Stopping Smoking With a Stony Brook Tutor

Stopping Smoking With a Stony Brook TutorThe one time you want to quit smoking is the day you visit your stony brook tutor for an assessment. The amount of money you save at your first stop-smoking session is incredible. Most of the time, people who give up their smoking habit for good can tell a month or two later how much money they have saved by doing so. The main thing is that the nicotine addiction needs to be taken out of your life.You may want to stop smoking just for the sake of quitting, but the nicotine addiction still remains. You may feel like the moment you decide to leave your addiction, you will find that there is an urge to get up and smoke again. For those that think that going cold turkey is the only solution, they are going to find out that there is no real cessation.For those that have quit smoking, and are willing to go through this assessment, it is necessary for them to continue doing the assessment for a month or two before they can go ahead and make the decis ion to quit. After the assessment, the stony brook tutor will take your health into consideration, as well as your personal values. If you can go over your reasons for wanting to quit and determine whether you are a good candidate for quitting or not, then you will be ready to make the decision to give up the nicotine. You may also want to ask the stony brook tutor whether you can continue with your current habit as long as you need to.As you do your assessment, you will have plenty of time to decide how long you want to stick with your current smoking habits. You may decide to use some of the money you save to purchase some equipment, which will be beneficial to you. If you decide that you want to quit cold turkey, then you will be able to make your own self-help video to help you quit.The process of quitting is difficult and in some cases, you will go through the nicotine withdrawal phase, which has to be dealt with very carefully. There are various kinds of aids available in the market today to assist you in quitting, or to ease your withdrawal. If you choose to use the nicotine patch, then you can either choose a brand that contains the nicotine directly, or a generic brand which has the nicotine already in it.The nicotine patch will put the nicotine in the body, but you can decide to use a cheaper substitute such as the nicotine chewing gum. This can help you fight the urge to smoke when you are doing your assessment, since it does not directly cause the nicotine addiction to occur. Many people who have been using the chewing gum find that it helps them stop their habit even more than the nicotine patch.Nicotine has not been removed from the environment, since a lot of people smoke at work and around the house. It would be more effective if you combined your smoking with the advice of a stony brook tutor, especially if you want to stay as healthy as possible.

State Of Pell Grants

State Of Pell Grants By now, the news of the Pell grant funds dwindling to extinction has probably spread to every school district, every home and every student. The Pell grant system has typically been the most significant financial aid program for college students. However, many experts feared that the entire Pell grant system would collapse for the 2011-2012 school year because of a $5.7 billion gap in financing, according to previous reports in December, 2010. But, it wont collapse. The Pell grant system will continue to fund students through the 2011-2012 school year and most likely beyond, according to an article in the Washington Post. The U.S. Department of Education sent out a letter, indicating that it fully intends to fund Pell grants all the way up to the maximum award of $5,500. This award is typically intended for low-income students. However, this letter only confirms that the maximum Pell grant award will still be funded. However, it does not indicate the total amount of Pell grant funding that will be available for the 2011-2012 school year, which could very well be at a record low. Many students could still become victims of a lack of Pell grant funding and not receive any funding for the 2011-2012 school year, funding that they likely would have received in previous years. This letter only indicates that the government will give out one award of $5,500. However, many schools and students still celebrated this news, believing that there will still be significant Pell grant funding. As indicated by this letter, the government will carry through on its legislation passed last year that added $36 billion to the Pell grant system, which represented the largest amount of financial aid to low-income students. This initiative also stated that the largest Pell grant award would rise to $5,975 by 2017.

