Cancel Your SMC Tutoring Appointment - How To Tell If A Student Is Making It Up

Cancel Your SMC Tutoring Appointment - How To Tell If A Student Is Making It UpI have heard numerous students who have the 'Munchausen's Syndrome By Proxy' (a condition where the person is imitating someone else) and they would charge their SMC tutors to cancel an appointment. Students tend to do this when they are caught in a lie about the reason for a missed class or exams. They would make up excuses, try to hide their failures or claims of how much they would have enjoyed having such lessons or school activities, and so forth.SMC students can cancel their appointments without facing problems with lying. However, students have to be aware that if they do lie, they will not be able to use their references, phone number or other information. The reason for cancelling an appointment is not necessarily because of one's ability to attend classes or any other requirement of attending the school. Sometimes students cannot attend the school because of schedule conflicts.There are also stud ents who would fake their grades and yet would claim that they would have attended the SMC if they could have attended the school. A student who would claim to have attended SMC had made their appointment to come to the school but would get pulled out of their schedules, never showing up at all. This sort of cheating can land students in trouble.If a student cancels an appointment with a SMC tutor and then calls up the school to say that he has attended the school, they can be removed from the student directory. They will be found out by the school and hence, the person will face disciplinary action. It is also true that if a student cancels their SMC appointment without telling the school first, then they might get thrown out of the school.Students are advised to cancel their appointments in order to avoid such issues. They have to arrange to set up appointments with the teachers who would keep their attendance records and the school will send anynecessary accreditation checks to v erify that the person is enrolled.Some schools allow students to cancel their appointments and as a result, would send out letters to notify the parents of the cancellation. In such situations, students should inform the teacher of their event in writing through written correspondence and by calling or emailing the school before cancelling the appointment.If a student cancels their SMC appointment, the school should confirm the decision in writing with the concerned school official. A refusal to cancel an appointment is grounds for dismissal from the school. Any such cancellation will be confirmed by the concerned SMC teacher through e-mail or telephone, and they will be written to by the school when they are working on their summons.

Learn Painting Online

Learn Painting Online How to Become a Painter with the Help of the Internet ChaptersThe Benefits of Learning to Paint OnlineLearning to Paint Online Without a TeacherLearning to Paint Online With a TeacherImproving Your Artistic Skills Online“The best introduction to art is to stroll through a museum. The more art you see, the more you'll learn to define your own taste.” -  Jeanne FrankIn March 2018 there were a total of 4.0 million visits to the DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries in the UK (an increase of  around 17,000 visits compared with March 2017). How many of these were painters?Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, Degas, Rubens, Gericault, Dali, Braque, Vermeer, El Greco, Chagall, Caravaggio, Toulouse-Lautrec, Modigliani, their work went beyond the confines of a museum. First, they had to learn how to paint.And if you don't live right next to a museum, why not go online? FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Teacher 4.75 ( 4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaPainting Teacher 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePainting Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Benefits of Learning to Paint OnlineLearn to sketch, draw a portrait, draw the human body, paint with a knife, paint a landscape, do watercolours, gouache, oil painting,... mastering fine arts is not a walk in the park.To become skilled at painting, you need to practise (to learn how to draw expressions, master  chiaroscuro, imitate impressionist painters, experiment with painting on fabric, choose a canvas, tackle various techniques, etc.).You also need to choose a painting technique!Watch any video on painting, they will tell you artistic flair does not happen overnight. It takes years of experience to be able to achieve your goals.But the internet can be your best friend in your quest to become a professional.Having private lessons on Skype, or simply watching Youtube videos, learning painting online has many advantages.Paint When You WantThere is nothing more demotivating than having to take a painting class when you're not in the mood.If you're tired, don't have enough time or want to be doing something else, painting lessons at an art school or art workshop can quickly become imprisoning.An artistic hobby should only be done when you feel like it.If this is an extra-curricular activity, there should be no obligation.This is the advantage of online painting classes London. You decide what time suits you to paint.You may also work out a beneficial schedule when you take private painting lessons!Paint What Interests YouChoosing to learn to paint online also requires you to choose how your learn. You are entirely in control of your progress.Why not take a class in the middle of nature? Source: Visual HuntThe type of painting, technique, print, medium, you decide what you learn. A freedom you'll never get bored of.Even if you take painting classes near me face-to-face with a teacher, you should tell them what you want to get out of your lessons to make sure they are worthwhile.Paint Where You WantAt a local park, in your back garden or living room? What if you could enjoy painting in all your favourite places?Painting classes in art schools often take place in soulless classrooms. Tables