Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Becoming a Teacher Abroad
Becoming a Teacher Abroad What Are the Ways to Become a Teacher in a Foreign Country? ChaptersDeciding Whether You Want to Work Publicly or PrivatelyTargeting Different Academic InstitutionsFinding Out More about Different PlacesFinding Trustworthy Resources: The British CouncilStart Preparing as Early as PossibleTell Your Current Employers that You Plan to LeaveThe Different Types of Teaching AbroadPreparing Your Application for Teaching AbroadImproving Your Foreign Language Skills for Teaching AbroadâTeaching is only demonstrating that it is possible. Learning is making it possible for yourself.â - Paulo CoelhoFor many British teachers, teaching abroad is but a dream. In fact, in the UK, the number of teachers is at its lowest since 2013.So how exactly can you become a teacher and a foreign country and how can you learn more about different educational systems?How exactly can you get started and what steps they need to take?Here is our advice for teaching abroad. Whether you're an English teacher considering doing some TEFL training, a science teacher looking fo r teaching opportunities abroad, or just fascinated by the idea of teaching overseas, here are some useful things to consider before you travel abroad or around the world. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDeciding Whether You Want to Work Publicly or PrivatelyNo matter which language you speak and what subject you're teaching, your work will vary from one country to another. It's important if you're thinking about becoming a teacher abroad to decide which kind of places you would like to teach in. For example, ESL jobs won't be the same as working in universities as a professor.Would you like to teach somewhere other than the UK? Yo u'll have a few things to do. (Source: langll)In fact, if you want to start teaching abroad in another school or educational system, you'll have to think carefully about where you want to go. For example, there are certain steps you have to take if you want to work in a high school that you wouldn't have to take if you wanted to work in a primary school. Joining an international organisation as a teacher would probably be more difficult, for example.You'll need to consider things like :Facility: What can I currently teach according to my qualifications?Feasibility: Do I have the skills to apply for these jobs?Readiness: Am I ready to start teaching with this experience or take new steps?Have you already considered all of this?Let's move on to the next step!Targeting Different Academic InstitutionsDo you teach in primary schools or secondary schools?What kind of teacher are you?Not every teacher will be looking for exactly the same time school. This is why you need to think carefull y about exactly where you will go.Look for schools and academic institutions and get in touch with them. (Source: Pexels)The kind of places you can teach in include:Nurseries and primary schoolsSecondary schoolsBritish schools abroad where they teach the national curriculum from the UKPrivate schools and academiesFinding Out More about Different PlacesTo make things easier, whether you're teaching in a private or public institution, you may want to look for help. There are plenty of different places to get information. For example, the British Council has plenty of useful resources For those teaching abroad or thinking about moving to a different country. Similarly, there are plenty of different ways to get abroad:The ERASMUS programme, for countries in the European Union.European schoolsHowever, keep in mind that there is plenty of competition for places on programmes like this. Make sure you do plenty of research about the organisation or programme you're interested in.Finding Tr ustworthy Resources: The British CouncilThe British Council was founded in 1934 and specialises in providing international cultural and educational opportunities. It has offices all over the world.Did you know that the British Council teaches English in over 50 different countries?So how can the British Council help you?If you're thinking about teaching English as a foreign language, for example, there are plenty of teaching resources available from the British Council. Additionally, the British Council has lots of advice for those living and working abroad.In addition to the British Council, there are also plenty of websites and forums the experts can use to get information.You should also consider checking out:Facebook groups for expats in the town or city you want to live inWebsites for Britons living abroadForums for teachers of your subjectThe British embassies where you plan to stayThe websites of the host country CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsStart Preparing as Early as PossibleBefore you move abroad or start teaching In another country, you should do your utmost to find out about everything you need to do and the different opportunities that you have. Ideally, you should start preparing at least a year before you plan to go.Given how many people are considering going abroad, you should definitely start thinking about getting in touch with different organizations and institutions.You should also consider thinking about the different teaching approaches you'll be expected to use.You'll also need to think about how long it'll take the process your application and how long it'll take to get a visa or th e necessary papers to enter the country legally, which can often take months.It should be noted that, for certain programs, you can actually postpone your stay for a year. This may be useful if you can't manage to get visas in time.Tell Your Current Employers that You Plan to LeaveDo you know exactly who might be the most important person in the application process?Whether you plan to volunteer, do an internship abroad, or start teaching in a different country, you should tell your current boss as they can easily make things very difficult for you.Always leave a job on good terms. (Source: rawpixel)Before you start your new job, they may be required to provide a reference for you, for example.You should probably tell them about your plans to leave as early as you can and that you're planning on moving abroad. By being fully transparent with your current