3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Narrowing Your College Search

3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Narrowing Your College Search Now is a great time to focus on what youre looking for in a prospective college. There are many great choices out there, but its important to know what criteria is at the top of your list. When narrowing your college search, its critical to ask yourself questions regarding what youre honestly looking for out of a potential school, how youll be financing your education, and what type of student life youre wanting to experience. Hoping to zero in on the right college for you? Keep reading to learn three questions to ask yourself with narrowing your college search. College search question #1: What am I actually looking for in a school? Its time to be honest with yourself about what you want from your college experience in order to find a school that best suits your goals. Are you looking for a specific major? Researching the programs that offer the best courses and opportunities in said major can help you narrow down your search. Perhaps youve realized that location is more important to you than you initially thought. If this is the case, go through your list geographically to narrow your choices. Set aside some time outside of school, your extracurricular activities, and time with friends to make a list of the top three things youre looking for in a college. This can include criteria like: Programs offered Financial aid Location Student life On-campus living Write your chosen criteria down and make sure you put that paper somewhere where you can keep referring to it as you make your college decision. Then, go through the colleges youve applied to and see how they measure up according to your top three factors. Doing this will help you consider which colleges will best serve your growth. [RELATED: Your Complete College Visit Checklist] College search question #2: How will I finance my education? Money isnt always a fun topic to delve into, but its essential to talk about cost before you make your decision. Sit down with your parents or guardians to talk about your financial plan of action. Now is a great time to apply for as many scholarships as you can, as well as educate yourself on student loans and what financial aid is available at the schools you applied to. Learn what different types of financial aid entail so that youll be able to understand what each school can offer you. This is a great time to gather information before all of the stress of making your final decision is present. [RELATED:4 Financial Aid Tips for Students] College search question #3: What kind of student life am I looking for? This is a bit more specific than what youre looking for in a college. Its really delving into what environment will work best for you and what will challenge you to become a better student and person. Perhaps youre coming from a very small school in a small town and are ready for a more diverse student body in a bigger school so that you can learn about different perspectives. Maybe youre looking for a school that has a thriving improv community with various groups and shows all the time. Or possibly youre feeling a bit overwhelmed thinking about freshman year, and you know that a small and supportive freshman dorm will be essential to your growth. You can think about this on your own or you can discuss it with your parents, trusted mentors, and friends. Sometimes their feedback can illuminate what makes you happy, and that can help inform your decision as well. [RELATED: What to Do When Youre Waitlisted by a College] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

The top problems introverts have in their career and how to fix them - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / The top problems introverts have in their career and how to fix them - Introvert Whisperer The top problems introverts have in their career and how to fix them Are you an introvert? Have you struggled with stepping into your career with a sense that you need to be more outgoing, strong-voiced and expressive? It can difficult to navigate the career journey from interview to holding the job, to going after that promotion, if we feel like our core essence which may be that of an introvert is not accepted, supported or desired. So what are the kinds of problems we may face as introverts in a largely extroverted world? Let’s start with what an introvert is An introvert receives their energy from alone time. Contrast this to an extrovert, who gets their energy from being with other people. An introvert recharges with taking space and resting, or doing something away from other people in order to get the energy we need to go out into the world again. Introverts also work best alone, and tend to solve problems by reflecting and going inward. When it comes to working environments that demand social interaction, teamwork, presentations, co-working spaces and lots of communication how can introverts stay true to their nature, whilst not getting lost in the crowd? Below are the common problems introverts face, as well as a different take on how to utilize the essential elements of introversion to turn these seeming ‘weaknesses’ into our strengths. Top Problems #1: Burning out by not taking space This is one of the biggest issues introverts will face; exhaustion from giving out too much energy without recharging in the way that we need. Extroverts are the ones who want to always go out for after-office drinks, or seek out company in lunch breaks, in order to get their energy boost from others. Introverts need to be careful here in knowing their energetic boundaries and figuring out ways in which to take the space to themselves mid-workday, and after work. This could be going to the bathroom simply for quiet space, walking outside and breathing in fresh air, finding a space to have your lunch by yourself, and being ok with saying no to the office social scene. If you feel that it is part of your role and would help to enhance your future prospects to network outside of the office, be sure that you have had ample alone time to feel able to go out at the end of the workday. #2: Anxiety about networking Meeting new people for an introvert can demand quite a lot of energy. This isn’t to say introverts are anti-social, but rather prefer more intimate meetings and communication in order to be present and not get overwhelmed. Networking experiences can be challenging, as they are often with many people in more of a cocktail-party style situation with mingling. The impact it may have on introvert’s career is that they may skip the networking events, and therefore, miss out of potential connection and opportunities. To feel more able to be in this networking space, introverts can use the following tools: Introduce yourself to one person at a time. Don’t worry about having to go up to a group and meeting multiple people at once. Find people who are on their own and approach them then. Start off with a simple “Hi, I’m… I don’t believe we’ve met yet..” If you’re having trouble approaching people, then be sure you are approachable. If you’re on your own and waiting for someone to introduce themselves, then be sure that your body language is open and that you are wearing an expression friendly enough that says ‘it’s safe to approach.’ Give yourself a quota of people you’ll talk to. This will help you to actually put in the effort to meet at least 3 people, and also give you some relief if you limit your number to a maximum amount for example, 6 people. It can help put your mind at ease to have attainable goals. Having more of a preference to speak one-to-one and in intimate settings can also be a strength for introverts in networking settings especially when you gel with others who appreciate this presence in communication too. #3: Talking too much due to nerves Most relevant in the context of interviews, meetings and networking environments. Some introverts can fall into the trap of feeling insecure about looking timid, that they overcompensate by talking way too much in hopes of trying to fill the space so there isn’t awkward silence. Though this can lead to awkward rambling, and can hurt your chances of landing the job, project, deal or just showing your true value as a worker. Instead, think about conversation as like a tennis match. They ask you a question, you ask them a question back and forth. They can then fill the space with words, and also feel heard and spacious to express what they wish to. So ask questions, be ok with waiting a few seconds for someone else to do the talking, and you’ll come across as calm and collected. #4: Not going for the leadership role (even though you want it) Many introverts may think that they’re not cut out for being leaders. Some may actually be wanting to step up, but refrain from doing so because of this very reason. This is a mistake, and a little bit of reframing can really help to show how introverts can be, by nature, great leaders. Leadership is about projecting mature self-confidence, taking control of difficult situations, and an ability to guide others through expressing, sharing and directing. Introverts can have a strong sense of who they are from all the time spent internalizing and reflecting. This can be a strong quality to then project out the character of who they are in a grounded way when they’re in front of an audience. Furthermore, leaders are often solitary figures when they guide, share, plan and express, which bodes well for those who like to work alone. Leaders can also have more freedom in how they work and share, without having to rely on a team-based way of working. Introverts are often more emphatic by nature, with more sensitive to energies and dynamics of social situations. For any leader and facilitator, it can be a great quality to draw from to feel into how people are responding and comprehending the situation. If you’re an introvert and think that perhaps you aren’t suited to leadership, rethink that. You could very well have the potential to be an extremely effective leader. The Takeaway? Don’t forget your strengths. Introverts are diligent, persistent and thoughtful people. They tend to spend time and energy working hard to solve difficult problems, and their sensitive nature can really help them to understand people more. Creative-based roles and leadership positions are great for introverts, though if you’re in any other type of position, know that you can honor what you need and take on some of these tips to work effectively and to enhance your strengths. Author Bio Natalie Fisher is best known for helping professionals land their dream jobs and achieve explosive salary growth (even with little experience) Get Started By Downloading her Free Guide: The Ultimate Situational Interview Q A Guide. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

How to Take Online Yoga Classes

How to Take Online Yoga Classes Where Can You Learn Yoga Online? ChaptersOnline Yoga VideosThe Best Free Yoga WebsitesThe Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Yoga ClassesGetting Online Yoga Classes with an Instructor“Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.” - Swami SivanadaYoga is more than a discipline, it’s a vocation, a way of life. The ways in which yoga is taught are changing. Yogis are leaving their usual yoga centres and offering yoga retreats from the comfort of their own homes!All you need is an internet connection and a computer, tablet, or smartphone to enjoy online yoga classes near me. Whether you pay for the courses or get free ones, you should learn more about the different types of yoga courses and their advantages!In this article, we're taking a look at the different modern approaches available to budding yogis and how practising yoga doesn't necessarily cost you an arm and a leg. CarleyYoga Teacher 5.00 (5) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LynnYoga Teache r 4.89 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GenYoga Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JulieYoga Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AliceYoga Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LauraYoga Teacher 5.00 (6) £70/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UndramYoga Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LottieYoga Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsOnline Yoga VideosAs you know, yoga's more than just a case of doing poses. There’s all the vocabulary you’ll have to learn like asanas (postures) and ancient techniques like pranayama which comes from the Sanskrit words “yama” and “pana” which mean “control” and “breath” respectively.An online yoga course can come in in many different shapes and sizes:Yoga classes for beginnersIntermediate or advanced yoga coursesIntroductory yoga classes near meCombined yoga and meditation coursesThe goal of a yoga session is to allow the body and mine to connect in order to achieve mindfulness, which is often referred to as zen. However, there are a lot more benefits to yoga than just that:Combating stressLearning to calm downMastering your concentrationMaking your body more flexible and receptive to emotionsJust developing a few of these habits will help you in your everyday life. There’s nothing simpler than learning by watching a video! You can also learn all the classic yoga postures and positions such