Visiting Beijing

Visiting Beijing How Can You Get Ready for a Trip to China? Our Guide to Visiting Beijing ChaptersWhen Should You Visit Beijing?How Much Does it Cost to Visit China?Where Should You Stay in Beijing?What Are the Different Districts in Beijing?“Adventure may hurt you but monotony will kill you.” - AnonymousWhether you want to visit the Great Wall of China, Buddhist Temples, the Forbidden City in Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China is a great place to start.In 2013, the capital was visited by 4.5 million tourists but this was a 10% decrease in 2012 as a result of overpopulation and the ensuing pollution.In 2017, however, Beijing welcomed over 12 million tourists just for the National Day. With this in mind, you should probably think about exactly when the best time is to visit China on holiday.In this article, we're going to have a look at when you should visit Beijing, the cost of visiting the Chinese capital, and where you should stay in the capital.You can use courses available on Superprof to learn Mandarin London. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £ 25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhen Should You Visit Beijing?When it comes to choosing holiday destinations, you should really consider when the climate is at its best, how many other tourists will be there, and the cost of travel and accommodation when you’re planning on going to Beijing.China can get surprisingly cold! (Source: zhu810529)Is your next planned trip to one of China’s biggest cities?Be aware that the climate in Beijing can be rather cold in winter and almost suffocating in summer. We also recommend that you go, if you can, when there are fewer tourists for a number of reasons:You can easily learn more about Imperial China and the history of the Chinese Communist Party when there are fewer tourists.You can visit Tiananmen Square, the temples (the Temple of Heaven, Lama temples, Tianning Temple and its pagoda, the Niujie Mosque, etc.), the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, and museums (National Museum of China, Museum of Chinese History, etc.) without wasting time in long queues.Flights from the UK are cheaper and you can travel with low-cost airlines.You can visit attractions off the beaten track.There are plenty of good reasons to visit Beijing in winter or spring.The only problem with winter is that the city is subjected to cold spells where temperatures can drop to -25 °C!  Unsurprisingly, there are very few tourists visiting the capital and its historic monuments in full winter gear.In summer, temperatures soar and it’s in credibly humid with average temperatures of 30.5 °C in June, 31.4 °C in July, and 30.3 °C in August (with some days being as hot as 40 °C!).  Additionally, there’s the pollution, even though the Chinese authorities like to downplay just how bad it is.So when should you visit Beijing?Autumn in the north of China is rather short, quite dry, fresh in the mornings, and mild during the day.  It’s a great time to visit Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xi’an, Chengdu, or Guilin.You could also go in the spring once the city’s thawed and the flowers are in bloom, it’s dry and warm with average temperatures between 20 °C and 25 °C in April and May.You probably want to avoid events such as the Chinese New Year and the National Day of the People's Republic of China:Chinese New Year: 24-31 January 2020, 11-18 February 2021.National Day of the People's Republic of China: 1-7 October.Qingming Festival: 4-7 April.Labour Day: 1-4 May.Dragon Boat Festival: 7-9 June 2019, 25-27 June 2020 .Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival): 13-15 September 2019.These types of events are subject to a massive influx of tourists and visitors.Find out more about the best time to visit Beijing.How Much Does it Cost to Visit China?Generally, things are cheaper in Beijing than they are in London. Whether you visit Hangzhou, Sichuan, Tibet, or the Chongqing, once you've paid to travel to China, you'll find that your money goes farther.Make sure you budget for your time in Beijing. (Source: moerschy)It will cost you around £36 per person per day for accommodation, £15 for food (in restaurants), £500 for flights, plus £200 for tickets on high-speed trains if you want to visit the south (Beijing-Xi’an, Xi’an-Shanghai, Shanghai-Guangzhou).  This means, for a fortnight in China, you could be spending around £1,500 per person.As you can see, China isn’t the cheapest country in Asia since it’s economic growth has led to inflation.So how much exactly does visiting Beijing cost?Let's s tart by having a look at flights on sights like Skyscanner, Momondo, etc. You can find return flights for as little as £300.  