Friday, March 27, 2020

UofL Physical Tutoring Center

UofL Physical Tutoring CenterA UofL physical tutoring center can prove to be an ideal solution for those individuals who are not able to attend college due to their physical limitations. A tutor will assist in learning and studies related to physical education, such as cardiovascular fitness, physical movement, weight control, and other similar sciences that can benefit the individual's health and well-being.There are many tutoring centers in the state of Florida. Some of the locations include Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, and Lake County. All of these locations are accredited by the Florida Commission on the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (FCAP).Physical Education tutors teach a wide variety of courses including yoga, karate, dance, martial arts, and ballet. Most of these centers are located near where the student can exercise or where the student can join classes that are geared towards these particular sports.The tuition fees charged by the tutoring ce nter will vary depending on the institute. It is always advisable to check the facilities before signing up for a class. These centers offer online and onsite classes.Physical fitness is becoming an increasing concern for today's youth. One of the most popular physical activities for today's youth sports. Sports like ballet, gymnastics, volleyball, and table tennis can become a regular part of the daily routine of a student.Physical fitness will assist the individual in losing weight and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle. Many students also see the benefits of obtaining a diploma in physical education through a UofL physical tutoring center.Physical education is a preferred discipline in colleges across the nation. Students learn how to interact with others by learning new skills in a classroom setting. Physical education tutors provide a safe, relaxing environment where students can learn and enjoy a rewarding experience.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Things to Know About 529 Plans

Things to Know About 529 Plans A 529 plan offers a range of tax and other benefits for parents putting away money for their childrens college education. You might already know this if you have one set up for your child, but if not, here are a few essentials about this excellent college savings plan: The 529 plans biggest benefit: tax-free growth. Earnings on 529 plans contributions grow federal tax-free. Earnings are taxed when the money is withdrawn for college. Many states offer a full or partial tax deduction or credit for 529 plan contributions. Over 30 states offer this opportunity for each year you contribute to the 529 plan. State income tax benefits vary in different states, so its best to check with your financial advisor on the rules. Mom and Dad have control over the plan. You, not the named beneficiary of the 529 plan, stay in control of the 529 account you open. That means you can make sure your child uses the account for college costs. Everyone can take advantage. There are no income limits, age limits or annual contribution limits on 529 plans. However, there are lifetime contribution limits, which vary by plan (ranging from $235,000 to $520,000). Funds can be used at college or K-12 schools that charge tuition. The full value of your 529 plan can be used at any eligible college or university, including some international institutions. As of January 2018, 529 plan savings can also be used to pay for tuition expenses at private, public or religious elementary or secondary schools, up to $10,000 per year, per beneficiary. Yes, 529 plans affect college financial aid, but not much. Assets in 529 accounts owned by a parent are considered parental assets on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The first $20,000 of parental assets arent counted in the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation. If you save more than that, a maximum of 5.64% of parental assets are counted (as compared to other student assets, which are counted at 20%). What does that mean? Higher EFC means less financial aid. So, while 529 plan funds increase your EFC, its minimal, especially compared to other student assets. Also, qualified 529 distributions to pay for college expenses are not included in the base-year income that reduces college financial aid eligibility each year. And 529 accounts owned by a grandparent, other relative or family friend have no effect on a students FAFSA. If you dont use the 529 plan funds for college, there are some penalties. The good news is theyre minimal. If you withdraw from a 529 plan for something other than college costs, the earnings are subject to a 10% withdrawal penalty (and an additional 2.5% state tax penalty in California). Your contributions will never be subject to tax or penalty (because you make contributions with after-tax dollars). There are exceptions to the 529 plan withdrawal penalty. The 10% penalty is waived if the 529 plan beneficiary passes away, becomes disabled, receives tax-free assistance (like a large scholarship), receives tuition assistance from an employer (there are some rules to this, of course), or attends a U.S. military academy. College is expensive. The 529 plan is an excellent vehicle for college savings, and investing in one earlier in your childs life means you benefit from compounded earnings. Contact your financial advisor with questions and to learn about the best 529 plan options in your state. Information referencedfrom savingforcollege.com, an independent resource for parents and financial professionals. You can learn more about 529 plans tax benefits at www.irs.gov.

