Life Coaching, Observations, Reflections, Things that make you go hmmmmm
Present tense, with willful consideration, a different state of usual
Remembering as reinforcement instead of making denial
Elixirs of pharmacology, self preservation tames self reservation
Every assist carries it’s own special enlightening twist
More is less but less is also more and the desirous state of being
Pragmatists, by all accounts, should partake of that they teach
Take that step or two outside the self and look well around
Instances repetitive, if you can call almost daily repetitive
Voyaging this damned derelict, course adjustment laid in
Escape by degrees, found in the enacting of the enlightenment
G.R. Hambley ©
May 12, 2018
I came across a short learning modality questionnaire, “The VARK”.
I also did a second short questionnaire on, “Teachers and Trainers. My personal result and teaching style result don’t surprise me as I already knew I am of multimodality.
The way in which each of us learn best.
What I find interesting in my returns is that my learning method is different than my teaching method.
For me learning is “read/do” and teaching is “see/do”. This makes sense to me. I was in a trade where see/do is significant for the learning apprentice.
We are not always going to have what are learning delivered to us in the style we like it best. When that happens, is we have to pay closer attention to the material we are learning.
Do the questionnaire and find out what your modality is. Do it with your kids and discover what works best for them and where you’ll have to give or get help.
Temet Nosce, is Latin for “Know Thy Self”. Knowing what works best for you and doesn’t aint a bad thing at all.
G.R. Hambley ©
April 29, 2018
Yesterday at Ye Olde Coffee spot I encountered one of the young women from my piece, “Dear World, Some Of The Kids Are Alright”. Pleasantries, how are you, what’s going on, usual within the community friendly shit.
When I was packing up to leave we talked for a minute and I pointed her to the piece I wrote. She was enthused and from what my stats say, went and read me and thought enough of the piece to pass it along to others.
She’s in exam season and the way I put it is, “these are the playoffs, do the work and get your rest”.
The kid says she’s good and I believe her. She’s practiced, she’s as confidant as she can be. She knows her stuff and yes I did detect a little exam anxiety and it seems from the interlude, her anxiety is in the boundaries of what most people feel.
I also said to her that I think she is probably going to be like me, a life long learner. She thinks so too and that is so good!
The young lady assured me she’s doing just that and not doing all nighters (paraphrasing) because it knocks her off stride.
When I see her next, I’ll thank her and let her know that some of the kids are more than alright.
G.R. Hambley ©
April 09, 2018
The time is March 04, 2018 and in in one of those favoured coffee spots I had a brief conversation with a couple of young women who are students in higher education. They were studying and doing schoolwork. They are articulate, concerned and conduct themselves well. Nice kids.
Yes, some of them kids are alright and other kids are perfect shits. This is about a couple of alright ones. Nothing different in that analysis as compared to my generation at that age.
Everybody was minding their own business and one of the girls lamented a lack of money. Having been a student and knowing what it’s like to be a financially depressed student, I can appreciate their laments.
We talked for a few minutes about school, getting the higher education and getting a job after graduation. These two women are cognizant of the fact that you don’t get big money when you start out. We talked about starting out and the current state of business and what you could well encounter in today’s business climate.
I was interested in hearing what they had to say. We can call that observational writing and professional development with me being both a writer and a teacher.
I did reveal to these 2 young ones of peoplekind* that I am a teacher and when asked by one of them, I copped to my field being English.
One of the young ladies emphatically stated I look like an English Teacher** and the other quickly agreed. As a point of information and I didn’t share it with the young ladies, my official title is, “Curmudgeonly Philosopher Poet”.
I thanked them and noted it must be my pony tail; we laughed.
I did not get in to the rest of my skill set, mostly. Starting out in a trade was spoken of but the Life Coach and Writer were left in the wings.
We talked about what they’re encountering with education. I did not go in to the higher education indoctrination as it wasn’t the place for it. One of the young ladies did state with some frustration and tone of resignation in her expression about the shoving of there being “one way and one way only” at them.
Yeah, I wanted to drop the indoctrination piece on them and didn’t do it. These two are already cognizant and aware.
I did show them the poster for an event promoted by George Brown College where they take the position of anti-trump and do not support him.
These two kids agreed that George Brown had no business interjecting their beliefs on a foreign election.
I would like to say that the frustration is from something other than higher education’s social sciences but I believe I would be wrong to say that and, well unlike the seats of higher learning, I’m never wrong.
We talked about what their generation is facing in the job quest as compared to what my generation encountered when starting out on the after school adult life. The two young women figured my generation had it tougher than theirs does starting out.
I believe their generation has a more difficult time than mine did and we talked about why from both our perspectives.
