Maths Revision Resources A Level GCSE Maths Past Papers

Maths Revision Resources A Level GCSE Maths Past Papers Where Can You Find A Level GCSE Maths  Past Papers? ChaptersBenefits of Revision with Past Maths PapersTips for Efficient Maths RevisionWhere to Find Past Papers for Maths TuitionFind a Maths TutorGetting started with A-Level or GCSE maths revision can sometimes feel like an uphill struggle. It can be really hard knowing where to start, how to revise best, and what resources you should be using.To get the ball rolling with maths revision GCSE it’s important to know exactly what could come up in your exams. This means going over all of the syllabus content that you’ve covered over the term or year, and making sure you learn it.There are loads of ways to revise your maths syllabus for school. You can use all sorts of tools and resources such as your past notes and workbooks, websites containing course content, games and quizzes, and attending revision sessions that your teacher might put on.Textbooks aren't always the most beneficial form of revision, try something more practical! Photo credit: UGL_UIUC via Visual hunt  Once you thi nk you’ve gotten up to speed with all the course content and you’ve revised all the necessary topics for your exam, it’s time to start properly preparing for the actual exam paper. MyriamMaths Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £200/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KamalMaths Teacher 5.00 (9) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PetarMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GowsikaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ConorMaths Teacher 4.75 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsBenefits of Revision with Past Maths PapersFinding and working through copies of A-level past maths exam papers can be a really excellent way of preparing for your exam. Practising past papers will give you a clear idea of what you can expect in your upcoming exams, and will help you to:Familiarise yourself with the style of questions and formatRecognise the command terms usedKnow the length of the paper and how to manage your timeUnderstand how marks are allocatedMany students and teachers would argue that past papers are the best form of revision. They allow you to really prepare and rehearse for your exam and get more comfortable with the questions and how you should go about answering them.Tips for Efficient Maths RevisionWhen sitting down to do a past paper, make sure you do it properly. Sit somewhere quiet with no distractions, and set a timer so that you don’t run over the allowed time. Don’t have anything present that you wouldn’t be allowed in the exam â€" so no phones, music, books or notes!Start by reading the paper from cover to cover. This will help you understand how the paper is laid out, and where the marks are being allocated. You will also see from doing thi s how much time you should roughly spend on each question.Make sure you read the information on the front of the exam. This will clarify exactly which paper you are doing, how much time you have, and the basic rules you need to know when taking the exam.Thoroughly check the format of the paper and the individual questions. You don’t want to answer too few or too many questions if you’re not supposed to! Although exams aren’t trying to catch you out, it can be easy to fall into traps if you’re not careful.Read all the questions really carefully, as some of them might have instructions such as ‘answer two questions from part one’ or ‘answer one question from each section’, for example.Making mistakes when it comes to reading the questions and answering in enough depth can be easily avoided â€" so take your time to understand what each question wants so that you don’t lose marks needlessly.Make sure you read the paper in detail to avoid mistakes! Photo credit: alberto gp123 via VisualHunt / CC BYIt’s also really important that you pay close attention to the command words being used in the exam questions. These will indicate how you should answer the question. Words can vary between ‘explain’, ‘describe’, ‘compare’, ‘list’, for example.These words are huge hints as to how much you will need to write in your answer, and what exactly the question wants you to do.There are loads of different command words used in exams, so make sure you learn what each one means and is asking of you. Do this well ahead of time, you don’t want any surprises in the exam hall!If you see a command word that you are unfamiliar with in the exam paper, remember not to panic. Use your initiative and take an educated guess â€" it’s usually a case of common sense. Whether the word suggests you should be saying a lot or just giving a simple answer, look at the marks available and write what seems appropriate.Make sure you look at the marks on offer for ea ch question, this is a big indicator of what you need to do and what the command word means as well. If the question says ‘list’, and it has a maximum of three marks, you can be pretty sure that you should list three things.It is also crucial with maths exams that you read the question to see if you need to show your working. If this is explicitly asked for, you will know that some of the marks are awarded to showing how you got the answer.Some maths problems might be looking for a particular way of working out as well. So think carefully about what the question is asking you and how you should go about solving the problem, and remember to show all of your working in the answer book.    Time management is absolutely key when sitting an exam. You can get a rough idea of how much time you should spend on each question by comparing their marks. For example, you shouldn’t spend ten minutes on a one-mark question, and then only leave yourself three minutes for a five-mark question .A great way of learning to manage your time in practice papers is to add up all the marks in your paper and divide that by how many minutes you have to complete the exam. You will get a basic idea of how many minutes you should spend per mark, which will show you roughly how much time you have for each question.It’s important to do this as part of your practice though â€" try not to do it in your actual exam as it will eat into your time too much. Before sitting the real exam you should know the paper layout well, including its total marks and how many questions to expect.Where to Find Past Papers for Maths TuitionPast papers can usually be supplied by your teacher or subject department at school. They might have copies ready to hand from previous years, or they might be stored on an online database that you can access yourself. Speak to your teachers to find out how you can access the past papers that your school uses.It is also important that you get a copy of the mark scheme t o go with the exam if you can, so that you can mark your work and see where you did well and where you might need to put a bit more work in.The papers you need will depend on the exam board that your school is using. Check with your school who the exam board is so that you can find the right past exam and mark scheme to work from.The most common exam boards for the UK national curriculum are AQA, Edexcel and WJEC.For most examination board websites, you will need to be a teacher or education professional to access the past papers and any information. Your school will have access to the appropriate past papers for your revision, so don’t hesitate to ask for some.Maths Made Easy is a brilliant website that not only gives you access to revision notes, presentations, guides and support, but also lets you download past papers to practise.This site is aimed at years 1 to 13, so it includes all keys stages 1 to 4, and A-Level too. Simply click on your age level you need and have a browse of what the site has to offer.You can also specify which exam board you need between Edexcel and AQA to make sure you are practising the right stuff!Don't hesitate to get some help and guidance with your past papers! Photo credit: NEC Corporation of America via Visual Hunt / CC BYFind a Maths TutorIf you have private maths tutors, they might be able to find you some past papers to work through in your lessons at home, but they can usually be found directly through your school or maths department for KS3 or above.The most important part of doing past exam papers is understanding how you can improve for the real exam. This means you will need to mark the paper as accurately as possible according to the mark scheme, or ask a maths teacher or tutor to do it for you.Going through practise exams and obtaining maths help in general with your tutor is a great idea, as they can give you individual feedback and guidance on how to improve for the real thing. Your tutor will be able to notice any weak spots and where you need to put in some more practise.If you don’t have a private tutor, you can see if your teacher will mark your past paper or go through your results to see where your revision might need a bit more attention and fine-tuning.Was there anything in the practice paper that was particularly challenging? Or something that just completely stumped you? These are the things that you should make more room for in your study plan so that you are ready to answer them in the real exam.Discover how useful maths can be in life and why you should consider studying it.

