ESOL Lessons in Cardiff

ESOL Lessons in Cardiff Where Students Go for ESOL Lessons in Cardiff ChaptersTake ESOL Lessons with a Charity OrganisationLearn English as a Foreign Language with a Private CompanyAdult Education at Cardiff and ValeStudents: Learn English Abroad at Cardiff UniversityLanguage Acquisition with SuperprofLanguage is a big deal in Wales’ capital city, for a couple of surprising reasons.In 2017, the Cardiff City Council formulated a Welsh Language Strategy to ensure that that tongue doesn’t die out.Also, they wish to ensure that migrants, refugees and the large foreign student population enroled in Cardiff universities can use the English language to communicate effectively.For these reasons, there are plenty of English courses to choose from.You might wonder why we say those reasons are surprising...Like people of most other nations, the Welsh people are proud of their long history, their culture and heritage.A sterling example of such is the uproar over the 2001 census that led Plaid Cymru to endorse a petition calling for the addition of ‘Welsh’ as a national identity category to the official population count.Seen in that light, it seems strange that such a people would forego their native language but it was obviously happening!The second strange aspect is the issue of immigrants and refugees: Cardiff is not the first name that comes to mind when one thinks of cities with an ethnically diverse population... but that assumption would be incorrect!Nearly 15% of Cardiff’s population hails from other nations; a fact that the city celebrates through cultural events and festivals throughout the year.All of those people had to at least polish up their English language skills somewhere, if not learn English altogether... right?Let us now introduce you to some of those classes and meet the great teachers whose passion is language teaching.If you want to learn online you can find an English course online with Superprof.Here, we feature the top two such concerns.Oasis CardiffTheir mission is to help asylum seekers and refugees sett le in and integrate into the local community. Therefore, it stands to reason that teaching English skills is one of their highest priorities.In fact, they aver that those English classes are their biggest draw.Ever aware of cultural sensitivity, the volunteer language teachers group their English learners not just according to their level of spoken English â€" beginner, intermediate or advanced but also according to their preferences.No worries that these teachers are volunteers; all of them either have long experience teaching or have earned their TEFL certification.In keeping with their mission to help new arrivals integrate and thrive in their new community, they also teach an IELTS prep course.This presents non-native speakers with the opportunity to enrol at university upon satisfactory scoring of that exam so that they might earn credentials for skills they already possess or to retrain for a different field of work altogether.ESOL and IELTS prep sessions are conducted at no c harge, Monday through Friday, from 10:30 to 12:30 and, should you want to volunteer with Oasis as an ESL teacher, you would be more than welcome!Join the discussion: should London make ESOL classes free to immigrants?ACE CardiffContrary to Oasis’ mission, ACE’s primary focus is to aid and support disadvantaged youths in and around Cardiff.Their secondary focus is to work with speakers of other languages.‘In response to an obvious need in the community...’ from the ACESOL web pageTo that end, they have set up several classes, mostly targeted to absolute beginners and beginner learners of English.And, like the organisation mentioned above, cultural sensitivity dictates how their classes are set up: mixed gender or single gender, in small groups (no more than 10 students per session), the scope of which is mainly life skills.Leeds is not quite the destination for immigrants that Cardiff is; find out how people there find ESOL courses.In this sense, the term ‘life skills’ re lates more to the literacy and numeracy aspects of starting life in a new country. Those include:reading - anything from road signs to food labelscounting and performing simple math in Englishconversational English: asking and answering basic questionsHowever, as this charity is overwhelmingly concerned with new arrivals’ wellbeing, they also touch on needed cultural competencies; things like driving on the left and simple courtesies such as eye contact handshakes.ACE runs one ESOL programme on Mondays and Wednesdays in Butetown and another on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at Ely Hub. Each course is generally five weeks long.You are also welcome to volunteer with ACE, either in their ‘vulnerable adults’ programme or their children’s Learning Programme.We did say that these are two of the top charities that teach English as a second language, right?In this table, we feature all of the organisations and people, so generous with their knowledge and time, ready to help anyo ne who wants/needs to learn English.NameAddressPhone NumberEmailCardiff