and stools are sometimes the only decorations in the room.Yet the decor and atmosphere of the room greatly influence the artist.Treat yourself and take painting classes from your favourite spot.Learning to Paint Online Without a TeacherLearning any kind of art is different for everyone.I myself learned how to paint in a few different ways.First by copying what I saw and then by taking weekly classes with a teach er. But online content has also been a great source of inspiration for me.Thanks to YouTube videos, social media and art blogs, the budding artist can get inspired around the clock.YouTube TutorialsYouTube is a goldmine for painting classes. Many artists and art students who have channels openly share their knowledge with their YouTube community.Watching these videos is a great way to progress as Youtubers often explain the difficulties they have personally gone through and what they have learned from their experience. It is very easy to identify with and benefit from these stories.In addition, some channels give viewers exercises to do. Why not set yourself strict goals from week to week.Specialised Painting WebsitesBlogs or websites specialising in art are also a wonderful source of information.Websites are often presented in such a way that you can logically follow a class or course. Beginners, intermediates and even experienced painters can learn accordingly by choosing the cate gory that suits them best.Blogs are written in a more personal way.This is another good way to learn. By reading about the experiences of other artists, you can develop as a painter.Moreover, blogs allow the reader to choose articles which focus on areas that interest them. Nevertheless, blogs are generally less well ranked in comparison to websites offering online courses.You should also know about essential painting equipment...Social MediaSocial media is a great tool for painters as well as artists in general.Pinterest, Instagram,... The Internet is bursting with ideas and inspiration. Source: PixabayThis methods really flexes your imagination and creativity.Pinterest and Instagram, being very visual, are among the most popular social media platforms for artists.In the form of tutorials or demonstrative photos, a visual image makes it much easier to understand a specific technique or discover a new art style.Images are often more effective than large paragraphs of text.During you r lunch break or before bed, there's no easier way to learn how to paint than the internet.But what kind, of course, should you look for on the internet?Courses are often organised by theme:Type of painting: acrylic, oil, watercolour, gouache,Painting subject: portrait, landscape, outdoors, still life, live model, trees,Perfecting the composition, focal point, perspective, choice of colours, superposition,Drawing and painting techniques: Indian ink, charcoal and sketch, graphite pencil, ink wash, dry pastel, porcelain, fabric, pen, canvas, silk, knife, visual arts,Artistic style: graphic art, calligraphy, abstract, decorative, introduction to Chinese painting, contemporary, modern, representational art,Etc.However, there are some drawbacks.For example, online you cannot be corrected by a teacher.Of course, you can show your work to friends and get their opinion, but you can't ask a professional questions while you're working on your piece.Learning to Paint Online With a TeacherLearn ing to paint and learning to draw are one in the same. You need to be able to draw in order to transfer your idea to paper.Very often you'll have an image in your head but can't put it on paper.To learn the basics of drawing and painting online, there are more options than just websites and Youtube videos.A learning method that gives you professional advice and allows you to learn in the comfort of your own home: live painting lessons with a teacher.So put away your colouring pencils and get out your paint brushes!Because this method is surely one of the most effective learning techniques online.Hiring a private art tutor means you can get personalised lessons via chat or webcam.This way the teacher can see exactly what you're doing and can correct you if needed.This direct teacher-student contact lets you directly ask questions and, in turn, progress much faster.Opting for an online tutor also ensures you follow a consistent program from start to finish and don't drop out because o f lack of time or motivation.Indeed, setting regular appointments with a teacher helps establish a routine.Get expert painting advice without stepping out your front door. Source: PixabayIt's never been simpler to find these kinds of teachers.Plenty of Superprof teachers currently offer this learning method. You can also look at advertising posters and classifieds online.You can also take painting classes with one teacher without doing live videos.On specialised websites or YouTube channels, some teachers can offer you a specific programme to follow through a set of videos.They also give students the opportunity to contact them if they have any questions.The chance to improve your art skills and ask for advice on painting materials (brushes, palette, easel, canvas, pencils, paint, drawing board, black stone, art eraser, glaze, drawing pad, binding agent, varnish, Canson paper, watercolour paper, linseed oil, paint remover, turpentine, ...).This does not prevent you from also attendi ng a training course for all levels to learn or improve your sketching or painting technique. Painting workshops organised by artists are often carried out in larger cities as well as small ones.And why not apply for the Royal College of Art?Improving Your Artistic Skills OnlineAlthough the practice is key, so is the artistic knowledge. They complement one another.Jeanne Frank was partly right in saying that painting is best learned from visiting museums.Even if being a regular visitor to museums and art galleries like Tate Britain, the National Gallery or Sommerset House will not be enough to make you the new Rembrandt, Courbet, Manet or Da Vinci, it definitely helps.The art world is a very broad field and any form of inspiration is beneficial. While some musicians are inspired by paintings and vice versa, sharpening your eye for art is an excellent way to find inspiration.Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Dance at the Moulin de la Galette. Source: Visual HuntIf you don't happen to live in Lo ndon, don't panic!Many historical works of art are available online. On art websites, Google images, or even directly on museum websites, it is possible nowadays to find most great masterpieces from recent centuries online.But what to look out for?The composition, colours, technique, everything is good to take in. Make a list of the elements you would like to emulate in your own work during your private painting classes.Reproducing famous works is also a great way to make progress.I personally have used images taken from the internet when painting. My reproductions have not only taught me different painting techniques but also how to respect the dimensions of the human body as well as perspective.You'll also find a range of articles and discussions on art history for free on the internet on platforms like YouTube.Now learn more about how you can become a painter...

Build Math Skills With Tutoring Services

Build Math Skills With Tutoring Services Building Mathematical Skills For Academic Success As a parent it is difficult to watch your child struggle with math homework. The nightly routine of completing the assigned homework may lead to frustration, confusion, and feeling overwhelmed. Math shouldn't be the dreaded evening chore. Instead it should be an opportunity for your child to apply previous knowledge to current understanding while completing the assigned homework tasks. It is important to understand the core knowledge strands that comprise a student's mathematical learning. Whether your child is in second grade or a sophomore in high school these concepts are vital to mathematical understanding: Counting and Cardinality - Counting, cardinal numbers, comparing numbers, and understanding quantities Operations and Algebraic Thinking - Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, use of multiple operations, relation of operations to one another, factors, multiples, numerical expressions, patterns, and relationships Number Operations in Base Ten - Place value, sequencing, place value in arithmetic, place value in fractions and decimals, and applying and understanding relational place value skills Fractions - Equivalence, ordering, building fractions, and arithmetic with fractions Measurement and Data - Understanding measurable attributes, classifying, measuring length, telling time, representing and interpreting data, estimating, counting money, applying geometric measurement principles, using probability to evaluate outcomes, and converting measurements Geometry - Identifying, analyzing, comparing, classifying, creating, and composing shapes with specific attributes, graphing points on a coordinate plane, understanding congruence and similarity, and using geometrical understanding to solve real life problems Proportional Relationships - Ratios, analyzing proportional relationships, and applying rate reasoning Expressions and Equations - Algebraic expressions, reasoning with equations and inequalities, quantitative relationships, variables, radicals, integer exponents, and linear equations Functions - Defining, evaluating, and comparing functions and modeling quantity relationships Statistics and Probability - Statistical variability, distributions, random sampling, comparative references, probability models, and bivariate data These skills are distributed among grade levels to provide a careful progression of skill attainment. Students are expected to master basic and prerequisite skills before moving on to more difficult concepts. These basic skills are then applied to current understanding to create ongoing learning and mastery. Tutors at Huntington Learning Centers use their deep understanding of mathematics and knowledge of how students acquire math skills to create customized tutoring sessions. Regardless of a student's current understanding or skill mastery, the professionals at Huntington Learning Centers can create a program that is ideal for cultivating basic academic skills.There are several effective strategies that parents and students can utilize to improve academic skills, including: Knowing the standards Each state and school district has different mathematical standards for each grade level. Understanding what your child is expected to master, and which specific skills are assessed, is crucial to cultivating strong academic skills. Taking the time to read and understand the standards documents will give you insight into essential academic skills and how these skills build upon one another. Working the problems Math is learned by working the problems. Students must spend time in ongoing practice to master basic concepts, understand formulas, and connect math skills to prior learning. If your child is struggling with a specific skill you can generate multiple opportunities for ongoing practice. This repetition will build solid foundational skills over time. Applying basic concepts True mathematical understanding occurs when a student is able to apply basic concepts to larger problem solving tasks. Many tasks require students to apply a variety of skills across mathematical strands. Consider a problem requiring a student to calculate elapsed time. This problem is far more complex than just reading the time on an analog clock. A student must be able to tell time to the minute, subtract, add, regroup, apply basic problem solving strategies, and participate in mathematical communication. Asking for help If your child is continuing to struggle with the assigned math homework it may be time to ask for help. The professional tutors with Huntington Learning Centers are experts at understanding why a student is struggling in math. Assessment data is used to create a customized learning plan that incorporates both a student's strengths and weaknesses. Personalized tutoring sessions are carefully crafted to meet the specific needs of each student.

