A Day in the Life at Baylor University

A Day in the Life at Baylor University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teachtheyre sharing their college experiences as well. Cheyenne is a senior pre-med student at Baylor University. She currently tutors in Austin, Texas, specializing in science tutoring, SAT Math tutoring, and a number of other subjects. See what she had to share about her experience at Baylor University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Cheyenne: Campus setting here at Baylor University is very simple. The campus is around 1,000 acres in size, and getting around to classes has been very easy for me. I used a bike for the first couple of years, but now I simply walk to my classes. It takes me around 20 minutes to walk from where I live (about a block from campus) to my classes. Buildings are arranged so that relatively the same subjects are taught within them, and each area of campus is both like the others and unique in their own way. Not to mention that the entire setting is beautiful! There have been numerous renovations over my experience here, and even before them landscaping was kept to perfection. There is no shortage of nice, peaceful outdoor settings to study in or even just relax, including gardens and fountains. There are buses that run around the campus as well, for students that do not prefer to walk or bike to their classes which can be useful for students who struggle to find a parking spot in time an d walk to class from there (parking has been increasingly limited and difficult due to increasing class size). I do feel safe on campus as I walk to class daily, and there are plenty of open spaces and great lighting once the sun goes down. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants at Baylor University? Cheyenne: Professors, academic advisors, and teaching assistants are all very available, either by appointment or during their office hours in which a student will have the opportunity to discuss challenging concepts or really anything else they need to with a professor. Office hours for some of the larger classes (and for science majors, these are usually the most important and challenging ones), may seem like a waste of time, as students literally flood the office of the professor not even five minutes after their office hours have begun. These larger classes, however, very commonly offer supplemental instruction. Supplemental instruction occurs at a time set different from the regular meeting time for that class, and is led by a current student chosen by the professor and who has made excellent scores in that class previously. This helps students prepare for tests and improve their overall grade in the class by helping to clarify concepts they struggle with, as well as look into what exactly the professors expectations are. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Cheyenne: Dorm life for me was a little challenging, as it is for most students entering college for their first year. Baylor requires that each student enrolling freshman year live in a dorm on campus, unless requirements are met in order to be allowed to live off-campus. Of course, some dorms are better than others; there are two basic Mens dorms and two basic Womens dorms, as well as multiple (and much nicer and cleaner) honors dorms or living-learning communities that students can apply to live in based on their interests (like the outdoor adventure community) or their field of study (like Earl hall for students with a health and science background). It should be noted that, although one may apply to be in one of the specialized living-learning communities, some of them do require living there for two years. Although dorm life and quality may vary, dining options most definitely do not they are all wonderful. There is always lots of variety in all of the dining halls, they are k ept clean, and those working there are always very kind. Socialization with other students in the dorms was very easy there are plenty of social events planned and there is always a large turnout of people for these events. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Cheyenne: Business and science majors are usually the most represented majors, however, I feel that Baylor has an excellent program in whichever major field of study a student chooses to pursue. I chose my major to be Health Science Studies, as this is the major that you should choose for a pre-professional track such as pre-med or pre-dent. When choosing a major to being with, however, I did feel pressured to choose this major, and was not informed that I could still have a focus on a pre-medical school plan while choosing another. Orientation was very busy and hectic and I did feel a bit lost in the crowd; however, after I began taking classes, there were many tools and tips offered to me by the university that I could use to succeed. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Cheyenne: It was very easy for me to make friends as a freshman, as there are so many social events and traditions to take part in that you can only experience as a freshman. Greek life does play a role in campus social life, and a lot of university traditions, such as homecoming and Pigskin (a Broadway-style competition that is open to all groups), are very much centered on Greek life and Greek organizations. I did not join a sorority, and there were many clubs and associations that were available to me that I made sure to be a part of based off of my interests in the scientific community. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services at Baylor University? Cheyenne: The career center is very helpful in that students have opportunities to explore different careers that would work with their major. You can walk in at any time or by appointment to explore options and discuss passions and pathways with a member of staff. Many reputable companies recruit on campus, and there are multiple job fairs every year to attend. Approaching the fall of my senior year, I have been emailed at least five times with employment opportunities for after graduation from organizations that are looking specifically for Baylor students. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Cheyenne: Libraries are great and spacious; however, the areas in which volume level is not controlled get crowded very easily during the evening, as a lot of students use these areas for more of a social study time than quiet study time. That being said, I have never failed to find a spot to work alone, as there are many available areas other than just the library to hit the books. All you need to do as a student is find what setting works for you and then figure the time of day when that setting usually occurs; as students tend to swarm study areas in waves based on the time of day. Describe the surrounding town. Cheyenne: There are plenty of places to go downtown for (of age) nightlife, and during the day students can visit the zoo, museums, go shopping, hiking in Cameron park, or even explore downtown choosing from artisan shops and places to eat. Students go outside of campus a lot for entertainment, although there are plenty of recreational activities on campus to enjoy such as the Bear Trail and, when the weather allows, a marina that are cheap for students to use and rent out things like paddleboards or kayaks in order to explore the Brazos river. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes at Baylor University? Cheyenne: The student body here is no more than 15,000 students. I was okay with my class size as a freshman, but looking now at incoming classes, it seems they are increasing in size. Last year I remember hearing that there were more students admitted than there was room for housing on campus. Housing was eventually provided for these students; however, I feel that increasing incoming class size can eventually have a negative impact on the quality of educational experience. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Cheyenne: My best experiences were in small classes. Even though I am science major, my most memorable class experience would be during a required American Literature class I took my sophomore year. There were maybe twenty students in the class at the most, and even though there was structure in reading and writing assignments, it mainly focused on time and getting things done on time, leaving the assignment to be truly making some assertions about the material. My professor led the class as a discussion over what we read in preparation, and made sure to give historical context to everything we experienced. I feel that with this style of teaching I was really able to dive into the material, even though I am more of a scientific mind. I found the true value of literature as it relates to my own life and took with me after the conclusion of that class the ability to apply works of literature to the world around me, as well as examine it for assertions and observations about life as a h uman being. Check out Cheyennes tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Getting Ahead in Your Career is More Straightforward than You Think - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Getting Ahead in Your Career is More Straightforward than You Think - Introvert Whisperer Getting Ahead in Your Career is More Straightforward than You Think Dorothy March 4, 2016 Career Development, Promotion One response Through the years, I was often asked about what I did that made me get promoted so consistently and as a manager what my expectations were of my employees.  Many times, these people seemed to be struggling to perform on the job or minimally weren’t moving up the ladder for pay or position.  The struggle they seemed to have was more a mental mindset than actual skill or talent. I have discovered that success on the job involves two simple, yet sometimes elusive concepts.  The first concept is about delivering performance that exceeds expectation.  The second concept is performing beyond the description of the job or adding value.  You may be sitting there thinking “hey, I don’t get paid enough to do all of that”, well if you are thinking something like that, may I point out that you’ve already set yourself up to remain exactly where you are. Let’s look at the first concept: Exceed performance expectations.   When you first start a job, of course, you have interviewed and have an idea of what your job involves.  You are now on the job and some type of training has taken place so you can perform the job.  The amount of stimulation you get when first starting a new job can be overwhelming, but at some point, you arrive at a point where you are fairly independently performing the job.  It is at this point, where you need to take a step back and fully understand the nature of the business you are in and where your job plays a role.  You are part of an organic machine.  Without you, the machine would either stop functioning or it won’t work as intended.   This is where you must understand what your management expects from you, so some research is appropriate.  If there are other people who perform the same job and seem to do it well, interview them and ask them what they think excellence is and how they achieve it.  Talk to people upstream and downstream from you.  By this I mean there are most likely people who do work that comes to you so you, in turn, perform work that goes to others.  When you talk to these people, ask them what they provide or need you to provide along with questions about, when, how often, in what form and with what qualities.  Once you think you have done your homework, time to talk to the boss.  Roll up your findings into something you can jointly review.  Ask them to validate what you have developed and modify or add anything that needs to based on the fact that it’s that person who will be assessing your performance.  Once you are clear, your final questions should be:  How will you know if I am p erforming? What criteria will you use? In other words, you now know what the expectations of the job are and how to perform it, but what will the process be for finding out how well you did? This may seem like overkill but it’s not.  The majority of people in the workplace seem to amble in and out of jobs, never really connecting to the fact that THEY are responsible for their own success.  Like a map and itinerary on a vacation, you have to know where you’re going, so you know what you have to do to get there. There is one other thing you need to do.  If your place of business doesn’t have a formal performance appraisal process you will need to devise a way to obtain feedback on your performance.  