The educational system in Canada offers to parents different kinds of education. They have the right to choose the most appropriate education for their children. There are public, private, religious and international schools. Homeschooling is allowed as well, but the regulations vary from province to province. The education of children is one of the responsibilities of parents, and they must think very carefully before they make a decision to withdraw their children from the social learning environment in public school and place them in a homeschool. 

Homeschooling has as many advantages as disadvantages. Speaking of homeschooling, there are certain odds for children and parents. One of the advantages is individual schedule that parents create for needs of their own child. A flexible schedule allows to put an emphasis on certain courses which children are more interested and most successful in. It also allows adding some courses in the home school curriculum. It means that children might study at different levels of the different types of subject. In addition, parents can create a weekly schedule that fits their needs and allows them to do things without the force of a traditional classroom schedule. Finally, many parents know the time of the day when their children may work and learn better. Some children learn best in the morning; some of them in the noon or evening. This fact gives possibility to parents to make the best individual schedule for their homeschooled children. Another advantage of homeschooling is ability to study any time. It helps homeschool families to continue their children’s education at any time. Homeschoolers can learn at home in a relaxed atmosphere, and even vacations might be educational for them. Furthermore, children who are homeschooled may learn out in their community resources such as museums, libraries, business, marines and other resources in order to acquire new skills and knowledge.

At the same time some disadvantages can be crucial for parents who decide to choose homeschooling education for their children. One of the disadvantages of homeschooling is huge amount of work. Firstly, if they want to give a child perfect education, they have to prepare each lesson very accurately and be able to explain new information very clearly and in a understandable manner, especially if the parent is not skilled in some subjects. Secondly, parents still have household duties and chores that usually take a lot of time. They should remember that homeschooling is a full time job. Thirdly, there is no time for parents’ job besides home. Parents have to devote all of their time for home education of their kids if they want to give them quality education. The second disadvantage is social communication of homeschooled children. All kids need to have friends and be around other children or classmates. Some homeschoolers can feel cut off from their peers, especially during the teen years when friendship is very important for children. Besides, children miss the opportunity to learn how to communicate with adults who are not the members of their families and how to build respectful relationship with them.

Parents who decide to teach their children at home have numerous reasons as motivations. They include religious reasons, family reasons, poor learning environment at the school, child’s disability or special needs. If you decided that homeschooling is the best option for your children, you need to do research by internet to know more advantages and disadvantages of that kind of education.

The Computer, Blessing or Curse? By Valentina Volynkina

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Nowadays, it is not possible to imagine our life without computers. People use them all the time and all places. Since the first computer was invented, our life has changed so much. The first computer could occupy whole room or a building and was very slow. Modern computers might perform many complex operations instantly. Anyway, it was a real digital revolution. In my opinion, the computers give people a number of benefits; at the same time, the users can have some health problems if they overuse the computers.

Since we had the opportunity to use the personal computer, we have obtained huge amount of benefits. Above all, the Internet is the best invention, which people can use through the computers. Needless to say, how many possibilities this amazing thing gives us. For instance, the users might search any necessary information by the Internet; they can connect with their relatives, friends or business partners by the Voice services and Social networks; people may share any information with each others: receive and send letters, photos, audio and video, books, documents and one another; besides, the students have capabilities to gain on-line education by using electronic media and information and communication technologies (ICT); shopping and many types of entertainments for different  kinds of customers  are available as well. If the computer users don’t have the Internet for some reasons, they still have other capabilities to do not use the personal computers. There are many useful programs including programs that were installed in the computer initially, and programs that we can install independently. In addition, there is big amount of devices, such as scanner and printer, digital and video cameras, microphone, projector and TV screen and other devices, which connect with the computer and help to perform various tasks and works.

At the same time, the usage of the computer can create some health problems. People who overuse the computer might have the most common challenges with their health that are met among the computer’s users. Firstly, people can develop very serious problems with their vision because the eyes become dry and they are pressured when we work with the computer for a long time. Secondly, the users of the computers may have issues with the muscles and joints. It happens due to inactive work. Most often, it presents in the back and shoulders pain and the stiff neck. What’s more, the electromagnetic radiation, which is created by the computer, can harm human heath, too. One can experience very severe diseases under the influence of electromagnetic radiation such as the bleeding disorders, hypotension and cancer. Not to mention, that the radiation has the greatest influence on the immune, nervous, endocrine and reproductive systems of human body.

