What is the Spanish Curriculum Like in National Education Systems

What is the Spanish Curriculum Like in National Education Systems National Curriculum Spanish: What You Will Learn ChaptersLearn Spanish Early on in your EducationSpanish Language and Culture: An Indispensable Duo For Becoming Bilingual!Spanish Language Programs for TeenagersSpanish Language Program in High SchoolThere are over 70 million second language Spanish speakers in the world, making it one of the most spoken foreign languages. This is primarily because of the standing that Spanish has due to it being the second most spoken native language after Chinese, as well as the fact that it is an official language in 20 countries, primarily in Central and South America.For English speakers, it doesn't pose as many problems as languages such as Arabic, Japanese, Russian, and Korean, mainly because it shares the Latin alphabet that we use in English, and certain parts of the grammar are very similar.The rise of language learning worldwide has seen Spanish become more and more popular. You can choose to learn Spanish with a tutor, at a language school, or even online. But most people's first encounte r with the language of Cervantes is at school as part of their national curriculum.National education systems generally aim to train students in foreign languages so that they can fend for themselves if they travel abroad.And although these systems differ across the world, we can see some overall patterns about what level of Spanish is taught at different stages of the national education process. TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLearn Spanish Early on in your EducationYour first exposure to learning Spanish will more than likely aim to allow you to understand, write and speak traditional and conversational Spanish.Spanish vocabulary (Spanish words and phrases), Spanish grammar (adverbs, adjectives, possessive pronouns, personal pronouns, syntax, alphabet…), conjugation (tenses, verbs) and spelling are only one part of linguistic training!Learning Spanish from an early age gives you a solid foundation in the language.This is because learning a foreign language is largely based around spoken training and Spanish conversation. And don’t forget the importance of learning about  Spanish and South American culture (literature, painting, history, geography, politics, and civilization)!Ideally, students should aim to understand, interact, and express themselves in the Spanish language in their goal of fluency. Training in a foreign language opens them up to another culture, and this should not be underest imated throughout the course of your Spanish learning.In learning Spanish, students will acquire a valuable communication tool to travel or work abroad (particularly the Spanish speaking countries of Europe and Latin America: Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Colombia etc). They will know how to speak to a native speaker easily.Generally speaking, Spanish in the national curriculum delves deeper into the language, with more frequent training in reading and oral and written expression.But don't worry if the country that you live in doesn't offer Spanish until a lot later on in the education process. You can always take classes with a tutor, but you should make sure that you choose the right Spanish teacher for you.Spanish Language and Culture: An Indispensable Duo For Becoming Bilingual!When you are a beginner,  studying the Spanish language  isn’t just training in grammar rules and verb memorisation all the time!No, the language of Cervantes and Picasso is before all else a ri ch civilisation, full of important historic figures including Salvador Dali and  Frida Kahlo. It comprises beautiful countries and landscapes, from the vibrant Spanish capital of Madrid to the Mexican beaches of Puerto Vallarta.This is why students, throughout their primary school studies, learn to:Speak about their daily life in Spanish via story telling, explication, description of facts, debates on current events…Communicate verbally using polite, everyday expressions and phrases.Analyze using various materials and resources, such as music, poetry, and films.The aims of most Spanish teachers center around 3 points:Study Spanish to express yourself and understand others.Study Spanish to discover and meet others.Study Spanish to develop arguments.These 3 points add to other notions that students must absorb:Everyday Spanish vocabulary  to do with meals, time, family, professions, transportation, numbers, distances…The arts:  Spanish literature, music, cinema, and art…Geograph ical points:  mountains, rivers, countryside…Heritage:  monuments (Alhambra, Sagrada Familia…), Spanish and South American traditions, gastronomy…Cultures from the Spanish speaking world are very important to the Spanish language. source: visualhunt.comIf you plan on taking your Spanish learning further, perhaps even as far as university, you’ll need supplemental instruction on Spanish literature, and other cultural studies, as well as a more rigorous training in grammar and conversation. Better get those flashcards ready!Spanish Language Programs for TeenagersFor some students, their Spanish language training won't start until they are 11 or 12. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have the opportunity to learn languages beforehand. Spanish language programs for teenagers allow students to improve their linguistic abilities, from verbal to written expression and comprehension, through quizzes and other types of testing.It is probably at this age that students start to take t heir first tests in Spanish.So let’s dive a bit deeper in the depths of this scholastic program, whose final goal is to bring each student closer to fluency of the Spanish language:Spanish alphabet: well yes, Spanish speakers possess their own alphabet accents! There is the famous “tilde,”  mainly found over the “n” like this:  Ã±.  