tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86148716472039894222024-03-13T10:40:22.590-04:00Cross-Cultural CommunicatorsBetsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519780842038265118noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614871647203989422.post-73935153978334257152011-08-03T18:14:00.000-04:002011-08-03T18:14:40.120-04:00My Plan - Introduction: My Needs<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Let’s Talk</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I loved working a few years ago with several learners who needed some language learning coaching. One member was brand new on the field – had arrived about 2 days earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s call her Jane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other, let’s call him Louis, had been on the project for several years but was at a bit of an impasse, and would now also be working with Jane.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The first thing we did was to set aside time, about a week, to really focus on the planning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were all staying together – with the rest of Louis’ very energetic (4 kids!) family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, as we lived together that week – fixing meals, making some fun daily trips, sharing close quarters - we got acquainted, and I was able to get a good idea of what the dynamics had been to date, and would be into the future, for the Team’s program in the context of their real LIFE!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">We spent several hours through the week talking about what the team, each individual and as a Team, brought to the project and wanted to see accomplished (reviewing their Mission and Vision, doing some needs anlaysis), setting Goals and looking at some reasonable time-tables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was exciting for Jane as she could see how her recent training would be put into action right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The input was encouraging for Louis, because after several years and some very tough times, he felt somewhat discouraged.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">We then got real specific, talking about how each Goal they had chosen could be strategically tackled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set up a schedule for each of them which would enable them to pursue a realistic language program tailored to their needs, alongside their other commitments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also set up accountability for reporting, review and revision which assured them their work would be followed and supported.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the next 18 months, Jane and Louis implemented the plan, tweaking it when needed, working along consistently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regular self-assessments and occasional assisted evaluations indicated they were making good progress. It went really well and we all appreciated the planning we had done. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Have you had a similar experience…or perhaps one which was not as successful – but through which you learned how to do some things better the next time around?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Please share your comments below.</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*****************************************************</b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">The Task</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Planning a strategic language program involves a number of steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be simple, if you follow the steps, or really overwhelming, confusing and complicated, if you decide to just kind of wing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s set up the steps, and commit to following them…you’ll like the results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guarantee it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>set aside a time to focus on your planning</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>work with your team members</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">3. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>define your Mission and Vision</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>determine what your needs are</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>set specific goals (short, medium and long range)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>choose objectives and strategies which will guide you in meeting your goals</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>plan specific activities to move forward</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>plan review and revision times to keep track of both your progress and your process.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This coming week, let’s work on Steps 1, 2 and 4. Step 3 has already been covered </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">(see “Defining My Mission and Vision” posting)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** For Steps 1 and 2, be intentional about setting aside the time, and be sure your team is ready and able to work with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your team may include colleagues or friends, like Jane and Louis. It may include your Host or you may not have that set up at this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may include a supervisor, or a coach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are working alone, find someone you can just talk some of this over with from time to time, who will be willing to help you with being accountable.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** For Step 4, to determine what your needs are, spend time thinking about and noting down what you want to see accomplished: short term (in the next year), medium term (in the next 2 to 3 years) and long term (in the next 3 to 5 years, or for the duration of the program).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is called by some a “Needs Analysis”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll be adding to this as you go along.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Please share your comments below.</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">****************************************************</b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">Tools</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">We’ve already looked at these, which form your program foundation:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">Learner ID & Learning Styles Index: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">(Review “Dimension #1: HOME” & “Principle #1- Motivation at Home” postings)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Host Profile: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Review “Dimension #2 – The HOST” & “Principle #1 – Motivation & My Host” postings)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HARBOR planning</span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Review “Dimension #3 – The HARBOR” & “Principle #1 – Motivation in the Harbor” postings)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We’ve also talked about having a well defined Mission and Vision Statement, to start you on the right track. </span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Review “My Mission and Vision” posting)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now let’s add another useful tool:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0;">Needs Analysis Chart </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(TL = your “target language”)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">** Keeping your Mission and Vision statements in mind</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">** Check out these samples and see what you need in your own program to fulfill your Mission by</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>accomplishing your Vision </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Samples of short term needs for a beginning language learner:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My Mission: </span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To integrate into my Host community so I can work there effectively.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My Vision:</span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will able to use my TL well enough to build and maintain relationships,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to function comfortably and to carry out my work in my Host community. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 480;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Role /activity</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Describe briefly</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 230.1pt;" valign="top" width="307"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Details of language use</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Needs </b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65.1pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Planned</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Dates</div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">General needs</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(samples)</b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 230.1pt;" valign="top" width="307"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1. Review what I have</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>learned/covered in</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>classes, etc to date</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 230.1pt;" valign="top" width="307"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Evaluate how well I have mastered this material & plan for further study if I need it</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65.1pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">May - June</div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2. Greetings and </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>leave-takings</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 230.1pt;" valign="top" width="307"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Being able to go beyond the basics into different contexts with different people</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65.1pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">3. Introductory</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>information about</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>people</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 230.1pt;" valign="top" width="307"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Where they come from (family, clan, village, region…); what they do</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65.1pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">4. Introductory</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>information about me </div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 230.1pt;" valign="top" width="307"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Where I come from; my family, home country/culture<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65.1pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">5. Introductory </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>information about my</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>work<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 230.1pt;" valign="top" width="307"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Formal (giving an presentation to a meeting; informal (chatting with people I meet in the village</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65.1pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">6. Starting a</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>conversation</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 230.1pt;" valign="top" width="307"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Finding out things like: where someone is coming from or going to, what they are doing or have just done</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65.1pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Samples for specialized language learning, to fulfill specific roles:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 480;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Role-specific needs </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(samples)</b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 230.1pt;" valign="top" width="307"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Details of language use</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Needs </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65.1pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Planned</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Dates to study</div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(for the agricultural worker) </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">understanding basic gardening traditions</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 230.1pt;" valign="top" width="307"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Interviewing people asking things like: Do you have a garden? Where is your garden?