Where Will You Go Next 3 Study Abroad Programs for Green Majors

Where Will You Go Next 3 Study Abroad Programs for Green Majors In this series, the Varsity Tutors Blog showcases 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. Studying abroad offers you the unique chance to discover a new culture and expand your academics. Regardless of your major, there are engaging programs offered to students abroad. If youre a prospective green major, there are a multitude of opportunities to advance your studies overseas. From Duke Universitys conservation program in Australia to the University of California, Davis sustainability program in Northern Europe, students can choose from a variety of study abroad programs for green majors. Keep reading to learn about three study abroad programs for green majors: 1. Stony Brook Universitys Sustainability and Renewable Energy course in Costa Rica Stony Brook Universitys three-week study abroad program allows students to learn about Costa Ricas efforts to become more sustainable. The program also showcases Costa Ricas commitment to utilize renewable energy sources by visiting facilities, spending time in ecovillages, and speaking to local experts. This course can benefit students studying sustainability, environmental science, and environmental design. While the program is busy and ambitious, the last two days are spent in the city of Puerto Viejo, where students visit a chocolate factory and a jaguar rescue center. Stony Brook Universitys program gives students the opportunity to earn an International Permaculture certificate, focused on regenerative design, biodiversity, and permaculture. All students complete an exciting capstone project focused on one or more aspects of Costa Ricas sustainability efforts. [RELATED: 3 Green Majors Students Should Know About] 2. Duke Universitys Australia: Evolutionary Forge and Conservator program Duke University offers students a month-long program focused on biology, conservation, and environmental history in the ecologically rich and diverse country of Australia. Students spend time in many parts of the country, from the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland to Sydney in New South Wales. The course gives students the opportunity to learn about biodiversity across Australia and how its been shaped by human activity over time. The country is home to some of the most stunning and unique ecosystems on earth. Coursework involves field studies that are supplemented by readings, videos, and classroom discussions. The course is open to students of any major, but is best geared toward those with a focus on biology, conservation, or environmental history. [RELATED: 5 Myths (and Realities) About Study Abroad] 3. University of California,Davis Sustainable Cities of Northern Europe program In this month-long program, students visit eight to ten cities across four or five countries in northern Europe that focus on sustainability, such as Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden; and Lucerne, Switzerland. Some themes students will encounter include: Urban transit Renewable energy systems Waste management Urban planning. This program gives students the opportunity to visit some of the most exciting cities across Europe on foot, bicycle, and by train. Theyll also learn how many European cities have embraced sustainability as a part of their culture. This program may appeal to students studying landscape architecture, environmental science and policy, and community and regional development. Students focused on these areas of sustainability will benefit from learning about green urban planning principles and design approaches. [RELATED: How to Choose a Foreign Language to Study] Regardless of your career goals, there are a plethora of green study abroad programs to advance your knowledge. Identify the areas youre most interested in, and research available programs to find the right fit for you. 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.

