The document provides an overview of Hussein Hassan's educational philosophy and teaching approach. It emphasizes connecting with students as individuals, providing a safe learning environment, and using constructivist and social cognitivist methods when teaching foreign languages. It also lists some relevant research articles on testing, self-directed learning, and teaching methods. Finally, it discusses Hussein's understanding of professional teaching standards related to creating a positive learning environment, learner-centered instruction, assessment, technology integration, and professional development.

1. Professional Portfolio Hussein Hassan Introduction

2. Educational Philosophy My philosophy is based on connection, the ability to connect with my students in a way to serve their educational needs. I believe in the individualization of practice, application, in utilizing the different modalities of learning. In other words, each student is a whole being that interacts differently with me, others, and the surrounding world and thus s/he interprets everything s/he encounters differently. I try to provide a safe and democratic environment in the classroom where the students feel safe and encouraged to share, reflect on their own understandings. When I teach a foreign language I believe in my role as a constructivist and social cognitivist. I try to make the learning experience transformational where the students, by learning a new language, are guided to express themselves in a new way, reflecting on their own beliefs and emotions, and can be more open and tolerant, free from the the social, cultural and emotional constraints that hinder them to express these new ideas and feelings in their mother tongues.

3. Relevant Research 1 of 2 pages Here is an article that gave me a new perspective about testing Adult Learners. R.M. Felder, "Designing Tests to Maximize Learning," J. Prof.Issues in Engr. Education and Practice (2002).Retrieved online September 2nd, 2009 from http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Papers/TestingTips.htm This article looks at some of the common mistakes that quantitative discipline teachers sometimes do in regard to testing their students.It focuses, too, on how to make the testing experience a more learning experience instead of a riddle-solving one.

4. Relevant Research 2 of 3 pages Here is another article I found interesting in understanding Self-Directed Learning Lucy M. Guglielmino, "Why self-directed learning?" International Journal of Self-Directed Learning,Spring 2008 Retrieved online September7th, 2009 from http://sdlglobal.com/docs/IJSDL/IJSDL_5.1-2008.pdf The article gave me more understanding of the concept of Self-Directed Learning as a natural tendency for humans, a necessity to meet current and future challenges and an important issue that we all need to examine closely.

5. Relevant Research 3 of 3 pages Here is an interview with Leopold Auer, a prominent violinist and teacher who implemented a unique teaching methods that interestingly had concepts that many following learning theories embodied like individualization. Retrieved from: http://www.theviolinsite.com/violin_mastery/leopold_auer.html

6. Professional Standards for Teachers in Adult Education Standard 1 : Help establish and support program goals and responsibilities. Practitioners conduct their work within the context of the program’s mission, goals, and priorities. As such, the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with administrators and instructional colleagues is important. The competencies for this standard focus on collecting, managing, and sharing data and ideas to improve instruction and program quality.The role of the teacher in working with program staff to increase student retention is also addressed. My Understanding: I have to focus on the objectives of my organization and the objectives of my students from joining the class. I must be very courteous and respectful to my students, colleagues and administrators that I work with whether inside my organization or other capacities that we work with in joint efforts. Here is a preview of the program's mission. http://www.dliflc.edu/program.html

7. Professional Standards for Teachers in Adult Education Standard 2: Provide a positive adult education-learning environment and promote lifelong learning. Providing a learning environment that is conducive to quality instruction as well as supportive of lifelong learning is critical to the success of adult students. The competencies in this standard focus on the development of a learning community that facilitates and encourages interaction and lifelong learning, demonstrates sensitivity to the needs of adult students, and builds positive attitudes toward self-directed learning and achievement. The importance of fostering learner persistence is also addressed. My Understanding: I believe that early instruction has the most effect on a student's willingness and motivation . It's that connection that makes the students believe in themselves and encourages them to keep studying after the course ends. One of the tools I provide my students with is a list of websites that offer free learning opportunities to sustain my students language skills and pursue more advanced levels of language proficiency like this website: http://gloss.dliflc.edu/

8. Professional Standards for Teachers in Adult Education Standard 3: Plan, design, and deliver learner-centered instruction. Planning, designing, and delivering instruction is at the heart of the learning process. Competencies for this standard include the development of instructional plans, sequencing and pacing of classroom activities, and linking instruction to learner needs and abilities. The competencies encompass the delivery of appropriately planned lessons that utilize evidence based and contextualized instruction, provide ample time for students to practice and apply their learning, and employ a variety of strategies, resources, and materials. My Understanding: I believe in individualizing the class to meet the different objectives of the students and deliver instruction using multiple teaching methods to meet the students different learning tendencies. Here is a lesson plan I developed for my students at the Command and General Staff College. http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AcxrWdHE-WkUZGdxbm5qZzJfNTRmYnpwNmZ4&hl=en

