Resume
Helen Stephenson
Education
University of Sheffield BA English Language and Linguistics
(08-10) To be completed June 2010
Nottingham Trent University BA (Hons) Modern Languages with Linguistics
(06-08) Level 2 Italian, Japanese, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Linguistics (2:1)
Level 1 German, Italian, and Linguistics (1:1)
Bury College A-Levels
(04-06) German (B)
English Language (B)
Geography (B)
AS Levels
History (B)
General Studies (B)
Haslingden High School GCSEs
(99-04) Maths (A)
Double Award Science (A*, A*)
English Literature (A)
English Language (B)
German (A)
Geography (A)
History (A)
R.S (A*)
Food Technology (A)
Employment
June 03 –Feb 04 Childcare Assistant, Cliviger, Burnley
I worked as an assistant for a mother of three. My main responsibility was the care of the toddler so more attention could be given to the older two children with special needs, one with serious brain damage and the other with Asperger’s syndrome. Other duties included helping with the care of these two, particularly in times of disorder and stress, such as bad behaviour issues and seizures. I feel that I gained much insight into working with children, both those with and without special needs, and the challenges one faces on a daily basis. My ability to work under pressure and to use my initiative, while handling many issues at once, greatly increased during this experience. It was working under these challenges and through the times of stress, due to teething, illness, tantrums and other behavioural issues, that I discovered my passion for working with children and learnt just how rewarding the experience could be.
Feb 07 - Apr 08 Catering Assistant, Nottingham Trent University
My job entailed working in both the café and the canteen, carrying out various functions, such as serving customers and dealing with any problems that cropped up, using the hot drinks machines, and the pot wash, and restocking supplies. My main responsibilities were to make sure the café area was clean and tidy at all times. I enjoyed interacting with all the different people from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences, and solving all the problems, big or little, that occurred.
June 08-July 08 Student Associates Scheme, Farnborough School, Nottingham
This placement, through Nottingham Trent University, involved helping and supporting the teachers of the Modern Languages department, which allowed me to observe many lessons of classes of different ages and abilities, and the different styles and strategies of the teachers, at the end of the scheme, after helping the Head of Department with the planning and preparation of her lessons, I planned, prepared and taught four classes of Year 8 and Year 9 German, varying from set 1 to set 6 ability. I gained a deep understanding of the levels of confidence and discipline one needs to stand in front of a class and maintain control and concentration.
May 09 –Nov 09 Consultant, Body Shop at Home
Through working as a direct seller, I met many interesting people and gained confidence in speaking to groups of people. Again I enjoyed using my initiative to solve any issues and communicate effectively with the people I met.
Skills and Abilities
From my experiences in and outside of schools, I feel I am a capable and confident person, able to face new challenges and develop. I work well independently and as part of a team, due to my interpersonal skills, especially those of listening and communicating well, my ability to work under pressure and to a deadline, and also my problem-solving skills. All of these I have previously demonstrated, particularly during the time I worked as a Student Associate, and as a member of the catering department at Nottingham Trent University, where I worked as part of a team to get the job done and especially during high stress busy periods of customer service and where I had to deal with the issues brought forth by patrons in a helpful and friendly way. My voluntary placement through the University of Sheffield in Prince Edward’s Primary School gave me the opportunity to further develop and test my skills, especially those in patience, discipline, diplomacy and communication. I worked as a classroom assistant and supported the teacher and teaching assistant in aiding the children with their learning. We worked as a team and helped each other to ensure the classroom was a stable learning environment, where the children felt safe and comfortable, and were able to progress and work towards reaching their potential. I was often given responsibility for a group, which sometimes required encouraging them to work as a group or work with them individually. I listened to and supported many with their reading; an avid reader myself, I am enthusiastic about promoting reading and literacy skills. I enjoyed being part of the class and watching the children progress and gain new knowledge. I particularly enjoyed helping with the Christmas party and supporting the teacher and the class on a trip to a local gallery.
Interests and Achievements
I gained the certificate for 200 hours voluntary service with Millennium Volunteers in 2005-2006, spending six months in my local nursery and twelve months working with an eleven-year-old in preparation for her Key Stage 2 Exams. I also received the Acorn Book Club award from the local library and I was involved in the Catch-Up program during my GCSE years. This involved helping some students with their reading skills, demonstrating my keen interest in promoting literacy and reading. My most recent achievement is my placement in Prince Edward’s Primary School, where I regularly help with literacy and numeracy, aid in group work tasks, and I have also participated in a school trip to a local gallery.
Other outside interests include the usual enjoyment of reading, films and music, but also creative activities such as writing, knitting, cross stitch, painting etc. I also enjoy exercise through workout games and DVDs, walking, rollerblading and cycling. I am confident that my outside interests and achievements make me an interesting person, who is capable of empathising and communicating well with a variety of people from different backgrounds and life experiences, and that I also have the confidence and ability to do so.