employers, you're giving them more time to plan for your absence or find a replacement. You probably want to try and leave your current job on the best terms possible.The Different Types of Teaching AbroadThere are plenty of different ways you can teach abroad. However, most teachers will have a number of things in common :British citizenshipStatus as a qualified teacher with a few years of experienceA clean criminal and disciplinary recordWithout the latter, things might become very difficult for you.In terms of status, teachers fall into three main groups:ExpatsResidentsThose on temporary contractsTemporary contracts are ideal for those who arenât planning on moving to their new country permanently and just want to gain professional skills and immerse themselves in a new language or culture. Those living abroad temporarily can still teach in a number of different academic institutions. However, gaining residency comes with its own benefits.A lot of those who decide to leave the UK do so in order to teach English abroad. In fact, teaching English abroad is one of the most common jobs abroad. If you want t o move overseas and start an English teaching career, you'll need a TEFL certification in order to be considered for teaching positions in a language school.Of course, not each TEFL certificate is the same. Generally, the CELTA is more widely accepted than an online TEFL course. However, the CELTA is also far more expensive than a lot of other TEFL courses. It might be worthwhile looking at the requirements for the language school or international school before enrolling on an expensive course.Preparing Your Application for Teaching AbroadIf you know exactly how and where you want to start teaching, you may not know exactly how to put together your application and present yourself as the right candidate for the job. You need to prepare.Keep in mind that the application process is for different jobs can vary greatly and you can't just put together the same application for every job.When you get to your new country, signs might not be as simple as this. (Source: Pexels)Generally spea king, you need to answer job adverts rather than just applying to different institutions at random. When putting together if your application, You should make sure that it contains the following:Copies of the necessary qualifications (both teaching qualifications and language qualifications, for example)Completed copies of any application forms that the application requiresA cover letterSometimes, other documents will be requiredDon't forget to consider just how long can take to get these documents. In a lot of cases, two copies of each document are required. Make sure you read the application carefully and provide the right numbers of copies.Improving Your Foreign Language Skills for Teaching AbroadWhile your qualifications and legal status of both very important, your language skills are almost essential. In fact, certain positions will have stringent language requirements.Did you think you wouldn't need to learn a foreign language?It could be really useful...In Europe, language skills are graded according to the CEFR from A1 to C2 with the former being beginner and the latter being an advanced user of the language. In general, a B2 level is required.Don't lose hope: Youâre going to teach abroad! Moving abroad isn't something that you just do every day, it takes a lot of planning and preparation. Don't apply to just one single establishment in one foreign city, you need to be willing to move to a number of different places as you mightn't get your first choice.Consider visiting forums to find out more information from other teachers or other expats. For more information, consider visiting the British Council.While you'll probably come across a lot of teaching jobs that involve teaching English to foreign students as a foreign language in countries like Spain, Vietnam, Korea, and Thailand, there are also plenty of different subjects a certified teacher can teach internationally. After all, plenty of foreign students also learn the sciences and arts.If yo u decide to work abroad, keep in mind that the salary you'll earn mightn't be the same as what you earn in the UK. Since the UK is the world's fifth largest economy and the cost of living in the UK is high, our salaries tend to be higher than a lot of other countries. That said, teaching in another country is rewarding in other ways and your earnings elsewhere may go further in a country that has a lower cost of living.Whether you go to Asia, Africa, Europe, or the Americas, you should be able to find a teaching job without too much difficulty. While some involve teaching in the English language, you may need to learn a second language to go to countries where there isn't a large English speaking population or you have to teach in the foreign language.Good luck!
Friday, March 6, 2020
Representing ratios
Representing ratios Ratio is the quantitative comparison between quantitates or numbers. Ratio is a very commonly used operation in mathematics. Ratio helps in solving questions related to comparisons, proportions and many more. The symbol of ratio is :. For example, a / b can be written as a : b. Here a / b is fraction form and a:b is the ratio form. The simplification of ratio is writing the given ratio in the most simplified from possible. Example 1: Are the ratios equivalent? 6 children want cookies and 9 children want cupcake. 8 children want cookies and 4 children want cupcake. Solution: Here for the given question the ratio is between the numbers of children preferring cookies and cupcakes. The first ratio given is Number of children preferring cookies: cupcake = 6: 9 Simplifying the ratio (as 6 and 9 have 3 as the common factor) gives 2: 3. The second ratio given is Number of children preferring cookies: cupcake = 8: 4 Simplifying the ratio (as 8 and 4 have 4 as the common factor) gives 2: 1. Therefor the two ratios are not equivalent. Question: Multiple choice question (Pick the correct option.) What is equivalent ration to 3: 9? a) 1: 3 b) 2: 3 c) 1:3 d) None of these. Correct answer: option a. Explanation: Here the given ratio is 3: 9. It can be further simplified as 3 and 9 have a common factor 3. Therefore dividing 3 and 9 by 3 gives 3: 9 = 1: 3. Hence the ratio 3: 9 :: 1:3.
