MaestroSersea's World

MaestroSersea's Hundreds of Online Resources and Latest News

2008-04-15T23:39:00.000-07:00

MaestroSersea has been keeping quite busy, creating a variety of transformative educational-social networks, websites, and blogs, as seen in http://edusocialnetworks.com as well as in http://www.teachmehelpme.net

MaestroSersea continues to teach, currently English 10 and Literacy 9 and 10 at Hoover High School, as well as a variety of American English literacy and test-taking workshops at Irvine Valley College. For more information, please visit: http://www.teachmehelpme.com .

Voice of America Special English News 5/15/2007

2007-05-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Looking at Mosquitoes as a Way to Fight Malaria Instead of Spreading It
Also on SCIENCE IN THE NEWS: A report says fewer boys have been born in the US and Japan each year since 1970. And vitamins can help pregnant women in developing countries increase low birth weights.Fighting Fire Ants With a Virus of Their Own
On AGRICULTURE REPORT: US scientists have hopes for a biological way to control an invasion that causes billions of dollars in farm losses each year.GlobalGiving: Connecting Personal Donors to Local Projects
On DEVELOPMENT REPORT: This non-profit organization has raised about five million dollars in the last seven years. The money has paid for or helped finance about seven hundred projects around the world.Mothers as Seen Through the Eyes, and the Years, of TV and Movie Makers
On THIS IS AMERICA: Some examples of how, as women in general have become more independent, so have the moms created by Hollywood.Numbers: I, for One, Use These Expressions Often
On WORDS AND THEIR STORIES: A number of terms based on the number one.Pocahontas, 1595-1617: An Important Player in Early Jamestown
On PEOPLE IN AMERICA: She was the first Native American to become a Christian and the first to marry a white person. She represented the hope of close relations between American Indians and European settlers.Sarkozy's Economic Plan for France May Depend on June Elections
On IN THE NEWS: Chirac will leave office on Wednesday. Blair announces he will resign June 27. And Turkey looks for a solution to its presidential crisis.Harvard Economist Susan Athey Wins a Top Award
On ECONOMICS REPORT: The first woman to receive the Clark Medal is honored for her work across several areas of study, including government auctions.Cortney Tidwell's Music: Moonlit Laughter, in the Shadow of Emotions
Also on AMERICAN MOSAIC: A question from Saudi Arabia about presidential candidates' pages on MySpace. And the US Postal Service releases only its second triangular stamp, to honor the 400th anniversary of Jamestown.For Blind Foreign Students, Some Aid Available in US
On EDUCATION REPORT: In Part 36 of our Foreign Student Series, a listener in Nigeria asks if visually impaired foreign students can get a full scholarship as an undergraduate.US History: Nixon Promises to 'Bring the American People Together' After '68 Win
On THE MAKING OF A NATION: Richard Nixon lost the 1960 election to John Kennedy. But Nixon was known for his ability to fight, to lose, and to keep trying. Those skills would soon be tested.Something a Bone Will Never Say: Give Me a Break
On HEALTH REPORT: An explanation of different kinds of fractures and treatments.Have an Active Interest in Volcanoes? Then Look Around Hawaii
On EXPLORATIONS: Seeing the sights at Volcanoes National Park and Haleakala National Park.

VOA Special English News Headlines 5/9/2007

2007-05-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

Research Shows How Fishing for Sharks Also Affects Other Sea Animals
Also on SCIENCE IN THE NEWS: A new kind of big cat is found on Borneo island. British researchers call for drug policy reform based on new findings. And US officials order stronger warnings for sleep drugs.Looking Behind the 'Fairtrade' Label
On AGRICULTURE REPORT: The movement began in Europe in the 1980s as a way to guarantee fair prices for small coffee producers in poor countries. With praise, though, has come criticism.Playing in the Sun and Sea at Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
On THIS IS AMERICA: Why visitors come back summer after summer to these two islands off the coast of Massachusetts.As Chinese Investment in Africa Grows, So Do Risks
On DEVELOPMENT REPORT: Deadly attack on oil field in Ethiopia shows the dangers that China may face as it expands its involvement in the continent.Gene Kelly, 1912-1996: His Movies Made Dance Popular in America
On PEOPLE IN AMERICA: He created a new kind of American dance by mixing modern, tap and ballet in an athletic way. But Gene Kelly said he really was just a song and dance man.Medical Terms: A Clean Bill of Health From the Doctor
On WORDS AND THEIR STORIES: Everyday expressions we use to describe someone's healthWhite House, Congress Try to Negotiate a New Iraq Spending Bill
On IN THE NEWS: Talks begin after President Bush vetoes a $124 billion measure that would have required a troop withdrawal to begin by October.How Much Is Too Much? The Debate Over Executive Pay
On ECONOMICS REPORT: Critics say company leaders are getting big raises even when they do not add value for their shareholders.Mix Caribbean, West African, Pop and Hip-Hop, What Do You Get? Akon
Also on AMERICAN MOSAIC: A question from Vietnam about the life stories of Helen Keller and Sally Ride. And feeling crafty? We check out the Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington.1968 in America: a Year of Social Unrest and a Presidential Election
On THE MAKING OF A NATION: The Republican candidate was Richard Nixon (pictured). The Democrats nominated Hubert Humphrey. The candidates supported the war in Vietnam, but spoke about ways to end the conflict.Choosing a Student Exchange Program to Come to the US
On EDUCATION REPORT: Part 35 of our Foreign Student Series looks at programs for high school and college students.Discovery Could Ease Blood Shortages in Hospitals
On HEALTH REPORT: Researchers test an easier way to make 'universal' blood out of other typesDiscoveries Throw New Light on Stonehenge, but Mysteries Remain
On EXPLORATIONS: Researchers find the remains of an ancient community at nearby Durrington Walls. The discovery shows Stonehenge did not stand alone.

