Month: June 2021

The Case for Creative Learning

Parents around the world are interested in developing their children’s creative thinking skills and providing them with creative resources. Interestingly there are numerous studies in the field of linguistics, language pedagogy and second language acquisition backing up creative writing as an effective method that engages the cognitive part of the brain, develops creativity and benefits the development of foreign language learning. It has been shown that writing activities give language learners the opportunity to improve their word and sentence formation, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, cohesion and coherence.

 

Creative writing has been proven to engage both hemispheres of the brain, not only logic, strategy and organisation, but also imagination and emotion. Especially in the world we live in today, empathy, an aspect that creative writing not only relies on but also trains, is essential.

Learning Techniques

Language learning should be approached holistically as the broad picture matters as much as the details. Practicing creative writing in a foreign language helps you not only improve your grammatical accuracy and range of lexical resources, but also your sense of rhythm, imagination and humour. What creative writing can do compared to other language learning methods is that it encourages you to be inventive and make the most of the language you know, as you constantly try to find different ways to say the same thing or develop your ideas.

 

Sometimes less is more, so do not feel constrained or discouraged by a lack of knowledge. You do not need to be advanced in French or know all the Spanish tenses, nor do you need to master all the declensions in German to write a flash story or a short poem such as a haiku. A language learner does not need to have full control of the language studied to be creative, in fact, being creative helps you make the most of the little knowledge you have to play with. For me, creative writing activities are a true celebration of learners’ progress no matter what proficiency level they have.

 

Creative writing is a process: it takes time and dedication. Some people prefer to write their first draft as quickly as possible and then go through their text and edit it. Others prefer to reflect on each sentence written down as they had already decided on a genre, subject and format. Do not stress if you cannot come up with a good introduction: you can start writing your story fist and then decide on an introduction and conclusion at the end, once you have figured out the entire plot. What is amazing about writing creatively is that you can develop your language abilities without being under pressure, which in time helps you hone your skills. You can write a text based on your own interests, experiences, imagination and so it is one of the best ways in which you can counteract boredom. Not to mention that creative writing can be an individual, but also a collective activity. You can write a poem, a story or even a play online, with your friends, which improves not only your creativity, but also your communication and team working skills.

 

When you study foreign languages, practicing creative writing is not only effective, but also an enjoyable activity. It helps you break away from monotony, improves your language skills, nurtures your emotional intelligence and communication abilities and allows you to explore the language and the culture you are learning about without feeling under pressure. Creative writing helps you maximise your exposure to a new language, especially when travelling and social interaction are so limited these days. Step outside of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to write a little bit, if not every day, then once a week.

Academic Mentoring

Working with one of Think Tutor’s talented professional tutors or mentors could help you improve your writing skills, perfect your grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation, hone your personal style, as well as identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Register

All higher education applications in the UK are made through UCAS (University & College Admissions Service). To start with, you will need to register with UCAS and make sure that all your details are correct.

Find a Course & Apply

Use the UCAS website to research and find the right course and university or college for you. To help you choose, we recommend reading as much as possible about the subjects you’re interested in and compare them. Remember to check the entry requirements for each course which can be found on each course page. This UCAS guide explains most of the higher education terms used in the UK system. Undergraduate & Postgraduate courses have different entry requirements and processes so double check the course you’re applying to for guidance.

Oxbridge Application

If you are applying for Oxford or applying for Cambridge (you cannot apply to both unless it’s for a graduate or postgraduate degree) then you will need to approach your application with special focus. We can provide expert advice on how to do this, offering services that cover everything from support on drafting your personal statement to conducting mock interviews.

Accept your offer

After submitting your application, your university or college will be in touch to let you know if you have received an offer to study, or not. Your UCAS portal will also be updated when an institution has made a decision. An unconditional offer means that you have a place regardless of any pending exam results. A conditional offer means that you need to meet the specified entry requirements in order to secure your place. This is commonly exam results.

Arrange Funding

There are a number of scholarships and bursaries available to international students studying in the UK. View the whole list to see if you may be eligible for one

Apply for a Visa

You may well need a visa in order to study in the UK. You can do a quick check via the Government’s website to ascertain if you require one. A student visa will allow you to live and study in the UK while you are on your course. There are two main types of student visa:

 

Tier 4 (General) Student Visas – for those over the age of 16 and looking to study at a higher education level.

 

Short-Term Study Visas – for students who want to join a course that is 6 months long, or, an English language course up to 11 months long.

 

If you’re looking to work during your stay, you will need to check your visa type and your sponsoring college or university as this will determine the type of work, and the number of hours that you can carry out.

Prepare for your stay

You’ve got your offer confirmed, a student visa sorted, now you just need to pack your bags and prepare for a life studying in the UK. Don’t forget to book flights and get student accommodation sorted with plenty of time before the start of term.

So, why are industry experts asking questions?

The latest COVID-19 tuition catch-up plan announced on the 2nd June 2021 is comprised of an £1.4bn increase in funding, reportedly to be divided between:

 

• Schools (£580m)
• 16-19 year-olds (£220m)
• National Tutoring Programme (approximately £100m)
• Department for Education (£400m)

 

Whilst doubt remains whether schools will have autonomy to allocate the funds, it has been made very clear that investment is designated solely for the purpose of catch-up tuition. Despite widespread criticism of the National Tutoring Programme (NTP), it is expected the organisation will be the indirect recipient of the new funds, of which the international recruitment company, Randstad, is going to be the ‘Prime Delivery Partner’ responsible for its success. It is also unclear how exactly the increase in funds for the Department of Education relate to COVID-19 catch-up, with sources pointing to professional development as its primary use.

 

With ambiguity lingering as this eventful morning has unfolded, what are the key questions for parents, teachers, tutors and students?

How exactly are the funds going to be allocated?

Despite the UK’s increase in funding for catch-up education being considerably lower than the US (£100bn) and Netherlands (£7.3bn), the question of particulars is very pertinent.

What role are longstanding providers of professional tuition going to play in the latest catch-up effort?

Criticism of the National Tutoring Programme from respected voices of the tuition industry, such as The Tutors Association (TTA), over the quality of tuition providers has not been addressed by the recent announcement. Simply, parents, students and teachers alike have no guarantee that the tuition being delivered will be from professional tutors.

When is there going to be time for tuition in the school day?

With the core purpose of the investment catch-up, plans for a longer school day have been swept under the carpet amid reports of a shortened lunch break. Concerns remain about pupil burn-out and time for co-curricular activities.

What role will the arts, music, sport and other co-curricular activities play?

It goes without saying that the key to a well-rounded education often lies outside of core subjects. Furthermore, with concerns about student mental health rising to the forefront of the agenda for education policy makers, how much time spent on co-curricular activities, therefore, is a pertinent question for parents, teachers and students.

Are there going to be safeguarding measures in place?

With quality of tuition provided a vital factor in the success of the catch-up tuition, concerns over the safeguarding protections in place born from NTP controversies to assure parents and teachers are yet to be addressed.

 

With much left to be decided, and the future of catch-up tuition seemingly at a crossroads, Think Tutors remain poised to provide tuition to students who need it most.