And also the double “l” as in  â€œCómo se llama.”Punctuation: students discover early on that exclamation points and question marks are sometimes inversed in Spanish! Examples: “ ¡Estoy aquí!” and “ ¿Cómo te llamas?”Hours, dates and seasonsPrepositions, adverbs, and connecting wordsPersonal pronouns, the formal voice (USTED and USTEDES in plural).Numbers and adjectivesGerunds and associated expressionsQualitative adjectives and possessivesPresent indicativeThe foundational verbs “ser”  and “estar”Spanish verbs and tensesExpressing habit and repetitionYou can expect the examination of Spanish civilization to play a role as well throughout their training, although the degree to which this happens depends on the local and national education authorities where you live. Typical you can expect to see some of the following topics:The professional worldSpanish in the worldImportant Spanish and South American cities and monumentsLocal lifestyle and foodSpanish mediaFamous works of artFamous people in the Spanish speaking worldHumanitarian activismYou may also find that Spanish courses London can be quite helpful in mastering the language!Pablo Picasso is an emblem of Spanish culture.Typically, when students reach the age of 14 or 15, they should be capable of exchanging basic information verbally and in writing, and understanding the gist of a simple text.A foreign language is not just a grouping of words, tenses and grammar rules. It’s a whole universe to learn!  In high school, private lessons in addition to the regular Spanish course could become useful, especially to prepare for college entrance exam s. Be careful to find out how much Spanish lessons cost in order to not bankrupt yourself!You have to choose the right Spanish instructor to help you learn a second language. To do so, we recommend figuring out your expectations and communicate this clearly to your teacher candidates. Questions to discuss are your aims, his or her methodology, where you will be working, etc.Once you have found the right teacher, he or she will prepare personalised classes to help you learn to speak Spanish. Your specific needs, strengths, and weaknesses will determine the exact make-up of the class. This means that the focus could centre around Spanish verbs or conversational Spanish, depending on you.Spanish Language Program in High SchoolAs you get older and have more years of Spanish under your belt, you can naturally expect to study more complex aspects of the language. The students should possess intermediate level Spanish, although they are probably not bilingual in English and Spanish.High sc hool Spanish programs cannot be explained in a few lines. Still, here are a few points that students will learn:Nouns, suffixes and articles.Indirect speech and tense agreementThe conditional and imperative tensesSubjunctive imperfect and pluperfect tensesQualifying adjectives, superlativesNegation and restrictive construction “no…si no”Aspects of actionPersonal and impersonal obligationsExpression of desire, need and regretIn terms of Spanish civilization, students might encounter aspects of the following in a Spanish test:SpainLatin AmericaImportant cities in Spain and South AmericaLegends and tales of the Hispanic worldEconomic and social Spanish lifeThe modernization of citiesThe Spanish Civil War and its heroesNew family rolesLatin American dictatorsSpain has beautiful cities, like Madrid!  Aims of High School Spanish ProgramsThe objective of the high school Spanish program is to make students more independent in their practice of the Spanish language. They must become ac tors in the learning process and not just spectators!At the end of high school, students should ideally be able to:Engage verbally in discussions of two or more people.Understand the majority of verbal messages: debates, radios shows, news on television, etc.Present, formulate or readapt a work on paper: synthesis, presentation, etc.Be able to give a point of view and opinion in Spanish verbally and in writing.At the end of their training, students should be able to comment on a document, and know about the history and culture of Spanish speaking countries.They must also be able to understand more complicated speeches,  verbally present an artistic or literary work,  take part in a debate, discussion or even read a text  to a speaking partner with little difficulty.Students today are lucky as they benefit from new technology to help them learn how to speak Spanish. This includes a variety of YouTube channels with Spanish videos. Such channels offer free Spanish lessons, podcasts, an d a variety of other Spanish online tools. This permits them to learn Spanish fast.YouTube videos are great because you can hear the words pronounced by a native speaker in many cases. This gives you a true picture of Spanish vocabulary that you won’t get in your Spanish class textbook. Instead of learning conjugation on paper, listen to how correct verb usage sounds with your own ears!Because they are unlimited, videos allow you to learn Spanish online at your personal rhythm: when you wake up, in the car, while you eat lunch or exercise, or at night before sleeping… On YouTube, you can benefit from Spanish tutorials (made by Spanish language teachers, native Spanish speakers and Spanish enthusiasts) and find free Spanish lessons and exercises.There is a huge variety of YouTube videos available to help you. The video sharing website has over one billion users everyday, so naturally the content is vast and varied. Some examples include PolyglotPablo, 123TeachMe, Why Not Spanish, Maria Espanol, Spanish101pod.com, Learn Spanish with Paulino, Professor Jason, ProSpanish, and a personal favorite, Tu escuela de español!With all of these resources, you have everything you need to do well on your high school Spanish courses and exams. Be sure to use these resources to prepare for your Spanish lessons, so that you can cement the basics in order to give you a great foundation to tackle the trickier parts of the Spanish language.