as:Fish PoseBakasanaNaukasanaLotus positionAdditionally, there are also specialised videos. These videos focus on techniques such as:Pranayama breathing exercisesMantra, mental maps of your needs and your energyNidra, which focuses on relaxationYoga Kundalini, which transfers energy along your spine.Iyengar yoga, which has 200 asanas and 14 pranyamas, no less!These are just a few examples since yoga is made of thousands of postures and exercises. This can be an absolute nightmare if you don’t know where to look for free online yoga classes!By stretching and then relaxing, your muscles will become more flexible. Your body will become agiler after just a few yoga lessons!The Best Free Yoga WebsitesYoga is becoming more and more popular and there are even businesses whose staff are encouraged to do yoga in group classes in order to strengthen the bonds between colleagues.Yoga helps unite your body and mind. (Source: evitaochel)If you want to start doing yoga, you just need to find one or several good yoga websites to get started. By finding the right yoga site, you’ll end up wanting to practise regularly, which in itself is useful for your mind, body, and spirit:Increased flexibilityA yoga session includes the recommended amount of daily exerciseMore definitionCombat stress and anxietyImprove concentrationImprove your self-confidenceYoga courses aren’t usually online. They’re usually found in places like:Yoga centresYoga studiosYoga schoolsDistance yoga coursesYoga villagesYoga wo rkshopsYoga housesYoga associationsNow you can find yoga courses online, on TV, on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. You can basically bring your yoga tutor with you in your pocket.There are a number of websites, some more reputable than others, like:Strala at HomePsycheTruthYoga with AdrieneYoga JournalYoga OnlineThere are often free videos but some are only available with a subscription, with several subscriptions available. This is why YouTube videos are more accessible. They’re free, can be accessed whenever, and are great for anyone looking to get started with some yoga!You can start with a traditional yoga sequence for beginners before moving onto more intense yoga exercises to strengthen your muscles or let go.The Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Yoga ClassesWhether it’s online or not, the main focuses of yoga are:Improving your well-beingFinding a better balance in lifeEffective anti-stress exercisesOnline yoga courses allow you to go at your own pace rather th an that of the rest of the class. (Source: lograstudio)That doesn’t mean that everyone can enjoy yoga remotely by just watching online yoga videos. You need to be happy with doing yoga on your own. You could always have a few friends round at the same time to practise yoga with you on your patio, in your living room, or in your room.This means that there’s no guide there to correct your posture, tell you when you need to put more into it, or to help you meditate. In addition to this being a waste of time, it can also be very dangerous doing yoga poses wrongly as you can easily injure yourself.The other problem is that you may have to stay at yours for fear of damaging your tablet or your smartphone. However, if you’ve got the right case for it, you could always watch a video for a beginner on the beach without any worries.Another problem is that while a yoga studio can accommodate dozens of people moving around, you might only be able to get a few people in your room. There ma y be certain postures that you won’t be able to do because there’s not enough space or your room isn’t properly furnished. In this case, you may have to look for a different type of class.The last disadvantage of doing yoga at home is that videos aren’t as motivational as having an actual instructor there. With nobody to spur you on, it’s quite easy to just click stop or say that you’ll do it tomorrow.Of course, there are plenty of captivating types of yoga like Ayurvedic yoga which focuses on positive thinking and establishing lifelong habits.Once you’re hooked, nothing will stop you. Especially once you find courses that you can follow in real time. There are plenty of different ones in different styles like:Laughter yogaHatha yogaYoga NidraKundalini yogaBikram yogaPower yogaAshtanga yogaJnana yogaBhakti yogaRaja yogaKriya yogaSivananda yogaYoga IyengarYou can also find classes based on the type of student:Yoga for pregnant women (prenatal or postnatal yoga)Yoga clas ses for childrenYoga classes for anyoneYoga classes for all levelsYoga classes for beginnersIntermediate yoga classesAdvanced yoga classesExpert yoga classesTo ensure you make the right choice when choosing what kind of yoga you’ll do, you need to choose the most important element: the teacher! If you've chosen the wrong instructor or teacher, you'll end up wasting your time and money as you make very little progress.Getting Online Yoga Classes with an InstructorWhile you might be capable of finding good free yoga video on YouTube, specialised websites, or on yogis’ websites, the most important decision you’ll make is choosing the right tutor to help you progress.As long as you have an internet connection, you can do your yoga classes wherever you like. (Source: Pexels)In addition to teaching you certain yoga poses, your tutor can even take you to do yoga in interesting places like the beach, forest, or in the snow! You're not getting out of doing  snowga  that easily!You can look at your potential instructor’s qualification on Superprof, too. This can help you see which yoga tutor has the right qualifications for you. They can also offer you a variety of different packages, both in-person and online:Introductory yoga classesYoga trainingDynamic yoga classesTaster yoga sessionsStress management classesIntegral yoga classesTailored private tutorialsGuided relaxation classesAb toning classesClasses for strengthening your neckBack pain relief classesClasses for learning how to breathe correctly or concentrateWhatever the course, most classes will play out in a similar way: after a quick sun salutation, warming up, or a sequence of postures, you’ll find yourself doing a few stretches on your yoga mat that feel as good as they do bad!Of course, if you want to see if yoga's for you, trying out a few videos online before hiring an online tutor could be the way to go. If you end up getting serious about doing yoga, then it might be worthwhile investing in hi ring a private tutor to help you do yoga at home or at a yoga studio or gym.Yoga classes can help you improve your physical condition, understand your true potential, gain self-confidence, and find inner peace. Doing yoga with a private tutor is the way to go!

