Student Blog Pages

Summer School Gives You the Edge

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Posted by Sarah on June 5, 2011 – 5:45 pm
Filed under Fun Stuff!, School News, Student Work

Summer is back and once again everyone is wondering how to make the most of their holiday.   If summer school is on your list of things to do, here are some great reasons for you to go ahead and sign up:

  1. The brain is a muscle and it needs exercise.  The more you learn, the more powerful you brain becomes. Don’t get out of the healthy habit of learning!
  2. According to researchers, you can forget up to 30% of what you have been taught during the academic year, if you don’t engage in any mental activity during the summer holiday.
  3. This break from school gives you the opportunity to brush up and improve on your existing academic knowledge. Getting a step ahead during the holiday might be a little sneaky, but it is not cheating!
  4. Should you decide to concentrate on English this summer, you will be amazed at how much confidence it generates. This could be the key ingredient to making that academic breakthrough.
  5. Learning is an enjoyable experience!  Most institutes have smaller class sizes so you get more chance to interact with your teacher and classmates, and practice skills taught. Make the most of it!
  6. You will make brand new friends from all over the country. This is an opportunity to broaden your horizons and interact with fabulous, interesting and exciting people your age.
  7. When you return to school, college or university, you will be amazed at how much you have advanced in one or two short courses.

Let summer be a time that you reward yourself for the hard work you put in all year, by making sure that you stay ahead of the game.  It is up to you….

Remember “A child educated only at school is an uneducated child” (George Santayana).

Modern Gulf Institute has opened registrations early this year due to the popular demand of their Summer School. Numbers are increasing by the day and classes are filling up.

2011 SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMMES

The Young Learners

6yrs to 12yrs

DATES:  11/06/2011 - 3/08/2011

TIMES: 8am – 10am

English, Arithmetic, Swimming

Young Adults

13yrs to 18yrs

DATES: 11/6 /2011 – 6/7/2011   and/or 9/7 /2011 –  3/8/2011

TIMES: 10am – 2pm

General English and IELST preparation.

Register now or miss out on all the fun…

MGI students support Earth Hour initiative 2011

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Posted by Deidre Harvey on March 28, 2011 – 10:50 am
Filed under Fun Stuff!, Press Articles, School News

We all too often get tangled up in our consumer driven day to day lives that we forget about the bigger picture. Sadly, for a very long time, people have looked around and noticed only the differences between themselves and others. They pay attention to the varied shades of skin, ways of praying, languages spoken and mealtime traditions. What humanity has forgotten is that we have one magnificent thing in common, without which, none of us would be around… Her name is Mother Earth.

We have been warned time and time again about the detrimental effects of our wasteful ways and lack of concern for our planet. Save water! Don’t litter! Use less power! Turn off the lights! Use less gas! So, where is it exactly that we all plan to live when our time runs out? The joke is on us fellow polluters. We might be late out of the starting block, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t finish the race.

Modern Gulf Institute is proudly taking part in Earth Hour 2011. Earth Hour is held on the last Saturday of March every year, and all it involves is switching off your power for one hour, between 8:30 and 9:30pm. It is estimated that over 130 countries will be taking part, and we are pleased to add Oman to that number. Let us show the world that we are paying attention to this beautiful world and that we too intend to do our part to save the planet.

MGI Offering Job Seekers Programme

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Posted by Deidre Harvey on March 6, 2011 – 3:33 pm
Filed under Press Articles

 

Modern Gulf Institute is offering a Job Seekers Programme, consisting of English, IT and Soft Skills.  The Soft Skills are all job related, such as Customer Service, Communication, Time Management, and Office Management.  In addition students will be taught job related skills such as CV Writing and Interviewing Skills.

Each 2 month programme will build on the previous one and students will receive Ministry of Manpower Certification for the levels passed.  Students who continue for 6 months will complete three levels of English, Microsoft Applications Beginner and Advance and have the opportunity to sit the IC3 examinations for international IT certification.

