Networking Opportunities for Introverted Professionals - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Networking Opportunities for Introverted Professionals - Introvert Whisperer Networking Opportunities for Introverted Professionals Networking is often an essential part of finding a new position, exploring new opportunities, and even building a business â€" but when you’re an introvert, the prospect of networking can sound overwhelming and unpleasant. If your stomach turns at the idea of making small talk with a room full of strangers, you’re not alone. Networking is difficult even for outgoing personalities, so it makes sense that introverts may naturally shy away from the idea. But just because you’re introverted doesn’t mean that you need to give up the idea of networking entirely. In fact, there are many ways that you can focus on networking without necessarily interacting with people on a face-to-face basis. Focus on Your Presentation How you present yourself is important in networking, and that applies to networking in person as well as online. Start by getting active on social media platforms, particularly on LinkedIn. Ask a friend or hire a photographer to take a professional headshot of you and focus on making your profile both professional and up-to-date. As you’re working on your LinkedIn profile, as well as your resume, pay attention to the details that matter. These are items like certifications, continuing education opportunities you’ve pursued, and even professional associations that you’re a member of. These details can help you to stand out from the crowd. If you’re applying for a job, be sure that these details are on your resume, too, since they speak to your qualifications and dedication to your career. Before you start using LinkedIn, make sure that you’re familiar with the dos and don’ts of LinkedIn networking. For instance, you should only include links on your profile that direct to professional sites, and should make sure that all of those links are functioning. Choose to join some groups that you have a connection with or a genuine interest in, and when you do engage with others, use your experience or expertise to provide them with some value. When connecting with others on LinkedIn, don’t connect with just anyone. Look for people you share interests with, who work in the same industry, or with whom you have some other connection. Then, craft a personalized invitation to connect with a short message highlighting what you have in common and why you would like to connect. Using social media sites like LinkedIn for networking can be particularly helpful when you’re an introvert. By removing the face-to-face element from networking, you can use social media to establish connections with others without the pressure of in-person interaction. Engaging with others can be draining, but framing your networking as spending 10 minutes on LinkedIn each day is a much easier task to manage. Use Written Outreach LinkedIn and social media sites will only go so far, and at some point you’ll probably need to make a connection outside of a social media site. When you do need to reach out, consider using written outreach to make that initial connection. When you can write an email, a letter, or a postcard, you have time to plan out your thoughts and it doesn’t feel as demanding as interacting with someone in person. Plus, you can feel more confident, knowing that you’ve carefully phrased your words. If you’re reaching out to new connections by email, getting your email opened and read can be a challenge. Write a concise subject line, since many devices cut subject lines off after five words. Avoid using all caps in the subject line, and if a mutual connection has recommended that you reach out, mention that early on in the email. Most importantly, write a personalized message to the recipient. Don’t Be Afraid to Follow Up As an introvert, you’re probably more sensitive to the effects that requests and communications can have on a person. This may make you leery of following up with your connections after you send an initial email, or if you’re trying to get that connection to take some sort of action, such as to review your resume. This is one change that you can make as an introvert to improve your networking. Realize that following up is standard and even to be expected in the professional world. If you haven’t heard back after sending an initial email or making a phone call, it’s entirely possible that the person you’re contacting is so busy they’ve simply overlooked or forgotten the request. A follow-up a week or two after your initial contact is perfectly acceptable, and it may just generate the response you were looking for. Rely on Existing Networks, Too While it’s always important to build and expand your networks, don’t forget about the importance of your existing networks and connections. An existing network might hold the key to helping you transition professionally while still employed, or that network might have a connection who could be invaluable as you start a new business or project. In fact, a survey that LinkedIn helped to create revealed that 85% of job-seekers found their new careers through networking. Your existing network may consist of the students you attended college with, your colleagues at your past and present jobs, and the connections you’ve made on social media or through professional organizations. It’s important to cultivate these networks and to understand the universal laws of networking. While you may want to network because it will benefit you, remember that the connections in your network should also benefit from the experience, too. Look for opportunities to connect people in your network with other people or resources that could help them. Think about how you can offer them value, and be interested in their lives and professions. Networking takes time, so do this in moderation as you can manage, but remember that by investing in your network, you may be developing connections that can be valuable to you in the future, too. If you do end up meeting with a contact for coffee or find yourself at a conference, remember that you don’t have to write off in-person networking, too. Instead, perfect your networking skills as an introvert. Practice ahead of time, write down some questions, and remember that no one else is thinking about how shy you may be at an event, since they’ll be focusing on themselves. Networking as an introvert may require some modification and creativity, but it can absolutely be done. With effective marketing, you can establish valuable connections that may open up future opportunities. By: Sam Bowman Sam Bowman is a freelance writer and introvert who enjoys getting to utilize the internet for the community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time, he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore. Image Source: Pixabay Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.   Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Latin Teacher Salaries

