DK Mentoring Online
Newsletter ·周报
|
|
|
我们聚会啦! DK English School Celebration |
|
|
During one weekend in September, DK English School teachers gathered for a joyous dinner and certificate ceremony at DK English School director, Dr. Deoksoon Kim's house. Dr. Kim welcomed the teachers and research team members into her home with warm smiles and friendly embraces. |
|
Ten teachers received a Certificate of Teaching English Language Learners, which acknowledges their hard work and dedication, and the other teachers are on track to receive theirs soon. The certificates award teachers for attending high-quality, weekly professional development sessions and completing 14 weeks of teaching practicum experience. DK English School is blessed with extremely committed and qualified teachers, who put student learning and engagement at the forefront!
|
|
|
During a dinner filled with delicious Korean food, the teachers shared laughs and fun stories about their experiences as DK English School teachers. It was clear that the teachers had strong relationships with their students, were proud of their students' progress, and thoroughly enjoyed teaching at DK English School.
At the end of the night, Dr. Kim bought out 2 pumpkin cakes and candles as an extra surprise! The cakes were paired with fruit and were very tasty. The teachers definitely left the event with full bellies!
|
|
|
Lastly, there was a fun competition to take the best photos. Competition or not, the photos turned out great! DK English School would not be as successful without all our wonderful teachers!
|
|
|
我的这些年——Thea He: My Growth |
|
|
This week, we invited a special guest —— Xinyue Thea He, a member of
the DK Mentoring team, to share her stories with us.
|
|
|
|
Thea He graduated from Tianjin University of Science and Technology, majoring in Business English. Xinyue has worked as a teaching assistant in several education groups, and Head of Operation in Yozer Community English School. During her college years, Xinyue was the chair of the Photographic Association of TUST. Her strong interest in media technology and her internship at TAL, which is a leading education and technology enterprise in China, inspire her to pursue her passion in Education Technology in the future. She joined Dr. Kim’s research team in the summer of 2019.
|
|
|
|
Since freshman year, Thea had been thinking about how she wanted to engage in academics and extracurricular activities in college. Freshman year was rather laid-back compared to later years, so Thea made an effort to meet new people and build friendships. She also participated in several clubs and pursued her interests in her spare time. |
|
|
|
Thea gradually realized how much she enjoyed her time at the Photographic Association, and she began to consider a photography career. Through her dedication she was elected Chair of the Photographic Association. During her tenure, she organized and advertised the First and Second Photographic Competitions, made a promotional video for the club, and assisted the club in earning the Three-Star Club designation.
As the club's leader, Thea successfully navigated new challenges during her tenure such as giving presentations, teaching courses, and organizing events for groups of over one hundred students. She negotiated business deals with multiple companies to create revenue.
Fortunately, through hard work and determination, Thea organized a trip for the club to visit Cameron Pace Group's China Movie and Television Base, which provides training for a Media Corporation. This trip provided students in the Association opportunities to work with auto and fashion models. Moreover, Thea also organized the Association Summit to share club management experience and discuss the importance of extracurricular activities for college students. |
|
In addition to the Photographic Association, Thea also loves teaching. She has worked as a teaching assistant in an elementary school and was impressed by her students' curiosity. They appeared eager to learn about the world's "hows" and "whys."
Emulating her mom who was a teacher, Thea has had several teaching positions and completed multiple internships. Through these experiences, Thea found her passion in research-based pedagogy in education and is determined to pursue a career in academia. She initially relied on research methods and data analysis books before realizing that she wanted more intensive training. To strengthen her research skills, Thea was determined to join a research team and then she met Dr. Kim. Thea was very grateful that Dr. Kim gave her a chance to join the team, and she really grew much more professional through her time working with Dr. Kim. |
|
Thea officially joined the research team and became an active member in the summer of 2019. Dr. Kim had given Thea many helpful suggestions on how to analyze digital stories, edit videos, create animations, transcribe interview videos, and operate online social media accounts. Thea was excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Kim and present at well-know international education conferences, such as AERA and AAAL. |
|
|
|
Working in Dr. Kim's research group was a dream come true for Thea. She has loved working on many projects. The DK team is a new family for Thea. Every member has expressed their love and care for Thea's well-being and is eager to assist her however possible. On the weekends, they visit art exhibitions and study new things together. |
|
|
Through her years on the team, Thea has learned to conduct effective research, while striving to continue to improve her research skills through lifelong learning. Thea encourages others not to hesitate to ask for help like she had done in the past. An email may change your life, bring you new friends, provide opportunities to learn new skills, and help you discover your own value. |
|
|