Blog 23: Helping 2013

Who did you interview: Jose Cadena

What day and time: I didn't

Content:   You will be asking an assigned junior some questions and giving them feedback regarding their senior project ideas.  It is your job to document the experience on the blog.  

(1) What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?

• I was thinking of music journalism because it might be a field that I would like to pursue in the future after college, so yeah.
• It might be hard to find service learning for music journalism.Try looking at local newspapers or radio stations.

(2) What do you plan to do to complete the 10 hours of service learning (working with an expert) which is due prior to senior year starting?  Note: They also have to complete the 50 hours during the school year.

• I was thinking of going to a local popular music radio station and sort of "shadowing" the person who posts all the latest music info and news on the radio station's website.
• This is good.Make sure to get as much service learning this summer, because it will be hard to complete service learning during the year.

(3) What do you hope to see or expect to see when watching the class of 2012 present their two hour presentations?

•  I expect to see a lot of intertesting topics that have been fully fleshed out over an entire year. I also expect to see many new ideas for possible career fields in my future.
• Take notes on what activities are most engaging. How did they decorate the room and what helped their presentation work? Was it their personal stories, or lots of facts?

(4) What questions do they have about senior project?  What additional recommendations would you give the 2013 student about senior project?  Be specific and note what you told them.

• None, I sort of know everything that I think I need to know about it for now
• Start thinking about science fair and your independent components. Those deadlines come up faster than you think.

• 
  

Blog 27: Senior Project Reflection

 

(1) Positive Statement
I am most proud of the effort I put into my presentation. I put a good 20 hours of work into my presentation. I spent a lot of time on making posters, planning my activities, designing my powerpoint, and drafting out what I want to say. Because of this my activities ran smoothly, my powerpoint was easy to understand, I was able to make talking time and I didn't choke at all during my presentation.

I'm proud of being able to make talking time without any struggle. It really proved that I did learn a lot during my senior project.

(2) Questions to Consider

What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)? Why?

     I would honestly give myself a AE-/P+. I met all of the requirements and put A LOT of effore into my presentation. My presentation went well and my activities were interactive. All of the information I presented showed quality research.

b. What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)? Why?

P-, I did well on some components, and not so well on others.

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

My research worked out the best. I developed a system of finding new articles which helped me find good research. I also managed to get interviews with very successful international business people.

(4) What didn’t work for you in your senior project?

Finding service learning was a challenge. It was hard to find a business that would want a 17 year old to shadow them from 50 hours. But I eventually found an international real estate agency, which was good service learning because my mentor was able to teach me A LOT.

(5) Finding Value

The senior project has helped my with my time management skills and learning to not procratinate. These assignemtns were big projects that couldn't be waited on for the last minute... especially Independent Components, I-Search, and the 2 Hour Presentation.
Also it helped me confirm my college major of Economics. At the beginning of the year I wanted to major in International Business, but I learned that business is not the best major that I could take in order to be a successful international business person.
I learn A LOT about my topic of interest and I know I can understand international business better. Now when I read the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, or the Economist I have an idea for what they are saying :)

Blog 26: 2-Hour Presentation

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BxDGp0KTPUBtOHo0aEJMTGdlczA

Service Learning

Literal
I completed 80 hours of service learning at Coldwell Banker with real estate agent, Jaylyn Lopez (626)252-7219.
Log: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BxDGp0KTPUBtdjVxcDhleW84WTQ

Interpretive   
It is very important to be able to constantly communicate with the client so you know what the client wants. Also, when dealing with different cultures, you have to take into acount their values and costums.

Applied
Not beng sble to communicate with the clients made it very difficult to get business done. Because of this I learned the big importance of communication. Through knowing this, my skills of dealing with international clients have imporved.

Blog 24: Independent Component 2

Literal

(a)“I, student name, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”  

(b) Explanation of what you completed.

