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The Problem with an American-centric Curriculum and How Englist Does It Better
Every day across Taiwan, students at buxibans, bilingual programs, and “international” schools open American textbooks filled with stories about the 4th of July, historical figures like George Washington, and jokes that don’t quite land. Taiwanese parents and administrators assume these are the best path to fluency for Taiwanese students—but are they?
Writing, rewriting, and why we do it in the classroom
Last semester, a few parents decided to remove their kids from class about halfway through the term. The parents argued their children were doing too much work during class time — specifically drafting their writing tasks as well as redrafting them after I had edited them … To them, this was evidence of a lack of learning. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Make kids readers
One of the most common questions we hear from parents is “What else can my son or daughter be doing?” And the answer is always – “Read!”
Academic Writing
5 reasons to take Englist’s “Critical Thinking and Citizenship” class
Addressing injustice and encouraging positive citizenship are major goals of education. Therefore, students should learn how to critically examine instances of injustice in their world and lives, develop the skills to address these issues, and develop confidence to engage in democratic and political processes as adults.
What is writing? And why do we write?
Writing is important, and once you realize what it is for, it is fun. But more than just fun, writing is a powerful tool and it will train you to do the most fundamental thing human beings do. That is because: …
To Kill a Mockingbird and Lit Class in Taiwan
How Taiwanese kids learn about this book, and so many others, could be done so much better if we would move past the idea that for a curriculum to be “American” it needs to be copied and pasted wholesale from American high school lit classes. More specifically, students at Englist enjoy and understand advanced books like TKAM because we approach them differently than anyone else in Taiwan does.
Elementary Fundamentals
Make kids readers
One of the most common questions we hear from parents is “What else can my son or daughter be doing?” And the answer is always – “Read!”
English as a Second Language vs English Language Arts vs Academic Writing
We get a lot of parents who are sticklers for grammar and vocabulary practice, and the fact we don’t emphasize these mainstays of traditional English learning can be confusing for people who learned this way. However, English class as it was done in the past isn’t particularly effective. What is the purpose of knowing all the rules of grammar if you don’t understand when and why to employ them in speaking or writing? How is having memorized list after list of vocabulary helpful when you don’t understand connotation or how to use words in a given context?
With this article, we hope to clear up the differences between types of English learning to help parents make more informed decisions as to what their students need.
How students improve at Englist
Englist helps students not only gain proficiency and confidence in English-language academic settings, but also ensures students possess the complex and sometimes hard-to-identify skills required for success in an increasingly global world. Here is how we do it.
College Applications
How to prepare for the TOEFL
A good TOEFL study plan can do a lot to prepare you for the test. These steps will help you organize an ideal study plan. TOEFL format and scores Useful resources Practice strategies Tutoring Conclusion TOEFL format and scores Overall, TOEFL scores you on a...
What is academic writing and why is it important?
Academic writing has become an increasingly important part of education as parents and educators realize the value of critical thinking skills and preparing students for college. Still, many students, parents, and even other teachers don’t have a great grasp on this area of learning and why it is so critical. As such, at Englist we find it is important to not only teach academic writing, but also help everyone understand why it is imperative to the development of thoughtful and capable students.
How to prepare for the IELTS exam
By Teacher Jon A good IELTS study plan can do a lot to prepare you for the test. These steps will help you organize an ideal study plan. Useful resources Ideal study space Understanding the test format Immersion - not over-study Taking mock tests Practicing...