Where Will You Go Next Study Abroad with Semester at Sea

Where Will You Go Next Study Abroad with Semester at Sea In this new series, the Varsity Tutors Blog will showcase unique study abroad programs that offer college students a world of educational possibilities. Have you participated in an unusual study abroad program? Let us know at blog@varsitytutors.com. If youre seeking a study abroad opportunity that will allow you to explore many different countries and cultures during one semester, Semester at Sea might be the right fit. Over the course of a semester, you will travel thousands of nautical miles, visiting 10-12 destinations spanning four continents. Originally known as the University of the Seven Seas, the first voyage was held in 1963. Since then, the program has evolved to offer classes in about 20 focus areas and has over 40 majors represented each semester. The ship offers students nine classrooms, a library, a union, indoor and outdoor dining halls, a pool, and a fitness center. Looking for a unique study abroad experience that will introduce you to a variety of cultures and hands-on learning opportunities? Keep reading to see if Semester at Seas study abroad program is right for you. How do students learn during Semester at Seas study abroad program? With Semester at Sea, you are eligible to earn college credit through Colorado State University that can then be transferred elsewhere. (As always, inquire with your particular college for details.) Frequently offered classes include anthropology, business, ecology, literature, and political science. Your classes will involve both classroom study and field study. Field classes are a required portion of each course, and they consist of eight hours spent in a country on the first, second, or last day at port. You can also participate in optional in-country programs. These programs, however, are not included in the course tuition and must be scheduled around field classes. In total, around 40% of your voyage will be spent on the ground in countries. The ship offers a multitude of extracurricular opportunities as well, including intramural sports, sea council, and theater, music, and dance groups. [RELATED: 5 Myths (and Realities) About Study Abroad] Why is Semester at Seas study abroad program unique? Through Semester at Sea, you are able to deepen your cultural awareness, thanks to the ability to experience other cultures customs and traditions. You will be on a ship with other eager students, as well as experienced faculty and staff, and will have the opportunity to learn from guest lecturers. Past guest lecturers have included Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela. Unlike some study abroad programs where students will travel with other students from their school, this program allows you to connect with individuals from around the globe. Another unique benefit of this program is the opportunity to disconnect. Internet is available on the ship, but it is expensive. You are given a Gmail account and a list of free resources to reference when doing homework. You will not have cell phone service while on board. Each cabin room has a phone, but it costs money to make and receive calls, and service is unavailable at certain times. At first, this might be startling to some students. But you can still communicate with family and friends through email, and you are given the unique opportunity to disconnect from technology and truly experience the world around you. [RELATED: How to Choose a Foreign Language to Study] Is Semester at Seas study abroad program right for you? This study abroad program may sound enticing, but is it right for you? Typically, the ship welcomes traditional undergraduate students, in America and abroad. Requirements for traditional students include: Full-time enrollment at an accredited institution One full term at a post-secondary education level A 2.75 cumulative GPA and good academic standing. Gap year and post-graduate students may be eligible for the voyage as well, but must meet different admissions requirements. Before beginning the application process, make sure to check any requirements that may apply to you. In addition to academic requirements, its important to examine if this study abroad experience will fit your interests and needs. For instance, if you tend to get sea sick easily or have had poor experience on ships in the past, you may want to rethink your application to this program. Also, if you have other commitments that will make disconnecting and having limited technology access for a semester difficult, this might not be the right fit for you. Examine the countries listed for your intended trip to make sure these are locations you will feel comfortable visiting and are excited to learn more about. The locations dont vary too much between voyages, but you may find a future voyage is better suited to your interests. Make sure, too, to conduct your own research in regard to safety, both in this program and in the visited countries. [RELATED: Should I Take a Gap Year?] Semester at Sea provides students with the opportunity to gain global literacy, meet a multitude of different people, and experience hands-on learning in a variety of countries. Students can use this study abroad experience as a gap year, a way to explore new languages, or simply as a way to gain a deeper understanding of other cultures. 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.

