The Value of R in Chemistry - Does it Really Matter?

The Value of R in Chemistry - Does it Really Matter?In the age of super computers and globalized economies, one can now calculate the value of R. Yes, one can calculate it by a simple formula. No more need to keep track of the price of some drug in US dollars.The Price of R in Chemistry This is a common misconception that drugs costing only a dollar in US dollars have the same value as drugs costing five hundred dollars. This is simply not true.A chemical formula, as opposed to the chemical properties of a chemical, has a lower valuation. This can be due to the availability of the chemical formula online or from some other source. Another cause for lower value is the quantity of copies of the formula in a common substance. A formula is commonly found in a number of different substances and its absence can cause an item's value to drop drastically.The value of R in Chemistry But don't despair just yet. If you are worried about whether or not you can really use the formula, you don't n eed to worry. You can indeed use the formula. It can be used to make new compounds.The compound that you create will be made up of the formula multiplied by its relative abundance. So if the formula is rare, the compound that you produce will be even rarer. In other words, you can now use the formula to make an item that is a thousand times rarer than it was before you made the formula.The value of R in Chemistry - A good example is the discovery of amino acids. Amino acids were discovered way back in 1855. The main source of their discovery was by William Butler.Thus, the value of Rin Chemistry is not as stable as people think. However, it is still possible to use it to make valuable new compounds.