Junior Year Checklist to Get Ready for College

Junior Year Checklist to Get Ready for College In the journey toward college, junior year is pivotal. This is when your teen should start buckling down and doing serious work to get ready: registering for college entrance exams, preparing for those exams, researching college options and much more. Theres plenty to do between now and next summer. Heres a checklist to keep you and your teen on track: Schedule a time to talk with the guidance counselor. This goes for both of you. The guidance counselor likely has a list of college to-dos and deadlines for the school year. Your teen should also discuss the best classes to take to stay on the right course for college. Take your teen to college fairs. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) College Fairs all around the country are a great option to learn more about different colleges and universities and their campus lives, majors and more. The NACAC website says each fair draws representatives from 175 to 400 colleges. Start having more serious conversations about what your teen seeks in a college. Your teen should approach the college conversation with diligence and care. Discuss the aspects of college that might matter to your teen, including location, student body size, variety of majors and campus life. Talk about the cost. Now is the time to begin researching college scholarships and financial aid. The U.S. Department of Educations Federal Student Aid website is a great resource, as are the websites of the colleges financial aid offices. And here are several to-dos that are your teens responsibility: Sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT in October. Registration is handled through the guidance counselor. More information is available at www.collegeboard.com. Discuss and sign up for any Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Your teen should talk with the school AP coordinator about upcoming dates for AP exams and which, if any, to take. Visit the guidance counselor. This is the year when your teen must stay in good contact with the guidance counselor, who can keep share what is on the horizon for college and make sure your teen is doing everything needed. Register for the SAT and/or ACT. Spring before senior year is a good time to take these exams for the first time, but your teen might even want to do so in the fall. Upcoming SAT 2019-2020 dates are October 5, November 2, December 7, March 14, May 2 and June 6. Upcoming ACT dates are October 26, December 14, February 8, April 4, June 13 and July 18, 2020. Develop an SAT/ACT prep plan. Now that your teen is an upperclassman, it will take discipline to find time to study for the SAT/ACT. This must be a priority, though, so encourage your teen to call Huntington. We offer three levels of exam prep: premier, 32-hour and 14-hour programs. Make a list of colleges of interest. Early junior year, your teen should make a list of colleges and start doing some research (some might even be at career fairs or high school campus visit days this school year). Then, your teen can narrow this list throughout the year before doing more intensive exploration the summer before senior year. Keep a list of important milestones from high school. These poignant moments and turning points in your teens high school experience might come in handy when its time to start applying to colleges and working on the personal essay for those that require one. Create a resume. Your teen will continue to add to the resume graduation nears, but its a good year to start putting one together in anticipation of applying to colleges. Build good relationships with teachers, coaches or other mentors. Your teen should make letter of recommendation requests early senior year, if not sooner. Remind your teen that letters are best written by teachers and others who can confidently speak to your teens abilities, ethics, character and more. If your teen doesnt have strong relationships with teachers yet, this is the year to cultivate them. Want to help your teen navigate the college research process successfully? Need help getting your teen prepared for the SAT/ACT, SAT Subject or Advanced Placement exams? Call Huntington at 1-800 CAN LEARN to learn more about our learning and exam prep programs.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Engineer Alert ASCO Numatics Industrial Automation Engineering Scholarships

Engineer Alert ASCO Numatics Industrial Automation Engineering Scholarships Photo by McLaren Photographic LLC via Flickr Other than majoring in engineering, students are also considered for the scholarship based on their potential for leadership and for making a significant contribution to the industrial automation engineering profession particularly as it relates to the application of fluid control and fluid power technologies, as stated on the ASCO Numatics Engineering Scholarship website. In addition to the $5,000 scholarship award, ASCO Numatics will also provide $1,000 grants to the engineering departments in which the recipients are enrolled. As another added bonus, this years recipients will attend, like Whitten, the PACK EXPO International, this time in the Windy City: Chicago. Megan Borz, another 2013 recipient of the scholarship from Buena, NJ, said in the 2014  press release that the scholarship paved the way for opportunities she may not have otherwise had due to finances. I have been able to focus