Understanding Cultural Chemistry

Understanding Cultural ChemistryCultural chemistry is important to the functioning of a society. Most people would agree that the place where one lives has an effect on how one interacts with the rest of the world. The people you associate with can lead to influencing you to work together and behave in a certain way.For example, if you live in the United States, it is not unusual for you to be friends with someone from China or France. However, it is not the case for every person in the United States. What could have brought this rare relationship between the two nations closer than when they first came to America? Cultural chemistry is key to understanding what has made this relationship the way it is today.Because we have so many different cultures in this country, we have been able to overcome the type of country we are as well as the differences between them. There are differences between people who live in different parts of the world and who speak different languages. However, when two people live in the same culture, they tend to have similar beliefs, values, and behaviors.As a society, we have invested in various resources to help bridge cultural barriers. These efforts have been paid off, and we now enjoy tremendous benefits from their contributions. The ease of communication between nations has helped us to interact better with other peoples, and the examples of cultural behavior and development in other countries help to promote openness and good manners.If there are differences between different cultures, it can be said that we as a society were once stronger when we were united. Those differences could have been addressed and could have prevented conflicts between cultures, but this wasn't the case in the past.Nowadays, we live in different ways. We tend to become friends with people who we don't really know much about, and we often meet people at jobs and other social events, where we develop relationships ofa short-term nature, depending on the i ntentions of the parties involved. This is a change in the pattern of cultural chemistry, and we need to recognize that this change in the pattern is the result of some culture's unique characteristics. Although cultural characteristics might be important to our success in the long run, we should recognize that some cultures will benefit from learning to think in new ways.This is one reason why we need to encourage our children to go out into the world and make new friends. It's an important part of having the best chance of survival for our civilization. Not only will it improve the way that our children will interact with others, but it will strengthen our society overall.

The Secrets Of Better Writing In English

The Secrets Of Better Writing In English How To Write Well In English ChaptersAre You Ready To Communicate In English?Formal Letter Writing Exercises In English: Cover LetterDownload Your Learner ExperienceMatch And Show The RelevanceRewrite The HighlightsOrganise Your Content Into A Logical And Easy To Read OrderAdvanced Tips For Better WritingHow To Write A Dissertation In English: How To Write An EssayInformal Letter Writing: Write A Letter To A Friend To Learn EnglishHow To Find Someone To Write To In English Online And Offline?What Do To Improve Writing Skills Once I Have Found A Writing Partner?If you have ever considered travelling around the world to new and far away places. You may not realise just how vital it is to speak and write well in English. As you make your plans to travel the world whether that is to emigrate or just to travel abroad. English lessons are a fantastic and essential resource to allow you to communicate with the locals in the country that you are travelling to. JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free !Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAre You Ready To Communicate In English?The  English language is almost regarded as the worlds international language, it allows two parties who don't speak the same language to come together and communicate effectively. English is used worldwide for professional purposes such as getting a job, applying for internships and University applications.Learning to write a disse rtation gives you the chance to progress. Photo Source: UnsplashOften when learning a language many people find it harder to learn to write in the language, but the importance of learning to write in the language that you are learning is very important especially when you plan to work in a professional capacity.No matter why you are learning to write in English, here is how to learn to write English and avoid the biggest mistakes.Formal Letter Writing Exercises In English: Cover LetterKnowing how to write and speak in English is a skill that will help your professional career. This is a sought-after ability to use in the workplace, Being confident in your spoken English communication will give you a head start in your professional career. Even getting to the initial stage of the interview will require you to use your English skills when you write a cover letter to register your interest in the role that you would like to apply for.Additionally, you can find that you have to complete an English assessment. Especially when English skills could be an essential part of the job. Although this may sound intimidating, don't panic! We will go through how to write a successful cover letter step by step and also give you the tools that you need to write it.1. Download your experience. 2. Match and show the relevance. 2. Rewrite the highlights. 3. Organise everything you have into a logical order. 4. Advanced tip: Add something to enhance the letter and help you to stand out.Download Your Learner ExperienceFirst, you want to write the different parts of your letter into the relevant paragraphs. Such as the introduction, the skills paragraph and your experience paragraph. Take your time and just write whatever you can think of, this doesn't have to be perfect but should be detailed and specific. It is not the final letter but the tool that will help you to create an excellent letter.Match And Show The RelevanceOnce this has been done, secondly take a look at the job descr iption and job requirements and highlight on it what experience you have had that you can demonstrate. Highlight any industry words or any strong words such as knowledgeable, hard working etc.Discover the best English courses in London.Think about the structure of your dissertation. Photo Source: UnsplashThe next thing to do is look at what you have written in part one and highlight on your written text where you have direct examples or experience that match what the job requirements ask for. If you need to expand the first section, do so.Rewrite The HighlightsNow you want to go back to your sections and delete anything that isn't highlighted. To rewrite your content, you should have the highlighted job description in front of you and your own highlighted text. Now you are going to write the first draft of your letter.Using the rough highlighted draft that you created you are going to rearrange the wording to fit into the following structure. Using the highlighted job description as a guide for how you should word your paragraphs. You should now look at your own highlighted sections, and use as many as possible from your own writing. You should moderately sprinkle power words and industry words that you found in the job description. JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsOrganise Your Content Into A Logical And Easy To Read Orde r1. Learning How To Write The Introduction Here you should be introducing who you are, your strengths and your high level of education and experience. Pay attention to your punctuation, spelling and grammar. 