A Look at Tinoco

A Look at TinocoTinoco was a not so ordinary romance novel. Originally written by Mitsuko Uehara, the author of Tenshi Zenki and the Dragon Princess novels, Tinoco is a self-aware satire of what it means to be women in modern society. The book's plot is interesting and off-beat, and its characters are all quirky and interesting.The novel is also one of the first to feature a growing animosity between a man and a woman that take place on a physical level. By reading Tinoco, readers could understand a little bit more about modern Japanese society than they would if they just read about it on paper. By seeing how some Japanese relationships operate on a physical level, readers could get a better idea of how they would react to those dynamics.Tinoco began with Mitsuko Uehara telling her story about her own experience of having two husbands. Uehara explains how she did not marry the first of the two men who promised to help her through her divorce proceedings. Instead, she married the sec ond, leaving her two children alone while she walked away from a good job at a pharmaceutical company. She described how she never really fit in and that she never felt comfortable in her relationship with the second husband.Throughout the novel, the author would describe how the Japanese society treats women differently. Women who have romantic relationships with men are a different breed of women from those who are married to just one man. In addition, those who fall in love and marry another man are not treated as badly as those who are married to just one man.Minaho Wachi was one of those women who was 'unmarriageable' in Japan. She had the chance to marry the first man she kissed but chose to go to Western University instead. She and her husband were still trying to decide how to spend their time as a couple when he decided to propose. She remembers being shocked when he pulled out a ring and suddenly realized that she was supposed to get married to him!Once Tinoco came out, Ja panese society decided that it would be great if the only way for men to be able to get their wives was to get a divorce. The Japanese culture considers divorce as a cruel act for a woman and a man to do to each other. To prevent this, they make it hard for men to be able to enter into a relationship with any woman, because they know that once she gets married, she will consider him unmarriageable. Not only that, but even if a man is able to get a woman to agree to marry him, they know that the marriage will be gone in the very next six months.Since the beginning of Tinoco, readers could learn about how complicated and painful relationships in Japan are, and how those relationships could be reformed if they are allowed to. The authors explain in Tinoco how the women from that society could get back at their men, as well as how their society can help women find happiness again.

Teacher Tips for Fostering Kindness

Teacher Tips for Fostering Kindness The primary focus of your job is to guide students toward learning and prepare them for the next grade and the real world. You might also work on cultivating students soft skills like perseverance and communication, but theres something else that matters: kindness. The Center for Creative Leaderships white paper, Empathy in the Workplace: A Tool for Effective Leadership, shares that empathy is positively related to job performance, while countless other experts cite kindness as an asset of some of the worlds most successful people. You care about your students long-term well-being. So, teach them not just to achieve but to treat others well along the way. Here are a few tips to cultivate kindness in your students: Lead by example. As always, your example speaks volumes. Treat your students with respect and compassion. Be a good role model for what it looks like to genuinely care for others. Teach them to find the good in others. Encourage your students to build up classmates, friends, and peers, even with small gestures like a smile or a compliment a day. This has mutually positive benefits on both sides. Talk about understanding. Thats what empathy is all about putting yourself in anothers shoes. Teach your students to take others perspectives and keep an open mind as they learn about the world and different people and cultures. Set expectations for high ethics. Discuss moral issues as they come up. Ask students what they stand for and how they walk the walk in their daily lives. Explain how actions affect others. Selflessness is at the root of being a kind person. Talk to your students about how they can have a positive (or negative) impact on others. A culture of kindness in your classroom will nurture students development of empathy, self-esteem, and more. This positive environment will strengthen your students as individuals and future leaders. Photo bySandrachile .onUnsplash