How to Avoid Running Out of Time on the ACT

How to Avoid Running Out of Time on the ACT Preparing to take the ACT? Such an important testwhere your admission, scholarship eligibility, or class placement may hinge on the resultscan make you nervous, affecting your testing performance. While a majority of ACT test prep is focused on studying the content of the exam, the time constraints of each section are a major source of anxiety for many students. This concern may be compounded if youre a student who struggles with test anxiety. Here are a few strategies for testing your best and to avoid running out of time on the ACT: 1. Take timed ACT practice tests If youre nervous about pacing on the real test, one of the best ways to prepare is to take several timed, full-length ACT practice tests in the weeks and months leading up to test day. Practice tests do not just measure your understanding of the content; they are also useful for adapting to the exams structure and time constraints. You may not be able to score a 36 on the ACT Reading Section now, but after weeks of practice, you can adapt to working accurately at a faster pace. Each week leading up to the ACT, set aside time to take a full practice test. If you dont have time for the full test, select at least two sections to practice. It is important when taking these practice tests to set a timer, to mimic the pressure of test day. Each time you take a practice test, you should see your time, score, and confidence improve. (The free Varsity Tutors ACT Prep Book also has everything you need to learn about the testa full-length practice test, practice problems, explanations of ACT co ncepts, and more.) [RELATED: 7 Ways to Support Your Student's ACT/SAT Study] 2. Budget your time on ACT test day Knowing time is limited, budget your time in a way that works best for you. For example, the math section contains 60 questions and allots 60 minutes for completion. In this scenario, you can budget one minute per question (although youll likely spend less than a minute on many questions, and a few minutes on others). Dont constantly check the clock, but look up every five questions or so to see if your pacing is on track. If you are ahead, keep your comfortable pace, and if you finish early, youll have time to review your answers. If you are behind, try working a bit faster to catch up. 3. Save the hard ACT questions for last Students often take tests in a very linear fashion. They answer questions in order no matter the difficulty, and once they close their test booklet, they dont look back. Break this habit to help manage your time on the ACT. When you begin the test, answer the questions that come easily to you first. Skip the hard questions, and circle them in your test booklet so you know to come back to it later. Once you have quickly answered the easy questions, you can revisit the more difficult questions. Its a good idea to budget your time here as well. If you have 20 minutes left for 10 hard questions, you can give yourself about 2 minutes per question. If you are truly drawing a blank, make an educated guess. The ACT does not penalize for wrong answers, so once you have completed the test, check your answer sheet to verify that you have at least one answer for each question. [RELATED: How to Make Predictions on the ACT Science Section] Take regular practice tests and utilize test-day strategies to develop effective time management skills and avoid running out of time on the ACT. If you are stressed during the exam, try to unwind a bit. If you let your test anxiety take over, it will most certainly affect your ability to finish the test on time. The best antidote to test day anxiety is comprehensive preparation. Good luck!

Irregular Past Simple English Verbs Video and Exercise part 1

Irregular Past Simple English Verbs Video and Exercise part 1 Learning English would be so much easier if we didnt have irregular verbs in the past simple tense! But they are never going away, so youve got to learn all 180 of them. Yep, 180.The good news is there are some patterns and categories that will make it much easier for you to remember which English verbs are irregular, and more importantly, how they change. Here are a few examples of irregular English verbs. See if you can conjugate them into the past simple.GoRunTeachStealFallKnowWatch the video to see how these verbs are changed to past simple, and to learn more about conjugating irregular English verbs into the past simple, then try the exercises below. This is the first of two videos/exercises on this topic. You can see the second video and exercise here.Exercise: At the end of the video, Teauna asked if you could take the six irregular past simple categories, and see if you can add two verbs that fit in each one. Try it, and write your answers in the comments below.Thanks!