What is So Important about a Growth Mindset

What is So Important about a Growth Mindset Why You Need to Know about the Growth Mindset. ChaptersWhat is Growth Mindset Theory?Fixed vs Growth Mindset.How to Develop Your Growth Mindset.Resources to Help You and Your Growth Mindset.Growth mindset theory is one of the most influential and widespread theories of intelligence in the education system right now. It has taken the wider world by storm â€" and its popularity seems to be ever-growing â€" with its presence felt in the world of business, professional development, and even politics.And there is a good reason why this theory holds the importance that it does. As a theory, it tells us that success can come through a change of attitude â€" or a change of ‘mind set’ â€" and a resulting transformation of the ways in which we behave, respond to failure, and engage with problems and challenges.It holds that children can be educated in such a way so that they can respond to challenges with gusto and enthusiasm â€" so that, ultimately, nothing will stand in their way.It sounds cool, no? And, honestly, it absolutely is. T hat’s why we’re focusing a series on the subject. A series that will help you to understand what a growth mindset is, why you might want it, and what you will want to avoid. And a series too that will help you to develop your own growth mindset â€" with resources to help you do just that.So, let’s take a look at all you need to know about the growth mindset. And remember, it’s all about the challenge: the growth mindset starts by recognising that everything is still possible. The growth mindset can start in the classroom.And, most importantly perhaps, the ways in which all of these things are affected comes to play an influence on our process of learning and our own success. Whether it be academic achievement or professional growth, our mindset affects it all.Fixed vs Growth Mindset.We have seen that the difference between the fixed mindset and the growth mindset affects all aspects of our lives. Yet, let’s give you a few examples to clear up any confusion.The vast majority of the examples that Dweck herself uses come from the education system. This is where she did her research â€" and where the influence of her theories is felt the strongest. The difference in mindset is a difference in approaches to learning, to cultivating skills, and to attitudes to perseverance and failure. Leave your fixed mindset behind!Acquiring New Skills.We saw above that one of the differences between the growth mindset and the fixed mindset is in the way we respond to new demands and challenges. And that distinction between ‘oh, I’m not a maths person’ and ‘let’s give it a go!’ remains fundamental.The fixed mindset is based on the idea of an innate ability: if you are born smart, you stay smart; if you are born not smart, there’s no way you are going to get smart.This attitude means that people are not willing to try to learn and grow. For someone with a fixed mindset, effort is irrelevant for success because competent people shouldn’t need to make an effort.As a result, people with a fixed mindset tend to shy away from challenges that might present a setback; they don’t take the risks necessary to persevere through struggle and try harder to achieve. They give up due to a fear of failure.Meanwhile, according to Dweck, those with a growth mindset recognise the n europlasticity of the mind, it’s ability to develop like a muscle. These people are much more willing to accommodate new strategies with which to navigate challenge; they are more willing to have the inclination to learn new things.Relations with Others.Another crucial difference in the two mindsets is their interaction with other people. By this, we mean the ability of the two mindsets to recognise the success of others, and to receive praise and constructive criticism.People with a fixed mindset tend to see others a challenge to themselves. Whilst averse to personal growth, they also see the successes of others as a challenge â€" as something intimidating, threatening, or problematic.The same applies to advice from others: people with a fixed mindset tend to see advice as an attack â€" as if they have done something wrong.Meanwhile, growth mindsets are all about openness. The success of others is not something to resented but to be inspired by. Criticism and advice are less an a ttack than a means by which to grow further.How to Develop Your Growth Mindset.Knowing all this, there are a number of ways that you can develop your own growth mindset â€" and to change your mindset to remove some of those limiting beliefs.These are a number of thought experiments that you can do to change your attitude and to begin to move away from that fixed mindset that may well have been holding you and your self-confidence back.Find more ways to develop your growth mindset!Rethink Failures as Lessons.Failures do not need to be fatal events that stop you in your tracks forever â€" and force you to give up on something. This is the attitude of a fixed mindset.Your capacity for perseverance in confronting adversity is one of the major elements of a growth mindset. You should begin to see failures as opportunities for further growth, or as lessons to be learned.The brain develops through making mistakes, so embrace them. Because it will bring you success in the long run.Reframe W hat it Means to Be a Genius.Geniuses are not just extraordinary minds. They are not intelligences that are born out of the void that can perform any task that they need to.You should stop thinking of genius as simply innate ability. Because it isn’t. Ella Fitzgerald wasn’t just born with a voice like that. Nor did Einstein never make an effort.Rather, genius comes with work, with effort, with grit. Stay curious about learning with your growth mindset.Resources to Help You and Your Growth Mindset.There is a whole load of ways to develop your growth mindset. And there is a huge number of different resources online to help you get there too.You can see all of the details of these in our article on the resources for growth mindset development, but let’s just take two here as a sample.Dweck’s TED Talk.One of the most important resources for understanding the growth mindset is Carol Dweck’s TED Talk, ‘The power of believing that you can improve’.In the video, Dweck outlines the primary differences between the fixed mindset and the growth mindset â€" and all of the ramifications of that difference.Mindset Works.Mindset Works is one of the largest providers of growth mindset educational resources on the internet. And whilst many are subscription only, it is a hugely impressive collection of resources for any serious about changing their habits of mind.

How To Solve Square Roots

How To Solve Square Roots If the index of a positive number x is half x then it is known as square root of x. How to solve square roots: - Question 1: - Find the square root of 384 (or 384) Steps Solution Step 1: - Try to factorize a 384 to their possible smallest value. 384 can be written as 384 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 Step 2: - Choose the pair of numbers. There are three pairs of 2 and the remaining 2 unpaired numbers are 2 and 3 like, (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (2 x 2) x (2 x 3) Step 3: - Take out the pair of a number as a single number. 3 pair of 2 will come outside the square root and will be written as a single number. 2 x 2 x 2 x ( 2 x 3) Step4: - Multiply the numbers which is outside and inside the square root separately. 384 = 8 6 (since 2x2x2 =8 and 2 x 3 = 6) Therefore 384 = 8 6 Question 2: - Simplify 27 Solution: - 27 = (3 x 3 x 3) = 3 3 Therefore, 27 = 3 3. Question 3: - Simplify 64 Solution: - 64 = (2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2) = 2 x 2 x 2 = 8 Therefore 64 = 8