Interpretive

  Over thirty hours of work, I began to learn a new language: French. In order to do this I completed lessons in French in 30 Days by Berlitz and watched several audio/visual lessons on the French alphabet, number, sentence structure pronunciation and grammar. Each lesson took a good two hours to complete and fully understand. Each lesson started with a French story and came with French audio. I'd listen to the audio first, and then I'd interpret the script with the help of Nancy. After the script was interpreted I'd read the script out loud to work on my pronunciation. Then I'd listen to the French audio again to see if I understand it. After listening to the audio there were several French grammar exercises that followed. Apart from learning the grammar and key words and phrases, we also learned a bit about French etiquette such as... how to address certain people, how meals are treated differently, etc.

Applied

How did it help you answer your EQ? 

 This component really helped me EQ because it opened my eyes to a culture different from my own and also helped me feel more comfortable with trying to blend in with another culture. Learning about the different phrases and etiquette really made me realize how different cultures can be. I thought I knew a lot about the French culture, but when I started this component I realized that I didn't know it very well at all.

Grading Criteria

• Log: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ak8KqhRUkWezdHZHSHM2SnVuLWpENkoxYll0eF9MUWc
• Evidence: Nancy Attempa

Blog 22: Answer 3

EQ?
What is most important to success in international business?

Answer 3:
Be able to trade in different currencies without losing money or charging too much.

Evidence: 3 pieces (facts and examples)
-value of different currencies go up and down
-exchange rates can be unreasonably high
-depending on different economies certain products had different values.

Source: for answer and evidence
-Angela Forgo interview
-16 tips for dealing with international clients
-Robert Jefferson interview

Blog 21: 3-Column Chart

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BxDGp0KTPUBtc1pyV1JkZXd3eVk

Blog 20: Room Creativity

How do you plan to address the room creativity expectation?
An idea I have to decorate the room with different sections labeled and designed to fit different countries, with the companies that come from those regions labeled. I will then take those compnaies and connect them to the countries that they trade with.

What activity ideas do you have for answer 1 or 2?
For answer one, I could assign each group of five a country to "trade with" and give them a discription of that country's costums.

Blog 19: Answer 2

EQ: What is most important to success in international business?

 

Answer 2: In order to achieve success in international business you must be able to communicate properly with your clients.

 

Evidence:

- If you are not familiar with the language of a clients culture a lot of miscommunication can come up with can lead to bad transactions and lack of trust with clients.

-The Challenges of Dealing with International Clients - "Speak in plain English when dealing with clients who are not fluent in English to avoid miscommunication."

-Because international business requires you to deal with clients from other nations, there will be several instances when you deal with clients whose first language is not English.

Blog 18: The Product

Question: As of March, what is your product and why? As of March the product of my senior product so far is improved people and communication skills with people from my own culture and other cultures in a corporate setting.  Before my senior project one of my biggest fears was speaking in another language that I was not familiar with because I was afraid that people would laugh at me. After reading several articles about business men and hearing stories from business people about travelling to other countries for business purposes and having to learn a new language, I realized that my fear is not unique. However it also taught me that being comfortable and being able to assimulate with another culture is crucial for working in international business. I especially learned this at my service learning with Jaylyn Lopez at Coldwell Banker when there are times that we have to show houses to non-English speaking clients. I learned from experience that not making the effort to communicate can not only frustrate and offend clients, but make the business process awkward. Also, to further push myself and my new skills, for my independant component 2 I have decided to learn another language (French.) Doing this has made me more comfortable with adapting to other cultures, because it is a language that is very dislike my own.

^^The French language books I bought and added to my personal libraby.

^^One of the pages I have completed in my French language books

Blog 17: Independent Component 2 Plan Approval

Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.

For I Independent Study Component 2 I plan on learning beginners French with Nancy Attempa.

Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement.

Nancy and I have have access to several French language books, audio, and workbooks. For thirty hours we will work together to learn basic French vocobulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

How does your independent study component relate to your EQ?   