Even if your place of business does have a process, you may want to conduct your own process for obtaining input on how you are doing, not just from the boss but those people you work closely with.  I have seen people doing fine between appraisal periods and then suddenly run themselves off the road.  Don’t wait a full year to find out that fact.  Also, make sure you are not just conducting a love-in with your work friends, you need honest, objective input on how well you do your job and what would improve it. The second concept I mentioned: Add value.     When a person is doing their job well, the way to a boss’s heart is to go beyond the job description.  Adding value is where you perform work that is either not being done or not being done well or consistently but will advance the mission of your business.  There is usually a ton of these kinds of opportunities; you simply need to look for them.  As you gain experience, you will notice them all the time.  I had a job in a fabric store and as with all retail stores; there are times of boredom due to customer lulls.  It was during those times, that I tidied up the bolts of cloth, made sure there were no loose ends on the trims, dusted and cleaned.  It might not have been part of the job description, but it made a big difference to the owner.   A pearl of wisdom on when to add value.  Only pursue adding value when you know you are consistently performing your job well.  Don’t drop the ball, take on valued added tasks AND continue to perform your job. There is nothing more irritating than to have some cowboy going off doing a bunch of things that are “nice” but not doing their job.  Also, make sure you aren’t pursuing your own agenda or fun thing.  I’ve had people go off to add value and what they were doing, missed the target.  It had no value. There is another subtle aspect to adding value.  It demonstrates a level of thought and initiative that is hard for bosses to “train in” to a person.  You either have it or you don’t.  If given the task of laying off a person and the choice is between two people that absolutely perform their job, the boss is going to look at the person that brings more to the party than just doing the job.  They will look at the value adding an employee as someone who is committed to the business success, someone they can trust and someone that can grow.  That is job success. 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: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

How to Avoid Senioritis

How to Avoid Senioritis The following piece was written by Rachel Korn. Rachel has been featured in ourAdmissions Expert seriesand is a former University of Pennsylvaniaadmissions officer, as well as the founder of her own admissions consulting firm.In your last year of high school, especially in your last months of classes and tests, it can be tempting to contract senioritis, to fall into the trap of easing up in your academic efforts since you have already been admitted to college and are thinking about that next step. Beware, though - there are many important reasons to keep up your motivation and effort. 1.Colleges are still watchingyou closely. Your guidance counselor will be sending your finalseniorgrades to your new colleges admissions office for review. If the grades slip significantly, the college willsend you a warning letter, telling you that a) your grades are not at the level expected according to your record, and b) your performance in college is anticipated to be at the same level at which you were admitted. The admissions office can also take further steps. Your lower grades could be sent to the academic dean who will be assigned to advise you freshman year, and this means that your first conversations upon arrival to college will not be of exciting optimism but of warning. Thisis not how you want to start your college career. Moreover, although exceptionally rare, your admission could even be rescinded if grades truly plummet. Thus, think about the impression you are making on your college. And dont jeopardize your future. 2. Class rank and awards are determined at the end of the year. You have just invested years of your time working hard, pushing yourself, and you may be able to reap even more rewards from it now. As the final grades are tallied, you could deserve official recognition for your efforts by earning a high class rank, scholarships, and awards for your accomplishments. If you start losing focus, you could risk these honors that you have been striving to achieve.Be careful not to let a few moments of weakness undo years. 3. Dont let yourself down. More than any other reason, really, think about how you will feel about yourself if you start to slack off, especially if you are not lazy by nature. You will not want to look back and feel like you missed opportunities because you decided to give up right at the finish line. You will probably not remember every award won or lost, but you will remember the feeling of letting yourself quit. Stay strong to the end. Realistically, and in all fairness, of course, you are worn out by second semester senior year. You can also see the light at the end of the tunnel and already feel the exciting changes to come. Just dont shortchange yourself. You are the loser in the end if you let senioritis take over. Finish strong, be proud, and head to college knowing that you are fully ready, have maximized your high school experience, and will be starting your next adventures on a positive note with a clean slate.Visit RachelsAdmissions Consultingsite.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

A Guide to A Level English Literature

