Getting More From Your Tutor Support

Getting More From Your Tutor SupportTutor support is a critical aspect of being a business school student. While it may seem to be easy enough to make friends and find another student to work with, it is not so simple when the person you are trying to learn from is also a study partner. You have to work out how to avoid misunderstandings while still making sure that you get the best instruction possible.One of the most important things you will need in order to pass your exams is someone to look up answers to questions in your students' textbooks and people to read their homework's study material. This is where having a tutor can really come in handy. Because you will have the opportunity to review all of their assignments with them, you will have a good idea of what they know about the subject, what problems they are experiencing, and what areas they should work on. This will help you to give them additional help.Tutors will also help you stay organized and organize your schedule so that you can set aside time for studying. Without someone watching over your work and helping you with any difficulties, it can become very difficult to concentrate. Having someone to watch over your books or homework is also a great benefit, especially if you have a lot of papers due. The fact that a study partner can work with you and help you during class is a great thing.You will also want to set aside time for tutoring so that you can work on your own worksheets and write-ups to get ready for your test. You may even decide to set aside time to work with your study partner. Even though it will be hard to do so, you will find that your study sessions will be much more productive once you have a study partner to work with.If you have a study partner, it is recommended that you set up regular study sessions with him or her. Your study partner will be the one who will be there to help you with any problems or help you with your studies. If you are not able to study at all, the pers on who you are working with will be able to do so without any problems.You can help each other a lot more by working together. By giving your study partner your homework, you will be able to help each other with what you have to do. This can give you an idea of the study materials that are best for your subject and this can help you ensure that you use the best materials possible. You will both be able to improve your understanding of the topic and be able to solve any problems that you might encounter in your exams.As a student, you will find that you will be very busy all semester long. Without the support of someone who can help you with your studies, you may find that you are spending hours in your room doing nothing but staring at the ceiling. With a study partner, you will be able to better handle all of your responsibilities and make sure that you are getting the best education possible.

5 Tips for Learning a Foreign Language

5 Tips for Learning a Foreign Language The following piece was written by Tiffany Sorensen. Tiffany is a professional Spanish and SAT tutor for Varsity Tutors. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Spanish Language Literature from Stony Brook University. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no simple solution to quickly learning a foreign language. As with other academic subjects, the degree to which you understand and improve is proportionate to the amount of time and effort you expend. When it comes to learning another language, attitude plays a key role in how easily your brain absorbs information. Consider the below suggestions as approaches, not shortcuts. Keep these five points in mind as you begin or continue on your foreign language journey. 1.If you believe mastering another language will prove to be an effortless undertaking, youre in for a large shock. Beware of advertisements with taglines such as, Learn Italian in 48 hours! You can be certain that these claims are false. Unfortunately, theres just no way around the truth truly understanding a foreign language is a long, tedious process that may take several years. But dont be discouraged. The ability to converse in more than one language brings with it an incredible sense of accomplishment. In other words, its worth the struggle! 2.One of the most common errors that foreign language learners make is remaining silent so as to avoid mistakes. The sooner you realize that youre going to make errors and lots of them the better off youll be. Its okay to be incorrect. If you ask any foreign language teacher, he/she will tell you that it is exponentially better to say something incorrectly than to say nothing at all. Imagine how painful French class would be if no one dared to participate. The fact of the matter is that we learn best when making mistakes. Corrections may be uncomfortable, but youll likely never commit that same error again. Whats worse is to continue believing you know the right way to phrase something when you really dont. 3.Study after study has proven that the ideal way to learn another language is via total immersion that is, spending extensive periods of time in a country where the language is spoken. You can achieve this in a variety of ways: taking classes overseas through your college, working or volunteering abroad, or merely traveling for pleasure. While formal foreign language classes are useful for literacy purposes, only real-life interactions will prompt you to put what youve learned into practice. Until you converse with native speakers of another language, everything youve studied is purely theoretical. Also, reaching an advanced level of oral fluency in another language can only be achieved by consistently using it. Think of foreign language as a muscle; the more it is exercised, the stronger it becomes. 4.Dont limit yourself to just one variety of a foreign language. For instance, if you choose to learn Spanish, you should possess, at minimum, a general understanding of several dialects of Spanish. Language varies greatly from one geographical region to another. For example, consider how British and American English have wildly different sounds and expressions. The Spanish of Spain is drastically different from that of Mexico, and the same can be said of Chilean Spanish when compared to the Spanish of the Caribbean. These differences include variations in pronunciation, vocabulary, sentence structure, and slang. To focus entirely on any one dialect is impractical, as it limits the number of people with whom you can effectively communicate. 5.The English language has a reputation for readily assimilating foreign words into its vocabulary. This is beneficial to English speakers when learning other languages, especially the Romance languages, because there are many words that look alike and have similar meanings. Cognates, such as intelligent in English and inteligente in Spanish, are words derived from the same roots. Occasionally, it is obvious when two words are related, while at other times, it requires deeper analysis. At first sight, it may seem that the Spanish word for hand mano has no connection whatsoever with the English word, hand. However, consider the adjective manual, as in manual labor (labor performed with the hands). Noticing links between words will greatly help you to remember vocabulary. Nonetheless, there are several false cognates. These are words that look alike but actually signify entirely different things. For example, decepcin in Spanish actually means disappointment. So be certain to proceed with caution! Happy language learning!

