Friday, September 25, 2009

My new introduction

Dear students, thank you very much for the great comments and questions. I tried to included all the information that you asked, but if there is more you would like to know, ask in the comment area.
Also, let me know if this time it is more complete. Here it goes:

My name is Ronaldo Mangueira Lima Júnior and most people call me Ronaldo. Actually, only my family and friends who know me since I was a kid call me Júnior - probably because they call my father Ronaldo. I was born in Brasília and have been living here for all my life, 26 years, and really don't like it when people say there is nothing to do in Brasília. Even though most people say I'm too young to be married, I'm glad to say that I found my soul mate almost 9 years ago and we have been married (but with no children yet) for 3 years and 9 months now.

I have never lived abroad and I am very proud to say that all English I know was learned in Brasília, actually at Casa Thomas Jefferson, where I have been teaching for the past 8 years. Before teaching here, I also taught for 2 years in two other English schools in Brasília (yes, I started working very early!). Even though I have always liked technology (like most boys), I got more involved with technology in language teaching 5 years ago, when I took my first online course about this.

I graduated from high school in Military School and then I entered UnB to study TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. I finished my master's in Applied Linguistics at UnB last year and am now taking a PhD in Linguistics also at UnB. Both my master's and my doctorate research is about pronunciation, another passion of mine in my profession.

I kind of started teaching by accident. When I was in high school I wanted to be a professional musician, but my parents kept telling how difficult the life of a musician is (as if teachers got a lot of money...lol), and so I had a plan: I decided to start teaching English to get some pocket money until my music could support me, but then guess what? I fell in love with the language classroom and never wanted to leave it! Now, besides teaching, I'm also aiming at becoming a Second Language Acquisition researcher, writer and presenter (pretty ambitious, huh?)

In my free time I'm usually involved with music, sport and now photography (I've just finished a course!). I started studying music when I was 9 years old and I can play the saxophone, the guitar and a little bit of the drums. Also, I have conducted a youth choir at my church for many years (about 6, I guess). Listening, I enjoy most styles, but I would say my favorites are jazz, soul and Christian. About sports, I used to play volleyball for Military School's team in high school, but two years ago I got crazy about cycling, and now, whenever I can, I go cycling. I'm also getting more and more involved with photography now and you can see my beginning work on my flickr.

Of course, like most people, I also like traveling, and the picture I posted in my first introduction was taken during a trip to New York City, which was in April of last year. I went there to attend and present at an international convention for English teachers, but I certainly found some time to get to know the city; after all, who can resist the temptations of the city that never sleeps? My favorite places there were Times Square, Battery Park and the Brooklyn Bridge. I have never lived abroad, but I beliee this could be a great experience not only for the language but especially for the cultural experience. My trips abroad have only been to Miami, Orlando, New York and Buenos Aires and my favorite one was definitely New York!

As I already mentioned, I love technology. I would say my favorite gadget at this moment is my ipod. Since I am a musician, you can imagine how much fun I have been having with this toy. I also truly believe in the power of e-learning, but I don't think the internet or e-learning will be able to completely replace face-to-face teaching or flesh and bone teachers. I think e-learning is supposed to complement, to be a plus, just like you guys are doing: complementing your knowledge of English with this writing program. Imagine a kid studying everything only through computers, without interacting with other kids? (S)He wouldn't learn the social and moral aspects of life as well as being in contact with other people.

Well, that's it for now. I'm sure we'll learn more from each other little by little. Here is another picture of myself:


So, was this introduction better than the first one?

18 comments:

Márcia said...

Good morning teacher!

I've just read your new introduction. Now you told us lots of information about your life.
You're so young!
You chose estuding pronunciation, how interesting.
I've found my soul mate too. My husband is simply perfect to me.
Nice to meet you.

Márcia

Ronaldo Lima Jr. said...

Hi Márcia,

I'm glad you liked my new introduction. Thanks for commenting!

Ronaldo

Unknown said...

Welcome, Ronaldo :)
This introduction has really made a difference! You are closer to us than before! Thanks for sharing those personal informations with us.
Thanks,
Angela

Ronaldo Lima Jr. said...

