How to Continue Learning After College

How to Continue Learning After College Once you walk across the stage and receive your diploma, youve entered a new chapter in your life. Life after exiting the college bubble can be confusing, challenging, and, at times, overwhelming. You spend four years absorbing as much information as possible and developing successful habits and patterns. But how do you take what youve learned in college and carry those skills over into the real world? Moreover, how do you find relevant ways to continue learning even after youve said goodbye to your alma mater? You can continue learning after college by seeking professional development opportunities at your workplace and by establishing strategies to maintain your productive habits. Keep reading to learn additional ways you can continue learning after college. Continue learning after college by maintaining the positive habits you established in school While in college, you likely faced assignments and tasks that prompted you to develop successful study habits. You may not have exams and homework at your new job, but your career will demand many of the skills you used in school. For example, you will need to hone skills such as: Organization, especially if you have multiple projects to keep straight at the same time Time management so you can complete all tasks asked of you on time Focusyou may have found ways to beat procrastination while in college, so bring these skills into the workplace. These habits, among others, will be vital to success at your job. You spent the past four-to-six years developing these skills and figuring out what worked well for you and what didnt. Remember how you became successful in college, and translate these skills into your post-graduate life. [RELATED: 4 Lessons Recent Graduates Should Carry From College] Continue learning after college by finding continuing education programs Continuing education programs are an excellent way to keep learning once you graduate from college. You may not have time to sit in a physical classroom on a weekly schedule like you did in the past, but there are many other ways to continue learning on your own time. This can be as simple as signing up for online tutoring in a subject area where you are interested in further developing your skills. In addition to tutoring, communities often offer continuing education programs through a local library or community center. Depending on what youre looking to learn, there may be volunteer opportunities you can participate in to keep your mind active and your skill set engaged. Also, look into what continuing education courses your alma mater or a local college or university may offer. These may be night classes, such as sign language or creative writing, that last a designated number of weeks. Pinpoint what you may be interested in learning or improving, and explore all local and online options available to you. [RELATED: How Online Learning Helps Students] Continue learning after college by seeking professional development opportunities in your workplace Professional development opportunities differ from continuing education programs because these consist of chances at your place of work to interact with other departments and gain new skills. Many companies offer programs specific to bringing different parts of the company together to collaborate on projects that benefit the organization as a whole. These types of opportunities give you a unique chance to network with individuals outside of your department and to get your name known among other areas of the business. You may be new to your position, but professional development programs can provide a chance to showcase what you are capable of and your willingness to take on new tasks. Additionally, speak with your manager to inquire about any individual professional development opportunities that may be available. For instance, there may be monthly meetings within your department where employees can ask questions and converse about aspects of the company they want to learn more about. Showing your manager that you are excited to expand your skill set and continue learning can help increase your value within the company. Adjusting to life after college can be challenging. Its key not to lose the good habits you developed during college, as well as to find ways to translate those into your career. 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.

