What You Should Know About Chemistry

What You Should Know About ChemistryThe principles of chemistry are frequently taught in university courses and those who teach it in schools generally understand them, and how they can help students in their future studies. Most students will learn about the general concepts of chemical processes, including oxidation, reduction, and condensation, and about the role of oxygen in these processes. They will also have some knowledge of the three most basic elements, known as the H, C, and O group.Most students in a physical chemistry class will start by learning about the elements. In the early years of high school, many students will probably focus on the study of the chemistry and physics subjects that pertain to these elements. Then, at the end of high school, most students will decide to concentrate on the study of these subjects together with the field of organic chemistry. Or, some students may decide to study these subjects separately.There are two types of chemistry classes, the general class and the UCSD basic class. Generally, most students will take a general chemistry class to gain familiarity with the principles of these subjects. At the end of this class, students will be able to do most of the calculations necessary for their homework assignments.Some students will take a UCSD basic class in order to take their senior year science class. These students will usually have more knowledge about science concepts than those students who take a general chemistry class. They can choose to take any undergraduate-level course to improve their knowledge of science. Their choice of subject may depend on their future career goals.UCSD offers several undergraduate courses that deal with the chemistry. These include physics, organic chemistry, and computer science. A UCSD instructor may also arrange for a student to take a special course for minors in chemistry.The fields of physical chemistry and organic chemistry are very popular among students. Both areas of st udy require that students take quite a bit of training, however, before entering college.UCSD is renowned for its chemistry education, and every year the school publishes a calendar listing the science topics for the coming school year. Some of the popular topics of this calendar include combustion, structural chemistry, and structural biology. Students will find the catalog useful as they decide what course to take in order to better their education.