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you plant?</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65.1pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.05in;" valign="top" width="197"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(for the micro-enterprise worker) </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">understanding what people usually do for income</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 230.1pt;" valign="top" width="307"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Interviewing people asking things like:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">How do you earn cash (women/men)?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Are there things you’d like to learn to do/make/provide which the community would pay you for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How are work groups set up in your community?</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #ece9d8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 65.1pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Please share your comments below.</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">******************************************************</b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">See you next time!</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Betsy</i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519780842038265118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614871647203989422.post-14193508979177278942011-08-03T18:11:00.001-04:002011-09-09T13:13:16.483-04:00My Mission and Vision<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let’s Talk</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Creating Mission Statements and ‘Vision Casting’ are both very IN!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>LOOK<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>around, everyone’s ‘doing’ it!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Why?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">When I was writing an article on this topic a year ago,<strong> </strong>I kept coming across material with this theme in various publications I read regularly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The following examples, and others I came across, indicated to me that many different kinds of folks with different kinds of needs ‘out there’ are involved in these important steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure if you google ‘mission’ or ‘vision’ statements, or read your local paper, or browse through any news publication, or look in your favorite bookstore, you too will find evidence of this:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** Vision casting (which includes taking inventory, hunting for meaning, experimenting with</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and creatively attacking your life’s challenges, branding) contributes to keeping a person</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>active and healthy mentally, physically, emotionally while helping them (in whatever ‘next</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>steps’ their life needs to take) </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Source: AARP, The Magazine, Aug’10 article on self-reintroduction and self-reinvention)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** When we face a huge transition, it’s good to step aside and look at what’s helped us thru life</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that point - applying that can lead to vision casting for our future endeavors</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(source: NewsPress, Ft Myers, FL daily newspaper, 8/15/10 article on a long time </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>award-winning employee who consistently valued inventiveness, self-improvement and hard</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>work)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** Vision casting can help us to be “happy in the skin we are in” while recognizing the wonder</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the world around us</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Source: a new book advertised in one of my favorite catalogues, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>An Altar in the World: a Geography of Faith</u>)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">From any perspective, in the grand scheme of any endeavor:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It’s important to know what we want to see happen to be able to plan strategically and</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>effectively for what we’ll be doing. That’s Mission and Vision!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>One disclaimer:</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There is for some a fine line between "Mission" and "Vision". Many organizations and individuals use one, or the other, to cover both. I prefer to make the distinction and offer you the following from that preference. The important thing is you cover both in whatever approach you choose!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Please share your comments below.</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">****************************************************</b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Task</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Okay, so, let’s work through this in our own context.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is a Mission Statement and what is a Vision Statement?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s the difference? </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Mission Statement is a brief statement about what we plan to do.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Vision Statement is a brief statement about what we will see happen in the process or as a result of what we plan to do.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mission and Vision Statements can occur at many levels in our lives:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">* personal ones which we have formulated</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">* work-related ones which we are obliged to follow</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">* family or community ones we choose to enter into at various stages for various time periods</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For the purposes of becoming effective cross-cultural communicators, let’s narrow down these possibilities to one specific project plan we want to design and implement.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">When should these be defined?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Defining our mission and casting our vision should be done at the very beginning of our</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>project, before we spend time trying to move forward.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">AND/OR (if we've already started) it should be done in the midst of transition, to review and possibly revise the direction in which we are headed.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2. As the project gets underway, the Mission and Vision should be revisited regularly and revised</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as necessary:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 29.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>based on the progress we are making, changes in our resources or situation, etc</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>b) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>preferably with someone else, or a team of colleagues, family, friends so we can get a</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wider and sometimes more objective perspective </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">IF this defining and revising process is used, our Mission and our Vision will be and will remain clear, informing our decisions and keeping us on track.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Please share your comments below.</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">****************************************************</b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some Tools</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1. Creating a Mission Statement for my cross-cultural communication project:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Initially:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Using any strategic planning documents already available, answer the following questions which are tied here into 3D dynamics:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">HOME: At what level am I working on this mission? (personally, with a team, etc)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This should be reflected in the wording of your statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example: “Our mission as the X Team is to …” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">HOST: What is the context of my project?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>State it clearly.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example: “My mission is to impact the lives of (my Host community) through…”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">HARBOR: What is it that I want to see in place at the end of this project?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the core of my statement – keep it simple and brief.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example: “I will integrate into and work effectively and sustainably with my Host community”.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Longer term: </b>Revisit my statement regularly to keep the big picture in mind, and to revise it as needed.