ALEX Math Tutoring UMD

ALEX Math Tutoring UMDThe ALEX Math Tutoring is a kind of college algebra tutor that combines the convenience of an online college tutor with the professionalism of a tutor on campus. At first glance, it would appear to be a match made in heaven, but there are also things to watch out for when choosing between these two options. For one thing, while college life can be fun and easy enough, college algebra can be the hardest part of the course. Not everyone has the right mindset, the right time management skills, or the confidence to conquer the course on their own.There are those who find the whole thing too difficult, not even having the time to study, and that's why they must depend on a tutor. A tutor, on the other hand, is more likely to charge less because they have people working for them, usually college students who want to learn, and who need to be paid. But a tutor can be expensive and be subjected to boredom as well. Those who can't find a tutor they like may not go throug h with the college calculus courses.Thus, for those who can find no tutor to help them with college algebra, a tutor from ALEX Math Tutoring UMD can help them overcome their lack of time. ALEX is a company that combines the convenience of an online college tutor with the professionalism of a tutor on campus. It is a company that provides college-level education and tutoring for students who need a little help learning how to do homework and college algebra.College algebra is a skill that needs to be learned, and a tutor from ALEX Math Tutoring UMD can help you learn it by helping you understand the difficult concepts and how to use them to solve problems. This makes college algebra much easier to learn, and it keeps you out of the more common and tedious mistakes that students make, especially when they are learning this one field. A tutor from ALEX can also keep your focus on the material instead of the time being spent studying, which can improve your grade even more.Students who need help for college algebra can be a bit overwhelmed, and finding a tutor from ALEX Math Tutoring UMD can be very helpful in smoothing the process. With a tutor like this, you can get all the help you need without worrying about a lot of little details. ALEX makes sure that you learn all the material before taking the tests, which will ensure that you get better grades even if you have questions about the theory behind the material. Many students do not seem to have the time to go through the whole math book themselves.Another benefit of using a tutor, especially one like ALEX, is that there is nothing more reassuring than knowing that a good tutor will always work hard to help you learn your assignments and get you through the exams. This is what most students worry about when they fail an exam, which leads to panic and depression, which, sadly, leads to dropping out of college and never getting the education they need. You can expect this from any tutor, but ALEX is different be cause it offers the comfort of online tutoring. There are so many students using college math and getting bad grades that ALEX realizes that all students deserve better.ALEX offers a variety of packages that students can choose from, such as ALEX Mathematics Tutoring UMD by the hour, which is a one-on-one tutor. This allows the student to learn math at his or her own pace and to learn it in his or her own time.

How to Apply for University in the UK

How to Apply for University in the UK Navigating the complexities of UK University Applications ChaptersFirst StepsThe Application ProcessChoosing CoursesThe Personal StatementAlmost DoneDeadlines and OffersYour race is nearly run: you’ve sat your first round of A-Levels and are preparing for Round II of your examinations.Perhaps you’ve winnowed your list of subjects from an ambitious five down to the three that are most representative of the fields of study needed for your admissions requirements.If you are an international student intending to study in the UK, you are furiously working toward satisfying all of your International Baccalaureate requirements.And you study. My, how you study!Whether IB or A-Levels, those all-important test scores are, sorry to say, only half of your battle. You still have to apply for admission â€" hopefully at the university of your choice and, hopefully, in the study programme that most entices you.With all of the logistics â€" finance, legalities, marks and paperwork, applying for admission at university can seem an overwhelming task.Shini ng a light through those convoluted turns is your Superprof, who lays out the path towards claiming your place as an undergraduate. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40 /h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFirst StepsIn The Wizard of Oz, every munchkin and (good) witch assures Dorothy that the surest path â€" indeed, the only way for her wish to be granted is to make her way to Emerald City to meet with the wizard.The remaining bad witch only wishes to send Dorothy to her doom for letting her house fall on the wicked witch’s sister.And how does one get to Emerald City? By following the yellow brick road, of course! Much like the fabled Oz crew, you only need to follow your yellow brick road through the UCAS admission process Image by skeeze from PixabayFor you, the student gazing into at least three more years of academia, your Wizard bears the acronymic name of UCAS.UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is the gateway through which you must proclaim your intent to pursue higher learning.You may follow one of two ‘yellow brick roads’ to deliver your application to UCAS; either via the Internet, by registering for an account and applying directly, or through your school/college.If you are an international student, you too can direct yourself to the UCAS website, register for an ‘individual’ account and submit your application. An individual account means that you are not represented by any UK school.The third type of candidate, prospective university students who have already left college, should follow the same path as international students: register for an individual account on the UCAS website and then, submit your university application.Hopefully, you have already made the rounds of university open days at the schools you would like to attend. You should have already met with an academic advisor and discussed degree programs with your friends and family to decide what are the best options for you.If you are outside of the UK, you might consult the University League Tables and read up on the schools that pique your interest.You might also need to know how to choose a course of study…Before you apply, you should have worked out how you will finance your education. You may apply for financial aid: grants (money you don’t have to pay back), or student loans â€" either maintenance loans to pay for living expenses or tuition loans to pay for your classes.Naturally, you may apply for all three types of financial assistance.The Application ProcessOnce you have registered with UCAS, you should carefully read all the information regarding your opti ons for selecting courses and schools before actually filling out the online application.For UK students still in school, if you are applying through your college, you will fill out a paper application form that your school will forward to UCAS.Back to the online application, now…On the ‘application’ screen, you will be asked a lot of personal details: what qualifies you for the undergraduate degree program(s) you are applying for? Do you have a criminal record? Are you a ‘home’ student?Home students are not only students native to the UK. If you live in the British Virgin Islands, you too can use UCAS for your undergraduate admissions process Image by Anna Mustermann from PixabayIf you are not British but have lived in the UK for at least three years and are a permanent resident, or the European Economic Area or Switzerland for that amount of time, you also qualify as a home student.Furthermore, if you are a prospective UK university student who lives in a qualifying overseas territory, you too are considered a home student. Said territories include:AntiguaArubaBermudaThe British Virgin IslandsThe Cayman IslandsFaroe IslandsGreenlandNew CaledoniaMonserratThe Falkland Islands and othersThe advantage of being a home student is that you will pay the same amount for your higher education as a native British student would.As you surely know, costs for international students are much higher, so be sure to see if you qualify as a home student before declaring your status on your application.The application provides a space f or you to declare any special needs, for instance, if you have mobility challenges that require accommodation or you have been declared a special needs (SEN) student.Every student dreads writing it, yet it is a consistent part of virtually every university admissions process, no matter where in the world said school might be.Luckily, in the UK, those statements are not quite as demanding as elsewhere…Your personal statement, a vital component of your application, should be no longer than 4,000 characters; around 700 words â€" about half as long as this article is.That is a fairly limited number of words to express your interest in your chosen subject (or in higher education in general, if you’re applying for more than one field of study), why you should be selected for enrollment and list any special achievements or awards you’ve earned in school.Of all the supporting documents required for university application, the personal statement is as important as your A-Level scores; a badly-written one might keep you from being accepted in the best study programs and/or the best schools, even if your grades are sterling.For this reason, you might consider writing several drafts and asking friends, family or teachers to critique them and select the best one(s). Once you have revised your statement, making sure it is error-free, enter it into the space provided on the UCAS application page.Find out how you can write your best personal statement… Many schools will make their admissions decision largely on your personal statement so writing several drafts is a good idea Image by StartupStockPhotos from PixabayAlmost DoneNow that you have your application filled out, your course(s) selected and your personal statement hammered out, you only lack two components to complete and submit your application.The first is a letter of recommendation, preferably from someone who knows you academically; maybe a teacher or advisor. If you’ve been working, you might ask your employer for a reference letter.And then, you have to pay your application fee. If you have selected only one course of study, your fee will be £20; two or more courses will cost £25 to apply.All that’s left is to click ‘submit’ and wait for the offers to come rolling in!Deadlines and OffersIdeally, you should apply for university as soon as UCAS makes the application function available; usually mid-May â€" before you sit your A-Levels. That will give you the be st chance for admission to the course you most want.If you’re not an early starter, no worries; UCAS will accept your application for admission throughout the year â€" at least until the end of June.After that, your application will be considered ‘clearing’, meaning that schools, rather than viewing you as a competitive candidate, will consider your application in terms of filling empty spots in their classrooms.Still, some programs’ enrolment options close earlier than others so, if you were hoping for a spot in dance or musical theatre, you would be much better off applying quickly.Be sure to check your UCAS account frequently for your application status!A conditional offer means that the school accepts your application pending your A-Level scores while an unconditional offer means you have a spot â€" but you may have further admission requirements.A withdrawn offer means that either you or the school has eliminated a class. If the school has done so, you should see an exp lanation in your UCAS tracker page.The last possibility, an unsuccessful offer, means that the school has rejected your application. They may or may not notify you of the reason for their decision.Between studying to make good grades and the stress of competition for the best classes, scrambling for letters of recommendation and making sure your application materials are in order â€" to say nothing rushing to meet your application deadline…Applying for university is no easy task. Still, like Dorothy going to meet the wizard, all you have to do is follow the yellow brick road.

A Beginners Guide to the Steel Hang.

A Beginner’s Guide to the Steel Hang. Everything You Need to Know about the Steel Hang. ChaptersWhat is a Steel Hang?Where You Can Hear the Hang.Some Things to Know about Playing the Steel Hang.Where to Find a Steel Hang Teacher.In our series on different types of percussion instruments, we have looked at everything from playing the marimba to playing the triangle. However, now, we are going to be looking at an instrument whose history, technique, and use is completely different.That’s the steel hang, a percussion instrument characterised by its round, shell-like shape, its mesmerising, hypnotic sound, and the fact that it is made in its entirety out of only two pieces of metal.It is quite an incredible instrument â€" and one that has not yet gained the full attention it deserves. However, you’re most likely to hear it in the street, played by performers from around the world: there are still not a huge number of recording artists in the steel hang.So, if you want to learn an instrument still known, primarily, for its novelty, then you are in the right place. Becaus e we’ll show you not only what this instrument is, but how to get one yourself and then how to develop in the technique.As we said, it is a fascinating and gorgeous instrument. If you haven’t heard one already, get yourself on YouTube. If you are already intrigued, let’s read on. It's a beautiful instrument the hang. (Image from Didge Project) SerbanDrum Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyDrum Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RussellDrum Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesDrum Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StephenDrum Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeteDrum Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OllieDrum Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexDrum Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is a Steel Hang?What, then, is a hang?Firstly, it is worth pointing out immediately that it doesn’t â€" in any sense at all â€" actually hang. Rather, it is an instrument that you play with it sat in your lap.The word ‘hang’, in the dialect of German spoken in Bern, Switzerland, means both ‘hand’ and ‘hill’ â€" a comb ination of senses that nicely describes both the use and shape of this instrument. So, no, it is not something that ‘hangs’ â€" and nor is it something that we can call a ‘hang drum’, because it is not really a drum in any strict sense either.Rather, the hang is an instrument in the family of idiophones, instruments that consist of blocks of material which vibrates in its entirety to produce the sound. Instruments such as the xylophone, the vibraphone, and the marimba sit in this family too. However, the hang takes this logic to a much more extreme length.The hang is constructed with two round bowl-shaped pieces of metal that are fastened together. The top piece â€" when the instrument is placed in your lap â€" has indentations of different sizes hammered into it.The instrument is played by striking those indentations with your hand and fingers â€" so that different notes are produced through the resonation of the whole instrument. Meanwhile, there is a hole in the lower par t that sits between your legs â€" allowing sound to resonate further and, essentially, to exit the instrument.A (Really Quite) Brief History of the Steel Hang.Whilst many of the musical instruments we know are ancient things â€" whose distant origins are shrouded in mystery â€" the steel hang is different.This instrument