Ask an Admissions Expert Tira Harpaz

Ask an Admissions Expert Tira Harpaz Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Tira Harpaz is the Founder of CollegeBound Advice, an admissions consulting firm that aids many students in the college admissions process. She is a graduate of Princeton Universitywhere she also served as an alumni interviewer. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Tira: Most students will not look at an actual college application until late August/early September of their senior year of high school.However, students can and should be thinking about parts of their application before that date. In terms of a main essay (which can be used for Common Application schools, as well as many other schools), it is generally a good idea to brainstorm and begin writing the essay in the late spring or summer before senior year.Developing a topic can be time-consumingit can take several drafts to craft an essay you are satisfied with, and the process should not be left until the last minute. In addition, as you go through high school, you should keep a list/develop a resume of your extracurricular activities. That way, you will be mindful if you are doing too many one-time activities rather than having meaningful and in-depth interests. While you should never engage in an activity for the purpose of building a resume, sometimes noticing that you lack leadership or that you have not sustained many of your interests will allow you to rectify those gaps. VT: What are the best ways to go about selecting a terrific essay topic? Tira: I believe the most effective essays are ones in which the reader not only gets a sense of the student, but also feels that the student was emotionally involved with the subject. So, my advice is to brainstorm about what makes you happy and what makes you tick. Think about a time when you felt engagede.g., have you always loved inventing things? When did your fascination with music begin? What did it feel like when you threw your first pitch?In addition, sometimes it's helpful to think about the weaknesses in your application and see if there's a way to address them in an essay. For example, if your extracurricular activities are strong, but your academic performance has been spotty, try and think of times you went the extra mile in a class or got fascinated by a particular subject, and see if you can write about it. VT: Are there any essay topics you get tired of seeing or would warn students to stay away from? Tira: Although I personally have topics I dislike, I think almost any topic can work depending on how well you write. That said, there are a few topics I would be careful about using, including a summer community service/travel program that you paid for, a sports story about winning the big game, and a personal narrative about a hardship or illness in the family, unless it is truly meaningful.In addition, anything that smacks of prejudice or entitlement should be avoided. VT: What is the biggest mistake a student can make on a college application? Tira: The biggest mistake is to send out a rushed application, which does not convey the student's personality or ideas or interest in the college in question. The second mistake (which I see frequently) is not proofreading the application. Typos and sloppiness leave a bad impression, and sometimes there are inconsistencies that should be avoided. For example, if in your activities list you mention that you've been involved with your school band all four years, but your essay says you've just started band, the inconsistency raises unnecessary questions.And finally, of course, lying about activities is just plain foolhardy. VT: What is the typical process an admissions officer goes through to evaluate applications? Tira: The process for admissions offices is different depending on the school.Some very large state universities only consider standardized test results and GPAs while making a decision. For many other schools, at least one admissions officer will do an initial read of the application, looking