In today’s competitive world, some tiger moms are going to great lengths to ensure their children’s success. Even for kids as young as four years old, these dedicated moms are meticulously curating items to create the perfect study space. While I can’t call myself a full-fledged tiger mom, I do encourage my daughter to learn things outside of school and provide her with every tool she needs. But at the same time, I’m trying really hard to not snuff out the simple joys of her childhood with books and study sessions. There’s plenty of time for that later on in life…

In my 4-year-old’s class, the latest discussion amongst the moms is how they’re setting up the study areas for the kids. Did I mention that they’re 4 years old and still in kindergarten?

I didn’t have homework in kindergarten, and when I finally got it in elementary school, my “study area” was my dad’s desk or the kitchen table. I didn’t have an area dedicated just to studying with tools that were designed to maximize my efficiency. When I finally got a designated studying desk (which we called computer desks back in my day because this was back during the time of desktop computers), it was a simple IKEA desk that I spent an afternoon building and painting myself. But the tiger moms in my kid’s class are all about sharing what they’ve created, and let me tell you, some of these are impressive!

Note: We’re not promoting any of these items being sold. They’re just used to give you an example of what a typical product in this category looks like.

There are no cute motivational posters, favorite toys, or kids’ artwork on display here. Oh no, it’s all about a clean minimalistic setup with ergonomic chairs and gigantic lights that flex about how they create no shadows on papers when kids write.  Now I know it sounds like I’m mocking setting up a super functional study area for kids, but I’m not. In fact, I think these gadgets are all super cool and have already put them in my online shopping cart to be purchased at a later date when, you know, they start having actual homework from school.

These desks are now equipped with tops that lift up, book/iPad holders so they can read/watch without bending their necks, ergonomic chairs that will lock them in place so they can’t leave (this part’s actually included in the ad for this study set up), a stopper thing that prevents them from bending too far down on their desk, a pull-out chair that also doubles as a bookshelf for the tiger mom to comfortably sit while supervising their cub’s studies, and a shelf to put your CCTV camera that’ll give you the perfect angle to see what your kid is doing while you’re not physically next to them. Seriously, they’ve thought of everything!

Then there’s the matter of what lights to get. If you thought a desk lamp or one already on the ceiling of your home would suffice, you’re sadly wrong in the eyes of the tigers. You need a professional study light that doesn’t hurt your child’s eyes and won’t make them sleepy.

And as you can see, these things are gigantic! But they do deliver on their promise and will light up a study area like the midday sun.

Then there are the smaller gadgets like the book ends, timers, and countless organizers that will start popping up on your Taobao feed once you start searching for a few kids’ study area items.

Tiger moms believe that by providing such an environment, they are giving their children a head start in life. They understand the importance of early education like no one else and are determined to do everything in their power to set their kids on the path to academic excellence. While some may question the intensity of this approach, there’s no denying the love and dedication behind these efforts to build the perfect study space for the youngest learners.

So what are your thoughts on the study area setup? Is it too over the top or just right?

Images: Taobao

It’s no secret that when it comes to a universal language, the closest thing we have is English. So it’s also no wonder that millions of people born in non-English speaking countries dedicate thousands of hours to studying it. However, analyzing books and grammar is not the only way to learn a language. In fact, I would argue that it’s one of the worst ways to do so.

Forget this!

Throughout my years of studying languages, I have learned that the absolute best way to master any language is through experience rather than traditional study methods. Forget about textbooks and taking notes. Rather, get outside and talk to someone who speaks English fluently. If that’s still a bit too daunting, try eavesdropping on some conversations (we promise it’s not as sketchy as it sounds) or watch TV shows that aren’t dubbed in your native language. There are plenty more ways that you can be creative in your learning, and here are a few suggestions:

Consuming English media

In a country as large as China, most of the media that teens consume such as music, videogames, and TV shows are readily available in Chinese. However, a dependence on local media can also slow down the process of language acquisition. Coming from a relatively small state in the Balkans, most of my friends and I had no choice but to rely on English media given the dearth of Macedonian music and TV. This, along with courses we were taking at school, helped speed up the process of language learning and made us more fluent English speakers in the process. Who knew watching TV and listening to music could be so beneficial to our future?