What is it Like to Attend Haverford College
What is it Like to Attend Haverford College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Celine graduated from Haverford College in 2006 with a Bachelors degree in History. She is currently a tutor in Washington D.C. specializing in SAT prep tutoring, Reading tutoring, French tutoring, and more. See what she had to say about her alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Celine: Haverford College is located about 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia in the residential area of the Main Line. It is surrounded by several colleges, including Villanova University, Rosemont College, and Bryn Mawr College. While the area is residential, there are coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores and a shopping mall within walking distance. One can also walk to the regional train station or to the trolley to go into Philadelphia. The various options of public transportation allow those students who do not have a car or bike to be able to leave campus and get what and where they need. Car sharing programs are also available on campus. Safety at Haverford and outside the campus is not a concern. As a student at Haverford, I always felt very safe and felt comfortable walking around campus at night alone. Nevertheless, Haverford has a strong campus security system and students can call for an escort to be accompanied when going to another location on campus at night. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Celine: Professors, academic advisers and teaching assistants are all extremely available. In addition to having office hours, they will work with students to meet at a mutually convenient time. A large portion of the faculty and administration lives on or near campus, which facilitates their availability to meet with students. Some professors will even make their home phone numbers available to students. If the class is small enough, professors may even elect to have the class in their house. At Haverford, teaching assistants are only assistants. They neither teach courses nor grade exams. They serve as tutors and sometimes will help professors grade homework. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Celine: One of the great things about Haverford is that 98% of students live on campus all four years. This fact makes socialization very easy as you can meet with friends on campus right before class or on the weekend to watch a movie or to go into Philadelphia. However, you dont have to go off campus to have fun on the weekends. Since the school has over 145 clubs, there is always something to do on campus. Students have the option of living in a dorm or in an on-campus apartment. Freshmen live with their Customs group and Customs people, upperclassmen who serve as mentors to the freshmen and support them as they transition into college life. Freshmen and all students who live on campus (except those who live in the apartments) must be on the meal plan, which provides access to dining services at both Haverford College and Bryn Mawr College. Unlike most universities, neither Haverford nor Bryn Mawr outsources its dining services to outside organizations. All meals are prepared at the respective college. The Bi-College Dining Services goes to great lengths to accommodate students with special dietary needs or allergies. Other food options at Haverford include: Lunt Caf (open in the evening), the Coop Baristas Nook (open all day) and the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship (CPCG) Caf (open in the afternoon). VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Celine: As a small liberal arts college, Haverford is very unique in that its students do not have to major at Haverford. They can also major in any program offered by Bryn Mawr or Swarthmore College and take courses at the University of Pennsylvania. This arrangement allows Haverford to offer a wide selection of majors and programs of study while maintaining its small size. At Haverford, students can major in various subjects in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. Some students also decide to design their own major if their area of study is not available at Haverford, Bryn Mawr or Swarthmore. During their senior year, all Haverford students, including those who major in the sciences and mathematics, write a thesis. After considering various majors, I ultimately decided to study History at Haverford because I am interested in public policy and the study of the past is necessary for evaluating current situations and how to best improve them. With support from both the Political Science and History departments, I then wrote my thesis on how former President Bachelets election had the possibility of closing historical divides in Chile. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Celine: While Haverford is a very friendly campus, it is easier to meet people and make friends when one joins a club. While I had made acquaintances in my classes, I ultimately joined the Crew team to explore a sport I had always wanted to try and to meet more people. Through the crew team, I not only achieved my goal, but I also was able to meet other people, some of whom I am still friends with today. There is no Greek life at Haverford. Haverford is also unique in that it has one of the oldest honor codes in the country. The Honor Code, which guides academic and social life, is based on the principles of trust, respect and concern for each other. These principles are illustrated in several ways. For example, at an academic level, professors expect that students will not cheat and will respect themselves to provide an honest portrayal of what they learned in class. As a result, students take un-proctored exams, have closed book exams, and self-schedule their end-of-course exams. Furthermore, the Code encourages an environment were cutthroat competition is not the norm. At a social level, the Honor Code supports an environment where all students feel comfortable to express their opinions in a respectful manner and will not be judged for having a particular opinion. If a student observes an incident (either social or academic) where the Code is not being followed, that student is expected to confront their peers. Anoth er unique piece of the Code is that students write it. Each year, during Plenary, students discuss and revise the Code and vote on it. Based on the Quaker tradition of consensus, this vote is not a simple majority 2/3 of the student body must vote to ratify the Code. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Celine: Haverford has several student support services that are very supportive and work with students to meet their needs. In addition to the Career Center, students can receive support from the Deans Office, the Womens Center, and Counselling and Psychological Services, amongst other offices. The Career Center makes an effort to connect students with alumni who have a career that students are interested in. In addition to having opportunities for on and off campus recruiting, the Career Center hosts an externship program twice a year. In this program, alumni host students for a period of one or two weeks in their current position. The externship gives students an opportunity to see what the real world looks like in their area of interest. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Celine: Students tend to study in one of two libraries: Magill library and the White Science library. While both libraries are open to all students, easily available, and spacious, they provide opposing studying environments. Magill is very quiet while the Science Library is more social. Magills architecture is gothic while the Science Librarys is modern. If a student wants a guaranteed sport for quiet study, he/she can reserve a carrel at Magill. Students also study in the Whitehead Campus Center, Lunt Caf, and dorm lounges. In addition to Magill and the Science Library, Haverford has the Astronomy Library, the Union Music Library, the C.C. Morris Cricket Library, and the word-renowned Quaker and Special Collections, which is open to students and researchers alike. All of Haverfords libraries are part of a larger Tri-College library system shared with Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore Colleges, and Haverford students have full borrowing privileges in all three campuses. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Celine: Haverford College is surrounded by the towns of Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Ardmore. Suburban Square, the United States first shopping mall, is located a short walk from campus in Ardmore, and offers various dining options, a Trader Joes, an Apple Store and other retail stores. Additional restaurants, coffee shops, grocery and retail stores, and a movie theater are a short distance from campus. King of Prussia, one of the largest malls on the East Coast, is also 20 minutes away. Students can also take the trolley and regional rail, both run by SEPTA, to go into Philadelphia. In addition, students can use their own mode of transportation or use PhillyCarShare to get off campus. Students tend to try to get off campus at least once a week. However, where they go and what they do usually depends on the amount of work the student has! VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Celine: Haverford has about 1,200 students on campus. The largest classes tend to be the introductory classes and have a maximum of 80 students. As a freshman, my largest class, Calculus I, was about 75 people. Despite the large class size, I had an opportunity to develop a relationship with the professor by attending his office hours and group study sessions. Not all my freshman classes were so big. I also took courses my first year that had about 10-15 students. My smallest class at Haverford was made up of five students. I was generally pleased with the typical class sizes since professors of even the larger classes made an effort to get to know their students personally. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Celine: As a sophomore, I took an introductory history class of about 65 people. I met with the professor to discuss his comments from the essay he had just returned. In grading the next essay assignment, the professor commented on how I improved in the areas we discussed and referenced my last essay. I was both touched and taken aback by the fact that after grading 130 essays, the professor could remember my weaknesses on the first essay and how I had improved on them in the second one. Check out Celines tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Yale University A Student Interview
Yale University A Student Interview The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teachtheyre sharing their college experiences as well. Aisha specializes in ACT tutoring, SAT tutoring, and GRE tutoring. She is a 2013 graduate of Yale University where she earned her Bachelors degree in English. Check out what she had to say about her time at Yale University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options at Yale University. Aisha: Yales campus is a pretty small community with the majority of classes taking place within the radius of the residential colleges. The transportation is pretty thorough, but many students also prefer to travel by bike. The Yale shuttle system provides free transportation to Yale students at predetermined locations around campus. Between walking and taking the shuttle, most students have a pretty easy time getting around. The times that having a car might be helpful are those when you might be taking a large shopping trip (Ikea or groceries) or attending an off-campus event. Luckily, there are regular shuttles out to the athletic fields for games and tailgates and to my knowledge, Yale still provides individual rides for those students riding outside of the route or times of the basic shuttle. For students who wish to be more mobile, Yales campus has Zipcar, a ride-sharing program that allows users to rent a car by the hour. Additionally, a decent number of students do own bikes with convenient bike racks located across campus. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Aisha: One of my greatest regrets about my time at Yale was that I didnt make better use of the professors/TAs with whom I had contact. Some of the more tenured professors didnt particularly like to meet with undergrads, but it is required that all professors teaching an undergraduate class hold office hours weekly. By and large however, I found most professors to be very flexible and willing to meet to discuss class material, assignments, or their general knowledge about the field. TAs were by and large the same, also holding office hours each week. I think that the biggest barrier to availability at Yale was the intimidation factor. I often felt like I wanted to further discuss a concept or idea, but had a hard time approaching professors to articulate those thoughts. Once I broke through that barrier, however, I found that I got a lot of support and engagement from all staff I encountered. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Aisha: Yales Residential Colleges are meant to be like mini-communities within the larger Yale College family. As freshmen, most students live on Old Campus, a space entirely comprised of freshman dorms. On Old Campus, the opportunities for socialization are plenty as students meet up in rooms and common rooms for movie nights, study nights, parties, and other gatherings. Additionally, all students are assigned a Freshman Counselor (FroCo for short) who is responsible for welcoming a group of students within their college. This FroCo lives in the freshman dorms (in a suite with other FroCos) and is there to help resolve roommate conflicts, assist with lockouts, and generally help freshmen get acclimated to freshman year at Yale. FroCos also hold various social events meant to bond their cohort and sometimes the entire freshman class within that college. Once a sophomore, students move into their residential colleges where they will spend the rest of their tenure at Yale (assuming tha t they dont move off campus). In each college, students may find a dining hall, a library, multiple common rooms, and student rooms. A lot of organizations meet in these spaces and students share opportunities to congregate with others. Most colleges hold study breaks where off-campus food is brought in and shared for free as students come down to chat and take a break. Additionally, residential colleges hold many dances and other events that allow students the opportunity for dorm-related engagement. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported at Yale University? Aisha: If I had to name the most common programs at Yale, I would say that the economics and political science programs are some of the largest. Additionally, I would say that the sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) are pretty well represented, with a large number of students choosing those majors as well. I chose to study English at Yale and took a lot of classes in Religious Studies. I actually arrived at Yale ready to take the pre-med track and began with taking sciences. After a few terms, however, I started to realize that my high school education hadnt prepared me for the vigor of the program. I believe that I could have completed it, but it would have taken 100% of my energy and focus. While figuring this out, I took some great English courses that really invigorated me and I loved the types of conversations we were having about literature. I ultimately decided to declare that as my major, as it was truly where my passion was, and I havent looked back since. There are a pre tty large number of English majors at Yale so I would definitely say we were pretty well supported. I got a lot of one-on-one support from my chosen advisor for my senior thesis and the department was great about answering questions and clearly communicating requirements. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Aisha: Yales Residential College system is a great way for freshmen to make friends. In addition to those in the suite youre assigned to, there are plenty of activities planned within the college aimed at bonding freshmen together. Additionally, if a student joins any clubs (there are activity fairs at Bulldog days and recruiting early first semester), they will absolutely make friends from various colleges of various ages. I will say that the ease with which one makes friends freshman year really depends on the person. Outgoing people who are willing to try anything and are always interested in going out will likely make friends more quickly. But those who are more reserved will also find others with common interests, the length of time it takes being determined by how out there you put yourself. I would say that Greek life plays a sizeable role in Yales social scene, but it is by no means the monopoly of social interaction on campus. I personally was part of Greek life at Yale, and it definitely helped me to make female friends a lot quicker. I definitely had historically struggled with bonding with other girls, so the recruitment process and the subsequent years in my sorority definitely defined a lot of my experience. There is a pretty solid contingent of students participating in Greek life, with many sports teams aligned to certain fraternities. What Ive heard from my friends who didnt participate in Greek life is that they almost never noticed it. While it was the center of my social life, my suitemate who seldom attended Greek events had a really robust social life based on activities, independent friendships, and other organizations she had joined. I would say that Greek life definitely has a presence and will introduce you to a lot of the campuss athletes and movers and shakers, but what you get from it really depends on who you are as an individual. How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Aisha: Many very large companies, primarily finance and consulting companies, recruited on Yales campus pretty frequently. For those seeking internships as undergraduates and hoping to secure employment before graduation, this process is pretty effective and provides structure for an otherwise chaotic time in the lives of undergraduates. As far as our Career Center goes, I felt it was a mixed bag. Someone from the Career Center came out to talk to my sorority about resumes, which was really helpful, but I often found some of their information sessions and resources to be a bit superficial (wasnt telling me the real nitty-gritty of what I needed to know to succeed in any given industry). When I graduated, I was pursuing a career in public relations and unfortunately didnt find the career resources at Yale very helpful. I will say that the alumni database proved to be helpful as it enabled me to make connections with former Yalies already working in the field. It took a lot of independ ent research and networking, but I was able to secure some internships and finally a job post-graduation. Unfortunately, there were many things that I didnt know about PR at the time and I found Yales lack of Communications program to be a large barrier to understanding the reality of what I was entering into. I think that was where Yale could have done better to improve career prospects for humanities majors. Better resources to help students discover new careers and understand the reality of their careers of interest would definitely be