How to Become a Photographer

How to Become a Photographer Discover How to be a Professional Photographer with our Guide ChaptersPhotography The Right Equipment is EssentialGo Pro: Choose Your Photographic NicheQualities and Competences: What makes a Good PhotographerSelling Your Freelance Photography Skills OnlineOne can stare at a photograph for a week and nevermore think of it. Or, you can glimpse an image that will haunt you for the rest of your life. - Joan MiroWho hasn't ever dreamt of creating such imagery? Of being a professional photographer?The real question is: how can you gain a foothold in this exciting field without necessarily partaking formal education, when the market is already saturated?And, in these crowded conditions, how can you support yourself financially as an independent photographer?Superprof has a few ideas...You have to have the right equipment to catch the bride tossing her bouquet! Source Pixabay Credit: Congerdesignthose that are up to the job.And, that scenario is an exception, really. Would anyone at a wedding closely inspect and rate the photographer's equipment?Let u s reassure you: as long as you have reliable photographic equipment, you will be able to capture the moment the bride tosses her bouquet, thanks to your artistic flair and talent.And, should an errant shadow mar that money shot, you can always spend a few minutes editing it out with PhotoShop.If you are mad for film photography, a post processing retouch would be called for.A well-equipped photographer usually has, at the ready:At least two camera bodies: should one fail, you will have a backup.Woe to the wedding photographer whose digital SLR (or 35mm Nikon) betrays him!An assortment of lenses and filtersAttending workshops hosted by experienced photographers could help you select the ones for your specialty, so that you don't have to buy every type of lens or filter available.Camera flash, and other light sources; a light meter is a givenmemory cards... lots of memory cards!If you are a film photography buff, bring lots of film of different ISO speeds to your shoot. Don't forget b lack and white!Spare batteries  for all of your equipmenta monopod for action shots; a tripod for posed subjects.A case to carry it allBeing in possession of only photography equipment does not (necessarily) make you a professional photographer. Knowing how to manipulate images using computer software is the next vital step.For this portion, we exclude the film photographer, with the full knowledge that s/he could scan developed images into the computer for editing, but... wouldn't that defeat the purpose of using film?The shoot â€" the taking of  pictures is obviously the  fundamental part of the work of the photographer.But then comes photo editing.Take amazing pics with  photography courses.Potential trouble comes when your computer bogs down, especially if you are working with Raw and/or Lightroom.The more expansive the catalog of images, the slower they will be to load and edit. That could cost you precious time!The antidote to that nightmare scenario would be:working on a comp uter that has plenty of processing power and memory. A high-end graphics card would help, too!Up-to-date image editing software: Photoshop, Lightroom, or othersA calibration probe: there is nothing more frustrating than editing an image into a work of art, being proud of it... and watching it print lighter or darker than on screenSome form of backup storage, to keep on file the images already delivered to your customers: a cloud, but perhaps also DVDs, memory cards or external hard drives.Ideally, you should maintain client images readily available for 6 months to year, at the minimum. Should anyone want reprints of your copyrighted photos, you will be able to access them quickly!A film photographer endures  none of these issues!After developing film in their chemical baths and retouching as needed, s/he would simply store the negatives.  Should a client request reprints, the photographer would find that client's file and develop the negatives anew.So far, this article has mainly be en targeted to roaming photographers.If being a portrait photographer â€" or studio photography in general strikes your fancy, you should invest in studio accoutrements: backdrops, studio lighting, props, posing tools and the like.You don't necessarily need a diploma to become a professional photographer!Go Pro: Choose Your Photographic NicheUnless you are independently wealthy, one goal of establishing a career, in photography or otherwise, is to earn a living.It is therefore perfectly acceptable to gravitate toward social photography: weddings, babies, baptisms; graduations, anniversaries and, yes!, even funerals.Drone photography is fast becoming a popular sub-specialty Source: Pixabay Credit: Pixel2013These are the types of photography through which one stands to earn the most. Portraiture, of humans and of their pets, can also be quite lucrative.Photographing events such as those is a good way of paying your dues; of getting your name out there: of marketing yourself and your p hotography skills.To build, grow and retain a loyal customer base.Let's suppose one of your faithful clients asks you to shoot his upcoming football match for his team's regional newsletter.Sports photography is not your bailiwick!Does client loyalty mean you can never say no?Of course not!Look up for some  photography courses london.In fact, your customers would more greatly appreciate your honesty in turning down the job. They will respect your integrity.So, even though the commission would pad your pocketbook, feel free to turn down jobs outside of your area of expertise!In fact, calling  a trusted colleague on your clients' behalf would cement their undying loyalty to you, their personal photographer.It is better to turn down a job outside of your field of specialty than wing it, and possibly ruin your reputation.With your expertise in a given area of photography well publicised, your chances at winning contracts grows exponentially.French photographer Amélie Soubrié targets h er business to expectant mothers and babies under 15 days old. Does that seem a narrow field to you?In fact, she is most in demand, for the very exclusivity that makes her seem inaccessible.Bear in mind that 'exclusive' does not mean constant refusal of any other photography assignments.We are all familiar with Andy Rouse's animal photography. However, when not chasing down hippos and bears, he occupies himself by photographing airplanes!Plenty of niche photographers embrace a sub-specialty, or even other avenues of creative expression altogether!The venerable and talented Mr. Rouse has published no fewer than fifteen books, whose sales generate a constant trickle of income.Some photographers engage in commercial photography, macro photography or food photography between gigs, because those types of art expression are more reliable as an income stream.Sub-specialising is a nifty way to network; to expand your client base. Those same clients might contract you later to request the ty pe of photography you are most  passionate about!Every customer you meet in the course of commercial photography is a potential client for your special brand of photography.Check for online photography courses here.Qualities and Competences: What makes a Good PhotographerLet us right now disabuse your stereotype of the curmudgeonly artist who throws things around the studio, yet somehow manages to maintain a client base and take fantastic pictures.Foul temper is not a desirable quality in a competent, professional photographer!These photographers will put their own creative stamp on this shot Source: PIxabay Credit: Tama66Whether you have successfully completed a university course in photography, attained a Level 3 certificate online, or whether you are self-taught: you should only call yourself a pro if you possess a measure of the following qualities:Creativity and inventivenessAnsel Adams, renown photographer of the American west, had no formal education in photography.What drove him to capture the stark, poignant images was his father's emphasis on Ralph Waldo Emerson's urging to