Training Facilitator, Educator

By Sheridan L. Peterson, II

Sixteen years designing and implementing corporate training programs for middle and upper level management, assembly-line workmen and flight-line mechanics. Developing and conducting skills training courses. Designing and supervising needs analysis and conducting instructor training programs.

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1997-1999: As Director of Language Studies at The Beijing Caledonian International Language School, Beijing, China, designed and implemented corporate training programs for such organizations as: the Kvaerner John Brown, the Bechtel Corporation, and The Agricultural Bank of China. Developed and conducted business management training courses. Designed and supervised needs assessments and directed instructor training programs.

As a Facilitator, helped instructors define clearly what they wished to do. Focused on what they were trying to achieve and not on what I wanted them to achieve. Helped maintain and improve their ability to achieve these goals.

1996-1997 As a Foreign Expert at the Foreign Trade Department, Beijing Second Foreign Language Institute, Beijing, China, taught ESL business English.

1995-1996 As a Foreign Expert at the Central University of Finance & Banking, Beijing, China, taught graduate courses in business English focusing on strategies for reaching global markets.

1993-1995 As a Training Consultant for schools, organizations and businesses in Japan and Hong Kong. Also taught British literature at the Delia of Canada Institute, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong.

1991-1993 As Writing Coordinator at the University of Rio Grande, Japan, was responsible for all writing instruction at Tokyo's Musashino Campus. Coordinated writing programs and provided guidance to writing instructors. Also insured that course outlines, lesson plans and teaching methodology conformed to established requirements and assisted in the development of course outlines and lesson plans. Exercised judgment and originality in selecting material, conducted classes and developed, administrated, graded and evaluated tests.

Also evaluated teachers' effectiveness and made adjustments on a day-by-day bases to meet changing requirements. Identified problem areas and brought them to the attention of the administration and colleagues at the university's other Tokyo campuses.

Furthermore, prepared and maintained all required forms and documents concerning students' progress. Initiated and prepared weekly teaching status reports. Submitted a weekly report detailing mine and the writing instructors' activities for the current period and plans for the next. Initiated requests for textbooks, teaching material, training aids, etc. In addition, supervised the writing, editing, printing and distribution of campus newspaper.

As a member of the Curriculum Development Committee, helped direct the overall design and layout of the general course of study for the University's three campuses. Assisted in the research and development of the course outlines and class activities, presentations and teaching aids.

1989-1991 As Manager of Educational Affairs, Tesco International Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, was responsible for the supervision of 18 ESL Schools throughout Japan. Recruited, oriented, assigned, and managed the schools' supervisors. Also developed and implemented the curriculum for the schools.

1988-1989 As a Foreign Expert at the College of Economic Management, Beijing, China, taught business English focusing mainly on strategies for reaching global markets.

1987-1988 As a Foreign Expert at the Civil Aviation Institute of China, Tianjin Airport, Tianjin, China, taught technical English courses focusing mainly on aircraft technology. Also gave demonstrations to the faculty on teaching methodologies and procedures for organizing and directing vocational training sites.

1983-1987 As an Associate Professor at Akita University of Economics & Law, Akita, Japan, taught business English focusing mainly on a practical application to business administration.

1982-1983 As a Technical Writer for the Verbatim Corporation, Sunnyvale, California, wrote six maintenance and repair manuals. (On contract to Volt)

1981-1982 As Training Supervisor for the Bechtel International Corporation, Star Mountains, Papua New Guinea, supervised a staff responsible for the design, development and implementation of skills training courses for mechanics, carpenters, heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, safety officers, camp catering, project management, demolition, mining, etc. Also designed and administered employment assessment testing.

1980-1981 As Upward Bound Coordinator for disadvantaged youths at Jordan High School, Watts, Los Angeles

1979-1980 As Business & Industry Writing Instructor and Assistant to the Dean, Northrup University's College of Engineering, Los Angeles, California, taught such writing skills as: proposal, progress report, feasibility study, and process analysis. Made PR addresses at community colleges, high schools and corporate management meetings. Also assisted the dean in amassing and organizing a vast assortment of instructional material to be examined by accreditation teams.

