ALMA PIRIC

44 Colonial Drive, Montpelier, VT 05602 802-229-4290 AlmaPiric@gmail.com EDUCATION MA, Saint Michaels College, Colchester, Vermont Program: Teaching English as a Second Language Degree obtained in July 2006

BA, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont Degree obtained in May 2002 Majors: German and English Minor: Russian Study Abroad Experience: Phillips Universitaet, Marburg, Germany, Summer 2001 Languages: Fluent in English, German, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian; read and understand Russian ENGLISH TEACHING EMPLOYMENT English Language Fellow University of Tuzla (2006-2008) Behram-beg Medresa (2006-2008) ESL Tutor Middle School (2005/2006) Taught Contemporary English Language to second and third year university students Used the university guidelines to create own curriculum and syllabus Designed lessons interwoven with US customs and traditions Introduced students to online education Worked on developing students academic writing, critical thinking and public speaking skills Exposed students to different teaching methods by using them in own classes Practiced open teacher-student communication University of Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina (09/06-06/08) Behram-beg Medresa, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina (09/06-06/08)

Using communicative approach, taught students about diversity and multiculturalism in US and Bosnia Motivated students to practice their translation, writing and public speaking skills Promoted religious pluralism by exposing students to different religions and organizing events for high school students of all three religions in Bosnia and Herzegovina Taught students about United States holidays, traditions and customs

Essex Town School District, Essex, VT (08/05- 06/06) Provided homework help to sixth, seventh and eight graders in math, social studies, language arts, and science Taught self-designed lessons on English grammar, reading, summarizing, skimming and scanning, etc. Served as a mentor

High School (adult students) (2005/2006) Conducted a needs and situational analysis Communicated with instructors to determine long term goals of the Dental Assistant Program that the students are attending Developed a syllabus with the students Designed own materials to address students writing needs: summary, resume, cover letter, essay, and memorandum writing Exposed students to different type of role plays in which they practiced their speaking and listening skills Elementary School (2004/2005) Middle School (2004/2005) High School (2004/2005) Bilingual/Bicultural Liaison Administered the IEP tests Analyzed students interest in post-secondary education Assisted students with college and scholarship searches Provided information on volunteering opportunities community Provided homework help to two eighth grade ESL students Assisted students with their projects in social studies, and language arts classes In collaboration with the reading teacher, assisted students with vocabulary development and test taking skills Served as a mentor to a female students from Bosnia Collaborated with two mainstream teachers on a regular basis to determine lessons Developed and conducted lessons on rhyming, initial sounds, ending sounds, and spelling to two small Kindergarten groups Exposed students to the American culture by teaching units about Christmas, using the book The Polar Express, St. Valentines Day, St. Patricks Day, etc. Met with parents to discuss their childrens progress in the ESL group Evaluated students progress through a self-designed one-on-one oral and written test

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Essex Town School District, Essex, VT (11/03 06/06) Provided native language support in content area classes Served as a liaison between the schools and families concerning student academic and social performance, student homework, attendance, field trips, health concerns/needs, etc. Assisted with parent-teacher conferences and meetings, and provide translation when needed Provided oral interpretation of assessment results to parents/guardians in the appropriate language

ESL Summer Camp Director Essex Junction Recreation and Parks, Essex Junction, Vermont (Summer 04 & 05)

Developed the lesson plans and taught students ages, 5 to 12, of varying abilities Designed own materials and resources; facilitated learning through art, hands-on activities, and cooperative groups Created units on Champ, the Lake Champlain Monster, Greek mythology, and practical math skills with a restaurant theme Supervised three camp counselors RELEVANT EMPLOYMENT

Paraeducator

Essex Town School District, Essex, VT (08/05- 06/06) Provided math, science, social studies, and language arts assistance to a group of special education students Met with mainstream teachers to discuss students progress and ways to further assist them Occasionally taught math to a group of four special education students Attended parent teacher conferences Communicated with one parent via e-mail on a daily basis to inform her on her sons progress and homework assignments Biggam, Fox and Skinner, Attorneys at Law, Montpelier, Vermont (10/01 08/06) Bloomberg and OHara, Attorneys at Law, Burlington, Vermont (11/02 08/06) Accompanied Bosnian clients to medical and/or legal appointments; provided simultaneous and consecutive interpreting; translated medical and legal documents Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, Vermont (11/99 08/06) Engaged in simultaneous and consecutive English/Bosnian interpreting serving as a liaison between patients and medical community in university hospital setting Worked with several hundred people with different backgrounds Translated medical documents from Bosnian and German into English Department of German and Russian, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont (9/98 5/00) Conducted research on proverbs and folklore poetry in German literature and magazines Assisted with routine office responsibilities and mailings COMMUNITY SERVICE

Interpreter/Translator

Interpreter/Translator

Research Assistant

Literacy Volunteer

Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, Vermont (8/02 2/03) Created program to develop reading, spelling and comprehension skills in Bosnian children

 Business English Course

Used Bosnian-language stories to develop language skills and cultural literacy

University of Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina (10/07-01/08) Designed the course and its curriculum based on students needs Taught a group of business students how to introduce themselves and their business to prospective partners Exposed students to a variety of invoices and adjustment letters Trained students to communicate in English about possible mistakes their businesses may make and how to rectify the same

English Language Course For Medresa (Islamic High School) Staff

Behram-beg Medresa, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina (10/07-03/08) Collaborated with the school director and started an English language course for Medresa teachers and counselors Conducted a placement test and divided the 31 students into two groups (basic and intermediate level) Designed materials and taught both groups English Language School Ucionica, Gradacac, Bosnia and Herzegovina (11/07-present) Provide professional advise to the school director and her staff Share personal experience and knowledge to improve the quality of the service provided at the school

Outside Correspondent

PRESENTATIONS/INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES Pedagogical Institute Tuzla Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Seminar: English Language Classroom in Primary and Secondary Schools in Tuzla Canton (12/06) Topic: Multiple Intelligences and How They Can Be Applied Seminar: Teaching Methods with Focus on Young Learners (04/08) Assisted in organizing the seminar Trained a local teacher to conduct a workshop 16th Bulgarian English Teachers Association-IATEFL Conference (05/07) Topic: Multiple Intelligences: Teaching Literature Through Drama

American University Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria Office of English Language Program of Central and Southeastern Europe Budapest, Hungary

Training Program: Linking English Programs with Mission Objectives (01/07)

SCHOLARSHIPS / INVOLVEMENT IN ESL ORGANIZATIONS Truman Webster Scholarship (UVM 2001) and Richard Yorkey Developmental Grant (NNETESOL 2004) Member of: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Northern New England TESOL