Sunday, March 22, 2020

How to Defeat Gender-Based Harassment In The Workplace - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Defeat Gender-Based Harassment In The Workplace - Introvert Whisperer How to Defeat Gender-Based Harassment In The Workplace No surprise if we hear anything about harassment in the workplace. Today’s newspaper and social media platforms are popped up these kinds of news expressing the pain and sentiments of the victim. Let’s refresh your memory with #Metoo movements which recently in News and describes the stories of women’s sexual harassment and sexual assault across the world. This shows that women around the world are affected by gender-based crime that includes sexual assault and harassment, especially in their workplace. Any kind of sexual favours, inappropriate jokes, intimations, comments, and unwelcome physical contact reflects sexual assault. In India, the  Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013  is a legislative act which passed by the Lok Sabha on 3 September 2012 and by Rajya Sabha on 26 February 2013. This act protects women from sexual assault in their working areas either it is public or private. As per the report of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), more than 85% of women have to deal with some form of assault at their workplace. There are 162,872 harassment allegations received by the EEOC from 2010 to 2015. In India, there is a 54% rise in harassment cases at the workplace between 2014 to 2017. Time to stop the crime and madness What are we missing to stop the madness? That we need to search and implement a great strategy. “Actions speak louder than words” much-related statement to the situation; we all know the data and cases reported across the world but what we are doing to bring the end of all these happenings that matter. No woman can delete or just erase the professional life because of some other cruel mindsets and actions. Instead of deleting, we can raise our hand and can adopt some steps to lower down these kinds of acts in working areas: 1. Create sexual harassment training in workplaces and make it compulsory for every leader While working, we all follow some policies to infuse discipline and control in your organization. Policies that allow employees to take leaves or to modify their work for better results. But, this time we need to think beyond the usual things to protect employees without losing their enthusiasm and self-control. To fight these kinds of acts in workplaces, we must have to define the section of sexual harassment training and make it mandatory for managers and top-level members. Because of that, employees will understand the seriousness of the subject and how some activities negatively hurt someone’s feelings. Intense research of Eden King, an associate professor at Rice University, describes the significance of effective harassment training in work premises. She also highlights the reactions of people in power towards complaints lodged by the other colleagues for their misbehaviours. She emphasis face-to-face training for more impacts and support the active participation  of all employees either man or woman for the same. 2. Encourage more women into high-level designations To provide a fast pace to resolve the issue, we need to change our so-called strategy in which sexism symbolizes the residing of males on high perches preventing females from smashing the glass ceiling. An article “Training Programs and Reporting Systems Won’t End Sexual Harassment. Promoting More Women Will” that published in Harvard Business Review describes how to reduce sexual harassment by promotion more female employees on leader positions. The authors also state that most cases of workplace harassment witnessed under the leadership of male employees. Thus, the answer is simple for removing sexual assault from any organization that hires and promotes more females. Baloonr has conducted a study that expresses the views of about 35% of respondents on the solution of addressing the issue of harassment by providing more leadership roles to women. 3. Accept the need for intervention culture at organizations Very few organizations adopt the culture of promoting employees to present and discuss the case of harassment. This we called a culture of intervention. If this is possible in every organization where leaders will take initiative for providing protection and plays their role actively, then the cases of harassment will be reported easily and action could be taken accordingly. When employees notice that their organization is principled and taking this kind of act genuinely, their attitude will change and their knowledge will improve resulting in a better working and safe environment. Chai Feldblum, EEOC Commissioner, has shared his views to “Business Insider” in 2016 that companies first need to find out what kind of behaviours will not be tolerated at work. Once they have policies regarding unwelcome acts at the workplace then they need to take a step ahead and describe how to report about those actions easily. He further adds that people willingly will come to report inappropriate  acts if they feel that their complaints are taken seriously, inspected and lead to action. 4. Understand the requirements of changes All things start from a change; a change that opens the various channels of communication and enhancement. We need to change the perception of taking advantage of our position and power. Thus, the fight is about the deconstruction of false values infused by toxic thinking and the philosophy of sick minds. An article published on BBC describes the root cause of sexual assault is the old-aged beliefs and notions; A notion that men are more powerful than women, a notion that females are inferior than males and thought that men should act as aggressors and women should act gatekeepers. Changing someone’s thinking and mindsets is not possible within the four walls of a room, we need to begin the process at the earliest days of education and development. “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything,” said George Bernard Shaw. Hence, the change will start from us and we require to change the thinking that promotes gender-based discrimination. Our thoughts and leadership must boost diversity and inclusion, and set the standards for whats suitable and unsuitable in terms of behaviour. 5. Adopting the culture of ingenuousness Why are we not able to develop the right process to address the issue? I think the answer is fear of revenge or maybe fear of being judged for no cause.   If you check out the reports of the “National Crime Victimization Survey,” we will find that only one in three sexual harassment cases is reported. And the reason for not reporting the cases could be fear of retaliation. This is because people in higher position are not taking the responsibility seriously. A leader should create and build a work environment where victims feel safe and can come forward to report their cases. This strategy will promote a healthy and safe working environment for employees and can help to stop sexual harassment to a great extent. An open-door policy must infuse into the system reflecting the caring behaviour of managers towards subordinates. Leaders ensure victims that they are serious towards these issues and eager to know whats going on with the  team if anything discussed quickly and openly. 6. Fight against gender bias physiology When we move forward, we find a gender gap. We are putting our effort and energy to reduce it but still, it is there. But this gap becomes wider in last year as per the report of  a March Institute for Womens Policy Research in which women are facing various issues. As per the New Yorker, various technology companies (Google,  Twitter, Microsoft, and Uber) are unable to take corrective actions to tackle  class-action gender-discrimination suits.   An audit on Google employees pays practices has been conducted by the Department of Labour and noticed that there is a systemic compensation inequality against women pretty much across the entire staff. It also reveals the presence of six to seven standard deviations between pay for males and females in almost every job class.

