Using Project Based Learning to Improve Your English Skills

Using Project Based Learning to Improve Your English SkillsThe best and most effective way to improve your English is through the use of project based learning. Project based learning programs will put you in charge of a class, on a project that has to be completed by yourself. You may have to do research for a story, you might be required to write an essay on a topic, or you may be required to create something on your own.You will be given examples of what to do, when to do it, and what you should be doing. These projects will include several writing assignments, tests, quizzes, and exams. They may also include interaction with others while participating in the activities. In many cases, you will have to work hard and finish the projects at a certain time each day.You can start out with a project where you just look at a few words, make a statement, write a brief description, and discuss the idea in a journal. If you are the type of person who likes to learn by doing things rather t han by reading instruction books and taking classes, this would be a great start.You should expect that you will be required to write, edit, proofread, and typeset large amounts of content. While you may be used to doing most of this work yourself, it is helpful to have a professional type of support. You need someone to listen to your ideas and help you along the way.After the project is complete, you may still find yourself doing some writing and editing, but you will be free to go off and take the day off or attend a different activity without interruption. You are your own boss, and your boss will decide when you will work.Project based learning is a flexible and creative method for teaching English. It allows you to doyour work, enjoy it, and get rid of the student's worries about going back to class and what they have to do.So start off your English education with a project based learning experience. You will be on your way to becoming a confident English speaker!

How to Get Back Into a School Routine

How to Get Back Into a School Routine While the holidays offer a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, they can easily throw your thoughtfully-constructed schedule out of order. Getting your child back into a school routine after winter break can be a challenge. Luckily, there are a few strategies for successfully easing your student into the back-to-school transition. Creating a list of goals for the spring semester, encouraging a smart sleep schedule, and supporting your child through the common jitters of starting a new semester can help make the change easier. Looking to help your child start the new year off on the right foot? Heres how to get back into a school routine: Get back into a school routine by listing important dates and goals in a planner Whether your family prefers to use an assignment book, a calendar, or a planner, set aside time before school starts to write down any important dates. When looking for significant items to mark in your calendar, ask yourself questions like: What are some dates to keep in mind, including family events, holidays, or travel dates? Are there any major assignments that your child already knows about or projects that you can note on the calendar? This type of exercise can help both you and your child envision whats happening in the near future and make the transition less overwhelming. Whats also helpful is planning outtentativelya weekly or daily routine once your child goes back to school. Things to consider include wake up and bed times, when your child will do homework, and any extracurricular activities. [RELATED: 3 Common Back-to-School Issuesand How to Address Them] Get back into a school routine by implementing a sleep schedule A good sleep routine is sometimes one of the first things to fall to the wayside during the holidays. A week or a few days before school starts, begin practicing healthy sleep habits like having a cutoff time for technology. You can incorporate some wind down activities into your nightly routine as well, like reading, drawing, or coloring before bed. Some people also like to go to bed incrementally earlier each night until school starts. Get back into a school routine by minimizing last-minute decisions and purchases Set aside time before school starts to take an inventory of your childs school supplies. Is there anything that needs replenishing? Are there any books that they need to buy or borrow from the library? This is also a great time to do a wardrobe check and see if your child is prepared for what is often cold weather. Finally, spend time working on minimizing decisions and tasks during the morning rush, like what to wear and what to put in their backpack. This can make your morning routine much less stressful. [RELATED: How Parents Can Help With Elementary Homework Challenges] Get back into a school routine by offering support for back-to-school jitters Your child might be nervous, sad, excited, or feel a mixture of feelings before going back to schoolall of which are completely normal. It can be very helpful as a parent to guide them through or teach them strategies to process these emotions. You might encourage them to write in a journal, draw a picture, or simply spend some time talking about and acknowledging these feelings and any anxieties. It might be helpful to practice some mindfulness exercises, like meditation, deep breathing, or engaging in hobbies and exercising. Get back into a school routine by planning a future event your child will look forward to Especially if the back-to-school transition is nerve-wracking, take some time to plan a future event your child or your family collectively can look forward to. This helps ease the difficulty of returning to a less fun schedule. It can be a favorite meal, a field trip with the family, or an event related to your childs interests or hobbies. [RELATED: How Parents Can Help Students Setand AchieveAcademic Goals] Keep in mind that transitions are generally stressful, so there might be more arguments or heightened emotions during this time. Dont worrythis is normal. Just keep your lines of communication open and encourage your child to talk to you about worries, stresses, and thoughts as school starts again. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Reading Preparation English Writing Online Tutorpace

