Archive for April, 2010

The term ‘Down Under’ refers to countries like Australia, New Zealand, and adjacent islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Australia as one of the seven continents of the world is counted among top 4 education destinations for international students, the others being the USA, UK and Canada. Similarly, New Zealand is not far behind in terms of high-quality education and is rather giving its bigger counterpart a run for its money. Both Australia and New Zealand collectively represent the true global exposure of education down under.

Students having a desire to study in Australia can derive a lot of benefits from its various education programs that are comparable with the ones available in the USA or UK. The cost of living and study here is also on the lower side. The country, of late, has witnessed a tremendous increase in the number of international students who seek globally accredited degrees and certificates to maximize their job prospects. The range of programs offered in the country is huge and one of a kind. Hence, you’ll never run out of alternatives when you study in Australia.

The teaching methodology adopted by Australian universities is talked highly in the education world. There are also plenty of research activities undertaken on a regular basis. But, the most noteworthy aspect of these researches is the quick incorporation of their findings to the courses of study. The major fields coming under the purview of researches include medicine, economic developments, biological sciences, telecommunications, cultural studies and many more. Various organizations like the UNESCO or the Association of Commonwealth Universities have rated the higher education standards in Australia as excellent. The universities that can fulfill your dream of studying abroad in Australia include Australian National University, Australian Catholic University, Charles Darwin University and Central Queensland University.

On the other hand, a study in New Zealand can make your education a highly enjoyable experience with a wide variety of nightclubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, and adventurous sports. There is also an abundance of scenic locations like mountains, lakes and rivers. Most of the time, students coming from foreign countries single out cities such as Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington as their destination for further studies. The education system in New Zealand is almost similar to the British system. So, the degrees offered here are largely accepted in other English-speaking countries. You can also seek jobs in your home country on the basis these degrees.

Talking about the prominent universities in New Zealand, you will find Auckland University of Technology, University of Auckland, University of Canterbury and Massey University equipped with high-class infrastructure, teaching facilities, programs and faculty. The Government of New Zealand also offers several scholarships to deserving international students. The country is fast catching up with other chief education destinations of the world. So, the international education in nations down under is set for a big jump forward.

While most high school students consider college admission tests stressful, students with learning disabilities find them extraordinarily so. As recently as ten years ago, there was no question that students applying to schools on the east and west coasts would take the SAT. The ACT was relegated to schools in the Midwest. Nowadays, however, the majority of schools in the United States accept both tests. So, the question is-which one should you take?

Actually, having a choice is beneficial to students since the ACT and SAT are distinctly different tests measuring different skills. The ACT is based more on the actual high school curriculum, basically testing how much you learned in four years, whereas the SAT requires more reasoning and critical thinking skills. In other words, the SAT can be trickier for students who do not excel in those areas.

The ACT, however, is kinder to students whose strengths are math and science, since it contains a science reasoning section and trigonometry, both of which are missing in the SAT. Another difference is that the ACT tests grammar, whereas the SAT does not. The SAT, however, puts greater emphasis on vocabulary testing. The ACT’s writing section is optional; the SAT’s is mandatory. Unlike the SAT, the ACT is entirely multiple choice; good test-takers can use process of elimination to narrow down the reasonable choices. Given the fact that the ACT doesn’t deduct points for incorrect answers as the SAT does, it may be possible for a student who is test savvy to score higher on the ACT.

Given that the tests are significantly different and that the ACT is now widely accepted. it is to a student’s benefit to take both exams and see which yields a higher score. Of course, before doing so, students should check with the schools to which they are applying to see which tests are accepted.

Making up your mind to homeschool your children is a big decision for the whole family, and it should be evaluated very cautiously beforehand. There are both pros and cons of homeschooling that should be regarded honestly without prejudice.

Pros

The biggest advantage of homeschooling your children is that you know precisely what they are learning and have entire control over when and how they learn it.

Another advantage is being able to let each child learn at their own tempo without either having to match up with an entire classroom of faster learners, or be bored because they are more advanced than everyone else in class.

