Alphalingo

TEN POSITIVE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ADHD/ADD STUDENTS

Alphalingo understands how to help and understands ADHD/ADD students

• ADHD/ADD is an ability not a disability. Students with ADHD/ADD learning styles are different to the majority of people that is all. 
• ADHD/ADD students are gifted and these gifts should be looked upon as positive rather than negative. Teachers of ADHD/ADD students need to be taught how to teach to their ADHD/ADD students learning style. The Education System needs to understand this too.
• ADHD/ADD students add value to the Education System and it is a total misconception and criminal that they should be treated as special need students. The System needs to rethink a learning strategy to help ADHD/ADD students reach their full potential. The present situation of medicating them is not I believe the only solution.

• ADHD/ADD students are very understanding as they know what it is like to be misunderstood. The Education System needs to understand their learning patterns and when they are understood they the educated with become the educators.

• ADHD/ADD students/people are exceptionally sensitive with very strong values and ideas but when misunderstood and their core values challenged. It is only then they will become defensive and reactive.

• ADHD/ADD students learn faster than the majority of students but because of this ability they miss steps and can get question wrong on the first go. This is where the teacher needs to step in and show the ADHD/ADD student to remember each step.

• ADHD/ADD students have prolonged concentration when they learn from material of great interest and which fits their learning style. If the material is of no interest and not taught according to their learning style they will find it very difficult to engage in the learning experience. The become restless and distracted and want to move around.

• Technology is an ideal solution to help ADHD/ADD people/students concentrate.

• When ADHD/ADD students are understood they are very relaxed and easygoing. Mood shifts occur however when they are misunderstood, made feel different and are isolated from the learning environment.

• ADHD/ADD students are a positive contribution to the Education System and should not be marginalised to fit into an antiquated Education System which hasn't adapted to the new age learner. The System needs to wake up and address this situation to help ADHD/ADD students reach their full potential and not by pretending to help by giving them medication.

• ADHD/ADD students are very intelligent too but just think, do and act in a different way. The Education System needs to change its approach and invest in ADHD/ADD students who are wonderfully, talented, beautiful people.

The Benefits of Technology and our Software to All Users in Schools.

Alphalingo believes that the use of computers and our software in the classroom can be beneficial to all students no matter what their abilities and to all teachers no matter what their particular styles.

Using computers in the classroom is especially helpful to ADHD/ADD students.

I worked with students who I was told had spelling and concentration difficulties however when these students worked on computers none of these difficulties arose.

The medical approach is to medicate ADHD/ADD children. Alphalingo offers an alternative educational solution to this. 

We teach teachers how to use our software, think like an ADHD/ADD student and show the teachers how to help these students and all students to reach their full potential.

Alphalingo has a an alternative solution to offer parents too. We aim to educate parents also on how to understand how ADHD/ADD children learn and see the world.

The Education System was built to suit a particular way of learning which works well for some students however the schools are now experiencing an influx of children who are not coping in the system. The system needs to understand that these children are especially gifted and have to be taught in a different way. 

Using technology and our software in the classroom would go along way to helping the teacher cope with the various learning styles of the students and especially ADHD/ADD students.

Alphalingo is putting a seminar together for teachers and parents in two months time.  We are working on the details at the moment.

Please call me if you have any questions or I can help in any way.
Anne

Would you not like your children to be part of an educational system that teaches

1) How to problem solve?

2) How to think creatively?

3) How to simulate life experiences in school?

4) How to learn coping strategies to help them through their lives?

5) How to collaborate and share with others?

6) How to understand other cultures and speak their languages?

7) How to be the best at computing technology?

8) How to reach their full potential and find their best career?

We at Alphalingo support the above steps to make the Irish Education System the envy of the world.  We have the vision, we have the software and we have the team.

Talk to me.

Anne

Director

I believe the Irish Education System is standing at the crossroads of change. All I want to say to the people in charge is reform, reform, reform and crossover to the other side of that crossroads and embrace the plethora of benefits that technology and the Alphalingo software can bring to students, teachers, principals, schools and the Department of Education. 

Alphalingo has the software, the vision, the people to put a school on the web.  I believe as the director of Alphalingo that there is technology in schools but it is not just about working on a computer in a computer room.  It is about teaching the whole syllabus online following individual lessonplans already predesigned ready for the teacher and the student to work independently, at their own pace and driving their own learning experience.  Alphalingo can teach all facts online freeing up the teacher to teach innovation, creativity and simulate risk taking experiences. We aim to develop every student to reach his/her full potential.  We just need the go ahead from the powers that be in the Education Department and the government. 

Reform is the only way academic standards can actual improve the skill of every student and equip them for the 21st century.  Our own online software can satisfy the need of every individual learning style whether it is visual, audio or kinesthetic.  Our traditional teaching and learning methods no longer have a place in the new age. 