more time on my coursework, athletics, applying to graduate schools, and applying for future career opportunities because I did not have the financial stress I had in previous semesters, Borz said. The ASCO Numatics scholarship program has, according to Robert W. Kemple, Jr., executive vice president, sales and marketing at ASCO Numatics, in the 2014 press release, awarded $60,000 in scholarships to 12 students and another $12,000 in grants to 10 U.S schools engineering departments. Engineers apply creativity and skills to transform innovation into reality, Kemple said. The ASCO Numatics scholarship program applies that same spirit by helping support leading students in their education to become the next generation leaders in industry and technology.” Whitten agreed that the ASCO representatives were, all really nice, friendly and welcoming, and placed a lot of emphasis on getting to know and wanting to support the next generation of students. He recalled the experience of the scholarship and the PACK EXPO as extremely educating and noted that it piqued his interest of the industrial automation technology field, which he hadnt been entirely  immersed in before receiving the scholarship. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2014, and Whitten encourages anyone who believes they may meet the criteria, even if they arent sure if industrial automation is for them, to apply. because, as I said, I didnt really expect that I would win. I think its a good opportunity to not only win some money, which is great, but to also learn about a pretty cool industry, Whitten said. Touching upon industries, I mentioned to Whitten at the end of our conversation that he was, indeed, on the right path to making money, whereas I, as a writer, may have a less certain monetary future. He merely chuckled and reminded me that as long as, were doing something we both love, its good. The truth within this statement cannot be touched on enough, and for all the engineering students out there, the ASCO Numatics Scholarship may just be the stepping stone you need on your journey toward pursuing what you love.

Mobile Phones in Schools - Tutor Hunt Blog

Mobile Phones in Schools Mobile Phones in Schools Mobile Phones in SchoolsSchoolsMobile phones - the scourge of the school room. The dastardly object that every teacher is forever on the lookout for. Tell-tale signs of surreptitious usage are down turned eyes, observing an object below the desk. Pupils may be unresponsive, and even unaware of the teacher`s approach, oblivious until the nefarious object is snatched from their hands. Mobile phones can be a distraction for everyone, adults and children alike - in the classroom though, they are the adversary every teacher must battle with. It is an unfair fight from the outset - whatever their credentials or charismatic rapport with their class, what teacher can compete with all the movie actors, celebrities, or sports persons, ready to magically appear under the desk at the touch of a button? Of course they are more than just objects obstructing learning in the classroom - these are `smart` phones after all! Children also use these devices for cyberbullying. The amazing versatility of the devices mean they can be used by bullies to seek out victims, wherever they may be. Long gone are the days when the class tyrant would have to be proximal to his or her victims now the fist of this oppressor can reach out to its prey wherever they may be. Using social media the campaign of terror and humiliation can continue long after school has finished; and even if the targets are in the seeming safety of their homes, they can continue to be bullied, through mocking Facebook posts, or degrading Instagram photographs. What then is the solution? Should all phones simply be banned from school grounds? How indeed would this be possible? Would each child be required to hand in their phone at start of the day? Every home is full of old handsets, so a cunning child could easily present a device that is not theirs, while secretly retaining their own phone. Some schools have intimated that they may install devices that will block the 4g signal, which would effectively prevent mobile phones from making or receiving calls, as well as stopping them from accessing the internet except through local wifi networks. This may well sound like an easy solution to unwanted phone usage at school, but unfortunately a prior case has shown that it is in fact illegal to use these signal blockers, as Julia Polley, the head at Wensleydale School and Sixth Form College discovered when she installed one. Exasperated by students` consistent use of mobiles in class Ms Polley informed parents of the pupils about her plans to ins tall the phone jammer. She was soon told by both Ofcom and North Yorkshire County Council`s IT that she would be committing a criminal offence by installing the jamming equipment at the school. It is actually a criminal act under the Wireless Telegraphy Act to set up any kind of technical apparatus with the specific intention of disrupting radio communications. An Ofcom spokesperson said that:`We sympathise with schools` concerns about mobile phones in the classroom. Unfortunately signal blockers can harm other peoples` mobile reception, as well as interfering with the emergency services and air traffic control.