Biology Rap: The Science That is Known Worldwide

Biology Rap: The Science That is Known WorldwideThe term Biology Rap is really an abbreviation for biological sciences. The basic aim of the rap is to reveal the students about the various subjects that are involved in Biology. These include: plant, animal, human and environmental sciences.In addition to this, the curriculum also includes the Chinese language (or others) and music. This is a really good way to teach students about their fundamental subjects and help them develop an interest in them. It also enables the teachers to teach different ways of looking at and understanding these subjects. It helps to explain concepts to students and allow them to appreciate the importance of different subjects to the overall world.Most of the online schools have their own emphasis on music and rap courses, since these are always found in the world's subject matter. These tracks will expose students to different styles of music that can influence their education. Music will not only inspire a generation, but also educate them in a better way, as it provides information on human life in its entire nature.The best part about the rap course is that it can be taken anywhere at any time, while the music is still being written. Unlike what most people think, this course does not become obsolete with the passage of time. A person can enjoy the knowledge and skills that he gained, during the time period. There are many online universities offering the Biology Rap courses for people with a wide range of interests.People who are studying for the biology can take pleasure in this kind of course. Since the school students usually get their subjects from their friends and family, some people can study for a subject that they are fond of. This will ensure that they do not get bored with the course.If a student is determined to take up this course, he should decide early to study for this particular subject because there are no guarantees that a student will be able to achieve his ta rget within the time frame. This will be difficult for people who are just starting to learn about the natural world, or who have no idea about biology, but this is one subject that everyone should be familiar with.Although the Biology Rap course has not been around for a long time, it is still popular because it is relevant today. Students can learn more about the world in which they live, by looking at the ideas and concepts that they learn from this course.

