Winning = Failing forwards The higher the level you study at, the harder the work, the more likely you may fail something. Learning how to deal with that failure is not easy. For those who are doing, or may do CTA… watch this video about how I felt as a student about failing, and how…
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Why should you care about MY thoughts? A lot of Accounting students I’ve dealt with over the years have voiced similar thoughts and feelings to those I’ve had (I’ve spent a LOT of time with UNISA BCompt and UNISA CTA students!). I want people to think about the pressure they put themselves under, and the…
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I’ve lectured accounting students for years, and I feel that students don’t REALLY understand their basic Accounting knowledge. Do accounting students know their ‘basics’? EVERY SINGLE Accounting lecturer I’ve ever spoken to (from first year to CTA) says that students generally fail because their basic knowledge isn’t great. I’d be surprised if you haven’t heard…
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You can read more about my post-qualification journey and challenges here Post-qual journey Why am I sharing this? I’m sharing my Chartered Accountant qualification journey for accounting students who need to know that their journey doesn’t need to be ideal in order to be successful. Students studying towards a professional qualification face a lot of…
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Video chat I recorded a video with Richard to chat about his journey Tell us about your academic journey [expand title=”High School“] I took quite a scenic route……. I left school early to ride horses (showjumping and dressage) for a living, but soon ran into the harsh wall of reality that I would need substantial…
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For those of you studying Accounting at UNISA, and who’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ll know that I try to give you information, motivation and guidance that’s relevant to you. I’ve got loads of experience, great lecturers on our team, thousands of students I’ve taught and talked to over the years… but more…
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What is your current position? I lectured at Wits for 3 years, and I’m currently a financial accounting lecturer for Tabaldi Online Education. I specialise in teaching Groups (Consolidations) for third year and CTA UNISA students for Tabaldi’s online classes. I’m very happy to stay in the education space because I’m able to help empower…
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So many students struggle with answering discussion questions in exams. Let’s see if I can help a little. Whether you’re in undergrad, or CTA… this will help. Why are these questions so important? Forget your studies for a moment… You’re qualified, and you charge your clients R1 000 an hour for your time. They’ve asked…
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It’s easy to accept that someone is proud of you when you’re successful. When you pass, reach your goal… of course people will be proud of you. But what about your failures? What about the times you didn’t reach those goals? I want to tell you this… “I’m so proud of you” Read that again.…
DetailsAs a foreigner, KC experienced some of the challenges that I know a lot of current foreign students face in South Africa as they study and look for trainee positions. I wanted to share his story with you, both as motivation for those who are struggling with the same stuff, and as yet another indication…
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In Part 1 of this series, I summarised the CA(SA) qualification journey, you can read that here. Here, I’ll discuss some reasons why students struggle so much, and why the pass rates I mentioned in Part 1 are so low. This can help others understand some of the challenges students face and may also help students…
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“What do I need to do to qualify as a Chartered Accountant?” I get this question ALL the time! Along with “How do I pass CTA?” I can help with both, but let’s focus on how to become a Chartered Accountant here. Here’s the basics: SAICA-accredited degree in Accounting SAICA-accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (CTA…
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What do you do now? Why? I’ve recently changed jobs, and I now lecture Auditing for Tabaldi Education. I am here because after 20 years in the auditing profession, (you can see all the stuff I’ve been up to a little further down!), I realised that I must finally do what gives me the most…
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What do you do now? Why? I am a lecturer at Tabaldi Online Education Lecturers in my journey left a mark on me, and made me realise that this is how I want to make a difference The lecturers who made a difference to me were the ones who believed in me and who’s stories…
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I want to talk to all of you who are feeling ‘stupid’ while you’re studying. As you’re on your study path (whatever it is that you’re studying), those feelings are real, and they definitely impact your stress levels, your mental state and even the way you study. The world tells you to “Be positive!”… but…
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Who did I talk to? – Thabo Godfrey Mongatane CA(SA), Director Kolano Investment Solutions Also, our part-time Financial Accounting lecturer at Tabaldi Online Accounting Classroom (Second and Third year… I’m not letting my First year’s go!!!) Why did I talk to him? Godfrey has an amazing passion for up and coming young professionals. His qualification journey…
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“Life is a series of choices.” This can be both an exciting thing to hear, as well as a little daunting. It’s great that we have so many options, but it also means that our choices may lead us down the wrong path, or take us somewhere we’ll regret. This is even tougher if there are…
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I knew my qualification journey was going to be tough, but until I was actually ‘in’ it, I had no idea what it would take from me. I think it’s similar to having children, (so I’m told!). You think you know what you’re in for, and then they arrive… and rip your life and sanity…
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Bad study advice nearly ruined my career. (Read here for that story!) Don’t let this be you as well! Part of my discussions with students at all levels includes the things that they should be careful of when choosing their study and career paths. It’s exciting to have options and spend time deciding what to…
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That’s a joke, right? I’m willing to bet most of you giggle a little nervously at the picture at the top of this blog… it’s funny… because it’s true! I get a LOT of UNISA CTA students asking me for advice on their studies. I can’t always help massively… obviously I have paying students I…
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I spent quite a lot of time thinking before I started writing this article. It’s a direct response to a question I was asked on my Facebook support group (Yvonne’s Auditing Support), but it’s also extremely relevant to pretty much anyone on the CA(SA) journey. Let me start by saying that this is a HUGE…
DetailsEvery semester, every year, I counsel students on how they should study. They always want the ‘secret to success’ for their studies… well… here it is… Work through the picture slowly… think about each step… follow the numbering (it is a little chaotic!)
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What’s in this article? Please ask me questions! As a lecturer, I can SEE the confusion and the stress on students’ faces, so I’ll ask “Are you all comfortable with that?” and you get uncertain nods from everyone, while they quietly look around at everyone else. They’re hoping SOMEONE will ask the question they’re too…
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Related Online Course Online Course: Mental Prep for Accounting Students Does your studying never match your study plan? Do you struggle with time management? Do you find yourself avoiding certain topics and questions, and make excuses about it? Do you find yourself working harder and harder as you study higher levels, but seem to get…
DetailsI’ve been lecturing Auditing for nine years now! I’ve always loved it…. and I’ve always been a little sad that most students don’t love it. I lecture it online now, and I always battle to explain to students who I am, and why I think it’s so great for them, and actually, better than my…
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Who did I talk to? Prof. Jade Jansen CA(SA) Subject Head: Financial Accounting University of the Western Cape Why did I talk to him? As we walk the path of a very tough journey, we constantly ask ourselves whether we’ll make it to our goal, whether we’ve got what it takes and how this…
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Financial Management is probably the subject that most accounting students struggle with. Understanding why this is, can be the first step in figuring out how to approach it and get through it successfully. For those of you who know me, you know that Financial Management wasn’t my strong point in my post-grad year. I sympathise…
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Students who are studying Accounting often battle to visualise exactly where their learning will be used in the ‘real world’. People who aren’t studying Accounting often have no idea what the Finance department does, and why they want certain information. There are also people who wonder about studying ‘accounting stuff’, but aren’t sure what they’d…
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we measure ourselves against everyone How often do we compare ourselves to others? In life, studies, career, earning potential, beauty, (yes ladies, this means clothing sizes too!), relationships… we have a tendency to compare our space in life with those around us as an evaluation of how ‘far’ we are in the ‘game of life’.…
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Background & Why this article is important I first wrote this article in mid-2014. It was going to be the first year that SAICA’s second Board Exam candidates would write the new APC exam instead of the old PPE exam. in 2013, I worked for a training company that wanted to develop an official APC…
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