A Parent's Blog About Parent Interests by our Tutoring Company

English is a pretty daunting language to learn for beginner, non-native English speakers who grapple with all the contradictions and weird rules associated with the language. Thankfully, lots of online and offline resources or ESL learning tools are available for non-native English speakers who want to polish their usage, grammar, speaking and writing abilities.

Dave’s ESL Cafe – http://www.eslcafe.com/grammar.html

Dave Sperling is a renowned teacher of English as a second language. He has come up with an in-depth site providing hundreds of grammar lessons. The lessons include word usage, vocabulary, sentence structure, noun placement, verb tenses, conversational skills, phonetics, differences in the meaning of English words based on countries and nationalities and linguistic practices.

ESL Movie Guides – http://www.eslnotes.com

For a rather novel way of learning English, as an ESL tutor or ESL student, you can use the help of the site English Learner Movie Guides to brush up your ESL skills. If you are fond of movies and Canadian or American culture, you can learn English usage with the help of this website. Popular movies and their plots/plot summaries are used to discuss and teach the English language and idioms.

English Conversations for ESL students – http://englishconversations.org

For ESL students who prefer podcast instructional tools, these downloadable audio files can come in really handy for practicing English speaking and listening skills. You can either stream or download the audio files to listen to English conversations. You can learn vocabulary, word usage, proper tone and word pronunciation via ESL audio files. Many of the audio clips are bilingual as well, helping people of non-English speaking countries to decipher a new language.

Grammar Exercises – http://www.english-4u.de/grammar_exercises.html

Learning fluent English grammar is a difficult and challenging proposition. If you wish to acquire grammar skills, you can take the help of this online tool to practice your reflexive pronouns, plural nouns, adverbial clauses and verb tenses. This site carries an exhaustive collection of quizzes that cover the A to Zs of English grammar.

507 Most Misspelt Words for ESL studies – http://www.esldesk.com/spelling/misspelled-words

English can be a very confusing language for non-native speakers with its strange spelling that bear hardly any resemblance to their pronunciation. So if your ESL tutoring client feels confused by English spelling, you can take the help of this tool to improve their English spelling knowledge and to avoid the pitfalls of common spelling errors.

Offline ESL Resources

There are many offline learning tools for ESL tutors and ESL students such as downloadable PDF files that offer instructions in basic and advanced interpersonal communication skills, cognitive academic language proficiency, listening comprehension, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar and word order, speaking fluency and pronunciation.

ESL University Courses

You can also enrol in online or offline business English courses or ESL courses offered by Canadian universities, American and Australian universities as well as by British universities through the British council. Most of these ESL courses can be taken online and last for three to four months. They concentrate on improving your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

You can choose from basic level or advanced level courses depending on your proficiency level.

School is Easy Tutoring can then help guide you through these courses with an ESL tutor, including TOEFL tutoring and preparation.

Vancouver Island offers a range of recreational activities for your family. It has lots of museums, parks, gardens and animal tours to keep your kids enthralled. If you want your kids to learn a bit about the culture and history of the place in a fun way, you will have various options of doing so in Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada.

Outdoor Education and Adventure trips

Take your kids along with certified naturalists on a whale tour. Whales are one of nature’s most majestic creations and a glimpse of them in their natural surroundings is sure to capture your kids’ interests. There are a total of more than 80 whales in Vancouver Island’s waters and you are sure to spot one.

A nature trip in Vancouver Island will include a visit to Race Rocks Ecological Reserve near the southern part of Vancouver Island. Plan a trip to the ecological reserve and show your kids the entrancing marine world of colourful fish, sea lions, and gray, humpback and mink whales.

Next, give your children a glimpse of the city of gardens. Vancouver Island has a bloom count of over two billion flowers and the hanging flower baskets make an absolutely beautiful sight, aside from being an educational experience in biology and plant life. Take your kids to the famous Beacon Hill Park, which has a multitude of exotic flowers, manicured grounds and wonderful fauna like wild peacocks. Point out the special features and characteristics of the animals at the petting Zoo
and give your kids a nature lesson they won’t forget.

You can then get a wonderful view of Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic mountains. If you are visiting in the summer, don’t forget to take your family to the Luminara Lantern Festival.

Wild Play amusement park is your next destination where your kids are going to experience the wonders of deep forests while learning about ecology and environmental sciences. The Shaw Discovery Centre will give them a taste of local marine life, complete with microscopes and other educational instruments.

Don’t forget the famous bug zoo specially designed for kids with all kinds of creepy crawly bugs designed to enrapture kids.

History, culture and local cuisine to educate children in Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada

After the invigorating outdoors, it’s time to explore Vancouver Island’s rich culture. The first place to take your kids is the B.C. Royal Museum. The extensive and interesting history of B.C is depicted in this museum with detail. There is an interesting interactive area for kids to help give them a tutoring lesson on history that is much more fun than text book learning.

