Showing posts with label secondary schools. Show all posts
Step Up Your Game (A Guide on Breaking the Ice)
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| Photo courtesy of: The Gouger |
First of all, the author wants to establish that this guide will not promise a hundred percent success result and that she will not be held responsible for the consequences of your action. Anonymeh also wants to acknowledge that this guideline might not work for everyone although it has been proven and tested to be effective... for her. So good luck and may the odds be always in your favour.
Hello
everyone! Lately, I’ve realised that one factor as to why us, teenage
immigrants, are rather desolated when we first get here is that, we don’t have
friends. (Nice one, Sherlock)
What I’m
trying to say is, when youth immigrants migrate to a new place, most of them do
not know anyone in that place besides their family. And that’s why I’m going to
give you tips on how to make friends or at least how to approach people! YAY! (Not
to be too self-serving, but these tips will be extra useful now that another
school year has just started!)
1. Bring 10 kilos of gum
- Effectivesness: 6/10
- Cons: You got to spend to buy gums
I know all of you have heard the gum technique, sometimes they work, and sometimes you’ll end up offending the other person “What you saying man? I have a bad breath?” (but hey, you
got to take risks!) On a serious note, I think this is a nice way to get to
know people especially during class. When the class is boring, a gum is like suddenly
the best thing you could have in your life. Alas, bring that gum and show how
generous you are with your classmates.
2. Wear a cool shirt
- Effectiveness: 7/10
- Cons: It’s hard to find a cool shirt
3. Say ‘bless you’ to someone who sneezed
- Effectiveness: 5/10
- Cons: It’s awkward
4. Borrow a pencil
- Effectiveness: 8/10
- Cons: You’re not really making a good name for yourself if you show up on the first day of class with no pencil or pen
I heard that
there’s a psychological trick that you can get someone to like you by borrowing
a pencil from them. Maybe this is because it induces a feeling that they (the
lenders) are doing something good for someone and now you (the borrower)
somehow owe something to them. Nevertheless, borrowing a pencil can be a great
friendship starter. You can give it back to them the next day and pretend you
forgot to bring one again then voila! Conversation! And they most likely will remember
you.
5. Wear a smile
- Effectiveness: 10/10
- Cons: Your cheek bones might get tired
What does,
basically, anyone tell you when you go to an unknown place and are supposed to
make friends? SMILE! Yes, you have to smile. It’s the international sign for
“Hello, I am friendly”. Always wear a smile when you execute one of my advices
from above. Or just do it all the time! It’s scientifically proven to be good
for your health!
6. Just start the conversation
- Effectiveness: 10/10
- Cons: NO CONS!
Sometimes
you just don’t realise that the other party might be the one who is shy. I
myself am someone who doesn’t like to be the one to initiate a conversation. So
you just have to have the guts and say hello. Ask them their names or classes –
who knows, you might be in the same class!
So that’s it
mate! I wish the odds to be always in your favour and keep that cheeks smiling.
If everything else fails just contact me and I’ll be your dear friend.
- Anonymeh
- Patrick Star, Spongebob
Conquering Conventions
Modern 21st century students have an advantage over their parents from the 1980s. Unlike our folks, we have access to much more advanced forms of technology such as the internet, personal computers, smartphones and digital communication.
Unfortunately, most of us, especially our parents, are left
to wonder about the effects of technology to our generation. Internet
addiction, for example, could be the effect of unmanaged internet use. Instead
of discussing about the negatives, why don’t we list down the positives?
Phone Homework
As of 2014, almost every teenager has an indispensable
resource called a phone. These gadgets are equipped with cameras that can be
used for retaining memories through photos. The texts on a page of a textbook
can also be considered as memories once they are read, absorbed, and
understood.
The question is, which is better? To take 3 photos of the 3
pages for your biology homework, or to bring home a 400 page-Biology textbook?
The answer is obvious. A smartphone can do wonders if used
appropriately. As for notes, I’ll enlighten you on that one later.
Google the word
The average student mainly uses Google to find out if a
workforce strike will affect school, or for Wikipedia links. Meanwhile, on the
wider spectrum, we use Google for references in grammar and words.
Think about a word that outweighs ‘sad’ yet retains the
meaning of sadness. Forlorn, dismal, morose, and the confusing ‘melancholy’ are
just a small fraction of the synonyms I’ve found. This is actually very useful
advice, implement this to your English homework routine if it’s not yet a habit
of yours.
So you’re probably wondering about bringing a laptop to
class? No! As your vocabulary and writing style (more on this later) evolves,
you will rely less on technology, but being a bookworm does not mean you have
to abandon it. So if you’re with a teacher who abhors all forms of technology
from the 21st century, explain the benefit of smartphone
dictionaries/thesauruses for the long run.
All around charmer
So you’re too smart and you think that having a supermodel
body is not necessary. Or you think that Aphrodite can’t be seen as
intelligent, as she is too beautiful for smarts. Well, lucky for you, the fair
compromise would be to listen to lectures while exercising.