` Confiscating mobile phones is also not a simple and straightforward option, as many now claim that possessing a phone is a fundamental human right, and taking someone`s phone would thus contravene this right. Despite this clear dictum many schools have the policy of confiscating phones from pupils who are caught using them in class, and holding onto them till the end of the school day; but with classrooms of maybe thirty pupils, it can be time consuming to stop a lesson, take a student`s phone from them, and two minutes later be compelled to repeat the procedure with another recalcitrant pupil. Across the pond things have been, until recently anyway, little different - New York has had a total ban of mobile phones in all of its schools for the past ten years. This ban, which affects 1.1 million students, was lifted in 2015. `Lifting the cell phone ban is about common sense, while ensuring student safety as well as high-level learning in our classrooms,` said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fari a. The last point is perhaps pertinent here - mobile phones don`t necessarily have to be a disruptive force in the classroom, distracting students and impeding education. Professor Paul Howard-Jones, a neurologist from Bristol University has said that technology, including mobile phones, has been `demonised,` and that banning phones in schools would be `moving in the wrong direction.` His research has suggested that computer games, and other forms of electronic interaction can actually accelerate pupils` learning.`We have to accept that technology is part of children`s lives. It isn`t abo ut restricting it but about how they should be using it in a healthy way. Video games are powerful things for engaging children. Still, computers need to be turned off in the evening because they could be affecting the sleep, but if they are using games to learn that can be a positive thing.` Technology can both help and hinder - this much is obvious. If used sagely and efficiently, the internet is a wonderful resource. It offers a wealth of knowledge and information - a mass of data that makes the largest library shrink to a one sided minuscule pamphlet in comparison. Mobile phones are a portal to this repository of learning - but if pupils are using them merely for browsing social media sites when they should be learning in the classroom, they will be missing out on their education; and unlike web pages, there is no `back` or `refresh` button they can press to revisit the lessons they have missed. 2 years ago0Add a Comment

5 Language Lab Apps That Harness the Power of Modern Science and Technology

5 Language Lab Apps That Harness the Power of Modern Science and Technology Did you know that your smartphone has more computing power than the computers  NASA is  going to use to put men on Mars?Now, I’m not saying that you should get some rocket fuel and land a command module on Mars or something.I’m suggesting that we ask the question, “What else could your phone do?” I mean, besides capturing cool Snapchat videos  and stuff.It doesnt just outshine NASA computers, it has totally replaced and outdated the old school language laboratory. In a way, your phone can offer you a complete language lab.What used to be a whole room in the 60s and 70s, and one only found in top schools and universities at that, you now have in your hands. Yep, with your phone you can download language lab applications  that will teach you French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Chinese and more.You can do this for the low, low price of $0, or at a price so low they might as well give it all away. But such are our times, and the temptation from all sides can be too great. In fact, who hasn’t experienced episodes of app gluttony, downloading every free  app in sight? Yeah, you know what I mean.So, before I give you five  amazing apps to download, I’m going to give you some bonus tips for getting started with using them. How to Make the Most Out of Those Apps on Your Phone1. The 2-Minute RoutineA common excuse for not even beginning with a language app is, “I just don’t have time for it right now.” Maybe you were enthralled by the reviews and so you downloaded it. But you just can’t bring yourself to begin. The reason is we too often think that we need to invest a troubling amount of time in order to use an app effectively and explore all its features.The truth is that apps are designed so that you can use them and sign out of them very easily.  You don’t need to block even a half hour for that. You just need two  minutes. (And who doesnt have  two minutes?)The key here is dividing your learning time into manageable chunks so they don’t look so formidable. Hey, you can eat a whole elephant if you do it one bite at a time. It will take you a little bit longer, sure, but in time you’ll finish the whole thing! In the same manner, a whole language can be acquired using your phone to practice just a few words at a time.You’re standing in line at a coffee shop. Boom! Get a quick glance of the app. You’re waiting for a movie  to load. Boom! You’re sitting on the toilet. Boom! You play half a game of Hangman in Italian. You don’t need anything longer than two minutes.But you have to be consistent. That means you need to do this every day. And you have to actively look for opportunities to break out the app of your choice.Two  minutes. That’s not an unreasonable imposition on your brain, is it? It’s doable. It’s easy. It’s so pithy and painless. It’s these things that are key. “It’s so easy, I think