minimalism.Shooting exclusively in black and white, making use of the available light; he made history by depicting nature scenes from a minimalist's perspective.Excellent Communication SkillsBy its very nature, photography is visual storytelling.As such, the act of taking pictures means you are communicating your visions to the public. But the art of reaching out doesn't stop there.You will have to know how to talk to clients, subjects and assistants. If you are a fashion photographer, you will have to instruct models; if you are a freelance photographer, you will have to convince prospects of your skill.Even if you are an animal photographer, you still have to maintain public relations skills in order to sell your images; in order to earn any money.AdaptabilityThe professional photographer must be able to adapt to all situations, all demands and all hazards.Let us suppose that a landscape photographer has been contracted to shoot the Orkney Islands for an upcoming travel exposé.The weather in that northernmost part of Scotland is famous for its changeable clime and rough seas.The photographer cannot wait for favourable conditions; the work must be done by its deadline!Photojournalists routinely encounter dangerous conditions: in war zones, in natural disasters,  even in street photography; nevertheless, the lensing professionals regale us with visions that we are perhaps spared in real life.That is why we aver that photographers must surround themselves with trustworthy people for any photoshoot in order to progress and evolve, in business and in the art itself.Patience and ConfidenceWildlife photography, baby photography, pet photography and night photography all demand  the same quality of their photographer: patience.Working with unpredictable subjects, like babies and pets, requires posing and reposing them, or employing tricks to stimulate the desire d reaction out of them.Patience is a very important virtue in this profession, as well as diplomacy and trust. Be nice to your customers so that they feel comfortable posing in front of you!Last but not least, a professional photographer needs...Continuous ImprovementBe curious. Be interested in current events surrounding the art of photography, in terms of material, image editing, techniques...Attend photography workshops. Watch video tutorials online. Join a photography club or society; meet with others who share your passion; swap photography tips with them.In order to progress, never stop learning: it is the key to success.Selling Your Freelance Photography Skills OnlineSurely you did not buy that new DSLR and enrol in photography classes simply to point your camera and press that shutter!Perhaps a webmaster can help you set up a page to showcase your art Source: Pixabay Credit: LukasbieriGoing pro in photography means marketing yourself: to find clients, to build a customer bas e, and to sell your work.The first step in generating interest in your business is naming it.Nothing necessarily catchy; in fact many aver that they now resent the clever name they've given their studio.While Lamplight Studios and Broadway Studios have a certain nostalgic appeal, harkening to days of photography in a time that the DSLR camera was unthinkable, most photographers prefer operating under their own name.It is your work, talent, skill and passion for sale; why not put your name to it?Our second recommendation to promote your business: show your work!One of the best ways to showcase your talent to create a website.Mounting a range of  shots,  from beginner to your more advanced photography work, with a short narrative attached to each frame, will prove your stripes to anyone who has a need for your brand of creativity.Whether you are wildly experienced a creating a digital portfolio, or a novice to the intricacies of creating a viewing platform, there is an online photogra phy application for you.For a quick and dirty establishment of your work, you could set up a profile and show your best shots on Wix or Tumblrthe drawback to those sites is that you must accept their templates and other restrictions of designIf you have a firm idea of the backdrop you wish to contrast your work against, WordPress is the place for you. You will have more control over templates and site design, and a greater range of colours and features.If neither of these options quite suit your fancy, you can enlist the help of a professional web designer. You could establish a work exchange programme: you provide photos for that web designers' work; s/he sets up and maintains your site for free!Bear in mind that, like you, web masters are trying to make a living. While workflow exchange could be mutually beneficial, be prepared to pay for services rendered. After all: with the proliferation of websites offering free, attribution-only downloads of imagery, a professional web page d esigner might not want to trade work for exclusive photos.Remember: your homepage picture should represent your type of photography!If you are a landscape photography artist, greet your future clients with your most stunning panorama!If you are a commercial photographer, a mélange of shots â€" from adverts, of pets and people, would be the better home page for you. Here is one more suggestion to get your photography business off the ground: offer photography tutorials. Your site could be a sort of photography school for the amateur who doesn't have the time or means for photography lessons; who perhaps wants to learn how to use a digital camera to its full capability. While you've got your computer booted, why not establish profiles social media?Facebook, Pinterest, and especially LinkedIn are guaranteed outlets to gain exposure and recognition as an expert in photography and digital imaging. If your passion is film photography, think of the waves you could make in the sea of digit al images with the richness and tone of   images captured on film!Word of mouth is still the most powerful and effective means of advertising,  and it offers a cost benefit: getting liked and forwarded on social media is absolutely free!One other outlet for your best images that we put forth: photo banks, such as Fotolia, where you can sell images for future attribution and royalties.Taking the place of an agent, such sites serve not only to promote your art, but they get your name out to the greater public, far beyond your immediate surroundings.Each attribution is another mention of your name: another costless form of advertising!Not only does your name get publicised but you stand to gain royalties from each of your snaps a subscriber downloads. Let your photographic talent shine! Give yourself every opportunity to have your work viewed, appreciated and used!These relics would not be considered reliable photographic equipment today! Source: Pixabay Credit: MaxmannIn SummaryA prof essional photographer has suitable, reliable equipment: at least 2 camera bodies and and assortment of lenses and filters; an adequately fast computer  to process images on, some sort of photo editing software, and a calibration probe to ensure accurate printing.Adobe ranks particularly high among photographers of all types!Specialising in a particular type of photography is essential! Going on assignment as a photojournalist sounds rather glamorous, but how does such a photographer earn between jetting off to far-flung locations?Sub-specialising is a good idea, if being behind the camera is all you want to do. Otherwise, you could be a digital photography instructor, taking beginners to the next level by broadening their skills sets. Patience, creativity, adaptability and being a master of human relations are key qualities every professional photographer must embody!Finally: knowing how to package, promote and sell your work is absolutely essential.Being a master of photography com position is great, but will earn you nothing if you can't unload any images. Perhaps hiring an agent, or seeking the services of a webmaster  to build your site would be the way for you to manage your marketing. Now that you have so much to consider, we close this article and look forward to seeing you, everywhere in cyberspace!