A Guide to A Level English Literature Why Learn English Literature at A Level? ChaptersIs English Literature For Me?What Skills Can I Gain From Studying A Level English Literature?Typical Workload For English Literature A LevelWhich Texts Will I Study On An A Level English Course?A Level English Literature Average Course LengthExam Boards Assessing English LiteratureCareer Opportunities For English Literature GraduatesIf you are considering studying towards an English Literature A Level, you will no doubt be interested in the knowledge and skills that you will acquire along the way. You may also be wondering how long the course runs for, how much work is involved, and where the subject can lead you in terms of further education and career prospects.We will attempt to answer all of your queries below and reaffirm the many positives that you can take away from an English Literature qualification.The study of English Literature at A Level helps you to develop a number of subject-specific as well as transferable skills by encouraging in-depth, critical and contextu al thinking in response to a range of literary works.A level English Literature courses can develop all sorts of skills. (Photo via Visual hunt)Students will be required to familiarise themselves with subject knowledge from plays, novels and poems emerging from distinct genres and spanning across many centuries. With this comprehensive exploration of characters and themes will come the awareness of how traditions and culture have shaped literature over the years.Read this quick introduction to A Level English Literature! CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsIs English Literature For Me?If you are a keen reader and show an enthusiasm for a variety of texts from different eras, then English Literature is a great choice for you. Equally, if you enjoy analysing texts in detail and debating your views then you could be well-suited to a course like this, during which you will be required to think critically and express your opinions eloquently.Aside from reading, English Literature also promotes authorship so keen writers would do well studying the subject to learn more about literary styles, the use of narration and voices in writing as well as the general make-up and development of the English language throughout history.That just goes to show that it's never too late to learn about literature as an adult!What Skills Can I Gain From Studying A Level English Literature?If you have recently completed a GCSE English course, you will already have begun developing your analytical and interpretation skills. However, the A Level English Literature course will require you to take this level of skill and comprehension one step further.Examiners and English tutors will be looking for far more intellectual arguments and responses to the texts on the syllabus and will expect you to articulate these opinions maturely, both verbally and in writing.As well as complementing your analytical skills, your sensitivity to language, your comprehension of literary terminology and your awareness of social and cultural contexts, the course will help you to build up some key generic skills that you can apply to your work and studies beyond the A Level course. These include improved oral and written skills, more advanced research and planning techniques, the capacity for independent thought and more resourceful IT skills.Being able to understand the nuances of words in the English Language can also go a long way in making you a better communicator and listener, which are seen by employers as very valuable personal attributes.Find English tuition near you.Typical Workload For English Literature A LevelThe amount of reading will no doubt increase as you move into this next phase of education, however you should find it easier and easier to absorb relevant information with each module completed.You can start by reading these tips for A Level English literature!Reading lists can be accessed prior to starting the course so be sure to spend your summer trying to get ahead, especially if you are a particularly slow reader or don’t work well under pressure. Even if you only read a synopsis of each text in advance, this will help you to familiarise yourself with themes, characters, context and the authors’ writing styles before you come across these in class.As with most A Level courses, you will be expected to further your studies in your spare time, by reading secondary material to help expand your knowledge.It is important to understand that a good knowledge of the texts alone is not enough to reach a high grade in English Literature.The most successful candidates will be those who have read widely, s pent additional time researching relevant content and learnt complex terminology to add to their repertoire. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Disco ver all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhich Texts Will I Study On An A Level English Course?The AS and A Level syllabi will normally cover a minimum of three genres: Drama, Poetry and Prose. Naturally, this will include at least one of William Shakespeare’s plays, perhaps coupled with novels and poems that are linked by theme or context. You will certainly be able to identify patterns across the syllabi and make relevant connections.See performances of Shakespeare's iconic plays. Photo credit: D-Stanley via VisualHunt.comFor exa mple, as part of the prose section, your course might require you to read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein alongside Kazuo Ishiguros’ Never Let Me Go, both of which explore the fascinating relationship between society and science.Some of the modules that you might encounter on your A Level English course include Gothic Literature, Women in Literature, American Literature and Dystopian Literature.As well as the texts set by the syllabus, you will have the opportunity to read around the subjects and look at literary criticism from a range of sources to expand your knowledge and understanding of the fields.You could take a look at past A Level papers to get a better idea of what to expect on exam day!  