2. Introduce Your Skills To Speak English Write your first paragraph example and your second paragraph example These paragraphs should demonstrate why you are good for the job. This is where you go into detail to showcase your skills. While you should be writing about a meaningful experience that you have had. You should get to the point as quickly as possible, this means you should make it easy to read and succinct. 3. Write Your Closing Paragraph Here you should remind them you are interested in the job and when you can start, add any housekeeping like your availability, any ideas you have for improving the job, Invite them to contact you for more information or for an informal chat. 4. Write Your Salutation And End The Letter Thank them for their time and say goodbyeAdvanced Tips For Better WritingIf you want to stand out, make sure that your letter has no mistakes and is formatted well.The best way to acquire new vocabulary. Photo Source: UnsplashAsk someone else to read and review your letter, if this person is a native English speaker with a good knowledge of English literature it would help you greatly.If you feel that you can not do the final letter on your own, then follow the steps to produce a draft for proofreading. You can also hire an English copywriter to proofread and rewrite it for you in perfect English grammar.However, if you do use professional writing services, you should mention it in the interview especially if writing in English is an integral part of the job. As an excellently written letter will not match your skills, should you be hired.How To Write A Dissertation In English: How To Write An EssayA dissertation is a long-form essay which presents an idea and develops the concept by introducing relevant supporting information. The practical exercise of writing a thesis involves organising, revising and preparing your ideas with an outline then researching arguments to help your ideas to develop. Essays are written as a final piece of writing when you are studying for your degree course or other forms of study.You will need to work on your writing proficiency a lot before you can be expected to get to the level of writing a passing dissertation for your degree. You can practice getting to this level by continuously writing a variety of short-form essays on your chosen topic.If you are able to get these shorter essays marked by your English teacher you will eventually be able to improve English speaking and writing skills enough to be ready to confidently begin to write your dissertation.Not only does the exercise of developing your writing skills make it possible to organise your ideas and arguments but it also allows you to learn new vocabulary words and how to express yourself elegantly.Another overlooked s kill is reading and researching a lot in your topic and practising putting this into your own words. When it comes time to write your dissertation this practice will be invaluable to you.When you are planning your dissertation or other exams, you should start by preparing high-level titles for each section and lead the reader through the idea that you are trying to communicate.When starting to write something, you are ready to begin writing your dissertation, you should make sure to start with a substantial introduction and end with a definite conclusion. You should make it clear what you are talking about, get to the point clearly and make it interesting to read.Informal Letter Writing: Write A Letter To A Friend To Learn EnglishIf you are an English student working at speaking English, you should try to incorporate a variety of ways of study to improve your language skills. A great way to do that for your written English is to by writing, you could write anything really, but an es pecially fun way to use this skill is to write to someone and having them support your English writing journey.In addition to getting to know a new person and making a new friend. Regular writing with a native English speaker allows you to set yourself a goal to achieve and stay motivated. Not only do they help to keep you accountable but your writing partner will also help you learn to write correctly. This simultaneously improves your reading and writing in the language too.You will learn how English speakers write everyday English expressions, words, sentence structure and phrases and slowly you will also learn the best ways to communicate. Even better this is a free English strategy you practice the language.How To Find Someone To Write To In English Online And Offline?Everyone is interested in languages these days, and there are so many platforms and apps that can help your speaking skills and meet new people that are interested in meeting new to people to teach them their lang uage or even to learn your and exchange language skills.You can find lots of people to write to on writing workshops, social networks if you go to language groups. You can place a post to show interest or read through other posts to find someone who is offering to help or exchange languages.What Do To Improve Writing Skills Once I Have Found A Writing Partner?The first thing that you should do is discuss what each of you wants to get out to the partnership and explain how to maximise those outcomes. So perhaps you want to learn to improve writing in English and write confidently, and they just want a friend to talk to. This is the perfect match, and you can now discuss a schedule to meet and communicate.English writing skills whether educational, professional or recreational capacity is an excellent skill to develop and use to deepen your understanding of the language.   You will make some mistakes while you work to improve your good writing skills but so do English native speakers. The great thing is that once you learn it, you will not make the same mistake twice. If you start by practising the English language strategies that a native speaker uses.   All ESL students can improve their writing skills, listening skills and allow English to enter our brain and gives us the access to fluently expressing our thoughts making us easy to understand.