Don’t forget that accommodation in the very centre of Beijing is quite expensive.  In addition to the cost of flights and accommodation, you’ll need to allocate some of your budget to leisure activities (trips, bars, etc.), tourist activities, and food.The only thing that’s really cheap in Beijing is the food. The capital is effectively an open-air restaurant! There are plenty of street vendors, food courts, and night markets where you can find cheap food at any time of day.  The Jiumen Xiaochi and Guije Street Night Market are great examples.In terms of visiting monuments, you can spend between £20 and £50 per visit.  While you can find cheap flights, places to eat, places to stay, etc., these all add up to quite the amount.To find cheap trips and stretch your budget, you could have a look at Doyoogo, a price comparison site for activities, and see the Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, or Temple of Heaven at a good price.Find out more about budgeting for Beijing.Where Should You Stay in Beijing?21.54 million people live in Beijing permanently. Due to overpopulation, housing is incredibly expensive and so is accommodation.There's plenty of accommodation in Beijing. (Source: ken19991210)If you want to stay in Beijing, here’s our advice...Firstly, there's accommodation. If you’re on a modest budget, you’ll want to stay off the beaten path, outside the city centre, expect less comfort, and stay in a private room or in a youth hostel dormitory.  You can find private rooms in a local’s house but these can go for exorbitant prices (between £50- £100 a night for two people).Hotels are more affordable, depending on the comfort, of course. You can pay between £20 and £30 per night for two people but you won’t have the intimacy you’ll get from a private rent with its own kitchen and living room.Have a look at the follow ing sites if you want somewhere to stay:AirbnbHomeAwayBookingHome to GoStaying in the historic centre, near the Old Summer Palace, Imperial City, and museums will allow you to discover more about the history of the city and China itself but this does mean you can expect to pay between £30 and £100 per night.You could always stay in Beijing’s Central Business District (the CBD), stretching east to west from Dawanglu to Dongdaqiao and from Chaoyang to Tonghuihe north to south.Are you looking for picturesque sites?Consider staying in traditional Chinese houses, hutongs, to really see how people lived in ancient China.Find out more about accommodation in Beijing.What Are the Different Districts in Beijing?Out of Beijing’s many neighbourhoods, we’ve chosen four in particular: The Shichahai, Dongcheng, Chaoyang, Haidian Districts.Which district will you opt to stay in? (Source: 7645255)Here are some Mandarin courses London you can take.Even though these are just four districts, th ey cover several thousand km2 and are home to 7 million people.  Shichahai includes the historic centre, where you can find many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Jingâ€"Hang Grand Canal, the Forbidden City, the Palace Museum, Tiananmen Square, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, the National Museum of China, and three lakes:Qianhai LakeHouhai LakeXihai LakeThis is a popular district with plenty of places to relax in summer or ice skate in winter.  There are plenty of hutongs and lots of bars and places to visit in the small streets. This is where you’ll find the city’s most beautiful sights.Would you like to visit the Temple of Heaven, Temple of Confucius, and stay a stone’s throw from the Forbidden City?Set your sights on Dongcheng, which is next to many museums, including the National Museum of China.Around Wangfujing Street, you can find the home of shopping in Beijing. This pedestrianised area is great for those travelling with their family or people just wanting a greener holida y.There are also districts further out that will offer you a great base for visiting China, especially if you’re considering spending a long time there and learning Mandarin, for example.Chaoyang and Haidian are effectively their own cities that have been engulfed by Beijing. They are popular amongst the wealthy and western students and expats since they have modern housing and infrastructure.Before you go, consider getting help from a Chinese language tutor on Superprof. They can help you learn at your own pace with bespoke lessons covering how to read the language, say some essential phrases, and get around Beijing without too many problems.So are you ready to book your flights and head to China?