This would be a good time to identify the conversationalists. We have me, a Caucasian male who’ll be 60 in a few weeks. One young woman, whom if you were going to categorize based on her features and complexion, you would probably say Middle Eastern. The 2nd young woman, based on features, East Indian.
All of us with an above average vocabulary and the ability to convey our thoughts.
Whether they are first gen Canadian or not is irrelevant. What is relevant are the concerns and values.
Everyone the age of these women, male and female alike consider themselves to be so grown up. These 2 from my brief experience are on the right path but they are still kids. No, no I didn’t use the “Well you’re a kid and….” approach. That condescending and dismissive behaviour pissed me off when I was their age so why would I lay that trip on them?
At their age I was an apprentice and the 3 of us talked about the trades. Both of them related the “Stigma” of the trades. Both spoke on how (paraphrasing) the trades are manual labour and seen as being beneath so many other jobs.
I told them it was a trade I started in and yes, the trades are demanding and dirty. We touched a little on the fact that you can’t be stupid and be a good tradesman.
I can move my mouth, my hands and my mind on different things all at the same time.
The women agreed there just aren’t many who are working and or looking to be employed in the “White Collar Sector” can do what I and other tradesmen learned how to do.
I’m not going to have the pronoun gender debate either. If you make it you’re a mechanic or journeyman or as in my case, a Smithy.
Does the expression, “Less chatter more clatter” mean anything to anyone reading this tale? If yes, were you on the receiving or delivery end?
I asked the young ladies what they figured a union mechanic in my trade makes an hour. They missed it on the low side by about 50%.
Lets use the person who cuts, styles, blows your hair. This is a trade and if you’ve never thought about it, that person is most probably talking to you about something that isn’t hair related while they work on you. If their hands aren’t moving and their mouth is, that person needs to stop talking and just do the work. I chose a hair care because of the interaction that usually takes place between the parties in that industry.
We talked about starting out and the different dynamics for them now and for me then.
When I started out there was still quite a bit of “Find that one secure company”, get a job and put in your 40 years. A couple people I went to High school with went on to work for “Bell Canada”, the phone company.
The one company until you’re done days are long gone and I don’t see them coming back. These days if you spend more than about 10 years with any company your personal motivation is questioned.
Me and the kids talked about some of the factors that affect how business gets done these days and the conversation went to outsourcing which led in to taking care of your own first.
We agreed that there is far too much outsourcing.
For these kids, and they know it, working in the industry where their degree is may not happen. When I came out of my last session of trade school, those that went on to colleges and universities were finishing up their studies and looking to join the work force.
I’m certain some Free Range Globalist will object to what I relate now because it smacks of “POPULISM”. GASP!
Canadian values have been in and out of the social media spotlight.
Me and the women talked about values and they feel like I feel. You take care of your own first and then if you have extra, you can help others.
We have issues and infrastructures that must take precedent. Canadians without clean water and adequate housing take precedent over others in other countries.
People like to say charity starts at home. Taking care of our issues and matters is not charity and it is the correct thing to do.
Most Canadians feel this way. The number is probably right around 66%.
Them kids and me, we also agreed that the people must be more diligent with removing the old bad politicians for new good ones.
Canadian values are fine and being relayed to the kids. I was lucky enough to encounter a couple of good ones.
G.R. Hambley ©
March 20, 2018
*PEOPLEKIND
This is what we call a joke. Should someone care to pass it along to Canada’s Prime Minister, “Gerald Butts” and the Clown Prince, “Justin Trudeau”, please do.
** “Ray Barnes of the purple granny glasses, my grade 9 English Teacher would be so proud.
Jumping at the making of allegations by nameless and faceless entities must stop.
When allegations are made and there is no spine attached to the allegation, you can’t give it credence.
Strange days indeed and that aint no allegation. I wonder if John Lennon would find the days today stranger than or less than what his days were. I also wonder if Vlad Lenin is looking in from where ever he is, stroking his goatee and thinking, “Da Komrads”.
Fractured Factions punching out their truths without fear of repercussion. Have we not all learned that you don’t need to be accountable here in the age of knee jerk reactions to slander or libel. The current star of the knee jerk reaction, if a woman names a man, the man is guilty with out question and the poor hard done by sainted woman doesn’t even have to reveal her name or face. Pretty sweet card to have at your disposal f you’re a game player or maybe just want a woman in a job that a man has.
On the political front the Leaders I’m most aware of are our PM and the POTUS. This is about where their dedicated opposition doesn’t snipe on a comment made. Both of those entities have stated allegations are wrong. No one from anywhere got on the leaders for the statement because all of us, each and everyone of us knows, making allegations without a formal declaration or charge is wrong.
