Do yourself a favor. Recognize others for their contributions - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Do yourself a favor. Recognize others for their contributions - Introvert Whisperer Do yourself a favor. Recognize others for their contributions One of the things I think we all forget to do is to tell people we appreciate their work.   We all need to be told periodically that someone noticed what we have done and are pleased with the results.   The work doesn’t have to be just at your place of business.   It can be the work done at home or the work you witness being done as you run errands. We all need to be recognized for our efforts results.   Its part of what keeps us motivated.   We have to know not only that we matter but the things we do also matter. Recognizing others is simple, quick and costs absolutely nothing and a well-placed comment can make a persons day â€" including your own. I’m also sure you’ve been in a situation where you didn’t get recognition and that eventually starts feeling bad.   You start feeling like others are taking advantage of you or they are entitled.   It’s hard to feel all warm and fuzzy about someone if you think they are using you.   Even if the other person would never consciously use other people, without voicing some recognition, it is how you are.   In other words, if you aren’t periodically telling those you live with, work with and encounter in life that you appreciate something they do; you are behaving as an entitled person.   Ick! Granted, it’s easy to get so caught up in living that we forget to notice and then say something to others.   I urge you to develop a new personal practice of recognizing someone at least once a day.   You will give the other person a positive jolt to their day, you’ll feel good about you and you serve to lead others by your example. Go be magnanimous! Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Start Vocal Training to Become a Star

Start Vocal Training to Become a Star Start Singing Lessons to Become an Artist ChaptersDo You Dream of Singing in front of a Huge Audience?The Special Case of Opera SingersThe World of MusicalsImprove Your Musical Knowledge with SingingGain Inspiration from Songs from Other Musical StylesHow Can You Learn How to Sing?“I would rather be remembered by a song than by a victory” -  Alexander Smith, Dreamthorp (1863)In recent years, there have been so many TV shows dedicated to finding talent, especially amongst those who have a good singing voice and vocal range.Shows like The X Factor and The Voice are without a doubt two of the biggest singing shows in the UK: especially when you look at the viewing figures they get.It’s quite common that you’ll also find plenty of young people on the playground who want to learn to sing. However, given how risky becoming a singer can be, a lot of people tend to give up on this dream in order to look for safer and more stable jobs.Are you wondering why beginners give up on their dreams of singing so quickly?Usually, it’ s because they lack the talent, the drive, or just don’t put in enough effort in their voice lessons when they're supposed to be learning to sing. This is often the first reason why those who once dreamt of becoming a singer never do.  Of course, you need to be able to sing in key, too!How do you become a famous singer? (Source: Thibault Trillet)Nobody’s born a star, you have to become one!   Singing can work wonders for your mental well-being, but by going professional, you may run the risk of viewing it as a source of worry - so be careful out there! TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free! Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDo You Dream of Singing in front of a Huge Audience?From Justin Bieber to Jeff Buckley, there are so many different famous singers that inspire people to get into singing.For years, people have been inspired by famous people and tried to emulate their favourite singers in order to become one themselves.Generally speaking, the older stars tend to make way for the younger generations of singers. In the past, a mentor would teach their apprentice everything they needed to know and they’d inevitably be replaced by them.However, singing isn’t your typical apprenticeship. You’ll have to dedicate your life to your vocal exercises and your vocal training if you want to become a star. It isn’t something you can do on the side.Your stage presence as a singer is also really important. (Source: Saurav Sen)You have to want t o sing and you have to be willing to put in the work and never give up. You have to remain motivated and be able to deal with the inevitable hurdles that you’ll have to overcome.This is something that’s almost impossible to do on your own. You’re bound to fail at least a few times.  