How to Get Real-World Experience in Your College Major

How to Get Real-World Experience in Your College Major While pursuing your college degree, you will take many classes that will help you explore your intended field. The knowledge gained from these major-focused courses can be very beneficial; however, gaining real-world experience in your college major can be the extra boost you need when entering the job search. Unfortunately, many students neglect to get real-world experience during their schooling, only to realize its importance once its too late. You can get real-world experience in your college major by taking on internships, career-related jobs, and relevant extracurriculars while in school. Having examples from classes can be helpful, but showing potential employers you have more direct experience can increase your chances of standing out. But what steps can you take to get this real-world experience? Read on: Gain real-world experience from internships There are many reasons you could choose to pursue an internship in college. Some colleges or majors require that you complete a minimum number of hours in an internship role before graduation, while others leave it up to the student to decide. Regardless, holding an intern position at some point throughout your college career is a great way to apply what youve learned about your major in the real-world. [RELATED:4 Career Skills for Students to Develop] Internships in your field give you the opportunity to have multiple professional experiences throughout your education. Typically, internships range from three to five months and may occur during one of the semesters of school. For example, a potential employer may have an opening for a fall or summer internship, which would typically last the duration of that session. Depending on the internship and company, these can sometimes be paid positions and potentially turn into a real job opportunity! Neither is guaranteed, but regardless, gaining the experience and networking opportunities may come in handy down the road. Utilize your college major in a campus job or organization Another great way to gain experience in your major is to take on a part-time job in your field (or in a related field). This could be the university newspaper if you are interested in graphic design, advertising, or journalism, for instance. Or, you could consider the admissions department if you are interested in hospitality, public speaking, or anything else that involves heavily interacting with people. Often, there are many roles right on campus for students to take on as well, including: Writing, math, or science center tutor Teaching assistant Lab assistant/technician Assistant in the IT department You can also join various college extracurriculars that may support your intended field. Holding leadership positions (and even simply being involved) in campus groups and organizations can broaden your knowledge of your area of study. Jobs or volunteer opportunities off campus in your community are another great way to showcase your major-related skills. Consult with your academic advisor who may be able to help you locate these opportunities. Gain real-world experience through networking Both internships and jobs in your intended field give you the opportunity to begin networking with individuals in the career you hope to go into. Oftentimes underrated, taking advantage of any networking opportunities available to you can be a great way to get your name out there. Many universities host job fairs and other networking events that allow students to meet professionals in their desired field. This is where everything ties together: by having gained real-world experience in your major, you will have something to showcase when talking to these individuals that will give you the confidence to network. At the end of the day, gaining real-world experience in your college major can do nothing but benefit you. It doesnt hurt to help yourself feel as confident and prepared as possible for what the real world will bring! Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Linear Equations Graphing

Linear Equations Graphing A pictorial representation which explains the relationship between x and y is called a graph for those variables. In case of a simultaneous linear equation in x and y the graph is a straight line. The set of points whose coordinates satisfy this equation will form the required straight line. There are two methods for graphing Method 1: The equation in the standard form is written as y = m x + b where m is the slope of the line and b is the y intercept which is a point on y axis. Y intercept is placed in the coordinate system Starting from y intercept and using the slope we locate one more point on the coordinate system. We draw a line between the y intercept and the other point. Method 2: We can find the coordinates of any three points on the given line by giving arbitrary values to x and then using the equation to find corresponding y values. Then we plot the set of points on the graph Example 1: The points (3, -1) , (2, -3), ( 0 , -7) , (3.5 ,0 ) all lie on the graph of 2x y = 7 because they satisfy the equation. Example 2:John earns $20 per hour. How much does he earn working 3 hours? Draw a graph showing his wage. Solution:Let x be the number of hours worked ,y be wages The equation is y = 20x X ( hours worked) 0 1 2 3 Y ( wage in $) 0 20 40 60

How to be a Rockstar... On a Budget