National Teacher Day 2019

National Teacher Day 2019 The Huntington Learning Center will celebrate National Teacher Day on May 7, 2019, alongside educators, students, parents and communities around the country. National Teacher Day is an annual celebration and part of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10, 2019), sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA). Huntington is pleased to recognize the important role that teachers play in the creation of strong communities and the lives of children, says Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning. We have teachers to thank for growing and shaping children and helping them realize their callings in life, she says. Teachers build future leaders. They inspire children. And of course, they equip them with the skills and knowledge they need in life and their future careers. During Teacher Appreciation Week and National Teacher Dayand all year longwe applaud their commitment, hard work and passion. Huntington offers parents several suggestions to honor and thank teachers during National Teacher Day and Teacher Appreciation Week: Have your child to write a thank-you note to any current and past teachers sharing what he or she loves about school and the teachers class. Write one of your childs teachers a note of appreciationor even one of your past teachers who had a positive impact on your life. If you own a retail business or restaurant, offer teachers a discount on their purchases on National Teacher Day. Organize a week of lunches for the teachers at school. Thank a teacher on social media using the #ThankATeacher hashtag. Show your solidarity with teachers by wearing red on Wednesday, May 8, and sharing a photo on social media using the #WearRedForEd hashtag. Post and share a story about great teachers in your life on Facebook or Snapchat. National Teacher Day is a longtime celebration and started in 1953 thanks to the encouragement of Eleanor Roosevelt. Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day, and in 1985, the NEA voted to move the event to May. Learn more about National Teacher Day at www.nea.org/grants/teacherday.html. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.

Visual Guide to English Prepositions in, on, at, from, to

Visual Guide to English Prepositions in, on, at, from, to Do you have difficulty with English prepositions? Prepositions can be difficult to learn, especially when they are used differently in your first language. For example, the preposition at works and sounds like the preposition à in French sentences like this:  Je suis à lécole. In English, we would say, I am at school. Translation: Je suis à lécole. >> I am at school. But in other contexts, you cannot translate à as at.   For example, French speakers sometimes mistranslate Jhabite à Montréal as I live at Montreal. This is incorrect. When a single preposition in your first  language requires two different prepositions in your second language, learning where and when to use each preposition can be difficult. Incorrect: I live at Montreal.Correct:  I live in Montreal.   Translation:  Jhabite à Montréal >> I live in Montreal. When your first language is an unreliable guide for using English prepositions, it would be good to have a few simple rules that are easy to remember. It is for this reason that I have created a visual guide to English prepositions. Each preposition below has a simple illustration of the rule, with examples.         In a circle or in a square Rule: Use in for things that are contained by borders or  limits: cities, provinces, states, countries, and continents.   Example: I live in Montreal. Montreal is in Quebec. Quebec is in  Canada. Use in for towns and cities.   Calendars are usually squares or rectangles, so it is not difficult to imagine a month as having limits and borders. Months begin on the first and end 28 to 31 days later. Years begin on January 1st and end on December 31st. Anything that happens within those limits requires the preposition in. Rule: Use in for months and years. Example: Obama was born in 1961. He was born in August. Use in for months. and years. In the morning and in the afternoon Sometimes, a diagram wont help. The preposition has to be learned as a collocation (words that go together).   In the morning and in the evening are good examples. It is difficult to represent mornings and afternoons as having limits visually in a circle or square, so I cant help you with a diagram. Instead, you must memorize in the morning and in the afternoon. Try saying these prepositional phrases to yourself five times each. Use the 5-finger drill. Rule: Use in for morning and afternoon.Example: Goodbye. I will see you in the morning. Exception: Use on the morning of + a date.Example: I will be busy on the morning of the 15th. Exception:  On the morning of September 11, 2001           On a line or on a surface Rule: Use on for tables and walls, etc.Example: Put your coffee cup on the table and help me hang another  picture on the wall. Use on when there is contact with a surface. Rule: Use on for roads, boulevards, streets, highways, etc.Example: I live on Peel Street and ride home on the bike path. Use on for roads, highways, or even bike paths. Rule: Use on for electronic devices, etc.Example:  Call me on the phone so that I can tell you about a great  movie I saw on TV last night. Use on for electronic devices: phone, TV,   ccomputer. Rule: Use on for days and dates.Example:  Melanie usually stayed home on Saturdays, but on  September 24th she went out and had an adventure.         At a particular point in time or at a particular place Rule: Use at with street numbers.Example:    I live at 2350 Acacia Road. Rule: Use at with specific locations.Example:    I’m at home. Where are you? Are you at work? Use at for precise times. Rule: Use at for precise times.Example:  I wake up at 6:30 in the morning, leave home at 7:30, and  then arrive at work at 8:00 AM.Example:  My train arrives at 3:14.         From a starting point to the end Rule: Use from and to to express start and end points of a trip.Example:  We drove from Montreal to Toronto without stopping.Example:    The dance class was moved from the second floor to the third floor. Use from and to to talk about a change in position Rule: Use from and to to express start and end times.Example:  Our offices are open from 9 to 5 every day.Example:  I lived in Toronto from 2011 to 2013. Please follow and like us:

Sweeten Your Study Routine with 7 Best Apps for Learning a Language

Sweeten Your Study Routine with 7 Best Apps for Learning a Language 7 Best Apps for Learning a Language Let’s be honest here. I mean, you’re among friends.Do you ever leave home without your phone?Never? Me neither.What about other electronic devices, like your tablet or laptop? Never, right?It’s a fact of life:  Technology goes where we go.That means that learning travels  too, which is great news for those of us who love language learning!If you’re anything like me, you have some sweet apps on your phone and other devices. Apps are essential for making our electronics perform to their fullest potential!For example, language learning apps bring foreign languages right to our fingertips. A tap, a swipe, and we’ve got language learning on the go.Apps are entertaining, interactive and effective for best utilizing our downtimeâ€"which, for most of us, is at a premium. That’s why having a language app handy is so awesomeâ€"it has the potential to fill those wasted moments with active learning!Add an appâ€"or a fewâ€"to power up any language program, whether youre a beginner, lo oking for new intermediate lessons or a language pro.Apps teach as well as entertain. There are apps that have game-like features that pretty much make you forget you’re even learning anythingâ€"it’s just pure fun!If you’ve already considered adding language learning apps to your program, you might be overwhelmed by the sheer number available. Honestly, there are tons to choose from.You’re probably wondering how to find the best app for your program, right? And I’m sure you don’t want to sort through all of them to choose one that will fit your needs, do you?No worries! We’ve got you covered!We’ve done some thorough investigating and have some super language app options for you to consider. Let’s check them out! What to Look For in Language AppsWhen choosing a language app, there are some key features to look for:Versatile  flashcards: The best apps will feature some sort of flashcards, but these range in usefulness. The most helpful flashcards are the most versa tile,  with photos and translations  or explanations so you can see new vocabulary used in context.A good dictionary: Every language learning app needs a great dictionary to go with it. Apps with built-in dictionaries save you time by allowing you to look up words quickly without having to stop your lesson.Well-rounded lessons:  Be aware that some apps focus on one specific language skill (speaking, reading, writing or listening). If youre looking for a well-rounded app, then it should include ways to practice each of these four  skills.A single app may not offer all of these key features, but if you know your learning style and what you want to get out of each lesson, you can make an informed decision and choose an app that youll actually use.And that’s what we’re looking forâ€"an app that will become your language-learning best friend!How to Maximize Learning with Language AppsWhichever app you choose, its important to know how to use it. Here are some tips:Schedule time with it.  I set the alarm on my tablet so I’m reminded to work with a language app on a daily basis.Track your progress. Most apps have a feature that does this for you, but even if you choose an app that doesn’t track your work it’s a snap to make a quick note of where you are on your language journey.Use the app whenever possible. Apps provide on-the-fly assistanceâ€"and the translation features work anywhereâ€"so youre never “stuck” without access to language help. Plus, frequent use of the app is the only way to really get the language lessons to stick. As long as you’ve got an awesome app at hand, youre ready for anything!Now that you know what to look for and how to best use your apps, here are seven awesome options that make learning a language easy and fun!7 Best Apps for Learning a LanguageFluentUiOS / AndroidThe FluentU app brings language learning to a whole new level.Spanish, Japanese, English, Russian, French, Mandarin Chinese, German, Korean and Italian come to life through music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks. Essentially, FluentU takes real-world videos and turns them into language learning experiences.Learning with completely authentic content means pronunciation, lingo, music, cultural insights and so much more all become relevant.FluentU isnt just about watching videosâ€"its about learning and practicing the language you hear. Its entertaining as well as informative.FluentU features interactive subtitles, flashcards,  quizzes and vocabulary lists to help you utilize what you hear in the videos and audio files.Plus, its easy to track your progress  with built-in progress bars that show how familiar you are with the content in each video!You can also work offline  with some of the apps features by downloading audio content, video transcripts and video quizzes.  