Pros and cons of individualized

instruction
by Nigel Green

Personalized learning and individualized instruction are now recognized as crucial

elements of student-centric teaching that fosters real progress and achievement. This is
a significant departure from the way classrooms have been structured in the past as a
‘one size fits all’ environment with all students generally receiving information at the
same time and same way as their peers, regardless of their prior knowledge or
academic strengths and weaknesses.

Individualized instruction is bringing personalized learning to the classroom by tailoring

teaching to each student based on his or her interests and capabilities. This would be a
Herculean task for any one teacher, especially at a time when class sizes and demands
are growing, but fortunately, data-driven adaptive learning technology is making it
possible. Still, some aren’t sold on the idea of individualized instruction – after all, is it
really worth spending the time and energy completely revamping the American
education system? Like any innovation, adaptive learning may take some getting used
to. But when the pros outweigh the cons, it’s well worth it.

PRO: Close learning gaps

In any classroom, there often are significant learning gaps between individuals. The
challenge is to assist struggling students while simultaneously engaging gifted learners,
but that is exactly what individualized instruction aims to do: delivering material at an
optimal pace that caters to each student’s interests and abilities. Persistence in difficult
topic areas while moving at a ‘just right’ pace through areas in which the student excels
is the way to close learning gaps, and bring everyone to their highest personal level of
achievement.
CON: Extra preparation
Individualized instruction often requires a great deal of preparation up front. If the school
isn’t using an intelligent adaptive learning system that collects student data to achieve
personalized learning outcomes, teachers will need to thoroughly research the
academic history of each student and the ways he or she learns best. In addition, time
and resources may have to be put into staff training and development as educators
change their approach to teaching.
PRO: Build confidence in students
One of the main reasons that struggling students continue struggle is that they lose
confidence in themselves and their intellectual capabilities. Individualized instruction can
help students gain self-confidence as learners, because lessons are tailored to their
specific abilities. As students gradually build comprehension and mastery of more
complicated material, they gain the self-assurance that they have the skills they need to
be successful. This, in turn, helps them progress more quickly.
CON: Teachers need to adjust to a new paradigm
With the many changes associated with the transitions to individualized instruction,
personalized and blended learning, many teachers are questioning where they fit in the
modern classroom. Are they being replaced by machines? Will they still get to do what
they really love: teach? This is an understandable fear as technology has entirely
displaced many other professions (remember the typing pool?). However, with class
sizes growing past 30 in many districts, teachers are finding that the amount of time
they have to spend with each student is being dramatically reduced. Rather than being
replaced by personalized learning programs, many educators are finding that they are
excellent teaching partners. The use of technology is designed to free the teacher to
spend more time with individuals or small groups while the remainder of the class is
enabled to work at their own pace with the program. And by leveraging the detailed
student information many of these programs provide, the interactions between the
teacher and the students can become even more productive. However, additional
professional development will likely be required to fully realize these and other benefits
of a move to a blended or individualized learning program.
PRO: Greater engagement for teachers and students
Implementation of an individualized learning approach to education has been shown to
be a more engaging experience for both teachers and students. Instead of standing in
the front of the classroom and explaining new concepts, stopping to pause as students
(hopefully) calmly and patiently raise their hands, teachers have more opportunities to
interact with students one-on-one when using individualized instruction in their
classrooms. Self-directed, more independent learning frees up opportunities for
teachers to talk with students, assess where they are academically, and how their
individual learning plan can be tweaked to achieve maximum results.
CON: Restructuring the classroom
Implementation of this new approach to education may require a great deal of
classroom restructuring. For many school districts, hiring extra teachers to make
individualized instruction possible is not an option. Instead, they are turning to intelligent
adaptive learning programs and one or several blended learning models. This may
require a significant investment in technology up front, but will help many districts save
money in the long run. Classroom structures may need to be adjusted to accommodate
individualized learning – in other words, instead of the traditional rows of desks facing
the blackboard, classroom seating arrangements may need to be more flexible, so that
the teacher can work with individuals or small groups while the majority of students work
independently with a personalized learning software program.
PRO: Students work at their own pace
One of the greatest strengths of individualized instruction is that it gives students the
opportunity to work at different paces and on different areas without affecting the
learning of their peers. Gifted students may work ahead while students who are
struggling in a particular area can take the time they need to review and master a
concept they may have previously not fully understood. Best of all? This can all happen
in the same classroom.
To learn more about how technology can individualize instruction and personalize
learning

