Category Archives: Education
Choosing a school in France
If you’re planning to move to France with your family, you’ll be well aware that you’re going to need to find appropriate schooling for the kids. Education standards vary from school to school, but unlike at home you won’t be able to rely on friend’s recommendations. Therefore it’s critical to do your research to find the best education option for your children.
Your future plans
When it comes to choosing a school in France, you should first consider your future plans. For example, if you’re only planning to stay in the country for a year before moving back home, it would be best to find an international school that follows a similar curriculum to what the schools have back in your country.
However, if you’re planning to be an expat for some years, your children will likely complete the bulk of their education overseas, which gives you a lot more flexibility in your choice of school. Therefore, you can consider local schools as well as international schools. The biggest advantage of going to a local school is that most of the students will be French, which gives your children the chance to integrate and learn the language with local kids.
Keep your options open
Be sure not to put all your eggs in one basket. You may have decided upon a particular school already, but always keep a few alternatives in mind because school places can never be guaranteed. Also, bear in mind that what looks like a “perfect school” online may be somewhat different in reality, so be sure to pay a visit in person and get a feel for it before committing to any choice.
In addition, if you have local friends you can always ask them for recommendations. You can also consider the alternative option of home schooling, if it’s possible, but bear in mind this will give your children less chance to integrate and familiarize themselves with the French language and culture.
Do your research
Your first and foremost research tool is the Internet of course. You’ll be able to find a great international school in Paris or any other city in France, do research, read reviews and so on. Still, the Internet should only ever be a starting point for your research. In order to get the real picture you’ll have to go and check out the school in person, which means you should make a shortlist of perhaps three or four schools you’re really interested in. You can also check a school’s website to see if they have any forum or chat room where you can talk to other parents and students who go to that school.
Ultimately, it’s your responsibility as a parent to choose the right school and it’s you who’ll have the final say. Still, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t involve your children in the selection process. On the contrary, by letting them have an input you’ll find that they’re much more likely to embrace the change and be eager to arrive on their first day.
An optimal sleep schedule for children favors homeschooled kids
Sleep is a very important component of a child’s life. Without sleep during the most crucial growth periods of the child’s development, their performance at school will suffer. This in turn will slow down the child’s intellectual development and lead to learning problems, requiring a significant catch-up period.
This can all be avoided if we learn about the sleep needed for children depending on their age. Homeschooled children sometimes have the advantage over their public school counterparts because they are better able to catch up on sleep and have a more relaxed school schedule. Let’s look at the required sleep for children and how homeschooling can benefit the child.
Best Sleep Schedule and how Online Learning Benefits Kids
Sleep problems in children occur most often at the ages of 5-12 and can lead to mood swings, behavioral problems like hyperactivity and cognitive impairment. Many of the sleep problems of children are caused by watching the television too late at night, being involved with online media and drinking caffeinated products.
Homeschooled children potentially have fewer issues with sleep disorders because their schedule is more flexible. However, these issues can still persist and the formerly stated reasons for sleep disturbances should be noted.
Sleep Disturbances and Their Resolution
From the ages of 5-12, children begin spending longer hours in school. They are only beginning to learn about their own biological clock and how to develop good sleeping habits, so at this age it is crucial to stick to an established schedule. Avoid caffeine and television, and teach your children ways of relaxing such as meditation or reading before bed. All of this can help you take care of your children, and teach the children how to take care of themselves. Pretty soon, they will blossom and become responsible and knowledgeable about what kind of before-sleep habits work for them.
For the best services in online education, visit www.FutureSchool.com for more.
Groupon’s got a new look with new business listings
If you’re one of those people who just loves a bargain then you can probably well remember the days when Groupon was one of the top destinations on the Web. The company became world famous with its popular deal-a-day vouchers, and its evolved quite a bit since then.
