Friday, March 6, 2020

Becoming a Latin Teacher

Becoming a Latin Teacher How Can You Become a Latin Teacher? ChaptersHow Can You Teach Latin in Schools?Teaching at a UK Secondary School with a PGCEQualified Teacher StatusChanging Careers to Become a Latin Teacher“Aut viam inveniam aut faciam tibi. (I will either find a way or make one.) - Kendall RyanStudents still have the option to study Latin at GCSE and A Level. While most state schools don’t teach it, it’s still quite popular at private schools.  Most of the students who choose to study Latin at GCSE or A Level pass their exams.So while Latin may be a dead language, it’s alive and well for those wanting to study it. There are plenty of reasons people choose to study Latin. For one, the language can provide an interesting insight into our language.Did you know that over half of English words come from Latin?A quarter of our vocabulary came directly from Latin and another half of it came from Old French, a language which evolved from Latin!Latin's also been an important language throughout history. It was the language of the Roma n Empire and spoken all over Europe, leading to vulgar Latin which would later evolve into the Romance Languages like French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish.Medieval Latin was used as a way for the member states of the Holy Roman Empire to communicate and during the 15th century, Renaissance Latin replaced it as scholars tried to rediscover Classical Latin. Around 70% of books printed at the time were in Latin.By the 17th century, Latin was being used as a language for the sciences and diplomacy. However, it was later replaced by French. That said, you'll probably notice that most scientific terms are of Latin origin.Nowadays, Latin is most commonly used by the Catholic Church, as it has been for around 2,000 years. It's the official language of the Holy See and the Vatican City.It's far from dead and it's an interesting subject for anyone interested in history, languages, or the sciences.So how can you start teaching Latin? How do you become a Latin teacher in schools?I n this article, we'll be looking at how you can become a school teacher, get a teaching certification, degree in education, and all the different ways to become a Latin teacher. DéborahLatin Teacher 5.00 (12) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr. KarisLatin Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SimonaLatin Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArgiroLatin Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JennyLatin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LucieLatin Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielaLatin Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SophieLatin Teacher 5.00 (6) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Can You Teach Latin in Schools?Latin is almost non-existent in primary schools and it’s only really a subject you can gain teaching qualifications in if you attend a private secondary school which means that you’ll prob ably be teaching older students. There are established routes for those who want to teach in government schools. (Source: Pexels)They’ll still need to learn how to use the language, though.So how will they do this?By learning from a teacher of course!Find out more about becoming a Latin teacher.Training to Become a Latin TeacherIf you want to study in secondary schools, the first thing you’ll need to do is get your undergraduate degree in Latin. Generally, Latin is taught alongside subjects like Ancient Greek, history, other languages, or even philosophy. You might also learn about Latin culture. After all, culture and language are pretty inseparable so you must study both at the same time.Secondly, you’ll need a teaching qualification and the PGCE is the most common one. Firstly, you must be aware that there are PGCEs for all subjects.  Except for academies and independent schools, you’ll need Qualified Teacher Status (NQT) to work as a teacher in a secondary school in the UK.Keep in mind that most Latin PG CEs are Classics PGCEs and most Latin teaching jobs will probably involve working in a different content area or subject area. You'll probably have to be familiar with several different curricula.That said, there are other education courses you can opt for depending on whether you want to be a high school teacher, a foreign language teacher, or a private Latin tutor.Teaching at a UK Secondary School with a PGCESo what exactly is the PGCE?This is a course that you can study over one or two years to become a teacher within a state-funded school. If you want to teach in a secondary school, you'll probably consider doing a PGCE. (Source: Eliens)That’s what you’re after, isn’t it?Once you’ve finished your PGCE, you’ll have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). However, you’ll have to complete your newly qualified teacher (NQT) year at a secondary school first. Then the real work begins!School-Centres Initial Teacher TrainingThe SCITT programme is only available in England and it allows you to gain QTS while working predominantly within a school. Certain SCITT programmes will award a PGCE at the end.  