Friday, March 6, 2020

The History of the French Language

The History of the French Language The Origins of the French Language ChaptersHow the Romans Influenced the the Old French LanguageLanguages Spoken in France: Dialects and français régionaleThe Spread of French LanguagesWhat the French Language Looks Like NowThe Future of the French LanguageToday, French is the official language of 29 countries and is spoken by three hundred million people. As one of the world’s most widely-studied languages, coming second only to English â€" but where did it come from?In the English-speaking world, we see aspects of the French language every day, whether it’s in the etymology of our own vocabulary (such as affair and crayon) or when we directly borrow a French phrase that the English language is lacking (like cliché and vis-à-vis).In fact, our own language would have sounded completely different if it were not for the Norman conquest of 1066 which brought the French language to England, where the vast majority of the population spoke Anglo-Saxon. Before this, French was a language reserved for the aristocracy on British soil as a language of prestige.So, how has the French language changed since the days of William the Conqueror? And where did it originate from in the first place?The French language has an incredibly rich and interesting history behind it â€" so, read on and learn all about its Latin roots, popularity in Europe, variations and what the French language looks like today! AnnieFrench Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolineFrench Teacher 5.00 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriFrench Teacher 5.00 (9) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarianneFrench Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThibautFrench Teacher 5.00 (3) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickFrench Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DéborahFrench Teacher 5.00 (10) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamyFrench Teacher 5.00 (2) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow the Romans Influenced the the Old French LanguageFrench is part of the family of romance languages, which means that it is originally derived from Latin â€" the language spoken by the Romans about 2000 years ago.The Romans are famous for their tireless efforts to expand their empire, and one of the consequences of this was the spread of Latin as an adopted language.When the Romans started conquering French soil (known then as Gaul) in around 1BC, the language spoken by the inhabitants wasn’t French â€" instead they spoke a variety of Celtic dialects which would have been similar to Welsh.The Roman settlement in Gaul resulted in the mixing of cultures to produce what is now referred to as ‘Gallo-Roman’ culture.The Romans were responsible for significant linguistic changes across Europe ¦ source: Pixabay - wanderertravelHowever, when it came to the language spoken by the Gallo-Romans, the mixing process was not so successful, and the Gaulish dialects eventually disap peared as Latin took over.By the time that Latin had been adopted as the common language in Gaul, it had developed independently of the Latin spoken in Rome, the centre of the Roman empire. So, the version of Latin which was spoken on French soil had diverged to the point where it was identifiable as a dialect of standard Latin.This ‘new’ version of Latin is now referred to as ‘Vulgar Latin’ â€" not because it was rude, but because it was the language spoken by the ‘vulgus’, which means ‘common people’ in Latin.Vulgar Latin developed into the Gallo-Romance languages in the Medieval period which included the Oïl languages (closest to modern French) as well as the Franco-Provençal language family.Many of these languages still exist today as dialects. Among the most widely spoken are Walloon, Picard, Occitan and Berrichon, but sadly, as the number of native speakers of these dialects plummets, the likelihood of extinction is on the rise.So, how did the French language overcome every other dialect to become the country’s official language?Languages Spoken in France: Dialects and français régionaleIt might surprise you to know that almost half of the population living in Southern France, Alsace and Brittany did not speak French as their mother tongue at the beginning of the 20th century â€" instead, they spoke regional languages and dialects.The outcome of the introduction of Latin by the Romans was a patchwork of Gallo-Romance dialects which differed from town to town.Despite the differences in these dialects, speakers from different towns and villages would have been able to communicate effectively with one another as long as they didn’t travel too far afield.Linguists have been able to group these dialects according to evidence given by their speakers as well as the languages themselves to identify the geographical frontiers of each language.Here is a map of the traditional French dialects spoken in each region:A map of the traditional di alects across France ¦ source: WikipediaUnfortunately, these languages have been disappearing since the population became more mobile and started having to adjust their language to help others understand them.This process is known as levelling, where particularities of dialects are lost in favour of common features with other languages. Levelling in France has led to the birth of français regional or regional French.Regional French is any version of standard French which has been altered according to a regional dialect which it has replaced.One example of this can be seen in the grammar of the Ch’ti dialect spoken