Learning English Matters

Learning English MattersLearning English isn't just for native English speakers. Sometimes you may be asked to provide some information or answer a question in another language that you don't even know. You should learn English and you should do it now. It will make the time you spend learning English all worth it.It is important that you know English before you move somewhere else. If you move to Canada and they ask you to speak English, you may not be able to converse with them. What if they start speaking Chinese?There are some tips that can be taken to help you learn English as well as any other language. Don't get discouraged, this is just the first step. I am a firm believer that learning something new doesn't have to be difficult. It can be learned easily.A good place to start with your English learning is online. Most websites offer programs that are meant to help you learn English. They are short and easy to follow. You will learn faster when you use an audio course instead of watching a screen. Some lessons even have games and quizzes to keep you interested.When you use these online classes, you can watch what you are supposed to be learning rather than seeing yourself speaking the words you see. This is a great way to learn English without having to talk to anyone. It may take some time, but if you have patience, you will be able to learn very quickly.Another way to learn English is to sign up for an ESL (English as a second language) class. These classes have already been created by people who are fluent in the English language. They are done through the internet, so you don't have to leave your home. They even have a classroom style instruction where you can be in a room with others who are also trying to learn English.Learning English is very important, no matter where you live. You want to be able to communicate with others. Even if you are moving from one country to another, you want to be able to communicate. Taking a class at home or taking an online class are your options.

How to Select the Right Online Tutoring Service for You

How to Select the Right Online Tutoring Service for You 0SHARESShare Online Tutoring is a web based service and you can search the internet for the best service that suits your budget and your time slot. You can visit as many online tutoring sites as possible and go through the trial packages offered by each of them. The World Wide Web is a huge resource for information and you will most likely get overwhelmed by the knowledge that you acquire about the concept of online tutoring. Under these circumstances consult your friends, classmates and parents of other students to sift through all the online tutoring service providers. You should be aware of your particular requirements. In what subject do you want the online help? Do you require homework help? Which subject do you require homework help in? The net is the right choice but you have to be patient. Talk or chat with all the tutors at various online schools. You must check out the library and the knowledge bank of the online school. Go through the qualifications and experience of teachers in each school. The safest choice is with online schools which return your money if you are not satisfied. [starbox id=admin]

Reducing Academic Stress - Private Tutoring

Reducing Academic Stress BobbiM Apr 17, 2014 Three important tips for reducing academic stress. If you feel a lot of academic pressure, try these three important tips. 1. Dont procrastinate. This sounds simple enough, but probably most of the academic stress students experience comes from waiting until the last minute to get their assignments done. You are much better off starting early and doing some work each night rather than letting it wait until it is due. 2. Dont listen to other students cram right before the test. If your classmates are discussing something you have forgotten it will just make you more nervous. Simply take your seat, gather your thoughts, take a few deep breaths, and wait for the test to begin. Many students who experience academic stress madly rush through their notes as they are waiting for the exams to be passed out, but this too can make you more stressed if you find a topic that you dont remember. It is much better to use the time before the exam to relax. 3. Lean to say no. Many students experience academic stress because they have too much to do. Dont take on too much added responsibility beyond your classes. Even though you might be offered some interesting opportunities, if you wind up with too much to do, your grades and your health could suffer. Learn to say no to some things if you find you have too much to handle. Excerpt from  College Success Strategies  by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

Staff Spotlight Karen Sutton

Staff Spotlight Karen Sutton Staff Spotlight: Karen Sutton, Program Coordinator at Pinewood Elementary Staff Spotlight: Karen Sutton, Program Coordinator at Pinewood Elementary October 16, 2015 Karen Sutton is the newest member of Heart Math Tutoring’s team and will be the coordinator at Pinewood Elementary, our eighth school partner. Karen graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education and completed graduate courses in Counseling. She is originally from Columbia, SC, and has two children. Karen worked for several years as a Case Coordinator with Mecklenburg County, linking children and adults with developmental disabilities to needed services. She has also worked as a Program Manager of a private tutoring agency and as a tutor and Pre-K Screener with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Before joining Heart, Karen worked as the State Outreach Director for an education advocacy non-profit. She loves to volunteer with her fellow Junior League of Charlotte members and believes that all children can learn and succeed when given the appropriate tools and support. Check out Karen’s answers to our Spotlight questions: What does she remember about math when she was in school? What I remember most about learning math in school were the rules. I remember being taught the rules and shown how to use the steps to complete the math problems, but never being taught why. I simply memorized the rules. Finish the sentence: “A strong foundation in math…” helps to build confidence in a child’s academic abilities and helps that child have an easier time learning more difficult math skills later on in school. What song always makes you dance or sing along? “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars. The video is even better!

