The timeless magic of Christmas is upon us once more!
In just a matter of days, the joyous occasion of Christmas will be gracing us with its presence. However, it seems that amidst the hustle and bustle, many have lost sight of the true essence of this festive celebration. While some may associate it merely with family reunions and the exchange of gifts, the genuine reason for rejoicing often goes unnoticed.
The overpowering influence of commercialization has, in a sense, overshadowed the authentic meaning of Christmas. Despite the prevalence of gift-giving and family gatherings, it's essential to remember that the heart of the celebration lies in commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.
A few years back, I took to YuKu to share a video about the spirit of Christmas in 2018, and I revisited this endeavor in 2021. As we find ourselves on the brink of another Christmas, I feel compelled to share these videos once more.
Because the spirit of Christmas is timeless, I invite you to join me in revisiting these heartwarming moments. May this festive season be a reminder of the true reason for the celebration — the birth of Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas to one and all! 🎄✨
Unlocking Opportunities: The Power of Internships and Volunteer Work.
Embarking on an internship is not just a mandatory checkbox in your academic journey; it's a gateway to a realm of experiences that can shape your professional narrative. Beyond the confines of university requirements, internships offer a multitude of benefits – from gaining valuable work experience to expanding your network, learning new skills, and even making a little extra cash. Think of it as a dynamic opportunity to not only be useful in the workforce but also to build a treasure trove of stories to regale your grandkids with someday.
Personally, I delved into internships during my university years, seizing every chance to accumulate diverse experiences. Yet, my quest for enriching endeavors did not end with the completion of my bachelor's degree in Agronomy in 1994. Instead, I continued seeking opportunities, transitioning into volunteer work. While it lacks the institutional framework of an internship, volunteering provides a similar platform for personal and professional growth, sans the university's guiding hand.
Typically relegated to the final year or semester, internships become pivotal in fulfilling graduation requirements. However, my journey was marked by numerous internships undertaken well before the obligatory final semester stint. These early experiences served as catalysts, furnishing me with invaluable insights on maximizing the benefits of such opportunities.
Financial compensation may not always be part of the internship package, but the intangible gains are immeasurable. It's essential to recognize and preserve these experiences. Document them through writing, capture moments with photographs, and seek endorsements from key figures, such as supervisors. Consider chronicling your journey in a blog – a virtual repository of your experiences that may one day become a valuable asset when engaging with prospective employers.
Reflecting on my own post-university experiences, I found myself consistently drawn to volunteer work. Not driven by an expectation of immediate returns, my motivation was rooted in the belief that giving back is a form of enlightened self-interest. Surprisingly, these selfless endeavors often bore unexpected fruits, as exemplified by an incident in 2018.
Having relocated to China as a teacher, I volunteered to deliver a lecture at the end of the year, simply motivated by the desire to share knowledge. Little did I anticipate that this act of generosity would lead to unforeseen opportunities. Mr. Thompson, who facilitated the lecture, was impressed and approached me with an offer to teach English to his daughter and her cousins in January 2019. While monetary gain ensued, the real highlight manifested during the Chinese New Year celebration.
In an unexpected turn of events, the families of the students I taught invited me to spend the Spring Festival with them. What began as a volunteer lecture ripened into five days of festivities with five different Chinese families. From shared meals to games and movie nights, it was an experience that surpassed all expectations, making it the most memorable Spring Festival in my time in China.
These snapshots encapsulate the ripple effects of volunteerism and internships, emphasizing that the rewards extend far beyond the immediate task at hand. So, whether you're navigating the structured path of an internship or venturing into the uncharted territory of volunteer work, remember that the seeds you sow today may blossom into unexpected and delightful experiences tomorrow.
Practice is the key to perfection, a principle that extends beyond music and can be applied to various aspects of life. An intriguing observation arose during the initial segment of the recent semester's final exam, which involved recording a video in response to a question about a video assigned for viewing. The chosen video was from Prager University, and the task for the students was as follows:
You have to record around a one-minute video clip in WeChat answering the following:
1- If the decision they made was fair
2- Tell why you think the decision was fair or not.
PS: The video has to show your face while you are speaking. Also needs to be delivered until TODAY 22:00 hs PM”
While this assignment ostensibly gauged the students' comprehension of the video content, my primary focus was on evaluating their pronunciation skills rather than the content of their responses. What I found intriguing was that some students, who were not proficient English speakers, demonstrated significant improvement in their pronunciation. This improvement could only be attributed to dedicated practice, as they had approximately six hours to prepare for the assignment, and some seized the opportunity to hone their skills.
This observation reaffirms two points I've emphasized previously: first, that effort and practice yield improvement, a principle for which I've provided numerous exercises, but unfortunately they only did practice before the exam for the exam - not on a regular bases for improve their overall language skill and become better. It was for the sole purpose of just having better grades only.
Second, the significance of grades is downplayed, as I've previously asserted that employers won't hire based on grades alone, actually in the case of language skills the employer don´t care at all about the student grades, they do care if they can speak well. Ironically, several students seem focused solely on improving their grades rather than enhancing their overall English pronunciation.
The repercussions of prioritizing grades over comprehensive language skills may become apparent to these students sooner than later. Definitely when they start looking for a job. It underscores the importance of investing time and effort into holistic language improvement rather than fixating solely on academic achievements.