1. NLINE LEARNING

Strengths and Weaknesses of Online

Learning
All educators approach this new paradigm with varying degrees of enthusiasm and concern. Are
you optimistic or skeptical about Online Learning? Are you interested in knowing how
delivering courses online can improve your teaching and offer unprecedented learning
opportunities for your students, or do you want to know what you will be up against as you plan
and deliver your classes online? It is important to consider both the pros and cons of online
learning so you can be better prepared to face the challenge of working in this new environment
as well as embrace the new opportunities that it has to offer. Strengths or Weaknesses? You
choose which link to follow first, but please look at both – it’s only fair!

Strengths

Weaknesses
Strengths of Online Learning
There are many reasons why online programs have become a popular form of distance learning
in higher education today. The online environment offers unprecedented opportunities for people
who would otherwise have limited access to education, as well as a new paradigm for educators
in which dynamic courses of the highest quality can be developed. Here is a list of some of the
major benefits of online programs:

Anywhere…
The main advantage of asynchronous online learning is that it allows students to participate in
high quality learning situations when distance and schedule make on-ground learning difficult-
to-impossible. Students can participate in classes from anywhere in the world, provided they
have a computer and Internet connection. In addition, the online format allows physically
challenged students (and teachers) more freedom to participate in class. Participants access the
Virtual Classroom through their computers instead of having to “go to class” physically.

Anytime, Any Pace…

The Virtual Classroom is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Time efficiency is
another strength brought by the online learning format. Asynchronous communication through
online conferencing programs allows the professional juggling work, family, and study schedules
to participate in class discussions. There is no question about doing the work; just do it at the
times that are more convenient. Students can access their courses at any time of day or night.
Further, they have continuous access to lectures, course materials, and class discussions. This is
particularly convenient for those who may need to reread a lecture or take more time to reflect on
some material before moving on.

Synergy
The online format allows a dynamic interaction between the instructor and students and among
the students themselves. Resources and ideas are shared, and continuous synergy will be
generated through the learning process. Each individual can contribute to the course discussions
and comments on the work of others. The synergy that exists in the student-ce ntered Virtual
Classroom is one of the most unique and vital traits that the online learning format possesses.

High Quality Dialog

Within an online asynchronous discussion structure, the learner may reflect on comments from
others before responding or moving on to the next item. This structure allows students time to
articulate responses with much more depth and forethought than in a traditional face-to-face
discussion situation where the participant must analyze the comment of another on the spot and
formulate a response or otherwise lose the chance to contribute to the discussion.
Student Centered
Within an online discussion, the individual student responds to the course material (lectures and
course books, for example) and to comments from other students. Students usually respond to
those topics within the broader conversation that most clearly speak to their individual concerns.
These situations result in smaller conversations taking place simultaneously within the group.
While students should read all of their classmates’ contributions, they actively engage in only
those parts of the dialog most relevant to their own interests. In this way, students control their
own learning experience and tailor the class discussions to meet their own specific needs.
Ideally, students make their own individual contributions to the course while at the same time
taking away a unique mix of relevant information.

Level Playing Field

In the online environment, learners have a certain measure of anonymity. Discriminating factors
such as age, dress, physical appearance, disabilities, race, and gender are largely absent. Instead,
the focus of attention is clearly on the content of the discussion and the individual’s ability to
respond and contribute thoughtfully and intelligently to the material at hand.

Access to Resources
It is easy to include distinguished guest experts or students from other institutions in an online
class. Furthermore, today’s students have access to resources and materials that may be
physically located anywhere in the world. An instructor can compile a resource section online
with links to scholarly articles, institutions, and other materials relevant to the course topic for
students to access for research, extension, or in depth analysis of course content material.