I Just Tell It Like It Is and Other Excuses We Tell Ourselves - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / “I Just Tell It Like It Is” and Other Excuses We Tell Ourselves - Introvert Whisperer “I Just Tell It Like It Is” and Other Excuses We Tell Ourselves Have you ever been guilty of saying something like “I Just Tell It Like It Is”? Especially when what you said has angered someone or at least they got “put off”? I know at least a couple of people who seem to routinely say this when they knowingly have left a trail of unhappy people in their dust. I had someone tell me a story where they had left someone fairly enraged. In the story, they had used this as part of the explanation of why they said what they said. I was asked my thoughts on it, as they wanted to know if they were wrong in saying what they had said. My first response to their question of me was to ask them a question. “Is the relationship with this person important to you personally or professionally?” I wanted to know because the response was really most relevant to that one thought. If the relationship didn’t matter, then what they said also didn’t matter regardless of whether or not it angered the other person. The response I got was: “Of course, the relationship matters but I shouldn’t have to tip-toe around this other person. I had to give them my honest opinion.” Here is my perspective on this sort of thing:   There is a difference between giving honest, open input and being rude or thoughtless in how you phrase things. I think people often hide behind rudeness saying they are simply being honest. This is lazy. Think through how you say things to others â€" it always matters. There are 100’s of ways of being honest in what you say to others. Being conscious in what and how you say it will go a long way to preserving the relationship â€" and potentially even inspiring the other person. Not everything warrants comment. Have you ever had someone say something about you or something you had done that was really unwelcome? If you feel compelled to say something, make it useful and constructive. Also realize that if you weren’t asked for your opinion, they most likely don’t want it no matter how constructive it is. Even if you’re the boss, you need to think through the best way to speak about their poor results, when poor results have taken place and impact you in some way. You have to understand that when we do something â€" anything â€" part of us is tied to this thing emotionally. To insult the by-product of anyone’s effort is to insult them at a personal level. If your goal is to correct the result of what another person did, then discuss expectations versus outcome. To flatly say “This is crap” (or a close version) not only lacks any constructive information to do anything with, its insulting and as far from “relationship nurturing” as possible. Don’t fool yourself by thinking its ok to say anything in any way you want. Most of the people in your life and work are people that are important to your future. Invest in your future by honest AND well thought out communication. Go to top OFFICE POLITICS Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Learn Italian for a Career in Fashion

Learn Italian for a Career in Fashion Learning How to Speak Italian can Help Your Earn a Place in the Fashion Industry ChaptersLuxury Italian BrandsMilan Fashion Week: A Symbol of Italian ExpertiseWorking in ItalyThe Best Way to Learn ItalianLearning any language is a good idea, whether you learn Chinese, learn Portuguese or even learn Arabic.Regardless of your reasons for learning a foreign language, whether you want to improve your career prospects or you’re interested in exploring a certain culture, the language you learn can have an impact on your potential career paths.For this reason, many people who are aiming to enter a certain profession learn the language that goes with it.The Italian language is known around the world for its beauty, and when it comes to the fashion industry, Italian is the language of choice.So, how exactly is Italian useful for fashionistas? DanielaItalian Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuciaItalian Teacher 5.00 (4) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarilùItalian Teacher 5.00 (8) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tut ors MarcoItalian Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GiusyItalian Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EnricoItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FedericaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLuxury Italian BrandsFashion symbolises two countries in particular for a lot of people: France and Italy.This reputation comes from the successes of many different clothing brands and high-end fashion designers, as well as the style know-how of each country’s citizens.UK fashion designers often take their inspiration from the luxury fashion designers of Italy, adding their own touches along the way.But, historically the top spots in fashion are occupied by France and Italy with their respective big-name haute couture houses:Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Jean-Paul Gaultier and many others for FrancePrada, Fendi, Versace, Giorgio Armani, Gucci et Valentino for ItalyFor many, these are the brands of their dreams, and the idea of working in the French or Italian fashion industry would be the ideal profession.Italy is home to many big names in fashion ¦ source: Pixabay - Grizzlybear-seFashion is an exciting and ever-evolving world where Italy is a major powerhouse, starting new trends that spread across the world and producing huge profits year on year.To cite an example, in 2014, the Italian fashion industry produced a turnover of around 52 billion euros, an increase of 2.7% on the previous year.Italian exports are also on the rise, with a growth of 3.8% in 2014 and a turnover of 28.5 billion euros.In a world where the gap between the rich and the poor is widening in every country, the luxury industry has never been so successful. The good news for the other side is that Italian high-street