A Little About
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Expectations Prior To My Trip
Before setting off to Paris for 5 weeks, I took note of certain skills I specifically wanted to improve on to ensure career readiness as well as certain goals I was determined to accomplish during my time abroad. The following passage is what I wrote prior to embarking on this life changing journey:
“Interpretive and presentational skills are two main skills I want to develop most to link my abilities in French with my chosen field of study/career interests. Being bilingual, having international experience and containing strong communication skills are the main skills and knowledge sought after by companies/organizations I am interested in.
Working on these skills will most definitely help me address a few of my perceived weaknesses. Although my communication skills are generally strong, it could use some work, especially when it comes to properly communicating in French. As for international experience, it is a crucial skill to have in my case. Although I have been traveling the world for years, I have not spent an extensive amount of time in France; which is where I desire to begin my career and plant my roots. Because I want to teach English abroad, specifically in France, it is important that I immerse myself in the culture and language. My end goal is to upgrade my understanding and communication of French from intermediate to advanced.
Working and perfecting these skills can almost guarantee me a job teaching English abroad in France or any other French speaking country. As well as teaching abroad, I also desire to attend graduate school in France. I am hoping this month in Paris will open my eyes to the educational and career opportunities available in France for Americans like myself. By specifically improving my interpretive and presentational skills, it is very possible to become a desirable candidate when it comes to teaching abroad. Along with my experience in International Relations & Global Studies with a track in Comparative Politics, opportunities in the political arena are also possible”.
Looking back, it is quite encouraging to realize that I have indeed improved on the skills and goals I sought to master while studying in Paris.
Goals For My Trip
The following is a passage I wrote prior to arriving in France. These are goals I was able to successfully achieve during my time abroad: “During my time in Paris, I am going to focus on improving various skills, mainly focusing on my interpretive and presentational skills. I plan on working on my Personal Challenge Assignments (PCA) for at least an hour every night. I plan on tracking and measuring my progress by creating a checklist that will show me what I have completed and what I have yet to complete. I will also be sure to make note of whatever I may need to focus more of my time on improving. I plan on conducting this work in a local cafe or library in Paris. I plan on being outside of my dorm room as much as possible”. |