Thursday, March 26, 2020

Hotels in Hong Kong - Do You Want to Improve Your English?

Hotels in Hong Kong - Do You Want to Improve Your English?When I was very young, my family used to take me to a Hong Kong tutor centre every time we had a long trip. I remember looking at the ceiling and seeing the word 'tutor' in English writing above a statue of a monkey. The name of the statue alone, is enough to make you feel that this is a place where your English should be improved.Every time I have gone back to Hong Kong to visit my parents, I always choose to stay in a hotel rather than going to a tutor centre. Perhaps it is just because I am the type of person who is not comfortable in crowds, or perhaps the hotel has a reputation for being cheap and luxurious. Of course, what I did not consider was how much costlier it is to stay in a hotel than it is to stay in a tutor centre. It is not a good idea to spend more money than you need to for a single stay.Let's go back to the first question regarding why I have not visited a tutor centre. If you are going to be staying for an extended period of time, like I have been, accommodation for the duration of your stay, will serve your purpose. But if you are only going to be there for a few days, and you don't have much time to spare, then getting a cheap hotel can be very beneficial.So how do you get a hotel discount if you want to improve your English? Well, if you are prepared to invest some money, then it can be quite easy. The first thing you will need to do is to make a list of the things you need to buy when you are staying in a particular hotel. This will help you to know how much the accommodation is worth so that you can compare the prices and choose the one that fits your budget better.Once you have decided on the place you would like to stay, it is now time to look into different prices and options. You can always compare the prices offered by the different accommodation companies. In fact, there are even websites where you can search for hotels, whether they are available in your area or not.But m ake sure that you do not make your decision solely based on the price that is on the advertisements; you should also consider the quality of the accommodation and the cleanliness of the hotel. Also, it is important to check out whether the rooms have internet connectivity, or whether there is a computer available within the premises.Finally, while making your decision, keep in mind that the cost of an accommodation will be different from a tutor centre, and this makes it important to make sure that you will get the most for your money. I hope you enjoyed reading this article and that it helps you to find the right accommodation.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Using the Science of Habits to Improve Performance in School Part II