Converse in English

With the number of English speakers increasing by the day, there is no excuse for not partaking in, or at least trying to understand, English conversations. While it may seem strange at first to people who did not grow up speaking the language, conversing in English is a surefire way to learn it faster, and integrate it into your native vocabulary. At home, my friends and I spent so much time talking to each other in English that by the time we had finished elementary school we had our own language, a hybrid between our native Macedonian and popular US slang.

Keep trying

Arguably the most important part of the entire process – trying to understand what you encounter – is the entire point of this learning method. Learning any language is going to be tricky at first, however, only by forcing ourselves to keep going can we truly become fluent speakers. The next time you see a sign in English or hear a news broadcast from an English-language media outlet, or even visit an English speaking country, try to comprehend what is going on around you. Even with the lowest level of language comprehension, you might discover something you didn’t know before. Likewise, even if you make mistakes don’t be afraid to go back and examine them. After all, correcting mistakes is the lifeblood of the learning process.

As someone who has spent countless hours studying multiple languages in different ways, I can confidently say that the only way to truly learn any language is by living as though that language was your mother tongue. So the next time you think about studying English, try putting away your notebooks and textbooks and try acting like you live outside of China. I can guarantee that it will not only make you a better learner but also clear your head and give you a fresh view of the language you are learning.

Do you have any tips or tricks for learning a language? Share them with us in the comments!

KEEP READING: Mind Your (Text) Language: Texting and Teen Literacy

Images: Unsplash

At some point in our youth, most of us wondered how great it would be if we never had to go to school again. Extended holidays? Wearing PJs and eating snacks all day? It sounded like the perfect life, but now that kids are actually faced with the reality of being home, is it really as great as we had imagined?

We chatted with three students from AISB School – Hope International to get their thoughts on whether they actually enjoy spending all this time at home, what they’re looking forward to most when they return to school, and their eye-opening realizations that arose from this whole experience.

Meet Ben S. A Grade 3 student from Indonesia.

Do you miss going to school or are you enjoying e-learning at home more?
I like e-learning better than regular school because I can wake up an hour later than normal school days. I can study at my own pace, and I can have a break time whenever I feel tired.

What’s your favorite e-learning class? Why?
I like art class the most because I can do free drawing before I finish my project, while at school we must finish our project first before we can do free drawing.

What do you miss the most about your school?
PE class & recess time.

What are you looking forward to doing the most when school resumes?
Sports’ Day!

Has this e-learning experience taught you anything unexpected either about your teachers, peers, or parents?
I feel sorry for my homeroom teacher because she has to look at her laptop all the time. There are 20 students in our class, and she needs to check each student’s work. She is also pregnant now. It must be hard for her to work and take care of herself.

Do you feel spending this much time at home with your parents has taught you anything you didn’t previously know about them? If so, what?
The best thing is I can spend more time with my grandma from my dad’s side. We usually stay longer in my mom’s hometown and only three or four days in my dad’s hometown. So, I’m not too close with my grandma from my dad’s side. This time, we can spend almost two weeks together with her. We traveled to other cities and watched movies together in the cinema. I just knew that she used to enjoy watching movies with her mother when she was young.

Meet Helen O., a Grade 12 student from Korea.

Do you miss going to school or are you enjoying e-learning at home more?
I am actually really enjoying my e-learning at home. I am a person who focuses better at night than morning. Since I can schedule my day with an e-learning program, I feel like I am doing my work more efficiently compared to my normal school days. Moreover, it gives me more time to do my hobbies and time to spend with my family. Except for the fact that I don’t get to see my friends, I am very content with my e-learning.