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2. Vision casting for my cross-cultural communication project:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Initially:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Using the Mission Statement, and other strategic planning documents as available, think about where I am headed while answering the following questions,which are tied here into the 3D Dynamics:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">HOME: Be specific about who envisioned as engaged in this Mission</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> For example: "As a development worker, I will..."</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">HOST: State clearly who will be involved as the Mission is being carried out</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> For example: "...meeting the needs of those who farm in my HOST community..."</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">HARBOR: What do I want to see happening in the process of fulfilling my Mission?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> For example: "...I will be honing existing skills and learning from my HOSTs as I introduce</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> micro-entreprise opportunities in an effective, sustainable way."</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Longer term: </b>Revisit my statement regularly, especially in the early stages, to:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** keep me on track, by reminding me what I am heading for<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">** help me identify ways I can move forward step by step</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">** guide me when changes, in my current direction or in my original mission and/or vision, need to be made</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;"> </span></b> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #00b050;"> Please share your comments below.</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">************************************************</span></b></div><strong>For a example of a Mission and a Vision Statement, Global SKILLs is currently working with:</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Mission Statement</strong></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Global SKILLs (Strategies and Kits for Intercultural Lifelong Learning)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is a partnership of subsidiaries with the mission of empowering individuals using life-long learning principles and sustainable practices for personal and professional growth with a special focus on intercultural communications and development.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Vision Statement:</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Global SKILLs’ principles, strategies, kits and many tools empowers lifelong learners with consulting and training to meet the challenges of 21<sup>st</sup> century realities in our increasingly inter-connected and inter-dependent “global community”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">This is probably broader than the scope of your project, but it gives you an idea of how the two statements are distinct, and yet also fit together. That's your task - come up with two brief statements which define where you are headed and what you want to see happening along the way.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Have fun! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><em>Betsy</em></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div>Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519780842038265118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614871647203989422.post-89677498098695729252011-08-03T17:30:00.000-04:002011-08-03T17:30:13.923-04:00Moving Forward: Motivation and Planning<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Let’s Talk</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Now that we have looked closely at this first Principle, that “<strong><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">successful learning is heavily impacted by learner motivation</span></strong><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">”, and we have done a few activities to identify and reflect on the motivation we are carrying into our program, the next step is to begin to design a plan into which we can then pour ALL our motivated energies!</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">From one of my own language learning experiences, with the Jola language of southwestern Senegal, I had times of very high and very low motivation…and this definitely impacted how I was able to move forward!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure each of you has experienced this as well – in whatever learning context you might have found yourself.</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">One especially high motivation time for me, which I seized and put to work with a strategic plan, was when I needed to have a “final” assessment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The results would be used to help determine if I was proficient enough to take on full time tasks using the language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had put off taking this test, as I had struggled along for years, part time, learning the language using many different approaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I chose the summer months that year to focus on preparing to achieve my goal – to “pass” the assessment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very ‘fluent’ by then, but had developed some bad habits of not being very accurate at times, and not using a wide range of the language, either words or structures. So, I set up my very focused program plan, which was heavy on vocabulary and structures review.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made a zillion little cards with words and phrases on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to my “normal life” activities - I ate, slept and breathed reviewing those cards and delighted in using the language in many contexts with my expanded language skills! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I clearly recall walking along the beach one afternoon, working on some obscure phrase!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Guess what?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My plan worked!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The assessment went real well, including the part where I had to use Jola to describe how mongooses kill cobras, in India! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since there is no word for “mongoose” in Jola, and Indian culture needed some explaining, it was a real challenge – but my weeks of planned review paid off!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All this to simply affirm that when we identify and harness our motivation, preparing and using a good strategic plan which reflects where we want to head…we WILL succeed!</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Please share your comments below.</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*****************************************************</b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">The Task</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Proceeding into designing your program plan will be less effective if you haven’t completed the tasks to date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, take this week to review the postings to date, and to fill in the documents mentioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It truly is going to be worth the effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Please share your comments below.</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*****************************************************</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;"></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">Tools</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">Learner ID: </span></b>You<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;"> </span></b>should have completed the Educational Background and Motivation sections </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">at this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gather your notes, or let me know if you want the full form.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">(Review “Dimension #1: HOME” & “Principle #1- Motivation at Home” postings)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">Learning Styles Index: </span></b>Have your style preferences ready – you’ll be using them to choose techniques as you design your program plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you haven’t done one of these yet, do one!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to use the following one, send me your results and I’ll give you feedback: <span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html"><span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit", "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(select the link, keep your cursor on it and it will give you the choice to go to it)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Review “Dimension #1 – HOME” posting)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Host Profile: </span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This you should get started, and work on as you go along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contact me for the full form, or answer the questions in the “Motivation & My HOST” entry.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Review “Dimension #2 – The HOST” & “Principle #1 – Motivation & My Host” postings)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HARBOR planning</span></b><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: have your initial ideas ready about what you will bring to offer, and how you would like to benefit from meeting and working with your Host in the Harbor!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Review “Dimension #3 – The HARBOR” & “Principle #1 – Motivation in the Harbor” postings)</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Please share your comments below.</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">******************************************************</b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">Pull all this together and we’ll start The Plan next time!</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Betsy</i></div>Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519780842038265118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614871647203989422.post-54886629732662098752011-08-03T17:29:00.001-04:002011-08-03T17:29:35.182-04:00Principle #1: Motivation in the HARBOR<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">Let's Talk</span></strong></div><span style="color: black;">We are now going to spend time hanging out in the HARBOR, the 3rd dimension of cross-cultural communication. Re-visit my entry titled "Dimension #3 - the Harbor" for an introduction to this special, exciting place. </span><span style="color: black;">I want to share here what another linguist/cross-cultural communicator has written on what 'harbors' mean in the context of being a learner. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Homi Bhabha, a well known educator and theorist, was one of the pioneers in examining what I call the 3rd Dimension and what he called "the 3rd space". </span>In his book <u>Location of culture </u>(1994, London. Routledge), Bhabha explores this meeting of people and their respective cultures by presenting an artist's view of actual harbors as an example of how people and goods meet "in the very flux of exchange" (p8). In his manuscript for <em>Fish Story, </em>an exhibition about the world's harbors<em>, </em>the artist Alan Sekula vividly describes a scene from a typical contemporary harbor: <br />