Four Common Questions About the GMAT and MBA Admissions

Four Common Questions About the GMAT and MBA Admissions GMAT MBA Admissions Blog The business school admissions process has a lot of moving parts. Understanding the details in how your application is evaluated by an admissions office is key to finding successâ€"especially when applying to top programs. To help ease your anxiety about the details of the applications, we have answered four common questions about the GMAT and MBA admissions more generally. If I want to go to a top 10 school, how important is getting a 700 or higher on the GMAT? Getting above a 700 on the GMAT is a good benchmark to set for yourself if you’re applying to top programsâ€"a 730 is a good goal to set for the best schools. But getting above a 700 is not a guaranteed admission, and getting below a 700 doesn’t mean that you’re automatically rejected. The testing issue is a threshold matter, meaning that once you have reached a certain threshold at top schoolsâ€"usually above a 700â€"that afterwards, your point of evaluation is more reliant on your work experience, resume, essays, letters of recommendation, and generally the rest of your application. And even if you don’t hit that threshold, schools will still read your application. Maybe you have a 680, but some incredible work experience and your own side venture and you sit on the executive board of a nonprofit and you have a very personal letter of recommendation from Phil Knight. Your lower-than-the-average GMAT score might require some more scrutiny into the rest of your application, but it won’t automatically get tossed into the reject pile. As you think about where your GMAT score should be, always look at the median scores at the schools you’re applying to. HBS (and most other MBA programs) includes a class profile on its admissions site. It clearly outlines its median GMAT scoreâ€"730â€"as well as the middle 80%â€"690-760. Try to get as close to the median or above as possible. You should always look at the differences in scores, class profiles, resources, and culture at different schools. Look through this article on HBS vs GSB to understand the differences between top schools’ class profiles. Is it important to be in the 80thpercentile or better on both sections of the GMAT? In order to get a good overall score, yes. A lot of the time, that’s not the case though, as different people have different strengths when it comes to testing. If you’re coming from a STEM background, you’re probably going to be scoring higher on the quant than the verbal sections. And the opposite might go for people coming from a more humanities-leaning background. Naturally, you should be scoring higher in these sections. If you’re not…that’s an issue. If you’re not reaching the 80th percentile in your weaker section, you’ll want to 1) Make sure to hit the other section out of the park and 2) Think about how to fill in this gap elsewhere in your application. If you’re quant isn’t up to par, use your resume to point out your quant abilities or ask a recommender to speak to your skills in his/her letter. How much work experience do I need? Again, for a general answer, you should look at the average age of admits at the schools on your list. Stanford GSB lists the average number of work experience as four years on its class profile site. Similarly, Chicago Booth’s Class of 2018 profile lists the average work experience as five years for its accepted students. The metrics at the schools on your list are typically the best way to gauge how much work experience you should have. That being said, this can vary student-by-student. If you have had an accelerated career, where you have been promoted twice in three years and have led your own projects and managed your own team earlier than usual and have stellar letters of rec, then you might consider applying earlier than five years of experience. Or, if you took a gap year in between graduating from college and entering the working world, you might need to extend your timeline. The best way to think about how much work experience you need, is to reflect on your accomplishments. Look at your resume, and consider your tangible achievements. Are they impressive? Then it might be time to apply. Do you have more room for growth at your current job? Then maybe hold off another year. In general though, 4-5 years of work experience (around 27 or 28 years old) is a good metric of time for averages at top MBA programs. In what situation should I take the GRE instead of the GMAT? You should take the GMAT if given the choice. The GRE is technically evaluated the exact same as the GMAT. But there’s still a slight bias in the admissions offices towards the GMAT. Taking the GMAT shows that you’re committed to this MBA degree, you’re sure that this is a necessary step to take for your future goals, and especially if you’re coming from a nontraditional background, taking the GMAT instead of the GRE shows that you’re serious about business school. That being said, if you’re applying to dual-degree programs such as Stanford’s joint/dual degree programs, then taking the GRE might make more sense to kill two birds with one stone. The other time you should be taking the GRE is if your GRE score will be significantly higher. This is something that depends on your individual profile and your test-taking abilities. About the Author Hannah Smith is a graduate of Stanford University and admissions expert at InGenius Prep.