Test-Taking Tip Blocking Out Other Test-Takers

Test-Taking Tip Blocking Out Other Test-Takers When you take an exam, all that should matter is that piece of paper in front of you. But what do you end up thinking about in addition to those questions you are reading? The other people in the class; how fast theyre writing, the way theyre sitting, the moment each one stands up all finished and ready to turn in their finished product. Its human nature to be distracted by these things, but the nervous test-taking environment only accentuates it. A major piece of advice that will help you work through your test with minimal stress is that you must learn to block out those fellow students. You have the rest of the day and the rest of the week, outside and inside school to pay attention to those people now is not the time to be thinking about them. Every student is different when it comes to their test-taking abilities, so you cannot let their habits affect your own process. Some students can easily put their nerves on the back-burner and just race through a test without thinking twice. Some agonize over every single question and purposely use up every possible minute before the bell rings. Others anxiously tap their pencils against their desk, shake their feet, breathe loudly, or practice a multitude of other disrupting habits that could throw you off. You must put them out of your mind. You may also want to check out these tips on how to mentally prepare for test day. Easier said than done? Well, in this case, its mostly about the preparation. Getting into the right mindset to ignore these classmates before you enter the test-taking zone is key. Tell yourself a few things as you make your way to the classroom: No one is judging you A common reason many students feel anxious while taking a test in a room full of students is because they fear being judged for not completing the exam as quickly as others. Logically, that doesnt make sense if you really think about it. The students who are finishing their tests first are just happy and proud of themselves for completing it so fast. They are exiting that room or pulling out a book before you know it and have no worries about you. The students who are, in fact, overly-nervous and meticulously taking their time clearly have no concern for the way you are approaching the test. And finally, the students who are just anxiously looking around and zoning out, not really being able to focus on the test due to nerves, are more likely to be having the same worries you are and be more afraid of you judging them than having the time to judge you themselves. Here are some important habits of effective test takersthat you may find useful as well. Only you and your teacher deserve control over your grade By soaking up your thoughts in the actions of the surrounding test-takers, youre basically giving them power over your test score. Why should it matter if the guy next to you only needs ten minutes to finish the exam while you need the entire hour? If taking the entire hour means youll get an A, thats all that matters and even though that guy seems confident in his speedy test-taking skills, he may not end up doing so well. How would you feel later if the reason you got a poor grade was because you rushed through the test just to catch up to someone who ended up doing badly anyway? Dont let his fast process change your careful one; he is not determining your final grade, you and your teacher are. You have just as much power as they do Remember, you are all in the same boat. Other test-takers may be just as easily intimidated by you as you are by them. You might get freaked out by that insanely quick person who turns in the exam right away, but maybe youll appear insanely quick to someone else who can barely finish the test in the allotted time. There is no sense in tormenting yourself over how well everyone else is doing when you are part of everyone else to another nervous student. Its a vicious cycle that everyone just needs to let go of. No one test-taker has more influence over the class than anybody else. Stop assigning the power and just focus on you and your test. Ready to let go of this unnecessary worry and take your test? Repeat these thoughts to yourself as you head into the classroom and those papers on your desk will be the only things youll see. You may also want to check out these test taking tips on how to review an exam before you take it.

