What Job Skills Do You Need?

You might think a good education and top grades are enough to get a good job. So it may surprise you to learn that employers look for other important skills. This article from the Daily Mirror outlines the basic skills employers require and provides sample tests to see if you make the grade.
To read this article click HERE.

John Seely Brown on Motivating Learners

Innovative thinker John Seely Brown, known for his ideas for merging digital culture and education, shares lessons educators can learn from surfers, gamers, and artists on how passion and competitive hunger can drive intrinsic motivation. To visit his siite and view the video click HERE.

Free Photoshop Tutorial - Self-Publishing Class Books

This is a quick tutorial for those who would like to use Photoshop to create professional looking class books. The step-by-step photos and descriptions will guide you through importing students drawing and creating simple, colorful backgrounds for your class book. The pages can then be printed out or sent off for self-publishing.Click HERE

Physical Fitness and Sports Activities for Teachers and Parents

A healthy lifestyle should be part of everyday life. This link features activities suitable for teachers and parents who want to engage their students/children.

For more information click HERE

Nouns that Are Countable and Uncountable

Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable, usually with different meanings for each. These pages list the most common ones, together with example sentences and quick quiz to check understanding. Click HERE to access.

Educational Videos

 

 

A Conversation with Elon Musk

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Geoffrey Moore - insights into education

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 Students Leaving the System to Learn

The day that Albert Einstein most feared has finally arrived...

Students & Language

Some teenage students come to class with an unsatisfactory attitude or low self-confidence with regard to L2 learning due to past experiences. They do not see the relevance of language learning in their short or long-term plans or have unrealistic beliefs about language learning. Language teachers have a challenge coming up with fresh ideas to motivate their students to see language learning as acquiring lifelong, real-life communication skills rather than as a jaded academic subject.

This explores the benefits of using a blended learning approach (Sharma and Barret, 2007) with secondary students as a platform for interaction, learning and motivation. To view this article click HERE

For all your learning needs contact Lernit Tutoring Services: Lernit@live.ca 

"Is it because?" - a story about bullying

'Is it because?' is a story for pre-teens which skilfully addresses the issue of bullying. There is a series of activities and related worksheets for you to download and use with the storybook. It forms part of the Promoting diversity through children's literature series, produced by the British Council Teaching Centre in Paris.

This is a series of activities and related worksheets for you to download and use with the storybook.

For more information click HERE.

Why You Should Read The Legal Disclaimer - the only true picture

The internet abounds with people claiming to have special programs, unique strategies and foolproof methods for making easy money on the internet.

I suppose there must be some profit in being an internet snake oil sales person because there is a never ending tsunami of get rich quick schemes that choke both my in box and my junk folder - I guess my Jewish friend was right: 'Nail two sticks together and some schmuck will buy it!'

There is one foolproof (dare I use that word?) method to gaining some perspective on the wild schemes floated daily past your eyes: read the LEGAL DISCLAIMER - it hopefully will be the slap in the face - or wake up call you might need if you are considering taking a flyer at one of the imaginary carrots being dangled before your salivating palate.

Here is a good example:  

Legal Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to accurately represent our program and its potential. Any claims made of actual earnings or examples of actual results can be verified upon request. The testimonials and examples used are exceptional results, don't apply to the average attendee/purchaser and are not intended to represent or guarantee that anyone will achieve the same or similar results. Each individual's success depends on his or her background, dedication, desire, and motivation. As with any business endeavor, there is an inherent risk of loss of capital and there is no guarantee that you will earn any money. 

Ok, so let's analyze this piece of legal weasel work. To anybody with even the slightest bit of reading comprehension, it should be clear that there are some very strong key words here:

-The testimonials and examples used are exceptional results...
-...don't apply to the average attendee/purchaser
-...not intended to represent or guarantee that anyone will achieve the same or similar results
 -...there is no guarantee that you will earn any money.

For those with poor reading skills let's take a minute to analyze what is stated:

First off, the amazing money making results used to entice you are EXCEPTIONAL - dictionary definition = forming an exception or rare instance; unusual; extraordinary: which should be interpreted in the vernacular to mean 'no f***ing way will you make money'.

Second. Sorry if I am insulting you...but...if you are thinking of pursuing some wildly overstated method of earning easy money, then you, without a doubt, are an average person...i.e.: there is definitely no f***ing way you are going to make money.

Third.  This one is real simple: most likely no one will achieve the stated results.

And finally...there is a guarantee that you will lose money investing in this harebrained idea.

So, this begs the question: surely all the people who part with their hard earned money to get rich quick are not all stupid. Well, the answer to this deep question is, "Yes". 

So why, you ask, do un-stupid people fall for these gimmicks?

Well, you can choose one, more than one, or all of the reasons below:

1. Thinking they are above average - it doesn't apply to them
2. It only costs a few (hundred?) bucks 
3. They were a victim of Jabba the Hutt (a master manipulator)
4. They kept it a secret so no one would know
5. The snake oil salesperson seemed so down-to-earth and genuine
6. Nothin' ventured - nothin' gained
7. They were longing to be duped
8. They think riches are the way to happiness
9. A sucker is born every minute 
10. Despite what they thought in #1 - they really are gullible.
11. They do not read disclaimers.


So, knowing that we all (yes, even myself) are susceptible to the Jabba Hutts of this world, it is imperative
that the next time you begin to feel the pull of easy money, you immediately go into pg. dn. mode and read the Legal Disclaimer...if that does not help, denial after the fact is the most accepted form of obtaining absolution.

Good Luck!