The aim of the project is to offer first class, job specific training at affordable prices so that people who are genuinely looking for work can be given the skills to function in a workplace environment.  Courses can be adapted for groups with specific needs

Body Language

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Posted by Deidre Harvey on February 20, 2011 – 10:42 am
Filed under Press Articles

When asking a group of people to give examples of communication, the first answers include speaking, telephone, email, letters and text messages. More often than not, it takes a bit of a push to get them to include body language, which is in fact one the most detailed and expressive types of communication. Body language is a form of non-verbal communication which implies that we are able to transfer a message from sender to receiver without using words. We do this by using hand gestures, body stance, facial expression and eye contact.

Hand gestures form an important part in most greetings, for example the handshake, wave and salute. These   are welcoming signals that reveal that the other person is not holding a weapon. When speaking, our hands often flop about subconsciously in an effort to further clarify what we mean. Experts on the subject say that when a person’s hand movements start at the body and move out, that the person in question is being open and honest. Oppositely, if the hand movements start further away and go towards the person’s body, they are not being entirely truthful. Do you agree that we, as observers, can make such assumptions? Fidgeting is a clear sign of nervousness, while hands that don’t move at all indicate restraint and possibly lying. When traveling or doing international business, one must be cautious and aware of the different hand gestures around the world. For example, in Oman, to squeeze the tips of one’s fingers together means ‘wait’, ‘be patient’ or ‘slow down’. The same gesture in South Africa is very rude and offensive, and could even result in a fight.

The way we sit or stand is just as significant to our receiver. Shoulders back and head held high indicates that a person is confident and will not back down if challenged. However, when a person is hunched over, curling in to themselves, they are protecting themselves. They are insecure and will more than likely not stand up for themselves. Crossed arms clearly reveal that the person is closed off to what is being said and they will not be persuaded. Stand tall, you will be noticed.

Facial expression and eye contact are the most important non-verbal communicators. Our facial movements represent our emotional state the most vividly. We are often able to tell what is going to happen next in a situation just by looking at someone’s face. We can see when a person is concentrating, angry, mischevious, grouchy or happy. When one smiles and genuinely means it, their eyes and whole face will smile. And what a powerful tool a smile can be. The way you look at the person you are addressing, will let them understand you better. Do they look directly into your eyes, stare, keep looking away or looking from side to side? To find out what this all means and more, join Modern Gulf Institute in launching their new course…

Morning Classes Special Offer!!!

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Posted by Deidre Harvey on February 20, 2011 – 9:33 am
Filed under General Foundation Programmes

Why study in the morning? Well, as Ben Franklin once said “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a person healthy and wise”. Is there really any truth to this? Are we able to retain more information after a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast? We at Modern Gulf are putting it to the test with our band new morning combo of English and IT.

In order to make use of all the educational and vocational opportunities that come our way, we must be well prepared and ready for the challenge. We can do this by ensuring that our language and computer skills are fresh and up to date. Computer technology is advancing at a steep and steady rate and all of us can benefit from the occasional course to ensure that our knowledge is current and relative. English is an absolute must-have in any job, college or university application. What makes you a step ahead of the rest?

 It would be an absolute shame to be turned away from your dream because you lacked competence in aspects of learning that are so easily available. You owe it to yourself to be the very best that you can be. Wake up and smell the coffee. There is no more time to waste! Open your eyes, kick off the covers and get down to MGI to register for our morning English and IT classes. You deserve it to get with it!

Integrated Talent Management

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Posted by Deidre Harvey on February 19, 2011 – 4:51 pm
Filed under Press Articles

In the area of Training and Development Modern Gulf Institute (MGI) has set a new trend and works with a vision of ‘talent management need not be a puzzle’. The Institute has showcased its ‘Integrated Talent Management model’ and ‘Pyramid of Management Communications’ at the recently concluded Human Resources Development Expo 2011. The MGI stand at the expo was fun with the interactive puzzle pieces showing the link between all the functions of HR and talent management. The Institute’s Training and Development Manager, Ms Lois Wagner, says: “Talent management is a critical part of the corporate business management strategy. It is an ongoing process that starts with a new employee and ends when employment ceases.” She felt the need to expand the competencies in an integrated manner in all the talent management areas of recruitment management (attracting talent), learning management (developing talent), performance management (managing talent) and compensation management (retaining talent).

