Ramona Maharaj of the City of Hamilton - Benefits of an English Degree

Ramona Maharaj City of Hamilton has always been drawn to writing and reading from an early age. She decided she wanted to be a writer in high school, and, after writing for the school paper for four years and contributing to her high school’s literary magazine, she earned an undergraduate degree in English following graduation from high school. She wanted to study English because she loves books, reading, and writing, and it seemed like a natural choice. With her degree, she also has the skills to communicate clearly in written communications, and she has a deeper understanding of contemporary American literature, as well as what literature says about cultures around the world.

English majors have unique opportunities after earning their degree. They are in great position to enter Law school, political science and government, public administration, psychology, counseling, business administration, communications, and more. English majors can start a lucrative and promising career in advertising or public relations, as long as they are prepared to start at an entry-level position. Many English majors go on to teach at all levels, from public high and primary schools to college. English members have to complete a master’s degree to teach at the college level, but a bachelor’s degree in English is a great first step.

Ramona Maharaj City of Hamilton, and she wants to teach at the college level in addition to contributing to the discussion of contemporary American literature. She is currently in the process of completing her Master’s degree in English at Florida Atlantic University.

Ramona Maharaj From the City of Hamilton on Why a Graduate Degree is Worth it

Ramona Maharaj, from the City of Hamilton, is enrolled in the Master’s degree program in English at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, near her home in Fort Lauderdale. Maharaj took some time to decide to attend FAU to study English for many reasons. She wanted to get the required education in order to teach college English as a professor and to write professionally. Here are a few typical reasons to consider graduate school as Maharaj did:

Ramona Maharaj City of Hamilton

• Required for your professional field. Maharaj knew that English professors at universities are required to at least earn their Master’s degree, so she wanted to continue her education. Many other professions all but require master’s degrees to succeed, including health care, law, and social work.
• Career improvement. New skills and abilities that you pick up in graduate school can help you advance your career quickly and get to the most desirable leadership positions. Earning a graduate degree shows that you have talent, intelligence, persistence, and drive, all qualities that managers and directors have to possess to be successful.
• Increase your options and prospects. Earning a graduate degree increases your professional prospects by opening doors to leadership positions across all fields. You can gain some flexibility in your career prospects by earning extra education as well.

Ramona Maharaj, a native of the City of Hamilton, came to Fort Lauderdale to earn her extra education and put her in a position to realize her dream of writing professionally and teaching English at the college level.

ADVANTAGES OF TEACHING ADULT LEARNERS

Teaching adults can be rewarding to the teacher. At the very core, you are dealing with individuals who have lives outside the classroom. While this can pose a challenge when it comes to attendance, adult learners also come equipped with learning tools and experience that present advantages to teachers. As an ESL teacher, you can use these benefits to help you make the learning experience a better one.

Autonomous learners

Adult learners have, to varying extents, a set of learning skills acquired from earlier schooling experience. At the very least, they have the skills to enable them take notes, ask relevant questions and initiate dialogue. They know the benefits of regular class attendance and the importance of being committed and organized.

While many adult learners might not have loads of free time on their hands, they will benefit from having mentally-challenging assignments.

Intrinsic motivation

Many adults who enroll for courses make a conscious decision to do so. They might have varying needs, but they are motivated to become better at what the course offers. Whether it’s an English course or a postgraduate degree, adult learners have the internal motivation to go through with the course.

As a teacher, the best way to keep this motivation alive is by considering their goals when setting class tasks and activities. This way, you can come up with tasks that best fit the end goal, like planning job interview role-playing activities for English learners who want to speak the language in their business endeavors.

Ramona Maharaj City of Hamilton understands what it takes to keep adult learners motivated. She has years of experience as an ESL teacher and currently works in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

HIKING ETIQUETTE

In life, rules are set to help govern the activities of individuals and make things more enjoyable for all involved. While there are written rules that maintain, unwritten ones such as not cutting in line at a bank or keeping the elbows off the table while eating enforce etiquette for different settings.

When it comes to hiking, there are rules that make the experience pleasant for everyone. Among the most common practices are:

Plan ahead

Research on the region you plan to hike and the weather conditions common to the area. Prepare for any weather surprises and minimize any impact by hiking as a small group.

Waste disposal

Whatever you bring with you ensure you take it out. This includes biodegradable waste such as fruit peelings and food wrappers and containers. Also, pick up any trash you come across that’s left by other hikers. Human waste should be buried in 6-8 inch deep holes that are not near any water source.