Why your school needs employer branding and how to get started

Why your school needs employer branding and how to get started Feel like hiring teachers is a bit of a slog these days? Well, better get ready for how much harder it will be in a few years. New international teaching jobs are emerging in their droves, the pool of qualified teachers is dwindling year over year and competition for qualified international educators is getting more and more intense. When it comes to recruiting today’s teachers, doing things the way you do, mainly because that’s how they’ve always been done, is no longer enough. These guys have lots of options to choose from and that’s not going to change any time soon. So, what’s the secret sauce to thriving in a tricky hiring landscape, like the one we’re facing right now? It’s employer branding. It’s fair to say that there’s a whole load of HR buzzwords floating around these days. But employer branding is a fairly simple concept, and it’s been around in some shape or form since hiring people became a thing: What is it about your school that makes teachers want to work there in the first place? The best teachers aren’t going to fall into your lap without you doing a good job at identifying, communicating and managing your employer brand. So let’s cover some key areas to focus on when you’re thinking about building your employer brand (we promise, getting started is easier than you think!) 1. Create candidate personas Maybe you’ve never heard marketing chatter about buyer personas (lucky you!) Let’s break it down quickly: Personas are research and data-driven insights and characteristics of your target audience (in this case, your dream teachers). Creating candidate personas is the first step towards a) understanding who your ideal candidates really are and b) figuring out ways to differentiate your school from others in your region. So survey your current teachers, what do they like about your school? Find any external research on your target candidates, like Teach Away’s 2018 survey of 12,618 international teaching candidates - a bit of research will go a long way in helping you develop a thorough candidate persona. Candidate personas are especially useful to have on hand when you’re thinking about creating relevant recruitment content - that way you can ensure you’re putting messaging out there that’s attracting the right teachers for you. It stands to reason, for example, that highly experienced teachers with families will prioritize different things in a job than a single, fresh education grad, so you’ll need a different approach for each type. The benefits there are twofold - you can also stop wasting time attracting candidates who may not be qualified or a good cultural fit for the positions you’re hiring for. 2. Audit your careers page/job posting Take a nosey at your careers pages (whether on your school website or a third-party hiring platform) and your job postings. Is it easy to navigate and find the info candidates want to know about a prospective school, such as the career progression and PD opportunities you offer, what the salary and perks are like, etc.? If you’re a school that puts time into your teachers’ professional development and growth, don’t keep it a secret - candidates really care about that stuff. Are you following the “show, don’t tell” philosophy, featuring testimonials or videos from any employee advocates that spotlight what makes your school the place to be? Don’t let the lack of video skills hold you back on this front - a minute-long video previewing what the job’s really like from the perspective of real teachers at your school can be done on the cheap and even shot on a mobile, using free editing software like iMovie. Other fundamental things to look out for: Are your jobs and careers page mobile friendly? Are your job postings insightful enough to help candidates screen themselves in or out, depending on any make-or-break factors? These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself when reviewing your current recruitment content. 3. Assess your hiring strategy Which channels are you currently using you showcase your school? Are you missing any key ones? This isn’t just about ensuring you’re allocating your recruitment budget in the right places (although that’s a nice added perk). In 2019, your employer brand has to extend beyond your school website. It needs to be brought to life on education job boards and Google - as the top online methods of sourcing jobs, these are the channels that will help amplify your employer branding efforts. 4. Evaluate your candidate experience 91% of candidates agree that your hiring process has a significant impact on how favorably they view your school as a potential employer. So what does you’re current existing hiring process look like, from application through to the interview and job offer (or rejection)? You’ll want to create a clearly defined (and trackable) process so that you can be more efficient and evaluate what’s working well and what you could improve on. Take a look at your current recruiting tools, as well - is your applicant tracking system helping you automate certain tasks and free up resources that can be better spent on sealing the deal with the perfect candidates? 5. Benchmark yourself against other schools Now that you’ve taken a long, hard look at yourself, it’s time to research other international schools in your region to see how good (or bad) of a job they’re doing with their own employer brand strategy. Check out their careers page, job postings and see what you can find out about their hiring process. This is a great way to get some inspiration for your own employer brand and pinpoint ways you can differentiate your school from the crowd. There’s no international school on the planet that won’t benefit from using employer branding to help attract and hire the best teachers. But much like Rome, a great employer brand isn’t built in a day. By starting with these steps I’ve covered above, however, you’ll go a long way in shaping a positive narrative around your school and becoming - and staying - an employer of choice for great educators the world over. Happy hiring! Ready to access insights and trends from 12,618 international teaching candidates? Download Teach Away’s 2019 International Education Recruitment Report for free today. This article originally appeared in the Spring 2019 edition of AISA ConneXions, the bi-annual newsletter of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA).

