Calling All Philologists!!! T.A. App.
Given the ever swelling size of my student body, I am calling for my best students to try to lend a hand. Below you’ll find a link to an aptitude application for the coveted position of honorary HotForWords T. A.!
As my Teaching Assistant (what did you think T and A stood for?), you’ll need to see to my every etymological need and sundry chores to be performed at my discretion. As such you’ll receive the privilege of (virtually) sitting alongside your teacher in her hot and hallowed inner sanctum and you’ll be the envy of HFW devotees the world over.
My star pupils will rotate on a biweekly basis allowing every eager beaver the chance to show off their etymological endowments for their favorite whimsical wonder of the word world. 
Good luck and may the most demonstratively philological students win.
Marina
Here is the application form.
Thanks to Jay The 7 Million Dollar Man for the list of questions!
Loading ...
I so much do enjoy your videos.It’s good to learn something new everyday .The English language is so hard to understand sometimes. Makes you wonder what they were thinking sometimes. You do wonderful job explaining the origins. And those decolletages are just a added bonus.. Thanks !!
etymological endowments = lol…i like that phrase
i like your style 2
Hi Marina. I wanted to be your teachers assistant, or better teachers pet, but I’m afraid I’m not a youtube subscriber at all let alone a subscriber to your channel, and I’m just not educated enough for the job. I love your videos though and I was thrilled when you did one of my requests, peace out.
Marina,
Do you need more words to look up or do you need help in investigating the words? Ask us what you need of us oh great goddess of Philology.
P.S. No we will not do any videos. That would defeat the whole purpose of watching your videos.
Jack
When are you going to pick a TA? I haven’t seen anyone picked as a TA yet, and I’ve been stopping by each week to see who wins first.
improper use of “curtails” - in my sleepy stupor, I intended to write “entails”
This doesn’t reflect very well on my potential as a “T.A.” lol
To HotForWords:
Despite my comparatively rudimentary knowledge of words, I would as a fan of your show definitely enjoy having the chance to be a “T.A.” for you. If this position curtails research, then I can definitely help as much as anyone (I live 4 blocks from the city library). If it involves movie production, then I can also help as I have some experience in both sound editing and movie editing.
I noticed, however, that you no longer have the application posted. I hope for my sake that the opportunity is still available or for your sake that you found somebody capable of filling the position (though based on the posts that I’ve seen, I suspect that you found the field to be wanting and/or suspect).
If you could email me the application and/or any questions and/or concerns, that would be great (I’d rather not post my email address unless necessary as I’d like to think you can access it via the administrative functions on this website).
Thanks
Marina,
It’s been over a month since you made the request
That your student body take an aptitude test
Now the ball’s in your court, to fill the position
With the pupil that showed the most skill and ambition
Hint: Pick me
Marina, when will you actually be picking the TA? When we will know who got the gig?
I completed my app. with style and perfection
Now I wonder how long before you make your selection
I hope you don’t mind that I’m being persistent
But, I really want to be your teaching assistant
lol. a ta to go through all the ta’s applications? ;P
lol it rhymes!
applied! i hope i’m not too young for it? or does it matter?
Already applied and happy. Yeah, I’m getting confused as well, because I speak too many languages: Russian (Привет, Марина!), Ukrainian (I live there), English (fluent, studied since was 2), French (not so bad), German (see French), study Spanish and Italian and Korean. Yeah, my friends call me crazy, but I’m OK with all of that. Really. I’d love to help you out with your lessons and talk to you in our native language. Bye!
Can I sign up for t.a
Did you get my application, Marina? I would love you forever if you picked me!
wow, thank you so much dear. I DID use another email address and i now have a new account on you tube yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
I am going to subscribe now to your videos. I am so happy
Thank you again lovely teacher
my you tube name is: Whyattractive
I would Never give marina a APPLE i would have a load of grapes and feed her ….mmmm….
…….My english spelling is SO SO bad and grammer….but words are SO SO COOL ! 