Childrens learning styles are limited to rote learning and having a good memory but this is no longer enough, a new learning method for the new age learner is critically needed to educate our youth now.  Knowing content for an exam is no longer enough to equip our children to surive the new age.  Rote learning does not teach students to analyse, criticise and develop their individual opinon.  What the grind culture and teachers are actually doing are teaching our students to learn the answers by heart of a load of possible questions that may or may not come up.  How can recall be accepted as a way to grade our students in an exam.  When you go into the workforce like in companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Google they need creative, analytical, visonary skills to drive their companies forward.  A whole mind of information is no longer enough to cut the grade for these futuristic companies who push and push the borders of technology every day in our ever progressive world. 

So Taoiseach, Ministers and the Department of Education.....reform, reform reform. 

Have a good week.

Anne

I believe the way to raise the level of our childrens educational experience is:

1) Elect a government that is accountable to its electorate

2) Elect a government that understands the present educational system is floundering in the dark ages and is prepared to change it.

3) Elect a government that has the educational vision to provide a world class educational system.

4) Elect a government that does not cut corners with its most vulnerable students.

5) Elect a government that understands the value of real education.

In my view the Irish Educational System is going backwards, yes 1,000 more jobs have been created in primary and secondary schools as Irish students reach the one million mark but hey the stystem still discriminates the most vulnerable such as our special needs, disabled and disadvantaged students. Secondly, the only reason these jobs were created was the Greens held Fianna Fail to ransom.  Thirdly, who knows what area in education will be cut now to pay for the new jobs?

My vision is education is for all learners from four to a hundred years of age all under one roof.  The schools of the future will cater for all learners of all abilities.  People of my generation will look back with shame and say how did Irish society accept such an archaic system for our children?

Let us make a change.........a change in government.

Comments welcome.

Keep going

Anne

Did you know:-

Teachers do as much work before and after classes as they do teaching the classes.  The average full time teacher works approximately a 46 hour week and work much harder than ten years ago and have to face more and more unruly students in the classroom.  

Well Alphalingo has the answer to make life easier not only for the teacher but for the pupils and the principals.  

Advantages

The advantages of Alphalingo online learning are:-

1.24 hour access so that ........
2.saves time as all coursework needed is online
no need to prepare work in advance
no need to photocopy
no need to carry work around
no fear of losing the information
no need to file document
no need to correct coursework
3. Progress reports at the push of a button
      
Benefits

Teachers can enjoy spending more time helping students with difficult areas.
Teachers see their students progress improve daily and have more job satisfaction.
Teachers are more relaxed as classroom management is much easier i.e. students too busy to be disruptive.
Teachers are happier as more time to do more creative tasks like drama and debating.

Teachers do not have to worry about students needing class materials as all is online.

Teachers can teach more mixed abilities as each student can work at own pace and level (Differentiation)

Less stress and demand on teachers time as no preparing, corrections and monitoring  
homework is much easier.  
Less pressure for teachers 90% of the repetitive tasks of teaching are online.

Any comments welcome.

Have a good week

Anne

Our parents parents and our parents went without holidays, new cars, new clothes to educate us.  Now those difficult days are back again.  Mothers and fathers are struggling to make ends meat and provide the best for their children.  Families now have to cut back on all luxuries and live in survival mode.

But to get out of this recession there are two ways to put food on the table.  Firstly for banks to fund small to medium size businesses and secondly to fund technology in schools and colleges

We know that education is not a luxury but a basic right to all people of Ireland.  Everyone has the right to be able to learn and have a proper education in this country.  They should also have every support to achieve this and this should also include the best tools to ensure that every student reaches his/her full potential.  By reaching their full potential they are able to compete for the best jobs both at home and on the global stage.   

Depriving people of the very lastest technology to learn at their own pace and level is a criminal sin in my book.

Irish people believe in Education as a means of putting food on the table but would they accept that their children are being educated by a third world Education system.  Well that's what a large amount of students are faced with in Irish schools.

May I say to you the technology is available, the software is available and the right people are available who have the vision to modernise the Education system.  But nobody is listening as nobody wants to change an antiquated, ginding to a halt system.   

Well I do and I know how.

I would welcome any comments.

Have a good week

Anne

Ten things I learned about the Germans living in Germany.

Living in Germany was an unforgettable experience and the experience will stay with me for the rest of my life....here are a few things I learned during my stay in Heidelberg I hope it helps:-

