A Student Review of Yale University

A Student Review of Yale University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Andrew graduated from Yale University in 2013 with a Bachelors degree in English. He specializes inACT prep tutoring, Reading tutoring, and Writing tutoringin New York City. Check out his review of his experience at Yale University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Andrew:Yale University is integrated with the streets of New Haven, but it maintains a distinct campus feel. Most of the undergraduate areas are completely walkablethe furthest distance from one side of campus to the other is about 15 minutes, at most. Yale University also provides shuttle buses that loop at regular intervals for students who do not want to walk, particularly to Science Hill. Bikes are useful but not necessary, and cars are definitely unnecessary. VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Andrew:Professors, advisers, and teaching assistants are all incredibly accessible at Yale University. Most hold regular office hours, and others are available by appointment. They are also great about responding to emails; I never remember having to wait more than 24 hours. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Andrew:Dorm life at Yale University centers around the residential college system. Before the start of freshman year, each student is randomly placed in one of 12 residential colleges. During a students four years at Yale University, he or she will live within his or her residential college for three years. Freshman year is the only exception. All first-year students live together on Old Campus, located at the heart of Yale University and truly a campus favorite. Generally, students eat their meals in their residential colleges; however, anyone is welcome to eat in any residential college for every meal except Sunday family dinner. It is easy to grab dinner with friends in other colleges and enjoy different dining halls. Yale University is full of social groups, from a cappella singing groups, to sports teams, to theater and arts groups. Essentially, anything you want to do, you can find. And not only can you find it, but you can find a group of other students who are as passionate and excited about it as you are. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Andrew:At Yale University, most majors and programs are absolutely fantastic. I chose the English major with a concentration in Creative Fiction Writing. Choosing a major is about deciding which classes are the most exciting. For me, I enjoyed English classes the most, and I knew I wanted to pursue English as a major. The English program is definitely one of the best in the countrythey have amazing professors, beautiful facilities, and a real tradition of excellence in the subject. I also chose to pursue a concentration in creative fiction writing, which meant I was permitted to take more creative writing classes than other non-concentration students, and I wrote a long-form fiction piece for my senior project. The writing concentration has some incredible faculty: Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham, National Book Critics Circle Award winner Anne Fadiman, Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies, New Yorker writer Cynthia Zarin, and more. These classes are definitely difficult to get intothey take applications and are often oversubscribedbut with a little persistence, it is definitely possible. While Yale University has traditionally been known as a real epicenter for humanities study, they have also been pouring a lot of funding into their science programs to ensure the offerings are on par with some of the very best. VT: 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? Andrew:Yale Universitys social network is embedded in the residential college system. The moment you enter campus, you feel like you have a group of friends already: the 120 or so other freshmen in your residential college. Beyond that, it is easy (and exciting!) to join social groups on campus. It is so easy to make friends. Greek life plays a very small role at Yale University. It is definitely there for people who are interested in joining fraternities or sororities, but it hardly dominates the social scene. There are plenty of non-Greek parties happening all the time for people interested in nightlife, but not in Greek-life. (In fact, most parties are non-Greek.) VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Andrew:The Career Center is really dedicated to helping people who ask for help. It is all about making an appointment, meeting with a career counselor, and working towards a goal. Yale University also has a great career database with regular job postings and openings all over the world, including summer internships sponsored by the university. They also host a huge career fair each fall with all the big names. The career fair is mostly directed to people interested in finance or consulting, and I found it a little more difficult to get solid career support at the fair for arts-related jobs. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Andrew:Yale University has the best libraries. And everyone has a favorite. Each residential college has its own library, and then there are also many other larger libraries on campus, including Sterling (the biggest), Bass (underground, state of the art), the Arts library (for harnessing good energy), and more. There are so many that they are hardly ever too crowded to find a table (except Bass during midterms or finals, when everyone is trying to cram a half semesters worth of work into one night). It is during its most crowded time (finals week) when the Sterling library is perhaps the most interesting. An undergraduate group named the Pundits does a naked run (for all students interested in a quick study break) through the nave of the library and down into Bass. It is fun and refreshing during a really stressful time. And they hand out candy to the desperate, potentially traumatized, studiers. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Andrew:New Haven is definitely on the smaller side, but it is famous for its food. New Haven has some of the very best pizza in the world, in addition to a variety of other amazing restaurants and bars. They have a fantastic artisan cheese shop featuring local Connecticut fare (Caseus), the craziest sushi you will ever eat (Miyas), a microbrewery with delicious pizza (BAR), and some really fantastic bars (Rudys, Ordinary, Anna Liffeys). VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Andrew:The student body is very manageablenothing ever feels empty and rarely does anything feel overcrowded. Yale University caps its seminars at 18 people at most, and some seminars are capped even smaller. (The creative writing classes are all 12-person maximum.) Sometimes, this means its difficult to get into the really sought-after classes (Anne Fadiman is always unavailable), but generally, there are enough classes that even people who are rejected from the most exclusive classes still fare extremely well. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Andrew: My favorite class by far was Advanced Nonfiction Writing (we called it English 469) with Anne Fadiman. She won the National Book Critics Circle Award in the late 1990s for her book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, a look into Hmong culture in southern California. She has written for all the major publications, and she understands writing (and students) more than anyone I know. For each assignment, she met with each student for one hour in her office, working on everything from major themes to line-by-line editing to teach us how to effectively edit our work. Check out Andrews tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Solving Systems By Elimination - Online tutoring

