Thursday, February 21, 2008
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A place for Writing 12 students to read each other's writing, to critique, to suggest, to improve.
About Me
- Brad
- Former adult teacher who loves island beaches. Happy homebody and family man; once devoted dog owner, now without Tashi, my Tibetan Terrier. I prefer the absurdity of the imagination to the absurdity of imagining nothing.
9 comments:
Education in the PALC
Learning will give you confidence and contentment in your life. PALC, the Pearson Adult Learning Centre, provides three important things to fulfill these goals. Good teachers, flexible schedules, and a convenient lab room contribute to the necessary atmosphere.
Teachers are as kind as your friends. When you have trouble in your study, they will help you, even though you are not in their class.
“Do you need help?” teacher L asked when I was reviewing my lesson. This consideration made me feel warm, and I have appreciated him very much since.
The schedules are flexible and have been separated into three sections, morning, afternoon, and evening. People can adjust their time whenever it is suitable for them. For example, I had to study in the evening when I missed my day time class; therefore, I caught up with my study which originally was in the afternoon. No matter how busy you are, the chance for pursuing education is equal for everyone.
In addition, the school has a lab room for students, where it is convenient for them to do homework, to use computers, or to ask for help. For example, many students including myself usually finished the assignments efficiently with teacher’s assistance. When I was in grade 11, I spent most of my time doing self pace in the lab.
The friendly teachers, the flexible schedules, and the convenient lab room are the most useful resources in PALC. This centre not only motivates adults to continue their education but also builds up their confidence and contentment in life.
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My Second Life
Five years ago, I retired from physical labour work, construction journeyman for 45yeras, and tried to rest myself from weariness which had piled up on me. Soon after, I found nothing to do beside a few odd things around my house. Life was monotonous, so I planned to enrol in Community College. It cost me 1200 dollar for one semester of English 10. Since I hadn’t enough education due to poverty when I was young, I felt lucky I could afford to spent money for what I had wanted for a long time.
At that time, my wife’s friend attended PCLC and she informed me the system of this school. I was half in doubt about tuition free school. I talked with a teacher-L- and realized that this could be my ultimate choice. I was right. I can start from any level according to my ability, can choose day or evening time and if no class available, I can take self-pace study in lab with help of teachers Monday through Friday. Teachers there are all wonderful! They know what kind of difficulties we face and every time somebody has trouble, they are willing to help you. Furthermore, people attending to school are very friendly so you will feel naturally. I am very happy to be one of them.
One of many good things about school, you will learn modern technology; computer. Through computer, you take lessons and home works, and in PCLC writing board there is the Pearson Buzz. It contains student’s interesting essays and useful information about teachers and school itself. Whenever I had chance, I read student essays and was amazed how little I know outside of my world. For last couple years, due to my busy schedule, I was not a steady student but try to hang on till I graduate. After all, half century’s absence, I can go back to school again and am very lucky to find my second life.
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PALC
Since landing in Canada,two things cone into my life:one is I have to learn English; the other is I will have the opportunity to learn something I've interested for a long time. And I find that PALC is the best place to help me to achieve my goal.
PALC is a good place for new immigrants to enhance English from a low level up to English 12. Now, I'm trudging on this way to improve my English. PALC also provides credit courses that meet the need of college and university, so PALC paves the way for the people who want to go to universities. PALC slso provides the professional skill courses, such as: accounting, biology and computer....
PALC doesn't seek profits--no tuition fee, and the door of PALC is open for everyone. The flexible pace is its another advantage: the classes at morning, at afternoon or at evening are very convenient for those who have to work. The policy is very success; I've watched a lot of my classmates graduated and went to their new lives.
The teachers of PALC are famous of their professional, responsible and patiently. They are both my teachers and friends. They eager to help me. When I make stupid mistakes, they correct them patiently and tell me how to do is better.
I am rejoice I"m a student at PALC. Now, I'm climbing up the upstairs of English Courses. Thanks for the help of PAlc. May be someday in future, I could achieve my goal--go to university to study something that I crave to learn.