The History of Yoga Therapy

The History of Yoga Therapy The History of Yoga as a Medical Treatment ChaptersWhat Is Yoga Therapy?A Brief History of Yoga TherapyThe Principles of Yoga TherapyAdvice for Getting the Most of YogaMany people are already familiar with the benefits of yoga poses and meditation. While yoga originated in India, it’s popular in both the East and the West. This activity is a way to simultaneously work on your body and mind while reducing stress and toning muscles.However, a sun salutation isn’t just a way to exercise, there are also therapeutic benefits to doing yoga. Yoga therapy, in particular, is a discipline that uses yoga to heal on a mental and physical level.In this article, we’re going to look at yoga therapy, what it is, how it works, and where it came from and you’ll soon see just how useful yoga therapy is and how interesting its history is. CarleyYoga Teacher 5.00 (5) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LynnYoga Teacher 4.89 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GenYoga Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all ou r tutors JulieYoga Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AliceYoga Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LauraYoga Teacher 5.00 (6) £70/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UndramYoga Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LottieYoga Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Is Yoga Therapy?Yoga therapy, unsurprisingly, is based on yoga, an activity that you’re probably familiar with. Through yoga poses, breathing exercises, and sophrology, you can heal your body and mind. Yoga therapy is a discipline that's based on yoga, meditation, and controlled breathing. (Source: Devanath)This discipline can be used to improve your well-being and help with both physical and mental health problems and is described thus:“Yoga therapy is the specific use of yoga techniques to prevent and treat certain physical or mental conditions.”It’s regularly used for many different conditions. Yoga and mindfulness can be used to restore balance, strengthen certain parts of the body, and even bring about relaxation, all without any medical treatment.Yoga therapy has been proven to have a positive effect on patients, especially on their emotional and psychological wellbeing.Yoga therapy sessions may be private or in a group and group yoga therapy sessions are a good way to start practising yoga therapy with a yoga teacher.  Of course, you can’t fully replace modern medical treatment with yoga therapy as yoga therapy is generally used to complement medical treatments by he lping the patient to relax and deal with their pain.In short, practising yoga therapy is very effective as a complement to other medical treatments.A Brief History of Yoga TherapyThe term yoga therapy was created in 1970 by Doctor Bernard Auriol. The French psychiatrist and psychotherapist specialising in states of consciousness had the novel idea of mixing classic psychoanalysis from the West with Eastern disciplines such as yoga. Unsurprisingly, yoga therapy is based on yoga, which was created in India many centuries ago. (Source: balouriarajesh)He was one of those who fought for yoga to be taught in France. The main teaching is based on the principles of Hatha Yoga but that doesn’t mean yoga therapy can’t draw upon other types of yoga.  Even though he was met with some opposition, Doctor Auriol showed that yoga therapy could benefit for those in psychiatric hospitals.Having thus shown a way that the new method could be used to treat patients, Doctor Auriol set about spreading the word about yoga therapy in France. Two yoga therapy organisations were created in the country.The Institute of Yoga Therapy (IDYT) was founded in 1993 by Doctor Lionel Coudron, allowing carers and professionals to receive training for two years.The French Federation of Yoga Therapy (FFYT) was founded in 2014, allowing budding yoga therapists to receive training.Yoga therapy was born in France and is now known across the world fo r the benefits it can have on the body and mind.The Principles of Yoga TherapyYoga therapy exercises are often as simple as possible. The goal isn’t to put in the maximum amount of effort but rather to complete simple and slow movements. It has to be accessible to everyone, especially those with mental or physical conditions. Yoga therapy is accessible to many but certain exercises may need to be adapted to the person doing it. (Source: StockSnap)Yoga therapy is based on around 50 fundamental yoga exercises which are adapted to the patient by the yoga therapist. There are several types of exercises: physical, relaxing, meditative, respiratory, and philosophical. They come from various types of yoga: Nidra, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Ayurveda.The poses in yoga are called Asanas; the main exercises that yoga therapy patients will do. Then there are breathing exercises, known as Pranayama, which are as important for the body as they are the mind. Finally, there are the symbolic and spiritual exercises known as Mudras.A yoga therapy session tends to follow a specific order but it can change according to the patient. Here are some of the exercises you could practise during your sessions:MeditationExtended Side Angle PoseStretchesShavasanaSynchronised breathingHalf Bridge PoseHalasanaSun salutationStomach massageThese are some very simple exercises that almost everyone can do. They allow you to effectively work on several parts of the body and strengthen your immune and nervous systems at the same time.It’s easy to improve your health with yoga therapy.Advice for Getting the Most of YogaFirstly, you need to practise regularly. Yoga therapy won’t work if you don’t have a healthy lifestyle.There are 5 main pillars to help you improve your physical and mental health:LifestyleDietRelations with othersPhysical activityWorking on your mental health (emotional and spiritual) The principles of yoga can be applied to what you eat, how you socialise, and how you take care of yourself. (Source: StockSnap)Yoga therapy works best when you eat healthily and when you’re hungry, exercise regularly, and strengthen your immune system through sport or exercise. In terms of your mental well-being, you need to communicate with others and have healthy relationships in your life.Meditation is also something you can practise outside of your yoga therapy and it’s recommended that you integrate this into your daily life. You can work on yourself for a few minutes each day and alleviate psychological and physical pressure.Bit by bit, you’ll start to see the benefits of yoga therapy and the accompanying lifestyle and feel better in your body and mind and you’ll gain vitality as you reach the end of your recovery, especially in terms of pain management and relaxation.In short, yoga therapy is as much a philosophy as it is a physical activity. It recentres the person w hether they do it as a complement to medical treatment or on its own and makes use of ancient Indian techniques designed to cure physical illness and mental health issues such as insomnia.From yoga postures to breathing techniques, when you do yoga, be it Ashtanga yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Hot Yoga, etc., you'll enjoy the restorative properties of yoga including stress reduction and improved flexibility.Now you should know a bit more about where yoga therapy came from and what it’s for. To learn even more, you can read our other articles on the subject. Similarly, you can also get private tutorials from one of the many experienced and talented yoga teachers and tutors on Superprof!There are a lot of different types of yoga available and three main types of yoga tutorial available on Superprof: face-to-face, online, and group. Each type of tutorial comes with a set of pros and cons and what's right for one person may not be right for another so you need to think carefully about choosin g the right tutor and the right type of private tutorial.Face-to-face tutorials are between you and your tutor; there's nobody else there. This is great if you require highly-tailored yoga therapy, for example. However, as a bespoke and tailored service, these tutorials tend to be the most costly per hour. With your tutor dedicating every minute of the session to you, they're also the most cost-effective type of tutorial.Online tutorials, while usually better for academic subjects, can be quite useful if you're on a budget. Since the tutor doesn't have to travel and can also schedule more sessions per week, they have the potential to earn more and spend less and can charge a more competitive rate for their tutorials. If you prefer a hands-on approach, these tutorials won't be for you, but if you have a decent webcam, microphone, and internet connection, you can get quality and tailored tutorials without having to break the bank.Finally, group tutorials are similar to traditional yog a therapy sessions and you won't be the only person there. With multiple attendees footing the bill, these tend to be cheaper per person per hour than the other types of tutorial but it does mean that the lessons won't be tailored for you. Since most yoga therapy is geared towards a specific condition or ailment, most of you there will have the same needs and goals. This means you can all benefit from affordable private tutoring and yoga therapy and maybe even make some new friends.Have a look around on the website for different tutors and make sure you make the most of the tutors that offer the first hour of tuition for free!Take private yoga classes near me here.