at essays, recommendations, grades, test scores and activities. These reviews can be relatively short, sometimes only 15-30 minutes, and so your goal should be to make your application stand out in some way and make the admissions officer your advocate. VT: What do you think is the single most important thing a student should make sure they present in the best possible way on their application? Tira: I always tell students they need to answer any underlying questions raised by the application.If a student has few extracurricular activities, the admissions committee might assume the student isn't active and won't participate in the life of the college.That student needs to show, if possible, how he or she engages in activities or pursuits that are purposeful and interesting.If a student has a serious academic weakness, the student must explain how they have worked to improve in that particular subject. VT: How should students go about determining the culture of a university, and whether they would be a good fit? Tira: Students should make a checklist of factors that are important to them. Although some of these preferences may change, many will not, and such a checklist is helpful in deciding which schools will ultimately land on your college list. After that, visiting a school, if at all possible, is useful to determine whether it would be a good fit. Try and interact with students other than tour guides. Are students friendly, helpful, morose, inattentive? Sit in on a class, eat in the cafeteria and visit a dorm room if you can. If you can't visit (or even if you can), go online and access a virtual tour. Reach out to students who attend the school, through emails, texts etc. If you're interested in a particular subject, see if you can correspond with a professor in the department. Some schools offer online chats with the admissions office, and some admissions officers have great online blogs, which can be informative. VT: Early-action, early-decision, binding/non-binding, regular decisions...With so many choices when applying, what do you recommend to students? Tira: To a certain extent, the question of whether to apply early will depend on a student's profile. I generally recommend that a student apply to at least one early action or rolling admissions school that is likely to accept the student. The goal is to have an early acceptance in hand so that your stress level will be lower over the next few months.If, however, a student's grades have been problematic, I might recommend that the student wait until hopefully stronger first semester grades are available before submitting an application. VT: How important are grades and standardized test scores when admissions decisions are being made? Tira: A student's four-year academic record is by far the most important factor in admissions. Generally, no extracurricular activities or exceptional essay will outweigh your coursework and GPA. In addition, schools will look at the rigor of courses the student has taken.If you're applying to a selective school, but have only taken the easiest courses available, it will be very difficult to gain acceptance. After that, for schools requiring standardized tests, test scores are looked at carefully. Finally, all the other components of an applicationessays, recommendations, and extracurricular activitiesare reviewed. VT: What tips do you have for students asking their teachers for letters of recommendation? Tira: Near the end of junior year, students should pick two academic teachers as potential recommenders. You should then ask each teacher whether he or she can give you a positive recommendation. Once a teacher has agreed to give you a recommendation, ask whether there's any information they need.Even if they say no, I would suggest giving the teacher a brief description of why you enjoyed the class and any specific activities or projects you excelled in, as well as a list of your outside activities or your resume. Visit CollegeBound Advice for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