Reading Preparation English Writing Online Tutorpace Reading is one of the very important part of learning and understanding English. Reading is a part of many examinations such as TOEFL or IELTS and many more. The students in these examinations are expected to show their reading skills. There are passages given for reading and some questions following them. The student needs to answer the question and comprehend their answers. These reading passages are known as reading and comprehension. The students according to their grade or standard are given different levels of comprehensive passages. The reading skills of the student is tested in almost every English class. The key point the student needs to look for in reading is grammar. The students should be aware of the grammar rules so they can correct the sentences if required. It is recommended that the student practices many reading assignments to improve the reading skills. The best way to prepare of reading is to have more practice. While reading its suggested the student takes notes and write down the important points. The student needs to develop the ability to gaze across the passage and locate the answer for the question. In reading time management is very crucial. The students need to make sure they finish reading the passage and have enough time to answer the following questions. While answering the passage question the students need to sometimes comprehend their answer. Its suggested that the students use the information given in the passage while answering the comprehension questions. The students need to present their answer with the required explanation.

What Are the Best Japanese Magazines

What Are the Best Japanese Magazines What Is the Most Read Japanese Literature? ChaptersManga Publication MagazinesPopular Japanese Literature and MagazinesFind Japanese Anthologies, Postwar Novels and More in the UK!While Japanese authors and Japanese literature are all great ways to start learning about Japanese culture and history - magazine sales have been steadily declining. While great ways to learn about everything from Heian history facts or the Heian period to the latest in Kabuki fashion - magazine sales represent only 1% of media sales.The great thing about magazines, and not just those geared for Japanese people, is that everyone can appreciate and get taken in by their content: form the sober novelist to the busy 5th grader. Whether you’ll be moving to Japan, dream to visit one day or simply want to build up to reading your first novel in Japanese - picking from the dozens of genres of magazines can be an overwhelming venture. From comedy and sports magazines to those focusing on news or culture, the options are endless.If you're looking for some of the best literature written in Japan, here are some of the most popular magazines in Japan, as well as autobiographical novels, prolific authors and books that have won the Nobel Prize for literature.Stuck in a rut and don't know what to read? Try picking up some of Japan's most popular selections! 1 to 13 years of age. If you’re looking for great books by Japanese comics and graphic designers for children, start with Kodomo.Monthly Coro Coro Comic is a monthly magazine without specific numbered editions. This magazine is notorious for launching the now ubiquitous manga Pokémon.Shojo MangaIn Japanese, Shojo means little girl or young girl. Shojo manga is, naturally, a comic book aimed at young adults. These Japanese writers and illustrators usually touch upon themes on romance, especially those that happen in school.While mangas are typically distorted when they enter into the context of Western culture, Shojo mangas don’t feature any sort of drugs, sex or violence. The topi cs are light-hearted and suitable for children of all backgrounds. Here are the different types of magazines where you can find shojo manga:AriaBessatsu FriendBessatsu MargaretBetsucomiCheese!CobaltCookieHana to YumeEach of these comics come out either monthly or bi-monthly.Josei MangaWhether it be an import from classical Chinese literature, a female playwright Hasegawa Shigure or narratives about the Korean or Japanese government, there are plenty of adult themes that are typically dealt with in literature aimed at the young adult audience in Japan.Form Shikoku to Tokyo and Osaka, female authors, stories with Chinese characters, or historical accounts of the Edo period are consumed on everything from eBook  readers like Kobo to newspapers. Josei manga are graphic novels and comics aimed at young adult females aged 15 to 30 years old. The subject matters in Josei manga tend to cover more mature themes, including violence, sex, drugs, infidelity, rape, the mafia and more.The charact ers are less one-dimensional, with fully fleshed out story lines and more sombre personalities. These Kafka-esque mangas include:CocohanaCookieFeel GoodKissMonthly FlowersWritten under a pseudonym, about the Meiji era, dealing with patriotism or exploring the living conditions or pressures of Japanese women from