and Vale College27 The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AB 0292 025 0250 esol@cavc.ac.ukVale of Glamorgan Council 1st Floor, Barry Library, King Square, Barry CF63 4RW 0144 673 6466 vlc@valeofglamorgan.gov.ukWelsh Refugee Council120 -122 Broadway, Cardiff, CF24 1NJ0292 048 9800 iona@wrc.walesSpace4You CardiffTrinity Methodist Church Piercefield Place/ Newport Road Junction CF24 1LE cardiffspace4u@outlook.comAdult Learning Wales7 Coopers Yard, Curran Road CF10 5NB0292 038 2431 courseinfosouth@weacymru.org.ukFind out also if Manchester is continuing its long tradition of welcoming speakers of other languages...Learn English as a Foreign Language with a Private CompanyScoring well on IELTS is one thing; immersion into a different language and culture is something else completely Image by Jess Foami from PixabayThe charitable organisations that provide classes for the newly-arrived have a major selling point over language scho ols: they cost nothing.On the other hand, language schools offer an aspect of language learning that doesn’t necessarily feature elsewhere.Such facilities teach according to students’ needs and preferences, usually in a one-to-one setting or in a small group; maybe a family.It would be a mistake to presume such institutions care less about how their students might get along in society outside the classroom; indeed they too are devoted to teaching life skill and cultural competences.Language International has built an institution around the concept that not everyone in Great Britain is a native English speaker.To that end, they have set up ESOL courses all over England and Wales, as well as Scotland and Northern Ireland.Yes, even in Belfast you can find courses in English as a second language!More specifically, they have partnered with providers of English courses all over the world to provide the best selection of courses without those who need education in English fundamentals struggling to find lessons on their own.Courses range from general English to English for Business, with classes lasting anywhere from a couple of weeks to a year or more. Students aged 16 and older are welcome.Even if you are a native speaker of English, these courses could help you get a better grasp of the intricacies of your first language!How does teaching English as a foreign language differ in Glasgow?David Mark from PixabayStudents: Learn English Abroad at Cardiff UniversityNaturally, not everyone who lands in Cardiff is an asylum seeker.A substantial number of international students who have sat and scored satisfactorily on IELTS are granted admission to Cardiff University.As many ESL teachers would attest, an exam does not really indicate how well anyone can speak and understand English, meaning that many who arrive in our beautiful city find themselves lost when immersed in our language.Accordingly, Cardiff University has set up a variety of programmes to support those st udents; anything from summer sessions to ongoing support while school is in session.Because this guidance is targeted strictly to university students, these programmes’ focus is on academic English, specifically:Pronunciationgeneral reading and writingacademic writingoral communication and listeningEveryday English in relation to university lifeIn addition to those established courses, ESOL students may participate in one-on-one drop-in sessions held every Friday in the Student Union.Furthermore, this school provides a host of online English services. Topics include interactive vocabulary and grammar lessons as well as guidance on academic writing.As you might imagine, these services are most appreciated. However, many students rely on private tuition.Where do English learners in Birmingham they find such tutors?Language Acquisition with SuperprofWould you prefer to take an English course online? How about in the privacy of your own home? Or perhaps you would like a tutor who woul d be willing to meet you while out and about...If you are looking for an ESOL tutor who puts your needs first, Superprof has a tutor for you!You might enjoy taking lessons with Anna, whose glowing student testimonials confirm her status as an ESOL teacher of merit.Or perhaps Muna, with her years of experience in teaching students of other languages English would appeal to you more. Her hourly rate is only £15 and she gives your first hour of instruction for free!In fact, most every Superprof ESOL tutor charges nothing for their first hour, just so that you can see for yourself whether that tutor is right for you.Furthermore, most would either come to your home or meet you â€" out somewhere or online... anything to assure your comfort!And, with an average price of £20 per lesson, it would be hard to think of Superprof ESOL lessons as anything but meant for you.Have you moved beyond basic English? Are you ready for in-depth instruction of this language you’ve pledged to learn?No m atter what level your English is, you now know where to turn to find the language skills you need to cultivate.Now discover everything you need to know about taking ESOL lessons anywhere in the UK...