is, actually, far from ancient. Rather, it is very new indeed.The hang was created by two inventors, Felix Rohner and Sabina Scharer â€" in 2000. And since then, these two, under the company name of PANArt, have created every hang personally in their own workshop in Bern, Switzerland.As you can see, there is not much history to the object.However, what is important to know is that the instrument is built on similar principles to the more familiar steelpan. That, another idiophone, originates from Trinidad and Tobago, and it is one pan-shaped instrument that is struck with mallets. This gives the steelpan a much brighter tone than the hang â€" but the principles on w hich the two instruments are based are the same. And Rohner and Scharer did a lot of research on the steelpan before making their instrument.Find out how to play the xylophone! Why not learn to play the steel hang? (Image from Curious Sounds)Are there Different Types of Hang?Whilst the construction of these instruments is done by the two inventors, there is not just one type of the instrument to choose from â€" if you are interested in getting one yourself.Rather, the steel hangs come in lots of different sizes and ranges and in different ‘generations’, as PANArt calls them.Whilst the first hang ever made was twenty inches diameter, with a height of nine inches, there are now over fifty different versions of the instrument. They come in different keys, different sizes, and, in some later generations, the two hemispheres of the instrument are integrated into a whole.PANArt have even developed a hang that is strung: with a body in a familiar hang form, but with a guitar-like neck, the instrument combines strings with the percussive essence of the hang.How You Can Get Your Hands on a Hang.As we said, the hang is only produced by the Swiss company, PANArt. However, in recent years, they have moved onto different types of musical instruments â€" and have discontinued the production of the hang. This, obviously, makes a new hang quite difficult to come by.If you are determined to get yourself one of these exceptional instruments, get in touch with PANArt directly.Another option would be to search for a hang second-hand. Head to eBay or Craigslist or check out local listings. Be careful, however. As the instruments are not produced so much anymore â€" and as they are becoming increasingly famous day by day â€" the price continues to increase.You can expect these days to pay up to four thousand dollars for a second-hand hang â€" which might make you think twice about it. And given its price, plenty of scammers lurk around these parts of the internet.However, if you have the money, there is absolutely no shame in forking out for one.Check out our article on playing the tambourine!Where You Can Hear the Hang.We said above that one of the be st places to hear a steel hang is pretty much by chance, in the street.Hangs remain a favourite instrument of street performers â€" as there is not yet an established repertoire and audience for the instrument. If you have never had the luck to pass by a hang player in the street, head to YouTube, where you will find hundreds of videos of exactly these kinds of people.However, over recent years, there have been a growing number of recording artists who feature the hang in their performances. Let’s take a look at two of them.Hang Massive.Hang Massive are probably the most famous of the bands that play the hang. Their instrumental, ambient tracks often feature as many as four hangs (played by two people) that allow them to weave together wonderful melodic lines.If you are looking for the rockstars of hang, Hang Massive are the people you need.Manu Delago.Manu Delago is a percussionist and experimental musician who has started to incorporate the hang more and more into his music.Wher e Hang Massive take a more conventional approach to the instrument â€" playing it with their hands â€" Delago combines handwork with mallets, and with other instruments too.This guy shows you what can be achieved with the steel hang. Learn about the history of the hang! (Image from Deezer Blog)Some Things to Know about Playing the Steel Hang.When you are playing the hang, you need to remember that the instrument needs to resonate. And to do this, the opening on the bottom side of the instrument should ideally be unobstructed.Whilst with more sophisticated playing you will be introduced to techniques in which you can open and close this whole, it’s best to keep it open for now.Conventionally, the hang is played with the thumbs of each hand â€" although, if you are Delago, you will experiment with this â€" struck into the indentations of the instrument.Luckily enough, there is not strictly any ‘wrong’ note on the hang, as they are usually constructed diatonically.Where to Find a Steel Hang Teacher.With the instrument growing in popularity, there are plenty of places where someone can find a hang teacher.One of those places is Superprof, a community of students and tutors from around the world. With nearly ten million tutors teaching in over a thousand different subjects, of course we have hang tutors available.Depending on your location, we have tutors to help you in the hang both in person and online â€" to help you nail your technique, jam, and find inspiration for future performances.Just get in touch with a tutor to organise a lesson. The majority will give you your first lesson absolutely free!