This  is super beneficial to anyone who travels to places where there isn’t reliable internet access.50 Languages iOS / Android50 Languages is another app tha t has options for  working offlineâ€"but that’s not its only draw!This app uses native speakers to offer audio as well as text lessons on an array of subjects.  You can download the audio to be able to listen to it anywhere.The app is suitable for absolute beginners, as it even teaches various alphabet pronunciations and provides a basic, core vocabulary. It also covers using language in various practical situations, like going to the doctor, shopping, reserving a hotel room, and more.It’s recommended that users tackle a lesson a day. You can also easily review past lessons to continue to practice what youve learned.With 100 lessons, this app allows learners to make steady progress toward conversational success.HelloTalkiOS /  AndroidHelloTalk is a fun app that brings language learners together with native speakers! It’s a great way to learn about another culture, hone your pronunciation skills or power up your writing abilities.Connect with other learners and talk or text to advance your language skills. Theres no set “program” with this app; it’s a global communication connection that encourages users to learn through sharing.There are built-in pronunciation aids to help each conversation run smoothly and ensure that you and your language partner understand one another.Plus, you can use the Moments feature to post language or cultural questions and update other users as to your progress.If you want to really test your skills, you can try joining a group chat and talking with multiple native speakers at once.Translation, grammar correction, text-to-voice, as well as voice recognition, make this app very simple to use!italkiiOS / AndroidThis app allows language learners to choose a native-speaking teacher in a target language and then schedule one-on-one lessons. It’s like having a personal tutor right in the palm of your hand!There are over 100 languages available,  which is amazing. If you’re traveling to an exotic location, chances are there ’s a tutor available who can help you develop some conversational skills before you head to the airport.Using the app is simple. Tutors tailor lessons to individual students, so once you’ve indicated your preferences, including personal goals, interests, skill level and time commitment, a learning programâ€"designed specifically for you!â€"is what youll work with.Additionally, theres a community of learners who engage in discussions and share language resources. Being part of a global collective via an app? Very helpful, indeed!ClozemasteriOS / AndroidClozemaster brings gaming to language learning. Make no mistake, this app teaches but its so much fun to use that you just might forget you’re actually working!This app isn’t suitable for absolute beginners to use because it  assumes learners have at least some familiarity with the target language.Essentially, learners are presented with random, fill-in-the-blank sentences. It challenges the mind to think of the proper word, so it reinforces reading and vocabulary skills.Also, this is an amazing resource for building a larger vocabulary. Don’t know a word? No worries! When it’s supplied, you’ll have something super to add to your vocabulary list!Tracking progress adds to the gaming aspect of this app. Anyone who wants something a bit outside the box will enjoy using this programâ€"no lessons or drills, just learning fun!24/7 TutoriOS24/7 Tutor is a free sampler app that showcases just a few languages. Its comprehensive enough to teach absolute beginners basic vocabulary and core language skills. Its a great way to test drive a language before fully committing to a learning program.Vocabulary, basic phrases, simple writing exercises and quizzes to check progress are all usefulâ€"as well as preparatory for more intensive learning. There are also puzzles and fill-in-the-blank challenges that make working with this app fun.One of the app’s strongest features is that it utilizes native speakers for its audio sections. Using native speakers allows learners to hear authentic pronunciation and model theirs after it.The 24/7 Tutor app is a sampling of what this developer offers. Full program 24/7 apps are available for many individual languages, so for more in-depth content learners can grab the app for their target language!RypeRype offers learners personalized, one-on-one lessons with native-speaking teachers.Once you sign up for their program, the actual lessons take place using Skype, which is available for both iOS and Android.The site contends that learners will begin speaking in the target language from the very first lesson, a great feature for anyone who wants to pick up language skills quickly!After reviewing goals, skill level and other aspects of language learning, teachers provide coursework geared toward individual learners.This is based primarily on the concept of real-life immersion being the most efficient method to learn a language. Rype brings immersive learning vi a native-speaking tutors through their customized learning plans and coursework that reflects immersive methodology.This is the first Rype app. A second, Rype Go, is in the works and will offer authentic content in the form of curated videos, in addition to personalized tutoring.Appsâ€"and the devices we won’t leave home without!â€"are beneficial to language learners on many levels.Traveling? Have spare time to fill? Wondering about a translation or have a nagging grammar question? Simply feel the urge to chat in your target language with a native-speaking friend?Apps do all of that and more! They’re always at hand so you never lose valuable language learning time. Add an app to your language program and watch your skills level up!