Solving Systems By Elimination - Online tutoring Elimination is a very useful method in mathematics. The method elimination one of the unknown variable is eliminated to find the other variables and vice versa. I helps reduce the given question or solution to a simpler form. Expressions can consist of one or more than one unknown variables with different coefficients and constant numbers. Example 1: Solve by elimination the set of equations x + y = 15 and x y = 7? Solution: The given equations are x + y = 15 and x y = 7. Here x, y are the unknown variables. Eliminate the variable y. Add the two equations gives: (x+ y) + (x y) = 15 + 7. This gives 2x = 22; x = 22/2; x = 11. For the y values x + y = 15; 11 + y = 15. Y = 15 11 = 4. Hence the solution is x = 11 and y = 4. Example 2: Solve by elimination the set of equations x + y = 20 and x y = 6? Solution: The given equations are x + y = 20 and x y = 6. Here x, y are the unknown variables. Eliminate the variable y. Add the two equations gives: (x+ y) + (x y) = 20 + 6. This gives 2x = 26; x = 26/2; x = 13. For the y values x + y = 20; 13 + y = 20. Y = 20 13 = 7. Hence the solution is x = 13 and y = 7.

Places to Find and Share Poetry

Places to Find and Share Poetry All You Need to Know about Writing Poetry and Discovering New Poets ChaptersPoetry Competitions in the UKThe Best Poetry BooksThe Best Poetry WebsitesThe Best Poetry QuotesWhere to Submit PoetryPoetry is an art form which captures the hearts and minds of many. Anyone can be a poet, whether you occasionally take pleasure in noting down interesting phrases which cross your mind, or you’re a songwriter, creating your very own poetry can give you a means to put your emotions into words as well as speaking out about issues close to your heart. To write poetry is to observe and report while you experiment with language to tell a story.Poetry is a unique genre of creative writing which showcases the artistic qualities of language as well as the musicality hidden beneath everyday sentences.Unlike prose, poetry uses the natural rhythm of the words that make up a language to make even free verse distinct from other traditional and modern poetry. Poetry is also about structuring sentences based on the sounds of words; the sonnet (famous in English poetry than ks to Shakespeare) arranged by rhyme scheme, whereas the haiku is arranged by syllables. Each lyric is carefully considered, with no room for meaningless additions to the narrative.Whether you enjoy spending time reading poems you come across, or you’re a keen poet yourself, it can always help to know what’s going on in the world of poetry. Finding out which websites are the best ones to visit to get your daily dose of poetry as well as learning where to look for inspiration for your writing are both useful steps that poetry enthusiasts can take to enhance their poetic experience.If you’re looking for information on how to enter poetry competitions, where to resources to find collections of poetry which suit your personal taste and where you can get inspired, you’ve come to the right place!poetry collection with poems to be enjoyed over and over again.There's nothing quite like relaxing with a collection of poems to enjoy ¦ source: Pixabay - ThoughtCatalogFrom coffee table poem books to anthologies full of poems about certain occasions, there are poetry books for every situation.Here are some of the most popular poetry books on the market at the moment:Poetry by Heart: A Treasury of Poems to Read AloudPoetry by Heart is a compilation of poems to be learnt and recited. Popular among teenagers, the 200 poems were originally published in the anthology as a selection from which competitors of the annual Poetry by Heart competition were to choose the poems they would recite.This anthology has poems to be enjoyed by readers of all backgrounds and ages. With famous pieces from everyone from poet laureate William Wordsworth to Wilfred Owen, as well as lesser-known poets, this book is a brilliant go-to for any lover of poetry.Milk and Honey â€" Rupi KaurThis New York Times Bestseller is a collection of poems from the poet Rupi Kaur. The style of Kaur’s poetry is one which magnifies even the tiniest of moments in the human experience, describing them with an unfamiliar rawness.With a focus on love, pain and femininity, this poetry book is best suited to young adults.The Poetry Pharmacy â€" William SieghartJust as described by its title, The Poetry Pharmacy is a collection of poems for those in need of healing, whether it be from pain, a loss of hope, heartbreak or worry. This anthology is described by Stephen Fry as containing ‘balm for the soul, fire for the belly, a cooling compress for the fevered brow, solace for the wounded, an arm around the lonely shoulder’.poetry can be found just about anywhere.There are also many quotes about the process of penning a poem, which can motivate budding poets to overcome their writers’ block.Here are a few of poetry quotes to get you thinking:“There is not a particle of life which does not bear poetry within it.” - Gustave FlaubertThis quote from French novelist Gustave Flaubert, born in 1821, explains the omnipresence of poetry in every aspect of life. Flaubert’s interests were in lit erary realism, so, perhaps this shows that there is beauty to be enjoyed in even the most mundane parts of life.“Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.” - Leonard CohenA poet and singer himself, Leonard Cohen believes that life is what generates poetry. Perhaps this quote highlights how living your life to the full, exploring, trying new things and learning will inspire your writing. It could also mean that the fuller the life you live, the more you will create.“A poem begins with a lump in the throat.” - Robert FrostHere, poet Robert Frost acknowledges the emotion behind every poem. Though poetry is usually shared and read by many, at its origin, writing a poem is a very personal experience.Where to Submit PoetryHave you written a poem you’re especially proud of? Why not share it with the world? You may even get your work noticed!But where do you start? And what opportunities are available to those who enjoy writing poet ry for fun?All PoetryAll Poetry is dedicated to poets who want some advice on their work. In addition, it acts as a platform for poets to share their work with others. The website also hosts competitions run by its members to encourage writers to experiment with a variety of styles as well as giving their poetry exposure.Poetry LondonPoetry London is a poetry magazine which welcomes submissions from unpublished poets as well as those who are well-known in the poetry world. Pieces must be submitted by post (rather than email), and each poem is carefully read before a decision is made about its suitability for the tri-annual magazine.

