Project #3: Professional Online Identity Part 1: Current Web Presence Analysis

Allie Metcalf 6 December 2011 English 307: Digital Writing Rodrigo

Table of Contents
Executive Summary............................................................................................................iii The Future Professional You..............................................................................................iv What Do You Want to Be.......................................................................................iv Job Advertisements.................................................................................................iv Professional Identities.............................................................................................vi Five Criteria for Evaluation in this Field...............................................................vii The Current You...............................................................................................................viii Search Engine Results: Online Identities.............................................................viii Online Identity Reflection....................................................................................viii Summary.................................................................................................................ix Conclusions: Bridging the Gap............................................................................................x Current Strengths.....................................................................................................x Current Weaknesses.................................................................................................x Appendix.............................................................................................................................xi References..........................................................................................................................xii

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Executive Summary
This document describes the relationship between my digital identities and their ability to aid or impede my future career endeavors. It analyzes various job advertisements for Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) positions in foreign countries and various professional TESL online identities on LinkedIn in order to compile an evaluative criteria for potential employees in said field. I then provide a list of personal digital identities discovered through searching five pages each on three separate search engines. Lastly, I compare my personal online identities to the said evaluative criteria, identifying strengths and weaknesses.

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The Future Professional You

What Do You Want to Be? Upon graduating, I hope to join the Peace Corp or a similar organization to teach English as a second language in other countries. After one or two years with the organization, I hope to continue onto a career of teaching TESL across the globe. I believe that this provides me with opportunities to travel around the world, learn various languages, and expand my cultural horizons while providing children with tools to expand their educational and professional careers outside of their native countries. I one day hope to return to the United States to teach at the university level while possibly further advancing my educaiton. My professional career will surely be one centered around education and teaching. I believe that employers search for teachers that are intelligent, caring, and well spoken. It is essential that a teacher not only be knowledgeable in his/her field but that he/she knows how to properly manage a classroom while having students' best interest at heart.

Job Advertisements 1. http://www.esljobproject.com/esl_jobs/detail.php?id=23466 This job advertisement calls for a native English-speaking teacher with at least a Bachelor's Degree, TESL certification, and 1-2 years experience looking to work in a "fun and creative environment" in Beijing, China. They offer a salary of 10,000 rmb, visa sponsorship, housing assistance, and paid national holidays plus two paid weeks vacation. This is definitely a job that I would apply to, and after serving my time in the Peace Corps, I would meet the job requirements.

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2. http://www.esljobs.com/thailand/teaching-esl-in-thailand/ This job advertisement calls for a native English-speaking candidate to teach kindergarten or high school in Thailand. The requirements include a Bachelor's degree, a TESL certification, strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills, a dynamic and creative approach to teaching, and openness to web-based, blended, and live instruction. The benefits include 25,000-30,000 Thai baht per month, full medical insurance, 7-14 paid vacation days, all Thai government holidays off with pay, and Visa assistance. This is definitely a job that I would apply to and will qualify for upon graduation.

3. http://bit.ly/u7mdAp This job advertisement searches for a native English-speaking candidate to teach at the university level in Mexico. The qualifications include a Bachelor's degree plus a TESL certification or a Master's degree in a relevant field, two years teaching experience, and a willingness to participate in projects outside of classes. They offer 11,000-13,500 MXN per month, health benefits, and five weeks paid holiday. This also is a job I would apply to, and after completing two years experience in the Peace Corp, I would qualify for the position.

Professional Identities 1. http://linkd.in/rzbqXp This profile features a Peace Corp volunteer from Ohio who is now working as a Language Instructor at GLOBAL LT, Inc. This person attended Saint Mary's College and is certified in TESL through Oxford Seminars. This suggests that a degree as well as a TESL certification is required or preferred in Peace Corp consideration and that experience with the Peace Corp has the potential to open up career opportunities as a professional Language Instructor.

2. http://linkd.in/rYwyPq This profile features a native-speaking English teacher at Lasalle College Hong Kong who has formally worked at Hong Kong Education Department and Wahyan College Hong Kong. His/Her education features three different American schools, leading one to believe she has several degrees. This user also features human resources, social analysis, education research and planning, and authorship and editing in listed skills. This suggests a preference for knowledge in sociology (most-likely child sociology) and education and excellent proficiency in the English language in TESL employment opportunities.

3. http://linkd.in/vE3myO This profile features a teacher of English as a Second Language and online English tutor based currently in Ecuador. He/She is TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certified and claims the ability to teach beginners to advanced professionals and for ESL-

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EFL (English as a Second/Foreign Language) exams. In a description of "my methods," this user explains that he/she teaches with a planned curriculum of his/her creation, which incorporates fun learning and "street English." This profile solidifies that fact that a TEFL/TESL certification is a requirement of the field and suggests the benefits of fun, active learning.