Hi Angela!

I'm glad you liked the introduction. I'm feeling closer to you guys too as I read the introductions.

Ronaldo

heraldo.carvalho said...

Hi Ronaldo! Nice to meet you.
I have seen your introduction, both, and I have some coments. It's a great history.
I liked to know about your knowleg in English had been built only in Brasília. It's important to us that have been learned this language here.
Tecnology in language, maybe, will be more and more important in our moment and in the future. With this way we have possibility to study diferent languages. You are our conductor. Have a nice work with us. Heraldo.

Artur Rodrigues said...

Hey Ronaldo,
What a great history. I believe that is not usual, in the process of become an English teacher, not to live abroad. You are probably gifted in language skills. Considering that, did you learn any other language beside English?
I also like cycling, photography and traveling. I have been taking pictures with my SLR for a long time. In fact, you can combine all these three in a one pot. A friend of mine, not a long ago, invited me to go to France to do a cycle exploration. It sounds fan, isn’t it?
By the way, you made me feel a bit ashamed when I read your introduction. Nothing related to the content though! But to the amount of details that you provided was quite different than mine.
Take care.

Ronaldo Lima Jr. said...

Hi Heraldo!

Thanks for commenting! I'm glad the fact that I learned all my English in Brasília is motivating for you, and I'm also glad you've been enjoying Casa Thomas Jefferson's online courses. I hope this one lives up to your expectations!

Ronaldo

Ronaldo Lima Jr. said...

Hi Artur!

Wow, so many things in common, and yes, a cycling/photography trip in France sounds completely awesome! Do you have some of your pics online (like in flickr) for me to take a look? I still consider myself a rookey in SLR photography (just started a few months ago), but am pretty excited about it! Did you check some of my pics on my flickr account (http://flickr.com/photos/ronaldojunior)?

Well, and about your intro, since we are still in the revision/editing phase, feel free to add more details if you'd like to, after all, my intro is supposed to be a model and a source of ideas.

Ronaldo

Artur Rodrigues said...

I had a look at your photos!! Great start! What I like the most was the flowers’ park sequence. I have some pretty good books about photos; maybe I can share with you a few of them.
I haven’t shared photos for while, my duties as a father consume a big chunk of time and I did not share personal photos at flickr, they are marked as private. However, you can reach my (not so old) photos shots at http://www.flickr.com/photos/arturlr

Thiago do Val Beraldo said...

Junior,

I've got impressed too with your new introduction. You looks like very confidence to teach english without has lived abroad.
I'm saying that becouse your profile is out of expectations but is possible to see that you are very determinable.
Nice to meet you

Ronaldo Lima Jr. said...

Hi Thiago!

Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you liked my new introduction!

Ronaldo

Ronaldo Lima Jr. said...

Artur,

I do the same with my flickr, I set the personal photos as private too.
Great pics, I particularly liked the "experiments with different angles" set.

Ronaldo

Juliana Bravin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Juliana Machado said...

Hi Ronaldo.
Wow I've studied in Military School too and I wonder if you took part in the "band" there, playing sax.
I used to play flute.I'd like to practice more

Ronaldo Lima Jr. said...

Hi Juliana,

Yes! I did play the sax in the band!
Maybe we know each other... what year did you graduate? I graduated in 2000.

Patrícia said...

Hi teacher !

How amazing this introdution is ! The other one was fine, but this is much better. I really liked it. I have to admit: I have read all your text dreaming with the day when I will write so well in English. And teacher Ronaldo, congratulations for finding such early your vocation and your soul mate !
My calling I've already found, but my soul mate not yet. However, I have time to do it and at last I can speak a little english which can help abroad.

Ronaldo Lima Jr. said...

Thanks for the comment, Patricia!
Yeah, I feel really lucky for having found my vocation and my soul mate so early!
And, wow, finding a soul mate abroad sounds really interesting!
=)

Ronaldo

Carla said...

Hello teacher,

I´m Carla and I am a little late on this course. I´ve already read your profile and your life it´s really interesting.I have studied at military school too but I'm older than you.
Nice to meet you.