Friday, March 27, 2020

How To Learn Chemistry In The Arts

How To Learn Chemistry In The ArtsChemistry in the Arts is often thought of as an academic subject for a science major. There are, however, many people who get it as an elective or just because they enjoy studying it. When studying chemistry in the arts, it's important to remember that learning the subject is a skill that can be developed and put to use at any time. If you're interested in taking chemistry in the arts as an elective, you should consider some of the tips below.It is very important to understand that art is a never-ending process. The more you learn about the subject, the more you will become familiar with various aspects of it. Before you start, make sure that you know what you're studying. Most of the colleges in the US offer electives that cover art history and other topics in the subjects. These classes can also be taken on their own, although you'll likely be required to take a written examination.One important factor to consider when studying chemistry in the art s is the discipline of the science. It's best to learn the subject in a way that is accepted by the teachers at your local college. When you study the subject in this manner, you'll be able to pass the entrance exam, which is a prerequisite for entering a college. Once you're accepted to a college, there are many opportunities for students to learn about and work with chemicals in the field.Ascii Art is another great avenue for learning about chemistry in the arts. It requires you to create scientific images with different media like paint, charcoal, ink, or pencil. A large part of the test comes from understanding how colors affect the strength of the chemical reaction.A lot of people get into Art because they enjoy the process of drawing and are passionate about it. Sometimes, however, students study Chemistry in the Arts because they have an interest in art as well. If you're interested in the subject but aren't sure what kind of future you want, taking a course in chemistry in t he arts is a great way to further investigate it.If you are considering going into the field of Art, it's important to consider what your goals are for your overall career. Chemicals are known to play a vital role in medicine and science. If you're going to pursue a career in chemistry, you need to understand that it can open up a multitude of opportunities for you. If you are an artist who is interested in taking an elective in chemistry in the arts, it's important to consider the connection between the two fields.An excellent career in art often involves working with art. If you enjoy the process of drawing, you'll certainly find plenty of work in this field. If you want to become a highly educated chemist, consider taking a course in chemistry in the arts and develop your skills.

Friday, March 6, 2020

How to improve your outreach and land more interviews

How to improve your outreach and land more interviews I’m Sara. I’m an Education Partnerships Executive here at Teach Away, which means that every day, I talk to leaders, administrators, and hiring managers at schools around the globe. My job is to help them improve their recruitment and hiring processes through a partnership with Teach Away. In my role - assisting schools and organizations, each with idiosyncratic challenges to overcome in their recruitment journeys - there are a few analogies for the solutionsI recommend (on a basic level, of course): You can’t catch a fish without a line in the water. The more lines in the water, the more fish you’re likely to catch. If you don’t fish where the fish are, you catch zilch. What I want to focus on today, though, is this one: Just because you can see a fish doesn’t mean you can catch it. Here’s a scenario I commonly encounter when working with schools: The school has set up a website to market their school (great!) They’re targeting teaching professionals by posting their vacancies on education-specific job boards (perfect!) Applications are flooding in! Great news, right? Not quite. There’s still another piece to the puzzle. Often, the candidates applying to these schools aren’t as responsive as the school would hope beyond the initial application. Highlighting this is the fact that the school’s application-to-interview ratio is nowhere near where it could be. The root of the problem lies in the outreach - not in the quantity or quality of the candidates involved. While conventional wisdom suggests that the more applicants you’re able to attract the better your chances of filling your vacancies, the real key to hiring amazing new employees is how you nurture applicants through the recruitment process. Let’s take a look at some best practices for applicant outreach and communication. 1. Timeliness is imperative Once you’ve received an application, the next step may be the most important of all. You need to reach out to your candidates to acknowledge their application, and you need to do it quickly. Our research shows that candidates who are contacted within 3 days of submitting a job application are 27% more likely to accept a job offer and are 22% less likely to drop out of the hiring process. To simplify this process on your end, try using an applicant tracking system or marketing automation software to automatically respond to new applicants. Pro tip: While contacting your candidates quickly is vital, timing is important as well. Consider your candidates’ timezones and other factors that might impact the best time to be in touch. 2. Make a good first impression Ah, time for another age-old adage: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. As an international school leader, you are busy, but taking (or making) the time to build rapport and a create a relationship with prospective candidates starting with your very first contact is well worth the time and effort. While you may be trying to get through the recruitment process as quickly and painlessly as possible, a positive candidate experience is everything. As much as you’re evaluating candidates, they’re evaluating your school as a prospective employer as well. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot and lose out on a promising candidate due to a poor first impression. 3. Humanize the process Each individual in your recruitment pipeline has their own unique set of circumstances, whether they’re considering teaching abroad for the first time or working full time at another international school and considering a move. To provide the best experience, put yourself in the candidate’s shoes. Minor considerations to accommodate candidates - being flexible around interview timing, choosing convenient methods of communication, or being understanding of existing obligations - will go a long way towards creating a positive predilection toward your school. 4. Sell your school Your job of selling your school doesn’t end when a candidate clicks submit on their application; you need to continue selling your school throughout the duration of the recruitment process. Every touchpoint with a candidate is an opportunity to keep candidates engaged, build excitement about working at your school, and further convince them that your school is the right fit for them. Perhaps you can share video highlights from the school year when you reach out to schedule an interview, or follow up with interviewees using a virtual campus tour to show off your facilities. To really allow candidates to get a good feel for your school, consider conducting interviews with current staff to share what life is really like at your school. 5. Provide a 360 ° view of your opportunity An important consideration when recruiting international educators is that what matters to one person may not matter to another, and what’s important to you may not resonate with your candidates. The image below shows the most in-demand job benefits, in order, among candidates for your teaching vacancies: To combat this, be sure to provide candidates with a well-rounded description of what life is like at your school and the benefits and opportunities available to them. It’s unrealistic to think you’ll be able to tailor your pitch to each individual candidate so you’ll want to consider the multitude of factors that matter to international educators and address them as best you can. You don’t want to miss out on a great candidate who’s looking for growth in their next role because you neglected to mention the robust professional development calendar at your school. 6. The devil is in the details Teach Away candidates, on average, submit more than five job applications to teach abroad per year, often within the same month. This means that, right off the bat you’ve got 4+ competitors vying for the services of the same teacher you are. With that in mind, think about these questions: Are you going above and beyond to woo your candidates? If not, do you like your chances? Are there things your competitors may be doing that you’re not? Are there things you could be doing that would set you apart? Aim to surprise and delight your candidates. Any edge you can give yourself helps - it could make the difference between a top teacher choosing your school over the one down the road. Just going through the motions won’t translate to success in your recruitment efforts. But by being thoughtful and purposeful with your outreach you have an opportunity to make a positive first impression, build a relationship with prospective candidates, and reinforce why your school should be your candidates’ first choice. Don’t let your efforts in attracting applicants go to waste. They’ve already taken the bait; set the hook and reel in a big one!