No doubt, the computer and the Internet have more advantages than disadvantages. We can enumerate them infinitely. They facilitated our life greatly. Of course, there are some disadvantages and challenges, but if people use this intelligent equipment reasonably, it is not harmful to human health. 

Valentina Volynkina: Finding Employment in Canada

Newcomers to Canada have to deal with some challenges before they can find their niche in the new society. These challenges can have serious psychological and physical influence on new Canadians and their families. In my opinion there are two main obstacles in the way of finding employment in Canada.

The lack work experience in Canada is one of the most serious obstacles for newcomers. In spite of the huge experience which newcomers had gained in their home countries, it is practically impossible to find a job because they don’t have Canadian work references. It can be acquaintance reference when a person who held a good position and knows your skills, your behavior and character can give you good reference. Also, it might be friendly reference when a person, who can give you reference, has friendship or relationship with the employer. Furthermore, statistic show that 85% job market in Canada is hidden. Therefore jobs offer without advertisement, and only employers, managers or supervisors have information about them; it is big problem to find a job for newcomers without networking in this country.

 

Language is the second great challenge that newcomers face in Canada. Knowing the language is key for social integration. It is very important to communicate with other people: neighbors, classmates, club members and etc. in order to feel themselves part of the community and society of Canada for rapid adaptation. On the other hand, newcomers can have problems to use available services and education system without English or French. Furthermore, they need to build new relationship and friendship because many newcomers don’t have friends or even family in Canada and it is not always possible to contact with people from their own ethnic background. Moreover, not knowing English or French in Canada can be obstacles for economic integration. Newcomers need to get attached to the labor market and to become work ready by Canadian standards. For instance, they have to learn how to write resume or be successful in an employment interview.

In conclusion, majority of newcomers who try to get a job in Canada, have difficulties with finding employment. Firstly, they have to solve problems related to obtaining Canadian work experience by volunteering, bridging programs, internship and etc. And secondly, they need to improve their language’s skills in order to integrate into Canadian society as soon as possible.

 

Valentina Volynkina: Food

Food has huge influence on people's lives. Our health depends on what, when and how we eat. As health generally as mood, performance, and even the ability to be creative, and our inner life depend on food. Food plays two main roles in our lives.

Firstly, food plays physiological role in the lives of people. Food provides the development and updating of the cells of the organisms. It is the source of energy for our vital activity - height, weight, normal hematopoiesis, vision, skin, performance and longevity. Also, food has an effect on the mental development of the organism. For example, there are products like alcohol, sweets, fast food, red meat, fat food that can cause depression. Not tasty and monotonous food can contribute to nervous diseases and mental disorders, as tasteless food reduces the emotionality, causes the apathy and promotes the fatigue. On the other hand, people eat vegetables, fruits, and fish less likely to suffer from the depression. There are necessary nutrition for human lives - water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins. They protect our organisms and vital organs, regulate systems, build genetic material and help to keep our skin, organs and hair in good shape. We get them by food that we eat.

Secondly, the social role of food in our lives is important, too. Food helps us to communicate with the family members, friends, colleagues and partners. There are the good traditions to meet with the family and friends to celebrate the holidays or the memorials at the same table. Family meals, where family members can discuss the current occasions and events of their lives, or to discuss plans for the future are very important for all generations. It helps the family members to get close, and friends to meet again in our busy time. A good opportunity to get close to the colleagues is a meeting with them in informal conditions at the holiday table. The discussions of the important issues with business partners are also not complete without a cup of coffee, lunch or dinner in the restaurant, which dispose to make the right decisions in business. Now we have a great opportunity to get acquainted with the cuisine of the other nations. People can do it by visiting the national restaurants. They can learn about cooking of the certain dishes from their foreign friends and acquaintances. With new dishes, we can increase our rations and enter the new dishes and food. And also we can introduce the cuisine of our own country to people from the different cultures. This is one of the ways to explore cultures of the other countries which is very important for understanding people of different cultures.