Ask an Admissions Expert Drusilla Dee Blackman

Ask an Admissions Expert Drusilla Dee Blackman Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Drusilla Dee Blackman has had a long and varied career in the field of college admissions. She is the former Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid for Columbia University, as well as the former Dean of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid at Harvard Universitys School of Arts and Sciences. She has a B.S. from Brown University and an M.A. in psychology from Yale. She is the founder of The Ivy Dean. How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Dee: It is never too early to begin. We advise our students to begin the process at least two or three months prior to their first deadline. This provides them with sufficient time to research colleges, brainstorm ideas, and have each section of their applications reviewed by multiple individualsparticularly the essays. The key is to never procrastinate, as colleges will notice. Students should plan to submit their applications at least two weeks before the deadline. Then, if any unexpected challenges arise, or if any requirements were missed, students have a few weeks to make changes and fix mistakes. What are the best ways to go about selecting a terrific essay topic? Dee: Often, selective colleges make their final decisions based on a students essays, as many qualified students have similar grades and test scores. To pick a terrific topic, the student should start by asking, How am I different from my classmates? By searching for differences in his or her background, experiences, current activities, and future interests, the student can discover unique topic ideas. Then, the student should meet with his or her guidance counselor to discuss the list of ideas. A counselor works with dozens (if not hundreds) of college-bound students each year, and he or she will be able to offer advice on which topic is the most unique and noteworthy. Are there any essay topics you get tired of seeing or would warn students to stay away from? Dee: In my opinion, topics never get boring. Rather, it is the presentation style. While Dean of Admissions at Columbia University, I read thousands of essays that all sounded the same. Many students directly answer the question and fail to creatively include details that distinguish them from other students. Successful essays are those that are introspective. After the student selects a topic for the essay, he or she should then focus on answering three questions related to the topic: Where have I been? Who am I now? And what do I hope to accomplish in the future? This develops an insightful, compelling story. As every students personal story is different, this approach ensures that the essay is interestingregardless of the topic. What is the biggest mistake a student can make on a college application? Dee: Being vague. Students often lack depth in their essays and materials. For any application, students only have a few hundred words to stand out, and it is important to make every word count. For example, merely stating that you were the president of an organization, completed volunteer work, or participated in a sport is not enough information. Colleges want to know about the context surrounding each experience. Why did you participate in the experience? What did you learn? Did the experience impact your way of thinking? What did you accomplish? The scenarios are endless, but as long as the student answers this series of questions for each statement, the student has the best chance of standing out. What is the typical process an admissions officer goes through to evaluate applications? Dee: Each college has a unique process, but there are a few basic similarities. First, colleges check if a student can handle their academic rigor. If a student surpasses the colleges threshold for grades and test scores, then the admissions officers want to learn how he or she will contribute to their student body. This information is found within a students essays, letters of recommendation, activity and honor lists, and short-response answers, which display how a student differs from others in the applicant pool. Often, two or more admissions officers review each application. Once a majority opinion is made, the application will go to a committee for a final decision. As you can see, almost the entirety of the process is subjective; it is important to seek assistance from a teacher, counselor, or independent firm to extensively review each component of your application. Any detail may make a difference in the committees final decision. What do you think is the single most important thing a student should make sure they present in the best possible way on their application? Dee: Fit. Regardless of the specific questions, all admissions offices are (actually) seeking the answer to only one question: Is the student a good fit for our college? To properly answer this question, students must extensively research the college to learn about its curriculum focus, values, campus culture, and opportunities. Then, the student should convey how he or she will contribute to the colleges unique characteristics. How should students go about determining the culture of a university, and whether they would be a good fit? Dee: When possible, students should visit colleges to experience the campus and speak with staff, faculty, and students. College is an expensive investment, and nothing surpasses a first-hand experience to determine your fit. However, visiting a college is not always possible. For the colleges a student cannot visit, he or she should review their website, read student newspapers, and research the college from various sources to learn about the college from different perspectives. A students happiness at a college is an important determinant of academic performance and future success. Students should look past ranking, prestige, and social pressures to find colleges of genuine interest to them. In most cases, a student will naturally gravitate toward some colleges over others. Early-action, early-decision, binding/non-binding, regular decisions...With so many choices when applying, what do you recommend to students? Dee: Often, students spend a significant amount of time debating between these application types. However, in many ways, the different applications are artificial, and solely used to spread the flow of applications. Students should view them the same way. We recommend that students first finalize their college lists. We then tell students to list each college as a reach, target, or safety school. Once organized, students should then apply to at least