Private Tuition What does the future hold

Private Tuition What does the future hold The Destiny of Private Tutoring: What's in Store for Tutors? ChaptersOnline Tutoring vs MOOCsThe Role of E-learningSchool Support Accounts for Most Private TuitionEmbracing Online TutoringSports Coaching for AllHome Tutors are Ideal for Learning MusicTutoring and the TheatrePrivate Tuition in your Favourite HobbiesThe Cost of Private TuitionPrivate lessons are very much in vogue in the UK and abroad. With a market worth around £2 billion per year in the UK alone, the British are among the biggest spenders in Europe on private tuition.One of the most commonly-cited reasons for taking lessons with a tutor is  general assistance with core schoolwork, but beyond this, the area is opening up to new subjects beyond those featured in the school curriculum, and is becoming increasingly affordable.Sports coaching is just one example of an area that is becoming increasingly popular.Personal coaching in recreational and leisure activities is also no longer only for groups. 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 AdamSingin g 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 tutorsOnline Tutoring vs MOOCsWhile private lessons have a longer history, and are more established, Massive Open Online Courses have made a more recent appearance on the education scene. Some can attract up to 100,000 at a time for the same course.MOOCs take many forms, and many resemble Masters courses, but online.In an increasingly connected world, online education will play a greater role (Source: Wikimedia.org - MotorBlog)Today, online courses are increasingly interactive and put the user firmly at the heart of the learning experience. Video tutorials can guide, step by step, a person in the acquisition of knowledge.MOOCs and private lessons can be used in a complementary manner. The individual teacher can explain general notions and fill in any gaps  missing from the online course.The Role of E-learningOnline learning has become a popular trend in developing skills.E-Learning has gained particular prominence in the field of education.Communication is made possible by webcam, chat and email. A teacher no longer necessarily needs to be in the same physical location as the student, to deliver tuition. Courses done the traditional way, where lessons take place at the tutor's or agency's location, are outmoded.It is now possible to create a virtual 'room' and meet via video conference, with someone at the other end of the country, or even the world. New multimedia technologies have opened up a wide range of new possibilities for private lessons.It allows for more efficient follow-up: The student can send her daily exercises to the tutor for correction, by email. The tutor can be available via chat, to ask and answer questions when online.More and more topics are now available through e-learning (Source: Flickr.com - Robert Couse-Baker)Distance learning offers numerous advantages, including:Ease of access: One to one tuition sessions can be held anywhere where you can access the internet.The ability to easily fit around school, university or professional life.Time savingSavings on transportRead our overview of private lessons worldwide, also on this blog.School Support Accounts for Most Private TuitionWhen faced with falling grades or a lack of motivation in children, parents are ready to call on a personal tutor. English courses, for example, are often requested before an upcoming  A Level or GCSE exam.Mathematics can be a challenging subject, and personal tutors UK can help pupils to gain a more comprehensive understanding. Parents may have long forgotten about  Pythagoras' theorem or algebra, and be unable to tutor their children in these topics.Many subjects take a leap in difficulty in Year 9, from which time the assistance of private teachers can be a real boon.Learning a foreign language requires work on several skills: Oral and written comprehension, grammar, accent and pronunciation. A personal teacher allows a student to systematically work on their weak points, while feeling more at ease.More and more adults, too, are taking foreign language lessons in preparation for holidays or business trips. In this case, emphasis is placed on speaking practice, to best enable the student to communicate in the destination country.Through focussed practice, conversational ease in a foreign language is easier to achieve. A student can either pick up where they left off in school lessons, or start a new language from scratch.Support for school subjects is the main reason pupils take extra tuition (Source: Flickr.com - Yishun Junior College)Learn about the state of the UK tutoring market in today's world.Embracing Online TutoringToday, whether for leisure, for a specific project or even to search for a job, a good level of IT literacy is essential. There is no minimum age to get started using a computer. One can start by learning how to create and manage folders and files, to find one's way around the internet, and communicate by email and video chat.Word processing, spreadsheets, accounting and presentation software can be more complicated than they seem at first sight, so companies often provide their staff with training in their use.As a student preparing a dissertation or thesis, it is essential to be able to find your way around various commonly-used programs. Individual lessons can help target a pupil's shortcomings and show him, step by step, how to professionally and clearly present his ideas in writing.More and more people want to create their own websites.You can choose ready-made solutions like WordPress themes, or build a site from scratch. A grounding in web development is therefore becoming more and more useful.This can often be a daunting prospect, which requires the assistance of an e xpert. Private tutoring allows the individual student's needs to be targeted, in the context of a particular goal or project they have embarked on.And yes, courses are going digital through online tuition: The blueprint for the home tuition of tomorrow! 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 MyriamO rganic 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 tutorsSports Coaching for AllOnce, having a sports coach was reserved for professionals or the very  wealthy. Today having a private sports coach or tutor is much more widespread.You can find coaching in  basketball, dance, fitness and more. The coach will influence the student's development not only physically, but also mentally. She can guide the student in correct techniques, as well in protecting himself against injury.Too many amateur sportsmen push themselves beyond their limits and end up with injuries, which leading to a forced hiatus. A long period of recuperation can cause discouragement and the abandonment of a sport.Coaches help inspire confidence and give encouragement when training gets tough, for example in bodybuilding.In preparation for a marathon or similar challenge, a sports coach can help the student develop various related aspects of training, including advice on diet and sleep.Is sports coaching available from all tutoring agencies?Home Tutors are Ideal for Learning MusicPrivate tuition in music can be a great way to make consistent progress. Between learning rhythm, how to read music, musical scales and more, music is an exciting area to study.Whether learning the drums, the piano or the guitar, private tutors can help even learners without a  musical ear.Music lessons are perfect for home tuition (Source: Flic kr.com - Nathan Russell)A tutor can help their student best prepare for admission into a musical conservatory, or even lay the foundations for a career in music.Tutoring and the TheatreArtistic education, too, can be taught through home tutoring. Drawing or painting are valuable skills to master, as is the use of specific media like oil paints, water colours  and charcoal.Airbrushing and spray-painting are complicated techniques that are no longer reserved for street art, with more and more artists exhibiting and selling original creations. The best tutors can teach a student to skillfully create nuances and subtle gradations of colour.Acting, too, is an area in which tutors can be  of great assistance, in helping the student find and develop their own unique voice and style of expression, and in preparation for a casting or audition.Private Tuition in your Favourite HobbiesToday, when taking a hobby or pastime seriously, the natural reflex is still to enrol in a group class, which may  not always be easy to do, according to one's agenda and existing commitments.The future of private tutoring has many surprises in store for us!A good sports coach can really help you get ahead (Source: Max Pixel)You can find private tutors London ready to help you develop just about any  passion or interest.For example, knitting is making a comeback as a popular leisure activity. A private tutor can teach the student all about right- and left-plaited stitches, edges and joins between fabrics and weft and warp knitting.The Cost of Private TuitionPrivate tutoring fees are often an impediment standing in the way of learners embarking on a course of private study. It can represent a significant financial expense, which some families cannot afford.The average cost of an hour of private tuition is in the region of £30, with private sports tuition often more expensive.In France, private lessons can bring with them tax breaks and other benefits for some parents. In the UK, where no su ch a provisions exist, some families resort to other means to reduce the costs associated with private tuition and schooling.

