5 Crucial Study Skills for Middle School

5 Crucial Study Skills for Middle School Suzy S. Middle school is a great time to identify your learning style and strengthen your overall study skills. Read on as Decatur, GA tutor Ezra A. shares his top tips for success One of the most important factors determining a person’s success is their ability to learn â€" and many strong learners begin by developing study skills in middle school. In a world that just gets busier and busier, students need efficient ways to learn. Sure, you could hammer a chapter into your skull by reading it 10 times, but youll hate it and lifes too short to hate learning new things. I taught for 13 years, and throughout that time, the most efficient students I knew all used these study skills for middle school. Get Organized Every honor roll student I taught had one place where he wrote everything down. For one of them, it was a notebook that she carried from class to class. For another, it was an actual school calendar (some places call this an agenda), and every day had notes about classwork, special events, and other things he thought were important. This can look different for each student, so find a way to make this work for you. Use Flashcards Successful students with strong study skills in middle school almost always used flashcards.  Every subject has knowledge you just have to learn vocabulary, formulas, facts, or steps in solving a problem. Research tells us that its easiest to learn by repeatedly quizzing yourself, and notecards are a great way to test your knowledge. Research also shows that the best results come from writing a question on one side of the card and its answer on the other side and keeping the answers short. Having a bigger stack of notecards is better than having notecards with lots of words on one side. Read the Whole Chapter Sure, you can scan the material for the answers to the questions, scribble the answers, and call the homework finished. Unfortunately, this kind of reading is only efficient for one assignment â€" and that’s not efficient! If you get in the habit of reading the whole chapter, you will soon see how facts are part of a theme, and how a theme is part of a larger theme, and how a discovery in one place affects a discovery in another place. You’ll enjoy what you learn because you will see for yourself how important something becomes when seen as part of something else â€" which is the point of learning study skills for middle school! Prepare, Prepare, Prepare! Sometimes, you get to a test and discover you don’t know the material as well as you thought. This happens to everyone, and the students least affected by such a surprise shared this trick with me: they prepared themselves for the hardest test they could imagine. One student who excelled in Spanish vocabulary learned all the words on flashcards, then created new sentences using each word, and finally challenged herself to use her new vocabulary words in a single paragraph. By the time she got to the test, she was ready for anything! Master Time Management Finally, another one of the best study skills for middle school students to master is to make time your friend, not your enemy. How? Study before you ‘have’ to study. Think of it like this: if a test is three days away, and if you’d normally cram everything into your head over an hour, try studying 30 minutes tonight, and see how much time you need to study tomorrow night to feel ready (hint: it’s probably less than 30 minutes). Since you’re ready for the test a whole day early, you can add another 15 minutes of review the night before the test, just to stay sharp. The students I know who approach tests like this usually make high A’s â€" and they don’t waste time stressing out about the test! They build confidence by preparing early and using the additional time for relaxed reinforcement of what they’ve learned. Use these study skills for middle school, and as studying becomes a habit, you’ll find learning not only fun, but something you look forward to doing every day. With the right tools for learning, you (or your child) will finish 8th grade and enter high school with the ability to face and overcome â€" any challenge life sends your way. After 13 years in the classroom, Ezra A. spends his time tutoring a variety of subjects (online or in the Atlanta area), preparing for a new career as a physician, and spending time with his beautiful wife and two dogs. Learn more about Ezra here!   Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  DeepCwind