The Good Persons Guide to Office Politics - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / The Good Person’s Guide to Office Politics - Introvert Whisperer The Good Person’s Guide to Office Politics Like a lot of people, I used to think Office Politics was only about people who played dirty with each other. They were people who would smile and be friendly while figuring out how to undermine your efforts and make you look bad. The rest of humanity did their best to stay under the radar while the mud-slinging was taking place. With all of the nuclear fallout, it’s often difficult to not be impacted in some way. I discovered that, like many things in our society, we tend to notice the most outrageous, obnoxious examples of something and ignore the rest. Is It Possible That Office Politics Is Not Always Bad? In a word: YES! It’s important to understand that “politics,” no matter if it’s office politics, exists all the time whenever you assemble a group of people. I’m sure that’s a shocking revelation. Let’s look at what Politics is, why it’s important to understand and how you can play it well without turning into a person people avoid. I think you’ll change your opinion of it. In its simplest form, office politics is about building relationships in order to achieve some kind of end result. It’s how things get done and it’s done 100% of the time on all jobs. Our jobs are always dependent on our interactions with others. Also, when I say “jobs” or work, it doesn’t have to mean paid work, either. If you belong to a neighborhood association, parent-teacher organization or volunteer, all of those things have no income but there is still politics going on. Any time you get a group of people together, a dynamic soon forms. Generally, it starts with a person seeking to influence others to do something. That isn’t a bad thing most of the time. People need to sell others on their ideas most of the time in order to get them to give their resources. Those resources can include money, time and skills. In the workplace, we influence people to support and take action on everything from helping with a project to promotions. In other words, Office Politics is a constant. Once you start paying attention, most of the time Office Politics is taking place and when it is positive we either don’t notice it or call it something nice like “group harmony.” What Makes This Important to You? Office Politics happens all the time and it happens as a result of the relationships each person forms. Some people think that all they should have to do is show up, do their work and go home. They think they shouldn’t have to befriend people at work. Those people are the ones who are most damaged by office politics, because no one at work is there to support them and that is a huge problem. You can’t function like that. No one is autonomous, ever. You have to think of yourself like a cog in a watch, each cog interconnecting with others in harmony to make the watch tell time. If you aren’t “meshing” with others, you create problems for them and you. Sooner or later, you will feel like you’re working in a hostile work environment. It’s almost a primitive reaction that when a person doesn’t fit in a group, the group wants the outlier to either integrate or leave. It may seem like people are then playing dirty office politics with you as the brunt of what is transpiring. When I say you put your career at peril is because the situation I’m painting means that you not only won’t get vital support and information to perform your job well but people can openly want you gone. Clearly, none of that inspires a desire to promote you, no matter how skilled you are. It’s all connected, it won’t be fun and your career will crater. What Do You Do? Easy-peasy. You form good working relationships with people around you at work. This includes the boss and other people in management. Many people are too intimidated by management to feel like they can form a relationship with them. If this is you, you need to snap out of it. Management didn’t instantly show up as management. They are regular people like you who simply have a different job as you. They most likely had to put in the time and demonstrate some capability so they would get promoted. To be “awe-struck” by management does nothing for you, your career or the other person. The reason why forming good work relationships is easy is that you come in contact with a number of people routinely to get your work done. You may be so focused on your work that you ignore the few extra minutes it takes to connect at a personal level. If you’re like a lot of introverts, getting personal may have its challenges. The easiest way to start developing a relationship with a coworker is to show interest in them by asking questions. Start with the work they do and progress to interests they have outside of work. A vital part thing of getting to know the other person is to learn what is important to them professionally. (Like this thought? Tweet it!) Build Trust When you can understand where a person’s priorities are, you’re better able to support them. When you offer support to another person, it can be a gesture that will solidify your relationship and trust in you. Trust is a funny thing. For the most part, we trust each other but only up to a point. From there, our actions dictate if we endow the relationship with more or less trust. When our actions demonstrate that we have the other person’s interest in mind, the level of trust goes up. On that basis, the Office Politics is formed. We support and promote people we trust. People we trust are positioned to influence our decisions and actions. When we don’t penetrate the superficial nature of simply working at someone’s side, we don’t allow trust and understanding to form. You have to dig deeper and then show the other person you understand what’s important to them. Positive vs. Negative or Dirty Everything I’ve outlined is true no matter if the politics is positive or negative. What makes Office Politics negative is when actions and decisions are made at other’s expense. Positive Office Politics happens when it is done for the benefit of the business and in support of others. This means that even if some people are building trust and support of one another, the influence that is transpiring may be to advance one person’s objectives while destroying another person’s in the process. It doesn’t have to end up this way, but people who are jealous or competitive only see one possible outcome and that is to push back others as a means of advancing. I personally like to think that people who act like this will have karma visited upon them. I hope by this point you have discovered what I did: Office Politics is all around us and you can either play it well or be crushed by it. The fun thing to recognize is that it’s all about the relationships you form, and who doesn’t need another person in their corner? Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer What’s your understanding of Office Politics? Let’s discuss in the comments. Image: Flickr

Summer Fun Through Academic Tutoring Service - Private Tutoring

Summer Fun Through Academic Tutoring Service BobbiM Jun 12, 2013 Academic credentials can be a key differentiator for your child and could shape his or her future. You can certainly find an academic tutoring service that your children can attend in the Summer. But, that need certainly hinges on the key question: How can kids keep up on academics during the Summer? Summer time is what most school kids wait for since the first day of school. On the last day of school the bell rings and all the kids run out the door never to think of school again until it starts again three months later. But you, as parents, dont want your children to forget everything theyve learned or fall back during the summer months. So what do you do to keep them in check with schooling but still allowing them to have fun? Here are some suggestions: 1. Have them practice a couple of times a week. You decide how often, but there are plenty of websites you can print work sheets off. Even just asking your children, What was you favorite thing you learned? will help them retain the information. 2. Have your children teach others. If you ask your children to help others learn, it will make the work seem less daunting. They will most likely feel honored or proud of themselves because they were chosen for the task. Quite the sneaky way to help them remember what theyve learned! Whether you sign them up to be a tutor, ask them to teach a younger sibling, or teach the kid down the street, it will be an effective way to help them stay in check. 3. Help them retain information bu making it fun, keeping a balance. You can make them play games using skills theyve learned. Give incentives for after theyve done a worksheet, do a fun activity where they have to do their own independent thinking and solve problems. Your children will thank you for a fun time when really theyve been learning too! Then when school starts again, the transition wont be so hard.

Top 5 tips for your first interview in English

Top 5 tips for your first interview in English The thought of your first interview in English is daunting.   You might be worried about it even though you feel confident about speaking the language in other, less formal situations.   Don’t worry. We are here to help. Here are some ways to prepare for interviews in English.   With a little work and common sense you will exceed your own expectations and impress your interviewer.1. Prepare set vocabularyIt’s a good idea to develop a strong vocabulary in relation to industry in which you work before the actual interview. This shows genuine interest in what you do as well as a desire to progress. For example, for somebody working in the fashion industry some good words and terms to incorporate into the interview are:Fashionable Fashion bible Fashion conscious Trend Trendsetter Textile industry Informal sector Cover story Runway shows Industry networks2. Prepare vocabulary rather than blocks of textWhile learning vocabulary is a great way to strengthen your interview performance, l earning blocks of text on past experiences and future expectations to repeat during an interview is not such a great idea. This is the case for two reasons.You might forget what you have prepared. This could make you more nervous and even cause you to freeze during the interview.What you have prepared might not be relevant to what you are asked. You might give an answer that is off-topic, something which could lead the interviewer to think you did not understand the question.3. Know your future conditional tenseThe future conditional tense is an important one for interviews because it is used to express expectations and goals.For example:If I get this job I would work well both independently and as part of a team.If I had a tight budget I would cut manufacturing costs.Review this tense and practice it in relation to possible interview questions beforehand. Here are some examples:What would be the first goal you hope to achieve should you get this job? How would you see your future w ithin the company in the long term should you be the successful applicant? If you won the lottery tomorrow, how would this affect your career plans?4. Use the appropriate tenses.When the interviewer asks you about your current position, answer in the present tense:I am working at… My current position involves… I have been working there for 4 years…When the interviewer asks you about your past positions answer in the past tense:I worked at… My former role involved… I had been working there for 4 years…5. Keep answers short and to the point.There is a saying in English: Keep it short and sweet and nowhere is this more the case than in the interview situation. It is likely that questions during the interview will be direct and precise and your answers should be the same. Don’t over complicate things. Talking too much is called rambling in English and this should be avoided in interviews.You only have 10-15 minutes to impress so make the most of the short time you have. V ictoria Pérez Is a Web camera necessary? admin A camera is not necessary, but you do need a microphone.

