How To Find The Best Foreign Language Courses?

• The facilities courses have: libraries, study room, computers and special learning language facilities.
  Remember that technical support of studying is very important as it can make process of language acquisition less laborious, but more enjoyable and can enhance results of your studying and speed up process of mastering language.
• The location of courses.
  It is clear that you are ready to overcome any obstacles on your way to language acquisition, but you can not but agree with me that it would be more suitable if courses were located somewhere not too far a way from your house or dormitory.
• The size of class.
  A class size of up to 10 students is small; 10-15 is average and over class which includes 15 students is large. Keep in mind one very significant point when choosing courses. The smaller group is better it is. It can be explained very easily if there are few people in class a teacher can approach to each student individually.
• The levels of abilities classes are divided into and way they are determined.
  It is important for you to be in class with students who have approximately same level of abilities as you do, because appropriate course of studying is sorted out according to level of language acquisition you acquire. Be sure to write a test which will determine level of your language acquisition and your abilities.
• The quantity of hours of classes per week.
  At least 15 hours per week are required for a student visa. It is also significant for a kind of program you'll choose. For instance, if you choose intensive course so quantity of hours of classes per week increases twice from quantity of hours required for standard course.
• The time of day classes are held.
  The prices for morning, afternoon and evening classes usually vary. So if time permits make use of opportunity to pay less for courses and to choose morning or afternoon groups, as fee for these classes is always lower.
• The nationality and age of your classmates.
  Remember that if proportion of foreign students is more than a half, it is more evidently that studying in such class will present some difficulties for you; hence it'll be better to refuse from such a proposal. The age is also important, because people of different ages perceive information in different ways, quicker or slower, so types of exercises and speed of studying will be different.
• The qualification and experience of teacher.
  It is not a secret for anyone that approximately 30 percents of academic success depends on teacher, so redouble your vigilance at very first test lesson in courses and make sure that manner of teaching and personality of teacher suit you. If you have any hesitations change to study under different teacher without any doubts.
• The nationality of teacher.
  Remember that it is better if teacher is a native speaker of language.
• The textbooks and teaching methods which are utilized.
  
  

Independence Day Teaching Tips

Independence Day is a good time to think about America, what it took to become a country, and freedoms we enjoy. (These ideas are easily adaptable to any country.) Here are a few suggestions:

1. Children may enjoy making a red, white, and blue shaker. Use red, white, and blue glitter to decorate two paper plates; let glue dry thoroughly. After mixing dried beans and uncooked macaroni, put a handful in one plate. Decorate further with two red, two white, and two blue streamers made of crepe-paper; each should be about 6" long. Put about an inch of them on plate with beans/macaroni mixture and staple other plate on top in 1" segments. These can be used on Flag Day, Fourth of July, or any time you want to shake with pride for USA! (If you live in a different country, use glitter and streamers in your country's colors and shake with pride for your heritage!) When you are finished with project, use activity for sequencing questions (ie: What did we do after this? What did we do before this?). Also ask critical thinking questions (ie: What would have happened if we hadn't stapled plates together?).

2. Let your children help you make a rectangular cake and frost it to look like flag. Ask children to predict if using red and blue food coloring will change taste of white food coloring. Were they right?!

3. Make a Fourth of July History Minibook using symbols of USA and customary celebrations...pictures of George Washington, American flag, Liberty Bell, bald eagle, Statue of Liberty, fireworks, and family picnics or barbecues, for starters. Below each picture, write a sentence or short paragraph indicating importance of each to America. Perhaps title page could have a picture of cake you made in tip number 2!