Ho ho huh Merry Christmas!

Ho ho huh Merry Christmas! Ho ho .. oh? Well, Christmas is coming at break neck speed. Are you ready! Im not. I can give you one suggestion; do not watch the news reports of the masses in the shopping malls crazy for the fifty percent off weed whackers, or trying to get a parking spot that could cost you your life. Never mind Target, Macys is so busy the handicap placards are going for top dollar over there. And don’t forget the extra wrapping paper and the decorations to replace the ones the dog chewed up yesterday. OK, maybe it isn’t all that bad but that’s how it looks to me. I’m always busy judging everybody knocking themselves out to meet the Christmas expectations and specifications. Ho ho ho! Hey who you calling a … alright I’ll stop right there. But once again I want to know; why is everyone going mad on December 25th? Christmas! I get it; I’m not a Druid you know (at least I don’t think so?). But how come Christmas is celebrated on different dates in different countries? And how come everyone has so many different traditions. My research found some answers and created a few more questions, but here are a couple of tid-bits for Christmas in America. Did you know that … Each year, 35 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States. There are approximately 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the United States, and it takes about 15 years to grow a Christmas tree that’s ready to be sold. The Christmas tree idea really started in Germany. In fact in 1846 queen Victoria and her German prince, Albert was shown in a newspaper sketch standing with their children next to a Christmas tree. Of course that was all that was needed for the British and The East coast well to do Americans to get into the tree thing. Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger. In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucousâ€"a lot like todays Mardi Gras parties. The churches and the rich put a stop to that. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and law-breakers were fined five shillings. The first eggnog made in the United States was consumed in Captain John Smiths 1607 Jamestown settlement. Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who brought the red-and-green plant from Mexico to America in 1828. The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation collectors into the streets since the 1890s. The Red Santa outfit he wears today came from a Coke commercial. Rudolph, the most famous reindeer of all, was the product of Robert L. Mays imagination in 1939. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store. So Christmas in America has been more of an evolution of many combined ancient holiday’s and foreign cultures and money.   Who knew?   Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas?