It’s a good idea to start by singing in a choir or group so that you can learn from your peers.Even if you love certain kinds of music, you should try singing all different types of genres: hip hop, soul, folk, pop, rock, etc. You’ll find that you can learn a lot from musical styles that you’ve never even listened to.The Special Case of Opera SingersNowadays, you’re more likely to hear a pop singer than an opera singer.  Despite years of training, opera singers barely see as much limelight as their pop counterparts.However, when it comes to vocal coaching and vocal technique, singing lessons are particularly useful for anyone who’s dreaming of recording an opera album.Mastering a baroque piece for a tenor or a soprano suggests that you’re in complete control of your breathing, adept in classical singing, have perfect pitch, and many other singing techniques that would help you broaden your artistic repertoire.In addition to opening doors to a completely different career where your timbre and tessitura are your greatest qualities, opera singing is also a great way to discover how to sing complex vocal techniques with an instrumental accompaniment (especially in the case of Wagner).An alto, for example, will also have to master their elocution in both English and foreign languages while taking care to correctly warm up their voice and manage stress.  Baritone singers will be expected to sing while accompanied by an orchestra. These skills have also been employed by more contemporary artists in recent years. TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Nic olaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe World of MusicalsMusicals have become hugely popular in recent years and sort of sit as a halfway point between opera and contemporary concerts.  Musicals are seemingly far more popular than plays and operas and include enjoyable melodies, memorable tunes, and a huge variety of different roles and musical styles.Musicals are a great way to get into music! (Source: pixabay.com)You can work on your singing by learning a few songs from the musicals and you’ll soon be making great progress. As a result, there's plenty of voice training, singing exerc ises, and singing tips for those wanting to audition for a musical online.While you’ll obviously need a good voice to sing musicals, there are also plenty of characters who aren’t traditionally singers but rather comedians. There are plenty of people who’ve become famous like this.Improve Your Musical Knowledge with SingingWhile we don’t often think about it, there aren't many famous musicians who haven’t mastered the art of singing.Whether you play the violin, organ, cello, etc., every musician should have a musical ear and be able to sing a given note. It's impossible to find singing success if you're tone deaf!  Even the conductor, who’s expected to be able to lead the whole orchestra, should have the necessary skills to produce a given note with their voice.Learn more about practicing different musical styles.To a lesser extent, dancers should also have some kind of theoretical understanding of music given that they’re going to have to move their body in time to it .  Then there’s the musical stars who do it all with just a microphone.Learning an instrument like the piano can really help your singing. (Source: stock.tookapic.com)Not only do they usually know how to play a musical instrument (or several in some cases) or sing while dancing incredibly (take Michael Jackson, for instance), they often write their own music, too.  Writing a song is a hugely impressive feat and is nowhere near as easy as some make it look.Bach’s Mass, Mozart’s Requiem, Mendelssohn, Monteverdi, Fauré, Schubert, Gounod, Berlioz, Handel, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Brahms, Poulenc, Puccini and Bellini, the list goes on and on. Each of these composers are famous for their profound understanding of each instrument and the human voice.  The world of music extends farther than you would first think.  There are sound and light technicians, stage designers, agents (who are artists in their own special ways), and many other people who can make a musical performance come togeth er on the stage.On the other hand, a singer who masters other aspects of music (you could get a piano tutor, for example), composition, and the performing arts has a huge advantage when it comes to putting on a show over someone who’s only studied how to sing.Gain Inspiration from Songs from Other Musical StylesThere are so many different art forms that have inspired music and vice versa. For example, you could consider poetry to be literature with a musical edge.Literature has inspired music, too. There are plenty of novels and stories that eventually were turned into operas or songs, for example.Music has also inspired painters and sculptors. The surrealist painters of the inter-war period would paint while listening to famous singers.  