5 New Musicians Who Can Help You Improve Your Spanish

5 New Musicians Who Can Help You Improve Your Spanish Suzy S. Listening to Spanish music is a fantastic way to improve your language skills! Here, Jamaica Plain, MA tutor Christopher S.  shares 5 suggestions for famous new Spanish musicians to check out There is a world of great Spanish music out there, and so much of it is by artist or bands we, Americans, have never even heard of. Much of this is due to geographic location, because it is quite likely that unless youre in Spain, youre not going to know the best and most recent artist becoming popular there. In this article, I will introduce five new famous Spanish musicians who have have been topping the charts in Spain. In addition to these all being amazing songs, one great thing I find from listening to music in a different language is that it actually helps you learn the language! I’ve met many people who have learned a language just from studying and listening to music! Songs are good for learning because they often repeat lyrics, which helps you learn vocabulary while listening to an awesome beat. Also, the singers usually sing words slowly, so you get lots of pronunciation practice when you sing along. In fact, if you want to test yourself and practice learning Spanish with music, take a look at LyricsTraining. This website helps you learn a song by slowing down certain parts for you, and it is a great way to practice the language! Another  thing I find especially helpful when trying to learn new vocabulary words or grammar is to listen to songs that have some sort of story that you can follow. Below, I’ve done my best to choose songs from famous Spanish musicians that tell some sort of story. Please enjoy them, and listen with a conscious ear and a studious mind! 1) Love of Lesbian Club de fans de John Boy This band represents the music of Spain very nicely: good rhythms, artistic videos, and great lyrics. Its a good band to know if youre thinking about learning Spanish. 2) Edurne Amanecer Edurne is a modern artist who recently released Amanecer, soon be the song to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest of 2015. 3) Xoel López Tierra Xoel López is a guitarist and singer from La Coruña, and he is a great songwriter! He has a very simple folk-like sound, but he writes beautiful, chill music. Kind of like the Spanish version of Jack Johnson! 4) Maná Mi Verdad,” a duet with Shakira This is a double whammy, because although Maná is from Mexico and Shakira is from Colombia, they are both very popular in Spain and should be recognized in this list. This is a recent song they recorded together. 5) David Bisbal Culpable David Bisbal is a great singer and artist who writes amazing songs that are staples of the modern Spanish pop music scene. All his songs are great, and this one is slow and easy to understand if youre new to  learning Spanish! I hope these songs introduce you to some great new music and help you discover the fun benefits of learning languages with music! Christopher S. teaches in-person Spanish and guitar lessons in Jamaica Plain, MA. He lived abroad in Seville, Spain for two years where he studied classical and flamenco guitar and taught lessons to beginner students interested in classical guitar. He is currently working on his Masters Degree in Guitar Performance, and has been teaching students since 2004. Learn more about Christopher here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Gabriel R C

4 Reflective Questions to Guide Your GMAT Prep

4 Reflective Questions to Guide Your GMAT Prep To create an effective study plan for the GMAT, test-takers should first make time for self-reflection. But what, precisely, should you ask yourself to generate the results that you desire on this exam? Here are four questions to contemplate as you prepare for the GMAT: 1. Why am I sitting for the GMAT? The GMAT is one of two standardized exams that are accepted as part of a business school application a growing number of MBA programs also accept the GRE. Given that you have two tests to choose from, should you consider the GRE instead? Before you move forward with the registration for either exam, there are two important qualifications to weigh. First, certain business programs like the Anderson School of Management and the Haas School of Business prefer the GMAT, while other programs like the London Business School explicitly require it. If you plan to apply to such a program, the GMAT is the obvious choice of test, even if other schools on your short-list accept the GRE. Second, certain companies in fields like consulting and finance review the GMAT scores of employment and internship candidates. If you hope to work for a specific firm in the future, investigate whether your performance on the GMAT will be critical to an offer. For applicants who can feasibly submit either exam, speak with admissions officers at your top-choice programs, complete practice tests for both the GMAT and the GRE, and select the exam that works best for you. 2. What type of learner am I? Are you visually inclined? Or do you prefer lessons that are auditory or kinesthetic in nature? These insights into your learning style should be applied to your GMAT prep. Reflect on your high school and college courses, and consider how you mastered class material. Which methods were most effective? Which were least effective? Were the lessons that you best remembered ones that came from inside the classroom or outside it? Students who are confident in their ability to read a guide, answer the corresponding practice questions, and unpack GMAT material independently may be able to prepare successfully through self-study. For learners who prefer a more collaborative or interactive education, group study or GMAT tutoring may be ideal. Of course, many of us learn in multiple ways, and you may wish to pair one of the previous options with a resource like the videos available on the official GMAT website, or online tutoring. 3. Who can provide me with support as I prepare for the GMAT? Studying for the GMAT is a challenging and stressful process that can take weeks or months, so who will provide you with support during this period? Your family and friends? Your fellow MBA applicants? Furthermore, what types of support will you need? The people in your life may provide you with different forms of assistance, such as the roommate who ensures you have a quiet space at home for GMAT review, or the business school alumni who can tell you what strategies worked for them on the exam. In order to efficiently capitalize on your limited study time, consider and identify these forms of support before you begin reviewing. 4. How can I prioritize GMAT prep in my schedule? During your prep period, what can you keep on your schedule, and what will you need to remove? Your work commitments are clearly essential, as is maintaining time for exercising, healthy eating, and sleeping. But what can you afford to temporarily skip for several months in order to do your best on the GMAT? If you earn a high score on the test, it may unlock a wealth of opportunities for you, so remember that studying for this exam is only temporary. Ultimately, think about why you are taking the GMAT within the larger frame of the MBA process, and let these conclusions inform your test prep plan of action. Why do you wish to attend business school? What will you do after you graduate? Reflecting on these questions can make your GMAT prep more effective, and it can help you develop and commit to the strategy that is right for you.