Back to School Learning Center Sessions

Back to School Learning Center Sessions Back to School Learning Sessions Make a Big Difference! Pencils are being sharpened, books are being distributed, and students are eagerly anticipating the beginning of a new year both at school and at learning centers across the country. Even though the new school year is nearly upon us it's not too late to consider enrolling in back to school learning sessions. Specially trained tutors can help ensure you are ready for the upcoming school year, your confidence gets a healthy boost, and all of the material you've previously mastered can be put to good use next year. If you're considering enrolling in tutoring sessions at one of our Huntington Learning Centers locations ask yourself these important questions:Are you prepared for the upcoming term? You work hard in your school classes and you don't want to waste precious time on poor organization or ineffective study skills. Back to school learning sessions at Huntington Learning Centers will help you discover your studying preferences and can improve your ability to study effectively. Str ong study skills and consistent habits will have an incredible impact on your grades next school year. Simple changes to your study routine can make a big difference.Do you want to reduce summer slide? Research shows that students may lose previously mastered skills during the summer months. The time spent away from school and in a more relaxed atmosphere may impact what you learned last year. Think about everything you knew and were able to do at the end of last school year. Could you still perform at the same level? If you are worried about the skills and learning you may have lost, Huntington Learning Centers can help. The specially trained staff members on location at each learning center are prepared to ensure you return to school as sharp as when you left before summer break. Careful assessment will determine your current performance level and will help your tutor devise a custom learning plan just for you. If summer has been tough on your previously mastered skills your tutor will work with you to review material and prepare for next term.Are you scheduled for a new subject area next term? Perhaps it is your first year taking chemistry or you're anxious about the difference between geometry and the algebra you've already mastered. If you're faced with a subject area you've never taken before it's beneficial to get a head start. Think about back to school learning sessions like the warm up before a big game. The players take time to stretch their muscles and walk through game expectations. Back to school study sessions at Huntington Learning Centers are very similar. We'll help you look forward to your courses and build the foundational skills necessary for success in a new subject area. You'll enter your new class at the beginning of the school year confident in your ability to succeed. Could you use a boost of confidence? Having confidence in your ability to succeed academically is just as important as the skills and knowledge you possess. If you're d oubting whether you are ready for the upcoming term it may be a great idea to enroll in back to school learning sessions to gain the confidence you need. The tutors at Huntington Learning Centers will help assuage any fears you have, assess your current strengths and weaknesses, and develop a personalized learning plan. You'll have the opportunity to reinforce previous learning, master new skills, and gain confidence in your ability to succeed. Waiting to seek help once the work is too hard or you feel completely overwhelmed may be too late. Taking action now will provide the confidence that you're ready for whatever is ahead.