Japanese society - these comics offer young adults a lot to learn and can be a great way to discovering the culture alongside seeing some of the best Japanese TV series!If you want to expand your reading selection, try checking out Japanese cultural centres for new books!Shonen MangaShonen manga is aimed at boys from 8 to 18 years old. The themes that this type of manga covers are generally friendship, team or group work, and self-expression. These stories are usually set in middle school or high school. You definitely won’t see topics such as Seppuku or stories about a pilgrimage in these mangas.Here are some of the most popular shonen manga:Comic Earth StarJump SquareMon thly Comic GardenMonthly Comic RushSeinen MantaLast but not least are seinen manga, targeted to men aged 15 to 30 years old. The style of writing in Seinen is definitely more in the style of realism then shonen with the utilization of motifs like defined grids, well-worked out layouts and more. While the artistic style is distinct form shonen, the two do borrow a lot from each other. The types of topics covered in these mangas are: sport, science fiction, historical fiction and comedy.There are tons of pre-publication magazines for seinen manga; here are some of the most popular ones:Weekly Young MagazineWeekly Young JumpBig Comic OriginalBig ComicWeekly MorningBig Comic SpiritsIf you’re interested in learning more about any of the previous mangas, make sure to check out Kodansha. This manga publisher is one of the biggest in the world and actually jump-started the now infamous Sailor Moon and many other forms of Japanese entertainment.Popular Japanese Literature and MagazinesFrom famous directors and films like Kurosawa’s Rashomon to various authors that have won the Nobel Prize in literature like Kazuo Ishiguro - Nihons, or Japan’s, entertainment capitals of Kyoto, Tokyo and more have put Japanese entertainment and media on the world map.However, mangas and Nobel Prize novels aren’t the only thing on the market these days. Here are some of the other Japanese language magazines you should check out if you’re interested in learning more.Beauty MagazinesThe advantage of picking up a beauty-oriented magazine is that you don’t necessarily even have to read Japanese fluently in order to follow the style tips and beauty tutorials available within these magazines.Japanese style is, of course, infamous for fixating itself on the kawaii, or cute - however, the reality of the country’s fashion is much more diverse. Japanese magazines in general are around 150 pages long and tend to have very little advertisement - apart from the products already being use d in the editorials. Here are some of the most popular beauty magazines on in Japan:MamagirlUpJellyViviPopteenElle JapanMusic MagazinesYou don’t have to live in Japan to get a peek up the latest trends in Japanese society. If you’re interested in discovering Japanese music, there are plenty of magazines available to get you started. Most notably, Music Magazine is full of interesting music selections and information.One of the most popular magazines on the subject in Japan, Music Magazine is comprised of articles that place Japan’s contemporary musical works in a political and social context. Records Collectors’ Magazine, or Recocole, is also a great place to start.Society and Culture MagazinesIf you’re curious about Japanese society and culture, not just in the capital but in the whole of the country, starting with Japanese entertainment is one of the best ways to start learning. With topics covering sports, news and politics - Japanese magazines offer a glimpse at what l iving in Japan is like.Bungeishunju is a great example of a society and culture magazine. Created by Japanese writer Kan Kikuchi in 1923, it covered topics from a more conservative angle and its tone greatly supported the emperor. Dozens of articles written by journalists, writers, researchers and essayists have made the magazine not only popular but also subject to a number of literary prizes.Shukan Shincho and Shukan Gendai are also great magazines to start reading about sports, politics or celebrity drama!Reading Japanese classics can give you insight into the language, culture and more!Find Japanese Anthologies, Postwar Novels and More in the UK!If you want to start reading more Japanese series or novels in the UK, here are some of the books you should pick up at your local bookstore.Tale of Genji, or Genji, is a classic work written by the noblewoman  Murasaki Shikibu in the 11th centuryMonogatari is a Japanese series written by Nisio Isin and illustrated by Taiwanese VofanMish ima, the pen name of actor, author and model Kimitake HiraokaConfessions, written by Kanae Minato, is a contemporary bestsellerWind Up Bird Chronicle, or Wind Up, is a novel written by Haruki Murakami and set in TokyoSpring Snow, written by Yukio Mishima, is another classic Japanese novel and the first in the Sea of Fertility tetralogySnow Country was written through 1937 and is one of those Post-war, regional classics