Five Criteria for Evaluation in this Field 1. Bachelor's degree in English or Education 2. TEFL/TESL certification 3. 1-2 years experience teaching English, preferably abroad 4. Incorporation of creative, possibly web-based teaching methods 5. Strong communication and organizational skills

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The Current You

Search Engine Results: Online Identities (See Appendix) 1. Facebook 2. Diigo 3. Change.org 4. AltDaily 5. Aloe Cadabra (cited as Mace & Crown newspaper writer)

Online Identity Reflection Evaluation Criteria in Relation to Online Identities 1. Bachelor's degree in English or Education My Facebook profile and AltDaily biography state that I am currently studying Linguistics at Old Dominion University. 2. TEFL/TESL certification Although no portion of my current online identities exhibit an acquirement of TESL certification, it is clear that I am currently working on a degree in Linguistics, which includes TESL certification. 3. 1-2 years experience teaching English, preferably abroad Although I have no teaching experience listed, my Facebook profile does state that I speak fluent French, suggesting time spent abroad. A citing of my published work in Old Dominion University's Mace & Crown also exhibits proficiency in the English language and experience in group work outside of the classroom. 4. Incorporation of creative, possibly web-based teaching methods

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My Diigo account exhibits my abilities to social bookmark, annotate, and share information through new media applications. My biography with AltDaily, which states that I am an editorial intern, exhibits my editorial abilities on a web-based media. 5. Strong communication and organizational skills My work with AltDaily and my experience in newspaper journalism exhibit strong communication and organizational skills and proficient writing skills.

Summary My current digital identity does, for the most part, fulfill the criteria listed. Upon graduation, the completion of my Master's degree, as well as the acquirement of TESL certification, which will be celebrated via Facebook and my future LinkedIn profile, will greatly improve the status of my online identity in relation to the listed evaluation criteria. Furthermore, completion of a 1-2 year volunteer experience in the Peace Corp, which will be listed on my Facebook profile and my future LinkedIn profile, will make me the ideal candidate for a position as an international TESL teacher.

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Conclusions: Bridging the Gap

Current Strengths 1. Hardworking/Active/Driven: My active involvement in academic and professional endeavors, which can be observed through my said digital identities, exhibits these traits. I will continue to remain active in my school and my community in order to better network and provide further opportunities. 2. Fluency in French: Bilingualism is a benefit in a field involving various languages and, in conjunction with my Linguistics degree, exhibits my ability to acquire new languages. I will continue to practice French as well as my linguistic studies which involve numerous other languages and overall language acquisition knowledge.

Current Weaknesses 1. Any unprofessional pictures on Facebook: Although my profile is set to private and there is nothing overly incriminating featured on the site, there are pictures depicting me in a social light, rather than a professional one. With time, I hope to consciously balance the number of these "social" pictures with more work-environment appropriate ones. 2. Allegiance to politically/socially debatable opinions: My Change.org membership provides a list of all of all of the "causes" that I have signed petitions to support, which may or may not reflect the same views and opinions of my future employer. I would not want my personal views to interfere with a career opportunity so it is crucial that I make this information private rather than public.

Appendix List of Current Personal Digital Identities

"About Us." AltDaily. 13 June 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.altdaily.com/about-us-2>. "Allie Metcalf." Change.org. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.change.org/members/846910>. "Allie Metcalf." Facebook. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.facebook.com/people/Allie-Metcalf/1567350032>. "Contents Contributed and Discussions Participated by Allie Metcalf - ENGL307: Digital Writing." Diigo. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://groups.diigo.com/group/engl307digital-writing/content/user/ametc004>. "Mace & Crown: Personal Lubricants Increase Risk for STDsexcept Aloe Cadabra!" Aloe Cadabra. 21 Jan. 2010. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://blog.aloecadabra.com/2010/01/personal-lubricant-std-risk/>.

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References
"About Us." AltDaily. 13 June 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.altdaily.com/about-us-2>. "Allie Metcalf." Change.org. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.change.org/members/846910>. "Allie Metcalf." Facebook. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.facebook.com/people/Allie-Metcalf/1567350032>. Bing. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.bing.com>. "Contents Contributed and Discussions Participated by Allie Metcalf - ENGL307: Digital Writing." Diigo. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://groups.diigo.com/group/engl307digital-writing/content/user/ametc004>. Dogpile Web Search. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.dogpile.com>. Ellis, Selena. "TESL Teachers Wanted." ESL Job Project. 19 Nov. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.esljobproject.com/esl_jobs/detail.php?id=23466>. "English Teacher." LinkedIn. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=69225915>. Google. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.google.com>. "Mace & Crown: Personal Lubricants Increase Risk for STDsexcept Aloe Cadabra!" Aloe Cadabra. 21 Jan. 2010. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://blog.aloecadabra.com/2010/01/personal-lubricant-std-risk/>. Midwested. "Teach English in Thailand." Official ESL JOBS Website. 30 Sept. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.esljobs.com/thailand/teaching-esl-in-thailand/>. "Peace Corp Volunteer-TEFL." LinkedIn. Web. 20 Nov. 2011.

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<http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=17099541>. Phelan, Eileen. "Teaching English Oaxaca, University in Huajuapan De Leon, Mexico." Official ESL JOBS Website. 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://www.esljobs.com/mexico/efl-professor-universidad-tecnologica-de-lamixteca-utm-huajuapan-de-leon-oaxaca-mexico/>. "Teacher of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Online English Tutor with Students World-wide, Cuenca Ecuador." LinkedIn. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=15436066>.

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