Nowadays, there are very few creatives who don’t work while listening to music.How Can You Learn How to Sing?Patience is definitely a virtue for anyone who’d like to become a star. After all, nobody really becomes famous overnight.A music sch ool is one of the first places you should visit if you want to learn how to sing. Additionally, there are also places that specialise in just singing. If you’re really serious, you should also consider looking at universities where you can find qualified singing teachers.If you’d like personalised classes, you should consider enlisting the help of a private voice coach who can come to your house for your lessons.You'll have to practise, practice, and practise if you want to get over stage fright. (Source: Thibault Trillet)When it comes to finding the perfect voice, self-confidence can be key. After all, it’s impossible to sing well when you’re nervous.It’s very difficult to ad lib musical education. If you want to become a singing sensation rather than on the dole, you’re definitely going to have to consider working with a good music teacher.  If the student’s going to become the master, they’re going to need a good master, after all.Additionally, you should also mak e sure that you remain active and exercise regularly in order to ensure that you’re in complete control of your breathing as it’s imperative when it comes to singing well.You should also look to nurture your own style so that when you do become famous, you’ll stand out rather than just being a forgettable face in a crowd of similar singers.You should also be careful. Whether you have a long or a short career, there will always be people trying to swindle you, false friends, hangers-on, and dodgy agents trying to use your talent and hard work for their own personal gain!However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The first thing you need to do is start practising! If you want your voice to get better and be able to hit those high notes, you're going to need to be taught by a singing teacher and learn how to sing in tune.You'll also need to do some ear training (for learning how to differentiate good notes) and warm up exercises and work on breathing with your diaphragm. Are yo u interested in improving your posture? You should probably look for a voice coach on Superprof. Don't forget you can also find a teacher who provides singing lessons online, too.Find singing lessons near mesinging lessons LondonSinging lessons ManchesterSinging lessons online

The Best Way To Learn Chinese

The Best Way To Learn Chinese Everything You Need To Know To Begin Learning Chinese ChaptersHow To Choose Your Chinese TeacherHow Much Does A Mandarin Lesson Cost?How Can You Prepare for Your Chinese Lessons?How To Supplement Your Chinese ClassesThose wanting to learn to speak Chinese often come upon a stumbling block: the difficulty of the language often makes it often necessary to learn with a Chinese teacher who either lived in a Chinese-speaking country or is a native speaker of Mandarin.In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about choosing the right Chinese class for you. their fees are not fixed. This means that private Chinese teachers fix their prices themselves, depending on their experience.Chinese lessons can be expensive - but not if you choose them carefully! Photo by Canadian Pacific on Visualhunt.comBut how much does a home Chinese lesson cost?On average, home tutoring in the UK costs about £25 to 30 an hour.Over 400 Mandarin tutors are available on Superprof throughout the UK. Their prices vary greatly, depending on:Geographic al locationTheir level of MandarinThe level at which they teach (beginner, intermediate, advanced)ExperienceAgeThe number of lessons (some offer reduced prices if you sign up for 10 lessons or more).On Superprof, the prices for a Chinese tutor are as follows:Mandarin Lessons London range from £12 (cheapest) to £50 an hour (most expensive) for a Chinese tutor London.In the rest of England, prices go from £5 (teaching as a hobby) to £50 (Business Chinese).Chinese lessons in Scotland can be as cheap as £10 an hour or as expensive as £40.So, do you have to be rich to take Mandarin or Cantonese classes?Fortunately, there are alternatives if you live in a high-price area.You can take lessons at a language institute or learn Chinese online via webcam.But why would you?A language school will tie you down for eight to ten weeks per course and put you in a classroom with other students.This at least forces you to commit to lessons, allows you to meet like-minded students of the Chinese language, and offers lessons with native speakers from a Mandarin-speaking area such as China, Taiwan, Singapur or Hong Kong.It is also usually cheaper, as the course prices, when broken down into hourly rates, are usually quite low: paying anywhere between £130 to £678 depending on the place and the class level, you will find yourself with an hourly fee ranging from £6.50 to £16.95 - well below the average of £20-30 an hour - and the teachers are just as experienced, if not more!Still too expensive?You might instead try finding Chinese exchange students willing to give lessons in their native tongue.Or try private lessons via webcam - without travel expenses, most Chinese teachers offer Skype courses at advantageous rates.Or simply learn Chinese online with free apps for learning the Chinese language.How Can You Prepare for Your Chinese Lessons?