Using the Science of Habits to Improve Performance in School Part II Improving Academic Performance In a previous article on the power of habits, we discussed how habits are a tool our brains use to be more efficient. Instead of consciously analyzing every situation, thinking about various courses of action, and then deciding what to do, we use habits to automatically do this or that to save time. In theory, this allows us to decide to use our brain power to focus on things that really matter and really do require conscious deliberation. This is sometimes a good and sometimes a bad thing. It’s good when the habit is brushing our teeth each morning and night, or looking both ways before we cross the street. It’s bad when we grab a few cookies without even thinking about it when we are bored, or react negatively to constructive feedback. Consider this quote by the philosopher William James â€" “All our life, so far as it has definite form, is but a mass of habits - practical, emotional, and intellectual - systematically organized for our weal or woe, and bearing us irresistibly toward our destiny, whatever the latter may be.” What should be clear, then, is that habits are powerful. They often end up determining how we behave in a wide variety of areas, and play a large part in our personality and success in school, work, and life. In our last article, we also covered how habits work (i.e., the cue, craving, routine, reward sequence) and how to change them (identify the cue, then change the routine…) and briefly discussed the importance of keystone habits. In this article, we’ll do two things. First, we’ll go into more detail on the importance of keystone habits and second, we’ll discuss how students can harness the power of habits to earn better grades, get higher test scores, and generally perform better in school. The Importance of Keystone Habits “Typically, people who exercise, start eating better and become more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family. They use their credit cards less frequently and say they feel less stressed. Exercise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change.” Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit Keystone habits are habits that seem to have spillover effects. For whatever reason, they seem to be the type of habits that once formed, make it easier to form other positive habits. Duhigg and others hypothesize that a keystone habit, even when it may be a small action or activity, tends to influence how you conceptualize yourself. A keystone habit reflects the type of person you are choosing to be. Perhaps the most common keystone habit I’ve read about seems to be exercising regularly, as referenced in the above quote. So, the idea is that once you start exercising, you are more likely to eat well, because you are becoming the type of person who is healthy. From there, you can envision that it obviously becomes easier to stop smoking or drinking, because those aren’t activities that a healthy person engages in. But it’s probably also a little easier to build a habit around reading more books or meditating, because once you begin to view yourself as physically healthy, introducing habits to improve mental health as well seems complementary. Robert Sun wrote an interesting article for the Huffington Post, suggesting that developing proficiency in math through deliberate, focused practice could be a keystone habit for students that spills over into all other subjects. We’ll return specifically to habits for students later in this article. An important driver behind the importance of keystone habits is the notion that small, incremental change can lead to large change and improvement over time. Again, from the book by Duhigg â€" “Small wins are exactly what they sound like, and are part of how keystone habits create widespread changes. A huge body of research has shown that small wins have enormous power, an influence disproportionate to the accomplishments of the victories themselves.“ So, you might have a long-term goal to lose 100 pounds or improve your grade in a class from a D to an A or come back from a 20 point deficit at halftime to win a basketball game. None of those impressive, “large” victories is possible without a collection of small victories. Building a habit of doing one minute of running in place each morning, boxing out on defense on every play, or completing every single homework assignment are all small steps which will not by themselves accomplish the larger goal, but which are probably necessary steps along the right path. How students can leverage habits to improve academic performance Harnessing the power of habits is a powerful strategy for success in school. Students can think about three different categories of habits that could lead to improved performance: Mental habits that influence how you think about success in school and positively or negatively influence your attitude Habits that influence how you spend time or behave before, during, and after class Habits that influence how you perform when taking tests Mental habits that influence how you think about success in school We write a lot on this blog about the importance of a growth mindset, which says that your intellect is more like a muscle you build with effort, not a trait you inherit at birth. A related concept is that of “grit,” which Angela Duckworth documented and wrote her PhD thesis about after discovering that, for example, self-discipline was a more statistically significant predictor of academic success than IQ. Digest that for a moment. The discipline to do homework, keep trying, and put forth sustained effort (i.e., having grit) in school is more important than raw intellect as measured by IQ. Now, back to mental habits. In my experience, many students, without realizing it, have a habit of adopting a “fixed” mindset about school (i.e., believing that they just don’t have the “talent” for a given subject) to explain a lack of effort or a poor result. Other students have a habit of explaining a lack of understanding or performance on the quality or style of the teacher. You might conceptualize these as common, unproductive mental habits. If you notice yourself thinking this way, consider trying to change your habit to something far more positive. For example, say you encounter a difficult calculus problem in class. The current mental habit might go something like: Cue: you notice you do not understand this problem â€" at all. You feel lost. Craving: you don’t want to feel the guilt or bear the responsibility of realizing that with particularly hard work or extra effort, you could understand it. You are busy with many other subjects and activities. Routine: you tell yourself that the folks that do understand these difficult problems have a natural talent for calculus. They don’t even work as hard as you do, and yet they understand the problem. Reward: you are mentally “off the hook” and relieved of the responsibility of asking a question in class, staying late to get extra help, or considering getting a tutor or other form of supplementary help. A different, changed and far more productive mental habit might go something like: Cue: you notice you do not understand this problem â€" at all. You feel lost. Craving: yes, you don’t want to feel the guilt or bear the responsibility of realizing that with particularly hard work or extra effort, you could understand it. You are busy with many other subjects and activities. HOWEVER you also want to do well in school, as you know grades play a large role in getting into a great college. It would feel great to get an A in the class. Routine: you tell yourself that the folks that do understand these difficult problems have probably put in a fair amount of focused effort. It appears easy now, but that’s because they’ve studied hard outside of class, and if you do the same, you’ll understand this problem and others like it, and will be able to do very well in the class. Reward: you are mentally “off the hook” as it relates to dealing with your lack of understanding. But now, instead of the reward being a lack of responsibility for the current situation, it is that you have a plan. You’ll ask a question now, or follow up after class, to make sure you understand the problem. Summary I hope that you now see that habits, and in particular keystone habits, are incredibly important to understand and, hopefully, harness for good. In our next and final article, we’ll cover two more ways that students can leverage an understanding of habits to improve performance in school: Use habits to influence how you spend time or behave before, during, and after class Use habits that influence how you perform when taking tests