Eight Essential Strategies for Succeeding on Standardized Tests

Eight Essential Strategies for Succeeding on Standardized Tests Careful preparation and utilizing smart standardized test taking strategies are the first steps to ensuring a high score and success on a standardized test. It is unwise to sit for a standardized test without thorough and thoughtful preparation. This preparation should start early and continue to the testing day to ensure the highest score possible. Some of the most effective standardized test taking strategies include: Giving yourself plenty of time to prepare Cramming for the standardized test is both foolish and ineffective. Your brain needs time to reinforce existing concepts and to connect to new learning. Expecting a few short weeks (or days) of test preparation will be enough is a common mistake made by students. Many students spend months preparing for the test and are incredibly well prepared on assessment day. Planning your preparation Careful preparation should include an established plan to ensure all subject areas are covered. You should also allow time to practice each test section because the types of questions and response formats will vary. Establish a schedule that provides plenty of time to review and practice every section and each subject area. Practicing under testing conditions Simply answering practice questions isnt enough. You should spend some time simulating actual testing conditions. Set aside time in a quiet setting to practice under conditions similar to what youll encounter on the actual testing day. You should also familiarize yourself with the directions and structure of the test during these simulation sessions. Eliminating the unforeseen Dont risk your success on the standardized test by not preparing for the unforeseen. Get plenty of rest before the testing session, have directions to the testing center ready, gather your materials ahead of time, and dont forget to eat so you avoid being hungry. Success on a standardized test will be difficult to achieve if youre rushed, frantic, hungry, or anxious. Previewing the test Before you dive in and begin answering questions you should spend a few moments previewing the test. Glance through the booklet and determine the total number of questions, the type of questions asked, and any potential pitfalls you can identify. Make notes, as allowed, on sections that seem the most difficult or in areas of the test you are concerned about. Using materials wisely You should make good use of the test booklet and scratch paper as allowed under the testing guidelines. Use the test booklet like a workbook as permitted under the directions by circling key phrases, underlining important concepts, drawing a line through incorrect answers, and working the math problems near the test item. Be careful though! Review the testing directions to ensure this allowed. Pacing yourself Since standardized tests are most often designed around a time limitation it is important to pace yourself. You want to complete the exam and ensure you have answered all the questions you definitely know the answer to. If a problem or question seems too hard you should skip it and come back. Youre better off completing all the questions you know for sure instead of dedicating too much time to an unknown question. Using process of elimination Many standardized tests rely on multiple choice questions as the main evaluation tool. You can employ a process of elimination strategy when answering multiple choice questions. If you are unsure of an answer take a moment to eliminate the options you know are incorrect. Cross them out and then refocus on the remaining answers. Youre more likely to choose a correct answer if youve eliminated ones you know are incorrect. This also cuts down on careless mistakes that can negatively affect your score. What are some additional standardized test taking strategies that youve found especially beneficial?

