Your Culture, Your Traditions, Your Heritage Talking About Minority Languages in English

Your Culture, Your Traditions, Your Heritage Talking About Minority Languages in English Those of us who speak English as a dominant language can overlook the difficulties faced by people who speak minority languages. Many students of mine speak Basque as their principal language  and have often shared their experiences with me on this issue. I did my schooling through Irish and come from an Irish speaking family so this topic is of great interest to me.What is a minority language?A minority language is a language spoken by a less dominant sector of the population of a country of territory.Some minority languages are endangered and face extinction.What Makes a Minority Language? Small number of speakers.Political reasons (some languages are associated with terrorism).Prejudice (some languages are simply considered less important than dominant languages).Possible Problems Associated With Minority Languages Limited resources for education through the language,Long travel periods to attend schools where the language is taught ,Few job opportunities in work using the languag e,Hostility from those who do not speak the language.Positive Aspects Of Speaking Minority LanguagesEach has its own particular culture and literature,Gives people a strong sense of place and heritage,Where funding for educational purposes is available, the quality of the teaching can be excellent as classes are small and teachers are generally specialized and passionate about the subject.While we think about these issues, lets listen to a report on the current state of minority languages in Europe and answer the questions that follow it.Where is the first school located?What has been the first school’s recipe for success?When did the first Diwan schools in Brittany open?How many such schools are open now?What is the method used in Diwan schools?Why are there criticisms that the Diwan schools are against the French constitution?What problems have Diwan schools faced as a result?What does Remi Guillou think about the two approaches to learning Breton?When was the European Charter f or Regional or Minority languages set up and what is the aim of the Charter?What is the big problem being faced by the Charter now?Why does Alice James think that the Welsh language is alive where she lives?For what two things is the Breton town of Plomelin famous?Why, according to Guy Le Lay, are people surprised when they go Wales?According to Emyr Lewis what is the difference between the Welsh language and Breton and speakers?How many regional or minority languages exist in the European Union today?What do they need to survive?Did you find this blog helpful? Feel free to share it on Facebook and Twitter.

4 Tips for Helping Middle School Students Increase Academic Independence

4 Tips for Helping Middle School Students Increase Academic Independence If youre the parent of a new or soon-to-be middle schooler, brace yourself for some major changes. Middle school is more intense and has a heavier workload, with most middle school curriculums including five core subjects and two electives. Children are expected to do more, question more, and think more critically. Above all, middle school demands that children function as independent students. But how can you encourage your child to engage in the activities that promote greater independence? Here are four tips that will encourage independent learning and significantly benefit your child: Establish a good routine. Middle school is a time when children must take ownership of their academic responsibilities, and theres no better way to encourage this than to promote a solid nightly homework routine. At the beginning of middle school, parents should help children establish good habits: laying out a homework plan at the start of each study session, studying in a place that fosters their productivity, and embracing an organizational system that works for them. Its fine to keep tabs on this to make sure children are staying on top of everything, but its essential that parents put their children in the drivers seat. Promote goal-setting. Setting goals is a powerful exercise that encourages children to think about school more intentionally and narrow their focus on what they want to achieve (and how they will do so). Parents and their children should spend time setting goals at the start of each new semester and writing down the obstacles and to-dos to overcome them. Its also helpful to get children thinking about what each goal really means to them personally by dividing them into short term and long term. For example, your childs goals for math class might be to stay up to date on all homework assigned (short term), develop and follow a weekly study plan (short term), and improve his or her attitude about math in middle school (long term). Encourage self-monitoring. In simple terms, self-monitoring is a strategy that helps students check their own work for mistakes or areas that need improvement. As students become more independent, they should be able to uncover clues when reading for information or recognize when somethinga series of steps in a math problem, for exampledoesnt make sense or seem right. Self-monitoring strategies can strengthen this ability. When children do homework for each of their classes, parents can encourage them to ask these types of questions along the way: Are all steps in the directions clear to me? Does this make sense so far? If not, what part is confusing me? Do I recognize this problem as a similar type of problem that Ive done before? How confident do I feel about what I just read? I got that problem wrong the first timewhat can I do to get it right next time? How would I restate what I just read in another way? Step up the planner usage. Many children start using planners in elementary school, but middle school is when this becomes essential. With seven or eight classes to keep track of, children must stay organized, and its hard to do without some sort of organizational system and a planner. Explore whether your childs school has a class or program dedicated to helping students create a binder system for all classes and use planners effectively. At a minimum, make sure your child has a weekly planner and is keeping track of: Test and quiz dates Homework assignments each day (and upcoming deadlines) Other important dates for school (such as parent-teacher conferences) Middle school is a major time of transition in large part due to the elevated expectations for students. Help your child be successful by nudging him or her toward increased independenceand follow the lead of his or her teachers, who have this goal top of mind as well. Lay the foundation now and by the time your child reaches high school, he or she will be ready to face any challenge with confidence. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2017 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