Creative Teaching
The literature of adult education supports the use of interactive learning environments as
contributing to self-direction and critical thinking. Some educators have made great strides in
applying these concepts to their on ground teaching. However, many classes still exist which are
based on lectures and rote memorization of material. The nature of the semi-autonomous and
self-directed world of the Virtual Classroom makes innovative and creative approaches to
instruction even more important. In the online environment, the facilitator and student
collaborate to create a dynamic learning experience. The realization of a shift in technology
creates the hope that those who move into the new technology will also leave behind bad habits
as they adopt this new paradigm of teaching. As educators transform their courses to take full
advantage of the online format, they must reflect on their course objectives and teaching styles.
Many of the qualities that make a successful online facilitator are also tremendously effective in
the traditional classroom.
Weaknesses of Online Learning
While online programs have significant strengths and offer unprecedented accessibility to quality
education, there are weaknesses inherent in the use of this medium that can pose potential threats
to the success of any online program. These problems fall into six main categories:

1. Technology
Equity and Accessibility to Technology
Before any online program can hope to succeed, it must have students who are able to access the
online learning environment. Lack of access, whether it be for economic or logistic reasons, will
exclude otherwise eligible students from the course. This is a significant issue in rural and lower
socioeconomic neighborhoods. Furthermore, speaking from an administrative point of view, if
students cannot afford the technology the institution employs, they are lost as customers. As far
as Internet accessibility is concerned, it is not universal, and in some areas of the United States
and other countries, Internet access poses a significant cost to the user. Some users pay a fixed
monthly rate for their Internet connection, while others are charged for the time they spend
online. If the participants’ time online is limited by the amount of Internet access they can afford,
then instruction and participation in the online program will not be equitable for all students in
the course.

Computer Literacy
Both students and facilitators must possess a minimum level of computer knowledge in order to
function successfully in an online environment. For example, they must be able to use a variety
of search engines and be comfortable navigating on the World Wide Web, as well as be familiar
with Newsgroups, FTP procedures, and email. If they do not possess these technology tools, they
will not succeed in an online program; a student or faculty member who cannot function on the
system will drag the entire program down.

Limitations of Technology
User friendly and reliable technology is critical to a successful online program. However, even
the most sophisticated technology is not 100% reliable. Unfortunately, it is not a question of if
the equipment used in an online program will fail, but when. When everything is running
smoothly, technology is intended to be low profile and is used as a tool in the learning process.
However, breakdowns can occur at any point along the system. For example, the server which
hosts the program could crash and cut all participants off from the class; a participant may access
the class through a networked computer which could go down; individual PCs can have
numerous problems which could limit students’ access; finally, the Internet connection could
fail, or the institution hosting the connection could become bogged down with users and either
slow down or fail altogether. In situations like these, the technology is neither seamless nor
reliable, and it can detract from the learning experience.
2. The Students
While an online method of education can be a highly effective alternative medium of education
for the mature, self-disciplined student, it is an inappropriate learning environment for more
dependent learners. Online asynchronous education gives students control over their learning
experience and allows for flexibility of study schedules for non traditional students; however,
this places a greater responsibility on the student. In order to successfully participate in an online
program, students must be well organized, self-motivated, and possess a high degree of time
management skills in order to keep up with the pace of the course. For these reasons, online
education is not appropriate for younger students (i.e. elementary or secondary school age) and
other students who are dependent learners and have difficulty assuming responsibilities required
by the online paradigm.

3. The Facilitator
Lack of Essential Online Qualities
Successful on-ground instruction does not always translate to successful online instruction. If
facilitators are not properly trained in online delivery and methodologies, the success of the
online program will be compromised. An instructor must be able to communicate well in writing
and in the language in which the course is offered. An online program will be weakened if its
facilitators are not adequately prepared to function in the Virtual Classroom.

An online instructor must be able to compensate for lack of physical presence by creating a
supportive environment in the Virtual Classroom where all students feel comfortable
participating and especially where students know that their instructor is accessible. Failure to do
this can alienate the class both from each other and from the instructor. However, even if a
virtual professor is competent enough to create a comfortable virtual environment in which the
class can operate, still the lack of physical presence at an institution can be a limitation for an
online program. For the faculty as well as the participants, such things as being left out of
meetings and other events that require on-site interaction could present a limiting factor in an
online program.

4. The Administration and Faculty

Some environments are disruptive to the successful implementation of an online program.
Administrators and/or faculty members who are uncomfortable with change and working with
technology, or feel that online programs cannot offer quality education, often inhibit the process
of implementation. These people represent a considerable weakness in an online program
because they can inhibit its success.