The Benefits of Working in Germany Learning German

The Benefits of Working in Germany Learning German Why Work in Germany? Other than Learning German ChaptersReasons to Work in GermanyDo You Need to Speak German to Work in Germany?Why Are So Many People Interested in Working in Germany?British Workers in GermanyGerman Recruitment AgenciesWorking in Germany: Others Have Done the SameThe Federal Republic of Germany is one of the European Union's biggest economic powers. Plenty of people from the EU, including Brits, have decided to live and work or study in Germany since they don't need visas, a work permit or residence permit.Its economy and the jobs market for areas such as tourism, research, metallurgy, and the automotive industry are booming. Germany has recovered well following the economic crisis.Why work or live in Germany?Why are more and more people going to work in Germany?What are the differences between Germany and the UK?There are so many questions you need to ask yourself before you go. Hopefully this article will help you make the right decision for your career. SönkeGerman Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Dis cover all our tutors ClaudiaGerman Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SefaGerman Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HilaryGerman Teacher 5.00 (16) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LisaGerman Teacher 5.00 (8) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChrisGerman Teacher 5.00 (19) £39/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors WendyGerman Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HowardGerman Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsReasons to Work in GermanyThe Difference in SalaryLife in Germany isn't like life in the UK although the salaries are quite similar. Why are so many people moving to Germany?Firstly, there are plenty of jobs certain sectors, like the chemistry, automotive, and IT sectors in comparison to the same sectors in the UK.Berlin is full of young expat workers. (Source: pixabay.com)Additionally, the average salary is higher in Germany at €2,270 as oppose d to the UK’s €1,912.The jobs market in Germany is more dynamic. Unemployment is low in Germany and getting a job is much easier.The unemployment rate, at 3.8%, is one of the lowest in the European economic area making Germany one of the best EU countries for working abroad.Do You Need to Speak German to Work in Germany?Is it possible to get a job without speaking German? This is a question a lot of Brits ask about living in Germany.More often than not, working in Germany without speaking German is only possible by working for an international company.For students looking for work, you should check the international office in the universities in Germany as they can help every international student.Learn the subtleties of the German language. (Source: pixabay.com)German lessons London or online or at home are a great way to discover the German language and its history. Studying in Germany or at German universities is a great way to get the qualifications you need to prove your la nguage skills.In fact, if you really want to give your career in Germany a boost, you should speak German.  Immersion by living in Germany is a great way to learn the language and the longer you stay, the better your German will be.Have German ClassesBefore they leave their home country, every foreigner in Germany should know at least a little bit of German. Whether you've got a place at a university or you've got a job offer, you should at least get to grips with some of the basics.Why not take language course in Berlin, for example?There are plenty of reasons to do so depending on your personal and professional goals: greater autonomy to find a job, going to interviews, and living in a German town away from home.Learning German as part of your professional experience and discovering the history and culture of Germany will make your experience in the country absolutely unforgettable.By taking German lessons, practising regularly, studying the grammar, and listening to podcasts in G erman, you’ll quickly improve your speaking skills and be able to communicate better with the locals which is something you’re probably going to have to do at your new job!There are plenty of places to do German classes. (Source: pixabay.com)You can take German classes even if you’re already working: thanks to night classes, university classes for adults, or even private tutorials at home, you can work on your weaknesses and find the type of language classes that work best for you.You can also do an internship in Germany, especially in some of the best student towns like Bonn, Fribourg-en-Brisgau, Tübingen (without forgetting Berlin, Munich, Hamburg), where you can learn German online while working at the same time. Tuition fees in Germany are also much less than what you'd pay for a university in the UK and the education system is top quality.If you’re still a student, you should consider participating in the Erasmus programme or another exchange programme in Germany, Aust ria, or Switzerland. If this sounds like it's for you, you should check out the best German university towns.Don’t forget that having being able to speak and write in German on your CV is a real bonus when it comes to working in Germany. German recruiters are always going to be very interested in candidates that they can speak to clearly in their own language.It also shows them that you’re interested in integrating into their business culture, German life and culture, as well as showing off your skills.To these ends, we can’t recommend enough taking an exam that validates your German in terms of a CEFR level.The exams provided by the Goethe Institut are particularly good for this. The Goethe institute offers education in Germany, the UK, and around the world.Their Goethe-Test PRO â€"  Deutsch für den Beruf (previously the BULATS German exam) is highly recommended if you’re interested in professional German and it also gives you an exact score (valid for two years).Don’t f orget that it doesn’t hurt to know another foreign language like Dutch, Polish, or Swedish: trilinguals are also in demand. SönkeGerman Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClaudiaGerman Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SefaGerman Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HilaryGerman Teacher 5.00 (16) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LisaGerman Teacher 5.00 (8) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChrisGerman Teacher 5.00 (19) £39/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors WendyGerman Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HowardGerman Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Are