How To Get More Tutoring For Less

How To Get More Tutoring For LessIf you are a tutor with an excellent clientele and are currently a business owner, then it is very probable that you may have already hired some tutors to help you with your Tutoring Test preparation. This is an effective way to increase your knowledge about the subject and to provide some guidance to your students. But, if you are in any other kind of business or group of people, tutoring can be quite expensive and in some cases, even impractical. Here are some tips for getting your hands on some tutoring service for less cost.Search for tutoring service providers that offer physical facilities such as classroom, chair, desk and any other things that you would need. And, if you are a student, you should also know what kinds of classes you are taking and make sure that you find tutors that can help you with that as well. With the cost of living increasing, it will be more difficult for any person to spend a big amount of money for tutoring. So, look f or those companies who provide tutoring service at affordable rates.Even if you are not in a position to pay an advanced rate for tutoring service, you can still find someone who can offer your services at a reasonable price. In fact, your teacher should be someone who you trust and feel comfortable with, so ask him about his or her credentials. The teacher should be good at writing and explaining and should also have some experience with the test preparation. Even though there are many tutors out there, this means that some of them have already taught for years and thus, they may not be as good at reading the test-taking needs and help your students with this.So, search for tutoring service providers by asking friends, family and colleagues who they recommend and then try to find other sources from which you can get the best deals on your tutoring. You can ask the teachers to give you their recommendation if they have got good testimonials. Make sure that you visit several tutoring schools and compare the fees of the different tutoring services so that you get a chance to know if the service is really affordable.Whether you are tutoring to prepare for a test or to learn a new skill, getting the tutoring done by a good tutor can really make a difference in the life of a student. Make sure that you only hire good tutors who can give you the best results. Find out whether the tutors have other options so that you can choose a better one if the first one fails.There are companies that offer tutoring and test preparation with good quality services. They provide all the information needed and are capable of providing every single thing the tutor will need. This is one way of saving your money and time because all you need to do is ask your tutor for what he or she needs and in return, the tutors will provide you with the best service. Sometimes, the tutor also provides some other service like class meeting times and other pre-test preparations.With the amount of mo ney that is involved in preparing for the test, it is very important that you do your best in order to save money and time. Ask your tutor to provide you with the best service and thus, you will enjoy learning something new while spending less money and also less time.