How to be a Rockstar... On a Budget Suzy S. If you havent already seen it, the Rolling Stone recently released their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists, and none other than Jimi Hendrix has topped the list.   We thought this was an excellent pick his distinct style continues to inspire and influence musicians to this day.   Hendrix is a true rock legend and if you want to get to that status someday, youd better keep working hard. Yesterday we discussed 7 must-read tips for planning your bands tour as you start organizing and contacting promoters.   If you dont have a lot of cash saved up, though, the idea of a tour may be much more difficult to conceptualize.   Luckily, its still possible to tour while on budget.   Just consider that a part of the adventure!   Heres how to make it work: 1.   Consider how you will be traveling. For most bands this will mean long hours in a van of some type. Before you set out, have the vehicle serviced at your local shop. Have your mechanic change the oil, check the spark plugs and wires, air filters, radiator fluid, washer fluid, tire pressure, A/C operation and anything else that you can afford. This will help to uncover any issues before you find yourself on the side of the road outside Podunk, Iowa. Repairs on the road can be costly and interrupt your schedule. 2. Prior to leaving, determine how many hotel rooms that youll need and any special requirements. Do some homework and know how far you will travel each day and where you plan to spend the night. Check the Internet for hotels in the area and for special deals. Some of the discount websites can offer great savings, but be sure to read the fine print. Sometimes calling the local hotels directly will actually get you a better deal. Ask to speak with the general manager or reservations manager and explain your situation. If they can rent several rooms together, they might offer a lower price.   It never hurts to ask! 3. Food can also be a major expense if not handled correctly. In the van, bring along a large cooler and purchase drinks at the grocery store prior to departure. These are cheaper than at a gas station and will prevent some unnecessary stops.   For breakfast, consider the complimentary breakfast if your hotel offers one.   Also: sometimes before your show, the venue youre at may provide food.   Always ask the venue owner about this possibility and you can even use it as a negotiation point. 4. Payments for gigs should be immediately deposited into a bank account. This can be done via an ATM or bank drive-through. Before you leave, check your bank for locations in the area of your gigs. This will prevent you from spending this money and limit you to the budget that you have prepared before departure. Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. You might also like 4 Things You May Be Doing Wrong at Gigs In a Band? Take a Lesson from Bob Dylan Avoiding 5 Common Rehearsal Mistakes

Promoting a Growth Mindset

Promoting a Growth Mindset My previous post discussed strategies for teaching Growth Mindset principles to your child. And while this is an important first step, the real power comes in reminding your child of these principles and promoting them on a day to day basis. Helping your child develop a Growth Mindset involves first making sure that he or she has the tools and strategies that he or she needs in order to be successful, and then remind your child that when he or she pairs these strategies with hard work and persistence he or she can grow their brains and become better at anything that he or she puts their mind to. When it comes to making sure your child has access to strategies and tools that work for him or her, I recommend setting up a meeting with your childs teacher. Find out which areas they think your child needs to improve in the most, and what suggestions they have for accelerating this improvement. If your childs teacher suggests that your child receive additional help outside the classroom, then seek out additional learning services at school or in an after-school learning or tutoring program. Also, ask for suggestions about what you can do at home each week to help your child improve. When your child is trying out new strategies and working on things that are hard for him or her, encourage a Growth Mindset by taking the following steps: Remind your child that when he or she works hard they are growing their brain. When we lift weights our muscles grow stronger. We know they are stronger because over time it becomes easier to lift heavier weights. Remind your child that when we challenge our brains by working on things that are hard for us, our brains get stronger too. We know theyre getting stronger because math problems, books, and writing assignments that were hard for us become easier over time. And we get more answers correct the first time around. Praise Growth Mindset goals. When your child is working hard, tie your praise to our Growth Mindset goals. Praise your child for stepping up to a challenge, trying out new strategies, working hard, and improving. Overall, youll be most successful at fostering a Growth Mindset when you focus your praise on your childs process rather than on your childs grades and achievement. Counter Fixed Mindset thoughts with Growth Mindset alternatives. When kids are frustrated they are likely to have a whole host of Fixed Mindset thoughts that get in the way. When they voice these thoughts, try to come up with Growth Mindset alternatives that can help your child think differently about his or her situation. Your child may not seem too receptive in the moment, especially if he or she is feeling very frustrated. But over time, your child will hear you and will start to come up with these Growth Mindset alternatives on his or her own. Here are some examples to help you get started: Fixed Mindset: I always make mistakes!Growth Mindset: When we correct our mistakes, we grow our brains. Fixed Mindset: I cantGrowth Mindset: You havent done it yet! Fixed Mindset: This stuff is easy for other kids.Growth Mindset: With new strategies and practice it will become easier for you too. Helping your child develop a Growth Mindset will take time. After all, your child has probably been living with a Fixed Mindset for years. Be persistent and look for small, gradual improvements. Mindsets are fluid, so dont be surprised if sometimes your child is able to maintain Growth Mindset and other times he or she is firmly stuck in a Fixed Mindset. The goal is to help your child spend more time in a Growth Mindset framework than he or she was able to in the past. Over time, his or her motivation and self-esteem will improve, and youll notice that he or she is more willing to take risks and step up to challenges at school and in life. 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.

