How to Find the Best Chinese Tutor

How to Find the Best Chinese TutorA Chinese tutor is a necessary part of your child's education. Without one, your child may not go to college or university. The cost of the tutoring service can vary, but there are plenty of good companies that offer very good services. You should be able to find the best deal for you.There are certain things that you will want to look for when it comes to looking for a tutor. It is important that you understand the process before you go about looking. With Chinese as a language, there are certain rules and regulations to follow. Having a tutor who knows these laws and regulations will help your child get a good understanding of the language. When you are choosing a tutor, make sure that they understand the laws and regulations of the country in which you are living.With a tutor, you want them to know the different versions of the language. Chinese is a tonal language. Therefore, you need to make sure that your tutor understands the tones and what th e tone levels mean. This will help your child to learn the correct tones that he or she needs to have for the different dialects of the language.When you are trying to find a tutor, make sure that you do a little bit of research. You should make sure that the company has a good reputation in the area that you live in. There are websites where you can go and check out the credentials of the tutor that they offer. You can also find out about the experience that they have with students and how long they have been in the business.Once you find a company that you feel comfortable with, then you can get in touch with them. Before you do this, make sure that you check their feedback. You should also make sure that you are on the same page as the company. You want to know if they are set up for online tutoring, and if they offer Skype classes. If you are going to have a tutor that lives in the UK, then you should look at their qualifications and experience.Once you have found a tutor, make sure that you go through some tests to see if they have the right qualifications and experience. This will give you a feel for the person you are dealing with. You can also check out reviews on the internet. This is another way to find out more about the company. With the tutor, you want to make sure that they understand what they are being taught.Sometimes it can be hard to understand the English language. Therefore, when you have a Chinese tutor, you want to make sure that they understand the rules and regulations of the language.