“There is no easy way to learn difficult things.” (Joseph de Maistre, 1753-1821)As we know, learning to read and write Chinese is an arduous task. That’s why it helps to really prepare for your Chinese lessons ahead of time.So what can you do?Listen carefully during the lesson to better memorise itRegularly re-read your lessons (rules of Chinese grammar, Pinyin transcription, the order and direction of the strokes in Chinese calligraphy, vocabulary words, Chinese verbs)Find a quiet moment for revision - the evenings just before going to sleep are bestKeep your brain irrigated: eat well, drink a lot, breathe mindfully, sit correctly with your back straight and your feet parallel to the groundAvoid distractionsMake flashcard summaries: one card per chapter or lessonUse mnemonic devices to help you memorise Chinese grammar or symbols.Learning Mandarin means assimilating sounds and rhythms that are completely different from our Romance languages. Just like a musician, you need to train your ear and activate your lexicographical radar.So how can you immerse yourself in the Chinese language while still in Britain? When learning a new subject, it helps to immerse yourself in the area you are studying. Listen to jazz when learning jazz guitar, read Arabic newspapers to learn the Arabic alphabet or listen to foreign movies in the original when learning a language.It’s the same thing when learning Chinese: you need to immerse yourself in it, to hear Mandarin spoken, for example by watching Chinese movies.Even if you don’t actually understand it at first, a beginner Chinese student will be better able to recognise Chinese characters and improve their pronunciation than if they didn’t do this simple exercise.Practise your Mandarin reading skills by reading Chinese newspapers. Photo by Canadian Pacific on VisualhuntImmersing yourself in the Chinese language means plunging headfirst into the language and its environment. It also means discovering Chinese culture and history, the Chinese way of thinking and functioning. It’s almost like going off to live in China without leaving the UK.To acce lerate your Chinese learning curve, prepare a trip to China or Taiwan - or why not try a language exchange programme?What is a language exchange?It’s a way to learn a foreign language for free by meeting with a native speaker. You learn Mandarin from a Chinese national who wants to learn English: an intercultural exchange, a transfer between first and second languages.How To Supplement Your Chinese ClassesThe tones and pronunciation of the Chinese language can sometimes be so difficult to assimilate that two hours of Chinese lessons a week are insufficient for anyone wanting to learn Chinese fast.So here are a few tools to help improve your command of the Chinese language.Is your Chinese dictionary not enough to become a fluent Mandarin speaker? Try out Chinese learning apps and websites. Photo by Nick Kenrick. on VisualHunt.comWebsites and apps to train your Chinese skillsObviously, it is impossible to list all the tools available to learn Chinese online, whether it be websites o r apps, but here is a selection:Hello ChineseMondlyPlecoSkritterLine dictionaryMandarin MadnessLearn Chinese Mandarin Phrasebook Chinese ToolsMosalinguaThe BBCChinese Learner FluentUThe Chairman’s Bao   ChengyuFinding a Chinese exchange partnerMost sites promising to match people wanting to learn a foreign language to those for whom it's the mother tongue often also offer lesson plans, dictionaries and chatrooms where you can find a conversation partner.My language exchange uses the Cormier method: learn the Chinese language by taking part in linguistic workshops of two to four people. The site allows beginner Chinese students to exchange e-mails and offers video chats for more advanced students. This method is mainly for students at an intermediary level.Conversation exchange is another free site that will help you find Chinese people wanting to learn a European language such as French, English or Spanish as conversation partners.These sites make it possible to learn a language i n a social context. How?By meeting at the local pub, for example, and speaking half the time in your native language to teach it to your language partner, and half the time in your new second language to learn it for free.It’s also a formidable opportunity to learn colloquial expressions and cultural information that you don’t necessarily learn in a language class - discover China’s political system and history, or Chinese food with a native.