What’s your favorite e-learning class? Why?
My favorite e-learning class is AP Macroeconomics. I feel like it is a subject that fits more with the e-learning than the real class. Every day, my teacher uploads the lecture videos, and it is really helpful for me that I can always go back to the video and watch it again when I don’t get the concept. I can also control the speed of the video, so when I take notes, I can make the video slower so that I don’t miss his words.

What do you miss the most about your school?
One thing that I miss the most about my school is my friends. I miss my friends so much. This is my last year and last semester of high school, and I can’t believe that I don’t get to see my friends until the Coronavirus is gone. I had so many plans to do as a senior with my friends, but so far, I haven’t got to do any of them. I hope we all can go back to our normal school life soon.

What are you looking forward to doing the most when school resumes?
I have been staying at home for more than two weeks. If the school resumes, I want to eat my lunch outside under the sun. Then I want to make some good memories with my teachers and friends. China is not our home country so once we graduate from this school, we will be all over the world, and it will be very difficult for us to meet again. This is why I want to make good memories and enjoy my last semester of high school with them.

Has this e-learning experience taught you anything unexpected either about your teachers, peers, or parents?
It is kind of childish thinking, but I always thought that teachers are good at everything. However, after we started our e-learning, I realized that teachers also have things that are new to them. Our school hasn’t done any e-learning program before, so teachers had to learn how to do things online with the students. It is an obvious thing, but I did not expect that.

Do you feel spending this much time at home with your parents has taught you anything you didn’t previously know about them? If so, what?
I realized something new about my parents. Currently, I am staying in Korea, and here in my temporary house, there was no desk or chair. Usually, my parents don’t really care about my school work, so in the first week of e-learning, I had to study on the couch or on the dining table. I felt very uncomfortable studying on the couch, so I was going to go to a café or library from the next week. However, suddenly my parents bought me a new desk, chair, and a fancy desk lamp for me to use during the e-learning period. I was very surprised because I thought they don’t care about me and my school, but as I spend more time with them at home, I realized that they care a lot about my school work.

Meet Deborah I., a K5 student from Nigeria

Do you miss going to school or are you enjoying e-learning at home more?
I miss going to school.

What’s your favorite e-learning class? Why?
Art and PE. I like art because it gives me more time to paint. I like PE because I can have fun playing games.

What do you miss the most about your school?
I miss my teacher and especially the high-fives from her. I also miss my classmates. I miss my recess time to play outside.

What are you looking forward to doing the most when school resumes?
I look forward to hugging my teacher after every recess.

Has this e-learning experience taught you anything unexpected either about your teachers, peers, or parents?
You don’t know what would happen in the future. You can be preparing a gift for your friends and suddenly the virus came and you can’t go out to visit your friend.

Do you feel spending this much time at home with your parents has taught you anything you didn’t previously know about them? If so, what?
Yes. I didn’t know how to cook dumplings and I learned that it is simply by putting them in boiling water for a few minutes.

Photos: Courtesy of AISB School – Hope International, Unsplash

Technology is changing our world at an astonishing speed, and this is especially true in education. As learning methods continue to evolve and develop, the role of technology in education has increased. Ways of collaboration, being creative, and communication between students have been made more convenient due to the accessibility of these technologies. With the emergence of increasingly popular online spaces, students, peers, and teachers can connect and interact seamlessly. But, with phones, laptops, and social media taking the world by storm, should we be concerned about the control these tools have over us and how this will continue to affect us in the future?

The expediency of technology has benefited educators and students around the world alike; however, it has its drawbacks. Technology can harm us immensely, even if we do keep it in check. A commonly known threat presented by technology is its ability to distract you; particularly from schoolwork. Personally, I am guilty of getting sidetracked. When doing homework, videos are often assigned like TedTalks and Crash Course. The sidebars on these video streaming sites often have many other intriguing videos that I inevitably end up browsing, and I’m probably not alone in admitting that I’ve clicked and wasted a fair amount of time on these videos when I should be doing my homework.