Alexa for Kids with ADHD

Alexa for Kids with ADHD One of the most popular gifts of this past holiday season, according to CNN Money, was Amazons Echo Dot, featuring their digital assistant, Alexa. If you are one of the millions of people who recently brought Alexa into their home, then you are now learning that Alexa can do all kinds of things, from giving you the weather forecast to turning on the lights in your home or operating any number of Internet of Things connected devices. If you have a child with ADHD, then youll be happy to know that Alexa can also help with many of the challenges that you and your child face every day. Kids with ADHD are typically slow to gain independence in their daily activities, like getting ready in the morning, completing their homework, and getting ready for bed in the evening. Parents often find themselves micromanaging their childs day, making sure that things get done well and on time, even when their child is of an age when they should be managing these activities independently. The need for constant reminders and double-checking frustrates parents, and on the flip side, kids often complain that their parents spend too much time nagging them. This is where Alexa can be helpful. Alexa can essentially serve as an independent third party that provides reminders, alarms, and lists. Kids can easily learn to use these features in Alexa, building independence and confidence, and reducing conflict and negotiations with parents. After all, when a parent says, Youre going to need to leave for soccer practice in 10 minutes, it can feel like nagging to a child, but when Alexa says t he same thing, its not emotionally loaded or the source of immediate conflict. There are many ways to incorporate Alexa into your childs daily routine. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Alarm clock. Help your child set an alarm with Alexa, and customize the alarm with his or her favorite song. For example, Alexa, please wake me up at 7am every weekday with Let it Go from Frozen. If your child is generally slow to wake up, then let him or her know that he or she will need to be out of bed by the time the wake-up song ends. By having your child tell Alexa when to wake him or her up and which song to play, he or she is taking responsibility for his or her morning alarm and gaining independence. Getting out the door on time. Alexas scheduling functions can also help your child keep track of time in the morning. In the Alerts Alarms section of your Alexa app, create custom reminders that are scheduled to repeat at the same time every morning or afternoon. For example, you can create a reminder called Ten Minute Warning and then program Alexa to remind your child at 7:50am every day that its almost time to leave the house, Dylan, I just wanted you to know the bus is coming in 10 minutes. Again, by leveraging Alexa to provide the reminder, youre helping to break the cycle of conflict that may be dominating your mornings. Homework Time. You can also use Alexas scheduling and alarm systems to help manage homework time, either by using the Timer Feature, Alexa, please set a homework timer for one hour or the Alarm Feature, Alexa, please set an alarm for 4pm when homework time is over. Your child can also ask, Alexa, please tell me how much time is left on my homework timer, without involving his or her parents in the discussion. To-Do Lists. To-Do lists may seem like an organization strategy that is geared toward adults, but they can also be very helpful for kids with ADHD. For example, if your child mentions that he or she needs to return a permission slip to school by Thursday and attend a Science Fair on Friday he or she can easily add these items to his or her to-do list. Alexa, please add permission slip to our to-do list for Wednesday or Alexa, please remind me about my science project on Thursday afternoon at 3pm. As Alexa and similar technologies begin to play a more central role in our daily lives, kids with ADHD will gain access tools that can help them gain independence, manage their ADHD symptoms more effectively, and reduce conflict at home. And one of the best features: Alexa is screen-free! These digital tools are all available without a distracting tablet or phone that can derail any childs best intentions. So, help your child get started with Alexa, and see what this technology can do for your family. 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.