How to Join the 1 Percent... of Musicians

How to Join the 1 Percent... of Musicians Suzy S. The New York Times posted an interesting infographic last week describing the other, less-publicized trends of the 1 percent including the estimate that only 1 percent of the adult population plays a musical instrument each week. So where do you fit in?   For those of us who have a musical background, it may seem crazy to think that there are so many people out there who havent felt the excitement of playing a song for the first time, the gratification of learning a new language (music!) or the electricity of harmonizing with another musician.   If youve never felt that, whats holding you back? We recently came across a great article from the Music Made Easy blog comparing learning music to traveling and exploring somewhere new, which is the perfect way to think about it.   It can definitely feel like that for the beginner musician but that shouldnt stop you.   It just requires careful preparation and a road map, of sorts. The articles continues on to list out the things you would need to plan if you were traveling, for example: Work out how to get there (Transport) Work out where I want to go once I’m there (Procure a map) Work out how to get around (Navigation) Work out how to deal with possible pitfalls (Inside knowledge) Work out how I’m going to sustain my travel (Fuel) Work out how to obtain day-to-day necessities (Supplies) Next, how would these relate to starting music lessons? 1. Transport = Understand how to practice effectively With effective practice you can get to where you want to go. 2. The Map = Keep a practice diary With this you will be able to see where you have been and where you are headed. 3.  Navigation = Reflective learning This tool can help you to plan the best way to progress. 4. Inside Knowledge = Reacting to your inner critic This information will show you how you can begin to let yourself create great music. 5. Fuel = Motivation This will give you guidance on how to keep your motivation levels up in order to keep learning. 6. Supplies = Performing and recording These aspects are necessary to keep yourself happy and comfortable in music so that you can continue to play. While the article points out there is no final destination in music, if youre armed with this kind of knowledge and preparation, you can come out of your travels with a new skill-set, and the satisfaction of reaching a goal.   And just as you would look back on the memory of a great vacation, you can look back on how much you learned and how much fun you had during the process.   So the question is: Are you ready for the adventure? Your turn: what are your goals, and whats holding you back?   How are you working to overcome your fears?   Leave a comment below or join the conversation on Facebook! Ready to try your hand at music lessons?   Search for instructors near you and learn more about TakeLessons here. Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. Photo by Chris Blakeley.

How to Make the Most of Your Gap Year

How to Make the Most of Your Gap Year Youve made the big decision to take a gap year, and its time to create a plan to make the most of this experience. Its key to remember that a gap year isnt simply a time for relaxing and having fun. Instead, its to explore various interests you may have in order to start the next step of your life on the right foot. Examine what you really hope to get out of this year, and sit down to establish a plan to accomplish it. You can make the most of your gap year by choosing smart travel destinations and finding creative ways to document your experience. Create a plan to capitalize on your gap year Once you decide to take a gap year, the next step is to plan how youll fill the time. Your gap year technically begins the summer after high school graduation, so make the most of every second you have. If youve decided to travel or volunteer abroad, you may have a set time frame for these actions that was determined by an external source. If youre staying home to pursue work opportunities and to save money for college, you may need to exercise your planning skills a bit more. Consider questions such as: How will you fill the time when youre not working in a way that will further your goals? Can you volunteer or pursue a new hobby that you havent had time to try in the past? Once youve decided how to fill your time and have established specific goals for your gap year, create a detailed agenda to help hold yourself accountable. [RELATED: Should I Take a Gap Year?] Choose a smart gap year travel destination Make sure the travel destination you choose for your gap year will expand your knowledge in areas that are specifically helpful to your future goals. If you think a particular language will be useful in your prospective career, consider spending time somewhere that will immerse you in that language and culture. There are certain careers that you can do almost anywhere in the world, so put some thought into the location you choose and examine how it may come into play later down the road. [RELATED: 4 Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job] Seek out relevant job experiences during your gap year Since the goal of a gap year is to gain valuable experience, it may be ideal to find work opportunities that fit with your future career goals. For example, if youre eventually headed to law school, seek out work as an assistant at a law firm to give yourself a taste of the environment. Additionally, you may make connections with people who will be valuable resources later, especially if you impress them with your work ethic. If you want to become a teacher, find an opportunity to work with children and discover what age groups you might want to gear your studies toward. The experience youll gain is valuable, but perhaps even more so is the chance to get real world experience before you commit to a college major. Find a way to document your gap year experiences A great way to showcase to potential school administrators what you accomplished during your gap year is to find a way to document your experience. Options could include starting a blog or creating a special social media account detailing your gap year activities. You will both preserve your memories and establish a clear location that others can reference to learn what your gap year meant to you. [RELATED: How Social Media Affects College Admissions] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