But I don’t have Japanese-sensei with me whenever I go for a
jog - of course! In most circumstances you won’t, but you do have, again, a
smartphone! Whenever you think that you can listen to music while exercising,
consider listening to a tutorial, lecture, lesson, etc. An example could be
just listening to French lessons while running on the treadmill.
The advantage here is just way too good to be true, but the
method is feasible. Healthy, cultured, charming~. You could soon be like
Leonardo Da Vinci, a polymath, after some time from double benefits. Two
rewards in one time. Thank you, to whoever makes lectures and the like!
I can listen, why subtitles?
HD TV, HD video, subtitles and
CC/DS. Well, you may not like this one because subtitles are distractive.
However, the mild distraction does have an unconscious advantage. Watching a
Korean drama with English/Korean subtitles won’t make you fluent in Korean or
English.
Subtitles at best, could be a
supplement to language learning. Also, it can provide tacit knowledge in
natural-sounding native communication.
Simply watch films with
subtitles, even if you already have a good grasp with the English language. ESL
people eventually become, or already are, great at English, but they could have
a quaint accent if they speak. But why not just observe native speakers at a
park or school? Because, technology will, for this generation, just be a
supplement to our education, but extensive hands-on experience with a
supplement is the key for the language barrier.
Note taking is outdated
But asking questions and
discussions are not. This is especially true if you’re currently in high
school. In a class of 30, it is most likely that everyone will have different
intellectual abilities. You could be in the “upper” group, while the teacher
caters to those from the average. You lose, unless if you study ahead.
Take a copy of the teacher’s
notes for reference. Study from a different source, perhaps a book or a study
on the internet. Retain useful information and integrate what you’ve learned
from school and from the different source together. Expanding your knowledge on
a single topic can snowball into deep, complete understanding, and sometimes
even uncommon information.
Tactical Reading
The strategy is to read, relate and retain knowledge from
books to support experienced knowledge. However, the twist is to take 4
different categories of books from your local library. Young adult fiction,
non-fiction studies, objective non-fiction, and a genre which piques your
interests.
Young adult fiction is
self-explanatory; typical books that fall under this genre include Hunger
Games, Harry Potter, Mortal Instruments and a whole lot more.
Non-fiction could look dry and
intimidating with their “big” words, but they involve a plethora of theoretical
and practical knowledge. Although textbook-type books often come to mind when
thinking about non-fiction, it is a lot bigger genre than that. Non-fiction
also includes biographies and autobiographies of prominent figures. Try reading
the biographies or, if you’re lucky, the autobiographies of the people that
inspire you!
Lastly, get something else,
consider it the dessert of your 4 course [book] dinner. Anything that will make
you a more interesting person, as well as increasing your overall insight about
anything you’re curious to know about. Could be languages, modern technology,
musical instruments, movies, anything at all that will have you something to
talk about while in school or at a dinner party.
Specialize in One Topic
Earlier I mentioned that you
should expound on some studies. Unfortunately, specializing is taking it to a
whole different level.
Have you heard proverbs about
every person having some kind of talent?
That is true, each person has
innate abilities just being inhibited for reason I am not known of. Until they
have cultivated their abilities, they will remain a “loser.” So if you know enough
about yourself, I’d recommend you to refine your most prominent talent.
This could be musical, academic,
physical, social, technological, lingual and even creative success. This is
also how child prodigies are made, they specialize in one field.
Polymath, a dead term
In basic definition, a polymath
is a person who covers a wide range of expertise. Or simply, someone who is
multi-talented enough in many fields. A modern polymath could be someone who
can cook like a chef, write like an author, paint like an artist, understand
like a psychologist while keeping a healthy social, intellectual and physical
composure.
Wouldn’t you love it if you were
an engineer who has an attractively healthy body, artistic talent, broad knowledge
including languages, and social tact? I would, and you would too if you were
given the option to choose over a polymath engineer or an average, regressing,
waning middle-aged guy.
Luckily, you probably have access
to a smartphone, the internet and a computer which make being a polymath a lot
easier.
So for the sake of simplicity,
you, young student, should integrate technology to your education the “right”
way. Unlike most of your colleagues and classmates, you can actually begin
investing time on yourself for your polymath standards. Just remember to use
technology and improve at the same rate it does. You don’t want to be like your
friend’s grandmother who has not caught up with modern technology. I would like
to remind you to supplement your life with technology, and culture yourself for
modern, evolving society because everyone wants to have good future, but we
want to have the best futures.
- Angelo
New Beginnings, New Challenges, New Life
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| Tim Shields |
Another
year has gone by and each New Year means a new start, a new resolution and
maybe a change in our goals. We often make new resolutions and set new goals such as improving
our attitude to be more sociable, or focusing on and excelling in our studies, or
even just learning something new, something that we have never tried. Moreover, some of you who are reading this might be looking forward to start a new life in another country. And that is
what I am writing about, my new life in Canada.
I
moved to Canada during the summer in 2013. I’m from Sabah, Malaysia and yes,
there are not much people from Sabah in Canada. I’m half Chinese and half Sabah
native, which is quite unique. Anyways, when I moved here I didn’t want to go
outside because it was too cold and I was not used to the weather. I started
out quite rough because I knew no one here, and I couldn’t speak my own
language except for my own family. I had zero knowledge about Canada, all I
knew is they loved maple syrup.