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"<em>A scratchy recording of the Norweigan national anthem blares out from a loudspeaker at the Sailor's Home on the bluff above the channel. The container ship being greeted flies a Bahamian flag of convenience. (The ship) was built by Koreans working long hours in the giant shipyards of (Ulsan City in Korea). The underpaid and the understaffed crew could be Salvadorean or Filipino. Only the (Norwegian) Captain hears a familiar melody.</em>.." (p8)<br />
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In our ever increasingly global community, we often find ourselves in this type of multi-cultural context. At any given moment, you or I may be this Captain, the only one hearing a familiar melody - the only one understanding any given situation, the only one benefitting from what is offered. Let's see how we can move from being in that isolated spot to building a framework for effective cross-cultural communication...so everyone involved is hearing and enjoying the sharing of the melodies!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Share your comments below.</span></strong></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black;">***************************************************</span></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red;">The Task</span></strong></div><span style="color: black;">In order to move into a HARBOR where shared goals and experience can be enjoyed, we must first engage with our HOST and begin to communicate about these goals! What motivates us to do this? What motivates our HOST to participate? </span>You began to examine this in the "Principle #1: Motivation and My HOST" entry. Bring what you discovered from there, and let's formalize that now with the next steps:<br />
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1. Identify and share Learner Goals (from HOME)<br />
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2. Identify and share HOST Goals<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Share your comments below.</span></strong></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black;">***************************************************</span></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <strong><span style="color: purple;">Tools</span></strong></div><br />
<span style="color: black;">A helpful exercise in identifing anyone's Goals for language learning is to do a "Needs Analysis". These are available in many formats online. You can google "language learning - needs analysis", or you can follow these simple steps to get started:</span><br />
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1. Identify your, the Learner's, Goals: <br />
* list things you want/need to do with your Target Language (TL)<br />
Be specific - don't just write "Be able to talk"!!<br />
Think through who you want to talk with, what circumstances you will find yourself in, <br />
what kinds of tasks you might have to accomplish, etc.<br />
Make your list of specific items<br />
Examples: I enjoy sewing and would like to purchase material at the market to use for that activity.<br />
My job requires that I interact with local farmers to see what their planting traditions are.<br />
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* write a goal for each item <br />
Examples: I want to be able to buy a piece of material from a local merchant.<br />
I want to be able to interview a local farmer about his planting traditions.<br />
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* share these with your HOST and record their initial reactions, questions and input<br />
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2. Identify your HOST's Goals:<br />
* list things your HOST would like to accomplish<br />
Examples: My HOST is my friend who wants to learn to sew using a treadle machine.<br />
My HOST is a local farmer who wants to improve his crop yields.<br />
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* record your initial reactions, questions, input<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Share your comments below.</span></strong></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black;">***************************************************</span></strong></div><br />
Next step? Exploring how each of these goals can be achieved by working together...in the HARBOR!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">See you next time!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Betsy</em></div>Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519780842038265118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614871647203989422.post-61587154966635063482011-08-03T17:29:00.000-04:002011-08-03T17:29:06.915-04:00Principle #1: Motivation and My HOST<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">Let’s Talk</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During my years on the field, in Cameroun (1980), Côte d’Ivoire (1981-82) and then Senegal (1984 to date…), I have had quite a few opportunities to be involved in entering a new community to begin a language learning program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it has been for my own work, and more often, in recent years, it has been helping pave the way for other learners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking back on some of those situations, it is interesting to note how different communities reacted to having a “foreign” learner in their midst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><em><strong>One thing I can say universally is that people were intrigued, </strong></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><em><strong>at times mystified but always excited, </strong></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><em><strong>when they understood that this learner was there to stay for the ‘long haul’ </strong></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><em><strong>and wanted to learn their language and about their culture.</strong></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recall one gathering I thoroughly enjoyed, during a visit from my parents in the first year in the village in Senegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The elders had gathered in our front yard, and were addressing my parents about our presence in the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said, “If we had a Main Street, we would name it after your children”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were that thrilled to have us living there – and a huge part of that was our focus on their language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another favorite memory is a brief conversation I had with a taxi driver in the capital city one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been chatting with him in his language, of which I knew really just enough to get around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said to me, “I know you truly care about our country and us, because you are learning our language.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you had a similar moment or moments in your learning experiences, when someone you were developing a relationship with in your HOST community validated your motivation to learn their language?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not, stay tuned!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a strategically planned program, you’ll enjoy that sooner rather than later.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Share your comments with us below</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">*******************************************************</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">The Task</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">We looked broadly at our motivation, from HOME, in the "Principle #1 – Motivation at Home" section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we look more closely now at different factors feeding into our motivation for learning our target language, it’s important to consider the context where our program will take place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can be fully aware of our very high motivation, but if we have no clue about where and with whom we will be living and learning, we will compromise our ability to move forward.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">We’ve already talked about this in general in the section "Dimension #2 – the HOST" , in terms of the importance of knowing our HOST.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time in the planning process to get more specific now about how motivation – ours and our HOST’s - will impact our learning experience.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">First, we want to understand how our motivations can be brought effectively into our HOST community, at the different levels we choose to interact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Second, we need to identify our HOST’s motivations in relation to us being there and to our expressed goals.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Third, we can then move on to meeting our HOST in the HARBOR (the 3<sup>rd</sup> Dimension), where we’ll agree together (with all these various motivational factors feeding into our decisions) about our mutual goals and the benefits we each will reap from our relationship.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Share your comments with us below</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">*******************************************************</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">Some Tools</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Taking this one step at a time from the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>three steps above, answer these questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">You can add the information to the Motivation section of your Learner ID:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My Motivation and my HOST</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider and describe how your motivation for this learning experience can be explained </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to your HOST</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">For example:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">* if you want to be able to join in their special celebrations, you can tell them these are interesting to you and you value and honor them, and would like to - if possible - be able to participate appropriately</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">* if you have a job you need to be able to do using the language, you can describe the job and then find out what they know or think about this type of job, where it fits in their own world view or culture, how they might see you fitting in with them doing the job</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk with your HOST (again, at whatever levels you have chosen – see Dimension #2 – HOST) to begin to identify what their own motivations are toward you:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a) as someone who has come to visit/stay (depending on your situation)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">b) as someone who wants to learn their language and about their culture</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">c) as someone who has things (relationships, skills, resources) to offer them</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">d) as someone who needs something (relationships, skills, resources) from them</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Move forward to the HARBOR where you’ll work with your HOST – </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stay tuned for next week!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Share your comments with us below</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">*******************************************************</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This type of sharing about motivation will necessarily be superficial at first, and perhaps difficult in some cultures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t push it, and don’t get discouraged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It’s good to at least communicate with people from the beginning what you are doing among them, and that you are interested in them, and want to hear from them, not just expect them to hear you! </span>As you develop ties with your HOST, you will gain insights into this on your own and be better able to talk with people about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