I’m gonna do it.”But you’ll notice that, over time, you’re spending longer and longer periods using the app. You not only get good at the lessons, you’re beginning to be good at the language.Score!So, start small. Always start small.2. Tap Before You NapWhen you get to bed, do you immediately go into coma mode and sleep? No, right? Youve usually  still got a few more minutes in the tank (considerably more  for some). So why not use this time for language learning? And why not get into those apps that don’t get enough quality time during the day?It doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out affair, just tap  a few pages, see what it’s all about and play some games. Don’t think of it as, “Okay, I’m learning a new language here. Time to be serious. Time  to go into beast mode on this thing.”Nope. If you’re thinking that, then maybe that’s why youve always found a reason to skip those apps you downloaded.Just have fun  with! Don’t worry about scores or stars or brownie points, even if the app strongly advertises them and tries to entice you with them. Don’t even thi nk of trying to finish the whole course before you sleep. Don’t even try. Its thinking like this that cools down your motivation.Combined with the previous tip, this tip can really help you get a lot going in two weeks. Imagine the difference between 30 minutes and 0 minutes learning time. Imagine how much better with the language you’re going to  be in two weeks with just two minutes and simply by tapping before sleeping?3. Celebrate the Little AchievementsYou want to increase your motivation? Celebrate your  little achievements with the app. You finished a game? Got majority of the answers correct in a little quiz? Don’t shrug it off as if it’s nothing. Celebrate it!Celebrate milestones, even if they’re mini-milestones. You were consistent with the 2-minute routine this week? Reward yourself with a Rom-Com or a Dr. Who episode.And this is important, you always have to remember, you always have to keep this in your head that youre doing this as a reward for your efforts w ith the app. There’s no motivation or sense of achievement felt when as you’re watching the chick flick or eating your cake you’re thinking, “I could’ve done this even without getting into that thing.” Fail.You have to associate or anchor the app with the beautiful and rewarding things in your life so that the next time you crave for an indulgent slice of blueberry cheesecake, you feel an unexplained need to drop everything and spend a few minutes with the language lab app. (Wink! Wink!)4. Limit Your Downloads to 2-3Okay, just because it’s cheap or free doesn’t mean you have to download it. Otherwise you risk overloading your memory, slowing down everything and eating up your data plan way too fast. That’s why I’ve filtered the best language  lab apps for you here so you can limit your downloads.Remember: Downloading is different from actually using the app. Just because it’s there in your phone doesn’t mean it’s doing you any good. It could be gathering di gital dust. You could even forget that it’s there in the first place.So limit your downloads to 2-3 apps at a time. Two is just plenty, three is the limit. Beyond that, you’re going to end up  spreading yourself too thinly. If you discipline yourself and limit the downloads, the whole language learning landscape doesn’t look so confusing and insurmountable.Don’t worry, all the apps will still be there when you’re done with a set. You’ll get your hands on some new ones later. But for now, stick with three.This is again about utilizing manageable chunks when  learning a new language.5. Play the Apps Against Each OtherOkay, so now you got the 2-3 apps. What to do? What to do?You play the apps against each other!To avoid app fatigue, alternate your use of 2-3 apps. You can set your own schedule  for this. Maybe this week you’ll explore app #1, and then next week you take on app #2. Or, you can do it every other day. The schedule  depends on you, but the important thing to remember is that you don’t overuse the language lab app to the point of you getting sick of it.So if you think you need a new set of colors or icons, or a different kind of game or a different kind of media, then its time to make the switch.Let’s say you’re sick of audio. Then go to FluentU and pay attention to the  videos  and interactive learning games for a while.By playing the apps against each other, you’ll not only avoid app fatigue, you’ll also be able to appreciate the strengths of each language lab app. Perhaps you like this one because it has a better interface, but you like this other one because it has really clear examples, etc.When you’re able to move back and forth, youll know where to look when you have a language learning pang. Let’s say you feel like youre in the the mood for vocabulary lessons. After youve explored all your apps, youll know which one is best for vocabulary day.Playing the apps against each other and picking out their best features en sures that your learning  is consistent and on the up and up. You rarely have those days when nothing seems to be clicking because you know just the perfect app for your needs.Okay, now that weve got that covered, I’m going to give you five language lab apps that should be sitting in your phone in the next few minutes.5 Language Lab Apps That Harness the Power of Modern Science and TechnologyLanguage NutLanguage Nut is what you get when you have