Ask a Law School Admissions Expert Jeremy Shinewald

Ask a Law School Admissions Expert Jeremy Shinewald Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Founder of the prestigious Law School admissions consulting firm, jdMission, Jeremy Shinewald has led countless students to acceptance into the most selective law schools. Also the founder of mbaMission, an elite MBA admissions consulting firm, and a past member of the Board of Directors of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants, Jeremy is truly one of the most notable experts in the admissions field. He graduated from the University of Virginias Darden School of Business, where he also served as an admissions interviewer, and has been quoted in major media outlets including the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. VT: How much time should one expect to devote to adequately preparing for and completing a law school application? Jeremy: If you include taking the LSATand prep courses alone for the LSAT can take two and a half to three and a half monthsthen the entire process of putting together a rock solid law school application should take about six months or so. The application process for law school is actually pretty straightforward and is fairly consistent from school to school, but gathering recommendations, preparing essays (personal statements, diversity essays and addenda) and completing the other required portions of the application still take time. VT: What would you say is the single most important thing applicants should focus on with this kind of application? Jeremy: Law school applications are evaluated in a fairly scientific manner. Schools publish a lot of data about their students average GPA and LSAT scores, and they also publish information about the range of these scores (i.e., the middle 50% of the class has X LSAT score to Y LSAT score). This is not to suggest that the LSAT is everythingbecause it certainly is notbut it is often the most important piece of the law school admissions puzzle that is still within a candidates control. Oftentimes when clients contact us at jdMission, their GPA, which is also quite important, is already set. They are contemplating law school but of course cannot go back in time and alter their GPA, so the LSAT score becomes the most significant variable that applicants can still actively influence. VT: What is the biggest mistake one can make on a law school application? Jeremy: The biggest mistake that an applicant can make is being over-reliant on his or her scores and believing that this element alone will be enough to guarantee an acceptance letter. Even if your GPA and LSAT scores are comfortably above the published ranges for your target program, you should definitely not assume that you are a shoo-in. Schools reject many candidates with competitive scores every application seasonYale Law Schools admissions director cautions applicants about this frequently on her blog. Candidates often buy into the idea that the LSAT is the only thing that matters and so do not put enough thought and effort into telling their stories in their essays and other portions of their application. The ones who do are typically in for a real rude awakening. VT: What do law school admissions officers look for most in an applicants essays/personal statements? Jeremy: Excellent personal statements are impossible to categorize. I wish I could offer something concrete, but it is very much a know it when you see it phenomenon. Great essays are experientially based and are sincerethe writer is not trying too hard to sound intelligent. Instead, the writer relies on the core experiences related in the essay to make him or her stand out. We have seen candidates write about their life, career and studies with a profound sense of purpose, touching on the expanse of experiences that have ultimately led them to law school, and we have seen others reflect on a single, brief moment in time that may only loosely be connected to the law school experienceif at allbut that still serves to effectively define their character for the admissions committee. The only commonality among the strongest personal statements is that the reader is left knowing that the writer bared his or her soul in a way that was not cloying, but genuine and meaningful. In short, be t rue to yourself and your story, and write what you want to write, not what you think the admissions committees want to hear.VT: Can anything in a persons application automatically disqualify him or her from being considered for a JD program? Jeremy: Candidates do need to be mindful of their target programs LSAT score and GPA averages, as we discussed earlier. If yours are below a schools average, this simply means that you are like half of the programs most recent class and so should not worryafter all, the nature of an average is such that some people are above and some people are below. However, if your statistics are way below a schools averages, then you may need to honestly consider whether applying to law school at this time is truly reasonable for you. Yale Law Schools median LSAT for its most recent incoming class was 173, or approximately 98th/99th percentile, but the school also accepted a candidate at the bottom of this range with a 157 LSAT, which is about a 65th/70th percentile. I can assure you that the individual with this 157 score was not your average candidate, thoughhe