A School for You
I tried hard to find a perfect school where I could get my high-school diploma. There is quite many, but as I found out none of them beats the Pearson Adult Learning Centre.
In PALC you will never feel like a stranger. The multicultural atmosphere created by liking and understanding students in addition to extremely helpful staff is the best ground to make one feel like home. Teachers are very friendly and they will never ignore you when asking for help or advice. I was surprised when after a few days in class I was greeted by my teachers during the recess:
“Hi, Kamila! How are you?”
Till today I have no clue how they can remember all the students and their names, but it is a wonderful feeling!
Moreover, the school is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Even if one is working or taking care of home and children, it is possible to choose among morning, afternoon, and evening classes, or even take a self-paced course to make the schedule that fits one’s daily responsibilities. You simply pick a day and time that suits you. Hours are very flexible so do not worry. Anyone can make it!
In addition to all the pros there is one more thing I want to mention. The tuition is $10! You can take as many courses as you need or want to and all you have to pay is a registration fee plus the deposit for rented books. It is an excellent opportunity for those who do not have too much money (who has?) and those who want to enter the college without any previous “debt-load”.
If you are looking for a school that will give you the opportunity to broaden your horizons, improve your skills and knowledge -- do not hesitate! Pearson Adult Learning Centre is a place for you! I am so glad I can be a part of it.
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Meditation-The Rave of Mine
Meditation is a kind of “Qi-Gong”, a system of deep breathing exercise. It enjoys equal popularity with “Tai-Chi” in China. Meditation is my favorite thing and I do it almost every day.
Sitting still, crossing legs, shutting the eyelids and keeping a deep breathing, you will get a feeling that a wisp of mist of the “Qi” originates from the tress of the foot of the hill and arises up to the mountain top, softly, slowly, and warmly. Then the “Qi’ gets strong, over the peak-top and down to the foot of hill on the other side, and then goes around and around , moving in circling in your body. Keeping the gesture and the meditative mind, thinking nothing, you’ll come to a deep meditation.
The theory of the “Qi-Gong” comes from the “Yin-Yan” theory of Taoism. It is said that the circling of “Qi” is just like the planets travel around in the cosmos. When you are in the deep meditation, you’ll sense the circulation of the blood and feel the freedom of mind. That is the united situation of the Heaven- and- human.
My friend, a doctor, told me that the situation of meditation is best for health, especially for the nerve system and the immune system. “At this time, your mind is in peace and harmony,” he said, “Of course, it’ll benefit for the free circulation of the blood and the brain health. Therefore, it can release the pressure of life and enhance the quality of your life. So, the stroke can be prevented and the Alzheimer disease can be avoided.
The meditation makes me full of vigor and keeps my head sober. The effect of “Qi-Gong” is so wonderful that somebody will refuse to believe it. It is true that does it first, and then realize.
From Ben:
The Benetfit for Studying in the PALC
The Canadian government's policy to provide the postsecondary education for all immigrrants, in order to accelerate them to merge into the current society smoothly.
The benefits for studying in the PALC are indescribable. PALC is one of the well-known postsecondary educational learning centre in the New Westminster. The school has provided a wide ringe of courses for the international immigrants to choose to fit in. The schedules in the school are flexible for students to take between day and night. With the most qualified teachers and tutors are employed, and they are always available in the lab to meet our need.
Government subisdized all the expenses for the school, and released the burden for new immigrants to pay any expensive tuition, and really saved our pocket quite a lot!
PALS is located in the commercial center of New Westminster. It's not only convient for us to get there, it also provides us a chance to shop around after class.
Except, the foregoing mentioned benefits; to graduate from PALC will be the most important threshold for further education in our life.
Learning in PALC
Learning in PALC has many advantages for second language students. Among them, the most important things are cheap tuition, experienced teachers, and interesting activities.
