Guest Podcast One Thing In A French Day

Guest Podcast One Thing In A French Day Megan L. You know the best way to learn French is to practice every day, but where should you start? One of our favorite ways to study any language is listening to  podcasts! Not only do you get the benefit of hearing spoken French, podcasts also contain interesting tidbits of vocabulary and culture you might not get in a textbook. And besides that, podcasts are simply  fun. One of our favorite French podcasts is One Thing In A French  Day, a podcast that chronicles one womans life in France and presents quick tidbits of daily life in French. In this guest podcast, Laetitia of One Thing  In A French Day talks about visiting a special Parisian bakery with a diabetic friend. Aujourd’hui, j’ai accompagné une de mes amies dans un endroit où je ne pensais jamais pouvoir aller avec elle : dans une pâtisserie. Mon amie Maryam est diabétique, elle suit une hygiène de vie qui a pour but de lui faire prendre le moins d’insuline possible. Les gâteaux ne sont donc pas au programme. Jeudi 12 novembre 2015 La pâtisserie Eugène Aujourd’hui, j’ai accompagné une de mes amies dans un endroit où je ne pensais jamais pouvoir aller avec elle : dans une pâtisserie. Mon amie Maryam est diabétique, elle suit une hygiène de vie qui a pour but de lui faire prendre le moins  d’insuline possible. Les gâteaux ne sont donc pas au programme. Ce qui est étonnant c’est qu’elle ne subit pas sa maladie, elle la vit, elle l’entraîne avec elle, elle lui fait prendre des chemins inattendus. Par exemple, le sport est devenu très  important, il lui permet de faire mieux contrôler sa glycémie. Et c’est ainsi que par le sport, elle a vécu une belle aventure : le marathon de Paris. Elle s’est entraînée pendant un an et elle l’a couru au printemps dernier. En ce qui concerne les  repas qu’elle se choisit, elle les apprécie avec chaque cellule de son corps, comme elle dit. Lorsque j’ai entendu parler de cette pâtisserie parisienne dont les gâteaux ont été spécialement créés pour les diabétiques, j’ai pensé à elle. A l’origine du projet, il y a un homme diabétique et très gourmand et un pâtissier.     Maryam a été enthousiasmée par l’idée et elle était très curieuse de voir l’effet de ces pâtisseries sur elle. Nous y sommes allées cet après-midi. Après avoir longuement étudié la magnifique vitrine de pâtisseries, Maryam a choisi pour nous  deux gâteaux : un éclair à la vanille de Madagascar et une tartelette choco-café. Nous sommes rentrées chez elle pour notre dégustation.   Nous avons partagé les gâteaux en deux et nous avons commencé par l’éclair à la vanille. La vanille, un arôme qui n’était plus qu’un souvenir pour Maryam. C’était une dégustation pleine d’émotions. Cet éclair m’a beaucoup plu, parce que la  mousse à la vanille était vraiment délicieuse et le sucre, pour une fois, ne s’octroyait pas la première place. La tarte choco-café était également très réussie.   Maryam a contrôlé sa glycémie avant la dégustation, puis après une heure et deux heures. Elle avait grimpé bien sûr, mais rien d’incontrôlable par rapport au plaisir ressenti. Merci, cher Eugène?! REPERES Le site de la pâtisserie Eugène : http://eugene.paris/ PINTEREST : le tableau de One Thing In A French Day http://j.mp/SjSKHR TROIS TOURNURES DE PHRASES UTILES Un endroit â€" J’aime beaucoup cet endroit.       â€" C’est un drôle d’endroit, entre le salon de thé et la librairie.   â€" Que penses-tu de cet endroit??     Etre curieux de quelque chose â€" J’étais curieuse de voir cet endroit par moi-même.       â€" Etienne m’a dit qu’il était curieux de connaître ta réaction.   â€" Je suis curieuse de faire sa connaissance. Il paraît qu’il est très sympathique.   Pour une fois â€" D’habitude j’y vais à pied, mais pour une fois j’ai pris la voiture.   â€" Allez, Papa, dis oui?! Pour une fois s’il te plaît?!       â€" C’est vraiment dommage qu’elle n’ait pas pu venir, pour une fois que nous étions tous réunis.     Nhésitez pas à vous abonner à la NEWSLETTER DU PODCAST Did you learn anything new from this special podcast? Share your thoughts in the comments below and tell us what  French podcast topics youd like to hear next! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

