will focus on market-strategy, translation challenges, standards and linguistic quality. Ulrike will also discuss the latest translation paradigms such as machine translation and crowd sourcing in the context of large-scale enterprise localization.