one college from each category for the early round and spread the rest outcompleting at least one application a weekuntil the regular decision round. This results in a nice, relaxed pace throughout the process. Students should only apply to a binding option if they know with 100% certainty they would attend the college upon acceptance and want to find out their decision earlier. If not, this type of application has no other advantages. How important are grades and standardized test scores when admissions decisions are being made? Dee: Grades and test scores are very important for students to get their foot in the door. As mentioned earlier, these quantitative factors are used primarily as a baseline to determine which students can handle the colleges academic rigor. Then, the essays and other sections are used to make the final decision. Many students believe that there is a formula that consists of ones grades and test scores to determine admission, and this is simply not true. Each year, students with perfect test scores and GPAs get denied. Strong, well-written essays and supplemental materials frequently carry more weight in the process. What tips do you have for students asking their teachers for letters of recommendation? Dee: The importance of these letters is regularly overlooked. Unfortunately, many letters are useless to an admissions committee, as they are vague and lack details. To avoid this, students should carefully select the teachers who write their letters, and you should not pick a teacher solely due to a high grade in his or her class. Colleges want to learn specific details about how a student contributed to the class (to assess how the student will contribute to their campuses). Therefore, students should select teachers who can write about their specific in-class projects, presentations, papers, and other classwork. Then, the student should provide the teacher (either by email, in a letter, or in person) details regarding these in-class accomplishments to remind the teacher. This provides helpful content for the teacher to use in his or her letter. The student should take a similar approach for guidance counselors, except this summary should include a mixture of accomplishments over the students entire four years of high school, including academic highlights, prestigious extracurricular involvements, and noteworthy community contributions. Colleges look to the counselors letter to determine how well a student can balance academic and extracurricular work, while also contributing to the campus as a whole. Visit The Ivy Dean for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Homework Strategies for Different Homework Types

Homework Strategies for Different Homework Types Youve heard before that theres no such thing as one-size-fits-all learning. The same is true for study and homework strategies. The responsibility factor is a big part of homework and one of its primary benefits. Homework nurtures students time management skills and their ability to complete tasks. But the primary purpose of homework is to reinforce what teachers teach in the classroom. The U.S. Department of Education describes four common types of homework: practice, preparatory, extension and integration. At Huntington, we help children of all ages become better students. Here are some of the strategies we teach for tackling different homework types: Practice Practice homework is the most common type youll see come home. It is intended to bolster classroom learning and help students master specific skills. So, just as the name implies, the key to success with this type of homework is to keep practicing. A few tips for children: Nail down the basic skills that are the underpinning for more complex skills. Learn from mistakes by going over missed class problems or test questions. Always consider homework to be required, not optional. Dig into the steps. In math, for example, children must understand the why behind steps and not just the rote how. Preparatory Like it sounds, preparatory homework introduces concepts and ideas that will be covered in class in the near future. Common preparatory homework examples include learning vocabulary or reading a textbook chapter before the content is to be discussed the next day. A few tips for children doing preparatory homework: Take notes of the main ideas of passages and bring them out when the topic is covered in class. Write down questions that arise while completing homework. Ask those questions in class the next day. If stumped on a problem (math or science, for example), circle it and write down a few reasons why the problem is confusing. Extension Extension homework is often assigned when teachers want to challenge a student with opportunities to apply what they have learned to something new. A few tips for children doing extension homework: Be resourceful, looking through notes or the textbook for strategies on how to solve a problem or additional information that might be helpful for homework completion. Think about concepts in different ways and from different angles. This helps children engage in different ways of mental processing. Take a problem-solving approach to new and unfamiliar material. Children should think about what tools and information they already have that might help them tackle a problem. Integration Integration homework requires students to apply different skills to a single task (e.g. book reports or larger projects). A few tips for children doing integration homework: Be organized and keep track of all research and information. Plan thoroughly and effectively, with milestones for multi-step projects. Here are a few best practices to make homework time more productive and successful, no matter what type of homework: Establish the spot. Consistency is important and helps children get into good homework routines. Designate a place in your home for homework, whether thats the kitchen, dining room or your childs desk in her room. Designate a time. Some children focus best right after school, while others are most alert after dinner and activities. Figure out the best time of day for homework and do your best to set and keep a schedule. Commit to organization. A homework center with the supplies your child needs to be productive helps children get to work when its time to do homework. Your child should spend a few minutes at the end of each homework session tidying it up for the next day. Spend time creating a game plan. Your child should go through his planner before starting homework to look over all assignments for the evening and rank them in order of priority. This will keep homework time on track and eliminate procrastination. Limit homework help. Resist the urge to take a lead role in your childs homework or step in to show your child how to do homework. Your child should take the initiative and assume responsibility. Make sure your role is as a supporter. Is your child stressed and struggling with homework on a daily basis? Huntington can help. Call us at 1-800 CAN LEARN to talk about how we can help your child master homework and become a stronger student.