The Limitations of Core Standards on Higher Order Thinking Skills

The Limitations of Core Standards on Higher Order Thinking Skills How Basic Education Limits Students’ Ability for Higher Order Thinking ChaptersThe Ongoing AssessmentsOn Building Cognitive SkillsCommon Core Versus Blooms TaxonomyHow to Bring Higher Order Thinking Into the ClassroomIt’s really not hard to see why so many students are able to obtain their school leaving certificate yet have no idea how to think or reason through a problem: all you have to do is ask a school teacher.Assessment, marking work and reporting students’ progress make administrators out of teachers.These tasks take up too much of the teachers’ lesson planning time and too much classroom time, with the net effect being more teachers abandoning the profession before replacement teachers can be fully qualified.That phenomenon has a spiral effect. Because there are fewer teachers, the student-teacher ratio increases: more kids in class mean more papers to mark and more reporting to do.Where, in all of this, do teachers get to use all of the classroom strategies they learned in their teacher training?If students cultivating higher order think ing skills were simply a matter of teacher availability, solving the problems that beset teachers would mean that they would be available to encourage students to think critically and solve problems, right?To be sure, the pressure teachers labour under is untenable and something must be done. Hopefully soon!However, if the Department for Education intends to arm British students with 21st-century skills and help them learn how to think, they will have to make some major changes to our education system.Let’s take a look at where such changes could be made and how much better general education could be â€" for teachers and for our students.Multiple choice questions do not require critical thinking or problem-solving Image by tjevans from Pixabayteaching to the test: for all of the summative assessments being conducted, our national curriculum leaves little room for teachers to make use of any classroom strategies they might have picked up during their professional development.Or, if you prefer analogies, you might say that teachers are harnessed to a careening carriage and expected to keep upright and in control.Teaching to the test is only half of the trouble.The other half â€" and perhaps the bigger issue at hand is that a lot of the learning in today’s classrooms is more a matter of memorization than a cognitive process.That claim is substantiated by the fact that exams seem to consist of more multiple choice questions than essay questions.There is value in multiple choice, but the downsides far outweigh them: one can score well on such an exam by guessing or merely memorising the correct answers.There is nothing wrong with building a fantastic memory but, no matter how many questions a student answers correctly on a bubble sheet, it still gives no indication on how well s/he understands the concepts s/he is being tested on.You can encourage your students to build cognitive skills by asking open-ended questions Image by Tumisu from PixabayOn Building Cogn itive SkillsCognition: the mental act or process by which knowledge is acquired.For children in the Early Years Foundation Stage, the education program is all about building cognitive skills.Teachers in these classes employ a variety of teaching strategies designed to maximise student learning, such as brightly coloured visual material, music and movement.Students are mainly taught through games and play but are expected to sit still for maths and literacy lessons.In fact, EYFS is a fantastic example of educational psychology at work: it emphasises teaching and learning methods and is focused on cognitive development.And then, as though a water tap had been suddenly shut off, all of the pedagogy that addressed every learning style and all of the active learning is replaced by teacher-centred instruction.Starting at Year 1, students are treated to teacher-led lessons. Reading skills are cultivated, math and science are taught... but little critical thinking is encouraged.In fact, rel atively little room is given for students to exercise any kind of thinking skills. That pattern follows students throughout their academic career and it is not the fault of any teacher.Learn more about higher order thinking here.Common Core Versus Blooms TaxonomyThe term ‘common core’, imported from across the pond, represents the most important subjects of a curriculum.Maths, English and science are considered common core. Other subjects, like arts and humanities, are not considered core subjects.You can find a good reflection of UK schools’ core subjects in the compulsory GCSEs: the subjects that everyone must sit are considered ‘core’.Of our core subjects, only English and Literature truly lend an opportunity for group work; for students to cultivate critical thinking skills.For example, a teacher may group students and assign them various aspects of the text to dissect and render conclusions about. Or s/he might task student groups to engage in character analysis, to d iscuss the setting and the period of the piece...Opportunities for creative thinking are much more difficult to spot in other classes.The critical question here is: while students’ formal learning goals are generally met â€" often with the help of a private tutor, are their learning needs being met?An Overview of Benjamin BloomMr Bloom was an American educational psychologist who pioneered the classification of educational objectives.  