7 Tips for Students to Seek Online tutoring help without Encumbrance

7 Tips for Students to Seek Online tutoring help without Encumbrance 0SHARESShare While seeking online tutoring help, you have to get satisfactory work for the money you pay within the allotted time. How to get online tutoring help successfully without encumbrance? Follow these tips First, make sure your tech tools are in proper order to receive and send communication without obstacle Stay focused in the session to get the maximum service possible Be clear in the mind about the subject you are asking for and what kind of help you need Suppose   it is assignment help , be sure what material you need, what kind of style and other details to derive a good output from the tutor If it is a help from an  online Trigonometry tutor, try to do a problem with the tutor on the whiteboard to enable him to check out your mistakes and suggest remedial measures  If it is a Physics experiment , set your mind before hand about what you desire from an expert of Physics online tutoring  to get an excellent end product If you seek help for writing an essay from English tutoring online,  submit your written drafts for their perusal to find out your mistakes in writing and arrive at suitable suggestions for the   same Tutor Pace. Com assists students with the capable help of its tutors to make learning hassle free.  [starbox id=admin]

Open Mic 101 How to Overcome Stage Fright More

Open Mic 101 How to Overcome Stage Fright More Suzy S. Thinking about stopping by an open mic night, or hitting the stage for karaoke? Performing in front of others is a fantastic way to boost your confidence and meet other musicians in the area but it can also be pretty scary if youre a newbie! Luckily, learning how to overcome stage fright is easy when you focus on the right things. For some quick tips and strategies on getting rid of those pesky nerves, check out this informative video: Read on to learn more about how open mic nights work, how to prepare for your first performance, and how to overcome your stage fright! How Do Open Mic Nights Work? Every venue is different, so you may want to contact the owner or host to make sure youre prepared (check their website or social media sites for contact information). Some venues run on a first-come, first-served line-up simply show up, and ask the host where to sign in. Others may require you to submit your name prior to the event, or might go by a lottery system if theres a large turnout. Keep in mind that most places will also have a time or song limit for example, two songs maximum, or a 10-minute timeslot. You might also want to find out beforehand what kind of set-up the venue has. Do they have backup instrumentalists or a full band to accompany performers? Should you bring your own equipment, or will there be amps and other gear provided? Should you be prepared to play an all-acoustic set? If you dont feel comfortable reaching out to the host before the event, theres nothing wrong with attending just to watch, to get a feel for the environment and the crowd. You might even find the inspiration you need to join in on the fun! Tips for Surviving Your First Open Mic Prepare your piece.  While some performers prefer to improv on stage, as a beginner you may feel more comfortable if you pick out the song youre going to sing or play in advance. Consider giving a mock performance in front of your family or close friends, if you want extra practice in front of others. Invite your friends! Sometimes, all you need is your best supporters cheering you on from the front row to give you a confidence boost. If you get nervous, looking at a friendly face can help. On the other hand, other performers might feel even  more nervous around people they know. Figure out what works for you. Dont forget to warm up. Open mics may feel pretty relaxed, but that doesnt mean you should skimp on your warm-up especially if youre a singer. Step outside and tune your guitar, run through some scales, do some vocal warm-ups, or whatever you need to do to prepare. Get settled. If its your first time performing, or youre feeling particularly nervous, you may want to show up a bit early, so you have time to settle in and relax before youre called on stage. Review your piece in your head if that helps you, but dont work yourself up! Use visualization strategies. The mind is a powerful thing, and often just visualizing yourself having a great performance can do wonders for your self-esteem! As you practice leading up to your performance, visualize hitting each and every note. Picture the audience loving what you do. Think about your sheet music in your head, and get your fingers used to the movement on your instrument. When your mind and your fingers are working together, your piece will feel like second nature. Appreciate your audience. During your performance, think of the crowd as your allies. Remember, there will most likely be other people attending the open mic for the first time, who may be just as nervous as you! And the rest of the crowd? Theyve all been in your shoes once before! Ignore your inner critic, and stay calm.  When youre particularly nervous, the negative voices in your head may seem extra loud. Check out this helpful advice from teacher Victoria W.  to combat the feeling and help you learn how to overcome stage fright. Did you make a mistake, or  forget the words  to what you were singing? It happens to the best of us, even professionals so dont sweat. Do what you can, stay calm, and most likely the audience wont even notice. And the most important tip: Relax, and have fun!  The whole point of open mic nights are to provide positive and welcoming environments for performers of all levels to show off their skills. This is your opportunity to shine make the most of it! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by waferboard