The Oak Bay and Panorama recreation centers have activities and facilities designed to capture the interest of kids with a range of interactive games. If your kids are slightly older, take them on one of the guided Architectural tours and watch them take in the structural beauty of the place while the guides explain the building types and architectural features. This would be great for boys who like to build with Lego and blocks, and may spark educational interest in building.

Lastly, don’t forget to round off your visit with a trip to Vancouver Island’s local food market. This food market is teeming with fresh produce especially in the winters. Take your pick of the brightest tomatoes, juiciest oranges and the creamiest cheeses and take out your kids to a delightful picnic lunch or treat them to the famous food harvest festival. But be sure to sneak in a science tutoring lesson on nutrition, explaining vitamins, minerals and perhaps even why these foods are good for human digestion.

As the largest city in the North Okanagan Regional District, Vernon is bestowed by three lakes, verdant grasslands and the Monashee Mountains. An idyllic place, Vernon also offers children an interesting range of educational activities so that they can learn while having fun.

Education does not just mean museums and libraries. Education also means exploring the diversity of culture, scenic beauty of nature, eventful moments of history, playfulness of water sports and enthusiasm of outdoor activities. Being aware of the surroundings is an essential form of education, and Vernon offers a vast range of options for children to learn something new and exciting.

Learning about art & culture while tutoring in Vernon, B.C.

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre offers three forms of entertainment – theatre, dance and children-oriented performances. Every year, there are local talent shows, musical acts as well as community events that would serve as a window to the art and talent world for children.

The Towne Cinema boasts of an over eight-decades-long history of not only showing documentaries and films but also staging plays and presenting live entertainment shows. Your children will appreciate the invaluable experience of arts and culture.

Tutoring lessons in the library – yes reading can be fun in there!

For the book lovers, there’s the Okanagan Regional Library. Established in 1936, the library has free children’s programs like storytelling for preschool kids and book clubs for teenagers. Activities like this are essential to developing good reading habits that your children will learn from. Instead of forcing them to read, they will be motivated if they are learning to enjoy reading with their peers.

History lessons – a great way to tutor in Vernon!

The Greater Vernon Museum and Archives is the main attraction for those inclined towards history. Apart from showcasing exhibits, collections and research, the museum is home to educational programs, events and exhibitions and heritage fairs too.

Next, take a tour to witness the history of Vernon within 26 downtown murals that tell the story of the origins of the city and its people. Your children, while learning will definitely like the unique combination of history and art, and learn how the two often blend together.

Learning about nature in Vernon

Nature lovers can visit the Okanagan Science Centre and the Allan Brooks Nature Centre for a close encounter with nature’s beauty and enjoy nature’s bounty in Vernon with hiking trails and nature hikes. This can be a great way to teach about the environment and plant life, including a small biology tutoring lesson.

Outdoor Activities for learning physical coordination skills in Vernon

Physical activity and bodily coordination is a great skill set to have, and can keep the brain focused for ‘book learning.’ Kalamalka Lake is a popular spot for water skiing and Ellison Provincial Park is famous for snorkelling and scuba diving enthusiasts. Other water sports for families are canoeing and kayaking and beach volleyball. Children can also learn the art of patience by fishing here.

You can introduce children to paragliding, rock climbing and even mountain biking in Vernon, Kalamalka and Ellison provincial parks and the surrounding mountains. Apart from trails that house varied species of plants and wildlife, children who like outdoors sports can also enjoy winter sports like snowmobiling, tubing and skating.

Vernon, B.C. offers breathtaking views and informative avenues to maintain the interest of the entire family, especially the children. Little minds can connect with nature, learn something new, take off on adventurous trails and revel in the performing arts. From preschoolers to toddlers and teenagers, children can relate to the beauty of Vernon spanning the ancient and present times. There’s a lot you can learn in Vernon, B.C.

As a parent seeking a tutor in Vancouver BC, or a tutor in BC in general, it is obvious that you would want the best tutor possible for your child. Finding a good tutor is also vital because a wrong choice can leave a permanently bad influence on your child’s mind. Hence, leave no stone unturned when it comes searching for the perfect tutor for your child. If you make a hasty decision when choosing a tutor, you might end up messing up the very foundation of education of your child.

Tutors should have knowledge of the subject and good training in how to be a teacher

Having ample knowledge on the subject he is supposed to teach is the fundamental criteria of hiring a tutor. If you have to end up teaching your child the subject that the tutor is supposed to handle, you are wasting your time and money.

He or she must be able to successfully communicate with your child and make them understand the subject matter with clarity. They should not try to make your child learn false information on any topic just because they do not know anything about the particular topic.

Uneducated and untrained tutors like this are the worst thing for your child. If you are satisfied with the level of expertise possessed by the tutor, you can just sit back and leave your child’s learning in the tutor’s hands without a worry.