1977-1979 As Manager of the Learning Center at Bell Helicopter, International, Tehran, Iran, designed and conducted needs assessments for administrative and maintenance supervisors and foremen, and formulated and planned activities to meet these needs. Acquired innovative experience in the design, development and implementation of training related to operation and repair of equipment. Wrote two texts: Effective Writing 902, Writing for Technicians and Effective Writing 903, Writing for Administrators.

1975-1977 As an ESL Instructor at Riyadh University's Faculty of Commerce at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I taught business English. I also team taught business psychology with a Palestinian professor.

1973-1975 As Training Director at Lear Siegler Aircraft Inc.'s Formal Classroom Training Facility, Bien Hoa, Vietnam, directed the development and implementation of "over-the-shoulder" and "hands-on" training programs as well as formal classroom instruction in the maintenance and repair of flight controls, instruments, main tail rotor groups, power plant, airframe, hydraulic systems, metallurgy, etc. Directed a technical manual translation and illustration program.

1970-1973 Writer, Pokhara, Nepal. Wrote a novel documenting the Vietnam War. Lived in a mud hut near the Annapurna base camp.

1968-1970 As Training Supervisor and Course Development Writer at International Training Consultants, Saigon, Vietnam, wrote a twenty-two volume course entitled: The Village Development Program on taxation, budget and land reform for the U.S. Agency for International Development for village and hamlet finance chiefs. Three-quarter of a million copies were printed. Also developed and transcribed a special Vietnamese language course for DOD's Defense Language Institute at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Also wrote and supervised the instruction of special ESL courses on the maintenance and operation of River Patrol Boats for the U.S. Navy.

1967-1968 As Reports Officer for the U.S. Agency for International Development's Refugee Division, Vietnam, I compiled statistics from throughout the country, assessed the data and wrote reports for worldwide distribution. A weekly round up went directly to the U.S. Ambassador as well as other top level officials. Also wrote news releases for international wire services at weekly briefings. Was later assigned to the field as a Refugee Advisor to supervise the operation of an outboard motor maintenance and repair facility. Also supervised the relocation and care of some two hundred thousand refugees.

1966-1967 As Training Supervisor at Pacific Architects & Engineers, Cu Chi, Vietnam, directed the design, development and implementation of carpentry, sheet metal, plumbing, surveying, refrigeration & air conditioning, electrical, welding, auto mechanics, painting, cable splicing, and building structure courses both as OJT and in a formal classroom setting. Also introduced clerical and administrative ESL training to the job site.

1965-1966 As Vocational Training Supervisor for the Raymond /Morrison & Knudsen/Brown & Root/Jones Construction Conglomerate at Tu Duc, Vietnam, organized and directed vocational training courses in heavy equipment operation, electrical maintenance & repair, welding, warehouse procedure, painting, forklift operation, sanitation & pest control, site security, and first aid & safety.

Publications:

Instruction Guide to Orientation for Apprentices, Bechtel Corporation, Ok Tedi Project, Star Mountains, Papua New Guinea.

Effective Writing 902, Writing for Technicians
Effective Writing 903, Writing for Administrators
Bell Helicopter International (Textron) Tehran, Iran

The Village Development Program on taxation, budget and land reform, for the U.S. Agency for International Development, Saigon, Vietnam.

Education:

Bachelor of Arts & Science, majors in journalism and English literature, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri February 1954.

Post graduated work in education methodology as well as creative writing from Pulitzer Prize winning authors Walter van Tilberg Clark and Leslie Fiedler, University of Montana, Missoula, Mont. Granted state secondary teaching credential September 1956.

Associate Professorship awarded by Japan's Ministry of Education on the bases of published works and work experience, April 1883.

Suggestive Accelerative Learning Certificate based on Dr. Lozanov's Suggestology (Suggestopedia) from the Lind Institute, San Francisco, California, 1985.

Valid-for-Life teaching credential from the State of Washington, grades K through 12.

Currently licensed sky diving instructor. Organized and directed the Boeing Sky Diving Club, Seattle, Washington. President and Safety Officer of the Saigon Sport Parachute Club, Saigon, Vietnam, 1966-1970.

Hobbies: downhill skiing, rollerblading, swimming, hiking, photography, bungee jumping, reading classic literature and history and writing eye-witness documented fiction.

U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Twenty-Fifth Marines, Fourth Division,

U. S. Forest Service Smokejumper, Missoula, Montana,