TutorGroup

TutorGroup TutorGroup TutorGroup provides online English tutoring services 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. It was established in 2004 by Dr. Ming Yang and Dr. Eric Yang and has been fast expending to various locations in Shanghai, Taipei, and the Silicon Valley. With English teachers from various professional backgrounds and locations, our students receive a rich, global language learning environment. English learning courses are arranged for students based on their individual language skills and available in the comfort and privacy of their own homes.In 2014, TutorGroup has closed a massive $100 million funding from Asia-based investors including Alibaba, Temasek and Qiming Venture. The company has bigger ambitions for its technology than online language learning. Soon, you may be able to take a wine education class online on TutorGroup taught by an expert in the field.In 2015, TutorGroup CEO Dr. Eric Yang was recognized for transforming traditional education methods, founding an online platform, and co mmitting to the continuous innovation of education technology. Dr. Yang was awarded as one of the most influential EdTech leaders globally. Tutorgroup is a company that sets up a ground-breaking EdTech startup that has set the precedent for the rest of the industry. It has been a driving force in the evolution of education.

Teach Away Telegram - February 2012

Teach Away Telegram - February 2012 February is coming to an end, but this year you have an extra day to plan your future teaching adventure! Taking a leap of faith by moving to a new country can be exciting, but it’s important to know how to dress for success abroad.In this month’s Teach Away Telegram, we bring you tips on how to dress for success as an English teacher overseas, info on how to cope with homesickness while living abroad, and our country spotlight features Korea.So take that extra day this February and start preparing for an exciting teaching career overseas!Happy reading! â€" The Teach Away TeamDressing for Success When Teaching AbroadWhen planning to work abroad one often thinks about the new sights, food, and culture of the destination country, but close attention should also be taken to local interpersonal relations. The ways you conduct yourself in public and in professional settings are important aspects to be considered when moving to a new country, and this includes your wardrobe choices!The re is no universal dress code for teachers and the written and unwritten rules of each country may be very different from what you are used to in your home country. While teaching in places such as Abu Dhabi, for example, you should be mindful of exposed shoulders and the length of your skirt (for women). Some countries in the Middle East might require women to wear a hijab headscarf, while teachers in Asia may be able to wear more casual clothing, especially if teaching young children.To make sure that your choice of clothing fits in with the classroom and working culture of your host country, follow these tips:Observe how your coworkers dress and follow a similar style.Check to see if the school has a specific dress code for teachers (private schools might require more formal and business oriented attire, such as suits for men).Dress comfortably but make sure your clothes are not revealing, and any visible tattoos are covered.Ask your Teach Away placement coordinator about the dre ss code at the school where you are going to work.Don’t wear the country’s traditional clothing to work unless there is a special celebration or event related to it. Traditional wear is usually reserved for special occasions such as weddings, tea ceremonies, etc.Coping with HomesicknessEmbarking on an adventure abroad can be very exciting, but after a few months the honeymoon period might be over and you could feel like you’re stuck in a bad marriage. Once the initial excitement dissipates it is normal to feel homesick, however, there are many ways to overcome this problem and make your experience abroad a memorable one.An effective way to cope with homesickness is to keep close contact with friends and family back home by phone, email, or Skype. Be careful not to rely solely on your support network in your home country though! By immersing yourself in the local culture you can start to make your host country feel more like home.Take part in local cultural events and make loca l friends â€" great ways to understand the local customs and feel more engaged in the community.You can also start writing a blog to record your experiences, post photos, and keep up with friends and family. Teach Away blogs are easy to use, and a fantastic way to remember your time abroad!Sign up hereCountry spotlight: KoreaThe Republic of Korea is located on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula in Eastern Asia. Whether you are looking for the hustle and bustle of a big city, or a tranquil lifestyle in a rural area, Korea has a lot to offer.The Korean economy is the third largest in Asia and its capital and largest city, Seoul, is a modern and cosmopolitan city with an extensive subway system, many different types of cuisine, and a diverse and intense nightlife. In the countryside you can find a more serene lifestyle where temples and mountains are everywhere you look and people enjoy a more slow-paced lifestyle.Korea offers some of the best ESL teaching positions in Asia. All positions offer free accommodations, roundtrip airfare, and an excellent salary. There are monthly start dates available to teach in Korea, check out our teaching jobs board and join our Teach Away Community to learn more from other teachers’ experiences.