Editing Photos on Smartphones

Editing Photos on Smartphones How to Alter the Photos on Your Smartphone ChaptersBlack and White FilterSepia FilterWarm FilterCold FilterVintage FilterHigh Contrast FilterColour Filter“Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.” - Don McCullinNowadays, almost every smartphone is also a great camera that you can use to take some great snaps anywhere, any time.As amateur photography increases, brands have started paying more attention to white balance, luminosity, and even filters. Now they’re almost considered an essential part of every smartphone camera app and are a quick and easy way to improve your photos.So which are the best filters? How can you go from taking photos to taking great photos?Let’s have a quick look at the most common filters. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsBlack and White Filter“The picture that you took with your camera is the imagination you want to create with reality.” - Scott LorenzoWhen it comes to taking photos of high contrast areas like mountains or a friend's face, there are few methods better than black and white. Sometimes, the colours can cause adverse effects. Filters are easy to apply to photos. (Source: nastya_gepp)Without needing photo editing software, you can use a black and white filter on your digital photos taken with a smartphone. Almost everyone knows this filter, which is why most smartphones offer it as standard.This will change your colour photo into black and white, which can bring the whole thing together. Blurred or oversaturated areas can be reduced and corrected with a black and white filter. It’s like going back to basics.  The advantage of the black and white filter is that it simplifies everything and can increase the depth and contrast of photos.Think about it.Who’s never used the black and white filter on their smartphone?Whether it’s for portraits or landscapes, it’s a useful filter. It’s surprising how much this one little filter can improve a photograph.Sepia FilterThis is far from complex photo editing in Photoshop. This filter can be applied directly to your photograph without too much effort. Similarl y, it comes as standard with most modern smartphones.To give your photo a vintage feel, the sepia filter is ideal. It’ll take all the colours and flatten them into a sepia tone reminiscent of the first every photographs. This amber-coloured effect works similarly to the black and white filter and can reduce certain imperfections. You don’t need Lightroom for this!Of course, you can’t use the sepia filter to change the depth of field, for example, but it can give your photo an old-timey feel.Warm FilterMost modern smartphones will also include warm filters which can go by several names depending on the make and model. Generally, they’ll augment warm colours such as reds, oranges, and yellows. Warm filters will immediately make every photo look sunnier. (Source: laura6)Thus, your entire photo feels warmer or more autumnal. The use of this is down to the user and the impression they want their photo to give. Rather than reduce imperfections, this type of filter can change the mood of a picture. While this used to be something done in a dark room, you can now do it all on your phone. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson fre e!Discover all our tutorsCold FilterMuch like warm filters, you can find cold filters on most modern smartphones. In this case, colder colours like blues and greens are augmented. This will give your photos a more wintery and distant feel. A cold filter will increase the cold colours in your photos. (Source: kbk8196)You can change the whole feel of your images in just one click in most cases. What better way to improve your smartphone photography.Learn more about the different photo modes on smartphones.Vintage FilterThere isn’t one particular vintage filter but rather a whole plethora of them. While some work similarly to the sepia filter, others can add graininess and imperfections to make your photo look like it was taken on an older film camera.Many of these filters and presets can provide results that could take a good amount of time on photo editing software. Whether you’re taking close-ups or photos of landscapes, these filters can provide some interesting results. Instagram was created with vintage filters in mind. (Source: Wokandapix)High Contrast FilterMuch like with vintage filters, there isn’t a single high contrast filter. In this case, we’re talking about filters that boost colours to make them more vibrant.These can be used to focus on certain aspects of the image and can be done across the whole spectrum or just on a single colour. After all, not every device deals with colours in the same way. It’s interesting what you can do with these filters.Both amateurs and professionals can get a lot out of these filters if used correctly and they won’t need to use software like Photoshop. This is a great way to quickly improve photos on your smartphone.Check out these great tips for better smartphone photography.Colour FilterThanks to smartphones, almost anything is possible when it comes to your photos. Many of them include a colour filter which, as its name suggests, allows to you apply a single colour over your entire image.While lim ited in terms of uses, artistically, colour filters can add an interesting aspect to your photography. Most smartphones will provide you with preset colours or the option to apply a custom colour to your whole photo.Be it green, blue, yellow, or brown, you can use these colour filters alongside or in addition to the numerous other filters we’ve discussed. Similarly, you can also alter the intensity of the colour filter.After all, some photos will look really odd with a single colour filter applied to them. That said, a subtle colour filter can enhance certain areas of photos. You can use them, much like the warm and cold filters, to change the mood and feel of your photography.Whether you’re taking selfies, portraits, or pictures of nature, the filters on your smartphones can make your photos even better than they probably already are. There’s a plethora of them and some smartphones even allow you to download extra ones.What better way to get started?While good photos start at the moment you take them, filters can be used in the event something doesn’t go to plan or your photos are lacking a certain something. The filters can make colours pop, heighten important details, or just improve the overall quality of your photography.Of course, the better your photos are when you take them, the less image editing you'll have to do afterwards. While the best photo editing apps and software are powerful tools for retouching photos, removing the odd blemish, or even just altering the brightness, cropping out unwanted elements, or adding effects like tilt-shift, a second of careful thought when taking a picture can save you hours of editing afterwards.Professional photo editing tools can be expensive, too, so unless you're a professional photographer editing photos all the time, you might want to just use overlays like filters to give your photos that wow factor.While the best photo editing software is costly, look for free photo editing software or an online phot o editor that you can use for resizing, cropping, or just adding some basic photo effects. Once you get the hang of these, then you can consider investing in a professional-grade photo editor like the Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Photoshop Express, Photoshop CC, or Photoshop Lightroom.If you'd like more help with photography, there are many talented and experienced tutors on Superprof who'd be willing to help you. There are three main types of tutorial and you can choose the one which best suits your preferred learning style and your budget.Group tutorials tend to be the cheapest and best for those on a budget as all the students in the tutorial are sharing the cost of the tutor's time and expertise. However, this does mean you'll get less one-on-one time with your tutor and the lessons won't be tailored to just you and what you want to learn.Online tutorials tend to be slightly more expensive than group tutorials but are just between you and your tutor. This means you can benefit fr om tailored lessons and learning programmes as well as enjoying the tutor's undivided attention throughout your tutorials. However, without the tutor physically being there with you, it can make certain hands-on aspects of learning a little bit more difficult.Finally, face-to-face tutorials have the benefits of the previous two types of tutorials without the drawbacks of the tutor not being there or there being other students in the tutorial vying for your tutor's attention. If you want to learn with these types of tutorials, however, you will have to pay more than the other two types as you'll be paying for your tutor's expertise, travel costs, and all the time they put in outside of your tutorials to ensure that they're tailored to you and exactly what you want to learn about.Think carefully about which type is best for you and discuss all this with any potential tutors before hiring them!