How to Plan College Campus Visits

How to Plan College Campus Visits Probably one of the most critical steps of the college search, your campus visits need to be scheduled early on with plenty of time to spare. These visits are pivotal points in your decision-making process, as there is simply no better way to get a real handle on a campus than by spending some time on it. But with so much to do in the period of college application insanity, how can you possibly make sure each of these visits are scheduled appropriately and made use of in the best ways? Moreover, how do you know which campuses you need to visit? All of these questions that might be asked in a panic before quickly-approaching deadlines are more the reason to think about this important college search element well ahead of time. Dont leave yourself in a bind at the last minute; get these plans figured out now! A handful of steps are useful here: #1: Pick the schools From the very beginning, when you start compiling the list of colleges you like, put them into categories. There will be schools youre extremely excited about and genuinely want to see, there will be those that you like from what youve read about them but dont know much about first-hand, and there will be some that youve been told you should check out but have no idea what they have to offer. To take a little shortcut here, schools in all of these categories should be visited. Its up to you to identify which ones you see yourself definitely taking the time to apply to and then going from there. The point is, you have a lot to learn about each of these types of schools. The school that you love, the school that you know a little about, and the school you know nothing about, all have secrets to be uncovered and benefits from in-person experience to be had. #2: Determine application deadlines Every school has different requirements and guidance for deadlines, so make sure you get this step taken care of promptly. Youre going to want to adequately set up your visits around these important dates so you never feel pressured to rush through a tour or skip an informational interview. Additionally, spread these visits out as much as you can. Although this will sometimes be out of your control, do everything in your power to schedule them far apart from each other. You dont want two visits to blend in because they are so close together and then forget which campus had what. Or worse, you dont want to be so exhausted from the adjacent trips that you lose focus and dont pay strong enough attention to the colleges youre visiting. Try to give each of these visits their own span of time so you can take in and process their information separate from the others. Here are 4 tips to help you manage the college application process. #3: Call an admissions officer Visiting a campus blindly with no guidance as to what you should be doing or seeing is pointless; you must speak with an admissions representative before you make your trip. An integral part of their jobs is to prepare students for these visits, so make use of their valuable resources. Ask when scheduled tours are and sign up for one. Ask about possible over-night programs with current students and set one up if you are interested in learning about the college experience in that way. Ask about any other opportunities that you might not know about because that is what the admissions officers are ready to inform you of. They know all the ins and outs of campus visits and what you need to do to make the most of them. You might get to sit in on a class, get a free meal at the local dining hall, or a multitude of other interesting things that will help you feel acclimated to that colleges unique scene. You may also want to check out these tips on how to pre pare for a college visit. #4: Make a checklist In addition to the events youve signed up for and made note of from the admissions officer, jot down everything you personally want to accomplish and make sure the length of your trip accommodates all of it. More importantly, figure out if and how youre going to be able to accomplish those things. You dont want to waste a good amount of time on your visit wandering around aimlessly, looking for ways to accomplish your list item, especially if its something that it turns out cant be done. You must determine if these list items are even possible to accomplish before you go. Do you want to talk to a current student? Experience an evening at a local venue in the town? See an off-campus apartment? Tour the library? Many things will be taken care of through your campus tour, but many wont. Settle these things now. You may also want to check outthesetop questions to ask at a campus information session that you may not have thought of yet Now that youve taken in these steps, you should be ready to go. Get those visits planned and search away!