24 Smart Study Tips to Get an A in Spanish Class

24 Smart Study Tips to Get an A in Spanish Class Suzy S. Want to get a better grade in Spanish class? If youre struggling with homework, tests, or classroom participation, its time to figure out a strategy for success! In addition to our top tips for getting an A in Spanish class, this article will also help you learn how to study for a Spanish test without cramming. Ready for the insider secrets on how to pass Spanish with flying colors? Here are suggestions from some of the best Spanish tutors online. Study Tips for Spanish Class Spanish class isnt the time to zone out! Make the most of class time with these helpful tips. Silently answer every question that the teacher asks the class, then listen for the correct answer from your teacher. If youre constantly staying engaged by mentally  answering every question your teacher asks, youll be reinforcing grammar, vocabulary, and general fluency. Then, when you really need the answer (for example, when your teacher calls on you), the answer will already be on the tip of your tongue! Treat every class exercise like a Spanish quiz, and keep track of the answers you didnt know. A big part of studying successfully is using your time wisely. Be sure to keep track of what you dont know, so that if you only have a short time to study, you can immediately zero in on these areas. Use any extra time in class to study your vocabulary. Keeping up with memorizing Spanish vocabulary is a key method to progressing in the language. As your vocabulary list keeps growing, study it consistently, and it will be much less overwhelming. Youll become a more natural Spanish speaker, too! Ask your teacher questions when you dont understand something. The old adage about there being no stupid questions really is true. In fact, teachers love it when students ask questions, because it makes it clear to us whats still confusing to our students, so were in a better position to help them. Anytime you ask a question, youre also doing a favor to the countless other students who are wondering the same thing, but are too afraid to speak up! Teach a concept to a classmate. When a classmate doesnt understand something and youre able to explain it, do so. This helps cement the concept in your brain. Teaching someone else will help you figure out any fine points you may be still working out. If you can explain something and answer any questions that arise from your explanation, you have also maximized your understanding of the concept. Mimic your teachers Spanish accent and other natives speakers. A large part of sounding like a native speaker of a language is speaking confidently and convincingly, so envision yourself in a Spanish-speaking country, and play the part! Use your time wisely in the classroom this helps minimize your study time at home. As a student, it can be easy to fall into the hole of using class time to socialize or zone out. The smartest students, however, are those who realize that if you spend your class time in maximum focus and concentration, youll have much less work to do at home! How to Study for a Spanish Test The learning doesnt end when Spanish class gets out! Make sure you really understand how to study, especially if you have a test coming up (so you can avoid cramming). Here are the essentials. Always translate your homework to be sure you know what things mean. This is a form of studying, and it will save you time in the long run. You can translate the meaning verbally or write it down on a separate sheet of paper. Study a section of vocabulary every day, focusing on the words that were introduced in class that day. If youre having trouble memorizing some words, make flashcards for them. This ensures you wont fall behind in vocabulary memorization and have to cram before your Spanish test. Be very focused in class; you can learn most of the material just by paying close attention and staying on task. This means you will be in reviewing mode before a test instead of cramming mode. Write down grammar concepts and examples on index cards, and review them every couple days. Trying to comprehend too many Spanish grammar concepts in a short amount of time can leave you confused. This method will ensure you have plenty of time to digest each concept. How to Pass a Spanish Test Its go-time! Now that you know how to study for a Spanish test, youll be well-prepared come test day. Heres what to keep in mind as you take the test. Check to make sure your nouns and adjectives agree in number and gender. Dont forget to use the correct plural, masculine, or feminine form of the word! Your verb endings should match the subject of each verb. Be sure to double check your conjugations! Look at the previous sentence and the sentence that follows when filling in blanks. These sentences usually contain clues that as to which vocabulary word you should use. Reread your answers all the way through once youve finished the exam. If you have the time, this will save you from making simple mistakes! With each of these tips, you should be able to easily improve your grade in Spanish class. Try to implement one suggestion per week, and youll see a noticeable difference in your overall skill level! Need  some extra help with your Spanish classes? Working with a private tutor can be an excellent way to learn how to speak Spanish both in and out of  the classroom. Search for a Spanish tutor today! Post Author:  Joan B. Joan B. lives in  Carmichael, CA and has been teaching high school Spanish for more than 18 years. Joan helps students improve on tests and increase their conversational ability. Learn more about Joan here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Special thanks to the following bloggers, who contributed to this list: Caleb Howard,  Señor Howard Elizabeth Detlinger,  La Clase de la Señora Detlinger Carrie Toth,  Somewhere to Share Dustin Williamson, Williamson CI TPRS Justin, SpanishPlans.org Photos by: University of Central Arkansas