What to Do Once You Receive Your PSAT Scores

What to Do Once You Receive Your PSAT Scores Receiving your PSAT scores can be stressfuland confusing. Its all too easy to transfer how you feel about your results onto your overall academic self-esteema natural but not necessarily helpful connectionand its easy to feel at a loss for what to do next. So what should you do once you receive your PSAT scores? Take these three steps. Once you receive your PSAT scores, assess your strengths and weaknesses If you took the PSAT in October 2018, you will be able to access your scores between December 10 and 12, depending on what state you live in. (Visit The College Board to find out which date corresponds to your state.) Your score report will include results that correspond to math, reading, and writing and language. Youll also receive section scores for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and for Math. Additionally, there are cross-test scores, which pull out selected questions across the previously mentioned subjects of math, reading, and writing and language, and analyze them for your performance in history/social studies, as well as science. Finally, your report will include subscores, or more detailed sections under the umbrellas of: Math Reading Writing and Language. These results will give you more information about what content areas you were strong in, as well as which areas you need more practice inwhether youre planning to retake the PSAT as a junior or in preparation for the ACT or SAT. [RELATED: What is an Average PSAT Score?] Create a study plan for the ACT or SAT once you receive your PSAT scores The next step is to make a study plan for the ACT or SAT, depending on which test you would like to take. In addition to analyzing your subscores/content areas, look at your score report to see how you did on easy, medium, and hard questions. This can help you come up with the best test-taking strategies for yourself. For example, if you frequently missed easy questions, it could be because of careless mistakes. Youll want to spend a bit more time, then, reading carefully so as not to miss easy points. If, on the other hand, you missed a lot of hard questions, use best practices like checking that youre not missing anything at every step, and again, that youve read the question carefully. Not only can online resources be helpful at this juncture, but ACT/SAT test prep books can be great. You may also want to sign up for ACT tutoring or SAT tutoring. Lastly, once youve decided on your SAT or ACT test date, create a plan in terms of how much time you want to spend studying daily, weekly, and monthly leading up to the exam. This will help you stay on track in terms of content areas, as well as taking practice tests (which youll want to do in the weeks leading up to the actual test). Once you receive your PSAT scores, visit your guidance counselor After youve received your scores, visit your academic counselor. They will be able to give you tips and insight into how to move forward. If your PSAT score qualifies you for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which offers funding for college, and youre not sure what to do next, your guidance counselor can help you. They can also help you look up colleges that may be good matches for you, depending on your scores and your overall academic progress. In addition to a counselor, a teacher or other academic professional may be a great resource for you as you look ahead to the next standardized test and to college. When youve received your scores, you should celebrate regardless of whether youve received the score you wantedyouve taken an important test, youve come through to the other side, and you now have more information about yourself as a test-taker. Now its time to look forward. 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.

The Motivation to Learn What Inspires It

The Motivation to Learn What Inspires It Improving Academic Performance Have you ever wondered what motivates students to learn something new, especially when the subject or material might be rather complex or difficult? What helps students stay focused, engaged, excited, and diligent? According to data gathered from various schools and grade levels, there are three major areas that impact a student’s likelihood to stay motivated and tackle complicated subject matter. Hands down, the number one thing that students claim makes a difference in their motivation is the investment and care from the teacher or tutor. This is especially essential when the material is more difficult than usual or likely to overwhelm certain students or create stress. When teachers have high expectations, this sends the message they believe that, though the material might be advanced or the assignment might be lengthy, they fully believe their students are capable of success. This also sends the message to students that the teacher cares about the content herself and finds it useful or interesting, and that she herself had to tackle such complex material at a certain point, which further inspires students to go forward with the learning process. (Shout out to all the fantastic teachers out there doing this!) A second factor in maintaining motivation is integrating subjects and linking the learning process to something relevant and relatable. EduTopia agrees that students learn best when subjects like math, science, and history, for example, are linked together and applied to one another, rather than taught in isolated fragments. They also stay motivated when they feel that what they are learning is not only engrossing but purposeful, when it applies or somehow connects to the world in which they inhabit. When I was in college, my algebra teacher always required us to study the mathematicians and scientists who developed our formulas and theorems. He then explained how certain theorems were at work right this very moment, for example the formulas used when Apple was creating the very first iPod! This made learning demanding equations more exciting and enriching. It gave us something to talk about. I certainly never looked at my devices the same. When students are asked to create projects that integrate across their curriculum and prove relevance to the culture of today, they are especially likely to put forth maximum effort and stay engaged with the class. A final factor in inspiring students, as encouraged by Annie Murphy of the website mindshift.com is to challenge them to “beat,” even in very minuscule ways, their personal best. This does not mean they have to actually do this in order to be successful! We all have ebbs and flows with our assessments while in school, but studies show that when a student has a benchmark and an opportunity to go beyond a previous accomplishment, they are more likely to put forth the necessary investment and care than if the grade or outcome didn’t matter at all. Good examples of this are scoring a bit higher on a test, developing a stronger thesis statement for a paper, explaining a scientific theorem more clearly and accurately, expanding upon a project in new and creative ways that maybe weren’t assigned, meeting with the teacher, fellow students, or family members to discuss the material and have a thoughtful discussion about what everyone is learning, or even taking better notes in class t o support a final assignment. When one feels motivated to go above and beyond their own previous achievements, they are likely to feel enthusiastic and determined, which makes for the best recipe of a student! Increasing and maintaining motivation and drive fall on both the teachers and the students, as well as families and communities, but when we can see ourselves as human beings who were made to learn and grow and thus cater to these areas that nurture learning and growth, we are unstoppable! In addition, I recommend you go hereto TeachHub for more resources on how to motivate students and create energy and enthusiasm in your classroom! Questions or comments? We would love to hear from you! About the Author Stephanie Ingraham is a former English teacher turned writer and tutorwith a BA in English from UCLA and a Masters in Education from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles. She is deeply passionate about education, psychology, child and adolescent development, literature, and writing. She believes the education world can benefit greatly from the meditation world - mindfulness and self-compassion are key! In her free time she loves reading and writing, music, baking, yoga, dance, animals, and exploring new cities. She currently lives in Chicago, Illinois.