Heart Tutorings 4th Annual Tutor Thank You Party - Heart Math Tutoring

Heart Tutorings 4th Annual Tutor Thank You Party - Heart Math Tutoring Heart Tutorings 4th Annual Tutor Thank You Party Heart Tutorings 4th Annual Tutor Thank You Party May 23, 2018 Thank you to all of our tutors who joined us for the 4th Annual Tutor Thank You Party at Queen Park Social last night! We are so grateful to all of our volunteers for choosing to spend your time with Heart Math Tutoring students. It has made such a difference in their experiences of school this year! We measured some of that difference in our students’ final assessments: 98% of this year’s 893 students met program growth goals in math, growing in 2 or more concept areas. Those goals were set with guidance from math specialists at CMS and UNCC. On average, students more than doubled the goal â€" growing in 4.9 concept areas. Thank you to all of our tutors for your part in that achievement! We started off the night with a tutor-inspired BINGO ice breaker and followed that up with inviting one of our tutors, Charlotte Atkinson, to share her experience over the past three years and the power of seeing the positive impact on students first-hand. Thank you again to all who joined us and to all who tutored this year. We loved celebrating the year with food, fun, and games. See photos of the event below!

Key GMAT Sentence Correction Concepts Subject-Verb Agreement

Key GMAT Sentence Correction Concepts Subject-Verb Agreement GMAT MBA Admissions Blog Sentence Correction is the only part of the GMAT Verbal section where you can truly acquire new skills and knowledge to improve your score. Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension are more a matter of the long term investment you’ve made in reading and writing critically throughout your life, supplemented by the amount of near term practice and “developed intuition” you build as you study for the GMAT and refine your skills to apply them to this particular test. In other words, on these sections, there are fewer “magic bullets” that, once placed into your pistol, will quickly improve your GMAT verbal score. Luckily, the sentence correction section offers more opportunities to relatively quickly improve your GMAT verbal score. Careful and deliberate study will pay dividends. Sentence Correction questions look like this: The Glass House Mountains in Queensland, Australia, were sighted in 1770 by the English navigator Captain James Cook, by whom they were named supposedly because its sheer wet rocks glistened like glass. (A) by whom they were named supposedly because its (B) by whom they were named supposedly and their (C) naming them supposedly since their (D) who so named them supposedly because their (E) who so named it since supposedly their The five choices represent ways the underlined portion of the sentence may be rewritten. Choice (A) represents the sentence as is â€" i.e. no change is needed. Your job is to Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence; your answer should make the sentence clear, exact, and free of grammatical error. It should also minimize awkwardness, ambiguity, and redundancy. In essence, you should be concerned with three things: Grammar, Meaning, and Style. Grammar trumps every other consideration, though it is often very much tied to meaning. Style is the last thing to look at, but it can be the focus of the question. Let’s breeze through some of the major grammatical concepts you need to master with a brief look at what the GMAT considers good style in the context of effective business writing. Subject-Verb Agreement Our first major concept is subject-verb agreement. As the name implies, a sentence is written incorrectly if the verb used does not “agree” with the subject. However, it is sometimes not clear what or who the subject of the sentence is, and therefore what form of the verb one should use. For the most part this concept will come naturally if you are a native speaker of English. Native speakers acquire these skills along with the rest of their language effortlessly. You probably never thought about the conjugation of verbs until you started to learn another language. You say “I drive” instead of “I drives” without really knowing why. One is just obviously correct while the other is obviously not. But, even if you are a native speaker, the GMAT is a nefarious character who will do its best to trip you up in the following ways: 1) It may muddy the waters with a prepositional phrase, a subordinate clause, or some sort of modifier. Prepositional Phrase: At the zoo the snakes are kept in glass cases. i. “Snakes” is the subject, not “zoo.” SKIP THE INTRO Subordinate Clause: The little league baseball diamonds, which are on the south side of the park, are also used for the adult slow-pitch softball league. i. Subordinate clauses are not complete sentences. They often begin with “who” or “which” and are surrounded by commas when they appear in the middle of a sentence. In the example, “baseball diamonds” is the subject, not “park,” so the verb must be plural. CUT THE FAT 2) Collective nouns are nouns that represent a group containing more than one thing but which are nevertheless singular. For example: The army is moving south The orchestra was disbanded Other examples: class, school, citrus, baggage, crowd, committee… 3) SANAM pronouns (some, any, none, all, more(most)) are singular unless the context dictates a plural verb. 4) Each and Every are both singular pronouns. 5) Either X or Y followed by a verb: The noun (in this case Y) closest to the verb controls the number of the verb. Neither John nor his students are tired of studying for the GMAT Either the students or the teacher is responsible for the dismal scores on the common core assessment. In our next article on key GMAT sentence correction strategies, we’ll cover diction, a concept concerned with choosing the proper words in a sentence. About the Authors This article was written by MyGuru founder Mark Skoskiewicz, a 2010 graduate of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. However, it pulls very heavily from materials developed for MyGuru’s small group GMAT prep class. These materials were written by John Easter, one of MyGuru’s senior GMAT tutors in Chicago, the instructor for this class, and the founder of Jedi Prep. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, '6baac2ae-05a3-4610-9d1f-265c8cbd809f', {});

