How to Prepare for the SSAT

How to Prepare for the SSAT The following piece was written by Wendy Williams. Wendy is the founder of Williams Educational Consultants and is a national expert on the SSAT. If you are looking at placing your student into a private school, then you will need to have your child take The Secondary School Admission Test, or the SSAT. Many private schools require this exam as part of their application process. Although this test is an important ingredient in an applicants file, it is not the only thing that the admissions office looks at in evaluating applicants. However, it is important that families understand what the SSAT is testing as well as options on testing environments. The SSAT is an admission test that is administered by the SSAT Board to students who are in grades 3-11. This test helps determine placement into independent or private elementary, middle, and high schools. There are three different levels of the test. The first of these is the Elementary level and is for students who are in grades 3 and 4 who are applying to grades 4 and 5. The next is the Middle level for students in grades 5-7 who are applying for grades 6-8, and the last level, Upper Level, is designed for students in grades 8-11 who are applying for grades 9-12. This test measures student ability, regardless of school record. The SSAT consists of two parts. One is multiple choice that includes Verbal, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics. The second part is an un-scored writing sample. The essay is not graded, but a copy is sent to schools that the student applies to. The Verbal section of the test has vocabulary questions, verbal reasoning questions, and tests ability to relate ideas logically. It is 30 minutes long and includes 30 synonym and 30 analogy questions. The Reading Comprehension section tests a students ability to understand passages they are reading. It is 40 minutes long and has 40 questions. The math questions test ability to solve problems that involve algebra, geometry and arithmetic. This portion has two 30-minute sections with 25 questions each. There will be word problems and equations. Students should be as prepared to take the test as possible. Encourage your student and study together. It is important to practice, but also not too put too much pressure on the student. The SSAT publishes a book of full-length practice tests called Preparing and Applying for the Middle and Upper Level SSAT (grades 5-11). This is a great book to help a student feel comfortable taking the test because they will get to read tips and practice. They will get a better idea of what to expect once test day comes.The book also includes tips for using time effectively and scoring explanations. Another way to prepare is looking through students current schoolbooks as well as brushing up on math and vocabulary. When it comes to scoring, the student does not have to answer every question on the test to score well. According to the SSAT website, the score is determined by subtracting a percentage of the wrong answers from the number of right answers. One point is received for every correct answer and one fourth of a point is taken away for every wrong answer. If a question is skipped, there will not be any points lost. If a student cannot make an educated guess about an answer, its better just to skip that question. After SSAT scores are determined, students will receive a report of their scores for each section, along with percentile rankings for each area that will compare them with students of the same grade and gender.Students can send the results to private schools they would like to apply to. All schools have their own requirements for SSAT scores. There are eight national testing dates for the SSAT. A student may take the exam as often as they would like to. However, I suggest that students should not test more than three times in an academic year. In addition to the national testing sites, there are other options for students to take this exam. Students are allowed to take a SSAT Flex test once per academic year. Wendy Williams runs Williams Educational Consultingandoffers flex SSAT options.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Great Depression