a helpful improvement. How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Aisha: There were two main libraries at Yale, Sterling Memorial (known as the stacks) and Bass Library. Bass was by far the more crowded of the two, as it had several group and individual study rooms. They also had a caf that enabled students to stay longer and get some real work done. The stacks were definitely quieter, with sixteen floors of bookshelves and various cozy nooks and crannies on each floor. As for the dorm lounges, I would say that varied by residential college, but they all had several common rooms (some had movie-screening rooms, others a dance studio, etc.) in addition to the common spaces within each suite. Describe the surrounding town at Yale University. Aisha: New Haven is definitely an interesting little metropolis outside of Yales campus. Many stores are located centrally on campus (bookstore, restaurants, shopping, etc.), and within driving distance there are various bigger stores like Walmart and Ikea. As far as the social scene of the town goes, there are various haunts that students frequent, the most popular being Toads Place and Box 63. There are several clubs that Yalies attend (primarily for private Yale events) and far more bars and restaurants to meet depending on the night of the week. Students seldom ever leave the walkable campus for a social life, as its pretty robust and insular amongst Yalies. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Aisha: Yale has a total of about 5,500 students, and I believe that you often feel the smallness of that number. Once you find a niche within Yale, you get to know pretty much everyone within your peripheral circle of social interaction, including those people you know from your academic department, extracurriculars, and athletics. The class sizes really vary by subject and popularity. Chemistry lectures had close to 100 people and so did some of the bigger, more popular humanities classes, but the size barrier was remedied with discussion section, which broke the class up into smaller groups. Overall, I found class sizes to be pretty reasonable. The popularity of the class often mandates size restrictions, so my advice would be to apply early for anything highly rated! Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Aisha: One of my favorite classes at Yale was Milton, taught by Professor John Rogers. He is a captivating speaker, an excellent Milton scholar, and an engaging and approachable professor. I think my most memorable experience was the time we spent reading and dissecting Paradise Lost. My high school education didnt include too many of the classics pre-1800s, so I was blown away by the level of analysis, reflection, and discussion surrounding one work of literature. I found myself voracious for learning, reading 100% of the assignments each week, taking extensive notes with highlighted questions, and always having something to ask or say in discussion. It was truly one of my favorite experiences at Yale because it was the class that made English click for me as a major. I finally felt at home. Check out Aishas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
How Technology Can Support Childrens Education
How Technology Can Support Childrenâs Education Todays students are digital natives who have never known a life without computers and the internet. As we all know, technology (in the form of cell phones and social media) shares blame for distracted students and many other problems. But technology also has all kinds of advantages for teachers as well as parents and students. Here are several ways technology can enhance your childs education: Your child can dig deeper into any topic. Theres no denying that one of the greatest benefits of living in the digital age is that students can fairly easily track down information on anything. Library resources are available online and anecdotal research is at students fingertips. If your child wants to know what a village in Peru looks like, all he or she has to do is look up images online. When your child isnt certain how to complete that algebra problem (and neither are you), a quick internet search will likely point him or her to a website or video that can help. Theres an app for everything. If your tech-savvy child doesnt embrace the paper planner, there are lots of other digital tools that might be of interestfrom to-do list apps (e.g. Remember the Milk or Todoist) to full-blown homework/planner apps (e.g. iStudiez Pro). For the child who needs something to keep lots of ideas, notes and brainstorming in one place, tools like Evernote are worth a look. Bottom line: technology has opened the floodgates for creative people to invent useful digital tools. Digital learning means high engagement. Educators often argue that one of the best things about the infusion of technology into education is the greater variety of learning experiences. Passive learning wherein students listen while teachers lecture is a thing of the past, and difficult topics can now be taught more easily using rich media. There are lots of interactive games and tools to help your child practice concepts taught in class. Your childs education is certain to be richer because of them. Your child can stay on top of school work more easily. Many school districts use learning management systems where teachers share homework and updates and students can access their attendance records as well as grades on assignments, tests, projects and quizzes. These systems foster collaboration and help students stay connected and improve their performance. Lastly, a few words of caution regarding technology use. While the internet is the curious childs best friend and has dramatically expanded opportunities for independent student research, it can be a big distraction. Use good judgment when establishing family rules for technology time and usage limits. Its also important to encourage your child to talk with teachers about high-quality, reliable resources when researching online and make sure you reinforce school rules regarding ethical internet usage. Technology has changed every industry, including education. If youre ever unsure how your child can get the most out of technological tools, reach out to his or her teachers for guidance. They can advise you on the best ways for your child to use technology to make new discoveries and boost his or her education. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2018 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.