SAT Score I Wanted

Ask A Nerd! I Didnt Get The ACT/SAT Score I Wanted Ask a Nerd! Question: How do I tell my parents that I didnt get the SAT or ACT scores that I was expecting??? Brief: Although its difficult to talk with mom and dad about scores, its important to let them know promptly what your score was so that you, as a family, can create a plan of action. Answer Students who took the SAT or ACT in December should either have already gotten their scores or will be getting them very shortly. This is certainly a difficult time of year to present bad news to mom and dad as most of us are ringing in the New Year. However, it is important to keep parents informed of how your educational process is going so that you can, together, find a solution didnt do so well? Our Orange County private SAT tutors are here to help. 1. Talk to mom and dad about your improvement For example, if you set a goal of receiving an 1800 on your SAT but only scored a 1700, but on your original practice test from three months ago you scored a 1600, remember to tell mom and dad that you had a 100 point improvement. This shows that, although you didnt reach your goal, that you can improve and that it would be a good idea to take the test again in a couple of months. 2. Call for help In this case I mean literally. Students who have not yet hired an educational consultant should do so soon. Most students who have a college prep tutor will have the chance to improve their SAT or ACT score significantly. If you havent yet hired a private tutor, now is the time to do so (READ: ACT Tips From a Private Irvine Tutor). 3. Tell mom and dad that you learned a lot from taking this test Although you invested time and your parents invested money, its important to look at the positive side of a less than perfect score. For instance, perhaps you scored well on your ACT reading, English, and math sections but, for some reason, the science section completely eluded you. If this is the case then you have identified the problem, which is half the battle. Show your parents what your potential new score could be if you were able to bring up that lower score to the same number as your higher scores. You may find that both you and your parents have good news to look forward to in the future as long as you put in the hard work and self-study required to reach that goal (READ: Ask a Nerd! Taking the AP Exam). 4. Let mom and dad know that you see this as a wake-up call If your parents have been talking to you about the importance of study and making the SAT or ACT a priority, but you have not spent too much time on it, your current score can serve as a viable wake-up call. Remember, you only need to send your highest ACT composite score or your SAT super score when you apply to university. As long as you are able to bring up your scores in time to apply to college next year, there is still optimism and hope. 5. Talk with mom and dad about how you feel Its important to let your parents know if youre feeling overwhelmed, overly stressed, or if some of the academics are getting to be too much. Many students find that a private tutor can help them not only with the academics but also with the stress and anxiety of taking these important tests. 6. Research for your future If you havent already done so its also important for you and your parents to do some research on what schools you might apply to. For example, if you absolutely have to get a 2000 composite SAT score in order to attend the top university of your dreams, then college prep will now be your first priority from now until you reach that score. However, if you got a 1700 and find that you need a 1790 to get into the college of your choice, youll probably only need to take the test one more time after tutoring and self-study. Sometimes disappointing scores have a silver lining because we have the opportunity to learn from them and decide what course of action is best for our college preparation future. Have a question for one of our nerds? Tweet it to us @TutorNerds. Give yourself the TutorNerds advantage by checking back often for the latest in our “Ask a Nerd” series. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about.