fashion is also booming, as the tailor-made looks of the high-end runway make their way into our fashion outlets.Why not take Italian lessons then and become a part of the fashion scene? There are many options available to those who want to learn to speak Italian, getting used to writing in a foreign language and mastering the tricky Italian pronunciation along the way.Milan Fashion Week: A Symbol of Italian ExpertiseThe 4 great emblems of global fashion are the Fashion Weeks that take place in London, Paris, New York and Milan.Seven days dedicated to the biggest fashion houses, featuring fashion parades and models showing off each designer’s creations as they strut down the catwalks and stars gather to discover the latest creations.Of these four unmissable events in the high-fashion industry, Milan is the most highly anticipated.And Milan Fashion Week is doing pretty well as in 2015, Milano Moda Donna saw a 25% increase in the number of events, with an impressive 70 parades and 83 presentations in Showroom.During the same year, more than 40% of participant s in Milan Fashion Week came from abroad â€" and you could, one day, be one of them!If this is your aim, you’ll need to be in a position that means you can travel as part of your job, and to get a job like this, you’ll need to have a good education.For example, you’ll need to demonstrate fluency in your spoken Italian with a relevant qualification such as an Italian degree, or a joint honours degree including Italian.This experience will give you the necessary level of proficiecy (such as listening comprehension, using Italian vocabulary appropriately, faultlessly conjugating Italian verbs and writing fluently with the correct use of Italian articles) to use your second language in your career.You can learn Italian online with a tutor if you have a busy schedule - or find an Italian tutor near you with Superprof.Working in ItalyTaking private Italian language courses through one to one tutoring just once a week can be a rewarding decision that gives you useful language skills you can use for the rest of your life.Learning a new language cannot only work wonders for your confidence on a personal level as you gain the ability to communicate in Italian with those who speak it as a native language, your conversational Italian can also open doors in the professional world.Do your research before you work abroad ¦ source: Pixabay - greekfood-tamystikaAt the end of 2015, the website Italie-France.com found out that there were nearly 47,900 companies working in Italy’s fashion industry with a total of 411000 employees.It may reassure you to know that being a native speaker of Italian is not the only criterion recruiters are interested in. If your first language is not Italian, bear in mind that Italy’s employers are looking for skilled workers, and you should not let your mother tongue affect your career path.To take an example of this, Claudio Marenzi, president of Sistema Moda Italiana (the Italian Federation of fashion and textiles) told the French finan cial newspaper Les Échos:‘We have a hard time finding [skilled workers], and we must not lower our guard in the fight against counterfeiting.’So, the exciting jobs are out there, all you have to do is put in the hard work!The Best Way to Learn ItalianSo, what will you actually need to do to learn a new language in the most effective possible way?There are plenty of opportunities to work and study whilst you learn the language, but a good level of knowledge prior to this is usually required â€" so how do you get started?Here are just some of the many paths you can follow:Study Italian at School and UniversitySome schools offer Italian as a foreign language, which means that if you’re a school, college or university student, you may have the opportunity to gain formal qualifications in the Italian language and culture as a young learner.If you’ve always dreamt of learning to speak perfect Italian, the earlier you start learning, the better.So, as soon as you get an opportunit y to take Italian as a second language and even gain GCSE, A Level and degree-level qualifications, take it.With the help of language professionals to teach you, you’ll quickly get to grips with Italian words and phrases as well as commonly-used expressions which will come in handy in your oral communication, as well as Italian grammar points such as conjugation and learning about the correct use of nouns, pronouns and adjectives, so you can wave 'ciao' to your phrasebook!Thankfully, the Italian alphabet is the same as ours - making learning Italian far easier!Learning a language at an educational institution also means that you will get an introduction to learning about Italy and its culture as you start to learn more about Italia, and you may even get the opportunity to visit the country with your class.One to one Italian LessonsFollow a language learning programme that is tailored to your individual learning needs and goals can make for successful language acquisition, so you'l l be speaking Italian in no time at all!Superprof is a platform where students can find tutors to help them achieve their academic goals â€" including learning languages such as Italian.Tutoring is a great way to improve quickly ¦ source: Pixabay - Free-PhotosLearning Italian on a one to one basis in private language lessons is one of the best methods to learn Italian quickly and effectively.So, if you don’t like the idea of taking several years to become confident in a language, finding a personal Italian tutor is the ideal ways to make significant progress in your Italian learning and become fluent in the romance language.Language Exchange in ItalyTo speed up your learning of a language, spending time in an environment where it is the primary method of communication could be just what you need.The best way to make your Italian speaking significantly more natural and fluent, surrounding yourself with native Italian speakers during a language exchange programme is the most effect ive option.Taking Italian lessons in the very place where the language is spoken will always