What are the Benefits of Using the ACT Website

What are the Benefits of Using the ACT Website 0SHARESShare ACT website is rich with information about various aspects of the ACT exam. You can know about ‘How to improve ACT scores?’, Online ACT preparation resources, ACT registration procedure, Career streams after ACT and in general also, courses that you can take up and many other such important guidelines. The following are a few important benefits of using the ACT website: Detailed information about career streams, job analysis tools, measuring effectiveness of college success, work ready certifications, communities for career success and many more of such important topics. This information is extremely useful in making career decisions. In addition, you can always get in touch with a Tutor Pace counselor to use this information in the best possible manner. You can also find information about how to find out about college readiness, career readiness and ACT college readiness. There are various reports available on the ACT website to guide you on this. This knowledge will help you evaluate issues such as ‘when is the right time to take the ACT test?’ And How to make yourself college ready? ACT website has also published the standards on which the score range is applied for each of the SAT subject tests. This information is available for English, Mathematics, Reading, Science and Writing. Tutor pace online tutors uses ACT website and also recommends the students to use it for any information that they may need about the ACT exam. [starbox id=admin]

What is it Like to Attend Virginia State University

What is it Like to Attend Virginia State University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teachtheyre sharing their college experiences as well. Carla received her bachelors degree in computer engineering from Virginia State University. She is currently a tutor in Richmond specializing in English tutoring, geometry tutoring, Spanish tutoring, and several other subjects. See what she had to say about her experience at Virginia State University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Carla: Virginia State University has a large campus that is expanding even more every year. In my first year, 2011, I saw two new dorms in the process of construction and a new cafeteria, Gateway Cafeteria, had just been inaugurated. The year I graduated, 2014, three new dorms had been added to the expansive architecture. The campus is very safe. I never had any problem walking around at night or in the day. We used to have security issues in the past due to the campus being open to the community, but yesterday when I went there to meet with one of my students, most of the campus was fenced, and I noticed the campus police monitoring activity constantly. The campus is located in Petersburg, Virginia, which is a very underdeveloped city. However, the Southpark Mall in Colonial Heights is only five minutes away from campus, and Virginia State University transportation is provided for all students. Right next to the mall, there is a Walmart which comes in handy for stocking snacks! Tran sportation is free with your student ID card. There is a tight schedule for the buses, but they come three or four times during the day. The buses also go to other housing facilities that Virginia State University provides for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. These facilities are studios, apartments, and even hotels where students are picked up by the buses every morning. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants at Virginia State University? Carla: My favorite part about Virginia State University is the faculty. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering with a concentration in Mathematics, and I could not have done it if it were not for the amazing support I had from all of my professors. Because Virginia State University is still relatively small compared to other institutions, our classes are closer in size to those at a community college. You still get to have one-on-one help when needed, and, most importantly, the faculty will constantly encourage you to get internships over the summer. This is the perfect environment for self-driven students, because you have absolutely all the help and tools you need to excel. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Carla:There are plenty of socialization opportunities that are promoted and encouraged all the time. The dorms are very nice, clean, and spacious. Rooms are offered as one room for two, suites of two rooms with a shared bathroom, or a single suite with a mini lounge room that has a microwave, a couch, and a mini fridge. As for the dining options, there are two cafeterias that operate daily, Gateway and Jones. On the weekends, Gateway is closed. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported at Virginia State University? Carla: Virginia State University offers many programs, some of which have grown tremendously in the last couple of years. Some of the most popular programs that Virginia State University is known for are in the agriculture and business departments. However, one of the programs that is increasingly gaining more support and reputation is engineering. I chose Virginia State University because they have a very strong partnership with NASA and VDOT, two reputable government agencies. Virginia State University also offered me a full ride, and this was one of the definitive factors that I weighed in choosing this institution over others. I always had a passion for science and chemistry, especially in the nano-engineering aspect of it. Virginia State University did not offer this program, so I knew I needed to eventually go for biochemical engineering in graduate school. Therefore, my strategy was to have an engineering background in my undergraduate years. Now that I had a plan, my new dilemma was gravitating towards which engineering major would best fit my ultimate goals. When it was time to pick one, I had a hard time making up my mind. I liked manufacturing engineering and computer engineering a lot. My main reason for finally choosing computer engineering was the fact that computer knowledge is increasingly necessary nowadays. Ha ving a computer background could help me understand computer software that every branch of engineering deals with. I also liked the idea of learning how to code. The university did an amazing job in supporting me. From day one, my professors would offer office hours and help with homework, labs, and projects. On top of the faculty assistance, I had access to the computer labs even over the weekend if I needed to use MATLAB, SOLIDWORKS, or any other software program. Finally, the engineering department would provide internships led and taught by the faculty every summer for those students who were freshmen and may still have a hard time getting hands-on experience. Also, every year, four to six students were chosen to work at NASA on a current NASA project. Needless to say, the idea of doing something for NASA is amazing on its own! Unfortunately, I was not eligible to be part of this due to my international student status, but my professors offered me a research assistant position. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Carla: I did not start at Virginia State University as a freshman. I transferred from Northern Virginia Community College, so my classification was sophomore. However, I was excited to make friends, and I did right away. I also joined two organizations, IEEE and NSBE, and I played a leadership role in them from the start. This gave me an opportunity to engage with campus activities and network with professionals all over the nation. Greek life does play a significant role on campus, though I never got involved. They have campus parades and work along with athletes to promote our sports and games to the community. Greek societies also have a great impact on the local community. How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Carla: I never got actively involved with the Career Center, but all of my friends used their services to write their resumes and cover letters. The Career Center staff would come every spring semester and introduced themselves to all of us, offered us their help, and coordinated workshops on interviewing skills, elevator pitches, etc. Many reputable companies came to our career fairs. From the engineering point of view, we had Lockheed Martin, NASA, Boeing, the CIA, the FBI, and many others. Many of my friends got hired right away once they graduated. How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Carla: The library has a basement and two floors. The basement is pretty crowded sometimes, especially when midterms and finals are just around the corner. This floor is crowded mostly because it has 24/7 access to a computer lab and printers. However, the library has many other sections where it is quiet and easy to study, especially on the second floor. Dorm lounges can be crowded, but most of the time they are not too bad. If one lounge is crowded, you can walk to the next, and it is probably not bad. Describe the surrounding town at Virginia State University. Carla: Like I mentioned before, there is a neighboring mall, the Southpark Mall in Colonial Heights. This mall has a Macys, JCPenney, Regal Cinemas, Dicks Sporting Goods, and many other great places to shop. There are also grocery stores like Walmart, Target, Sams Club, and a few others. There are restaurants like Olive Garden, Applebees, Ruby Tuesday, Texas Roadhouse, IHOP, and many others. Students go to these places all the time. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Carla: My classes in sophomore year were about 20-30 students. However, my senior classes were a lot smaller, with about 15 students in most of them. I was very pleased to have a one-on-one relationship with my professors and a closer connection with my peers. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Carla: My most memorable experience was in my senior year. I was determined to build a robot for our senior design project, but I had to figure out what it was going to be. My best friend and I became really close friends with some international students from Brazil. Because most of them were either in computer science or computer engineering, we were able to create a team for this project. At the time, I was chair of the IEEE chapter at Virginia State University, so I knew of their annual Southeast Conference, where up to 50 to 60 universities compete in many areas of engineering: robotics, programming, web development, ethics in engineering, etc. This was our perfect excuse to be funded by the university to participate in the robotics competition and to still work on our senior design project. It was an intense year that helped me and everyone else learn a lot. From technical things to teamwork skills and communication, it was an incredible experience. It also helped me gain more c onfidence in myself, and strengthened my belief that where there is a will, there is always a way. Check out Carlas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