The Basics of Statistics

The Basics of Statistics The History of How We Interpret Data ChaptersWhat is Applied Statistics?Understanding Descriptive StatisticsSummarizing Inferential StatisticsThe Best Places to Learn StatsWhether it’s interpreting percentile shifts, binomial distributions, estimators or the statistical significance of outliers using analysis of variance, statistics is a broad field that is becoming ever-more popular today. Here’s a brief history of how statistics got started and where to find the best resources for troubleshooting your statistics questions!Learning the computations behind statistical software is essential to accurate analysis AisvaryaData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdeyemiData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdenikeData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThanushanData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GokhanData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover a ll our tutors OlawaleData Analysis Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AisvaranData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Muhammad umairData Analysis Teacher 5.00 (2) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is Applied Statistics?You may have heard data analysis in the news recently. From the major data breaches that regularly occur in some of the major banks across the world to the small, GDPR induced tick box you’ll have to check every time you visit a website - statistical analysis is shaping up to be this century’s Big Brother.If all this sounds merely like statisticians’ jargon and Big Brother only calls forth images of the infamous reality TV show, let’s unpack the importance of understanding statistical methods by taking a closer look at Big Brother’s namesake: George Orwell’s 1984.Without spoiling the plot or drawing up too convoluted a definition for inferential and descriptive statistics, the narra tive of 1984 follows the story of two protagonists struggling against the ideals of a dystopian, authoritarian government. One of these protagonists works for the “Ministry of Truth,” where he, ironically, edits historical records to conform with the political party’s agenda. In other words: redacting and revising historical data.The importance of statistical data and its history isn’t simply that it has improved our quality of life. Yes, Bayesian statistics and machine learning has given rise to statistical software that can track endangered species. Yes, the field of biostatistics has enabled the statistician to perform tests that produce the pharmaceutical drugs that save our lives. There is no question statistical techniques are essential to our daily lives, however, the manipulation of mathematical statistics can be wielded by corporations and government bodies to push political agendas or oppress certain segments of society - exemplified by Orwell’s seminal novel.Wit h concepts like categorical data, sample size, standard deviation and a probability distribution, the field of statistics can too often be perceived and taught in ways that are not only inaccessible, but perhaps lock out part of the population from a discipline that could empower them the most. While statistical theory and applied statistics may seem like a hyper-modern field filled with ultra-complex ideas to match, taking a look at the history of statistics belies this sentiment.Humans have been using statistics to solve society’s urgent problems since the dawn of societies themselves. From collecting raw data on agricultural phenomena to improve farming techniques to recording the movements of planetary systems in order to unlock the mysteries of the universe - scientists have been using statistical data analysis for centuries. If you’re rolling your eyes and qualifying this statement in your head by adding that men have historically dominated this field - you wouldn’t be w rong.However, not only have women like Florence Nightingale revolutionized the way we use and visualize probability and statistics, but there are women the world over today using statistical analyses to expose the discrimination women face even in industries that have always been considered to be bastions of egalitarianism.So, this is great and all, but what exactly does applied statistics look like mathematically and in the present day? The discipline’s name is self-explanatory but is worth clarifying applied statistics involves using data collection, probability theory and data visualization to either solve a problem or test a hypothesis in areas like business, insurance, governments, education, and more.Mathematically, statistics refers to applying probability and central tendency theories to test a null and alternative hypothesis through a number of different models: linear regression, multivariate regression, ANOVA, etc. While in the past statistics has been a discipline lock ed behind complex mathematics, involving aspects from a null hypothesis on normality of a distribution to probability density functions. However, in the present day, statistics is widely available to anyone with internet access. Open source programs like R and tutorials online, combined with tools that don’t require any previous statistics experience - such as Datawrapper - have led to a new, more democratized era of statistics and data analysis.Programming is becoming an increasingly important component to data analysisUnderstanding Descriptive StatisticsNow that you have a grasp of the evolution of statistics and data analysis, it can be helpful to know the composition of the discipline itself. Generally, the statistician or mathematician will divide the field into two main branches: descriptive and inferential statistics. Starting with the first, descriptive statistics concerns itself less with the intricacies of drawing an estimator or predictor from sample data and crafting a confidence interval based on various regression models.Instead descriptive statistics concerns itself with understanding what the data looks like. While this may sound rudimentary, it is in fact what the majority of the population not only understands best but also consumes the most. In the UK, for example, people and governments are less interested with predicting the average income for a family with certain characteristics and more interested with, let’s say, the average income of their city.Descriptive statistics describe either qualitative data or quantitative data and want to understand both location and variability statistics. In other words, using things like a histogram or normal distribution, descriptive statistics can tell you what the average data looks like and how different the data is from that average.Measures of location, or central tendency, include the sample mean, median and mode. Measures of variability, on the other hand, are things like the variances, covari ance or standard deviation of dependent and independent variables. Some other tools of measuring you can use in descriptive statistics include:Effect sizeCorrelation coefficientChi-square testsSummarizing Inferential StatisticsThe second branch of statistics involve metrics you’re less likely to see in a newspaper. For example, while you’re probably used to seeing and understanding figures like rankings for the happiest countries, you’re probably not combing journals for the latest quarterly GDP estimates. While inferential statistics can be an extremely powerful statistical tool that shapes are daily lives, it can be a little more complex to perform, interpret and understand.Inferential statistics is split between Bayesian statisticians and frequentists. While more detailed descriptions for how this matters in inferential statistics exists, most methods that are dealt with on a daily basis revolve around Bayesian statistics. Using probability theory, data scientists and stati sticians are able to go beyond exploratory analysis to create a study design that tries to make predictions outside a given data set.While inferential statistics was only implemented in the 19th century, its methods and uses have skyrocketed with the invention of computers and computer software geared towards statistics such as SPSS, R, Stata, and more. The most methods and models you’ll apply when conducting inferential statistics are:Linear regressionGeneral linear modelsNon-parametric testsNon-parametric tests can be very powerful in certain situations because of the fact that they don’t require the data to follow a specific distribution. If you’re interested in learning more about inferential statistics, start by getting familiar with the many assumptions - such as those under the Gauss-Markov theorem - statisticians will place on their data sets!Comparing indicators within your data set can be fun!The Best Places to Learn StatsFrom ordinary least squares to professional s tatistical methodology - Statistics as a field is as broad as topics such as Economics or Literature. This can make the job of students and professionals within statistics even harder when it comes to learning new skills or perfecting old ones. If you’re looking on advice or help with projects involving statistical models or are simply stuck on a bit of code, the best place to turn is the internet. While not a complete guide to statistical resources, here are some sites you definitely shouldn’t missAnalysing IndicatorsWhether you’re interested in creating a classification system for the numerical data you’ve gathered or want to understand more about how certain indicators are measured, one of the best sites you can turn to for help is Eurostat’s Statistics Explained.Data VisualizationVisualization, whether you’re doing it for your categorical data or for an ANOVA or regression analysis, can be tricky. Sometimes, you just might not know things like the technicalities of g raphing confidence intervals or how to best present your dependent variable. If you’re interested in fast, low-maintenance visualizations, make sure to check out Datawrapper.ProgrammingIf you’re looking for help with anything related to code, start by checking out Stackoverflow. One of the many online forums dedicated to answering, asking or browsing questions and answers set by real people on real problems related to code.Finding the Perfect Statistics TutorIf you’re interested in finding a statistics tutor, you can start by looking through Superprof's community of almost 150,000 maths professors. Teaching at all different levels and subjects, you’ll be able to find a tutor for statistics for the average price of 10 pounds an hour.