I think it’s essential to advocate for self-directed learning when using technology. Homework is commonly assigned with the usage of the internet, and it is not optional. Most importantly, your learning abilities depend on your ability to stay focused. Self-control is a skill everyone should practice.

Technology has also made it so easy for people to do two things at once, but no matter how much I endeavor to be a multitasker; it’s never the best decision. Sometimes I wish I could be sitting in a local Beijing school without these distractions, holding a paper and pencil listening to the teacher. It would be a lot easier to focus when you don’t have any screens demanding your attention.

What do students and teachers from international schools in Beijing think of technology use in the classroom? To understand this topic more, I solicited the insight of educators and students from the International School of Beijing (ISB), Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), and Dulwich College Beijing (DCB).

Year 10 DCB student, Kate Y introduces her view on technology use at school by saying; “my relatively lightweight laptop is capable of holding vast amounts of data and information that can be accessed easily. However, on the flip side, technology can also be a distraction to students as opposed to being a learning tool. It may be difficult for teachers to monitor their students so closely in class to determine whether they are utilizing educational apps on their tablets or browsing Instagram.”

ISB teacher John Miller believes technology dramatically enhances students’ abilities to demonstrate knowledge in a variety of ways, but says educators need to recognize the drawbacks it brings to the users. He explains; “We all become dependent on our handheld devices and can get easily distracted by social media and the increasing use of technology has made it harder and harder for students to read pages of text. This is a necessary element of learning and producing new knowledge.”

Ashley Z, a student from ISB, finds technology to be beneficial; however, it can also hinder self-directed learning. “Students need to control themselves with their use of technology, because some students may be overly obsessed with social media and can use them for hours and hours, without getting any actual schoolwork or other academic work done,” she shared.

Technology has helped build our learning and allowed us to expand upon many things that we cover in class with ease. We live in a digitally engaged world. Technology is becoming a life skill; with a little more than half the population using it on a daily basis, we tend to avoid collaborating with people who don’t use it. Long story short, it isn’t an option.

It is clear that academic life would be quite different without technology. For me, researching would become quite challenging if I didn’t have constant access to fast Wi-Fi. Most educators in Beijing’s international schools support the use of technology. Its convenience gives students the ability to acquire new information faster than ever before. Teachers find convenience by educating students through interactive simulations. Of course, some of this could also be done with a paper, pencil, and a few books, but the accessibility, speed, and diversity of information and learning tools is hard to ignore.

Emmi T, a student from WAB, believes that the use of technology is beneficial to education through various online learning tools. “I think that using technology can help us easily communicate with teachers, access homework or other information, and I also make full use of helpful academic websites, such as Khan Academy, IXL, or No Red Ink.”

A teacher from an international school in Beijing who asked to remain anonymous shared her insights on teaching in a technologically active school environment. “Sometimes, their attention isn’t 100% focused on the lesson, and I feel in the long run this has a negative effect on the retention of information studied. There is also pretty conclusive evidence out there to suggest that we are more likely to remember something that we have read on paper, as opposed to if we see it on a screen. Therefore, I am a little skeptical about the overuse of technology in lessons and try to get the balance right” she shared.

The use of technology in educational systems should have useful purposes. I think overall students should learn how to control themselves and be self-directed learners. As we are all well aware, our laptops, tablets, and smartphones can provide a therapeutic escape from our academically demanding and stressful lives at times, but in the blink of an eye, it can sweep us off our feet and make us forget about our responsibilities. Therefore, being focused and knowing the right time to disconnect is essential. We are living privileged lives, and have many opportunities and tools at our disposal that many parts of the world can’t use to their educational advantage. But, it’s essential to remain vigilant and be in control of your devices, or they might just end up controlling you.

This article appeared in the beijingkids July-August 2019 Teen Takeover issue

Photo: Adobe Stock 

I’ve never really been good at slowing down, and went against all the advice given to me to defer my Master’s degree program for a year before giving birth to my first child. I was told it’s impossible to study and look after a newborn. I knew it would be no small feat, but after years of advocating that women have the tools to continue doing lots of things while raising a family, I knew I had to try practice what I have always been known to preach.