To Kiss Or Not To Kiss (On The Cheek) A Guide To Business Meetings with British Clients

To Kiss Or Not To Kiss (On The Cheek) A Guide To Business Meetings with British Clients Whenever I speak with students who are preparing for their first meeting with a British client, or potential British client, it is amazing how often questions arise, not only about speaking English, but about etiquette and protocol. How should I act? What should I say? Should I kiss on the cheek?Here is an etiquette guide for a business meeting in Britain.1. Be on time. Punctuality is always appreciated in Britain. If you encounter some difficulty that you know will make you late for an appointment, it is advisable to ring and let the client know and to give them the opportunity to reschedule if necessary.2. Shake hands The British are known for being formal. It is known as their “stiff upper lip.” A handshake is more appropriate than a kiss on the cheek.3. Respect Personal Space Latin countries for example are known for their ‘close contact’ behavior such as touching arms or patting on the back. In Britain, it is better to maintain a respectable amount of personal space and apart from the initial handshake, refrain from close personal contact.4. Start With Some Small Talk While the British are formal in demeanor, a certain amount of ‘chat’ or informal communication is expected in meetings. This is called ‘breaking the ice’ and is appropriate at the start and maybe also at the end. For example, if you are visiting London, you can start by talking about the sights you have visited, the food you enjoyed, the itinerary of the rest of your trip etc. If the British person is visiting your city you can ask him/her about how they are enjoying themselves, their impressions of the city and make suggestions for sightseeing activities.5. Respect Boundaries While a certain amount of informal conversation is useful, try to limit it to yourself. Asking the client personal or private questions, especially about salary, is not considered appropriate.6. Respect Authority Remember that British society is hierarchical and that this applies also in business meeting s. Allow the most senior staff members speak or make their presentations first.7. Know When To Call Person By A First Name If the client is at the same level as you in the staff hierarchy (e.g. if you are both managers), it is appropriate that you call him or her by a first name. If the client is more senior in hierarchy than you, it is advisable to start by referring to him/her, as Mr. or Ms. It is likely that you will be told: “Please call me David….or Sarah.” At this point, you can switch to using their first name.8. Don’t Interrupt Although you probably have a million questions and things you want to say, it is advisable to wait until the client is finished speaking before you begin speaking.9. Don’t Ramble The British appreciate clear, precise and succinct communication in life as in business meetings. Don’t ramble, don’t go off the point and don’t try to fill time.10. Use Humor and Realise When It Is Used The  British are known for their ‘black’ humor, sarc asm and irony. This means that they might make a comment that is intended to make you laugh but this not might be obvious by their facial expression. It is a good idea to brush up on your irony before a business meeting in Britain!Did you find this blog helpful? Feel free to share it on Facebook and Twitter.

What a Great Service

What a Great Service We felt compelled to publish the good words sent to us by one of our satisfied parents: What a great service I know a lot of parents who dont know about you but would like to. Ill spread the word for you. Rosalyn, Potsdam, NY Thank you Rosalyn!