passionate language teachers develop a language lab app.Although  Language Nut was originally designed as an in-class material to help teachers and their students, individual learners can enjoy their awesome graphics and fun lessons and games. The lessons come in topically-arranged categories and you’ll get lessons  like: Me My Family, Numbers Time, Animals, Environment, Food, Music, School, Town and more.Youll also have stories and grammar lessons. Language Nut has games that improve speaking, listening, reading and even writing. If y ou love Tic Tac Toe, they have an educational version of that too!It’s very hard not to get hooked on this app, and it transports a real, live language class directly to your phone. Youll feel like youre seated in a language learning lab at a college or university!FluentUVideos are very effective tools in learning language. FluentU  knows this, and the team behind this program went and did something extraordinary to videos.Mind you, theyve got you, the language learner, in mind while working their video magic!They take an ordinary clip, say, a nursery song  about numbers, and then make it completely approachable for every level of language learners.FluentU embeds interactive transcripts in the videos that inevitably turn them into mini language lessons. So, not only are you following the transcript and the nursery rhyme, but each time you don’t understand a word on the transcript you can simply tap on it to look it up. You’re given the 411 on that word. Boom! Learned.After wat ching a clip, FluentU’s Learn Mode feature provides a vocabulary review by quizzing you on specific words and phrases presented in the video through a variety of dynamic activities. You can even see how every word is used in other authentic video clips across the site.FluentU houses the largest collection of language learning videos, interviews, newscasts, movie trailers, you name it. They’re not only interesting, inspiring and informative videos, but the authentic clips often showcase the culture involved. What more could you ask for?There are curated videos for every level of learner, and you can set your language level at the beginning so the app can automatically figure out which  videos are best for you. Cool!Start using  FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or from the  Google Play store  to access material on your Android and iOS devices.Language Lab (McGraw-Hill)McGraw-Hill’s Language La b App contains hundreds of flashcards, exercises and even audio recordings used to support the bestselling books of the company. In the French language program, for example, the app houses the collected flashcards and exercises from books like: Easy French Reader, Complete French All-In-One, Complete French Grammar, French Reading and Comprehension, etc.But just because the app content is based on textbooks doesn’t mean that you have to buy the books in order to take advantage of this.The interface is elegantly simple and true to its flashcard  roots. After selecting your target language, youre led to different sets of flashcards to choose from. Once you tap, you’ll be shown the first word. If you see the words le fromage,  for example, you’ll need to verbally (or just silently) guess the translation written on the other side. Once you’ve given your answer, click and the card will be flipped, revealing the answer (cheese).Now, this app  operates on “Honesty Is the Best Pol icy,” and you’ll have to tap “Got It” if you got the correct answer and “Missed It” if not. If you miss an item, itll remain on the deck and will soon return to test you. The test will continue until you click “Got It” on all the cards.If you see someone on the train discretely whispering “Cheese” while looking down at their phone, they’re probably doing one of Language Lab’s exercises.MindsnacksHow ‘bout feeding your brain with an award-winning app loved by millions? Because that’s what their tagline says youll find here.Mindsnacks is a game-based language learning app that proposes countless hours of edutainment for its users. Its features games like Slider, where you help a penguin from sliding into the ocean by putting together letters, words or phrases in the correct order. In the game Belly, you help a frog get his lunch by tapping on the correct image that represents the word or phrase given.The Mindsnacks App is perfect for the absolute beginners up to intermediate learners trying to firm up on previous knowledge. There are about 1000 vocabulary  words and phrases spread out over 50 lessons.And just to up the ante, the app features quests where you can collect achievements and level up your avatar. (You begin as an egg.) So you can be apprised of your performance, your profile reflects how good youre doing in the quests and games, detailing stats about your speed and accuracy.So if gaming is your game, Mindsnacks is the name.Rosetta Stone Language CourseThe real-life “Rosetta Stone” was a large chunk of stone discovered in Rosetta, Egypt in 1799 by French soldiers trying to rebuild a fort. It contained translated writings in both Egyptian and Greek, using three different scripts.Today’s Rosetta Stone learning program is one of the most established language learning companies offering courses not only in major languages but even Farsi, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Turkish. The lineup of Rosetta Stone  courses  includes: Rose tta Course, Totale Companion, Totale