Meet the teacher ESL Instructor, Mark, in Gwangju, South Korea

Meet the teacher ESL Instructor, Mark, in Gwangju, South Korea We caught up with Mark, an ESL teacher from Illinois, who has been teaching abroad on a Teach Away placement for three months at a school in Gwangju, South Korea. We asked him some questions about his experience so far, so he could share an insight and his perspective with others interested in teaching in Korea. What initially interested you in teaching abroad? Well, firstly, I’ve always been really interested in travel, and when I decided to head out for my TEFL placement, I was well-positioned to try something new because I wasn’t tied down by anything in particular. I had a lot of freedom to explore the idea of a new adventure. I also have a couple of friends who have either taught ESL previously or are currently abroad teaching, and they’ve had nothing but good things to say about their experience. Also, whenever I’ve travelled I’ve found it to be such an educational experience. I’ve learned a lot about the world, but also about myself and about others. So not only do I get to go abroad and teach others, but I get to learn something new as well. Why did you decide on South Korea? I was pretty indiscriminateâ€"in my application, I picked 8 countries that generally interested me. I then decided on South Korea because I had friends teaching there already who all had positive things to say about their experience, and I had also taught several international students from South Korea in the United States as part of an exchange program. Those students made a great impression on me. Did you have any concerns before you left? I actually didn't have many concerns, I'm pretty laid-back and like to go with the flow. I think it’s important to be as easygoing as possible when making such a drastic move, otherwise anything could bother you. Although I’ve heard some people say that their actual situation differed slightly from their contract, my experience here in South Korea has proved to be a very pleasant surprise. Describe the school that you teach at and what a typical workday looks like for you. Something that I like about my placement is that no two days are the same. I arrive at the school I teach at for 11 am, although I don't start teaching until 12 pm, and on Thursdays not until 1:20 pm. This gives me a good amount of prep time. Having a later start time also allows me to reserve my mornings for myself and activities that interest me personally. The school is a combination of three Kindergarten-type schools and two hagwonsâ€"or private Korean institutes. I have one class that I see everyday, but the other classes are all once or twice a week. All of the materials are provided, which makes lesson-planning very easy. At most, I need 30 minutes to prepare for a whole day of lessons. After teaching in the United States and seeing how much time and effort I needed to put into planning, this process seems like a piece of cake. I don’t have to worry about take-home work because all necessary grading can be done within the hours I’m at the school. What have you learned about life in South Korea from your teaching experience? I’ve learned a lot about South Korean culture through my placement, which I’ve really enjoyed. It has often been a challenge when communicating, but despite that fact, my experience has been one to remember thus far. Everyday is a new opportunity to learn a little bit more, not just about South Korea, but about myself as well. I’ve also learned a lot about different educational styles and educational systems, and have made adaptations to my teaching style based on this system. What is your favorite meal that you’ve had? A Korean friend of mine made me a traditional Korean brunch of duck and pumpkin, which was my favorite meal here thus far. Other foods I’ve also really enjoyed are bibimbap, gimbap, samgyupsal, to name a few. I’ve pretty much enjoyed it all here, I love how spicy things can get. It feels a lot healthier, tastier, and fresher than the food I was used to back home. What’s your neighborhood like? My neighborhood is nice and quiet. There is a park in the heart of the neighborhood, and a lot of my coworkers and friends live in nearby buildings. It creates a real sense of community here. My apartment is small, but that’s to be expected in Korea, and I’m able to get out and do interesting things nearby anywayâ€"I enjoy the local restaurants, and the mountains for hiking are literally a six-minute walk from my place. I’ve found the people here to be super nice and welcoming. Where would you like to go next? I haven’t really thought that far ahead because I’m enjoying my experience here, but I think one day I’d like to do a placement in Bolivia, if it presents itself. What resources did you find helpful as you planned to go abroad? I think trying to connect with teachers that are either currently placed at the same school, or teachers who have taught there in the past is really helpful. Do you have any tips for teachers who are looking to apply to teach abroad? Do your homework beforehand to understand as much as you can, but also realize that at some point you will just have to roll with it. Don't look at this as something you will do for a short timeâ€"embrace it as your new life and new home, even if you’ll only do it for the one year. Think about culture and food. They are very important, and it's important to embrace new things and not just carry your old habits and traditions with you. Your good attitude will enhance your experience. Finally, if you can, try and email or talk to teachers that are currently at the school and get their impressions and their advice before you begin.