How to Level Up Your Skills with the Best Foreign Language Audiobooks

How to Level Up Your Skills with the Best Foreign Language Audiobooks How to Learn Faster with the Best Foreign Language Audiobooks Want to level-up your language skills?First tip: give your headphones and speakers the workout of their life.Now listen up while we convince you that audiobooks are an awesome  language-learning tool to get you on track with those ambitious goals youve set.Think about it! Audiobooks can help you:Take advantage of wasted time. You can listen to them while doing  almost anythingâ€"commuting  to work or school, walking the dog, cleaning the house, even shopping.Learn new vocabulary words and everyday phrases you can put to use right away.Practice your listening  and speaking skills at the same time.Improve your pronunciation.Learn more about the culture  of people who speak your target language.And the best way to learn with audiobooks is to choose a book that interests you and is at the level that suits you the best.Need  some hints?All right, you win.Here are some tried-and-true tips on how to get the most from learning with audiobooks, along with some guidelines  for finding the best foreign language audiobooks at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. 5 Study Tips  to Make Audiobooks Work for YouFirst, a  few general tips to  give you a great head start.1. Take notes. If you hear new words you want to remember, write them down. This will help you retain information and make it easier to reference in the future. Its much easier to find a word in a notebook or computer document than it is to search through an  entire  audiobook to find the place you heard it!2. Get a hardcopy. Choose  an audio language course with an accompanying hardcopy book, or try to find a hardcopy of the childrens or adult book you are listening to. Even though you shouldnt get into the habit of reading along every time you listen, having  the hardcopy material available is helpful when you come across  new words and  phrases that you just cant catch.3. Listen first. Written material can help you learn and retain information, but it can also be a crutch. One of the advantages of an audiobook is that it forces you to learn by listening, a skill you need in order to communicate  that a lot of people underestimate. Use your notes, a hardcopy book and a dictionary as you learn, but try to listen to an entire section or chapter before you start to rely on written material.4. Repeat again and again. The more you listen, the more  youll learn. Most audio language courses are designed to repeat material for this reason. If youre listening to  a childrens or adult audiobook entirely in the foreign language youre studying, you will  need to repeat sections for yourself. Listen several  times so that  you grow  comfortable with what youre hearing.5. Practice in real life. If youre taking a class or meeting with a conversation partner, bring along your list of new vocabulary words, and practice using them with a native speaker. Engage your friends in conversation about the audiobooks youre listening to, and learn more about what they think. When you practice words in different contexts, you help yourself remember them better.How to Learn Faster with the Best Foreign Language AudiobooksBeginner Level: Audio Language CoursesThe best type of audiobook for a beginner is an audio language course. Theyre  typically tailored for beginners and travelers  who need to learn phrases quickly so that they can  communicate on a  trip. Youll find that an audio course teaches you useful everyday words and phrases in a pleasant, enjoyable format, while giving you lots of practice listening to native speakers.Youre probably familiar with audio language courses, since these are the most common and accessible foreign language books available. Youve probably even impulse-bought  an audio phrasebook of some kind  before!To choose the best audio language course:Check out your favorite library, bookstore or website. Its easy to find audio language courses for most of the commonly studied foreign languages. Look for titles like Spanish for Dummies, Pimsleur, Collins or Earworms.Take advantage of  textbook CDs or audio files.  Many textbooks offer access to online audio files for practice listening. Investigate this option if youre already using a textbook to study.Ask your friends for recommendations.  If you know someone who has studied a foreign language (even if its not the one youre studying), ask which audio language course they liked best.Once youve got  your audio language course, turn it on and start  learning! But before that,  here are some more little tips to ease the process.Make it work for you:Supplement with grammar materials. The everyday words youll learn with an audio course will help  you ask simple questions and understand the answers. But most audio courses focus on stand-alone phrases and dont provide detailed grammar instruction. If you find yourself wanting to say not  just, Im going to the museum, but, Yesterday I went to the museum, you may have to look further than your audio course.  Build on the phrases in  your audio book by supplementing with a grammar book or website that explains grammar rules.Dont be afraid to skip ahead.  If you discover that the material most important to  you is in one of the later chapters of an audio course, skip right to it! Although most audio language courses build on the material taught in previous chapters,  theres no reason why you need to wait if what you want to learn most is 45 minutes into the audio course. Go ahead and listen to what youre drawn to!Make an  audio course part of your larger language-learning routineâ€"not the entire routine.  