I am a Chinese immigrant. I am also a recent graduate student with an MA degree in Anthropology that I obtained from the University of New Brunswick, Canada in the summer of 1998. Now I am looking for a job.
Before I came to North America, I was a teacher of English in two universities in China for ten years. In the second university I worked in, I was both a faculty member and the director of my office, with the responsibility of curriculum coordination for the teaching of senior year students. The job was of a managerial nature. My language teaching career continues with my current job as Assistant Professor of Chinese at Defense Language Institute. My teaching style features the use of authentic materials and modern technology such as audio and video materials and on line materials, relaxed interface with learners to reduce learning anxiety, recreational learning such as teaching students songs in the target language, and one-on-one counseling and tutoring.
I also have done other jobs apart from teaching. I have been part time translator and interpreter for some companies and organizations. My job for the Burson-Masteller Public Relations Company in Beijing involved not only translating documents, but also writing executive reports on the particular topics of the documents I translated.
My educational background in China was English and linguistics, but I have read widely on subjects in social sciences and humanities, as well as some aspects of business, science and technology. I believe I have a broad interest base that can orient me quickly into a particular field.
In my anthropology program, I have taken courses related to economic development and gender issues, as well as common property management. I also have taken a 2-semester course on research methodology. The very holistic nature of anthropological training prepares me well in orienting towards a variety of job requirements and environments. As a student of Anthropology and as a person with ten years' working experience, I am good at interpersonal skills and know the ways of creating a positive culture of working in specific settings.
I can work in a variety of modes, either team work, or independent research, or under a particular supervisor or as supervisor. I have an easy-going personality and pay much attention to the harmony of interpersonal relations in both working environment or non-working environment. I am non-smoker, healthy, can work under stress, or overtime when necessary. In the history of the MA program of Anthropology in my department, I am among the only three students actually completing the programs within the five terms of the program, the first before May, the second in June and me in July. This was done with a sense of responsibility, self-reliance, and self-discipline.
My program and thesis writing also trained me with the necessary skills for doing research, either library, archives or field. I am particularly good at defining research subjects and finding the related sources of information quickly. I consider myself good at information collecting and processing.
In computer skills, I can use Word and Word Perfect for word processing. I have also learned the rudimentary HTML by myself when I developed my web sites. I also learned the rudimentary Photoshop skills for doing digital paintings. My good point in this respect is that although I have never taken formal courses in computer skills, I can learn quickly when there is a need.
My language skills included Mandarin and English. I also have learned French as a second foreign language in university. I am a newbee in learning Spanish. With best regards
Alan Yu