Education in the UK - How is the education system?

ESOL Explained ESOL is a course for learners where English isn't their first language. The course enables learners who want to improve their skills to help them study, find work or manage in everyday life. The course develops and enhances written and spoken English language skills students become more confident in life and work settings and are able to achieve their aims and ambitions for the future. The course can be studied part-time or full-time so the length of the course varies depending on the option you choose. There are 5 key levels of ESOL: Entry 1 - Very Basic Entry 2- Beginner Entry 3 - Independent User Level 1 - Intermediate Level 2 - Upper Intermediate What is learned in all levels are: • Speaking and listening skills in a variety of situations • Reading techniques to help you read and understand more effectively • Writing techniques to enable you to write in many different situations Students are required to sit an examinat...

Science Fairs in the UK and Research Projects A few years ago, I took my son to the National Science and Engineering Competition which was held at the  Big Bang Fair at the NEC in Birmingham, UK,  where he was exhibiting his science research project. ​ The fair is carried out every year in the UK to bring together people interested in science and technology and particularly youngsters, providing a platform for companies to showcase what they're all about and people who are curious about science get the opportunity to find out more.  In fact, it's the largest celebration of science and engineering for young people in the UK. As well as the competition organizers and sponsors, members of the public were asking my son about his project, what it was about and so forth. This continued over a few days. On the last day as we were having lunch when an elderly English man who was standing near us, congratulated me. This is what the man said... Man:  Are You In...

Child's Mental Development and Foods to Help This Process Cognitive development or intellectual development is the development of thought processes which includes remembering, problem-solving and decision making from childhood to adulthood. A child begins to learn actively from their surroundings from the day they are born. Several studies reveal that the timing of nutritional deficiencies can significantly affect brain development in children. A major part of cognitive development occurs during the growing years of childhood and hence the nutritional diet of children play an important role in it. The brain function, memory, and concentration in children can be improved by ensuring a nutritional diet. Children develop a natural preference for foods they enjoy the most. The challenge is to make healthy choices appealing to them. Here are 10 foods that can help boost children's brain power, memory, concentration and focus as sharp as it can be. Oily Fish t...

The Importance of Reading - Is Your Child Reading Enough? When was the last time your child read a book? With the advent of newer technologies and increased use of the internet, our reading habits have somewhat changed. The paradigm is swiftly shifting from reading physical books to online resources and e-books. That’s not to say there’s a decline of reading ethics, but somehow reading an old-fashioned paper book is to some extent losing its influence and appeal over digital reading. Personally, I prefer actual books to e-books however, we’re looking at the act of reading, so whatever form is used it will benefit your child. Regarded as one of the most basic skills that forms the core of a child's learning process, reading can never be under-estimated for success in education, for any career and in developing a good self-image. Here are the top 6 reasons describing why children should read. 1. Reading – An Important Tool For Academic Success Research has s...

Does India Really Like The UK? On a social media platform, I was asked to answer this question. The original question was actually worded, "Why Does India Not Like The UK?" Here is my written response: In what context are you asking?  Do you mean the people of UK, the climatic conditions, British Politics, education system, working in the UK, current economic standing, the dominance of the British Empire or what?? And when you say India, do you mean Indians in general or do you mean the Government of India? I will still attempt to answer this question. Having lived in India and being of Indian origin I feel India has a strong liking for the UK. I will explain why: 1. The role of the British Council. While in India, I had the opportunity of working with the British Council and its libraries as a school teacher, resource worker and as a parent and can confidently say that they do a fantastic job in enabling  Indians to connect with the UK .  British Council |...

How Difficult is the CELTA? The Certificate t English Language Teaching to Adults, otherwise abbreviated to the acronym CELTA is definitely a challenging course. As an experienced teacher I thought I already knew everything about the teaching of English but to my surprise, I was shocked as to how much I didn’t know! CELTA teaches you how to teach to ensure learners learn what they’re supposed to learn, i.e. the English Language. It also allows you to appreciate the learner as a unique being, to understand their background, culture, their personal circumstances and their motivations to learn English, which are all important factors to consider when teaching. In a nutshell, I would say the CELTA course is not difficult if you’re prepared to put in the hard work. You will need to be self-critical and improve on your weaknesses and believe me, these will be identified by your tutor. A word of advice: When you are carrying out your teaching practice (TP), don’t take offence of any...