In our previous post, we talked about some of the dangers that our children face online. Now, let’s talk about some of the productive ways our children can use the internet. With our guidance, they can maximize the power of the internet and use it to their advantage in our highly digitally interconnected world.
First of all, the internet is a great educational resource. Our children can access online courses on sites like Khan Academy and Coursera. They can also use educational games and apps to enhance their learning. Online resources can help them improve their math skills or learn a new language. Websites like Google Scholar, National Geographic Kids, and Britannica Kids are excellent options to explore.
Secondly, the internet is a place where children can enhance their creativity and self-expression. Canva for Education and Wattpad are great sites for creative activities. They can create and share their digital art, writings, and multimedia projects. Starting a blog or YouTube channel can also be a fun way to express themselves. However, adult guidance is still needed for this endeavour.
Thirdly, the internet has made social connections faster and easier. Our children can stay in touch with family and friends. It’s important that they are supervised while using social media and messaging platforms. From Google Hangouts to Zoom, Facebook to Instagram, there are still dangers, so parental supervision is necessary.
Finally, children can use the internet for career exploration. They can research various career paths and understand the skills required for different jobs. A simple Google search can direct them to numerous helpful sites that provide valuable information about their future careers.
With the right guidance, our children can use the internet safely and productively, turning it into a powerful tool for learning, creativity, connection, and career exploration.
Being away from home can be both an exciting adventure and a stressful experience for international students studying in Singapore. Getting to celebrate important events with their family back home is one factor that is vital to their general well-being and academic achievement. For many Milchelians, going home for holidays like Chinese New Year is especially significant. This post discusses the various reasons why spending special occasions with family is essential for foreign students in Singapore. Here, we emphasize the positive impact it can have on students’ mental, emotional, and academic well-being.
Cultural Connection
On special occasions, Milchelians especially those from China and Thailand, among others, like to return to their home countries. For them, it is a way to keep a strong bond with their cultural roots. Chinese New Year is rooted in cultural traditions, and being home during CNY connects them to their tradition. This connection provides a sense of identity and belonging, contributing to a more enriching cultural experience.
Emotional Well-being
It might be challenging and isolating to study abroad. Celebrating joyous occasions with family provides foreign students a much-needed emotional lift. The comfort and warmth of family gatherings during festivities create a supportive environment that helps reduce stress. This emotional recharge is crucial for maintaining mental well-being, promoting a healthier mindset, and enhancing the overall study abroad experience.
Motivation and Energy Boost
Special occasions offer a break from the students’ demanding academic schedule. These let students to recharge and return to their studies with renewed motivation. The upcoming celebrations serves as a motivational factor, providing students with a goal to strive towards during their studies. Knowing that a reunion with family is coming can serve as a powerful source of energy. It helps students overcome academic challenges and navigate the stresses of studying overseas.
Family Support
An important factor in a student’s academic career is family support. Having special events spent with family promotes encouragement and support. With the knowledge that their family is at their side, students resume their studies with a stronger support system. Students who get this support may perform better academically because they feel more safe and confident in pursuing their academic goals.
Creating Lasting Memories
Special occasions are opportunities to create lasting memories with family. These memories become a source of comfort during challenging times and contribute to a well-rounded overseas-studying experience. Having shared experiences with family adds a layer of depth to the overall narrative of a student’s time abroad, making it a more fulfilling and memorable chapter in their life.
The importance of Milchelians and other foreign students spending special occasions with their families, for example during Chinese New Year, cannot be overstated. Beyond the cultural connection, it provides emotional well-being, motivation, family support, and the creation of lasting memories. These factors contribute to a more positive and enriching study abroad experience. They also help students navigate the challenges of being in a foreign land and empower them to succeed.
Of course, we have activities planned for Milchelians who are staying in Singapore during the Chinese New Year period. Our dear kids will not be missing out on the festivities. From gatherings, snacks, and games, we make sure that they feel the festive spirit here in Milchel, their second home.
In our previous article, we talked about the importance of educating children about responsible and ethical online behaviour. In the current one, we will talk about how parents can support their children in this vastly digital era.
As parents navigate the challenges of raising children in the digital era, there are several strategies they can employ to support their children in developing responsible online behaviour.