in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Where speakers of standard French would say “acheter du pain pour que je mange”, Ch’ti would say “acater du pain pou mi manger” (where ‘pou mi manger’ means ‘pour moi manger’).Even though français régionale can be understood by most French speakers, its use is diminishing.The death of the dialect and of regional French can be attributed to many factors including urbanisation, advancements in technology and the French education system.If you're learning French in the UK education system, have a look at our tips on GCSE French revision and studying A Level French.How did the French language we know today come to rule over not just France, but 28 other countries? AnnieFrench Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolineFrench Teacher 5.00 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriFrench Teacher 5.00 (9) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarianneFrench Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThibautFrench Teacher 5.00 (3) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickFrench Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DéborahFrench Teacher 5.00 (10) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamyFrench Teacher 5.00 (2) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Spread of French LanguagesThe re ign of regional languages and dialects in France lasted for centuries â€" but how did French replace them?We know that one of the main reasons for the victory of French over traditional dialects was the French education system.Education in France has been compulsory and universal since the early 20th century and has promoted the widespread use of French by educating children in the prestigious language of the capital: français normé or standard French.This meant that children who were brought up speaking traditional dialects were starting to use standard French in social situations more often than their native dialects.Breton is among the very few regional languages which have been preserved alongside Basque and Catalan ¦ source: Pixabay - PexelsIn addition, although there have been efforts made by the French government to preserve some of these regional dialects, funding and resources are only available for certain varieties and in areas where there is a demand for teaching.The urbanisation of France has also played a major role in the spread of French. As more and more people have relocated to urban areas, they have had to almost abandon their dialects altogether in order to be understood by others.Aside from the spread of the standard language within France itself, the French language has also spread to other countries around the world.But how did it get there?Like Britain, France has a colonial past.This is the reason why French is the official language of so many African countries, where the language is used for administrative purposes as well as being spoken by the population.Canada is another major area where French is regularly spoken. The French language was brought to North America by French settlers in the early 17th century.Interestingly, the varieties of French spoken in many former French colonies are evolving independently of the français normé of France â€" just like Vulgar Latin diverged from traditional Latin in antiquity.So, what does t his mean for the French language today?If you were taking French lessons London or elsewhere in the UK with a Superprof tutor, you would know!What the French Language Looks Like NowMany of the new varieties of French which are spoken overseas have been standardised, which means that they are recognised as languages in their own right, with a specific spelling and grammar system â€" think of the difference between French in France and Canadian French as the difference between US English and British English.The same way that Brits walk on a pavement whereas Americans take the sidewalk, French people take their voiture (meaning car) for a spin, while Canadians will take their char.France’s history of colonialism has also led to changes the language spoken on its own soil.The school French you learn doesn't necessarily reflect the French that is spoken by natives.Because of France’s efforts to colonise the area of North Africa known as Maghreb, which consists primarily of Algeria, M orocco and Tunisia, some features of Arabic have entered the French language as North African people have begun to settle in France.The Arabic words which have been adopted by French speakers are mainly used in familiar contexts as slang and include words such as flouze (meaning money) and hachmah (which means shame).Click here to see a list of Arabic alternatives to French in use.  From Latin to Arabic, it’s not difficult to see that there are many linguistic consequences to people mixing between cultures â€" so, where is the French language headed?The Future of the French LanguageAs one of the fastest-growing languages is in the world, French is not under any threat.Some French language purists are concerned about the further evolution of the French language, worrying that It will become ‘polluted’ by foreign vocabulary and will therefore become ‘less French’.As technology advances and education and media in other languages become more accessible, the adoption of foreign words becomes more likely.Sadly, however, the popularity of the French language and the increased need for speakers of international or ‘useful’ languages mean that the future looks bleak for the traditional French dialects.To learn about taking French lessons, click here.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Apps and Resources to Help You Learn Sign Language