5 Things That Challenge Even the Best Guitar Newbies

5 Things That Challenge Even the Best Guitar Newbies Suzy S. Learning a new instrument can be challenging, and guitar is certainly no exception. You may find yourself struggling with building your calluses or reaching certain chords, but dont worry youre not alone! Here are 5 things that can challenge the beginner guitar player, and simple strategies you can use to improve. 1. Building calluses New to the guitar? Calluses might seem like your worst nightmare, but building them up will help you fret the strings easier and produce a clear, even tone each time you play. It might take a while, but trust us, its worth it! What to try: Try using lighter gauge guitar strings at first. If you prefer the sound of heavier strings, you can work your way up to this type, but in general the lighter nylon strings are more comfortable for beginners. Remember that you wont build guitar calluses overnight, so consistent practice is key. Some guitarists also swear by soaking the fingertips in rubbing alcohol to speed up the process. Another thing to keep in mind is that most beginners press down too hard to begin with. Try relaxing your fingers and experiment with the pressure. The string should hit the fret evenly, but you dont need a death grip! 2. Finger coordination Dexterity, coordination and also finger strength are all integral to creating a beautiful sound and also killer licks and solos! But sometimes, those individual fingers just dont want to cooperate. It can be even harder for guitarists with small hands, but there are several exercises you can do to improve. What to try: First of all, relax! If youre so focused on your finger coordination, youll just end up stressing yourself out. Start slowly, and try practicing with a metronome to work on your accuracy. You can also start each practice session with specific exercises to get your fingers warmed up and loose. For example, try starting with a chromatic scale in the first position, but switch it up a bit.   Start on the 6th string and then jump to the 1st string, followed by the 5th, and then the 2nd to 4th and then 3rd. You can also alternate the pattern by moving upward on the 6th and then descend on the 5th, followed by ascending again on the 4th and so on in that pattern. 3. Keeping time Sometimes tapping your foot or counting in your head while playing can feel a lot like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time. Its not always easy! With practice, though, your internal metronome will improve. Developing that sense of rhythm is essential for guitar players. What to try: Keep that metronome out, even after youve done your warm-up exercises! Use it when practicing strumming patterns for example, try setting it at a comfortable tempo (60-80 beats per minute) and play a downstroke on each beat. Increase the tempo a bit, and then switch it up by playing on every other beat, or other patterns such as triplets. Add this to your practice routine every day until you can keep the rhythm steady without the metronome. 4. Memorizing guitar chords There are literally thousands of guitar chord combinations out there, so it can be pretty daunting for the beginner guitar player. But dont fret you dont need to learn all of them right away. What to try: Start simple! Even just memorizing these 5 easy guitar chords can give you loads of songs to play. A great place to start is with the 12 major chords and 12 minor chords.   Beyond that, there are a lot of possible strategies for helping you memorize the chords, depending on your learning style. If youre a visual learner, make chord chart flashcards, and review them throughout the day. Kinesthetic learner? Close your eyes and play a few chords, consciously making the association between the name of the chord and where your fingers are placed. Practice, practice, practice eventually your muscle memory will take over. 5. Staying motivated Do you find yourself coming up with excuses for why you cant practice? You, my friend, might be burnt out. Its a common thing for beginners, especially if you started playing the guitar with unreasonable expectations. What to try: If you find your motivation levels dwindling, consider switching up your repertoire, taking a break for a day, listening to different styles of music, reevaluating your goals, or shortening your practice sessions into smaller, more manageable chunks. Let your guitar teacher know, and he or she may be able to find the right solution to bring that excitement back. All of these issues are common for beginners, but   keep in mind you wont solve them overnight. Being an accomplished guitar player will take time, and your commitment to practicing regularly will make a big impact. Keep at it! Suzy S., TakeLessons staff member and blogger Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Rachel Hoefling.