A Level English Literature Average Course LengthA typical A Level course will run for two academic years, the first of which is known as the AS Level. An AS can be a standalone qualification, which is why many students take on four subjects in their introductory year and then ‘drop’ o ne for the final year, allowing them to focus their attention and efforts on three primary subjects.Before the A Level reform, both years counted towards a student’s final grade but assessment is now the preferred method of testing for examination boards.Although your AS Level might seem like just a practice run, you should know that it is upon this grade that your English tutor or teacher will base your predicted A Level grade (however other factors may be taken into consideration). Therefore, the amount of work you put into your first year will be reflected in your all-important grade predictions.In addition, those students applying to university will need to submit their AS Level grade in order for the selected course leaders to consider their suitability for the degree and subject matter. University offers can be unconditional or conditional, the latter meaning that you must meet certain grade requirements in order to be accepted on the course.Find a private English tutor on S uperprof.Exam Boards Assessing English LiteratureEnglish Literature courses are offered by a range of exam boards, including AQA, OCR, Edexcel, Eduqas and WJEC. The course you enrol on will be dependent on your school or college, however teachers and English tutor London or elsewhere, will be fully trained and equipped to teach you the content relevant to your syllabus.Though each board has slightly different assessment methods, all of the syllabi will as standard include influential texts and share many similarities. The main thing that they have in common is their desire to develop the student’s understanding and love of English Literature.Some of the key differences between principle exam boards, AQA and OCR, can be found in table format on OCR’s website. The dedicated section sets out in detail where the content covered by the syllabus plus the assessment methods used differ from those adopted by AQA.Therefore, if you have your heart set on writing about a particular piece o f prose or a certain poem, be sure to consult this table to see if you are likely to be able to incorporate this into any of your AS or A Level exam responses.You should also plan your schedule around English A level exam timetables!Career Opportunities For English Literature GraduatesA degree course in English Literature is a common follow-on from the A Level qualification, but this is not your only option as an English Literature student. The subject can lead students on to a variety of degree-level subjects such as Journalism, Publishing, Editing, Teaching, not to mention opening up doors for those seeking a career in alternative, but connected, industries such as Media, Illustration and Politics.Learning English can open up many doors. (Photo via Visual Hunt)In fact, any profession that requires analytical thinking, strong verbal and written communication, imagination or creativity can make use of the key skills acquired whilst studying towards an English Literature A Level.Acad emic website Prospects.ac.uk confirms that you should not restrict further education or job applications to those directly linked to your highest qualification. Most employers will be happy to consider you regardless of your specialist field, however if you are able to show strengths in a certain subject then this could significantly increase your chances of being offered the position.The informative site also states that 1 in 5 students who study English at degree level go on to further study, with a quarter of these choosing to continue down the same subject path. This evidence shows that English is a subject that you are unlikely to get bored of, and is clearly highly rewarding.Finally, it is worth noting that 60.5% of English graduates are in employment (according to Prospects’ findings) which is yet another strong indicator that the subject is a contributing factor in one’s employability.Having taken these facts on board, we hope that you are feeling confident in your decis ion to study towards an A Level in English Literature and that you can take a more positive approach to your studies.

Expressing Likes and Dislikes in English - Learn English with Harry ??

Expressing Likes and Dislikes in English - Learn English with Harry ?? Today our lesson is about about expressing likes and dislikes in English.What are your likes and dislikes? Were constantly talking about things  we do and dont like. In fact, finding out what a person likes or doesnt like helps us to get to know him (or her) better. Or imagine if someone wants to find out what are your hobbies or tastes. How would you respond?So what phrases can we use for expressing likes and dislikes in English? Likes and Dislikes in English - List of Expressions Help other students to improve English skill Likes and Dislikes in English Expressing Likes in English Here are some English phrases and words to say what you like:I adore, I love, I like, I enjoy, I’m into, I have a soft spot for, Im quite keen on, I think . is/are brilliant For example:I ADORE  having a massage after work. It helps me to relax.I LOVE  shopping for clothes in the sales. I’ve got some great bargains.IM INTO  making music.I LIKE  inviting my friends around for dinner. I ENJOY  cooking a special meal for them.I LIKE  ice-creamI HAVE A SOFT SPOT  for SarahIm QUITE KEEN ON  learning new languagesI THINK  Marks idea IS BRILLIANTADORE  here suggests a strong feeling of pleasure. Expressing Dislikes in English Here are some words in English to express things that you don’t like: I detest, I hate, I loathe, I’m not keen on, I cant stand, I cant bear For example:IM NOT KEEN ON  watching soap operas.I DETEST  being stuck in a traffic jam.I HATE  Mondays!I LOATHE  visiting the dentist.I CANT STAND Paulas new boyfriendShopping DRIVES ME CRAZYBoth  I CANT STAND  and I CANT BEAR  mean I HATE.DETEST  and LOATHE  suggest strong feelings. These are things that you really don’t like doing, whereas IM NOT KEEN ON  expresses a preference.We can use pronouns, nouns or verb +ING  when we are expressing likes and dislikes in English:I love it.I hate football.Waiting in queues drives me crazy. Expressing Likes and Dislikes in English - Image to share! How to talk about Likes and Dislikes in English? Sarah, Kate, Steve and Tom are talking about what they like doing:SARAH:  I like inviting  my friends round for dinner.KATE:  I’m not keen on  cooking. I enjoy going out  for a meal.KATE:  I like going  to watch football on Saturday.SARAH:  I hate  football. I’d rather go and play tennis.STEVE:  I like taking  photographs on holiday.TOM:  I’m not into  photography. I’d rather buy postcards instead.TOM:  I’m going to the rugby match on Saturday. Would you like to come with me?STEVE:  I hate  rugby. I’ll be going shopping with Kate instead.SARAH:  I’m flying to Glasgow on Monday.KATE:  I hate flying. I like going  by train, even if it takes a little longer.Now its your turn. What do you like doing in your spare time? What do you hate doing?

