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Introduction I was born in Daegu, where I lived for most of my life (apart from some visits abroad and two years in Seoul and Hong Kong), benefiting from a warm and supporting family, and a city which provided me with a sound education and opportunities for personal growth. Since my earliest school days I have been interested in the pursuit of knowledge and truth, a search which was inspired by my parents and enhanced by my teachers. This has stayed with me into adult life, and I now find myself realizing the importance and beauty of such ideas and principles. My aim therefore is to develop this approach to life and to share it with others through everything I do. In terms of work, this means motivating and encouraging others by my own positive example, doing my best in everything, and never being afraid to say "I don’t know". Rather, I hope to inspire a creative and positive way of dealing with the various problems that are a part of everyone’s lives. Experience A strong sense of responsibility and a wish to perform 100% at all times resulted in my being elected as class chairperson from Elementary School through High School, a position that I valued for the opportunities and learning experiences it offered in terms of being a responsible leader while also helping and motivating classmates. Secondary education was therefore an enjoyable experience for me, especially English classes, in which I was fortunate to have caring and inspirational teachers. This love of studying English led to my becoming leader of extra-curricular English Conversation clubs, receiving various awards in English speech contests, participating in inter-High School English competitions, and eventually to a BA in English-Education (1993) and an MA in English Literature (2001), both from Kyungpook National University. For more advanced study, I began my Ph.D coursework in English Literature also at KNU in March 2002, and received a doctorate degree in February 2006 with the dissertation titled "Postmodern Aesthetics in TomStoppard's Comedy of Ideas". My major field of interest is the contemporary British stage drama and theatre. Having graduated from University, I attended the ELP (English Language Program) at the University of Pennsylvania for 4 months (1997), returning to Daegu in order to write English TV program scripts for Daegu MBC and to participate in the 1998 Kyongju World Culture EXPO Organizing Committee (1997 to 1999) as International Coordinator and Official Interpreter. At this time I was in charge of organizing "World Folk Performances" by international groups of folk dancers and "National Day" ceremonies for various different countries. After that, I worked as an Assistant Manager of Foreign Investment Services in Taegu City Government while also being enrolled at the Graduate School of International Studies at Kyungpook National University. Various translation (simultaneous and consecutive) and MC assignments for seminars, international symposiums and international business meetings resulted in my being offered the post of "Social Secretary to the Ambassador" in the Embassy of Pakistan, and I moved to Seoul, where I was able to further my interest in culture and diplomacy – an interest that had grown with my involvement in the Kyongju World Culture EXPO. Again, I worked for the 2003 Gyeongju World Culture EXPO as International Coordinator and Official Interpreter. Currently, I am helping the upcoming Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture EXPO 2006 Organizing Committee as a part-time consultant. During my career I have been an English Instructor at various times and for various institutions, including LG Electronics (Business English & TOEIC), Gyeongsangbuk-Do Provincial Government (English Conversation for Government Officials), Daegu Polytechnic College (Tourism English), Yeungjin Junior College, Samsung SDS (TOEIC) and ChungAng University (English Conversation), and most recently the Gyeongsangbuk-do Educational Traning Institute (How to Teach English Writing). Having a desire for professional development in this field, I became active in Korea TESOL (KOTESOL), accepting the post of Taegu Chapter Secretary from 1995, Treasurer and Presider for the 1996 International Conference, Special Events Coordinator for the 1997 International Conference and National Treasurer from 1999 to January 2001. I moved to Hong Kong with my husband who was then invited as a Language Testing Consultant to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University for six months, when I worked as Research Associate for GSLPA-English (Graduating Students’ Language Proficiency Assessment). I also attended the Thai TESOL Conferences in Bangkok and Chiangmai, and the JALT "CUE" (College and University Educators) Conference in Japan (2001), where I co-hosted a workshop on autonomy in language learning. In August 2001, I came back to Korea since my husband was invited as Professor in the KNU English-Education Department. In July 2005, I was offered the position of Academic Coordinator at the KNU Language Institute and worked there until My husband and I have been regularly attending many ELT-related International Academic Conferences and giving a variety of Korea-specific ELT presentations and workshops, suggesting alternative teaching methodology and assessment methods to EFL teachers in Asia and around the world. We have co-authored several ELT textbooks including It's Up to You! (2004), Tell Me More (Beijing, 2005), and Welcome to China (Beijing, 2006). Conclusion Concepts of trust and responsibility have been central to my life and are, I hope, evident in everything that I take on, from my school-life in Taegu, to my various employments and to activities such as visiting European cities (including Dublin and Paris - August/September 2000). In all these things I have come to understand the importance of respecting others. Having recently married and moved to Hong Kong, this awareness has been heightened and has helped me further to appreciate the beauty of literature and cultural diversity. Finally, my personal motto is something that I came across when tutoring High School students in college. This phrase has stayed with me since then and sums up my approach to life: "A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge." ------------------------------ |
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Self-Introduction and Personal Philosophy (MS Doc. Download) |