The Great Depression What Caused The Great Depression? ChaptersThe Run-UpDepression: the Immediate Aftermath of the Market CrashThe Great Depression’s Effects Around the WorldWhat Happened in Our Land?Generally, when talking about the Great Depression, people tend to see it as an American economic event when, in fact, it affected many countries. Actually, several countries suffered the depression’s aftereffects long after America had more or less recovered!That’s not to say that the American Stock Market crash of 1929 was directly responsible for individual countries’ long-term economic woes but that event was, at the least, the catalyst that led to that global economic downturn.Today, when one hears that term, thoughts of 2008 bring shudders.As worrisome and impactful as that recent event was, it doesn’t compare in magnitude to the economic disaster of nearly a century ago.Let us now explore what caused this epic event, how it echoed around the world and affected our grandparents.aggregate expenditure led to lower income and g reater unemployment â€" an unsustainable economic scenario.2. The Monetarist stance pins the start of the Great Depression on the banking crisis that caused one-third of American banks to disappear overnight.Both of these theories place the lion’s share of the blame squarely on the Federal Reserve.The Federal Reserve, the United States’ central banking system, had only been established some 16 years prior to the 1929 event, ironically as a result of a series of similar â€" but not so serious financial panics.Nevertheless, even with this magnificent economic collapse in sight, The Fed neither lowered interest rates nor did they increase cash circulation.The net result was a country-wide panic. Investors, speculators and anyone who any money in the bank rushed to withdraw it before it could disappear.Lessons learned: that is why, during the 2008-09 downturn, the American government flooded the market with bailouts and lowered interest rates!That rush rippled onto the larger stage of national finance: with everyone hoping to sell their shares of stock and nobody buying anything, the market could do nothing but crash.In a general consensus today, every economist agrees with either the Keynesian or Monetarist view. However, there are other schools of thought, one of which in particular bears mentioning.Although America did not actively get involved with World War I until the last year, its economy saw a boom by supporting the war effort â€" even more so when Americans finally joined in the fighting.In the years immediately after, the country enjoyed great leaps in engineering and innovation: Henry Ford’a Model A was cheap enough for even poor people to afford one, albeit on credit. Whirlpool marketed the first washing machine and, in 1918, William Durant started mass-producing refrigerators for the home.All of these modern conveniences were well with the reach of most households and the economy hummed along as consumers bought and bought.The only trouble was that cars, washers, and refrigerators are considered durable goods: they don’t wear out quickly or need to be replaced very often.Unfortunately, speculation at that time did not involve consideration of what would happen once every household had a car, a fridge, and a washer; that people would simply stop buying â€" causing factories to over-produce, a lethal combination that would bring the economy to a screeching halt.The fact that stock prices started falling in early September, well ahead of the actual stock market crash in late October lends credence to this theory.It is called the Austrian School; a school of economic thought that posits that individuals are largely responsible for such social phenomena.No matter which theory you subscribe to â€" or if you contend that there is truth in all three, the Federal Reserve bears the brunt of the responsibility for Black Tuesday.A run on the bank in New York in the first days of the depression. Source: WikipediaDepression: the Imme diate Aftermath of the Market CrashThe Stock Market crash of 1929 marked the start of a ten-year stretch of extreme poverty in the US.Unemployment hovered at around 30% and even farms felt the pinch: who would buy wholesale meat and grain when nobody had any money?And, as the depression circle the globe, other countries had to abandon formerly beneficial trade agreements to contain their own financial disasters.American agriculture was further stymied by the dust bowl conditions that plagued the nation’s heartland. The richest, most fertile soil had been reduced to dust by years of poor farming practices and severe drought.As we saw in the run-up to the 2008 event, economic activity that heralded the Great Depression included generous loans based on optimistic speculation.By the early 1930s, farmers, including those in the dust bowl region, could no longer meet their loan obligations, meaning that, one by one, banks started to fold, another reason for the aforementioned run on the banks.Politically, President Herbert Hoover quickly fell out of favour because the hungry, desperate population believed he was not doing enough to turn things around. Franklin Roosevelt won the 1932 presidential election in a landslide victory.Immediately he set to work restoring the economy through stimulus packages aimed at banks and major industries. With his New Deal, he put the country back