or she could obviously claim some remarkable achievements that led the school to choose this applicant over other candidates with far b etter LSAT scores. So, a very low LSAT score can make gaining acceptance at your target programs more challenging, but there is no clear cutoff that would definitively disqualify you. VT: In what ways does the law school admissions process differ the most from the undergraduate admissions process? Jeremy: The law school application is the fraternal twin of the undergrad applicationthey are from the same family but look a little different. So, for both, you must complete a standardized test, but for law school, this is the LSAT rather than the SAT; for both, you must submit recommendations that are academic in nature, but the law school applicant would ask a college-level professor, rather than a high school teacher. Although your test scores and GPA are important, once you are in the mix, you need to make an impression on the admissions committee through your personal statement/essay. So, the two kinds of applications exhibit a lot of similarities overall, which means the recent college graduate who experienced a rigorous undergraduate application process should find the law school application process pretty familiar. VT: What kinds of things (experience, grades, etc.) might a candidate lack that would lead you to advise him or her not to apply? Jeremy: With law school, we just want to see that a candidate really knows what he or she is getting into. A lot of recent graduates decide to enter law school by default, but simply not having a better option in mind is a terrible reason to commit three years of your life and several hundred thousand dollars in tuition, living expenses and opportunity cost to a specific path. We ask clients all the time, Do you want to know what being a practicing lawyer really means? We regularly find that many applicants actually do not know what working day-to-day at a law firm entails or understand exactly what lawyers do. Many have an impression built from TV depictions of freewheeling lawyers who cleverly force confessions from guilty people on the stand. However, such scenarios really only exist on TVthe vast majority of cases never even go to trial! (They settle.) We never want to advise someone to pursue a path that may not be the right choice, so we often send candidates out to do some mor e research on their options. I actually did this with a client who came to us earlier today, after prepping for the LSAT for three months! No one had yet asked her, Why law school? and when we did, she had no good answer. VT: Is there anything you might see on a candidates application that would quickly put him or her ahead in the running? Jeremy: The qualitative factors involved in a law school application should never be underestimated. I go back to my earlier comments about applicants who take for granted that they will get into their target programs simply because they have high LSAT scores and/or GPAs but are ultimately rejected, while candidates with less impressive statistics are accepted. If the admissions process were purely scientific, Yale Law School would not have let in that candidate with the 157 LSAT. That 157 applicant was accepted because of an exceptional professional and academic track recordand I mean exceptional. I wish I could say, do this and offer our readers something very specific that would be guaranteed to help. Instead, I can only say that candidates need to own their experiences and present them honestly and in a compelling manner. They cannot manufacture good stories where none truly exist, but they can put themselves in positions and take advantage of opportunities that will allow them t o have standout experiences. For many people, this means being active in their extracurricular and community lives, so that they maximize their chances of having an impact on others. VT: What advice do you have regarding LSAT test prep? Jeremy: We encourage the use of such services and strongly recommend Manhattan LSAT. We know the leadership team very well, and we likewise know the instructors very well. Over the past few years, Manhattan LSAT has established itself as the most rigorous LSAT prep firm on the market. The firm invests so heavily in its staff and curriculum that it is not yet making a marketing splash, but it is only a matter of time until word of mouth takes over. We are confident that a tipping point will come soon, and Manhattan LSAT will become the brand of choice. The companys curriculum is just that much better than that of its competitors. I am not here to shill for the firm, thoughcheck out the online reviews for yourself! VT: What do law school admissions officers look for in recommendation letters? Jeremy: Recommendations are best when they are anecdotally driven, because anecdotes lend weight to what the writer is expressing. Too many letters are filled with empty praise and offer no useful details: Jeremy is the best student I have ever had. He is so awesomely spectacular, I cant believe it! Okay, that may be an exaggerated example, but it is not a wild exaggeration. To be effective and truly helpful to the candidates they are supporting, recommenders need to skip the superlatives and show the admissions committees how the applicant stands out from others by relating relevant stories of his or her actions and accomplishments, with detail, thereby revealing exactly what the individual has done to earn praise. If your recommender can achieve that, you are on your way to having a strong and credible recommendation that the admissions committees will appreciate. Visit jdMission.com to get a thorough look at all the services Jeremy and his team have to offer.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Steps to Managing Video Gaming in Kids with ADHD