Masterminds Nursery Kindergarten

Masterminds Nursery Kindergarten Masterminds Nursery Kindergarten Masterminds has partnered with a globally renowned institute that has been a pioneer in childhood development for over 60 years, and whose founders include Nobel prize laureates. Our enrichment programs integrate a mothers traditional wisdom with 60 years of leading-edge research in child development to create intellectual, physical and social excellence, in children age eighteen months to six years. The Masterminds Nursery Kindergarten programs include English, French, Arabic language immersion, learning to play the violin, gymnastics and swimming, as well as enrichment programs that will ensure all children can read fluently, do maths and have exceptional knowledge, physical and social awareness, by the age of six. These have been proven to be the building blocks of a strong, well-rounded childhood and beyond, into a successful adult life. Masterminds offers a warm and nurturing environment for students and teachers. In addition, it offers industry leading training programs for its staff. Masterminds has been awarded Best Early Years Education Provider 2017 and 2018 in the UAE Business Awards as well as a Global Gamechanger in Education. View our Brochure

Connect with World Languages 6 Language Learning Social Networks to Explore

Connect with World Languages 6 Language Learning Social Networks to Explore Connect with World Languages: 6 Language Learning Social Networks Social networks are supposed to show us the freshest updates  on our friend groups and in the world, right?So why is it that each days newsfeed seems so much like the last?Pictures of babiesNews posts and comment section argumentsEnvy-inducing vacation photosWhat if there was a social network where you could actively grow and learn?What if you could turn your social media time into language learning time?You definitely can!Well show you six social networks where you can connect with native speakers and other learners from around the world, build your vocabulary and practice your language skills.Yes, technology for language learning  is every language students best friend, and social media is an exceptionally  fun way to learn any language.Ready to get scrollin? Why Use a Language Learning Social Network?Language is inherently social, so  its just more natural to learn it socially.The ultimate goal of studying a language is to be able to communicate effectively in conversations and in writing. Language learning social networks get you chatting casually with native speakers, which wont just give you essential communication practice but will also expose you to new vocabulary, slang and cultural lessons youd normally have to travel for.Plus, as you start to make friends on these networks, youll have people to both answer your questions and hold you accountable. Whether its posting a question in a public forum or shooting a message to a new native speaking friend, itll be easy to get your grammar roadblocks and vocabulary confusions solved. Having these types of language learning connections also creates a whole community of people who are invested in your language development.If you like this type of authentic language learning, an innovative tool to check out alongside language learning social networks is FluentU. Its another fun way to learn your target language the way native speakers really use it. FluentU provides real-world videos, like movie trailers, musi c videos, inspiring talks and more, which have been transformed into a language learning experience.Each video comes with interactive captions, flashcards and exercises built to teach you new words in an engaging, memorable way. Not only will you be actively building your vocabulary and listening comprehension skills, youll also be absorbing pop culture in your target languageâ€"giving you lots to post and chat about on one of the social networks below!Connect with World Languages: 6 Language Learning Social NetworksitalkiAlso available:  iOS | Androiditalki may be best known for its one-on-one language lessons, but it also offers terrific community features on its website whether or not youre taking lessons.For instance, you can post pieces of writing to the Notebook section for native speakers to correct. An Answers section allows you to ask questions and/or peruse responses to other users questions. A Discussions section allows you to discuss whatever is on your mind, whether you re seeking friends, asking a pressing language question or just wanting to chat about current events in your target language.Aside from posting publicly, you can also view other users profiles on the Language Partners page. From there you can send messages or hit Add Friend to start building up your network.As its also a platform for  professional teachers, italki offers one of the most varied and colorful learning experiences that can be found on the web.For focused study, you can hire one of the platforms professional, experienced language educators wholl teach you everything from grammar to slang to day-to-day conversations. All you need to do to get started is to select your preferred teacher, then schedule a paid trial lesson.All in all, the nice array of options make italki a great social network for language learners.SpeakyAlso available: iOS | AndroidSpeaky is a free language exchange app that can connect you to a world of learning opportunities.Just select what language you want to practice and sign up through your Facebook or Google+ account. With  more than 180 countries and 110 languages represented, you can practice common or even many uncommon languages.Speaky allows you to connect with other users who share your interests, so youll always have something to talk about. Its easy to scroll through a feed of profiles to see whos online and learn more about them.  