Why Reading is Important 14 Ways Reading Helps Your Life - Private Tutoring

Why Reading is Important 14 Ways Reading Helps Your Life Anna L Dec 3, 2018 Find a Top Rated Reading 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 Why reading is important is a question most parents have heard from kids or even their partners. You’ve probably heard it a hundred times or more â€" read, it’s good for you! But does anyone actually answer your question of ‘why reading is good for you?’ The good news is that simply by reading this article, you are beginning to understand what reading can do for you. Our goal here is to help you understand why reading is good for your health, what reading can do for you as well as the scientific benefits of it. Reading Benefits: Scientific Benefits of Reading The scientific benefits of reading are becoming more and more known, here are some of the top scientific explanations as to why you should pick up that book! Boost brain power â€" in the same way that going for a run improves your cardiovascular fitness, reading will help enhance your memory and brain function. As we get older, both these functions tend to decline. Regular reading can significantly delay this decline as well as helping to prevent the onset of diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Reading helps your mental sharpness to stick around a little longer, much more so than watching a movie! Reducing stress â€" immersing yourself with a good page-turner can help switch off from the pressures of day-to-day life. Research suggest that even reading a book for a mere six minutes after a stressful day is a great way to relax and recharge the batteries, even more so than listening to music â€" another favorable stress-busting technique. Try reading for a few minutes each day, or on your commute to work (providing your not driving of course!) Improves empathy â€" understanding others will lead to positive and long-lasting relationships. Engaging with literary characters can help the brain make connections that help the reader understand other points of view and help with recognizing emotions. Just like athletes use visualization techniques to improve muscle memory to enhance their sporting performance, reading novels can help brain connectivity. Why Reading is Good for Your Health While many of us understand that reading might have benefits on our mind as well as our memories (and thats critical the older we get), understanding our it might help our overall health is not quite as well known.   Heres just a few reasons to consider reading more: Increases motivation â€" people who read books about people doing things, fact or fiction, are more likely to engage in the activity themselves. This could be drastic and crazy such as climbing mountains or taking on large travel adventures, or simple like taking up a new hobby such as cooking or knitting. Can combat poor mental health â€" improving mental health often goes hand in hand with reducing stress, but reading about others in similar situations is useful too. Biographies are great way to understand that you are not alone in your battle, and the large number of self-help books allows people to access advice and guidance from the comfort of their own home without stigma or embarrassment. Naturally, professional medical advice should also be sought. Independent thinking â€" characters and plots are often portrayed in ways to sway our thinking. Authors usually deliberately make characters likable or loathed, but every so often we come across a book that makes us think outside the typical box. You may like the story, but not the characters, or vice-versa. This highlights our individuality and makes for great conversation when discussing a book with others. Armchair education â€" reading biographies and other factual or historical books will provide an abundance of knowledge. Even reading articles such as this one will teach you something. However, even fictional books based around true events or set in specific historical periods will captivate us even more and we learn without even realizing it! Old School Paper Books vs Modern Day e-Readers E-readers are becoming more and more popular, and don’t get me wrong, they are great! They have the capacity to store large numbers of books on a small device which is great when traveling or commuting. But there is something special about turning the paper pages of a book. The good news is that many e-reader owners still love a printed book, and here are some reasons why this should continue; Sleep better â€" including reading as part of a bedtime routine can help signal to your body that the time for sleep is near. However, using an e-reader can actually wake the brain up courtesy of the backlit screen. Reading a printed book by a lamp is a much better way to slow the body down and prepare for a good night’s rest. Plus it aids in all the other ways that we’re covering here. Improves memory function â€" turning pages will actually help you remember what you have read more so than ‘clicking’ to the next page. Many people may find this is the reason they print important documents rather than reading them off a computer screen. Books also allow for easier flicking back and forth to help remember important events or characters. How Does Reading Make You Smarter? Reading is beneficial at any age, but like most things, the earlier you start the better. Not only does it help form positive habits, but it may also make you smarter â€" something that will help significantly with your education. Some of the benefits of reading for students and young people include; Reading can help children develop a longer attention span, and when it comes to schooling this one has obvious benefits. Because stories have a structure that includes and beginning, middle and end, children are captivated for a fairly lengthy amount of time. Exposure to vocabulary â€" reading exposes students to around 50% more words than television or even conversation. As children, and adults for that matter, read they come across new words regularly. These new words then tend to be used in conversation and writing. Using a larger array of words will make you not only sound more intelligent, but you will generally be more intelligent. In the case of students, those that have a larger vocabulary are more likely to gain attention from their teachers which can improve confidence and promote further learning. Improved reading comprehension, spelling, grammar is seen in those children who read for fun. Creating a love and habit for reading at an early age has a profoundly positive impact on education. Exposure through story time, following parental leads and positive encouragement, are all ways to promote reading. Developing the imagination and creativity. Children who read do not necessarily go on to be writers, journalists or editors. The creative part of the brain is wide.y used when students read â€" they imagine themselves in the story line. Creativity is the key to success in many careers, and so much of it can be gained from reading! Reading provides entertainment you can take anywhere! Books, especially those developed for children are often small and portable. E-readers are even more compact and can store thousands of stories. Whether a child is camping, waiting for the bus, eating a snack or preparing for bed â€" reading can be done virtually anywhere, any time! No more “I’m bored” statements! Find a Reading Tutor Near You! Hopefully you’ve got a few ideas of why reading is important and what reading can do for you at this point?   If so, then the goal of our post was successful!   And if you need help with reading this year or if you are prepping for the SAT Reading test and want to improve your skills for life as well as a big test, then we can help with that!     Whatever the case, the next time you get a few minutes, find yourself a good book on any topic and get started reading! We can help you find the best private tutor near you! It’s simple and secure â€" Get real results fast. Your first hour with any tutor is protected by our Good Fit Guarantee: You don't pay for tutoring unless you find a good fit. Choose Your Subject â€" Add Your Zip Code â€" Find Top Rated Tutors Starting Today! InPerson or Online Online InPerson