Sometimes administration cannot see beyond the bottom line and look at online programs only as
ways to increase revenues and are thus not committed to seeing online programs as a means of
providing quality education to people who would otherwise not be able to access it. In such a
case, an institution that is not aware of the importance of proper facilitator training, essential
facilitator characteristics, and limitations of class size would not understand the impact that these
elements can have on the success of an online program.

5. The Online Environment

Levels of Synergy
Online learning has its most promising potential in the high synergy represented by active dialog
among the participants, one of the most important sources of learning in a Virtual Classroom.
However, in larger classes (20 or more students), the synergy level starts to shift on the learning
continuum until it eventually becomes independent study to accommodate the large class. At this
point, dialog is limited as well as interaction among participants and the facilitator. The medium
is not being used to its greatest potential.

What Should Not Be Taught Online

Even with recently generated excitement and enthusiasm for online programs, it is important to
recognize that some subjects should not be taught online because the electronic medium does not
permit the best method on instruction. Examples include: hands-on subjects such as public
speaking, surgery, dental hygiene, and sports where physical movement and practice contribute
to the achievement of the learning objectives. These subjects are probably best taught in a face-
to-face traditional learning environment. Hybrid courses may represent a temporary solution to
this problem, thus making that portion of the course more accessible to a greater number of
people who would otherwise have difficulty getting to campus. However, solutions of that sort
still underline the fact that online teaching cannot satisfy all educational needs and goals. Just
because it may be technologically possible to simulate a physical learning experience, this does
not necessarily mean that it is the best way to teach it.

6. The Curriculum
The curriculum of any online program must be carefully considered and developed in order to be
successful. Many times, in an institution’s haste to develop distance education programs, the
importance of the curriculum and the need for qualified professionals to develop it are
overlooked. Curriculum and teaching methodology that are successful in on-ground instruction
will not always translate to a successful online program where learning and instructional
paradigms are quite different. Online curriculum must reflect the use of dialog among students
(in the form of written communication) and group interaction and participation. Traditional
classroom lectures have no place in a successful online program. Education of the highest quality
can and will occur in an online program provided that the curriculum has been developed or
converted to meet the needs of the online medium.

Today is a very exciting time for technology and education. Online programs offer technology-
based instructional environments that expand learning opportunities and can provide top quality
education through a variety of formats and modalities. With the special needs of adult learners
who need or want to continue their education, online programs offer a convenient solution to
conflicts with work, family, and study schedules. Institutions of higher education have found that
online programs are essential in providing access to education for the populations they wish to
serve. In order for an online program to be successful, the curriculum, the facilitator, the
technology, and the students must be carefully considered and balanced in order to take full
advantage of the strengths of this format and at the same time avoid pitfalls that could result
from its weaknesses.

As someone whose work centers on teaching, I confess I’ve had to shake my head more than a
few times in recent weeks — not in judgment, but out of concern and compassion for anyone
who finds themselves suddenly thrown into the world of online teaching without preparation.

One of the biggest needs I see right now is a greater understanding of how educators can be most
effective when teaching remotely. Here are some insights for those among us who are jumping
into remote teaching:

Don’t wait. We all thought we were prepared for whatever may come our way, but in reality,
who among us saw a pandemic coming that could close down institutions across the country and
around the world for such a long period of time?

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Now is not the time to wait to see what resources or training will be recommended for educators.
Students need us to be in our game now. Find the critical knowledge we need to help to continue
to educate students.
Engage your students in the learning. One piece of advice for anyone new to online learning is
that it is critical that you find ways to engage students in the learning process.

Relying only on your synchronous lectures using a learning management system platform is not
ideal. While you can do some learning in that way, make sure you supplement with other more
engaging activities like discussions. Keep lectures short and make sure you record them for
students to review later.

Teachers need to be engaged in the learning environment as well. If you are providing content to
your students using a learning management system, make sure you are regularly in your online
classroom to answer questions, engage in discussion forums, and provide timely and relevant
feedback on assignments.

Students in an online classroom can easily feel isolated, so it is critical that we are regularly
interacting in a variety of ways. This can help create a virtual presence in the classroom.

Share resources. If you find great resources, you should definitely share them with your
colleagues. Others may not know where to go and may be waiting for answers from
administration. In the meantime, students are not getting what they need to learn and grow.