Why do we spell Doubt with a b in English

Why do we spell Doubt with a b in English I remember being curious about this when I was a child. Where does the b in doubt come from, when the word is pronounced like dowt?Even as an adult Ive wondered why English spelling isnt more like Spanish, where every word is spelled like it sounds. But, according to the TED video below, theres a good explanation for this spelling that actually made me appreciate the unusual way English words are sometimes spelled.  Watch the video below, then see if you can answer the listening questions below it.Write your answers in comments and well respond.Most folks cant ____ ___ what its doing there.Why would anyone in their _____ ___ reinsert a silent letter into a spelling?What does the expression above mean?If we look even deeper, we can see ____ __ ____ ___ __ doubt just revealing that B can be.It ____ ___ that if we ____ __ their history, we can see that they both derive from the same Latin forms.What does it mean when we second guess ourselves?What does it mean when we are of two minds?D o you think that this justifies the spelling of Doubt?Ok thanks! If youre interested, weve got classes to help you improve your English writing and English pronunciation too.

The Scene Approach How to Really Learn Language Through Movies

The Scene Approach How to Really Learn Language Through Movies The Scene Approach: How to Really Learn Language Through Movies That little skeptic in your head is getting to you.Its telling you that you cant learn a language through movies.It sounds like a myth, like Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy.Well, let me give it to you straight: It can be done!Yes, its totally possible to learn your target language  just by watching movies. And in this post, Im going to tell you exactly how.But first, let’s talk about some common reasons why people have a hard time learning language through movies. 4 Reasons Language Learners Have a Hard Time with Movies1. They watch the movie once, then move on.When a language learner sits down to pick up lessons from a movie, they dont fare as well when they treat it just like any other movie.Meaning, when they watch it only for the story and its twists and turns. When they know the plot, how it ends or how the bad guy was thwarted from his evil plans, they move on to the next foreign feature. Often, theyll just watch the movie one single time.This is a case of close, but no ciga r.”Repetition, and lots of it, is the name of the game. You don’t have to watch a dozen different films to learn language lessons. You only need to watch just one or two, but you have to really focus on them. You have to go deep instead of going wide. As youll see later, there’s a very specific way of doing this so you can maximize every minute of the film.2. They study the movie as one big chunk.A 90-minute film is too long to be properly absorbed by language learners, especially at lower skill levels.You not only have the language to contend with, but the culture as well. Theres a ton of nuance in the spoken words, gestures, expressions, behaviors, customsâ€"even the dress and chosen sceneryâ€"and youll miss out on these rich lessons if you watch the movie once and only focus on understanding the words.Watching a movie just once, its no wonder that even well-intentioned students only scratch the surface.To use a movie as a learning tool, you have to use the pause, replay and loop buttons strategically throughout the movie, and not just pause when you need a bathroom break or a popcorn refill.A movie isnt one single language lesson. It’s actually packed with so much content that it can yield dozens, even hundreds, of language lessons for you. Watching it from start to finish, in a single stretch, wont release all its language secrets.3. They dont take advantage of the subtitles.You know subtitles are there to let you know whats happening in the movie. Even non-learners benefit from the subtitles, when all they really want to do is enjoy the film that their friend recommended.As a language learner, you need to do more with subtitles. You need to mine them for linguistic gems like grammar lessons and vocabulary insights.There are two things needed for this to happen:1. Accurate subtitles. These can be harder to find than you might think. Sometimes, youll be watching a French movie and notice that the French subtitles are off, using different vocabulary or phrasing things differently than whats spoken. If youre a beginner, you might not realize whats going on and end up confused.2. You need to have a copy of whats being said. You need to print it up and be holding that thing in your hand! But how many language learners actually do this? To get your own copies of scripts, you can try looking on the Internet Movie Script Database  or SimplyScripts.You have to believe me when I say that the movie will be a whole different animal when you have an accurate copy of its dialogue in your hands.4. They let the dialogues go by too fast.One of the most common reasons language learners don’t get as much as they can from watching movies? The dialogues are simply too fast for easy comprehension. The lines are hard to follow, the individual words almost possible to tease apartâ€"the native speakers blur words together, drop syllables, play with tone and rhythm, use slang.Its hard to follow all of this when youre still learning. Especially at th e beginner and intermediate levels, this can be discouraging.Of