Strategies in developing responsible online behaviour
First and foremost, teach your kids about cybersecurity. Instruct your kids on the value of having strong, one-of-a-kind passwords and the possible dangers of communicating with strangers online. Establish the practice of changing passwords on a regular basis and spotting phishing attempts.
Second, parents should lead by example at all times. Children learn up knowledge from seeing their parents. Act responsibly when using technology by keeping yourself clean online, being considerate of others’ privacy, and using it mindfully.
Maintaining open communication channels is another useful strategy. It’s essential to have open channels of communication with your kids. Urge them to open up about their experiences—both good and bad—on the internet without worrying about being judged. By doing this, you can build their trust and effectively lead them.
Additionally, establish boundaries for internet usage. Provide explicit rules about acceptable websites, screen time, and sharing personal information. Setting clear limits enables kids to learn the value of moderation and responsible use of technology.
Lastly, parents need to be informed at all times. The digital world is ever-changing, with new platforms and trends appearing all the time. To effectively guide your children, stay up to date on the most recent advancements in technology, social media, and online safety.
Of course, above is not an exhaustive list. It is just a set of simple steps that you can take to help your child. Continuous and consistent guidance to your children strongly anchored on the family’s shared values will be crucial in raising responsible digital citizens out of them. Ultimately, responsible and ethical online behaviour that they will learn from us will benefit them throughout their lives.
Milchel Student Hostel is known for providing holistic care to our students. In line with this, we attend do their physical, character, and academic needs. While each area is important, our academic support services play a crucial role in shaping our students’ educational journey. We believe in encouraging independence and equipping students with the necessary skills to excel in their studies. These study skills will also help them in their later university studies. Because of this, we offer well-designed academic support services to help every Milchelian achieve their academic goals.
Target Setting and Planning
We begin by setting targets and creating study plans so that our students have a clear path to success. Then, our Coordinators guide each child in developing a game plan for every subject. After the goal setting, students plan timetables with the guidance of our Coordinators. They receive planners and reflection sheets to learn and develop study habits and to empower them to take charge of their learning.
Study Sessions
Part of our study support services are supervised study sessions held at fixed timings within a suitable learning environment. Through a monitored setting, we create an environment that maximizes productivity and encourages focused learning.
Tuition Services
Furthermore, we offer personalised tuition sessions on an individual or group basis. Tuition lessons cater to each child’s individual needs and learning pace. Regular communication with tutors ensures that students stay on track and receive the guidance they need to succeed.
English Reading Programme (ERP)
Moreover, one of the unique features within our Academic care is the English Reading Programme. ERP is held every Mondays to Thursday during Study Session time.
A. Guided Learning. Conducted online, students do reading, writing, listening, and speaking exercises. Through these, ERP allows students to improve their vocabulary, grammar, comprehension skills, and sentence structure. Milchelians learn from the tips of our ERP teacher and from other students in their ERP groups.
B. Library. Our library of storybooks and magazines is suited to different levels. It provides a variety of interesting and useful resources for our students. We have a physical library at home and an online library for learners who wish to read from their devices.
C. Word of the Day.We expose students to English words every day. Bite-sized vocabulary learning through the Word of the Day further improves their language acquisition. Furthermore, this makes learning a new word feel less demanding.
We recognize that tuition alone or ERP by itself is not enough. English is a second language to our students. Because of this, they need maximum exposure to the language. On one hand, ERP increases language exposure and develops a love for the language. On the other hand, tuition equips them with valuable skills to score in Singapore-Syllabus English papers. Both are equally important in gaining language proficiency.
Communication with Teachers
Finally, we understand the importance of cooperation and communication with parents and schools. Because of this, we engage in Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) and maintain open lines of communication through email and messaging groups. By keeping parents and schools informed, we ensure that all parties work together to support the students’ academic growth. Over-all, we go above and beyond to exceed the academic support parents would wish for their children. We teach necessary values to raise successful learners of all ages.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the academic support that we give to Milchelians is never-ending. Beginning from the moment they stay with us, we guide them through Target Setting and Planning. As they work on their academic goals, we guide them through Study Sessions, Tuition and ERP sessions. We keep in close communication with their teachers to monitor their progress and make sure they are on the right track. It is our pleasure and honour to help every Milchelian reach their academic goals.