Aspiring Architect Reminds Himself To Never Give Up

Aspiring Architect Reminds Himself To Never Give Up Aspiring Architect Reminds Himself To Never Give Up Rodean, 11-years-old, Math Level M, Reading Level III 11-year-old Rodean loves the game of basketball and looks to his favorite professional player for inspiration. Kyrie Irving, point guard for the Boston Celtics, set a precedent early in his career. Performance analysists often praise Irving for his exceptional ball handling skills and quick cross overs â€" proving he has a high level of focus in every game. It’s not just Irving’s superior athleticism he’s known for, it’s his commitment through any challenge. Irving’s current and former teammates say he is a leader, whether he’s in practice or playing in the NBA Finals â€" raising the morale of the team even through defeats. Looking up to his role model, Rodean is always determined to never give up, especially during challenging moments. During one of Rodean’s basketball games, his teammates wanted to give up when they were on the brink of a loss, but Rodean was not going to let his team down. “During this tough game, I noticed my teammates were on the verge of giving up,” said Rodean. “It was that very moment when I remembered what I was taught in Kumon â€" to never give up. I knew I couldn’t give up during this moment. I motivated my team and they followed suit, leading us to victory.” Rodean began his Kumon journey when he was only 7-years-old and has since transformed into a strong-willed student that can take on any challenge. Already studying above grade level, he has an academic edge over his peers. In the Kumon Math Program, he is further developing his algebraic skills working on the Pythagorean Theorem and multiplication of polynomials. Thanks to the Kumon Reading Program, he is reading more advanced novels and has strong comprehension skills. Rodean has analyzed high school-level literature such as Ray Bradbury’s notable dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451 and Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. Whether he’s solving a challenging quadratic equation or working on his layups in basketball â€" he is determined to always work through it. He often recalls his Kumon Instructor Virgil Raban  and his parents encouraging him saying, “never give up!” When Rodean is not dribbling up and down the court, he enjoys swimming, playing baseball, and skiing. As a budding musician, Rodean is disciplined in his practice, currently preparing the level 4 piano curriculum through the Royal Conservatory of Music. The Royal Conservatory of Music sets a national standard for young musicians, putting them on the path for musical excellence. The curriculums for each level include a range of advancing repertoire, techniques, musicianship, and music literacy â€" elements considered to lay down a successful foundation in musicians. Rodean’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as he was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Rodean about his Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has helped me academically because I am now ahead of my peers in school. I have become an independent learner, which helps me get through my school work more efficiently. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Amazing. What do you enjoy most about Kumon? I love that I am always learning something new in Kumon. What keeps you motivated in Kumon? My Kumon Instructor and parents always continue to motivate me, and I use that as a constant reminder to myself if I want to give up. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? Attending the Student Conference meant a lot to me. My hard work has paid off and I now see the success! What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? My advice for other Kumon Students is to not give up just as I did. You will have challenging moments, but it will help you grow and lead you to having a successful future. Rodean’s academic ability and unwavering determination will aide him in his future aspiration of becoming an architect. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: This Young Kumon Reading Program Completer is an Aspiring Computer Engineer This Aspiring Diplomat Learned to Never Give Up Motivated by his Peers, this Kumon Student Wants to be an Architect and a Doctor Determination And The Will To Never Give Up Has Helped This Guitar Player Achieve Greatness Aspiring Architect Reminds Himself To Never Give Up Aspiring Architect Reminds Himself To Never Give Up Rodean, 11-years-old, Math Level M, Reading Level III 11-year-old Rodean loves the game of basketball and looks to his favorite professional player for inspiration. Kyrie Irving, point guard for the Boston Celtics, set a precedent early in his career. Performance analysists often praise Irving for his exceptional ball handling skills and quick cross overs â€" proving he has a high level of focus in every game. It’s not just Irving’s superior athleticism he’s known for, it’s his commitment through any challenge. Irving’s current and former teammates say he is a leader, whether he’s in practice or playing in the NBA Finals â€" raising the morale of the team even through defeats. Looking up to his role model, Rodean is always determined to never give up, especially during challenging moments. During one of Rodean’s basketball games, his teammates wanted to give up when they were on the brink of a loss, but Rodean was not going to let his team down. “During this tough game, I noticed my teammates were on the verge of giving up,” said Rodean. “It was that very moment when I remembered what I was taught in Kumon â€" to never give