So Many People Interested in Working in Germany?While the fact that the salaries in Germany are higher is already a very convincing reason to start working there, there are also non-financial benefits that attract people to Germany.What else is there?Learn new professional skills in Germany. (Source: pixabay.com)Here are a few reasons as to why you should take German courses and move to Germany:If you’re an executive looking for a challenge, in Germany you tend to be given more responsibilities at work than you would be in the UK. Of course, these responsibilities mean you have more things to manage but they can also make your job far more enriching.It can be financially beneficial without being a permanent move.It’s a great opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and discover a new culture as well as improving your ability to deal with change. These skills are highly sought after by employers and can give you a new outlook on your career.You can make yourself more competitive in your field or in a field that you’d like to work in.It’s an opportunity to learn different management styles and learn about different work environments: the customs in an office aren’t always the same and neither are the relationships between staff members. You might discover that the Germans are more hard-working than us.British Workers in GermanyWhat about Expats?  Expatriates (or expats) are Brits who no longer live or work in the UK. They tend to, more often than not, live in Berlin or another large German city. They have the opportunity to eat, drink, and breathe German culture.With Brexit on the horizon, who knows what we will need to live and work in Germany. Find out about getting a German work permit and applying for an EU blue card for Germany here.German Recruitment AgenciesTo make finding a job easier in Germany, there are some really useful German recruitment agencies that can vastly increase your chances of ending up an employee at a German company.These intermediaries work with various large and small German companies to find the best employees for them in the long term.This means that these companies have outsourced their recruitment process and to alleviate the pressure on their own internal HR departments.Ge rmany's a great place for learning German. (Source: pixabay.com)While plenty of businesses publish job adverts on their websites, job sites, and even in the paper, some only make these jobs (usually the important ones) available to those going through these recruitment agencies.This means that there are usually a few hoops to jump through in order to guarantee that the candidate is the best person for the job.Why do businesses go through these recruitment agencies?The business is usually struggling to find the right candidate.The business needs to recruit a large number of candidates in a short period of time and doesn’t have the internal resources to do so.The business doesn’t want to, for one reason or another, recruit candidates itself.Whatever the reason, it’s great for you when it comes to looking for jobs in Germany. Recruitment agencies in Germany are hugely popular amongst both businesses and candidates looking for work.If you stand out from the crowd or are a speciali st in a certain field, you should go straight to these recruitment agencies.Don’t forget that speaking English is also a huge benefit when it comes to a great number of jobs: Germany works a lot in English and has a lot of things they want to sell to English-speaking customers, make the most of that fact!Get in touch with a recruitment agency today and tell them which fields you specialise in and anything that can set you apart from other candidates.You should also look for other specialists in your field. They’re your competition, after all. This can help you measure up against other candidates and see how likely you are to get a job in Germany in your field.You’ll find out, one way or another, whether its something worth pursuing.Get an InterviewEven as a Brit, it’s not as hard to get an interview through German recruitment agencies as you may think. They can even help you get interviews with massive international companies!If a recruitment agency doesn’t have anything t o offer you, they’ll get in touch with you to find out more about you and put you in their database in order to find work for you down the line.  In fact, the agency could receive a job for you the very next day...This could work out even better for you. Once the agency is told about the vacancy, they’ll already have even more information about you and more reason to get in touch.This is why you need to put together a good professional profile with your experience, specialities, and show them that you can at least speak a bit of German.Use every tool at your disposal to land a job in Germany. (Source: pixabay.com)Whether you get the job or not, signing up with a recruitment agency is great as it shows that you want to get to work and integrate yourself into the German working culture and also prepares you for any future interviews.There are three things you need to consider when getting into the German world of work: motivation, skill, and seriousness.Remember that German recrui tment agencies offer a personal approach when dealing with candidates as well as professional coaching in line with your aspirations.  They make the most of digital technologies to achieve this.It’d be a good idea to get in touch with  DFP-Consulting,  a recruitment agency specialising in management and executive positions in industry and service.As you can see, working in Germany is not only very feasible, it’s highly recommended if you want to expand your professional horizons, have new experiences and responsibilities, and earn more money.However, you need to do your research and get in touch with experts and recruitment agencies to boost your chance of success.Are there any other ways to work in Germany?  The German job centre is also an option.While in the UK this is the traditional route for jobseekers to find employment, some prefer to avoid it at all costs.Is the German job centre anything like the one the UK?  As we’ve already seen, things aren’t exactly the same wh en it comes to finding work in Germany.The German job centre is the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency).It could provide you with a few extra leads when it comes to looking for work...Working in Germany: Others Have Done the SameWhy don’t we ask people who’ve already done it?  There are plenty examples of Brits working in Germany and we don’t mean “Auf Wiedersehen, Pet”.Plenty of young graduates head off to Germany because they can earn more there than in the UK.There’s nothing stopping you from doing the same!