Just kidding!
I spent two
months locked up in my room most of the time and admittedly, there times when I cried because I missed my friends back in Sabah. It was quite challenging to accept the
fact that I'm so far from home.
Despite
all those barriers, I managed to overcome them in no time. My dad and I went to
Vancouver School Board to arrange my school documents. At the Vancouver School
Board, we found out about this event called Newcomer Orientation Week which was
held in August. The event was for students and teens who were new to Canada. There were activities, workshops, and helpful guides for them to have an awesome kick start in
Canada.
To be honest, I
was reluctant at first and I didn’t want to go because I was so shy. But I
forced myself to go and guess what? It was the best decision I’ve made because
it opened my eyes to so many new things. I learned that the government trains students to do volunteer work and helps them grow in terms of socializing with
crowds and boosting their confidence. Even though these students come from
different backgrounds or even different schools, they were still able to
communicate and work together well. It was a huge turning point for me and my
way of thinking. They taught me that we all face difficult challenges but with
perseverance, we could get through it easily, and that there will always be someone
to help you, only if you ask for it.
When
I started school, I felt the same type of homesickness that I did during my
first week of stay here in Canada. I’m currently in grade 11, studying at a
secondary school in East Vancouver. I started in September of 2013 and was
absolutely dumbfounded by the size of the school when I first saw it. To me, it
was huge because my former school in my motherland was small. I looked like a
lost child when I was roaming around the halls, looking for my class. I even
went in the wrong class for 2 weeks! I was very quiet and shy in the beginning.
Thankfully, I managed to make a friend! It took quite a while for me to adjust
in a new environment. I started socializing with more students when I was in
P.E class actually. Students were very friendly to me; they just come up to you
and sparked up a conversation, which was a surprise. And I learned from them, I
started to talk more and more in class and gradually became confident bit by
bit. If you are new student and are struggling to make friends, you have to be
patient and not give up easily. It is hard, but with patience and kindness, you’ll
find the right friends at the right time.
I guess I wrote this because I would like to encourage you to be courageous. Don’t doubt
yourself. Just go for it. Keep yourself busy with volunteer
works, sports, and roaming around Vancouver to appreciate its beauty. Discover new things by joining clubs in school such as
tech club, choir, dance team or even a leadership club. It is all worth it and
plus, it’s free! And if possible, get a summer job because you will gain
experience and learn new things besides earning money. Try to socialize more
too! And you must, MUST, try ice-skating. Even though I fell so many times when I tried it, I still had real fun. You should visit the PNE too and try the ‘Hellavator’. That is all from me
and I hope to write for you again next time!
- Sharon
- Sharon
Being a 'CS'
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| (Source) |
Have you heard about the
term CS in your school before?
You might notice that sometimes there’s a
student in your class who just sits at your teacher’s desk, marking some
papers, doing something on the computer or just organizing some of your
teacher’s files. When I was still new in Canada, I was really curious why
he/she didn’t do any work or project that the teacher assigned, so I asked my
friend and she said, “Oh! That’s a CS.” Since
then, the idea of a CS has made me curious. So I tried being a CS this year. I
have a free block (which means I have a period on a day where I do not have any
class), so many people advised me to take CS. I think it is a very good
opportunity for me.
What is a CS?
CS stands for Community
Service. In some schools, it might be called a “service block”. In high school,
it is usually associated with two meanings. CS can refer to the Community
Service class itself, which is a period in your timetable that requires you to
help or give “service” to someone. CS is also the term used to refer to people
who are in taking that class, volunteering to help a teacher or any staff at
the school.
What does a CS have to do?
A CS has to help teacher
from what she/he assigns. Sometimes, CS might have to find information from the
internet, check student’s homework, or type the assignments. (depends on who is
the teacher you are CS for)
Benefit of being a CS?
You will have free blocks!!
Yeahh!… just kidding. It actually depends on the teacher. For me, it is not
actually a free block. My teacher usually gives me some work to do. However, she
is really nice and she assigns easy tasks, which is why I regularly have free
time during that period. Another beneficial thing is that you can receive
credits for being a CS, too. The credits are the same as the ones you get for your electives. Being a CS is really worth it because you get to help others, get graduation credits for yourself, and do something interesting outside of your own home works/projects/quizzes!
How can you become a CS?
Well… My friend told me that
you have to be in grade 11 or 12 first. For the international students, you
have to be in grade 12, so you can take CS. I am not pretty sure about this, it
might depend on the rules of your school. Also, you have to have a free block
so that you have time allotted for helping someone (usually a teacher).
Probably the hardest step to becoming a CS is finding a teacher that you want
to help. This is really hard because usually, the teacher that you want to help
is going to be chosen by other students who are taking Community Service.
Chances are your favorite teacher has already been chosen by somebody else. But
after you select a teacher that you want to help out, you have to get the form
from the counselor’s room and fill in the form.
I definitely recommend
signing up for Community Service!
-Bam