Learn More About The ACT Registration Process Today

Learn More About The ACT Registration Process Today Understanding the ACT Registration Process The new school year is upon us and it is nearly time to confirm the details of your ACT registration. If you are planning to take the ACT exam this year it is never too early to prepare for the registration process. Understanding as much as you can about the exam is important to ensure the registration process goes smoothly and you can focus on your academic preparation. ACT Examination Information: The ACTis administered on six national test dates. The test dates for the 2013 - 2014 school year can be found here and on the Huntington Helps website: September 21, 2013 October 26, 2013 December 14, 2013 February 8, 2014 April 12, 2014 June 14, 2014 Plan ahead when registering for the ACT. Theregistration deadline is typically four weeks before the exam date. Youcan register after the deadline but will be assessed a late fee. There are fees associated with the ACT exam. A fee of$36.50 includes the ACT exam (no writing) plus reports for you, your high school, and up to four colleges. The ACT Plus Writing requires a fee of $52.50which includes a report for you, your high school, and up to fourcolleges. There are additional fees assessed for additional collegereports, standby testing, telephone re-registration, testing changes, and international testing. Registering online: Online registration is recommended unless you haveextenuating circumstances that require registration by mail. The ACTregistration process is secure and you can be confident that your personalinformation is kept private. You will first need to create an ACT Web account. Thisis where you will register, verify testing center details, receive scorereports, and determine the colleges that will receive your reports. The ACT Web account initiation will require you tocreate a log-in and password for future use. Make sure you take note ofboth of these so you will always have access to the site. You will know instantly whether your preferred testingcenter has available space for you. You will also be able to print youradmission ticket directly from your ACT Web account. TheACT now requires a clear photo with a new registration. You must upload a clear photo of yourself against a light background before yourregistration is complete. This photo is used as a means of verifying identification on the testing day and on the score report that your high school will receive. The ACT website contains full quality and technical requirements for your uploaded picture. Registering by mail: You are required to register by mail if you are youngerthan 13 years old or are unable to pay by credit card. A registration-by-mail packet is available from yourhigh school or by requesting a packet on the ACT website. Once your registration materials are received you willthen be notified by mail of your testing date and which testing centeryou've been assigned to. Special circumstances: There are a variety of special circumstances that mayrequire you to pursue arranged testing options. Details of the arrangedtesting requirements can be found online at the ACT website. Special circumstances include: Being homebound or confined. Living more than 75 miles from a testing site. Needing international testing. Requiring a Sabbath/Sunday testing center. You may be eligible for extended time if you have adefined learning disability and extended time is part of yourIndividualized Education Plan (IEP). You must submit an Application forACT Extended Time National Testing signed by you and a schoolofficial. Regardless if you register online or by mail this applicationmust be submitted by mail. ACT testing centers are able to provide a variety ofaccommodations to students with defined disabilities. These accommodationsinclude a wheelchair accessible testing room, a large type booklet, snacksin the test room for diabetics, and the use of a sign languageinterpreter. Registration details can be found online with guidelines forrequesting special accommodations.