Digital Distractions and School Performance

Digital Distractions and School Performance Learning in the digital age is a frequent topic of conversation here at Huntington Learning Center, and it certainly raises a lot of questions. For parents who grew up without technology so readily accessible like it is today, the main one is: do electronics help or hinder my childs school performance? Here are a few interesting observations about the negative impact of internet-enabled electronicslaptops, tablets and cell phonesreported from several recent studies: A 2016 Psychological Science study recorded college students laptop internet use in class and found that nonacademic internet use (e.g. social media, videos, email and online shopping) was frequent and inversely related to performance on the subjects cumulative final examregardless of interest in the class, motivation to succeed and intelligence (full article: Logged In and Zoned Out: How Laptop Internet Use Relates to Classroom Learning). In other words, even if a student was interested in a subject and deemed intelligent (based on other test scores), the use of the internet in classes had a negative impact on his or her final exam score. The same study did not find that accessing the internet for academic purposes was related to any benefit in performance. In other words, even if a student went on the internet during class for something academic in nature, doing so didnt benefit his or her final exam score. A 2019 study in Educational Psychology: an International Journal of Experimental Psychology found that students exam performance was poorer for the material taught in classes that allowed electronic use than those that did not (full article: Dividing attention in the classroom reduces exam performance). The same study also found that students in the device-permitting classroom that did not use devices still scored lower, which points to the likelihood that such students were distracted by devices around them. A 2013 study inCommunication Educationfound that of students who watched a video lecture, took notes and took quizzes afterward, thosewho did not usetheir mobile phones wrote down 62% more information, took more detailed notes and were able to recall more detailed information from the lecture than those who did use mobile phones during the lecture (full article: The Impact of Mobile Phone Usage on Student Learning). The same study found that the students who did not use their mobile phones during class scored a full letter grade higher on a multiple-choice test than those who actively used their mobile phones. While theres no question that the internet and electronic devices that connect us to it have opened up a world of possibilities for learning and knowledge acquisition, the research is clear: digital distraction is a real problem for todays students. What can you as a parent do to ensure your childs school performance does not suffer because he or she uses a cell phone and/or laptop regularly (in class or outside of it)? Here are a few tips: Teach your child about the importance of concentrating during set periods of time and also taking mental breaks while working. This practice improves focus and retention and encourages your child to separate school work and screen time. If your child doesnt need the computer or phone while doing homework, he or she should set them aside. Teach your child how to set rules for study/homework time and hold him or herself accountable to those rules. Encourage your child to establish short-term objectives for every homework session. Having a to-do list to work from will help your child stay on task and avoid digital distractions. If your child is struggling to focus, it may be that he or she needs help developing a good study systemand its certainly possible that something else is going on. Call Huntington at 1-800 CAN LEARN to learn how we can help your child become a more efficient, productive student in the digital age.