Reasons to Play the Guitar

Reasons to Play the Guitar How Do You Become a Guitarist? ChaptersDevelop Your Creativity with Your GuitarLearning Guitar by Joining a BandFinding Your Rhythm by Playing the GuitarWhat Are the Psychological Benefits of Being a Guitarist?“Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It's transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It's uplifting, it's encouraging, it's strengthening.” - Aretha FranklinA lot of Brits play a music instrument.Would you like to become one of them or become a famous guitar player?You can learn guitar for fun, learn two or three songs, and impress your friends at a party. However, learning the guitar takes a lot of effort. It gives you an opportunity to let your imagination run wild, improve your ear, and even relieve stress. Whether you're looking for a free guitar lesson, online guitar lessons for beginners, or just want to learn how to play the guitar for fun, learning how to play guitar comes with a lot of benefits. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDevelop Your Creativity with Your GuitarYou can’t really call yourself a guitarist after learning a few basic barre chords and buying a chord dictionary. You also need to be able to create a riff, improvise in a variety of different musical styles, and compose your own music.The guitar is a great way to improve your creativity. (Source: Pexels)You can work on your creativity from the second you pick up an acoustic g uitar, electric guitar, or bass guitar.  The same is true for most artistic activities, you need to improvise a bit in order to learn and develop your own style.  Whether you’re doing music, art, or dance, you should be encouraged to express your creativity and develop your own styles.In a guitar class, your guitar tutor or teacher might ask you to improvise in front of the other students using a certain arpeggio, pentatonic scale, or a specific guitar chord.If you’re teaching yourself, then you’re going to have to force yourself to do this kind of learning activity and improve several aspects of your guitar playing:Your earYour breathingYour playingCoordinating your right hand and left handYour techniqueYour creativityIf you become more creative with the guitar, you can even start creating your own songs and compositions for it.  The more you practise improvisation, the more comfortable you’ll feel with it. Soon you’ll start being able to play solos during your performanc es!Struggling to find your creativity?You can always start with a bassline, a drumbeat, or a chord progression from a famous song to get you started.Learning Guitar by Joining a BandTeaching yourself how to play guitar can be good in the beginning when you learn to read tablature, tune your guitar, and use a plectrum or pick. However, this can become quite boring very quickly.Joining a band is a great way to share your passion for music. (Source: Free-Photos)You can find yourself doing the same exercises again and again, not knowing how to play or how to progress. You can very quickly start becoming demotivated and consider giving up playing guitar.  Of course, if you get guitar lessons with a guitar teacher or private tutor, this can still happen. However, you can always talk to them about it if you feel unchallenged or need a new approach like a group class so that you can learn alongside other guitarists.Why not look for bands?Music is there to be shared, whether with other music ians or an audience. It conveys emotions, allows us to forget about our problems, and gets us dancing...Whether you want to play blues guitar, rock guitar, jazz strumming patterns, or a few power chords in a punk band, playing in a band will give you the chance to play concerts. However, you first need to put the work in. In fact, every member of a band needs to put in a lot of work.As a novice guitarist, the simplest thing to do is join a band that already exists. This means you won’t need to organise recitals, practise sessions, the band’s calendar, or scheduling concerts, they should already have all of this sorted.The problem when you first start is that it can be difficult to find a band that already exists and is looking for members. Guitarists are hardly rare and most bands will be able to choose from several different ones. You will, therefore, need to give it your all in the audition and make sure you're prepared before you go.Before an audition, you should probably pra ctise a couple of the songs that the band regularly plays. You’ll be less stressed and you’ll be able to show off all your skills as a guitarist.You should also know that your level mightn’t necessarily be a drawback. You may find a group of beginners or intermediates who can help you progress at a lightning pace, as long as you also practise outside of the scheduled practise sessions.Additionally, make sure you get a good feeling from the group of musicians you’re joining! Just like when choosing your guitar teacher or tutor, you need to feel comfortable with them, get along with them, and create an amicable environment between all members of the band.Finding Your Rhythm by Playing the GuitarBeing a member of a band is a great way to work on your rhythm and timekeeping.A drummer can help you develop a sense of rhythm. (Source: Free-Photos)If you’re playing on your own, you can also use a metronome to keep time. In a band, you can also learn to keep time and the drummer wi ll usually act as your metronome. Every instrument needs to keep time with the drummer.  While you can practise keeping time on your own, you still have to follow the drummer when they’re playing. Not everyone has a natural rhythm, after all.Someone who grew up with musicians or dancers will be more familiar with rhythm and will probably learn to play guitar more quickly than someone who didn’t. Someone with no musical experience will probably have to work on their rhythm, music theory, and scales.Unfortunately, working on your rhythm isn’t as simple as playing a chord. While it’s more complicated, it’s not impossible!You should work on your listening, listening to the tempo, the beats, and the time signature of each song you hear on the radio, TV, the supermarket, and even in lifts!Here’s some advice for working on your rhythm:Tap your feetCount the beatsMove your right hand in timeWork with a metronomePlay along to a songPlay in a bandThis can take some time, but you†™ll eventually be as good at playing in time as Hendrix or Clapton!What Are the Psychological Benefits of Being a Guitarist?There are a lot of benefits to playing the guitar online, learning as a beginner, or playing with other musicians. Don't forget there are free guitar lessons and beginner guitar lessons online.Playing the guitar is a great way to unwind. (Source: andreas160578)Playing the guitar can loosen up your fingers as well as provide the following benefits:Develop your memory: to learn a chord, play tabs, or practise new songs, you’re going to need to use some of that grey matter. You will learn to concentrate for longer periods of time and work on your memory while keeping your brain alert.Get rid of stress: practising an instrument is a good way to relax. You’ll need to be focused on learning to play the guitar to worry about work or your personal life. Stress is the cause of a lot of everyday problems: weight gain, loss of appetite, sleeping poorly, and even cardi ovascular problems. Imagine being able to alleviate some of this by simply playing the guitar!Self-improvement: When you play the piano, you just have to press the key in order to play a note whereas when you play the guitar, you have to press down correctly on the string in order to play a note. This can take a lot of work. While not everyone learns at the same speed, everyone will come to a stage where they feel like they’re not progressing or they’re stagnating. You need to have a steely resolve in order to get over this.Enjoyment: just like with sport, playing the guitar can help release dopamine and endorphins, two hormones responsible for pleasure.Expressing your emotions: music is first and foremost an expression of our emotions, be them joy, melancholy, anger, or love. If you’re fed up, pick up your instrument and start strumming away, playing a riff, a chord progression, and you’ll start feeling better. Don’t think about it, just let loose.Meeting people: playing the guitar is also a great way to meet other musicians who share the same passion for music as you. Joining a band can help you make new friends and share a common interest.So are you ready to start playing the guitar?