Stressed about Finals Try Adding Pre-Exam Music to Your Study Plan

Stressed about Finals Try Adding Pre-Exam Music to Your Study Plan With final exams quickly approaching, now is the time to put together a rock-solid test-taking plan that will help you reach your full potential this year. All of the usual final exam advice still holds true: study hard, get a good nights sleep, eat a high protein breakfast, and keep your stress levels down by making time for exercise and time with friends. This year, consider also adding some inspiring pre-exam music to your finals plan to help take your exam performance to the next level. Music has many positive benefits including enhancing our mood, providing a distraction from negative thoughts, and even boosting feelings of self-empowerment all of which are directly related to academic performance. Research has shown that listening to calming music before an exam can reduce anxiety, and listening to upbeat and empowering music before a challenging task can improve your mood and your self-confidence. Elite athletes incorporate music into their pre-game routines in order to mentally prepare themselves for competition. In fact, theres some scientific evidence that shows that pre-game music does positively impact their performance. In a study of basketball players who were struggling at the free throw line, researchers found that listening to upbeat music before hitting the court improved the players free throw percentage. The players in the study told the researchers that listening to the music helped them control their mood and their negative thoughts about shooting . These same principles apply to academic performance! When it comes to picking your own pre-exam music, think about the emotional state you want to achieve and find songs that will stir up those emotions. If you tend to feel down and discouraged before an exam, look for music will inspire you to feel positive, energized, and hopeful, like gold medalist Michael Phelps who blasts Levels by Avicii to get himself pumped up before a big race. If you tend to feel nervous and anxious, look for music that is reassuring, like Olympic soccer player Megan Rapinoe, who shakes off her pregame nerves with Shake it Off by Florence + the Machine. If your self-confidence often wanes before a big test, look for empowering music. According to a study conducted at Northwestern University, songs with a heavy bass, like Queens We Will Rock You, have the power to increase confidence and make you feel more in control. When youre listening to music before an exam, use that time to give yourself an even greater mental boost by visualizing your best possible performance. Imagine yourself confidently tackling the test questions, and easily recalling answers from all of the material that you have studied. Remind yourself that youve worked hard to prepare for the exam and that all of your hard work and effort will pay off. Think back to a time when you aced an exam and how that made you feel. Imagine yourself feeling that same way when youve completed this final exam. Music can be a powerful tool for boosting your mood and self-confidence going into your final exams. Just as music has inspired elite athletes to perform at their peak under pressure, when paired with a smart study plan it can help inspire you to reach your full potential on your exams this year. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Helping Your Child Become Faster and More Efficient by Embracing Routine and Structure