9. Professional Standards for Teachers in Adult Education Standard 4: Assess learning and monitor progress . Assessing learner needs, monitoring progress, and providing feedback are essential components of the instructional process. Competencies for this standard focus on collecting and sharing information about learner characteristics, needs, and progress through both formal and informal assessments and then using the information to plan appropriate instruction. My Understanding : Instructors need to develop tools of checking on their students to make sure that all are getting toward the objective of the class by open discussions, quizzes and pairing, grouping students with different learning tendencies and levels. One of the things I do in my language class is to pair students with different levels of skills, for instance I would pair a student with strong reading skill and weak speaking skill with another students with strong speaking skill with a weak reading skill. Giving direct feedback is always appreciated by students, focusing on their strengths and things they need to work on and offering help to students to work on these things.

10. Professional Standards for Teachers in Adult Education Standard 5 : Implement technology . The use and integration of technology can greatly enhance the instructional process. Competencies for this standard are derived from the Maryland Adult Education Technology Standards, and the competencies encompass the understanding and integration of technology resources into instruction. My Understanding : In today's classrooms settings, technology is a preferred method of delivery, I use power-point presentations, blackboard, smartboard and video/audio materials, and the Internet to present my teaching material. The visual, audio, interactive method proved to be the most affective one to keep students attentive and these methods speak to all students according to their different learning tendencies and push all of them a little to get out of their comfort zones of learning to experience the learning process from different perspectives .

11. Professional Standards for Teachers in Adult Education Standard 6 : Maintain knowledge and pursue professional development . Instructors are the primary facilitators of student learning and must have the requisite skills and content knowledge to guide the instructional process. Competencies for this standard emphasize development of a core knowledge base related to adult learning as well as content matter and instruction, including language acquisition, reading and numeracy development, and strategies for working with English language learners, and low-skilled individuals. The competencies for this standard focus on the acquisition of knowledge through an assessment of professional growth needs and participation in professional development activities, followed by the transfer of learning into instructional practice. My Understanding : This is a must for all educators as they consider themselves as advocates for lifelong learning. And that's exactly why I enrolled in the MAE program, to develop my understanding of adult learning and focus on the instructional technology that would enable me not only to better equip myself with knowledge and skills to better serve my students but also to give me a solid foundation for continuing learning.

12. Links http://gloss.dliflc.edu/ It is a DLIFLC language tool that helps foreign language learners to sustain their proficiency level and offer free online lessons for different languages.

13. My Blog I believe that My Blog is a true reflection on my teaching philosophy.

14. The Vision Tree Constructivist The Teacher Change Agent Nurturer Reflective Practitioner Moral Educator Facilitator Mediator of Diversity

15. The Vision Tree 1-Constructivist: For an educator is, I think, to approach the students by giving them meaningful context that both relates to them and intrigue them to reflect on their previous knowledge in light of the new ones and encourage them to construct their own meanings. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F00R3pOXzuk 2-Moral educator: I think that is the most important attributes that makes a great teacher, a teacher who is honest to his message, considers himself not only an an individual but as a role-model that inspires students. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCbWH0TC870 3-Reflective practitioner: One who reflects on his/her learning methods, his/her students learning process, and is open to new ideas and considers the classroom as learning space for all of the participants teacher and students.

16. The Vision Tree 4-Mediator of diversity: In our society,this is a must for teachers to understand the sociocultural backgrounds of their students,ethnically,socially and to know their own perspectives on life,education and current issues.This knowledge is critical for the teacher to be able to approach his/her students effectively and help in creating environment of respect and openness toward others. 5-Facilitator: A teacher who facilitate, not dictate the classroom, a teacher who gives his students all the tools they need to make them successful, creative and innovative. 6-Change agent: A teacher that understands the psychology of his/her students that can diagnose any potential threat to the harmony of classroom and s/he creates an environment of respect, understanding of differences, and tolerance. 7-Nurturer: is to have a cool attitude that inspires students to be at ease in the classroom but respectful and professional at the same time.

17. Truncated Resume B.A. in English Language, University of Baghdad, College of Languages, 2003 Multinational Force-Iraq 2003-2007 Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center/ Professional Military Education Support. 2008-present.