Was it all about proving a point? New mothers arguably torment themselves with unrelenting questions about how not to lose themselves in the midst of the life-altering stages of new motherhood. I would perhaps be fooling not only you the reader, but also myself, if I said that my plan to work and study while raising a newborn wasn’t partly to do with me wanting to reaffirm who I am as a woman, while trying to keep a hold of all the drivers that form part of my identity. That being said, I had an unflinching belief that moms really can continue to pursue passions of the heart while being a good parent to a newborn; I wanted to be a conscientious example for the new addition to the family and myself.

Parenting is, of course, a full-time job. However life throws curve balls at us and often pregnancy can come along during a time when either parent is focusing on a project, new job, study, and all the above. With some careful planning, many parents can manage a whole host of activities and seemingly impossible tasks.

Working with your Baby’s Schedule

This is number one. Your new baby will not work with your schedule, so work with theirs. Choose your study time around the times your baby is napping or otherwise occupied. Remember that if your baby interrupts your workflow, they are simply getting your attention so that you can meet a need. Tend to your baby and once they’ve been soothed or fall back asleep, crack on! This may seem obvious, however, once you let go of working in a structured pattern, it can really ease how you go about physically and emotionally dealing with your daily tasks. I was amazed by how much I could get done, by first prioritizing the needs of my baby and working whenever time permits.

Use the Support Network Around You

It’s really easy to forget that you’re not alone and that you don’t have to be Superwoman or Superman when it comes to raising children. It takes a whole community anyway right? If raising your child with a partner, agree upon set times, when they can take over baby-care duties. My husband and I, on weekends, alternate between study and baby-care time so that each of us can get on with our studies. Using two-hour intervals, we help each other get what work needs to be done – done! With the husband also completing a second Masters degree at the same time as I contend with mine, organization and support is key. Rope in other family members, if you can, or call on friends to take baby out for a walk, while you tackle a task or two. If financially free to do so, hire an ayi to come in a few hours of the day to look after your baby while you get some study time in.

Set Realistic Goals for the Day

It’s a challenge to try and break the flow of studying, particularly when you’re making headway and don’t want to stop. When I first resumed my studies I was trying to do too much in one day and got frustrated when I didn’t finish what I intended to complete. I was setting unrealistic goals for myself. Decide on no more than three concise study tasks for the day: reading a chapter of your assigned material; drafting the introduction to an assignment; writing a report plan; or researching a topic for no more than an hour, for example. I am studying three modules at a time. I approach my studies, by selecting two tasks for each module. I can stay ahead and make steady daily progress. My tasks always involve one reading and one written activity. Trust me, you’ll be thanking yourself. There’s nothing more rewarding then being able to tick off completed tasks and have the energy left over to be mom (or dad).

Think Outside the Box

If short naps and a giggling baby are thwarting your study pattern, fear not. Break your schedule into smaller segments. Can’t get your reading done within the assigned half an hour? Read for ten minutes and resume for another 10 when you can. Find ways of accessing course material in different ways. Find audio recordings and listen while looking after the little one. Plug your laptop into your speakers and listen to your lectures, while you get on with some cleaning or looking after the baby and once baby is down, get on with some written work.

Bonding time

Set aside a particular activity that’s only for baby and you. On study days when the ayi is around, I don’t get to spend much time with my little one. I decided to carve out little activities throughout the day to switch off and take over. We have 20 to 30 minutes of play before the ayi takes over again in the afternoon, and I always finish study days at 4pm to ensure that I can spend time with the family and keep a bedtime routine intact. Bath time is our bonding time each evening; just me and baby.

Don’t Guilt-Trip Yourself

Some days will be more productive than others. Don’t fall into patterns of guilt-tripping yourself into thinking you’re not doing enough or that you’re doing too little with regard to both your studies and your baby. Listen to your body. Sometimes after night-feeds I wake up exhausted and the words on a page just don’t connect. Shut it all down and go and rest or play with baby. Your work will be there again tomorrow. Baby needs more attention that usual on a study day? – put the books down and tend to your little one, resume reading or writing when you can. Always remember, you’re slaying it! You’re your own little imperfect but triumphant superhero and you can do it!