What is it Like to Attend Dalton State College

What is it Like to Attend Dalton State College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Lalitha is an Atlanta tutor and 2014 graduate of Dalton State College. She holds a Bachelors degree in English and tutors several subjects, including Middle School Math tutoring, Reading tutoring, and Writing tutoring. Check out what Lalitha had to say about her time at Dalton State College: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Lalitha: Dalton State College, situated off the highway in Dalton, Georgia, is very much a commuter college. Many people, including teachers, come from as far as Atlanta and Tennessee. The campus itself is small it is easy to walk from one side to the other. Sometimes, when all the parking spaces are filled, students park at the Georgia Convention Center and are taken to campus via a shuttle service. Dalton is a rural area; the campus has a stream flowing through it, as well as a hiking trail. I felt very safe on campus. Only once did I hear of an incident of someone being attacked on campus. Since many of the students are older, have children, and have full-time jobs, it is a very different environment from larger colleges where most students are more interested in partying than studying. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Lalitha: Because Dalton State College is small, I got to know most of the teachers and staff. It almost felt like a second family because the professors knew me and what I was capable of. Teachers could tell when I was having a bad day, and since they knew I wanted to go to graduate school, they challenged me to do my best academically. Even though Dalton State College is small, the teachers are some of the best in the country. For example, Christy Price, one of our Psychology teachers, received a national teaching award. She also attends international conferences. I felt like the teachers really wanted to be there, and it showed in the way they taught. The lectures were very insightful, and I finished each class feeling that I had become a better person for taking it. The coursework was also very challenging. We had to write long papers that were graded for content, format, and grammar, and we also had in-depth class discussions. We all spent many hours studying for tests. However, because the teachers challenged me, I now feel adequately prepared for graduate school. The advisers were also extremely helpful. As an immigrant, I had so many questions about attending college, and I did not know whether it would even be possible for me. However, I had heard good things about Dalton State College. When I went there for the first time, I was greeted by Matthew Queener (who is no longer there), who showed me and my family around campus, explained the admissions process, and was even able to provide me with financial aid in order to attend. I never felt like I was being treated like a number the Dalton State College staff always saw me as an individual and did their best to help me. Dr. Angela Harris and Victoria Summers, who both help international students, went above and beyond their duties to help me stay in school and manage my visa papers. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Lalitha: Dalton State College acquired apartment buildings next to their campus and turned them into dorm rooms they look much more comfortable and beautiful than dorm rooms on traditional campuses with their sterile interior and high, hard beds. I never stayed in the dorms because I continued living with my parents and commuted to campus twice a week. On those days, I would pack my own lunch and snacks (and sometimes dinner when I had really late classes). As a vegan, there were no options for me in the cafeteria (not counting Fritos, unripe bananas, and over-priced fruit cups). Since I commuted to school and scheduled all my classes, I did not really get a chance to explore the area. My husband and I went to downtown Dalton once, and there were some interesting sights, but many businesses have closed down and there is not much to do. Most of the students who reside in Dalton go to Chattanooga to hang out. I did most of my socialization with students on campus. I met my friends in class, randomly on campus, or through student clubs and events. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Lalitha: At the moment, I think Nursing, Biology, and Business are the best supported majors, judging by the amount of scholarships people in those majors receive, as well as the opportunities available to them to go to conferences. Dalton State College also recently started offering a four-year degree in Psychology, which is very exciting, since the students who wanted to study Psychology always had to transfer after completing their Associate degree. I started out studying Sociology. I fell in love with it because it uses many different fields and perspectives to form an overall idea of why society is the way it is. It is empowering because it not only identifies social problems, but also offers insight into what caused them and consequently into how we can work together to fix these problems. Unfortunately, Dalton State College only offered an Associate degree in Sociology, and I could not afford to transfer, so I changed my major to English. However, my Sociology professor, Dr. Hassan El-Najjar, was very supportive of my studies and presented me with an academic award in Sociology. I still aspire to continue my Sociology studies in graduate school. I decided to major in English for a variety of reasons. I love reading and discussing literature, and literature also offers social insights. English teaches effective communication and critical thinking (two very important skills to have), and English offers a wide variety of opportunities after college. With an English degree, I could teach overseas or enter any non-specialized field. Dalton State Colleges English department is filled with wonderful and passionate professors, and even though English was not my first choice, I truly enjoyed my studies. I think the English program can be supported better by the college. English majors do not receive as many scholarships as science majors, and they do not have as many opportunities to present their papers at conferences. Sometimes the professors are expected to teach too many classes I think they deserve more recognition for their hard work and dedication. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Lalitha: Since Dalton State College is a commuter college, it is a bit more challenging to make friends because you cannot easily meet with them outside of college. It took me a bit longer to find lasting friendships, and I found most of my friends later in my college career after having had a few classes with the same people. However, the people who attend Dalton State College are very friendly and tolerant of people who come from different cultures and who hold different beliefs. Greek life only recently developed, so I did not get an opportunity to partake in it. I was accepted into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, but after paying my fee, I never heard from them again. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Lalitha: I never made use of the Career Center since I attended Dalton State College on a student visa and was not allowed to work off-campus. I recently registered on their website as an alumna looking for full-time work, so I have yet to see whether those services are helpful or not. They do have career fairs, and I assume those are helpful. In general, the other student support services are excellent. In particular, Academic Resources helps students with disabilities and academic performance struggles. I worked for them as a tutor, and I saw firsthand how many students received support that made a difference. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Lalitha: The study areas are generally quiet and comfortable. There were many days when I took a nap on one of the long, blue couches in the student center or on a particularly cushioned couch in the library. However, the student center can sometimes get crowded, especially during lunch time. Sometimes the study rooms in the library are all occupied (and mostly by single persons, even though the rule requires there to be more than one person in a room). Regardless of these complaints, there is always somewhere to study. If the library and student center do not work, going to the writing lab is always a good idea. Not many people think to go there, but it is quiet, has computers available, and there are friendly staff (and sometimes faculty) members willing to help you with your papers. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Lalitha: I mostly stayed on campus since my days were packed with classes. Dalton is a small town, and there is not much to do there. I drove around there a few times and my husband and I went to a restaurant there once, but it was nothing exciting. The fun place to go is Chattanooga, Tennessee about a 45-minute drive from Dalton. Since many of the other students commute as well, they mostly stay on campus and go home to their respective towns. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Lalitha: The student body is relatively small. For example, on graduation day, even those who earned certificates get to walk on stage individually. I was very pleased with the class size. My largest class may have had 35 students, and my smallest class had four students including myself! Because the classes were so small, the teachers could really connect with students on an individual level, and we had some great class discussions where every persons input was valued. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Lalitha: One semester, I decided to take a class called Violence and the Media. I was an English major at the time, and this was a Criminal Justice elective class I thought it might be helpful as an English major to study the portrayal of a certain topic (in this case, violence) in the media. I also knew the professor who was going to be teaching the class, since I had had an introductory Criminal Justice class with him. On the first day, all the students arrive in class with their textbooks out, ready to start the lesson. But instead of Dr. Wright, in walks a female professor with high heels, blonde hair, and a Texan accent. She informed us that the schedule had been changed, that the class is now called Violence and Homicide, and that it would be taught by her. We were all shocked and dismayed, since we had already purchased our textbooks. And instead of studying the media, we would be studying the criminal mind. We would be looking at why people kill and famous cases involving killers. Moreover, this was a brand new teacher who nobody was familiar with. However, this class ended up being one of the most interesting, insightful classes I took at Dalton State College. It was something I would never have chosen, but something I am glad I ended up taking. Dr. Johnson became a role-model to me: she is a strong, intelligent woman who challenges her students. Nothing prepared me for senior seminar quite like the 17-page research paper she assigned for that class. And I realized that Criminal Justice is an immensely interesting field of study. Dr. Johnson even invited a real homicide detective to show us one of his cases. She also taught us about domestic violence and gave us a wonderful article that deconstructs the question, Why doesnt she just leave? She introduced us to many different theories as to why people commit violence, most notably general strain theory, which she studied extensively. It inspired many of my English papers, and the knowledge I gained in this class has broadened my understanding of Sociology. It just goes to show that sometimes life takes an unexpected turn, but it turns out to be a good thing. Check out Lalithas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Fixed English Expressions about Health Learn English with Harry ??