IELTS English Sports Vocabulary - Sports Expressions and Words

IELTS English Sports Vocabulary - Sports Expressions and Words The following short text includes many words from the IELTS Sports vocabulary. You can find some of the words explained at the end of this text. If you scroll down further, you will also find English Phrasal Verbs related to Sports.Scroll down and watch a video lesson that will help you learn verbs for talking about SPORTS in English. Sport is one of the most popular topics discussed by men and women all over the world. Sport is an important   event or past time to improve our health and help us to forget about the stresses and strains of our busy lives. We also like to get our children involved as early as possible so that they too can benefit from an activity that they may well continue into their adult lives. Most sports are done by people in an amateur capacity and only in their recreation time after work or at weekends.However, professional sport is a big money business all over the world with sports such as Football, Golf, Tennis and Baseball offering big paydays for those gifted participants. Spectators of these sports also generate large amounts of money when they attend the games and buy replica jerseys and other  memorabilia connected with those sports.The pinnacle of an athletes career is to participate in some of the   worlds’ biggest sport events. These can include the Olympic games (both Summer an d Winter games), the football world cup and the major tennis and golf competitions held throughout the year. Athletes often   train for many years in preparation for such tests and the make huge personal sacrifices in an attempt to achieve their goal. The award of a “big cheque” is usually of secondary importance to the prize of lifting a trophy hearing the crowd cheer them on or indeed breaking a record. Competing against a clock or defending their number one position against other contestants is often the only motivation needed. IELTS Sports Vocabulary Words and Phrases Enjoyed this infographic? Here’s what you can do next Sports Vocabulary Words MEMORABILIAItems linked to a sport that people like to collect such as jerseys, bats, photos, caps etcex. He attended his first baseball game on his visit to America. He went to the gift shop and bought some memorabilia connected to the game.SPECTATORSpeople who watch a sport.ex. The game was a sell-out. The organisers were expecting a full house. Approx 20,000 spectators were expected to turn up on the night.AMATEURA person who takes part in a sport and receives no money or payment.ex. He liked to play football with his friends at the weekend. They played for fun, they were amateurs and did not take it too seriously.TO BREAK A RECORDTo beat a previous time in a sporting event. The time has to be recognised and accepted by the people who control that particular sport.ex. The sprint record had stood for 4 years. However, on the last day of the games he ran a really fast time and broke the record by 1 second. The time was confirmed by the marshalls and was an official new world record. Sports Vocabulary Words TO CHEER ONTo shout, cheer and support your team or sporting hero.ex. John went with his father to watch the game and cheer on his local team in the cup final.  Other Sports Vocabulary words you need to know:UMPIRES (REFEREES)These are similar roles in most sports. They are the  officials  usually in the centre  of the field who ensure that the rules are obeyed and followed and to ensure both teams play fairly.In English football the main official is referred to as a  referee  and he has  two assistants  (referees assistants)  who run along the lines and a  fourth official  off the field who is responsible for the time keeping, substitutes etc.In American baseball the officials are referred to as  umpires. In American football the officials are also called  referees or judges  and in English cricket there are  2 umpires  on the field at all times.ex. The umpire told her that she was 5 minutes late and she was getting 2 penalty points.TROPHIESthese are the prizes teams or individuals compete for in their different sports. Trophies can also be referred to as  Cups, silverware, plates  and in one sport the winner is awarded a  green jacket  to wear. So normally in English football teams play in several competitions each year and the winner of each competition receives a trophy known as a cup.  The FA cup,  for example. Traditionally,  the winning team fills it with Champagne and each of the winning team enjoy a drink from it.In other sports the trophy may have a different shape. For example,  in Wimbledon (Tennis)  the winners receive a large circular trophy in the shape of a  plate or shield.FOOTBALL PITCH BADMINTON/SQUASH/TENNIS COURTthe surface where these sports are playedFOOTBALL FAN or SUPPORTERA  person who supports a particular football team, attends all the games and usually cheers up loudly. Since 1960s British football fans have a bad reputation around the world and often are referred to as “hoolifans” a mix of hooligans and fans.PERSONAL BESTYou have achieved the best result so far in a particular sportex. He achieved his personal best time for the 800 metres.BLOW THE COMPETITION AWAYEffortlessly win a competitionex. In their first year they literally blew the competition away at every level.THE MATCH WAS FIXEDThe result of the match have been already predetermined, one of the teams (or athletes) were paid to lose the match. Sports Phrasal Verbs TO DROP OUTTo leave a race or competitionYou can also drop out of college or university.TO GIVE UPStop doing, trying to do somethingTO WARM UPTo take gentle exercise to prepare for somethingTO GAIN ONTo get nearer to someone/somebody one is chasingTO CATCH UPTo reach somebody ahead of you by hurryingTO SAIL THROUGHTo pass something easilyTO BREAK AWAY FROMTo stop being part of something. To break away from the competition, for example. Verbs for talking about SPORTS in English - Video Lesson