Polly Want Fluency! Learn Like a Parrot with Language Shadowing

Polly Want Fluency! Learn Like a Parrot with Language Shadowing Polly Want Fluency! Learn Like a Parrot with Language Shadowing Ever had a parrot?Even if you havent, you know what theyre famous for: repeating what you say, for better or worse.Depending on the conversations you have at home (or just to yourself) this could be enlightening, hilarious or embarrassingâ€"but no matter what, a parrots natural ability to mimic human language is downright impressive.But why are we talking about parrots?Because its time to parrot the parrots.With a technique called language shadowing, youll be acting like a parrot doesâ€"repeating what you hear in a foreign language, even if you dont fully understand it right away.Of course, as Im sure youll be glad to hear, the difference is that over time youll actually start to learn your target language through this repetition and imitation.Well show you how this unconventional learning method works and how you can start shadowing successfully in five steps. Polly Want Fluency! Learn Like a Parrot with Language ShadowingWhat Is Language Shadowing?Linguist Alexander Arguelles is considered the inventor of language shadowing. Hes created a series of videos focused on teaching and demonstrating the technique.Arguelles defines shadowing as a language learning technique where the student listens to a recording of target language audio, and simultaneously echoes what they hear. Shadowing is designed to force you to focus on the sounds of your target language and develop pronunciation that mimics a native speaker.Ideally, youll eventually also  start to absorb vocabulary, grammar rules and natural sentence structures.According to Arguelles, you wont get the best results from your desk. He recommends doing three things while shadowing to improve your focus and memory:Walking outside swiftlyMaintaining a good postureRepeating aloud in a loud, articulate mannerArguelles, himself a polyglot, has spent most of his academic career working with Korean, and has written several publications on the language and language in general.While Arguelles mayve developed the shadow ing technique into a concrete learning method, there are people whove been using shadowing prior to it having this name.Who Should Consider Language Shadowing?This technique works best for a few types of people:Auditory learnersStudents who learn best with structured study plansPolyglots (if youve already learned a foreign language, speaking with unfamiliar sounds isnt as scary)Even if you dont fall into one of those groups, this out-of-the-box learning method can help energize your same old, same old study plan. Plus, the focused pronunciation practice is inherently valuable, especially if you dont have lots of other opportunities for target language speaking practice.Youll also develop your target language intonation,  the natural melody or pattern of your speech. Depending on the emphasis you consciously or subconsciously place on certain syllables or words while speaking, a sentence can have a slightly different meaning. Intonation develops over time and is affected by how we he ar others speak.So with language shadowing, our intonation develops as we listen and repeat, the same way it does with our native language. Both accents and intonation are crucial to achieving language fluency, so you sound much more natural when you speak, instead of like youre reading from a textbook.Of course,  there are many different ways to approach learning a new language, and shadowing doesnt work for everyone. Like any other method, your individual success with shadowing is dependent on how much time, effort and dedication you put into it.How to Shadow SuccessfullyThe guide below is based on the structure laid out in  Arguelles video Shadowing Step by Step.1. Choose Your Audio ResourceWhat kind of audio should you be listening to?Audiobooks read by a native speaker in your target language are one great optionâ€"LibriVox is a great place to find audiobooks in many different languages. For shorter, more digestible listening, try podcasts in your target language.Youll also wan t to make sure your audio resource has a text component with an English translation  (for example, an e-book version of your audiobook in both languages). Youll see why in the steps below.Dont feel like going on a hunt for those types of resources? You can find perfect shadowing material on FluentU. FluentU provides authentic foreign language videos, like movie trailers, music videos, inspiring talks and more, that have been supercharged with language learning tools.FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos for you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each video comes with interactive, bilingual captions in your target language and in English. You can click any word for an instant definition or toggle off the English versionâ€"both of these features will be very helpful for shadowing step number four, below. Youll also get visual learning aids and native pronunciations for every word you click on.The videos come with full transcripts you can refer to as youre shadowing or afterwards. There are even flashcards and exercises to help you remember new words when youre done listening. Dont want to be distracted by the video? You can listen to audio-only clips.The program even keeps track of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.FluentU has programs for languages including Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Russian, French and several more. You can start shadowing with authentic videos for free with a FluentU trial.2. Listen and Repeat While Walking AroundAn unconventional but critical part of language shadowing is walking around while listening to and repeating your audio resource.As a non-native speaker, early on its tricky to speak in a foreign language while doing something else, even the simple task of walking. This exercise is designed to get you out of your comfort zone and focusing actively on what youre hearing. It also gives a regimented feel to your shadowing practice, making it harder for you to space out or get lazy with your pronunciation.Walking or pacing while shadowing will seem uncomfortable at first, especially since many of us are inclined to sit down while studying. But as you keep going itll become easier and more natural.Do this step several times until you feel comfortable repeating all of the sounds.3. Listen and Repeat While Reading the English TranslationNow you can start learning what youve actually been saying this whole time!Go back to the start of your audio passage and shadow while reading the English translation of your book or transcript. As Arguelles puts it, this will give you a global understanding of what youre listening to and saying. Youll start to associate meaning with the target language sounds in a natural way.Again, r epeat this stage several times. While you might want to stop pacing around for your own safety, Arguelles still recommends holding your text out in front of you rather than at your lap and keeping an upright posture.4. Listen and Repeat While Reading the Target Language TranscriptAt this stage, youll be reading the target language words as you speak them. If the audio is slow enough, you can actively move your eyes between the target language text and translation to compare the individual words and their meanings (Arguelles recommends you start this stage in this way).Eventually, you should be shadowing your target language and reading your target language only, but understanding what it is youre hearing and saying.The essential idea here is that over time, as you shadow with more and more material, youll learn how to speak and understand words and phrases in your target language in a big picture, natural way. You wont be translating one-to-one between English and your target langua ge, which means you can achieve fluency faster.5. Repeat DailyLanguage shadowing requires daily effort and dedication from the learner. It might feel laborious at first, but proponents of language shadowing say that with this method, learning a language is a much quicker process overall.Why? Along with the benefits noted above, Arguelles and his students say its because of the discipline required, as well as the immersive nature of this method.For me, language shadowing is another learning method to add to my bag of techniques. Shadowing is something I incorporate into learning a new language, but I also use other methods, like journaling for writing practice or language apps to learn grammar and vocabulary. I think one of the best things you can do when learning a new language is to try a variety of methods before homing in on the ones that work best for your unique learning style and lifestyle. As someone whos tried to learn languages using more conventional methods before, I woul d recommend that anyone interested in language shadowing give it a try.After all, if its good enough for parrots, its good enough for me!