Simple Academic Strategies Part Two

Simple Academic Strategies Part Two Improving Academic Performance In our last article, we talked about how thinking strategically is as important to students as it is to businesses. We described how, by thinking strategically about what classes to take, any given student can position him or herself well to graduate on time even if they switch majors, be more attractive to employers, and enjoy their academic experience, at the margin, more than they otherwise would. In this post, we’ll explore some simple, obvious, but powerful strategies for performing well in any given class. I wasn't the best student in high school, but I do remember setting goals. The problem was with the goals I set. I wanted to get “As and Bs.” Well, if you aren’t the most diligent student, and your goal is “As and Bs, “ what happens? You get As, Bs, and Cs â€" nobody meets their goals all the time, particularly if they aren’t the most diligent student. Putting aside the fact that I wasn’t the most diligent student, this was an example of poor goal setting, which you could also call poor strategy. Here’s another example, ever since high school, I’ve been amazed at the number of students who didn’t fully realize how their grade in any given class was going to be determined. They didn’t gather the simple facts that would help them determine what percentage of your grade is based on homework, attendance, tests, quizzes, or projects. If you don’t have a full understanding of how the grade is determined, your chances of earning a high grade are drastically diminished. Or, the effort you must exert to attain a high grade will invariably be higher than it needs to be, because you focus on the wrong things. Again, bad strategy. Moving beyond how the grade is determined into the meat of the article, many students get frustrated by not understanding concepts in class, having difficulty on homework, exams, and papers, and ultimately struggling to get an “A” while ignoring simple actions they could be taken to improve their situation. They retreat to the library or their room, put their head down, and study for hours, which is tiring and not much fun. In this article, I’m not even going to address specific strategies for achieving better understanding of difficult concepts and improving memory which will ultimately improve your performance. Previous articles on the growth mindset and deliberate practice cover topics like this. You could also read A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Algebra Here, I’ll just describe some simple, yet strategic approaches to doing better in any given class. First, you need to set a goal. If you’d really like to get an “A,” make that your goal. If that’s your goal, you will naturally be inclined to work a little harder to meet that goal. If you say “A or B”, it’s far more likely you’ll meet your goal â€" and not get an A. Second, you need to gather some simple facts on how the class works. For example, many teachers or professors make it clear that their class will operate in specific ways: many of the exam questions are direct derivations of problems reviewed in class, or any student should feel free to drop off their reports a few days in advance to obtain feedback before final submission or class participation counts for a lot (or a little) or some concepts you’ll need to know are covered not in class, but in the required readings done for homework, or office hours are from 3-5 PM on Mondays and Wednesdays, and I’m happy to cover questions from class, homework, or exams, etc. Reading the syllabus in detail and attending the first class to learn the intricacies of the professor, and in general, the process of understanding how you’ll be graded, is really the fact-base that should feed into your plan of attack for the class. If you know you’ve never performed well on written assignments or essays, written assignments count for 50% of this class, but the teacher is also willing to read and provide feedback on any given paper that is turned in a week before the due date, then you need to make plans to have that paper finished for review 7 days in advance. So, now we’re getting into what alternatives to consider and plans to make coming out of the fact-base you’ve developed about the class. Let’s consider two scenarios: completing a paper early, and using office hours. If you just get your paper done 7 days in advance, the professor will sometimes review it and provide you with feedback. I’m not saying this is always true, but it sometimes is. Do you think your chances of getting a good grade go up if your professor is reading a final version that incorporates the suggestions he or she made to you already? Absolutely they go up. They go up a lot. Or, let’s consider homework and office hours. Many students are busy. They have a lot of classes, and many other responsibilities. But, the simple strategy of a) always doing assigned homework and b) going to office hours if you don’t understand something in the homework is one of the most simple, but powerful ways to perform well in a class. But, few students follow it. It takes a little dedication and time management, but honestly, it’s easy to do. The final step is simple, but important. If your strategy is to get every paper done 7 days in advance and have it reviewed, and to complete your homework and attend office hours if you need to, you have to plan the time to actually do those things. This is where time management and organization skills play a key role. A good strategy, poorly executed, won’t lead to the results you’re looking for. To learn more about being more strategic in school business, and life, consider reading Nine Things Successful People do differently. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, '52337b73-0659-4f8e-b26c-4c198e0cdabf', {});

I finished the italki 2014 World Cup Language Challenge!