Helping Your Child Become Faster and More Efficient by Embracing Routine and Structure Help your child be faster and more efficient this school year! For a busy parents with limited time, it's frustrating when your child seems to have no sense of urgency and no motivation to get things done. If you're having a hard time getting your child to move fasterhere are a few tips to help him or her become speedier and more organized in school and life. Give your child checklists. Some children do much better when they have a visual to-do list that they can check off step by step. Create a checklist for any daily routine that seems to spark your childs inner procrastinator. For a younger child, draw or write out the steps and laminate the checklist. For the morning checklist, for example, your child can check off each step with a dry erase markerfrom getting dressed to making a lunch to checking that all homework and other items are in placed into his or her backpack before heading out the door. Older children might do well with smartphone reminders and alarms. Plan aheadand get your child to do the same. Whenever possible, do things ahead of time. If your child has basketball practice shortly after school, have him or her get out the gym bag, clothes and gear the night before, so that all he or she needs to do after school is change clothes and grab a quick snack. If the morning routine is difficult for your child, have him or her lay out his or outfit and get his or her backpack ready to go at night rather than in the morning. Set time limits for each and every task. Some children are relatively organized, but slower than they need to be. If this is your child, set small goals for each task. For example, if a homework worksheet should take your child 10 minutes to complete, set a timer for 15. If he or she dawdles or gets distracted while getting ready for school, set a goal of getting to the breakfast table by a specific time. Then, set another goal of having his or her shoes on and backpack ready 10 minutes before departure time. Keep an organized house and have your child do the same. Good organization and efficiency go hand in hand. When your child is disorganized, its too easy for him or her to lose things and overlook important dates, obligations and homework assignmentsand these problems are only exacerbated by his or her tendency to move and work slowly. Encourage your child to embrace a reliable organizational system at his or her desk, in his or her room and anywhere else. This leads to less wasted time and minimized stress. Have a frank conversation. Sometimes, the logical approach can work wonders. Talk with your child about all of the things that need to be accomplished each day by your child and by you. Explain that it is difficult to finish those tasks when he or she wastes 25 minutes on something that should take two, and that you want his or her help in keeping the household chaos to a minimum. Let your child know that the more efficient he or she is with time, the more time he or she will have to do fun things like play games or hang out with friends. Build in extra time. The reality is that some children may just do things slowerfrom eating dinner to showering to completing school work. Do your best to establish and stick to routines whenever possible, but also be realistic about your expectations. Your child may simply be hard wired to move more slowly than you would prefer. Build a little extra time into your daily routines to accommodate and avoid the stress of constant scolding and nagging. With effort, patience and practice, you can help you child become responsible and efficient with his or her time. Remember: all children are different, so while he or she may not do things exactly as you like, you can help him or her become a self-starter and an organized student and person. Those skills will stay with your childand benefit him or herfor the rest of his or her life.