Specifically, his work resulted in the understanding of three realms of knowledge acquisition:the cognitive domain, which encompasses the analysis, comprehension and application of knowledgethe affective domain is the emotional dimension of learning which includes how students characterise, organise, value and respond to information, andthe psychomotor domain: this aspect touches on the perception and adaptation of knowledge and the mechanism through which it is applied.Teaching a student how to use a computer would involve all three domains.The fir st domain would involve the understanding of how a computer works, the second would attach a value to this skills set as a tool for both entertainment and a way to earn a living and the third would entail addressing the machine through typing and activating the mouse.Our public education system does a great job of addressing the cognitive domain but does little to evoke any affective response to the material being learned and permits virtually no physical activation while class is in session.Between crowded classrooms, overwhelmed teachers and only one aspect of student learning being addressed, something needs to be done to change the status quo!You may group your students so that they may debate an issue before presenting conclusions Image by StockSnap from PixabayHow to Bring Higher Order Thinking Into the ClassroomNobody is disputing teachers’ role as an educator; we only point out that their work might be more stimulating and rewarding if they thought of themselves as facilit ators of knowledge.What’s the difference?A teacher teaches, meaning, s/he imparts knowledge. Whether said information is understood, assimilated and useful remains to be seen â€" and is not necessarily demonstrated through assessment techniques.By contrast, a facilitator is someone who helps bring about a certain outcome. In educational circles, those would be learning outcomes.Here is one example of how facilitating could work.First, you would organise your classroom to permit group study. You would then seat students of similar cognitive abilities together â€" your more advanced learners, your SEN students and students anywhere along that spectrum.You may even consider putting some of your more advanced students with groups who are not quite at that level to make use of peer teaching strategies.Next, you would assign them to work according to their abilities and interests.Your high achievers may enjoy higher level thinking projects â€" those that call on both problem-solving ski lls and critical thinking.The bulk of your students may focus on either critical thinking or problem-solving and your SENs might be comfortable summarizing the lesson or other learning activities that target their interest but are related to the material currently being learned.Far from being a classroom out of control, you will find your student engagement at an all-time high!Meanwhile, you can circulate around your groups asking open-ended questions designed to assess their understanding of the material and the work at hand.You may even find time to mark papers while your students are engaged.Another way you could help your students develop thinking skills would be through debate.Choose an issue that is related to your day’s study topic. It can be a current event or something that affects student life (that helps students find value in the exercise). Write the issue on the board.Label each the four corners of your room: Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree and Strongly Disagree.As yo ur students start their learning session, point to what you wrote on the board and then indicate the four positions they may take. Invite them to take a few minutes to think about the issue and then head to the corner which represents their position.You will be pleasantly surprised to find that debate over the issue will start spontaneously, in each corner, as students reinforce each other’s views.You would then ask them to explain their views, either in writing, orally or a combination of both.  You might even permit them to create a visual of their position.There are so many ways teachers can encourage higher order thinking skills; doing so might lighten their load and may even help rediscover their passion for educating!Now discover the difference between critical thinking and higher order thinking?