You can apply to one in the same way you’d apply to a PGCE, through UCAS.These programmes are available for those wanting to primary, middle, or secondary school students.Think of it as a PGCE for those who learn better by doing rather than by studying.Discover how much Latin teachers earn.Qualified Teacher StatusWhile we’ve suggested the PGCE since it's the most common qualification for secondary teaching, what you need is the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) that we mentioned and you can get this from a multitude of different courses or a teacher education program. All teachers in state schools need QTS. Qualified Teacher Status is necessary for a lot of teachers in the UK. (Source: Foundry)While the PGCE is the most common and there’s also School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) that we mentioned, you might also want to consider Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP), and Undergraduate QTS routes.QTS is usually attained through completion of an undergraduate degree and a teacher training course such as those mentioned before. Then, new teachers also need to complete their NQT year.Your degree will probably be in the subject you want to teach and during the training courses, you’ll learn how to transfer your knowledge of your subject to your students.In short, being a teacher is about having a mastery of your subject and knowing how to transfer that knowledge to students.If you need a particular teaching credential, you should contact universities, especially those with a department of education.Changing Careers to Become a Latin TeacherIf you’ve always been interested in Lat in, it’s never too late to become a teacher and start teaching the subject. Of course, you’ll have to get through the steps we mentioned earlier. If you're done with your current career, you could always give teaching Latin a shot. (Source: jillmackie)There’s no age limit when it comes to studying a PGCE, SCITT, or GTP. Do some research and see which option is best for you.Who said Latin was a dead language?That said, if you don’t already have a degree in Latin, you’re going to also have to do an entire degree again or prove your level in Latin. Similarly, once you’ve got your degree and teaching qualification, you’ll need to do your NQT year just like anyone else even if you are a little older than the other teachers.  You might also need to brush up on your Latin if it’s been a while or even start with a Latin level test.In short, becoming a teacher and starting your teaching career is a simple process as long as you’re passionate, hard-working, and driven. You need a good understanding of both your subject and pedagogy and if you have both, you'll have no problem finding a teaching job.Whether you want to focu s on early childhood education, teaching Latin as a second language, secondary education, or teaching adults, teacher education is important!  Additionally, teaching experience, high teaching standards, and teaching skills are essential for anyone who wants to become a teacher. It's not always obvious how to become a teacher so if you need more help, consider looking at teaching degrees or a teaching certification and if you can, apply now!If you want to learn Latin or some teaching skills, you can always get help from the tutors on Superprof! There are three main types of tutorial available and the perfect one for some mightn't be ideal for others.Face-to-face tutorials are your typical private tutorial with a private tutor sitting opposite their student. These are usually the most costly option because your tutor will spend a lot of time preparing your bespoke lessons but they're also very cost-effective since every minute in class is spent teaching you.Thanks to the internet, you can also get online tutorials. This is when the tutor teaches their student using video conferencing software and a webcam. These tend to be cheaper than face-to-face tutorials since the tutor doesn't have to travel.Finally, group tutorials tend to be cheaper per student per hour since the cost of the tutor's time and expertise is shared amongst all the students in the lesson. However, you won't get as much one-on-one time as you would with face-to-face tutorials.