Common Wrong Answer Choices on the SAT and ACT Reading

Common Wrong Answer Choices on the SAT and ACT Reading ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Many to-be ACT and SAT takers absolutely dread the Reading section for a series of totally fair reasons. The passages can be mind-numbingly boring. Questions about tone and author’s purpose seem cruelly subjective. So many of the questions have various answer choices that seem fine. The fact of the matter is that Reading sections on standardized tests tend to be more intimidating than they are legitimately difficult. Sure, the people who write these tests design the Reading section to be dry, but they also write questions and answer choices following some easily identifiable tropes and patterns. Oh, by the way, real people write these exams! There are only so many tricks that test writers have available when coming up with incorrect answer choices. This guide will help you identify the answer choices you should be suspicious of, helping you feel more in control when confronting an unfamiliar reading passage. But First: Why Identify Common Wrong Answer Choices? Many test takers tend to approach the reading comprehension questions on a standardized test the same as they would ordering lunch. They read through all of the whole menu of options for each question and then choose the one that seems most appealing. The people who write these tests hope that’s exactly what someone taking the test will do. A big part of their game is providing test takers with a number of answer choices that look appealing on first glance. Basically, the people who write these tests are banking on the fact that you know the clock is ticking and you have to choose whatever you think is the best choice fast enough in order to get a shot at the remaining questions. Identifying common wrong answer choices is a great way to beat these standardized tests at their own games. Sometimes, this will help you choose between two answer choices that look equally appealing. Sometimes, it will help you make snap judgements on a question you find really difficult, and therefore help you increase your chance of guessing correctly by eliminating an answer choice you know likely isn’t correct. Identifying common wrong answer choices helps a lot as part of a good process of elimination strategy. Common Wrong Answer Choices, Explained Too extreme: This can apply to questions asking you to describe characters in a story or ones asking you to draw conclusions about a study described in an expository passage. Take answer choice B in this problem: Scary things come to mind when you hear global catastrophe. Always ask yourself if it’s easier to support the more extreme answer choice or the less extreme one. Here we also have answer choice D, which reads political problem. A more extreme â€" and therefore harder to prove â€" statement is not as good of an answer as an equally accurate and more flexible one. Generalizations: Similarly, beware of answer choices that allow for too much interpretation. You will need to choose an answer that is reasonably specific. Answer choice A from this question is a good example of such a generalization: The phrase “always largely fictitious” sticks out like a sore thumb. Always is in and of itself a generalization and you want to be wary of any answer choice that starts that way. Always is hard to support unless explicitly stated in the page. Even worse, though, is this part of the phrase largely fictitious. What does that even mean? Is it totally fictitious or largely, but not entirely, fictitious? How could something be always mostly but not entirely fictitious? Half right means all wrong: Watch out for answer choices that contain some valid information alongside something that doesn’t really match the passage. These tend to be the most tempting wrong answer choices, since they look appealing when you’re just trying to pick something and move on. This is a hard one to provide an example question for since you really need the context of the passage. But remember, if just part of an answer choice can be supported by the passage, it should always be tossed out in favor of an answer choice that can be entirely supported by a passage. The better answer choice should be the one that’s hardest to eliminate. Off-topic: Sometimes an answer is bad because it really has nothing to do with the question being asked or the information in the passage. Looking for this type of common wrong answer choice can prove helpful on science-oriented passages, where lots of jargon and unfamiliar science concepts make things confusing. Consider this one: The question asks about small comets, but answer choice A talks about the sun and electricity. It doesn’t make any sense that electricity or the sun would have anything to do with comets, so you can just eliminate that one. Definition is too literal: This one will either apply to vocabulary in context questions or to ones asking what a phrase means. Take this question: Without having read the passage, the most alluring answer is B, since a movie projected in a dark theater is “a show in light.” That’s why this answer choice is here! It doesn’t actually make sense given the passage, but if you skimmed or didn’t really understand what happened in the story then it might make some sort of sense to you. Avoid answer choices that define a word or phrase too literally without any support from the passage. Conclusion Being able to identify common wrong answer choices is an important part of your overall test taking strategy. This skill will improve your time, your accuracy, and lessen stress. When you're able to glance at previously confusing and distracting answers and identify them as incorrect right away, that's one less obstacle to overcome on your way to a fantastic SAT and/or ACT score. About the Author Mike S. is one of our most experienced test prep tutors. Click below for moreinformation on our SAT/ACT test prep packages: SAT ACT

