Working as an English teacher abroad is an incredible opportunity. You’re experiencing different cultures, improving your language skills, and being paid to be a part of that city’s academic community. But, if you’re looking for another job or a raise, you’ll probably encounter the TESOL barrier. For those in the English-teaching circuit, the TESOL certification...
The holiday season is in full swing and entails many things: a respite from the endless barrage of emails and deadlines, an excuse to let loose and eat to your heart's content, and the one time of the year when festivities and gatherings are plenty. One way that I’ve always been able to get in...
Getting caught up in all the work and scholarship that must be done can quickly take the wind out of your sails. While you don’t need to shame yourself for feeling your feelings, shifting focus can be helpful. Pausing for a moment of gratitude can breathe life back into those sails to keep you going...
This comprehensive guide highlights where on campus there is free and fresh produce! Land Acknowledgment: a traditional practice that dates back centuries up to the present moment and recognizes Indigenous Peoples as the original stewards of the lands on which we now live. UCR resides on the land of the Cahuilla, Tongva, Luiseño, and Serrano...
This blog will introduce four writing and organization apps you need to hear about. I hope you’ll have at least two of these apps on your computer by the end of this entry! Notion Notion absolutely tops the list for me. It leans more toward organization and note-taking than writing, but it can do it...
Professional associations or societies are some of the oldest institutions adjacent to U.S. universities. The oldest society dates back to 1660 (Jorgensen, 2017). They are inextricably linked to knowledge production and scholars' professionalization process. Some associations or societies are old; some are new. Some are big (in the thousands), while others are small and intimate...
A mid-quarter evaluation is a valuable tool for providing feedback and helping improve the course. This is a time to encourage students to be honest, express what they see as the course's strengths, and acknowledge areas of growth in your teaching. Why do evaluations matter? Here are five ways they benefit you as an instructor/TA...
All academics have been here before in their writing process: staring at a blank page or screen and wondering how they will get from point A to point B before ripping their hair out. Endurance has been the name of the game for academics and students alike in higher education. In moments of frustration and...
Unless you live in a cave, you probably noticed a big election season happening right now. Elections are happening up and down the ticket, from the President of the United States to local boards and city councils. No matter which direction you lean in your political beliefs, it’s time to let your voice be heard...
You made it! All the applications, stressing over acceptance letters, researching and writing, moving to a new city, state, or even country, and now you’re here! But suddenly, you’ve been thrown into the world of teaching! How do you interact with students who may be around your age or maybe twenty years younger than you...
Welcome back, Highlanders! The Graduate Writing Center would like to welcome all our incoming graduate students! At the writing center, we provide graduate students with assistance, feedback, and practical help in improving their writing on multiple levels. Please schedule an appointment and come by if you need any help with the writing process. On another...
Maybe you’re just starting grad school, or this isn’t your first grad school rodeo. Whatever the case, a large part of any successful graduate student career is properly managing what time you spend where. As graduate students, we wear a lot of different hats—teacher, researcher, writer, student, person—and sometimes it’s hard to balance all of...
Stress is a natural response to challenges and demands, but it can take a severe toll on our physical and mental well-being when it becomes chronic. Understanding the physiological and psychological elements of stress and effective coping mechanisms is crucial for maintaining health. The Nature of Stress Stress can be categorized into two types: discreet...
You’ve made it through the summer! Whether you have basked in sunshine and bliss or were doomed to your tiny office and massive manuscript, reflecting on the summer behind you is important. How do you feel? Are you ready for a whole new academic year? If you answered ‘Not well’ or ‘Absolutely not’, this post...
Graduate school is hectic. There are endless tasks across several responsibilities that compete for your valuable time. Graduate students may be balancing between: Research Taking classes Teaching classes Volunteering Leadership activities Life outside of graduate school How does someone manage it all? This blog shares my top strategies for a better schedule: prioritization, mindset shifts...
As graduate students, we often find ourselves immersed (and maybe even siloed) in our niche topics. However, the ability to convey our research to a broader audience is crucial—not only for public understanding but also for securing funding, influencing policy, and advancing our careers! This blog will explore various strategies and tools to help you...
Summarizing a great deal of books and articles is a task many of us in graduate school learn how to do. There are several ways to start summarizing. In the long run, our notes can store some important ideas for us to draw from later, especially when we need to write new essays or take...
The summer is an excellent opportunity to start planning for fellowships, grants, and internship opportunities to provide experience! While we all need to take time to rest, focus on our health, and spend hours reading, writing, and watching TV, there is also plenty of time during the summer to get ahead on future plans for...
Classes in Summer Session A are finally coming to a close. As we finish grading papers, hosting our last office hours, and running our final discussions and labs, it is also time to prepare for the following summer session. The best way to prepare for these new courses is to reflect on our teaching! We...
It is amazing how many documents we need to learn how to write and submit as we begin applying for potential teaching positions. When you apply, one document you will likely submit (along with a long resume) is called a teaching philosophy statement (TPS). This piece of writing should not necessarily talk about your immense...