VOA Special English News 5/1/2007

2007-05-01T13:45:00.001-07:00

Stopping Bird Flu by Spreading Knowledge About Protective Steps
On SCIENCE IN THE NEWS: The third in a series of reports on dealing with the threat to public health from avian influenza. Get advice on how people can protect themselves and their families.Seed Collection Effort Aims to Safeguard 21 Food Crops
On AGRICULTURE REPORT: Many of the crops included in a new $37.5 million project are important to feeding the poor in developing countries.Bigwig: Such an Important Person
On WORDS AND THEIR STORIES: Terms for people who are powerful, at least in their own mind.Queen to Return to Jamestown to Mark 'America's 400th Anniversary'
On THIS IS AMERICA: Queen Elizabeth's visit this week is part of an 18-month effort in Virginia to show how England's first permanent settlement in the New World changed the world.Clearing a PATH to Better Health in Developing Countries
On DEVELOPMENT REPORT: The Seattle-based Program for Appropriate Technology in Health is 30 years old and has programs in 65 countries.Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867-1959: A Building Designer Ahead of His Time
On PEOPLE IN AMERICA: The life and work of the greatest American architect of the 20th centuryYeltsin: Russia's First Freely Elected Leader, but a Mixed Record
On IN THE NEWS: Experts say history will remember Boris Yeltsin as a democratic leader in some ways but not in others. They also say his Russia was more open than now. Teaching the Student Loan Industry a Lesson
On ECONOMICS REPORT: Conflicts of interest between lenders and colleges are investigated in US.Not Enough Room for a Tiger in Your Home? A Toyger May Be Answer
Also on AMERICAN MOSAIC: A question from Pakistan about cowboys. And Cajun music by the Pine Leaf Boys.Virginia Tech: 'As Strong a Place as It Has Always Been'
On EDUCATION REPORT: University officials say there is no sign that foreign students are rejecting admission offers because of the April 16 killings.US History: The '60s Become a Time of Social Revolution and Unrest
On THE MAKING OF A NATION: After the murder of President John Kennedy in 1963, many people felt that their hopes had died, too. The war in Southeast Asia and other issues led to bigger and bigger protests, as well as violence.Breast Cancer in US Stayed Down in '04 for Second Year
On HEALTH REPORT: Authors of a new study see the most likely reason as a drop in users of hormone replacement therapy.The Tuskegee Airmen: First African-Americans Trained As Fighter Pilots
On EXPLORATIONS: During World War Two, the Tuskegee Airmen guarded Allied bombers. The airmen destroyed more than 100 enemy planes in the air and won almost a thousand military awards.

TOEFL Newsletter 4/28/2007

2007-04-28T15:50:00.000-07:00

If you have friends who are considering earning their degree abroad, you can forward this issue.

Dear International Student,
Welcome to the latest edition of the TOEFL® access eNewsletter-a free monthly eNewsletter sent to thousands of subscribers around the world who are interested in studying in an English-speaking country!