Photos: Pixabay

In the three years I’ve lived in Beijing, I must confess that I haven’t once attended a Chinese class. Admittedly, my Mandarin isn’t that bad to begin with (thanks to my mother’s homeschooling and a year of Chinese classes in first grade), but taking the HSK (standard for measuring your Chinese proficiency in China) has crossed my mind more than a few times.

In the past, I have tried to put some effort into studying…I watched youtube videos, subscribed to (free) websites, downloaded iOS apps, utilized CCTV’s free learn Mandarin website, and even got Pimsleur Chinese idioms. Turns out it’s pretty hard to remember proverbs and idioms, and even more difficult to remember characters.

At some point, I even researched private tutors and decided on one! That was over two years ago. I still have her WeChat (she’s good for business Chinese, FYI).

Now, as I’ve been getting busier (what with children and all), I really doubt I’ll ever drag myself to a legit Chinese class. However, as I’ve taken online courses before, and most of these are “go at your own pace,” I think a university course is feasible.

Here’s a roundup of FREE university Mandarin courses we could all potentially benefit from (if we can just make ourselves do it). The benefit of these courses is that they’re all “verified” and thereby trustworthy sources of information (which is more than we can say about some private tutors):

Basic Mandarin Chinese Level 1

1. Basic Mandarin – Level 1
National Chengchi University’s level one class is for complete beginner’s and only focuses on tones, basic phrases for getting around, and culture.  The course is recommended for friends or “groups” since it would allow you the chance to practice (but we’re in China, so…), but otherwise the six units can be completed at your own pace.

2. Basic Mandarin – Level 2

National Chengchi University’s level 2 Mandarin course teaches more vocabulary for daily use, such as describing people and objects, making comparisons, and stating opinions using a variety of sentence structures. The course highlights vocabulary differences between Mainland and Taiwan, and focuses a lot on tones and intonation for basic communication.

Tsinghua Chinese

3. Tsinghua Chinese – Start Talking with 1.3 Billion People

Tsinghua University’s Mandarin course is the most well-known in Beijing, and it’s beginner class acts as a sample and basis for HSK 1 studies! The course is varied and well-organized with dialogue, real-life listening comprehension, Chinese characters, Mandarin songs, and self-study tips.  Although I don’t know how this course compares to their official course, you can also get a certificate of completion for USD 49.

Chinese for Beginners

4. Chinese for Beginners

Peking University has a beginner’s Chinese class on Coursera where students can learn basic phonetics and easy day-to-day phrases. The course is six hours long, and although the lectures are delivered in English, you can view subtitles in Serbian, Urdu, French, and Marathi!

5. More Chinese for Beginners

A follow up course to the above, More Chinese for Beginners helps students expand vocabularies about personal information, daily life, food and drink, healthy, and expressions about greeting, suggestion, agreement, comparison, complaint, prohibition, experience, plan, recommendation, etc. No Chinese characters are taught in this class. This class has subtitles in Urdu.

Intermediate Chinese Grammar

BONUS: Intermediate Chinese Grammar

Peking University’s Intermediate Chinese class looks challenging (to me) as it’s for honing your grammar skills if you already have a grasp of Chinese grammar in speaking, reading, and writing for translation purposes. To comfortably take the class, you should have learned 1,500 words and the basics of Chinese grammar.

If you’d rather learn while watching cartoons with your kids, try googling Ni Hao, Kai-Lan, a Nick Jr. cartoon that’s been airing since 2008. I have a friend in the US who was ABC and spoke Cantonese at home, but managed to pick up Mandarin (to some extent) just by watching this show on a daily basis. You can watch full episodes on Youtube and other (not blocked) websites.