It will be important for institutions to carefully evaluate their remote teaching strategies across
all courses after the Covid-19 crisis subsides. Institutions will need to use post-mortem feedback
from both their students and faculty to improve their contingency plans to positively impact
teaching and learning, in the event of a crisis in future.

10 Reasons Why Learning English Is the Best

Decision You Ever Made
Hello, English learner!

Do you need some motivation? Are you wondering why you are working so hard to learn
English?

I’m here to help.

Imagine having a cool superpower that can help you out in many different situations, or a magic
key that can unlock thousands of doors that were once closed to you.

English can be your magic key.

Now imagine that you are using this magic key to go straight into difficult situations and help
other people, solve important problems and get people to communicate well.
With a key like that, you would nearly be a superhero!

Those ideas may sound nice, but maybe you want some real, strong examples of how you can
use English to improve your life.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take
anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Try FluentU for FREE!

How Can I Use English in My Life?

Think about a time when you were at your local pharmacy and a tourist needed help filling a
prescription. The pharmacist and the tourist just could not seem to understand each other.
English could save the day. English could help that tourist heal from an illness or feel more
comfortable.

Now think about a time when you were traveling abroad and you could not speak the local
language. Have you ever done this before? It can be a little bit scary. You might need to find a
certain bus stop or the nearest restroom—quickly! Luckily, many people around the world speak
English, so a little bit of English can solve your problems abroad, no matter what country you are
visiting.
One day in the future, you might go into an interview at a large corporation and find that your
interviewer is a native English speaker. Even if they want to speak in your native language at
first, your hard work to learn English—the international language of business—is about to pay
off. Talk to them in English to demonstrate your skills, and they will see that you can be a very
valuable employee.

English is only the third most-spoken language by native speakers. However, when you count all
the people who speak English as a second, third or fourth language, then English is definitely the
most-spoken language around the world!

English is really everywhere, so you will be able to communicate with native speakers and EFL
(English as a Foreign Language) speakers all around this huge planet. You will help others,
communicate with a huge diversity of people and help yourself unlock all sorts of life’s doors.
That is great, right? This will hopefully give you a little motivation to study English today. Now,
keep reading! We are now going to talk about all the most important reasons why you should
study English. Once you read these, you will stay motivated for your whole life!

10 Reasons Why Learning English Is the Best

Decision You Ever Made
1. You will discover that English is easy to learn

Most people think that learning a language is very difficult.

In many cases, it is easier for certain people to learn English because English is related to their
native language. For example, for people from Europe who are learning English, they find that
English is closely related to their languages. German is very close to English. French has
influenced English a lot. Plus, English speakers can be found nearby in Great Britain! They can
easily travel to practice, and it is very likely that they will meet English speakers in their home
countries.

For people who live in different parts of the world and speak languages that are not related to
English, English can sound very foreign, confusing and frustrating.

However, there is something important that makes English very easy for everyone:

Availability of resources. Because English is such a widespread language and is found all over
the globe, the resources you can use to learn English are endless. It’s easy to teach yourself
English because there are tons of resources on the internet for free. Sometimes you will need to
pay a little bit to take an English course online or access another resource, but they are often
worth the money.
So, get started! Watch cartoons or sitcoms in English on YouTube, Netflix, Hulu or other
English TV websites for free.

Worried that you won’t understand enough of those English resources?

That’s exactly the problem that FluentU solves. FluentU lets you watch real-world English
videos—like movie trailers, music videos, inspiring speeches and more—and transforms them
into personalized language lessons.

Every video comes with interactive subtitles. Click any word for an instant definition, grammar
info, memorable picture and examples. There are also flashcards and fun quizzes built into every
video.
As you watch, FluentU remembers what you’ve learned and suggests more videos and examples
for you based on that information.

This way, you learn new vocabulary naturally while absorbing English the way native speakers
really use it. Plus, you can practice anytime, anywhere with the FluentU mobile apps for iOS and
Android.
For additional personalized English resources, you can even go online to hire an English
speaker to communicate with and teach you on Skype.

English is everywhere. Take advantage of this fact!

2. You can find more job opportunities

Many large companies around the world require that their employees speak English. In some
cases, these companies are requiring their workers to only use English.

