Current Classes
Summer 2009 Classes
Soc 1510-30
link to
Etudes OR
off-line class
information
Soc 1510-40
(link to Etudes)
Soc 2141-40
(link to Etudes)
Hi, my name is Vivian Varela and I am currently an adjunct instructor at TC.
I attended Taft College 1980-1983 and graduated with an AA in Business Administration. In 1987, I started working at Taft College as an Instructional Aide and have done a variety of jobs at the college. I earned my BA degree in Sociology online from CSU, Chico in 2003, a Master's degree online in Education-Online Teaching and Learning at CSU, Hayward in 2004 and most recently I drove to CSU Bakersfield earning my Master's degree in Sociology in Winter '06!
In August 2007 I accepted a new job as Director of Distance Education at Mendocino College in Ukiah, California. With the opportunity of "any where, any time" online learning I am able to keep my connection with Taft College!
There are several very helpful websites for Sociology students. I recommend:
- EverydaySociologyBlog.com offers an informative and entertaining look at what is going on in the world today from a sociologist’s perspective.
- American Sociological Association
- Dead Sociologists Index Professor Larry Ridener's useful overview of many of the major sociological theorists.
- Kearl's Guide to the Sociology of the Family
- ASA Style Guide - the style guide for sociology research papers
- Guidelines for a Critical Book Review
- Time Management (opens in a new window) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It explores the myths about managing your time and ways to take control over your schedule. I highly recommend this resource!
I am the proud parent of two wonderful adults--Marcie and Matt. Working full time and teaching part-time, I don't have much time to relax. But when I do, I love to read, watch HGTV and sports (especially the LA Kings and the LA Dodgers), sew and quilt.
Books currently on my nightstand include:
The Age Of American Unreason by Susan Jacoby, Everything Bad is Good For You: How Today's Popular Culture is Actually Making Us Smarter by Steven Johnson, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ronald J. Sider, and The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
Music currently on my iPod includes: "Rodrigo y Gabriela" by Rodrigo y Gabriela, "Remedy" by David Crowder Band, "Forgiven" by Los Lonely Boys, "Empty and Beautiful" by Matt Maher, and "Mission Road" by Chanticleer.
Vivian Varela
Adjunct Instructor
varela@taftcollege.edu