up. I knew I couldn’t give up during this moment. I motivated my team and they followed suit, leading us to victory.” Rodean began his Kumon journey when he was only 7-years-old and has since transformed into a strong-willed student that can take on any challenge. Already studying above grade level, he has an academic edge over his peers. In the Kumon Math Program, he is further developing his algebraic skills working on the Pythagorean Theorem and multiplication of polynomials. Thanks to the Kumon Reading Program, he is reading more advanced novels and has strong comprehension skills. Rodean has analyzed high school-level literature such as Ray Bradbury’s notable dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451 and Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. Whether he’s solving a challenging quadratic equation or working on his layups in basketball â€" he is determined to always work through it. He often recalls his Kumon Instructor Virgil Raban  and his parents encouraging him saying, “never give up!” When Rodean is not dribbling up and down the court, he enjoys swimming, playing baseball, and skiing. As a budding musician, Rodean is disciplined in his practice, currently preparing the level 4 piano curriculum through the Royal Conservatory of Music. The Royal Conservatory of Music sets a national standard for young musicians, putting them on the path for musical excellence. The curriculums for each level include a range of advancing repertoire, techniques, musicianship, and music literacy â€" elements considered to lay down a successful foundation in musicians. Rodean’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as he was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Rodean about his Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has helped me academically because I am now ahead of my peers in school. I have become an independent learner, which helps me get through my school work more efficiently. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Amazing. What do you enjoy most about Kumon? I love that I am always learning something new in Kumon. What keeps you motivated in Kumon? My Kumon Instructor and parents always continue to motivate me, and I use that as a constant reminder to myself if I want to give up. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? Attending the Student Conference meant a lot to me. My hard work has paid off and I now see the success! What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? My advice for other Kumon Students is to not give up just as I did. You will have challenging moments, but it will help you grow and lead you to having a successful future. Rodean’s academic ability and unwavering determination will aide him in his future aspiration of becoming an architect. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: This Young Kumon Reading Program Completer is an Aspiring Computer Engineer This Aspiring Diplomat Learned to Never Give Up Motivated by his Peers, this Kumon Student Wants to be an Architect and a Doctor Determination And The Will To Never Give Up Has Helped This Guitar Player Achieve Greatness

Teaching and tutoring - A look at the differences

Teaching and tutoring - A look at the differences Have you ever wondered what the difference is between teaching and tutoring? You may have not given it much thought but there are fundamental distinctions between a teacher and a tutor. Teachers providing services in schools must have specified professional qualifications, however, private tutors are not required by law to have qualifications in the subjects they teach. It's also true that many teachers supplement their day time job with private tuition so they are both teachers and tutors. Let us take a look at the main differences between teachers and tutors. Teachers Teachers provide tuition to a large number of students, they are required to follow a standardized curriculum focused on specific academic standards. Their classroom should reach targets and this is done within a time limit. A teacher must try and devise a method of teaching that fits most students. Teachers will have to provide learning material that helps children with many different learning styles. Teachers will adjust the pace to the classroom as a whole, if the majority of students have understood the information the teacher can move ahead. Tutors Tutors provide individual one to one tuition. They can tailor the lessons to the students' learning style. Tutors can present information in several different ways or methods to help the student grasp concepts. Students often lead the way with tutors, they request help with specific tasks or assignments. Tutors help fill in the gaps. Tutors reinforce what has been taught in the classroom. Teachers teach a subject but tutors pay attention to the students individual needs. Tutors can help students with study skills and techniques. If one method does not work they will find another. A qualified teacher who perhaps charges a high hourly rate when providing one to one private tuition does not necessarily define the quality of lessons. Not all qualified teachers are naturally good tutors. The classroom environment is very different to home tuition. Tutors with few or no qualifications that have a passion for the subject they teach - with time and experience can become excellent tutors. In an ideal world, teachers and tutors should complement each other. If you are looking for a tutor to supplement your child's education we can certainly help. Take your time to browse tutor profiles, check out their feedback and feel free to contact as many tutors as you wish to discuss your child's needs.