The Sumo Guide

The Sumo Guide Sumo and the Land of the Rising Sun ChaptersWhat is a Sumotori?Sumo Rules and RitualsThe Origins of SumoSumo Throughout HistoryJapanese culture is rich and varied. Those who travel to Japan can experience the customs, rituals, and delicious food.  In terms of Japanese culture, sumo is a martial art in which larger combatants wrestle as part of a sacred ritual. This is one of the most popular sports in Japan and for several centuries, its history was intertwined with that of Shintoism. If you go to Japan, you need to see what Japanese wrestling is really about!In this article, we’re looking at Japan’s ancestral sport, what it is, and where it fits in Japans rich and diverse culture. From the sumo wrestlers, known as a sumotori, to the ceremonies, you’ll learn about this popular discipline and the grand champions of it. NanaJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EllyJapanese Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoJapanese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free !Discover all our tutors MelanieJapanese Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YukoJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesJapanese Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PippaJapanese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarikoJapanese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is a Sumotori?A sumotori needs to be large and capable of defeating their opponent in a gruelling fight. In Japan, the preferred term for a sumo wrestler is “rikishi”, which means “mister” and “strength”, showing their respect for the sacred combatant.Rikishi train from a young age in a heya, “stables” or “training quarters” where they also live. They’re used to eating food designed to gain weight. Most rikishi weight at least 22st but they can weigh as much as 34st, albeit while drastically reducing their life expectancy.Sumo wrestling is hugely popular in Japan. (Source: Wiki media Commons)The combatants fight barefoot in the dohyo (ring) wearing just a maetate-mitsu (codpiece) with a belt known as a mawashi. Each rikishi’s hair is styled in keeping with tradition and according to their rank. Furthermore, each rikishi has their shikona or ring name.There’s an established ranking for the rikishi from apprentice (uchi-deshi) to professionals (sekitori). However, there are ranks granted to great champions. The most important ranks are sekiwake, ozeki, and yokozuna, the grand champion.Here’s a list of some of the great yokozuna throughout history:Akashi Shiganosuke (1600-1649)Shiranui Dakuemon (1801-1854),Shiranui Kôemon (1825-1879)Jinmaku Kyûgorô (1829-1903)Kimenzan Tanigorô (1826-1871)Umegatani I Tôtarô (1845-1928)Tachiyama Mineemon (1877-1941)Tochigiyama Moriya (1892-1959)Tsunenohana Kan’ichi (1896-1960)Futabayama Sadaji (1912-1968)Tochinishiki Kiyotaka (1925-1990)Taihô Kôki (1940-2013)Wajima Hiroshi (1948-2018)Kitanoumi Toshimitsu (1953-2 015)Chiyonofuji Mitsugu (1955-2016)Takanohana Kôji (1972-)Asashôryû Akinori (1980-)Hakuhô Shô (1985-)Kisenosato Yutaka (1986-)Rikishi aren’t the most common type of athlete in Japan and there are only around 800 of them across all of Japan.Check out our article on Japanese weaponry.Sumo Rules and RitualsRikishi fight in the dohyo which represents the heavens and is 6m ². The match itself takes place in a 4m-diameter ring in the centre of the dohyo. There’s a ceiling hanging over the ring, making the arena a sanctuary and the match is dedicated to the gods. Sumo wrestling isn't just a sport, it's also a traditional ceremony and ritual. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)Before starting the fight, there are several rituals for washing the rikishi’s body and spirit. They’ll rinse their mouths with water and clean their bodies with a paper towel. To protect them from injury, they’ll purify the ring with salt.To win, the rikishi needs to push their adversary out of the ring of onto the floor of the dohyo. Only a rikishi’s feet are allowed to touch the ground. They also lose if they touch the bags of straw surrounding the combat area.In sumo, you cannot throw punches or kick above the hips, strangle, or pull hair. You cannot grab the maetate-mitsu of your opponent either. They fight by striking their opponents with an open palm, grappling, or using their weight or their opponent’s weight against them.Here are a few important sumo terms:Basho: sumo tournament.Chiri-chozu: the ritual before a fight.Danpatsu-shiki: a farewell ceremony during which a rikishi’s hair is cut by their friends.Dohyo: the area of combat.Fusenpai: when a rikishi loses for not being present for the fight.Gaijin: a foreign rikishi, generally any combatant not born in Japan.Gunbai: a wooden fan used by the referee.Gyoji: the referee.Hanamichi: the paths to the dohyo that run from east to west.Heya: the organisation and training room for the rikishi.Hiiki: the supporters.Intai: a rikishi’s retirement.Jungyo: an exhibition match outside of sumo tournaments used to recruit new rikishi and show them to the public.Keiko: a rikishi’s training in the heya.Kimarite: one of 82 official sumo techniques.Kokugi: “national sport”, the term used to talk about sumo.Kokugikan: the main sumo stadium in Tokyo and home to the National Sumo Federation.Kyokai: the National Sumo Federation, also known as the Nihon Sumo Kyokai.Maetate-mitsu: the rikishi’s codpiece.Oshi-zumo: a combat style in which body weight is used to remove the opponent from the ring.Oze i: the grand champion after the yokuzuna and before the sekiwake.Rikishi: sumo wrestler.Sekiwake: the grand champion after the ozeki.Shingitai: the three principles of sumo, heart, body, and technique.Tachiai: the start of a match.Tsuppari: slapping the body or face with an open palm.Yokozuna: the grand champion. A title held until death.Yusho: the winner of a sumo tournament.Zensho-yusho: a tournament won without any defeats.There are 6 main sumo tournaments each year: 3 in Tokyo, 1 in Osaka, 1 in Nagoya, and 1 in Fukuoka. Each rikishi fights once per day for 15 days and the combatant with the best win/loss ratio is the champion. At the end of the tournament, the rikishi receives the emperor’s trophy.The Origins of SumoThe history of sumo is intertwined with Japanese history: the first mention of sumo wrestling can be found in the Kojiki, a chronicle of Japanese history dating back to 712. According to legend, a sumo match decided who controlled the Japanese islands. Sumo wrestling originated as a battle of the gods. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)The gods Takemikazuchi and Takeminakata fought on the Shimane beach. Outside of legend, it’s difficult to say exactly when sumo wrestling arose in Japan. It seems that sumo wrestling was used as an agricultural ritual to bring about a good harvest. There were no illegal blows and these fights were to the death.  In the Nihon Shoki, sumo was said to have begun between mortals around 23BCE. The first winner, Sukune, is said to be the father of sumo.Interested in Japanese culture?Find out more about geishas.Sumo Throughout HistoryDuring the Nara Period (8th century), sumo wrestling was introduced to the imperial court and an annual festival was organised. There were several festivals in the Imperial Palace of Emperor Shomu. Thus, sumo was no longer an agricultural ritual but a ritual for peace and prosperity. Sumo wrestling's history dates back over 1,500 years! (Source: Wikimedia Commons)Sumo became a martial art during the reign of Emperor Saga (9th century) and the warrior class practised the sport from the 12th century. Several great Japanese military chiefs were fans of sumo including Minamoto no Yoritomo and Nobunaga Oda.During the 17th century, the rikishi started becoming professionals and entertainers for the Japanese elite. This is also when the first rings surrounded by bags of straw. They started burying them during the 18th century.During the Edo Period, the great daimyos became the sponsors for sumos grand champions. In addition to a salary, the rikishi also earnt the title of samurai.Modern sumo wrestling was developed during the Edo Period: the Kanjin-zumo was used to raise funds for buildings, sanctuaries, repairing temples, bridges, and other public works.The official ranking system was also introduced during the Edo Period. Official organisations were formed and merged during the 20th century, leading to the modern Sumo Kyokai.Now you know a bit more about Japanese culture and the national sport. If you want to learn even more, consider reading our other articles on Japan or getting Japanese language lessons from a private tutor on Superprof!There are three distinct types of private tutorial on offer for Japanese students: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. Each type is different in terms of learning styles and cost, so what may be right for one student may not be right for another.Face-to-face tutorials involve just a single student and tutor and will include a bespoke programme or course that's being taught to the student. You will be getting a tailored service which is very cost-effective!Online tutorials also involve one student with a tutor but the two aren't physically in the same place. Thanks to the internet, you can be taught Japanese online via webcam. With fewer travel costs and the ability to schedule more t utorials each week, the tutor doesn't need to charge as much for their tutorials.Group tutorials are more like the classes you would've had in school with one teacher and multiple students. With each student footing the bill, the cost per student per hour tends to be less than the other two types of tutorial.  Don't forget that a lot of tutors on Superprof offer the first hour of tuition for free, too!

