Monthly Archives: July 2017

Studying in a foreign university or college heralds a life-changing experience. It’s an exciting adventure that will open up new possibilities and help you to grow as a smarter and more mature individual. Studying abroad is an elaborate process. There is a multitude of things that you must take care of to ensure a stress-free move. Here’s 9 things you need to know before you study abroad:

1. Get a comparative study on 5-6 universities

Don’t just focus on one university as it will only cut down your opportunities to study abroad. Proceed with a shortlist of at least 5-6 universities. Make sure the institutions host your desired course or stream. Read about their faculties and alumni. Get a thorough study on their rules and regulations regarding applying to college. If you meet the eligibility criteria in all the shortlisted university, you should send your application to all those institutions.

2. Check for a scholarship program

Studying abroad can be very expensive depending on your destination. You should check out the scholarship opportunities offered by your chosen university for foreign students. Your chosen university should promise a neutral and judicious scholarship where financially needy and meritorious students are given priority.

3. Arrange the required paperwork

Make sure you have all essential documents for travel, including your passport and visa. Check beforehand the eligibility criteria and required documents to pass the visa interview.

4. Consult a senior studying abroad

Do you have a senior studying in your chosen international university? You should request them to extend you information about the university and life overall there. He or she can offer you valuable advice on accommodation, living costs and standards, which will make your life much easier upon arrival.

5. Inform your doctor

Inform your family physician about your plans to study abroad. It’s especially important if you are currently under medication. Your doctor will suggest tips on taking care of your current health situation and overall wellness when you are staying alone abroad. He will also inform you about all necessary immunizations and vaccinations you need to take before boarding the flight.

6. Don’t skip medical insurance

You need to arrange medical insurance before studying abroad abroad. It will take care of all urgent medical expenses in your destination country, which is vital if things get serious.

7. Get the contact number of your country’s embassy

This is another crucial tip you should keep in mind while studying abroad. If an emergency strikes you should contact your national embassy.

8. Carry original documents, not just photocopies

You need to carry original documents (passport, visa etc.) with you as you board the. This is important in the case of an emergency.

9. Don’t carry valuables abroad

Do not bring overly valuable items abroad. Thieves and burglars are always on the lookout in certain countries. Flashy apparel and expensive items will only attract their attention.

All the best for your new journey.

Applying to college can be tedious. What differentiates a candidate that is accepted to one that is declined, is a great college application essay. The essay is the most complex component of the application process, and is what remains between you and admission to your dream colleges.

Here are some tips to write a great college application essay to stand out from the crowd:

1.     Plan your application

Think about how you would string your points together in a cohesive flow. At this point you can further organize your thoughts into an outline format that can help to gather your thoughts and the argument of the essay as a whole to convince the university admission office to accept you. It is important not to get into too much detail – writing keywords and phrases are the best solution. Highlight your strengths.

2.     Choose a topic that highlights your story

Share your personal story and thoughts in your personal statement. It is useful to take a creative approach and highlight areas that aren’t covered in other parts of the application, like your high school records. It may help to treat the college application like a job application, and writing your cover letter.

3.     Create a compelling introduction

Condense what you’re trying to say into a short introduction. Your first few sentences should be an ‘Elevator Pitch’ style summary of your essay. should be interested in it. Your introduction for your essay should sell the idea of it to a reader, leaving them wanting to read the essay in question.

4.     Be original

Top competitive colleges are looking for originality and quality. The application essay is an opportunity to impress an admissions officer with your determination and knowledge of your chosen subject. It should reflect your skills and ambitions, and highlight how your chosen program will help you achieve future goals. Don’t rely on phrases or ideas that people have used many times before. Statements like “I am passionate about helping people in poverty” are generic and should be avoided. If you are passionate about this, delve into why, or your own personal experience that brought you on this path. Whilst you want to maintain originality and showcase your own personal flair, avoid formal language as it can begin to sound monotonous.

5.     Proofread your application and ensure that it flows well

Check the order of your paragraphs and ensure that your strongest points and ensure that your paragraph order makes sense. Reread your essay and check to see if it makes sense. Make sure that sentence flow is smooth and add phrases to help connect thoughts or ideas. On the other hand, remove sentences that do not add value to your application – you want to demonstrate the ability to hold-back. Finally, check your application for grammar and spelling mistakes.

Although the college application process can seem challenging, good preparation will ensure you have the best chance at receiving an offer from your dream university. Good luck!