Steps to Managing Video Gaming in Kids with ADHD Last weeks post was dedicated to new research about ADHD and risk for video game addiction. While research in this area is still emerging, the finding that we have already are enough to cause parents, teachers, and therapists to be concerned. Up to 90% of kids and teens spend time playing video games,1 making it very difficult for parents to eliminate video games from their childrens lives altogether. This is especially true for kids and teens who have been playing video games for years with very few limitations. That said, even without eliminating video games, there are many things parents can do to help their kids develop healthy gaming habits. Recognize that kids and teens with ADHD may need more video game limits than kids without ADHD. When parents try to set limits on anything fun (including video games), kids and teens will inevitably point out that all of their friends get to do it, so they should be allowed to as well. Its important to realize that kids with ADHD need firmer limits and structure around certain activities than kids without ADHD and video games fall into this category. Just as children who are at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes need more structure and support around healthy eating, kids with ADHD who may be at high risk for developing problematic video game use need more structure and support around their gaming time. So, dont give in to the everyone else is doing it argument when it comes to video games. Keep screens out of the bedrooms. Perhaps the number one most effective strategy for preventing excessive video game use is to keep all screens (tablets, phones, televisions, and computers) out of a child or teens bedroom. When screens are in kids bedrooms their screen time is much less likely to be monitored, and they are much more likely to be playing video games when they should be sleeping instead. If you have a teenager who is used to having phones and tablets in his or her room, have him or her put the devices on a charging station that is in the kitchen, the parents bedroom, or even in a cabinet that is locked by his or her parents before bed. The change will be hard for your child at first but will get easier over time. Fill their time with other activities. If your child or teen is busy with activities that are not screen-related, he or she will simply have less time to play video games. If you have a child who loves playing video games more than he or she enjoys doing anything else, then that is a sign that the child needs your help (or the help of a therapist or school counselor) to find other activities that he or she will find rewarding. Some kids with ADHD dont enjoy group activities like sports or drama club, and thats okay. There are other activities out there! Try individual sports (swimming, gymnastics, karate, etc.), art or craftsman classes, or clubs where kids can share in their love of robots, rockets or even frogs! Not all of the activities in a child or teens day need to be extracurricular. Teens can work at a part-time job (paid or volunteer), and homework and academic support need to be part of the mix. The main thing is to limit the amount of time that he or she can spend sitting in front of a screen, while also making sure that he or she has at least some fun and social activities in the day. Set limits and be consistent. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that elementary school children have no more than one hour of screen time each day, and that middle and high school kids have no more than two hours of screen time daily. This includes time spent in front of screens doing research for academic projects or playing educational games. Make a plan with your child or teen for the amount of video game time that will be allowed each day during the week and on weekends. Remind your child of these limits and have him or her set a timer whenever he or she starts gaming. Reward your child or teen for sticking to the limits. Changing behavior is hard and it helps to have some extra incentives when were working on establishing new habits. Talk with your child or teen about rewards they can earn for sticking to the new video game plan. Make sure the rewards are something your child will be motivated to earn and are things he or she can earn quickly (on a weekly basis at the very least). Kids with ADHD struggle with delayed rewards, and even if they think they will be able to work toward earning something over the course of a month or longer, they will quickly lose motivation when they feel like the reward is too far out of reach. Helping kids and teens develop healthy video game habits isnt easy. Sometimes, its harder on parents than it is on the kids! However, for kids with ADHD, limits around video gaming are important and worth the effort. If you are struggling to set limits with your child or teen, seek out help from a therapist who specializes in problematic videogaming or behavioral interventions for kids and teens with ADHD. 1https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/91-percent-of-kids-play-video-games-says-study/ ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