Business English Phrases for Meetings - Learn English with Harry

Business English Phrases for Meetings - Learn English with Harry Wherever, wherever you are, keep safe and keep  well. Today were going to talk to you about some business English  expressions.  In particular, were going to look at English phrases for meetings, around the start and perhaps the closing of meetings. So if youre not used to  hosting a meeting, particularly if youre not used to hosting (meaning to hold a meeting in English)  well,  hopefully some of the English phrases  for meetings that I have for you would be helpful. Useful English Phrases for Meetings Like all meetings at the beginning, theres often a lot of small talk, particularly if you havent seen the people for a while. There may be talk about how they got there to the meeting.Did they find the office okay?Did you need a taxi?What is  the weather like?What was the flight like?It’s something that you can use as small talk.And of course, a lot of meetings take place, not physically, but on a conference call. So in this case what you’re going to say wont make any difference. The expressions and phrases would be exactly the same.Of course, the small talk might be a little bit different because theyre going to be in their own offices and havent travelled.So you might just ask something about the weather, the football match the family, if you know them well, whatever it may be. But small talk always helps to break the ice and get people warmed up and ready for the meeting.If youre the chairman of the meeting, then you can start by saying something like:Hi guys, welcome. And tha nks  for joining us.Hello everybody. Thanks for phoning in. (if its a conference call)Lets get the meeting started.Let’s kick offWhy don’t we start?Everybody seems to be present. Anybody else can join later as they come.We’ve a lot to coverWe’ve a lot to get throughso yet youre making everybody aware that the meeting wont go on longer than is absolutely necessary. But we have a lot to get through. We have a lot to cover. So the sooner we start, the sooner the meeting will end. English Phrases for Meetings - Infographics Enjoyed this infographic? Here's what you can do next: If youve got a very formal structure and somebody kept minutes or the notes on the last meeting, well its always a good place to start.Lets start with the minutes of the last meeting.Has anybody got any questions arising from those minutes?Meaning is there anything in the minutes that they need explained or they dont understand or something has fallen through the, the um, instructions that hasnt been followed up. Okay.So lets start with the minutes of the last meeting as anybody got any questions or anything they wished to add. So somebody might like to add something following on from that particular meeting. Something has perhaps has changed, some action has taken place that has resulted in something either been resolved or perhaps it is now off the agenda.Its a good opportunity at the beginning of the meeting just to find out where everybody is.If you want to know has everybody read the minutes:Is everybody okay with the minutes?  Has everybody understood the minutes and is there a nything additional to add?Anything extra that people should know?Lets start with the minutes of the last meeting. Anybody, any questions or anything they wish    to add or would like to add before we move on?So again, youre just letting people know that we just spend a few minutes with this and then well move on to the items that are specific to this particular meeting today. Okay?You should all have a copy of this weeks agenda. So youre setting the scene, youre going to refer to this agenda.In case of anybody around the table or on the conference call who hasnt got a copy of it, then you would be happy to send it to them.So everybody is up to date, lets get onto the first item. So this is the next part:What is the first item to be covered?So you look around and you see who is the most appropriate person to cover this first item. So you might pick somebody like Michael and you can say:Okay Michael, can I come to you first? Can you give us a quick update as to where we are with the n ew product development?Or the application or the design. So depending on what business youre in, you want this guy Michael who is probably the key person involved in this part of the product or the project. You want him to give everybody an an update as to where we are. So youre identifying him and he is then going to give everybody a quick update as to where he is aware the company is with the application, with the product, with the development, whatever it happens to be.And then you will thank him.Okay, thanks Michael. Thats very clear. Anybody, any questions? Anybody got anything to add?And then again, you open it to everybody around the table or in the various conference  locations if they, anything that they wished to ask specifically.Next. So this is again, were going to move on to the next point.  Whats next?Lets move on.We, as I said, weve got a lot to do so there  are  a couple of these points that we may be able to get through quite quickly. So again, youre letting people know that you dont want to spend all day on  these points.And then you might ask some questions of the people.Have you had time to consider? Question, what can you add to improve the situation?Are there any obvious elephant traps?Are there any obvious impediments? Anything that you can add?If people start talking about things not particular to what you want to talk about, well then pull them back.Okay guys, lets stick to the point that stick to the agenda.I know theres a lot you want to talk about, but no, we can cover those outside the meeting.I really want to stick to the agenda and want to stick to the point we are getting off the point.Please,  lets stick to what we are talking about. Lets not wonder.Lets stick to our agenda and lets stick to the points that we are talking about.So very clearly letting people know that you want to cover everything. Theyll get a chance to raise issues later on.  Somebody might ask some questions:Can you give us some more detail?And I really need some