The Best Ways to Learn Japanese

The Best Ways to Learn Japanese How to Learn Japanese: Everything You Need to Know Chapters Can You Learn Japanese at Middle School? Everything You Need to Know About Learning Japanese at University How Can You Find a Japanese Private Tutor? Is Learning Japanese Difficult?  The Best Way to Learn Japanese on Your Own: With Video GamesJapanese learning may seem like an impossible task. Most people see the intricate connections of lines and shapes which make up Japanese characters as impossible to decipher.But in a country where almost 75% of adults say that they can't speak English, and the Ministry of Education has said that the level of English at schools is disappointing, the ability to speak Japanese will be more than just an attractive addition to a prospective employer.Aside from a professional perspective, learning Japanese could be a dream come true for those who love manga, anime, or video games.Most of us will have probably seen some anime growing up. This is like a free Japanese tuition as you will probably be familiar with some Japanese vocabulary and som e common expressions if you have seen the original versions.So how do you start learning Japanese? Is it a difficult language to learn?  How easily can you travel to Japan?The most important question to answer before you start is your motivation for learning Japanese. If you only want to learn basic Japanese in order to know the basic greetings and how to introduce yourself so that you can have a conversation, then your approach to learning will be different than if you want to have a more fluent level in speaking Japanese because you want to live and work in Japan.These are all questions that we’ll be trying to answer over the course of this article.learning Japanese at middle school.Since children learn much more quickly than adults, you should start studying Japanese as soon as possible. (Source: Tirachard Kumtanom)Did you know that children have better memories than adults?  With a number of effective methods for raising bilingual children, those who are raised in a bilingual environment will grow up being able to speak both languages well.This is due to the fact that when we’re young, we have more synaptic connections than when we’re older. However, as we grow up, we start losing these connections. Even more so when we stop using them every day. With this in mind, you can see why it’s so important to start learning Japanese as early as possible.To find out more about where you can learn Japanese and get to grips with kanji, hiragana, and katakana, we recommend visiting the Japanese embassy’s website.  You can also find lists of public and private schools in the US where Japanese is taught as a foreign language.Don’t worry if you don’t happen to live near a school where Japanese is taught! There’s more than one way to learn about the Japanese language, Japanese culture, and Japanese history.You could always consider getting private classes or tutorials in Japanese from a private tutor. There are also private and public Japanese schools wher e children can be taught as if they were attending a school in Japan. This is an interesting way to learn Japanese for free (not the private schools, obviously).Regardless of where you study, your Japanese lessons will more than likely focus on Nihongo, the form of Japanese learnt by any new learner who is studying Japanese as a new language.If you are in the British capital, have a look at the best Japanese lessons London. Everything You Need to Know About Learning Japanese at UniversityAfter leaving school, you’ll probably want to continue learning Japanese at university.  If this is the case, you’ll have a few options because Japanese is offered at universities around the world.University is one of the best places to learn Japanese. (Source: pixabay.com)The number of people who want to learn to speak Japanese is increasing around the world, and this is reflected in the number of students who learn Japanese either at undergraduate level, or even at postgraduate level as well. You can probably find a Japanese course at your local university if you live in a big town or city. And you don't need to be an intermediate to study. Most courses are targeted at beginners, rather than experienced speakers.While college has always been the traditional way to learn, you can learn Japanese online, with private tutors, or through language centers offering classes in the evenings. Depending on where you live, you can often find these options in abundance. The most important thing is that you learn to speak the language while broadening your understanding of the accompanying culture and history, too. In some cases, you can do this more effectively outside of university.As a general rule, if you want to work in academia, you should probably consider learning the language at university. However, when it comes to getting jobs with a Japanese language requirement, the other options can be just as good.If you can't find a university close-by that offers Japanese speaking cla sses,  you can learn a lot of Japanese online!Don’t forget the most important thing: You can always get a private tutor who can help you catch up with your studies or even teach you Japanese privately if none of the other options are available to you.When it comes to rates, they can vary wildly depending on a number of different factors such as experience, location, level, etc.  You should also check if there are Japanese clubs where you live. Maybe there are language centers offering evening classes.  