Accounting principles

Accounting principles Financial accounting is a branch of accounting where businesses are required to keep their financial transactions. These transactions are recorded, summarized and presented in the form of statements called financial statement or financial report and income statement or a balance sheet. In United States, these documents can be prepared according to the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Financial reports are prepared for use by external customer like investor, banker and internal customers like company shareholders and employees. Topics covered: Accounting basics Accounting equation Accounting principles Income statement Balance sheet Bank reconciliation Bills Payable and accounts receivables According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a publicly traded company is required to file financial reports every quarter. The purpose of filing these documents is not to report the value of company but to provide sufficient informations to others to assess the value of company.

Simple Tips for Getting Ahead as an Introvert - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Simple Tips for Getting Ahead as an Introvert - Introvert Whisperer Simple Tips for Getting Ahead as an Introvert Between working your 9-5 job, running endless errands, and visiting family and friends, day-to-day life is exhausting. Finding the time and energy to work on your personal development can seem like a nearly impossible feat at times, and for introverts, these barriers to success are only heightened. That’s why I’ve come up with a few simple, proactive ways to help introverts get ahead without becoming burned out or defeated. Create a Concentrated Network of Impactful People You probably see it all the time, both online and in person. Your extroverted coworkers are constantly chatting and reaching out to people, wielding their skills in small talk and complimenting to create a large number of surface-level connections with others in your field. In their minds, it’s a simple formula: more connections = more opportunities. Although building and fostering your network is important for personal and professional growth, playing the numbers game is counterproductive. Remember: quantity is not always greater than quality. Properly managing a large network will cost you time and energy that could be devoted to more relevant pursuits. And networking poorly is worse than not doing it at all. That’s why you should forge connections that prioritize relevance and a genuine relationship, as this will yield opportunities that better align with your own personal interests and goals.   Look to the Future Instead of Reflecting on the Past Nearly every introvert knows the dread that comes after a social interaction. Did I say the right things?   Was the conversation boring?   Did I speak too much? Or not enough? Overcoming your self-doubt is one the best and most simple ways to get ahead. Not only will you become more confident in your decisions and interactions with others, but you’ll also end up saving time and operating more efficiently. To successfully let go of your doubt, practice looking toward the future by writing down large-scale goals for the year and smaller ones for the upcoming months, weeks, and days. By reflecting on your performance in previous years, you’ll also be able to acknowledge and let go of the things in your past that hold you back. Find Your Method of Communicatingâ€" And Excel at It Successfully conveying information in your workplace will be essential to moving upward. But becoming a better communicator as an introvert isn’t necessarily about improving your areas of weaknessâ€" a better angle to this challenge is to identify the different ways of communicating and determine the ways you are already successfully exchanging ideas with others. If you’re better at dealing with people in more intimate situations, ask to work on smaller teams at work or schedule 1-on-1 meetings with your higher-ups. Maybe you like keeping comprehensive, personal notes; take that skill and share relevant information with your team in the notes sections of documents and databases. Or, if you like to take time to think before you share, emailing should be your best friend. Realize whatever methods work best for you and use them to your advantage. Share Your Successes Although telling others about your accomplishments may feeling like you’re seeking attention, it’s often crucial to ensure you get the credit and praise you deserve. Bragging about your achievements or causing a scene is definitely not the way to approach sharing successes, but there’s no shame in highlighting something important that you’ve achieved. Your boss won’t be able to see the accomplishments of everyone they oversee; that’s why it’s important to make sure you get the spotlight when you deserve it. You may struggle with verbalizing your own successes or sharing them widely, so instead try CC’ing your management team on important correspondence, calling out the successes of your department as a whole, or sharing ideas in team meetings (while making sure you get credit for them).   Get Smarter with Your Money Here’s an undeniable fact when it comes to getting ahead: having money will open up time, resources, and opportunities that can give you the extra boost you need to advance in life. Thanks to the internet, there are plenty of ways to make money after your workday that have little or nothing to do with socializing or working with others. And when successful enough, these enjoyable side gigs can eventually become your primary source of income. If you don’t have time to pursue a side hustle, focus on places where you can cut down on spending and drive down monthly costs. Perform a personal financial audit by evaluating your income and expenses at least once a year to see areas of your spending that are unnecessary and could be reduced. Since debt is one of the main reasons why people aren’t able to get ahead, concentrate on finding opportunities to consolidate and save where you can. If you are someone with any amount of student debt, do your research and take advantage of student loan refinancing solutions. An even easier avenue would be to stop spending money on frivolous things like coffee every day and only using your credit card to purchase the essentials.   Give Yourself Some Downtime The main way you can avoid burnout, fatigue, and discouragement is by always keeping you and your needs in mind. For introverts especially, it’s important to give yourself time alone to reflect and recharge at the end of each day. From reviewing your week’s productivity to curling up with a great book, downtime helps you take a step back from your daily routine and figure out what the next step is for you. As counterintuitive as it might initially seem, be sure to budget time into your schedule that is specifically dedicated to resting and planning your next steps toward success. When you arrive at work the next day, this time of rest will give you the patience and stamina you need to survive and thrive in a world of extroverts.   AUTHOR ATTRIBUTION: Kathy Philipson is a content creator who enjoys writing on career and financial advice, especially for entrepreneurs and go-getters. When she isn’t writing, Kathy enjoys thumbing through her Instagram feed, attending to her two cats, and watching the Game Show Network. 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 Can Parents Unfamiliar with the Common Core Help their Children at Home

How Can Parents Unfamiliar with the Common Core Help their Children at Home How Can Parents Unfamiliar with the Common Core Help their Children at Home? The Common Core State Standards were developed by an independent coalition of education professionals to prepare students for a 21st century global workforce. The standards outline the skills that students should acquire at each grade level, and are specific to reading and math. The objective of Common Core State Standards is to create greater consistency among school districts, so that any two students in a grade level should have the same basic foundation for success. Parents will have a significant role in helping their children meet those standards, which has created some anxiety because many parents feel the standards are more rigorous. According to a Gallup Poll conducted in April 2014, 35 percent of parents had a positive impression of the new standards and 28 percent of parents had a negative one. The remaining 37 percent didn't know what the Common Core State Standards were. Because the Common Core State Standards are relatively new to everyone involved students, parents, and teachers there will be a learning curve. Parents must take an active approach in order to help their children with homework and learning skills at home. Here are several tips that will help parents to get started: Review the Standards for Your Child's Grade Level: There are a number of different resources that provide easy-to-follow guides on the math and reading standards. The Common Core website is a good place to gain information. Here you will find the standards, links to each state's educational website, FAQs, a history of the standards, and more. The PTA website is another good resource for standards basics, and has several short guides specifically for parents who want to help their children at home. Be Prepared: A key element of the Common Core State Standards is analysis. Students are not expected to simply know an answer; they should also be able to explain how they came to it. Some parents who are new to the Common Core State Standards may need to take extra time to review what their children are learning in order to help them succeed. Seek Help when Necessary: A common misconception is that the standards are the curriculum. The standards are only goals, and how those goals are reached is determined at the local level. Therefore, parents should speak with their children's teachers in order to learn more about what is going on in the classroom and ways that they can help at home. In addition, extra help can be obtained through tutoring. A Huntington Learning Center tutor can develop a personalized lesson plan and monitor success through ongoing assessments to ensure that your child is making a smooth transition to the standards. For more information on the Common Core State Standards, please contact us today at 1-800-CAN-LEARN or visit a Huntington Learning Center near you.