Easy ACT Test and SAT Test Prep Steps - Private Tutoring

Easy ACT Test and SAT Test Prep Steps BobbiM Apr 27, 2015 If college is your goal, then your junior year of high school is going to be a critical one! This is THE year for getting prepped for review and then acceptance by colleges and universities nationwide.     Not only do you need to make sure that you have a plethora of great activities and other experiences to fill your application, you also have to complete the applications as well as take a battery of difference tests for admission. The two main tests for every college bound student are the ACTs and the SATs. Image courtesy of imagerymajestic Interestingly enough there’s a rule of thumb that “the East and West coast schools value SAT scores more, while the Mid-West wants an ACT score.” While this generally holds true, here’s a break down on the similarities, differences and some other facts to help you determine whether you want to take both tests or not and how to do your ACT test and SAT test prep beforehand. SUBJECTS TESTED Like any student, a first question is usually, “What’s on the test?” The two test have similarities and some slight differences. The SAT only covers the three main subjects: Reading Math Writing All three of these topics are mandatory. The ACT test, on the other hand, Mtests you in Math, English, Reading, Science and Writing (if you choose to do this one). And yes, you read that correctly â€" if you CHOOSE to do the writing test portion. But note, and this is a very important note, some colleges and universities require the writing portion of the test be taken. So before opting out, make sure you know which schools will be receiving these test scores and compare that with their requirements to make sure you are covered. If you haven’t come up with a final list of schools then it’s our recommendation that you take the writing portion as well to insure that you aren’t re-taking the entire again. Cover your bases and you’ll better off! COST No, these tests aren’t free there is a fee for each test and each time that you take the test.     The actual cost for the test is pretty close to identical so that shouldn’t weigh into your testing taking decision. If you know which one you schools are requiring you might be able to save some money and brain power by choosing one test over the other. And like we mentioned above, if you are still not sure exactly which schools you are applying to take both sets of tests. Yes, we realize what this means. One note â€" there’s a fee for every school you send the test results to. So once your roster of schools is complete only choose one test per school based on their requirements. That way you pay the minimum amount needed for score submissions. You Might Be Interested in: In 9th Grade Math I Got a C, Now What? TEST STYLE This is probably the area where the two tests vary the most. The SAT test measures your verbal abilities and reasoning or aptitude skills. It doesn’t rely solely on what you’ve learned in school which can throw some people that take the test. The ACT measures what your knowledge is and what you’ve learned in school. Obviously you better have paid attention because this means you’ll see questions related to what you should have covered and learned by the time you take the test. The SAT may have article, charts or graphs on topics you never studied. But don’t worry, even if you haven’t studied the topic there is enough information presented to analyze and respond to the topics. Image courtesy of Ambro TEST PENALTIES One BIG difference between the two exams is that the SAT test does ding you for missed or wrong answers. Yup, you read that correctly. Each wrong answer costs you one quarter of one point. But questions that are not answered do not cost you anything. So, for an example, if you were to answer one question correctly and the following four wrong, you would have earned a score of 0 for that group of questions. This makes many say that the ACT test is easier since that penalty doesn’t exist. And there are a lot of students that take both and says that as well. Part of the reasoning behind this is the fact that the topics covered on the ACT exam are questions on topics that you have covered in high school (or should have…..). So there’s a greater comfort level or ease in dealing with these question when compared to some on the SAT test. The SAT test on the other hand, will have some unfamiliar information and is wanting you to use your critical reasoning functions to determine the correct responses. Because of the unfamiliarity with this type of testing and information, more students are nervous and concerned about the SAT test. Both the ACT test and the SAT test are rights of passage from high school to college. So worrying and stressing won’t change the situation. Finding the right test for schools you are interested and prepping and be prepared will make the difference that you need. Search for ACT tutors and SAT tutors in your area!