to work: building roads, monuments, and city parks.All across the country, you could see the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps, rebuilding America one stone and shovelful at a time.President Roosevelt didn’t just turn the economy around with his three Rs; he gave his citizens a sense of pride and purpose.How were other countries faring during that time?The Great Depression’s Effects Around the WorldTo one extent or the other, every country around the world, rich or poor felt the effects of America’s financial fall.Except for Russia. At that time the globe's only truly communist country, it relied little on foreign economies. However, it was happy to welcome immigrants from Germany and Finland, who helped industrialise the Soviet Union.Bear   in mind that Russia had just recovered from its civil war, an outgrowth of the Russian Revolution that brought Lenin to power.The Depression so rattled Germany that the Weimar Republic could not meet its debt repayment obligations incurred by World War I. The situation was compounded by America withdrawing its financial support.That, coupled with social turmoil stirred by rising Nazi sentiment led to German banks’ collapse. They lost millions in currency just within the first two weeks of June 1931.President Hoover’s call to suspend Germany’s debt payments did not sit well with France, a country that, on the whole, was weathering the downturn fairly well â€" in part thanks to Germany’s payments.Between suspending the war payments and emergency funding from private banks, among them the Bank of England, Germany was eventually able to pull itself out of its economic crisis, but not before the it extended to Romania and Hungary.In the absence of speculation and trade with Europe, America attempted to stem its financial haemorrhage while simultaneously unloading over-produced goods and agricultural products by trying to sell them to European countries.However, the Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act of 1922  put a hefty duty on agricultural products that was meant to protect the American economy had the reverse effect: European trading partners levied tariffs of their own that America could not meet.As a result of what America perceived as retaliatory tariffs, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff became law in 1930, kicking off a trade war which prolonged the Great Depression in that country.Thus at a stalemate, American farmers and, on a bigger scale the American economy took far longer to recover economically than European countries, whose agricultural sector had by then recovered enough to produce sufficient f ood for their citizens.Food was a matter of contention for colonists in early America; it was but one reason for the American Revolution!More than 2 million workers found themselves suddenly unemployed when the Great Depression hit the UK Source: Wikipedia Credit: BundesarchivWhat Happened in Our Land?Manchester, Liverpool; coal districts and all of the northern industrialised regions were hardest hit by the global economic depression, feeling its effects nearly instantaneously.Unemployment more than doubled by the end of 1929 while in the northeastern regions, those figures reached 70% due to the shipbuilding industry’s virtual collapse in 1932-33.Critically, the Labour government, led by Ramsey McDonald, agreed with the May Report that a budget deficit must be avoided at all costs. In spite of more than 3 million unemployed workers and about half of the citizenry depending on the dole, his government raised taxes and cut unemployment benefits by 20%.Out of work and out of money, the people took to the streets: the 1932 National Hunger March was the first in a series of such demonstrations that ultimately forced the government’s hand into setting up work camps so that men could once again earn their living.One more event impacted the severity of Britain’s great Slump and the global Depression: the abandonment of the gold standard.Economists and historians assert that measuring individual currencies against the gold standard was one of the causes of the Great Depression. They further aver that abandoning that rigid standard helped bring about economic recovery. In fact, doing so was one of the famous events in world history where economics is concerned!The UK was the first to leave the gold standard; other major economies soon followed our lead.Looking back on that decisive action â€" valuing currencies on international money markets rather than against how much gold each country had in reserve, proved that the sooner a nation gave up the gold standard, the sooner they recovered economically.Sandwiched between two world wars was a time of amazing industrial progress, fantastic economic growth and a stupendous amassing of personal wealth: who could blame anyone for believing such progress could trend but upward?And then, along came the perfect storm of factors:overly optimistic speculationgenerous credit termsover-production of durable goodshigh agricultural outputno banking oversightloss of confidence in institutions â€" banks and the stock marketAs Americans enjoyed the Roaring Twenties, nobody saw the meltdown coming... but, for years afterwards, everyone around the world felt its effects!And, while nobody would say that the Second World War was a boon on any level, it certainly lifted the economy out of depression!