Volunteering at Paddington Academy - Robs story

Volunteering at Paddington Academy - Rob's story Robert H has recently completed his volunteer placement  at Paddington academy .    Robert supported  the students and staff of the English department, delivering 12 hours of free in-class support throughout  January and February 2016. Below are a few words from  Robert about his experience volunteering for Tutorfair. Having recently completed a voluntary placement at Paddington Academy, I’d just like to say how much  I’ve enjoyed the experience. All the staff have been very supportive and a great pleasure to work with, and in turn have really appreciated the extra hand in the classroom. It’s also been very rewarding  working with students with a variety of personalities and educational needs and this has made for a  great opportunity to extend my range of experience. While volunteering, I worked with two teachers, supporting each class  on alternate weeks.    I benefitted from this arrangement as  I got to teach 3  different modules and texts and was able to observe two different teaching styles. This kind of  assignment really highlights the  value of volunteering in education: as a Tutorfair volunteer  you  get some great hands-on experience whilst actively supporting pupils  in the attainment of their  educational goals. Robert  H If you'd like to help the students at any one of our partner schools. Click here to get involved today!

15 of the Best Foreign Movies for Popcorn-popping Language Learners

15 of the Best Foreign Movies for Popcorn-popping Language Learners 15 of the Best Foreign Movies for Popcorn-popping Language Learners Wanna learn a language?Yes?  Okay, good.So heres what you need: Your pajamas (preferably fresh), that bowl of steaming popcorn and a couple of sodas.Say what?!Yup, were talking movies in this post.No matter who you are, you can learn any language  faster by  spending some time in front of a screen.So I invite you couch potatoes and studious studiers alike to read on. The Polyglot and the Couch Potato: How Movies Help in Learning a LanguageTogether with TV, movies have gotten a bad rap when it comes to learning a new language, and learning in general. Weve often been told to turn off the set, stop wasting our time and get serious with whatever task were supposed to be working on.But maybe movies arent as bad as theyre made out to be. In fact, Id be so bold as to tell you that a couch potato has just as good a chance of being a polyglot  as the most hardworking learner.Im only gonna talk about one thing to support that argument: context.This is probably the most compelling reason for why movies are effective and efficient teachers of language. Its also one of the reasons why a list of vocabulary words randomly picked from thin air will never be as easy to memorize as a group of words that are clearly related.Our brains work best with meaningful context and we find it hard to memorize words that exist in a vacuum. Thats why teachers enrich vocabulary words with example sentences. They seek to give them context. Thats why textbooks list plenty of examples, too. So we can see how words, phrases and grammar rules look in action.Meanwhile, all-important context is automatically present in movies through engaging plots, unexpected twists, lovable characters, funny scenes, killer lines and immersive musical scores. These are all aids for committing stuff to memory, like lines and even entire dialogues. If I asked you who screamed Im the king of the wooooooorld! Wooohoo, Im sure youd remember Leo DiCaprio in Titanic.And even if youre an absolute beginner in Spanish, if you see the movie Y Tu Mamá También  (And Your Mother Too) and the context in which the line in the title is said, I promise you, you will never forget what those words mean.So once again, context. Its this that movies offer best. No medium plays with our emotions better. We remember the scenes, we remember what happened, we get moved by the characters, we become involved in the story. Movies make us cry and laugh. They make us feel anger, discontent, pity, even hatred. They surprise us and satisfy us. They take us on unforgettable rollercoaster rides.Unforgettable context. That’s what movies have to offer. And when you watch foreign films, youre that much nearer to transferring meaningful language information into your long-term memory.Note that when I say watch, I dont mean doing so passively. Well, maybe the first time, but you dont watch a movie once and then check the title off your list of foreign movies to see. No, you actively watch it, many times. Looking at scenes, li stening to lines, anticipating dialogues, writing down vocabulary. This is the kind of active watching that milks every lesson from the filmâ€"every point of grammar, every useful vocabulary word, every turn of phrase, every flail of the tongue.With FluentU, you can make this incredibly beneficial type of active study the mainstay of your language learning. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.Okay. That said, lets get to our list of 15 awesome foreign movies for all you language learners.15 of the Best Foreign Movies for Popcorn-popping Language LearnersFrench-language Movies1.  Entre les murs  (The Class, 2008)What do you get when you have a well-intentioned but honest teacher and a cocktail of 14-15 year olds who come from racially and culturally diverse backgrounds?You get electric tension. You get an inherently difficult class boldly questioning its teachers met hods. And you get a teacher pushed to his ethical limits. This film, winner of the Cannes Festivals 2008 Palme dOr, is based on the novel of the same name by François Bégaudeau (who, by the way, plays the role of the teacher himself).This film is perfect for the French language learner if only for the fact that it features a class studying French. Theres even a scene in which students question the need to study difficult and eccentric French verbs, reasoning that theyre rarely used in modern speech. You may not be a teenager yourself, but youll certainly see yourself in this story that touches on the ups and downs of learning something new and out of your comfort zone.2.  Intouchables (The Intouchables, 2011)This movie is about an unlikely friendship between Philippe, an aristocratic quadriplegic, and Driss, his carefree live-in caregiverâ€"a transplant from Senegal.Philippe is in his Parisian mansion interviewing for the caregiver position with the help of his assistant Magalie. Driss comes in for the interview, not really intent on getting hired, but wanting his papers signed so he can continue collecting his unemployment benefits. One thing leads to another and Driss finds himself hired. The lavish mansion with Renaissance paintings is a far cry from Drisss familys petite and bleak apartment.The film is a linguistic juxtaposition between Philippe, the refined and formal speaker, and Driss, the more vulgar of the two. Notice the interactions between them and the type of vocabulary and accent each character has. Take note also of the words and phrases Driss uses when talking to his family and realize how context can illuminate linguistic content.  3.  