Difference between BEFORE and AFTER Easy English Grammar

Difference between BEFORE and AFTER Easy English Grammar Hi there. Welcome to Harrys World of Words and Phrases and English in a Minute.I want to talk to you about the use of BEFORE and AFTER. I actually used this as part of a lesson with a student earlier today.And in addition with before we can say beforehand.In addition with after afterwards. Okay.So before I made this video I was giving a lesson.I prepared the video beforehand.I prepared the dinner beforehand. So in advance.After the lesson I made the video.After the dinner I washed the dishes. After the event. Okay.Afterwards I will prepare some notes.Afterwards I will do a workout.So after, afterwards, before, beforehand. Okay.So remember to subscribe to our Channel and join us on www.englishlessonviaskype.com and well catch up soon.

How to talk about Money in English ?? - Learn English with Harry

How to talk about Money in English ?? - Learn English with Harry Money is an important in our daily lives. It is also a popular topic that may come up in your IELTS or FCE exam. Lets learn to talk about money in English.I have a podcast episode for you from my podcast Speak Better English with Harry. It is available to listen on both iTunes and Spotify. So make sure to subscribe.In this episode, I use upper intermediate vocabulary. I recommend you to listen to the episode first in order to practise your English listening comprehension. You dont need to understand every single word.  Then have a look at the vocabulary words below and listen to it again.  Let me know if you have any issues.   Talk about Money in English Short extract of podcast episode Money, saving money makes the world go round. And I think it is a really true saying because without it, what would we have?Well have no trade between nations. Well have no investment by companies. Well have no money to spend. In the supermarkets, no way to feed and clothe ourselves. And generally people will just struggle.Of course, we could go back to the old days when we used to barter.Thats BARTER. Meaning exchange something for something else.So if I did something for you and fix the door or put in a window, then you would do something for me like fix my bathroom or cook me a meal or give me some of your vegetables. So this would be a barter where we would exchange one service for another service or some products for a particular service.But that, Im sure, still goes on. It does in different parts of the world where money is not so easy to get.But in the Western world and the first, second world economies, then money is King as they say. And without it we can do very little some times and we have money.Were not quite sure what to do with it, but certainly if we dont have it, then we definitely have a problem. The different words we can use to to describe money, we can call it cash. I like to have cash in my pocket. We have cash in the bank. The ATM is, or where we withdraw money from these machines in the wall. We call them cash machines. So cash is a very common word for it. People say, do you have any money? Can you lend something? Do you have any cash? Could you give me something? How to talk about Money - Vocabulary to barter to exchange something for something elseATM cash machineto withdraw money to take money from a bank accountcheque a printed piece of paper that you can use instead of moneyto rob / to get robbed to take money from someone or somewhere illegally, usually using threats and violencemoola(h) (American English, slang) moneylolly (British English, slang) moneydenomination the value of a bank note or coinwealth a large amount of money and/or other valuable thingspurse a small bag or case in which women carry money and credit cardswallet a small case in which men carry money and credit cardscashless without cashtransaction cost an amount that bank or credit company charges for using a bank cardto handle cash to receive and give money in businesscryptocurrency a digital currencysalary a fixed amount of money that your employer pays you every month for the work you doto borrow the money to receive money from someoneto lend the money to give money to somebodyto inher it to receive money and/or other valuable things from someone who has diedassets something valuable that a person or company ownsto charge to ask someone to pay money for services or goodsto overcharge to ask someone to pay too much money for somethingto put some money aside for a rainy day to save money weekly or monthly for a day when you need itto splash out money to spend a lot of moneyto fritter away to spend money without really knowing where you spend itto be broke to ahve no moneyto be ripped off to be charged too much money for something, to be overchargedto tighten your belt to spend less moneyeconomic related to the economy or businesseconomical not spending or costing a lot of money 8 Phrasal Verbs related to Money to bank on to depend on something happeningex. Im really banking on getting that job in the insurance company.to come across to find something   or meet somebody by chanceex. I came across my school photographs while I was clearing out the attic.to do without to live without having something that you cannot affordex. Sam doesnt have much money these days so he has to do without expensive holidays.to get by to manage to survive on a small amount of moneyex. They dont have much money but they get by.to save up to avoid spending money, often for a specific purposeex. I am saving up to get a new phone.to come into to inherit moneyex. Sarah was shocked to find out that she had come into a large amount of money.to close down to stop doing business completelyex. Lots of small businesses have closed down recently.to take back to return something to the shop you bought it fromex. If your watch doesnt work, you need to take it back.

Stay Healthy

Stay Healthy Its hard to stay healthy especially when its winter. You spend your time taking care of the kids, working, or doing something important. You just have no time for a sore throat or runny nose! So, what to do? Here are some  useful advices, which can help you to stay healthy if you follow them: The most effective way to stay healthy is to eat well,  remember that the rational nutrition plays here significant role. It is very important for health to give your body all natural vitamins through fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of water. Drinking water helps you stay healthy and look younger. Go in for different kinds of sports and lead an active way of life. Smoking and drinking are things that you should better avoid. Do you want to know more about how to stay healthy and take care of yourself?   You can ask one of our Health Experts! If you have some medical questions, find  qualified USMLE Tutors on TutorZ.com. We are here to help you! Have a great week!