Violin Quotes to Motivate You!

Violin Quotes to Motivate You! What's The Best Way To Keep Passionate About Learning The Violin? ChaptersHow Can Quotes Help Motivate You With the Violin?Famous Quotes About the ViolinMotivating Phrases About MusicQuotes About Violin TrainingContrary to how it may seem, being a violinist is not an easy job. Their goal is to make us believe that playing this stringed instrument is a breeze, but it is not the case. Indeed, like many musical instruments, the violin requires a real work ethic, as it is a long and sometimes tedious road to one day achieving success, having the chance to be part of a philharmonic orchestra, or putting out a classical CD for example.Listening to music, along with watching tv and reading are the favourite pastimes of the UK (spending about 15 hours a week doing so). It would be interesting to look at the learning strategies of our favourite musicians to see what are the basis of their philosophies and training.One of the basic ideas for musicians is to be able to motivate themselves, without losing sight of the pleasure that music provides when listened to, but also when played, be it in a concerto, a string quartet, a symphony orchestra, or an international competition. What are some quotes and phrases that can help motivate those of us who choose to learn this beautiful and challenging stringed instrument as we continue to work daily on our virtuosity and harmony?Keep your passion alive an read the best novels about the violin. TomViolin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StacyViolin Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtieViolin Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BenedictViolin Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaisiiaViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AmyViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuísViolin Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoViolin Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Can Quotes Help Motivate You With the Violin?An instrument that, while at first might scare us with its complexity, can actually be a real object of happiness for most musicians! (Source: Pixabay)It's a fact that, whether it's wind instruments, string instruments, ancient instruments, or percussion, practising music requires real work. However, hard work does not need to be a bad thing, in fact, it can be quite the contrary. Working hard to improve your musical skills can be beneficial, allowing you to gain self-confidence, to feel proud to have played Schuman or Tchaikovsky, and allowing you to improve your knowledge of music in general.Nevertheless, and this is normal, sometimes motivation can decline. The desire to play the strings might no longer there, the virtuoso who lives inside you has seemed to take a nap, and Beethoven is just no longer your favourite composer. Between the bass, clarinet, oboe or trombone, almost all musical instruments are subject to the same work ethic principles, which inevitably can lead at times to a lack of motivation.It is at this precise moment that the various ways of finding motivation come into play. Famous composers (Brahms, Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Berlioz, Van Beethoven, etc.) can become our inspiration to reach towards, our loved ones can encourage us, or quotes, small phrases on the fly, can actually be quite powerful!Indeed, these little mantras, on music, the violin, motivation, or training, have the ability to be quite universal, and can help us to sometimes see the violin in a new light, through the prism of values that are beautiful, encouraging, or even challenging, and help our desire to continue progressing in our musical endeavour! But which are the best phrases to help us find our passion again with our violin lessons?Famous Quotes About the ViolinA small musical instrument plus a bow, and suddenly we're ready to make beautiful music! (Source: Pixabay)Among the thousands of motivating and inspiring phrases one can find, there are few w ho include the violin as their primary subject, probably because it is more music in itself which has the most universal quotations. However, there are some quotes where the violin is placed on a pedestal, which gives us great pleasure to share with you today!Happiness is an art to practice, like the violin - John LubbockHere, the violin is taken as a real tool for happiness. It involves a strong comparison, which tells us that music (and, in this case, the violin and the practice of this instrument) leads to joy and happiness, through hard work. So one must not get discouraged, but instead keep working, to hopefully one day reach this nirvana!Like playing the violin or the piano, thinking requires a daily practice - Charlie ChaplinThis sentence is especially interesting for what it represents and what it symbolizes. Indeed, it deals with the basic idea, that to achieve a goal, you must work at it every day. Whether it be the piano, cello, fiddle, saxophone or violin, your hard effo rts will pay off!Google for  violin lessons London  now.If the violin is the most perfect musical instrument, then the Greek language is the violin of human thought - Helen KellerIn this quote, it is the first part especially that interests us. Helen Keller assumes that the violin can be considered a perfect musical instrument. This could sure help motivate us to continue to strive for as close to perfection as we can become!Watch the best violin movies!Motivating Phrases About MusicViolin and music are two big themes, where motivation strongly comes into play. It is important to stay the course and not get discouraged! (Source: Pixabay)If there are motivating quotations about the violin, there are certainly many more quotes on music in general, which can help to encourage us to take up one's stradivarius, and to play Vivaldi, Mozart or Brahms with his bow. As music is a more universal theme, it can also be more unifying, with many more people around the world who have written about it. Here is a selection of some of our favourites, not an exhaustive list, of course!We do not sell music. We share it - Leonard BernsteinAs you can see here, music is seen as a real art, more than a consumer product, and this is a good thing! It's best to start with beautiful values, and enjoying the good feelings it brings, like sharing, to make you want to learn and create music. To make inspired music is a goal, whether it be with the flute, guitar or violin!Music is a revelation higher than any wisdom and philosophy - Ludwig Van BeethovenA true tribute to the art of music, and, by extension, the violin, which honours all the hard work and efforting to progress in this domain. Indeed, by putting music above all else, Ludwig Van Beethoven (what a great name) sanctifies his practice which inspires us even more!Music is the language of emotions - Emmanuel KantFrom a point of view a little more poetic and sensitive, Emmanuel Kant (no longer with us) gives us a motivating phrase for the music lovers amongst us. Indeed, through playing the violin, we can find ourselves conveying messages and deep feelings, whether they be about love, friendship, etc. A nice way to motivate yourself to play!Life without music is simply a mistake, a boredom, an exile - Friedrich NietzscheHere we have a very Manichean perspective, but also very beautiful at the same time. Indeed, it is true that, even if practising the violin involves hard work, or discouragement, the success and joy of achievement in playing its beautiful notes is an incredible feeling, which Nietzsche understood well.Music brightens the places where it is heard - Julien GreenAnother very motivating phrase for all violin lovers. In fact, when you hear, and by extension, play the violin, everything becomes more beautiful, more pleasant, more alive. A great quote to inspire anyone feeling a little discouraged while learning the violin, and, as they say, music soothes the soul!Quotes About Violin TrainingLike all mu sical instruments, the violin requires hard work. But to then be able to play such beautiful pieces, it is often worth it! (Source: Pixabay)It is a fact, that we sometimes tend to forget, that playing music often involves hard work. A Beethoven sonata, a violin concerto in D major or professionals in a Paris orchestra were not created overnight, quite the contrary. It took many hours of work, discouragement, and motivation to arrive at such beauty in music.That's why hard work is a necessity when it comes to the violin, and in order to become a good violinist. And yes, being able to play Mozart or Liszt has a price, which is a lot of effort!One only learns through making mistakes - Turkish proverbA quote which could not be truer and applies to many situations in everyday life as well as violin practice. Indeed, playing an instrument well is not innate, and you will have to make mistakes and work hard to progress and get there properly!Whoever is happy to learn will become a master o ne day - Persian proverbAnother proverb, but this one is also very telling when it comes to being inspired by hard work. Indeed, through working and practising, we improve, but we can also and above all aspire to become a great musician, maybe recognized, and whose work is appreciated!Work is a treasure for men - AesopTo place work as a value and an endeavour that is precious, such is the position of Aesop, puts work in a very positive light. Working involves harvesting what you sow, often for the better. Work can be healthy!In short, through the help of some beautiful quotations, we can be successful in motivating ourselves to continue learning the violin, and music in general. The violin is a beautiful instrument, and should not be dropped or put to the side without serious thought. It takes courage and persistence - and perhaps the help of violin teachers near me to hang in there through the ups and downs but it is so worth it!