You are also able to decide direction not only on academic matters but also to transfer the values and beliefs of your family to your children without intrusion.

Another great advantage of homeschooling your children is being able to defend them from bad influences that they may become vulnerable to in the public school or private school system.

Homeschooling also permits you to become more familiar with your children’s real talents and abilities so you can assist in guiding their education toward a career that they would enjoy.

Cons

A disadvantage in homeschooling is expressed by some parents as the sentiment that you don’t have any time for yourself, or just a break from the children.

The cost factor is also rather a disadvantage, as you are prone to pay out more money on homeschooling your children than you would on sending them to public school.

It’s also a provocation, but feasible, to help your children socialize with others of their own age.

You may experience sudden disapproval and aversion from family and friends who do not understand your decision to homeschool your children.

You’ll need to be unusually systematic as both a parent and teacher in order to get housekeeping and homeschooling successfully completed in the same day.

As you can see, there are a great deal of both pros and cons of homeschooling your children. And there is no right or wrong answer for every parent when making this kind of decision.

•What other categories are there that I can learn from?
•Are there many different authors that I can choose from?
•Will I be able to take any type of practice exam for a test?

What Authors Are Available to Me?
There are many authors that you can choose from when it comes to your selection of reading. Some examples are Raymond Murphy, Jeremy Harmer, Susan M. Lloyd, Michael Swan and Pie Corbett. Of course, it all depends on which category you are looking for a book in and on what level. There are books for the young children that are just starting out in a foreign language and there are adults that are just starting to learn a new language or brush up and add to what they already know. Keeping this in mind, the type of book and the author will vary. Regardless of what you are shopping for, there are many different options that are available to you.

Is there a variety of titles available?
There are plenty of titles that you can choose from in each category and their sub-categories as well. In the Key Stages category, you can choose from great titles such as Pasos 1: Student Book: A First Course in Spanish, KS3 French: The Study Guide, Revised Latin Primer, La Grammaire en Claire: With Answer Key, Collins Easy Learning Italian Grammar and First Thousands Words in Russian. Regardless of the language you are learning, there is a book for you.

If you are looking in the Parent Participation category, you will find titles to choose from such as Special Educational Needs, Inclusion and Diversity, Propaganda, Schooling and Equality: Fact, Concept and Policy (Creating success), A Parents and Teachers Guide to Bilingualism (Parents and Teachers Guides), Celebrity (FOCI) and Culture and Pedagogy: International Comparisons in Primary Education. Again, there is a great selection here as well to pick from.

Learning Abilities

•Will I be able to teach my children with these books?
•Are they easy to follow and learn from?
•Have others been able to learn a new language from scratch easily with these books?

These are all important questions that you may be asking yourself if you are new to learning a language. Asking these questions and others can be very helpful in making your decision on which book and on the type of book as well that you will want to look for. There are a lot of variables that you will need to take into consideration. These things would include if you are a beginner learner, are you going to be teaching someone else maybe a child a new language or if you are wanting to learn new facets to a language that you already know.

Trying to learn a new language can be frustrating at first. If you have the right book it can make the learning process a lot smoother without all of the frustration. Many of the books that you can get have practice activities to help you learn how to pronounce a word and to learn how to spell them as well. For many, knowing how to spell a word can really help with the learning of how to say it.

Getting The Input that You Need
One great way to be able to get the answers to your questions is to join in on a group discussion. This gives you the opportunity to speak with others that have or are reading the same books that you are. You can also learn about the books that they have read and find that you may be interested in something that have talked about and that it may help you in furthering your education as well. It is also a chance to be able to ask questions about what you have read if you do not understand something and to give your opinion as well on a book that someone is reading.

A group discussion is also a great way to be able to make friends. You can make it a part of your routine whether it is on a weekly basis or if it is a monthly book club discussion, this is something that you can look forward to. Being able to talk with others about the language you are learning is a great way to hear how they pronounce certain words so that you can hear how it is said by someone else. This can be a great stepping stone in your learning ability with a strange new language.