Every users profile shows what languages they speak, what theyre learning and what level theyre atâ€"and Speaky also makes it easy to distinguish native speakers in particular.Through a web browser, you can engage in audio or video chat. Through the app, you can text chat. Audio messages and file sharing are also in the works.Connecting like this is a helpful way to get real-world practice in your target language in a comfortable setting that encourages learning and growth.HiNativeAlso available: iOS | AndroidGot a question? HiNative can help!HiNative is formatted as a question-and-answer p latform for language learners. Simply post a question in text or audio. To make it simpler, you can even use HiNatives built-in question templates or post a picture to give other users some context.Then,  native speakers can respond with text and/or audio answers. This makes HiNative a good way to ask grammar questions, find out how something is pronounced, seek clarification on slang or even ask whether your pronunciation is correct.In addition to language questions, HiNative also accepts questions about culture, so you can get tips and insights into countries around the world.If youre feeling friendly, you might also try answering peoples questions about your native language or country.HiNative has users from over 170 countries and supports over 110 languages.The basic version of the app is free, but the premium version ramps up the social network-style features. Youll be able to hear every voice answer (including to other users questions), a search feature, notifications and prem ium tickets that highlight your questions to get them more attention.LanguingAlso available: AndroidIf youre looking for a versatile tool to find and chat with people around the world, Languing is a good bet.You can search for friends using various filters like language, proficiency level and age. Languing is designed to make finding and messaging friends as easy as it is on a regular social network. It also offers audio, video and text chat, which is great to practice all the key skillsâ€"reading, writing, listening and speaking.Theres even a built-in translator so you can look up tricky words without leaving the platform.Supported languages include English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Croatian, Dutch, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.LingualiaWhen you sign up for Lingualias language lessons, you also get access to its language learning social network.This network aims to help you make new friends who are native speakers. From there, you can also p ractice your target language, ask questions, receive help and help others (a good deed always feels good).Lingualia offers Spanish and English. You can interact with other learners with a free subscription. Additional website features like dialogues and example audio require a paid subscription.UniLangUniLang is a language learning forum, which is like an old-school social network.There are a number of different forums to meet your learning needs on UniLang.To get started, check out the General Language Forum, which is great for getting your feet wet in the forums and discussing languages in general. Youll find a community of avid language learners! Some topics that are discussed include language games, translations, words you just learned, words youre struggling with, etc.UniLang also has a Culture board to help you learn about world cultures. Topics include literature, politics, religion, music, clothing and more.For focused help in your target language, look to the  wide array of language-specific forums. There are forums for common languages such as English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Japanese, but there are also forums for less common languages like Faroese and Basque.Some forums also discuss specific language groups, like Celtic languages, North American indigenous languages and Sami languages. If youre learning a constructed language or developing one yourself, theres even a forum for that.Perhaps best of all, UniLang is an active forum, so new posts appear regularly.So if youre looking to friend and follow your way to better language skills, look no further than these six language learning social networks! And One More ThingWith FluentUs social media share buttons, you can even bring your language learning life into your regular social media existence by sharing your favorite videos on Facebook, Twitter and other sites. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you l earn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.

Happy Birthday, Dariya!