Appearing For SAT Test Do You Have Supporting SAT Literature

Appearing For SAT Test Do You Have Supporting SAT Literature 0SHARESShare Tutor Pace online tutoring services are inclusive of SAT test preparation, SAT literature and SAT study tips. SAT literature / the study material for SAT forms a critical part of the SAT test preparation. Tutor pace focuses on building the students competency by encouraging them to procure effective SAT study material. With SAT study guides you can, Build a customized preparation methodology Identify your strengths and weaknesses Be in a better position to address those weaknesses Give your best shot in the real exam because the study guides reflect the SAT exam pattern Make yourself comfortable with the type of questions asked in the SAT exam Increase your level of confidence and appear for the exam without any apprehensions Tutor Pace SAT study tips If you are studying for English SAT start building on your vocabulary by using resources such as vocabulary.com, then focus on the reading and comprehension part If you are studying for Math SAT then start practicing regularly and develop the habit of problem solving If you are a SAT II aspirant interested in taking the subject tests then initially plan to appear for subject tests that you may find easy and interesting Consult your online tutor or college tutor about, ‘how much time should you ideally take to prepare for each SAT exam module?’ [starbox id=admin]

English Vocabulary English Expressions related to Last Minute

English Vocabulary English Expressions related to Last Minute We have all rushed out at the last minute to buy something we forgot. It is always stressful. Here are  some English expressions related to last minute.  We always think we have got everything we need. Whether it is the birthday party for a family  member or Christmas shopping we panic when we remember that we should have bought  something for your Aunt or a little toy for you nephew or god daughter. So we inevitably have to  jump into (get in quickly) the car and head back (return) to the city centre or shopping centre for  that last minute gift. English Expressions related to Last Minute Here are some English words and phrases with a similar meaning:  A LAST MINUTE RUSHA rush is a quick race either on foot or in your car when you have not got time.ex. Sorry, I cannot stop and talk to you I am in a rush (in a hurry). A last minute rush is that last  (hopefully) run into the city to buy the few things you forgot.  RACE AGAINST TIME    Someone must do or finish something very quickly because they don’t have enough time to finish it.  We seem to be constantly in a race against time.    ex. Michael had a deadline to submit his project at the latest of midnight  on the 20th December. As always he did not start the project until the last minute and therefore was  in a race against time to get it completed and submitted by the time agreed.  UP AGAINST THE CLOCK  People like to give us tasks to complete in a timescale that can be very  challenging.  ex. My French test had to be completed in 2 hours. I had a lot to do. When I looked at my  watch I had only 20 mins remaining. I was really up against the clock and I doubted that I would got  all the questions answered in time. IN THE NICK OF TIME  When you just get something completed with very little time to spare you can  say I did it in the nick of time. Another minute and it would have been too late.  ex. Although the  deadline was tight I managed to finish the essay just as the teacher shouted time is up I finished it  just in the nick of time.  AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR  Nobody likes to be constantly in a race against the clock but some people  operate better when their back is to the wall (under pressure).  ex. My brother always leaves things  to the last minute he likes the thrill of completing his assignments by the eleventh hour (late into  the night). He thinks he does his best work in this way.

19 School Year! - Heart Math Tutoring

Volunteer Recruitment Kickoff - Volunteers needed in the 2018/19 School Year! - Heart Math Tutoring Volunteer Recruitment Kickoff Volunteers needed in the 2018/19 School Year! Volunteer Recruitment Kickoff Volunteers needed in the 2018/19 School Year! July 26, 2018 Heart Tutorings 2018 Volunteer Drive is officially underway! Students across 22 school partners need tutors in the 2018/19 school year, which means Heart Tutoring will be working to recruit over 1,300 volunteers between now and mid-September. **Please sign up to be a volunteer tutor today!** If you have already secured your volunteer spot, we’d appreciate your help in recruiting volunteers with these quick and easy tips: Help spread the word by using these tools to recruit friends, family members, and colleagues who you think would be interested in being a Heart Tutoring volunteer. Educate others by talking about your experience with Heart. Add Heart Math Tutoring to your LinkedIn profile as a volunteer activity. Click “Edit Profile,” “Add Section,” and select “Volunteer Experience.” When you type “Heart Math Tutoring,” LinkedIn will find our Company Page. Reach out to your employer or civic organizations about Heart Tutoring, or invite Heart Tutoring staff to do so. (See Hearts partner organizations here. Thank you!) Tag Heart Math Tutoring in your social media posts and use the hashtags #YourAdditionMakesADifference #VolunteerWithHeart; change your Facebook profile picture and/or cover photo with these social media tools; and share our social media posts. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. If you’re not a tutor yet and want to give it a try, sign up atwww.hearttutoring.org/become-a-volunteer! Heart Tutoring provides tutor-friendly lesson plans and a staff person on site. In volunteer recruitment, we get to offer a positive way to make a difference in the life of an elementary student. Last year, 98% of 893 Heart Tutoring students met program growth goals in math. On our year-end survey, 100% of Heart Tutoring volunteers rated the experience positive, and 98% said they would recommend the program to a friend or a colleague. Read the full Press Release here. Thank you in advance for making this year count! ~The Heart Tutoring Team