NETWORK ESL

NETWORK ESL NETWORK ESL TEACH ENGLISH IN CHINA Travel, experience, culture and career Experience ESL in China Excellent ESL positions available in China NOW and for a Late AUGUST, 2016 start NETWORK ESL has been placing teachers here in China for the past 15 years, and is a licensed provider of quality English and ESL teachers into licensed, authorized Chinese schools. admin@networkesl.com After your application is received we will provide you with: a) Suitable employment position and detailed information about the position b) Detailed employment package outlining the specifics of your position c) Answer all your queries promptly d) Introduce you to the school e) Place you in contact with other teachers f) Provide a SAFEA authorized school employment contract BEFORE arrival, g) School sponsored official invitation letter and working permit, so that you can obtain your CHINESE Z WORKING VISA before coming to China h) We will express courier your Visa documentation to you i) Offer you travel and visa advice j) Provide full support throughout your entire stay in China The positions available offer: a) Salary 7000-20000RMB per month (Each applicants specific salary essentially depends on qualifications and experience, some positions offer more) b) 8000-25000RMB and above â€" for experienced ESL or qualified, licensed subject teachers c) 18-25 classes per week (45 minutes per class) d) Fully paid modern SAFEA approved fully furnished and fully self contained apartment e) Travel allowance f) Airfare reimbursement upon completion of the contract term g) Airport pick up h) Authorized, licensed SAFEA approved positions and authorized registered employment contract provided i) All Chinese Z Working Visa documentation processed prior to your arrival in China j) Medical Insurance provided by your school employer k) Full Support from our offices in China throughout your entire stay in China admin@networkesl.com To “get the ball rolling” forward your: admin@networkesl.com a) Updated and detailed Resume b) Recent Photo Contact details: NETWORK ESL Now 15 YEARS introducing teachers to China Our HOTLINE Number: 0086-0-132 3710 9295 Office: 86 -0-27 8783 1115 Website: http://www.networkesl.com/ SKYPE: NetworkESL YouTube Channel: NetworkESL Facebook: NetworkESLTeachinginChina-Over 50000 Likes and growing! 10000 people following DAILY Twitter: Network ESL â€" Over 15000 followers NETWORK ESL â€" “RELIABLE, DEPENDABLE AND HERE IN CHINA”

How to tell your kindergartner its time to go back to school

How to tell your kindergartner its time to go back to school Tips from a San Diego Tutor: How to tell your kindergartner its time to go back to school Its that time of year once again; parents have to help their kids adjust to being back in the classroom after a long winter break. After a few years, students start to adjust to having a couple of weeks off and then gear up for the rest of the school year. For a kindergartner, however, this is the first year they have had to transition. Some kids love to be at home doing crafts, watching their favorite TV shows, and playing with their friends in the neighborhood. Others may love going to school and have lots of friends they look forward to seeing in January. Regardless, one of the best ways to help young learners adjust to the confines of the classroom is to prepare them for the transition ahead of time. 1.   Talk about time in general What is, in reality, only two weeks might see more like three months to a little kid whose concept of time is different from an adult’s. A kindergartner’s entire life is defined within a five year period and so two weeks carries a lot more weight than it does for us. Talking with kids about time, in general, can help them both with the transition to and from winter break as well as understanding time as it relates to other topics. If kids know theyre going to be gone from school but they will come back after holiday celebrations theyll be more prepared to give their attention to their teacher after the New Year (READ: Time management: The key to success during middle school). 2. Structure during the holidays It can be a major challenge to maintain a consistent structure during the holiday season. Families travel or have relatives who come to visit, and there are festivities going on day and night. However, if kindergartners can have just a little bit of structure during their time off, theyll have an easier transition back to the classroom. Maybe they have story time for an hour in the afternoon or play outside in the late morning. 3. Friends from school Most kids have a few friends at school who dont live within their immediate neighborhood. As a result, they dont get to play with them as much over break and may be looking forward to seeing their peers back at school. This can be a great icebreaker for parents to talk about with their little ones. Some younger students even get a little bit bored over the holidays and look forward to going back to school if they have a few friends waiting for them. 4. An intellectual challenge Even though it may not be at the forefront of their minds, many kindergartners miss having the academic challenges that greet them each day in the classroom. They’re learning about letters and numbers and using their imagination on a regular basis. Some of this starts to subside during winter break because of all the celebrations and travel. Kids who have picture books or number games to play with are more excited to go back to school. In fact, there are tons of apps available for young kids that can help them stay challenged during the break. 5. Winter camp Just as many kids attend a camp during the summer, there are winter camps available when kids are out of school, but parents are still expected to be at work. Many of these camps provide more than just daycare, in fact, they might help a child learn about a specific interest theyve wanted to pursue or help them with an academic subject that’s a little bit too tough. Kids who spend time at these programs are often ready to go back into the classroom without complaint. Start 2017 off right with the help of a private San Diego tutor from TutorNerds. From test prep to college admissions, we are here to make the New Year a success. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

