The Teaching Box

We all know that learning a new language is one of the best things we can do with our lives but it’s just a little bit boring, isn’t it? Those never ending evening classes and dull text books just seem like too much hard work for most of us if we are being honest.

Thankfully this is no longer the issue it once was, as modern ways of picking up a second language are a lot more exciting than the old fashioned ones. If the thought of going back to school sends a shudder down your spine then you will be pleased to see there are now modern ways of doing so as well. Here is the pick of the best approaches for you to look over.

Ditch the Classroom

What about studying at home or in your office? This method of learning immediately gives you a lot more flexibility in arranging your classes and could turn out to be just what you need to keep your interest going. If you decide to do this then you can find teachers easily enough online and in most cases they will be native speakers who are fully qualified as teachers. A good example of this approach is with the Alexis Sheldon run Language Trainers.

Ditch the Teacher

So you don’t want to deal with a teacher, even at home or in your place of work? This is a brave way of learning a foreign tongue but that doesn’t mean that it is impossible. Lots of people have managed to pick up a language on their own through watching television, reading books and making friends on the internet. This approach is better if you do it after a few formal lessons but if you want to dive in and give it a go straight away then there is nothing to stop you.

Leave the Country

If you really want to get to know a language then the best thing you can do is immerse yourself in it. This is ideally done after the previous steps. For example, if you take some of the French lessons Edinburgh teachers provide you can then carry out some further learning on your own before heading off to Paris, Algeria, Canada or anywhere else where it is spoken. You could then find yourself mixing with native French speakers and feel comfortable with the language without even having set foot in a classroom.    

The past year has been a busy one for online education, one that has seen several developments that only continue to dismantle the barriers between a traditional college degree and an online one.

First, Ashworth College, a major online institution, introduced the Ashworth College Student Community. This online forum and gathering place allows students to talk to each other about anything from classes and homework to entertainment and politics. It further allows for communication between students and professors, career counselors, and Ashworth alum. Part Facebook and part student union, the online community was met with widespread acclaim. This month, it won the 2011 SNCR Commendation of Merit for academic innovation.

Also this year, a growing number of traditional universities – including some of the biggest and most prestigious names in the country – ventured into the world of online education for the first time. Perhaps the most recent and notable example is that of the University of California, Berkeley, which announced this month the creation of an online master’s programs for a degree in public health. The program, which will start in the spring, has a tuition tag of $6,000 per semester and will hand out degrees indistinguishable from those offered by Berkeley’s more traditional School of Public Health.

Taken together, these two developments hint at the growing popularity of online education. Although online programs have been popular for years, the moves of traditional schools into online arenas and of online school towards the promotion of a “campus culture” have coalesced to put virtual education degrees firmly into the mainstream. Experts predict that an increasing number of traditional schools will offer online community forums and online degrees in the next few years.

So what does this mean for those of us in the online education field? On the one hand, it gives online educators greater latitudes for instructing students in fields where there are few schools and professionals are in short supply. Public health is one such field. Medical billing and coding is another. At the same time, however, it means increased competition from a wide array of degree providers.

For the student, though, the benefits are almost universally positive. Less disparities between traditional and virtual schools means more opportunities, more programs, and more post-graduate possibilities for qualified students. And the line only stands to blur further in the future; with people forced to work full-time to pay for their education, and with technology permeating every aspect of our lives, the progression seems almost inevitable – and natural.

With the advent of online education, more and more universities are hiring adjunct professors, rather than on-campus professors to teach online courses. Some colleges are based solely online, and their professors live across the country, and even the world. This is different than the traditional hiring model where professors are vetted to teach within a particular department, they start teaching on campus and then go through the process of working toward tenure. The hiring process for adjuncts, however, is much different. Adjuncts are often hired on a term by term basis, and are rarely up for tenure. According to InsideHigherEd.com, the Modern Language Association (MLA) has been calling for better hiring practices and treatment of adjunct professors.