As the world becomes more global (better connected), it is only natural that big businesses will
want and need to communicate more. Right now, everyone is trying to learn and communicate
with English. English is becoming the common language that people from different countries and
cultures can use to communicate with one another.

For example, imagine that a businessperson from Israel, who speaks English and Hebrew, wants
to do business with a someone from South Africa, who speaks English and Afrikaans. Even
though they both started learning English as a second language in elementary school, they can
use English to communicate with each other!

As Rakuten’s CEO Hiroshi Mikitani told CNN, “if you want to become successful in other
countries, you need to internationalize your headquarters.” Because people from around the
world know English and use it to communicate with everyone else, it is important that employees
also know English. English is an important part of this process of becoming
more internationalized.

You do not just need English to work at American, Australian and British companies. In my own
experience as an English professor in Korea, many students have come to me asking for help
with required English interviews at Samsung, LG and other large Korean companies.

By learning English, you can be well-prepared for interviews with any large, international
companies. And, luckily, there are plenty of resources out there to help you practice for your
English interview.
Not to mention, English is great for careers with travel, tourism and hospitality.
3. You can become better educated
Not only does knowing a foreign language expand your brain power, but you can use your
knowledge of English to learn more and more things about the world.
These days it is relatively easy to take an English class. Whether you take this class online,
on Skype or in the classroom, there are many options out there.

But here is a new idea for you: Have you ever considered trying to take a class about a specific
subject in English?

Imagine all of the things you could learn by taking an American history class from an American,
a math class from an Australian or an English literature class from a British teacher?

This kind of class, taught completely in English, will let you learn about culture, intonation, body
language, vocabulary and slang while also learning about an interesting subject like history, math
or anything else that you personally love to study!

Furthermore, there are many great works of literature, science, history and social science that
were written in English first. Do not lose anything by trying to read a translation. Instead, you
will come closer to the heart (the main idea) of what the writer is trying to say by reading the
original writing in English.
4. You can easily travel anywhere in the world
I am a native English speaker and I have traveled to many places in the world. Communication
has almost never been a problem for me, because people all around the world speak English. I
have been able to speak English in every country I have visited. While learning a few words in
the local language is always a good idea—it is polite and shows respect—English will help you
with the details of travel.

In many places where you will travel, people find English important for their businesses. They
need to know English in order to communicate with potential clients and customers. In most
hotels, at least one employee will speak English—often, many of the employees speak English.
This makes it easier for customers to get what they need and spend their money.

Even people in small town markets around the world know how to bargain with English
speakers.

You will find that some of your best interactions will be with people on the streets who are trying
to sell you something or who are looking to improve their English speaking skills. English will
bridge the communication gap on your travels and make traveling a breeze.

5. You will know the global language

It is a historical fact that the economic power wielded by Great Britain and America over the last
few centuries has resulted in English being so widespread today.
This has taken a long time, and many good things and bad things have happened in the process.
English spread through war, trade, slavery and religious missionaries. History is complicated and
it is not always pleasant, but today we can recognize that English is being spoken everywhere in
the world.

We cannot change what happened in the past. However, we can use English as a positive power!
We can use it to bring the world together, to communicate with people from foreign countries
and to understand each other better.

Not only will it make traveling easier, but English will also allow you to know more about global
trends, culture and social issues. It will give you a deeper understanding of people’s different
perspectives on life.

You will be able to communicate with people who do not speak your native language, and you
will be able to consume thousands more news sources, blogs, books and songs.

Knowing English will let you be part of a global conversation!

6. You will learn about culture

Language and culture cannot be separated. Language is culture, and culture is language. Simply
said, knowing English will give you a better understanding of people who live in English-
speaking countries. Knowing the English language gives you more insight into how people think,
live and work.

If you do not know about the culture of English-speaking countries, this might lead
to misunderstanding what people are saying in English.

It is not enough to just know basic words and phrases. To communicate well in English, you
must know about things like tone, body language and facial expressions. You might think an
English speaker is being crass, rude or dismissive when they are not!

If you understand which words or expressions are acceptable and unacceptable in English-

speaking cultures, this might save you from a cultural misunderstanding with your English-
speaking friends and coworkers.

7. You can improve your understanding of science

English is the language of science.