University of Sheffield BA English Language and Linguistics
(08-10) To be completed June 2010
Nottingham Trent University BA (Hons) Modern Languages with Linguistics
(06-08) Level 2 Italian, Japanese, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Linguistics (2:1)
Level 1 German, Italian, and Linguistics (1:1)
Bury College A-Levels
(04-06) German (B)
English Language (B)
Geography (B)
AS Levels
History (B)
General Studies (B)
Haslingden High School GCSEs
(99-04) Maths (A)
Double Award Science (A*, A*)
English Literature (A)
English Language (B)
German (A)
Geography (A)
History (A)
R.S (A*)
Food Technology (A)
Employment
June 03 –Feb 04 Childcare Assistant, Cliviger, Burnley
I worked as an assistant for a mother of three. My main responsibility was the care of the toddler so more attention could be given to the older two children with special needs, one with serious brain damage and the other with Asperger’s syndrome. Other duties included helping with the care of these two, particularly in times of disorder and stress, such as bad behaviour issues and seizures. I feel that I gained much insight into working with children, both those with and without special needs, and the challenges one faces on a daily basis. My ability to work under pressure and to use my initiative, while handling many issues at once, greatly increased during this experience. It was working under these challenges and through the times of stress, due to teething, illness, tantrums and other behavioural issues, that I discovered my passion for working with children and learnt just how rewarding the experience could be.
Feb 07 - Apr 08 Catering Assistant, Nottingham Trent University
My job entailed working in both the café and the canteen, carrying out various functions, such as serving customers and dealing with any problems that cropped up, using the hot drinks machines, and the pot wash, and restocking supplies. My main responsibilities were to make sure the café area was clean and tidy at all times. I enjoyed interacting with all the different people from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences, and solving all the problems, big or little, that occurred.
June 08-July 08 Student Associates Scheme, Farnborough School, Nottingham
This placement, through Nottingham Trent University, involved helping and supporting the teachers of the Modern Languages department, which allowed me to observe many lessons of classes of different ages and abilities, and the different styles and strategies of the teachers, at the end of the scheme, after helping the Head of Department with the planning and preparation of her lessons, I planned, prepared and taught four classes of Year 8 and Year 9 German, varying from set 1 to set 6 ability. I gained a deep understanding of the levels of confidence and discipline one needs to stand in front of a class and maintain control and concentration.
May 09 –Nov 09 Consultant, Body Shop at Home
Through working as a direct seller, I met many interesting people and gained confidence in speaking to groups of people. Again I enjoyed using my initiative to solve any issues and communicate effectively with the people I met.
Skills and Abilities
From my experiences in and outside of schools, I feel I am a capable and confident person, able to face new challenges and develop. I work well independently and as part of a team, due to my interpersonal skills, especially those of listening and communicating well, my ability to work under pressure and to a deadline, and also my problem-solving skills. All of these I have previously demonstrated, particularly during the time I worked as a Student Associate, and as a member of the catering department at Nottingham Trent University, where I worked as part of a team to get the job done and especially during high stress busy periods of customer service and where I had to deal with the issues brought forth by patrons in a helpful and friendly way. My voluntary placement through the University of Sheffield in Prince Edward’s Primary School gave me the opportunity to further develop and test my skills, especially those in patience, discipline, diplomacy and communication. I worked as a classroom assistant and supported the teacher and teaching assistant in aiding the children with their learning. We worked as a team and helped each other to ensure the classroom was a stable learning environment, where the children felt safe and comfortable, and were able to progress and work towards reaching their potential. I was often given responsibility for a group, which sometimes required encouraging them to work as a group or work with them individually. I listened to and supported many with their reading; an avid reader myself, I am enthusiastic about promoting reading and literacy skills. I enjoyed being part of the class and watching the children progress and gain new knowledge. I particularly enjoyed helping with the Christmas party and supporting the teacher and the class on a trip to a local gallery.
Interests and Achievements
I gained the certificate for 200 hours voluntary service with Millennium Volunteers in 2005-2006, spending six months in my local nursery and twelve months working with an eleven-year-old in preparation for her Key Stage 2 Exams. I also received the Acorn Book Club award from the local library and I was involved in the Catch-Up program during my GCSE years. This involved helping some students with their reading skills, demonstrating my keen interest in promoting literacy and reading. My most recent achievement is my placement in Prince Edward’s Primary School, where I regularly help with literacy and numeracy, aid in group work tasks, and I have also participated in a school trip to a local gallery.
Other outside interests include the usual enjoyment of reading, films and music, but also creative activities such as writing, knitting, cross stitch, painting etc. I also enjoy exercise through workout games and DVDs, walking, rollerblading and cycling. I am confident that my outside interests and achievements make me an interesting person, who is capable of empathising and communicating well with a variety of people from different backgrounds and life experiences, and that I also have the confidence and ability to do so.