International business requires you to deal with people from countries outside of your own. Due to this, there is an extremely high chance that you will encounter languages that you are not familiar with... this is why it is important to become comfortable with adapting and learning new languages. 

Blog 15: Independent Component 1

Independent Component 1 Calendars:
November Calendar
December Calendar
January-February Calendar 

LIA:

Literal

(a) I, student name, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.

(b) I completed thirty hours of creating my own business and created my own products for bath and skin care that can be sold on the web (therefore it can be accessed by international clients as long as they speak English.)

Interpretive

This project showed me that created your own online business is NOT easy. Before I started completing this assignment, I didn't think that creating an online business would be much of a challenge, but I was proved wrong. Spending hours trying to create a name, logo, and website design proved difficult. It took careful planning a lot of thought. However the hardest part (and the least fun) was creating the product. It took a lot of patience and dedication. It was important to make sure that the recipes I had used for my products were capable of being sold to others (meaning that the product was both visually appealing and effective.)

Applied

How did it help you answer your EQ?

 This assignment gave me a couple more answers to my essential question. The first one is marketing. It took a long time to find a name that was catchy and easy to remember. And if I chose a name that was too long it would have been hard to create a logo and design for the website and packaging which would have turned off possible clients. The second possible answer has to do with creating and protecting your product. While making the website I listed the ingredients that were used to create the bath and skin care products... however I had to be careful to not use obvious names so that way people could go home and make the same products on their own.

Evidence:
The website I created is http://www.wix.com/eccentricbean94/wayback#!

Blog 14: Presentation 2 Rought Draft

20 Minute Presentation

Blog 13: Answer 1

(1) What is answer 1 to your EQ? Be specific in your answer and write it like a thesis statement.
The best way to perform business with international clients is to assimilate with their culture.

(2) What possible evidence do you have to support this answer?
-If one does not understand their clients culture it is often difficult to realize if they have lost their clients trust.

(3) What source(s) did you find this evidence and/or answer?
And interview with Rovert Jefferson.

Blog 13: Service Learning

Where are you working for your service learning?
I'm am working at Coldwell Banker for my device learning.

Who is your contact?
The real estate agent I'm working with is Jaylyn Lopez (mobile:(626) 252-7219) who does international real estate.

Summarize the services you have performed to complete the 10 hour requirement?
-Showing houses to clients
-Organizing files and documents (whether it be for payments or housing info)

How many hours have you worked?
-12 hours

Senior Project ESLR

EFFECTIVE USER OF TECHNOLOGY
1. The aspects of this ESLR that I am focusing on is communicating through technology as well as completing my assignment through differen forms of technology.

2. During this senior project I had to use the Internet to look for people or businesses that were relevant to my EQ. Then I'd have to call those people and follow up with them through email (two different forms of technology. I have also taken advantage of the iPhone and iPad and I have been able to complete assignments on the go and in various places.

3. This makes me better at time management, for being able to complete assignments on the go and gives me the opportunity to get work done WHENEVER I am not busy. This saves time and energy (because I don't have to a lug a laptop around or have access to a computer.)


EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR
1. Doing the senior project we have to give presentations and ask people for interviews.

2. In order to effectively communicate with others it is important for my to get my ideas across. So often times I will rehearse what I say ahead of time or even write myself a script.

3. This teaches me to organize my thoughts, which will give me little trouble collaborating with others in group work.

Blog 11: Third Interview Questions

1. How is different dealing is with non-American clients than American ones.

2. Are there any other things that you need to take into consideration when dealing with extra clients.

3. Are there any extra steps that you must take when doing business with non-American clients.

4. Describe any situations when something has gone wrong or "not-as-planned" international clients.

5. What is the hardest thing about dealing with any internional clients.

6. Is there an extra step added to dealing with performing a business deal international.

7. What can you tell me about international business?

8. Why would people ever want to perform business internationally.

9. What are the beenits to international business?

10. What is the best way to deal with clients internationally?