Latin Teacher Salaries How Much Does a Latin Teacher Earn? ChaptersThe Salary for a Latin Teacher at Secondary SchoolsA Latin Teacher’s SalaryThe Salary for New Latin TeachersTeaching Latin in a UniversityHow Much Do Private Latin Tutors Earn?“Research shows that there is only half as much variation in student achievement between schools as there is among classrooms in the same school. If you want your child to get the best education possible, it is actually more important to get him assigned to a great teacher than to a great school.” - Bill GatesWhether you’re teaching in a school or working for yourself, being a Latin teacher is a rewarding job, and not just because of the wage. Latin teachers are passionate about transferring their knowledge of the language to students.Being a school teacher is a rewarding vocation and the base salary isn't bad. The average salaries are pretty good in comparison to a lot of jobs and the annual mean wage is pretty good. Teachers in the UK have one of the highest average salaries in the world.Of co urse, secondary school teachers work an average of 63.3 hours per week.So with this in mind, how much does a Latin teacher earn and what is an average teacher salary?Depending on your experience, seniority, or qualifications, here’s how much you can get expect to earn in Latin teacher jobs. DéborahLatin Teacher 5.00 (12) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr. KarisLatin Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SimonaLatin Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArgiroLatin Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JennyLatin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LucieLatin Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielaLatin Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SophieLatin Teacher 5.00 (6) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Salary for a Latin Teacher at Secondary SchoolsFirstly, before we get to the crux of the matter, you should know that there aren’t many Latin teachers in primary schools. Most Latin teachers teach in private secondary schools, independent schools, and academies. Additionally, a teacher salary in private schools is usually higher than in state schools. Teachers in secondary schools are paid by their subject, location, and seniority. (Source: Pexels)Latin lessons are quite rare in normal state schools. As a general rule, a Latin teacher is a language or classics teacher with a degree in Latin and a PGCE.Working out how much a Latin teacher earns can be quite tricky because it’s rare that Latin will be the only thing they teach. Whether they’re in academies or state secondary schools, several things could affect their earnings.Teachers start on £23k but how much they earn will depend on how long they’ve taught, where they’re teaching, and what they’re teaching. Teacher salaries can also be affected by the teacher's role. For example, there are a good number of other tasks that teachers can add to their remit to earn more money:You can set a Special Educational Needs (SEN) allowance of between £2,149 and £4,242 a year.Teaching and learning responsibility (TLR) payments of between £2,721 and £13,288 if you take on additi onal responsibility.They can also earn more money by marking exams.While there are a lot of different things that can affect a teacher’s salary, the best thing about the job is the stability of being a teacher. This is thanks to public education.Of course, when it comes to teaching jobs, your salary will be depending on your teaching experience and where the teaching position is. After all, the starting salary for a teacher in London isn't the same for those working outside of the capital. Similarly, teaching abroad won't pay the same as teaching in the UK as the average starting salary in some countries is higher and lower in others.  New teachers will need to take this into account.A Latin Teacher’s SalaryAs you’ll have gathered, there are a lot of ways to increase your salary as a Latin teacher. Teachers are rewarded for the work they do and if they exhibit the very highest standards of classroom practice they can gain leading practitioner status.This means a teacher can ea rn between £40k and £68k. By taking on more responsibilities, Latin teachers can bolster their earnings. (Source: rawpixel)It should be said that there are so many factors that will affect a teacher’s earnings that it’s almost impossible to tell you exactly how much you’ll earn but we can give you a rough idea. Generally, as a teacher, you can work more to earn more and salary data indicates that teacher pay is pretty good anyway.The minimum salary for teachers mightn't be the highest but there are a lot of ways to progress and, as we mentioned, average teacher salaries in the UK are very high in comparison to other countries. DéborahLatin Teacher 5.00 (12) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr. KarisLatin Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SimonaLatin Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArgiroLatin Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JennyLatin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LucieLatin Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielaLatin Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SophieLatin Teacher 5.00 (6) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Salary for New Latin TeachersBecoming a teacher is a great idea. However, as a new teacher, your salary mightn’t be as big as you’d hoped. As we’ve mentioned, the more you work, the more you can earn.An unqualified teacher can start on as little as £17k but once qualified, they can expect to start on at least £23k. That said, an unqualified teacher can earn as much as £27k when they start their new career.Furthermore, there’s always the teaching and learning responsibility (TLR) payments you can earn.Maximum: £13,288.Minimum: £2,721.Similarly, there are bonus payments available for teachers who work with pupils with special educational needs (SEN). You can earn between £2,149 and £4,242. Thus, a special education teacher has a higher average salary than other teachers.There are a lot of ways to increase your salary as a teacher and a lot of interesting ways to vary your remit as a teacher.  