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Ring in the New Year With Philanthropy in the Community

Ring in the New Year With Philanthropy in the Community Philanthropy and Volunteerism for Future Teachers of America Many college students wish to go into teaching. This is a great and admirable profession and one that will help the next generation. However, its difficult for teachers to get their start in the field and to gain experience. One fantastic way for future teachers to both add to their community, as a philanthropist, and gain valuable experience is to join Reading Partners (READ: Extra Curricular Activities For Your College Resume). Reading Partners is a literacy advocacy program throughout the United States and it has a branch right here in Orange County. Volunteers only need to commit one hour a week, however they are welcome to commit more of their time, in order to be a part of the program. The goal of Reading Partners is to strengthen the literacy rate between kindergarten and third graders who attend public schools throughout Orange County. As many already know, any child who is illiterate will likely become an illiterate adult and without the ability to read most adults end up in or stay in poverty. College students do not need to have any experience to join Reading Partners; the program will train volunteers and place them in classrooms that are in need. Bilingual college students â€" English/Spanish â€" are especially needed as many of the students are English language learners. In 2014, Reading Partners volunteered in 13 schools throughout 7 school districts and over 1,400 students received services or products through Reading Partners One Book as well as the School Supplies Project. Fighting Illiteracy Although it seems that there shouldnt be any illiteracy in Orange County, CA, many local students are in need (Click: Reading Partners Children in Orange County). Some parts of the US that we think are thriving have students that continually slip through the cracks and because certain counties in the US receive less attention, the students are less likely to receive help. In addition to general literacy, its very important for students in elementary school to speak fluent English. For every year that students do not receive English literacy services, theyre more likely to fall behind or just plain give up (READ: Getting Your Community Service Credits). Reading and writing are core subjects for a reason: Everything we look at, from a street sign to ingredients on food packaging to college prep material is written in the English language. Children who cant read at their grade level become essentially blind. Joining Reading Partners, or any other respected literacy project, is a fabulo us way for college students, or people of any age, to both add to the community and gain valuable experience for a future career. Students who wish to volunteer through Reading Partners should do some research on the website and look for a location near them. Its important for volunteers to be honest and upfront about the amount of time that they have to offer. College students can become very busy, so if one hour a week is the maximum that they can provide, they should be upfront about this. One hour a week is better than zero hours and is a wonderful gift of time. Additionally, volunteers deserve to be recognized for their work (READ: New School: Adjusting to Advances in Technology). Ask for a Letter of Recommendation If possible, college students should investigate if their university offers any official recognition that can later be added to a resume or professional network such as LinkedIn. Volunteers are also encouraged to ask Reading Partners, or any volunteer organization that they join, if they can receive a letter of recommendation or reference upon the completion of their volunteer commitment. Its getting harder to find a full-time job these days, so its important to keep resumes up-to-date with any and all community-minded activities. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by TutorNerds. 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 post about.