4 Must-Have Apps for Guitar Players

4 Must-Have Apps for Guitar Players Suzy S. Excited about learning how to play the guitar? Awesome! Youll need the perfect beginner guitar, a great teacher by your side, and a personal commitment to learning and improving. Using extra resources like smartphone or tablet apps to help you practice efficiently in between lessons can help a ton, as well. But with so many apps available these days, you may feel a little overwhelmed when youre trying to find one to download. Below are a handful that we really like. TakeLessons Live TakeLessons Live offers online classes that are led by live guitar teachers. With the free membership option, you can join a variety of classes from anywhere in the world.  Topics covered include guitar exercises, music theory, scales, song tutorials, and more. If you’re looking for a fun way to practice your skills while getting feedback from a real instructor, this is the app for you! TakeLessons Live is available for both iOS and Android and is free. Guitar Toolkit For any guitar player, having an app that can function as one of the many tools needed for practice and performance is always nice. There are a lot of apps for guitar that serve as metronomes, tuners, and chord reference charts, but what makes Guitar Toolkit stand out above many of the other apps for guitar is that it combines all of these tools and more into one slick interface. If you need to tune your guitar, this app makes it easy, whether youre looking for standard tuning for a 6-string, or an alternate tuning for anything between 7 and 12 strings. It can also help you practice scales and arpeggios to get ready for your next lesson! The Guitar Toolkit app is available in the iTunes App Store for $9.99 from Agile Partners. The cost is a little daunting compared to other apps, but if youre willing to pay for efficiency and not having to switch apps every time you need to reference a chord chart or switch tuning, this is the best option. The Gibson Learn Master Guitar Application The reputation of Gibson in the guitar-playing world is second to none. So it goes without saying that when they create a mobile app to help with mastering the guitar, it would be an excellent resource as well. This app has it all: a fully functional tuner for either chromatic or standard guitar tuning, a metronome, a chord reference chart, and even video lessons. You can also use the in-app links to get to Gibsons website, where you can stay updated with the latest news in the guitar industry. The Gibson Learn Master Guitar Application is available in both the iTunes App Store as well as the Android Market from Legacy Learning Systems, and is free to download and use. Lick of the Day There are a lot of apps for guitar out there that show you how to play guitar  solos and popular riffs. What makes this app different is that a lot of the licks showcased in the app are taught by the guitar players that wrote the riff themselves. Its not every day that you can learn from Joe Satriani! The Lick of the Day app for guitar is free, but the Lick Packs cost $4.99 each. However, you can still get a lot of the features for free, such as a new free featured lick each week! The app is available in the iTunes App Store from Agile Partners. Bonus: Ultimate Guitar Tabs You might already know that Ultimate Guitar has a huge database of online guitar tabs for you to browse through. So it should come as no surprise that one of the most essential apps for guitar is their mobile app, which features the entire library! You can search quickly by song title or artist, or you can narrow your search by a multitude of different parameters, such as difficulty, tuning, and overall rating. And if youre at a loss for what to play next, you can always use the random tab button to find something new! The Ultimate Guitar Tabs app is available in the the iTunes App Store, Android Market, and Windows Phone Store from Ultimate Guitar USA, LLC. It costs $2.99, and there are numerous in-app purchases for add-ons, such as a metronome or tuner. Dont Forget the Best Resource of All! These mobile apps for guitar are fantastic for helping you practice, but dont forget that your private instructor is your best resource of all! He or she will guide you through lessons at a pace appropriate for you, keep you motivated, introduce you to new songs and genres you may not have considered playing, and show you exactly what to practice to improve your skills. Have fun and keep up the great work! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  ljguitar