While being a teacher mightn’t be the best-paid job in the world, you’ll have better job security and a decent pension to boot.As you can see, there’s quite a difference between the lowest salaries and the highest. You could be coming home with a salary that isn’t much higher than minimum wage or a six-figure salary!Teaching Latin in a UniversityIf you’ve completed a degree, master’s, and PhD, you could always teach Latin as a lecturer at a university. Generally, a university lecturer will earn more than a school teacher. A Latin lecturer at university can earn more than a secondary school Latin teacher. (Source: StartupStockPhotos)They tend to earn between £41k and £55k. However, they can earn upwards of £107k at the highest level. It should be noted that these jobs, like all teaching jobs, are no walk in the park.If you're looking for the best paying teaching job, you'll probably want to be a teacher at a university. Generally speaking, the higher the level you teach, the more you'll earn.For example, primary school teachers won't earn as much as high school teachers and, in turn, they won't earn as much as those teaching undergraduate or postgraduate degrees, for example.If you're a high school teacher in a private school, you'll probably be on a higher wage than someone working in a state school.Discover the routes into Latin teaching.How Much Do Private Latin Tutors Earn?“Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students.” - Solomon OrtizIf you don’t want to become a teacher in a school or university, you could always work for yourself and find your students. After all, the national school system isn't for everyone, even if teachers' salaries in the UK are pretty good. The more a private tutor teaches, the more they can earn. (Source: PublicDomainPictures)As a private Latin tutor, you won’t have the job security of a teacher in a school but you’ll also have a lot more freedom in terms of how you teach and what you teach.If you head to Superprof, for example, you can offer face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, or group tutorials to enthusiastic students wanting to learn a new language.  You’ll also be able to decide upon your rates. However, you do have to think about what the competition is charging. Even as a Latin tutor, there’s a lot of competition out there.You need to be very sensible when it comes to setting your rates and they need to line up with your experience, qualifications, and reputation as a tutor.  On average, tutors charge between £20 and £60 per hour for Latin tutorials but this will also vary according to where you teach. Due to the cost of living, tutorials in London tend to cost more than elsewhere in the UK.If yo u work 25 hours a week (not including preparation time), you could earn between £500 and £1,500 a week. Do everything you can to make your lessons appealing.  When it comes to private tutor jobs, there is no maximum salary since you can earn as much as your students are willing to pay for your work. If you want a salary increase, you need to make sure your tutorials are worth it!The salary range for private tutors is much wider, too. Your wage will depend on your level of education, skills, etc.You could also work in a language school. That said, it can be difficult working out the average annual wage for teachers n private language schools and academies as they'll be paid according to where they are, what their experience is, the levels they teach, and the number of teaching hours they have.Language teaching, especially for private tutors, can be tricky. Especially as the popularity of language tuition tends to vary a lot. When a language is popular, you can expect higher salarie s or weekly earnings as a private tutor but once a language is no longer popular, you might struggle to make ends meet.Whether you're teaching English in China, Latin in a private school, or looking for teaching positions at a university, the highest paid jobs are for the best teachers. That said, most teachers aren’t in it for the money, but rather because of their passion to help students learn skills that will help them in their future lives and careers.If you need help with your lesson plans or brushing up on your Latin, you might want to consider getting in touch with a private tutor. After all, the better you are as a teacher, the higher your annual salary will be. Of course, everyone starts on the same base salary and can work their way up in state schools.However, keep in mind that while starting salaries are better in certain places, your decision can't be based on salary alone, you need to be working somewhere you like!So are you ready to start your teaching career and t ake advantage of lucrative teaching opportunities?

Why Research Experience Is Important For Grad School Apps

Why Research Experience Is Important For Grad School Apps GRE scores, GPA, transcripts, letters of recommendation, quality of undergrad school, admission essay/ personal statement, research, and even where you live can all impact your admission chances. Some of those factors are completely beyond your control and others are somewhat controllable. But, there is one factor that can greatly improve your chances of being accepted, and you can completely control it. That factor is research experience. Research experience is not required to apply to graduate school. But, it has become increasingly more popular, to the point where if you dont have a project, it hurts your chances. Research can be especially beneficial for fields that are constantly adapting like science and technology, but it may not be as important for constant fields like mathematics. But, it can still improve your chances. Follow these tips to produce a strong research project: Become a research assistant: Just about every student applying has a research project, and its painfully obvious when students are submitting one just for the sake of having it. But, as a research assistant, you will work with others (mostly professors, possibly other undergrad/grad students) and have more resources. You will also be held accountable for the outcome of the project, which can create better results. If you assist in completing a great research project, you may even be asked to join in on another project. Ultimately, becoming a research assistant shows a genuine commitment and interest, as opposed to doing research because you heard it can help your chances. Not to mention, you might get paid for it. Collaborate: Technically, it could look better on your application if you create a great research project with strong, practical findings all by yourself. But, this is probably your first try at research. So, partner with others. At the very least, you should work with one professor. But, if you can find a group of 3-5 people you can craft a better, more significant project. Most grad schools would rather see a great group research project than a mediocre sole project. It also shows grad schools that you can work well in groups, which is a major bonus. Start early: Start making contacts with professors as early as your freshman year of undergrad because it might take a few years to put together your project. A lot of students complete their first research project during their freshman/sophomore years, and then supplement it with additional projects. Imagine being able to tell a grad school that you have been researching a certain topic for the past 3-4 years. Choose a relevant topic: If your project can actually impact the industry youre writing about, youre going to have one of if not the best projects in the entire applicant pool. Its very difficult to create a project of that caliber. But, make sure yours is important to your industry. Spend time writing: You may have been living with this project for over six months and know everything about it. But, the grad schools youre applying to wont; so make sure you are clear and concise. They have hundreds of other projects to read too; so they probably wont spend extra time trying to figure out what yours is about. Consider the following structure to help your readers understand your project as quickly as possible: 1. Abstract section: State your hypothesis and how it could impact current industrial operations. Make sure you include completed works by other researchers and how your research builds off theirs or differs from theirs. That will help your reader better understand both your project and the current industrial state. 