Of course, both of these options are rarely free. Is Learning Japanese Difficult?From the point of view of an English speaker, the Japanese language can sometimes seem quite complicated.The Japanese writing system alone can inspire fear in the hearts of even the steeliest students. Not having the Latin alphabet as a comfort blanket makes it impossible to even pronounce Japanese phrases for beginners, added to the wealth of new and unfamiliar words which greet you when you start rese arching the language online such as hiragana katakana, desu, watashi, kanji characters but to name a few.However, does that actually make Japanese a difficult language to learn?You'll learn a lot of Japanese if you go to Japan. (Source: pixabay.com)You don’t need to worry too much. After all, the Japanese language has borrowed plenty of words from English. Here are a few of them.“ending” ? endingu,“soccer” ? sakkaa,“half-time” ? haafu taimu,“referee” ? refurii,“mic” ? maiku“table” ? teeburuIn addition to all the English words, there are also several other reasons that Japanese is simpler than you think:Unlike languages like Spanish and French, Japanese has no gendered nouns.You don’t need to conjugate each subject with a verb.You don’t always need to even say the subject or the object.Every syllable is almost always pronounced the same way.The “r” in Japanese is pronounced like the “tt” in “butter”.  The Best Way to Learn Japanese on Your Ow n: With Video GamesMost children who grew up during the 80s and 90s will be very familiar with how many video games are made in Japan.  Through brands like Nintendo, Sony, Genki, and Sega,  children across the world grew up playing games that were made in the Land of the Rising Sun.So can you learn Japanese through video games?  In the 80s, video games were almost exclusively made in one of two places: the US or Japan. You can use the latter to familiarize yourself with the Japanese writing systems: kanji and kana (hiragana and katakana).You learn much better when you’re having fun and with Japanese titles such as Super Mario Bros., Final Fantasy, and Tekken (to name a few), plenty of kids were closer to Japanese culture than they realized. There are even games that exist for the sole purpose of teaching you Japanese:KoePURURUN! SHIZUKU-CHAN AHA DRILL KOKUGODS Rakubiki JitenYou will learn Japanese pronunciation a lot better by playing video games than studying from a textbook, and it is a form of immersion in the language which can help you understand Japanese sentences without having to go all the way to Tokyo.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Who will win the 2018 World Cup

Who will win the 2018 World Cup Ok. All of our LOI English students that are watching the World Cup may want to take a break and make a prediction here and do a quick listening exercise:Countries with a large supply of _____ ____ players tend to produce stronger teams.What does the above term mean?Which two countries have the most players? Which country has the least amount of players?How often does the home team win?Who do they predict to win?Who do YOU predict to win? Fill out this form with your prediction and youll get entered in the drawing for free English classes.

Is It ADHD or Autism

Is It ADHD or Autism April is Autism Awareness Month and organizations are spreading the word about the importance of autism screening, evaluation, and intervention. For parents of kids with ADHD who struggle with social interactions, the notices and flyers popping up in pediatrician offices, schools, and on social media can prompt questions about whether their childs difficulties may sound more like autism symptoms than ADHD symptoms. Autism Spectrum Disorder, commonly known as autism, is not a singular disorder but rather a spectrum of symptoms and impairments. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the diagnostic guidebook published by the American Psychiatric Association, autism spectrum disorders are characterized by difficulties with communication and interactions with other people, as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. These problems are severe enough that they interfere with an individuals ability to function at school, work, or in other areas of their life (a comprehensive list of autism symptoms can be found here: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/autism-spectrum-disorder/index.shtml). Kids with more severe forms of autism are highly impaired and may develop little (if any) language and interact only minimally with those around them. Kids on the higher functioning end of the autism spectrum may have fully developed language abilities and can communicate with others, but overall, they struggle in their interpersonal relationships. There is a certain degree of overlap between ADHD symptoms and autism symptoms, including social difficulties and challenges related to executive functioning. However, there are some key differences as well. Communication Skills. Many kids with ADHD struggle with their communication skills. They may talk too much or say the wrong thing at the wrong time, and they may even have difficulty picking up on subtle social cues. Children with autism have these same challenges but experience them to an even greater degree. In addition to missing subtler social cues, they often fail to notice obvious changes in facial expression, body language, or tone of voice. Theory of Mind. Every parent at some point finds themselves asking their child, How do you think that other boy or girl feels about what just happened? When a child responds to this question he or she is engaging a unique cognitive skill referred to as Theory of Mind. This skill provides the ability to put ourselves in another persons shoes and see the world from their perspective. Often kids with ADHD need a bit more prompting or guidance to engage in Theory of Mind thinking. When it comes to kids with autism, their Theory of Mind abilities are often so impaired that even with assistance they are not able to truly think