Can I Learn a Language in 6 Months What the Experts Say

Can I Learn a Language in 6 Months What the Experts Say Can I Learn a Language in 6 Months? What the Experts Say Go ahead. Mark your calendar.Six months from today.The day youll have learned a new language.Dont believe me?The idea of learning a new language can definitely be overwhelming. So many words! Such unusual grammar! Maybe even a completely new alphabet to learn from scratch…Nevertheless, learning a language  isnt something that needs to take years and years of study. There are many people who become adept at multiple languages as adults.But can you really learn a language in just half a year?When it comes to learning a language fast, a few experts are cited repeatedly: Chris Lonsdale, who gave a popular TEDx talk entitled  â€œHow to learn any language in six months;”  Benny Lewis, founder of Fluent in 3 Months  and Tim Ferriss, who also purports to answer the question  â€œHow to learn any language in three months.”They each have their own approach, but there are common threads that run through all of their rapid-language-learning philosophies. And we can harness those for our own benefit.In this post, Ill highlight some of the most important themes from each of those three experts. Then, Ill help you bring it all together to create your own six-month study plan.Lets get started on day one of your six-month learning journey! Can I Learn a Language in 6 Months? What the Experts SayChris Lonsdale Says: Start Using the Language ImmediatelyLonsdale bases his approach around a set of language learning principles and actions. Here are some takeaways that are most important to our goal of learning a language in six months:Listen to your target language a lot, right from the start.Remember that understanding is about more than knowing all the words.  Use facial expressions, body language, context and style to get meaning right from the get-go, even before you worry about knowing every vocabulary word.Focus on core language. In other words, focus on learning high-frequently vocabulary thats most relevant to you. Lonsdale notes that for most learners, this early cor e language will include sentences like how do you say that? and repeat that please.Get a language partner  (or in Lonsdales terminology, a language parent). This is a  native speaker wholl support you on your journey and speak to you regularly.Unfortunately for us, Lonsdale doesnt exactly answer the question of how to get there in six months. Nevertheless, we can use these actions to help us when were creating our study plan.Benny Lewis Says: Hack Language Studies for Faster LearningIrish blogger Lewis has become popular with his talent as a polyglot, gaining a strong online following. He gave a  TEDx talk on Rapid Language Hacking  to lay out the foundations of his language-learning-fast philosophy:Forget the idea that language is a talent you either have or you don’t. He claims to have thought he was completely useless at them before starting with Spanish! This myth of language learning talent also comes up in Lonsdales talk.Remember, its almost impossible to know  nothing  of a language. With nearby languages, there are cognates, i.e. words with the same root: for example, English shares roots of  -tion ­  words with Latinate languages like Spanish and Italian.As an Italian learner, its very useful for me to be able to guess at words like  nazione  (nation). Meanwhile, even the most unrelated languages now have a shared vocabulary (Coca-Cola, anyone?).Take advantage of the internet to start communicating right away. If you live in a city, there will almost certainly be people who speak your target language around. Otherwise, find friends of friends who would be willing to Skype you from time to time. You can even check out italki to find a language exchange partner or professional tutor for one-on-one lessons.Use mnemonics to remember words and expressions. This could be thinking of a sound the word reminds you of, or singing an expression to a simple melody.Create SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Ambitious, Realistic, Time-bound. In other words, you sh ould pick concrete goals thatll challenge you without overwhelming you, and give yourself a deadline for achieving them. Well discuss how to do this more specifically later in this post.Like Lonsdale, Lewis says that you should use the language right away. And make mistakes! This will help you to learn and to get over embarrassment about speaking with native speakers.Lewis uses a lot of languages in his talk, which lends authenticity. He definitely knows what he’s talking about!Tim Ferriss Says: The 80:20 Rule Means You Can Achieve a Lot in a Little TimeTaking a different tack from the motivational TEDx style of Lewis and Lonsdale, Tim Ferriss takes a more theoretical approach to the goal of learning a language in a few months. He has a three-point approach to language-learning, which incorporates the following:Effectiveness: Pick learning materials thatll work for you and your goals (i.e. effective).Adherence: Keep motivated and prioritize learning in your life so that you adhere to your study routine.Efficiency: Make sure your study regimen and tools are propelling you forward at a reasonable rate.Importantly, he refers to the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80:20 rule. This is the idea that 80 percent of results of any task come from 20 percent of the input, material or effort. He applies this to learning a language, arguing thatâ€"although total language mastery might take years of applied learningâ€"its perfectly possible to achieve conversational fluency in three months.How? Like Lonsdale, Ferriss emphasizes relevance of learning: Dont read something you wouldnt care to read about in your native language, as itll make it harder to understand, engage with and remember. So, if youre a Japanese learner interested in baseball, reading about the Japanese leagues might be a perfect place to start.So, What Should You Do to Learn a Language in 6 Months?All these guys take a different approach to tackling the problem, but there are clearly some common theme s across all of them. With all that in mind, what should your plan of action be to learn your chosen language in six months?Step 1: Start Using Your Target Language TodayThis is something all of our experts agree on, but it might sound counterintuitive to beginner language learners. How can you start using a language before youve learned any of it?We can go back to what Benny Lewis said:  In all languages, you already have some words you can access, and when youre speaking face-to-face or over Skype with someone you can use hands, facial expressions, noises, props and so on to get your meaning across.I had a very memorable conversation with a Korean learner of English in Seville, who was using limited vocabulary to explain to us the history of a particular Korean liquor. It was (intentionally) hysterically funny, so dont worry about your speaking partner getting irritated!Find a native speaker near you, take a trip or go online to find chat buddies. It doesn’t matter if you make m istakesâ€"you will!â€"as this is all part of the process of learning. As you begin to speak, youll get familiar with building sentences, listening to the sound of the language and hearing common phrases and expressions.Step 2: Familiarize Yourself with the Core LanguageA common theme from our expert friends was focusing your early learning on core language. In English, for example, this would include functional words like  and, the, a,  pronouns, such as  she,  I,  they  and the most commonly used verbs like  to have,  to be and to do.When youre in the early stages of learning a language, there will be a steep upward curve as you start to see how you go from saying single words to sentences, and learning these words will form the basis of that.How do you know which words to learn? Ferriss lists the 100 most common words in written and spoken English, which you can use if youre an English learner, or otherwise compare to key words in your target language. You could also try searching for your target language plus the term common words on Memrise, a digital flashcard app. There are many such lists covering Spanish, Korean, French, Dutch and much more.All the while, you should be going back to step one: whenever you learn something new, incorporate it into your speaking. For example, in Italian Ive been trying to correctly use phrases featuring the word  ecco, which is similar to the French  voila. This means Ive recently been walking around like a child, pointing at things and shouting “There it is!” Now I think I’ve got it.Step 3: Set Those SMART GoalsWhile a lot of learning will happen naturally as you speak and listen and read and write, you can’t take that for granted. Youll of course have to put in effort.Moreover, set SMART goals, as we discussed above. Its one thing to say you want to be fluent in six months, but what does fluency mean for you?I can give you an example of a goal I set myself last fall. By Christmas, I wanted to be able to hold a f ull conversation with my Italian girlfriend’s 5-year-old niece. So, it was:Specific: A successful conversation with a specified person.Measurable: Did I do it or not?Ambitious: She speaks no English and, as a child, doesn’t always understand that not everyone gets what she says, so it’s a challenge!Realistic: I wasnt expecting to debate the finer points of continental philosophy with a college professor…Time-bound: I knew I had to get it done by Christmas.This was a huge help. I focused on language that would allow me to have that conversationâ€"school, family, toysâ€"and I practiced it whenever I could. The result: success!Step 4: Use Learning Material You Care AboutOur experts note that you need to practice your target language with material that matters to you.You might consider videos and music to help with your listening. You can use YouTube to find all sorts of different videos. While I was learning Spanish, I picked up a great deal from the rap group  Calle 13. Findin g music you love in your target language is a fantastic thing to do, as you can listen to it over and over, understanding a little more each time.For a resource that combines relevant, entertaining material with active learning, check out FluentU. This innovative tool transforms authentic target language videos, like movie trailers, new clips and funny commercials, into a language learning experience.Nowadays you can find news sites online in any language, and these are really useful for your reading skills. The language tends to be very functional and informative (whereas literary works are often a little challenging in the early stages) and its relevant to a wide range of language learners since it gives you up-to-date vocabulary that native speakers are using in their day-to-day lives.Each video comes with clickable captions you can use to explore the meaning and context of any word thats unfamiliar to you. The videos are updated regularly so youre sure to find topical, authentic material that native speakers watch themselves. Then, FluentUs Learn Mode creates flashcards and exercises thatll ensure you actually learned from the video you watched.In other words, its comprehension practice that aligns exactly with what the experts say: to learn a language fast, you need to use relevant, engaging materials.Step 5: Look Up the GrammarYou can practice all you like, but you still have to understand the grammar, right? Well, yes. But grammar study doesnt have to be the repetitive trawling through books and verb tables that it was in schoolâ€"this can be the thing that really hampers your attempts to get fluent fast.If you notice a certain grammatical form when people are speaking to you, look it up! Itll elucidate the reasoning and allow you to incorporate it into your speaking (back to step one!), which is far better than studying grammar in isolation.Makes sense, right? Drilling dry grammar rules out of a textbook will only get you so far. For most people, thats so boring as to kill your drive to learn. But even for people who thrive on book learning, if youre not seeing and using grammar rules in context, theyll have very little impact on your actual, measurable language development.All of this ties into the core principles weve been discussing. Make all of your learning relevant and comprehensible, and youll hit your target in no time.Step 6: Keep It EnjoyableThe final step is to go back to one of Ferriss’ principles: adherence. Learning a language should be a challenge but not a chore. If you’re reading this blog, I’m sure you’ll agree that one of the great joys in life is to be able to communicate in a new language, and ultimately speaking is far more important than passing an exam.So  make sure you have fun  in your language studies to keep that motivation up for all six months of your study plan. If youre not sure how to do this, here are a couple of ideas that have worked for me:Make it competitive. Im an incredibly competit ive person, so for me, adding elements of a game can make it extra rewarding to learn a language. This could be with another person: although this shouldnt be about one-upmanship, finding a friend who wants to learn and testing yourself against each other can be a big help.Write a song. Use some of the vocabulary you have learned to create ditties or translate your favorite song into your new language.Use humor. Ask your language partner to tell you some jokes. Once you start understanding foreign-language jokes, you really know youre getting proficientEat! Food is obviously the best thing about any new culture, so find some recipes in your target language you can try out and cook for your friends.So, think about your goals and get speakingâ€"today. Good luck! And One More ThingIf you only do one thing to try to learn a language in six months, give FluentU a shot. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, y ou learn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.

