How to Get the Best Travel Insurance Policy

How to Get the Best Travel Insurance PolicyWhen you look at the chemistry of a chapter, a question might arise in your mind. Is the meaning of the word 'university' real?Perhaps it's true that 'university' is a deceptive term. We all know that universities exist in this world. But are they really real?There are people who do not think that the chemistry and universities are different. It seems that there is an overlap between the two terms. They might be similar in some ways but there are several differences too. They are not the same in any respect.This is something that I would like to discuss with you, so you can see where you are coming from with regard to the term 'university'. You have to understand that 'university' means a lot of things. From your point of view, it is a synonym for the word 'school'. You don't think that the university means the school.Well, I am sure that you don't have to use the etymology book to learn something. Let me show you what is really meant by the word 'university'. From my point of view, there are two major meanings:It is a firm or unyielding structure (which is a closed chamber), and one or more solid forms - which are generally liquids or gases. In addition, it is also a source of knowledge - that is, it is where learning takes place.Chemistry is very much about learning and teaching. So, if there is no school where we learn, how will we ever learn chemistry? That is why I hope that you will keep reading.The Real Meaning of the Word University<|startoftext|> PARACOUNT 4 SENTCOUNT travel insurance ENDPARAMOne of the biggest mistakes a lot of people make when it comes to buying travel insurance is to think that all of the companies offer the same kind of policies. In fact, not all of them actually do. There are a lot of variations among them, so you need to make sure that you have a very clear idea of the type of policy that you are looking for before you make any kind of decision. Here are a few things that you migh t consider before you go shopping for it.All major car manufacturers these days are now offering their own lines of travel insurance policies. This means that there is a very good chance that you will be able to get your policy at a very low price. In fact, you may even get the best rates among all the policies available.A travel insurance company that is known for its expertise is Allianz. This company has created an excellent reputation in the industry due to its good services and products. One of its products is the Travel Protection Insurance. This insurance covers all of your travel related expenses for a certain period of time.They have also created the Travel Protection Vacation Packages, which is meant for those who are planning to go on vacations. In fact, you will be able to enjoy a lot of peace of mind by getting this insurance. So, you should definitely check out the Internet and look for the travel insurance policy that is right for you.

Meta Testing Strategy for the LSAT

Meta Testing Strategy for the LSAT LSAT Law School Blog There are many things to keep in mind while studying for the LSAT exam. It’s overwhelming enough to try to master techniques for each of the sections. But at some point, take a break from driving yourself crazy with the logic questions and the games, and consider some other overall strategies that can help improve your score: Bring your own watch. It’s essential to keep track of time. Who knows if you can see the clock â€" who knows if there will be a clock? Control your conditions as much as you can. Learn to shake it off â€" Just like the Cash Cab host tells contestants who miss the red light challenge to “shake it off,” train yourself to shake off sections that you feel don’t go well. Don’t pay attention to the people around you - Chances are you aren’t even working on the same sections at the same time. The exam booklets are shuffled into different orders. You don’t know what your neighbor is working on and you shouldn’t care. Don’t let yourself get distracted; don’t break your rhythm. Don’t talk to others about the test on breaks - If someone tells you they thought the reading comprehension was easy and you thought it was hard, you may just waste energy worrying about it. Plus, you may have taken an experimental section, and you might get the easier one later in the day. Never leave a question blank. There is no penalty for wrong answers. Always take the last few seconds before time is called to go back through to answer the ones you weren’t sure about. Make blind guesses on the rest. If I haven’t even looked at a question, I always choose “B.” Don’t put your pencil down until you absolutely have to. Keep your energy up - It’s a long day. Bring energy snacks to have on hand when you’re flagging. These strategies can help you from losing points, and may even help you gain some. I also found that it gave me a sense of calm and control going into what is such a high stakes situation. By being more relaxed, it may help you as you work the questions as well.

Language Textbook Central 6 Textbook Sources Youll Love

Language Textbook Central 6 Textbook Sources Youll Love Language Textbook Central: 6 Textbook Sources Youll Love Textbooks  are too academic!If you want to learn how to swim, you need to be in the waterâ€"not sitting in the shade, reading some book about swimming.Textbooks lack real-world, real-life flavor, which makes them less useful for language learners.Why use textbooks when youve got the whole internet at your disposal?These are just some of the good arguments put forth by fellow language learners and experts.Should they spell the end of textbooks?Are you ready to swear off them and toss those thick tomes into the dumpster?Not so fast.For all the flack that they get, language textbooks are still some of the purest and most robust language learning material you can get your hands on. What Can Language Textbooks Do for You?Think about this: How many equivalent hours of podcasts, videos or in-field training will you need to cover as much material as just one thick textbook?The whole thing is right there. I mean, its literally in your hands! While were also going to cover the usefulness and money-saving power of electronic textbooks in this post, one advantage to textbooks is that you dont necessarily need to boot up a gadget or drain precious phone battery to access all that information. Even if you do, you can often do it offline.But beyond logistics and ease of use, language textbooks quickly zero in on those things about the language that are the most usefulâ€"the building blocks, the rules of the road, the pitfalls you need to avoid so you quickly graduate from being a language toddler making linguistic booboos and join the ranks of decent speakers.Textbooks as a broad category can be as general or specific as intended. They can be general like Schaums German Grammar,  which talks about  everything grammar-related from verbs to tenses. They can be specific and zero in on a certain subject, like Practice Makes Perfects Italian Pronouns and Prepositions  (some would consider this a workbook, but were not here to split hairs).  General titles are often fatter, for o bvious reasons, and the more specific ones are more bite-sized.But all the same, textbooks are written in such a direct way that they take away any guesswork about the topic, giving you the exact things you need. In fact, they spoon-feed you the target language so you dont need to figure anything out on your own. You just need to believe that this is indeed how one conjugates a particular Spanish verb, or that this is how one forms the past tense of that English word. Boom! Youve learned a valuable lesson good for a lifetime. Literally.Deducing grammar rules yourself takes a whole lot of trial and error and is prone to incompleteness. (Many native speakers dont even know the rules to their own languageâ€"because theyre too close to the subject to notice. They simply know how theyve always talked.)Language textbooks strip and slow everything down so you can actually notice the unmentioned laws and assumptions that animate everyday communication. They superficially slow things down an d break the language into constituent elements so that in the normal speed of actual conversation, you at least now have the requisite tools and insights you need.Owing to the technological advances of our time, textbooks now come in various formats. You have the classic paper-printed thing, which your grandfather will swear by, and you also now have paperless digital versions. Publishers have also been brilliant enough to bundle some textbooks with audio CD or online material so learners can follow along on their headphones and hear how the target language is actually spoken. In addition to audio, your purchase sometimes comes with additional online information, like this one from Living Language Korean,  which comes with online access to flashcards, games and interactive quizzes corresponding to lessons in the books.All language textbooks are not created equal. So in this post, well be looking to recommend some very good ones that you can check out. But before that, we turn to the next section and look into the most important things to remember when working with textbooks.Oftentimes, were overly critical of textbooks, when we need to manage our expectations so that we can truly appreciate the awesome role they play in our language goals.5 Important Things to Remember When Working with Textbooks1) Dont overwhelm yourself with material.Did you know that you can easily intimidate yourself into language failure?Yup, it can happen. You can overwhelm yourself with so much material that youll begin to think learning the language is actually impossible. In this day and age, when access to an infinite number of textbooks has become so easy, a diligent language learner can easily amass piles of textbooks without the hope of ever getting through every last one of them.The thinking behind this is, The more, the better. I need to cover all my bases.Before long, youve started to intimidate yourself into thinking, This is harder than I thought.Testimonies of failed languag e ventures almost always come along with something like, Ive tried them all Well, maybe part of the reason they failed is that they jumped from one textbook to another.Dont overwhelm yourself with a preponderance of material. Start with a general textbook. After that, make sure you dont use more than one book for the same thing. For example, you really need just one grammar title. Only when you think its absolutely necessary should you get a different one for a more specific topic, like verb conjugation, for example. And that only after you finish the general textbook.So, how do you deal with the one that you have in your hands? You overlearn it ‘til kingdom come. You go at it day and night. Take it with you on dates, read it while standing in line at the ATM. Master the material like the back of your hand, and youll have learned more in that one book than a whole stack that you never got to read because merely looking at it extinguished your motivation.2) Choose the appropriate l evel of content.So if youre to start with just one textbook, then which one?How do you choose from the buffet thats before you? Let the list presented in the next section be your guide, but here are a few specifics to consider.Price you should definitely take into account, but at the end of the day, a textbook that efficiently teaches you the target language will pay for itself many times overâ€"no matter how expensive at the outset.You should be asking instead, What language skill or topic am I after?Not all textbooks are created equal. And not all of them are talking about the same things. So dont expect a single textbook to be equally strong on all fronts. Textbooks have different specialties and personalities, much like the authors behind them. Even a more general grammar textbook may be skewed towards a particular topic. One could specialize in conjugation, another in sentence construction, etc.Know what you hope to learn. Because when you know what youre after, youre in a bett er position to evaluate if a certain title can deliver what you need.Another thing you should consider is the difficulty level. This is very important because many learners have actually challenged themselves out of the running. There is such a thing as too difficult. And you definitely dont want that.If you’re a beginner, then get the book for beginners. Dont go for advanced courses and assume youll pick up the fundamentals along the way. Things will just go over your head.The fastest way to lose your motivation is looking at the pile of textbooks youve amassed. Then opening one just blows you out of the water.3) Textbooks can be entertaining, but their true purpose lies deeper.Language textbooks that have a breezy style of writing, some catchy fonts and pictures are awesome. They can make study sessions quite effective.But dont be too quick to discount those titles that people often describe as too dry or too academic. These no-frills materials, stripped of the fluff, are packed to the rafters with language gems. They teach you more per page because they get straight to the point and tell you what you need to know.Entertainment is good, and heaven knows we need more of that in education. But dont knock textbooks just because they dont jump at you with vivid graphics, colors and sound. Dont wave them off just because they come in a form and format that reminds you of the libraries of yore.The main job of textbooks is not to sing and dance, its to make plain the hidden, elucidate on concepts that even native speakers are not aware of. If you think the book in your hand is able to do that, then keep it within arms reach. Thats a good textbook.4) Get a healthy mix of language material.Even Michael Jordan needed teammates. No language textbook, no matter how good at sinking jump shots, will ever be sufficient on its own.Your language textbook plays a vital role in your language goals, but so do many other things. Its this concoction of different and synergetic content that turns a non-speaker into a fluent one. Besides your textbook, immerse yourself in the  videos, apps, blogs  and websites  that are available for every language learner.Get your hands on different tools. They have a specific part to play in your learning. They stimulate a variety of senses, and the more experience you have with the language, the more immersive your experience and the more memorable the target language becomes.But again, dont overdo this by overwhelming your attention with three or five of each material. Just as you really only need the one general textbook to get the ball rolling, you really only need one flashcard app, or one online course. I dont mean that you should close the door to other apps or courses, of course not! I just mean that you should prioritize one and take it as far as it can go, and then, only then, should you see how other sources in the same category can fill in the gaps or take you farther.Just pick one material in each category, a nd accept that every material will have its limitations, but put all your energy into it, anyway.If youre looking for the closest you can get to a one stop shop, FluentU gives you a flexible online course with videos and multimedia flashcards that are tied together for a varied and optimized learning experience. FluentU takes online videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, vlogs, cartoons, news and moreâ€"and makes them into personalized language lessons. Throw it together with a decent textbook, and youll have a feast of learning material to work with that isnt overwhelming.5) Read, but dont forget to practice.Reading is one thing. But practicing, that is, actually getting your mouth, lips and tongue moving in specific ways is an altogether different proposition. Getting in front of native speakers and conversing with them is also quite another.Textbooks are just a means to an end.  They impart knowledge. Then its up to you to put that knowledge to work.Think of it this way: Te xtbooks get you off to a great start, but theyll never take you to the finish line because they were never designed for that. They were made for a specific purpose and that is to tell you flat out what the rules of the language are. They are instructions for action. Textbooks presuppose action. Reading and rereading? Thats not action.Some language learners use textbooks as a means to escape the actual work of speaking the target language. They put in the hours, cooped up inside their rooms, reasoning that when theyre ready, when they get all the vocabulary and the grammar rules down, then they’ll open their mouths. I can really relate to this feeling, having been once very much like thisâ€"procrastination and all.Well, Ive since learned better.You dont need to finish a textbook cover to cover before you actually get dirty. You can read a little, then get to work on that specific material immediately. Work on it by chapter, for example. If the chapter is about prepositions, then pr actice them as soon as you finish the chapter. For instance, describe the location of objects in your room in the target language. Dont just write this, say it! And repeat it a dozen times during the rest of your day, when you go out, when you see a vase on top of  a table, when you see a boy inside  a car, when you get your shoes from behind the door. Begin to think (and talk) in the target language.Thats how you put your textbook to work. Thats how you take it as far as it can go.That said, and now with a little appreciation for textbooks, where do we go looking for them? Heres your top six sources for these babies.Language Textbook Central: 6 Textbook Sources Youll LoveLiving LanguageHead on over to Amazon and youll see that the Living Language materials are consistent bestsellers, perennially topping their particular language categories.Living Language is an imprint of Random House, one of the biggest paperback publishers in the world. The self-study language outfit currently of fers material for more than 20 languages, including American Sign Language and Dothraki, the artificial dialect created for the hit series Game of Thrones.Living Language, developed by language experts from the U.S. State Department for America’s diplomats and overseas-bound personnel, has been around for over 65 years. The Living Language Method rests on four philosophies that are reflected in every Living Language textbook:Build a Foundation. Your native language will be used as a bridge to your target language. Through direct translation and a bit of memorization to start the ball rolling, learners will be given some basic and essential words (vocabulary) that are to be used and practiced from Day One.Progress with Confidence.  The building block approach is used and each lesson will build on the previous one. So you go from words to phrases to sentences (grammar) and then to full conversations.Retain What Youve Learned. Exercises, games and reviews are used to transfer the lea rning from short-term memory to long-term memory.Achieve Your Goals.  With those three bases covered, youre now ready to build the specific language skills that you want.Living Language courses now include audio components, interactive online games and smart flashcards, keeping pace with the times. But at the heart of every language course are still their textbooks. You can choose from the Essential Edition ($22.99), Complete Edition ($49.99) and Platinum Edition ($179).McGraw-HillMcGraw-Hill is one of the big threeâ€"that is, three of the largest textbook publishers in the world (the other two being Pearson and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).McGraw-Hill houses some of the most trusted foreign language textbook series. Theyve touched the lives of literally millions. Here are some of their best.Practice Makes Perfect.  This language series offers learners bite-sized lessons on the many different language skills and topics that they want to focus on. For example, there’s French Conversa tion,  French Reading and Comprehension,  French Sentence Builder,  French Vocabulary Games,  French Verb Tenses  and even French Pronouns and Prepositions.  So whatever language skill needs work, or whatever level youre at, this series has got you covered.Easy Step-by-Step.  Learning languages has never been easier! The books in this series take absolute beginners by the hand and show them the structures and rules that give a language life. The lessons progress slowly, so they dont end up confusing or overwhelming you. When they say step by step, they do really mean it.Dont be troubled if your book suddenly approaches 400 pages. Thats just so you get a solid grounding of the basics, whether it be in  Italian, German, French  or Spanish. Every page is paced so that youre prepared for the next one. There are even a handful of exercises that develop your confidence as you move forward. This building block approach is the fastest way to master grammar and comprehension.Schaums Outlines .  Traditionally known for its excellent series on hard science topics like physics, biology and chemistry, Schaums have tackled languages like French, German and Spanish. There are several focuses for each language. For example, if you want to study French grammar, theres Schaums French Grammar.  For vocab needs, theres French Vocabulary.  Then theres just French.  Theres also  French: Crash Course  and Communicating in French. And I have to say, true to form, the language exercises in these titles are quite extensive. Case in point, the grammar book alone has 578 exercises to hone your language chops.BarronsBarrons is the leading name in test prep and has a formidable catalogue  of language textbooks that covers the major languages.For example, the Spanish language alone has over 40 different titles ranging from Mastering Spanish Grammar to 1001 Pitfalls in Spanish. The books, which sometimes come with an audio CD, cater to all types of learners from beginners to advancedâ€"even t o specific categories of learners like attorneys, paralegals, healthcare practitioners and law enforcement personnel.Barrons has come a long way from just being a test prep outfit. But youll still get the Barrons flavorâ€"signs of their origins like clear-cut examples, rigorous review exercises and on-point, no-nonsense explanations.Once youre at the main page of the Barrons website, go down through the categories, past Childrens Books and Crafts and Hobbies. Locate Foreign Languages. Click on it and youll be brought to a page that contains all of Barrons language titles. There are 13 sub-categories on this page. For example, Arabic is one, and clicking on it will land you on a page that displays all books related to learning Arabic.Other languages covered are English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian and Spanish. Clicking on these subcategories will get you a list of all titles concerned. Most of the books here are ideal for beginners, such as  Modern Mandarin Ch inese for Beginners  and Italian Now! Level 1.Theres a section called Other Languages that you might be interested in. Its actually a catch-all for the other languages available: Swedish, Hebrew, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Latin, Korean and even American Sign Language. Most of the textbooks here are concerned with verbs. (Except, of course, the American Sign Language books.)BerlitzBerlitz has a rich history of language instruction, from 1878 in Providence, Rhode Island to its present-day global headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey. The company, which was once a subsidiary of Macmillan, has a post in over 70 countries around the world and boasts of training for every living language on the face of the earth.The Berlitz Method, named after its founder Maximilian Berlitz, utilizes the direct method of teaching languagesâ€"meaning the target language is used as the medium of instruction. So a German class is taught in German, a Chinese class is taught in Chineseâ€"not English.Language is not merely a set of grammar rules, but a means of communication. So instead of drilling on grammar, students observe how a language is used to convey a message and are encouraged to figure out the meaning and the grammar rules for themselves. In a class where the direct method is used, a lot gesturing and repetition is employed to help students figure out what the teacher is talking about.But werent we talking earlier about how textbooks are especially vital for grammar? Well, yes. And as a proponent of the direct method of learning languages, youd think that Berlitz would shy away from releasing grammar textbooks of their own. Not so. They actually have grammar handbooks for English, German, Italian and French.When even a company with a school of thought that seems antithetical to the grammar-translation method releases a grammar textbook of their own, it speaks volumes to the special role or function that such a text plays.The best place to access Berlitz textbooks is through A mazon rather than their website, which is really a platform to promote their training programs around the world. So head to Amazon and search for Berlitz and the language youre learning.Its also worth mentioning that their forte is really in the production of phrasebooks. Berlitz has phrasebooks in practically any language you can think of, and this can be great for learners who might be grateful to find any kind of learning material in a more obscure language. If the language youre interested in is not as popular as Spanish or French, your best bet would be Berlitz. They have books for Vietnamese, Finnish, Hindi or Croatian, for example.For DummiesIt might seem counterproductive to denigrate your readers right off the bat. But theres actually something so comforting about a title that says, Weve really dumbed this down for you. It relieves people of any pressure to learn because, hey, they’re dummies. It places them in a position to just sit back and relaxâ€"knowing that what the y have in their hands is the most simplified, most undemanding and foolproof language text on the market.The Dummies franchise, published by John Wiley Sons, Inc., has over 2,700 titles to its name. Granted, many of these titles will never interest you (The Royal Wedding for Dummies, anyone?), but language learners would do well to check out their foreign language series, which covers the major world languagesâ€"from Arabic to Russian, Spanish, Italian, etc.Once on the Dummies site, look for the Shop for Books link and click on it. That will open another page which will take you to the Dummies store. The  search box will be easy to spot. Just type your terms in the box. For example, Spanish. Hit Enter and youll get all the relevant titles, from Spanish Grammar for Dummies  ($19.99) to Intermediate Spanish for Dummies  ($19.99).Decent descriptions are written about the books, and youre given the chance to see the Table of Contents and Author Information so you have an idea of what y oure getting into. For most books, youll also be alerted to the e-book option (which is cheaper).Most of their language books are in the $9.99 to the $19.99 range. Although their all-in-one titles naturally cost moreâ€"$34.99 for Spanish, for example.The Dummies series specifically caters to beginner and intermediate language learners. They pretty much deconstruct the basics of the language. There are also helpful sidebars that emphasize a certain point or bring up interesting trivia, making the lessons really come alive.VitalSourceWhat if the reason youve been balking at textbooks is that you have a bad back? Besides, you cant possibly be caught looking all nerdy lounging around with piles of textbooks.Well, you remember that there are often digital versions of these babies, right?And VitalSource is your most trusted, well, source of e-textbooks offered at reasonable prices. Your chosen book can immediately be downloaded onto your smartphone, tablet or computer. So not only is the weight issue obliterated, the wait issue becomes a non-issue. No more wondering when your package will come knocking.Now, you have the freedom and flexibility to chip away at those language goals anywhere and anytime you want. As of this writing, there are almost 2,600 textbooks  available for languages like German, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Portuguese and Greek. (They have textbooks available on other subjects, too, so if youre a student or lifelong learner, you may find shopping with them especially convenient.)Download Bookshelf,  VitalSource’s free app, for an intuitive and intelligent reading experience. The app allows you to make highlights and create notes so you can personalize the pages of your textbook. You can also locate a specific text faster with its smart search capabilities. So whether online or offline, you get an enhanced studying experience, which inevitably results in an enhanced learning power.Oh, and did I mention you can re nt e-books instead of buying them? Yep, so the price gets even lower.So that ends our explanation of why you still need textbooks today, and why you should get your hands on one right now. You really just need to manage your expectations and see textbooks for what they areâ€"tools that are limited like any other, but eminently useful for the language learner.I wish you all the best on your language journey!

Singapore American School

Singapore American School Singapore American School SAS is an independent, non-profit, co-educational day school offering an American-based curriculum for preschool through grade 12. With more than 3,800 students from more than 50 nations, and approximately 70% hold U.S. passports. SAS is recognized by the Office of Overseas Schools, U.S. State Department, is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and is the largest single-campus international school in the world. SAS is located on a 36-acre campus in the Woodlands area of Singapore, approximately 35 minutes drive from downtown Singapore. The campus is purpose built, supports classroom spaces for music, art, and drama, and includes state-of -the-art facilities for students at all grade levels. The campus includes three distinct divisions: elementary school (preschool through grade five), middle school (grades six through eight) and high school (grades nine through twelve). A separate and purpose built early childhood center (ECC) provides a special learning environment for preschool and prekindergarten (age 3 and 4) students.

This is your brain on Thank You

This is your brain on “Thank You” This is not a post about Thanksgiving, it is  about  Giving Thanks.   Though the Thanksgiving holiday itself is very U.S.-centric, the concept of the importance of gratitude is universal. Since the mid 90s, the concept of gratitude has captured the attention of researchers in the fields of psychology, especially positive psychology, and neuroscience. The strongest pattern emerging from the study of gratitude is somewhat surprising: although expressing gratitude often means thanking someone else, the real benefit of feeling and expressing gratitude is gained by the person expressing gratitude. Even when expressed to no one in particular, expression of gratitude has some real and measurable benefits. Among the benefits described by academic studies of the subject  are  increased happiness, better connections with others, and general improvement of ones relationships. Expressing gratitude routinely trains the brain to find reasons to be grateful, and trains the brain to feel happy about positive experiences. In fact, the field of neuroscience generally sees habitual practice of feeling, acknowledging, and expressing gratitude as a great shortcut to happiness, productivity, and connectedness. As a company that is based almost entirely on connecting people, we believe strongly that the practice of gratitude, and the benefits of expressing gratitude in everyday life are worth celebrating. So, we would like to say: Thank You To all our wonderful users, students, teachers, and tutors: we want to express the immense amount of gratitude we feel seeing the development of our community. This Thanksgiving, we are deeply grateful for all the people donating their time to others by correcting notebooks, writing articles, sharing their experiences in the community discussions, and dedicating the time and effort for learning foreign language from each other, often from opposite sides of the world. We are grateful to see the meaning our effort can take on for those who want to understand speakers of other languages, and willing to dedicate their time and energy to help the online language-learning ecosystem grow and develop. We are glad to express this idea, and hope that you will find many ways to express it, and many people to whom you want to show your gratitude. A common practice recommended by positive psychology is of gratitude journaling. Picking a certain time of the day to do a simple mindful practice of finding reasons to be grateful helps make the habit part of ones life. This kind of continuous practice is familiar to all language-learners. Imagine how hard it would be to learn a language if you simply spent one day each year binging on foreign-language material, and lived the rest of the year unconcerned with your practice. As with gratitude, language learning is a continuous practice of small, but intentional steps towards a goal, a better understanding, and better connection to others. On this Thanksgiving holiday, and in light of this idea of continuous improvement and practice, we would like to share this article about Thanksgiving  written by a Lakota columnist for the Guardian. And, of course, wed like to encourage you to say thank you to someone today, in whatever language you want to pick. Works Cited: Harvard Medical School: Harvard Mental Health Letter Psychology Today: The Grateful Brain US National Library Of Medicine: Gratitude and Well Being This is your brain on “Thank You” This is not a post about Thanksgiving, it is  about  Giving Thanks.   Though the Thanksgiving holiday itself is very U.S.-centric, the concept of the importance of gratitude is universal. Since the mid 90s, the concept of gratitude has captured the attention of researchers in the fields of psychology, especially positive psychology, and neuroscience. The strongest pattern emerging from the study of gratitude is somewhat surprising: although expressing gratitude often means thanking someone else, the real benefit of feeling and expressing gratitude is gained by the person expressing gratitude. Even when expressed to no one in particular, expression of gratitude has some real and measurable benefits. Among the benefits described by academic studies of the subject  are  increased happiness, better connections with others, and general improvement of ones relationships. Expressing gratitude routinely trains the brain to find reasons to be grateful, and trains the brain to feel happy about positive experiences. In fact, the field of neuroscience generally sees habitual practice of feeling, acknowledging, and expressing gratitude as a great shortcut to happiness, productivity, and connectedness. As a company that is based almost entirely on connecting people, we believe strongly that the practice of gratitude, and the benefits of expressing gratitude in everyday life are worth celebrating. So, we would like to say: Thank You To all our wonderful users, students, teachers, and tutors: we want to express the immense amount of gratitude we feel seeing the development of our community. This Thanksgiving, we are deeply grateful for all the people donating their time to others by correcting notebooks, writing articles, sharing their experiences in the community discussions, and dedicating the time and effort for learning foreign language from each other, often from opposite sides of the world. We are grateful to see the meaning our effort can take on for those who want to understand speakers of other languages, and willing to dedicate their time and energy to help the online language-learning ecosystem grow and develop. We are glad to express this idea, and hope that you will find many ways to express it, and many people to whom you want to show your gratitude. A common practice recommended by positive psychology is of gratitude journaling. Picking a certain time of the day to do a simple mindful practice of finding reasons to be grateful helps make the habit part of ones life. This kind of continuous practice is familiar to all language-learners. Imagine how hard it would be to learn a language if you simply spent one day each year binging on foreign-language material, and lived the rest of the year unconcerned with your practice. As with gratitude, language learning is a continuous practice of small, but intentional steps towards a goal, a better understanding, and better connection to others. On this Thanksgiving holiday, and in light of this idea of continuous improvement and practice, we would like to share this article about Thanksgiving  written by a Lakota columnist for the Guardian. And, of course, wed like to encourage you to say thank you to someone today, in whatever language you want to pick. Works Cited: Harvard Medical School: Harvard Mental Health Letter Psychology Today: The Grateful Brain US National Library Of Medicine: Gratitude and Well Being

Where to Find Tutors For Tutoring

Where to Find Tutors For TutoringTutor Unlimited offers help to people interested in becoming tutors and at the same time, they offer information about different courses available for those who are into that field. It is interesting to know that even with a virtual presence, many companies are investing in bringing quality internet facilities to their clients. By making an account on the Tutor Unlimited website, you can get an idea of the availability of various training and education materials offered by Tutor Unlimited.Tutoring has now become a great way to get better earning for your family and get rid of the never-ending work hours. What makes it different from other forms of job is that you don't have to train by teaching others and hence can give all your efforts to the business side of the business. Most of the new programs available for students are already available and offering additional value to your tuition. The training packages offered by the company that consists of v ideo tutorials, online chats, e-coaching, and reading classes are becoming more popular.With the growing popularity of the internet, tutoring is getting a lot more than what it used to be in the past. Now, you can find a number of tutoring centers available in various cities, states, and countries. You can ask around the internet and find out the most appropriate one to attend your training sessions. Some of the most popular programs offered by the tutoring network are the Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences.If you are looking for an online education that is less expensive and gives you full flexibility, then I can suggest you the Internet TV. It is an online career in the service industry, that's why you can earn a living through viewing various programs about business or sports, taking surveys, watching television shows and so on. If you enjoy watching the TV shows, these are the most appropriate ones for you to pick up. The next best option is to visit the websites of your favorite stars or celebrities, because some of them also offer programs related to their work and what they are doing at the moment.Besides the technical expertise, you will also learn about managing projects and production and technology related issues. In addition to this, the tutors will share their experiences in the present for you to benefit.Being a student, you need more time to devote to taking part in tutoring. Moreover, it takes more time and effort to learn the theory and the technique, which are necessary to be effective in this field. Many people tend to think that they would not get any good earning at this. With the Internet, there are several tutorials available, which can help you to overcome this dilemma.Of course, as there are many forms of online tutoring, you can also find the right tutor by surfing the Internet. There are many websites offering information about the various tutoring courses that you can select for yourself. You can find websites offering person al tutoring, business courses, and the role playing games, among others. To sum it up, tutoring is no longer just about the study, but it is also about business, skills, skills development, and helping people with their problems.

Why Go to an English School in Manila?

Why Go to an English School in Manila?Many people choose to go to an English school because they are looking for a more structured curriculum, more interaction with other students, and maybe even some money in their pocket. Even though they are looking for more structured classes, they want to go to an English school in Manila because of the opportunities it provides them.You may be wondering where these schools are located in Manila. It is a good idea to know where you want to study. There are schools around the country that offer an English class, but they do not offer the quality that you want.For example, if you choose to go to an English school in Manila, you will need to pay at least Rp.100,000 dollars per year for classes. If you did not think that you could afford this amount, then you need to think again. In the Philippines, there are many scholarships for students who want to study an English class. In this way, you will be able to get this amount and you can actually save your money for a rainy day.Another benefit that you can get from attending an English school in Manila is that you will be able to learn how to write well. When you have been in your home country for awhile, you will probably already know how to write. However, once you return to your homeland, you will probably not be able to write properly or at all. A good writing class in Manila can help you improve your skills.Learning English in Manila is not as hard as you may think it is. There are many American graduates that go back home every year and study English.As long as you know where you want to go to take your English class, you can choose between classes and programs in Manila or on the other side of the country. This will also make your homework more enjoyable. If you are doing all of your schoolwork online, there is no way that you can get to know each other properly if you have to go on a campus that is 500 miles away.When you go to an English school in Manila, you will get th e opportunity to study with better teachers, get better grades, and have more interaction with other students. The benefits that you will get out of this will far outweigh the cost of paying your fees.

Biology Vs Chemistry

Biology Vs ChemistryBiochemistry and Chemistry are two different fields of study. Chemistry is a branch of chemistry, which studies the chemistry or the relationship between atoms and forces in a given situation. Biochemistry deals with the chemistry or the relationships between organism and environment.The differences between the two fields of study can be noted by their uses. In biology, the discipline is used to help determine when plants should be grown, what nutrients to feed them and when and how to grow them. In chemistry, the discipline is used to determine what molecules are found in living things, to understand the role of acids and alkalis in food, and to study the mechanisms of cell division and replication.With these differences it is easy to see why the students of these two disciplines often have different approaches to learning. The methods of biology are more hands-on, whereas the methods of chemistry tend to be more conceptual. Chemistry is a study of reactions of l iving organisms, while biology is more concerned with organisms and their physiological and behavioral characteristics.Biology deals with the study of how to manipulate biological principles, while chemistry deals with the study of the way these principles are manipulated. Both fields are vital in determining which organisms should be cultivated, and therefore the ways in which they should be grown, but chemistry focuses on which molecules are used to control the growth of plants, while biology is concerned with the life of plants.It is also important to note that biology uses chemical reactions in order to understand the environment and its behavior. Chemicals are used to produce chemical reactions. In contrast, chemistry uses chemical reactions to understand the properties of materials and the interactions that these materials have with one another. Biochemistry is a branch of chemistry that deals with the relationship between organisms and the environment, which are a far more po werful study than that of chemistry.Because ofthe biological aspects of this field, the study of biochemistry can also be considered an applied science, although this term has not been used as widely as the other terms. These elements include biotechnological applications, environmental applications, structural biology, biogeochemical modelling, and polymer chemistry. Biochemistry is often confused with biology, as the former focuses on the biochemical relationship between organisms and the environment, while the latter concentrates on the ecological relationship between organisms and the environment.Like all other branches of the biological science, biochemistry can be studied at any level of education. You don't have to have a PhD or Bachelor's degree in the subject to be a biochemist.

Adding Blur Effects to Photos

Adding Blur Effects to Photos How Can You Blur an Image? ChaptersBlurring a Photo on an Apple DeviceBlurring a Photo on a PCBlurring Photos in Photo Editing SoftwareWith a Camera“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” - Ansel AdamsBlurring certain parts of a photo is a popular photo editing technique. This effect allows you to increase the focus on a certain part of the photo by blurring part of the photo that focus shouldn’t be on.Imagine a photo where you need to put the focus on the model or a photo where you need to blur the faces of subjects that need to remain anonymous. In just a few clicks, you can increase the apparent depth of focus and give the image a completely different feeling.Similarly, the blur effect is one of the 6 biggest mistakes that amateur photographers make. There’s a big difference between professional blurring and amateur blurring. A misplaced blur can completely ruin a photo.So how can you blur a photo in a photo editor to make it more beautiful? How can you take the focus off certain parts of the photo to make other elements more interesting?Here’s how to use one of the most common photo editing techniques! AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsBlurring a Photo on an Apple DeviceWhether you’re using an iPhone or an iPad, you don’t need to have a computer to effectively blur your photos. There are solutions online that you can get the most out of!You might want to blur the background of a pho to to put the focus on the subject. (Source: fancycrave1)You can use an app like Skitch which will allow you to blur a photo almost magically.Firstly, you need to download the app onto your device. Then, head to your iPhone or iPad photos app. Click the settings buttons on the photo.  Skitch should then appear. If the app doesn’t appear, you’ll need to find it in others.On the bottom right, you should have a small arrow. Click on it. Click on the icon with the small squares. You can now right-click on the part of the photo you want to make blurrier. Confirm and your image will be transformed!The advantage of Skitch is that you can always undo the blurring if you don’t like it.Not bad, is it?Find the best online photography courses on Superprof.Blurring a Photo on a PCWhen using a Windows computer, blurring an image is quite simple and there are multiple ways to do it. There are two really easy ways to do this.You can use programmes and your own equipment to get a blurred backg round. (Source: cocoparisienne)On a PC, there’s the Photos app that will allow you to retouch photos and make sections or all of an image blurrier. This first technique is good for blurring distant parts of the photo.Once you’ve imported your photo into the programme, click on “Draw” at the top of the screen. You can colour in the part of the photo where you want to hide something.  For example, you could use this technique to cover up a cigarette end on the pavement. This technique also works in programmes like Paint, for example.The second technique is more professional and involves using a programme called “Evernote”. Much like “Skitch”, this programme is useful for quickly and effectively editing photos.In this programme, which is free, you just need to drag your photos into the programme window. Then you just need to select the photo you want to blur. You’ll see a small “@” symbol in the top right of the photo.Click on this symbol and you’ll be taken to the blurring tool. Much like in Skitch, the photo will open in the left and you just need to click “Pixelate image” to blur.You can save the image once you’ve got the results you’re after into the folder of your choosing. In just a few steps, you can blur or cover up part of an image.Start the best photography courses on here.Blurring Photos in Photo Editing SoftwareRetouching a photo can be also done in a software package. Adding Gaussian blurring to a snap with photo editing software can be done to the whole photo or a specific area.If you can't get the right effect with your camera, you can use a programme like Photoshop. (Source: 12019)So what is Gaussian blur?Don’t panic! Let’s have a quick look.Gaussian BlurGaussian blur is a common type of blur tool available in photo editing software. It allows you to achieve blurring using a Gaussian mathematical function.  This technique works on every individual pixel in an area.You can use Gaussian blur to make an entire imag e blurry, blur out a photo, or add depth to a photo.To achieve this blurring, we’re going to look at two different programmes: Adobe Photoshop and GIMP.Learn from the best photography courses in the UK on Superprof.In PhotoshopOpen a new layer.Choose “luminosity” mode.Click on “Filters”, “Blur”, and “Gaussian Blur”.You can then choose just how blurred you want your photo.You can save the results once you’re happy with them.With GIMPOpen the photo.Choose the area you want to blur.Choose how much blur you want.Apply the blur through “Filter”, “Blur”, then “Gaussian Blur”.Again, save your image once you’re happy with it.These are two very simple ways to produce good results. You can also use these techniques to hide car registration plates or add depth to photos.There's plenty of different types of blur, too: motion blur, lens blur, radial blur, and you can choose the amount of blur, the blur radius, etc.Photos taking up too much room?Make sure you red uce the file size.With a CameraWith a Lens and a CameraWith a good digital camera, you can get a good blurring effect on your photos by having a shallow depth of field.In the right mode, some cameras are great for creating blurred backgrounds. (Source: Pexels)Don’t hesitate to give this a go. You can blur the background while retaining the sharpness in the foreground, especially if you’re taking photos of tiny objects like a drop of water.To get the most out of your background blur, you should ensure the background is far from the subject. When we say “far” we mean at least 2 metres. If it’s closer than this, you’ll struggle to blur the background.You’ll need to use a telephoto lens with a 200mm-500mm zoom.  An aperture between f/1.8 and f/2 is recommended. The depth of field is useful for getting good results.Do you know what the bokeh effect is? This term of Japanese origin means “blur”. It refers to the artistic choice to blur part of an image.Of course, unlike with blurring a photo, using a blur filter, or adding a tilt-shift effect, the original image will have the background blurred and out of focus and you won't be able to undo this in photo editing software.Find out more about converting images.With a Smartphone’s Portrait ModeEven smartphones can be used to blur certain parts of a photo. This is a way to take even better selfies.The blurring that occurs on the iPhone X is very effective but it won’t work for every photo. Humans tend to be better at achieving these results.It might be worth trying this in-store before you buy a phone just for this effect. To use the portrait mode:Open the camera on your phone.Scroll down to “Portrait” mode.Take note of the advice as it pops up.Take a photo as you normally would.If you do it right, the background will be blurred.It should be noted that most modern smartphones come with a portrait mode like the iPhone and a plethora of other functions. Not bad for free applications.Whether you u se a free app or pay for a programme, there are plenty of ways to add blurring to a photo. It can be used to improve the look of a photo when done right.So why not give it a go?If you need help blurring a photo or improving your photography, consider getting in touch with a tutor on Superprof. There are three main types of tutorial available on the site: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. There are pros and cons to each and the best one for you really depends on your situation.In group tutorials, there are several students and just one tutor. With all the students sharing the cost of the tutor's time, these tutorials are usually the cheapest per person per hour but each student won't get the bespoke tutoring or one-on-one time that they would in the other types of tutorials.Face-to-face tutorials are the most personal and have you and your tutor working together for the whole session. Of course, this bespoke service comes at a cost, making it the most cos tly type of tutorial available. However, it's also the most cost-effective as every minute of the tutor's time is spent helping you.Finally, online tutorials are similar to face-to-face tutorials with the main difference being that the tutor isn't physically in the room with you. Thanks to services like Skype, a tutor can teach you remotely using a webcam and an internet connection!