15 of the Best Foreign Movies for Popcorn-popping Language Learners

15 of the Best Foreign Movies for Popcorn-popping Language Learners 15 of the Best Foreign Movies for Popcorn-popping Language Learners Wanna learn a language?Yes?  Okay, good.So heres what you need: Your pajamas (preferably fresh), that bowl of steaming popcorn and a couple of sodas.Say what?!Yup, were talking movies in this post.No matter who you are, you can learn any language  faster by  spending some time in front of a screen.So I invite you couch potatoes and studious studiers alike to read on. The Polyglot and the Couch Potato: How Movies Help in Learning a LanguageTogether with TV, movies have gotten a bad rap when it comes to learning a new language, and learning in general. Weve often been told to turn off the set, stop wasting our time and get serious with whatever task were supposed to be working on.But maybe movies arent as bad as theyre made out to be. In fact, Id be so bold as to tell you that a couch potato has just as good a chance of being a polyglot  as the most hardworking learner.Im only gonna talk about one thing to support that argument: context.This is probably the most compelling reason for why movies are effective and efficient teachers of language. Its also one of the reasons why a list of vocabulary words randomly picked from thin air will never be as easy to memorize as a group of words that are clearly related.Our brains work best with meaningful context and we find it hard to memorize words that exist in a vacuum. Thats why teachers enrich vocabulary words with example sentences. They seek to give them context. Thats why textbooks list plenty of examples, too. So we can see how words, phrases and grammar rules look in action.Meanwhile, all-important context is automatically present in movies through engaging plots, unexpected twists, lovable characters, funny scenes, killer lines and immersive musical scores. These are all aids for committing stuff to memory, like lines and even entire dialogues. If I asked you who screamed Im the king of the wooooooorld! Wooohoo, Im sure youd remember Leo DiCaprio in Titanic.And even if youre an absolute beginner in Spanish, if you see the movie Y Tu Mamá También  (And Your Mother Too) and the context in which the line in the title is said, I promise you, you will never forget what those words mean.So once again, context. Its this that movies offer best. No medium plays with our emotions better. We remember the scenes, we remember what happened, we get moved by the characters, we become involved in the story. Movies make us cry and laugh. They make us feel anger, discontent, pity, even hatred. They surprise us and satisfy us. They take us on unforgettable rollercoaster rides.Unforgettable context. That’s what movies have to offer. And when you watch foreign films, youre that much nearer to transferring meaningful language information into your long-term memory.Note that when I say watch, I dont mean doing so passively. Well, maybe the first time, but you dont watch a movie once and then check the title off your list of foreign movies to see. No, you actively watch it, many times. Looking at scenes, li stening to lines, anticipating dialogues, writing down vocabulary. This is the kind of active watching that milks every lesson from the filmâ€"every point of grammar, every useful vocabulary word, every turn of phrase, every flail of the tongue.With FluentU, you can make this incredibly beneficial type of active study the mainstay of your language learning. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.Okay. That said, lets get to our list of 15 awesome foreign movies for all you language learners.15 of the Best Foreign Movies for Popcorn-popping Language LearnersFrench-language Movies1.  Entre les murs  (The Class, 2008)What do you get when you have a well-intentioned but honest teacher and a cocktail of 14-15 year olds who come from racially and culturally diverse backgrounds?You get electric tension. You get an inherently difficult class boldly questioning its teachers met hods. And you get a teacher pushed to his ethical limits. This film, winner of the Cannes Festivals 2008 Palme dOr, is based on the novel of the same name by François Bégaudeau (who, by the way, plays the role of the teacher himself).This film is perfect for the French language learner if only for the fact that it features a class studying French. Theres even a scene in which students question the need to study difficult and eccentric French verbs, reasoning that theyre rarely used in modern speech. You may not be a teenager yourself, but youll certainly see yourself in this story that touches on the ups and downs of learning something new and out of your comfort zone.2.  Intouchables (The Intouchables, 2011)This movie is about an unlikely friendship between Philippe, an aristocratic quadriplegic, and Driss, his carefree live-in caregiverâ€"a transplant from Senegal.Philippe is in his Parisian mansion interviewing for the caregiver position with the help of his assistant Magalie. Driss comes in for the interview, not really intent on getting hired, but wanting his papers signed so he can continue collecting his unemployment benefits. One thing leads to another and Driss finds himself hired. The lavish mansion with Renaissance paintings is a far cry from Drisss familys petite and bleak apartment.The film is a linguistic juxtaposition between Philippe, the refined and formal speaker, and Driss, the more vulgar of the two. Notice the interactions between them and the type of vocabulary and accent each character has. Take note also of the words and phrases Driss uses when talking to his family and realize how context can illuminate linguistic content.  3.  Bienvenue chez les Chtis (Welcome to the Sticks, 2008)Imagine a Frenchman not understanding a fellow Frenchman. Possible?Theres such a scene in the comedy Bienvenue chez les Chtis. The film is about a post office administrator in Salon-de-Provence who gets banished to the French Northâ€"a place pre-judged by S outherners as being cold, unwelcoming and full of good-for-nothing alcoholics.In his desire to have a post office assignment in the French Riviera, Philippe tries to scam an HR officer by pretending to be disabled. When he gets caught in this ruse, he gets an armpit of an assignment to the Siberia of France instead.In this movie, youll see how geography changes language, idiomatic expressions and even curse words. Yep, even when one doesnt cross national boundaries. Also, this funny film  will help shed your linguistic and cultural biases. It teaches language learners all over that underneath accents and differences in pronunciation, were all in the same boat.German-language Movies4.  Der Untergang (Downfall, 2004)Der Untergang chronicles Hitlers final days of life, telling the final moments of his human struggles. Remember when I told you earlier that one of the advantages of movies is that they create memorable context to words and phrases that ultimately aid memory? This film is one of the most memorable there is. And all for the most gruesome reasons.It depicts death, destruction and destinyâ€"as well as betrayal, bombs and bunkers. The movie is emotionally engaging, triggering all sorts of reactions from anger to exuberance, which is one of the reasons why its very good for the German language learner. And because you already know whats about to happen, you tend to focus more on the languageâ€"which, by the way, has a robust sprinkling of German verbs.5.  Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others, 2006)This movie won the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2006 Academy Awards.It tells the story of an East Berlin Stasi (secret police) agent conducting surveillance activities on a playwright and his actress lover. The agent, Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler, obsessed with his subjects lives, chronicles their comings and goings. Hes too involved to notice that he isnt just some passive observer listening to the conversations of others but an active participant in their lives.Beyond the plot twists and touching ending, I want you to see this movie as an example of one of the most important skills in learning a new language: listening.Its the most taken-for-granted linguistic skill, and I want you to not make the mistake so many others have of ignoring it: See how Wiesler actively listens to conversations. See how he closely grasps not just for the words, but for intent and context. This is listening beyond words. Its listening for comprehension. Its not far off from  achieving language immersion.This is the level of listening required of a language learner. Without it, becoming fluent in a new language will be a needlessly uphill battle.6. Good Bye Lenin! (2003)Imagine youre Alex Kerner, an idealistic teen whose arrest by the Berlin police put your mother into a coma. When she eventually wakes up after eight months, the world is a whole lot different. The wall has come down and the world your mother loved is no more.Youve been warned by the doctor that the slightest agitation of her emotions could cause her death. Would you tell her Berlin is not the same as before?Alex chooses to recreate the past world in his mothers room. Maintaining this ruse is what makes this tragicomedy a hit and a fresh approach to German history.How long will the facade last? Watch to find out.Now, imagine yourself being in the role of Alexs mother. Consider how being open-minded and going with the flow will not only save your life but enrich your existence. While the film features the Western world marching towards East Germanyâ€"stuffing grocery aisles with Western brands and filling billboards with Coca-Cola advertisementsâ€"in reality, the flow goes both ways. We influence just as much as we get influenced.Today, our global village has made it necessary for us not just to learn new languages, but to adapt to a whole new way of looking at things.In the  near  future, only those who adapt will truly flourish. So why dont you start learning (a new language) now?Spanish-language Movies7.  