Most of us retain information best when we get it from a variety of different inputs. Look up new words in a dictionary, use a textbook for additional learning, watch videos online and talk with a conversation partner for a complete picture of how the language is used in different contexts. The more varied your language inputs, the better chance you have of retaining information and learning how words are used in differen t situations.Intermediate Level: Childrens BooksIntermediate-level language learners are ready to move beyond the basics and will probably enjoy the challenge of authentic audio materialsâ€"the type of audiobooks native speakers might use themselves.An adult audiobook in a foreign language can  be daunting even to the most confident language student, so its best to start with childrens books. Youll find that they are approachable, fun and remarkably useful for learning.To choose the best  childrens book  for you, follow these suggestions:Have fun! Childrens books are meant to be fun. Luckily, most are designed to be engaging, educational, and interesting, so it shouldnt be too difficult to find a good one.Ask native speakers which books they like best.  What do native speakers read to their children? What books do they remember from childhood? Choosing books that are beloved by native speakers is a good way to ensure you dont pick a dud and may mean that youll find an audience inter ested in discussing it with you.Avoid archaic language. Some of the best childrens stories are folktales, poems and stories passed down for centuries. While these provide wonderful opportunities for cultural learning, its best to avoid archaic language when you first start out. Archaic  language is likely to be confusing to language learners and will not be as useful if you plan to use phrases you learn to speak with people on an everyday basis (you probably dont want to tell your friend the equivalent of, I bequeath you this piece of cake). Start with more  modern stories, and work your way up to stories with more complex language.Of course, the easiest  way to start learning with  an audiobook is to simply turn it on and listen. But having a plan and some resources will help you keep on track.Make it work for you:Focus on the story.    Dont worry about looking up every single word. Instead, look up a few key  words and then listen again to see how much more you can understand. It might  be overwhelming if you try to look up every word you dont know.Learn like a child. Childrens stories form the basis of language and reading development. Children usually pick up phrases from books and try them out in new settings.  This is exactly what you should do.Emulate the narratorâ€"but not too much. Childrens book narrators are fantastic storytellers. Emulating the narrator is great practice, but just remember that  you dont want to sound like youre talking to children every time you speak!Advanced Level: Novels and Non-Fiction for Young Adults and AdultsWhen youve got the hang of childrens audiobooks, its time to start listening to novels and non-fiction.Give a little thought to what you plan to listen to. It will likely be much longer than a childrens book, so its important to select something that will hold your attention.Here are some things to consider:Choose  a book  native speakers are reading. Look for lists of top-selling books in your target language, and as k  native speakers what they like to read. A book that native speakers have appreciated is more likely to be interesting and will offer more opportunities for discussion with native speakers than an obscure book will.Consider starting with a book youve read in your native language.  Youll already be familiar with the characters and plot, so you may be able to follow along easier without looking up as many words. If youve read a book in translation that was originally written in your target language, this is an ideal book to start with. Reading the book in the language it was written in will provide you with a new and more complete perspective of the story.Take a gander at young adult novels.  Young adult novels often have mass appeal and are written in plainer language than adult novels. These can be fun to read and a little bit less daunting than starting with an adult audiobook.Avoid classicsâ€"at least for a while. Classics are enduring stories and have great cultural value, but they can be difficult to understand, even for native speakers.  Unless you know that a certain classic novel is written in language thats easy to understand, its best to start with books written in more colloquial language. After youre familiar with the audiobook format, then you might start trying to listen to classics.After youve selected the audiobook youre going to read, its time to get started!Make it work for you:Get a hardcopy in your native language, if possible. Although you shouldnt rely on the book in your native language, having one to consult may help you feel confident you are following the story correctly and getting all the nuanced information. Just  remember not to attempt to translate word-for-word or even sentence-for-sentence because the exact phrasing may be different.Move on!  