Six Benefits of Teens Working Part Time

Six Benefits of Teens Working Part Time Most parents agree that theres value in teens putting effort toward something other than classes and homework. Sports, clubs and volunteer work are awesome resume boosters that teach worthwhile life lessons. However, theres another activity that deserves some attention: working part time. Understandably, many parents want their teens to focus first on their academics and extracurricular commitments, but there are so many benefits for teens who work a part-time job. Here are six of the most notable: Theyll learn about money. Before teens go to college, its essential that they learn fiscal responsibility. Mom and Dad wont give an allowance forever, and high school is the prime time for teens to learn about budgeting, investing and saving for things they want (e.g. clothes, concerts and doing things with friends) and need (e.g. college textbooks). Theyll become skilled at time management. Teens who want an income have to give up at least some of their free time. That means they need to be diligent about scheduling time for homework, sports/other practices and other to-dos, and adept at keeping a very organized planner. These skills become even more important in college, when the workload and expectations increase significantly. Theyll learn work ethic. Even the act of researching jobs and going to interviews requires motivation and follow up. And once a teen has a job, he or she will inherently learn what it takes to perform well in different industries and how to meet and exceed the expectations of managers with different styles and personalities. Theyll gain skills that arent taught in school. Performing well in school requires effort, but skills learned on the job in a restaurant or retail setting, for example, are valuable in a different way. Many jobs that are available to teens involve regular interactions with customers. Theyll need good listening skills, empathy, patience and more. Often, these jobs are in fast-paced settings too, so teens will become pros at working efficiently under pressure. Theyll put their academic knowledge to use in the real world. Many of the duties of jobs in the retail and restaurant industries (where teens often work) involve technology (e.g. using a point of sale system) and math (e.g. preparing customer bills and making change). Office work is also a great way for teens to apply academic skills to the real worldskills like typing, reading, developing spreadsheets and writing. Theyll gain exposure to different careers and industries. Teens who are convinced they want to become doctors might explore opportunities to work in doctors offices or hospitalsand while they are unlikely to interact directly with patients, even working in that environment is excellent experience. Any job that gives teens an idea of what a post-collegiate career theyre considering is actually like is a job worth taking. Teens who work part time develop many indispensable skills that translate directly to life. While it is wise for a teen to make sure a job wont interfere with school priorities and the ability to lead a balanced life, a job with reasonable hours and expectations offers many lasting and positive advantages. About Huntington Huntington 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 succeed. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.

Do kids really outgrow ADHD

Do kids really outgrow ADHD When most of us were growing up it was believed that ADHD was a disorder that only occurred during childhood. Parents were often told that their children would probably outgrow their symptoms by the time they were teenagers, and most certainly by the time they were adults. Over the past two decades research has shown that this is actually not the case. In fact, studies have shown that about 70% of children diagnosed with ADHD will continue to meet criteria for an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood. Despite current research evidence, the belief that children will outgrow their ADHD has persisted in our culture. As parents you may have relatives, friends, and even teachers tell you not to worry because your childs symptoms will simply go away as he or she gets older. People usually mean well when they say this, but it can be frustrating if it makes you feel like your childs current challenges are not being taken seriously. So why has this belief persisted, even when we now know that many teenagers and adults do in fact have ADHD? One reason may lie in the child-centered way that ADHD has been defined and categorized. When ADHD was first included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental health disorders in the US, the symptoms and impairments were based solely on the presentation of ADHD in children. While there have been some minor adjustments to the symptoms and diagnostic criteria in the DSM over time to better account for the disorders presentation in adolescents and adults, the overall child-centered focus of the criteria has remained. As a result, some symptoms, like often runs and climbs on things excessively, or often leaves seat in situations where staying seated is expected, are in fact only seen in children. If we were to see an adult climbing on things excessively, for example, we would suspect that there is much m ore going on than ADHD! So, in a sense, children do outgrow some symptoms of ADHD at least on the outside. What many people without ADHD dont realize is that the underlying ADHD feelings and impulses often stick around into adolescence and adulthood. A child who struggled to stay in his or her seat during class may have learned to stay seated as he or she got older, but he or she has continued to experience strong underlying feelings of restlessness. Another child who would often blurt out answers or interrupt others may develop greater awareness of these symptoms over time. He or she still experiences the urge to blurt out or interrupt during conversations, but now he or she works hard to hold his or her thoughts and not speak out of turn. Sometimes he or she may have a hard time focusing on conversations or staying in the moment because he or she is so distracted by the urge to jump in and speak. So, in other words, many of these childhood ADHD symptoms dont go away over time. They just become less visib le to other people. As a parent there are many things you can do now that will help your child manage his or her symptoms well into adolescence and adulthood. The skills you teach them as children, especially social skills, organizational skills, strategies for doing things independently, will last a lifetime. Being open to having conversations with your child about his or her ADHD symptoms can create a safe space where your child can learn to accept his or her ADHD rather than judge and hide his or her symptoms. And if behavioral strategies alone are not enough, helping your child find a medication that will work for him or her can make a tremendous difference in his or her symptom management now and in the future. So, while your child may not ultimately outgrow his or her ADHD symptoms, he or she can improve over time with the right treatment and support from family and friends. 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.