2. Introduction: Briefly state your basic findings and what factors you considered to reach those findings. Again, mention how your project works with existing research in chemistry, biology, etc. Briefly state how you set up your experiment and direct your reader to further sections for more information. Chances are, the admissions group will not read past your Abstract and Introduction section; so make sure they can understand the gist of your entire project through those sections. 3. Model: Write about how you set up the project, what your independent/dependent variables were and what you deem to be a significant result. You want to exhaust all possible confounding variables that may affect your outcome, which can enhance your credibility. Try to have multiple tests to reach the same conclusion, adding more support. This section can be a little bit longer than the previous two because you want to fully explain how you scientifically tried to prove or disprove your hypotheses. You do not need to state your findings in this section. 4. Solution/findings: This section seems basic, but it is not. You should state the most plausible outcome of your research; however, do not try to prove it as fact. You simply want to state the likelihood of your results, and you need to list all possible outcomes. You cant just write, based on our model, it is fair to conclude that ___________. Most research does not state absolutes. At best, it states what can be inferred or assumed from the experiment. Again, you need to list any confounding factors that may have affected your outcome and write a paragraph about each. Include models, graphs and charts. We offer incredible sciences tutorswho have extensive research experience and could help you. Youre not going to do perfect research during undergrad. In fact, very few can actually create perfect research. You just need to be as objective as possible. 6. Conclusion: Restate your hypothesis, how you tried to prove or disprove it (model) and what you found. This section should be fairly brief, but you need to include the industrial implications of your research. Answer this question: why is this important?

What is it Like to Attend George Mason University

What is it Like to Attend George Mason University Anita earned her bachelors degree in English from George Mason University. She specializes in English tutoring, elementary math tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at George Mason University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Anita: I went to George Mason University (GMU), which was just switching over from a heavily commuter school to a campus living school at the time I graduated. The area is pretty suburban compared to most campuses. It is surrounded by gorgeous trees and huge lawns to hang out and read a book. Although it is in the heart of Fairfax, the closest cities are D.C. and Arlington. The campus feels so safe, since there are students hanging out at all hours of the night and it is all so well lit. There are buses to get around and the metro if needed to get into the city. Many people still drive into campus, but once you're on campus, everything is within walking distance. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Anita: Everyone is readily available and willing to stay after class in order to help students. For those of us who had team practice right after class (like me), we could just email our professors to get an appointment for office hours! How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Anita: I only lived in a dorm my first year, but I loved it. George Masons campus dorms are state of the art and newly built, therefore there is nothing old to worry about! The dining options are numerous and you can get Starbucks or a buffet only minutes away from each other. Since completing my undergrad, they have immensely updated their dining options. There are so many ways for students to socialize, although most belong to a sorority, fraternity, or group of some kind. Being that GMU ranked as one of the most diverse schools, there are a plethora of clubs and greek life options to join. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Anita: I was an English major, but engineering and STEM subjects are very represented at Mason. The great thing about studying there is that no matter what you want to do, there are so many opportunities in and around the area to hone your skills. Each school within Mason does a great job of providing students with the support they need for careers after college. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Anita: Yes, I think Greek Life does play a major role in socialization. The great thing is that there are plenty of options to choose from in terms of interest. If Greek Life isn't for you, there are plenty of clubs that will help you socialize. There are also many D1-D3 sports to choose from, if that is something of interest. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Anita: Although I did not use the Career Center much, I have friends who would use it and found it to be very helpful. Many got information about internships from the Career Center. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Anita: The biggest study area is in the main building, The Johnson Center. The JC houses eateries, the bookstore, a theatre, a bistro, the auditorium, and three floors of books and study space. This is where I did all my studying, because I enjoy noise when studying. For those who want a quieterspace, the library is always an option and there is plenty of room there. The dorms are great places to study alone or have study groups, because they have large multipurpose rooms for studying. Describe the surrounding town. Anita: The campus itself is situated in the heart of Fairfax, VA and you can easily walk or bike to the town of Fairfax, which houses some great restaurants and shops. You can drive or take the metro (or bus) to the surrounding cities of Arlington or D.C., which is about a 20-30 minute drive from the campus. Although I have seen that most students who live on campus stay on or near the campus, I have seen most parties and outings take place in D.C. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Anita: I was generally pleased with the student body because it was big and diverse. I loved that in a class we could be with foreign exchange students or students from a small town in the Midwest. Class sizes for lectures were actually fairly big (120+ students), but as you specialize in your field, the class sizes are much smaller (15+ students). I had one class with only eight students. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Anita:I would say that I loved my African-American Literature class. The class had less than eight students and had a sense of accountability. The class also had a different feel because the professor had been a teacher prior to getting his PhD, which made the class more engaging. I have sat in many unengaging classes where the professor just reads slides. There was quite a bit of dialogue and the professor was more of a facilitator. Check out Anitas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Learning Chinese at School

Learning Chinese at School Everything You Need to Know Before Learning Chinese at School ChaptersWhy Learn Chinese at School?Learning to Speak Chinese at SchoolStudying Chinese at A Level or Key Stage 5International ClassesLearning Chinese Outside of School“Failure is the foundation of success, and the means by which it is achieved.” - Lao TzuBefore you can speak Chinese, you’re going to have to spend several hours learning to read Chinese characters. However, despite how difficult Chinese can be to learn, more and more students are opting to study it because it's one of the world's most common languages and it belongs to one of the world's biggest economies! There are over 4.5 million people in Secondary and Higher Education.So how can you learn Chinese at school?Here are a few of your options. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discove r all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Learn Chinese at School?You won’t hear too many British students speaking Chinese during their lunch break. However, more and more students are choosing to learn Chinese at school as a foreign language. Be it at GCSE, A Level, or degree, you can learn a lot of Chinese.Learning a language will also allow you to go out and see the world. (Source: jplenio)So why are some students choosing this language over languages such as French, Spanish, German, and Italian?The rarity of this language is its greatest strength. In fact, very few people in the UK speak Chinese as a second language. This means that speaking Mandarin will look great on your CV and make finding a job easier.  This is especially true in commerce as China is the world’s second-largest economy.If you learn Chinese, you could end up passionate about Chinese culture. A lot of people want to learn Chinese in order to travel to China and make the most of their time in China by learning about the culture and speaking with the natives.Languages lessons are a great way to learn more about a specific culture. However, you don’t have to head all the way to China to enjoy Chinese food. Sometimes you can get Chinese lessons that also come with cultural lessons on topics such as Chinese cinema or Chinese cuisine.  It’s a great way to motivate you to learn a language.Learning to Speak Chinese at SchoolAt secondary school, many students will have to choose which foreign language they want to learn.Studying Chinese at Key Stage 3Key Stage 3 is when a child is in year 7, 8, and 9, or aged between 11 and 14. This tends to be the age where students will learn basic concepts of Mandarin Chinese. Don't expect them to be conversing in Chinese just yet as learning Mandarin is one of the most difficult things for an English native speaker to do.Kids will learn anything quickly if they're engaged in their lessons. (Source: kian2018)Most schools where a child can learn Mandarin London will introduce students to some basic Chinese grammar and phrases, show them Chinese characters, use the Hanyu Pinyin system for romanising Standard Chinese, and familiarise students with the four tones employed in Chinese speaking.Since Key Stage 3 leads on to Key Stage 4 (obviously) and GCSEs, most of the topics covered at this level will form the foundation for the vocabulary, grammar, and phrases they'll need to know to pass the GCSE.Did you know you could sharpen the Mandarin skills you learn at school with a private tutor?Studying Chinese at Key Stage 4 and GCSEKey Stage 4 includes the two years where children study their GCSEs. At this level, schools will have less freedom in what they teach students as they'll have to ensure they're all learning everything they need to know for their exams.Learning to write in Chinese is pretty difficult! (Source: SpencerWing)Like most language exams, the Chinese GCSE includes reading, writing, speaking, and listening parts.The AQA GCSE in Mandarin Chinese, for example, places more emphasis on language production with the speaking and writing parts counting for 30% each whereas the listening and reading parts are weighted at 20% each. This means that students should be focusing on actively producing the language rather than having a passive understanding of it.The listening part of the exam includes pre-recorded listening excerpts spoken by native speakers. The exam lasts between 35 and 40 minutes depending on whether they're entered in the Foundation or Higher tier.The reading exam lasts either 30 minutes (Foundation Tier) or 50 minutes (Higher Tier). Students' reading comprehension will be tested (without the use of a dictionary) by reading extracts from brochures, g uides, letters, newspapers, magazines, books, faxes, emails, and websites. Students are expected to be able to identify key points and, at the higher tier, recognise points of view, attitudes, and emotions in texts.Their speaking test includes two tasks and, unlike the other two parts we've seen, are not divided into foundation and higher tier. Students need to produce their own answers and will be tested on their communication, range and accuracy, pronunciation and intonation, and interaction and fluency.The fourth and final part of their exam is writing. This, like the speaking exam, is marked using a range of criteria. They complete two tasks and each will be marked in terms of content, the range of language, and accuracy.Like other languages at GCSE, a lot of schools give students the option to start learning Mandarin Chinese when they start their GCSEs, which means they don't have to have studied it prior to year 10 in order to study it.Enhance your Mandarin learning experience with lessons at a language school or a Chinese speaking group! NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsStudying Chinese at A Level or Key Stage 5Studying Chinese at A Level is a great idea for students who've already passed their GCSE or those who are interested in learning Chinese at university either on a language course or international business course.Even seemingly simple reading is much more difficult in Mandarin. (Source: hitesh0141)Similarly to the GCSE, you don't ha ve to have studied Chinese before in order to do an A Level in it. Of course, this does mean you'll have to put more work in than a student who's already passed their GCSE.More and more students are opting to take Chinese at A Level, too. In fact, in 2018, the number of students studying Chinese at A Level surpassed German for the first time ever!AS Level and A2 Level ChineseAt A Level, students are expected to improve their abilities in understanding Mandarin Chinese (or develop them if they've never studied it before). By this point, they should be able to confidently communicate in Mandarin and also start learning about Chinese-speaking society, history, and culture.Choosing to Study Chinese at Sixth Form or CollegeSince Chinese isn't the most common subject at A Level, it mightn't be offered at your school's sixth form and you may have to attend a college instead. Depending on your circumstances and your other A Level choices, you'll have to decide in some cases whether or not i t's worthwhile attending a sixth form or college that's worse than your first choice just because it offers Chinese at A Level.Of course, if you're absolutely set on studying Mandarin Chinese at university or working with the language, then this choice won't matter. However, if you're not sure, you should think very carefully about your A Level choices before choosing not to attend a good sixth form or college just because they don't offer Chinese. As you'll see, you don't necessarily need to study a language at A Level in order to learn it!International ClassesWhen it comes to language learning and the Chinese language, spending time in China is arguably the best way to learn Mandarin Chinese.By attending a class with a Chinese teacher in China, you'll soon be conversational in the language. Using your new language every day will ensure that you regularly practise your comprehension and production of the language. Additionally, these give you an opportunity to travel to places like Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou, for example. However, keep in mind that in a lot of these places, other Chinese languages, such as Cantonese (in Hong Kong and Guangzhou) and the Hu dialect of Wu Chinese (in Shanghai) are also spoken.Learning Chinese Outside of SchoolWhile a lot of Chinese learning takes place in schools, there's nothing stopping you from learning a language outside of compulsory education or a university. In fact, you can learn Chinese online thanks to great resources like YouTube channels, blogs, and websites.Additionally, you can attend Chinese conversation classes, practise with another beginner, or do an online Chinese language exchange where you chat in Chinese with a native speaker for half of the time and then help them with their English for the other half.If those options aren't for you, you can also enlist the help of a private Chinese tutor to help you. They can help you learn to speak, read, write, and understand Chinese while focusing on e xactly what you want to learn. After all, there isn't a syllabus for you to follow!

Study Strategies for HSPT Success

Study Strategies for HSPT Success The High School Placement Test or the HSPT is an exam administered to 8th grade students who are applying to certain Catholic high schools. The HSPThelps to determine admissions decisions, class placement, and scholarship awards. If you are If you are unsure how the HSPT is scored,these points may help you. Here are seven study strategies for HSPT success: Break it down Because the HSPT consists of nearly 300 questions in five separate sections, one of the best study strategies is to break the test into its respective parts. For example, if you begin your prep with the Math section, finish reviewing these concepts before you move on to Verbal. Studying for each section individually can help you reinforce and build your HSPT content knowledge. At the beginning of each study session, review the areas you have previously addressed. Begin prepping early, rather than late. Practice, practice, practice While it may be tiresome to take practice test after practice test, doing so is a phenomenal way to prepare for the HSPT. Completing practice exams can help you in a number of ways. First, you are able to master your timing. Each section on the test must be completed within a certain time frame, so the more you practice finishing the HSPT within this window, the faster you will become. Practice exams can also help you identify your problem areas. You will quickly see where the gaps in your knowledge are perhaps you need additional help in Math, or perhaps a particular kind of Reading question gives you trouble. Write it down Once you have determined where you are struggling, start writing down what you learn. This might mean typing up an outline for later review, or creating flashcards that you can reference during your prep. When we write information down, our brains are more likely to remember it. Find a specific method that works for you, and use it across all sections of the HSPT. Avoid procrastination It can be tempting to wait until the week before the HSPT to begin studying. However, this rarely if ever pays off. Start reviewing as soon as you learn your test date. This way, you can spend adequate time on each section. To help prevent procrastination, create a prep plan early on, and then adhere to it. Be sure to include study goals, as well as to measure your progress toward them. If you are not meeting these goals, it may be time to reassess your prep plan. You may want to consider seeking an HSPT tutorto help you prepare. Designate a study space Try to create a space that fosters effective study habits. This may involve moving your desk to a quieter room, or locating a library with hours that suit your schedule. Your ultimate goal should be to find a space that will allow you to effectively learn and to maximize your prep time. Read a book Another great strategyis to read. The simple act of reading can familiarize you with vocabulary words, foster your comprehension skills, and enhance your understanding of grammar and syntax. Prepare for your test session On your test day, you may feel nervous. This is completely normal. To ensure you do your best on the HSPT, get plenty of sleep the evening before and eat a balanced breakfast. These points may help you succeed on the HSPT! Remember, too, that you have prepared for this day you are more ready than you may believe, so be confident and show the HSPT just how much you know. Success is only a few hours away!