Critical Reasoning Question 14-Packaging Company - Private Tutoring

Critical Reasoning Question 14-Packaging Company BobbiM Feb 16, 2014 World War II had a profound effect on the growth of nascent businesses.  The Acme Packaging Company netted only $10,000 in the year before the war.  By 1948 it was earning almost 10 times that figure. The argument above depends upon which of the following assumptions? A.  Acmes growth rate is representative of other nascent businesses. B.  An annual profit of $10,000 is not especially high. C.  Wars inevitably stimulate a nations economy. D.  Rapid growth for nascent businesses is especially desirable. E.  Acme is not characterized by responsible, far-sighted managers. Think you know the answer? The correct answer is A. The author uses the single case of Acme to conclude that the war profoundly affected nascent businesses.  This assumes that Acmes growth rate is typical, or representative, of such businesses (A); otherwise, why hold it up as an example? As for (B), the author neednt assume that $10,000 isnt much of a profit.  Maybe he thinks it started out high and got even higher.  (C), which brings up other wars, is beyond the scope-the argument concerns World War II, period.  (D)s tricky, but its not assumed.  Notice that the author claims only that World War II had a profound, not salutary, effect on nascent businesses, so we dont know just how he feels about rapid growth rates.  As for (E), the author neednt assume Acmes managers had nothing to do with the companys success, just that the was also had an effect-and a marked one.