See you next time!</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Betsy</i></div>Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519780842038265118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614871647203989422.post-85188133879825807432011-08-03T17:28:00.001-04:002011-09-08T13:14:53.621-04:00Principle #1: Motivation at HOME<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Let’s Talk</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">As I have coached learners over the years,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> it’s been so interesting to explore why they want or need to learn their target language </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">and how those parameters impact both their choice of learning process, and their progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">Think of your own experiences as a language learner, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">and your current context, as you look over these examples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** Some learners have a job to do, and they need the language to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone else may be requiring them to learn certain things in a certain period of time, so they fell pressure to learn what they need to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an extra challenge for them to consider their learning as an important part of the journey, rather than just the means to an end.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** Others have family or friends they ‘just want to understand’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their learning is sometimes driven by special events or gatherings where the language is being used, and they want to feel like ‘insiders’ rather than spectators. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** Some have moved into a new place and the community where they will live and work speaks a different language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To feel like they are integrated in this new community, there are certain things it’d be helpful to be able to say and understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** A few simply think language learning is fun and they want to add another language to their repertoire!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Where do you fit in…or are you someplace else ?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Share your comments with us below.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">**********************************************************</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">The Task</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;"></span></b>Now that we have looked briefly at the 3 dimensions of cross-cultural communication which we can engage in our language learning endeavors, I need to introduce you to some basic principles about learning in general, and language learning in particular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our 3 Dimensional Dynamic (engaging HOME, HOST and HARBOR), informed by these principles, will lead us forward to effective learning. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The first learning principle I want to explore concerns <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">motivation.</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what we were talking about above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever drives your learning experience, what you desire and/or need to gain from it is what we call “motivation”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong>Principle #1: Successful learning is heavily impacted by learner motivation.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>high motivation increases the probability of successful learning<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">b) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>low motivation tends to impede learning </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Motivation includes:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>internal factors <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(what do I want or need?)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">b)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>external factors (what is someone else telling me I need?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This being the case, it’s clearly important for us to examine our motivation as we move forward with our learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can start at HOME - where we find ourselves as learners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To do this:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** It’s helpful to review, document and reflect on past learning experiences’ motivations and how these impacted those experiences for better or for worse <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s celebrate success and see how high motivation might have contributed to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s also become aware that difficult experiences may well have been due in part of low motivation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** We can then benefit from these reflections as we bring lessons learned into our current and future endeavors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** The good thing about motivation is that, to some extent, it is a choice – or it can be, if we are aware of what it is and how it will impact our success.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Share your comments with us below.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">**********************************************************</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">The Tools</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Borrowing from the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Learner ID</i></b> (a useful tool suggested in Section 2):</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>choose a previous learning experience you’d like to benefit from more fully</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>work through the following questions about this learning experience’s motivation.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Motivation</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">a)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Briefly describe the experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was your motivation internal (from your own desires/needs) </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or external (some other influence making you learn)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">b)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How would you ‘grade’ your motivation for that learning experience?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High - I really wanted to learn the language to be able to interact, to communicate effectively</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moderate: it would have been nice to be able to interact somewhat </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(greetings, pleasantries, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>meeting basic needs)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Low – I felt uncomfortable when the other language was spoken, wishing the person could or</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would use my language but I felt like I should at least try at times to use the language</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zero: I had no desire to learn this language</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t matter to me that I could not interact with what was going on around me</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">c)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Describe how your motivation level impacted the experience </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Now, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Briefly describe your current learning experience.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Complete (a) and (b) considering your motivation now.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And finally, think about this choice which you have:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">d)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How what you see from your previous experience can be used to help inform – strengthen – change your motivation level for this experience to help make it a successful endeavor.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">Share your comments with us below.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">**********************************************************</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">Have a good, highly motivated tme working through this!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Betsy</i></b></div>Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519780842038265118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614871647203989422.post-74735550128431988572011-08-03T17:27:00.000-04:002011-08-03T17:27:35.488-04:00Dimension #3 - The HARBOR<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">Let's Talk</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">We will now finish our introduction to 3D Dynamics by exploring the 3rd Dimension which is the <strong><span style="color: blue;">HARBOR</span></strong>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">As I have been developing this 3D perspective over the past 3 decades, and formalizing it over the past months, I initially chose the word "Haven" for the 3rd Dimension, which is a "safe place" to meet and interact. But then I thought of the word... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">HARBOR</span></strong> </div><div style="text-align: center;">and the kind of place it represents and the dynamics which happen in that kind of place...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I knew I had my 3rd Dimension!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Think of a harbor you've experienced...or find an image of one from your favorite time of history.<br />