Happy Birthday, Dariya! Yesterday, Dariya Lopukhina our wonderful Director of Marketing celebrated her birthday. She has been working for TutorZ.com since January 2012. During these nine short months Dariya has become an absolute essential part of the TutorZ operation She creates and runs our marketing campaigns, blog, ad postings, and social media presence. Dariya also runs a great deal of our customer service apps. Because of her wide range of responsibilities and deep insight in the  TutorZ  process  Dariya  also has become a chief contributor to the engineering department by helping to design new features and apps.  Always, in her work,  Dariya  is consistent, dedicated and dependable, reliable,  flexible, and a pleasure to work with.  She has incredible creative energies and a refreshing conservatism tempered only enough to accomplish what needs to be done. Thats why the small team of  TutorZ  threw a party for her yesterday after the regular work hours .  Lilly bedazzled us with her cooking talents, created  a delicious dinner and decorated the office space with balloons, flowers and signs.   Remotely from Los Angeles, CA John joined the festivities via  Skype. Chatty, our office cat was hugged by everyone. So thank  you again Dariya for all your hard work,  dedication and positive energies at your work place. We and our customers  appreciate you very much. Health,  happiness and success to you!

Teach Away Telegram - April 2011

Teach Away Telegram - April 2011 Spring is upon us! And while the weather changes and we look forward to more time outside, it also means that summer is just around the corner, bringing an end to another school year for many of you! We know that things can be particularly busy around this time of year, so we hope you will sit back and relax, and enjoy the latest issue of the Teach Away Telegram.We are pleased to report that all Teach Away teachers in Japan are safe and sound, though the country continues to deal with the aftermath of recent events. This month, we are featuring a story from a Teach Away teacher who was in Japan during the earthquake. We also look at common misconceptions about living overseas, and try to dispel some of the myths. With report card time looming closer and closer, you may be interested in reading more about assessment practices around the world.- The Teach Away TeamIn this issue:A Teacher Story: Surviving the Earthquake and Tsunami in JapanCommon Misconceptions about Living AbroadStuden t Assessment Around The WorldSurviving the Earthquake and Tsunami in JapanOn March 11th 2011, Japan experienced one of the largest earthquakes recorded in recent history. The subsequent 10-metre tsunami devastated the northeastern coast of the nation, which continues to lie in ruins. The hardest hit prefectures include, Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate. This is the story from one Teach Away teacher living in a coastal town in Iwate when the quake and tsunami struck.Joseph Hinds, a 27 year-old Canadian, departed for his Assistant Language Teacher post in northern Japan in the Fall of 2010. Before the quake of March 11th, Joseph had experienced multiple minor tremors, as is the norm, in fault-line teetering Japan. He had become accustomed to the short stoppages in the workday before returning to the daily routine of teaching English in Japanese public schools. However, the March 11th earthquake was different.  â€œThere were alarms and announcements being played throughout the city, but I didn’t understand them. Shortly after the earthquake, electricity, water, and gas had been shut off.” Usually, Japan’s structural stability can withstand shakes up to around 6.0 without this occurring. “I saw many people walking on the streets going in the same direction. I suspected they were evacuating,” something only practiced with the severest of disasters.“A random Japanese lady driving past me stopped to see if I was okay. The woman had just seen on the news that tsunami waters were flooding the city, though my area remained largely unaffected. I didn’t understand the rest of the conversation in Japanese. Cell phone lines were busy and I couldn’t get through to anyone.” One remark from the woman that Joseph could understand:“I have never experienced an earthquake like this in my entire life!”Joseph decided to bunker down in his semi-safe home for the night. The next morning, he drove to a Japanese friend’s printing company for more information. Other f oreign teachers had also congregated on this local print shop, quickly turning it into a refuge from the disaster. Their only access to the outside world was a computer powered by a car battery, allowing them to access the internet and inform family of their conditions. “We all spent the night at the print shop office, sharing what little food and water we had.”The next day at the grocery stores, “people were only buying a little more than usual and seemed to be mindful if there would be enough left of other people. Everyone inside the store was calm and collected.”As Joseph left the store, another car pulled over to offer assistance. A teacher from where he works offered him a ride to an evacuation area, making Joseph “feel safe and well taken care of by the Japanese people.” Although dealing with the ordeals of the earthquake, tsunami, and impending nuclear scenario, Japan’s solidarity truly shines in these times.