Studio, Rosetta Stone (Travel App) and Rosetta Stone (Kids Lingo Letter Sounds).I saved the Rosetta  for last, not only because of its hefty price, but because, out of all the other products, this one probably requires the most investment in time. So, this app is probably the one where you could put to good use the tips I dished out earlier.The course has similar material and activities that the other apps have (typing exercises, listening exercises, matching exercises), but this one probably has more content than any other. That said, you won’t finish a Rosetta Course over the weekend, or before getting the latte you ordered. Rosetta is a long-term companion, it isnt a language fling.It also stands out in that Rosetta Stone courses dont use anything save the target language. So, no English on this side of the app world. They also don’t explain points of grammarâ€"you have to figure it all out by immersion and context. The difference between the Spanish  la  and el? Youll have to figure it out on the fly, or learn intuitively by repetition.So why is the program included here?Because if you do the exercises, if you commit yourself to the course, if you get into the trenches and tango with the language, the Rosetta Stone app will work! Simple as that. The course will reward you with a new language if you get your heart into it.So, there you go. Five apps for your phone, tablet or computer. Take your sweet time enjoying and savoring them. Don’t worry, don’t hurry, everything will be fine. You’ll get there.And don’t forget the five tips I’ve given in the opening of this post. Theyre not only good for learning a new language, theyll work for many other areas of your life.And to celebrate that you’ve finished reading this post, why don’t you go get yourself a bowl of ice cream?Wanna share?

How to Prepare for Your Skype Interview

How to Prepare for Your Skype Interview image via http://www.linkedportugal.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ScreenClip4.png 1.  It’s a real interview Maybe I’ve just heard one too many horror stories, but I’m über paranoid about something going wrong in a Skype interview.   Maybe it was the story about the man who was on a Skype voice call only to realize that his webcam was somehow on and that his interviewer could now see his tighty-whiteys and him picking his nose.   Maybe it was the story about the woman accidentally dropping her laptop only to reveal that she had dressed professionally only from the waist up.   Maybe the combination of these stories made me take a Skype interview just as seriously as the in-person version.   Whatever the case, be absolutely professional because it is a real interview that could either potentially lead to a very real job or internship or to a real embarrassing moment. image via http://www.webrecruit.co.uk 2.  Dress the part Rock that suit.   Wear the heck out of that skirt and blazer.   Make sure that your hair is perfect and that your teeth aren’t sporting last night’s broccoli and that you are basically ready for a work-attire photo shoot.   And definitely don’t wear a button-up on the top but your lucky superman boxers on the bottom unless you’re willing to take the risk that your interviewer may get to glimpse your favorite superhero during a discussion of your past work experiences.   Bottom line: get dressed to go out for an interview and then just sit down and open up your laptop instead. image via http://www.investigationleaders.com 3.  Choose your surroundings carefully Again this comes down to being professional, and presenting yourself in a professional environment is crucial.   Don’t conduct your interview in front of the NSYNC poster that you’ve enhanced with your 5th grade lipstick kisses.   Don’t sit in your bed or outside or in the kitchen.   Make sure that you place your laptop on a level surface like a desk or a table so that the picture doesn’t shake distractingly and mess up your Skype interview. image via http://phunutoday.vn 4.  Test your connection You do not want to have to pantomime “I can’t hear you” to your interviewer as soon as the Skype call begins.   If the technical difficulties are on his or her end then there’s nothing that you can do about it, but you should absolutely check that your own computer is up to speed before the interview.   It literally takes less than a minute (you just push the “test call” icon on your Skype homepage) and could potentially save you from having to spend your interview diagnosing the problem instead of talking up your superb advertising skills. image via http://i.huffpost.com 5.  Look at the camera We are all taught to maintain eye contact during a conversation, accomplishing this looks different over Skype.   The natural thing to do is to look into the interviewer’s eyes on the screen, but this will make it seem as if you are looking slightly down as opposed to in his or her eyes.   Instead, look at the camera the entire time.   This may need a little bit of practice (especially when it’s distracting to look at yourself to make sure that you look as stunning as usual) but it can make a huge difference.   Making eye contact is crucial to presenting yourself well. image via http://static.framar.bg So just prepare thoroughly, think quickly, and good luck on your Skype interview! Search through the Uloop job listings to find your next Part-Time or Full-Time employment or Internship opportunity. Employers are waiting to hear from you!