Passion and Dedication are the Key to this Young Computer Coders Success

Passion and Dedication are the Key to this Young Computer Coders Success Passion and Dedication are the Key to this Young Computer Coders Success Aryan, 12-years-old, Math Level J, Reading Level J Some of the most successful businesses come from very humble beginnings. Dell was founded by Michael Dell when he was still a student at the University of Austin. Apple, Google, and Amazonâ€"three companies that have absolutely revolutionized the technology worldâ€"all started in a garage. Something they all have in commonâ€"an idea, dedication and passion. One benefit of the ever-changing, tech savvy society that we live in today is that many young kids and inspiring inventors have a plethora of role models to aspire to be. Aryan is one of those kids! He has developed a passion and dedication for computer coding and engineering. “Kumon has helped me develop sharp critical thinking skills, which has really helped me outside of the classroom,” said Aryan. “In any STEM challenge, I can apply my critical thinking skills to think of various solutions. I’ve gained confidence from Kumon, and I know I can handle any challenge that comes my way.” One of those challenges is when he competes in the Science Olympiad, which is one of the most exclusive science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous challenges to its young competitors and inspiring innovative work in STEM. Aryan participates in the Science Olympiad at the Ohio Regional and State levels for his  school team. Some of his top achievements include winning third place in the Mystery Architecture Event at the Piqua Regional, and third place in a coding event at the New Albany Invitational. Aryan’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as he was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Aryan about his Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has given me an academic edge over my peers as I am currently studying above grade level. Having strong foundational skills, I have received high scores on state and national standardized tests. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Enriching. What do you enjoy most about Kumon? I really enjoy how the Kumon Reading Program introduced me to a variety of different authors and genres. By analyzing great pieces of literature, it not only broadened my taste in books, but also fueled my love for reading. How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? By making Kumon a part of my daily study habit, it has helped me greatly with my time management. I’m able to better manage my busy weekly schedule â€" balancing extracurricular activities and school work. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? Attending the Student Conference was very inspiring to me. It opened my eyes to see how developing great study habits at a young age will help you accomplish big things in life! What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? My advice for other Kumon Students is to make Kumon a part of your daily routine and just stick with it! Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: This Young Kumon Reading Program Completer is an Aspiring Computer Engineer Practice is the Key to this Young Cello Players Success SUCCESS IN KUMON INSPIRED THIS YOUNG STUDENT TO EXCEL IN THE POOL With a Passion for STEM, this Kumon Student is Effecting Change Passion and Dedication are the Key to this Young Computer Coders Success Passion and Dedication are the Key to this Young Computer Coders Success Aryan, 12-years-old, Math Level J, Reading Level J Some of the most successful businesses come from very humble beginnings. Dell was founded by Michael Dell when he was still a student at the University of Austin. Apple, Google, and Amazonâ€"three companies that have absolutely revolutionized the technology worldâ€"all started in a garage. Something they all have in commonâ€"an idea, dedication and passion. One benefit of the ever-changing, tech savvy society that we live in today is that many young kids and inspiring inventors have a plethora of role models to aspire to be. Aryan is one of those kids! He has developed a passion and dedication for computer coding and engineering. “Kumon has helped me develop sharp critical thinking skills, which has really helped me outside of the classroom,” said Aryan. “In any STEM challenge, I can apply my critical thinking skills to think of various solutions. I’ve gained confidence from Kumon, and I know I can handle any challenge that comes my way.” One of those challenges is when he competes in the Science Olympiad, which is one of the most exclusive science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous challenges to its young competitors and inspiring innovative work in STEM. Aryan participates in the Science Olympiad at the Ohio Regional and State levels for his  school team. Some of his top achievements include winning third place in the Mystery Architecture Event at the Piqua Regional, and third place in a coding event at the New Albany Invitational. Aryan’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as he was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Aryan about his Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has given me an academic edge over my peers as I am currently studying above grade level. Having strong foundational skills, I have received high scores on state and national standardized tests. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Enriching. What do you enjoy most about Kumon? I really enjoy how the Kumon Reading Program introduced me to a variety of different authors and genres. By analyzing great pieces of literature, it not only broadened my taste in books, but also fueled my love for reading. How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? By making Kumon a part of my daily study habit, it has helped me greatly with my time management. I’m able to better manage my busy weekly schedule â€" balancing extracurricular activities and school work. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? Attending the Student Conference was very inspiring to me. It opened my eyes to see how developing great study habits at a young age will help you accomplish big things in life! What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? My advice for other Kumon Students is to make Kumon a part of your daily routine and just stick with it! Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: This Young Kumon Reading Program Completer is an Aspiring Computer Engineer Practice is the Key to this Young Cello Players Success SUCCESS IN KUMON INSPIRED THIS YOUNG STUDENT TO EXCEL IN THE POOL With a Passion for STEM, this Kumon Student is Effecting Change

Learnmate and Annuel: An Investment?

Learnmate and Annuel: An Investment?Learnmate Tutoring in Annuel Revenue has taken on a new direction with the acquisition of Learnmate Tutoring in Annuel. The deal, announced by Bain Capital this week, is an example of Bain's growing efforts to become a 'human resource' company. Although it can't compete with Google and other elite companies in terms of money, the investment is a signal that Bain is serious about making its investments work for its clients. But the decision to acquire Learnmate is not about money but about learning.To understand the reason for the acquisition, you have to understand Learnmate itself. The firm offers a service known as 'SEO Tutoring' to online tutors. This allows the tutor to drive traffic to the learner's website through search engine optimization tactics.It's a service that works for Sarah Marshall. As a web designer, she offers tutoring services to those who need help getting through their college education. When she first started offering her ser vices on her own website, though, it was a costly, time-consuming venture. By the time she created a new business web site from scratch, she had almost no traffic.It's difficult to hire someone to help with an online learning plan who doesn't know the market inside and out, and Sarah Marshall certainly knows how to build traffic, but she still needed to pay for advertising to create a steady stream of traffic to her website. The solution, then, was to purchase Learnmate tutoring in Annuel, which serves as her portal to both professional tutors and the billions of people who surf the internet every day.Learnmate provides traffic by applying 'robust content marketing.' It creates a website called SatoriMD.com that contains 'optimized articles, video and other multimedia content designed to make learning more fun, interactive and fun.' The content is updated frequently, but isn't written by a ghostwriter. Every lesson and homework assignment is based on original, rigorous research.So i f you want your coursework to appear more professional-looking, pay for Learnmate Tutoring in Annuel to help you optimize your website. And the site is updated regularly. Online tutors everywhere can benefit from Learnmate's expertise in the online tutoring market.If you're an online tutor who wants to set up your own career or business, consider learning more about Learnmate. You might find that it's a good choice for you too. Just like Google and AOL and other big players in the education arena, Learnmate will change the way we all see learning.