?? 7 Internet Safety Tips You Need to Teach Your Children

?? 7 Internet Safety Tips You Need to Teach Your Children 7 Internet Safety Tips You Need to Teach Your Children Internet exposure amongst the young is at its peak. Now, it is almost impossible to keep childrenoffline thanks to the ease of access by phones, computers, tablets, games consoles, TVs and evenwatches. Unless children are separated from their peers and denied these devices, the internet iswithin arm’s reach.The lesson for adults here is not to keep children away from the internet, which will likely causethem to rebel, but instead teach internet safety to ensure they are in a safe space online. This is theduty not only of parents, but of all adults that are responsible for children at some point, teachers, grandparents and so on.Here are seven internet safety lessons that are vital for children to know.1. Stranger DangerAn important lesson in life and online, stranger danger. Face-to-face strangers are an easier dangerto convey - if a child doesn’t recognise a person they know to avoid them and get help. Online, however, there is the added dimension of anonymity. Anyone can be any one on the internet. As it isimpossible to avoid every stranger online, it is imperative that children are instead taught whatstranger behaviour to be wary of.Children are most likely to come across strangers on social media sites, messaging apps, chat rooms,email, internet-connected games. Parents can keep an eye on these channels and get their children to explain how they know each person they are in contact with online. Any red flags should beinvestigated and, if necessary, reported.Make sure they are also aware that who they are speaking to online may not be who they say theyare. Celebrity or child impersonators is not unheard of and is an easy way for someone dangerous toget in contact with children; gaining trust and possibly, an open door to groom a child.Children should be taught that if anyone online asks for a picture or to meet offline, they shouldalert an adult immediately.2. Don’t Open Unknown LinksThis is something some adults are still guilty of, opening unknown lin ks. This isn’t necessarilyreferring to pop up ad links or spam emails (although these should be avoided too) but links fromfriends on social media platforms that may also be unsafe.Accounts can be hacked and viruses can cause links to be sent from an apparent known source,giving children a false sense of security when confronted with them. Once they have been clicked itcan either give a hacker access to their account/ computer or send a virus to the user’s device, bothof which are risks to private information.If a child isn’t expecting to be sent something from a friend, the link has no accompanying text or thetext seems out of context, make sure they ask the sender what the link leads to and if they meant tosend it; otherwise it is best to avoid clicking on it.Links from unknown sources should always be avoided.3. What to Do If You See Something BadThe internet is host to the good, the bad and the worst. Most of the time users can get where theyneed to go without stumbling up on unpleasant content in the corners of the web. New users mayhowever not be as privvy and could end up seeing something that makes them feel uncomfortable orunsafe. In these instances, it is best to encourage children to be honest about finding this contentand tell a responsible adult.When teaching this to a child it is essential that a tone of support is used, rather than one of judgment. If a child believes they are going to be in trouble for seeing this content they are lesslikely to report it and in turn, keep other negative online experiences a secret.4. Keep Private Information PrivateAlthough it seems like an obvious point, it must be stressed to children that private informationshould remain private. This includes passwords, any financial details, their address, their phonenumber, their school and even their birthday. Anything that can be used to either access accounts orgive strangers leverage to make a connection with a child should be kept out of conversationsonline.5. B eware Of TrollsNot creatures that live under a bridge, but anonymous online users who make it their mission tocause upset and spread negativity, often through commenting. Trolls cannot be avoided on publicplatforms or even on social media platforms, leaving messages of disdain with intent to anger asmany people as possible. Children must be taught to ignore their comments and get an adult toreport the poster.Experiences with trolls