Books Every Student Should Read Mindset The New Psychology of Success

Books Every Student Should Read â€" Mindset The New Psychology of Success Improving Academic Performance As many readers of this blog know, MyGuru tries to be much more than a place where parents and students can look for a private tutor. We are trying to build a community of parents, students, tutors, and other experts where ideas about how to be healthier, more productive, and academically successful are exchanged. With that in mind, in this article I’ll discuss a book which offers powerful ideas to help any student be more successful inside and outside of the classroom: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck. She helped found a company on the back of her research called “Mindset Works.” This is part of a new series we are launching called “Books Every Student Should Read.” Each book we discuss will be reviewed in the context of a framework we’ve developed called the Academic Performance Pyramid, which says that for any given level of effort, your performance is determined by your: 1. overall health and wellness, 2. Mindset and character, 3. strategies for reaching goals, 4. techniques used when studying and learning new things, and 5. organizational skills. Dweck’s mindset is a cornerstone of the “Mindset” portion of our framework. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck Dr. Dweck introduces the reader to a powerful concept called the “growth mindset.” Her research in psychology has revealed that people tend to think about their intelligence and personality in one of two ways. They either a) adopt a “fixed” mindset, and believe their intelligence, sense of humor, communication skills, etc. are “traits” that they inherited at birth and can’t be changed, or b) they adopt a “growth” mindset and believe that their intelligence and various dimensions of their personality can be adjusted with practice and focused effort. The fixed mindset, for example, treats your intelligence like a trait such as your height. You can’t change your height. The growth mindset views intelligence like a muscle that can be strengthened through training and practice. The Transforming Education blog has an excellent infographic on what a growth mindset is and why it matters. In study after study, Dweck has shown that when students either naturally tend to have a growth mindset or receive growth mindset training such that they are exposed to the differences between the two and are provided with ways in which they can cultivate a growth mindset instead of a fixed one, they perform better on tests and earn better grades. Why would this be? Why is a growth mindset so important for students to understand? There are a few reasons. First, most IQ researchers believe personality and intelligence have both some fixed and some “malleable” or “changeable” dimensions to them. For example, IQ tests try to measure your brain’s processing speed (to over simplify the matter quite a bit). These tests are supposed to be measuring your underlying, genetic ability to acquire knowledge, not the amount of knowledge you currently have from studying and learning. Some studies however, show that with focused practice and/or increased education, IQ scores can drift upwards. IQ scores can be improved, a little bit. So that’s one reason the growth mindset leads to better performance. Some things, like underlying IQ, which seem fixed and which the average person believes is truly fixed, really aren’t, so with practice, performance improves. But in fact, the real “secret” to understanding the power of the growth mindset, in my view, is that the concept of “intelligence” is a very complicated and complex one, and many students believe that performance in various subjects in school has a LOT to do with what you might call “genetically determined IQ” when in fact, it has just a little to do with “IQ” and a LOT to do with how much you practice and how much effort you put in. Students would be better served to ignore the concept of “IQ,” and instead focus on a more broadly defined notion of “intelligence” that perhaps acknowledges the existence of IQ scores on some level, but focuses FAR more on how focused practice and hard work help you acquire knowledge and build the skills that, in effect, grow your intelligence steadily over time. Let me try to be clearer and summarize the main theme of Dr. Dweck’s work in the context of a reasonably complex mathematics class like first semester calculus. This is the type of class that seems to many students like it might be very difficult. And yes, it’s a class you might not take until college, depending on your experience with math. But in fact, doing math is much more like a skill you can build through practice than some sort of IQ test. So sure, some percentage of students will just struggle with comprehending the concepts in calculus. But the successful student in first semester calculus is typically successful because they pay attention, work hard, and practice (i.e., do their homework). I would argue that almost all students who find themselves sitting in a first semester calculus course HAVE THE REQUIRED ABILITY to earn an A or a B, IF they put in the work. The student with a “fixed” mindset though, sort of flips that narrative. They believe their math skill is a fixed trait. They’ll either understand the material or they won’t. If you think this way, you really have very limited incentive to pay much attention and work hard. You may be forced to put in the work because the teacher grades homework or your parents have instilled in you a good work ethic, but in your mind, you feel a sense of futility because you just don’t think that you have much control over your performance. As soon as you start thinking this way, you of course are less likely to pay attention and put in the work. This naturally leads to poor performance, which reinforces the idea that you just aren’t very good at math. With a growth mindset, the whole story works in the opposite direction. You assume everyone, including you, has the intelligence to get an A in calculus, they just have to practice and build their math skills. Since you feel in control, you are MUCH more likely to decide to put in that work and get to a good outcome in the class. The implication is that you are in full control of your academic future, and you could probably pursue academic areas that seem almost impossible. This could mean that a person with an average or slightly above average IQ, if he or she decided to, could become a PhD in Physics with the right amount of focused practice and effort. Most people can become experts in almost any academic area if they decide that’s what they’d like to pursue. Now, can anyone win a Nobel prize in physics or earn a tenure position at Harvard teaching physics? IQ may play a role in allowing you to reach the absolute pinnacle of some professions. But most of the time, focused practice and hard work can get you much farther than many students realize. How do you build a growth mindset? Across the many articles that have been written about the growth mindset and within the Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, I see two basic strategies for cultivating growth mindsets instead of fixed ones. First, take the time to explain to yourself and others about the difference between a fixed and growth mindset, and about the complexity behind the notion of “intelligence” or being “smart.” Imagine two people, Bill and Frank. They are both 30 years old. Bill dropped out of college and works in the family business, and has an IQ score that is 15% higher than Frank’s. But Frank has read 25 times more books, and holds a PhD in Political Science and an undergraduate degree in Economics. He’s written several of his own books. He’s spent thousands of hours in classrooms listening to lectures and writing papers about a variety of topics. Who is “smarter?” Second, when you are thinking about your own performance or that of your children, praise effort, not results. That A in the math class was a result of “how hard you worked and how much you practiced” and not “how smart you are at math.”

Has Feminism Gone the way of Hansel and Gretel A Feminist Response To The Social Construction of Gender

Has Feminism Gone the way of Hansel and Gretel A Feminist Response To The Social Construction of Gender A photo of me from my sophomore year of college. I am a feminist who celebrates my femininity. I feel that history has shown us that enfranchisement in the United States has never lead to immediate equality. The enfranchisement of black men in the 1860‘s certainly did not lead to their equality in the eyes of all Americans.   If in fact, I was to follow the same model that DeFazio has presented, then perhaps the Civil Rights movement “Lost its Way” after enfranchisement, and we can gloss over the Civil Rights movement of the twentieth century. This is what DeFazio does to the second-wave feminist movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s, but many feminists, and people in general, would consider the second wave of feminism to be just as important as the first. DeFazio cites a study discussing the genetic differences between men and women, but nowhere in that study does it say that women are genetically predisposed to be relegated to the private sphere. A major argument of the second-wave feminist movement is that both sexes have the right to pursue careers, regardless of mar riage or familial aspirations. Gloria Steinem, a woman so lauded in the second-wave of feminism she’s almost become adelightful cliché, once said;  â€œIve yet to be on a campus where most women werent worrying about some aspect of combining marriage, children, and a career. Ive yet to find one where many men were worrying about the same thing.”   While this  socially constructed  belief had somewhat faded from public discourse;  Ann-Marie Slaughter’s piece for The Atlantic  last year reminded us that the marriage/family debate is still one that women have. I would ask DeFazio if he is interested in having children, and if so, is he concerned with balancing being a parent with having a career? Gloria Steinem in the 1970s, an important period for the feminist movement. Photo Credit: http://wearethefishers.blogspot.com/ I’d also like to admit that the marriage/family debate, which while is still a prevalent part of feminism, is just one small piece of the puzzle. Never mind that sexual violence, domestic violence, women’s reproductive rights, and the fact that there are gender dysmorphic people who do not fit into the two prescribed gender roles, all are things that feminism seeks to have discussions about. I’m just frustrated with the notion that feminism has “lost its way.” All movements change, and there are many interpretations of feminism. I agree that there are biological differences between the sexesthe sexes, but not the genders. Gender is the social interpretation of sex, and often, the two are confused because of how powerful social construction is. While you may not agree that gender is socially constructed, the social construction that masculinity is the dominant sex is pretty hard to ignore. You may think those of us in the academy who argue for social construction of gender a re wrong, but there are many of us who are feminist in different ways.  My favorite tumblr  is a constant reminder of how important feminism is to people. Feminism has not “lost its way.” It was never on one path to begin with.