Make no sense or have no sense

Make no sense or have no sense When can I say  have no sense  and  make no sense? Is  have no sense  ever correct? Philip Mercier (circa 1689-1760) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons When can I say  have no sense  and  make no sense? Is  have no sense  ever correct? One of my students wrote this sentence in a narrative writing assignment: I tried to explain to him that this situation just  have  no sense. Can you see what the problem is? In fact, he has made two errors in one. The first is a verb agreement error, and the second is a word choice error. The subject  this situation  is singular, and so any verb that follows it should take an -s at the end in order to make it agree. We call this kind of error a third person singular agreement error. Here is the correction for this kind of error. I tried to explain to him that this situation just  has  no sense. The second problem is a little harder for learners to fix on their own. The reason is that  you need a wide exposure to English or a  corpus  to work out the rule. Can you say  have no sense? Yes, you can say  have no sense  but not in the way my student has used it. If you check a corpus for  no sense, you get this: As you can see, there is one example of  have  no sense  in the phrase  have no sense of shame. It is less common than  make/makes/made no sense,  but it is definitely possible. In developing error detection rules for the  Virtual Writing Tutor  (the ESL grammar checker) anytime a learner submits  have no sense  or  has no sense, the system will alert the learner to the word choice error and suggest make or makes, except when followed by the word  of. Check English Grammar with the Virtual Writing Tutor Try it yourself. Copy and paste any one of the following sentences and paste it into the text area of the  Virtual Writing Tutor  to see what it says. I tried to explain to him that these situations really have no sense. I tried to explain to him that this situation really has no sense. I tried to explain to him that this situation just  have  no sense. I tried to explain to him that this situation just  has no sense. Or one of these: I tried to explain to her that he have no sense of shame. I tried to explain to her that he make no sense of shame. Please follow and like us:

6 top tips to help children prepare for entrance exams

6 top tips to help children prepare for entrance exams Entrance exams! Just those two words are enough to send shivers down a parent's back. Entrance exams are everywhere. They are used by some private schools, for grammar schools, for some colleges and selective universities. And many children and students often feel the pressure when they are expected to do well. Children as young as four are taking entrance exams for select private schools around the UK! An article in The Telegraph stated: Across all levels of the British school system can be found evidence of the 'exam factory' phenomenon. Children are being tested at all ages - from 4 to 18 - with increasing pressure being placed upon the results of the exams. Whatever the reason your child is taking an entrance exam there are always steps that can be taken to help them to prepare and with the right approach and support secure a successful outcome. We at First Tutors know how stressful entrance exams can be but we also know that with a little help and some good encouragement, entrance exams don't have to be a terrible or terrifying experience. We have complied a list of our top six tips to ensure you help your child prepare for their exams in the best way possible. 1. Make a study plan Giving your child enough time to prepare for their entrance exam will automatically take away some of the stress. Once you have a date for the exam mark it in your calendar and plan the days with your child that they will study. Of course children should not give up their other extra-curricular activities to study for an entrance exam, just allow a certain amount of time per week to go over certain topics and prepare them as much as possible to build up their confidence and tackle any problem areas they may have. Entrance exams do not need a whole heap of study time and depending on the capabilities of your child three to four times a week should be sufficient if you are planning a couple of months ahead. Making sure they have a couple of days off from study will alleviate some of the pressure they may feel. 2. Review past tests and concentrate on problem areas Planning what your child needs to review is also an important factor to take into consideration. Consider the topics or subjects that may come up in the exam and try to organise them so that you are concentrating on the more difficult parts first. It is more beneficial to focus on the topics that your child struggles with the most to boost their confidence and take away some of the challenges. Reviewing past papers can also be a great way of preparing a child for the type of exam they will need to sit. Past papers can help a child familiarise themselves with what types of questions they will be asked, how they will be worded, how much time they will have for each question and what types of answers the examination board is looking for. 3. Seek the help of a private tutor An experienced tutor will encourage your child to feel confident when preparing for their entrance exams. They will have past papers at the ready to go over with your child and have plenty of techniques to ensure they build their confidence and understanding. Finding the right tutor for your child is very important and First Tutors guarantees you'll find the best and most suitable tutor with our incredible search options. We will list all available tutors within close proximity to you, give you details of their qualifications and experience as well as their rates and reviews. Children generally progress much faster with individual attention and a tutor is the best way to guarantee your child has the best chance at success, especially if they are struggling with certain topics around the exams in question. 