Teacher engagement and the pursuit of happiness (Part 2)

Teacher engagement and the pursuit of happiness (Part 2) Ash Pugh, Director of Operations at Teach Away In part two of our four-part series, we look at the first part of the recruitment, onboarding and retention cycle: recruitment. The ongoing cycle of teacher recruitment and retention Teacher recruitment, onboarding and retention don’t happen in a linear sequence. They are interwoven and cyclical: How well you, as a school leader, manage each stage of this lifecycle is not only key to attracting and retaining teachers. It will also become an increasingly important factor in determining which schools thrive and which struggle to maintain sufficient talent levels in an increasingly competitive space. Onboarding is still recruitment - and vice versa. Think about it. By optimizing your hiring process to attract and engage candidates who are a close fit for your school culture, the likelihood is that these are the very candidates who will seamlessly integrate into and become productive members of your staff. And the better your onboarding process works to help these new staff members adjust and find happiness in their new role and environment, the more likely they are to stay. Finally, the more happy and productive teachers you can keep around, the less recruitment you’ll need to worry about - freeing up time and money for your school to focus on other ways to grow. How can you make your hiring work better for you? To help international schools understand what candidates are looking for and how to engage them, Teach Away recently surveyed over 10,000 educators. The results, published in our International Education Recruitment Report, outline a number of data-driven strategies to help you improve your recruitment process. Let’s look at a few things you can do, right away, to stay competitive: 1. Make recruiting a year-round process Our research shows that 73% of candidates prefer to start their job search anywhere from three to six months ahead of time and 41% of job seekers say it takes them over six months from when their job search begins to when they accept a job offer. Candidates today want the ability to search for and apply for jobs on their own terms, not on the schedule that is most convenient for schools. Source: Teach Away, International Education Recruitment Report 2017-2018. Download the complete report at www.teachaway.com/report. 2. Post your vacancies in the right place. Relatively few candidates continue to use traditional job search methods, such as newspaper ads (3%) and job fairs (4%). Among your target candidates, online recruitment is the new norm. Our research shows that 97% of teacher candidates are searching for jobs online - and education-specific job boards took the #1 spot as the most effective way to find teaching jobs abroad. This is a trend that rings true across all industries: 2015 research from the Pew Research Center revealed that 90% of all recent job seekers were searching for jobs online. If you haven’t already done so, it’s high time to take a close look at the recruiting channels you’re using and ask yourself whether these are truly driving the highest number of qualified candidates to your school. Source: Teach Away, International Education Recruitment Report 2017-2018. Download the complete report at www.teachaway.com/report. 3. Don’t forget that travel is a key motivator. Candidates aren’t teaching abroad out of economic necessity - our research revealed that financial reasons and a lack of opportunities trailed behind, in third place and fourth place, respectively. Today’s international teaching candidate embraces the prospect of broadening their horizons and is serious about their career progression. If you aren’t already doing so, it’s time to revamp your job postings to include compelling job content that showcases the benefits that make a position at your school impactful and rewarding. Write a job posting that’s more than just a list of the things that you want in your ideal candidate. You need to get today’s travel-motivated teaching candidates excited about the place they’ll be relocating to. Source: Teach Away, International Education Recruitment Report 2017-2018. Download the complete report at www.teachaway.com/report. 4. Help candidates see the big picture Your candidates take a variety of factors into account when deciding which schools to apply for, including salary, location and career progression opportunities. While compensation undoubtedly plays an important role in a candidate’s decision, other benefits could ultimately have a greater impact. Schools that can’t compete on compensation or location alone should bear in mind other factors - like culture among the staff - when positioning their school to candidates. That said, you should aim to keep your salary offers competitive with other schools in your region. Source: Teach Away, International Education Recruitment Report 2017-2018. Download the complete report at www.teachaway.com/report. 5. You need to make your candidate feel wanted On average, Teach Away candidates submit more than five applications to teach abroad per year, so it’s worth keeping in mind that the best candidates will likely have several options to choose from. How candidates feel about you throughout the recruitment process will influence how they feel about you as a potential employer. Are applications being acknowledged? Are candidates being kept informed of their status in the process? Are they being treated as though they’re genuinely valued, appreciated and wanted? If the answer to any of these questions is no, you’re risking losing out on the best candidates to other schools. Check back next week for part threewhere we look at the second part of the recruitment, onboarding and retention cycle: onboarding. This article originally appeared in the Spring 2018 edition of InterED, the bi-annual newsletter of the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE).