Best GRE Prep Guide How to Easily Get the Score You Deserve - Private Tutoring

Best GRE Prep Guide How to Easily Get the Score You Deserve Anna L Jun 14, 2018 We Can Help You Find the Best GRE Tutor Near You! It's Simple and Secure - Get Real Results Fast. Find Expert Private Tutors at Reasonable Rates Today! InPerson or Online Online InPerson Weve created our best GRE prep guide to help you easily prepare for your upcoming exam!   The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, is the key exam that is required to gain entrance to many graduate programs and some business schools. A successful test prep and solid score will open up schools as well as financial opportunities that you havent explored yet. Whatever the reason for taking the exam, success in this standardized test is crucial. So how to you prepare and study for this unique examination? This guide will help you understand what is involved in the GRE and how you can best prepare yourself to do well on the GRE to achieve the results you deserve. GRE General Test vs GRE Subject Test The GRE General Test features questions that are relevant and useful to the courses you will be taking at graduate or some business schools. The General Test is all you need to gain entry to your desired institution, however, if you are planning on majoring in a specific subject area, then the GRE Subject Test will help set you apart from your competitors. If you have an undergraduate major or extensive background knowledge in any of the following areas, the GRE Subject Test may be an additional test that you want to consider; Biology Chemistry Literature in English Mathematics Physics Psychology Our review guide will look at the GRE General Test, but it is worth considering taking the Subject Test as an extra test option if you feel it will broaden your opportunities that you hadnt thought of before now. Best GRE Prep What is the GRE General Test? There are three sections in the GRE General test; Analytical writing Quantitative reasoning Verbal reasoning The test can be taken on a computer or on paper, though its moving quickly to only being able to be done online. In this test you have the opportunity to skip questions that you don’t feel comfortable with, as well as the opportunity to go back and change your answers. If success doesn’t come the first time around, you may re-sit the test. This may sound appealing (and make you think you dont really need to prepare for it), but the cost for the test must be paid with each attempt so figure out whether or not you want to put in a bit of time to get the results. GRE Test Sections: Whats Included Analytical Writing â€" this section requires focused responses that articulate complex ideas that are supported with relevant reasons and examples. You must examine claims and evidence, and discuss with well written English. Quantitative Reasoning â€" this section examines your ability to understand, interpret and analyze quantitative information. You will use mathematical models to solve problems and your basic skills of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis will be tested. You are allowed to use a calculator when completing this section. Verbal Reasoning â€" here you will analyze and draw conclusions, identify the author’s assumptions and/or perspectives, and understand the author’s intent in a literal and figurative manner. You will be tested on your ability to summarize text, selecting the key points from the text as well as understanding the structure of the text. Your understanding of the meanings of words and sentences will be tested, as will your ability to recognize relationships between words and concepts. How to Prepare and Study for the GRE The skills required to succeed in the test are developed over a period of time and not related to any particular field of study. For this reason, preparation is crucial to success. Unlike many other examinations, where content can be revised and learned, the GRE measures your ability to respond to the information given. By gaining an understanding of the types of questions asked in the test, you will be able to develop the skills to answer the questions accurately and confidently. The following five points are easy ways to prepare and study for the GRE to ensure your greatest success. Best GRE Prep Means Spend the Time Preparing Like many other examinations, last minute studying is not useful. The more time you spend preparing for the GRE, the better your results will be. It is recommended that you spend 4-12 weeks developing your skills for the test. Naturally, spending more time will result in the best outcome possible. Create a Study Plan or Schedule While success in the GRE should be your priority, the fact is that life often gets in the way. Job commitments, exercise, social engagements, and relationships must also take place. In order to spend the necessary time preparing for the GRE, you need to make sure you allocate enough time. Take a look at your week and designate certain times to study, as well as what you will study in each session. Be prepared to make some sacrifices, but remember that it will only be for a short while. Your study schedule needs to be realistic, specific, achievable, and flexible. Use an old fashioned, pen and paper diary or calendar, or schedule study sessions into your phone. Study Sample Questions There is no point spending hours and hours preparing for the GRE if you aren’t preparing effectively. It can be easy to get carried away reviewing content that is not relevant to the examinations. The most valuable method of studying is to focus on practice and sample questions. These give you an excellent understanding of the type of questions that will be asked. Sample questions are easy to find, as are explanations for the correct answers to help ensure you are practicing correctly.   Theres online sources, review books to name just a couple!   Also, dont forget to try timed sample questions. This helps simulate the time pressure of being in the actual exam. Personalize Your Program By understanding your own strengths and weaknesses you will be able to create a study and test prep plan that meets your specific needs. Take a sample full test and see where you are weakest and work to build up those areas. Definitely spend more time on the areas you find difficult, or on the subject areas that are most relevant to your educational goals. GRE Prep Books Additional Resources That Work After you understand what you need to know and how the test is laid out, it’s time to find the right study material. GRE exams are quite common in the US, and you can find prep books in any library or bookshop, all you need to do is start the hunt and find the best ones. Check the official site and see what they recommend. Ask your local librarian if he or she has any other manuals to help you out and take them too. It’s important you find the right sources for studying with up to date information and correct answers.   Weve collected a list of some of our favorites, Check Them Out HERE Find a GRE Tutor Near You Enlisting the help of a professional tutor will help you remain motivated and on the right track to success. They are able to provide valuable feedback and you can really fine tune your skills in the one-on-one environment, whether its an online tutor or in home tutor option. A good local GRE tutor   or GRE tutor online will be able to assist with your study schedule, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and respond accordingly. Finding a good tutor can be difficult. They need to not only have the knowledge and skills to teach you, but also understand your goals. A personality match is also crucial â€" feeling comfortable around your tutor will ensure you ask plenty of questions and are honest about your understanding of key concepts. Check out the following link to find highly qualified GRE tutors in your area: http://www.PrivateTutoringAtHome.com/GRE/ Overall, sitting for the GRE   does not need to become a stressful event for you if you prepare correctly. Understanding how the test works, what are the different types of questions asked, and then implementing some valuable study tips will help you to achieve the results you need to take your education to the next level. Using the best GRE prep tools and taking the time thats needed is all that you have to do. Good luck and let us know how it turns out for you! Find the Best Private Tutors At Reasonable Rates - Get Real Results Fast! Choose Your Subject - Add Your Zip Code - Find Top Rated Tutors Today InPerson or Online Online InPerson

