Here, I thought this might be interesting. It’s the motivation letter I wrote for my application to the TLG program in Georgia.
To Whom it May Concern,
Thank you very much for considering my application to the Teach and Learn in Georgia program! I have heard many good things about Georgia and the Caucasus from my friends, and I am excited to live and work in your country.
This will be my first time teaching English as a foreign language, but it will not be my first time teaching English language skills, or working with children and non-native speakers of English. At Brigham Young University, I worked for two years as a writing lab advisor and teaching assistant, where I tutored my fellow students with their papers and taught them college level writing skills. In my church, I volunteered for almost nine months as a children’s Sunday school teacher, where I developed a life-long connection with many of my former students. I’ve also volunteered as an English-Arabic translator, and as a “study buddy” at the English Language Center in Provo, where I helped native Arab speakers to master the English language and fit in with the local culture.
Studying Arabic at BYU brought me into close contact with a culture very different from my own. By studying abroad in Jordan, living for two years with Arab roommates, and connecting with the Arab community in Utah, I not only came to know and love this foreign culture, but to love the process of expanding my mind and experiencing other cultures as well. At the same time, I came to recognize that no matter our differences, all people share many of the same things in common, whether it be love of friends and family, our concern for the welfare of our children, our hopes to build a better future for them, or our joy in seeing them succeed in life. From my experience studying abroad in 2008 in Jordan, I recognized the importance of English in helping the people of the developing countries to succeed in today’s international world.
My education philosophy is that nothing else else enriches more lives or opens more opportunities than quality education, especially education at a young age. Instead of spending money on lavish vacations or expensive gifts, my parents sent me to a highly rigorous private school, where I excelled enough to earn a full-ride scholarship from BYU. Through volunteer service in my church and work experience at my university, I have spent most of my adult life teaching in both formal and informal settings. I have seen lives changed in tremendous ways through the power of good teaching and believe quite firmly in the importance of education. I have been blessed with an excellent education myself, and know that by sharing it with others, I can help to improve people’s lives as well.
I would like to come to Georgia because of the positive things I’ve heard from friends who have lived and worked in Eastern Europe, and from roommates from the Caucasus region. As with my experience in Jordan, I would consider myself a guest in your country, and would conduct myself accordingly. In particular, I would do my best to learn the local conventions and adapt myself to them, rather than expecting others to change according to my American way of life. I have learned through my studies and travel experiences to embrace cultural differences, and look forward to experiencing the people and culture of your wonderful country.
Thank you once again for considering my application to the Teach and Learn in Georgia program. I look forward to working in your country.
Sincerely,
Joseph Vasicek
Sorry I haven’t blogged much recently; I’ve been crazy busy with moving, publishing, and putting everything else in order. Things should quiet down a bit over the Christmas vacation, though, so I’ll have time to catch up then. Also, I’ll be driving from Utah to Texas with my brother in law, so I should have some interesting stories to tell from that.
Until next time, take care!
