MA Second Language Acquisition & Application;Specialization in Russian
Resume:
Resume of
Paul M. Nikonow
Johnstown, Pa 15905
Personal:
Home Phone: 814-***-****
Mobile Phone: 814-***-****
E-mail: *******@***.***
Education:
OPI Proficiency in Russian: 3/3
Pennsylvania State University
BA Russian Language
Special Interest in Translation
2002-2006
GPA: 3.06
Core Russian courses included:
• Intermediate Russian: Practice in reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, including a comprehensive review of grammar.
• Russian Conversation: Discussions and dialogues based on real-life scenarios and current events under the supervision of a native speaker.
• Russian Translation: Translation from Russian into English of complex texts. Other translation projects included news articles, web-page texts, cinema scripts, and poetry under the supervision of author Igor Klekh.
University of Maryland
MA Second Language Acquisition and Application with a focus on Russian
2006-2009
GPA: 3.00
Core Russian courses Included:
• Advanced Russian Composition
• Russian to English Translation
• Study of Problems in Russian Syntax
• Intensive Study of Verbal Aspect
Russian State Pedagogy University; Gertzen (St. Petersburg)
Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program
American Councils for International Education
2007-2008
GPA: 3.47
Resume of Paul M. Nikonow
Page 2
Work Experience:
Laurel Management Company
Utility Construction Laborer
Summers of 2002 and 2003
Intermedia Marketing
Telephone Sales Representative/Customer Service for Verizon
Summers of 2004 and 2005
Center for Advanced Study of Language
Graduate Research Assistant
September of 2006 to July of 2007
Responsibilities as Research Assistant included:
• Head administrator of three Technical Task Orders.
• Transcription of audio recorded interviews.
• Coding data entries in Excel.
• Assisted in the preparation and submission of Progress Reports and Technical Reports. Process included repetitive proof reading and fact checking. Proficient in Microsoft Office and can type 40 words per minute.
Bagel Place of College Park
Line Cook and Cashier
September of 2008 to December of 2008
References:
Ewa Golonka Cynthia Martin
Assistant Research Scientist Associate Professor
Center for Advanced Study of Language ARHU-School of Languages,
CASL, Box 25, University of Maryland Literatures, and Cultures
College Park, MD 20742-5121 2106B Jimenez Hall, University of MD
Phone: 301-***-**** College Park, MD 20742-4821
Phone: 301-***-****
Maria Lekic
Associate Professor
ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
4211 Jimenez Hall, University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-4821
Phone: 301-***-****
Paul M. Nikonow
203 Coon Ridge Road
Johnstown, Pa 15905
February 2, 2010
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing in response to your recent advertisement for a Translator position being offered by Language People Inc. Being familiar with the standards and practice of academic research as an administrative assistant, and having the unique experience of studying abroad, I am very interested in this opportunity and excited to speak with you about your current offering. I am a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, receiving an MA in Second Language Acquisition and Application, focusing my studies on Russian. I believe that I have a unique variety of skills, and am very interested in bringing my various experiences to your organization.
During my first year of graduate school at Maryland I worked at the Center for Advanced Study of Language (CASL) as a Graduate Research Assistant. I believe that this experience has prepared me quite well for the position that you are seeking to fill. At CASL, I was the main administrator of three major research projects, being the point of contact for researchers, managers and government representatives. At any given point in time, I worked on at least two of the projects simultaneously. One project specifically focused on updating web page information regarding higher education in less commonly taught languages. This information was used by various agencies of the government, and required extensive fact checking and gathering of information from various resources on the internet. Another project focused on coding information collected from advanced language learners employed by the federal government.
As the project administrator, I also worked closely with researchers to create and submit reports to governmental offices under a strict system of deadlines. These included progress, technical and quarterly reports. Some of my other responsibilities included scheduling and attending meetings between researchers and points of contact for the government. I created and distributed the agenda, took detailed minutes of the meeting and promptly posted them to the project’s web page. A few months after being hired, I was asked to train another Graduate Assistant who was hired as an administrator.
My experience at CASL taught me how to remain organized and to function in a dynamic, and at times chaotic, environment. Some of the methods I employed to achieve a smooth administrative process were strategic prioritizing of time and maintaining an open system of communications of my fellow CASL employees. These employees represented some very diverse disciplines, including advanced linguistics, mathematics and cognitive neuroscience. In addition, because the research conducted by CASL was used for reasons of national security, our government contacts demanded the strictest accuracy and precision in our work.
Beyond this relevant experience, I would also bring to your office the unique perspective of having spent a year living in Russia. I studied for two academic semesters in St. Petersburg and traveled throughout a portion of eastern and central Europe. I had the opportunity interact with people from all over the world, and I have seen and done things that many of my fellow Americans would have difficulty imagining or understanding. As a result, I now have a deeper and more realistic understanding of the world in general and of life in particular. Furthermore, due to my interest in foreign cultures, I was able to immerse myself in an unfamiliar and at times less than friendly environment. Although my time spent abroad was not always easy, it has amplified my appreciation for America and Americans alike and was an invaluable experience.
In closing, I would like to say that I have the understated confidence to feel comfortable in almost any new or challenging situation. In addition to what I have told you about myself, the reasons for this are quite interesting and varied - from being heavily involved in athletics, karate and judo for most of my life, to working for two summers as a telemarketer, trying to convince people to switch their long distance carriers.
Please refer to the enclosed resume, and call me at 814-***-**** or e-mail me at *******@***.*** with any questions or to schedule an interview. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Paul M. Nikonow
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