Thursday, March 5, 2020

A day in the life teaching English online [Video]

A day in the life teaching English online [Video] We've already talked about how teaching English online is big business these days. That’s why, to help you figure out whether it’s the right career for you, we wanted to get some insight from the perspective of a current online ESL teacher. A while back, Vanessa heard about an online English teaching platform called VIPKID, that allows English speakers to teach English to young learners in China through the magic of video technology. At the time, she was looking for a flexible way to earn extra money after returning home from traveling and teaching English in South Korea. An online English teaching job sounded like the perfect opportunity for her and so, on a whim, Vanessa decided to give it a go. Flash forward to almost a full year later. Vanessa’s still teaching English online on a part-time basis, while studying online for her master’s degree in social work. She’s also here to talk you through her experience so far. So without further ado, let’s hear it from Vanessa!

Site Redesign Focusing on Languages

Site Redesign Focusing on Languages Were always trying to improve italki to make it easier for you to use. As the number of features on italki have grown, weve noticed it has gotten harder to find language-specific resources. Thats why weve reorganized the site around languages. Language-related features are on the left-side menu. Personal functions are now on the top menu. Changing Languages If you want to change the language, simply click on the title of the language or the icon, and you will be able to select another language. This is an experimental layout, and well be listening to your feedback. If you have suggestions or encounter a problem, please let us know through feedback or by sending us an email at feedback at italki dot com. Special Request: Translation Finally, since this is a new version of the website, many areas of the site have not been translated yet. If you see a bad translation or an area which is still using English, please use the feedback button, and write us a short note with both the wrong words and the corrected version. We really appreciate the help, and every correction helps make italki more accessible for everyone! The italki team

