Vicky Lora's blog challenge proposal

 

You can listen to the same story in here:

http://eltreikdal.podomatic.com/entry/2011-10-14T15_18_49-07_00 

Hey Vicky Loras! I really felt the urge to participate in the blog challenge proposed by you. Thank you so much! Well, what’s my story? I am Luiz Reikdal on Facebook and @ELTtech on Twitter. I have been teaching in Brazil over 17 years. Never been abroad yet… but I will soon!

Since November last year I started using and testing technology myself. That was breathtaking… by just visualizing the potentiaIity of Web 2.0 in the classroom. Now I am quite familiar with tech and I am so happy to be part of this world! I can definitely say it has caused a huge change in my professional career as an educator, especially as an English Teacher.

This Passionate Learning Network, as a friend of mine says, has changed my personal life as well… Got to know passion-driven educators and folks that DO care about making a change. That was a real sparkle! Breathing, living education, feeling the burning desire to change the world. I know it all starts within yourself… Small changes that will make THE difference…LOL.

I owe a lot to Teacher Training Videos, the 3^rd Reform Symposium e-Conference (#RSCON3), Condor Blanco and American TESOL Free Friday Webinars, just to name a few… But the real big challenge was when I decided to participate in a course called Leadership Condor Blanco here in Brazil… Wow, I was totally blown away with so much information and practice on how to develop my Personal Power, Professional Career and best of all through a Life Project. I could reflect as an integral human being considering all aspects of my life: Prosperity, Happiness, Culture and Freedom. That was a sort of shock, a benefitial one, of course. I stopped complaining about things in general, observing my behavoir and attitude towards everything, I decided to be responsible for my actions. I started having INITIATIVE.

I began inspiring people around me… Now I am having such a wonderful time at work: even though I face challenges in the workplace I feel proud of being a Teens Coordinator, I like solving problems and I like coaching my team. Nothing is perfect: some teachers do not like tech, others, are not that serious about teaching, some teach because of the money… But believe me, those things DO NOT have the power to demotivate or frustrate me any longer… I do not blame the school or system anymore. I am aware that it all depends mostly on myself - I can make this change!

My goal for the future? Being an inspiring educator and personal coach as well. I want to help people out with their Life Project  because I strongly believe that people can make a change and enthuse other people. A true leader has the ability to help people achieve their dreams. All they have to do is to start within themselves! Thanks for proposing this wonderful, powerful and motivating topic Vicky! I wish all the success in Switzwerland in your personal and professional life. I am really willing to exchange info with you on education… ;)

“The world is less certain and predictable now. When there's uncertainty, people raise spiritual issues.”

Ken Blanchard