Sounds Like Fun E-learning Languages the Auditory Way

Sounds Like Fun E-learning Languages the Auditory Way Sounds Like Fun: E-learning Languages the Auditory Way As much as weve come to love and appreciate what Siri can do for us, she cant teach us a second language.Sure, we can change the language setting on our devices and get Siri to tells us jokes in our target language, but well need more than that to reach fluency.If youve decided to use technology to assist in your language learning, you might be missing the social component thats not frequently associated with e-learning.Youll need to find others to talk to besides Siri.You need the immediate feedback you get when talking to a native speaker. In order to build your language-learning muscles, youll need opportunities to listen in real time and respond appropriately.So is it possible to learn a language while remaining fully online?You’re right to think that communicating with others is at the core of learning a language, and maybe youre concerned about missing out on real interaction with people if you choose e-learning.Can you take part in social interactions online that are similar to meeting people in person? You might assume that this is where e-learning gets difficult, but in reality, weve got you covered.These resources will target the  auditory skills  youll need in order to distinguish the sounds of your target language and to self-monitor your own speech. (In other words, have a meaningful conversation in that language youve been working really hard to learn.) Why Are Auditory Skills So Important to E-learning?Heres why were going to focus specifically on improving these skills:Together with reading and writing, listening and speaking are two of the tenets of language learning and they all build on one another. When you strengthen these specific skills, youll see an overall improvement in all the areas.E-learning exposes the self-motivated language learner to  virtually thousands of apps and resources  to improve almost any language skill. However, many e-learners are missing the social componentâ€"the back-and-forth interaction that comes with havin g a conversation with a native speaker thats so critical to becoming fluent.Improving your auditory skills will help you with  fluency and pronunciation. The social exchange provides a model of correct pronunciation and an opportunity to get immediate feedback so that errors and mistakes are quickly corrected.Prioritizing these specific skills will build your confidence and motivate you to continue your studies. Youll be able to understand all those videos youve been watching and youll no longer be nervous when talking to native speakers (just in time for that trip to Italy!).Sounds Like Fun: E-learning Languages the Auditory WayWeve already established that listening and speaking should be priorities when it comes to e-learning. But lets face it, our personalities will make one resource more appealing than another.If youre an extrovert, you might dive into a conversation with a native speaker with little to no hesitation. However, an introvert might shy away from this type of socia l situation and would prefer to perfect their listening and speaking skills in other ways.Whatever your preferred interaction, weve got some suggestions for you!Listening and Speaking Resources for the ExtrovertIf youre an extrovert, it’s likely that social interactions form an important part of your life. Luckily for you, auditory learning can be combined with many online tools that can help you meet and interact with people.Of course, all learners will eventually need to practice with native speakers to really take their auditory skills to the next level, so introverts and extroverts alike should take note of these awesome resources.FluentUiOSIf youre looking for immediate feedback and culturally-relevant lessons, FluentU is the right place. Extroverts and introverts alike will find this innovative platform useful.FluentU is an online immersion platform that takes  real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.Videos are organized by  difficulty (beginner to native), topic (arts and entertainment, health and lifestyle, etc.) and  format (video blog, news,  shows, etc.)â€"so you can easily browse and find something perfect for your level and interests.Every word comes with an in-context definition, image, audio and multiple example sentences for easy learning and understanding. You can even click on a word to see how it’s used in other videos across the site.HelloTalkiOS  |  AndroidIf you like to make friends and are eager to practice your language skills, HelloTalk is a great place to start. This app will connect you with native speakers and you can begin to text and chat with them immediately.HelloTalk’s features work especially well with auditory learning. You can send and receive voice messages, have voice chats or use the app’s voice recognition system, which will help to make things easier if you’re not entirely