be more rewarding than taking an Italian language course in your home country â€" and you can even get a holiday out of it!Take a Trip to ItalyIf you’ve got the travel bug, visiting Italy and discovering its rich culture and history with your very own eyes will teach you a lot about the country and motivate you in your learning of the Italian language.Everyone learns differently, and immersion in Italy’s vibrant culture has the potential to teach you a lot more than the grammar exercises and oral tests that so many people loathe.With some basic Italian and some time spent under the Mediterranean sun, you could learn far more than you ever bargained for!Learn to love Italian through the countries fantastic musical heritage  or world famous Italian cuisineCheck out Superprof to find your ideal private tutor to help you master the Italian language:Italian lessons GlasgowItalian lessons Lond onLearn Italian online

Best Practices Study Planning

Best Practices Study Planning Improving Academic Performance Whether the topic is ACT prep or improving performance in a math or history class, developing a customized study plan is without a doubt a critical success factor. It’s something I talk a lot about with parents, and something we constantly reinforce with our tutors. But, what are the key components of an effective study plan? In this blog article, we reproduce and share a “follow up email” sent by one of our most experienced ACT tutors to a new student as a means of illustrating the key issues any good study plan should address. We have changed the names of the tutor and student to protect their identities. Emails like this should be a core element of any effect tutoring relationship. Here’s the full text of the email. Hey Frank It was great to meet you today. I wanted to follow up with you and the team (CCed here), and like I said today, my apologies in advance for the length. Once we get the 'setup' completed, we should be able to provide more condensed updates for everyone. Please feel free to only respond to the relevant sections. Location: I will reserve a study room at the same library roughly 4 weeks ahead of every session (that's when slots become available). If there are ever any dates with no slots available, I will follow up to figure out a spot to meet. Frequency/times/schedule: Given your goals (27 to a 32) and test date, I would recommend starting with two 1.5 -hour sessions per week. This could always be adjusted as we go along depending on progress made, your school workload, etc. Let me know your thoughts on this as well as your general weekly availability given that frequency. I will then generate a list of my availability and send it over. In the past, I've done 3-hour sessions for ACT prep if you'd prefer to do 1 3-hour session per week, but I'll leave that up to you. If you want to do more or less hours, not a problem either. Between-session work: I’ll assign between-session practice problems, as it can oftentimes be helpful to have gone through some problems ahead of time so that we can jump straight to the questions that you missed, rather than working through sections from the beginning. Essay: I generally have students write timed practice essays on their own and send it to me rather than doing a timed essay during our session. You can send a scan or photo of the essay, and I will then type it as-is, provide some edits and general comments, run some analytics (reading ease, grade level, passive sentences), and send it back to you. We would usually briefly review the edits at the start of the next session. Materials: In addition to the Real ACT Prep Guide, I have access to 29 practice tests (7 electronic), so we shouldn't have an issue finding materials. If you try to let me know ahead of time, you can take one of them home for the week for diagnostics or other scheduled practice. Otherwise I included the links if you'd like to get them from Amazon. Meeting Notes: You (and the team) can access all of my extant meeting notes using a link that I’ll send you at any time. The latest notes should automatically sync to the folder within 24 hours of our session. Some sessions have more notes than others -- when you do any timed/independent work, I will record updated scores there. Today's should already be synced to the folder. Contact information: Do you have a cell number I could use in case there are ever any last minute changes? I can be contacted via text/call at 414-550-9109, or via email. Prep plan: Once we get a final schedule down, I will send you a general summary of our prep plan. It will have 3 main components, all based around your official test date in June and your baseline score: (1) session schedule subject designations; (2) between-session work, if any; (3) scheduled full-length diagnostic tests before June. I will use the comfort levels you gave today (available in today's meeting notes) to determine how long we work on each subject, but we'll make sure to update it as we make progress in certain areas. Since you weren't able to complete a full diagnostic before our session today, I've attached a new electronic practice test (2014-15) that you can use if you do find the time to complete a full (~3 hour) diagnostic. I would update the prep plan based on those results, otherwise I will adjust the plan as we move forward in each subject together. Math guide: I will have a hard copy of this next session, but I've attached a copy of a general math guide that I've compiled for past ACT students. Not all of it is relevant, so we will cover what parts to take notice of next session. Please let me know your thoughts on: (1) the schedule/frequency; (2) between-session work; and (3) contact information at your earliest convenience. I'll get a prep plan summary over to you and the team as soon as we get these down. Looking forward to working with you! Best, Michael Obviously, this email is very thorough and quite detailed, but it is a great resource for both tutors and students to recognize all the parts of a strong study plan which will serve as a road-map to a succesful tutoring relationship!