3 step strategy to mastering your emotions - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 3 step strategy to mastering your emotions - Introvert Whisperer 3 step strategy to mastering your emotions We all get emotional sometimes. That’s the way we are built. Some people would like to turn off their emotions. They think that if they could just do that, then they will be superhuman. The thing is, that probably won’t work. You see, emotions were there before logic and the brain relies on them to make even the most basic decisions. For that reason, when emotions are turned off, for example by brain damage, we don’t become superhuman at all. Instead, we can’t even make the most basic decisions. So, you’d be better off saying we end up being sub-human. So, if you can’t turn them off, then the only real choice is to learn how to ‘master’ them. Why I put ‘master’ in quotation marks Since the ancients Greeks, people have compared emotions to animals and our logical systems to their riders. The more we understand about our emotions, the bigger the animal has seemed to become. Jonathan Haidt, in his book the Happiness Hypothesis, goes to the extreme of saying that our emotions are actually an elephant. What he means with that is that our emotions are much, much bigger than our logical systems and if they want to go in one way and your logic would prefer to go in another, well then you’re going the way of your emotions. That sounds depressing. It shouldn’t be. Because people do ride elephants. They even get them to do a whole lot of stuff, like push down trees and lug lots of weight around. The trick? Don’t try to dominate them, but work with them instead. Once you start to do that you can nudge them in the direction you actually want to go. Step one: Recognize your emotions You know that saying ‘deal with the elephant in the room’? Well, when you’re feeling emotions that are what you need to. Since you can’t suppress them and you can’t ignore them, you should instead recognize them for what they are. Because only once you know what the elephant is called will you know what you need to do to lessen their impact or at least steer it towards less self-destructive impulses. At the same time, realize that you aren’t your emotions. Emotions can be overwhelming and all-consuming. None the less, they come and they go, while you’re always there. You might be angry right now, but that too will fade. And then you’re left dealing with the fallout. Step two: Consider your emotions What you need to understand is that you can’t understand why you do things when you feel an emotion when you’re not feeling that emotion. This is called the empathy gap and it’s why people that aren’t depressed can’t understand why depressed people don’t try harder. Similarly, it is why people who aren’t upset think other people are overreacting. What this means is that you can make a lot of promises when you’re not feeling a certain way, only to break all of them the moment you feel another. The way around them is to learn to take a step back when you’re feeling an emotion. Take a breath and consider how you’re feeling. Talk about it with somebody or write it down. Describe the emotion and what it wants to make you do. Discuss the consequences and then decide if that’s actually the right path for you. You can even start a dialogue. Write about what you’re feeling when you’re feeling it. Then respond to that emotional state when you’re no longer feeling that way. Remember that empathy gap. It means you’ll struggle to understand yourself and might even think that what you said while in the throes of an emotion is stupid or embarrassing. Try not to be judgmental. Focus on getting what you’re trying to say on paper. Even if you are one of the professional college paper writers, there is no need to sweat the grammar and the spelling when you’re caught in the throes of your emotions. Use stick figures, your own private language, or finger painting. Step three: Nudge your way towards better behavior The more you consider your emotions you’ll come to understand them better. You’ll figure out what is really triggering your emotions. You might even realize that what you’re feeling is actually a mask for deeper emotions. In those cases, they are far more symptomatic than anything else. From there you can then start to change your behavior. For example, you can start to avoid triggers. Or you can become aware of what they are and take steps to calm yourself down when they do occur. Then, over time and with effort, you can change the flow of your emotions to different, more constructive, channels. You should be aware, though, that this will take time. Often, our emotional reactions are learned early and often learned without our conscious awareness. That means that you’ll have to undo a lifetime of behavior. That’s a long-term process. So don’t be too hard on yourself. Instead, celebrate the little successes and when you backslide, simply try again. Otherwise, all you’ll end up feeling is angry and disappointed. And those aren’t very nice emotions. Remember the elephant Our lives are lived on the back of an elephant which is our subconscious and our emotional reactivity. If you ignore that, then you won’t understand who you are. If you fight that you’ll end up being carried off into the jungle without any real control. If, on the other hand, you understand that and accept it, then you can yoke your emotions and your logic together into a masterful team that can overcome any problem â€" be it office politics or how to network. For the truth is that nobody ever succeeds despite their emotions. Instead, they do so because of them. Bio: Luisa Brenton is a brand developer in the past; mom, educational blogger in the present. She writes in a variety of venues â€" academic, business, and psychology. Find more on Facebook and Twitter. Image credit: pixabay.com Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