GEMS Education

GEMS Education GEMS Education In 1959, two teachers, KS Varkey and his wife Mariama, arrived in Dubai. At the time, Dubai was a burgeoning trade centre on the Arabian Gulf. The Varkey family had left Kerala, India to seek a better life for their family. What they found was a real need to educate children arriving in the city from around the world. Their son, Sunny, added a visionarys ambition to a practitioners experience. From simple roots in a family of teachers, GEMS Education, is today an international company with schools and education services in 14 countries. We still share the same mission - to provide a quality education to everyone. Our Values Academic performance is important for many reasons. It can open the door to opportunity and pave the way for future success, both in higher education and professionally; however, we believe avalues-based, international educationis of equal importance. Our values-driven international education is expressed through core values which are woven into every academic and extra curricular activity at GEMS schools. We live and breathe four values that form the basis of everything we do. They include: Leading through innovation Pursuing excellence Growing by learning Global citizenship With these values at our core, we encourage independent learning and empower students to embrace responsibility. Students at our top private schools learn to celebrate diversity in a spirit of understanding and tolerance that helps them become citizens of the world. At GEMS Education, we are educators first, driven by a single purpose to put aquality education within the reach of every student.From a single school founded by teachers 55 years ago, we now operate in 14countries and are driven by the passion of over 13,000 educators. We are pioneers.Whether in our schools, as a change agent in the work we do with governments, orour foundation that champions and trains teachers around the world. We dont just look at a student or the world as they are. We see what they could be. Of course, it helps that we work with the most inquisitive minds everyday. When we hear our students ask us - why?, we know we are equipping the next generation with skills and an environment to make a positiveimpact on the world today and tomorrow.What truly matters to us, above all, is how our students feel when they walkthrough our doors.For them we are a window into the vibrant world of tomorrow, to their future and theirendless potential. Always looking forward. Always learning. This is who we are.

Fostering Your Childs Success in School Mathematics - ALOHA Mind Math

Fostering Your Childs Success in School Mathematics Fostering Your Childs Success in School Mathematics Fostering Your Childs Success in School Mathematics Literacy in numbers, logic and reasoning, creativity in problem solving: the demands on young math students are quite daunting and place a considerable amount of pressure on them. To ensure they do not give in to such academic pressures and to foster an enthusiastic learning spirit in students, math taught in-school and after-school should use a mixture of behavioural and pedagogical approaches. Combining these approaches helps to ensure that students don’t get lost between the theory and application in math , and it helps students learn math more deeply and fluently. Innovation in math instruction Historically, teachers largely focused on teaching only mathematical problems, theories and concepts. In today’s classroom, teachers are urged to become innovators. Successful teachers craft various interactive techniques to promote out-of-classroom interest, especially in the maths and sciences. Teachers play a crucial role in enhancing mathematical reasoning and problem solving through interactive teaching methods. Using videos, webinars, infographics, and multimedia, the classrooms are enlivened and made more robust fora href=https://alohamindmath.com/why-aloha/ learning math. After-school math instruction is a fruitful complement to math education since it better encourages students to observe and experiment in real-time. For those students in very traditional math classrooms, securing supplemental math instruction can really help improve the long-term academic performance in students. Unleashing the power of braiding Braiding is a dynamic and interactive concept to teach math. The language in which math is taught must be easily understandable by students. Similarly, the instruction given by teachers must invoke thinking and logical reasoning. A braided approach between math, language, and thinking will help in designing creative math activities, leading to mastery of the concepts and their applications to real-life situations. Is instructional rigor a motivator or an intimidator in math excellence? There has to be a balance between rigorous teaching and autonomous learning. Without proper instruction and guidance, students may fall behind in academic performance and confidence can suffer because of it. On the other hand, difficult math concepts are made even more discouraging with micromanagement and monotonous teaching. Teachers are tasked with striking this balance with each student in their classroom. One way to help students better grasp challenging concepts and improve confidence over the long-term is to offer exposure and practice outside of the traditional homework assigned by schools. This helps to promote understanding and build confidence. After-school math instruction supplements both students engagement and understanding of math. Traditional textbooks and classroom teaching is essential to knowledge acquisition, but without effective engagement and interest, students often struggle to develop a passion for the subject. Be sure to support your child’s innate curiosity by offering them access to interesting and engaging academic material outside of school. Supplemental instruction is often a great way to do just that!