Five Private High School Application Mistakes

Five Private High School Application Mistakes Improving Academic Performance If you’re applying to private high schools soon, you need to plan the months you’ve got ahead of you. The admissions process is very competitive, and you have to make sure you’re on top of your game every step of the way. While there are definite protocols to follow such as reading the application instructions carefully and going through multiple drafts of your essays, there are also some don’ts to keep in mind. Take a look at 5 mistakes to stray away from throughout your private high school application journey. Underestimating the Campus Visit Campus visits can be a critical part of your evaluation by the admissions office. You’re being observed more carefully than you might think, as the tour is not just for your benefit. From the administrative staff processing your intake information at the admissions office to the student guiding your campus tour, each person has the opportunity to provide feedback on your disposition, demeanor, side conversations with your family, eye contact, general level of interest in what was going on around you, or anything else they might want to include in your file. Instead of being distracted elsewhere, take advantage of the visit to convey that you’re genuinely excited about the school through active engagement and enthusiasm. Scripting Your Interview There is a happy medium to strive for in order to excel with your interview. The interviewer is trying to ascertain your fit for the school and how you might interact with other students in activities and the classroom. They want to see your interest level, palpably, in the interview. This means that you need to express your passion and have specific anecdotes and examples about yourself at the ready. However, you do not want to script your answers. It’s tempting to come up with a practiced monologue in response to “tell me about yourself” or “why do you want to attend this school?” These rehearsed answers interrupt the natural flow of conversation and make you seem robotic rather than the autonomous, critical thinker that the school is hoping will thrive in their community. Failing to Include Anecdotes in the Parent Statement Parents find it hard to resist the temptation to go on and on about their kids in these “formal” essays that they write as part of the application. Nonetheless, the same lessons of application writing for students apply to parents as well: it is imperative to show rather than tell. Parents need to channel the impulse to talk about their kids into a productive stream of honest anecdotes that show what the student is like, as if it were a short clip being played to the admissions office. This is far more effective than reciting conclusory praise! Banking On - or Only Applying to - One or Two Schools Most people acknowledge that it would be silly to only apply to one or two colleges if you are aiming at the most selective schools in the country, but don’t carry over that attitude to the private high school application process. In some cases, these high schools are even more competitive than certain colleges, especially in the case of highly esteemed and historically successful schools such as Horace Mann and Harvard-Westlake. Don’t underestimate the selectivity of your top-choice institution and keep a variety of options open for yourself as you work on your school list. Assuming Standardized Timelines for Application Deadlines The bottom line is, different schools have different deadlines. Some will be at the end of December or in early January. Some will be as late as April or March. Often times, students are completing their interviews and campus visits well before their applications are submitted, whereas this would be an unusual process on the college side. With different admissions testing requirements, various deadlines, and limited timeframes that students can take off to conduct interviews (October break, Thanksgiving, etc.), it’s imperative to plan early. As you can see, mistakes can occur as early as your initial visit or as late as the interview phase! You must be careful throughout the application process and maintain a high level of organization to stay ahead of what needs to be done. Carefully avoid these errors, and you should be on your way to presenting your best self to the admissions office. About the Author By David Mainiero, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of InGenius Prep.