If you want to learn, publish or speak with authority in the sciences, you must learn English.
Pharmacists, engineers and doctors around the world must always learn English along with their
other subjects in university. In most cases, their other class subjects are taught in English or
come with an English textbook. Most medical schools in America require English as part of their
coursework. In other countries, this happens too.

Science research is primarily published in English, and most abstracts (the summary of the
research) are written in English so that international scientists can read them.

Getting a jump start in learning English can give you a head start in medical school, help you
earn a biology degree or it could give you the tools you need to study at one of the world’s best
universities for science.

8. You can date more people

Okay. Maybe getting a great, romantic date is all the motivation you need.

Got it!

Well, you will be happy to know that English will increase the number of people you could
possibly date. Try meeting people who speak English on a dating site, through Facebook or
another social media site.

English speakers are generally very understanding when talking to people who are learning
English, and they have plenty of patience. Do not worry if your English skills are not perfect yet.
You are already very interesting because you are bilingual!

9. You can improve your confidence

I doubt there is any person alive who does not wish they could speak another language. It is a
skill that everyone would love to add to their resume. With a little bit of studying every day, you
can have this skill. Then you can be very proud of your ability to communicate with a wide
variety of people.

Learning a language is hard and everyone knows it. People will automatically respect your
commitment to learning and maintaining your English. Your ability to help and communicate
with people will help you earn respect.

People will also seek you out to learn about you and your perspective on things. They will be
interested in you and your experience in life. They will want to know the thoughts, hopes, fears
and opinions of someone from another culture. When you feel more like you are more
interesting, you will feel more special and confident!
10. You will exercise your brain

If nothing else, learning English will make you smarter and keep your brain strong.

Scientists have been demonstrating that bilinguals are able to understand concepts quicker and
get better scores on tests. Who would not want that?

So, be smarter, more confident and helpful, get a job and date more.

That sounds good, right?

English is one key that unlocks a world of possibility.

Why Adaptability is Important in

Helping You Manage Change
How do you prepare yourself mentally to handle whatever life throws at you when you wake each
morning?

Do you end up feeling anxious and worried when you think about what each day holds for you?
Change is inevitable in life. Though emotionally disturbing, arming ourselves with lots of
adaptabilities will go a long way in handling change. People who adapt easily are flexible set of
people who you find excelling in a team.
To measure your level of adaptability, you will need to seek the opinion of others who understand
you well. People who fail to adapt end up being too rigid, making them form unhealthy habits.

Though adaptability may not be an inherent ability in us, it is something anybody can learn with
time. Adjusting our expectations will go a long way in helping flow with the winds of change, by
making us more adaptable.

Ways adaptability helps us

There are lots of benefits we can gain by being flexible and adaptable. If you have reached that point
in life where adaptability becomes necessary, just know there are lots of benefits to be gained. It will
definitely not be easy at first, but patience and practice can do a lot.
#1 Your value will increase at your workplace
In this modern era, adaptability has become the watchword of doing business. What this means is
that as an employee, you must be willing to adapt as well.
Adaptability opens up your mind to new ideas, makes you question status quo, and gives you the
willingness to go against convention. Adaptable people aren’t scared of change, as they will first
make necessary plans to handle it.
Most organizations are now emphasizing the importance of adaptability amongst the employees, and
this trend will definitely continue into the future. 91% of HR experts believe that by 2018, the major
criteria for recruitment will be the ability of a candidate to adapt. If you really want to shine out in
the job market by then, it is important for you to start now in sharpening your adaptability skills.
Doing so ensures you remain marketable even in the ever changing business atmosphere.

#2 Adaptability is a skill every leader must have

Adaptability can’t afford to be missing if you want to do well as a leader. Adaptable leaders earn the
respect of their colleagues and motivate those they lead to embrace change, making business
operation as smooth as possible.
In an article titled; Why Flexible and Adaptive Leadership is important, Rubina Mahsud and Gary
Yukl said; “Threats which are often unanticipated will always arise to sink an organization, damage
properties, and lives. One way an organization can survive this threat is by responding quickly to
these threats when they arise. Adaptive leadership is what every organization need if they are to
survive troubling times.”

Leaders are always confronted with challenges that require them to be decisive in implementing
change. Failure to arrive at a decision as fast as possible can cause their organization to sink in fast.