NOVA

NOVA NOVA The NOVA brand delivers high-quality instruction and other language services to those who wish to improve their communicative proficiency in foreign languages. Students of a wide range of ages and ability levels, from complete beginner to very advanced, can choose to take small group or private lessons face-to-face in one of the many NOVA school branches throughout Japan, over a video-conferencing system or online from the comfort of their own homes, or a combination. In addition to conversation skills-based lessons, test preparation courses are offered to students studying for specific English tests such as TOEIC or TOEFL. Also popular is our range of NOVA Plus courses. Some of these courses focus on specific skills (such as grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, etc.,) and some are geared towards specific purposes (such as business or travel). As an additional supplement to classroom-style lessons, most branches also offer a conversation practice style of lesson known as Voice. Voice provides students with an opportunity to practice what they have learned in their lessons in a supervised, but self-directed forum to help them become more accustomed to and confident communicating naturally in a second language. For younger learners, we offer NOVA Junior, a program developed specifically for children aged 3 to 12. Through our NOVA Junior program, students learn to read, write and communicate confidently in English in a fun and supportive environment. The program is designed to complement what they learn in school and prepare them for future studies. For students who are interested in languages other than English, French, German, Chinese and Korean face-to-face lessons are also taught in selected branches across Japan. Lessons in all nine languages offered by NOVA (including English) are available through the Multimedia Center, based in Osaka. The Multimedia Center offers both small group and private lessons, both online and through a video conferencing system. The curriculum mirrors the classroom curriculum with the added appeal of extra audio and visuals. NOVA students on free-booking plans can take lessons at any NOVA branch within Japan, whenever seats are available in lessons of their ability level(s). NOVA branch schools are generally open seven days a week. On regular weekdays, schools are typically open from around midday until 9:30 p.m., and on weekends and national holidays from 10:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Larger schools may be open from 10:00 a.m. through to 10:20 p.m. every day of the week. The Multimedia Center offers lessons up to 24 hours a day (depending on the language). This provides students who want to take lessons outside of regular branch opening hours, and also those who live in remote areas, extra scheduling options. Advantages of NOVAs learning system: Group class sizes are limited to a maximum of four students for adult classes and eight for NOVA Junior classes. All instructors are native speakers of the respective language that they teach. Lessons are taught in the target language only in order to be fully immersive. There are many opportunities throughout the lesson to practice and apply the language being studied. An individual, electronic study record is maintained for each student and used to identify, monitor, and cater to individual learning needs. Study systems are flexible and convenient to use; students are able to combine different courses, languages and study locations. Instructors All NOVA instructors are native speakers of the language that they teach. Some begin their NOVA careers with previous experience as educators and some with no prior teaching experience. Regardless, every instructor completes a comprehensive training program before they start teaching for NOVA. The program equips them with everything they need to be able to teach high quality lessons and provide excellent customer service. All NOVA instructors are committed to meeting and exceeding student expectations and supporting student progress towards the achievement of their goals. View our Brochure

A Mind Needs Books Like a Sword Needs a Whetstone

A Mind Needs Books Like a Sword Needs a Whetstone A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.  That is why I read so much. Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones. Tyrion Lannister is a major character of the first, second and third seasons of the popular TV series Game of Thrones. Tyrian is played by actor Peter Dinklage. Tyrion Lannister is the youngest son of Lord Tywin Lannister, and uses his wit and intellect to overcome the prejudice he faces as a dwarf. From birth his own father and sister despise him, because his mother died giving birth to him. Being a dwarf causes Tyrian problems and harassment. Its size has led him to that derisively called many things, for example, Imp and Half man. Certainly his influence, power and intelligence have a positive effect on the perception of his personality. If he was born a commoner, he would be left in the forest to die. However, Tyrion was born into a powerful noble house, and so was spared. His father does not think much of Tyrian because if his physical shortcoming. Instead, Tywin more concerned with the legacy of the name Lannister.