Apps and Resources to Help You Learn Sign Language The Best Apps and Resources to Learn Sign Language ChaptersYour Number One Resource for Learning How to SignOnline Resources to Help You Learn Sign LanguageWhat’s on YouTube?Apps to Learn Sign LanguageOn the surface, the concept of an app for sign language is a pretty straightforward proposition; it’s even logical.There are apps to help you learn a foreign language online and sign language is a legitimate language, ergo there should be a trove of resources to learn sign language with. Right?  Wrong!First, let us commend you for knowing that learning sign language is equivalent to learning a second language.Now, comes the flaw in the argument: which sign language would you learn?Many people believe that sign language is both singular and universal, meaning that there is only one flavour of signing and, once learned, you could sign with deaf people all over the world.Wouldn’t that be something!Fact is, even though two countries might speak the same language, their sign languages would be vastly different. If you inadvertently lea rn American sign language from the Internet, you would have a hard time being understood in Britain using those signs.Even the alphabets are different: British sign language uses two hands to finger spell while ASL calls for only one-handed spelling.By the same token, somebody who learned sign language in a French-speaking region of Canada could not make himself understood in France unless s/he also learned French sign language.Your Superprof wants to help you set your feet on the right path by highlighting apps and resources specifically meant to help people learn British sign language.As opposed to American sign, for which online resources seem far more abundant. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover a ll our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconom ics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsYour Number One Resource for Learning How to SignObviously, the most effective way to learn sign language is to take a course.Virtually every major city and smaller town we visited offers at least part-time courses in sign language and, in some of those classes, you may actually work up to Level 6 certification.Of course, there are also classes to train as a sign language interpreter, should that be your career goal…Besides taking sign language classes, the very best resource to help you learn how to sign is the deaf community. A 'thumbs-up' is a universal gestural sign of approval Image by Niek Verlaan from PixabayAll across the country, we found Deaf Clubs that welcome hearing people for social events or just because. Some of the clubs we found even offer sign language lessons; and what a great place to tune in to deaf culture!If you have registered for or are already taking a sign language course, you might search the Internet for ‘Deaf Clubs near me’ and then, get ready to make new friends!Finding a Group on FacebookKeeping with the idea that signing with deaf and hard of hearing people is the best way for you to learn this visual language, we can’t ignore social media as a way to find welcoming groups.Many of the smaller clubs around the country â€" clubs that don’t have a website, a fixed meeting place or any particular agenda, maintain a Facebook page; it is there that you could find announcements of upcoming events.If you lived in Nottingham, for instance, you may be torn between joining the Nottingham Deaf Society that conducts various social activities alongside its charity work, and the Notts Deaf Community, whose Facebook page displays lots of happy people, enjoying themselves.By the way, you could take sign language lessons at the Nottingham Deaf Society, too!If you were a football fan (who isn’t?), you could find Deaf Football Clubs on Facebook as well.For instance, Belfast has a fantastic club, Belfast Deaf United, that travels around the UK for matches and the inevitable post-game pint. Wouldn’t it be great to join them?Finding a Deaf Club on MeetupDo you know about Meetup? It is a social connections website that promotes the doings of special interest groups.Combing through Sign Language group offerings on Meetup yielded some results; we particularly liked the Femaura London Deaf and Sign Club.Their stated mission is to help people learn their new language but they are also a social group so, if you were hoping to meet like-minded people, people who are in terested in learning how to sign, this is the group for you.They host meetings every Thursday from seven until nine in the evening; in fact, they have the entire month of January already planned and scheduled. There, you will surely pick up a few tips to help you learn this expressive language faster and more efficiently.If your city does not have a deaf or a sign language Meetup group, why don’t you start one? That’s a great way to invite people to join you on your quest to learn sign language.We’ll not say that you should take every opportunity to engage with deaf people because, while deaf clubs are quite warm and welcoming, there are times and events reserved exclusively for the deaf world.Outside of those times/events, you can be assured of a warm welcome; you will certainly find lots of help in your sign language learning… especially your receptive skills! Your deaf friend's hearing aid does not absolve you of the responsibility to learn to sign Image by kalhh from PixabayOnline Resources to Help You Learn Sign LanguageAs mentioned before, the greatest danger in finding online resources to learn sign language from is that, all too often, the resource in question does not identify which sign language you will learn from them.That is why it is always best to search for British Sign Language resources rather than just Sign Language resources… unless you want to learn ASL so you can sign with friends across the pond.If you should conduct such a search â€" for British sign language, most likely, the first page you will encounter will be British Sign.Besides their reasonably-priced online course, their page is full of resources to master fingerspelling â€" from the sign language alphabet to assorted games, to vocabulary sheets, dictionaries and greeting signs.They even offer to help you find a BSL course in case their online programme does n’t get it for you.We really liked their forum and chatroom page, especially their practice zone where you can upload a short story or narrative that you signed and let other people critique your work.And once you’re done with your training? You can refer to their job listings to find work that calls for your newly-gained skills!Twinkl Resources for ChildrenIf you are learning to sign because you work with deaf children or you have a deaf child in your life, you will surely love Twinkl’s BSL taster resource pack.It is loaded with activities and resources for deaf education, from the Early Years Foundation stage all the way up to Key Stage Four.Twinkl’s list of free resources is long but, overall, their site is packed with worksheets, visual aids, PowerPoints you could use in a classroom and lesson planning tips and strategies for teaching deaf students.And, as if this site were not great enough, they offer Makaton oriented study packs in a multitude of languages, including W elsh.Twinkl’s treasure trove of materials acknowledges that, while English is our country’s official language, not everyone speaks our native language. That is why their page of EAL (English as an additional language) is particularly valuable.Even if you are not a child learning to sign, this page is a fantastic resource for learners of sign language. Many people incorrectly interpret this sign to mean deafness Image by Robin Higgins from PixabayWhat’s on YouTube?You can find instructional videos on virtually everything you might ever want to learn on YouTube. Whether said instruction is ‘legitimate’ is a different question altogether.We’re not knocking the kind people who wish to share their knowledge of sign language but we are dismayed at the number of people who talk through their presentation and who remain seated with the camera only capturing them from the shoulders up.You might know that, to sign effectively, you will need all of the expressive skills at your disposal, including facial expression and using your whole body to sign.Naturally, you can sign while seated but some of those videos are pretty limited in their instruction. For instance, they might impart vocabulary â€" how to sign for help or basic greeting words but they don’t show how to connect those words into an entire expression.Two standouts among British sign language video channels are Exeter Deaf Academy and LSLSoniaHollis.Both of these channels present sign language ‘authentically’: the instructor’s entire upper body is visible and they incorporate facial expressions into their signs.To explain what is going on, Exeter contrasts the dark-haired signer with a blonde instructor who breaks down the gestures and expressions while LSL uses subtitles to interpret what is going on.If you're looking for video instruction to supplement your coursework in your sign language class, these two channels should get it for you.Apps to Learn Sign LanguageSignBSL.com may be just the resource you need to tie everything together for your learning.It is a dictionary, neatly folded into an app that you can download for free from the Apple store, the Play store or Microsoft. You can also get it from Amazon.Of the 20 words we looked up, only one had a single interpretation; most of the words had at least two short videos demonstrating the signs, with the more common words, such as ‘people’, ‘every’ and ‘day’ having more than two.Surely there are more apps out there; maybe you have one on your phone right now that we should know about. You’re welcome to tell us in the comments section below.Now, discover the many advantages of learning sign language…