It is too easy in today’s social justice climate to throw an allegation at your mark and have it stick with some faction that demands an immediate hanging out to dry of the person that the allegation names. This is wrong!
Ontario’s PC Leadership race is now over and I wonder how much 2 of the hopefuls were damaged by taking the FemiNazi position of, “if a woman says it and a man is involved, he’s guilty”.
I did see that there were both males and females who were outraged that the “Autoguilt Switch” was installed in Christine Elliot and Caroline Mulroney.
Had the conversation with a few people about what led up to the event, or as I like to say, “The trigger/driver for the event. Elliot and Mulroney did something that appears to be fine for Liberals and the NDP but not for conservatives.
Anyone who doesn’t take a conservative approach to nameless and faceless allegations; not throwing colleagues and friends under a bus to support the Social Justice Warrior position.
Both Mulroney and Elliot had the chance to do the correct thing, the proper thing and make a societal statement and didn’t. They sold out and championed for the FemiNazi ass saving position. Look where it got them both.
Obviously, there was dissension in the party, so we just might want to consider whom had the most to gain by what took place. Elliot ran for the lead previously and lost and she has now lost again.
Conspiracy theorists of which I am not one but when you do the math on this one, someone got the knee jerk reaction they wanted but with Ford winning, I’m reasonably certain they didn’t get the result they expected by thinking the selection process had been set to auto-female.
We cannot give nameless and faceless allegations immediate credence because it is flat out wrong.
G.R. Hambley ©
March 15, 2018
I wake this morning and I am now in my 60th year on this little blue planet 3rd from the sun. Doesn’t feel much different than yesteryear but it is!
It’s so cold in this country the Calgary Zoo took the Penguins inside. Yet, I go out and forage coffee. Priorities my good reader, priorities. Writing can not be done without coffee. No it can’t, hush yourself!
Last year and in previous years, I would write in two things at the same time, narrative and poetry. This behaviour has continued in to this year I’m pleased to say.
Sneak peek of the poetry… it aint close to there yet!
Should’ve taken the umbrella because it looks like pain
I can see and it looks like you’re headed for hell
I see it’s not a place where you’re going to fare well
You can trust me because everyone knows I’m insane
It’s good to be me!
Here in Ontario, I’m expecting it to be frigid until June 7th. Gonna get real warm that day, and if you’re of the liberally minded RITE, I don’t see you liking it one damn bit.
I took a cab late last year and the driver was real sociable. For all you immigrants, just because I’m Canadian it doesn’t mean I like frickin’ winter! I like winter in the country where it’s pretty. I like winter in California where you go visit the snow! Been there, done that, short pants 70-degree weather.
Winter in the city is mostly ugly. The snow don’t stay as it was purely driven very long.
This narrative interlude is complete. Poetry is staring me in the face. Word!
G.R. Hambley 01/01/2018 ©
The powers that be informed me when I asked them why I hadn’t received certain things after being shown as course complete. I was told I had to complete those “Specialty Electives” before receiving their official blessing and benefits.
Ring kissing was not involved, and the electives are done.
I had looked to change “Teaching English to Korean Speakers” but it was a no. So, in I went in and did that elective over 4 days. I had waited the previous 4 days without a response to a few questions and had to resend the email.
I made my choices and that is it. Fair enough, and it didn’t hurt to ask.
South Korea has the Winter Olympics in 2018 and my plan was to do the Korean elective after the Olympics were over.
When I elected to take my TEFL through University of Toronto and OISE, well that was part of the appeal, University of Toronto and OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education). I told the powers of higher education that when I ran in to some serious technical issues that those issues didn’t have to happen. I’m midway through the course and they rolled out a new and improved web site design. I went so far as to suggest they get the old site back online.
I hit glitches in both Specialty Electives, and both of those were presented in the old format.
If you look at my results on the “Teaching Test Preparation Courses”, final assessment you will see I passed by making 70% with zero attempts.
We’ll just call this an exemption on the final assessment for my demonstrated knowledge. No, I don’t like that “70” number and I’m reasonably certain I could get the “100” but I aint going backwards for the sake of that number!
I’m somewhat disappointed because Teaching those who are preparing for an ELPT (English Language Proficiency Test) or ESP (English for Special Purposes) is my preference for my Teaching English. I can do them all and as I just noted, teaching the ELP and ESP is what I like best.
Yes I am receiving some of what goes with a certain completion level. China among other places is looking very interesting,
As I’m writing this I received email notice on how to get my Certificate. Name as it appears on your Passport is recommended. I asked for my Certificate to show in the same way my name appears on my Passport.