GMAT Blog Launch

GMAT Blog Launch GMAT MBA Admissions Blog Mark here, co-founder and Managing Tutor of MyGuru. This post is the official launch of MyGuru's GMAT blog. Each of MyGuru's founders, Mark (that's me), Jon, and Karthik scored 700+ on the GMAT and attended top 10 business schools, so GMAT prep and business school admission are areas of expertise for us. We'd like to share our thoughts, advice, tips, and warnings about GMAT prep and the business school admissions process. We plan to cover topics such as: Understanding the relative weighting school's place on the GMAT and what that implies for prioritizing your time as you consider business school How to develop a study plan Whether and when to use GMAT classes, online prep tools, private tutors, or 1-1 prep Common pitfalls of the studying process Techniques, tips, and tricks for each section of the test Tips for breaking through conceptual barriers to score 700+ Test day advice And much more Please check back once a week or so for our latest thinking, and feel free to emailinfo@myguruedge.comif you have any questions about GMAT prep or the business school admissions process â€" we’ll happily get back to you with thoughts and advice based on our experiences.

Learn the Inifinitive or Gerund in 5 days

Learn the Inifinitive or Gerund in 5 days Do you still have problems with the gerund or infinitive forms? Take 5 days and finally master this tricky English grammar bit and learn English grammar by Skype.All English verbs (except for modals and other static  verbs which do not have gerunds or participles) make the inflected form in -ing regularly. Thus go makes going, read makes reading, fail makes failing, and so on. In certain cases there are spelling changes, such as doubling of consonants (as in sit ? sitting) or omission of mute e (as in change ? changing). For details of these rules, see LOI English spelling guide.We use  gerunds  (verbs followed by ing):  after certain verbs: I enjoy singing.  after prepositions: I called you before leaving.-as the subject or object of a sentence: I love swimming. Swimming is really good for you.We use  to + infinitive:  after certain verbs: We decided to leave.  after many adjectives: Its hard to say goodbye.  to show purpose: I came to Bali to relax.The most difficult part of decidi ng to use the gerund or infinitive is knowing which verbs are followed by the -ing and which are followed by the to+verb. The best option is to memorize the most commonly used. Start by memorizing the list below. I recommend writing a new sentence using each and then taking the quiz at the bottom.These verbs are followed with a gerund or a verb taking the -ing form:enjoy I enjoyed  living  in France fancy I fancy  seeing  a film tonight discuss We discussed  going  on holiday together dislike I dislike  waiting  for buses finish Weve finished  preparing  for the meeting mind I dont mind  coming  early suggest He suggested  staying  at the Grand Hotel recommend They recommended  meeting  earlier keep He kept  working, although he felt ill avoid She avoided  talking  to her bossThese verbs are followed by the infinitive or the to+verb form:agree She agreed  to give  a presentation at the meeting ask* I asked  to leave  early / I asked him  to leave  early decide We decided  to go  out for dinner help* He helped  to clean  the kitchen / he helped his flat mate  to clean  the kitchen plan She plans  to buy  a new flat next year hope I hope  to pass  the exam learn They are learning  to sing want* I want  to come  to the party / I want him  to come  to the party would like* I would like  to see  her tonight / I would like you  to see  her tonight promise We promised not  to be  lateNow take the Quiz.Next  watch the video and do the exercise.Finally  read through the below chart and complete the exercises.Lastly,  take a lesson with LOI English. Here are three  different lessons that help you learn the Gerund or Infinitive forms.The Kid PresidentandWorked to DeathandRefugees and Migrants Entering Europe