Y Tu Mamá También (And Your Mother Too, 2001)This is a coming-of-age road trip movie depicting friendship, sensuality and the follies of youth. Julio and Tenoch are on a long drive with an older lady named Luisa. They are supposedly going to Boca del Cielo (Heavens Mouth), a beach they mention to persuade Luisa to come with them.Along the way, youth happens.The conversations between the three are casual, effusive, oftentimes funny and many times unbelievable. Although a little intoxicated, the dialogues are tight and the writing superb. The interactions in the film are indicative of the banter, the to-and-fro amongst friends, and this makes for excellent study for the Spanish language learner. If you want to converse fluently in Spanish, let movies like this be your guide.8.  El secreto de sus ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes, 2009)This film, a crime thriller, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.A newly-retired federal agent, Benjamà ­n Espósito (Ricardo Darín), has a lot of time on his hands. He decides to write a novel about the murder of a young woman. Except the case  is real. Its 25 years old and one of the unsolved mysteries of his professional career, something he seeks to obtain closure from.But as it turns out, closure is hard to find, and it may come in a form one could never expect.The whole film is really an insight into what immersion is all about. Ricardo Daríns character is totally immersed in his case. Hes so tuned into it that it occupies a great slice of his waking hours. Solving it is a daily practice with effort put in. He consciously follows leads, goes places, talks to people, imagines scenarios, makes mistakes, pays for those mistakes and tries again.In a way, isnt that also what language immersion should be about? Its about being tuned in, putting ones head underwater and really immersing in the languageâ€"practicing the lines aloud, writing the sentences, talking to others, asking peo ple questions, asking for their help, even talking to yourself.In the end, we language learners, like Daríns character, will all find our souls satisfaction.9.  Como agua para chocolate  (Like Water for Chocolate, 1992)When you forbid true loves expression, you have a classic movie in the making. You also have that love expressing itself in ways special and magical.This film is an onscreen adaptation of the popular work by the Mexican novelist Laura Esquivel. It tells the magical realism love story of Tita and Pedro. Theyre forbidden to marry because Tita, the youngest of the siblings, is relegated to the duty of caring for her mother. Pedro is instead given the hand of Rosaura, the elder daughter. Pedro agrees to this, just so he can stay close to Tita.A setup like this? You can expect the simmering tension to come to a boilâ€"which it does, in a fantastic fashion.Remember what I said about context? Como agua para chocolate is a rich source of Spanish vocabulary, full of word fami lies that pertain to food, tradition, family, history and, of course, love. You can milk this movie for the wealth of Spanish nouns, verbs and adjectives in its lines and dialogues. Also, if you wanna peek at a dated kind of Mexican Spanish that existed at the turn of the century, this will be a good sampling.Japanese-language Movies10.  ?????? (13 Assassins, 2010)12 samurais and one scavenger are tasked with putting an end to the evil reign of Lord Matsudaira Naritsugu, the shoguns half-brother, who tortures and kills his own people. The hired band of warriors set a nice trap for the evil lord and around 70 of his fiercely loyal bodyguards. Unfortunately, the plot is discovered, the 13 assassins find themselves being ambushed and they narrowly escape. And to make matters worse, they find out that the contingent theyre now facing has ballooned to some 200 well-trained guards, making the suicide mission that much more impossible.Besides the traditional dress, symbolism and general ca rnage splattered all over the screen, there are really crisp dialogues in this movie for language learners. The lines are simple and perfect for the beginner-to-intermediate student of the Japanese language.See this movie and learn not only to love samurai honor, but a good dose of Japanese as well.11.  ?????? (Cold Fish, 2010)All that glitters is not gold.I dare not spoil this one for you so thats all Im gonna say about this psychological thriller inspired by true events. That, and perhaps a warning that this is not a film for the faint-hearted.For the language learner, this is another film with really simple Japanese dialogues but with more contemporary speech than the previous film. The language has that natural cadence thats occasionally peppered with the starts and stops of normal Japanese conversation. This movie is a good study on how language, tone and gesture create a character. (In this case, a very bad character.)12.  Linda Linda Linda (2005)Three high school girls only h ave three days before their schools cultural festival and they have no vocalist in sight!What would you do?Well, these ladies ask the first girl they see coming down the stairsâ€"who happens to be a Korean exchange student whos really not fluent in Japanese. They ask her if she wants to sing for their band, and she blankly says yes, responding affirmatively to every question and not really knowing what shes getting herself into.This movie is one of friendship and bonds, showing that under the skin and beyond inscrutable accents, were all the same. We fall in love, get hurt and stand back up. Theres even a cute scene where a high school boy professes his love for Son, the Korean exchange student, by learning lines in Korean (he has a cheat sheet!).The film is perfect for the language learner whos afraid to get into embarrassing or compromising situations. It will nudge you to jump in, risk being embarrassed and feel like a fish out of water by showing you that in the end, everything will be alright.Chinese-language Movies13.  ?????? (Not One Less, 1999)This one is set to tug on your heartstrings.Wei Minzhi is a 13-year-old teacher who comes to Shuiquan to substitute for the villages only teacher, wholl be gone for a whole month. Wei, who has the most rudimentary education, is instructed to ration chalk because the village is so poor it cannot afford to waste it. Shes also warned that students have been dropping out of school as of late in order to find work in the cities. Shes told that if all 28 of her wards remain when the teacher comes back, she will get a 10 yuan (about $1.50) bonus.Guess what happens?One of her students suddenly goes missingâ€"supposedly to work in a nearby city. Wei is motivated to go after the boy and get him back to class. But because she doesnt have enough money for the bus ride, she has to walk most of the way.She reaches the city, but how will she find him in a city of so many people? Will she be able to get him back?Find out by watc hing this film that won the Venice Film Festivals Golden Lion Award.The movie features young native speakers learning their first language. Second language learners could do well to remind themselves that even native speakers attend classes. Even they learn one day at a time. Even they walk up to the board to practice their mother tongue. We need to remind ourselves this so that when we come across fluent native speakers, well remember the amount of time and practice they invested to get to that point and be inspired by our own possibilities.14.  ???? (Dangerous Liaisons, 2012)Youve probably guessed that this is the Chinese adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos novel of the same name. Its Cruel Intentions but with Zhang Ziyi in the role of the immaculate victim.Set in 1930s Shanghai, as the Japanese were making incursions into Manchuria, Dangerous Liaisons is about the wager between Mo Jieyu  and serial seducer Xie Yifan. Can the great Xie Yifan seduce a young widow from Manchuri a (Zhang Ziyi) without falling in love with her?Ego and desire gets the better of the man (as it always does) and he agrees to seduce for sport, not knowing that the object of his seductions is, unlike any other, immune to his charms. Xie Yifan, on the other hand, is falling for the virtuous widowâ€"something he only admits when its tragically too late.Although set in the mesmerizing 1930s, the language used is surprisingly very contemporary. Youll not be treated at all to heavy doses of dated Chinese expressions in this movie. Dangerous Liaisons features easy language and dialogues that might as well be spoken in todays China. This movie is time well spent for the Chinese language learner.15.  ???????  (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, 2013)Our last movie is a dramedy about a man, married for nine years, experiencing a homosexual midlife crisis.Weichung, played by the singer-actor Richie Jen, is an optometrist who lives a quiet and laidback life with wife Feng (Mavis Fan). One day at work, during a glasses fitting, he stares into the soulful eyes of a handsome flight attendant. It stirs long-repressed yearnings he has yet to come to terms with. And all this while his beautiful wife is wanting to have another baby.How will a father deal? Will his self-denial finally come to an end? Find out.This film  is perfect for the Chinese language learner because most of the characters enunciate their lines relatively well. The dialogues are clearly delivered and the conversations are eminently  audible. This is because the pace of speaking is just right. Its just right so  that the subtitle-reading, Chinese-learning viewer will still be able to follow and make out whats being said.That rounds out our 15 best foreign movies for the language learner.Im sure you can add to this list on your own. No matter what language youre learning,  I encourage you to open your eyes, ears  and mind to foreign movies.Theyll take you places and offer you insights, perspectives and langua ge you most definitely wont get by viewing your regular native-language fare.So get those pajamas and snacks ready!Learning begins in 5…4…3…2…1 (cue studio intro).