Which A-Levels Should I Take
Which A-Levels Should I Take When it was time for me to pick my A-Levels I had no idea what I was doing. Now that I've finished my AS Levels I have a bit more knowledge when it comes to this. Here is some advice that I wish I would've had a year ago. Choosing which A-Levels you should take may be one of the biggest decisions a student has to make straight after they receive their GCSE results. You must pick a subject that you are relatively good at, but also one you would not despise after two years of study. In order to correctly choose your A-Levels you must first look at what would you like to do in the future. Doing this, you will be able to look at further education options. For example, if you would like to become a Doctor, you are going to need a Medical Science degree. These types of degrees have A-Level subject requirements, and often it is Maths and/or Biology. This should hopefully limit how many subjects you have to choose from. Some degrees do not require any specific A-Levels. In this case, choose A Levels that you think will prepare you for the chosen degree. Often students who would like to go into Computer Science may choose subjects such as Maths or Physics as these are both essential subjects to put you in a specific mindset for the degree. Just before you embrace these A-Levels, ask yourself, âAm I able to achieve good grades in these subjects?â You donât want to spend the next two years working hard just to open that envelope with disappointment. Make sure to pick something you are good at; if you are not good at Maths, donât pick it! Finally, would you like to study these subjects? There is nothing worse than learning about something day to day that you simply donât enjoy. Your overall experience of College/Sixth Form will not be pleasant being forced to do something that you hate. Having a subject that you truly enjoy or find interesting will not only give a good chance of better grades, but you will also not hate yourself, as much. Good luck to all awaiting for their results and choose your A-Levels wisely! Still have questions? You can search Tutorfair for experienced A-level tutors across a range of subjects from Maths, to physics and English.
8 Majors With The Highest Paying Salaries
8 Majors With The Highest Paying Salaries Image via: http://www.topuniversities.com 7. Physics Starting Salary: $49,800 Mid-Career Salary: $101,000 A physics major can open many doors for you in the future. Career opportunities include teaching, working in a laboratory and/or computer programming. According to Bank Rate: âThe American Institute of Physics reports that those with a physics degree find work in organizations ranging from high schools and hospitals to the U.S. military, museums, publishing firms, domestic and foreign governments and laboratories.â Image via: http://www.elevationnetworks.org/ 6. Business Management Information Systems Starting Salary: $53,800 Mid-Career Salary: $92,200 If you are interested in running a large business as a CEO, management information systems might be the right fit for you. In this major, students will learn how to manage a business through the use of business and computer-oriented programs. Bank Rate stated: âManagement information systems majors to the rescue. Trained to analyze organizations computer databases, oversee projects and improve company productivity and efficiency, MIS grads enjoy a practically booming job market with the field growing 17 percent each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.â Image via: http://www.sjsu.edu 5. Business Accounting Starting Salary: $53,901 Mid-Career Salary: $96,675 According to Accounting Web, the salary of accountants has decreased by 0.6 percent from 2013. In addition, lower paying positions for recent graduates may be the ultimate reason for this drop. However, accounting is a great foundation for other high-end paying jobs for the future. Image via: http://mygoodstewardaccountant.com 4. Pre-Nursing Starting Salary: $55,400 Mid-Career Salary: $71,000 Known for its high demand and competitiveness, nursing requires acknowledgement of heavy science-based material. Donât worry if you donât know which field to specialize inthere are approximately 100 different types of fields that nurses can apply to. As a nurse, youâre bound to find out which one will suite you. According to The Best Schools, the highest paid nurse holds the position of Nurse Anesthetist with a median salary of $154,390. However, the steps to obtain this position could be quite rigorous. The position requires a bachelorâs degree in nursing and a masterâs degree. After working for a year in a care facility, such as the emergency room, you can apply to take the certification exam. Image via: https://northcentralcollege.edu 3. Computer Science Starting Salary: $59,800 Mid-Career Salary: $102,000 The reason why this major is high in demand is because it presents numerous job opportunities within the field of computer science. Students who study computer science will learn how to understand programming language and eventually be able to create programs of their own. These jobs can range anywhere from informational technology (IT) to computer system development. If you attend a prestigious college, you are more likely to be noticed. However, it still may be difficult to land a successful job after graduation. An article from Forbes stated: âNearly 70 percent of computer science majors had at least one job before they graduated from college last year, according to data gathered by the National Association for Colleges and Employers, which surveyed nearly 10,000 college seniors who were set to earn bachelorâs degrees in the spring of last year.â Image via: http://news.lib.uchicago.edu 2. Mathematics Actuarial Mathematics Starting Salary: $58,700 Mid-Career Salary: $120,000 Actuary mathematicians analyze financial consequences and risks based on statistical data. As professional business professionals, actuaries have jobs that range from insurance companies to consulting firms. In a Business Insider interview, Mike Boot, managing director at Society of Actuaries, said âquite frankly, there are relatively few actuaries and people in our profession are well compensated for their jobs.â Image via: http://www.merton.ox.ac.uk 1. Engineering Petroleum Engineering Starting Salary: $103,000 Mid-Career Salary: $160,000 Out of all the majors within the engineering field, petroleum engineering is presently the number one highest paid in starting salary and mid-career salary. Petroleum engineers deal with crude oil and/or natural gas in the workplace environment. With a rough amount of only 1,000 students a year graduating with this degree, it is highly competitive due to its difficulty in specialized course rigor. Not only do petroleum engineers get paid well but other engineering majors do too, such as chemical, electrical, materials science and aerospace. Image via: http://www.resumeok.com Search through the Uloop job listings to find your next Part-Time or Full-Time employment or Internship opportunity. Employers are waiting to hear from you!