Six Things Students and Tutors Should do BEFORE an Initial Tutoring session

Six Things Students and Tutors Should do BEFORE an Initial Tutoring session Improving Academic Performance Six Things Students and Tutors Should do BEFORE an Initial Tutoring Session The initial tutoring session is perhaps the most important tutoring session. It’s a critical opportunity to establish good rapport, set expectations, develop a study plan, and set a precedent for constructive sessions. Waiting until the second or third session to truly establish expectations or a study plan can lead to students feeling as though the tutoring isn’t proving productive. In fact, in many cases, the primary reason a tutoring session “fails” is because objectives weren’t set in advance and thus expectations weren’t aligned. Here are six things that you can do to ensure that an initial tutoring session is highly effective and productive. 1. Share details on the student’s (or your) situation for full context Before you arrive to the initial tutoring session, your tutor will try to get as much academic information and context about the student’s situation as possible. Make sure to discuss with your tutor why you are seeking out tutoring and what you hope to gain from tutoring. Be prepared to answer the following questions during your initial tutoring session. Providing answers to the following questions will help your tutor get a good sense of what’s going on with you and will provide a solid basis for how your tutor should prepare for the initial tutoring session, and develop study plan. What course are you struggling with now? Do you struggle with the course content? Or is your academic performance based on test-taking anxiety, lack of confidence, attention deficit, etc? What is your learning style? Do you have strong auditory skills? Or are you more of a visual or kinetic learner? What is something you like about the course that you are struggling with? What is something that you dislike about the course? How do you take notes and prepare for tests/quizzes for this course? Having the answers to these questions will allow your tutor to prepare a strong lesson plan for the initial tutoring session, and will allow more time for learning course content versus diagnosing the situation during the tutoring session. 2. Share materials electronically or provide an overview of current class topics (to help the tutor prepare) Be prepared to provide an overview of your current class topics so that your tutor may get a sense of the content you are learning about in your course. Tests, quizzes, past homework assignments, and projects help your tutor get familiar with the course and how it’s being taught. It provides insights into what a teacher expects you to know, how tests and homework assignments are designed, and how well you answer short-answer or essay based questions. Based on the provided information, the tutor can review content that you should know (based on the covered topics) and work up to content that you are currently learning in class, or struggling with. 3. Set clear objectives for the sessions and articulate a good outcome In order for tutoring to be effective, you must dedicate time to reviewing material and completing tutoring assignments outside of tutoring lessons! It is a good idea to outline the expectations that your tutor has specified in order for the lesson objectives to be met and for you to advance towards your academic goal. While your tutor is specifying the amount of work and time he/she expects you to dedicate to completing tutoring assignments each week, make sure to you let your tutor know whether or not you think that their expectations and objectives are reasonable for you to uphold based on your availability outside of school, extracurricular activities, and time need to complete school assignments. If you do have a limited amount of time to dedicate to completing tutoring assignments, try to work with your tutor to adapt tutoring assignments to fit your availability. It is imperative that you have this conversation during the initial tutoring session with your tutor so that you understand what needs to be done in order to reach your academic goals. 4. Establish a specific place and time - and don’t be late It goes without saying that you and your tutor should have clear communication about where and when the initial tutoring session will take place. If the tutoring session is to take place in the your home, make sure that the area where you will hold the tutoring session is clean and quiet to promote a good learning environment. If the tutoring session is taking place at a public space, such as a library or cafe, your tutor should try and arrive a few minutes earlier to secure a workspace in a quiet corner that is away from any distraction or loud noise. While this may seem obvious, you’d be surprised how many students and tutors we’ve worked with at MyGuru who call us frantically asking for the other party’s cell phone number, because they are running late, lost, or at the location, but realize they don’t know what their tutor or student looks like or where exactly they are meeting 5. Discuss cancellation and rescheduling policies Before the initial tutoring session takes place, you should make sure to understand your tutor’s cancellation and re-scheduling policies. It’s best to discuss these policies before the first session, as opposed to when a cancellation occurs, so as to avoid an awkward conversation. It’s also a good idea to ask your tutor to send an email communication documenting his/her cancellation and rescheduling policy so that you have a copy that you can refer to at anytime. 6. Share contact information to communicate in case one party is late/lost, etc. This one is, again, obvious, but so important that we call it out separately. Go back to #4 above. If you are late, or you are lost, or you don’t know where to meet your tutor, the situation is much less stressful if you’ve shared your respective phone numbers. It’s best practice to share your email address and your cellphone number with your tutor, and obtain their contact information so as to communicate effectively. By having each other’s contact information, you can quickly notify your tutor if you are running late, if you are lost, or if you have to cancel a tutoring session at the last minute. Taking the time to do these six simple things will ensure that you and your tutor are prepared for the initial tutoring session, and it will set a good precedent for accomplishing your academic goals.