Why You Should Test Out a Typing Tutor Online Free

Why You Should Test Out a Typing Tutor Online FreeIf you are tired of the headache of having to go to the library or looking for some sort of library card just to access some type of information, you should consider checking out a typing tutor. Typing is one of the most common hobbies that anyone can take up so it is important that you find a tutor that will get the most out of your talent.Typing is one of the few hobbies that can actually pay you some sort of income when you want to spend it the way you want to. In fact, most people who have hobbies like this to turn it into a business and this is why it is so important to find the best typing tutor you can. You might even be able to do some work from home while typing!There are a couple ways that you can go about finding a typing tutor. The first is to get one on your own, of course. This is probably the most expensive method but will give you the most experience when it comes to helping other people and knowing what you are doing. The second is to have someone else find you a tutor for you can choose whatever they offer to you. A lot of times, these tutors will charge you for their time but this doesn't mean that you have to have a tutor. The point is that you have someone else find your tutor and give you the experience that you need to help you find the best typing tutor for you.The thing to remember with typing is that it is not just a hobby. You are using your fingers to type and it can be very distracting to be typing all day and then there is the time factor of sitting in front of a computer. As such, you should make sure that the tutor you choose is going to be willing to spend time with you and have a background in teaching so that they are able to make you a better typist.The more experience you have as a person, the better the tutor you will have. You should not settle for just anything; you should make sure that you are choosing the right type of tutor so that you are getting the best possible resu lts out of your typing experience.Typing is a very unique hobby and it is important that you find the best typing tutor that you can to help you become a better typist. You should be happy with whatever tutor you have, but make sure that you research on them and see if they have ever been offered an offer to become a professional tutor and you can use.

