Teacher’s Blog: Reflections on Education, Culture and Life in Canada by Mike Simpson

Word of the Year 2020-2021: From Pandemic to Vaccine (What Comes Next?)
I stumbled upon an interesting article about the "Word of the Year: for 2021 and I wasn't surprised what it was: vaccine. Vaccine was on the lips of millions, and eventually into the arms of millions too, including me and my family in Toronto, Canada. It was on the...

Happy 2022: My Thoughts on Trends in Tech and Education and Making a Pivot This Year
Wow, happy new year! What a year that passed! 2021 felt like a series of ups and downs. I personally have felt the challenges and I am optimistic that 2022 will we can grow and pivot, to take on new perspectives and implement novel approaches to engaging with people...

The Roots of English: How Latin Expressions Say So Much with So Little
What are the roots of Latin in English? How common is it? Latin is a fundamentally important historical language that has contributed to the development of many other languages around the world. According to dictionary.com: "Over 60 percent of all English words have...

How Blogging and Social Media Can Improve Your Writing and English Communication
Journaling! Start your draft with pen and paper and then go digital!Ā Image credits: Unsplash / Brad Neathery + Hannah OlingerStart a blog or write using social media - it will change your life! And you might have fun doing it š I'm passionate about writing and...

Fall Tours, Field Trips, and Seasonal Photo Spots in Toronto and Ontario
Feature image: my photo of the University of Toronto campus in downtown Toronto (photo taken at Trinity College looking south toward Soldier's Tower)Fall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada can be epic. It's a beautiful time for a road trip or local outing to witness the...

Hi! Greetings from an English and ESL Tutor in Toronto, Canada
Bonjour! Hola! Privyet! Hi! Welcome to my site. Please note canadatutor.ca is now myenglishtutor.ca. Ā Above are greetings in a few of the languages I have familiarity with. The first is French: Bonjour! The second Spanish: Hola! The third the informal...

Happy New Year! Reflecting on 2020 and Looking forward to New Opportunities in 2021
I wish you a very Happy New Year! I’m excited to celebrate the arrival of 2021! Without a doubt 2020 was one crazy year. For many this year brought profound change and new ways to interact. 2020 introduced new terms like “new normal” and “social distancing.”

Remembrance Day Resources and Videos (In Flanders Fields by John McCrae and more!)
Remembrance Day 2020 will certainly be different, but I will be tuning into services and ceremonies on local tv. I think a virtual ceremonies will be fine for honouring the veterans and those who served and sacrificed their lives for Canada and Canadians.Ā Ā I have a...

How Does ‘Supermom’ Succeed? (Gender Roles and Work Life Balance for Women)
In an interesting article in the New York Times, the issues facing women seeking political positions are discussed. How does a woman balance family with high pressure jobs? There's plenty of resistanceĀ to women seeking power but if they have "supermom" it seems to...

COVID-19 and Education: Are We Risking Our Health Going Back to School in September?
Note: This post considers whether schools are safe for us to return to and is also directed at parents and families who are considering homeschooling Now that the heatwaves of summer have arrived Iām about ready for fall. Kidding and not kidding. I enjoy summer. It...