What is ICF Table Chemistry?

What is ICF Table Chemistry?Let's just start by saying ICF table chemistry is incredibly powerful and you should be aware of it if you're working with plastics, paper or cardboard. I hope that this short article is useful to you if you're going to be doing work in those areas.Chemistry is a science that we use to describe and explain properties of materials and in particular the properties of the different elements within that material. In the case of plastics and the other types of plastic that's commonly used in our everyday life there is an element that we call PET that happens to be responsible for the way in which the material behaves. In fact, the process of creating plastics goes way back to when people discovered how important elements can be in certain qualities and now we use chemistry to help us with our jobs.Chemistry can be looked at as a science but it is also the art of using various elements in a variety of ways to create a result. The vast majority of chemistry is ba sed on the chemical reactions that take place between two different elements, with different isotopes and different chemical properties. That's the basics of how chemistry works and if you're curious to learn more then all you have to do is head over to the ICF website and get your hands on some good chemistry books.There are four types of ICF table chemistry: Fluorine, Carbon, Bismuth and Tantalum. Each of these has its own individual purpose and they can all be used to create things like plastics or glass.The most basic type of chemistry is known as surface chemistry, in this type we use the elements as a foundation and then add some reactions to give something like plastics. The reaction is typically acid and water, in this type of chemistry we'll often see things like caustic soda as a base. We'll add certain compounds such as chlorine, potassium carbonate, or potassium iodide, and then the acid reacts with the carbon to form salts.You'll also see a chemical reaction called elec trochemistry in this type of chemistry. In this type of chemistry we add sodium hydroxide and then proceed to add a certain base to cause certain reactions and the sodium hydroxide reacts with the water to form ammonium. And then these salts are mixed with an acid to create an alkali metal, or perhaps sodium aluminium ketone.So to sum up the chemistry in this article, we've seen that chemistry can be used to create substances and processes that are ultimately used in everyday life, and we've looked at the four types of ICF table chemistry. So now you know.

An Ionic Compound Definition

An Ionic Compound DefinitionThere are many different ionic compounds in the form of gasoline, and many people ask the question: Is there really an ionic compound? This is an extremely good question, because in our chemical world, there are different types of compounds that are made by different methods. As you might have guessed, these are different types of compounds which are used in different processes. The most common example would be gasoline.There are two different parts to gas that make it so special, and they are the molecules that make up the gas, and the catalysts which catalyze the transfer of energy into this gas. There are a few different types of catalysts, and one of them is the two-electron transfer catalysts. These catalysts have a two electron transfer, and this is what allows the fuel to run in the car. Two-electron transfer means that you can make very fast reactions when catalyzing gases, which means that you can create very cheap gas.Two-electron transfer cataly sts are one of the hottest areas of science right now, and this will play a big role in developing newer technologies in the future. In addition to the two-electron transfer catalysts, we also have oxidation catalysts and some form of electron-transfer catalysts, too.There are ionic compounds in many different categories of chemicals, and it is important to understand that the term 'ion' is actually defined in chemistry, and there are different ions that go into different processes. It is often referred to as ionic compounds, but is actually a compound that contains two electronegative atoms and a neutral atom, and this is how a simple ionic compound is created.This is something you should know, because ionic compounds may be broken down into very complex compounds depending on how you break them down, and there are a lot of different chemical structures that are involved with ionic compounds. If you want to take a few moments to research ionic compounds, it is important to note tha t they can occur in solids, liquids, gases, and even in solids and liquids.One type of ionic compound is polyene, and this compound is made out of two different elements, namely propylene and ethylene. These two elements are joined together using molecules called polymer chains, and pollen is the product of this type of reaction. The other compound that is related to pollen is polycarbonate, and this is also a compound made from two different elements, namely methane and carbon. The end product of this chemical reaction is a different compound, called monoxide, which is very common.Many ionic compounds are used in many different fields of science, and there are many chemicals that have been around for a long time, and have been used, and are still being used today. For example, the two-electron transfer catalyst is used in most processes where gas is made, and the reasons for this are very simple. When these two react, they create gas, and this gas can be used in many different ways , so that is one of the reasons why there are several different types of compounds.