The most attractive is the cheap tuition. Every student only needs to pay ten dollars for registration. It can be afford by everyone! Some courses have textbooks, and students can rent them by deposit. Others are totally free! Students can get worksheets and teaching materials freely. It benefits new immigrants who have not found jobs yet.
In addition to the cheap tuition, experienced teachers are another fact to attract students coming this school to learn English. All teachers are professional teachers. They have many years teaching experience, and know exactly what are student’s needs and difficulties. In the class, the most amazing thing is that every teacher can well understand poorly pronounced English! Teachers also can know what questions students will ask beforehand. Even in the lab, the teacher who is not teaching the student can also help the student well. For example, when Trudi knows my difficulty for finding the definition of biological terms, she introduced a biological dictionary on the bookshelf in the lab. Teachers in PALC can absolutely help and improve students.
Besides, interesting activities are challenging and interesting work after class. English 11’s and 12’s teacher, Brad, created a blog for students. It challenges students to work out good quality compositions before post them publicly. It improves student’s writing a lot.
The interesting side is that students have a good chance to take a look others’ assignment, learning from each other, and share different ideas. Students interestingly find that different students have completely different views on a same question. The blog broadens their mind. Also, the blog makes students to practice operating computer. This technique is helpful and necessary for their lives today! Blog is a new and funny thing in PALC, and it provide enjoyment for students in their heavy and stressful study.
PALC is a good choice for learning English, its cheap tuition, experienced teachers and interesting activities make your learning more economic, effective, and enjoyable!
Why PALC is so special?
1. Suitable working hours and location (right on the border between Burnaby and New West). I would call PALC’s working hours “7-11”, because school is open 5 days a week from 8:30a.m. till 9:00p.m. with ongoing classes and constant teachers’ consultations in the Lab. Additional teaching materials and help are available on line through PALC’s website or Blogs during weekends and holidays. PALC truly provides the idea of continuous education: you can start class any time and move steadily towards your educational goal in a most suitable for you way by taking daytime or nighttime classes, or even self-paced courses.
2. Well organized, clean, and effective facility (4 rooms and 1 lab for …. students. It is, also, well equipped with modern technology and educational materials (comps, up-to-date software, active web-site, and blog-communications).
3. Unique, very friendly, homelike environment maintained by the small, but strong team of teachers with the special PALC features: high qualification and experience, friendliness, patience and understanding, broad minding and devotion to the PALC. PALC is a very multicultural society of teachers and students where Canadian culture prevailed, but cultural differences recognized and respected. With their random memory more than 256K, PALC teachers remember huge amount of social information: student’s names, places of their origin, and their achievements. PAlC is a great place to learn not only English and subjects, but also live experience and culture of people from different countries. I call our school a “filial of UN organization”. For many students PALC is intellectual,supportive environment where they are welcomed to learn new things in any age.
Day and night go and learn,
With the teacher, or even alone… and I did.
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The PBUZZ
The Pearson Buzz is a one year old electronic (web) newspaper where students of Writing 12 class of the PALC (Pearson Adult Learning Center) publish their articles. It consists of several rubrics, covering different aspects of people’s life and interests. Newspaper’s archive filled in with the results of hard, creative work of talented students of the last year class thoughtfully improved by Brad’s gentle editing. As our writers are from all over the world, you can find points of views from the people of different cultures, ages, sexes and experiences. While re-reading articles, I was amazed by the quality of writing. Many writers show unique individualities, non-standard way of thinking, good sense of humor and rich life experience.
All students made contribution, filling in the rubrics according their interests.My favourite writer is Hiromy (I like most of her writings), bur I also enjoy other students’ works that demonstrate strong sides of their writings: Larry’s good humor and love for animals, Katherine’s gentle, feminine voice; Casey’s passion, and Susan’s rich live experience. I was lucky to know better these lovely people through their sincere articles and was happy to witness their remarkable progress in writing. I hope that we will not let to put down the high level standard for good writing that our predecessors have established.
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