I would have entertained using “Gary R. Hambley” as it appears on the business cards I had made up.
I haven’t had the entire benefit of course completion long but these folks are showing me some real good stuff! Yeah watch me tell you what I’m pursuing on the teaching abroad front.
There were technical issues that never should of happened and I addressed that with U of T.
Simple stuff, your new and improved aint working, get the old and functional back online!
You want to change the rules of the game, that’s fine too. But when you do that you create 2 paths and those already on the path stay there and those coming in new, they go on the new path.
There was flat out hypocrisy that I never addressed with the School and will address that here. I also hit a few things that flew directly against what I know to be true as a Life Coach.
This is applicable to all courses of study and not just “English as a Foreign Language”. You are taught about fair and valid assessments. You’re taught that you don’t spring surprises on the students in your assessments.
After the rollout of the new and infirm web platform that replaced the old and functional with poor typography platform assessment changed. The passing grade on Quizzes in the lesson sections went from 70% to 80% while the passing grade for the entire lesson assessment remained at 70%.
I don’t disagree with the number and in fact agree with the number the school set to pass the quiz. It was the hypocritical manner in that the change was made that perturbed me.
They changed the rules of the game after the game had started and that is one giant no no!
In the “Teaching Test Preparation Courses” elective “Exam Anxiety” was brought up. This is the statement that is made, “Help students to change or suppress negative thoughts or worries”.
No, no, no, not ever do you teach suppression!
If you have “Exam Anxiety” and I have it a bit more than the average person, you contact me and I’ll work with you to get you more comfortable and at ease. We Coaches and others call that endeavour, “Coping Skills”. Taking the exam is still gonna suck but you’ll be much better prepared to cope with those feelings and at no time will you ever hear me say, “Suck it up buttercup”.
Previous to that tidbit of information it was noted that if you’re finding yourself possibly over critical, put a Coach in the classroom with you to monitor your performance. I gave that piece of information when I hit it an audible, “no shit”. I had good reason when I hit what I hit to say what I did and more reasons later.
One of the things that Higher Education appears to need to learn is that their students are clients. I made that point clear on a couple of occasions because it was necessary to enlighten the bringers of Higher Education that while I am a student, I’m a client as well.
Education is different now. I’ve been computer literate for over 25 years. The changes in education brought on by the functionality of the computer in the last 25 years is wonderful. The delivery method of this education suits me to a tee. It didn’t take me long to tune out the audio and stick with the visuals of reading and then exploring the material outside the course work.
There were exceptions to me eschewing the audio and the “Teaching English to Korean Speakers”, I listened to everything! I will learn to make those sounds.
I learned a lot. I adapted myself. My thinking is different and the way I speak and express is a little less bombastic. I have my moments, as we all do.
Through this course of learning for me I created a teaching philosophy and figured out what my preference to teach is and why I have that preference.
So as the University taught, “Exit Slips” from your students regarding how they saw the lesson and even critiquing the teacher at term and year end are excellent sources of information.
Careful what you wish for because you just might get it and did you like, “My Exit Slip”.
Now if you’ll excuse me, the powers that be have placed the world at my fingertips and shown me how to go about garnering a teaching position.
G.R. Hambley ©
December 20, 2017
Writings from on the path.
Orbital Thoughts
Forever More, I Am A Teacher of English
It’s The Final Countdown
Oh My Head Again, or Watch Your English
Adapting Me
There Goes Perfection, For Now
Teaching Philosophy, Mine
English 101, 100
The Final Act
It’s all said and done and now I’m orbiting looking at jobs teaching English.
The course was terrific except for the technical glitches on the school’s side. On the I.T. side, the issues were addressed with the University and the ship moved on. Well the glitches affecting me are over with, I hope.
I opened up a “Speciality Elective” for a look see, “Teaching Test Preparation Courses”. Hit a glitch. Hit a critical thought judgement too. I’ve only looked at the first section, but I think this would have been a good way to start out any instruction of teaching English.
What’s next is a controlled search and searching out a couple contacts. With one of my contacts a short discussion has been had. The wheels are in motion to an introduction.
In the looking around I’ve discovered something we have that the rest of the world has too, weekends.
The point being is that there is a job to be done and there will be time for the culture and the sites. The immediate co-worker culture will be taken up immediately. Those co-workers are going to have information I’ll need if I want to be successful.
I put a few irons in the tutoring fire in my community as well. My community friendlies are a good bunch of people and I’ll miss them when I go. The plan is to come back, but who knows.
It is as important and maybe even more so, that you know where you don’t want to go.