Tutors should be professional and considerate, not salespeople

Just because a tutor is going to teach primary and secondary students does not mean that he or she has the excuse to be unprofessional. In such cases, first impression is vital. Observe how the tutor interacts with you and your child from the very first consultation.

Is the tutor discussing all the required details of the job they are about to take up, or just babbling nonsense? If all they care about are their fees, they will keep jumping back to the topic of the money they are going to charge.

Such tutors are no good because they don’t care whether your child learns anything throughout the year. They are satisfied just by getting the money you agreed on paying them. Hence, professionalism is required in a teacher but make sure the tutor does not give you the vibe of a salesperson.

A good tutor pays attention to the child’s needs

A teacher must act as a philosopher and a guide for your child apart from teaching them bookish knowledge. A child looks up to a teacher and at times even idolizes them. A teacher should be responsible in fostering good habits and manners in a child.

A tutor or teacher should also be aware of the degree of strictness that should be adopted for teaching a child positive values of life. If the child is shy and quiet, the tutor should be soft with when trying to make them understand anything.

The tutor should be patient enough to deal with children who are slow in grasping facts. Becoming angry just because the child has asked some questions out of curiosity is not a commendable trait for a tutor. If the child has grown fear or misconception about something, it is the duty of the tutor to clear things logically and practically.

Most parents are in a dilemma when it comes to the decision of hiring a tutor for their children. In today’s competitive world, hiring a tutor can be helpful to children. Hiring a tutor does not imply that your child is incapable or academically backward. It is just that the child could benefit from additional help.

Why hire a tutor?

It is a fact that a parent knows the child the best. So then why hire an outsider to help your children with their school work? Teaching children, even your own, requires a lot of patience and tactics. Most parents do not have time, especially if you are a working parent and have to teach your child after your work hours. You lose patience quickly if the child doesn’t respond in the way you desire. Also some children respond better to instructions if it comes from an outsider. In such situations, hiring a tutor can be beneficial to you as a parent and the child.

Benefits of hiring a tutor

A tutor can give his complete attention to the child. He will ensure that difficult content is revised and the concepts are properly understood by the child. This way, the child will perform better at exams and tests. This leads to increased confidence and motivation to do better.

The tutor will be able to provide additional information to the child. This means an extra edge over the other children in the class.

The tutor will be able to help the child with his regular homework. He will explain the content again to the child and thereby the child will be able to do his homework without any struggle.

Some children need individual attention. In today’s over crowded classroom atmosphere, teachers will not be able to provide this. By hiring a tutor, children can benefit from the one to one attention.

A tutor will prepare the child well for class tests and final exams. When the child has a better understanding of the course, he will fare well for the tests. The child will have more confidence in his knowledge of the subject and this will take care of any anxieties he may face. Anxiety and nervousness are a major reason for many poor performances.

Working with a tutor will help the child to develop a study schedule. The child will be more disciplined and organized with his work.

While studying, children easily get distracted with videogames, TV and other activities at home. A tutor will help in minimizing these distractions. The child is constantly monitored and is pushed back into track in case of straying. Tutors will also be equipped with the latest teaching techniques and will be able to give maximum help to your child.

By hiring a tutor, you can shorten the duration of studying time spent by your child. For a child in primary or secondary school, one to two hours of study time is more than sufficient. The tutor will ensure that this time is spent efficiently.

Invest in a tutor today and secure the future of your child.

There are many opinions on this. Two things can happen. If a student isn’t identified to meet the eligibility criteria for special education they might be described by their teachers as a “behaviour problem, slow learner, unmotivated or just plain lazy”. They’ll remain in the general education and will most likely do poorly in school. The probability of dropping out will increase.

If  a student is identified as requiring special education the student will be categorized into a stream that hopefully the teachers will have knowledge and methods to assist the student to achieve. This classification alters the school experience and for this reason many educators criticize this process and claim that it does more harm than good to the student.

Let’s explore advantages and disadvantages of labelling.

Advantages of labelling

1. Labels are required to get funding for special education from the BC ministry.
2. Categories give educators a general idea about learning characteristics.
3. If present categories were abolished then new descriptors would be made to take their place. Humans need “mental hooks” to figure out problem areas.
4. Labelling will create more tolerance towards the minority of those who have a disability.
5. Labelling creates specialized teaching methods, assessment and interventions for behaviour issues.

Disadvantages of labelling

1. Once a child has been categorized this label will be forwarded to every new teacher. The label sticks.
2. There is a stigma of being deficient.
3. Labels shape teacher’s expectations. Studies demonstrate that what a teacher believes about student capability is directly related to student achievement.
4. Labels can exaggerate a student’s actions in the eyes of a teacher. A teacher may over react to behaviour of a labelled child that would be tolerated in another child.
5. Diagnostic labels are not always reliable. Sure they try to be accurate, but they can never be. Human beings are complex and unique.

Is it good or bad? Yes and No. Assigning a student a label for special education is a fateful step that should only be taken when all other options have proved unsuccessful.