Its not too late to get hired overseas!

It’s not too late to get hired overseas! There’s a lot of conversation buzzing around the Teach Away community right now. While a large portion of this chatter is excitement at new global teaching opportunities, other bits express concern over a missed opportunity. Let’s clear the air: Don’t panic. It’s not too late to lock down a new international education job in 2016. Although schools overseas have been very busy conducting in-person interviews as well as hiring staff for roles with 2016 start dates, this doesn’t mean there are no - or even limited - opportunities remaining. So, don’t be discouraged. If you’re qualified and haven’t yet found the position for you, or if you’re just late to apply, you can still get your foot in the door. It’s not uncommon for teachers to commit to a new position overseas and then have a change of heart, which requires them to abandon their new position and leave the role open to a different candidate. In the case this occurs, don’t miss your chance. Make sure you continue to frequently monitor the job board and that your dashboard is complete, so that you can quickly submit a complete application as soon as a position becomes available. There are also plenty of schools and education organizations overseas that conduct waves of last minute hiring. If you’re ready and willing to apply, be interviewed, and move overseas all within a short period of time, then keep your eyes on the job board over the next several months, as we see these types of job postings happen every year at Teach Away. Abu Dhabi public schools are seeking more teachers for positions beginning in August 2016. A third section of interviews is to be expected to happen in late March. If you’re interested in interviewing for a position in Abu Dhabi, I strongly recommend making sure your application is submitted as soon as possible! Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools are still hiring, too. If you meet requirements for an NIS position and haven’t yet applied, you should. Living in Kazakhstan while teaching in these progressive schools is an incredible opportunity you shouldn’t miss out on if your goal is to teach internationally.

Social Media and the College Vote in the 2012 Election

Social Media and the College Vote in the 2012 Election Flickr / DonkeyHotey Obama held the overwhelming support of the college demographic in the 2008 election, but he now faces the obstacle of the rising cost of education and the decline of available jobs after graduation: a reality that Romney will not let students forget. To ensure that he doesn’t lose supporters, Obama began campaigning on college campuses during the Republican National Convention. So how does one win over students? They are caught in between their parents’ political views and those that they are forming for themselves, and as a result are a relatively unstable population to hold on to. If the candidates want to win over college students, they have to meet them where they are: online. Students rarely take the time to read the paper or even watch the evening news. For better or for worse, the population of collegiate scholars is generally apathetic when it comes to staying informed on current events. Students want their news like they want their food: fast and cheap. They rely on twitter, facebook, and YouTube to form their view on what is important and what isn’t. 73% of students are actively engaging in social media. Half of students rely on a form of social media as a news source. This means that for the 2012 election, having a strong social media presence is vital. Here’s a look at how the candidates are doing thus far… OBAMA                                                                ROMNEY Facebook 28,108,815 likes Twitter 19,189,697 followers Facebook 5,992,278 likes Twitter 1,004,884 followers Based on social media alone, it can be predicted that President Obama will yet again dominate the college vote if Romney doesn’t make more of an effort to hold a strong social media presence. He can talk all day long about the rising costs of education, but if its not online, the students will not hear it. Works Consulted: http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/facebook-statistics-stats-facts-2011/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/08/infographic-college-students-twitter-use_n_1581344.html