about things from another persons perspective. As a result, they have trouble understanding why people do the things they do and fail to understand the intentions and feelings of others. This can lead to feelings of confusion and frustration on the part of the child with autism, and the perception by others that he or she is insensitive or rigid in his or her thinkin g. Social reciprocity. Interactions with family members and friends involve a natural give and take. Someone asks you a question, you respond, and maybe ask a question back or mention something that you think the other person might find interesting. Social interactions also involve inviting others into our world by sharing things we are interested in, or in the case of children, showing others a favorite toy or object. Kids with ADHD may struggle with some of the back and forth aspects of social interactions, but overall, they are interested in sharing their world with others. Kids with autism display very limited social reciprocity. They struggle to make eye contact, rarely point out interesting things that they want to show to the people around them, rarely share, and often dont respond when asked to engage. Distinguishing between autism spectrum disorders and ADHD isnt always straight forward. If you are wondering if some of your childs social challenges may be due to more than ADHD, then reach out to your childs pediatrician. They can help you locate a specialist in your area who can clarify your childs diagnostic picture and recommend targeted interventions that can help. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center 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 of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Motivation is the Key to this Kumon Students Success

Motivation is the Key to this Kumon Student’s Success Motivation is the Key to this Kumon Student’s Success Christine, 14-years-old, Level  O  Math, Reading Program Completer   Christine’s parents enrolled her in Kumon when she was just three years old. Now, 11  years later,  she has completed the entire  Kumon Reading Program  and  is    on  the last level of  the  Kumon Math Program.  When asked the biggest benefit she has received from Kumon, she confidently states “self-motivation.”     Christine  is  the first person to admit that Kumon hasn’t been easy, but she’s quick to say that she’s been able to achieve  success  because of the motivation and self-confidence that she has developed in the program.   In regards to that successâ€"to say that Christine has a bright future ahead of her would be a massive understatement. She performed in the top 1% by achieving a score of 760 on the math SAT when she was just 12-years-old.  At age 13, Christine scored a perfect 800 on SAT Math.  She was accepted into  John Hopkins University’s Study of Exceptional Talent (SET) Program  and was just one of a hundred students accepted into Stanford University’s online high school, where she  took a  physics class  and received Science Department Honor last year.  This year, Christine is taking a computer science course at Stanford Online High School.   Because of her accomplishments both in-and-out of the classroom, Christine was one of Christine shakes hands with Kumon North America President Mino Tanabe at the 2018 Kumon Student Conference. 56  Kumon Students from the United States, Canada and Mexico to attend the  2018 Kumon Student Conference.     She talks about her journey with Kumon.     How has Kumon helped you beyond academics?   Kumon has really been an integral  part of my life. It has  helped me develop problem solving skills. Working on Kumon worksheets on my own has taught me to persevere and to thrive on new challenges. Kumon taught me to have self-confidence whenever I encounter new problems or questions.     What keeps you motivated in Kumon?   I get a lot of self-confidence and sense of accomplishment whenever I figure out new concepts. I love figuring out new ideas  and expanding my knowledge base.  I like to discuss the latest concepts that I’ve learned from Kumon with my  math teachers at school.     What was your favorite part of the 2018 Kumon Student Conference?   I really enjoyed seeing and listening to the panelists of Kumon Program completers. All four of them were a unique inspiration for me and I really appreciated listening to each of their stories. Listening to them talk about how Kumon helped change their lives left me very inspired.     What is something new you learned at the 2018 Kumon Student Conference?   Everyone has a unique perspective, which gives everyone the right to have unique opinions. It’s important to see and respect how everyone has their own unique potential.     How has Kumon helped you in the classroom?   Kumon has really helped me with motivation. Learning to be self-motivated and to find what you love and do what you love.     What do you hope to accomplish with Kumon?   My goal with Kumon has always been to achieve the  necessary foundation  and skillsets needed to really help me see my inner potential and what I need to achieve my goals and to change the world. I really want to help make the world a better place. Kumon has given me the skillsets to help people in the future.   What advice do you have for other Kumon students?   Never give-up. Find what you love and do it! When you feel like you are having a tough time,  but you know that’s what you love to do,  then  just stick with it. Everyone goes through failures. They make you a better person and make you stronger. Motivation is the key to your success.     Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Discipline is the Key to this Students Success Kumon Student on a Self-Paced Journey to Success SUCCESS IN KUMON INSPIRED THIS YOUNG STUDENT TO EXCEL IN THE POOL Diligence and Perseverance Keep This Kumon Student and Volunteer on The Fast Track to Success Motivation is the Key to this Kumon Student’s Success Motivation is the Key to this Kumon Student’s Success Christine, 14-years-old, Level  O  Math, Reading Program Completer   Christine’s parents enrolled her in Kumon when she was just three years old. Now, 11  years later,  she has completed the entire  Kumon Reading Program  and  is    on  the last level of  the  Kumon Math Program.  When asked the biggest benefit she has received from Kumon, she confidently states “self-motivation.”     Christine  is  the first person to admit that Kumon hasn’t been easy, but she’s quick to say that she’s been able to achieve  success  because of the motivation and self-confidence that she has developed in the program.   In regards to that successâ€"to say that Christine has a bright future ahead of her would be a massive understatement. She performed in the top 1% by achieving a score of 760 on the math SAT when she was just 12-years-old.  At age 13, Christine scored a perfect 800 on SAT Math.  She was accepted into  John Hopkins University’s Study of Exceptional Talent (SET) Program  and was just one of a hundred students accepted into Stanford University’s online high school, where she  took a  physics class  and received Science Department Honor last year.  This year, Christine is taking a computer science course at Stanford Online High School.   Because of her accomplishments both in-and-out of the classroom, Christine was one of Christine shakes hands with Kumon North America President Mino Tanabe at the 2018 Kumon Student Conference. 56  Kumon Students from the United States, Canada and Mexico to attend the  2018 Kumon Student Conference.     She talks about her journey with Kumon.     How has Kumon helped you beyond academics?   Kumon has really been an integral  part of my life. It has  helped me develop problem solving skills. Working on Kumon worksheets on my own has taught me to persevere and to thrive on new challenges. Kumon taught me to have self-confidence whenever I encounter new problems or questions.     What keeps you motivated in Kumon?   I get a lot of self-confidence and sense of accomplishment whenever I figure out new concepts. I love figuring out new ideas  and expanding my knowledge base.  I like to discuss the latest concepts that I’ve learned from Kumon with my  math teachers at school.     What was your favorite part of the 2018 Kumon Student Conference?   I really enjoyed seeing and listening to the panelists of Kumon Program completers. All four of them were a unique inspiration for me and I really appreciated listening to each of their stories. Listening to them talk about how Kumon helped change their lives left me very inspired.     What is something new you learned at the 2018 Kumon Student Conference?   Everyone has a unique perspective, which gives everyone the right to have unique opinions. It’s important to see and respect how everyone has their own unique potential.     How has Kumon helped you in the classroom?   Kumon has really helped me with motivation. Learning to be self-motivated and to find what you love and do what you love.     What do you hope to accomplish with Kumon?   My goal with Kumon has always been to achieve the  necessary foundation  and skillsets needed to really help me see my inner potential and what I need to achieve my goals and to change the world. I really want to help make the world a better place. Kumon has given me the skillsets to help people in the future.   What advice do you have for other Kumon students?   Never give-up. Find what you love and do it! When you feel like you are having a tough time,  but you know that’s what you love to do,  then  just stick with it. Everyone goes through failures. They make you a better person and make you stronger. Motivation is the key to your success.     Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Discipline is the Key to this Students Success Kumon Student on a Self-Paced Journey to Success SUCCESS IN KUMON INSPIRED THIS YOUNG STUDENT TO EXCEL IN THE POOL Diligence and Perseverance Keep This Kumon Student and Volunteer on The Fast Track to Success

7 Tips to Settle in at College

7 Tips to Settle in at College Tips From an Orange County College Tutor: How to Settle in at College Tips From an Orange County College Tutor: How to Settle in at College Freshmen are just starting to settle in on campus and are figuring out what’s working and what’s not. There are so many things that new college students have to deal with and it’s important to be able to focus on academics. There are a few things that freshmen can do to start adjusting. 1 Make yourself comfortable Dorms are not nearly as nice as the comfort of home but most new college students live in them anyways. It’s important for students to have as much comfort as possible when settling in to the college environment. In addition to making their room nicer, students should make sure they have comfortable clothes and shoes that are appropriate for the season. Freshmen will have plenty of walking to do during their first year so they should consider practicalities over fashion. 2 Create an excellent note-taking system University-level courses are entirely overwhelming and totally different than high school courses. It’s very easy to get confused and forget which notes went with which topics or assignments. Students who are highly organized are more likely to keep assignments separate and recall which items are due for which course. Note-taking is a huge part of the college experience and, whether typed on a tablet or written on paper, it’s essential to success (READ: 5 Things to Consider if you are Applying to Graduate Schools). 