Look, but don’t take!

You can admire nature and all it has to offer, but leave everything in its natural habitat. Avoid picking rocks or plucking leaves and plants from their natural settings.

Don’t feed the animal

While many animals will not be particularly inclined to show themselves, there are some that will want a sniff of what you eat. Resist the urge to give them food as it will only disrupt their hunting habits.

Walk through puddles

Avoid walking around puddles or any obstacles that cause the trail to widen. Taking shortcuts or going around a puddle is not good for the sustainability of the trail.

Ramona Maharaj, from the City of Hamilton, has been hiking for years. While teaching in South America, she had the chance to enjoy some of the continent’s scenic hiking trails.

HOW TO TRAVEL SAFE

Unwary tourists make easy targets for con artists and thieves because they stand out in foreign places. While most areas you travel to are likely to be safe, it helps when you take the necessary steps and precautions to ensure your safety. Talk to friends and colleagues who've been to the location before, consult with the travel agency, and keep an eye on any official communication.

Learn about the place

Before you leave, know how the particular destination is faring, especially on the economic front. In many instances, Americans are used to a higher standard of living than some of the places they visit. Where unemployment and petty crime are an issue, be particularly careful with your luggage.

Leave the expensive stuff

You make yourself a target when you wear expensive jewelry and watches or carry fancy cameras and other digital equipment in the open. What might be normal to carry around back home may not be wise to display on your trip. Focus on enjoying the trip and leave the expensive stuff at home.

Be wise with cash

Split your money so you don’t have to carry all your cash or travel cards in one purse. Take advantage of any hotel safes to store your emergency card and only carry the amount of cash you estimate will be enough for the day. Should you lose one card, you will still have the means to make purchases with what you didn’t carry with you.

Digital copies

Before you travel, make digital copies of your travel documents and visas. It’s easy to have them stored on a cloud server that you can access should the originals get lost on your trip.

Ramona Maharaj City of Hamilton from the City of Hamilton has spent a big part of her teaching career overseas and is well versed in some of the ways to stay safe while traveling.

BENEFITS OF READING

In a world of mobile devices and screens, it can be easy to forget the pleasure that comes from reading a book. Studies have shown that reading strengthens and sharpens the mind while also improving language and communication skills. Because the mind is a processing machine that is always looking to consume information, the best way to nourish it is by staying engaged with the right material.

Keep Your Troubles Away

Reading helps shift your focus from the worries and anxieties of everyday life and transports you to a seemingly better place. It is through reading that you get the insight into concepts that you probably never thought of, perceiving things that you didn't think were possible.

Reading is still the best way to gather information and can give you an edge in life. Information is power, and the answers to many of life’s issues are documented somewhere.

Great Sleep

If you are looking to enjoy a good night’s sleep, try reading before jumping into bed. The bright lights that emanate from electronic devices keep your brain awake, meaning that it’s better to read a paperback under dim bedside lights than a tablet.

Feed the Mind

The human mind has been likened to a supercomputer that is constantly seeking information to keep it satisfied. Through reading, you nourish the brain and keep it stimulated and active. Reading can boost your creativity, which helps you come up with better solutions to everyday issues.

Ramona Maharaj City of Hamilton is an active woman who likes to end the day curled up with a good book. She attributes reading to having helped her understand various cultures of the world.

Ramona Maharaj from the City of Hamilton - History of George Brown

Ramona Maharaj City of Hamilton is proud to have attended George Brown College, a Toronto-based school that uses its location as a tool to help train their students for real life competition in big cities. On the school’s official website, they have a short description of the school’s history that is reflective of their mission and values: 

“In 1951 the Ontario Government opened the Provincial Institute of Trades with the goal of providing skilled training to soldiers returning from World War 2. Seventeen years later, as the province established a new college system; the Institute was expanded to encompass a broader range of programs, opening as George Brown College in 1967.

Over time, George Brown College has evolved to support the labour needs of a variety of key economic sectors, and beyond pure skills training to offer a broad range of learning opportunities, including softskills development, extensive field education and applied research.

Since 2004, under current President Anne Sado’s leadership, George Brown has more than doubled in size, broadened its international partnerships and increased its commitment to strengthening the cultural, social and economic fabric of Toronto.”

Ramona Maharaj City of Hamilton earned her ESL credentials at George Brown College, and then took them all over the world to teach students whose age levels ranged from small children to adults.