Saving more money while teaching overseas

Saving more money while teaching overseas It goes without saying that the benefits of teaching overseas are far more numerous than simply salary, but we can appreciate that everyone wants to be able to pay their bills and save a bit of money. Depending on where in the world teachers choose to teach, the amount of take-home pay can vary greatly, but if you read below you’ll find some really simple suggestions to stretch your income and save more. Consider all your options Don’t get your heart set on one specific position until you’ve done some research and compared several positions. If you take a look at the Teach Away job board, you’ll see that we are hiring for a variety of roles all over the world. Almost all of these positions list benefits and salary information, so if you’re looking for a position in Korea, refine your search to show just jobs in Korea and then you can compare the positions that you’re qualified for and apply to whichever interest you. This ultimately gives you the most choice when it comes time to accept a position. Look for a flatmate If you will be responsible for paying for your accommodations from your take-home salary, a flatmate can really cut costs for you. Split rent and share typical housing expenses by living with another teacher. Often, schools will help match teachers if they won’t provide accommodations in the contract. This is also a great way to make a solid friend while teaching overseas. Watch out for tourist traps The cost of living in Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia can be substantially more expensive than living in China, Vietnam, or the UAE. The cost of transit, groceries, basic goods and services, and travel can be much more affordable. This is often why you hear of teachers that managed to save a great deal of their take-home salary while teaching overseas in Asia. One thing to watch out for is tourist traps where you’ll typically pay inflated prices for “tourist friendly” goods and services. Save money by going where the locals go: shop at local markets for groceries and avoid expensive restaurants and bars designed to lure tourists in. Supplement your income by offering private classes Everyone learns differently, and though the classroom setting might work for most people, some people prefer to learn in a more private learning environment. This is where you can come in: if you’re interested in saving a little extra money while teaching overseas, consider looking in to offering private classes in your free time. You can take on as many or as few students as you’d like and you can set your own schedule.

Work Definition - What Is It?

Work Definition - What Is It?Work definition is important when you are looking to determine whether you should consider pursuing a career in chemistry. While the general public usually considers a job as an appropriate career for them, many will often tell you that you are not an ideal candidate unless you have a chemistry degree. Whether or not you want to pursue a career in chemistry is really up to you but you should be aware of what it means to have a work definition to figure out if chemistry is the right career for you.First of all, you need to decide whether or not work definition means that you are required to perform scientific laboratory research. If so, then obviously, you probably would be a chemist. However, it could mean that you only have to carry out laboratory work if there is a chemistry job open and it does not mean that you are only required to do laboratory work for your life after school. For example, I am a licensed practical nurse and am not required to do any scientific laboratory research while I was working for a company.Then, you also need to determine whether or not you are required to complete a specific work definition of chemical materials for a particular course. For example, there is a requirement that you must complete chemical lab requirements that you took as part of the chemistry department when you were a student. This is just one form of work definition and you might not even be required to complete this at all, especially if you take a course that does not require chemical lab work at all.Then, you also need to determine what type of work you will be doing after school is over. If you have completed a four year degree from a university, then you will most likely find a lab technician position or a position with a pharmaceutical company where you will work closely with a chemist. If you are thinking about doing a degree that is not accredited, you might not have a real work definition of what your career path might look l ike in the future.It is important to realize that even after you graduate, there will be a wide variety of new career paths that you can take. Therefore, you will still need to have a work definition in order to know what your expectations are as far as the direction you want to go in your life.Also, be sure to make sure that you have a work definition that includes a job outlook for at least three years after you graduate. You do not want to waste time chasing down a new career when you are actually chasing after a more desirable career. For example, if you are not sure if you will ever return to school for a degree in chemistry, you might want to work with your life coach to help you get a work definition of a career that you can continue to pursue after you graduate.Finally, make sure that you make sure that you have a work definition so that you know if you want to continue your education or pursue a different career. Often, there is a definite difference between a career and a job. However, make sure that you think through this carefully before making a decision about pursuing your education.