IN THIS EDITION• He who chooses an unfamiliar path often finds hidden treasures • The United States is the top destination for international students--find out why.• Learn about cost of living in the United States and budgeting for your higher education.• Do you have the English listening skills you’ll need to succeed in college? • TOEFL iBT® tips

ON OUR WEB SITE: • Subscribe!• Featured Institutions• Student Success Stories• Ask a Question• Find an Institution

He who chooses an unfamiliar path often finds hidden treasuresMany foreign students take a very systematic approach in selecting an educational institution, considering factors such as rankings, tuition, and fees. This is necessary to the selection process; however, this “mechanical” method is just the beginning. It is very important to also consider your preferences and personal development goals. Click here.
The United States is the top destination for international students--find out why.An international student has plenty to consider before pursuing a U.S. academic degree. Click here
Learn about cost of living in the United States and budgeting for your higher education.The cost of living in the United States fluctuates significantly by region. Areas in and near large cities and on the East and West Coasts are the most expensive, while rural areas tend to be much less expensive. Click here
Do you have the English listening skills you’ll need to succeed in college? Listening Skills tools from ETS use questions taken from previously administered on the computer-based TOEFL tests to measure your understanding of mini-lectures, academic discussions, short conversations and more.
TOEFL iBT® TipsHere's a tip that can help you do your best on the LISTENING section of TOEFL iBT: Think about what each speaker hopes to accomplish: that is, what is the purpose of the speech or conversation? Is the speaker apologizing, complaining, making suggestions? Find more suggestions here... or practice now on TOEFL Practice Online.

Visit our message board and meet others in the TOEFL® access community.
Know someone who would benefit from this newsleter? Forward this newsletter to a friend.

Our Audio-Video Conference Center is Online

2007-04-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our three ESL students who participated in MaestroSersea's Online Audio-Video Conference Room and worked on a mini-lesson on careers.
The winners are:
1. Jisu
2. Vera
3. Natalia
They will soon participate in an awards ceremony where they will receive 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Medals.
If you would like to participate in our free weekly online audio-video ESL conversations and tutoring workshop for our course, ESL Intermediate High, you can access the conference room by visiting: http://www.teachmehelpme.com

Teach Me Help Me Educational Services Will Soon Start Offering Online ESL and English Literacy Solutions

2007-04-01T00:16:00.000-07:00

Teach Me Help Me Educational Services Will Soon Start Offering Online ESL and English Literacy Solutions
We're working on the website and it will be updated and fully operational by the beginning of June, 2007.
Check out:
http://www.teachmehelpme.com for progress news.
Contact: maestrosersea @ yahoo.com if you have any questions.

Vaestro Online Audio Forums

2006-05-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

A new technology is in town deemed to make those of us who actively use discussion boards for educational purposes salivate....
I've already created several forums in Vaestro, namely CaliRomania, MaestroSersea, EnglishLearners Online, M.O.R.E. Learning Academy. It's a free service and it works. My students are excited about using it as well.
Give it a shot:
www.vaestro.com

LAUSD - Check it out!

2006-03-29T00:49:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles Unified School District teaches more than 750,000 students in the Los Angeles area and vicinities. I taught there for about 7 years prior to moving to Antelope Valley, CA. Interested job-seekers should check out: www.teachinla.com as it offers a variety of life-affirming teaching experiences in grades K-12, as well as growth potential, great benefits and retirement, and often a year around schedule, for those who want to travel in less-crowded seasons.
If you're a teacher in another country and you've thought about teaching in the United States, LAUSD makes it possible for many to move and teach here: http://www.teachinla.com/teachinla/foreign.html

Teaching Jobs in California

2006-03-12T23:43:00.000-08:00

My extensive research in various states throughout the United States made me reassert the fact published in Educator magazine, that California is the best place to teach, in regards to accessibility to training/education opportunities, as well as the financial and benefits packages that are offered by most school districts here. My online browsing of school district websites of Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Virginia, and several other states, helped me realize that higher education is much more expensive in other states, district-paid medical insurance for dependents is almost unheard of, and salaries are still way behind California.
If you're interested in seeing what jobs are available in California, there is one website you should check out: www.edjoin.org
This site enables you not only to find what jobs are available where, but also gives you links to specific district webpages and to various job-fairs coming up. Many districts also accept job applications through EdJoin - all you need is a scanner to scan your transcripts, letters of reference, resume, teaching observations, and any other relevant information you would like your future employers to have about you.
Good luck.

Welcome to MaestroSersea's World

2006-03-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

MaestroSersea is a nickname I picked up as a teacher of English Learners at various California public high schools during my over 10 years of teaching experience.
This blog will include some of my personal experiences as a California high school teacher and my educational discoveries either in real life or online. I will also list updates here on some educational websites I've been working on, especially my personal website.
http://www.maestrosersea.com
Should you have questions about life in California, education, and the teaching profession, don't forget to leave me a comment. I'll try to respond to it in future posts.
Best wishes,
MaestroSersea