Continuing our feature of the GEO Professors, we interviewed Professor Tom Carlaw to get to know more about him. This article is an addition to the “Up Close and Personal” series which aims to give readers a glimpse about educators working for the GEO program. We asked a series of questions to our professors to get to know them a little bit better. Read on and be more acquainted with GEO’s Professor Tom Carlaw.
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| Meet Professor Tom Carlaw (●＾∀＾●) |
1. Where is your hometown?
My hometown is Elora, a small village in Canada. It is about an hour and a half drive from Toronto. It has a beautiful river that runs through it that is great for trout fishing, and kayaking. My family has been part of the Elora community for the past 150 years. My great grandfather had a small bank that eventually became part of the Royal Bank of Canada, and my grandmother was a well known newspaper editor and won numerous awards at a time when there were few Canadian women journalists.
Both my mother and Uncle were involved in local politics and shortly before coming to Korea, I came very close to becoming the Mayor of Centre Wellington. It was a close call for Centre Wellington, as I was very young and my inexperience would have made council meetings interesting.
2. How long have you been in Korea?
I have been in Korea since 2001. I have taught in English Academies, elementary schools, and three different universities. It has been a great experience, and I really enjoy the freedom that teaching in Korea has given me. I get to meet so many new people each year, and working with students helps to put a fresh perspective on each new day!
3. What subject do you teach here at Catholic University of Korea (CUK)?
I teach English conversation. My biggest challenge, is trying to stop myself from talking to all the interesting students I meet, and giving them a chance to talk.
4. What is your impression of CUK and it’s vision of becoming an international hub?
I am really impressed with the Global Vision at CUK and I am also more impressed at the student centred approach that they bring to this vision. The OBF lounge is a great example, and it is refreshing to see a program like GEO that is centred around the needs and interests of the students.
I think CUK is intent on providing its students with a chance to pursue their dreams, and that in the process they are creating a centre for learning that stands out in the global community.
5. What keeps you busy during your spare time?
I have six nieces and nephews that have eliminated the concept of spare time in my life. I spend my time skating and hiking with them, and we also spend some time studying English. I look forward to the day when they start teaching me Korean.
6. What do you like most about Korea?
I love the energy of Korea. It doesn't matter what time of day it is, there are people busy doing things. Sometimes I think Korea never sleeps.
7. What is your favorite Korean dish or culinary delight?
I think Kimchi Jigae is my favorite dish. Once you have spent some time in Korea and eaten Korean food, you develop a taste for red pepper, and Kimchi Jigae is my favorite way to satisfy this appetite.
8. What are your expectations from GEO, GEO students, co-faculty?
I think GEO is about growing as an individual and as part of a community. The most important ingredient in this process is a sense of humor and a sense of fun. I expect my students to have fun. I sometimes wish Nigel would be a little less serious but overall my expectations are usually exceeded.
9. For you, a good student is someone who…?
I think a good student is someone who enjoys learning. Short term results are not as important as an appetite for knowledge, and someone who has fun learning is going to enjoy success in the long run.
10. What are the things you want to impart to readers (Anything you’d like to share about yourself, your life as a student, your life as a teacher, living in your home country, living in Korea, difference of your home country and Korea, etc)?
One of my favorite quotes, from my favorite author John Irving, is, "Keep passing the open windows." Life should never be too serious and this simple piece of advice can put almost anything into perspective.
11. Message to students
In the immortal words of Spock, "Live long, and prosper"
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| Professor Tom C. with GEO Class 2-1 |