What do you see - hear - feel as you enter into this place? Certainly down through the ages, the <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">harbor</span> <span style="color: black;">has been a safe place to start out from, full of expectations; or to return to, grateful to have made the trip successfully...or to arrive at in the middle of a long voyage for restocking and refreshment.</span> </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: black;">H</span>arbors are kaleidoscopes of multi-colored cultures and many languages with bustling energy, constant comings and goings, lots of excitement. There is the vast array of cargo arriving and being packed...exotic items, precious treasures, bulky shipments of common goods. Noise, strong fragrances, a bracing splash -mixed with the salty sea or the brisk fresh water spray. Harbors<span style="color: blue;"> </span>are also places of commerce, networking, exchange of ideas. Visions and dreams are brought to harbors to be shared, pursued, bought and sold.<br />
My father, who has always loved ships and ocean voyages chose for his 79th birthday to take a "container ship cruise". He isn't into fancy, tourist type cruises - but he totally relished his 10 days on a container ship which traveled from the southeast US down the coast of South America. He would get up in the middle of the night just to enjoy (from the deck) watching the hustle and bustle of the <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">harbors</span><strong> </strong></span>they visited! I feel the same way, on a smaller scale. I love walking on the worn piers along the Florida Gulf coast, checking out the boats, seeing the day's catch, letting my imagination take me on trips <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">How about you...ready for a <strong><span style="color: blue;">HARBOR</span></strong> adventure?!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Please share your comments below.</span></strong></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>********************************************************************</strong></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><strong><span style="color: red;">The Task</span></strong> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">I suspect you might be wondering where in the world I am headed with this?!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">What does all this <span style="color: black;">have to do with how you are going to learn this language??</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Okay, let's look more closely at this 3rd Dimension Dynamic, the </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>HARBOR,</strong></span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">in a learning context.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">By describing it more fully, I think you'll see the direction we're going and begin to grasp what the task is as you leave your HOME, connect with your HOST and spend time together in your chosen HARBOR!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The <span style="color: blue;"><strong>HARBOR </strong></span><span style="color: black;">is:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">* the place where HOME (remember the 1st Dimension - that's where you, the Learner, come from)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> and HOST (2nd Dimension - the people to whom you are going) meet</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a “safe”, mutually supportive </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">place for all participants - both HOME and HOST</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a place of relating and networking, where </span>shared perspectives, goals </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">and commitments</span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">are explored</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">and plans are strategically made to meet everyone's needs</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">* <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a place where </span>everyone gives, grows and gains as individual and mutual adventures take shape...</span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> and take off!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Ready for the Trip?!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Please share your comments below.</span></strong></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>********************************************************************</strong></span></div></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Tools</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">We'll be looking at a variety of tools in the coming months for how learners can effectively enter</span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">and benefit from the <strong><span style="color: blue;">HARBOR</span></strong> Dimension.</span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This week, I want to ask you, as a learner who has hopefully completed some of the Learner ID (refer back to the "Dimension #1 - HOME" posting) and who has identified one of your possible HOSTs (refer back to "Dimension #2 - The HOST" & "Principle #1 - Motivation and My Host" postings) to consider the following as you become acquainted with being in the <span style="color: blue;"><strong>HARBOR </strong></span><span style="color: black;">of your chosen learning context:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">1. What one goal do I want to share with my HOST as a starting point?</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. What one goal would my HOST like to share with me?</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. How can we plan to work together to meet each of these goals? </div><div style="text-align: left;"> What skills or materials do we each already have to offer?</div><div style="text-align: left;"> What training do we need to seek or give?</div><div style="text-align: left;"> What is our initial timetable?</div><div style="text-align: left;"> What are our individual responsibilities?</div><div style="text-align: left;">These are the types of considerations you'll need to process with your HOST, and the type of planning which needs to be done. A full "Harbor Profile" is being developed - let me know if you are interested in seeing it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">PS If you haven't done the first steps of getting in touch with yourself as Learner (HOME) or figuring out who your HOST is...you need to do that before you can effectively move into the HARBOR! But that's okay - I mainly wanted to introduce you to the idea today. We'll look back together at HOME and HOST in the coming weeks as well as looking forward to what the HARBOR offers!</div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> <strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Please share your comments below.</span></strong></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black;">********************************************************************</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's it for this time! <br />
<em>Betsy</em></div>Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519780842038265118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614871647203989422.post-16749550171394743962011-05-04T23:06:00.001-04:002011-08-03T17:08:53.826-04:00Dimension #2 - The Host<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Let's Talk</strong></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Okay, we've had a good break for 2 weeks now! </span></div><span style="color: black;">Let's get back to work on understanding how we can plan our learning program in order to achieve our goals. We're focusing in this section on the 2nd Dimension of 3D Dynamics - which is the HOST.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">The story I want to share with you, to help you begin to grasp what it means to connect with the Host, comes from my alma-mater, Middlebury College. It is about a student who recently received a very special scholarship award called the "Watson Fellowship". Only 40 American students are given this award each year. It pays for a student to travel and do research for one year following their graduation. The student I want to tell you about, whose name is Austin Davis, spent the early months of his junior year in Egypt - which was the inspiration for his Watson research project. Austin,</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> a soon-to-graduate political science major, says his goal is “to spend time with people, listen to their stories, immerse myself in their everyday lives, and learn what ‘disability’ means throughout five strikingly different Arab societies – Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and immigrant Arab communities in Greater London.”</span> </span><br />
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As we look at how a person can enter a culture, to learn the language or anything else (like about how disability is viewed), we are going to see the importance of connecting with the Host, the people with whom you will live and work. Austin plans to interact with disabled people in these various places...and the amazing part of his story is the powerful "in" he has with these people. This is because, during his first stay in an Arab culture which was in Egypt during his junior year, Austin had an accident - and lost both of his legs. That stunning fact combines then with Austin's recovery from this traumatic and disabling experience to finish his degree at Middlebury, and his plans now to return, to connect at deeper levels with his Hosts. He describes it this way: "I’m spending time in a culture from which I can learn so much, making up for the year abroad that I missed. By focusing on disability in these communities, I get to understand the gap between me and the kid in the other operating room who doesn’t get to flee to America as soon as he stabilizes.”<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">This is such a beautiful example of a learner with specific goals for intercultural proficiency who understands the importance of Host awareness - and is planning very strategically to develop it!! </div>(For the whole story, check out <a href="http://blogs.middlebury.edu/middmag/2011/03-24">http://blogs.middlebury.edu/middmag/2011/03-24</a> This article is the source of the above quotes.)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>Please share your comments in the space below...</strong></span></div>******************************************************************************<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>The Task</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">So, how can Austin's story inform our own adventure in language learning? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">One way is to grasp the fact that in order to enter into a culture, and function effectively - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">on whatever level you want to function - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>you must make an effort to understand and connect with your Host</strong>. </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Who is your Host? </strong></div>This depends on your context and on what you choose to focus. Your Host can be: <br />
1. an individual - or a group of individuals - fellow students, or colleagues at work.<br />
2. a family who welcomes you into their home, or a whole clan if the culture has a close-knit clan structure<br />
3. a community, where you live and study or complete a specific project<br />
For Austin, his immediate Host will be the kids he mentions, and their families. Then at a different level, it will be the organizations he contacts and works with in the various places he visits which are supporting those with disabilities.<br />