My Teaching Rationale and Philosophy
My Teaching Rationale and Philosophy To be successful in learning a physical science course, memorization should be minimal and limited to conventions, nomenclature, and practiced solely through listening, reading, and writing. The aim, rather, is tounderstandthe concepts; even better, toapplythe concepts to understand new concepts, or still better, tocreatenew ideas from the application of the learned concepts. As an instructor, I always consider the required depth of learning in each one of my physical science classes, in each one of the concepts individually, based onBloom's Taxonomy, before designing the course syllabus. It's only then that analignmentbetween course learning objectives and assessments is possible for the most efficient learning.Traditionally, it is known that the best strategy to tackle confusions in the process of learning, among students, is to have the courage to ask questions during class or else through email accompanied by a re-statement or reflection summary of what is understood in studentâ s own word. However, time is changing and societyâs norms as well. Not all students feel comfortable participating in the classrooms. There are times when the instructor has to interfere directly through careful use of technology in order to trigger students' enthusiasm on the subject and guide their cognitive reasoning. Research has shown that frequent quizzing and effective feedback go a long way in the process of learning scientific concepts. Such environment can be created most efficiently via careful use of applicable technologies such asclickersandsmall-groupdiscussions.Our brain is wired such that bothknowledgeandskillare learned cumulatively based on our prior experiences. Despite the argue being made for either extremes of this two-sided spectrum, there must be a balance halfway in between. To create an environment where students would learn both the theoretical concepts as well as the required skills needed to apply those concepts in their later careers, as an instructo r, I believe that the presence of three elements is crucial: course syllabus, course website, and a Learning Management System. Itâs only through these means that an instructor could create the best learning environment based on Universal Design Learning according to which materials should be accessible conveniently for every and each one of students regardless of their cultural background and different learning abilities.To facilitate learning, as an instructor, I use education technology carefully as a means to support learning experience through the realization of the way human brain works. Technology itself is neither a problem nor a solution; but rather the way it is utilized could be either a problem or a solution. For example, in the creation of course website and its contents including lectures for a classroom, utilizing desktop video/audio recording systems (e.g. Panopto) or virtual/web-based classroom environments (e.g. Zoom), I apply the concepts ofdual-codingwhile avoi dingcognitive overload. Research has shown that when the same learning materials are offered in more than one format (verbal, visual, etc.) simultaneously, then different parts of brain partake different tasks towards creation of a single concrete understanding of the concepts. However, it's important to not complicate the presentation means by including too many details overloaded.Physical sciences are the products of different cultures at different times over the course of history. History of science has taught us that our collective knowledge is a by-product of many brains that, at times, worked together but individually, always, worked critically. Therefore, it follows that anactive learningenvironment is one in which learners are enthusiastic about the subject. This will help them to enjoy the materials in the class allowing them to ask questions during lecture anytime they have problem understanding a concept. In my philosophy, asking a wrong question or giving a wrong answer has value in it more than keeping quiet; one who puts an effort into composing a question or an answer, by virtue, is in fact actively involved in the messy process of learning. The purpose of using technology in classrooms is to ensure that students are active learners. To aim for that purpose, I teach my students to thinkcritically. It's important for them to learn that they should question every and each step of their quantitative or qualitative analyses. As an instructor, I force them to do so by creating careful lecture slides or homework problem sets that have multiple parts all connected to each other logically and intellectually. This is doable through different quizzing technologies such as D2L Quiz or TopHat.I personally believe in the usefulness of theScholarship of Teaching and Learningin academic environments according to which the healthiest classrooms (traditional, online, or hybrid) are the ones that arelearner-centered. I commit myself to utilize the vastness of the available and prospect technologies to get studentsâ attention through careful design of pre-class, in-class, and after-class activities. Technology is an aiding agent for the instructor to facilitate teaching. Technology cannot be the sole facilitator of a classroom; it's merely a means in the hands of the instructor waiting to be used wisely.Regardless of my teaching experience, I have positive attitudes towards the physical sciences. I too am a learner in a sense. Each semester indeed gives me an opportunity to learn about diverse backgrounds, cultures, thought processes, etc. I am increasingly learning about my teaching as well as my students.
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