I finished the italki 2014 World Cup Language Challenge! Lindsaydoeslanguages is blogging about her World Cup Language Challenge and we’re reposting here to share with the entire italki Community. This blog post  originally was posted  on  Lindsaydoeslanguages.com  website. Well, that’s it! It’s over! 25 lessons in 8 weeks sounds like quite the challenge, and at times, it definitely was. So today I want to share some things I did (and didn’t) do during the italki World Cup Language Challenge â€" and what I want to do next time to make it even better and more productive. Things I did. Book in advance I booked all my lessons right at the start â€" with the exception of one that a tutor couldn’t do that I rebooked later on. Would I do this again? Yes! Although 2 months is quite a long time and unexpected trips and other exciting (or not so exciting â€" I’m looking at you essays!) things pop up, it really helped with motivation to have the structure there from the outset. No other study I just had my italki lessons for learning Portuguese. I didn’t get my head stuck in a grammar book (or any other book for that matter) and I really enjoyed just speaking with people, in a natural way about normal stuff. Would I do this again? Yes and no. I’d love to try this out with other skills. For example, I’d love to see how far I could get with just reading in a language, like Dani over at I Simply Love Languages is doing right now with Catalan, or just listening. You know, just for fun. A weekly challenge Setting myself the weekly goals worked a treat at keeping me on the ball. I know the World Cup is over now but I genuinely wrote that sentence with no football puns intended. Honest. Would I do it again? Yes! Little goals are fab because you can constantly achieve something. Saying “I want to speak ___ fluently by ___” is great, but you never feel like you’ve got anywhere if you don’t set mini goals along the way too! Change my challenges a bit Despite setting myself these goals and finding them a great help, I wasn’t afraid to change them along the way if they didn’t quite fit. For example, week 7, I didn’t do a video at all and decided to try my hand at a bit of writing in Portuguese. Would I do it again? Yes! Obviously, changing a goal of “learning 10 words a day” to “learning 1 word a day” is a slight over exageration and won’t quite be effective, but if you feel something is too easy (see week 3!) then don’t be afraid to up your goals. And if it’s not a case of upping them, but rather lowering them, don’t! Keep your goal the same, just perhaps change how long you give yourself to achieve it, or how you’re going to measure it. Lots of different teachers I had a grand total of 9 different tutors for the challenge! Murillo, Luana, Danillo, Fernanda, Valdecir, Lucas, Sophia, Wesley and Renan. Phew. I wanted a range of European and Brazilian speakers as well as male and female just to mix things up a bit. Would I do it again? Hmm..pros and cons. It was good for this challenge because I just wanted to talk to lots of people but to really progress quickly I think one tutor to get to know you may be better. That said, I really enjoyed meeting such a range of Portuguese speakers! Things I didn’t do. Write on the italki notebook I didn’t do this for the New Year Language Challenge either. I’m lazy! Would I not do this again? It depends. For Portuguese, my main focus was speaking so the Notebook wasn’t a top priority â€" especially if I had a couple of back to back lessons! If I wanted to achieve a higher level in a language then I’d definitely make the effort to use the Notebook after each lesson. Write notes I didn’t even write any personal notes. Living on the edge. Would I not do this again? I don’t know. I’ve not written language notes on cold hard paper for a while despite being a bit of a stubborn one when it comes to technology and loving an actual paper book in my hands. Maybe I should treat myself to a fancy notebook next time! Worry about progress Hakuna Matata! The lack of exams, tests or necessity took the stress of speedy progress off. Phew. Would I not do it again? Yes! I love learning languages for the fun of it rather than to pass an exam. I can’t wait until I have the time to devote to a new language in this way! Oh, and one more thing I did do was make videos throughout. Head over to my YouTube channel to check them out if you missed any. In the meantime, here’s the video for my final weekly goal â€" all about idioms. And if you enjoy, don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube. There’s even a button to do it at the top right hand side of this page. Easy peasy! And if you’ve been inspired to learn Portuguese then be sure to enter my very first giveaway here on the blog to win some goodies to get you started! Entries close August 4th at 23.59 GMT. Have you done the World Cup Language Challenge? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below! I finished the italki 2014 World Cup Language Challenge! Lindsaydoeslanguages is blogging about her World Cup Language Challenge and we’re reposting here to share with the entire italki Community. This blog post  originally was posted  on  Lindsaydoeslanguages.com  website. Well, that’s it! It’s over! 25 lessons in 8 weeks sounds like quite the challenge, and at times, it definitely was. So today I want to share some things I did (and didn’t) do during the italki World Cup Language Challenge â€" and what I want to do next time to make it even better and more productive. Things I did. Book in advance I booked all my lessons right at the start â€" with the exception of one that a tutor couldn’t do that I rebooked later on. Would I do this again? Yes! Although 2 months is quite a long time and unexpected trips and other exciting (or not so exciting â€" I’m looking at you essays!) things pop up, it really helped with motivation to have the structure there from the outset. No other study I just had my italki lessons for learning Portuguese. I didn’t get my head stuck in a grammar book (or any other book for that matter) and I really enjoyed just speaking with people, in a natural way about normal stuff. Would I do this again? Yes and no. I’d love to try this out with other skills. For example, I’d love to see how far I could get with just reading in a language, like Dani over at I Simply Love Languages is doing right now with Catalan, or just listening. You know, just for fun. A weekly challenge Setting myself the weekly goals worked a treat at keeping me on the ball. I know the World Cup is over now but I genuinely wrote that sentence with no football puns intended. Honest. Would I do it again? Yes! Little goals are fab because you can constantly achieve something. Saying “I want to speak ___ fluently by ___” is great, but you never feel like you’ve got anywhere if you don’t set mini goals along the way too! Change my challenges a bit Despite setting myself these goals and finding them a great help, I wasn’t afraid to change them along the way if they didn’t quite fit. For example, week 7, I didn’t do a video at all and decided to try my hand at a bit of writing in Portuguese. Would I do it again? Yes! Obviously, changing a goal of “learning 10 words a day” to “learning 1 word a day” is a slight over exageration and won’t quite be effective, but if you feel something is too easy (see week 3!) then don’t be afraid to up your goals. And if it’s not a case of upping them, but rather lowering them, don’t! Keep your goal the same, just perhaps change how long you give yourself to achieve it, or how you’re going to measure it. Lots of different teachers I had a grand total of 9 different tutors for the challenge! Murillo, Luana, Danillo, Fernanda, Valdecir, Lucas, Sophia, Wesley and Renan. Phew. I wanted a range of European and Brazilian speakers as well as male and female just to mix things up a bit. Would I do it again? Hmm..pros and cons. It was good for this challenge because I just wanted to talk to lots of people but to really progress quickly I think one tutor to get to know you may be better. That said, I really enjoyed meeting such a range of Portuguese speakers! Things I didn’t do. Write on the italki notebook I didn’t do this for the New Year Language Challenge either. I’m lazy! Would I not do this again? It depends. For Portuguese, my main focus was speaking so the Notebook wasn’t a top priority â€" especially if I had a couple of back to back lessons! If I wanted to achieve a higher level in a language then I’d definitely make the effort to use the Notebook after each lesson. Write notes I didn’t even write any personal notes. Living on the edge. Would I not do this again? I don’t know. I’ve not written language notes on cold hard paper for a while despite being a bit of a stubborn one when it comes to technology and loving an actual paper book in my hands. Maybe I should treat myself to a fancy notebook next time! Worry about progress Hakuna Matata! The lack of exams, tests or necessity took the stress of speedy progress off. Phew. Would I not do it again? Yes! I love learning languages for the fun of it rather than to pass an exam. I can’t wait until I have the time to devote to a new language in this way! Oh, and one more thing I did do was make videos throughout. Head over to my YouTube channel to check them out if you missed any. In the meantime, here’s the video for my final weekly goal â€" all about idioms. And if you enjoy, don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube. There’s even a button to do it at the top right hand side of this page. Easy peasy! And if you’ve been inspired to learn Portuguese then be sure to enter my very first giveaway here on the blog to win some goodies to get you started! Entries close August 4th at 23.59 GMT. Have you done the World Cup Language Challenge? