Inspirations 1: Inspirational Educators
Hello, everyone. I'm Dennis Oliver, a former ESL teacher who most recently worked at Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale, Arizona. Avondale (which is close to where I live) is a northwestern "satellite" of Arizona's capital city, Phoenix.I started this blog with the idea that it would be a potpourri of my musings on this and that, but it then underwent a gradual transformation—from a focus on individuals who have inspired me in computer-mediated teaching and learning to a broader perspective.
Because many people have served as my guides and models during my journey through life, this log is best seen as a work in progress. Accordingly, more entries will appear regularly; the latest is the one featuring LaDona Harrell Martin (below).
Labels: Carla_Arena:_Web_Tools_for_Educators, Dennis_in_Phoenix, Dennis_Oliver, EMCC, inspiring_people, mentors, teachers, Webheads_in_Action, webtoolsforeducators
posted by Dennis @ 11:55 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
Dennis,
Only someone special like you could have thanked all these wonderful tech-people in such an inspired way!
I feel proud to be part of your musings. Although we don't know each other f2f, it seems that we had met before. Maybe in another life? Who knows?
Having an international project with you has made me learn a lot and believe that when two people really CONNECT the results are rewarding. Collaborating with you and your students implies knowing your cultural essence and understanding our differences and similiraties. Well, up to now I can only see so many things we have in common!
With you, I learn everyday about life, teaching, new languages, new ways of doing old things, cooking, caring...I am a lucky Brazilian to have met such a fantastic American!
Thanks, Dennis.
I love to be your partner!
Carlinha:
I feel the same about you as you do about me—except that I'm in awe of your creativity and productivity.
Yes, you and I make a very good team—and I'm very pleased to be part of it.
And with you, I also learn every day about life and teaching and much more! I, too, am lucky!
Thank you, Carla. I love being your partner, too!
Abraços e beijo na bochecha!
D. O.
Cheers, Dennis, thanks,
Vance
You're entirely welcome, Vance. You're a continuing inspiration to me and to countless others.
Thanks!
Cheers to you as well!
D. O.
Hi Dennis
You are brilliant! A blog to thank special teachers could only be created by a very special person like you! Really sweet!
Erika!
Thanks for your very kind words: muito obrigado.
Brilliant? No, I'm just very appreciative of the folks I wrote about.
One of my grandmothers used to say, "Give your flowers to the living, not the dead" and I try to do just that. I don't always succeed, but I try.
Thanks again.
Beijo na bochecha!
Dennis
There are so many wonderful Esl teachers at EVO that your list will grow very,very long.
I have to add Dennis Oliver to the list.
You are an inspiration to all of us. At EVO 07 you wrote a welcome message to all the 240 participants!!!
I´m glad to share cyberspace with you.
LOL
Jennifer from Argentina
Dear Dennis,
it was really fun to see the photos of Randall Davis, Dave Sperling, and Ruth Vilmi, my heroes from my first frightening CALL lessons.
Sincerely,
Mary Sousa in Budapest
Hi, Jennifer.
Yes, you're right about the great number of wonderful EVO ESL/EFL teachers!
You give me too much credit about sending welcome messages. I sent a lot of them, true, but not to all the participants. (I wanted to do that, but ran out of time.)
I'm also glad to share cyberspace with you!
Ciao!
Dennis
Hi, Mary.
I'm glad you enjoyed seeing the photos of Randall, Dave, and Ruth, and that you've considered them heroes from your "first frightening CALL lessons." I consider them heroes, too!
You might find the following photo interesting:
http://www.d-oliver.net/new-coll-2001.jpg
This shows (left-right) Charles Kelly, Elaine Hoter, Ruth, me, Randall, and Charles' brother Larry. We were about to have dinner at an Israeli restaurant in Vancouver, BC on the night before a TESOL colloquium that Charles, Elaine, Ruth, Randall, Dave, and I participated in. Dave, unfortunately, couldn't join us for dinner.
If you ever see Ruth, please give her my very, very best—and the same to you!
Dennis
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