4. Talk to others for advice Seeing advice from others is also a good idea when preparing for entrance exams. Have your child speak to someone who has already sat the same kind of entrance exam to get some information into what they can expect and what kind of questions came up. Speak to your child's teacher to get some advice on the best possible preparation your child should do and speak to your child's tutor about supplying some past papers and offering any insight into the entrance exam they may have. 5. Know which type of learner your child is There are different styles of learning and understanding which learning style suits your child the best will definitely ensure a smoother and more positive study progression. There are three basic styles of learning: Visual Learner - Visual learners can make pictures in their minds of how something will appear and learn best by seeing things written down, looking at images and watching videos. Auditory Learner - Auditory learners best understand new concepts through listening and hearing things and remember best through verbal lectures, debates and discussions. Kinaesthetic learner - Kinaesthetic learners learn best through interaction and movement and gain knowledge by discovering how things work and exploring the physical world around them. To read more about learning styles and how to understand which learning style suits you or your child best please read our blog on 'Understanding Learning Styles'. 6. Do not stress and practice calming techniques Keeping calm is a vital aspect for all exams and stress can bring a lot of negativity with it. If your child is feeling negative try speaking to them and giving them lots of encouragement. Motivate them and instil a positive attitude; it is not about passing the exam it's about doing their best and accepting all outcomes. Create some strategies with your child that may help them overcome some obstacles during their exam. Skipping difficult and challenging questions and coming back to them later is one great tip whilst another is using the process of elimination and eliminating any answers that are obviously incorrect making choosing an answer that they are not entirely sure about easier. Another great exam tip is to read any questions before reading a passage so that they will know what information to look for and always make sure to read all of the answer options before selecting one; there may be one that seems correct but further down the list may be a more correct answer. Ensure your child gets enough sleep both during revision time and the lead up to the exam and when they are studying to take small breaks to keep their concentration levels at a steady rate. Find ways to make studying more fun such as playing review games with a parent or tutor, acting out some of the topics they are studying, colour-coding their notes with them or even making fun videos to revise or explain certain topics they may find challenging. To conclude Entrance exams can be a stressful time for most children but following some of these tips can ensure a smoother preparation process and a happier child; which of course is a great recipe for success. No matter how your child does in their entrance exams it is always important to note their effort and praise them regardless of a pass or a fail; children should never be given the feeling that they have failed at something.

12 Wicked Fun Ways to Learn Any Language

12 Wicked Fun Ways to Learn Any Language 12 Wicked Fun Ways to Learn Any Language Looking for minimum stress and maximum fun?Too many fun ways to learn  are just typical study tactics in disguise.Cmon, flashcards are never going to hold a candle to video games.It may sound strange, but you cant learn everything by  studying.As it turns out,  you may have to totally  stop studying to really become fluent.Im dead serious.So, blow off your work.Procrastinate that assignment.Put your textbooks back on the shelf.I promise it isnt too good to be true! Why Learn a Language the Fun Way?Say goodbye to  making  excusesIm the guiltiest of this. No time, no energy, no money, no resources. You dont need any of that anymore. Dont join the pity party, wondering however will I learn my target language? You wont ever have to force yourself to stay motivated again, cause I know youre always going to be down for a little fun time.Manipulate your brains rewards centerWith fun methods, your brains pleasure system is triggered constantly. Its why we can scroll through dozens of funny cat pictures without getting bored, even though were doing nothing beneficial for our brain or body (except for absorbing cuteness).Now, your brain will start to connect that positive feedback and pleasure with language learning.Remove roadblocksSometimes you study so much that you actually start getting  worse.  Has this happened to you? This is a major complaint from near-fluent learners living abroad and encountering their target language in the real world for the first time.They get paralyzed and dont know what the heck they should even study.How do you study things like understanding fast-talkers, low-talkers, mumblers, obscure colloquial expressions, little-known dialects and slang that became popular last month? You cant learn that stuff by studying in the traditional sense.Train your brain to live  using your target languageRight now, your brain knows that it should be using your target language in specific situations, like when reading a textbook, watching a subtitled movi e or chatting with a conversation partner.  Now its time to train your brain to use that target language constantly in everyday life. Thats the next big step from student to fluent speaker.Keep language fresh and current in your mindLanguage is always evolving, along with popular culture, current events and more. Cultural references are constantly embedded in peoples language.Its not a guilty pleasure anymoreâ€"to be fluent you  need  to know about modern entertainment, leisure activities and humor found in your target languages country. Any language learner knows: It royally sucks to miss out on jokes and references.Transform everyday activities into language learning opportunitiesDont just wait for designated study time to roll around. Some fun learning methods are based on things you already do regularly, like cooking and browsing the internet. Other methods help you redirect spare time to fun language practice time.  