Well I have to say that posting my resume here on Vox really worked- sorry if that was a weird thing to see on a blog. On August 29th, I'm leaving for Xiamen China for an indefinite period of time. I'm immersed in all the details that it takes to make a transcontinental move which is why I don't update at all- also, I don't have much to update it seems when everything is becoming more than a little overwhelming.
However, expect some changes around here as time goes on. I'm going to work on some more voice blogging and etc. Overall, it should be entertaining but please be patient while I do the most exciting thing in my life- quitting a job I hate!
7/20/2007
Dear Recruiter,
In the United States, it's very common that students only complete two years of foreign language instruction and then never study a language again. These brief years of instruction merit only simple expressions pronounced poorly. Sadly, these same students apply for TEFL jobs without truly understanding the needs and difficulties that your students face.
My name is Jeffrey Machado and I've been studying French for 11 years now. I speak without an obvious native tongue accent, can express opinions, and have an in depth knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. Plus I can converse easily with native speakers.
I imagine you want the same for your students.
Whether or not you decide to contact me based off my qualifications, I do advise that you ask your future teachers what their experiences in language learning have been. I would advise this especially for adult learners- ones that want to know that their teacher is a student too. A dedicated learner signifies a dedicated teacher.
I sincerely hope you find my skills and excitement for Teaching English as a Foreign Language appropriate for your institution or organization. Please consider these following skills of mine when forming your decision
- Self Directed: With significant experience in designing training materials, I feel confident in my skills of lesson planning and working with available resources.
- Language Experience: I have engaged in independent studies in French, Mandarin, and Esperanto
- Motivational: I encourage and challenge students while at the same time piquing their interest with relevant materials
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about the contributions I plan on making with my TEFL skills. Please contact me if you think we would be a good match. I have included a link to my online resume and photo.
Kindest Regards,
Jeffrey Machado
Jeffrey H. Machado
Personal Information
Address: 44 Quint Ave, Apt 6. Allston, MA 02134. USA.
E-mail: jnotjeff [at] gmail [dot] com
Phone: 1-617-838-5054
Citizenship: USA
Native Language: English
Marital Status: Single
TEFL Qualifications
TEFL Certification, i-to-i, 2007
Work Experience
Case Manager, Healthcare Financial, Inc. Boston, MA April 2006-Current
- Guided members of Boston's international population in the process of obtaining state health insurance
- Encouraged two English as a Second Language employees to practice their English skills on a daily basis
- Prepared easy to understand and practical training materials for a staff of 30+ team members
- Facilitated training sessions on complex financial issues for 15 employees
- Collaborated with team members on contacting patients who speak various languages
Volunteer Experience
English Tutor, Asian American Civic Association of Boston. Boston, MA. June 2007-Current
- Designed personalized ESL materials for an Intermediate level learner
- Coached student on pronunciation and listening comprehension
- Employed specific techniques such as:
- Minimal pairs
- International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
- Dictation
- Tongue twisters
- Job related materials
- Information gap exercises
Education
B.A. Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Lesley University. Cambridge, MA
(pending completion March 2009)
Languages Spoken
English, French
