The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

My son who is currently in S.Korea is now considering coming back to the States to teach. He's been toying with a PhD program at Trinity, but he's pretty much out of money and they don't fund it enough. At his age (he turned 39 in August), I think it may be advisable to work a few years, maybe here somewhere, and perhaps do a PhD program when he's saved up more $$$ again.
He got this glowing letter of recommendation from a professor:

R. 3040

Centre for Language and Communications Studies

Trinity College Dublin

College Green

Dublin 2

Ireland


29 November 2018


RE: Letter of Reference, Christopher Bacon


To whom it may concern,


I write this letter in support of Christopher Bacon, who I have known since 2017 through my capacity as Lecturer for Trinity’s MPhil in English Language Teaching. During this year-long Masters program, I supervised Christopher’s teaching practice placements and also mentored him through his dissertation, both of which provided me with deep insight into his commanding ability as both a teacher and a thinker.


Christopher enrolled and excelled in two teaching practice modules: ELT Practice 1 and ELT Practice 2. These modules required students to observe and later teach General English and English for Academic Purposes to a disparate English language learning student population, supported by objective-led lesson plans, authentic materials and assessments. Christopher proved himself to be a wonderfully capable teacher during these intensive practice modules, using innovative teaching strategies to engage students’ interest, develop their English language across four skill areas and promote their learning. He was highly organised and self-directed when approaching his teaching and was extremely popular with students, owing to his dynamic thematic approach, scaffolded learning style and outgoing personality. That he achieved First class honours in both modules reflects his achievements in this area.


Christopher is also a diligent, dynamic and highly self-motivated scholar and it has been my pleasure to observe the growth and development of his research, which examines the wellbeing and professional development of English language teachers in trans-global contexts. Christopher has an impressive gift for combining linguistic, social and pedagogical theory so that his research is multidimensional and ambitious in its intellectual scope. He strikes me as one of those rare scholars for whom research is an intrinsic passion that is motivated by a search for strategies that provide positive social transformations.



At the close of the Mphil programme, Christopher received an overall Distinction — an award that is highly elusive and that positions him in the top 5% of the MPhil in English Language Teaching cohort. With this in mind, I have no doubt whatsoever in recommending Christopher for a future position in the field of Language Teaching and Learning and I wish him the very best of luck in his future career.


Sincerely,

Dr. Sarah O’Brien

Director, Trinity’s Centre for English Language Learning and Teaching

Assistant Professor, Applied Linguistics

[email protected]

01 896 1626

 

[1muttsfan]

That is a great reference.

sometimes really bright people are not particularly practical, and can have difficulty managing day-to-day things like bills, laundry, earning a living...

 

[getaclue]

I'm glad your husband called in reinforcements. I hope he gets his divorce soon.

1mutts, you are so correct about very bright people sometimes having trouble with the more practical side of living. Education, as a profession, doesn't usually pay the best here. It's a shame, but the way it is.

 

[speckledhen]

That is a great reference.

sometimes really bright people are not particularly practical, and can have difficulty managing day-to-day things like bills, laundry, earning a living...

Very, very true. He can manage his life okay, but he does have some issues, no doubt. I think he needs to stop being a perpetual student and just start working, especially at his age. He has been teaching overseas for about 9 years now, then the last year to do the master's program at Trinity. Time to "fish or cut bait", as they say. He's considering Texas. They have a program where he can teach while getting his teaching certificate here. Plus, I told him that if they secede, he'll already be there, LOL. I may be, too, actually.

 

[speckledhen]

I think his year in Ireland, then going back to S.Korea, showed him the pitfalls of Korea in general and the sharp contrast in their way of life. It is very anti-American, overall, especially the folks his age and older. Plus, though they pay very well, it's a super expensive place to live. And I couldn't live where they are processing dogs for food and hear the yelping. <<<shudder>>>

 

[speckledhen]

Well, my SIL's firm didn't know what those forms were because they are not divorce attorneys. They're really not simple forms, it seems to us, but some sort of affadavit. They are online because Tom found them, but when he asked if Mike had them through FB PM's, he got ignored repeatedly. He was going to depend on some attorney who came into the bar/restaurant every day to get him what he needed. What if the guy doesn't show up? He's not being paid, after all. My son is not being proactive enough and we're both done trying to help. If he, as my mother would say, "assles around" and doesn't do what needs to be done, complete with backup plan, he deserves to be tied to her faithless behind as long as it takes him to wake up and do something for himself. Maybe she'll do it, if she wants her freedom enough. So, we're completely backing out to let him sink or swim. And no $$ handouts, either. He can figure this out on his own, as he seems inclined to do right now. He's not a kid. I do want her gone from our lives, legally, which is one reason we have been trying to find out information for him. He doesn't seem to be able to take care of research for himself. Maybe, at the heart of it, he wants her tied to him still.
ACK! Chickens make sense! People rarely do.
SUBJECT CHANGE!!!
Look at these two rooster fabrics I found at Walmart! Trying to decide what to make with them. The one on the right is similar to my Roosters & Roses print I used on one of my bags, but is slightly different, obviously the same series.

 

[getaclue]

Those are really nice rooster/chicken prints.

I love my kids, but they're the reason for my gray hair. I've earned every gray hair on my head.

 

[1muttsfan]

the fabrics

 

[speckledhen]

Brandy is full-on broody and since she was the only hen in the Brahma group laying, no more eggs from that pen for the time being. Tiny is laying. Snow and Amanda and all the other oldsters are still kicking. Hector has once again molted out his entire gorgeous tail and being the big goober he always is. The bantams are still not laying and Spike is his usual intimidating little self with the big hens. Aubrey couldn't care less about them when they're out together. And as usual, Gypsy wants to be held and cuddled all the time. I still need that shoulder strap so I can carry her around with me, her and Miss Pocket Penny both. Nothing else is new around this place, I guess. That concludes the news from Mountain View Heritage Poultry.

 

[1muttsfan]

Sounds heavenly