How to Learn a Language Fluently from Scratch

How to Learn a Language Fluently from Scratch How to Learn a Language Fluently From Scratch Learning a language is more about the journey than the destination.Its about stopping to smell the roses along the way, right?No, just kidding.If you wanted to smell the roses, you would go take a walk in the park. You wouldnt be spending hours hunched over foreign language books.The hell with the journey. You want results, and you want them nowâ€"or if thats overly optimistic, you at least want them in the foreseeable future. You want to get fluent fast.Of course, some people will tell you that if youre just starting out with a new language, its too early to even think about fluency.They might even tell you that fluency is a pipe dream for adult language learners.Those people can take that attitude and put it, well, the same place as those roses we were just talking about.If youre just starting to learn a language, now is the time to come up with a plan for getting yourself from zero to fluency. If you were driving across town, would you just start taking random turns in hopes of ev entually arriving at your destination, or would you want your route mapped out from start to finish before even stepping foot outside the house? Call me unadventurous, but Id rather know where Im going and get there as soon as possible.Its easy to fall into the trap of thinking that if you just study the language youre trying to learn really hard, youll eventually become fluent. But the reality just aint so. If you study the language youre trying to learn really hard, youll just become a really good student of that languageâ€"which is different from  being fluent in that language.The earlier you start deliberately working towards fluency, the less time youll have to spend on the transition from being a good student to a capable, confident speaker in the end. And the more likely you are to avoid the dreaded mid-language learning crisis, that point when youve spent countless hours memorizing vocab and internalizing grammatical structures only to realize that despite all your hard work , youd probably run screaming for the nearest translator if you were unexpectedly airdropped into a country where you had to rely on the language youve been diligently learning.So to help you keep any such unpleasantness out of your language learning experience and to give you some ideas on how to start building towards fluency from day one, here are some tips on how to learn a language fluently from scratch. How to Learn a Language Fluently From Scratch1. Make as Many Connections Between Listening, Speaking and Writing as PossibleOne major difference between language learners versus people who speak a language fluently is that listening, speaking and writing tend to be very separate activities for learners, but are much more interchangeable for fluent speakers.As a learner, making connections between listening, speaking and writing reinforces the work youre doing on all three and moves your mentality closer to that of a fluent speaker by breaking down the boundaries between these different ways of using the language.A simple but powerful technique for making connections between the three is to listen to some material, then respond to it both in speech and in writing. If you have a Skype partner to do the speaking part of this exercise with, try the following three steps:Listen to a podcast or radio show or watch a film that your language partner is familiar withWrite a reaction to the podcast, radio show or filmDiscuss the podcast, radio show or film with your language partner and compare your reaction to theirsIf youre doing this exercise solo, heres another way it can go:Listen to a podcast or radio show or watch a filmGive an immediate, spontaneous spoken reaction to the podcast, radio show or filmWrite up a more structured review of the podcast, radio show or filmOne of the points of this exercise is that you end up working with some of the same ideas and vocab across all three steps, tying together your listening, speaking and writing practice.Even whe n you arent doing this exercise, though, you should still try to do some listening, speaking and writing every day. Keeping all three skills hot in your mind will go a long way towards making sure youre really learning a language rather than learning to listen to a language, learning to speak a language and learning to write a language separately.2. Use the Language for Things You Care AboutIf you want a disturbing insight into the foreign language learning process, try reading through a textbook on a language youre already fluent in, like an English textbook if youre a native English speaker. Youll find that the content is excruciatingly boring. In fact, Ill wager that most fluent English speakers simply could not read an ESL textbook cover-to-cover.Of course, when youre learning a new language, the dullness of the content you work with as a beginning language learner is a little less grating because you have your hands full actually trying to learn the language, but that doesnt me an you arent missing a huge opportunity to learn faster and more fluently. No matter what level your language skills are at, youll internalize the language youre working on much more deeply if you use it for things you care about.Its true that when youre getting started, a certain amount of “Hello, my name is Niels. I am a person. I am eating a green apple.” is necessary to get the basics down, but you should aim to break away from focusing on this kind of dry good-for-language-learning-and-nothing-else content as much as possible, as soon as possible. Here are some ideas for ways to do that:Cook a mealCook a meal (bonus points if its a meal traditional to a country that speaks the language youre learning!) using only the language youre studying from start to finish. Translate the recipe or find a recipe online in that language, write a shopping list and describe the process of cooking the meal out loud as you go along. All the better if you can get another language learner or a fluent friend to do this with you.Keep a journalTheres one interest we all have in common: ourselves. Keeping a journal about your life will let you use the language youre learning to talk about a wide variety of topics you care about. Complaining about your coworkers