When, and When Not, to Hire a Private Tutor

When, and When Not, to Hire a Private Tutor Improving Academic Performance Much as an athlete benefits from a good coach, a student can reap incredible benefits from a supportive tutor. Tutoring, in many ways, is similar to coaching: it requires relationship building, positive reinforcement, support, and a true, unwavering interest in a student’s success. The right tutor can be the difference between struggle and success. With a willing and coachable student, a tutor can identify weaknesses, build confidence, and act as a constant support. There are many instances when hiring a tutor can be beneficial, including: When you need a nudge Let’s face it: something like standardized test prep can be monotonous. A dynamic tutor can not only bring some levity to a dull task, but can also install a sense of determination in the student. Creative, committed tutors take their work seriously and are truly invested in the success of the student. Having this kind of “teammate” and motivator can help push the student through a challenging and often tedious time. When school is overwhelming No matter the grade level, school can be daunting. Particularly in this age of constant projects and assignments even over breaks (thanks, technology), having a support system and an advocate to help you manage the stress is vital. A private tutor can provide help with all subjects and any assignment, no matter the size. When you need to get organized Tutors do much more than just show you tricks or shortcuts. From study skills to effective school habits, the breadth of a tutor’s capacity to help is wider than we often think. Tutors can help you do everything from take more effective notes to annotating literature to teaching you how to keep your materials in order and use academic calendars. Much like a mentor, a tutor invests in all aspects of a student’s academic workload, ensuring a smooth, organized experience. When you’ve tried the usual suspects If you’ve gone to teachers for extra help, been in study groups, and spent time in the library studying but you’re still struggling, a tutor might be just what you need. No man is an island; asking for help is often seen as a weakness in our society, but consider this famous proverb: “he who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.” A good tutor may just be the answer you’ve been looking for. When you’re almost there Let’s say you are a junior in high school; it’s the second half of the year and you’ve taken the ACT twice, done well, but feel that you haven’t quite hit your goal. You’re close, but recruiting a professional to your team might be the missing link. Adding a tutor’s expertise to your already strong performance and knowledge base could push you over the top and signal the end of your standardized test journey and the beginning of more exciting things, like college. When you’re ready to ask for help Tutors have seen it all: don’t think your struggle is too great to bring to a good tutor. Know that tutors are invested in helping you. They are not there to judge or to point out your weakness, but rather to help you see your strengths and work from a positive perspective. Tutors are accessible and truly want to help, so don’t be afraid or feel embarrassed to seek them out. The only stigma that should be attached to having a tutor is a positive one: the fact that you’ve got a staunch supporter in your corner. When you need personalization You can do every online practice test under the sun yet still feel that you’re lacking that ever-important sense of rapport and human interaction. Tutors are skilled at building relationships and forming bonds. Bonding with your practice book is a little harder, not to mention it can feel far too clinical. Bringing some humanity to the process can really inject some much-needed feeling into an all-too-often impersonal experience. Just as there are times when hiring a tutor can provide marked benefits, there are also those in which a tutor might not be the answer, such as: When it’s more than academics There are times when school problems might involve more than just grades and studying. If you are, for instance, struggling with situations at home or emotional challenges, it might not be the best time to bring a tutor on board. It is important to deal with any outlying issues first, using resources at your school and in your community. Then you can turn your focus to academic concerns. When you’re logistically uncertain Often we have the best of intentions in hiring a tutor. However, being realistic about your investment and your ability to stick to it is also important. If, for example, you cannot commit to a consistent program of tutoring due to sports or other obligations, you might want to rethink making that investment or wait until it is more doable. This article is written by Phil Lane who is a blog writer for iAchieve Learning. Phil holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English with a concentration in Writing, and has also done post-grad work in Secondary Education and Adolescent Psychology. iAchieve Learning specializes in one-on-one tutoring for all ages and subjects, test prep for the ACT and SAT, music lessons for a wide variety of instruments, and academic coaching for students who struggle with executive functioning skills.