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below! I finished the italki 2014 World Cup Language Challenge! Lindsaydoeslanguages is blogging about her World Cup Language Challenge and we’re reposting here to share with the entire italki Community. This blog post  originally was posted  on  Lindsaydoeslanguages.com  website. Well, that’s it! It’s over! 25 lessons in 8 weeks sounds like quite the challenge, and at times, it definitely was. So today I want to share some things I did (and didn’t) do during the italki World Cup Language Challenge â€" and what I want to do next time to make it even better and more productive. Things I did. Book in advance I booked all my lessons right at the start â€" with the exception of one that a tutor couldn’t do that I rebooked later on. Would I do this again? Yes! Although 2 months is quite a long time and unexpected trips and other exciting (or not so exciting â€" I’m looking at you essays!) things pop up, it really helped with motivation to have the structure there from the outset. No other study I just had my italki lessons for learning Portuguese. I didn’t get my head stuck in a grammar book (or any other book for that matter) and I really enjoyed just speaking with people, in a natural way about normal stuff. Would I do this again? Yes and no. I’d love to try this out with other skills. For example, I’d love to see how far I could get with just reading in a language, like Dani over at I Simply Love Languages is doing right now with Catalan, or just listening. You know, just for fun. A weekly challenge Setting myself the weekly goals worked a treat at keeping me on the ball. I know the World Cup is over now but I genuinely wrote that sentence with no football puns intended. Honest. Would I do it again? Yes! Little goals are fab because you can constantly achieve something. Saying “I want to speak ___ fluently by ___” is great, but you never feel like you’ve got anywhere if you don’t set mini goals along the way too! Change my challenges a bit Despite setting myself these goals and finding them a great help, I wasn’t afraid to change them along the way if they didn’t quite fit. For example, week 7, I didn’t do a video at all and decided to try my hand at a bit of writing in Portuguese. Would I do it again? Yes! Obviously, changing a goal of “learning 10 words a day” to “learning 1 word a day” is a slight over exageration and won’t quite be effective, but if you feel something is too easy (see week 3!) then don’t be afraid to up your goals. And if it’s not a case of upping them, but rather lowering them, don’t! Keep your goal the same, just perhaps change how long you give yourself to achieve it, or how you’re going to measure it. Lots of different teachers I had a grand total of 9 different tutors for the challenge! Murillo, Luana, Danillo, Fernanda, Valdecir, Lucas, Sophia, Wesley and Renan. Phew. I wanted a range of European and Brazilian speakers as well as male and female just to mix things up a bit. Would I do it again? Hmm..pros and cons. It was good for this challenge because I just wanted to talk to lots of people but to really progress quickly I think one tutor to get to know you may be better. That said, I really enjoyed meeting such a range of Portuguese speakers! Things I didn’t do. Write on the italki notebook I didn’t do this for the New Year Language Challenge either. I’m lazy! Would I not do this again? It depends. For Portuguese, my main focus was speaking so the Notebook wasn’t a top priority â€" especially if I had a couple of back to back lessons! If I wanted to achieve a higher level in a language then I’d definitely make the effort to use the Notebook after each lesson. Write notes I didn’t even write any personal notes. Living on the edge. Would I not do this again? I don’t know. I’ve not written language notes on cold hard paper for a while despite being a bit of a stubborn one when it comes to technology and loving an actual paper book in my hands. Maybe I should treat myself to a fancy notebook next time! Worry about progress Hakuna Matata! The lack of exams, tests or necessity took the stress of speedy progress off. Phew. Would I not do it again? Yes! I love learning languages for the fun of it rather than to pass an exam. I can’t wait until I have the time to devote to a new language in this way! Oh, and one more thing I did do was make videos throughout. Head over to my YouTube channel to check them out if you missed any. In the meantime, here’s the video for my final weekly goal â€" all about idioms. And if you enjoy, don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube. There’s even a button to do it at the top right hand side of this page. Easy peasy! And if you’ve been inspired to learn Portuguese then be sure to enter my very first giveaway here on the blog to win some goodies to get you started! Entries close August 4th at 23.59 GMT. Have you done the World Cup Language Challenge? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

Grammar Schools - Tutor Hunt Blog

Grammar Schools Grammar Schools Grammar SchoolsSchoolsThe topic of grammar schools has always been a contentious one - by having what is effectively an entrance exam, do they pave a privileged path for certain children, leading them towards opportunity and prosperity, and consign those who did not perform well enough on that one day, when they were only eleven years old, to a second rate education? Many would say that this is being overly dramatic - there is, in theory, nothing subsidiary about state schools in comparison to grammar schools. A child of ability will flourish in any environment, as long as they are given opportunity: this is the power of education. Teresa May`s recent campaign to overturn the ban on creating new grammar schools has angered many people. Her most anodyne of opponents have stated that grammar schools do not actually provide better education, and a pupil who passes their eleven plus would do just as well if they attended a state comprehensive. The Education Policy Institute conducted a thorough data analysis, and concluded that `Once prior attainment and pupil background is taken into consideration, we find no overall attainment impact of grammar schools, either positive or negative.