Fixed English Expressions about Health Learn English with Harry ?? Here you will learn English fixed expressions about health and also learn how to describe your symptoms to a doctor if you have nose problems. Fixed English Expressions about Health Hi there, this is Harry and welcome back to my English learning podcast Speak Better English with Harry where I try to help you better understand the English language, learn new English vocabulary, and improve your English listening and speaking skills.So this episode contains some English fixed expressions or English collocations related to health. As you might know, some of the collocations are fixed, meaning the words stay fixed and you can’t change them.So the first few here I’m going to give you, are fixed collocations do not change them, do not change the order of the words.BATTERED AND BRUISEDMeans how somebody after they have had difficult times. It might be actual where they’ve had a car accident, or fallen off their bicycle, or horse, whatever it might, and somebody asks them:How do you feel?Oh, I’m battered and bruised.Meaning I’m sore everywhere. We don’t say bruised and battered.Of course, it’s not always physical, you can also have this feeling after youâ €™ve been sitting with your boss for your personal review. You come out of it feeling:I’m battered and bruised after listening to all his complaints or criticisms. Fixed English Expressions about Health ACHES AND PAINSBe careful, not pains and aches but aches and pains.Meaning you wake up in the morning, you’ve got touch of a fever, maybe a little temperature, you ring into to say:I can’t come into work today, I have aches and pains everywhere.Everywhere I touch my back, my throat, my legs everywhere is sore, aches and pains everywhere.CUTS AND BRUISESAgain when something physical has happened. You’re running in a field, you slip over, you fall into a hedge, or fall down small little hill, and you end up with a few cuts and bruises.So somebody asks you:Well, how are you after your little accident?Ah, it’s nothing to worry about, just a few cuts and bruises.I had that myself a few times, when I was cycling my bicycle and I went round the corner too fast, or got into some gravel where the bike skids.And then finally, COUGHING AND SNEEZINGOh, I can’t come into work today. I woke up this morning coughing and sneezing.In fact, I was coughing and sneezing all night. The first signs of “man flu”. Describe your Health Symptoms in English Ok, while we’re on the theme of health, and this is the season when people tend to have a little cold, I have a few more health expressions for you concerning the nose. Let’s learn how to describe medical symptoms in English if you’ve got nose problems:RUNNY NOSEPart of that cold process. Every time you cough or sneeze, your nose runs, so you have to have constant supply of tissues to wipe your nose. When you’re describing symptoms to the doctor, you say:I’m coughing and sneezing and I’ve got a runny nose.So we can get some sprays or something to help prevent it.Or if we’re feeling less polite we can also use SNOTTY NOSEAnd a snotty child is when you see a little child with a fever and they can’t get rid of it, and they’ve got nose problems.It’s the same as RUNNY NOSE but it’s a little less polite. It’s not rude, it’s more informal and more slang. The third expression is MY NOSE IS DRIPPINGSo somebody rings you and asks:How are you feeling?Oh, don’t ask, I’ve got a terrible headache, I’ve got runny nose. In fact, my nose is dripping.It’s dripping like a tap. You know, if you sometimes leave a tap open in the kitchen and it makes those sounds ‘drip, drip, drip’. Well, that’s sometimes how our nose feel when we have a bad cold.And then finally when you’re getting near the end of flu symptoms, or you’re getting near the end of the cold, you might have a few days when you’ve got BLOCKED NOSE.Meaning you find it difficult to breathe.You’re breathing through your mouth instead of through your nose because when you try to breathe in, it’s very very difficult.So blocked can be a problem, you might need some tablets or nasal spray.There are the expressions to describe your nose problems to a doctor in English:runny nosesnotty nosemy nose is drippingblocked noseHopefully, you’re not suffering in that way. Pleas e join me again soon for improving your English. And as always, visit me on englishlessonviaskype.com and listen to Speak Better English with Harry Podcast on iTunes, Spotify and Stitcher.