This or That Video and Exercise

This or That Video and Exercise The words this and that are often confusing for people learning English, because they seem very similar. Both are demonstratives, but there are important distinctions between them. Learning when to use the correct one will make your English much easier to understand.Watch the video below to learn more about the differences between this and that, then try the exercises below. Choose the correct word in the dialogue below.1. Bill: Hello Jim, have you seen (this/that)?2. Jim: What is (this/that) in your hand?3. Bill: (This/that) is a pequi fruit.4. Jim: Where did you get (this/that)?5. Bill: (This/that) fruit comes from Brazil.Choose the correct word in the sentences below.1. My daughter was born in 2011. (This/that) was a great year.2. I hurt my knee in February, and fell off my bike in April. (This/that) hasnt been a good year.3. (This/That) month, I will start running again. Sheik Very usefull Fernando 1. Bill: “Hello Jim, have you seen this? (this/that)? 2. Jim: “What is th at (this/that) in your hand? 3. Bill: “(This/that) This is a pequi fruit.” 4. Jim: “Where did you get that? (this/that)? 5. Bill: “(This/that) This fruit comes from Brazil.”Choose the correct word in the sentences below.1. My daughter was born in 2011. (This/that) That was a great year. 2. I hurt my knee in February, and fell off my bike in April. (This/that) This hasn’t been a good year. 3. (This/That) This month, I will start running again

Becoming a Maths tutor

Becoming a Maths tutor There is lots of work about for Maths tutors, especially now that children are tested at many points during their academic careers. Understandably, parents want their children to do well in Maths in their Key Stage tests as well as in their GCSEs and A-levels. Accordingly, many if them are in search of good quality Maths tutors to help their children through the exams. Generally, Maths is one of those subjects that people of all ages need an extra hand with. For some reason, people feel as though Maths is one of those subjects they either can or can't do. That's just not true, as you'll know if you're a Maths specialist. Sometimes, all it takes is a little care, attention and one-to-one tuition to give somebody the understanding and confidence to shine at Maths. So what does it take to become a Maths tutor? Well, a specialist understanding of the subject along with some teaching experience. Many of First Tutors' Maths tutors are already teaching Maths in schools across the country. There are lots of good reasons for signing up with First Tutors as one of our Maths tutors. Why not get in touch with us to find out more?

5 Ways to Study for Your Maths Degree at University

5 Ways to Study for Your Maths Degree at University If you're on a maths degree, you can't just study by just going to lectures and taking notes. Maths at degree level is a subject that requires active involvement both in and out of the lecture hall, and that means: you have to pay attention, you need to take copious notes in lectures, and you have to put in practice hours on your own. The good news is if you're willing, you can do it. Here's 5 ways to study for your maths degree. Take extensive notes in lectures It always pays to take detailed notes from lectures. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn't be taking down every word. Remember, you can always find formulae in your course-books but not the explanations and tips stated by your professor. It's the latter that will help you in exams and with your assignments. If you are bad at note-taking, there are two things you can do. Firstly only note critical points, arguments and themes. Underline or highlight the words and phrases that are important to you. Be ready to be an active solo learner With a Mathematics degree, you are expected to spend a significant amount of time working on your own or in small groups. As a result, you need to factor in a significant amount of time each week for independent work, to help you to retain and understand the material from lectures and work on problems you encounter as you progress. Put in the practice hours Again this is obvious, but many students overlook this when it comes to maths. With a Mathematics degree, you need plenty of practice, as it's not a subject you can memorise from a course-book. You need to understand the logic behind the problems, and this only comes easily with testing your ability and putting in the extra hours outside of lectures. Keep a positive mind-set Maths at university is a lot harder than maths at A-Level, but you can do it. Remember, all maths learning is cumulative, and you already have a wealth of knowledge from GCSE and A-Levels to build on. If you're struggling, consider using a tutor who can help you work through your weaker areas and boost your confidence around working. Create a study group To help consolidate all that you are learning in lectures and on your own, it also pays to create a small study group of like-minded peers. Here you can work on practice questions together, discuss what you have learnt in lectures and boost your weaker areas with input from others. For a Maths Tutor near you, contact us.