Teaching must be one of the stress-free professions. Teachers get to instill knowledge in their students, give advice to those who need it, and mold students to become useful people of the society. Moreover, they get to have holidays when school is out of session during times like spring break, long holidays, and summer. Unlike other jobs, teachers do not have to stay at work late or over the weekends if they do not have to. Thus the question, does the teaching profession deserve long holidays? Can they do anything to improve the curriculum and their teaching methods instead of taking long breaks when the students are not around?

Teachers deserve a break from school despite the flexible hours and other privileges that come with the job. Their job can be stressful, especially for schools that have a high teacher to student ratio. Teachers consistently hear the same things from their students: “can I add you on social media“, “can you help me with this maths problem” or that chemistry equation. In such cases, the teachers have to ensure that all their students obtain a quality education. The profession involves more than just learning. Teaching includes providing an advisory role to the students, molding them to meet their potential, and offer assistance to the students who need it. A teacher is a mentor to the student. The society expects a certain standard from teachers since they spend a lot of time with their children. Therefore, teachers deserve an extended holiday to relax and enjoy themselves outside their profession.

Lack of long holidays can lead to burn out. A teacher’s routine is similar term after term, year after year. They teach the same things to different students every year. Their job is more or less the same every school period. The long breaks give teachers a chance to recuperate. They need the breaks to relax after achieving their teaching objectives and meeting the curricular goals. They need time to themselves where they can focus on their hobbies and interests away from school.

The breaks are good since they get to come up with need teaching ideas away from the monotonous routines. Some schools use the holidays to conduct team building exercises, training, and revamping the curriculum and school routines. In a way, long holidays for teachers are beneficial to the teachers and students. The students obtain quality service after the teachers have taken time off. The teachers go back to school reenergized to face a new academic year or term. The breaks enable them to reconnect with the students and provide the best service.

Therefore, it is wrong to question whether teachers deserve long breaks. They deserve the holidays. Why should teachers remain in school when the students have closed? Stating that teachers should stay in school during the holidays after accomplishing the teaching objectives is unfair and pointless. The breaks benefit the teachers, students, and the society. The students get to learn from a well rested and rejuvenated faculty thus obtaining a quality education. Additionally, the breaks give the teachers a chance to invest in themselves. Long holidays is part of the job description thus should be embraced as such.

Education technology, or at least the marketing of education technology, promises to make the learning process more efficient, effective and enjoyable. It has been suggested that technology can facilitate education almost by osmosis. Computers were first introduced into classrooms in the 1980s and they were of limited utility. However, software developers and hardware manufacturers have worked relentlessly to ensure constant innovation and development. This has led us to an era where technology is no longer limited in utility and no longer an intimidating phenomenon. It has been the standard in business and industry and the education system has been pressured into ensuring that the next generation of the workforce are competent and comfortable operating computers and other machinery.

Technology should he viewed as a tool which can and has changed the nature of learning. Ultimately, educators want students to learn. Many teachers would relish the opportunity to change the way in which they teach. Technology offers such an opportunity. Technology facilitates exploration, which is a vital component of a well-rounded education. It enables the acquisition of information to change from a static process to something more dynamic and engaging. Students are able to access and present information in numerous different ways. This encourages diversity of thinking and breeds creativity, whilst still ensuring that the fundamentals are covered. Students no longer need to be reliant on pen and paper alone and can gain familiarity and confidence in a range of contexts. Importantly, technology also fosters team building. Teachers and students alike can move away from individual efforts and engage in larger teams. Technology also has the ability to close geographical gaps. Active leaning is not easy process and specifically designed technology takes account of this. Students must come to understand that exploration doesn’t simply mean running around and doing as they choose. Educators need to recognise that if students are exploring, investigating, asking questions, writing about their discoveries and doing so in a context that simulates the real world, they are a better prepared further forms of education and eventually, the workforce. In a teaching environment rich with technology, students are able to enjoy an authentic leaning experience. Technology is the means and not in and of itself an ends. Technology provides educators with opportunities; they can deviate from the norm and seek higher standards of learning. Technology can also be used for homework help, enabling the learning process to continue outside school hours.

However, it is important that teachers select the right tools. Not every form of technology is educational and not every form of education needs to be associated with technology. Time is the most important commodity, particularly in early education. Consequently, educators have an important decision to make when determining what forms of technology to introduce into the classroom. Teachers need to make themselves accountable and help their colleagues to determine and develop the most effective use of technology. Obviously, teachers cannot be expected to single-handedly revolutionise the education system, however, they must take their responsibility seriously. Technology has already made an enormous contribution to the education system. Tech developers have done and continue to do their part, however, it is the educators who carry the most responsibility; they are the gatekeepers and need to ensure nothing but the most effective forms of technology enter the classroom.