 

In conclusion I would like to remind that nutrition plays very important social and physiological roles in human lives, so it should be: balanced in the quality and quantity compositions, regular - 4-5 times a day in small portions, sterling with a ratio of the proteins, fats and carbohydrates 1:1:4 in the day, variety - vegetables, meat, fish, nuts, berries and herbs. This will contribute to the maintenance of health, physical and mental health and active longevity

Grace Tao: Food

Food is the most important factor in people’s lives. Since the beginning of human being’s history, people have gathered, hunted and planted all kinds of food. Why is food so important? In my opinion, food plays different roles such as material support and spiritual satisfaction in our lives.

 

Firstly, food provides material support to people. Food is our basic sustenance. It is ingested by an organism and assimilated by the organism's cells in an effort to produce energy, maintain life, or stimulate growth. Besides the need to survive, we also need food to provide energy in our daily activities such as study and work. What is more, food contains many nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. These substances are essential to our health. In some areas, people also use food therapies to cure some liinesses. For example, Chinese people are used to eating pork liver to treat anemia.

 

Secondly, food is also very important for people’s spiritual satisfaction. We enjoy the processes, both in preparing the food and in eating them. Spouses spend several hours preparing food for the ones they love. Those who eat them enjoy not only the delicious food but also love. Both food and the ways we eat have artistic expressions. We can find many beautiful books that teach us how to prepare food and eat food. In addition, food is a very useful method of communication. After a whole day of working and studying, dinner time becomes the warm and relaxing moment for family members. Parents and children eat, talk, listen and laugh. If we have dinner with friends, we can share our happiness and sadness. Furthermore, we often make agreements of business at dinner tables.

 

Therefore, food not only provides material support to people but also bring us spiritual satisfaction. We cannot live without food. We also need food to seek a high-quality life style. All of us appreciate the gift from nature: food.

 

                                            Grace

 

Arezoo Fallahjoo: Natural Disasters

Many parts of the world are prone to natural disaster. People are affected by natural disasters all around the world. As a result of this phenomenon, people's lives completely change .The impacts of natural disasters is various.

The impacts of natural disaster on public health are obvious. For one thing, people will experience physical problems that may take a long time to recover.  Certain infections and diseases will spread in disaster stricken areas and, some injuries will last for the whole life. This stressful situation may lead them to experience psychological problems as well. Mental problems are another negative effect of disasters. The loss of family members and relatives will lead to serious stress for the victims of natural disasters.

Natural disasters have negative impacts on economy as well. Tourism is an important part of the economy of the country.  Natural events like earthquake or thunder   will absolutely decrease the rate of tourism. Also, natural occurrences impact the trade. Import and export will be impacted negatively. Moreover, natural resources may be destroyed. As a result, poverty will prevail in a disaster area.

In conclusion, negative impact of natural disaster is numerous. On the other hand, it gives people opportunity to think about their values. What is worthwhile and, what is not? It would be wise not to take our life for granted, and find ways to support each other during difficult times.

Arezoo

Arezoo Fallahjoo: Social Problems

 

Nowadays, divorce cases have increased. With divorce come a lot of changes to family daily life. Not only children but also spouses experience various problems, stresses and difficulties as a result of separation. 

Divorce causes harm to the children more than other members of the family. As a result of divorce, the support they receive from home become less than before. Consequently, children experience a stressful environment. They have a limited time to be with their parents. When they need to have a talk or even a simple huge from them, they have to wait until the appropriate time. This situation increases the risk of emotional problems. They develop negative outlook and step by step, they lose their trust in their parents. Thus, the rate of happiness and health will decrease.

A lot of changes in family daily routine are another negative aspect of divorce. After separation occasions such as birthdays and New Year are never the same as the time when the family were together. These changes weaken the relationship between parents and children. The stress of this situation damages the parent-child relation and creates a distance between them.

In conclusion, divorce affects families not only in short –term but also long-term. It would be better if people are more responsible while making decisions about marriage and divorce as well.

        

Arezoo