and lamenting the state of your love life will never have been so educational!Visualize your vocabularyFor many language learners, translating is inherently boringâ€"after all, the point of translating is simply to repeat something thats already been said, just in a different language. Worse yet, translating does nothing to help you towards fluency because it encourages you to use your native language as a reference point, rather than start thinking in terms of your new language.So next time youre learning vocab or translating a text, try translating into images rather than another language. Its one thing to tell yourself that el parque means “the park” in Spanish. Its an entirely different thing to visualize your self lying in the lush, green grass with your eyes closed while the sun warms your face from the pristine blue sky and a deep, soothing voice says in your ear “el parque.”Instead of just shuffling words between languages when youre translating and learning vocab, challenge yourself to associate the words with images that have some sort of emotional significance to you. Visualize sentences as scenes unfolding in your minds eye rather than strings of words waiting to be changed into English on the language translation assembly line. Visualizing instead of translating is a technique that can save you countless hours if you start using it from day one.Read about topics youre interested inIf theres a topic youre interested in, read about it in the language youre working on! Just head over to the Google homepage for a country that speaks the language youre learning and look up whatever youre curious about.It can seem easier just to follow along textbooks and language courses as long a s possible, but the sooner you go from learning the language to actually using it for things you care about, the more direct your path to speaking fluently will be. Techniques like cooking a meal, keeping a journal and thinking in pictures are all ways of doing this from the very early stages of language learning.Reading about topics youre interested in might require having a little more vocab and grammar under your beltâ€"but with the help of a dictionary, not as much as you might think. In language learning, “no pain, no gain” is sometimes true, but in this case you stand to both gain a lot and save yourself some pain at the same time by making the process as interesting as possible.3. Put Yourself out ThereThe biggest difference between learning a language and using it in real life is that textbooks are structured, linear and predictable while real life is anything but. The best way to make your mindset more like that of a fluent speaker than a language student is to start pu tting yourself in situations that stretch your language skills.Dont feel ready to do a Skype language exchange? Great, nows the perfect time to start one!Think youre not ready to order a meal? Great, head on over to the nearest restaurant where they speak your new language! (Just make sure you go somewhere authenticâ€"dont try ordering in Italian at Olive Garden.)By putting yourself out there and even sometimes ending up out of your depth youll be building a more flexible and, yes, fluent relationship with the language youre learning.4. Force Yourself to Think in the Language Youre LearningThe easiest way to stop yourself from learning a language fluently is by continuing to think in your native language even when you speak in the new language.A good technique Ive already talked about to avoid falling into this trap is to start “visualizing instead of translating” from day one. But you should also go out of your way to use the language youre learning internally even in situation s where youre not translating.Some effective ways to do this are:Do an end-of-day recapAs you get ready to go to sleep at night, do an internal recap of the main events from your day and the things you want to do tomorrowâ€"in the language youre learning.Besides acting as a sort of journal-in-your-mind where you can use the language to describe a range of different events you care about, doing an end-of-day recap lets you harness the benefits of language study right before bed.Narrate mundane tasksEvery mindless task you do is really an opportunity to use your idle brain for language learning! Try narrating your actions next time youre washing the dishes, for example. It makes life more interesting and helps you get used to thinking in your new language.Being able to draw on the vocab and grammar youve learned automatically, intuitively and effortlessly is an important part of learning a language fluently. Getting used to not just communicating in a language but using it in your min d will fast-track your path to fluency.Studying Smart to Learn a Language FluentlyIn the end, if you want to start working towards learning a language fluently from the first step of your language learning journey, youll have to study hardâ€"but more importantly, youll have to study smart. Fluency is about really internalizing a language, not just memorizing it.Using the language for things that have personal meaning to you, making as many connections between writing/speaking/listening as possible, making yourself think in terms of your new language and putting yourself in situations that push your language skills to their limit will all help you really own the language you want to know fluently, rather than just speak it superficially.But even if you didnt really care about learning a language fluently, I would still say you should try these techniques. Why? Because the most effective fluency-building techniques are actually techniques for getting yourself to care about what youre learning. The more you care about something, the more deeply you learn it. And regardless of whether your goal is to work all the way towards speaking fluently, caring will make your language learning experience more fun!So I guess what Im saying is that even though your aim is to get fluent fast, not necessarily to stop and smell the roses along the way, using these fluency-promoting techniques from the outset of your language learning journey will make the roses smell sweeter anyway.Thats why ultimately the single most important, totally serious, kind-of-corny-but-still-pretty-darn-useful rule for learning a language fluently from scratch is: fun and fluency go hand in hand!