As Easy as Eating Cake This Student Tackles Every Challenge that Comes His Way

As Easy as Eating Cake This Student Tackles Every Challenge that Comes His Way As Easy as Eating Cake: This Student Tackles Every Challenge that Comes His Way Aryan, 9-years-old, Level I “What I like most about Kumon is that it helps you get above your grade level, so you can be prepared for what is coming up in school. So once you do it, it’s as easy as eating cake.”â€"Aryan Aryan enrolled in Kumon at four-years-old and now at the age of nine, is studying algebraic concepts. His mom wanted to make sure she exposed him to as many different activities during such a formative time in his life. Aryan loves soccer. So much so, he hopes to be a professional soccer player someday. On top of that, he plays the drums with the “School of Rock”, participates on his swim team, is ranked in the top 1% in his school’s Math Olympiad and plays squash with his father. How does he not only have time for all of his extracurricular activities, but also excel at everything he does? Aryan credits Kumon for teaching him time management and perseverance. He puts his heart into every single activity and challenge that he faces. How has Kumon helped you beyond academics? I have learned to respect time. I am able to manage and finish things on time. I have also realized that if I keep trying and don’t give up, I will get it. I can make mistakes and learn from them and become quick. We learned in school about perseverance and Kumon also teaches the same. It also taught me confidence when I have to face something new. I am not scared to face challenges. Nothing scares me anymore. What keeps you motivated in Kumon? Kumon makes me want to challenge myself and always learn more. My dad asks me [math] questions in the car and I am able to do those in my head, which makes me think I have to keep doing Kumon. I am always curious to move forward and I feel confident in school when I already know what they are teaching. Since I have already done the work at Kumon, it’s interesting to learn other ways of doing the same thing. I like that I don’t fear challenges anymore. Kumon pumps me up to learn new stuff.  â€œIf you don’t persevere through the hard questions, you are never going to make it to the next level.”â€"Aryan You might also be interested in: Slowing Down in the Face of Challenge is the Key to this Students Academic Success Passion and Dedication are the Key to this Young Computer Coders Success Increased Confidence has Inspired this Young Girl to Take on any Challenge Three-Time Spelling Bee Champion Always Welcomes a Challenge As Easy as Eating Cake This Student Tackles Every Challenge that Comes His Way As Easy as Eating Cake: This Student Tackles Every Challenge that Comes His Way Aryan, 9-years-old, Level I “What I like most about Kumon is that it helps you get above your grade level, so you can be prepared for what is coming up in school. So once you do it, it’s as easy as eating cake.”â€"Aryan Aryan enrolled in Kumon at four-years-old and now at the age of nine, is studying algebraic concepts. His mom wanted to make sure she exposed him to as many different activities during such a formative time in his life. Aryan loves soccer. So much so, he hopes to be a professional soccer player someday. On top of that, he plays the drums with the “School of Rock”, participates on his swim team, is ranked in the top 1% in his school’s Math Olympiad and plays squash with his father. How does he not only have time for all of his extracurricular activities, but also excel at everything he does? Aryan credits Kumon for teaching him time management and perseverance. He puts his heart into every single activity and challenge that he faces. How has Kumon helped you beyond academics? I have learned to respect time. I am able to manage and finish things on time. I have also realized that if I keep trying and don’t give up, I will get it. I can make mistakes and learn from them and become quick. We learned in school about perseverance and Kumon also teaches the same. It also taught me confidence when I have to face something new. I am not scared to face challenges. Nothing scares me anymore. What keeps you motivated in Kumon? Kumon makes me want to challenge myself and always learn more. My dad asks me [math] questions in the car and I am able to do those in my head, which makes me think I have to keep doing Kumon. I am always curious to move forward and I feel confident in school when I already know what they are teaching. Since I have already done the work at Kumon, it’s interesting to learn other ways of doing the same thing. I like that I don’t fear challenges anymore. Kumon pumps me up to learn new stuff.  â€œIf you don’t persevere through the hard questions, you are never going to make it to the next level.”â€"Aryan You might also be interested in: Slowing Down in the Face of Challenge is the Key to this Students Academic Success Passion and Dedication are the Key to this Young Computer Coders Success Increased Confidence has Inspired this Young Girl to Take on any Challenge Three-Time Spelling Bee Champion Always Welcomes a Challenge

