Hans Tang began working with Academic Advantage/School is Easy in 2009 in the Burnaby area. We were delighted when he moved to the Comox Valley to provide services to our clients in that area.

Hans has always had great feedback from his students. Hans grew up in Burnaby. He received his teaching degree in 2004 and teaches Mathematics and Physics. He has taught in Ontario, China and most recently at G.P. Vanier Secondary School. Currently he is a teacher on call for the Comox Valley School District and works as an actuarial analyst at a local consultant company.

He loves learning about different cultures while traveling. He also enjoys squash and skiing.

A big ‘thank you’ to Hans for his hard work and dedication to students.

A big ‘thank you’ to all of our tutors!!! We are proud of the work that you do.

‘School is Easy Tutoring’ owner, Susan Cumberland and her family visited Xia He Elementary School in Xian, China this July 2012 and gave a donation to the school principal. What a great experience.

The children were a little shy but slowly warmed up enough to practice a few phrases in English such as “I am from China. My name is ____.” It wasn’t the most stimulating conversation, but it was a good start for a group of children who very rarely get a chance to speak with foreigners.

In this school, there are 29 children per class. In city schools, the class sizes range between 30 – 50 students per class. In the past 10 years education in China has improved dramatically. The literacy rate in China is now 82%. But, prior to 1999, the literacy rate in China was as low as 20%. Parents had to pay for their children to go to school and this of course meant that children with parents of low income did not get a chance to attend school. In the early 2000s school became free across the country and school was offered to every child regardless of social class or gender.

The 36-year-old English-speaking tour guide, David recalls his parent’s sacrifices for his education. His parents had a modest income, but 1/3 of their income went to his education. Wow! That’s a lot of pressure for the child. Can you imagine coming home with a bad report card when your family is providing you with the privilege of going to school? Note to Canadian children: Don’t take your education for granted. It’s an incredible opportunity for personal growth and provides you with a chance to increase your career choices. Chinese children do not take their education for granted. They study hard because their parents emphasize that getting an education leads to a better life.

We thought we’d let you know that we are fully operating in the summer. Many of our teachers are keen to work over the summer months. Their schedules are also wide open and flexible.

You might be concerned about your child forgetting what they have learned all year.
You might not want your child to fall behind.
You might want your child to get a head start for the next year.

Whatever the case may be, we are at your service.

Call 1-877-ITS EASY

The government has given us a wonderful break. There is a new tax credit called the Arts Tax credit and tutoring falls under their criteria. See the criteria below:

Line 370 – Children Arts Amount

To qualify for this amount, a program must:

• be ongoing (either a minimum of eight consecutive weeks long or, in the case of children’s camps, five consecutive days long);
• be supervised; and
• be suitable for children.

The program also has to meet one of the following criteria:

• it contributes to the development of creative skills or expertise in an artistic or cultural activity;
• it provides a substantial focus on wilderness and the natural environment;
• it helps children develop and use particular intellectual skills;
• it includes structured interaction among children where supervisors teach or help children develop interpersonal skills; or
• it provides enrichment or tutoring in academic subjects.

Note:
An activity that develops creative skills or expertise is only eligible if it is intended to improve a child’s dexterity or co-ordination, or helps in acquiring and applying knowledge through artistic or cultural activities such as literary arts, visual arts, performing arts, music, media, languages, customs, and heritage.

We’re half way through the year. For some students that means midterms.

For others on a semester system it means new classes, new teachers and new subjects. If you are in a new semester and are facing challenging subjects feel free to call give us a call and we can help relieve the stress. We can provide you with a certified teacher in your home. 1-877-ITS EASY

For those of you facing midterms here are a few tips. They might seem obvious, but if you take them seriously they could help:

• Prepare ahead of time to reduce the effects of added stress. A tutor can help you prepare for the exam by reviewing and clarifying material.
• Get sleep and eat well to keep your mind and body alert. Avoid things like junk food, cigarettes, and caffeine in the days prior to the test day. These things take a physical toll on your stamina. You’ll need it!
• Pack all the tools you’ll need the night before. Include extra pencils and pens.
• Bring a snack in your book bag for a quick bite between exams. Nothing too heavy, though. Too much food can make you sleepy.

Call now if you need our help:
1-877-ITS EASY