3 Squeeze in study time During the first year of college, most students have yet to find how best to fill all of those free minutes in between classes. Although it’s important to make new friends and explore campus, especially in the beginning, students can use those valuable minutes here and there as part of their study routine. A half hour here and 90 minutes there can make a big difference when it comes to getting important assignments completed on time. 4 Make study-minded friends One of the best ways to get distracted during the first term at college is to make friends who don’t value academics and learning. Regardless of your particular major, it’s a great idea to make friends with other students who want to perform well in classes and spend free time studying. When students join a study group or even just hang around with responsible peers, they are more likely to value their own education and make it through the first year without any problems. 5 Think minimalist Clutter isn’t in any way helpful when it comes to adjusting to college life. Whether a student has piles of stuff lying around the dorm room or an overloaded back pack, tons of extra stuff can be a huge distraction. It’s better for new students to think minimalist and streamline their lifestyle. If students can get themselves organized, they have a better chance of focusing on assignments and avoiding unnecessary distraction. 6 Share responsibilities Once freshmen have met peers who are focused on education, they can start sharing responsibilities. Study skills and organization are a lot easier to accomplish when shared. New students are encouraged to work as a team and figure out who has skills in particular areas. Many students feel the need to go it alone and this can be detrimental to their academic life as well as their general well being. Sharing responsibilities can make college life easier overall. 7 Join a social club or organization One of the biggest non-academic issues when starting college is adjusting to a new social life. Most students have had the same close friends for at least four years and they are now in a situation where they have to make a whole new group of friends almost overnight. Although all students are in the same situation, not everyone will have an easy time of it. One of the best ways to meet friends with shared interests is to join a social club on campus. Students will basically have a dozen new acquaintances in a matter of hours (READ: 5 Ways to Transition Back to College). In Short Although adjusting to college life is one of the biggest changes young people will ever make, there are several things they can do to make the transition easier. Whether they are dealing with academic or social issues, students are better off in the company of peers than to try to achieve everything on their own. Start the academic year off strong with the help of an Orange County private college tutor. Call us for details! All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

SanDisk To Award Up To $10,000 Per Student For STEM - Related Education

SanDisk To Award Up To $10,000 Per Student For STEM - Related Education Photo via http://uwire.com SanDisk Corporation, a Fortune 500 and SP 500 company, and global leader in portable flash storage technology, has developed an annual budget of $1.5 million to award scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students across the U.S. in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). According to the SanDisk Scholars Program website, The program awards scholarships of up to $10,000 per student to graduating high school seniors, community-college students, and students already enrolled in an engineering or computer science related course of study. The SanDisk Scholars Program awarded over $1 million in scholarships for the  2013-2014 year and included undergraduate and graduate students from 28 universities across 12 states, including the  Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Georgia Institute of Technology; Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Los Angeles and University of Southern California.  Applicants are evaluated based upon, according to a press release, their prior academic achievements and meaningful levels of community engagement, as well as financial need. “SanDisk’s generous support offers Cal students pursuing a STEM-related degree critical resources to fulfill their academic goals, which may have otherwise not been possible,” said S. Shankar Sastry, Dean of the College of Engineering and Roy W. Carlson Professor, University of California, Berkeley in the above  press release. “STEM-related studies are a key element of UC Berkeley’s leading curriculum, and the SanDisk Scholars Program further enables us to offer these important fields of study to the innovators of tomorrow,” they said. Along with awarding scholarships to students in the U.S., SanDisk has also moved to include students from China and Japan. The program will award 30 scholarships per country to students in engineering and computer science programs attending the following universities: China: - Shanghai Jiaotong University - Xidian University - Zhejiang University Japan: - Nagoya University - Tohoku University - University of Tokyo “I am a materials science and engineering major, with an interest in becoming a doctor,” said Grace Tuyiringire, student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and 2013-2014 scholarship recipient. “Thank you, SanDisk, for this opportunity. With this scholarship, I will be able to focus on my goal of becoming a MD and a bigger leader in the MIT community,” she said. The application runs from February 18, 2014 to April 30, 2014 and will be accepted from anywhere in the U.S. Additional requirements, applications and documents are available at https://aim.applyists.net/SanDisk.