Physical Rehabilitation Glossary

Physical Rehabilitation Glossary After an accident or after surgery, you usually need help getting your mobility back. The person who helps you through your physical rehabilitation is a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists need to speak the language of their patients. Heres a glossary to help you learn the vocabulary associated with this field of study. Physical rehabilitation Glossary alternative medicineAlternative medicine  is any practice that is put forward as having the healing effects of  medicine  but is not based on  evidence  gathered using the  scientific method appointmentAn arrangement to meet someone at a particular time and place. Biomechanics The study of the structure and function of biological systems such as  humans,  animals,  plants,  organs, and  cells  by means of the methods of  mechanics blood pressure  the  pressure  exerted by circulating  blood  upon the walls of  blood vessels, and is one of the principal  vital signs. Bodybuilding The use of  progressive resistance exercise  to control and develop ones  musculature cardiovascular disease A class of diseases that involve the  heart, the  blood vessels  (arteries,  capillaries, and  veins) or both careAttentive assistance or treatment to those in need functional disorder A  functional disorder  is a  medical condition  that impairs the normal function of a bodily process, but where every part of the body looks completely normal under examination, dissection or even under a microscope. healthThe level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living organism health care Health care  (or  healthcare) is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of  disease,  illness, injury, and other  physical and mental impairments  in humans. heart rate Heart rate  refers to the speed of the  heartbeat, specifically the number of heartbeats per unit of  time kinesiologyThe study of the mechanics of body movements. lifestyleA way of life or style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group metabolic adaptationThe process by which the body alters how efficient it is at turning the food you eat into energy. motor skills A  motor skill  is an intentional movement involving a motor or muscular component, that must be learned and voluntarily produced to proficiently perform a specific goal or complete a task neurophysiology  A branch of  physiology  and  neuroscience  that is concerned with the study of the functioning of the  nervous system.   physical activityAny bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. physiotherapist  A therapist who treats injury or dysfunction with exercises and other physical treatments of the disorder science of movement The act or an instance of moving; a change in place or position sensory integration The neurological process that organizes sensation from one’s own body and the environment, thus making it possible to use the body effectively within the environment.   training program The acquisition of  knowledge,  skills, and  competencies  as a result of the teaching of  vocational  or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies Please follow and like us:

Learning Language Through Music 3 Keys to Unlock Any Language

Learning Language Through Music 3 Keys to Unlock Any Language Learning Language Through Music: 3 Keys to Unlock Any Language What do Macarena, Gangnam Style and Lambada have in common?Besides being humongous hits, practically enshrining their artists in the hall of fame, each song just might be one of the most effective ambassadors of the language it represents.There’s just something about music, isn’t there?  Music’s not only universal, but it’s also ubiquitous and no one can escape it.Interestingly, just about the same things can be said for language.It follows naturally, then,  that music can be used as a key to  become fluent in a foreign language.How? Well look at the connection between the two entities, plus share three effective ways to use music as a  killer language learning strategy. So lets start with this special relationship between the two that makes learning language through music possible. The Connections Between Language and MusicIt was previously thought that language and music involved two distinct brain mechanisms. Speech functions were localized in the left brain hemisphere a nd language in the right. But advances in brain imaging technology have challenged that idea.It’s becoming clear that there’s a whole lot of overlap between the two. Studies have shown, for example, that musical training can improve the brain’s language learning abilities and vice versa. (Mozart himself spoke several tongues, including German, French and Italian.)Language and music are kindred spirits. Both have rhythm, tone, melody, pitch, volume and pauses.Just as one can differentiate music through these elements, a language can be defined by the same. They can both be learned through repeated exposure. They are so closely related that many scholars have begun considering the possibility that language is actually a subset of music.A language then can be considered, in essence, a group of people bellowing the same song. As language learners, we can definitely use this strong music-language connection to our benefit. Here are three ways to learn a language using music:Learnin g Language Through Music: 3 Keys to Unlock Any Language1. Music as a Memory Technique for Learning a New LanguageIf you were asked, “Hey, which letter comes before ‘R’?,” chances are youd find yourself singing the alphabet song just to make sure you didnt give the wrong answer and embarrass yourself to pieces.And you probably have memorized the multiplication tables with the help of a catchy jingle or beat, or perhaps used a tune to learn the phone number of your favorite fast food delivery joint.It’s long been known that music makes things memorable. Ask any kindergartener.Certain songs trigger a flood of memories, good or bad. It can make vivid the events that happened a long, long time ago. You hear “That’s What Friends Are For,” and suddenly it’s 1986.Because of music, we can memorize ungodly amounts of information without real effort. We just sing the data away. There’s just something about melody that burn information into our headsâ€"so much so that it get s annoying sometimes. You may still be singing your grocery list to the tune of “Call Me Maybe” weeks after you’ve done the shopping.Can you imagine how easy it would be to memorize a foreign sentence using a beloved nursery rhyme?Let’s say you need to memorize a sentence. How about the useful Spanish phrase “Un momento, por favor” (One moment, please). How do we exploit the memory-enhancing effect of music in this case?Easy. We code the target sentence to a catchy song or beat. A beloved nursery rhyme will often do the trick.Here are the steps:Count the number of syllables of your sentence.  