How to Succeed in any Math Class

How to Succeed in any Math Class A challenging math class is a veritable rite of passage for students across the world. Working on problem sets late into the night can be frustrating, but most of us who have been through the gauntlet can recall moments of triumph when a particularly tricky concept is understood at last. Here at AJ, it is the mission of our mathematics departments to make our students’ first engagements with math as enjoyable and rewarding as they can be. In this article, I’ll discuss some wisdom gleaned from working with hundreds of Bay Area math students.First off, the most critical advice I can give to students is to engage actively with their homework assignments as a means of deepening conceptual understanding and preparing for successful test-taking. Students, parents, and tutors understand that assignments should be completed regularly in order to learn the material effectively. Doing so is essential, but for many students it is ultimately too shallow a level of engagement. You can read mo re about our math tutoring approach here.Students and parents often share that they feel that tests and quizzes do not reflect the difficulty or style of homework problems. Students complete the homework, feel comfortable with the problems, study diligently, yet they walk away from tests feeling blindsided. How can we address this? Here are some tips:Complete assignments regularly and on time. There is no substitute for consistent practice, though I will discuss ways to build upon it.Be aware of what topics you are responsible for knowing. This might sound obvious, but this information creates a list of goals and objectives that can guide learning and test preparation.Think actively about assignments. Teachers assign problems carefullyâ€"consider what concepts or skills were tested for each question. Create outlines to address critical thinking questions and word problems, especially harder questions. For example, you might categorize the question based on learning objectives or tec hniques that were required. Take special note of questions that combine multiple concepts.Students frequently feel that test questions are not representative of homework assignments. There are certainly times where students are tested on their problem solving ability and their improvisational skills. However, more often than not it is that the problems have been disguised or modified so that students need to think while working problems rather than relying on rote memorization. Points #3 and #4 above encourage students to apply metacognition to their learning and preparation.It can be difficult to implement points #3 and #4 in practice (especially #4). Generally, students should not attempt these tasks until they are capable of solving the associated problems without assistance.A technique that can help with point #3 is for a student to ask herself, “Why did my teacher assign these questions?” Ideally, a student can look at a homework problem and say, “This question is relevan t because. . .” This level of familiarity with questions will improve recall and allow students to work more quickly and efficiently in test scenarios.Point #4 is trickier, but ultimately once a student can comfortably solve a word problem she can begin to consider which parts of the solution are most important in the context of their current chapter or unit. Be careful not to be overly specific. The goal is not to plan solutions entirely in advance but rather to deconstruct hard problems into easier problems and to look for patterns in our solutions. This task should provide students with a foundation of problems that they can solve while allowing the flexibility to adapt to problems that look different.The student’s teacher is a great resource because teachers, knowing the exams, can indicate which topics to prioritize. The textbook is also an excellent resource as it will often have categorized questions by topic. Additionally, our tutoring team is an excellent resource becau se 1-on-1 tutoring is highly effective in demonstrating, in a customized way, how students can categorize questions or how they can develop plans of attack for tougher questions.AJ can support students and families by modeling the above behaviors in sessions. Our tutors are very experienced and can generally match problems to previously defined categories on the fly. Walking our students through this process will help improve their confidence and their conceptual understanding. We can also help by reminding students that thoughtful engagement with practice material is a long term strategy and will take time to develop.A final piece of advice for math students new and experienced alike: learn to be comfortable even in the face of uncertainty. It’s easier said than done, of course, but it is an invaluable skill. The strategies listed previously can go a long way.