Learn English Vocabulary Idioms and Phrases related to Thanksgiving

Learn English Vocabulary Idioms and Phrases related to Thanksgiving Improve your English and learn idioms and phrases related to Thanksgiving. Well kick off with phrases. Scroll down to learn Thanksgiving idioms and share an infographic.By the time you read this post Halloween will have come and gone (arrived and departed) and  thoughts will turn to the next holiday if any before Christmas and New Year. Traditionally in America (and also Canada) they celebrate Thanksgiving Day (thanksgiving always written as one word) near  to the end of November.The exact date changes every year because Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 4th Thursday in November.There appear to be different ideas as to when was the first Thanksgiving day but generally most  believe it was officially decided by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.As the words suggest people  gathered (came together) to offer thanks for the giving of the harvest. People wish to thank God for  the safe collection of the harvest and the rain to help the crops grow.In those days it was celebrated  in Church es as a specific religious festivity (celebration or feast day) but now it has developed (like  most traditions) in to a commercial holiday.Families traditionally come together for a family dinner which will always include some of the food  they celebrated way back when (hundreds of years ago) so turkey, potatoes and pumpkin pie will  be high on all menus. Usually, the beginning of the meal starts with a Blessing (words of thanks. Dear  Lord we thank you for giving us this fine meal and bringing all the family together on this special day  etc,etc).The Thursday is a national holiday with many people also taking the Friday as an extra day  so that thanksgiving day is actually in reality a 4 day holiday .In the cities across America parades will be held on or around Thanksgiving day. Today it represents  the official opening of the shopping season and traders (shop owners) count the number of  weekends between thanksgiving and Christmas to estimate how good their shopping season will be.  Depending on the day that Christmas day falls (occurs) there may be one extra weekend or one less.For example, if Christmas Day (25th December) is on a Saturday or Sunday then normally they will have one less shopping weekend. This is really crucial (very important) for the big stores and retail  shops. That extra weekend can mean the difference between a successful season or not 6 English Idioms and Phrases related to Thanksgiving Don't keep this to yourself, tell the world: Here are some English idioms and phrases related to Thanksgiving:A BLESSING IN DISGUISE   Usually when something unfortunate happens but actually turns out to be to  our advantage we say that was a blessing in disguise.ex. He says  it was a blessing in disguise, because it forced him to focus on growing different revenue streams.COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS Be grateful for what you have. If something bad happens to someone and we  are moaning someone may say to us.Stop moaning you should count your blessings.ex. We may have had a bad week in work and we are complaining when your partner says you should  count your blessings. Our neighbour lost his job yesterday!TALK TURKEY A very American expression. Usually means we should start talking seriously. You often  hear it in American detective films.ex. Ok you guys we need to hear all the facts. You need to start  talking turkey now otherwise we will lock you up!!COLD TURKEY When someone gives up a bad habit very quickly they often suffer with drawal  symptoms and go cold turkey.  For example, when you give up smoking you will feel very bad for  several days and wish you had a cigarette. You get headaches as part of your withdrawal symptoms.ex. Im  so  impressed  that  you  stopped  smoking  cold  turkey!FALL IS IN THE AIR of course nothing is actually falling in the air but the air and the atmosphere has changed with the cooler air comes the change in leaf colour. Pumpkins are everywhere and theres a renewed interest in hot drinks, fuzzy sweaters and cozy fires. All of these things make people say that fall is in the air.ex. This morning I woke up and it felt like Fall was in the air. It was cool out, a little breezing, I actually wore a fleece zip up jacket.  IM STUFFED my stomach is so full of food that I cant eat anymore. Im like a stuffed turkey.ex. The meal was good, and I was stuffed. After dinner, we went back to the room. Idioms related to Thanksgiving

