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
The aptitude application is now closed.. but if you’d still like to be the teacher’s assistant.. then help out in the comments for a bit… and let one of the reigning TA’s know that you are interested in helping out.. or let me know. – Thanks, Marina.
star magic on 
neuroway on 
muggins on 
echo on 
Milaya Marina,
How can you pack so many doble-entendres into one paragraph and then say “application closed”?
I was ready to rise to the challenge!
Though it is closed, I would still like to try my hand at the test for fun:-)
soon i hope to have this escape
I’m interested. Very.
“whimsical wonder of the word world”
an interesting choice of words, when
you consider the difficulty enunciating
the letter “w” in English can be for a
Russian ( no “w” sound per Marina)
Try to say this three times real fast:
“There’s blood on the rubber baby buggy bumpers”
Oh I see. Its all about reading the damn instruction hu? Marina, don’t you know that men don’t read instructions. Grunt grunt! You don’t see me buying myself pretty flowers now do you? Oh wait…Whats that on my desk. Ok bad example. Ok you don’t see me… Well you get the picture.
Oops I forgot that darn “/” again.
So what have you done so far?
My post on the TA page should give you some clues. Also there are many things Im working in the background that really don’t need to be mentioned here. Really, its all boring technical stuff.
i would like to know why the word ”WIZARD”was created?
Correct me im rong but i think, The root or origin of the word wizard/witch derived from the word WIT/WIZ witch simply means knowlodge or too know.
How can I apply? is it virtual?
I carry a car dictionary – that is, a dictionary in the car, and one on each of the floors in my house, because my wife and I often study the meaning and origins of words. I would love to be your virtual assistant, but as a fan, I must insist that I would be much happier if you find an eager beaver assistant nearly as pretty as yourself.
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
I know.. I NEED to get to those applications ASAP! All the more reason why I need that Teacher Assistant!!!!
lol. a ta to go through all the ta’s applications? ;P
I sent in my application. Your website said that you received it. If not then I can reapply. If you did received the app then was there something on it that disqualified me, or did you find better applicants? Maybe you misplaced my application? I really would like to help you out.
Your little student.
Me
I spent a bunch of time writing something that I thought was smart, well researched and humorous. Before I could complete the last few items on the list, my PC restarted, and put an end to my TA career, before it even began
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 ! 
Thanks mello-g37! And your English spelling is not bad at all!
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.
So how old are you?
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
That’s weird fashiongirl about YouTube! Just get another email address and sign up on YouTube… or don’t!
You can just hand out over here!
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..
tryant, it simply means you will have your picture and/or name on my site as my honorary TA.. and that’s it! You’ll be my teacher’s pet for 2 weeks! I am the easiest person to “work” for on the planet
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.
Let me see if yours went throught.. it is supposed to give you a thank you page.
I don’t see a completed one with your screen name Pseudonym! Can you clear any cookies you have that say surveygizmo then take it again? I had a similar problem.. but cleared out my cookies then it works. Not a good thing as NOBODY should have to do that! Unless you put a different screen name for yourself?
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-Phrase-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!
You don’t have to know English! I barely do
padmcd,
what’s so important about capitalization?
what’s wrong with his sentence structure?
btw, it’s “proofreading”.