course, the movie was made for native speakers, not language learners. Native speakers eat, sleep and drink with the language so there’s really no need to artificially slow things down. They may even know what a character is naturally going to say before the line is delivered.But for the noble and well-intentioned language learner, the lines whiz by too fast. Even if they have the subtitles printed up and know what was said, its still hard to catch the words or to repeat the line.I bet at least one of the above situations sounds familiar.It might be exactly the reason why your inner skeptic is telling you its not possible to learn language through movies.After all, remember that time you tried and it was way too hard? Or you just didnt learn anything new?Now, to combat these problems, Im going to share  an effective strategy called the Scene Approach.The Scene Approach: How to Really Learn Language Through MoviesThe A dvantages of the Scene ApproachAt its core, the Scene Approach is simply the strategic splitting of a film into its component scenes.A scene is a segment in the movie where events happen in a single sequence. A scene in the movie Titanic, for example, is Jack successfully intervening before Rose jumps off the ship into the water.In the Scene Approach, scenes that are fat with language content are studied relentlessly, repeated over and over till the cows come home. Other, less linguistically valuable scenes, like the movies big car chase, are skipped.The approach comes with hefty benefits.1. It makes the whole movie manageable.Who has the time to watch the same 90-minute foreign language movie 200 times, anyway? Imagine how much that would eat into your dayâ€"or into your life!And, as said before, not all scenes are created equal. There are scenes, like the training montages of all Rocky films, that could otherwise be skipped. They have no serious value for the language learnerâ€"as ide from being entertaining.Splitting the movie into component scenes is altogether a different proposition. It’s more manageable this way. A single scene fits nicely into the length of an average, everyday study session.Dividing the whole movie into manageable chunks means you can now focus on learning fewer lines and fewer vocabulary words in each viewing session. And youll have fewer fast-paced, back-and-forth dialogues to contend with.Plus, you don’t have wait for the whole movie to end before you hit replay. When you’re dealing with scenes, if some linguistic confusion happens in the third  minute, you dont have to suffer through the whole thing and wait for the final credits to roll before you seek clarification.Divide and conquer!2. It gives you the necessary context.But why scenes? Why not split the movie into discrete five-minute segments instead?Scenes are natural cut-off points. They contain continuous action that happens in a single place and without a break in tim e (usually, though more experimental films may skip around a bit).By their very nature, scenes are more palatable to the mindâ€"unlike a random five-minute segment where two characters are talking one minute, followed by a different set of characters talking about a totally different thing the next.Now consider that language and meaning never happen in a vacuum. Its not just about the words. Each scene really gives you the context for everything the characters are talking about. A scene is a world unto itself. It has its own purpose, characters, character motivations, scenery, costumes, background sounds and outcomes.Movies help language learners because they give all the necessary context for understanding language. The Scene Approach just amplifies this advantage by dividing the whole movie into its scenes.3. It slows things down.In this approach, you don’t move on to the next scene until you’ve mastered the one you’re currently on.So, instead of watching the movie as one lo ng stream, feeling helpless with the speed and flood of information, you deal with individual scenes. You can pause and rewind any time to replay it over and over. You now deal with the thing line-by-line, so even if the dialogue goes very fast, you can always play it back.Speaking of playbacks, our new technology allows us to replay a clip without losing quality. It used to be that, in the era of VHS tapes and DVDs, you would get diminishing audio and video quality for every replay. Can you imagine?Today, because everything is digital, you get the same quality no matter how many times you replay a clip. Its also easier to click and drag back to the beginning of the sceneâ€"just jot down the time at which the scene starts.Things still going too fast? Theres now video functionality that literally helps you slow things down to 75%, 50% or 25% of the normal speedâ€"even YouTube videos offer this.Language learners are really running out of excuses not to learn from movies.Now, were goin g to talk about how to implement the Scene Approach, step by step.How to Learn Language with the Scene Approach1. Watch it like any other movie the first few times.Go ahead. Watch the movie like any other movie.Get it out of your system. Watch the movie with popcorn and soda while stretched out on your couch. You can even invite some friends over and view it on a Friday night. Ogle the good-looking actors, laugh at the jokes, be surprised by the unexpected twists. Focus on the story and get the big picture.So, are you done?Now let’s really heat things up.2. When you dive into the scene, stop treating