The GCSE results are in!

The GCSE results are in! GCSE results are released today, ending months of suspense as candidates finally find out what months of hard work and revision has achieved. Don't let the relief of finally knowing your grades become tainted by press reports of the first fall in A*-C grades in 24 years. The slip in A*-C grades is only 0.4%! In recent years the tone has always been that exams are getting easier and easier, the grading more lenient, so perhaps a more demanding marking scheme is simply a response to this, and may explain the minimal drop in top grades. This is a time to focus on what you have managed to do and you should give yourself a pat on the back for making it through your exams. For those of you moving straight onto A-Levels, we wish you the best of luck. But, if you feel your marks are unfair or an unrealistic assessment of your abilities there are things you can do. Should you wish to improve your marks there will be opportunities to resit exams - resits generally take place between November and January. Or, if you feel your exam results are at odds with the results you were achieving through coursework, teachers will generally be more than willing to help you appeal your marks. A more comprehensive overview of what to do in light of disappointing GCSE results can be found on the BBC website. It should also be recognised that the academic environment is simply not for everyone. Vocational courses generally do not require exceptional GCSE results, and can offer more practical and enjoyable career alternatives to those who can't wait to leave school. Whatever results you receive today, just remember that there will be plenty more opportunities to prove yourself! GCSEs are most definitely not the be-and-end all. If anything, the results you get today should help you make a more informed decision of what you want from the future, and what career may be best for you! Finally, tutors, we know you will be nervous as well! Good luck as the results come in! We' round off with some of the feedback we've received so far this morning: Lisa, ''Lisa has been working with our 15 year old son to prepare him for his maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSEs as well as helping him to master some study skills and to be better organised in his school work and homework. He has shown significant improvement in a very short space of time with Lisa's support. He enjoys his lessons and has gained a better, more in-depth understanding of the subject matter.'' Sue, ''Sue has been very helpful with our daughter's GCSE German, particularly speaking. Before this she was very hesitant, but following Sue's help she is now much more fluent and confident. Sue makes the subject fun.''

Hujiang EdTech

Hujiang EdTech Hujiang EdTech Hujiang, Chinas leading e-learning platform with over 110 million registered users, is hiring ESL teachers instructors globally! Hujiang is a professional e-learning platform that provides users with products and services of convenience and excellence. Hujiang has evolved into a leading service system which consists of four parts: news and platform, online community, online tools, and online courses. Since its inception, Hujiang has enthusiastically supported other online education startup companies by building an online education ecosystem with a winning formula. We also work with traditional schools to narrow the gap between rich and poor and promote education equality, bringing high-quality educational resources to every corner of the world through the internet. Hujiang cooperates with over 500 schools and institutions including Coursera, Khan Academy, McGraw-Hill Education, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, MOOC,etc. We have produced over 20,000 public courses and lectures.