1)Awareness of punctuality
Everywhere I went I saw a clock and it worked.  Punctuality is very import to most German people.  One lesson I learned is not to meet a German person and half past the hour as there understanding of half past three to them means half past four.  So to avoid confusion it is better to meet on the hour.
2)At the traffic lights
German people do not cross the road if the traffic light is red regardless of the fact that there is no car insight in my experience.
3)One way streets
Most German people are very conscious of rules.  For example if the street is a one way street they would not cycle up that street even though it is a short cut.  If you do you may find yourself talking to the Police.
4)Having a party
Do not arrive at midnight as there will be no one there.  A party begins and eight and is over at midnight and the discos I went to were over at one.
5)Recycling
Do not bring your bottles to the recycling area on a Sunday. German people are great at recycling and avoiding waste it is a very admirable trait but a very sensitive to noise on a Sunday.
6)Music
If you live in an apartment you are not allowed play your music very loud on a Sunday morning.
7)Shopping
If the shop closes at 6.30 it closes at 6.30.  In my experience the bananas and milk were taken off me because it was past 6.30.  
8)Asking a German person after his/her well-being
If you has a German person “How are you” they will go into detail they will not just say fine and walk on.  “How are you” means in German a more in-depth response than in English so be prepared to spend time listening to the answer or just say Hello and keep going.
9)Familiarity
In the German language like in the French language there are two pronouns for “you” where in English we just say you to everyone whether we know them or not.  But there is a difference in German.  If you don't know the person you say “SIE” and if you know the person for a while they will ask you do say “DU” when you speak to them.  It is important to know this subtlety so as not to insult someone you just met.
10)In the pub
If you drink dry martini you may be surprised when you get three drinks as drei pronounced dry means three.  The beer maid who takes your order ticks how many beers you drink on a mat and is very good at remembering what you drank so don't be tempted to swop mats with someone who has drank less.

I would love to share your experience and comments contact me

1)Exam tips for students

Exams around the corner?

A professor once told me the most important exam that I will ever pass was to be toilet trained.  While at the time I thought it was funny it didn't take away the worry of approaching exams. In school and in college the amount of topics to study where piled higher and higher on my to-do list and my anxiety grew more and more. 

I believe that everyone in a classroom should pass an exam if the student is taught how to manage and plan the material to be learned for the exam.  Just like a horse trains for a race students need to be trained how to manage the material to study for and to pass exams.  This to me is lacking in secondary schools.  The students are not thought how to learn, how to study, how to plan.  Students need to know tips and techniques on how to be successful in exams.  I think I will call it exam management.  There should be a subject solely on how to study and prepare for exams.

Once I learned how to manage my study and exam techniques my progress and confidence grew.

OK you are doing you mocks and you are panicking.  STOP ..worry gets no one nowhere.
Planning and organisation are keys to success.  

1) Be at your desk in plenty of time

2) Have all your pens and equipment at the ready

3) The paper is handed to you look at each section to be done in the exam

4) Chose the hardest question to be done first.

5) Plan your answer....have you prepared a mind map or notes to help you remember?
6) When you are answering monitor the time it takes you to answer the question as timing of the paper is critical.
7) Read the questions and answer the questions in complete sentences using the question for to begin your answer.  e.g. When did Barry return home?  Barry returned home when the evening drew in.   
8) Work through the paper section by section, watch your spelling mistakes and read over your answer.
9) By working your way through the paper you will become familiar with what is expected of you.
10)  The mocks are there to make mistakes so if you mess up in a paper don't worry it is a good lesson for the real exams in June.
11) The best advice to remain calm.  The best students are the most organised students.

GOOD LUCK!

Why Learn German Online?

Nothing improves your language acquisition more than a stay in the particular country whether its Germany, Spain, Italy and so on.  A stay in the native country is the jewel in the crown for improving and polishing up on your language skills.

But alas in these fiscally challenging times language lovers may find doing a language learning course in Germany is not a possibility this year but do not despair there is another option and that is online language learning which is growing in popularity all the time.  

Maybe you find you have more time now that you are between jobs? Why not learn a German in your spare time online?  Germany is pulling out of its recession and there are many job opportunities to be found there.

As the technological revolution is really happening now with the explosion and growth of internet users online from social media users like from Facebook to Online Language Courses there is a massive move to interactivity online.  Don't be left behind make the move and see how user friendly technology is!

So how can learning online help you be a better Language Learner?

1) Firstly, you need to decide a Learning Strategy

A strategy is a plan where you decide in advance:-

1)What you want to learn?
2)How much you want to learn within a specific amount of time?
3)How often will you will prepare and practice the topic per day/week/month?
4)How you will monitor and evaluate your progress?
5)When is it a quiet time when you are relaxed, comfortable and alert to study.

For example :-

1)You decide what it is you want to learn as a beginner i.e. your aim?
Your aim is to learn one topic.  The topic is called  “Meeting and Greeting People”.  
You want to be able to greet another person and talk about yourself, your name, where you come from, where you live etc.  

In this topic Meeting and Greeting People there are for example eleven lesson plans. This is the amount you want to learn in a month.  You decide you will spend 30 minutes on one lesson plan three times a week.   Therefore you cover three lesson plans per week totally 90 minutes.  

You decide the objective of each lesson plan is to know the dialogue, vocabulary, verbs, grammar and homework  You will also be able to answer all questions in the practice section.  The software will correct and record your score so you can evaluate your progress.

You then choose when best suits your lifestyle whether it is early in the morning when all is quiet or  after dinner when everyone is watching TV.

Have a look at our free trial

Comments welcome

Anne