Winning friends how to meet new people while teaching overseas

Winning friends how to meet new people while teaching overseas We know from speaking with teachers who have been placed through Teach Away to teach overseas that many of them have been worried about being able to settle in and make friends while abroad. This is a completely normal concern: everyone wants to connect with others on some level. Having friends is an important part of daily life while abroad -- in many cases, your friends will act more like family while you’re teaching away: you’ll share holidays together, classrooms, and sometimes even apartments! Expanding your friend circle can seem like a daunting task. How difficult it is to meet new people will vary from country to country. In some countries you’ll find locals to be really warm and welcoming, and in others, you’ll have to stretch yourself a little further. But we’ve put together some helpful tips to get you started: Class meetup: try asking your students (if they’re adults, of course!) if they have a favorite local restaurant that they’d like to take an after-school field trip to together. This is a good chance to get to know your students on a more personal level and talk with some of them about things other than schoolwork. Fill your calendar with events: try local festivals, art openings, and cultural events to get exposed to more people with similar interests. Find a coffee shop haunt: or a favorite place for an after-class beer. Whatever it is, the more you show up at one spot, the more likely the shopkeepers will be to chat you up. Connect with friends’ friends: use the connections you have to make new ones you might not even know about. Write to your friends who have traveled where you’re headed and ask them to connect you with any friends that they may have made while abroad. Be a ‘yes’ man (or woman!): when you get invited to something, go, even if it doesn’t seem immediately appealing to you. Who knows who you’ll meet and what doors the invitation will open! But be safe about this -- don’t accept invites to someone’s house if you’ve just met them. Join a class: whether it’s a language class, an exercise class, or even a volunteer group that meets weekly, it’s a great way to connect with the same group of people each week and maybe make a connection with one or two individuals. Try Facebook groups: find groups in your area that cater to your specific interests or your career. It shouldn’t be hard to find TEFL groups in Hong Kong or one that connects expats living in Thailand. Try a language exchange: there are all kinds of websites (like Conversation Exchange) that help connect locals with English speakers in an effort to learn language in affordable, conversational ways. It’s also a great way to connect with locals and make new friends. Are you teaching overseas? Share with us how you’ve made some of your friends thus far!