Listening repeatedly improves your comprehension and helps you memorize new words, but a full-length book is too long for you to spend too much time on any one section. While you may be able to listen again and again to a childrens book, an adult book is much more about flow and overall comprehension than it is about the specifics of any single section.Focus on the big picture. Your goal should be to understand the story and learn a few new words in the processâ€"not to look up every single word you hear. You will hear some of the same words repeated again and again and will begin to form an idea of what these words mean and how theyre used in different contexts.  Recognize that its okay to get the gist of it without understanding all  the nuances.Audiobooksâ€"whether language courses, childrens books or adult booksâ€"are a great way to learn and practice your language skills. Theyre fun, inspirational and may  fill a void in your language-learning routine.As you begin to listen and become more comfortable with the best foreign language audiobooks, consider trying increasingly difficult  ones. You may surprise yourself with your level of comprehension and will lear n a lot in the process.Time to level up! And One More ThingIf youre digging these learning strategies, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoA nd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.

6 Reasons Reading Fantasy Novels are Important for Young Students

6 Reasons Reading Fantasy Novels are Important for Young Students Tips From an Orange County English Tutor: Why Fantasy Novels are Important for Young Students Tips From an Orange County English Tutor: Why Fantasy Novels are Important for Young Students Today’s young student has a ton of choices when it comes to entertainment and many ways to explore their creative minds through fantasy and fiction. They can play countless video and computer games and explore a very visual and interactive world through these options. Unfortunately, many young learners are putting down fantasy novels and are starting to view reading as only a skill to scan for information or pass an exam. Although these skills are essential to success in the current academic climate, kids are missing out on the skills they develop when they read about dragons, unicorns, talking dolphins, and planets from far away. When young learners (of their choosing) read a fantasy novel, they can expand their imagination to encompass much more than what is right in front of them and develop creativity. Additionally, creative thinkers are often about to brainstorm for solutions to complicated problems as they get older, which is an invaluable skill did you know we have private Orange County Reading Tutors? 1 Imagination Although non-fiction and informative reading are an important skill, kids who read fantasy novels on a regular basis are more likely to express and explore their imagination, which is an essential element to childhood. Kids who become engulfed in the wonderful world of their imagination are generally happier and more willing to learn about new things in the future. 2 Problem Solving When young learners use and develop their imagination, they become aware of the fact that there is more than one way to solve a problem. This will become an essential skill as they progress through elementary, middle, and high school. There will be so many academic and practical problems to solve and a fully refined imagination will be most helpful (READ: Five Tips for Success in English Class). 3 Making reading fun So many kids are entirely bored by the idea of reading because it can seem like a chore. If the only time young students read is in school, they will likely not pick up books for fun. However, when kids discover all of the interesting and exciting adventures found in fantasy novels, they tend to view reading as an enjoyable and recreational activity they can participate in both in and out of the classroom. 4 Limiting electronics Although electronics can keep kids busy and provide a good amount of educational activities these days, many children become more and more drawn to electronics and start to prefer that activity over reading or outside play. When young learners are encouraged to delve into a fantasy world found in a book (as opposed to a video game) they get to explore new worlds while improving reading comprehension at the same time. 5 Character analysis Many older students are struggling to analyze properly a character, which is an important skill for high school classes and college preparation. Non-fiction characters can be analyzed, but children often look up basic biographical information and move on. Alternately, when kids are trying to figure out the motivations and actions of a made-up character, they only have the book itself to help them understand what’s going on. Character analysis in a fantasy novel can help with essential skills for the future (AP Literature!). 6. General reading comprehension When kids become engrossed in a world of intrigue found within the pages of fiction stories, they improve their reading comprehension in general. This is especially true if they get to choose their own book or character series they enjoy. Reading comprehension is one of the two core subjects and something that can be improved through practice (READ: Tips From an Irvine English Tutor: The Value of Writing a Rough Draft). In short Regardless of the reasons that a particular student will benefit from reading about fantasy and fiction, it’s a great way to increase learning and reading comprehension in general. Today’s avid young readers can easily develop into tomorrow’s A students and find creative solutions to life’s complicated issues as they reach adulthood. Have your children score and test higher in English with the help of a private Orange County English tutor! Call us today for details. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