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For you, you decide - and then you begin to learn about your Host!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>Please share your comments in the space below...</strong></span></div>******************************************************************************<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: purple;">The Tools</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">There are so very many ways these days to learn about Hosts at whatever level you choose, what with the internet, other media resources, members of other cultures who may be living where you live, others who have already lived in your Host culture. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">It's good to get started before you enter the culture...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">And to continue then as you start your experience there - as you meet people and begin to identify the Host or Hosts with whom you will choose to connect.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">One tool I can offer you is called a "Host Profile". It's a questionnaire to get you started. Let me know if you want a copy. Let me know too of ways you discover, or links you find helpful, as you begin getting acquainted with your Host.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Please share comments in the space below.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: black;">That's it for this time! </span><br />
<em>Betsy</em></div>Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519780842038265118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614871647203989422.post-17797780707212518992011-04-21T22:30:00.006-04:002011-08-03T17:07:52.061-04:00Taking a Break...<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">Let's Talk</span></strong></div>With this weekend being a holiday for many - and holy days also for many - I just want to visit with you briefly to encourage you to take a break!<br />
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Language and culture learning is a huge adventure...and hugely draining! Sometimes we need to step aside, reconnect with our roots - our "Home", whether that's being with family and friends, returning to familiar resting places or maybe enjoying a favorite activity...<br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;"> The Task</span></strong><br />
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<div align="center">Take a break.<br />
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</div><div align="center">Just do it!!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">******************************************************************</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>The Tools</strong></span></div><div align="center">Gather what you need...</div><div align="center">or maybe simply take off </div><div align="center">with empty hands and open eyes and ears and heart - </div><div align="center">to be refreshed and renewed.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">*******************************************************************</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Next time we'll look at the 2nd dimension - the Host.</div><div align="center">In the meantime, have a good one!</div><div align="center"><em>Betsy</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Any comments? Share them below.</span></em></strong></div>Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519780842038265118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614871647203989422.post-82325929370805888682011-04-15T07:19:00.001-04:002011-08-03T16:56:53.603-04:00Dimension #1 - Home<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong>Cross-cultural Communicators</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong>Adventures is "3 Dimensional" Language Learning!</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Let's Talk</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">The first place in the learning process where we are going to linger </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">is within ourselves -</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">getting in touch with who we are as learners.</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"> I was reminded of one facet of myself as learner, and got to know myself alittle better in a different context, this past week as I worked with my new book-keeper. She is walking me through my 2010 books, and we had to stop before we got to what I considered a good stopping point. </span><span style="color: black;">I'm a global person - she's heavily sequential...the stopping in the middle of our task nearly unhinged me! </span>Good exercise tho...always good to be reminded - or enlightened - as to who we are!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"> Then there was the learner I worked with a number of years ago who was strongly active versus her husband who was a dedicated reflective analyst/desk-working person. Yikes...that caused major fireworks until we were able to do some careful identifying of each's preferred styles, and affirm these - while acknowledging the benefits of other styles which can be learned in due course.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"> More recently I was surprised when I began to work with a retired elementary school teacher who wanted to brush up on her language ability in a second language. Before tackling the language itself, we started to look at her learning style preferences...and she was also surprised because, despite having taught others for many years, she really was not in touch with some of her own distinct preferences.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Are YOU??!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">********************************************************************************</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>The Task</strong> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>is language learning in a cross –cultural context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">That context is the Host community, which we'll be looking into very soon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Before we actually go there, </span>I want to further introduce you this week to the </span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">"<strong>3 Dimensional Dynamics</strong>"<span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">of this whole process.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Remember that</span> <strong>"3D Dynamics"</strong> <span style="color: black;">are grounded in a</span> <strong>BIG picture perspective.</strong> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">They provide a broad, BRIGHT, full, strategically energized approach to communicating.</span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Let's start with </span><strong>Dimension #1</strong> <span style="color: black;">which is all about:</span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>YOU, knowing yourself as the Learner, </strong></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>at HOME in your own cozy, familiar culture and language.</strong></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Check out the Tools below to get you started in discovering more about this dimension.</span></span><span style="color: red;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">And tune in next week for Dimension #2!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>Comments</strong> anyone? Please add yours below.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">********************************************************************************</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">This week's </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong>1st DimensionTools </strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">focus on <strong>You the Learner</strong> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">and </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">your place of comfort, <strong>your HOME</strong>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="color: #741b47;">Tool #1</span></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">To begin your journey into discovering yourself as Learner, it's helpful to look back at <strong><span style="color: #741b47;">language learning experiences</span></strong> through your life - both the formal ones (schools, classes) and the informal ones (languages your family members spoke, places you lived or visited). For those of you who have started to work with me, look back over your <span style="color: #741b47;"><strong>Learner ID</strong></span>. For others interested in this, check out the "Product Kits and Tools" page on my Global SKILLs website (</span><a href="http://www.global-skills-partner.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">http://www.global-skills-partner.com/</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> ) and contact me for more information abot this tool. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">(select the link, keep your cursor on it and it will give you the choice to go to it)</span><br />
Reflecting on these formative experiences will help you be a stronger, more efffective learner in future learning adventures - especially if you take in all 3 dimensions which we'll be looking at in the coming months!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit;"><strong>Tool #2</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">To begin your journey into discoveirng your HOME, the place where you are most comfortable, it's helpful to look at your <strong><span style="color: #741b47;">learning style preferences</span></strong>. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Check out this simple styles index: </span><a href="http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">(select the link, keep your cursor on it and it will give you the choice to go to it)</span><br />
Send me your index results and I'll give you some details to work through - or just stay tuned since we'll be looking at these on the blog also.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>Comments</strong>, anyone? Please add yours below.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">************************************************************</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">See you next time!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">-<em>Betsy</em></span></div>Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519780842038265118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8614871647203989422.post-65863580925470810182011-04-06T21:45:00.002-04:002011-08-03T17:05:52.725-04:00Welcome!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Welcome to </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">"Cross-Cultural Communicators" </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Adventures in "3 Dimensional" Language Learning!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Hopefully, each week, or thereabout, I’ll be offering a new post here.</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The idea is to introduce people who are interested in language and culture learning to a new perspective called the "3 Dimensional Dynamics" of intercultural communication...</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">and to guide them through their learning experience, step by step, week by week.</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>You'll find, and I hope be contributing to, the following:</strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">“<u>Let’s Talk</u>”</span></b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Story time – real life experiences, mine or others, which introduce…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">“<u>The Task</u>”</span></b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Specifics about language learning program principles, planning, process and </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">yes – that which we all hope to see – progress!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;">“<u>Some Tools</u>”</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;">I’ll always include resources, activities, links </span></div><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;">to inform and guide you in your communication quest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">And then</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><strong>Your “<u>Comments</u>” </strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;">will round this adventure out, as you pitch in and share thoughts, questions, </span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;">your own experiences and definitely suggestions about resources </span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;">you discover along the way.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div align="left"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">At any time, you are also most welcome to visit my website<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.global-skills-partners.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.global-skills-partners.com</span></a><span style="color: blue;">. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">This is the place you can learn more about:</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">** where I am coming from as a Learner myself, and as a consultant and coach</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">** the 3 Dimensional Dynamics I will be introducing in this blog</span><br />