Top Teach Abroad Locations for Winter Sports

Top Teach Abroad Locations for Winter Sports By Kathy DeadyTeaching English abroad isn’t all beachside classrooms and sun-drenched siestas. Teach Away also places hundreds of teachers in countries where the mountains are the locals’ backyard and snow sports are a way of life. To mark the start of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, here are our top five teach abroad locations for action on the slopes - don’t forget to pack your goggles!1. JapanA clue to how big snow sports are in Japan is that there are over 500 ski resorts here, around as many as there are in the States, but in a country a fraction of the size. The popular Hokkaido region benefits from a Siberian weather front, which blesses the surrounding mountains with some of the fluffiest and deepest powder anywhere in the world. Ski packages and lift passes are surprisingly affordable, too.Japan is a teaching abroad hotspot, offering a wide range of teaching options in most towns and cities. ESL instructors are suitable for paid roles in both public and private schools , as well as private language colleges. Many adults and students enroll in private tuition after school or work, so there’s also the possibility of tutoring outside of your usual hours.2. KazakhstanKazakhstan is one of the up and coming ski and snowboard destinations of the future. There is already a choice of great, basic skiing areas surrounding Almaty city, which have so far escaped huge hoards of seasonal tourists and boast largely untouched snowfall. Plans have recently been approved to transform a large alpine area into several new, eco-friendly resorts with international appeal.Kazakhstan is an ideal location for professional teachers and ESL instructors alike when considering teaching abroad. Despite many misconceptions about this incredible country, cities are technologically advanced, urban living standards are exceptional and the economy is booming. Education initiatives are passionate about their schools and offer teachers competitive packages.3. MoroccoSurprised to se e Morocco on the list? That’s understandable. While the North African country isn’t known for its winter sports, we’ve included it for providing a novel and memorable ski opportunity. There is one main and impressive ski area in Morocco, Oukaimden, which is to the south of Marrakech. Don’t expect the runs to be as well groomed as you may be used to, but this is part of the fun. Although there are chair lifts, you’ll also find a unconventional, if very touristy, alternative to getting to the top of the hill - by donkey. There are a couple of smaller locations to the south and east with unpredictable snowfall and rudimentary facilities.Due to a government drive to improve literacy rates, there are a rising number of ESL teaching positions in Morocco, especially in urban areas surrounding Marrakech, Fes and the capital, Rabat. If you’re considering teaching in Morocco, it’s definitely an advantage to have some knowledge of conversational French or Arabic for day-to-day li ving and to fully appreciate the rich and vibrant culture.4. FranceThe magnificent Alps draw thousands of avid skiers from around the globe every year, and it’s easy to see why. Hundreds of high class resorts mean miles of exciting terrain to explore, including some of the world’s most challenging runs. The French also take apres-ski very seriously and end a day on the slopes by enjoying fondue, cured meats and wine with friends.Schools in France normally expect their ESL teachers to have a few years’ experience of teaching English to children. Basic French language skills are also considered a bonus, but this is not essential. There are short and long term opportunities with adult private language schools in Lyon and Marseille and the surrounding commuter towns, which are within reach of popular skiing areas. Read about Beck’s experience of teaching English in France here.5. RussiaSince the recent surge in international visitors and the current Winter Olympics, government a nd businesses alike have identified the value of the tourist, resulting in an increased adult interest in learning English. English tuition has also begun to be introduced more widely into mainstream schools and as a result, there is a growing demand for ESL instructors across this vast and varied country.Russia’s premier ski region and Winter Olympic host city, Sochi, can be found in the southwest hook of the country, along the coastline of the Black Sea. Parts of this area of the stunning Caucasus mountain range regularly see seasonal snowfall of around 14m. It is hoped that the huge investment in resort infrastructure will help Russia on it’s way to becoming a prestigious alternative European ski destination.

