My name is Ryan Kleven, and I am a graduate student in the MAT program at Wayne. My major is English and minor is speech. I completed my student teaching last semester at Stevenson High School, and after my last two classes this semester, I will be graduating! Currently, I am working as a substitute teacher in several districts across the metro area, and I also work as a private phonics tutor several evenings each week. I have just accepted a long term sub assignment that will begin in mid-February. I am hoping this temporary position will lead to something permanent with the district. Prior to going back to school for my masters, I worked in retail merchandising and construction management first for Pottery Barn and eventually for Lady Jane’s Haircuts for Men at the corporate office. While I enjoyed some aspects of these jobs, overall I have found teaching to be much more fun and rewarding, and I am very much looking forward to having my own classroom in the near future!
One of my biggest passion is travel. In 2016, I visited 9 countries (Canada, Colombia, Italy, San Marino, Vatican City, the Netherlands, Germany, the U.K, and Austria). My summer was spent teaching in Italy at a summer camp program designed to immerse Italian kids in the English language. I spent two weeks in each city and stayed with Italian host families- it was an epic and amazing experience! In 2015, I visited Tanzania as part of the African Democracy Project with Wayne State. In addition to being an accredited international observer of the Tanzanian presidential election, I also completed a research project on language education in secondary school. If you’re interested in either of my trips, I kept blogs for both which can be found here: https://englishtutoritaly.wordpress.com/
A group of students I interviewed in Tanzania
Me and some of my fellow teachers in Cesena, Italy
I’m looking forward to a great semester!
Hi Ryan,
ReplyDeleteThat is some background you have. Your extensive travel must have given you a lot of experience with diverse cultures which is very exciting just to read. I'm sure your blogs are also very interesting. You mentioned Stevens High School is that in Livonia Michigan? I am familiar with that high school. I hope that this class will add to your experiences and I look forward to reading your blogs.
Hi Ryan,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your upcoming graduation! Wow... what an great travel experience you had last year. I'm sure working with different students from other countries was also very interesting.
Welcome to the class, I look forward to working with you during our class time.
I was going to ask the 'Stevenson' question myself...Livonia or Utica?
ReplyDeleteTravel and teaching are a good pair (schedule, not financial). Not too many people know about San Marino, but I have family friends who hail from there. Interesting story: one of those friends studied music professionally, and my high school band played the San Marinese National Anthem as an official recording of the state!
It is Stevenson in Utica. I've also been a frequent sub in the Ferndale district the last couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteSan Marino was one of the coolest places I went last year! The views from the top of the city were amazing. I wish I could have spent more time there, but it was only a day trip. In future summers, I hope to find more opportunities to teach & travel- it was a great way to travel without breaking the bank.