The problem with the difference in treatment of adjuncts versus tenure-track professors is the fact that adjunct professors have much less job security, less investment in the schools they teach for, and less job satisfaction. This can cause problems with academic quality, and the MLA has come out with a list of questions that academic departments can use to evaluate whether or not their treatment of adjuncts in conducive to stellar academics. The MLA recommends that all universities hiring adjuncts evaluate the process and work environment using the following questions. The questions were developed to provide schools with a tangible way to assess their level of professionalism and clarity in hiring practices, job security, departmental life, evaluations and promotion opportunities when it comes to adjuncts.

Schools can perform a self-evaluation of the "quality of life of those off the tenure track." The lists includes questions such as:

1. Do non-tenure-track faculty members receive raises, including merit increases, when tenure-track faculty members receive them?

2. Do non-tenure-track faculty members get paid for work they do outside of the classroom?

3. Do non-tenure-track faculty members have health and retirement benefits?

4. Do career paths exist for those off the tenure track?

The higher the amount of affirmative responses, the higher the level of professionalism present in treatment of adjuncts, claims the MLA. The questions were presented by the MLA’s Committee on Contingent Labor in the Profession during the organization’s annual convention, starting in Seattle on January 5th, 2012.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Lauren Bailey, who regularly writes for accredited online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 @gmail.com. 

Education is obviously valuable to you; you have made the investment to start or further your education. Taking online courses are different than from taking courses in a classroom. It can be easier to let your daily life get in the way. Many students juggle work and family with their education and that can be difficult. Here are a few ways to manage your online education better:

First things first:

Many online students work as well so every morning before beginning your course, take a time to look over your calendar, to do lists and other tasks. Now prioritize according what you is most significant to complete first. Then decide how the amount needed to complete each task.  At the start of your online course, whether you are a reading an article or taking a quiz, set goals for that sit down session and complete them!

Time it:

Once you have your list set for the day, be sure to calculate for interruptions such as a last minute errand, bathroom/coffee breaks and phone calls. Be generous and realisticwith yourself because we all know that every minute counts.

Get offline:

Texting, Facebook, Blogs, YouTube and Twitter are not your friends.  Save these distractions for your scheduled lunch break or in the evenings when you are home. Remember you don’t always have to answer the phone and you don’t have to reply to emails, every time you receive one. If that is an important task for you make sure to schedule time each day to respond to messages. If you are at home and taking your class don’t be afraid to make a sign for your family that says, ‘Do not disturb’. Distractions can be offline too.

Take Notes:

Taking notes during reading, quizzes and papers will give you an idea what was discussed and accomplished during those times. Looking over your notes you may find will keep you focused and making great grades. Get a nice spiral or open a word document on your computer. You will be happy you did, the day before your test.

It’s ok to say no or ask for help:

If you are in a place where you are able to turn away work or if you are able to ask the babysitter to stay later, than do so. Remember it is ok to say no or ask for help. It won’t hurt anyone but what can hurt is taking on too many tasks and letting your studies go to the wayside.  If you realize that you are unable to say no, ask for an extension or what the priority level it is. This can help with your time management.

School isn’t easy, if it was then everyone would have an education. And what is not easy is managing your time; remember to follow these few simple rules and happy learning!

Author Bio

Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, and Babysitting, find a nanny tips etc. You can reach her @ nancy.parker015 @ gmail.com.

Handle any emergency with Howcast's First Aid app – howc.st You don't have to sit in a classroom to further your education or earn a degree. Study in your own home, on your own time, by taking courses online.

To complete this how-to, you will need: A computer with an internet connection Motivation Due diligence

Step 1: Find a legitimate program Make sure the institution is legitimate by verifying that it's both accredited _and_ recognized by the US Department of Education. Many online schools claim they're accredited, but the only agency accrediting them is the one they've invented! Find a list of accredited online universities at "chea.org":chea.org.

Step 2 Consider a hybrid Consider a program that mixes online courses and classroom instruction, known as a "blended" or "hybrid program." "Low residency" is another option: You mainly complete coursework at home with a few visits to campus. Know the warning signs of a diploma mill: A post office box or suite for an address; tuition based on the degree, not the courses; and school names that are similar to well-known universities.

Step 3: Start slowly If you're not sure you want to pursue a degree, consider starting slowly with an online course or two. Research suggests that employers more highly regard degrees from traditional schools that offer online programs than those earned from online-only institutions.

Step 4: Know what's involved Know what's involved. You will have to commit between 10 and 20 hours a week …