It might be just as much fun to make an example of the ones who need detention!
I’m not gonna do any more homework, and next semester instead of an A+, I want an F.
I want to be a TA. My son is a TA at the University of Maryland and his older brother was a TA at Carnegie Mellon in the 90’s. I have to keep up with them.
Hi Marina,
TA stands for a TEACHING ASSISTANT, a junior scholar employed on a temporary contract by a college or university in teaching-related responsibilities
P.s I am not a subscriber on your youtube channel because i already been kicked out ! I have posted a movie before but i have no idea why they disabled my account forever. So now i have registered here which is better since i am not allowed to make another account on you tube anymore SAD
Marina,
I loved the questionnaire. It was an honor and a pretty fascinating experience.
I am looking forward to working with you,
Besos,
Tu alumno No. 1
Woot - what fun?! Thanks, Marina - truly appreciate the chance to be “teacher’s pet”!
Well said Marina!! LOL,,I shoulda expected as much from One such as You!! Even though You are 20 years younger than I You would likely win any debate I could muster wether seriously or all in fun!! Now,,,ummmmm,,,when is it We get a look at Your portfolio?! Both from before and after the formation and subsequent success of Your site!?!? LOL,,sorry,,poking fun is inherant to My nature and laughter really is the best medicine! I can take a jibe as well as long it seems to be in good spirits..
A few years back I lived with a lady from in or near Russian Federation,Kazakhstan I think it was. Loved Her accent too! She was’nt quite so good at the tough questions tho and left My silly ass behind! LOL..
Honorary TA! Does this mean more words and less Marina?!?! And when there’s money being made from adds n such does the “honorary” title exclude the Helpers from any profit!? And here I thought You might actually be a kind soul willing to teach and entertain from the goodness of Your heart. That’ll “learn” Me!! Please clarify these issues so the student body has a full and unchanging grasp of the true spirit of Your work Marina. Also the standard statement of “there are operating costs” is true I’m sure but only goes just so far.. I hate to have such negative connotations in a post to One so beautiful and seemingly generous but My suspicious side will always question motives when money may be involved..
These are great questions. Well done, 7 million dollar man.
Just one quibble: When you submit your entry, there is no indication that your entry has been received; you’re just redirected back to the application form. It would be nice if there were some kind of reassurance, for those of us with insecurity issues.
Will do, thanks.
I’ll apply Marina!!! Look out for me.
When it comes to you, Marina, T&A stand for Totally Awesome. : )
I am so gonna sign up! Count me in!
opps, sorry, I forgot the “you” between “could” and “please”… Ahhh English, French, Spanish, I’m getting lost and confused, haha
so you have to know a lot about Enlgish and better if you are a native speaker, right? well, that’s too bad for me eventhough I enjoy your lesson. Could please, at leats, give me a good book name to start reading it? Thanks, if you’ll do so, and if not, well thanks anyway for the lessons. Besos…(means kisses)
Book recommendation:-
http://www.amazon.com/Morris-Dictionary-Word-Phras e-Origins/dp/006015862X
Just one of the reasons why my login name is appropriate.
Disclaimer: I have no connection with this book or the authors and gain no profit from recommending it.
Bob
One of my favorite & fun books that helps along the lines of grammar, punctuation, and word usage is Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss. Yes, it’s more punctuation than words, but - in writing - a strong understanding of both will help you express yourself all the more fluently! Good luck!
Oh, I love that book! =]
I highly recommend School House Rocks, Grammar Rocks. http://www.school-house-rock.com/
You could try going back to school to re-learn basic punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure, spelling, most of all regardless of how many whiz bang features your browser has, PROOF READING YOUR POSTS PRIOR TO HITTING SUBMIT/SENT/POST/ETC!!!!
Oh wait, that might cut into your text messaging and gaming time!
padmcd,
what’s so important about capitalization?
what’s wrong with his sentence structure?
btw, it’s “proofreading”.