By using these fun activities, youll be able to inject a littl e language learning into normal, everyday activities.How to Integrate Fun Activities into Language LearningPepper your daily schedule with funLittle bits of fun language learning can fit nicely even into the busiest of schedules. Whenever you have a few minutes, like when youre in the bathroom and browsing the internet on your phone (like I know you do), you can be practicing your target language. Let no spare moment go to waste!Dont burn your books just yetYoull still need formal learning and periods of focused study time. The idea is to incorporate more  fun learning methods into your daily routine. You can certainly cut down on your more intense study sessions, but overall youll still need these to succeed.Take breaksPlenty of research on human motivation has shown that were more productive when we take lots of frequent, little breaks. Try the following patterns to structure your study time and keep your brain refreshed:Study for 20 minutes, take a 5-minute break.Study for 30 min utes, take a 10-minute break.Study for 50 minutes, take a 20-minute break.During the study period, use your more formal study methods. During the break period, use one of our suggested  fun  language practice methods.12 Wicked Fun Ways to Learn Any LanguageThe first five items on this list will get you connected online, showing you how to use the internet for some fun new ways to learn.  1. Browse  RedditReddits my go-to place for language learning.Make an account, explore and subscribe to subreddits (pages that are thematically-oriented to one specific region, interest, etc.) where people speak or study your target language. For example, if youre learning French you might want  to subscribe to the subreddits  reddit.com/r/learnfrench, reddit.com/r/french or reddit.com/r/franceâ€"that last one being bilingual.There, youll find great articles in your target language, along with comments from users. Youll also come across  memes, gifs and fun images. Not only will you learn how  other countries and cultures use these mediaâ€"which is kinda fascinating all on its ownâ€"but youll also learn about a societys favorite types of humor, plus ongoing jokes related to  popular culture, current events and social issues.You can also filter Reddit search results to only pull up posts in your target language.Youll just feel like youre browsing away on Reddit, but youre actively connecting with  communities of language learners and native speakers.2. Use region-specific social mediaYeah, Facebook is popular pretty much everywhere. But you may have also noticed that certain areas of the world have their own social media sites with intense regional followings. See what native speakers of your target language are using, then sign up and start chatting!For example, WhatsApp  is popular in Europe and Latin America, while Kakao Talk is what Koreans use to chat. Hi5, despite being based in the U.S., could not be more latino,  while many in  Spain still use  Tuentiâ€"the Spanish Face book.3. Play online video gamesComputer-based games like Minecraft, World of Warcraft and Team Fortress 2 let you join group conversations and work cooperatively with others.To get an idea of what gameplay will be like in your target language, check out the videos on Twitch. Id recommend either  searching the site by language (for example, type German into the sites search bar) or by video game titleâ€"or both. Listen to how French trolls berate other players and work the word n00b into their sentences.As for other popular games like Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto and so on, Google party up threads for speakers of your native language. Search for this using your target language! They often look to recruit more game companions on online forums, since gaming is always more fun when youve got buddies to chat with.4. Find friends onlineDont just stop at language exchange sites. You may find it fun to use chat messengers and video conferencing to converse with native speakers, but that o ften involves stiff, formal conversation, awkward pauses and corrections. That adds a different level of pressure to the situationâ€"youll still be in learning mode, trying to watch your words carefully and improve your speaking.Want some more chill interactions? Try making friends in real life!To get started, try Meetup. This is ideal if youre living abroad and looking for more opportunities for casual interaction with native speakers or fellow learners. Its also great while living in a country that doesnt speak your target languageâ€"simply search for conversation nights and cultural activities related to the language, and youll be sure to find some like-minded peeps  to hang out with.5. Date in your target languageSingle and ready to mingle? Okay, Im notâ€"I got into something committed before the inglorious rise of Tinder and Grindrâ€"but I know there are a lot of language learners out there looking to hook up. There are a few ways to go about finding matches who speak your targ et language.Set your region to a place where your target language is spoken.Change your application interface to your target language.Include your spoken languages in your profile, and attract native speakers like flies.For sites and apps offering  this option, filter potential matches by  languages spoken.Want to arrange a hookup in your destination before your plane even touches down?  