Why Learn French The Reasons and Benefits of Language Learning

Why Learn French The Reasons and Benefits of Language Learning Why do People Still Study French? ChaptersFrench Words Used in Everyday EnglishThe Benefits of Learning FrenchHow Long Does it Take to Learn French?Is French hard to Learn?Some people think that learning a foreign language, in this day and age, is a needless waste of resources â€" time, money and brain power.With electronic translators that fit right in your pocket and pretty much everyone the world over speaking English anyway, what is the point of learning any foreign language, let alone French?That is an astute observation! Incorrect, but astute nevertheless.The French language has some of the most amusing expressions, such as j'ai un petit creux â€" an adorable way to say I am a bit hungry.Run that phrase through translator software, and you get I'm a little hollow, a near-literal translation that gives no indication of what the sentence actually means.Near-literal translation? It should be I have a little hollow; the mental image giving a clue to the meaning.Online translators try hard, but sometimes they miss t he mark entirely!The question is: how will you know that the app you're using is translating accurately if you have no knowledge of the French language, especially French slang?You can try this experiment for yourself, using a phrase in English. We did!Julie was gutted over losing her job. Gutted means in despair, of course.The translator spit out the French equivalent of: Julie was emptied over losing her job.Close in literal meaning, but in no way does that translation convey the figurative rending that Julie suffered at suddenly being unemployed.And, if you used that French translation of our very British expression in conversation with a native French speaker, you might be quizzed over your sentence's exact meaning.If you can't speak French, how will you explain what you had intended to say?Besides the inaccuracies of translation software â€" and their unintentional, sometimes comical results, here are five other great reasons to learn French that we will discuss in more depth   in this article:The French language is spoken by millions of people worldwide, on 5 continentsThere is a strong bond between English and French, in spite of English being a Germanic language.French is a beautiful, rhythmic tongue; full of nuance and quirky turns of phraseIt is considered a gateway romance language; easy to transition from French to Spanish, Italian and Portuguese; even RomanianThere are so many benefits to being bilingual!Let us now get to the meat of the matter â€" an idiom that translation apps render incomprehensible in French.Find classes taught by a reputable French tutor.Many words related to food and cooking come to us from the French language Source: Pixabay Credit: Photoshootingspink, or even bloody was, till recently, strictly a French affair.We call steaks cooked in that manner rare because it was so infrequent that anyone would eat beef that still bled!Back to your favourite pastimes, now: photography, cuisine, dancing, even visiting an art gallery. Ever y one of these words come to us from the French language, along with cinema and telly and a whole host of others.By some accounts, 40% of words in our dictionary have their roots in French. So many French words populate our common English vocabulary that an entire web page has been dedicated to them!French terms pop up just about everywhere: in botany, geology, technology and especially in the military; in fashion and in political terms that harken back to feudal times.Did you know our governing body, the Parliament, is a French word meaning discussion or negotiation?French phrases Commonly Used in EnglishYou needn't cast a wide net to find everyday phrases in French that we English speakers have appropriated and made our own.We'll bet you have at least heard of these, if not used them yourself:a la carte: when you order individual food items from a menu â€" the cardFollowing the same format, you may have a la mode: according to the current fashion or customJe ne sais quoi â€" used to express an intangible quality; literally I don't know whatMiss Markle has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes her absolutely right to marry a royal.Au courant: literally in the current; meaning awareI read the news every day to stay au courant of world affairsCarte blanche: liberal permission and resources to do as you wish, or as neededmy parents gave me carte blanche to redecorate my flat.French Idioms Used in EnglishAn idiom is a phrase whose collective words give no meaning of the sentiment or idea being expressed.Raining cats and dogs, for example, does not represent hapless puppies and kittens on a forceful downward trajectory, splattering everywhere. Thank goodness!Idioms generally have roots in the specific culture and language they originate in.The phrase lost in translation has never been more apt to describe theses concepts that crumble under the force of conversion to another tongue.Thus it comes as a surprise that we've borrowed more than a few such phrases from our French neighbours.These imports did not undergo interpretation; we've not just appended to our dictionary what the idioms in question represent, but the words used to represent them!Esprit de corps translates to the spirit of the body, but means morale.This phrase was born of military service, in which the soldiers shared a unified mentality of defense and protectionism for one's homeland and ideals.Since then, the usage of this colloquial phrase has expanded to include everything from office politics to solidarity with your mates.If you are as one with the majority, you can say that you have esprit de corps.Do you know this phrase, popularised in song, and even used in one episode of Coronation Street?We all know what voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir means.Its implication has been rendered genteel in English â€" even if spoken in French. But natives of that language interpret the verb coucher in more... graphic terms.One French idiom that has lost no meaning in translation, ev en though it is used today in its original language is Honi soit qui mal y pense.It means shame to he who thinks ill of it.So impactful was this sentiment that our own Most Noble Order of the Garter adopted it as its motto!In today's modern French vernacular, that phrase is: honni soit qui en pense du mal; changing the sentiment of shame to revilement.To end this segment of French words and phrases commonly used in English, here are a few that are routinely used in English speaking countries that, curiously enough, the French don't use â€" at least not in the way we do.Au naturel: a phrase we use to describe in the nude.The French use it to signal natural settings: a backstage interview (entretien au naturel), or to describe natural colours such as taupe or beige.En masse: how we describe everyone doing the same thing at the same time.For francophones, the word masse is only used to describe physical weight. The closer translation of the sentiment into Canadian French would be bunch .See what a lighthearted, amusing activity it can be to dissect French expressions? Let us now look at other benefits of learning the language of Molière.You would be surprised at the many benefits of learning French! Source: Pixabay Credit: LightstargodThe Benefits of Learning FrenchAs we ascertained at the beginning of this article, language learning in general can be very beneficial.What we've not expounded on is in what ways!For one, people who can speak a second language derive many cognitive benefits that can even help improve their quality of life as they get older.And, while upwardly mobile in the professional world, bilinguals stand to be hired faster and earn more than anyone who has not taken any language courses.Those points remain true whether you learn Chinese or take Spanish courses.But how can French learning benefit you? Why study French, specifically?Let us say you are such an upwardly mobile professional, eagerly anticipating your relocation to Luxembourg or Belg ium, to a lucrative position with a sister firm.Would you have been considered for that job if you spoke only English?What about your love of winter sports? You may want to ski or snowboard down Mont Blanc. Or, if you are a mountain climber, you may aspire to summit the highest peak in western Europe.It is true that you could get by with using English alone in those circumstances, but by embracing the French language, you are also embracing the culture and the people of the land you exercise your passion in.Did you know that French culture is inexorably