confident speaking in your target lang uage. You can even start video calls to make the experience even more personal.AccintIf you’re an advanced learner looking for more focused practice, why not FaceTime with native speakers or even have in-person conversations? With Accint, you can browse through the list of native speakers of your target language, then get in touch with them and request a conversation.Once your request is accepted, schedule a conversation and start preparing questions or specific topics youd like to discuss.TandemiOS  |  AndroidTandem is a language exchange app with a friendly community where you can meet and chat with native speakers. It will help you in improving your speaking and listening skills by learning words, phrases and pronunciation in a social contextâ€"helping you sound like a native in no time.You can choose to text people, send voice messages, call them or try a video chat. Tandem has a huge, active community of users. You can easily connect with others, get to know people and learn in a fun, engaging way.Mango LanguagesiOS  |  Android This app will teach you the conversation skills you need to feel comfortable talking to native speakers rather than boring you with impractical phrases and sentences that arent as handy in everyday situations.Lessons start with a specific phrase or sentence that gets broken down and then built on as the lesson progresses. It also mixes in cultural insight so that you go much deeper than just learning basic words and phrases.Youll learn through culturally accurate conversations, while having the option to practice pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. Along with giving you a foundation in the language youre learning, Mango Languages will provide lots of cultural insight to prepare you for real life situations.HiNativeiOS  |  AndroidDouble-checking and correcting mistakes is a vital part of learning a language. Since e-learning is a more independent experience than, for example, taking one-on-one lessons with a tutor or going to a physical class, it becomes especially important to look out for mistakes  and correct them quickly.While not strictly auditory, HiNative is a great tool that provides feedback, answers questions and connects you with a community of language learners. Its powered by Lang-8, which is a social networking tool to help you correct the mistakes in your foreign language writing. And since the act of writing is producing language, youll see an improvement in your speaking skills.Using Lang-8, you write journal entries in the language you’re learning and theyll be read and corrected by native speakers. This way, you can make sure that what youve learned is correct, eliminate mistakes and still be actively engaged in the learning process.In turn, you can correct other people’s entries. All this makes HiNative and Lang-8 not only great tools for learning, but also fun ways to make new friends.Listening and Speaking Resources and Ideas to the Rescue for IntrovertsBeing an introvert can mak e having a conversation in another language a daunting experience. Though it’s essential to practice speaking to people face-to-face, there are many other ways that can help you improve until you feel confident.Learners who thrive on learning independently, or extroverts who are looking for ways to brush up their skills while theyre alone, will appreciate these resources and ideas.AutologiaNo, its not an app, but it is a method that youll find extremely useful to practice your speaking skills while youre by yourself.  Autologia is a self-learning method developed by Kató Lomb, a Hungarian interpreter and translator who learned over ten languages as an autodidact.So, whats autologia? Simply put, autologia is chatting to yourself.  If practiced consistently, autologia can become a useful technique for both introverts and learners who have limited time on their hands to interact with native speakers.The best part is that you don’t have to worry about feeling embarrassed, forgettin g a word or making a mistake in front of others.An important thing to keep in mind is that you should focus on improving your fluency, so while youre talking, don’t interrupt yourself too many times to look things up. You can aim to speak for ten minutes, then check words and phrases you didn’t know or remember at the end of the session.Repeat this process as many times as you need, and soon youll feel much more fluent and confident as you speak.My WordsiOS  |  AndroidA useful way to complete autologia is to practice the new vocabulary that you come across. Learn how to pronounce them first by looking them up on Forvo.Then, once you feel confident with the pronunciation, you can record yourself saying them using the My Words app to create your own audio dictionaries.Make your vocabulary lists more fun by adding pictures, or find and download already existing lists to further improve your pronunciation. Recording yourself helps to keep the process of learning active and engaging, which in turn will make it easier to memorize and recall words in the future.Listenlive.euImproving your listening skills  is an important part of auditory learning and tuning in to radio shows is a fun way to do it. You can browse through hundreds of radio shows on  Listenlive.eu  and hear anything from music, news, sport or talk show programs.Making notes and writing out new vocabulary or example sentences is a great way to participate in auditory learning while improving your written skills. However, even just listening to programs in the background will help you to gain more confidence in understanding your target language.SpeechanceiOS  If you need to improve your pronunciation, Speechance is the way to go!This app features a speech recognition software designed for language learners, and itll score your speech and point out mistakes in your pronunciation.You get the correction in real-time and the app provides feedback on stress, intonation and speech rate. Establishing a rou tine of double-checking what youve learned is an important part of e-learning, and using Speechance is a great way to make sure that you learn with the correct pronunciation.With this app, you’ll get ahead faster whether you practice autologia or have online or in-person conversations.Lingo Vocabulary TraineriOS  |  AndroidDo you often find yourself struggling to find the right word  in the language you’re learning? Then it’s time to expand your vocabulary.To avoid getting bored but still see a steady increase in your vocabulary, try out Lingo Vocabulary Trainer. This app features over 5000 words complete with pictures and pronunciation, a huge variety of topics to choose from and it allows you to track your progress as you learn.MondlyiOS  |  AndroidIf you’d rather practice talking to someone other than yourself but you’re not ready for a real conversation yet, Mondly’s chatbot can help you out.Mondly will introduce you to simple conversations between two people, so wha t you learn comes from applicable real-life situations. If you opt to try out the chatbot, you can take part in the conversation yourself. Mondly’s chatbot understands millions of words and phrases, and it works through speech recognition technology.The chatbot will answer you in a human voice, and itll also create visual responses thatll make learning a unique and fun experience.As you can see, e-learning is not about giving up on having fun or social interactions.Whether you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert, try out these resources and ideas to make the most out of your e-learning experience.

Persuasion And Negotiation Techniques For Acing Interviews And Lowering Your Rent

Persuasion And Negotiation Techniques For Acing Interviews And Lowering Your Rent Photo courtesy of Wiki How. Lower Your Rent Negotiating rent is something everyone should look into if theyre renting from a private (or at least accessible) landlord. For example, if youre looking to live off-campus, it might be beneficial to look into an apartment or condo being rented by a single, private owner, or from someone subleasing, because they will be more likely to negotiate prices in order to get their place rented more quickly. On a personal note, I subleased an apartment last year for 100 dollars less than I had been asking for, simply due to the fact that I was in such a hurry to have someone paying at least the majority of the rent. You can use this, and the techniques below, to your advantage. Know The Market No, you dont have to know the economic ins and outs of the housing market, but you should gain an idea as to the rental prices around your campus or where youre preparing to rent.  What The Neighbors Pay,  a section of the Apartment Ratings website, is a great tool that allows you to search rent and price demographics for certain cities, neighborhoods and complexes. Knowing the average prices for the area youre looking into renting allows you to have an idea of how low you can feasibly negotiate, and also helps you avoid paying higher than the average. Also be sure to look into your landlords market; knowing how long an apartment has been empty or how many empty apartments they have in the area can help you gauge how receptive they will ultimately be to your negotiation. Time It Right According to an article in  Forbes, landlords are more willing to negotiate near the end of the month because it usually means the apartment has been empty for longer. As with my experience, renters are more likely to accept a lower price rather than risk the apartment not being filled. Forbes also recommends to, if you have a lease, start your negations early so that you give yourself enough time to find another apartment (or convince your landlord you could). If you start too early, however, your landlord may simply find a new tenant to replace you, the article stated. Haggle Now that you know the market and its the end of the month, you can begin your negotiation.  Roger Dawson, author of  Secrets of Power Negotiating,  said in an article for  Forbes  that negotiators don’t deal in reality, they deal with perceptions. He goes on to explain that being comfortable going into a situation without a concrete outcome is essential, and to also be mentally prepared and confident in your pitch. To begin, always ask for a lower price than you think youll receive. This sets the table for compromise, which is really what the haggle is all about. Also be sure to explain your reasoning in a non-aggressive manner and  avoid hesitant language, such as umm and I mean, seeing as they make you appear unsure in your argument. If your landlord turns out to be uncompromising on the rent, Forbes also recommends negotiating parts of the rent, such as asking for free parking or a fresh coat of paint. Ace An Interview Interviews involve mostly persuasion rather than negotiation techniques, as youre essentially asking the potential employer to buy what youre selling (you), which is why many sales techniques are useful for interviews. Research and Empathize Just as you need to know your market to negotiate rent, you need to know the company youre applying to in order to persuade the interviewer to hire you. This involves not only researching the basics of the company, but also the position youre applying for. Knowing the company and its current state and current events allows you to ultimately empathize with the interviewer. The best way to do this, according to an article via the  Global Post, is to connect the job to your qualities, making statements such as, Your job description emphasized detail orientation, which is a quality my managers have always recognized in me. Connect There are many ways to connect with an interviewerwith empathy, as listed above, but also with different nonverbal and verbal cues. You still want to avoid the hesitant language I mentioned earlier, since in an interview it would signal uncertainty regarding your qualifications. You can also build rapport by mirroring the posture and movements of the interviewer (not overly so, but subtly) and by maintaining friendly eye contact. Its also useful to connect through complimenting, but rather than using generalized complements (I just  love  your company!),  try to complement a procedure within the company that you enjoy. For example, a common question in interviews asks what you didnt like about your last job. A useful way to turn this into a positive statement and give a complement is to say something like I didnt enjoy the overly pushy, out-of-date marketing techniques my previous company used, but prefer marketing techniques that develop a connection between the products and the customers through relatable copy, such as with the campaign your company used for so-and-so product last month. As you can see, the dislike of pushy marketing campaigns turned into a positive view of connecting through marketing and a complement on how the interviewers company utilizes their marketing. Strong, specialized statements such as these create a powerful persuasive pull, as theyre in-depth and leave little question in the interviewers mind that you know the job youre applying for. Stand Out Through Email People remember what they saw first or last  but almost never what they saw in the middle, said  Joanna Wiebe, copywriter and author of Copy Hackers. This is especially important advice to think about when sending emails or crafting any piece of written communication. Having an engaging subject line or opening line is an indirect way of persuading the reader to keep reading; if the first sentence commands drool and eye blur, you can bet the person youre trying to reach hit delete and took a nap instead of reading your proposal. This isnt to say you have to have an off the wall or weird subject line of an email; after all, you dont want it to be disregarded as spam, but you should pepper the first sentence of your email with an uncommon word or two. A study titled The Bizarreness Effect: Its not surprising, its complex, found that people were best able to recall messages when bizarre nouns were  mixed with  common words in a standard sentence, as Weibe summarized on her website. The key is to make the subject clear with an uncommon word mixed in, or if you dont feel comfortable being a little bold with a subject line, save it for the first sentence of your email. Again, no need to go crazy, but do get a little creative. What would make you open one email over another out of the 20 emails asking the same thing or applying for the same position? Vacations really do have the power to help you hone certain business skills, or at least bring them to light. In fact, gambling in Vegas can make you a master risk evaluator, financial strategist okay, now Im going too far (maybe). Regardless, persuasion and negotiation are, indeed, skills that can save you shopping money or aid you in making more money, even if youve never used them abroad. And to that I say, happy haggling!