Tinder Plus, the next level of Tinder, is working overtime to market to us international, jet-setting, traveling types. If youre hoping for something a little less casual,  Match  has separate pages specifically for seeking partners internationally.Were leaving web pages for now and heading to our phones! These next two tips will show you how to use your phone for good, not evil. Your phone usually distracts you from anything and everything, but now  it can help you learn while you waste your life away!6. Set your phone interface to your target languageEasy as cake. Navigating your phone in your tar get language forces you to use your target language every time you pick up that mesmerizing little device. Eventually, youll learn all the key words you need to get to text messages, contact lists, emails and Facebook, and youll find that youre swiping and tapping your device as quickly and easily as you did in your native language!7. Use only the most entertaining appsSkip the flashcard apps for now. Try out fun  apps that aim to deliver instant gratification.Duolingo  gets you learning  through cheerful, addictive games. You choose game content based onthemes (food, animals, etc.) or linguistic points (present tense, gender, etc.) and play a round of three-strikes-youre-out. Get the answers correct to advance and earn points. You can use these points for rewards, like bonus lives and health elixirs to store for extra-challenging rounds.FluentU has  collected tons of real-world video clipsâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news, Disney movies and childrens showsâ€"and turned the m into personalized language learning lessons.  Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.Free City Maps and Walks  is great for iPhone users who enjoy playing with the first-person street view on Google maps. Take walking tours of nearly 500 cities worldwide! Look at street signs, billboards and more as you go to learn about language, culture, architecture and more.World Lens Translator  is about to blow your freaking mind. The future has officially arrived. Simply point your smartphone camera lens at a text (or look at it with your Google Glass if youre so lucky) and have it translated before your eyes, in real time.*Bonus: Download your favorite smartphone and tablet games in your target language! For example, did you know that all those silly little game that you just cant stop playingâ€"take, for example, Plants vs.  Zombiesâ€"are frequently available in Spanish, French, Japanese and many, many more languages? For some, youll need to do the initial download with the different language indicated. For others, you can simply change the interface language in game settings.Finally, well be eating our way to fluency in these  last five ways to learn a language while having a seriously fun time.8. Seek out recipes in their native languageCan Paula Deen really make authentic fried plantains  as good as any  Ecuadorian  mamita? Does Martha Stewart secretly have a Korean mother who taught her how to make that ultimate kimchi? Um, probably not.If you want recipes that are authentic down to every last step of preparation, youre better off searching for them in your target language. For example, few English plantain recipes will suggest you grab a rock from outside to smash em down after frying. Thats one beautiful little cultural detail you miss out on if youre not finding recipes directly from their country of origin!9. Watch step-by-step culinary instruction videosStep right into an authentic kitchen, and let a native speaker of your target language take  you to culinary heaven. Quality, step-by-step cooking videos are absolutely everywhere on the internet. Just search for your desired recipe in your target language on YouTube!Youll find everything from beautifully-lit and organized walkthroughs by  professional chefs to normal people filming their home  food preparation. Each type of video has its own advantages. The best part about any cooking video is that it was created for you to follow carefully. That means theyre usually very detailed. The cook will speak clearly, slowly and explicitly, which is perfect for language learners.Cook along with them, or simply binge watch these videos when youre hungry and daydreaming about delicious food.10. Shop in ethnic grocery stores with imported goodsAs a lifelong dawdler, I love leisurely strolling through grocery store aisles and mulling over the different items. This is even more fun when w andering around an ethnic grocery shop.Any major city is bound to have Japanese convenience stores akin to those found on the streets of Tokyo. Latin grocery stores are arguably the most cost-efficient places to stock up on bulk bags of rice and beans. Most or all of the items in these kinds of stores will have labels written in your target language. Its a language learners goldmine.Make a shopping list based on the recipe youve found online in your target languageâ€"and write it out in that language too, of course.Head  to Google maps and see whats in your area!Even if you live in a rural area, like myself, the nearest large town or small city should still offer plenty of options. Visiting one of these stores is really  worth the occasional drive if you can swing it.11. Order imported food onlineIf you enjoy shopping online and get a rush of excitement when an Amazon box appears on your doorstep, trying browsing online for foreign products related to your target language. What do n ative speakers order while theyre abroad and feeling homesick? Is there a particular product their country is famous for?Look for products with stellar reviews that offer little tastes of local cuisine.12. Eat out in an authentic restaurantIf youre learning abroad, eat where the locals eat. Avoid tourist-packed restaurants like the plagueâ€"theyre usually overpriced and serve food  watered down to foreign palettes anyway.If youre in your home country, track down where native speakers of your target language own restaurants. This will introduce you to authentic food, and often the menu will be partially or fully written in their home language. You can chit-chat with the hosts, waiters and busboys to your hearts content, allowing you to try out your language skills and maybe even make friends.See? I told you these were seriously  awesome ways to learn a language without studying. Now go have some fun and get started today! And One More ThingIf youre digging these fun ways to learn a l anguage, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.