can be upsetting, particularly for young children who may not understandthere is no reason behind their actions. Encourage children to speak to a trusted adult when theycome across a troll, discuss the comment and their feelings, reassuring them that these commentsare not real.6. CyberbullyingAs children, the adults of today only had to fear bullies on the playground, whereas childrennowadays have the added fear of being confronted by bullies in the comfort of their own home viathe internet.Cyberbullying has become an international issue and is partially to blame for the rise in mentalhealth issues in the younger generation. This is why it is the job of responsible adults at school andat home to teach the dangers of cyberbullying.There is no need to sugar coat the truth on this matter as it is necessary for the children tounderstand the impact of things said online, and the reach of these comments/ photos/ videos.Children who are being bullied online should be persuaded to report these incidences as soon aspossible and be made aware that they have a safe space to talk about these issues.7. Be Careful of What You Put On the WebLong gone are the days of passing notes around a classroom. Nowadays the first instinct is to puteverything online. What you are eating for breakfast, photos of your dog, where you are at the timeof posting and so on, are all shared to the masses. However, it is a common misconception thatwhen a post or video is deleted, it is gone forever. There is no telling how many times it appearsonline, who saved a copy o r shared it around.Children should be aware of the dangers web content possesses, particularly if it is something thatmay upset someone else. If in doubt, don’t post it.Tips for Grown-upsKid Safe Search EnginesThere are a number of kid-safe search engines that can help parents and teachers out with saferbrowsing. Kiddle, developed by Google, will automatically block obscene and mature content fromyoung users. It also has an image search, a kid’s version of Wikipedia, video search and a newfeature.There are a number of child friendly search engines like Kiddle, such as Wacky Safe and KidRex.Airplane ModeAirplane mode will stop children accidently making purchases from mobile devices. This way theycan use them and have fun, without the danger to the bank balance.Parental ControlsAn obvious one but parental controls are a must. Make sure there are pins and passwords foreverything you do not want children having free reign on. Individual websites will also allow you toswitch on safe search, giving extra protection against inappropriate content.Set BoundariesBeing plugged in 24/7 isn’t healthy for anyone, particularly children. Set online boundaries forchildren, for example, hours they are allowed to be online and hours they need to be offline. Thiswill minimise their risk exposure.Author Bio:Debbie Irvine is a mother herself and a digital specialist working for Teach.

Suzhou Sunflower English

Suzhou Sunflower English Suzhou Sunflower English Sunflower English is an English training school, owned, managed, and run, in Suzhou China since 2006. We now have 6 schools spread through the city center and two schools in suburbs and nearby towns. As a Training center, we provide afterschool and weekend classes to children aged 3 to 17. Our approach to education is fairly simple; keep it fun, keep it authentic. We provide teachers with a full set of materials and lesson plans, but rely on individual teachers to bring their own experiences and understanding of English into the classroom. Our company structure is based around the idea that input from the foreign staff, and their initiative in the classroom is the foundation of a successful business. Our new school opened recently, and we need new teachers to come and join our educational family. Currently we have 8 foreign teachers from the UK, US, and Canada; many of them have been working with us for many years. Joining Sunflower is to become a part of our foreigner family away from home. Part of our willingness to stay long term comes down to the city of Suzhou itself. Although it is quickly growing into one of Chinese rising stars, Suzhou still has the feeling of a large town but with the amenities of a world capitol; when combined with its kind people and historic appeal, it is a wonderful place to live. If you are looking for a one year adventure in a beautiful new world, or intending to put down roots in the thriving soil of China proper, please contact us and look into joining our team here at Sunflower English. View our Brochure