My name is Bill. I am a retired USAF pilot currently working as an instructor pilot for the Boeing Company flying 747-400, 777, and 787. Before attending college I was a missionary for two years serving in Colombia, South America. Because of this, and over 10 years studying Spanish up to the 300 level in college, I speak, read, and write fluent Spanish. I attended BYU in Provo UT where I received a BS degree in Zoology, then joining the military after graduation. While in the military I obtained an MA degree in Information Management and graduated from several master's level military schools specializing in safety, military history, technical writing, international relations, leadership, and public speaking. I am currently obtaining a second master's degree in aeronautical science specializing in flight safety and aeronautical studies, which I will complete this year, and will apply to the PhD program in hopes of teaching Aeronautical Science at the university after retiring from Boeing.
I have been teaching in some form since high school from coaching youth sports and giving swim lessons during high school to instructing pilots from over 30 different countries in my current job. I love teaching and feel there is no better profession. While in Colombia I taught lessons about my religion, did service among the poor, performed translation technical work, and taught lessons in English. I have done flight instruction for almost 20 years teaching people from over 30 countries. As a result I have been to every continent, and almost every state. I have met, worked with and briefed people ranging from, congressional staffers, leaders of countries, CEOs of fortune 500 company, generals to very young pilots flying for the first time. I have done extensive volunteer work at our children s' schools, tutoring in math, the sciences, English, and Spanish. I have also been a volunteer and professional swim coach and have coach at the high school varsity, and USS swimming level.
I believe anyone can learn. If a student has a sincere desire to understand then it is incumbent upon the teacher to instruct to a level they do understand and to adjust teaching methods so this can be done. There are few things better in life then watching a student finally begin to understand a subject they have struggled with for so long. I have found students usually fear a subject not because they think it's irrelevant to them, but because they have not been taught in such a way to make the subject relevant and understandable. I have yet to work with anyone who did not begin to like a subject once they finally understood it. The desire to learn on the part of the student and the ability to adjust to a learning style on the part of the student are the keys to success.
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