“The earthquake and tsunami reveal the respectful an d polite culture instilled in Japanese people.”Joseph is now in a safe area, and is eager to help Japan recover from this disaster in whatever way he can. He continues to be humbled and grateful for the solidarity demonstrated by the Japanese people.Common Misconceptions about Living AbroadWorking and living overseas brings about many questions and concerns, especially for those who have not ventured abroad before. Common questions include: What will a typical work week look like? Will I have a support network? Is it safe?As every country around the world has its own unique culture, each will have different expectations in the workplace. A Monday-to-Friday, 9AM-5PM work week may not be the norm in many countries. It’s quite common in some countries to work from Sunday-to-Thursday, 7AM-3PM, or even have 4-day workweeks. That is why being flexible and adaptable to new situations is vital for any overseas position. Here, we aim to address some of the more recent questions and conce rns in the following regions:JapanThe triple-disasters of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear concerns in Japan have caused alarm with many of those who were recently eager to teach in the country’s public school system. Although a tragedy, Japan’s infrastructure is built to recover from disasters. Much of the country is still unaffected, and teachers are still being sought in those areas.United Arab EmiratesAlthough in the Middle East, the UAE is not involved with the recent unrest in neighbouring countries. The affluent areas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi extend beyond the reach of the political issues plaguing other parts of the Middle East. Teach Away teachers have reported no immediate concerns on Teach Away’s Facebook pageChinaOften regarded as a country shrouded in mystery, China is home to a growing expatriate population. Despite being a Communist nation, locals and foreigners in China enjoy many of the same freedoms common in other parts of the developed world. Internet cens orship, for example, has decreased significantly in recent years. As well, modern amenities are not exclusive to Shanghai and Beijing. Many of the smaller cities in China are quite large by Western standards, with populations of 2 to 7 million people, and offer the same allure of larger cities with less congestion, pollution, and a reduced cost of living.KoreaSince the Korean War in the 1950’s, tensions have continued to linger between South and North Korea. A 2 kilometre wide demilitarized zone has separated the nations since. However, North Korea continues to cross into the mainstream news and raise concerns. The Western world views any news stemming from North Korea as possible threats of another World War, but this has been occurring since the end of the Korean War in 1953. South Korea is a first-world nation with a prosperous future, stemming from large electronics and automotive markets. Hence, South Korea’s continued need for English teachers to help develop their interna tional commerce.Vietnam/ThailandSoutheast Asia is notorious for its low cost of living, making it a popular destination for travelers on a budget. Working in Vietnam or Thailand, teachers do not necessarily make more money, but they can expect their dollar to stretch a little further. As is true of any country, researching the cost of living and the typical costs of groceries, utilities, and everyday expenses can help when trying to budget for your new life abroad.Student Assessment Around the WorldWhen considering a teaching placement overseas, common questions might include what kind of curriculum is used, what can be expected in a typical school day, and how students are assessed.Recent studies comparing student ability levels around the world have drawn attention to worldwide student assessment methods and their efficacy in compiling meaningful results. Historically, educational assessment consisted mainly of tests and quizzes, as these methods are easy to standardize and quanti fy. During the industrial age, education emphasized knowledge of basic skills and being on par with baselines.However, now that more is known and understood about learning styles and multiple intelligences, teachers are able to employ methods such as differentiating instruction and creating student-centred learning models. These different teaching techniques have necessitated the use of different assessment methods, as older models of assessment were proving inadequate.Indeed, although there is a focus on testing students in order to compare educational outcomes between countries, many developed and developing nations are opting for student-centred models and assessment methods. While some developed countries are reluctant to make the shift to a less teacher-centric classroom style, education reforms in developing countries like Malaysia are demonstrating that assessment is changing rapidly.While key performance indicators and learning objectives may vary from region to region, the major trend in assessment is creating tasks and opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning. Rather than assessing with standardized testing, which does not allow for multiple intelligences or differential learning styles, educators are making a concerted effort to allow for more non-traditional modes of assessment. Project-based learning, centres and workshops, culminating activities, and performance pieces are increasingly common in both elementary and secondary school settings.While the use of creative assessment methods is becomming more popular, students are improving in academic achievement. Teachers now have more options, and when teaching overseas, a wider perspective on education can be gained. Teachers with a flexible and adaptable attitude can learn about new assessment techniques overseas - a gain for teachers and students alike.