Activities to sharpen kids math skills - ALOHA Mind Math

Activities to sharpen kids math skills Math is one of the subjects that can cause a lot of worry in students and concern in parents. However, if handled in an interesting manner from a young age, you will find that your child approaches it with a lot more ease. Here are some tips and math activities by which you can sharpen your kid’s math skills along with keeping it fun and interesting for them: Take your child grocery shopping:When you go to the supermarket to pick up your weekly groceries, take your child along. Give them a budget, and tell them they can pick up a few things they like, but within that budget. With older children, you can even ask them to keep track of the overall shopping by adding up items as you pick them up. This will help your child realize the value of money, as well as the simple operations of addition and multiplication as a mental activity. Photo courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/plong/3103381455/sizes/m/in/photostream/ Bake-a-thon: Helping you measure out ingredients is a good way to make your child aware of weights and measures, and will make her proficient in this aspect. You can even use simple recipes that your kids can try out by themselves with minimal supervision for handling hot objects. Distance and Speed: When going on a long drive, ask your child to keep track of the odometer readings and time taken, and calculate the speed of travel. Doing this for long suburban and out of city drives, as well as for that drive to school or the supermarket will give an idea of how much difference the city traffic makes. Spot quiz: Look around for math related activities for the time that you spend together. From questions like multiplication games, to formulating addition or subtraction problems related to real life, there are a lot of ways you can make your child aware of the practical applications of math too. These are just some of the way in which you can sharpen your kid’s abilities with math, wh ich also help in improving their mental math skills. Do check out our classes at Aloha that are also a good way to introduce mental math to your child. Please visit our website for more details: http://www.aloha-usa.com