Study Tip How to Create a Good Study Environment

Study Tip How to Create a Good Study Environment Weve talked about the how to avoid study distractions, weve talked about randomly helpful items to help you study, but now its time to talk about how you can put all of those things together and produce a great study environment. No student is in a good position to study if the surrounding atmosphere isnt conducive to such productivity. Before you gather your books and attempt to cram that information into your brain, you need to make sure you are placed in a good setting, whether it's somewhere for a solo study session, meeting with your SAT tutor, or taking an ACT practice test. The number one rule when it comes to creating study environments? Dont go by what anyone else does. Everybodys brains are vastly different and therefore excel under different types of circumstances. Joining your roommate at Starbucks may seem fun and beneficial to your workload, but is it? Do the subtle conversations and noisy blenders really comfort you like they comfort that friend of yours? They might. But if they dont, just the fact that youre with your supportive friend isnt going to be enough to bring the good studying out of you. Never completely rely on another persons ideas for study environments, no matter who they are. It is up to you and you only to choose what surrounding details make you study well. Not sure what exactly constitutes your perfect study environment? Below are some ideas to give thought to: Noise level: Complete silence, constant sounds, or somewhere in between? The silence can freak some people out while others find it vital for focused studying. Just as well, some students hate noise during this time while others find it reassuring. Whether all of this refers to nearby people talking, buses that often drive by, or a smoothie machine mixing away, you need to figure out how theyll factor into your brains train of thought. They might throw it off or they might encourage it to work harder its up to you to see which direction you typically go in. Seating/Tables: Do you need lounge chairs and incredibly cushy couches when studying? Or does that just distract you more? Dont use seating that will send you into a study coma or day-dreaming session. If those comfortable arrangements will prevent you from being productive, find a place with ordinary, hard chairs that will force you to sit up straight. Tables are the next item to cover; dont get trapped in an area with very little table space to align your study materials. That is a category of frustration that nobody has time for. For instance, some cafs have extremely tiny tables that are great for setting down your coffee, but thats about it. Consider a sturdy desk or lengthy library table if youre going to be spreading out a lot of notes to look over. Amount of people around: Think about the constant actions of adjacent strangers and how they make you feel when studying. That kind of situation may sidetrack you on very high levels, or it might make you feel relaxed again, everyone is different. Also, you could be in a place where these other people are studying, which could help you stay motivated, or you could be somewhere where these people are just hanging out and not working, which could frequently divert your attention. Determine how surrounding people affect your study process and go from there. You might find that you need total isolation to focus Computer-friendliness: Often times you need your laptop with you to study, so its always a good idea to make sure your study space is conducive to that. You dont want to end up in a situation where theres basically no room for your computer to sit other than on your lap. Even worse, being stuck at a place with little to no outlets around can leave you in quite the compromising position if you run low on battery power you certainly dont want to have to end your study session abruptly against your will. Additionally, make sure to find a place that is not messy; for instance, you dont want to sit your computer on a dirty table that is rarely cleaned off. Dont set it up on a constrained space where a nearby drink could spill onto it either! Location: Is this place right by where you live? Is it a time-consuming drive away? Is it close to a coffee supplier? These are all good things to think about when choosing the study spot of choice. Perhaps you are creating this environment in your home, but even then you should consider how close you are to food, television, or anything else you might want on a much-needed break or not want near you at all. Some students find it helpful to be nearby their home so they can easily return to comfort if they get restless and frustrated. Others purposely situate themselves far from their places of residence in order to ensure they will stay put in the study zone. Ultimately, think about the things you want near you when you study and the things you want to be a great distance from you. Pick your locale accordingly. With these standards in mind, you should have a much easier time preparing for those exams. Find this perfect spot and get going!