The New and Improved italki.com

The New and Improved italki.com We are very pleased to announce the release of an upgraded version of italki.com. The new version of the site includes a cleaner layout, a redesigned dashboard and a few new cool features. Expect more improvements in the future to italki, as a lot of the work in this new version has been with the backend system. As we migrate to this new version, we hope that you can remain patient as we try and fix all the bugs and issues that may crop up. So without further  ado, here is a first look at some of the main new changes to italki.com: The New Dashboard: Whats Different? Quick access to Sessions, Inbox, Friends Finance Whos Online (now called Recently Online) has now been moved to the centre top of the Dashboard. Here you can post your status in terms of what you are looking for on italki (e.g. I am looking for a French language partner). Like before, you can see which of the people you follow is online, but now you can also see what they are looking for, and what their latest post was. To read questions or notebooks in the language you are learning, we now have a Language Updates feed, which you can edit according to which language you want to see. A Clearer Menu: Whats Different? Language Lessons and Speaking Practice are more clearly labeled under language teachers. Sessions and Scheduling have been given their own tab in the menu. Groups have been  relabeled  as discussions, and anyone can participate. We have made it easier to purchase credits and book lessons, by adding a buy credits tab and a schedule session button.  Quick Scheduling: The new schedule session button  makes finding a teacher and scheduling a session with them much easier. Once you click the Schedule Session button in the dashboard, you will be taken through a suggested teacher process, allowing you to more easily find teachers that are active and suit your learning goals. We appreciate your patience and feedback in this  transitional  time. Our goal is to provide a faster, better, more stable experience.  If you experience any bugs please report them to support@italki.com Sincerely, Samuel Bleakly italki Community Manager The New and Improved italki.com We are very pleased to announce the release of an upgraded version of italki.com. The new version of the site includes a cleaner layout, a redesigned dashboard and a few new cool features. Expect more improvements in the future to italki, as a lot of the work in this new version has been with the backend system. As we migrate to this new version, we hope that you can remain patient as we try and fix all the bugs and issues that may crop up. So without further  ado, here is a first look at some of the main new changes to italki.com: The New Dashboard: Whats Different? Quick access to Sessions, Inbox, Friends Finance Whos Online (now called Recently Online) has now been moved to the centre top of the Dashboard. Here you can post your status in terms of what you are looking for on italki (e.g. I am looking for a French language partner). Like before, you can see which of the people you follow is online, but now you can also see what they are looking for, and what their latest post was. To read questions or notebooks in the language you are learning, we now have a Language Updates feed, which you can edit according to which language you want to see. A Clearer Menu: Whats Different? Language Lessons and Speaking Practice are more clearly labeled under language teachers. Sessions and Scheduling have been given their own tab in the menu. Groups have been  relabeled  as discussions, and anyone can participate. We have made it easier to purchase credits and book lessons, by adding a buy credits tab and a schedule session button.  Quick Scheduling: The new schedule session button  makes finding a teacher and scheduling a session with them much easier. Once you click the Schedule Session button in the dashboard, you will be taken through a suggested teacher process, allowing you to more easily find teachers that are active and suit your learning goals. We appreciate your patience and feedback in this  transitional  time. Our goal is to provide a faster, better, more stable experience.  If you experience any bugs please report them to support@italki.com Sincerely, Samuel Bleakly italki Community Manager

Advantages of Group Work

Advantages of Group Work Being able to work in a group is a skill that everybody should have. The question Are you a team player? is often asked at job interviews. Because many employers look for workers who can work with a group of people. So, having these skills can be an advantageous experience for you over other candidates. Yes, working in group can be frustrating sometimes and challenging for different personality types but it has its advantages: Efficiency: The first and the most important advantage of group work, is that it increases efficiency. When students work together, an assignment can be done faster and with greater efficiency. Motivation: Another key advantage of group work is motivation. Every person worries about the judgement of others, as we are, by nature, incredibly social creatures. So the desire to be appreciated by group members can be a significant motivator. Division of labor: Everyone has something what they’re good at, for instance   research, presentation, analysis, etc. So, students can help each other understand and accomplish work together. This allows each member of the group to contribute on an individual level. New friends: Group assignments could help you make new friends and learn how to work with people outside your circle of friends, including those who have different backgrounds and experiences. Shared ideas: One of the main benefits of group work is the ability to share ideas with members of the group. People have many different ideas that can fill the flaws in one of your ideas if you have any. Of course, you can say that there are a lot of disadvantages of working in a group: no freedom for individual thinking, non-cooperative attitude, etc. But the benefits of working in groups undoubtedly weigh more than its disadvantages. Students will learn more from each other than they would ever learn by working on their own. And if problems do arise, communication is the key! In any case, whether you prefer working  independently or in a group sometimes you need some help, and you might be interested in hiring a Tutor. Tutors at TutorZ can offer you a great one-on-one experience and insights. Our tutors are here to help you!