What You Should Expect from a Private Tutor 25 Rules (Part 1)

What You Should Expect from a Private Tutor 25 Rules (Part 1) Improving Academic Performance This is the first in a series of articles about what makes for an effective private tutoring experience. The series will be written such that we assume most of the onus is on the tutor to create a positive experience. And certainly, when a parent or student invests $60, $70, $80, $90 or more per hour for private tutoring, they should expect a mentor and guide throughout the tutoring process. The tutor should certainly be the expert telling the student / parent what to do and providing clear advice. That said, always remember that working with a private tutor is not a silver bullet. You, the student, are still responsible for taking ownership over the relationship, buying into the approaches, strategies, and tactics, putting in the hard work, and ultimately performing well in the class or on the standardized test. At the end of the day, it really is on you, not on the tutor, to perform in the class or on the test. CEOs of huge companies hire high priced private consultants all the time to provide them with advice and ideas, but they are obviously responsible for the performance of the company. No investor, employee, or customer ever really gives credit or blame to a consultant. Similarly, you should expect a lot of focus, ideas, advice, and guidance from a tutor, but you should not plan on giving them much credit or blame if you succeed or fail. The tutoring process is driven by the student’s desire to work hard and improve. So what should you expect when investing in a relationship with a private tutor? Of course, a private tutor should be an expert in the academic area in which you are struggling. Or, at least, they should be an expert relative to your current level of understanding. If you are struggling in pre-calculus, they should have a clear mastery of pre-calculus. I hope this is obvious. But an effective private tutor should be much more than a master of the content, and there are a range of behaviors and actions a parent and/or a student should expect when working with a private tutor. In this article, we’ll share some “best practices” around the tutoring experience. These best practices should double as reasonable “expectations” for a student or parent investing their time and money in working with a private tutor. In my experience, most tutors do not follow each one of these guidelines. But, we try to ensure MyGuru tutors do, or at least try, to follow a clear majority of them. Before the Session Communication and logistics You should expect that the tutor (or tutoring company) gets back to you within 24 business hours of every email you send, text message you write, or phone call you make. In 2017, with the pace of most people’s lives and the ubiquity of smart phones and lap tops, you should not have to wait 48 or more hours in between email responses. If the tutor is unsure of his or her schedule or the company is still in the process of coordinating, you should be receiving an update every day or so. The tutor should be clear in his or her communications about his near and medium-term availability and travel limitations. It is fair to assume that the tutor should accommodate your schedule and, if you are seeking in-person tutoring, travel very close to you. That said, it’s also reasonable to expect that you might need to be flexible on timing and location as well. You shouldn’t be caught off guard that he’s on vacation for a week (as an example). You should be presented with the option to do the session in your home or in a public location. Unless the tutor is clear about travel or logistics limitations, the session should be in a location that’s convenient and comfortable to you. The tutor should initiate the exchange of cell phone numbers and be clear about the exact time, place, and location of the session, as well as his or her physical appearance so you can identify the tutor. You should not feel stress about figuring out where to meet or who to meet on the day of the session. If either party needs to cancel the session, at least 24 hours of notice should be provided. It wreaks havoc on everyone’s schedule when a session is cancelled on short notice. At MyGuru, we have a 24-hour cancellation policy. If the student cancels within that timeframe, they can be charged for the session. If the tutor cancels on very short notice, it’s often reasonable to expect a free session. Preparation and objectives While the tutor should have clear mastery of the material, they should also ask about your assignments, materials, syllabus, and teacher’s approach etc. in advance such that they can familiarize themselves and prepare. Every teacher or professor is different, and reviewing the material, at least briefly, in advance is key to understanding it completely and delivering an effective lesson. It may even be appropriate, as the tutoring experience progresses, for some interaction between the tutor and the teacher to take place, even if indirectly through the student or parent, such that key concepts or approaches can be clarified and explained to the student by the tutor in line with the teacher’s perspective. This understood.org article addresses the importance of tutor, parent, and teacher interaction. The tutor should ask you about your expectations for the session, and proactively establish objectives in advance. You are probably paying by the hour. So, within reason, students shouldn’t spend an entire 1-2 hour tutoring session reviewing only 10% of the questions in their homework. At the same time, if you are missing core conceptual or foundational knowledge to excel in the class, the tutor should communicate this clearly and explain why he or she needs to go slowly. For standardized test prep, objectives can vary widely. Are we diagnosing strengths and weaknesses and focusing on exploring what you need to know for the test, such that we can write out a customized study plan? Or, do you have three specific concepts and a list of missed problems you want to review? Speaking of the development of customized study plans, they are almost always a critical component of a tutoring relationship and a very important objective to be met. Unfortunately, helping students develop customized study plans is a skill that few tutors have really mastered. We too often hear something along the lines of “the sessions were great. But I left without a clear understanding of what to do next on my own. There was no structured plan to follow.” Particularly when it comes to tutoring for standardized tests, a core objective should be to walk away from the session with a study plan. Here is an article that does a good job of discussing the importance of developing a quality study plan. In our next article, we’ll cover what you should expect from a tutor during a session.