Strongest Base Chemistry

Strongest Base ChemistryIf you have been reading my articles over the past year or so, you have probably come to the conclusion that there is really only one way to go about the topic of constructing a strong base chemistry - use an iron core. However, there are some other options.Charcoals. Charcoals are the most expensive option for setting up a base chemistry, but they also have the most benefits. The biggest benefit is that it is a permanent solution, and the charcoals do not degrade with heat as much as most other alternatives.Toxic components. Be careful here. If you want to make your base chemistry as clean as possible, and I strongly recommend that you do, you want to stay away from carbon-based chemical compounds.Candles or candle wax. Candle wax has many advantages over using the above mentioned sources of carbon-based compounds such as beeswax, paraffin wax and paraffin oil.But then again, most people find this method to be too powerful, and also not as pleasant as using a n iron core. If you are interested in using candles or candle wax as your base chemistry, here are some tips.Candle wax is a two-part process. First, you need to melt down the wax, after which you can take the wick and melt it into the room air. This is more comfortable than heating up the whole house and produces a much cleaner gas for your base chemistry.Don't forget that although you use the wax to make your base chemistry, you will still need to keep your furnace running for several hours in order to warm up the room before you start putting the mixture on the flame. There's no getting around it, but that's where the advantages lie. Using chemicals like paraffin wax and paraffin oil means that you would not be able to maintain your furnace running throughout the night.

Choosing a College Chemistry Course Can Be Difficult

Choosing a College Chemistry Course Can Be DifficultIf you are one of the thousands of people who have taken a course at Temple University, then you will be familiar with the many exciting ways that you can study at this great institution. If you do a little bit of research you will be able to find out that the many courses that they offer can be taken at any time, however for those who have special needs, special offers or an allergy to some of the materials, then it is best to consider studying at an alternative college.Many people are unsure what to expect when they visit this university and want to know whether this is a good place to go to school. When considering the teaching style, the first thing that you need to do is talk to the professors to find out what they feel is important. These are people who are well qualified to teach you, so if you are looking for an educational experience that is special, then it would be best to take a look at the curriculum that they offer.As a large group of students at the university, you are sure to be able to find a number of professors who are passionate about teaching chemistry. The students that they have are often some of the brightest in the country and they are taught by some of the best teachers in the country. This gives them the chance to work with a variety of different people and learn something new each day.When deciding which college chemistry course is best for you, you are likely to come across a number of different choices. One of the most common choices that you will find will be a chemistry course from a college or university that is accredited by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST).NIST is a really good choice for those that need to take basic courses in this area as this is one of the best places to get all of the materials that you need. The NIST course will also give you the opportunity to take your coursework home and study there so that you will be able to study at any t ime of the day or night.For those that need to take more advanced chemistry courses, you will probably want to choose one of the many courses offered at a college that is an accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS offers a lot of great options for taking courses at this level, and this is a good choice for those that want to learn more about organic chemistry.This area of chemistry is important to those that have chosen this study program because it can help them in their future work in the medical field. Whether you are looking to get into a career as a science teacher or a chemist working in labs, then it is essential that you consider a college course that is accredited by one of these bodies.

Reaction Occurrences Every Day

Reaction Occurrences Every DayOne of the most difficult things for a chemist to understand is the chemical reactions that occur in everyday life. In fact, many of us are better at it than chemistry professors because we live in these processes every day. This means that it can be difficult to remember, let alone see, how reactions really work and why they happen in the way that they do.A simple example of a reaction is when one substance reacts with another. Let's look at some of these reactions that occur every day:Carbon dioxide is gas. When you get this gas out of the automobile, for example, it has changed from the solid state into the gaseous state. But just as a reaction happens between the materials in an automobile, so too do chemical reactions happen between gases and solids. Now, a metal like zinc or copper react with oxygen in air by forming a compound called chromium or nickel. This is called a metal-oxidizer reaction.When you add iron to tin, the tin becomes tin oxide. T hen tin oxidizes (changes into a brown metallic state) to tin. And just as a metal oxidizes in air, so too does the tin when added to other substances.If a tiny amount of iron is present in water, it will become iron sulfate. If the iron is very small and doesn't start to change or react immediately with anything else, it is a carbonate-alkali-acid compound.The absorption of carbon dioxide by nitric acid causes a chemical reaction. This reaction causes an alkaline metal to become a form of sodium metal, which has to be separated from the acid before it dissolves. The result is NaOH, which separates the nitric acid from the alkaline metal. There is a certain degree of stoichiometry involved here: a higher pH means a higher affinity for the acid, and sodium ions have a higher affinity for a higher pH.There are many more reactions that occur every day in your home. Some of them are quite common and also very easy to remember, while others are slightly less common but still useful. Let' s review the most common reactions, starting with some of the most important ones and moving on to more complex reactions.