6 Online Language Learning Communities Thatll Make You Feel Like Family

6 Online Language Learning Communities Thatll Make You Feel Like Family Its common for language learners to feel a bit isolated at timesâ€"especially when learning an uncommon language or self-teaching.Even if youre attending classes, doing homework and preparing for exams  can be isolating activities.Ready to make one of the best decisions youll ever make as a language learner?  Good!  You’ll never regret it.Diving in and joining  online language learning communities or forums can be highly beneficial to learners of any language.  But which communities will really help you get where youre going?I’ll give you six that are definitely worth your time. Make one (or more of them) your new home online. But first, here are three good reasons why you should join, just in case youre still on the fence. The Benefits of Joining an Online Language Learning CommunitySay “Hello” to Fellow Language LearnersJust knowing that youre  not alone  can be a great comfort  to  the language learner. Sooner or later, you’re gonna be discouraged. You’re gonna feel down and out. (Hey, that’s a normal part of the language journey.)The forum can put all your struggles with language into perspective. Imagine a class of several hundred million. When you come to the forums and read that someone else asked the same language question you’ve been asking yourself the past few days, you realize you’re not that bad. There are people ahead of you, whove been though it all and found ways to overcome difficulties. There are people behind you who are still looking for guidance and direction. When you come to the forum and read a language question that you actually know the answer to, you realize you’re really not that bad!In addition to getting awesome tips that have worked well for  others, forums can create invisible bonds that connect you to every other language learner there, even if you’re studying different languages. There’s some kind of bond that exists between fellow language learners, making an online community like a band of brothers w here you end up cheering each other on and hoping for the others to succeed.Be Up Close and Personal with Native SpeakersDid you know that you can learn a whole new language without ever spending a dime? Native speakers have a lot to do with it. Native speakers are those lucky enough to be born in a country where your target language is spoken.It used to be that gaining access to them involved buying a plane ticket, getting lost in their city and asking where the nearest bathroom is. But that seems like a very long time ago. Today, you can get access to native speakers and you don’t even need to give them the courtesy of introducing yourself. You simply proceed to your question, type away and you’ll have knowledgeable and helpful  native speakers answer your question, sometimes in seconds.Now, I’m not saying that native speakers are necessarily linguistic geniuses. They may very well be average. But they possess the very thing you’re working your tail off to possess: fluency in their language.And because theyre native speakers, they wont think its too big of a deal to dish out some help. Often, they’ll do it pro bonoâ€"or, more often, theyll do it in exchange for help with learning your native language.Beyond language, native speakers can give you the inside information on cultural practices, idiomatic expressions, slang, pop culture and other areas where a textbook can’t go. Through the guidance of these creatures, you’ll have more insightful and enriched time with the language.Get Honest Reviews on Resources and ProductsJoining forums is one of the best ways to go after honest reviews of language learning resources. The wisdom of numbers will shed light on the true nature of products.If a particular language course is good, you’ll hear about it from someone who has actually taken it. Sometimes you’ll hear mixed reviews, which is a reality of life anyway. Then you can engage those members and asked them what they liked or didn’t like about the product/course. Its always possible that their cons will be your pros, and vice versa.So, type your query in the forums and ask away. Ask if such and such is a good product. Or better yet, ask for pros and cons. Youll be a more empowered and informed language learner by doing so.6 Online Language Learning Communities You Should Be a Part OfFluent In 3 MonthsFluent In 3 Months is the one of the largest, most popular and best known language learning blogs online. It’s managed by the fun-loving and globe-trotting Irishman Benny Lewis. Hes fluent in seven languages and intent on adding more tongues to his already robust repertoire.“Three months?” you asked. “That’s like less than a hundred days, right?”The blog talks about different language hacking techniques Benny discovered on his journey towards speaking different languages. He also writes balanced reviews of the different language products online and posts articles like, Learn to Speak Multiple Languages (Without B urning Out)  and What’s Your #1 Challenge in Language Learning?Benny’s philosophy is that if you wanna learn how to speak a language, then you’ve gotta speak it on the first day. Mistakes and all.The Fluent In 3 Months forum reflects this philosophy because you will see that he devotes a section/category to discussions about “Speaking the language” and lumps the other non-speaking components of language (writing, reading, listening) into one category.Speaking of categories, the forum, interestingly, also has a special section for “Ladies Only” which cannot be viewed by non-members.Benny is effusive about what’s going on in his life and shares a lot on the forum about his travels, projects and, like I said, reviews different products he’s tried. So if you want an honest review by someone who’s actually tried the product, Benny’s your guy.With the many resources, tips, techniques and helpful discussions that are happening in Fluent In 3 Months, well, maybe it is  possible to be fluent in three months.OmniglotOmniglot is a compendium of linguistic knowledge and the different writing systems used to represent language. In short, the blog is big on the written wordâ€"one of the best online. Its run by Simon Ager, an unassuming fellow who speaks French, German, Chinese and Japanese. What started out as a hobby in 1998 became what it is today by organically growing and continuously taking in quality content.I’ve included this one on the list as a nod to learners of the written texts. There’s a disproportionate number of excellent learning communities for spoken language, but only  a few focusing on its written form. Omniglot  is one such place.Its forum has sections on con-scripts, extinct languages and even translation requests. But lest it be mistaken for a “writing only” learning community, you’d be happy to know that Omniglot contains voluminous tips, tricks and