A<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">ND </span></div><div align="left"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">** the vast array of Global SKILLs (which stands for Strategies and Kits for Intercultural Lifelong Learning) which are available to empower successful learning.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">***************************************************************************</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Let’s Talk</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">this first week about why we’re here:</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>We want to be successful cross-cultural communicators</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">First of all, lest you have any illusions about this adventure we're on, allow me to state categorically:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">Language learning is a HARD thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">Living and working cross-culturally are not easy. </span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Bottom line, this is a HUGE challenge! </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">BUT </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">It is also 100% do-able<span style="color: black;">!</span> </span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">I am convinced of this</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">AND </span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">I am passionate about helping others experience it!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The first time I really came face-to-face with the HARD part truth was in a village in West Africa, where I had just landed for several months of intense language study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Aside from the rather extreme living conditions (no running water, no electricity...) and the total immersion factor (for example, most of the women in the village did not speak anything I spoke...), t</span>his particular language was not yet fully written down, did not yet have an established alphabet…so no books, no classes – just me and my training AND (never forget this!) the community of speakers with whom to live and learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Now, I will say </span>I’d spent years studying languages in classrooms, done some pretty extensive cross-cultural living and just finished 4 graduate semesters of training and preparation as a budding field linguist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in spite of all that good stuff, the morning dawned in the village that day, and I literally asked myself,</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">“</span><span style="color: blue;">Can I really make this happen? Can I learn this language?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">A somewhat frightening moment, I must admit (remembering it this clearly is evidence), </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">given the context and that my job description included me succeeding. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">That was 30 years ago and I’ve spent much of my time since discovering and sharing </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">what I’m here today to tell you and that is:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“YES!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I learned that language (and several since then). </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">AND </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">YES!! You can learn your chosen language too!"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">I am sure of this for two very simple reasons:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">First because t</span>here are <strong><span style="color: blue;">3 keys</span></strong> I will be sharing with you:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">** basic universal principles (for general learning and language learning specific)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">** ways to choose and define the necessary tasks involved</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">** many tools available to every learner. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These 3 keys - if put into action strategically and consistently - will open the doors for anyone to be <span style="color: blue;"><strong>a successful language learner</strong>.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">AND</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Second because I have expereinced using the 3 "keys" mentioned here and seen success, time and time again, for myself and while working for the past 2 decades with learners of all ages, from many educational backgrounds and - lest you think this is only for academics or for those who are 'gifted' in languages - learners who truly struggled for years before seeing themselves succeed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Comments,</strong> anyone? Please add yours below.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><strong>The Task</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">First, I'll make it perfectly clear what is NOT the Task!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">I am not going to teach you your chosen, "target", language!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;">I am going to help </span><strong>you learn how to learn</strong> <span style="color: black;">the language </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">which will then serve you: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">** in communicating effectively in that language</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">** in learning any other language you choose in the future, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">** and also, by the way, in learning anything else you want to learn in life!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">This learning experience will be guided using a perspective called "<strong><span style="color: red;">3 Dimensional Dynamics</span></strong>" </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">(or 3D dynamics). This is a BIG picture perspective approaching the learning process at 3 differnet levels, while acquiring and applying many strategies and skills.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="color: red;">3D Dynamics </span></strong>includes </span>3 Keys:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">** principles which serve as overall guides</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">** specific tasks to include in your learning adventure</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">** tools which’ll help you move forward</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">AND 1 essential ingrediant:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red;">YOU taking responsibility for your own learning.</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">We'll be talking more about this, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">as step by step, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">you become an empowered learner!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Comments,</strong> anyone? Please add yours below.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">*********************************************************************</span></div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit;"><strong>Tools</strong></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">This week, I'd encourage you to spend some time looking at the Global SKILLs website, </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">and other online resources you can find about language learning...google key terms like:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">language and culture learning, learning styles, language resources. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Look too for resources on your target language. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or hang out in a library or good bookstore in the languages section - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">see what kinds of self-guided courses are available.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The goal is just to help you begin to get a sense of the HUGE amount of material available for people who want to learn languages. Don't get overwhelmed...just enjoy the tour and have fun!</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next week we'll get started with some specifics which will begin to equip you to set your own personal goals for your language learning...and make strategic choices of what task you want to include </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and what tools you can use effectively.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><strong>Have a good week!</strong></span><br />
<em><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><strong>Betsy</strong></span></em><br />
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<div align="left"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Photo notes:</strong> All of the Banner Photos were taken by Betsy Hopkins</span></div><div align="left">far left - arriving in Dakar, the capital of Senegal in West Africa</div><div align="left">center - the mighty Sahara and the west coast of Africa, taken from 35,000 feet up</div><div align="left">far right - a copy shop in Dakar</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><strong><span style="color: black;">Note of Appreciation:</span></strong></div><div align="left">I want to heart-fully thank my dear friend and "CC Sister" Karen Holmes for designing this blog with me. Karen's "art eye" and her many years of experience in the realms of design and business have made this blog happen. I celebrate its 'birth' and look forward to further collaboration with her!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519780842038265118noreply@blogger.com2