Getting Ready for Summer Jobs in Schools and Colleges in US and Poland

How are students getting ready for summer vacation and jobs in the USA?

First of all students are looking for ways to make money when they are off from school.  It would be best to get a job in the field, that is, a job related to their current or planned education and eventually profession or trade.

Political Asylum in the USA – the Joseph Stalin’s Daughter’s Case and Homeschooling

Immigration to the USA is strictly regulated by law, just like in any other or at least most countries in the World. 

The political asylum principle, requirements and proceedings are part of the system.  A person intending to emigrate from a foreign country and immigrate to the United States of America needs to meet certain criteria of eligibility.  Primarily he or she must be considered a refugee and be granted the right of asylum.  The link at the end of this sentence takes you to the outline of the complete rules and history regarding this matter of political asylum in the USA. 

Sometimes granting a political asylum decision is controversial and counter intuitive.  The Joseph Stalin’s daughter’s case is one of the best known examples.

How widely or loosely it can be interpreted shows the recent instance of German immigrants who were granted political asylum due to the alleged hardship of the lack of possibilities of home schooling there.

See ya …

Summer Jobs by Youth in the USA

Getting a summer job by students is another American tradition.  It has to do with the concept of raising children as independent individuals who in the future, as adults, will need to take care of themselves, make money and make a living on their own.

The last few years, especially the last summer of 2010, were unusually difficult for seasonal employment including summer jobs for the young due to the recession and high unemployment in the USA.

TOEFL – American English Language Test

When you apply to a college in the USA, you need a proof that your American English is good enough.  You will be required to take TOEFL and submit the score.

TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language.  This is practically the only exam you need to take to prove your efficiency in American English.  It is recognized world-wide.

American English versus School-ish

Schools are great!  I truly believe it.  There are also intrinsic school limitations specific to formal mass education.

It also applies to teaching and learning foreign languages.  The way I see it, the two most important confines are the lack of practical approach to contemporary issues and too much emphasis on grammar at the expense of vocabulary.  In other words schools teach the theory of the language instead of teaching the language itself.  Instead of having students speak the language, schools, as a rule, talk about it while the “learners” remain passive and unable to develop speech or simply use the language or just get to learn it for everyday practical conversations or "for real".

University of Illinois

The City of Chicago, Illinois has a reputation of being the most Polish city in the United States of America.

The State of Illinois also hosts one of the largest and best public universities in the country.  The University of Illinois has three major locations: 

Apple Picking

Picking up your own fruit (PYOF) by whole families is another great modern American tradition.  First half of the month of October is a great time for apple picking.  The weather is still quite warm and usually very sunny.  Combined with beautiful autumn foliage, it is just inviting to “go out there and do something”.

The history of the apple including the native American Crabapple is told by the University of Illinois Extension.  Here you can also find information on this fruit’s nutrition, stories and legends, cider, orchards, festivals and other “apple” facts.

Schools In the USA

The most noticeable difference American schools display and offer in comparison to, I guess the rest of the World, is the freedom of choice.

Starting in elementary schools in about fourth grade students, as a rule, can choose one of three advancement levels in a particular subject.  Average - is the starting point and the level where most
students are placed or prefer to stay.