intertwined with its cuisine? You could hardly claim to be a foodie and not speak French!Being able to communicate with French people while abroad represents a tacit approval of everything that their language and culture represents.You could polish your conversation skills with French speaking people just about anywhere in the world, because the French language is spoken in over 30 countries!Would you like to learn more about the ben efits of learning French as your second language?A Gateway to Further Language StudiesAs your French lessons London progress, you realise that it is both exciting and engaging to acquire language skills.You may perceive an upcoming certification exam, perhaps the DELF, as a finish line that, once you cross it, would signify that you are done with French courses... and where would you go from there?The joy of learning is infectious and, once inoculated with it, you may never want to stop learning languages!That is another reason why studying French is such a great idea.Because French grammar is so similar to the grammar of other romance languages â€" many verbs even conjugate the same way!, it would not be such a great leap to learn Spanish, learn Italian; you could even learn Portuguese after mastering French!Speaking French can give you advantages over monolinguals in the workplace, help broaden your cultural awareness and even help you understand your native language and culture b etter.We can't think of a better reason than that last one to become a francophone!There is no mystical divination of how much time it will take for you to learn French Source: Pixabay Credit: darksouls1How Long Does it Take to Learn French?All fun and excitement aside, learning a second language is a serious undertaking that requires diligence, hard work, and time.Even though we English speakers regularly make use of French vocabulary and idioms - whether we know it or not, any serious language learner would know that studying French is a monumental undertaking that requires dedication and a serious time commitment.How much time does it take to learn French? How long can any French learner expect to stay at intermediate level?Let's go over some of  the reasons why learning French should be a years-long commitment.French Grammar versus English GrammarAs previously discussed, French is Romantic and English is Germanic.That does not mean that anyone with intimate knowledge of the Fren ch language and culture is a dashing heartthrob.Because these linguistic systems have their roots in different cultures, their vocabulary and grammar  bear only a few similarities.A most immediate way to spot a critical difference between the two language systems is with you.Not you specifically, but in using the pronoun you.In our mother tongue, that pronoun is representative of males, females, multiple people or a lone person; anyone you might address, formally or informally.French pronouns emphasise all of these distinctions. However, it is important to note that, when a mixed group is the subject or object of a sentence, the masculine gender is always used.Tu vas avec elles? â€" you will go with that group of females? versus Tu vas avec eux? - used to represent an all-male or mixed group.These differentiations can make conveying ideas a very precise process.Let us see how grammatical gender applies to articles with this sentence: the teacher gave us a homework assignment.In Engl ish, we have no idea if that teacher is male or female, but in French, le maître would represent a male teacher and la maitresse would be a woman who instructs.Even indefinite articles, a and an, are treated to such precision: un and une â€" male and female, respectively.What about the qualifier some; for uncountable nouns? Du is masculine; de la is feminine and des â€" the plural form, is for both.The best way to learn these divisions, of course, is to spend ample time in their study, and their associated rules.Grammar AgreementAs you may well imagine, if articles and pronouns must relate to the subjects' grammatical gender, so too must any adjectives and, where applicable, verb endings.Beginners in French classes all fume that mastering such agreements is one of the most difficult aspects of learning grammar in French.These aspects of French language study need not be antithetical to your motivation in learning this beautiful, complex tongue.Let us cite yet another import into En glish, this time from German, that neatly addresses that concern:Sprachgefühl loosely translates as the feel for the language.By invoking this phenomenon that every language learner  sooner or later experiences, you can be free of rote memorisation of grammar rules, and just let your heart soar with the rhythm and beauty of speaking French!Our best advice for learning French fast: don't be afraid to make mistakes.Just as you don't need to understand the workings of an internal combustion engine to know how to drive a car, so you don't need to ponder every single grammar rule before your utter your first sentence in French!By no means are we suggesting that you throw your French textbook out of the window; only that you will learn French faster if you don't stress over whether you should use le or la; un or une or de or des!Most people in French speaking countries will recognise and applaud your sincere efforts at learning their language, so there is no need to sweat small grammatic al or verb tense mistakes.Is French hard to Learn?The intricacies of learning French grammar aside, you might be surprised at how precise and straightforward the language is, for all of its flowery prose.If you assign the issue of gender agreement to your growing feel for the language, you may find that speaking French is not as complicated, or as daunting as it appeared in your beginner French classes.If you think that grammatical gender and agreement are complicated in French, you should try learning those rules as they apply to Arabic!Is French as hard to learn as you think?What about conjugating verbs in French?Native French speakers appreciate your efforts at learning French Source: Pixabay Credit: Alexis_AminokisFrench Verb TensesCompared to English, verb tenses in French tend to be more inclusive, expanding to nearly double the number of tenses in our language.All questions of mood aside â€" delving into them would make for a ponderous discussion!, we can attest to the fact t hat only about 6 of French's 23 verb tenses are routinely used.Unless you intend to prove your French language skills formally by sitting DELF level C2, most likely you will not often use more than eight of these more elevated constructs.However, we would point out that having so many ways to indicate when an action has occurred is yet more proof attesting to the precision of the French language.As with nouns, pronouns and articles, with certain verbs, agreement again rears its head: any compound verb construction involving être will make use of feminine form; for example: je suis allée is correct if a female went somewhere. The extra E is not applied if a male, or if a group of people are involved. Conjugating irregular verbs  can be a tricky affair, in any language. Fortunately, the list of such predicates is substantially shorter for French than our very long list!Besides, most of the French irregular verbs, such as pouvoir and avoir are used so often that you will soon incorpo rate their various forms into your spoken French with hardly a thought!Syllable Stress and ToneOne aspect of learning how to speak French is its rhythm; specifically the fact that there is no syllable stress required to give a word meaning, as in English.Because English is our native tongue, perhaps we give no thought to two-syllable nouns having a spoken stress on the first syllable, and two-syllable verbs requiring stress on the second syllable.Such a distinction gives our language a lot of double-meaning words.For example: IM-port represents goods that are brought into the country; im-PORT is the act of bringing goods in.Linguistic experts agree that, because of the syllable stress used to give English words meaning, our spoken language sounds choppy.By contrast, the French use no inflection to give meaning to their words. Instead, vocables are grouped into phonic units and delivered with a unique rhythm.As a French learner, you may need some time to get used to that distinctive phraseology.Autodidact Kató Lomb said: Language is the only thing worth knowing poorly.Obviously, no one would not start out a language learning adventure with the intent of gaining poor skills. Still, there is truth in that quote.Don't just take anyone's word for it; discover for yourself why learning French is a great endeavour!