The Case for Private Tutoring

The Case for Private Tutoring Today state-run schools are ubiquitous. Almost everyone accepts their validity and some people protest in Washington against budget cuts in the educational departments. This situation is the result of the contemporary consensus that public schools are the best and only way to educate our children. But is this really so? Cost of Schooling People think of public schools as free and private schools as expensive. But contrary of this intuition private schooling is much cheaper once you consider the source of funding (tax dollars vs. market tuition or donation). In fact, the public schools cost as much as the most expensive and elite private schools in the country. The difference is that the cost of public schooling is spread out over the entire population, whereas the private school cost is borne only by the families with students who attend them. Conformity Classes are grouped by the age of our students. The material is typically thought to a diminished degree to conform to the slow learner. For example, algebra is thought to the same extend to students who are more gifted in the social or verbal areas. Perhaps it would be beneficial for our learners to set up classes consisting of students of different age, or schools which entirely focus on a specific subject such as math and the sciences. Some parents might like schools of single sex; others want their children to be thought in a religious environment. Only private schools coupled with private tutoring seem to be able to satisfy such diversity. Compulsory Education Public schools are in a way temporary prison. Federal law forces your children to attend school (unless your state allows for homeschooling). Given the pressures children are exposed in many schools today they dread the thought of attending school. Challenged students are better off to stay at home with their parents or be taught by tutors at their own pace. The free alternative â€" private schools, homeschooling and tutoring is more humane and fosters creativity, reason and personal initiative towards learning. The key issue in the entire discussion is simply this: shall the parent or your government be the overseer of the child? We think the parent should be the primary education-giver as parental instruction coupled with private tutoring constitutes to the ideal arrangement. It is, first of all, individualized instruction, the tutor dealing directly with the unique child, and addressing himself to his capabilities and interests. Second, what people can know the aptitudes and personality of the child better than his own parents? The parents daily familiarity with, and love for, their children, renders them uniquely qualified to give the child the formal instruction necessary. Here the child receives individual attention for his own personality. No one is as qualified as the parent to know how much or at what pace he should teach the child, what the childs requirements are for freedom or guidance, etc. Almost all parents are qualified to teach their children, particularly in the elementary subjects. Whenever they are not qualified in the subjects they can hire individual tutors for their children. Tutors should be hired when the parents do not have the time to devote to the formal instruction of their children. Whether or not they themselves should do the teaching, or which tutor is the best for their child, is best determined under the overall supervision of the parents directly. The parents can determine the progress of the child, the daily effect of the tutor on the child, etc. The only reason for schools instead of individual instruction is the economic one: that the price of individual tutoring is prohibitive for most parents. Consequently, they must adopt the only practical alternative of mass tutoring, where the teacher instructs many children at the same time. It is clear that such private schools are an inferior solution to individual instruction. Whichever pace the teacher sets, an injustice is done to many of the children. Since the U.S. government enforces certain standards on the private schools, a crime against the children is committed. For if the parents selection of instruction were completely free and unhampered by law-maker coercion, they, knowing and loving the child best, will be able to select the best type of instruction that they can afford. If they hire tutors, they will choose the most competent for their child. If they can select any type of private school, they will select that type which is best suited for their child. The advantag e of unlimited development of private schools and private tutoring is that there will tend to be developed on the free market a different type of school and teaching style for each type of demand. In summary, private tutoring and schooling is not only the less costly alternative to state-run schools but it also provides a non-compulsory and personalized education to best develop our children’s unique talents.

Elite Journey

Elite Journey Elite Journey Elite Journey isan International Education Company based in China,founded in 2015 byAustin Deng and Cambridge University First-Class Honourary Doctoral Graduate Neil Cunningham.Elite Journey works to create educational links between China and the rest of the world. Elite Journey runs numerous short-term programmes across the globe, ranging from summer camps to deabte competitions to writing competitions to workshops to teaching tostudy visits toexchange programmes. We aim to provide students with the opportunity to interact with talented teachers from a wide variety of backgrounds, placing a particular importance on the characteristics and skills detailed in our Student Profile: Effective Communicators Curious Inquirers Creative Problem Solvers Rational Decision Makers Self-Directed Learners Accountable Global Citizens CSSC Elite Journey is the overarching company in which CSSCis a branch. CSSCis a group of fully immersive, seasonal programmes in which students learn English in a fun and engaging environment, as well as creating cultural exchange between them and teachers from elite universities, something which we have seen inspire many students to push themselves further and truly aim higher in academics. The fun and engaging environment comes from the energy and commitment of teachers, as well as the full schedule of activities which keep the students interacting with English outside of the traditional classroom setting. When combined with disciplines like debating, this kind of environment catalyses the learning experience incredibly well. Therefore, while at the core of the camps is a desire to expand the English, logical and academic abilities of students, a huge emphasis is also placed on the fun students and teachers have. In 2020, we will be hosting 6 winter camps and20 summercamps. These vary from STEM focussed camps, to debate camps, to drama camps, to academic research camps, to business boot camps. Our 2020 camp shcedule covers various different locations within China (including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Zhengzhou, Shenzhen, Qiandao Lake, Foshan) and internationally (including Bali, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Italy, England, USA).