3 Tips for Surviving Homesickness

3 Tips for Surviving Homesickness For all the college or university planning you may have done, one thing you probably were not prepared for was homesickness. Many students are initially excited at the prospect of being on their own, but all it takes is one bad day to make you long for the comforts of home. However, there are some great tips that may help make things a bit easier on you. Know you aren't alone It is important that you understand what you are going through is completely normal. The fact of the matter is that there are many, many students that are feeling homesick just as you are. Don't think because you are feeling those emotions that something is wrong with you. Homesickness is just part of an adjustment period. Become familiar with your new surroundings Take time to be comfortable with the whole new world around you. Walk around the campus and explore all you can. If you are tired of studying in the library, look for some secret study spots or be sure you know where the quiet caf shop is located. The more that you enter into the mindset that the campus belongs to you, the more comfortable you may feel. Get out Another way to help you deal with being homesick is to get up and get out of your room. Being in your room is the worst place you can be when it comes to being homesick. Head on down to the cafeteria to see what types of food it offers for breakfast, lunch and dinner. See if there is a cool coffee shop on campus. Check out the computer lab as an alternate means of writing your paper. If you have your own laptop, do your assignments while basking in the warm sunshine. One of the most important things you can do if you are experiencing homesickness is to have a positive attitude. You need to give yourself ample time to deal with missing home. This is not something you want to let completely control you by any means. Moving away from home is an adjustment, but it can get easier.

italki Language Challenge Week 4 Goal

italki Language Challenge Week 4 Goal Lindsaydoeslanguages is blogging about her World Cup Language Challenge and we’re reposting here to share with the entire italki Community. This blog post  originally was posted  on  Lindsaydoeslanguages.com  website. Wow! Three weeks in already! Crazy stuff. Why, hello! This week’s goal was to prepare a little something in Portuguese to practise and record on camera. So after 11 lessons here it is! Almost half way through the Language Challenge now. Exciting stuff! Oh, and by the way, italki are running a Cheer Contest to find out how different people cheer in different countries. Take a look and maybe enter! Also, be sure to check out my entry below feating a rather fluffy friend. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know who I’m talking about! Next week I’ll be attempting to distinguish between Spanish and Portuguese in the song Danza Kuduro and for week 6, I’ll be doing my first ever live YouTube broadcast and commentating some of the World Cup! What have I let myself in for? Eek! How are you getting on with the italki World Cup Language Challenge? Are your team still in the World Cup? italki Language Challenge Week 4 Goal Lindsaydoeslanguages is blogging about her World Cup Language Challenge and we’re reposting here to share with the entire italki Community. This blog post  originally was posted  on  Lindsaydoeslanguages.com  website. Wow! Three weeks in already! Crazy stuff. Why, hello! This week’s goal was to prepare a little something in Portuguese to practise and record on camera. So after 11 lessons here it is! Almost half way through the Language Challenge now. Exciting stuff! Oh, and by the way, italki are running a Cheer Contest to find out how different people cheer in different countries. Take a look and maybe enter! Also, be sure to check out my entry below feating a rather fluffy friend. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know who I’m talking about! Next week I’ll be attempting to distinguish between Spanish and Portuguese in the song Danza Kuduro and for week 6, I’ll be doing my first ever live YouTube broadcast and commentating some of the World Cup! What have I let myself in for? Eek! How are you getting on with the italki World Cup Language Challenge? Are your team still in the World Cup?

Finding the Right Tutoring Volunteer Opportunities in Chicago

Finding the Right Tutoring Volunteer Opportunities in ChicagoMany people have benefited from working as a tutor and tutoring volunteer in Chicago, Illinois. If you are one of those people, you might have noticed that many companies and schools are turning to tutors and tutor volunteers to help fill their classes and help their employees get more out of their jobs.More people are finding that this type of work has many benefits for their lives and it can even be a way to increase their income. It is not just a good thing for people to know that they can make extra money or even learn something new about a subject they already know. It is a great way to make a real difference in your community.Finding out how to become a tutor in Chicago is not difficult. You can sign up with some volunteer tutoring programs, join a class offered by a company or go online to find many other tutoring opportunities.Some opportunities are on a schedule, while others allow you to sign up whenever you want. It will depend on the needs of the company and your own availability, but you should start getting to know those areas when you look for tutoring volunteer opportunities in Chicago.You should find out if the school that is offering you the job has the right company to provide you with the training and experience to succeed. If it does, it is very important that you know that the tutoring program they are using has a good reputation. Those who know about tutoring volunteering in Chicago tell people to look out for someone who is trustworthy.Hiring someone can be a tricky process because the first impression is crucial. Look into the people who are offering you the position to see what they are all about. If they can offer you good information about what they offer and how you can help the tutoring program in your area, you may find that the decision to hire you is a very easy one.Learning is one of the greatest things that anyone can do. The more people that are able to benefit from tutoring volunteer opportunities in Chicago, the better off everyone will be. Find out more about these opportunities by checking out the information above.