You Do Grieve When You Lose a Job - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / You Do Grieve When You Lose a Job - Introvert Whisperer You Do Grieve When You Lose a Job I’ll put it to you straight.   Getting laid off or fired hurts.   A lot.   It hurts even if you didn’t like the job or the boss. The reason it hurts is because you made an emotional investment in your job.   Its a big part of how you spend your life and even with bad jobs, we bring a piece of us to it every day.   It has many of the same characteristics of a relationship.   That’s why it’s hard to leave a job, just like a relationship. But when leaving your job isn’t your choice, you are facing loss and rejection.   Those are two of life’s biggest fears.   Only now it’s not a fear any longer; its reality and a painful reality you have to figure out how to get through. There are several things you have to realize about the impact getting laid off has on you. This is a very real loss. It’s right up there with the death of a loved one.   Many people think maybe you “shouldn’t” feel bad but that is totally wrong thinking.   No one but you can judge the depth of hurt and loss but you.     We experience many losses in life with the biggest being death but there is loss of financial security, loss of your home, health, safety and beloved pets.   I read a study one time and the loss of a job was about 3rd from the top with death of a loved one being the first and loss of freedom through incarceration being second.   Since most people never experience being thrown in jail, it makes losing a job right up there as one of the worst forms of loss. You may grieve. With loss comes grief and it sticks to you like a rogue piece of bubble gum.   You just can’t seem to shake it and shows up at very strange times.   Just know you’re normal. Don’t let anyone smother you with platitudes of “It’s only a job” or “You’ll get over it when you get another job” or “Time heals all wounds”. That’s horse manure.   Those sayings will only cause you to hide rather than process your hurt.   I have found the older version of “stages of grief” to be wrong and unhelpful.   To help you process any loss, I suggest looking into books and work done by Russell Friedman and griefrecoverymethod.com They acknowledge loss, all kinds of loss and take you through a process to help through their books and methods. In addition to what I suggested, if you can, spend a bit of time taking care of yourself. Many people jump into a frenzy of job searching work and I can understand the reaction (especially if you have financial concerns) but if you can- do nice things for you.   Don’t overindulge in abusiveness (drugs or alcohol) but take long walks, hit a hot tub or get a massage. Don’t tough this out alone. Many people do but it’s not a healthy way to move through the process. I had a woman write me about the impact of losing her job.   She told me about how she reacted after getting a letter of “position elimination”.   She didn’t see it coming and was devastated.   She outlined how from that point forward she has never allowed herself to put personal items in her office. She never made her office a home. It was like she symbolically has kept herself ready to leave her job.   Often our outside mirrors our inside and I think her story recaps some of what you should consider.   We do have to be ready to change jobs for whatever life throws our way. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer