Thinking About Pursuing a Career in Accounting and Switching Majors

Thinking About Pursuing a Career in Accounting and Switching Majors Pursuing a Career in Accounting Pursuing a Career in Accounting If you want to pursue a career in accounting, it is not a big deal that you must have special skills to manipulate accounting numbers. As a Certified Public Accountant, CPA or Chief Financial Officer, CFO, you will be responsible. They will review and analyze various aspects of financial information for any entity, public or private while financial information are analyzed for several purposes, including: Audit Tax Reporting Advisory Responsibilities for Pursuing a Career in Accounting As an Accountant (CPA) or Chief Financial Officer (CFO), you will be asked to prepare and provide financial reports. It is required to represent the companys board of directors about its overall health, financial strategy or to advise the board about potential mergers, acquisitions or any expansion plans that the company is considering. But in reality, it’s not about crunching the accounting numbers, the technology (accounting software’s) took over the manual book-keeping process. Even though with all the accounting software available to do the job for you, your presence will still be needed as a problem solver for company. Since you will be working very closely with top management or board of directors of the company. In order to become a certified public accountant, you will need to earn not only an additional credits hours. You also need credit hours in addition to your bachelor’s degree but also pass the four semester CPA exam. The average salary for a beginners working as CPA is about $45,500 and it’s around $40,900 if you are a tax accountant. But working as a financial officer/controller, one can earn average starting salary of $90,000, according to Glassdoor.com. More options available for pursuing career in accounting After passing the CPA exam, you have two choices, one is to start your career as CPA of your own firm. And secondly you can work as full time for big or small, public or private companies. Even in major economic crisis, the accounting jobs have a fewer cut than other types of jobs. The beauty of the accounting career is that you will gain a diverse interest which eventually will help you grow as you progresses in your accounting career. Lot of people think that accounting is not a lucrative field, but it’s a very stable field. It’s going to stay here even with the tough economic environment or the accounting software’s that do the job for you. Whether it is the new accounting law that just passed by US congress or it’s a new investment in the renewable energy companies. The accountant will be needed to solve the financial puzzles for the companies. You being a versatile accounting professionals can easily switch career to either finance. You can also start your own business if don’t like the accounting field. According to the latest survey 75% of those says that accounting degree is must in order to advance in their career. 65% respondent says that they will recommend that one should major in accounting in order to get a good start in their career. The most students pursued major in Accounting, Business and Finance. It’s a great idea if you start your career as an intern early when you are in either junior or senior class of high school. For Pursuing a Career in Accounting working at one of the 10 big accounting firms below can be helpful: Deloitte: Ranked number 1 accounting firm. Annual revenue approximately were in the range of $15,067 million and $20,057 million. Company headquarter is in New York City, NY and it employs approx. 35,000 people. PwC: Second in the top 10 accounting firms. The annual revenue ranges from $12,000 to $14,050 million. Companys headquarter is in New York City, NY and employs approx. 30,000 people. Ernst Young: Holds the third position in the top 10 accounting firms. Annual revenues ranges from $9,500 to $11,000 million. Also the companys headquarter is in New York City, NY and employs approx. 30,000 people. KPMG: Came on the 4th place in top 10 accounting firms. Annual revenue ranges from $6,200 to $7,000 million. The company headquartered in New York City, NY and it employs approx. 24,000 people. McGladrey: Hold the 5th position in the top 10 accounting Their annual revenue ranges from $1,350 million to $1,500 million. They are based in the state Illinois and currently employs approx. 7000 peoples. Grant Thornton: Placed on 6th position. Their annual revenue ranges from $1,250 million to $1,300 million. The company headquartered in Chicago, IL and employs approx. 4000 people. CBIZ/Mayer Hoffman McCan: Number 7th position in the top 10 accounting firms. Their annual revenue ranges from $785 million to $800 million. They headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and employs approx. 4100 people. BDO: Holds the 8th position in the top 10 accounting firms. Their annual revenue ranges from $620 to $700 million. Their head office is located in Chicago, IL and currently employs approx. 3000 people. Crowe Horwath: Positioned themselves on number 9th position. Their annual revenue ranges from $600 to $620 million. They are headquartered in Oak Brook Terrace, IL and currently employs approx. 3000 people. Clifton Larson Allen: On number 10th position. Their annual revenue ranges from $550 million to $600 million. They are based in the State of Milwaukee and currently employs approx. 4000 peoples. There are some accounting placement services also if you don’t live near the top 10 firms above. The top accounting placement services are: Robert Half Finance Accounting: Accounting employment and staffing agency. Their offices spread across Unites States. One can search for Robert half on google search engine and find their office near you. Accounting Principals and Staffing Services: Provides accounting employment and staffing services. They matched the right skills with right type of job. Kelly Services: Global company providing the job placement in accounting, finance and other industries. Accounting and Finance Staffing Services: Expert in matching the right skills with right type of accounting and finance jobs available. Kforce Staffing and Solution: Professional accounting placement services matching job seekers and employers in accounting, finance, and healthcare. The college students can start their career as an accounting tutor helping students in junior or senior high school. Several tutoring companies students can work part time as tutor. Tutor Pace is one of the best tutoring companies that offers a handsome hourly rate and one can work conveniently from home, library, or even café. If you preparing for CPA exam and you need assistance, you can connect with Tutor Pace Online Accounting Tutors anytime, anywhere. With so many doors open now a days to accounting and financial professionals, I recommend students, entry level professionals and hiring managers to do their homework to learn what certifications is best for them. Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save

Youre Never Too Old to Start Yoga.

Youre Never Too Old to Start Yoga. Yoga for the Older Folks Among Us. ChaptersA Brief History of YogaWhy Do Yoga?What Is a Senior When it Comes to Yoga?Yoga for Seniors: Adapt Your ObjectivesAdapting Yoga to SeniorsChair YogaYoga Poses that Older Yogis Should AvoidChoosing a Yoga Instructor for SeniorsHelpful Things You Might Need for Yoga.Some Tips that Elder Yogis Should Remember.A Yoga Glossary“Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese.” - Luis BunuelYoga is an activity that many people are familiar with and that many people practise, regardless of their age. In fact, whether you’re doing a sun salutation, mindfulness meditation, or twisting, we can work on our body, mind, and spirit whether we’re 7 or 77.However, age does play a role in your ability to let go and in the effectiveness of certain yoga poses.  Annoyingly enough, there is more to it than just thinking positively! Yoga requires balance, strength, and flexibility - all things that diminish as we get older - and, although it may look like people making poses on the floor, it's an activity that can cause injury if you throw yourself into it with too much enthusiasm.Luckily, though, yoga improves all these things too - and it can be both a great work out and a de-stressing activity. Yet, it's worth knowing some different things if you are approaching the activity as an older person - and that's what we are going to talk about here.So at what age are you considered a senior?In the world of sport, you can very quickly be considered a senior. In athletics, a senior can be in their early 20s! Of course, it’s all relative. When it comes to the stretches, alignment, and warming up of yoga, everyone can do it as long as they adapt it to their age.In this article, we're going to look at senior yoga. People can still attend a yoga near me class, do yoga postures, and enjoy the restorative benefits of yoga well into their twilight years.Building from these works, many different scholars and 'yogis' built upon the ancient scripts and teachings. Over the years, they eventually developed a form of yoga known as Hatha Yoga. This is generally what we know as yoga these days - with its salutations, and its attention to body awareness and breathing - in which the physical body becomes the important aspect in spiritual enlightenment and enrichment.Twentieth-Century YogaInto the twentieth century, yoga practitioners travelled to the west, and some of them began to combine traditional yoga techniques with western exercises. One of the major minds in what came to be known as the 'Yoga Renaissance' was  Swami Kuvalayananda, who practised long into his senior years.And if you are looking for inspiration, you might want to look at Tao Porchon - the world's oldest yoga teacher, who turned 100 last year.  Based in New York, she still teaches up to eight classes a week - and attributes her old age to the fact that she has been practicing yoga since she was six!Why Do Yoga?People do yoga for a whole load of reasons: to reduce stress, to develo p physical fitness, flexibility, and core strength and it's a particularly good supplement to other exercises too. Yet, there is a lot of research that suggests that yoga also combats pain, irritable bowels, obesity, and asthma.Among older people, it's a fantastic way to develop health and well-being in a low-impact and social way. Keeping active is important at all ages - particularly when you are older. Exercise in general helps your mental health and your mood - and can contribute greatly to improved sleep patterns.The majority of people that commit to yoga find that the spiritual aspects of the discipline become ever more interesting. So, if you are into that, you may find that you find greater inner peace by dedicating yourself to the exercise.And finally, as one of the most in-vogue exercise disciplines in the world, you are sure to look super cool whilst doing it too!What Is a Senior When it Comes to Yoga?Whatever discipline you practise, be it yoga or otherwise, there is an age when you’ll be considered a senior. This is the age when you’ll need to adapt certain exercises to match your age and your fitness. However, this is a generalisation, as there are some people of a certain age who’ll be fitter and more capable than their younger counterparts.Age is just a number, after all. That said, there are things that are easier to do when you're younger. (Source: aunhtet0)Of course, not every yoga posture is the same and time takes its toll on parts of your body such as your spine, hips, knees and problems like arthritis can make it seem that the yoga practice has an age limit.There are specialised yoga courses for senior citizens since most people of a similar age will have a similar level when it comes to doing sporting activities such as yoga. For the purpose of this article, we'll consider a senior to be someone who’s approaching retirement whose physical prowess isn’t what it once was during their younger years.When it comes to breathing tech niques, alignment, muscle toning, improving flexibility, and managing stress, there are certain considerations that need to be made for older yogis. You can’t do all of the above with the same intensity as you would with a group of 20-somethings. However, there’s nothing that can’t be altered to work for older participants. You just need to modify the energy and intensity of the courses.If you’re pregnant, you’ll probably want to consider prenatal yoga, a type of gentle yoga that women in the first or second trimester of pregnancy can do.Yoga for Seniors: Adapt Your ObjectivesYoga is a great discipline but you need to manage your goals and adapt them to your own capabilities. There are plenty of reasons and goals for doing yoga:RelaxExerciseMeet new peopleUnderstand a new way of lifeChange how you eat and exerciseHarmonise your mind, body, and spiritStart meditatingLearn to control your breathingAnd many others!Once you reach a certain age, you'll have to change how you do sport. (Source: HoliHo)Thus, there are plenty of reasons for seniors to start doing yoga. Throughout your life, these goals and reasons will change and there’s nothing wrong with deciding to start doing yoga later on in your life.Don’t forget that those with physical disabilities can also do yoga!Adapting Yoga to SeniorsWhether you’re 50 or 100, as we age, our bodies become less responsive and it’s more difficult to certain things once you reach a certain age. This isn’t necessarily a problem. However, you do need to take this into account in order to enjoy all the benefits of yoga and do your breathing exercises or poses like the sun salutation.There's no age limit when it comes to being active. (Source: Ellen26)As you get older, you’ll need to consider attending yoga classes that are adapted to your age and your fitness rather than practising on your own as you run the risk of injuring yourself. The idea is to harmonise your body, mind, and spirit regardless of your a ge. After all, yoga is a way of life that’s open to everyone!Look up for yoga London now.There are a number of different types of yoga which are good for older yogis:Nidra yoga which can help those who struggle to sleep manage their concerns.Yoga for back pain.Laughter yoga, a type of yoga that’s aimed at those who are feeling sad and only, something which can happen as we get older and approach retirement.These aren’t the only examples but they do show that regardless of your age, you can still do yoga. You just need to listen to your body and find out which type of yoga is best for you.Find out more about yoga for couples.Whilst that is sort of the essentials, you may want also to consider the following:Yoga brick.  - These are blocks of foam that you can use to position yourself better when following your yoga workout. They also double up as seats that you can use during moments of rest.Yoga blanket.  - Any blanket will do, but these are designed to maintain your core body temperature when you are in between routines.Otherwise, some proper sports gear is recommended. Whilst it may look relaxed, yoga is a workout, so swap those jeans for some leggings.Some Tips that Elder Yogis Should Remember.It is worth pointing out a few things that might be helpful to know about yoga. There are ways to practise that may be more beneficial and others that are less so. And, whilst yoga might not seem like a particularly grueling discipline, it can hurt you if you are doing it wrong.So, here are a few things to remember when you are starting off with yoga - things that will keep you motivated, improving, and safe.Start slow. - When learning a new discipline, sport, or even just a pose, it is important to start off slowly: don't rush into any yoga pose, as you don't want to strain yourself.Practise regularly.  - Just because you are starting slowly, it doesn't mean that your yoga has to stay slow for long. Instead, the more you practise, the sooner you will improve you r flexibility, your balance, your strength, and the sooner you will see the health benefits.Be honest about your ability.  - Be honest with yourself about the amount of exercise you can do and about the way your body feels whilst doing it. It's okay, when starting off, not to be amazingly competent nor super strong - but don't push yourself harder than you can go.Perform the poses correctly.  - Beginners yoga is fairly undemanding. However, it is really important to try to do the poses as correctly as possible. If you do them wrong, you may not get all of the intended benefits - and you may even end up hurting yourself!A Yoga GlossaryAsanathe poses adopted in yogaVinyasathe movement between poses.Kripalua type of yoga focused on physical healing and spiritual transformationKundalinidivine energy thought to reside at the base of the spineNamastea greeting in Hindi, but heard everywhere in yoga circles.Pranayamabreathing control

Which are the Spanish Speaking Countries

Which are the Spanish Speaking Countries Where is Spanish Spoken? ChaptersThere are around 440 million Native Spanish SpeakersCountries Where Spanish is SpokenInternational Organisations that Use the Spanish LanguageSpanish: A Cultural LanguageSpanish: The Language of a Growing RegionLearning Spanish is almost essential given how widely the language is spoken. In fact, the Spanish language is probably more popular than you think it is.  It  is the 2nd most spoken language in the world  (in terms of native speakers), and it is  spoken in an official capacity in 20 different independent countries.It's also a language with a broad influence in a lot of different places around the globe. For example, many international organisations use Spanish as an official language, such as the UN, the EU, and the WTO.There are a wide range of benefits of learning Spanish, and if you've been researching different Spanish courses at university or are considering taking a few Spanish lessons near me to get to a conversational level, these facts and figures should make it clear how important learning Spanish as a second language might be. Let's take a look: TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThere are around 440 million Native Spanish SpeakersSo why should you study Spanish? Well the following numbers should go some way to showing the importance of the language:Around 440 million people know how to speak Spanish as their first language, making it the second most spoken native language afte r Mandarin Chinese.It is the third most popular language in the world after Chinese (Mandarin) and English.It ranks inside the top 10 in terms of the number of people who speak it as a second language.It is an official language in 20 countries.Such figures have elevated Spanish to having the status as one of the most important languages in the world. The shear number of native speakers and the number of countries where it is spoken are just some of the reasons to learn Spanish.Spanish is spoken in some of the most remote parts of the world. (Source: Irtaza Ali)The history of Spanish has made it widespread, and while Spanish is obviously spoken in Spain, it’s also spoken across most of Central and South America. In fact, when talking about the number of speakers, Spain isn’t even the country with the most Spanish speakers:121 million people speak Spanish in Mexico. This means that most Spanish speakers are from there.Although Spanish is not an official language in the U.S.A (ther e is no official language recognised in the constitution), there are 53 million Spanish speakers there, with 41 million speaking it as their mother tongue. This is a substantial figure given that the US is home to around 320 million people. According to the Cervantes Institute, this figure is set to go up to around 128 million Spanish speakers by 2050.Colombia is home to around 48 million Spanish speakers.There are 46 million Spanish speakers in Spain.Why is Spanish so common in the Americas? It all started with journeys by Christopher Columbus and the colonisation of the Americas at the end of the 15th century. During the time of the Spanish empire, a lot of territory in this part of the world came under the control of the Spanish royalty.Countries Where Spanish is SpokenSpeaking Spanish is a must if you love travelling. Not only is it a language that is spoken in Spain, but it spoken the whole length of Central and South America, from the U.S-Mexican border in the North, to the Us huaia at the southern tip of Argentina. Spanish is spoken as an official language in the following countries:ArgentinaBoliviaChileColombiaCosta RicaCubaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaGuatemalaHondurasMexicoNicaraguaPanamaParaguayPeruSpainUruguayVenezuelaSpanish is mainly spoken in Europe, Africa, and the Americas. (Source: pixabay.com)This wide range of countries gives you plenty of options for your holidays, but also if you are looking to do an immersion course in a Spanish-speaking country in order to learn the language of Miguel de Cervantes.After all, it’s much easier to learn about the Spanish language and culture if you’re surrounded by native speakers and speak the language with a high degree of fluency.If you don't, it’s probably a good idea to have learned the basics and studied a bit of Spanish grammar before you go. After just a few weeks of immersion, you'll find yourself learning far more Spanish than you ever imagined.If you’re still looki ng stuff up or relying on automatic translation software to express yourself, you really should take a few classes before you go anywhere!Have you ever dreamed of immersing yourself in Spanish culture? Being able to speak directly to foreign people? Ordering food without looking foolish? Why not learn more about Spanish customs and traditions before you go. They're fascinating!From the list of countries that speak Spanish that we have just named, you could visit a number of different destinations that you hadn't previously dreamed of. In fact, if you want to work in a Spanish-speaking country, then one of these could even be your new home!Learning Spanish will allow you to visit so many amazing places and maybe meet some very famous people. If you read celebrity magazines, you'll know that plenty of Spanish-speakers are Hollywood stars.  In both movies and TV shows, there are Spanish-speaking stars like Mar Anthony, Salma Hayek, and Penelope Cruz, to name a few. TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsInternational Organisations that Use the Spanish LanguageThe importance of Spanish on the world stage extends way beyond the number of native speakers that there are, and the number of countries where it is spoken. Some of the world's most powerful and influential international organisations use Spanish as an official language to conduct their business.As you would expect, international organisations which oper ate in the Americas often use Spanish alongside English, and sometimes French and Portuguese. For example, the South American trading bloc, MercoSur, uses Spanish alongside Portuguese. The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) also uses Spanish as one of its four official languages.But international organisations beyond Latin America see the importance of Spanish in their day-to-day activities. In the sporting world, football's world governing body, FIFA, and Rugby's equivalent, World Rugby, both use Spanish in an official capacity.But perhaps the power of Spanish is best exemplified by its use by some of the most important international organisations in the world. With Spain being a member of the European Union, Spanish is used as one of its official languages.But Spanish really comes into its own when you consider that it is one of only three languages used at the International Labour Organisation and the World Trade Organisation, and one o f six languages used by the United Nations.These organisations wield considerable international influence, and they do so, in part, by using the Spanish language. That is why it is such a good idea to take Spanish lessons London or Birmingham...Spanish could be help you navigate your way through your careers. (Source: Ingo Joseph)The widespread use of Spanish in such organisations means that if you learn business Spanish, or a form of Spanish that is specific to a particular sector, it could open up a number of different doors from a professional point of view.Learning a specific form of Spanish will be essential as everyday Spanish won't teach you the vocabulary that you need to operate in the world of international business or international politics.But once you have achieved this, and as a bilingual English-Spanish speaker, you will improve your employability enormously. This is because a lot of the aforementioned organisations use English as one of their official languages, too. Therefore, they often look to recruit people who are fluent (often native speakers) in one of their official languages, but who can also speak another language to a high level.Spanish: A Cultural LanguageSince Spanish evolved from Latin, and half of English vocabulary comes directly or indirectly from Latin, there are plenty of words in Spanish that will look similar to English words.While this makes Spanish easier to learn than a language such as Chinese, it can still be a challenge. Just when you think you've mastered one conjugation, you find out there are seemingly hundreds of tenses in Spanish! There are a lot of reasons to learn Spanish at school, and this is one of them. By starting early, you can get ahead of your classmates and have a sounder grounding in Spanish grammar by the time you need it to apply for university or jobs.The challenge of learning Spanish is ultimately worth it for the cultural exploits. These include:LiteratureArchitectureDon Quijote still remains the most popular Spanish novel of all time and is the second most translated book of all time after the Bible.If you want to read the original version, you’ll have to learn Spanish and enjoy it as it was meant to be read. Remember, there are advantages to all Spanish learning methods, so the key is to find a method that works well for you.Spanish architecture is also a sight to behold. There are so many Spanish cities where you can enjoy Gothic architecture, especially when it comes to cathedrals. Spain's numerous old universities are also marvels of architecture.  You can find completely different architectural styles next to one another in your typical Spanish city.If you want to visit an architecturally-rich city, Barcelona is a good place to start. Whilst there, you can visit the Sagrada Familia, the famous unfinished cathedral designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. The country's capital, Madrid, is also home to plenty of architectural wonders.Barcelona is home to so man y artistic wonders. (Source: pixabay.com)There’s also plenty of other cities with architecture of note: The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, and the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, for example.If you want to enjoy this kind of cultural diversity, Spain is the place to go. So why not get started with your Spanish tutorials today and plan a trip to Spain?Spanish: The Language of a Growing RegionFor a long time, Latin America was criticised for its slower levels of growth and high levels of poverty.  However, in recent years, its economic growth hasn’t showed signs of stopping any time soon.  In fact, since the global recession in 2008, it’s grown with capital from Europe and Chinese investment.Brazil as well as Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru are becoming some of the most interesting countries in terms of economic growth. They are subsequently becoming important strategic partners, in terms of trade, politics, and security, for many west ern powers.Mercosur and numerous other treaties such as ALADI and CACM between South and North America have helped the countries in South America to grow. What's more, a variety of trade agreements, association agreements, global agreements, and economic agreements tie the EU and a whole range of Latin American countries together. This helps to facilitate trade and cooperation between both sides, which has also helped both sides to benefit and grow.Although there is a long way to go, poverty is starting to decrease rapidly in a lot of these countries. Many jobs have also been created as a result of the growth.  Thus, despite certain inequalities that still remain, the quality of life is increasing. Since the global recession in 2008, poverty has decreased on the whole by 15%.South America is also becoming more popular with tourists wishing to learn more about Latin culture, so learning the Spanish language could set you up perfectly if you want to work in tourism, business, or polit ics, or simply if you fancy a holiday to a slightly different location this year!

Why Take an ESOL Course to Help you Learn English

Why Take an ESOL Course to Help you Learn English What Are the Benefits of Learning English with an ESOL Tutor? ChaptersLearning English as a Second Language on a One to One BasisFocus on Your Difficulties in ESOL Courses with Your English TutorHire an English Tutor for Homework Exam Preparation HelpPractice Speaking  English with Your ESOL TutorTaking an ‘English MOT’ at the Start of Your ESOL ClassTaking English lessons is a brilliant opportunity.Being able to learn to speak English is a luxury that isn’t available to everyone â€" so don’t throw your chance away!Superprof is here to explain how to get the most out of your one to one English tuition.There are two main objectives when you begin any  esol courses. The first goal is to grasp the concepts you find difficult, and the second is transform this new knowledge into improved grades. You can’t achieve one without achieving the other.Private tutors actively encourage their students to succeed in reaching these goals.ESOL tutoring can give you the boost you need ¦ source: Pixabay - tookapicOver the course of one academic year, you will likely sit several exams including one in English which may test your ability to conjugate irregular verbs, correctly use grammar, or your English reading and writing skills!We recommend that you take advantage of your English tutor by getting them to help you with exam preparation â€" revising alone is not as fun, nor is it as effective as working with someone else.You need to be organised when exam time comes around. It is difficult to find a better revision tool than a personal English tutor who has a perfect knowledge of your subject, your goals and how to use your learning strategies to overcome any obstacles along the way.The personalised approach of private lessons is what makes them so effective.Of course, this applies to any major English exams, whether they’re at high school or university. These exams are usually made up of at least two parts: an oral exam and a written exam.This means that the grade for your work will inform potential employers of your ability to communicate in English â€" and is therefore incredibly important.If you still have these important exams ahead of you, it can be helpful to get ahead in your learning with a few private english lessons online or face to face.Private English tutors are used to being brought in to help students in the run-up to exams, and are therefore accustomed to test preparation and helping students with their exam technique.This means looking at the course content and goals of each individual and getting them ready for whatever they may be faced with on D-Day.Practice Speaking  English with Your ESOL TutorAs we have already mentioned, national education systems do not always provide enough opportunities for pupils to practice their English speaking skills.Oral fluency often takes a back seat to learning the basics of the language, but at what point does speaking practice become more important?Very rarely during your academic career will you have the opportunity to engage in direct conversation with a native English or bilingual speaker for a sufficient amount of time.Your tutor, who may be a native speaker themselves, will help you get into the habit of regularly speaking English to improve your fluency.In the beginning, even if you have a good knowledge of topic-specific vocabulary and complex grammar, speaking will be quite slow. ESOL learners often pause between words and sentences to think about their grammar and pronunciation.At this point, you won’t be fluent.However, the good news is that fluency is something you can develop through conversation which allows you to get used to English phonetics and be able to fully express yourself in English.Conversation is the best way to see yourself make rapid improvements in your spoken English. Talking with other pupils and teachers in English will mean that you use your language to discuss your interests, as well as learn to confidently explore a variety of topics in conversation.By speaking with a native English speaker  in particular, you can work on your accent,  learn to identify those of others, learn English slang phrases and how to use idiomatic expressions - these are all things that will help you learn to speak English fluently.Make progress by getting together to speak English with your friends ¦ source: Pixabay - StockSnap`Get used to English or Scottish pronunciation, and learn about differences in vocabulary between British English and American English.After all, being able to understand what others are saying is central to communicating in a language!Bit by bit, English learners acquire the skills to be able to share their thoughts in a foreign language, even acquiring the relevant language skills to express humour and tell jokes in English.All of this comes with practice â€" which you can get with a tutor!Taking an ‘English MOT’ at the Start of Your ESOL ClassIn the context of tutoring an ‘English MOT’ means revisiting the basics of English with your private tutor, and seeing how you perform - even if you consider yourself to be an advanced speaker.Sometimes, a mediocre performance in English is the result of poorly executed learning strategies (this could be by the teacher or student).Nevertheless, if there are gaps in a student’s knowledge of the basics, it is difficult to build up an advanced understanding, and students may face obstacles when they come to study English at a higher level.Superprof therefore recommends that students do all they can to get the most from their private tuition by asking their tutor to help them consolidate their basic knowledge of English.Equally, it’s up to you to choose an English tutor who suits your individual needs.Compared to many other languages, English conjugation is relatively simple, so you should know it like the back of your hand â€" this includes irregular verbs too!Relearning basic sentence construction and grammar may seem tedious, but a good understanding is essential to a good command of English syn tax.Speaking good English with few mistakes means you will be able to adapt your spoken register to each situation, who will make you more attractive as an employee.Learn about taking ESOL courses as an adult here.

GET A RUNNING START ON THE SECOND LEG OF THE ACHIEVEMENT RACE

GET A RUNNING START ON THE SECOND LEG OF THE ACHIEVEMENT RACE Indicator #1: Grades and teacher conferences Listening, following directions, putting forth enough effort and completing classwork neatly and on-time all have an impact on grades. Conferences with teachers are a good way to determine your child's performance in all of these areas. When you meet with your child's teachers, ask for suggestions of specific activities you can undertake at home to support efforts at school. It's also important to tell the teacher about any issues that may affect your child's academic success. Family tension, financial concerns, health issues or marital problems directly impact a child's ability to concentrate in school. Indicator #2: Standardized test results In recent years, parents and students have paid the most attention to standardized tests during the spring - when many states and districts administer exams that now determine a student's ability to graduate or move on to the next grade. But you can get a good idea of which skills should be strengthened in advance of these tests by taking a second look at the results of other standardized exams that may have been given during the fall. This is particularly true in school districts that administer tests at the beginning of the year and then again at the end of the year to measure students' progress. If your child scored less than satisfactorily in reading or mathematics at the beginning of the year, for example, you might pay particular attention to these areas as he or she prepares for the high stakes tests that will be given in just a few months. Indicator #3: The Work/Life Balance Take a look at your child's academic success during the first half of the year and weigh it against all of the extracurricular activities that filled his or her schedule. Were there enough hours in a typical day last semester to keep up with schoolwork while enjoying every activity? Working collaboratively, parents and students should prioritize activities that are most important, and create a schedule that strikes the right balance.

Keeping Up With The Joneses - What does it mean in English

Keeping Up With The Joneses - What does it mean in English Keeping up with the Joneses is an  English idiomatic expression  that  regularly appears  in conversation and also, though less frequently, in written EnglishA few weeks ago, one of my students asked me the meaning of the expression keeping up with the Joneses. Is this an idiom you have used before? Do you know what it means?Lets look at this now.What does Keeping Up with the Joneses mean?In this saying, the surname Jones alludes to any, generic, neighbor.To keep up with the Joneses refers to competitiveness between people. It means not falling behind your neighbor in terms of their material possessions and, in order to achieve this, buying whatever your neighbor has and doing what they do.For example, if your neighbor buys a new car, then to ‘keep up with them,’ you too will also need a new car. If they paint their house, then you should too, etc. The list is endless and refers to every possession, activity (like going on holidays) etc. It can be an unhealthy obsession.Of course , the use of the surname Jones normally refers to neighbors but it can also mean any acquaintance, colleague, friend etc.A Quick Exercise to Practice this IdiomLets look at an artistic representation of the concept of keeping up with Joneses:What does the cartoon depict?What problems do you think people who try constantly to keep up with the Joneses would have?Do you think that you, in any aspect of your live, could be said to keep up with the Joneses?  Where does the expression come from?Keeping up with the Joneses is said to have originated in a popular cartoon strip run in an American newspaper at the start of the 20th century by cartoonist Arthur Momand. Interestingly while the expression was the title of the cartoon, the Joneses were never actually featured in it. Instead the cartoon focused on the McGinis family who lived next door to the Joneses and who looked to them constantly as a source of reference as to what they should have and the social status they should be striving to attain.Want to keep learning? Check out our lessons on English expressions and English phrasal verbs.   English Teacher Thank you for your explanation. It made my lesson much more interesting!

Morning Mix More rain for Texas, Whole Foods gets cheaper and the best college dining hall in America

Morning Mix More rain for Texas, Whole Foods gets cheaper and the best college dining hall in America Damage caused by massive rainfall over Texas from Hurricane Harvey (Image: You Tube screenshot/CNN/Brian Emfinger -SLM) The death toll from the enormous rainfall and flooding across south Texas is currently in the single digits, but it isnt expected to remain there. We know in these kind of events that, sadly, the death toll goes up historically, Houston police Chief Art Acevedo told The Associated Press. Im really worried about how many bodies were going to find. Harvey, which went from hurricane to tropical storm to massive rainstorm, is expected to continue to bring rain to the deluged area all the way through Friday. President Trump plans to visit the hard-hit areas for briefings today. This is the first time his administration has had to respond to a natural disaster. Vox has put together a useful list detailing where you can donate to help with disaster relief and recovery. The flooding is causing major problems for colleges and universities in the area, as well, reports Inside Higher Ed. WHOLE FOODS CUTS PRICES AS AMAZON OWNERSHIP KICKS IN Whole Foods location in Ann Arbor, MI. (Image: By Dwight Burdette via Wikimedia Commons)If you love your avocado toast as much as we do, theres good news today. Bloomberg reports that Amazon.com Inc. spent its first day as the owner of a brick-and-mortar grocery chain cutting prices at Whole Foods Market as much as 43 percent. Vox reports that organic avocados went to $1.99 each from $2.79. Both Costco and Wal-Mart reacted to the changes by dropping prices as well. While it may mean good news in the short term, The Streets Lindsay Rittenhouse wrote a story titled Amazon Just Revealed How Its Planning to Destroy All Grocery Stores, painting a very different picture of the future of American supermarkets. And thats not all you can now buy at Whole Foods: Next to the organic peaches at Whole Foods: An ad for the Amazon Echo pic.twitter.com/bsIsH17Mh1 â€" Abha Bhattarai (@abhabhattarai) August 28, 2017 UCLA NAMED THE TOP DINING HALL IN AMERICA   Not only is the UCLA campus beautiful, they have tasty food. (Image: By b r e n t (UCLA) via Wikimedia Commons)Niche, an organization that compiles information on schools and colleges, recently put out an updated list of the Best College Food in America. According to Business Insider, Niche reviewed 1,384 four-year colleges and universities and compiled its ranking by looking to student surveys about the quality of the campus food, and by comparing the average cost of meal plans. UCLA came out on top, followed by Virginia Tech, Washington University St. Louis, The Culinary Institute of America (well, we hope so) and Bowdoin College. Hungry yet? AND FINALLY, SKIP THE STARBUCKS! Um, no thanks, Ill make my own. (Image: Wikipedia Commons) Temple Universitys Brittany Loeffler explains why its way better to just forget about that six-dollar latte and go DIY. She writes You know you have to have coffee, but that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to buy specialty coffees. Take a little extra time out of your day to make and perfect specialty coffee drinks from home! And she gives you links to 11 recipes that will bring the magic out of your coffeemaker. So yeah, thanks for reading. Youre as ready for Tuesday as youre gonna get. Have fun out there.

Taipei American School

Taipei American School Taipei American School Taipei American School (TAS) is an independent, coeducational day school founded in 1949 for students from prekindergarten through grade 12. More than thirty nationalities make up the student body. The first semester of the school year runs from early August to mid-December; the second semester runs from early January to early June. The School is located in Tien Mou, a northern suburb of Taipei, where many members of the expatriate community reside. High-rise apartment buildings, small businesses, parks, outdoor markets, temples, international restaurants, and the Yangmingshan Mountains characterize the landscape. The TAS parent body includes professionals from local businesses and international corporations, employees of foreign governments, and educators. Organization. The School is governed by an eleven-member Board of Directors composed of two Board members appointed for four-year terms and nine Board members elected for three-year terms by the Taipei American School Association. Membership in the Association is automatically conferred on the parents of children enrolled in the School. Curriculum. TAS provides an American-based education with a global perspective which results in a love of learning, academic excellence, a balanced life, and service to others. The K-12 curriculum is based on exemplary standards and benchmarks from the U.S. As the majority of TAS students will continue their education in the United States, TAS has aligned its curriculum at each grade level to facilitate a smooth transition. Each year, over 90% of the graduates attend colleges and universities in the United States; the rest enroll in four-year institutions around the world. The middle school (grades 6-8) is an innovative interdisciplinary program. The upper school (grades 9-12) offers a rigorous, college-preparatory program with multiple Honors, AP, and IB courses. Starting in kindergarten, students take Mandarin classes that help them take advantage of the local culture. TAS offers EAL support as well as support for students with mild learning differences; parents of students with learning needs should contact the School directly to be sure that TAS has the resources and programs to fit their childs needs. TAS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). TAS also produces several annual publications, including an Annual Report, the school profile, and an alumni news magazine. In addition, TAS produces a school news magazine called The Window, which is published three times each year. Facilities. The School occupies a campus of approximately 15 acres. The campus is wireless to service the IT needs as a one-to-one laptop school in grades 4-5 and the middle and upper schools. The School has approximately 200 classrooms, including many science and robotics labs. The campus also features a four-story library / IT / media complex, music and art facilities, three dance studios, and three theaters. Sports facilities include three gyms, covered and outdoor tennis courts, a track, two playing fields with artificial turf, and a 25-meter indoor swimming pool. The cafeteria, pizza bar, Village Snack Bar, and Fitness Cafe serve nearly 3,000 patrons per day. The Upper School Science and Technology Building opened in 2012, and features state-of-the-art science and robotics labs, new classrooms equipped with cutting-edge technology, and a lecture hall. The new Liu Lim Arts Center opened in August 2013, along with the new Tiger Health and Wellness Center.