Flex Your Language Muscles Through These 6 Foreign Language Training Programs

Flex Your Language Muscles Through These 6 Foreign Language Training Programs Flex Your Language Muscles Through These 6 Foreign Language Training Programs Learning a foreign language is kind of like going to the gym.You only make noticeable progress if you train regularly and strategically, with the right tools and techniques.You wouldn’t expect to get swole just by picking up a barbell from time to time, would you?Its no wonder so many people hire personal trainers.And learning a language is no different!When you need serious language abilities fast, there’s no better option than turning to the professionals for serious foreign language training. Why Invest in Foreign Language Training?It really is never too late to learn a new foreign language. Doing so immediately opens up new things you can enjoy, from music to travel destinations to trashy television shows.Not only does it have cognitive benefits, but learning a new language can be an amazing self-confidence boost as you gradually connect the pieces and start to understand an exciting method of communication.Regarding your career, the connection between more skills and more money is clear in any language.Some employers will pay you more simply for being multilingual.For certain jobs, the benefit may not be as tangible. Instead, your boss could ask you to read foreign reports or sit in on conference calls. The skills built through that extra experience are ones your monolingual coworkers will be missing out on.Flex Your Language Muscles Through These 6 Foreign Language Training ProgramsSoftware Foreign Language Training SolutionsRosetta StoneRosetta Stone has been one of the biggest names in language learning software for more than a decade.How have they kept up with so many new players constantly entering the field? First, by continually improving the technology behind their core product. Second, by introducing an expert, personalized tutor program.The selling point has always been that the user learns through associating words and sounds with images in a very natural way. From the beginning, the user learns to distinguish between full sentences and ev en create their own to describe different situations. With every exercise, you can test your pronunciation with a special voice recognition system.A subscription to the Rosetta Stone service includes payment for a set of live tutoring sessions with educated native speakers who do their best to speak zero English with you during your lessons.Furthermore, there’s an additional product called Rosetta Stone Catalyst, designed for businesses with whole teams of people learning at the same time. You may be able to ask your employer to cover the course as a business expense!GlossikaA relative newcomer to the foreign language training game, this web-based startup from Taiwan is making waves among the more serious language learning community.The idea is that by listening to and repeating thousands of native phrases that slowly increase in complexity, you’ll assimilate all the necessary structures you need for basic fluency. After enough training, you’ll effortlessly be able to apply ne w vocabulary to the patterns that you’ve mastered.As of early 2019, Glossika had 64 languages on their platform, including small minority languages such as Catalan, Manx and Taiwanese Hokkien. Many of them are available as source languages, meaning that a native Bengali speaker can learn Russian in their own language, for example.The courses are extremely configurable, and at the end of a lesson you rate each sentence for difficulty. This information goes into a database that subtly adjusts the upcoming lessons for your learning speedâ€"and makes inferences for how the course should be delivered to newcomers.FluentUOne of the best ways to learn to speak like a native is through immersion. And no one does immersion-at-home better than FluentU!FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.Each video comes with annotated subtitles, interactive flashcards and quizzes that evolv e as you learn. That means your experience is 100% personalized! FluentU even offers progress-tracking tools and video suggestions based on what youve already watched. This makes it easy to work toward a specific goal, such as traveling to a new country, studying abroad or working for a foreign company.Access FluentUs full video library on your web browser or, better yet, download the app at the iTunes or Google Play stores to learn on the go!In-person Foreign Language TrainingThe aforementioned software solutions are pretty astounding, and they can certainly increase your proficiency when you put in the effort.But if youre more of a classroom learner, youre in luck! There are plenty of amazing programs out there for people who prefer to learn in person. The following programs teachers are world-class, and theyll be able to guide you both in the classroom and with materials for your own self-study at home.Berlitz Language SchoolAre you in a foreign country where you dont speak the l anguage? Berlitz is here to save the day! Berlitz has been a respected name in the language-learning community for decades, so you know youre receiving a quality education abroad.The Berlitz Method is known for immersing students in a language through conversational teaching.  Countless schools around the world have taken on the Berlitz Method in their classrooms. But when your career or studies are on the line, why settle for second best? If possible, enroll in the original immersion-style school!In the U.S. alone, Berlitz has schools in 20 states and nearly 50 cities. Worldwide, it has expanded to more than 500 schools across 70 countries. Almost all locations offer English as well as the local languageâ€"at the bare minimum.Education FirstEducation First, or EF, is widely respected in East and Southeast Asia for being a high-quality school for ESL students. But EF does a lot more than teach ESL. It also offers programs for travel and culture in addition to various foreign languag es for English speakers.EF was founded in Sweden with the vision of being more than just a language school. Before long, it also began to offer cultural excursions and immersion trips to other countries, which help its students take the language out of the classroom and onto the streets.EF has sailed past the 500-school benchmark and employed more than 20,000 teachers worldwide. If you want a foreign language training program that offers more than just a classroom, check out EF!Fluent CityNew York City is one of the most multilingual cities in the world. It’s not unheard of for public schools alone to have students who speak dozens and dozens of languages in total.If you’re in NYC (or a few other select cities), why not open these languages up to your own ear with some top-quality classes through Fluent City?Fluent City specializes in hiring outstanding teachers who are usually polyglots themselves, so they know firsthand of the struggles that the students are going through.They also pledge to keep group classes small and focus on communicative competence. Each course has a description of what you’ll be able to do when you finish, and you can even tailor private lessons to focus on what you specifically need for your career.Fluent City isnt yet a worldwide company like the other in-person training programs on this list. However, it does offer classes in major cities across the U.S., including New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. This is convenient for American learners who want to immerse themselves in a foreign language training program but dont have the time or money to travel abroad.When I recently assessed my own foreign language skills, I realized that I’ve never actually attained proficiency in any language without instruction from a program or teacher.Are you the same way? Stuck in a rut without much progress? Looks like its time for some foreign language training!