9 Jobs to Consider This Winter Break

9 Jobs to Consider This Winter Break Image via Pixabay.com Winter break means relaxing to some hard-working students, but to others, winter break is an opportunity to get a little extra cash in your pocket, be it for Christmas shopping or for the expenses that will come when the spring semester rolls around in January. Whatever the reason may be, if you’re looking to earn some extra cash during your vacation, here are 9 jobs to consider for winter break. 1. Retail First on our list of winter break jobs is a retail worker. One area you’re almost guaranteed to find a job during winter break is in retail. Many stores will be looking to bring in some extra help for the holidays, which can be the busiest time of the year for those who work in retail. Part-time positions such as cashiers and stockers will make for a busy but exciting job over the winter break. If you enjoy helping others and are comfortable with multitasking, consider looking into a retail work this winter break. 2. Santa’s Helper If you’re really looking to get into the festive mood this year and want to help spread some Christmas cheer to others, applying to be one of “Santa’s helpers” at your local mall could be worth a try. You’ll be in charge of guiding little children to Santa and keeping the line to Santa’s workshop as orderly as possible, while keeping those in line entertained. Know any good elf jokes? 3. Driver Mobile Blood Drive Support Are you passionate about donating blood? Want to go beyond the needle and help even further? You could get paid to drive around one of the blood buses that runs blood drives in your local town or city. You’ll also get to help with preparation for the blood drive by helping pack and unpack the bus before and after your runs. 4. UPS Driver Helper UPS is looking for seasonal workers to help their drivers. Help the boys in brown deliver packages throughout town Monday through Friday and get to explore your town like never before. Another cool thing: some UPS seasonal positions offer a $100 weekly bonus on top of your regular hourly pay! 5. Ice Rink Worker Don’t live close to any ski resorts? That’s okayâ€"try applying at your local ice skating rink instead! Youll be surrounded by coworkers who love the cold as much as you do and get to help others learn the art that is ice-skating. 6. Warehouse Associate Amazon.com as well as a number of other online and physical retail companies have positions open in their shipping warehouses that could offer you a good paying job this winter break. The holidays are a busy blur for those working in shipping warehouses because of November and December gift-sending, so you can bet companies will be looking for some extra sets of helping hands during the winter. Image via Pixabay.com 7. Holiday Photographer Put your photography skills and equipment to use this winter break by offering to do holiday family shoots. You can opt to purchase a few props, like signs for those participating in the shoot to hold, or even Santa hats or antlers. Pick some areas near you that will offer those interested in getting their photo taken a nice backdrop or purchase some festive backdrops to use. Set your price to something  reasonable but relative to your skill levelâ€"PetaPixel  puts an amateur price point at anywhere from $25-$75 per hour and student price point at $50-$100 per hour. 8. Dress Specialist Want a job that’s both rewarding and exciting? How about becoming a dress specialist over winter break? You will be in charge of helping a bride-to-be find her dream wedding dress in store, keeping a smile on her and her entourage’s faces, and pairing the chosen dress with suitable accessories. Dress-hunting isn’t just for brides-to-be; expect to help prom dress hunters and others who are searching for that perfect dress during your time as a dress specialist this winter break. 9. Valet Winter break often equates to travel for many. Hotels and other businesses will be in search of valets to greet and park the cars of their guests and loyal customers. Valets can earn good tips if they do a nice job and park a lot of cars in one day. You could easily save a lot of money before it’s time to return to school for the spring semester. There you have itâ€"9 jobs to consider this winter break. As vacation time grows closer, I hope that you all have a happy holiday season and find a job that suits both your interests and needs. For even more jobs to consider this winter break or throughout the school year, check out this  earlier article.

A child educated only at school is an uneducated child

A child educated only at school is an uneducated child A child educated only at school is an uneducated child. ~George Santayana George Santayana was a philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist. Spanish-born, Santayana was raised and educated in the United States and identified himself as an American, although he always kept a valid Spanish passport.  He wrote in English and is generally considered an American man of letters. At the age of forty-eight, Santayana left his position at Harvard and returned to Europe. Education only  at school is truly only a fraction of the learning experience. Give your child  the best learning experiences  with our tutors.