Nowadays Groupon is trying to be more than just a discounts shop. The site’s been given a makeover, and the result is something more akin to Yellow Pages than the old Groupon. Along with its vouchers and deals you’ll find pretty comprehensive information for every business it promotes, which means you know exactly where to go and who to call to take advantage of the deals on offer. Here’s an example listing for the Tao Natural and Organic Foods Cafe in Minneapolis.
Study Abroad in Anonymity…Not in Norway!
Studying abroad is something everyone should experience during college, but, sometimes external factors might not make it the most ideal time to ship off to Europe for 6 months. If you never made it overseas to take your higher learning to another level, don’t fret, there is always grad shcool!
BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo created probably one of the coolest PR campaigns I have ever seen and they’re going to select one lucky applicant to essentially be the most popular person in the city, no, really!
Watch this video if you don’t believe me:
Imagine seeing your face and personal interests plastered all over Oslo in magazines, billboards, everyone in school friend requesting you on Facebook, everyone knowing how to pronounce your name properly, your name being placed onto a beverage, an actual national TV commercial, etc.
This is all going to happen for one lucky individual and I don’t see how that person will not be the most popular person on campus, even before they touch Norwegian soil. They’ve named the campaign, “A Flying Start” which is a pretty appropriate title given what the school plans to do for the one student who wins the honor.
Oslo is the largest city in Norway as well as the capital. It is consistently being ranked as one of the top most livable cities in the entire world. Oslo showcases a large international student population, beautiful architecture, alluring surrounding nature, a lively nightlife and much, much more.
BI Business School is very diverse and proudly holds many major accreditations recognized the world over. Currently, there are more than 1800 students from an amazing 106 different countries making it one of the most diverse on the planet.
6 Tips for Choosing the Right College
Picking a college can feel like deciding the rest of your life, but with all of that pressure it can be difficult to fully consider all of your options. Breathe, relax and follow our tips on how to pick the right college for you.
Image by Moyan Brenn used under the Creative Commons license.
Tip 1 – Ranking
There are a number of factors that go into choosing the right school, but one of the first ones that many students look at is the college’s ranking, both nationally and internationally. If you want to go to one of the best schools or find a school that specializes in your study area, rankings can be an easy way to narrow your search. Just remember that the higher the school is ranked, the more competitive it is and plan accordingly.
Tip 2 – Program
If you already know what you want to do, choosing a school based on the program of study it offers in your field can be a huge draw. Most universities have online directories where potential students can look at specific classes on offer, as well as teaching staff, alumni in the field and any connections to businesses that a school may have. Taking your program into consideration is a great way to help you choose the right school, especially for those who are already thinking about their after-college careers.
Tip 3 – Social Scene
While no one is suggesting you choose a school solely based on the clubs and intramurals offered, the social aspect of college is an important one for many students. As you embark on a new journey, usually living away from your family and friends for the first time, it’s nice to know that there are societies or clubs that you can join where you can feel accepted.
Tip 4 – Diversity
For many students, the element of diversity is very important. Whether you’re coming from a small town and want to meet people from different places or you’re from a big city with lots of diversity already, checking the diversity of each college before applying can be a big help in avoiding disappointment.
Tip 5 – International
Some students will be looking to study abroad during their time at school, so being aware of what options there are for international travel could also be a deciding factor in choosing a college. Simply doing your full four years abroad in locations like the UAE, Europe, China, Australia, South America, etc. is also a possibility. You’ll want to set yourself up for success, so double-check any language requirements, international rankings and the program you’re interested in to make sure the school fits all of your needs, not just your wanderlust.
Tip 6 – Location
Location is a key element that many students don’t think about before choosing a school. Of course, there is the proximity to home to consider, but students should also think about their new location and the opportunities it affords. For instance, if you are doing an agricultural degree, studying in a big city doesn’t make much sense. Keep in mind that if you’d like to do internships or get work experience while in school, the location of your university has to be somewhere that facilitates those desires.
We hope this has helped, just remember to research the schools you are interested in, and you will be halfway to narrowing down that exhaustive list!