it like a movie.After watching the film as a moviegoer at least once, its the perfect time to put on your language learning cap.Go to the first scene and take out a notebook. Jot down the timestamp of when it starts and when it ends.Focus on this one scene and nothing else.Understand the specific context. What’s happening in this scene? Is the villain interrogating and torturing the hero in some dark dungeon? Listen to the back-and-forth volley of dialogue. Only this scene exists!This is very important. When you’re working with scenes and you know in the back of your head that its part of something bigger, the temptation to proceed to next scenes is very real. Movies are designed to be that way, to take you from scene to scene in a frictionless fashion. A director might prick your heart early so you feel for the main character later. And as for the villain? You cant wait for the satisfying revenge where you get to see the jerk get his just desserts and fall off a cliff.It’s cathartic to go through the entire journey of the film, I know. But then you would still be treating the whole thing as a movie.You’ve donned your language learning cap now, and it shouldn’t matter if the hero gets his revenge or not. Think instead of the language learning opportunities in the scene. Is the bad guy asking questions? “Who stole the computer chip?” “Where is the gold hidden?” Then take them as lessons in question construction!Yes, theres high drama happening in the scene, but you should rather be interested in more earthly matters. That’s why you already watched the whole movie like any other blockbuster. So,  when you end a day’s session, you won’t be left hanging on the scene where  Liam Neeson  is  threatening his daughter’s kidnappers over the phone by touting a very particular set of skills. That would be too much a cliffhanger to stop at!3. Go from English subtitles, to foreign language subtitles, to no subtitles at all.Master the scene starting with English subtitles first, then foreign language subtitles second, then no subtitles at all.This seems to be the subtitle study sequence that yields maximum learning.The English subtitles will ensure that you fully understand whats happening in the scene.After a few tries with English, you then use subtitles in the target language. You now begin to follow the mouth, the movements and the lines that are being delivered. Your eyes are trained on the scene, your ears are listening to the sounds. You listen more closely this time, even pushing the headphones closer to your ears.If you forget whats happening, switch back to English subtitles. You can actually ping back and forth as often as you like. Or, if it’s at all possible, display both English and target language subtitles at the same time, like you can with your  FluentU videos. This visual gives you unprecedented comparison of vocabulary.Finally, watch and comprehend the scene without crutches, without subtitles, just like native speakers do. Watch the scene, without the subs, several more times. More than you think you need to.4. Write the subtitles down.It pays to have the scenes transcript in your hand, instead of trying to catch them on your screen where they quickly disappear.Whether or not youve already printed the transcript out, take the time to write down the text of the particular scene.  By hand, if possible.This shows not only commitment, but writing the subtitles down will help you remember the words better. Research has shown that the act of writing makes it easier for the brain to store and retrieve information from memory.Instead of thinking of subtitles as aids for films, think of them as language materials in and of themselves. Or better yet, think of it the other way around. Think of the scene as an aid for the subtitlesâ€"a video clip to help language learners understand whats written on the page.This is the principle thats put into practice by FluentU, a unique language learning program that transforms short, authentic video clips into full language lessons. Its basically an entire program that operates on the Scene Approach.FluentU takes authentic videosâ€"like news segments, short interviews, movie clips and music videosâ€"and makes them approachable and valuable for language learners of any skill level. This is done through accurate, interactive subtitles that appear on screen. You can click on any word or phrase to get a definition, in-context usage examples and pronunciation.5. Memorize the lines and talk along.Believe it or not, you have to memorize some lines. Not because youll be blurting them out in real life. Well, maybe you will, maybe you won’t.Memorizing the lines is really just a way for you to improve your memory, open your mouth and indeed say the words used in the scene. The speaking practice mattersâ€"language isnt just in your head.Speaking is a physical act, and like any physical activity, you reach mastery when you actually do it over and over.A movie, even if you take it one scene at a time, can only do so much. You better be talking, yelling, mumbling, gesturing and generally acting in front of the TV or your computer screen if you want to get the most out of it. Say the lines as the actors say them, talk back to the actors, shout comments out loud, get involved.So, there you go! You now know how to really learn a language through movies.The Scene Approach lets you do a deep dive into a 90-minute feature film so you come away with a wealth of lessons.Good luck, and happy watching!