techniques for learning how to speak different languages. It really co vers all the aspects of language education.Omniglot has attracted serious language learners, so its  here that you’ll find people whose passion is really learning. The crowd here has somehow taken on the unassuming and simple nature of the founder, Simon, and you can really feel genuine curiosity within the forum’s pages. Youre also more likely to bump into really intelligent people in this blog. Just sayin’.So if you want a place that’s low on negativity but high on learning, check out the Omniglot forum.LinguaholicSome communities make you wonder if there are actually people behind it or if they’re busy doing something else. With some forums, you try to contact an admin and it takes you ages to get a reply, if you get one. With Linguaholic, you feel that the people behind it actually care what’s going on in the forums, what’s being talked about or whether the latest queries have been answered.The forum, I think, is in an ideal size where it’s not too big to be out of control, but still active enough to be a platform for communicating with fellow language learners. They have sections for “Language Study Apps,” “Language Teaching” and even a “Language Exchange Corner” where you can find people who can help you learn your target language.With Linguaholic, you get a sense of kaizen, the Japanese concept of continuous improvement. For example, the forum has a section for requests and suggestions, which the moderators don’t treat blithely.So with Linguaholic there’s always some new “cool thing” that’s being developed. They’re continually adding languages and continually tweaking the site. As a yet non-household name, my guess is, it will be big very soon. And I encourage you to join this community. Not just because of its potential (although it would be very cool to be part of something before others flock to it), but because, as it exists today, Linguaholic is imminently useful for the language learner who wants to surround himself with support from like-minded souls.Reddit (/r/languagelearning)Think Reddit is just for upvoting and downvoting items you find interesting (and otherwise)? Think again. Reddit has an awesome list of language learning communities called subreddits that can be as specific and as broad as you want it to be.One such subreddit is  /r/languagelearning.The forum is for anyone interested in learning a language whether they be an absolute beginner, a raving polyglot or a person whos just plain interested in linguistics. Queries submitted here include: Which languages are phonetically similar to English? What fun websites do you visit in your target language? Tips on raising a trilingual child?You can ask anything you want in the language learning niche. Remember what I told you about forums being lounges for other language learners and native speakers? The language learning subreddit has them in good numbers and theyre actively ready to help.The subreddit has the added functionalit y of the Reddit upvote and downvote. An upvote floats the post higher up the page, which means members get to see it first over others. A downvote sinks it to the lower areas of the page, where many readers don’t get to see. This allows members to efficiently interact with one another and bring attention to the highest quality content.While other forums present the latest threads or most recently commented threads, here you’ll see the posts that other members have found particularly interesting or helpful. Trusting in the wisdom of communities, you’re able to save time and don’t have to wade through all the topics before you get to one that’s worth your time.WordReferenceYou’ve probably had your first brush with WordReference because you wanted something translated. WordReference is often considered the top dictionary-translation site online. But working as a translation  service is just one of its virtues. WordReference houses a lively learning community, and a forum se ction to boot!And its forums  are nothing to sneeze at. At the time of this writing, there are 6,000 active users that are “online.” (How may forums can raise up a number like that?)WordReference has forums for Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Slavic, Semitic and many other minor languages. In true tradition as a translation service, the forums for major languages like Spanish, French and Italian come in language pairs. For example, in the French forum, there are subsections on French-English, French-Spanish and French-Italian. So if you want a translation of a French phrase or sentence into English, then you go to the appropriate section. Or if you’re an English speaker who wanted to ask something about the French language, you go to the same section.The queries and topics that you find here are heavy on the translation, vocabulary, meaning, usage, sentence structure, pronunciation, tenses, parts of speech and grammar elements. So for example, in the French-Engli sh section, someone might asked: Can you subject-verb invert on the imparfait?For queries of this nature, your best bet would really be WordReference.UnilangThe Unilang platform probably serves the most number of languages online (including Polynesian languages, Basque, Faroese, Sami languages and even Kurdish).The interface may look basic but, underneath the surface, you’ll be treated to some community-generated resources  like: courses, videos, podcasts, dictionaries, scripts, vocabulary lists, phrasebooks, stories, software,  games  and exercises that no other platform can provide.Unilang even supports live text chat (with Unicode scripts) so you can type in Chinese, Arabic and Russian.The theme in this forum is collaboration. You not only have the chance to take advantage of the resources made by others, discuss them and ask your questions, youre encouraged to create resources of your own. In so doing, you not only help your fellow language learners, but youre also learning an d immersing yourself more in your target language. And isn’t that a win-win?Those are six of the language learning communities that are worth checking out.Come, dive in.Meet the folks, the fellow language learners who are effusive about their journeys, the patient native speakers who help you for nothing in exchange and the lovers of language who not only make you appreciate your  target language more, but your first language as well.They’re all there waiting for you, so what are you waiting for?! And One More ThingIf youre digging these communities, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  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 Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definiti on, 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 your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn 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.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or Google Play store.

Four Tips to Write a Better College Entrance Essay

Four Tips to Write a Better College Entrance Essay Fullerton College Admissions Consultant Tips: Four Tips to Write a Better College Entrance Essay Fullerton College Admissions Consultant Tips: Four Tips to Write a Better College Entrance Essay For many high school students, it’s time to start writing your college entrance essays. Most Universities require some form of an essay to apply. Some colleges offer a prompt while others ask why you want to attend their school. No matter what the task is, students should take their time and get to work on their essays as early as possible. To help you along the way, one of our experienced Fullerton college admissions consultants has shared four tips to write better entrance essays. 1. Write More Than One Draft No matter how great of a writer you think you are, you won’t get it perfect in the first draft. For many, writing is a chore, so once you finish an essay the last thing you want to do is write it again. We understand, but keep in mind that what you write might not be as clear once you sleep on it and reread it in the morning. Luckily the second draft will won’t take as long, and you’ll be encouraged as you see progress with each new draft. It will all be worth it once you get into the college of your dreams! 2. Get Help from a Fullerton Tutor Our private Fullerton college admissions consultants have a 97% success rate. In other words, they know what they are doing. Not only will they give you feedback on your essays, but they will provide you with tips and tricks for success before you even begin writing (READ: Four Ways to Come Up With a Great Thesis Statement). 3. Have More Than One Person Read Your Essay You need more than a second opinion. Keep in mind that you’ve been working on this essay for weeks, so your brain might be a bit scrambled making sentences and words appear correct when they are in fact incorrect. Having three or four people read (please chose your peer reviewers wisely) will make sure you aren’t missing any glaring mistakes. Also, have them explain to you what you were trying to say. If what they tell you isn’t what you meant to write, find out which parts are ambiguous or incorrect and write another draft. 4. Write Clear and Concise Sentences When writing, it is always important to have your audience in mind. In this case, you’ll be writing for highly educated entrance officials who have to read a lot of essays. Remember this: using big words and long sentences wont make you look smart. Does that make sense? In other words, if you’re overusing the thesaurus and constructing wordy sentences, you’re going to come off as a bad writer, not an intellectual. For an essay such as this, write clearly and concisely. If a sentence isn’t as clear as possible, rewrite it so that it is. For example, which sentence reads more clearly? I am adroit at the intricacies of higher education and fully plan on perpetuating the given tasks the university assigns me. Or I look forward to taking on the challenges of higher education If it’s not clear to you, it won’t be apparent to the reader. Keep it simple. Starting your college entrance essays soon? Book a private Fullerton tutor today. Members of the TutorNerds team and our private tutors write every blog post. If you have any questions about our blog, please email us at pr@tutornerds.com.

Chemicals - Engineering the Future

Chemicals - Engineering the FutureThe CSUF Chemistry Department is one of the largest in the nation. It also offers a great reputation for helping students reach their goals. If you are an interested graduate student or you are already in graduate school and would like to change majors, consider the Chemical Engineering program.In order to get into the graduate school of your choice, you will have to take part in pre-professional courses. These courses will give you information about the school and the requirements that you need to meet. You will also be given a list of topics that you will have to study during your first year. The course load can be anywhere from ten to twelve units, so it depends on the program you choose.When looking at graduate schools, there are two types of classes that are required in your program. The first type is a laboratory-based class and the second type is a hands-on, outside-the-classroom course. There are also specializations available to you, which m ight be a wonderful option if you have specific interests.A major in Chemical Engineering might be an ideal choice for someone who enjoys working with chemicals. With this option, you will be able to apply your knowledge of chemistry to improve the production of commercial products that we all use every day. You will also be able to work with natural resources and the environment in a responsible way.The professional education offered in Chemical Engineering is especially strong when it comes to analytical and computational skills. It is important to understand how these tools work and how they can be used to improve quality and production.If you have decided that Chemical Engineering is the right program for you, the next step is to make sure that you meet the requirements. Of course, it is important to discuss this with your faculty advisor, but you will also want to talk to your teachers or professors to find out what their requirements are. Remember that in many fields, you will not be limited to the requirements outlined by your program.If you plan to pursue a career in Chemical Engineering, a strong preparation in the laboratory-based curriculum will help you earn your degree in a fast, efficient manner. Whether you want to pursue a career in business, engineering, or medicine, a Chemical Engineering program will help you achieve your goals.