Learn the Difference Between Past Continuous and Past Simple

Learn the Difference Between Past Continuous and Past Simple Recently, I was teaching a class, and my student asked me to explain the difference between past simple and past continuous.  While I was explaining this to her, we  realized that the difference isnt always obvious.  As usual, the best way to learn is to practice with real-life examples.  So, today we will learn the grammar, then practice with an NPR story on my favorite kind of news-good news.First, take a look at this video explanation of these tenses.  Past perfect is also included, but today well focus specifically on continuous and simple.Past continuous: (was/were) + present participleInterrupted action in the past: I was teaching a class when  my student asked me a question.Specific time in the past: Im sorry I missed your call at 1:00am, I was sleeping.Two actions at the same time:  You were cooking dinner while I was coming home.Describe the mood/tone: When I came home, a lot of people were standing around talking.  Several of them were drinking, some were dancing, and many were shouting.      Within the first 6 seconds of this segment, youll hear an example of past continuous.  Listen only to the first 6 seconds and fill in the following blanks:An Act Of Kindness, From One Immigrant To AnotherJoe Du(sp?) ___ _____ helped into her gorgeous white wedding dress this week when a tooth on the zipper _____.Why was past continuous used?  Choose from the list  above.  Dont forget to write your answers in the comments section!Past simple: (verb)edCompleted action in the past: We rode our bikes home yesterday.Series of completed actions: We rode our bikes home, cooked dinner, and watched TV.Duration of completed past action: I lived in Santiago for one year.Past habits or hobbies: Where did you work in high school?Now, listen to the rest of the NPR segment.  Choose the correct tense, and for the sentences with **, write why the tense was used from the lists above.  For an extra challenge, try completing the exercise  before listening, then check yo ur answers afterwards!It (was being/was) Sunday in Guelph, Ontario, and no tailor shop (was being/was) open.Joe Du (didnt/wasnt doing) want to walk down the aisle to marry Earl Lee with pins in the back of her dress, but no one in the wedding party (was knowing/knew) how to make the repair.**An enterprising bridesmaid (was knocking/knocked) on the neighbors door to ask David Hobson if he might have a pair of pliers they (could/were canning) borrow.Mr. Hobson (was taking/took) in the situation-the bridesmaid, the lacy white dress and a  request for pliers and (said/was saying), Ive got better than tools-Ive got a master tailor.David Hobson (was having/had) a family of Syrian refugees from Aleppo living at his home for a few days.**He (was being/was) indeed a master tailor in Allepo for 28 years, and as soon as he (was seeing/saw) the dress Ibrahim Dudu (was getting/got) out his sewing kit and (set/was setting) to work.**He literally (sewed/was sewing) her wedding dress back onto her, Lindsay Coulter, the wedding photographer (was telling/told) CTV News.Everyone (was being/was) so grateful, they (were saying/said) thank you a million times.Many of the bridesmaids (were being/were) from China and (were bowing/bowed) to say thanks, (said/was saying) Lindsay Coulter, who (was posting/posted) photos and (wrote/was writing) on her facebook page, Every weekend I take photos of people on the happiest days of their lives, and today, one man who has seen some of the worst things our world has to offer (came/was coming) to the rescue.**I (was being/was) so excited and so happy, Ibrahim Halil Dudu (was saying/said) through  a translator, I like to help Canadian people from my heart.Earl Lee (called/was calling) the master tailors masterly repair an incredible act of kindness from a complete stranger who had only stepped foot in this country days ago.Immigrants and families of immigrants who (came/were coming) to Guelph from opposite ends of the world and (made/were making) new homes and look after each other.Excellent job!  If you have  comments or questions, write them below and well get back to you.  Apply your new knowledge by scheduling a one-on-one class with LOI today!