Apply These 9 Secret Techniques To Improve SAT College Test

Apply These 9 Secret Techniques To Improve SAT College Test 0SHARESShare Follow these secret techniques to improve SAT College Test!! 1)           Control your mental anxiety right from the prep start to gain confidence 2)           Do not leave the questions half read. In your haste to manage time, you would miss the corners of the questions 3)           SAT   Testers are particular about deceiving you with misleading answers which pose for the right answers. Repeated Sat preps make you pick out deceptive answers at the very first look 4)            Follow the progressive   order of   difficulty in questions and skip the difficult ones to spare time 5)           Learn the art of visualization Imagine how you will do the SAT test and what your scores could be. Have a mental calculation of all the practice tests and hit a target 6)           Assess your plus and strengths Evaluate how you have taken up the journey with prep and practice and what you could achieve in the end with your strong aspects of preparation and skills. 7)           No over preparation-Last minute cramming could handicap your mental abilities and cause unexpected frustration. Be satisfied with what you have prepared and relax your mind on the eve of the exam 8)           Take full length tests to assess your weak spots 9)           Regular practice with ample time for  prep is essential for success Similarly, ACT Question and Answer prep helps ace ACT test. Avail   SAT or  ACT online Registration with Tutor pace. Com to have an edge in the exam. [starbox id=admin]

17 Surprising Health Benefits of Playing an Instrument

17 Surprising Health Benefits of Playing an Instrument Health Benefits of Playing an Instrument Jessica Dais Playing an instrument has many benefits learning self-discipline, strengthening mental capacity, and spreading the joy of music, just to name a few. And research shows that these benefits aren’t just for kids. Musicians of any age can take advantage of the physical and emotional health benefits of playing an instrument. It doesn’t matter what instrument you choose to play, either! Keep reading to discover how the act of playing music can drastically improve your overall health.   Health Benefits of Playing an Instrument Physical Benefits of Music Deep Breathing Most of the time our breathing is very shallow, but activities like singing or playing a wind instrument require deep breathing from the diaphragm. This strengthens your lungs and respiratory system. Playing the harmonica can even help with pulmonary disease! Immune Response When we learn to play an instrument, we often become inspired to create our own music. According to an article by Live Science, making music “enhances the immunological response, which enables us to fight viruses.” Stress Relief Playing music brings your energy and focus into a positive activity, which can help alleviate stress. Those reduced stress levels can help get your blood pressure and heart rate down to a healthy level. Fine Hearing Learning music refines your hearing skills by training you to isolate sounds as they occur. Studies have even shown that musicians are better at picking out specific voices and sounds in a noisy environment. Exercise Playing an instrument naturally leads to increased physical activity. Whether youre playing the piano, guitar, strings, or a wind instrument, youre using your arm and back muscles to play and/or hold up your instrument. And if you play the drums, you even get to do some cardio! Posture Any good music teacher will correct your posture during lessons. This can help you get into the habit of sitting up straight and having proper alignment even when youre not playing. These are all great ways to alleviate neck and back pain. Mental Benefits of Music Mental Performance Playing music is like doing a workout for every part of your brain. It helps improve your mental performance and memory. There’s even evidence that music can help a patient’s brain recover from a stroke, as well as slow the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Coordination Using your fingers, hands, and feet in a rhythmic manner for a sustained amount of time, while also being conscious of playing the correct tones, can be a challenge for even the most coordinated people. Over time though, playing music refines your motor skills that go beyond the hand-eye. Time Management Learning an instrument requires practice, of course! But more specifically, it requires consistency and routine. Figuring out how to fit practice into your busy schedule and really stick to it helps you develop better time management and organization skills. Reading Skills Reading music helps strengthen your ability to process information by creating new connections between the synapses in your brain. As a result, reading and absorbing information from other sources becomes a lot easier. Listening Skills Learning music doesn’t just improve your ability to hear details; it also makes you better at listening. Whether you’re practicing on your own or playing with other people, you have to listen for timing, expression, and whether you’re in tune. This can make you a better listener even in everyday conversations as well. Concentration Focus is a necessary part of learning an instrument. Improving your musical skills forces you to use all the parts of your brain involved in concentration, making you better able to concentrate in other life situations. This is another reason why music is beneficial for those with disorders like ADD. Mathematics Learning music is all about pattern recognition, which is mathematical in itself. But even more than that, learning about how music is divided into equal measures and beats, and how those beats are in broken up, can help improve your math skills! SEE ALSO: The 5 Easiest Instruments Perfect for Adult Learners Emotional Benefits of Music Self Expression Whether you’re writing your own piece of music or playing someone else’s, music allows you to express yourself in new ways. You also get to be creative when choosing your own unique style and genre. Therapy Playing music can help with stress, insomnia, and depression because it acts as an outlet for difficult emotions. It can be a form of self-soothing in tough situations, and a healthy distraction from a stressful day. Achievement There’s nothing like the feeling of finally mastering one of your favorite songs! Setting a goal, putting in the work, and eventually reaching that goal gives you a strong sense of achievement. It will improve your confidence in other areas of life in the process. New Friends Whether you use music as an icebreaker when meeting new people, or as a way to actually meet new people playing in a choir, band, or orchestra, for example music is a great way to make new friends. These are just a few of the remarkable health benefits of playing an instrument. To begin reaping the benefits of music in your life, check out the online group music lessons  at TakeLessons Live today. You can access hundreds of live classes on a variety of instruments completely free for your first month. Start playing that instrument youve always wanted to, and your body, mind, and spirit will thank you! Post Author:  Jasmine T. Jasmine T. teaches piano, academics, yoga, and more in San Diego, CA. She has her Power Yoga Level 1 200-Hour Certification, as well as a Certificate of Merit for Piano and Theory from the Music Teachers Association of California. Learn more about Jasmine here!