How to End Your Summer Internship on a Good Note

How to End Your Summer Internship on a Good Note Image via Isorepublic.com Good things to do before you leave your summer internship Here are a few things you should do before the last day of your summer internship to help you finish off on a good note. Let’s discuss some of those things! Set up a meeting with your supervisor Before you finish your summer internship, it is extremely important that you meet with your supervisor. In fact, you should schedule a quick meeting with them to touch base and to tie up any loose ends before you leave. This meeting is a good opportunity to leave your supervisor on a good note. During this meeting, let them know what you have accomplished throughout your time at the company. Of course, don’t brag while you do this. Let them know the state of your project, and what the next steps will be (in other words, what tasks will your successor be responsible for?). You could also ask your supervisor to evaluate your job performance. It’s a good idea to ask them if there is anything you can improve in. You can keep their answer in mind when you prepare for your next internship or job. For example, your supervisor might tell you that you need to pay more attention to detail. With this information, you now know to pay attention to detail in your next internship. Further, if you have any questions about their industry, or the next steps you should take to prepare for a successful career in their industry, now is the time to ask them questions. You will regret leaving their office with questions unanswered! If you meet with your supervisor before you leave, you will be able to tie up many loose ends and finish your internship on a good note. Ask your supervisor for a letter of recommendation Another question you can ask during your meeting with your supervisor is if they are willing to write you a letter of recommendation. This is especially important if you will be applying to graduate school, medical school, or jobs within the next year. Nowadays, hiring managers and admissions committees are putting more emphasis on letters of recommendation, so it is imperative that your letters are outstanding. If your supervisor has seen you work hard, they could be a great candidate to write you a strong letter for these applications, because they can attest to your strong work ethic. Even if you won’t be applying anywhere for another year or two, it still won’t hurt to ask! When it comes time for you to apply to these positions, you’ll be relieved that you already have at least one person who will write you a letter. Asking your supervisor for a letter of recommendation is a great thing to do before finishing your summer internship. Touch base with your co-workers Similarly, you should touch base with your co-workers before you leave your summer internship. Just as you did with your supervisor, you should let your co-workers know what’s happening with your project. More specifically, tell them about what you have done so far and what needs to be done next in regard to your project. Of course, if you’ve become good friends with them, you could go out to lunch one last time and talk about non-work stuff. You can exchange numbers and social media handles if you haven’t already, as keeping in touch with them is very important! You can even start discussing who will pick up your work where you left off (in other words, your successor). This brings me to my next point… Infographic by Alyssa Laffitte Offer to train your successor If you were involved in a big project during your summer internship, the company will likely want to continue this project. However, you won’t be there to continue it. This means someone else will have to take over your project. Before you leave, you could offer to help choose your successor. This way, you can help choose someone who can gracefully pick up where you left off. You can suggest a co-worker that you know is capable of doing what you did. If your successor has already been chosen, you can also offer to train them. You should tell this person what you have been doing, and what they will be expected to do once you are gone. This will make their new responsibilities much less overwhelming for them, since they will already know what to expect. At the very least, write up a quick report to detail what you’ve been doing for your project and what your successor will need to do to keep it going. Before you leave your summer internship, try to have a successor in place to take over your project, and you can even offer to train them. Complete any remaining work Your project might still have some loose ends that you need to tie up before you leave. For example, have you finished all your reports? Are there a few documents left for you to review? Take advantage of your last few days at your summer internship to make sure these final things get done. Your supervisor will not be happy if you leave some work unfinished, so try your best to tie up those loose ends and get everything done before you leave on your last day. This is important if you want to leave your internship on a good note. Turn in any paperwork Of course, this will vary from workplace to workplace. But before you leave, make sure you don’t have to turn in any extra paperwork. In some workplaces, you might need to submit a formal letter or report before you leave. (Personally, for my summer internship, I needed to finalize a few documents