“Integrated talent management extends the value of the strategic framework in a forward thinking organisation. It integrates and aligns all the HR processes and practices with the strategic business objectives to ensure optimisation of all aspects of talent management,” she said. Modern Gulf Institute is a privately owned training institute that offers a comprehensive selection of Professional Development, English, Information Technology and Foundation courses for both young learners and adult students. MGI helps organisations to unleash their human potential by developing and delivering in-house, tailor-made business, management and soft skills programmes for today’s corporate companies and for institutions and government departments. MGI provides HR consulting and executive coaching that is solutions driven and is aimed at helping organisations achieve their overall goals to improve organisational effectiveness and operational excellence.

Human Resources Development Expo 2011 Puzzle Competition

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Posted by Sarah on February 15, 2011 – 1:59 pm
Filed under Competitions, Fun Stuff!, Press Articles, School News

CONGRATULATIONS to the following three winners of the puzzle competition held at the Human Resources Development Expo February 2011, Oman:

  • Mohammed Al Busaidi
  • Rayya Saif alrahbi
  • Rashid Saif Rashid Al Muqbali

Contestants were asked to write their contact information behind a puzzle piece and pin the puzzle piece onto the puzzle board. Three names were then drawn by an employee from the Ministry of the Civil Service.

Visit our competition page and stand a chance to win a course for yourself and a friend. http://www.moderngulf.com/competition.php

Human Resources Development Expo February 2011

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Posted by Sarah on February 15, 2011 – 1:30 pm
Filed under Press Articles, Soft Skills

Modern Gulf Institute showcased their Integrated Talent Management model and their Pyramid of Management Communications at the Human Resources Development Expo 2011. The Expo was organised by Oman International Trade and Exhibitions (OITE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Service. The MGI stand was fun and interactive using puzzle pieces showing the link between all the functions of HR and talent management.

The Training and Development Manager, Ms Lois Wagner, presented a paper on Tuesday 8th February at the Exhibition Centre. Talent management is a critical part of the corporate business management strategy. It is an ongoing process that starts with a new employee and ends when employments ceases.

This paper addressed the need to expand the competencies in an integrated manner in all the talent management areas of recruitment management (attracting talent), learning management (developing talent), performance management (managing talent) and compensation management (retaining talent).

Integrated talent management extends the value of the strategic framework in a forward thinking organisation. It integrates and aligns all the HR processes and practices with the strategic business objectives to ensure optimisation of all aspects of talent management.

WINNERS OF THE JANUARY 2011 FREE COURSE DRAW

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Posted by Deidre Harvey on January 15, 2011 – 12:13 pm
Filed under School News

Winners of the January free course draw were:

Husna Zahran Al Mamari nominated by Sanaa Zahran Al Mamari (tel number xxxx6250)

and

Saleh Ali Al Mamari nominated by Taleb Hamood Al Balushi (tel number xxxx9078)

Well done to the winners!

You too can win a free course at MGI by logging on to our website and nomitating two friends.  If either of your friends win, you will automatically also win a free course.

Enter now for the February draw.  You have go to be in it to win it.

Talent Management

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Posted by Deidre Harvey on November 23, 2010 – 7:15 pm
Filed under Press Articles, Soft Skills

According to the Galup Management Model, only 26% of the employees in an average organization are engaged.  That means that 74% of your workforce probably do not feel connected to the organization, and of that an astonishing 56% are actively disgruntled and waste hours of your time on non work related activities.

Performance and talent management can help develop strategies that link the abilities of your staff to your strategic plan.  Modern Human Resource Management incorporates the view that people are assets to be to be developed and trained so that the right people are retained in the right positions.  In order to do this people have to know what the strategic objectives are, and then align their skills, ability and performance to the operational and financial goals of the organization in order to achieve these strategic objectives.

What that means in simple English is that everybody is good at something and it is in the company’s interest to find out what.  If an employee knows he is doing well at something,  he will develop self confidence and be motivated and committed, which in turn will increase efficiency.  Similarly, if an employee knows why he is doing something, where the organization is going and how he fits into it, he will be engaged.  All in all, you will have a happier workforce, lower staff turnover, reduced recruitment and training costs, and higher productivity.  Now doesn’t that make a whole lot more sense?

“The workplace should primarily be an incubator for the human spirit.” (Anita Roddick, 1942-2007

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