7 Steps To Take After Your Internship Interview

7 Steps To Take After Your Internship Interview www.snagajob.com Ending Questions Ending an internship interview can be a smooth process in itself. All you are doing is telling them thank you for taking the time to speak to you and that you look forward to hearing from them soon. They will most likely ask you if you have any questions for them and if you do,  MAKE SURE TO ASK THEM! They aren’t just saying this so that you don’t; they genuinely want you to ask them things. This makes you seem interested in the company and it makes you look like you want to become more invested in this job. Asking questions can also give you more insight into things that may help you make a more accurate decision on whether or not this internship is for you. Handshake This one is simple. A handshake can tell a lot about a person. At the end of an internship interview, giving your potential employer a firm handshake can tell them a lot about you. There are many types of handshakes that mean various things and can send certain signals to the interviewer. Make sure your handshake is firm, but not a hand crusher. Also make sure your palms aren’t sweaty; that is a no-no and also kind of gross. Check Email Sometimes interviewers will send additional files or things for you to do when you get home. Or the email they send you may just be a thank you for interviewing with us email. Regardless of which they send, it would be good to check your email just in case anything of importance comes in. lifehacker.com Thank You Email Sending a thank you email can go a long way. Not all companies will care if you send one or not, but it’s always nice to send just in case. Personally, I know that sending thank you cards is what many students do when they interview for medical schools and even graduate schools; therefore, why not go the extra mile for your internship? It may just be an internship, but an internship can take you a long way if you learn a lot from it. Many online sites have templates for thank you emails, if you are lost on how to start one. Waiting Game Those days/weeks of waiting to hear whether or not you got the job can be agonizing. Unfortunately, some employers will choose not to email you or contact you at all if you did not get the internship. I’ve had this happen through personal experience, but if they do decide to contact you whether the news is good or bad, you still say thank you and whatever else and you move on. The Call/Email When you get that call or email stating that (in this case) you got the job, you can internally do a little dance and freak out, but the idea is to focus and make sure you get all the information you need before your first day. If any paperwork needs to get sent to you or if you need to send anything in return, you need to make sure you don’t miss anything. metro.us First Day Make sure you are there on time, dressed to impress and ready to work. Your boss will expect you to know what you are doing or go straight to them to learn your new tasks. Possibly, you will have a supervisor to go to and who you direct all your questions towards. The first couple of days is to learn how to do things and commit certain things to memory. After that you can choose to flourish in your new job or you can choose to fall to rock bottom. I would choose the first one. The interviewing process is hard enough, there is no need to add more stress to yourself during the aftermath of said internship interview. These tips are meant to help guide you through the small window of waiting time between the interview and the company’s decision whether to hire you or not. Unfortunately, there aren’t classes you can take on how to conduct yourself AFTER an interview. In the end, you will have to figure out what works for you and what seems to get you the best results. It is all about how much you want that internship.