English Expressions with GET - Intermediate Level English Vocabulary

English Expressions with GET - Intermediate Level English Vocabulary There are many simple verbs in English or verbs that are useful and frequently used in many expressions. Here we explore those English Expressions with GET.   Useful Expressions with Get GET FED UP WITHWe can get fed up with someone. To get fed up means to lose interest in or become annoyed with or frustrated with something or someone.Ex. Ivan had a good friend Misha but from time to time Misha would annoy Ivan when he was constantly rearranging their meetings or worse still not showing up at all.  In this situation Ivan could say:You know, I am really fed up with Misha. Why does he always change our time and why can he not tell me in advance if he is not going to turn up (arrive) at all?We can also get fed up with something. Perhaps an old electrical gadget is constantly breaking down.Ex. David had a coffee maker that he got as a present many years ago. However,  it wasnt working properly and the coffee had a peculiar taste. He got fed up with it one day and dumped it in the recycling bag.  Time for a new purchase!!GET IN TOUCH WITHTo get in touch with somebody means to contact them, either by message, whatsapp, email  or by calling them on your mobile.We can use it in various ways.Can you get in touch with me urgently as we need to discuss . here it is a request from someone looking for immediate contactor I was trying to get in touch with you as i am visiting your city and it is a long time since we met here an old friend colleague or relative would like to meet up when they are in town for a few daysor Ill get in touch with you in the next few days to confirm that meeting here a promise to follow up on an arrangement and confirm an appointmentScroll down, there is more to come Collocations and Expressions with GET - Infographic Enjoyed this infographic? Here’s what you can do next: GET AROUNDThis has various options and uses. To get around can mean someone travels a lot.Ex. Mary was asking John about his plans. He told her he had just returned from a trip to America and in the next few weeks he was going to Brazil, Turkey and the Lebanon.“Wow,  you certainly get around,  dont you!”  or some one might use GET AROUND to ask if you did what you promised to doEx. Did you get around to calling the electrician yet? You know that light fitting needs fixing and you cannot do it.Someone might also ask how do you usually get around in your city? How do you travel in your cityGET LOSTThis can be used in a few ways and varies depending on your stress and intonation. Quite simply to get lost means not able to identify where you are in a city or town.ex. I got lost last week in London. I got off the underground (metro) and didnt know where I was.Or if you place the emphasis on LOST and raise your voice it might be used to tell someone  (not politely)  to leave you alone .Ex. Jacob shouted to his younger brother: “Get lost, leave me alone! Get out of my room!”We can also get lost in a book or a movie we are reading or  watching.Ex. I had a wonderful night i really got lost in that book I bought last week. I cannot put it down (stop reading it).GET A MESSAGEAgain,  it can be used in several ways.Did he finally get the message? Did he finally realise? Did he understand the real meaning of what you are trying to tell him?Ex. You have been trying for a long time to break off a relationship with a boyfriend. You stopped returning his calls, you stopped texting him and refused to meet him. After 10 days he finally got the message.  (He finally understood the relationship was over).orCan you get a message to Daniel please? a common request when you phone an office to talk to a contact but he or she is not there. You ask the receptionist if they can tell the person that you will call again or you have to change the meeting etc..ex. Can you get a mess age to Daniel please and tell him that the delivery arrived.5 more collocations with GET + useful phrases are below Collocations and Expressions with Get - continued GET THE JOKEUsed positively or negatively. I got the joke but I  didnt find it funny or I didnt get the joke what was he saying? To get the joke means to understand the story or the humour in the joke.And  I  didnt get the joke means you did understand the relevance or perhaps it was a joke specific to that town or city and not so easy for outsiders to understandGET BACK FROMA little more specific which means you have recently returned from another location.I got back from Rome last night it was fantastic.Alternatively it could be a question: When did you get back from Rome?or When will you get back from Rome?If we change the preposition FROM  and use TO the meaning changes.I WILL GET BACK TO YOUmeans I  will call you again or I  will follow up on our conversation.He promised to get back to me later in the day and let me know if I  got the job.GET RID OF  When something isnt needed or wanted we try to throw it away or get rid of it.ex. Can you get rid of that empty wine bottle before my mother gets here. She will think we have been drinking all day.  A robber might want to get rid of the evidence (destroy) before the police start investigating the crime.Who is that knocking on our door? Can you get rid of them (tell them to leave) quickly and tell them I am not here.GET INTO TROUBLEUsually when we do something we shouldnt have done we will get into trouble with someone.ex. Will you get into trouble with your parents (will they be annoyed) if you are late home?Will you get into trouble (will you get a ticket or a parking fine) with the police for parking there its a no parking zone?Will you get into trouble with your boss (will he shout or complain about your time keeping)  for being late back from lunch?There are many other expressions using GET. Here are some of them: I got a nice present for my birthday. The girls in the office bought it for me. I am getting older every time I  look in the mirror. I got a call from a job agency yesterday. I have an interview on Wednesday. I get to work by bus everyday. He is getting better and better every day. The medicine seems to be working. He is getting worse really. He has been late three times this week already.