Thanksgiving Day 2015

Thanksgiving Day 2015 Thanksgiving Day, one of my favorite holidays, is almost here! We all know this day is the perfect time to give thanks to the Lord for what we have: family, freedom, health and material blessings. But, Thanksgiving is also an excellent opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to all those people who stand by us  through  both our joys and sufferings  for all their support, love, guidance and more. Another good news is we have a four-day weekend coming up! So, forget about work, visit your family and friends, enjoy  watching the Macy’s parade, sharing a wonderful meal, and watching movies. This year, in order to get in the Thanksgiving spirit,  Ive decorated the kitchen with colorful food items and adorned the walls with imprints of leaves, and flowers. Also, I thought it was a good idea to hollow out pumpkins and use them as candle holders.  Furthermore,  Ive learned  some Thanksgiving prayers, made  a playlist of music, and read some funny  jokes, like: Knock, knock. Who’s there? Harry. Harry who? Harry up, Im hungry! Ive even bought a  book about Thanksgiving Day in America. I think its very interesting. Thanksgiving has a rich history, and in many ways, it is the history of America. If you would like to really  learn more about it, read our article Thanksgiving Day â€" Are You Ready For an Annual Food Coma?  or ask one  of our history tutors! And the most important: this year I am going  to cook my very first  turkey. I want  to try the oven bag method, and  Id really appreciate it if you could give me  some  advice  ?? I hope this Thanksgiving will be a special day for all of our  tutors and students! Happy Thanksgiving Day!

What Type of Science Is Chemistry?

What Type of Science Is Chemistry?Chemistry is a very interesting science that deals with the nature of atoms and molecules. It deals with the properties of all the atoms, molecules and a single nucleus in the matter. It also covers many other properties, which are not just limited to atoms, molecules and nuclei. And chemistry is the only branch of science, which is the basis of all other sciences.Chemistry is the subject that has been around for centuries. It is very popular as a subject, even today. It has existed since before recorded history. It is the oldest of all sciences in the modern sense of the word.A particular experiment might be performed to make the properties of a substance, to ascertain its chemical structure. Then this material is subjected to tests, in order to determine whether it is a gas or liquid. The process of testing can be of two types. They can be a chemical test, or radiometric test.It is necessary for the students to understand some common and similar qu estions in relation to the subject. There are other related questions, that you must answer, if you wish to study this subject at school. The type of chemistry that you learn at school will decide your future.It is very important to know that every science has many sub-types. Chemistry is one of them. Once you are into chemistry, you will never leave it, unless you join a graduate school.Another aspect that you must know is that science in general, is very essential, because it is responsible for producing a whole lot of things in the world. Chemists are the ones who discovered the principle of evolution. Some of the other scientists have discovered the origin of life, the atomic theory of matter, the formation of stars, life on earth and so on. The list can go on. If you want to become a chemist, the training provided by the school should be of great importance.You need to study the subject, if you want to qualify for a doctorate in the science. Many universities now offer training for various subjects, in order to provide high quality education to their students.

Jobs With a Chemistry Degree

Jobs With a Chemistry DegreeIf you're looking for work with a chemistry degree, then you've landed in the right place. Aspiring chemists are always on the lookout for various types of jobs, and this is the same for people with a chemistry degree. Whether it is a job in a laboratory or lab science, there are plenty of openings to be had. It can be a great time to get your chemistry degree as there are several types of jobs that require a chemistry degree, not just at the college level but also as a part-time job for the busy person.In fact, there are jobs which require a chemistry degree. This is another reason why people with a chemistry degree are always on the lookout for something to do. There are many jobs such as in the medical field, the military, and so on. These types of jobs require a degree in chemistry. Whether you're going to get one online or in school, you can find something interesting if you are well-versed in chemistry.Jobs that require a chemistry degree will includ e chemical engineering, aerospace design, biotech, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, cell biology, computer programming, computer science, information technology, industrial design, materials engineering, the pharmaceutical industry, medical engineering, medical technology, nanotechnology, optics, biomedical research, as well as other related fields. You will find opportunities with these kinds of jobs in the corporate world, the government, the health care industry, and more. Keep in mind that you will also find more jobs with a chemistry degree as long as you have a mind for it.When you apply for these jobs, you will find that some companies will require a chemistry degree. Sometimes, even if you don't have one yet, you will need to get a degree to get hired. However, if you've taken your classes at the college level and you are willing to put in the time and the effort, then you can always get a job without having to have a degree. It all depends on how fast you want to go and how much you're willing to learn.Degrees don't have to be expensive. Some universities give them out for free. It doesn't matter whether you get a chemistry degree online or a college degree, it's worth the effort to get a degree. It doesn't matter if it is for your career or to advance your knowledge. You will find that having a degree is beneficial in any field, so you should never be afraid to pursue one.Look for jobs that are related to what you know best. It doesn't matter if you're interested in getting a job related to pharmaceuticals or if you like working in the health care industry. If you're willing to be flexible and stay up to date on the latest in the field, then you can be assured that you'll be able to find a job that you love. Just keep in mind that a chemistry degree is not going to help you in every field.Working for an employer in one of these types of jobs may be your dream, but it is also your path to getting a better paying job. You don't have to worry about not finding a job since you know where to look. So if you're looking for a job with a chemistry degree, then you've landed in the right place.