You can also check out Open Culture’s roundup of free Chinese learning resources (audiobooks, podcasts, etc.), BBC’s Learn Chinese site, Chinese Education Center has simple phrases, MIT offers their Foundations of Mandarin course textbook online for free, and this site has a really good roundup of useful websites.

Photo: courtesy of Jessica Suotmaa, Flickr

Over the last couple of weeks there have been several articles related to how people view Liberal Arts (LA) programs. For the most part, information related to these programs has been fraught with skepticism and concern. However, as more and more students seek education in the US, whether for boarding school or college, understanding the fundamental value of Liberal Arts is a must. And, while there is overwhelming evidence that a LA degree has significant value, there is more and more pressure, mostly from parents, on students to focus on professional degrees. The evidence exists, and here are a few examples:

1.    Mark Parker, President and CEO of Nike: Pennsylvania State University B.S. Political Science
2.    John Watson, Chairman and CEO of Chevron: UC Davis B.A. in Agricultural Economics
3.    Howard Schultz, Chairman and CEO of Starbucks: Northern Michigan State B.A. in Communications
4.    Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company: Ithaca College B.S. Television and Radio
5.    Ken Chenault, CEO American Express: Bowdoin College B.A. in History
6.    Carly Fiorina, CEO Hewlett Packard: Stanford University B.A. in Medieval History

These are just a few examples of CEO’s who not only studied non-professional majors but also attended schools other than the Ivy League.

The most recent article Meet Parents Who Won’t Let Their Children Study Literature in the Washington Post highlights several issues. First, the explosion of students undertaking double majors – one to satisfy their parents and their own, has caused undo stress, not to mention the added cost of time and money, as students attempt to satisfy credit requirements to complete both degrees.

The second issue is a complete misunderstanding of the value of a LA degree. At the core of learning are three (3) critical skills students must master – Critical Thinking, Analytical Thinking, and Communication. These three are the underpinnings of future success which are developed in Liberal Arts Colleges (LAC) through the understanding and exploration of History, Math, Science, and Literature.

A second article That Useless Liberal Arts Degree Has Become Tech’s Hottest Ticket from Forbes describes how high tech companies now need more students able to write well-developed arguments from idea to concept. More importantly, companies are finding that students with LAC degrees make them stronger in all areas of the company, particularly in sales and marketing. It is LAC graduates who can distill the dreamland of coders to end-users, making sense of the software’s value and its uses to propel companies forward.

While I have distilled the two articles down to some simple concepts, they are worth a read to fully grasp the value of LA degrees. Here is something further to ponder – There are companies, which exist today that will not exist ten years from now because they have not adapted to new economic forces; there are jobs that do not exist today that will be prevalent in the future. Have a look at this article about some of the 162 Future Jobs that don’t currently exist.

What should students and parents do – Think more widely about what education means. Don’t discard something because it does not make sense. Investigate, research, and understand. Take some career and personality tests – Morrisby Careers Guidance or Do What You Are (a book) or MyVerse to understand your personality and possible attributed careers. And lastly, students should be thinking about these two most important questions – What change do you want to bring to the world you will inherit? What change do you want to bring to yourself to make that happen?

Photo: amazonaws.com

Christmas is coming and the winter break for schools has already begun. In the midst of shopping, present-wrapping and decorating, one question in the minds of parents of school age children is: should we be leaving time for school work? Should the holidays be about rest and recreation, or should they also be about revision. Some parents view winter break as a time for children to relax and have fun away from the academic responsibilities of a classroom. Other parents worry that time away from the classroom may cause academic regression due to a lack of schedule.

Let’s face it the kids are tired, with a long school term behind them. The argument against holiday homework is that kids need this time to re-charge their batteries and get some rest during the winter break. While catching up with friends and family is a big part of the winter holidays schedule, it’s equally important that kids don’t spend the entire holiday on planes, trains, or in a car going “somewhere”. They don’t only need a rest from school, but a rest from their busy schedule that no doubt includes extra curricula and after school activities too.