Pen Pals

Pen Pals Do you have a pen pal? Have you ever had a pen pal? Probably not. Writing to a an anonymous correspondent used to be a popular hobby. Not anymore. It has fallen out of favour these days as people spend more and more time on social media websites. Perhaps, you don’t even know what a pen pal is and why it became as popular as it did. What is a Pen Pal? A pen pal is a person with whom one exchanges letters on a regular basis. Pen pals usually begin as strangers who live far away in a foreign country, making face-to-face meetings impossible or unlikely. People start exchanging messages with strangers for a range of reasons. The most common reason is to practice reading and writing using a foreign language. As such, people exchange letters to get meaningful practice in a language they are trying to learn or trying not to forget. In the process, correspondents learn about each other’s life and culture, often sharing personal details about themselves. Snail Mail It is worth noting at this point that whereas individuals can keep in touch with each other using email or an instant messaging application, many prefer to use snail-mail. There is something satisfying about seeing your name handwritten on an envelope. Using the postal service makes it possible to trade postcards, photos, stickers, birthday cards, drawings, and collectible stamps through the mail. Nevertheless, there are a number of websites that offer safe, structured, online pen pal exchanges for those who want to correspond with others over the internet. The Benefits of Being a Pen Pal Pen pal writing is beneficial in several ways. Foremost, it allows people to have a different outlook on the world. They can learn how people from different cultures approach questions of housing, schooling, food, exercise, healthcare, technology, travel, and entertainment, among other things. By sharing the ordinary details of their lives with others, correspondents often create long-lasting friendships. Given the fact that pen pals interact with a person they are unlikely to meet, they quickly open up and divulge intimate details about themselves. Not only do pen pals not only create a trusting friendship, but they also promote greater mental health. After all, it is by sharing our secrets that we discover that we are not alone and that all our secrets are basically the same. Furthermore, pen pal writing does away with the prejudices about people from different cultures. It creates a sense of social cohesion across borders and languages, and it creates tolerance through openness and respect. Many pals benefit from creating a written record of their memories, enjoying a chance for deep reflection about their lives, and the opportunity to develop their writing skills in the process. It is an enjoyable writing activity. It is social in nature, unlike other forms of writing such as essay writing or keeping a diary. The Dangers Despite the many benefits of pen pal writing, there can be disappointments and risks. The first one is that it can be frustrating to wait for a response from a correspondent. Some letters take a while before they are delivered, creating a sense of impatience and disappointment. Furthermore, the responses you receive may not always be friendly. In rare cases, a correspondent can take advantage of the anonymity of the exchange and write insulting attacks on certain sexual orientations, cultures, and lifestyles. Personal details revealed by the writer can be shared with other people, which can in turn create security issues. This is particularly true in the contemporary world, in which identity theft and other criminal acts are on the rise. Social insurance numbers, banking information, credit card numbers, and passwords should never be shared with pen pals. Regardless of the need for some caution, pen pal writing is a fun and enjoyable activity. It allows people to interact, learn, and grow. If you would like to find an online pen pal and exchange with people safely while improving your language skills, visit VirtualWritingTutor.com. Membership is free, and there are people who are eager to meet you from all over the planet. More on the topic Start an Exchange project for students  on the Virtual Writing Tutor. For instructions on how to create an exchange for your students, check out these step-by-step pen pal exchange creation instructions for teachers.Learn about the pedagogical value of letter writing exchanges here.Click here for an article on pen pals that students can read to introduce them to the concept. Get free postcards and start a postcard exchange Please follow and like us: