James Caldwell
Online Portfolio

My Teaching Experience

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March 2010- October 2010
Sungkyungwan University I was a TESOL instructor at Sungkyungwan University, in Seoul, Korea. I taught two courses, over an 18 week semester. First, I was the instructor in a course called Multimedia in the EFL Classroom. In this, I taught 91 prospective teachers how to integrate digital technologies into their EFL settings, including MSOffice, blogs, wikis, and various forms of multimedia. In the first semester, the course was delivered on a blog. This semester, the course has been delivered face to face and on a Moodle. The assessment for this course is participation in online discussion forums and the production of individual e-Portfolios.

Second, I taught a communications course.In this, I provided my students with opportunities to fine-tune their general, classroom communications skills, such as engaging in discussions, debating, and giving presentations.

I was employed to plan, setup and initiate the Multimedia in the EFL Classroom course. Through a reflective process, the course has evolved in the second semester to complement the learners’ needs more, and fit in with the over all structure of the TESOL program.

March 2007-February 2010
Young Hoon Elementary School I taught Fifth Graders at Young Hoon Elementary School in Seoul, South Korea. Young Hoon Elementary School is a unique semi-immersion English school, where learners spend 50% of their time learning English and the other 50% learning in Korean (their first language).

As a teacher of 36 learners, I taught Language Arts, Theme Studies, and Mathematics. Additionally, I was the Fifth Grade Team Leader. In this, I was responsible for establishing clear lines of communication between the Fifth Grade Teachers and Administration, leading planning meetings, and communicating with Korean staff.

During my time at Young Hoon Elementary School, I was actively involved with various committees, such as ICT, and curriculum development. In 2008-2009 I instigated and led a team that implemented the behaviour management plan across the English Department.

January 2007- December 2007
Education Queensland During 2006, I was working as a supply teacher on the Gold Coast, Australia. My goal at this time was to receive an Education Queensland teacher rating, so that I could be eligible for a permanent teaching position in future.

During this time, I taught at various schools on the Gold Coast. Most notably, I worked as a Physical Education teacher at Merrimac State School, for two terms (July – December). In December, 2006, I received a ‘B’ rating from Education Queensland.

December 2003 - January 2006
ELA Academy and SLP Academy ELA is an English language school in Seoul, Korea. During my time at ELA, I taught Language Arts students in Elementary School through to Adults. As well as teaching, I was involved in preparing curriculum and assessment materials.

SLP is also in Seoul. SLP is an English language kindergarten. I taught at SLP in the mornings from March, 2005 to January, 2006. This gave me experience working with very young children, who were just starting out learning their second language.

May 2002- December 2002
Education Queensland During 2002, I was a supply teacher for Education Queensland, on the Gold Coast of Australia. During this time I taught in various state schools, including Robina State School, Varsity college, and Caningeraba State School.

January 2001- January 2002
Eduland English School Eduland English School was my first experience teaching in a foreign country. Eduland was set amongst the rural rice paddies and foothills of Suwon, South Korea.

In this job I was an English teacher to Elementary School students, as well as Scientists at the local Agricultural Research Centre. I was responsible for creating my own English teaching resources and assessment materials.

January 1997- December 2000
Manuka School Manuka School is on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. It is at this school where I truly began my teaching career. I started out as a beginning classroom teacher and gradually built up my responsibilities within the school as I became more established in my practice.

At Manuka School, I taught Year Five and Six students in a composite class. I taught all subjects within the New Zealand Curriculum. During my Five years at the school, I took on various team and leadership roles. I was Head of Department for Health and Physical Well-being. In this roll, I was responsible for coordinating inter-school sports events, organising and coaching sports teams.

At that time, the new Health and Physical Well-being curriculum was being integrated into the school. It was my responsibility to attend professional development (PD) courses and organise faculty PD within the school.

July 1996- December 1996
Northcote Intermediate School Northcote Intermediate School is on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. This was my first teaching job after graduating from Auckland College of Education. Starting mid-way through the school year, I was responsible for teaching a composite Year Six and Seven class. This was a six month, Long Term Relief Teaching position.

Quick Links

My Educational Sites
TESOL Moodle

TESOL Blog
(Semester 1)

My Essays Improving Teachers ICT Uptake

Accessible Web Text for ESL Learners

New Perspectives on Literacy

Photo Gallery Teaching Gallery

Interests Gallery