On the other side of the argument, are those parents who worry their kids will forget what they learned last term, of course all of this depends upon their age. Continuous practice does help keep information fresh in their minds, and parents can use this holiday time to help children reinforce skills and perhaps practice weaker subject areas. Some teachers assign creative projects during vacations, which are great. Projects that might involve artwork or research are a great opportunity for all of you to visit a museum or library, a fun way to keep them learning.

Schools differ in their approach to holiday homework. If your kids have been set assignments, it’s a good idea to set a timetable early on in the holiday, so that you can work out how best to fit school work around other activities. The kids might not like it, but sometimes it’s good to get a lot of the homework done during the first few days of the holiday. Working on school assignments can also help break up the long days when you’ve nothing else planned, and give your child tasks to complete while you are busy with your own stuff. Amongst all the excitement that the holidays bring, it’s can be good to keep a sense of routine going, especially so if they have exams coming up in the New Year.

As with anything, it’s about striking a balance. Even if there are assignments to be done, the holidays should also be a time for families to re-connect with one another. My husband travels for work and his working day is often long, so for us it’s important that we all have each-others full attention and time during the holiday break. It’s good to leave space in the margins for spontaneous activities too, like a country walk, shopping trips, and cooking together. Personally, I’m not against teachers setting homework during the winter break. As long as it’s manageable, and leaves kids with enough free time to rest and enjoy the holiday. A child that returns to school in January, happy and re-invigorated is surely what we all want.

beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.

Photos: David Wall, Rich, Alberto G. (Flickr)

There may have been many a time when students reminisced about when life used to be easy, when didn’t matter, and when IB was not their life. It seems the road for the two-year curriculum (that ultimately decides the outcome of your schooling!) is long and grueling, but there’s a silver lining in every cloud, and UNIT-E has found a few benefits to the IB!

A Wake-Up Call
IB is the last pit stop before you head off to university and a wake-up call to the end of high school and the beginning of adulthood! Preparing you for what lies ahead, IB consists of the last two years that count. Throughout the course of the program, you’ll find that your time management skills and overall responsibility will improve as you discover the way you work best. It is said that the workload at university will be easily manageable and seemingly easy after completing the strenuous IB, so work now, chill later.

Free “Study” Periods
A godsend. Thanks to IB, you should be getting some free periods during the week. Use them to study, finish homework, catch up on missed work, or just catch up on sleep. Merciful free periods are sometimes all a student needs to get back on track for the week and may reduce a weekend’s workload.

An Excuse
When else would your parents be willing to for out RMB 700 for a calculator? Need a new set of paints? A rare species of toad? A bookshelf full of Cliff Notes? IB is the perfect excuse to give your parents when you want something extravagant – only if it’s related to schoolwork, of course. Furthermore, if someone comments on how you look tired, you can satisfy their questions with just four words: I’m an IB student. The most foolproof excuse? We think so!

Talking Points
Ever wanted a subject to bring up during one of those awkward family friend dinners or Model UN conferences? IB seems to be the perfect topic, for it is, after all, universal. Begin with asking what courses your conversation partner takes, then move on to the finer points of higher level psychology and what their extended essay is on. It does sound rather … nerdy, we admit, but you’ll end up forging alliances to remember that you aren’t alone.

Opportunities
Did you always promise yourself that you’d start volunteering at an orphanage but were too lazy to haul yourself away from your computer? Always wanted to try out for the football team but found it out of your comfort zone? Thanks to IB’s CAS (Creativity, Action, Service), you are now encouraged (some would say obliged) to get around to all those extracurricular activities you wanted to do. These activities all add up towards your becoming not only a more well-rounded student, but also a candidate for which colleges will fight.

Though a true challenge, the International Baccalaureate can be rewarding, and UNIT-E hopes to have pitched to any potential student the IB’s numerous, worthwhile rewards.

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2012 issue of UNIT-E. It was written by Gemma Duffy, a student at Dulwich College Beijing.

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

Photo by MSylvester Photography (Flickr)