5 Ways to Connect with your Online Classmates

5 Ways to Connect with your Online Classmates Image via Isorepublic.com Introduce yourself at the beginning of the semester Online classes usually start with a “get to know you” session that will allow you to introduce yourself to your new classmates. It is pretty much the online class equivalent of when professors go around the room on the first day asking everyone their name and major. Take advantage of this! Introduce yourself to your classmates by telling them your name, major, and your interests. You should definitely include your interests in your introduction, as it will make it easier to find friends in your online class. You never know if one of your online classmates loves the same band or TV show that you do! You should also respond to your classmates’ introduction posts if they mention something you are interested in. They will be glad to know they have something in common with you. If you want to connect with your online classmates, introduce yourself at the beginning of the semester, and respond to others’ introduction posts. Use the class discussion boards Class discussions can be an important part of a traditional class. Unfortunately, online classes don’t allow for this format of class discussion. For this reason, class discussion boards are important for discussions in an online forum. Participating in these discussions is good for your grade, because some classes will require discussion forum posts as assignments, and you might also be expected to respond to your classmates’ posts. These discussion forums are not only important for your grade, but also for your connections with your classmates. If you made friends during the introductions at the beginning of the semester, you can respond to their discussion forum posts, and they might even respond to yours! The class discussion boards are important for making friends in online classes, since online classes don’t allow for traditional classroom discussions. Follow each other on social media You might think it’s weird to follow people you don’t really know on social media, but if you have introduced yourself to a classmate during the introductions at the beginning of the semester and you have common interests, it won’t be weird! Communicating outside of the online classroom will help you form a stronger connection with these people. You can talk about things other than schoolwork, which will be quite a relief. So don’t be afraid to follow them on Instagram or add them as a friend on Facebook. (Later on, when you know them better, you can even exchange phone numbers and start texting.) You never know if these people will become your close friends! Have virtual study sessions Online classes can be very lonely, since it is not like a traditional class where you see your classmates three times every week. In a traditional class, you can easily ask your classmate if she wants to study in the library with you after class; but you can’t do this if you are an online student. There is something else you can do, though. You can hold virtual study sessions over Skype or FaceTime! It will be just like a traditional study session, where you and your classmates can work out problems or discuss the class material together. You will have the benefits of a group study session without physically meeting together. It will also, of course, help you connect even more with your online classmates. Schedule Skype study sessions before big tests, as it will help you not only prepare for the test, but also to make friends in your class. Meet up face to face If the online class is based in your local university, you might even be able to meet your online classmates in person! See if you can meet them for a study session (or even for lunch) on campus, especially if they physically take classes on campus (since they are likely to be there anyway). If possible, meeting one of your online classmates in person on campus will definitely help you connect with them. Online classes are convenient and great for many reasons, but they can get lonely because you don’t physically see your classmates. It doesn’t have to be that way, though! If you follow the tips I mentioned, you will make great connections with your online classmates.