?? Awesome Dyspraxia Resources For Teachers And Learners

?? Awesome Dyspraxia Resources For Teachers And Learners Awesome Dyspraxia Resources For Teachers And Learners When we talk about Special Educational Needs, or SEN, what’s the first thing that springs to your mind? Dyslexia, ADHD, perhaps even autism. But what about dyspraxia?You might have heard it mentioned in passing, but not really known what it’s all about and so kept quiet. Let’s face it, us humans are pretty proud creatures, we don’t tend to shout about it if we don’t know something. So, what is dyspraxia? Dyspraxia is a developmental disorder that causes the brain to struggle with coordinating things like speech, movement and organisation. Symptoms generally start to show in early childhood, often as excessive clumsiness and will continue into adulthood.Dyspraxia doesn’t affect intelligence, but it can make things like writing, typing, talking and planning tough in the day-to-day life of sufferers.For those that suffer from dyspraxia, some of the most frustrating parts are a lack of public understanding about what the condition actually is and strategies for coping with it . In light of that, we’ve been working with our expert SEN tutors to learn about how they support their students with dyspraxia and the resources they use to provide the most effective dyspraxia tutoring.We’ve compiled a short list of some of the most highly recommended dyspraxia resources for teachers, for parents and for adults and children living with it. Whether you want some practical tips on setting up a training plan, want to read some inspiring and thought-provoking bloggers who are living with the condition, or just want to learn a little more about dyspraxia, there’s a little bit of everything. Read on for some awesome resources! Practical Training PlansSkills for Action The Skills for Action website aims to provide parents and teachers of children with developmental movement conditions, such as dyspraxia, with information and practical suggestions on how to improve fitness and coordination. The goal is to provide all the training needed to enable dyspraxic children to perform the same actions as their classmates, such as sitting at a table for drawing and handwriting tasks, and participating in PE lessons and sporting activities.Included are suggestions for parents, teachers and tutors on providing dyspraxia support in the classroom and at home. The site covers how to decide what activities to include in a training program, how to motivate a reluctant child, how to find time for training in a busy daily schedule, and activities for training muscle strength, balance, agility and basic ball skills. You can check the site out here. OT Mom Learning Activities OT Mom Learning Activities aims to empower parents and teachers by providing photographed activities and information on dyspraxia training. The focus is on helping children develop the skills needed for formal schooling. “I try to keep jargon to a minimum and to explain concepts clearly”Produced by Tracey le Roux, a homeschooling mum with extensive experience in paediatric occupational therapy. Skills covered in Tracey’s site include fine motor, gross motor and coordination, visual perception and visual-motor integration. Handwriting, sensory processing and pencil grip development are also addressed. Tracey’s site has a wealth of information, alongside activities that are easy to follow and great fun to put into practice, all parcelled in a no-nonsense, easily digestible format. This site is a must for anyone with preschool or primary school-aged kids with dyspraxia!Take a look hereBlogsThe Blog With (More Than) One Post Starting off with the intention of writing a single blog post for Dyspraxia Awareness Week, Natalie Williams has now written countless posts, with her blog recently hitting over 160,000 views. Natalie has also appeared on BBC radio to discuss her experiences with the condition and is a champion of increasing awareness of the disorder.Natalie’s blog offers excellent insight into dyspraxia, from a personal perspective. She talks about her personal experiences â€" from everyday tasks to school and university â€" in an attempt to raise awareness of dyspraxia and hopefully help others with dyspraxia along the way. There are some awesome diagrams throughout the blog posts, which either explain specific aspects of dyspraxia or give a broader overview of the condition. We’ve had Natalie’s blog recommended by parents, students and tutors alike for her straightforward explanations and the description of her inspiring journey. For anyone wanting to understand dyspraxia from a personal per spective and see just how much you can do despite the condition, this is the blog for you!Check it out hereThink Outside of The Cardboard Box A common and difficult factor of dyspraxia is the anxiety, depression and low self-esteem that is often experienced in association with the condition.Think Outside of The Cardboard Box is an honest and often uplifting account of some of these effects on Rosie, a blogger and dyspraxia awareness campaigner. In her blog, Rosie talks about her day to day life living with dyspraxia, as well as her anxiety. It talks a lot about the emotional impact, self esteem, confidence and mental health issues that are experienced by sufferers, including Rosie. “I hope it helps other people feel not alone in their journeys. I hope it might help people in education understand especially emotionally how they can help people and the value of empathy and understanding”As an area that is talked about very little when attached to a condition that is under-reported, Rosie’s blog is an important resource for those working with sufferers, especially in education. A very personal account of the ups and dow ns of dyspraxia, the blog is well-worth a read.You can find it hereCharitable CommunitiesDyspraxia Foundation Youth The Dyspraxia Foundation Youth is the daughter-site of the charitable Dyspraxia Foundation. Both sites offer general information on the symptoms of dyspraxia as well as details of fundraising and charitable activities. Dyspraxia Foundation Youth is an excellent resource for young adults dealing with the condition. It offers loads of resources produced by young people with dyspraxia, that helps to limit the feeling of isolation that many sufferers experience. From podcasts, to videos and blog posts, there’s loads of stuff to get your teeth into. The resources are largely experiential, being produced by bloggers or active community members, talking about personal journeys through education, tips for people struggling to get to grips with the social impacts of the condition and personal achievements. There are also some great downloadable fact sheets for tips on dealing with anxiety, managing dyspraxia at university and how and when to disclose your condition to friends or employers.T his is a great site for all those young adults wanting somewhere to share their thoughts with people in a similar situation, or just to get some practical information on the subject.Head over hereSo there you have it, 5 awesome dyspraxia resources!Perhaps you know someone with dyspraxia or you’ve experienced it yourself, or maybe you’ve never heard of it before today!Either way, we hope these resources have shone some light on the subject and will help support your knowledge and experience of the condition.Which resources have you found the most useful? Are there any that we’ve missed off? Let us know in the comments below!