How to Find Scholarship Money-Even for the Average Student

How to Find Scholarship Money-Even for the Average Student How to Find Scholarship MoneyEven for the Average Student Are scholarships only for outstanding students and stellar athletes? Definitely not! If you have written off scholarships because your college-bound teen isnt at the top of the class, think again. There are many scholarships for students with varying skillsets and different backgrounds, but not necessarily the highest GPAs and SAT/ACTtest scores. According to sources such as Scholarship America and Scholarships.com, students can receive scholarship support from all kinds of sourcesfor their creativity, ability to overcome adversity, or efforts in extracurricular and volunteer activities, for example. Where should your teen look? Here are a few tips and suggestionsas you and your teen embark upon the scholarship search: Start with the guidance counselor. A great place to begin the scholarship search is at the guidance counselors office. Many guidance/college counselors maintain a list of local and national scholarships and can quickly tell you what scholarships your teen may or may not be eligible for. In addition, the guidance counselor will have information about different types of scholarships at the colleges and universities in your state or region, as well as directions on how to apply. Keep in mind that guidance counselors may be your best source for information about local scholarships or foundations. Tip: Ask the guidance counselor how to stay up to date on new scholarships and deadlines. Many high schools maintain an online database of scholarships. Look at your states Department of Education website. Obviously, all states offer financial aid, but many states offer scholarships or other types of stipends. While the colleges to which your teen applies often handle the application process for such aid, your states Department of Education website is a great source of information. For example, in Colorado, the College Opportunity Fund is a stipend available to all students going to college in the state. In Michigan, the Michigan Nursing Scholarship awards scholarships to residents who pursue nursing degrees. The state of New Jersey offers several types of scholarships for state residents pursuing different fields of study. Tip: To find your states department of education website, visit www.ed.gov/about and click on State Contacts. Then, search for scholarships. Colleges financial aid departments can also point you in the right direction to learn more about state funds and scholarships. Ask organizations where you work or volunteer. Employers are an excellent resource for scholarships, especially bigger corporations. Some companies award scholarships to employees or dependents or employees, but many others do not require applicants to have any connection to the company. Check out some of the organizations in your area as well as larger national corporations that might offer scholarships. Examples include U.S. Bank, Microsoft and Walmart. Tip: Your employer or your teens employer (if your teen has a part-time job) are a great place to start. Consider scholarships for students of certain heritage or background. Many scholarships support specific individuals, such as women or students from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds. Nonprofit organizations such as the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the United Negro College Fund award funds to thousands of students each year. Tip: A scholarship search engine can help you locate scholarships for which you might be eligible based on your personal characteristics. Check out nontraditional sources of scholarship revenue offered in your state. Programs such as Georgias HOPE Scholarship program open doors for students without perfect GPAs. Students with a 3.0 GPA are eligible as well as students who come from home study programs, and they can receive funding toward college degrees and technical certifications or diplomas. Floridas Bright Futures Scholarship program offers scholarships to students who have achieved at least a 3.0 GPA (for Florida Medallion Scholars, or a 3.5 GPA for Florida Academic Scholars) and completed a minimum number of service hours. Tip: The scholarships mentioned above are both Lottery scholarship programs, which a number of states also have. Research whether your state offers a similar program that is funded by state lottery revenues or other funding sources, such as tobacco settlements or turnpike revenues. Use scholarship search engines to aid your search. One of the best ways to round up a list of scholarships for which your teen is qualified is to use a scholarship search engine. These tools help students create a detailed student profile and narrow down a list of scholarships that fit that profile (eliminating any for which they do not meet the criteria). Tip: Reputable search engines include scholarships.com, scholarshipexperts.com, fastweb.com, and the College Boards Scholarship Search Tool. Although there are thousands of scholarships out there, it can be discouraging to see scholarship after scholarship restricted for high achievers with exceptional grades and test scores. Never fear: there are many scholarships for students with other skills, traits and interests. Encourage your teen to put effort into the search and he or she may be surprised by the number of scholarship options available. Here are a few more tips to help make your child's college journey more affordable. And of course, dont forget to enter Huntingtons College Scholarship Sweepstakes. Huntington awards a $500 scholarship each quarter to a college-bound high school student. Simply submit your information via text message on behalf of your student. Learn more at www.huntingtonhelps.com/contest.