How to choose between teaching in a public or private school

How to choose between teaching in a public or private school There are teaching fundamentals that are relevant in every classroom (lesson planning ? knowledge sharing ? homework marking ?) but the kind of school you teach in can make quite a difference to your working life. There are many types of schools out there but all of them fall into one of two categories: public or private. Choosing which one you work in can affect everything from who, what, and where you teach to how much you get paid. So what are the main differences between public and private schools? And how do you know which might suit you better? Read on to find out. What you need to know about teaching in public schools What are public schools? Public schools are normally run by the government, paid for with taxes, and students are legally required to attend them until the age of about 16 (depending on the country they’re in). As such, students in public schools are children and teens, separated into classes by age or ability, who study a range of key subjects like math, language, science, and humanities. What qualifications do I need to work in a public school? National or local governments will normally require teachers to have specific qualifications in order to work in public schools, whether that’s a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or teaching certificate. The required qualifications will vary from place to place so make sure you double check that any qualification you sign up for will be accepted in the school district you want to teach in. Making sure you get the right qualification will open job opportunities in a whole network of schools that could stretch throughout your state, country, and even overseas. ?? How’s the job security for teachers in public schools? Public school teaching jobs are normally very secure because they are funded by taxpayers. Instead of working for a private employer, you’ll be working for the government and for your local community with all the job protections that come with that. On top of this, public school teachers often have strong unions that can offer advice and support if ever you do run into difficulties at work. As such, you can be pretty confident that as a public school teacher you are part of a standardized system in which workers' rights are well-protected. What’s the salary like for teachers in public schools? In the same vein, you can normally rely on being paid on time and getting a fair salary (relevant to what other teachers in the system earn) in the public school system. There should also be clear pathways for career progression, salary increases, and so on. It’s hard to say whether your salary would be lower or higher in the public or private system because public schools in some areas are better funded than others and there are so many different types of private schools (more details on this below). What are the teaching conditions like in public schools? As students are normally required to attend public school by law, classes are often filled to their maximum capacity and have a diverse social mix of students from different backgrounds. There can be benefits and drawbacks to this, and maximizing the benefits often comes down to good classroom management. For example, in a well-managed classroom, different social backgrounds provide a learning opportunity for all (teachers included!) and large classes provide a lively, social atmosphere. As students (or their families) don’t really have a choice regarding attending public school in some cases you might also need you to put your classroom management skills to use to curb behavior problems and motivate students. Can I teach what I want in public school? In a public school, you will probably have to teach according to a government-approved curriculum. At some levels, this will also involve the responsibility of preparing your students to take exams that could help to define their futures. Overall this will mean that you might not have much freedom in terms of what you teach. Having said that, most public school teachers will still be encouraged to let their natural passion for their topic shine through and personalize their lessons to suit their students’ learning needs. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. What you need to know about teaching in private schools What are private schools? The main difference between public and private schools is that private schools are run independently of the government so they are in charge of their own curriculum, ethos, and funding. This means that they are often funded by private sources such as parents, students, alumni and donors. Students may be children, teens or adults and study a range of subjects. Beyond that, private schools also cover a variety of functions and there are many different types of private schools, such as: Private schools that follow something equivalent to the public curriculum. Students probably attend these everyday, in place of going to public school, for example, boarding schools. International schools that follow the same (or similar) curriculum as public schools in the “home” country of families that live abroad but want their children to be educated in their native language or education style. Schools for skills that only teach one or a few disciplines such as language or music schools. Schools for communities that tailor their lessons to suit the community needs such as religious schools or military schools. Schools for teaching methods that prioritize types of learning not practised in public schools such as Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf (or Steiner) education. Special needs schools that cater to students with disabilities. What do they teach in private schools? After looking at all the different types of schools above you might notice they can get pretty specific, so it follows that the teaching can get pretty specific too. If you’re a teacher with a niche (or looking to develop one) private school teaching might be the way to become an expert in your specialty, whether that is working with kids with special needs, teaching the flute or working with bilingual students. Some private schools stick closely to the standard curriculum, and your job might entail preparing students for the same standardized tests they would take in public school. However, most private schools will offer their teachers more freedom to decide what they teach and how they teach it than public schools do. What are the teaching conditions like in private schools? Private schools often have smaller classes than public schools, making it easier as a teacher to monitor and support students’ learning on an individual level. As the student, or their family, has made a choice to be there you might find they are more motivated to learn than in public school making for a very productive learning environment. (Disclaimer: kids will be kids so this isn’t always the case!) How are private schools run? One of the difficult things about working at a private school is that, ultimately, the school is a business and your students are also the school's clients. You might find that different students (or their families) have a different idea of value for money when it comes to education. Some will prioritize enjoyment, of course, others will be very results focused. On the other hand, your school might prioritize keeping students happy over educational rigor, which can be tough when as a teacher you know that studying is a rewarding, but not always enjoyable, process. As a teacher in a private school, you’ll have to walk the line between pushing your students to achieve and keeping them coming back to class. A good place to start is by working out what your school’s ethos is, and then communicating clearly with your students about what you want to achieve together in the classroom. What qualifications do I need to teach in a private school? As the type of teaching you do in private schools can vary, there are also all kinds of qualifications that might help you work in one. To work in an international school or a boarding school, for example, you may need a teaching license. To work in a language school as an English teacher you might need a TEFL certification. In some cases, private schools also have the authority to hire teachers based on experience alone, so you may not need qualifications at all! A good place to start is by researching the kind of teaching you want to get into and taking a look at what schools in that sector ask from their teachers. What are the working hours like in private schools? If you’re working in a private school your working hours might fall outside the standard 9â€"5. If you teach extracurricular subjects that might mean that your classes happen at lunchtime, evenings, and weekends. There might also be periods of the year, such as school holidays or before exam season, where there is increased demand for your classes. Even if you work in a private school, it might be written into your contract that you need to work the occasional weekend to take kids on trips or supervise out-of-hours activities. What’s the pay like for teachers in private schools? Pay for teachers in private schools really depends on how well-funded that private school is. In some cases, you’ll find that the pay is significantly higher and the school is much better resourced than in a public school. In other cases, they might only have part-time positions for teachers and your pay could fluctuate according to demand for your lessons. Remember, private schools are businesses and there are good and bad business managers out there. This could affect your salary and working conditions. Make sure you do your research before you sign up to work with any private school. Look up online reviews and try to talk to as many teachers who work there as you can to get a realistic idea of what the working conditions and pay are truly like. I’m still not sure whether I’d be better suited to teaching in public or private schools! Well, the good news is there’s nothing to say you can’t do both! There are plenty of TEFL teachers who work abroad in private schools and then return home to get qualified to work in public schools. There are also plenty of public school teachers who get itchy feet and decide to take their career overseas by teaching in private TEFL academies or international schools. You might also find that hopping between public and private school systems helps you advance your career by allowing you to pick up new skills and apply for new positions and promotions. So, keep an open mind. You might find that the perfect choice for you is a blend of both public and private school teaching.