Life Mantras to Get You Through Your Internship

Life Mantras to Get You Through Your Internship Image via Pixabay.com 1. Put your best foot forward Putting your best foot forward means to put your best self out there and give it your all. Don’t let boring duties sap away at your liveliness and initial excitement at having landed your internship. Always have a smile, do your best work, and put your best self out there for the world to see when you’re on duty. That way, you’ll always be able to tell yourself that you still worked extremely hard at this internship, no matter how trivial your duties might seem. 2. Don’t give up Never give up on your internship! Chances are that you worked incredibly hard to get your internship. Now, you should work even harder to make sure you do a great job at it. It might seem like the best thing to do is to just quit, but weigh your options. Is having that experience important for you? If so, don’t’ give up! 3. Whistle while you work Just like fairytale princess Snow White, whistling while you work will help to take your mind off the sometimes mundane tasks an intern might be asked to do. Whistling may not be possible for you to do in your work setting, so you might have to find an alternative. What is something you do to help you pass the time? 4. Things are going to get easier Often, the first couple of weeks for an intern are rough. You’re initially finding your groove and the best way to work. You are getting used to your coworkers and your new work environment. It’s a lot of things to take in all at once. Interns can easily get overwhelmed. That’s why you should continue to remind yourself that things are going to get easier. It’s not always going to feel like you’re walking into a battlefield when you go to your internship. Eventually, you’ll find your way of working and get comfortable. 5. Brighter days ahead On the other hand, some internship experiences are just awful. If this happens to be the case with your internship, remind yourself that you won’t be here forever. Fortunately, the experience on your resume will be. 6. No pain, no gain This is one I tell myself when I really don’t want to do something, but I know it’s going to bring about great things. The same can be applied to a difficult internship experience. If you want the skills, you’re going to have to work for it. Remind yourself of this! 7. Build yourself up Throughout the day, give yourself internal compliments. Compliment yourself on completing a task on time. Compliment yourself for being innovative and figuring out a new tactic for your employer to use in the company. Every little thing; make sure it gets acknowledged by yourself, even if others don’t seem to notice. 8. This too shall pass Sometimes, internship just aren’t what you think they’re going to be. That’s when you tell yourself that this internship is just a stoplight on the way to your real destination! 9. Overcome your obstacles to reach your goals The difficulties you’re facing now and working to overcome will make you a stronger person. You will carry the things you’re learning in this internship with you in the future. Even if it doesn’t seem like you’re getting anything out of being an intern at a particular company, you are still learning lessons 10. It will all be worth it The most important thing to tell yourself: all of this will be worth it. It may seem like a daunting task right now, but your time as an intern here will be worth it in the long run. Just you wait! I hope that these life mantras to remember will help you to get through your internship. Always keep your head up and strive for the very best in an internship. Good luck!

Innova Academy

Innova Academy Innova Academy The Innova Academy will open in August 2018 and is designed to provide a future focused high quality international education to international and Chinese students in the rapidly expanding Chinese education environment. Innova Academy will implement a programme that incorporates the three IB programmes (PYP, MYP and Diploma) together with a focus on developing creativity, innovation and the OECDs 2020 Future Work Skills, UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Innova Academy is committed to developing service and all members of tour community be active participants in making a difference in addressing the SDGs and in doing so developing leadership, character and social entrepreneurial skills. It also recognizes the importance of technology as a part of the way that we work, learn and interact and endeavors to optimize the use of technology throughout all aspects of the school and learning. Innova Academy will seek authorization for its programmes with the IB and also work to becoming internationally accredited. The campus is designed for 1,000 students for Grade 1-12, including high quality accommodation for up to 200 boarding students. The Innova Early Years Center which opens in October 2017, is a part of the Innova Academy. The stand alone campus is located 10 minutes from the Innova Academy and will accommodate 180 students from 2-5 years old. They are both located in the Yizhuang special economic developmentzone of Beijing, a modern designed area that is experiencing rapid growth and is home to many international and prominent Chinese companies. The Innova Academy campus includes an outstanding sports center, complete with indoor Olympic swimming pool, gymnasiums, recreation and fitness centers, sports fields and playgrounds. View our Brochure View our Brochure