How to Save Money on Utility Bills

How to Save Money on Utility Bills creditreport.com Not only is being conservative with your energy use good for your wallet, it’s good for the environment too. Thinking about your effect on the environment might only be a tiny blip on your mental radar, but it’s definitely worth considering. By consuming less power, less toxic fumes will be released into the air by power plants, which will help to conserve our planet’s natural resources and protect ecosystems from certain destruction. Read on to learn ways to be conservative and efficient, and youll be able to save more than one type of green! Be In The Know Call up your utility provider and ask them for a free appraisal. An employee will come out to your house and apartment and evaluate the location for what is using the most power. After the appraisal, the worker will be able to inform you of what is taking up the bulk of your utility bill. Once you’re in the know, you can take further steps to reduce your usage, thus cutting down on your utility bill. Depending on where you live, you might be able to compare quotes from different companies to see which utility plant has the best option for you. Unfortunately, if you live in a large city, which most college students do, you’re most likely limited to the official power plant of that city. Be Conservative Another good tip is to be conservative with your resource utilization. Take what your parents said into great account: Don’t leave the water running, turn the lights off after you leave a room, etc. A good rule of thumb is to make sure everything that isn’t in use gets turned off. Before you leave the house, make sure everything is shut down and unplugged. Make sure that none of the faucets in the house are dripping water. Turn off the air conditioning unit before you leave, but only if nobody else is home. Unplug your cell phone charger whenever it’s not in use. Remember that while objects are plugged into the wall, they’re sucking up energy. Decide what should remain unplugged and what shouldn’t according to that logic. twitter.com When doing laundry, make sure you’re not using more water than you have to by paying close attention to the diagram underneath the lid. Most washing machines will have an illustration indicating what washing settings are most appropriate for specific load sizes. Make sure you’re following those instructions to prevent using more resources than you really have to. Instead of taking baths, take quick showers. Baths tend to use up more hot water, thus adding more money to your bill. Be sure to educate your roommates on your new conservation plan as well. You won’t want to be the only one following your conservation plan when everyone else is still stuck in their old habits. Be Efficient Even though it might seem like your quality of living has been reduced by changing your power and water usage so much (No more bubble baths? C’mon!), there are ways to supplement your reduced energy usage. The key is finding energy efficient appliances and shopping green to save your green. Use energy efficient lightbulbs  or even candles if you’re dedicated. Purchase power saving televisions and entertainment products that utilize LCD screens rather than plasma screens.   A good purveyor of energy saving goods to check out is EnergyStar appliances. EnergyStar sells green everything: washers, dryers, refrigerators, televisions, computers, central air conditioning and more. EnergyStar has saved $362 billion on utility bills since 1992, so check out their website and see what they can save for you. By following these tips with discipline and dedication, you’ll find yourself with a less heinous bill every month and a much happier and healthier planet to go along with it.