Bienvenue chez les Chtis (Welcome to the Sticks, 2008)Imagine a Frenchman not understanding a fellow Frenchman. Possible?Theres such a scene in the comedy Bienvenue chez les Chtis. The film is about a post office administrator in Salon-de-Provence who gets banished to the French Northâ€"a place pre-judged by S outherners as being cold, unwelcoming and full of good-for-nothing alcoholics.In his desire to have a post office assignment in the French Riviera, Philippe tries to scam an HR officer by pretending to be disabled. When he gets caught in this ruse, he gets an armpit of an assignment to the Siberia of France instead.In this movie, youll see how geography changes language, idiomatic expressions and even curse words. Yep, even when one doesnt cross national boundaries. Also, this funny film  will help shed your linguistic and cultural biases. It teaches language learners all over that underneath accents and differences in pronunciation, were all in the same boat.German-language Movies4.  Der Untergang (Downfall, 2004)Der Untergang chronicles Hitlers final days of life, telling the final moments of his human struggles. Remember when I told you earlier that one of the advantages of movies is that they create memorable context to words and phrases that ultimately aid memory? This film is one of the most memorable there is. And all for the most gruesome reasons.It depicts death, destruction and destinyâ€"as well as betrayal, bombs and bunkers. The movie is emotionally engaging, triggering all sorts of reactions from anger to exuberance, which is one of the reasons why its very good for the German language learner. And because you already know whats about to happen, you tend to focus more on the languageâ€"which, by the way, has a robust sprinkling of German verbs.5.  Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others, 2006)This movie won the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2006 Academy Awards.It tells the story of an East Berlin Stasi (secret police) agent conducting surveillance activities on a playwright and his actress lover. The agent, Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler, obsessed with his subjects lives, chronicles their comings and goings. Hes too involved to notice that he isnt just some passive observer listening to the conversations of others but an active participant in their lives.Beyond the plot twists and touching ending, I want you to see this movie as an example of one of the most important skills in learning a new language: listening.Its the most taken-for-granted linguistic skill, and I want you to not make the mistake so many others have of ignoring it: See how Wiesler actively listens to conversations. See how he closely grasps not just for the words, but for intent and context. This is listening beyond words. Its listening for comprehension. Its not far off from  achieving language immersion.This is the level of listening required of a language learner. Without it, becoming fluent in a new language will be a needlessly uphill battle.6. Good Bye Lenin! (2003)Imagine youre Alex Kerner, an idealistic teen whose arrest by the Berlin police put your mother into a coma. When she eventually wakes up after eight months, the world is a whole lot different. The wall has come down and the world your mother loved is no more.Youve been warned by the doctor that the slightest agitation of her emotions could cause her death. Would you tell her Berlin is not the same as before?Alex chooses to recreate the past world in his mothers room. Maintaining this ruse is what makes this tragicomedy a hit and a fresh approach to German history.How long will the facade last? Watch to find out.Now, imagine yourself being in the role of Alexs mother. Consider how being open-minded and going with the flow will not only save your life but enrich your existence. While the film features the Western world marching towards East Germanyâ€"stuffing grocery aisles with Western brands and filling billboards with Coca-Cola advertisementsâ€"in reality, the flow goes both ways. We influence just as much as we get influenced.Today, our global village has made it necessary for us not just to learn new languages, but to adapt to a whole new way of looking at things.In the  near  future, only those who adapt will truly flourish. So why dont you start learning (a new language) now?Spanish-language Movies7.  Y Tu Mamá También (And Your Mother Too, 2001)This is a coming-of-age road trip movie depicting friendship, sensuality and the follies of youth. Julio and Tenoch are on a long drive with an older lady named Luisa. They are supposedly going to Boca del Cielo (Heavens Mouth), a beach they mention to persuade Luisa to come with them.Along the way, youth happens.The conversations between the three are casual, effusive, oftentimes funny and many times unbelievable. Although a little intoxicated, the dialogues are tight and the writing superb. The interactions in the film are indicative of the banter, the to-and-fro amongst friends, and this makes for excellent study for the Spanish language learner. If you want to converse fluently in Spanish, let movies like this be your guide.8.  El secreto de sus ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes, 2009)This film, a crime thriller, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.A newly-retired federal agent, Benjamà ­n Espósito (Ricardo Darín), has a lot of time on his hands. He decides to write a novel about the murder of a young woman. Except the case  is real. Its 25 years old and one of the unsolved mysteries of his professional career, something he seeks to obtain closure from.But as it turns out, closure is hard to find, and it may come in a form one could never expect.The whole film is really an insight into what immersion is all about. Ricardo Daríns character is totally immersed in his case. Hes so tuned into it that it occupies a great slice of his waking hours. Solving it is a daily practice with effort put in. He consciously follows leads, goes places, talks to people, imagines scenarios, makes mistakes, pays for those mistakes and tries again.In a way, isnt that also what language immersion should be about? Its about being tuned in, putting ones head underwater and really immersing in the languageâ€"practicing the lines aloud, writing the sentences, talking to others, asking peo ple questions, asking for their help, even talking to yourself.In the end, we language learners, like Daríns character, will all find our souls satisfaction.9.  Como agua para chocolate  (Like Water for Chocolate, 1992)When you forbid true loves expression, you have a classic movie in the making. You also have that love expressing itself in ways special and magical.This film is an onscreen adaptation of the popular work by the Mexican novelist Laura Esquivel. It tells the magical realism love story of Tita and Pedro. Theyre forbidden to marry because Tita, the youngest of the siblings, is relegated to the duty of caring for her mother. Pedro is instead given the hand of Rosaura, the elder daughter. Pedro agrees to this, just so he can stay close to Tita.A setup like this? You can expect the simmering tension to come to a boilâ€"which it does, in a fantastic fashion.Remember what I said about context? Como agua para chocolate is a rich source of Spanish vocabulary, full of word fami lies that pertain to food, tradition, family, history and, of course, love. You can milk this movie for the wealth of Spanish nouns, verbs and adjectives in its lines and dialogues. Also, if you wanna peek at a dated kind of Mexican Spanish that existed at the turn of the century, this will be a good sampling.Japanese-language Movies10.  ?????? (13 Assassins, 2010)12 samurais and one scavenger are tasked with putting an end to the evil reign of Lord Matsudaira Naritsugu, the shoguns half-brother, who tortures and kills his own people. The hired band of warriors set a nice trap for the evil lord and around 70 of his fiercely loyal bodyguards. Unfortunately, the plot is discovered, the 13 assassins find themselves being ambushed and they narrowly escape. And to make matters worse, they find out that the contingent theyre now facing has ballooned to some 200 well-trained guards, making the suicide mission that much more impossible.Besides the traditional dress, symbolism and general ca rnage splattered all over the screen, there are really crisp dialogues in this movie for language learners. The lines are simple and perfect for the beginner-to-intermediate student of the Japanese language.See this movie and learn not only to love samurai honor, but a good dose of Japanese as well.11.  ?????? (Cold Fish, 2010)All that glitters is not gold.I dare not spoil this one for you so thats all Im gonna say about this psychological thriller inspired by true events. That, and perhaps a warning that this is not a film for the faint-hearted.For the language learner, this is another film with really simple Japanese dialogues but with more contemporary speech than the previous film. The language has that natural cadence thats occasionally peppered with the starts and stops of normal Japanese conversation. This movie is a good study on how language, tone and gesture create a character. (In this case, a very bad character.)12.  Linda Linda Linda (2005)Three high school girls only h ave three days before their schools cultural festival and they have no vocalist in sight!What would you do?Well, these ladies ask the first girl they see coming down the stairsâ€"who happens to be a Korean exchange student whos really not fluent in Japanese. They ask her if she wants to sing for their band, and she blankly says yes, responding affirmatively to every question and not really knowing what shes getting herself into.This movie is one of friendship and bonds, showing that under the skin and beyond inscrutable accents, were all the same. We fall in love, get hurt and stand back up. Theres even a cute scene where a high school boy professes his love for Son, the Korean exchange student, by learning lines in Korean (he has a cheat sheet!).The film is perfect for the language learner whos afraid to get into embarrassing or compromising situations. It will nudge you to jump in, risk being embarrassed and feel like a fish out of water by showing you that in the end, everything will be alright.Chinese-language Movies13.  ?????? (Not One Less, 1999)This one is set to tug on your heartstrings.Wei Minzhi is a 13-year-old teacher who comes to Shuiquan to substitute for the villages only teacher, wholl be gone for a whole month. Wei, who has the most rudimentary education, is instructed to ration chalk because the village is so poor it cannot afford to waste it. Shes also warned that students have been dropping out of school as of late in order to find work in the cities. Shes told that if all 28 of her wards remain when the teacher comes back, she will get a 10 yuan (about $1.50) bonus.Guess what happens?One of her students suddenly goes missingâ€"supposedly to work in a nearby city. Wei is motivated to go after the boy and get him back to class. But because she doesnt have enough money for the bus ride, she has to walk most of the way.She reaches the city, but how will she find him in a city of so many people? Will she be able to get him back?Find out by watc hing this film that won the Venice Film Festivals Golden Lion Award.The movie features young native speakers learning their first language. Second language learners could do well to remind themselves that even native speakers attend classes. Even they learn one day at a time. Even they walk up to the board to practice their mother tongue. We need to remind ourselves this so that when we come across fluent native speakers, well remember the amount of time and practice they invested to get to that point and be inspired by our own possibilities.14.  ???? (Dangerous Liaisons, 2012)Youve probably guessed that this is the Chinese adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos novel of the same name. Its Cruel Intentions but with Zhang Ziyi in the role of the immaculate victim.Set in 1930s Shanghai, as the Japanese were making incursions into Manchuria, Dangerous Liaisons is about the wager between Mo Jieyu  and serial seducer Xie Yifan. Can the great Xie Yifan seduce a young widow from Manchuri a (Zhang Ziyi) without falling in love with her?Ego and desire gets the better of the man (as it always does) and he agrees to seduce for sport, not knowing that the object of his seductions is, unlike any other, immune to his charms. Xie Yifan, on the other hand, is falling for the virtuous widowâ€"something he only admits when its tragically too late.Although set in the mesmerizing 1930s, the language used is surprisingly very contemporary. Youll not be treated at all to heavy doses of dated Chinese expressions in this movie. Dangerous Liaisons features easy language and dialogues that might as well be spoken in todays China. This movie is time well spent for the Chinese language learner.15.  ???????  (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, 2013)Our last movie is a dramedy about a man, married for nine years, experiencing a homosexual midlife crisis.Weichung, played by the singer-actor Richie Jen, is an optometrist who lives a quiet and laidback life with wife Feng (Mavis Fan). One day at work, during a glasses fitting, he stares into the soulful eyes of a handsome flight attendant. It stirs long-repressed yearnings he has yet to come to terms with. And all this while his beautiful wife is wanting to have another baby.How will a father deal? Will his self-denial finally come to an end? Find out.This film  is perfect for the Chinese language learner because most of the characters enunciate their lines relatively well. The dialogues are clearly delivered and the conversations are eminently  audible. This is because the pace of speaking is just right. Its just right so  that the subtitle-reading, Chinese-learning viewer will still be able to follow and make out whats being said.That rounds out our 15 best foreign movies for the language learner.Im sure you can add to this list on your own. No matter what language youre learning,  I encourage you to open your eyes, ears  and mind to foreign movies.Theyll take you places and offer you insights, perspectives and langua ge you most definitely wont get by viewing your regular native-language fare.So get those pajamas and snacks ready!Learning begins in 5…4…3…2…1 (cue studio intro).