If the cultural norms of a country disturb you to the point where you cannot respect them, don’t go there. Simple stuff. If you opt to go to a place where you think you really don’t belong and find yourself in difficulty because your Alligator Mouth overloaded your Hummingbird Ass, you own it, on your own.
For me, warm matters but it isn’t everything. I’m spiritual and learning of “Eastern Spirituality” up close and personal appeals to me. I’d like to see “Red Square” and “The Winter Palace” too. I love the architectural no matter where I find it.
I don’t think I’d mind Tibet, but in the moment, I just don’t have enough information and that’ll change. I would kind of like to see the place where I’m going to be working in my second next life.
They tell me culture shock is inevitable. They tell me how to cope with Culture Shock.
Decorum is universal and an important part of one’s make-up. I have that, and I practice it every day. They also made it clear what not to put up with. I don’t see me having a problem with standing up for myself and getting help should I need it.
What is my teaching preference? I want to teach the ELPT’s. I wanna teach the game. I got the game for the task.
This is “Language Arts”. Art is messy.
Don’t worry about it, you’ll clean up, read on.
I see teaching ELP’s in the same way I saw teaching the trade at the Trade School Level.
I’ve spoken of this before about the different dynamic for apprentices at College. We were there as part of our job. We left our jobs to go to school and then went back to our jobs where our marks were reported to our employer.
For lack of a better term, “The regular students”, the ones who had come from high school straight in to College preparing for a career. They don’t know anything but being students and their mindset was different.
The regulars were preparing for something at school and the apprentices were working at school.
People looking to take the proficiency tests for entrance to university in a foreign country, they’re in the game with a purpose. People looking to take an ESP, English for Specific purposes, they’re in the game too. They’re motivated to achieve with a goal in mind. Isn’t that the idea of a game, to score goals of some kind?
I’ll be comfortable as I can be teaching any level. Teaching the game is my preference.
I’m friends with a man of the Christian cloth. We have had some interesting conversations and we’ll have more. In the conversation we had last we talked about blended language.
I’ve spoken on blended language in my, “Carlin Influence” piece.
Both my friend and me, we have good vocabularies. We use them speaking to each other. We talked about how we both blend the academic and the interpersonal when we talk. We agreed, we wished there were more people who did the blending we do in interpersonal communication.
We both have a good sense of humour and we’re both pragmatic. Pretty much the only place where we differ is on what is the path to ascension. I respect his path and he respects mine.
He doesn’t even mind waiting when I have to take a phone call from on high.
It turns out I was mistaken about being done. Especially when they told me I was 100% complete!
I was functioning on the presumption that with there being 3 different course offerings to this TEFL course, the completion levels were graduated. I’m told that’s not the case and the Electives, which show up as different courses have to be completed before I’m seen as being complete and therefore worthy to receive the benefits that go with completion.
I now have a Quandary of my own that I’m waiting on answer to from the powers that be of Higher Education. Been almost 48 hours since I sent an email inquiring.
What the hell, it’s weekend, somewhere but apparently not in my orbit.
G.R. Hambley ©
December 09, 2017
I’ve made it known along with showing bits and pieces of the work and results that I’m taking a TEFL course. The question was asking about practicality and as I saw it, philosophy because it was asked what I would do.
Challenges you face in the classroom. How you going to manage it. How are you going to meet needs. They’re asking about practical knowledge and coping skills. I got above average coping skills. My recognition skills aren’t to bad either.
Not only will I be watching my students, I’ll be watching out for my students.
So here you have it. As I wrote and submitted for the assignment. But now, I call it, “The Teaching Philosophy of G.R. Hambley”.
I took the final assessment of the first TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) module this morning., September 01, 2017. Feels and seems somewhat fitting with this being Labour Day and the kids back to school on Tuesday. 
Everyone looks forward to that day as summer closes down for another year.
If I satisfy me, it will more than satisfy the minimum requirement. Mind over matter. I mind so it matters. This certificate is not the prize.
The minimum requirement isn’t good enough for me. I spoke with a couple of friends prior to taking this examination. I explained my position, my attitude this way. Tipping, the service staff want 20%, expect 15% and settle get about 10%. For me on this path, I want 100%, I expect 95% and I’ll settle for 90%. On this one I got what I want and I deserve what I got. I’ll be expecting the same from myself going forward.
Quite literally, this endeavour means the world to me. This is my current world and I want more of the world.
The photograph above taken by my good buddy “Ara Sagherian” is a clue to this posting’s Theme Song, it’s “Harry Chapin” and could be one of a couple songs. Do the research. Trust me, it’s a pleasant trip.
G.R. Hambley ©
September 01, 2017
transitionu 
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