In this case, Un momento, por favor has seven syllables.Find a song or a nursery rhyme with the same number of syllables. This step is the crucial one, so be sure to choose songs you’re really familiar with. For our example, the first line of the chorus from Do-Re-Mi fits perfectly: Doe a deer, a female deerNow swap the target phrase in place of the original lyrics, maintaining th e melody. So this time, you sing “Un mo-men-to por fa-vor” to the tune of “Do-Re-Mi.”Repeat as often as possible. This last step is another important one.  Youll find that it can sound a bit awkward at first. Don’t be discouraged and stick with it. Keep on singing until it stops being awkward. And when it stops being awkward, sing it around 30 more times.You will soon notice that the melody will lead you to the words. With enough repetitions, youll have burned the lyrics into your head for a lifetime.2. Music as a Mining Technique for Learning a New LanguageWe can also use music to mine foreign songs for their vocabulary.There are two advantages to this. First, as mentioned previously, the melody will serve as a memory hook. And second, using the songs of your target language presents you with vocabulary used in a specific context.Songs present a particular environment, a particular theme and a platform for learning the language. A love song, for example, will often contai n words that express longing, admiration, fondness, love, forbidden love, stars, eternity, etc. Its a whole vocabulary subset that deals with a certain field, a certain slice of life. (It’s like watching a cooking show in a foreign language. You know that the words streaming from the host’s mouth are food-related.)The Portuguese song Lambada, for example, is a song about past love. It talks about loss, pain and memory. True enough, youll find the words perder (lose), chorar (cry), dor (pain) and lembrar (remember) in the lyrics.One of the most common mistakes people make in learning a new language is memorizing vocabulary in a vacuum. That is, as a list, without examples, without context and without application. They spend countless sessions staring at a piece of paper containing two word columns: the English translation and the foreign words.This is not a good way to learn vocabulary. You might gloat and think youve memorized the words, but the problem is that theyre stored pre cariously in your short term memory, meaning the words won’t last very long. (A cold shower would easily wash the data away.)Here’s why: The brain is an “association machine.” It remembers new information by connecting it with items that are already in there. So the memories or facts you most easily remember are those connected to the greatest number of other bits of information. Still follow?Just remember that for you to retain the vocabulary and store it in your long-term memory, you have to creatively connect them with something else. For example, if you were trying to remember the Portuguese word “dor” (pain), imagine your hand getting banged by the door. What do you feel? Pain, right? That’s it.Here’s the pathway/connection:  Dor = hand getting slammed by the door = gut wrenching painI bet you’ll remember that!Songs create these kinds of opportunities for making connections, which is why theyre so memorable. People who cant remember their childrens birthdays c an easily memorize the lyrics to hundreds of songs.Aside from their memorable melodies, many songs have memorable stories in them as well. You simply have to follow the story and learn the vocabulary along the way.A perfect tool for learning languages in context with songs is FluentU.  FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks, and turns them into language learning lessons.Every video is transcribed and translated by hand, and every word comes with an in-context definition, image and multiple example sentences. You can even click on a word to see how its used in other videos across the site.Using FluentU to learn songs via music videos will lift your language learning abilities through the roof!And if youre looking for some song recommendations or a place to start, we have awesome music guides and song suggestions for you here:Chinese: Modern karaoke classics  | Mandopop love songsFrench: Music guide  | Famous French singersGerman: M odern classics  | Classic songs  | German artistsJapanese: Modern karaoke classicsSpanish: Music guide3. Music as a Motivating and Mood-enhancing Technique for Learning a New LanguageGloria Estefan got it right.Soon enough, “The rhythm’s gonna get cha.”Music has this almost transcendental effect on the human body. It moves us and it can make us move. We nod along and tap our fingers and feet to the beat, and sometimes we even let out a dance or two.We close our eyes and we are transported to a different place. The pleasure centers in the brain light up while the music could be fostering positivity, lifting the spirit, lowering anxiety and releasing tension. Music invigorates, relaxes and calms. And when one is calm, ideas flow easily and greater learning is achieved.Music sets the tone in the room. Try this when you’re studying in your room: If you’re learning Italian, have Italian music blast in your ears. If you’re taking French, then have French in the background. If you’re studying Korean, well, maybe have something else besides Gangnam Style.You could also try putting on some instrumental music in the background; let the music take you to that place where creativity meets flow.Studies have shown that music can enhance the creativity of test subjects, even improving their reading and writing skills. With upbeat music, people are able to do things more efficiently. They stay on a task longer, they see it throughâ€"which is exactly the type of focus we need when learning a new language.Because here’s a basic truth about taming a language: It’s not easy.It’s not always fun and games, and can definitely be frustrating at times. Especially when you’re experiencing a plateau and you feel like your best efforts are leading nowhere.When your vocabulary’s out of whack and you realize that after three months of studying the language, you still don’t know the Chinese words for “How are you?, dont give up.Instead, try to get your bearings r ight.  Listen to music.Use music in any (or all) of these three waysâ€"to help you memorize, to learn vocabulary in context and to create a motivating study moodâ€"and you will see results.Learning a new language is one of the best items on a person’s bucket list. So when you feel short on motivation, when you feel like nobody really cares that you know the Japanese translation for “continuous improvement” (Keizoku-teki kaizen), I want you to hit that “Play” button.Listen to music.Let it heal your soul.Soon enough, the rhythm’s gonna get cha. Gloria had it right all along. And One More ThingIf you like learning through music, 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.Flue ntU 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 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  or  Google Play  store.