before I left. It would have been bad to leave without doing this!) In other words, turning in any final, remaining paperwork will help you finish your summer internship on a good note. Clean up your workspace A clean workspace is a good fresh start for your successor. For that reason, it is common courtesy to leave your workspace neat and tidy when you finish your internship. Before you finish your summer internship, please take a few minutes to clean up your workspace. Throw away any water bottles you might have left on your desk. Tidy up the organizational spaces. Put things back where they belong. This will make it easier for the next person to move into your office once you leave your summer internship. Good things to do once you have finished your internship Even after the last day of your summer internship, there are still a few things you should do before the school year starts to help you get the most from your internship experience. Let’s discuss some of those things! Send a thank-you note This may seem like an old-fashioned thing to do, but sending a thank-you note to the people from your summer internship is a great way to wrap up your internship. Thank-you notes are a wonderful sign of appreciation and respect (Bonus points if you hand write an actual card!). Once you finish your internship, handwrite a card and send it to your old workplace. Your supervisor and co-workers will be very touched to receive it! (And they will definitely remember your short note when it’s time for them to write you a recommendation letter!) Sending a thank-you card to your supervisor and even your co-workers at your internship is a fantastic way to end your internship. Update your resume and your LinkedIn profile Unfortunately, many college students don’t touch their resumes or their LinkedIn profiles until it’s time for them to look for a job or an internship. This is a bad habit that you should not fall into! Instead, get into the habit of updating your resume and your LinkedIn profile often. If you update your resume and your LinkedIn often, you will not have to scramble to update them the night before an application is due (which will make you more likely to leave out something important!). Try to update these documents whenever something important happens. Your resume and your LinkedIn will always be up to date if you do this! For example, update them when you join a new student organization. Update them when you finish an internship. Update them when you graduate. Update them when you receive a new honor. These things are important, and will make your application stand out. (Another advantage of updating your LinkedIn right after you finish your internship is that you can ask to “ connect” with your co-workers from your internship!) Once you finish your summer internship, update your resume and your LinkedIn profile! Reflect on your internship experience Now that you’ve finished your internship, take a few minutes to think about your experience. What did you like about it? What did you not like? Could you see yourself working full time in that kind of career? Is there something you would have done differently? Reflecting on these questions, and your answers to them, can help guide you as you prepare for your career. If you realize you didn’t like your internship, now is the time to realize it and to correct your course to help you prepare for a career you WILL enjoy. The wonderful thing about internships is that they give you the experience of a job you might want to have in the future. You will have a much better idea of what a career in your dream field is like after an internship. In other words, an internship gives you the opportunity to “test drive” a certain job, because as an intern, you are working as if you have the job. Because of this experience, you might realize you don’t like the job you have been dreaming about. Next year, you can choose a different type of internship, until you find something you truly love. On the other hand, you might realize you love the job after interning for a few weeks in the field. It will make you more confident about your career path. That’s the whole purpose of an internship, to help you discover what you love! When you take the time to reflect on your internship, you will get to know yourself and your professional goals better. Image via Isorepublic.com Stay in touch with the people from your internship Have you ever heard the phrase, “Don’t burn bridges”? This phrase tells us to not cut ourselves off from our old friends, school, workplace, or supervisor. I recommend you don’t “burn the bridge” you built during your summer internship. Keep in touch with your supervisor and with your co-workers. Make sure you have your supervisor’s email address and phone number. Keeping in touch with them doesn’t have to be awkward. Send them a quick email when something important happens in your life. Write them a congratulatory note if they get a promotion. Visit them if you are ever in the area. These things will help you stay in touch with the people you met this summer. You never know if someone there will be a helpful connection for you, or if you will be a helpful connection to them! For this reason, it’s important to stay in touch with the people you met during your summer internship. Summer internships are great ways to expand your skill set and to spend your summer productively. They are awesome networking and learning opportunities. But now that your summer internship is coming to an end, consider my tips to help you finish off your summer internship on a good note.