#3 Adaptability creates more happiness and overall life satisfaction

According to Guy Winch, there is so much we stand to benefit when we are willing to adapt. One of
the most prominent ones is more happiness in life. “We will always be confronted with
Psychological challenges in life. Some after waves of hopelessness take a bow; some courageously
take on these setbacks, learn whatever lesson life gives them, and then move on with life. One fact
we can’t deny is that our happiness, satisfaction and ability to build a quality relationship; is largely
dependent on our adaptability skill.”
Adaptability helps you stand strong in seeming hopeless situation. Once you assure yourself that you
have all it takes to begin the change process right within you, you will have unlocked more happiness
for yourself.

#4 Makes it possible for you to smoothly go through career changes

Let’s say you find yourself back again in the job market after some major downsizing in your place
of work. What will you do first? Throw in the towel, and then let hopelessness take over you as you
search for jobs? Or will you consider all your options, and then find out where your strength really
lies, and then search for jobs in industries you haven’t worked in before?
If you are adaptable, finding another job won’t be much of a work and when you finally find it,
managing the job’s task won’t take much effort from you. Overcoming procrastination will become
quite easy for you, as you will find updating your resume something you will be doing all the time.
Adaptability increases your chances of succeeding, as you will find yourself trying out different job
roles while searching for a job.

#5 Whenever life knocks you down, bouncing back will become easy
There are times we experience unexpected unpleasant situations in life. Being adaptable ensures you
stay afloat when adversities of life try to sink you down. Instead of running away from reality, you
embrace it and flow with it.

Adaptable people are resilient people. Dean Becker, an expert in resiliency is the view that our
success in life is built on our ability to adapt. 09162611205
He went on to say, “An individual’s success isn’t dependent on their level of education, intelligence
or experience. It is their level of resilience that really matters. This is true in sports, medicine,
business etc.”

Adaptability expands your capacity to handle change, no matter how serious it might be. Instead of
throwing away your energy trying to change your circumstance, you will change yourself right from
within, thus making you thrive in whatever situation you find yourself.

The Importance of Religion

March 16, 2020 | Hope Channel Southeast Asia

Religion is an important part of life for many people. Even people who are not all that
religious by nature consider it to be important. The question is why do they feel this
way? The reason is largely down to the belief that society needs religion. As a society
we benefit from our collective religious beliefs. In fact, there are many people who would
argue that we could not function without religion. 1 

The biggest reason that society needs religion is to regulate behavior. Most of the laws
that we follow today have their basis in religious teachings. There is considerable
debate as to whether or not religion is required to make us good people but what is
beyond dispute is that the rules for what is acceptable for society are largely based on
religion. Without religion we would almost certainly live in a different type of society. 1 

Religion performs the following functions: 

1. Religion provides mental peace: 

Human life is uncertain. We struggle for survival in the uncertainties, insecurities and

dangers. Sometimes we feel helplessness. It is the religion which consoles and
encourages us in all times of crisis. Religion give us right shelter. We get mental peace
and emotional support, which encourage us to face our life and problems. 2 

2. Religion inculcates social virtues: 

Religion promotes the major social virtues such as truth, honesty, non-violence, service,
love, discipline, patience, kindness, joy, goodness and faith. 3  

3. Religion promotes social solidarity: 

Religion gives raise to the spirit of brotherhood. With promises and commandments
about doing good to every person we meet, we have the incredible big but amazing task
of being people of trust to others. 4 

4. Religion influences our health: 

There are two things in religion that help to influence one’s health, and this is prayer and
meditation. When you pray and meditate you activate the brain and stimulate clarity as
you do your thinking. Religion is helpful in a human being because it enables her to
memorize things. Religion in our lives has the role of clearing our minds and promoting
our well-being. 5

5. Religion gives us a sense of purpose: 

Religion helps us to define our lives, and thus we can say it gives meaning to our lives.
Religion helps us to deal with the most stressful moments of our lives because it gives
us hope to move on. It enables you to avoid depression, and so your life moves more
smoothly and in a healthy manner. 

References: 
1 
www.academia.edu/3838157/Importance_of_religion_in_todays_world
2
 https://es.slideshare.net/zeeshanahmed125/religion-as-institution
3 
Holy Bible, Galatian 5:22
4
 Holy Bible, 1 Peter 4:7-11
5 
http://www.edgewatergallery.net/religion/importance-religion-society/

 
  

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