` More vociferous opponents of Teresa May`s proposal have said that grammar schools only help to widen the divide between children from affluent backgrounds, and those from average or lower income families. With grammar schools tending to crop up in more prosperous areas, it is easy to see the correlation here. There is also evidence that many teachers are drawn to grammar schools, as they relish the opportunity of working with children who are more intellectually able; and so there is an ever greater impoverishment of teachers to supply the needs of comprehensive schools. Teresa May has argued that increasing the number of grammar schools will enhance social mobility - a claim severely critiqued by many in the education sector. Malcolm Trobe, acting general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has said, in reference to the Education Policy Institute report, `creating more selective schools will not raise overall educational standards in England and is likely to widen the attainment gap between rich and poor children,` The decision by Teresa May to increase the number of grammar schools is a radical volte-face, going against the policy of the last five decades. Since the late 1960`s there has been a trend towards comprehensive schools. Labour`s Education minister Tony Crosland launched a vehement campaign to `destroy every *expletive deleted* grammar school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.` This impassioned policy was much to do with reforming the ideology of privilege, as it was to reform the secondary schooling system. It was a bold riposte against the conservatism of his opponents, and until Teresa May`s September statement, where she said she would end the ban on constructing new Grammar Schools, it was the prevailing opinion of almost every subsequent political party. By the 1980`s most of the grammar schools throughout the United Kingdom had either closed, or converted to comprehensives. In the 1995 Labour Party Conference, the Education Spokesman David Blunkett promised that there wou ld never be an increase of selective schools under a Labour government. The history of state funded Grammar schools has its roots in the mid 1940`s. RA Butler`s 1944 education reforms mandated that every child of ability should have access to further education. As innocuous as this sounds today, it was such an important reform, because it stressed the ability of the child, over the affluence and social standing of its parents. The pertinent part of the reform here is `child of ability.` Only those children of sufficient intellect were guaranteed a place at a grammar school. The eleven plus exam was thus formed: if a child passed they would gain admittance to their local Grammar school; if they failed, they were for the local secondary modern school. As of 2016 there are only around 160 grammar schools in the United kingdom. Of course there are many private schools that have a rigorous selection procedure, but the trend for assessing and segregating children for their admittance into secondary state schools has been unpopular for many decades. Will Teresa May`s decision to permit the construction of new grammar schools be see as a progressive move? Will her decision engender further division between the rich and poor, or is she courageously addressing the issue of the UK`s failing Pisa ranking (measuring maths and reading abilities), which in 2013 publications, had the UK reaching only 23rd position, falling behind Belgium, France and Germany? 3 years ago0Add a Comment

Andy from italki takes the October Challenge!

Andy from italki takes the October Challenge! So at italki, we dont just talk the talk but we walk the walk. Meet Andy from Italy, hes only been at italki for about 2 weeks as our new UX Designer (User Experience for those of you who arent in tech industry). When he found out that we were having the October Language Challenge, he found this was the perfect opportunity to improve his Chinese as hes been living in Shanghai for almost 3 years and his Chinese is well you should just watch the below Public Video Pledge for yourself. Remember, theres still time to sign up for the October Language Challenge! And if youve already signed up make a true commitment (like Andy) by submitting a Public Video Pledge. Andy from italki takes the October Challenge! So at italki, we dont just talk the talk but we walk the walk. Meet Andy from Italy, hes only been at italki for about 2 weeks as our new UX Designer (User Experience for those of you who arent in tech industry). When he found out that we were having the October Language Challenge, he found this was the perfect opportunity to improve his Chinese as hes been living in Shanghai for almost 3 years and his Chinese is well you should just watch the below Public Video Pledge for yourself. Remember, theres still time to sign up for the October Language Challenge! And if youve already signed up make a true commitment (like Andy) by submitting a Public Video Pledge.