New Common App essay prompts for 2013-14

New Common App essay prompts for 2013-14 Juniors are you ready to start thinking about college essays yet?   The deadline may seem far away, but the earlier you start the brainstorming and writing process, the easier the essays will be.   In case you want to get a head start, the Common App has released five new essay prompts for the 2013-14 admissions season.Not sure what the Common App is?   Its a universal application that allows students to apply to multiple colleges at once. 488 colleges accept the Common App (a complete list of those colleges can be found here).There are several big changes to the Common App this year:A minimum word count of 250 words for the essay will be enforced.The maximum word count has increased from 500 to 650 words.Students will no longer be able to upload a resume unless a college specifically requests one.The topic of your choice prompt has been eliminated.There are five new essay prompts.The five new essay prompts are:Some students have a background or story that is so central to their ide ntity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it.   If this sounds like you, then please share your story.Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure.   How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea.   What prompted you to act?   Would you make the same decision again?Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content.   What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.What do you think of the Common Apps new essay prompts for 2013-14?   Do they stifle students creativity by eliminating the topic of your choice, or do they provide welcome direction and focus?   Id love to hear your thoughts!

6 Good Habits to Pick Up when Starting High School

6 Good Habits to Pick Up when Starting High School These 6 Habits Will Get you Ahead in High School These 6 Habits Will Get you Ahead in High School 8th graders are getting ready to wrap up the year and move on to the challenge of high school. They should think about a few good habits they can pick up that will help them with the transition. One of the biggest things all 9th graders can work on is organization. Transitioning to high school should also focus on excellent note-taking skills and the appropriate use of supplemental study materials. If students can pick up good habits sooner rather than later, they are more likely to enjoy both the academic challenge of starting high school and the social aspect of being older and more independent. High school can either be challenging yet fun or overwhelmingly stressful depending on a students introduction to this new phase of their life. 1. Note taking and annotation One of the best habits students can develop is appropriate note taking and annotation skills. Many students breeze through a textbook without highlighting, underlining, or taking side notes. As a result, when they go back to study for the end of chapter quiz or to complete an assignment they dont remember which information was relevant and which was not. This can add multiple hours on the clock every week and lead to frustration. Instead, students are encouraged to annotate on a computer document that they cant lose quickly. Loose leaf paper can be lost just as soon as the notes are taken but a computer document aptly-named and labeled can easily be found later on. 2. General organization General organization is also an excellent habit to develop. Students who are organized in each class will be aware of important dates and deadlines, know how much work they need to complete each day, and have a better grasp of the subject matter overall. Staying organized is a key to success throughout high school (READ: 5 Best Math Apps for High School Students). 3. Supplemental study materials When adjusting to high school, its important that students know how to utilize supplemental study materials appropriately. For example, SparkNotes or CliffsNotes are an excellent help to understanding a novel or story but should not be used as a shortcut. Study guides and outlines are also extremely helpful when it comes to test prep and assignment completion. 4. Socialization Healthy socialization is also a huge part of adjusting to the 9th grade. Students will be meeting new peers and will have the opportunity to choose friends with good study habits and goals for the future. Making new friends is an important part of the overall balance of being in high school but excessive socialization, especially during school hours, can potentially become a detriment to a students good standing and academic success. It’s important for students to find a suitable balance. 5. Stress management New high school students will often be adjusting to a higher level of stress for the first time. By junior year, this stress can be entirely overwhelming if students havent learned a work-life balance. In some cases, a student may need a tutor to help conquer challenging assignments and concepts. Students can also join a study group or meet with their teacher on a regular basis. Additionally, it’s important to leave time for sports or other extracurricular activities that help manage stress over time (READ: 4 Differences Between High School and College). 6. Open lines of communication with teachers Many students feel intimidated by their teachers as they enter high school. However, teachers are the best resource when it comes to understanding classroom assignments and general concepts. Its a good idea for students to get comfortable asking questions in class as well as emailing the teacher or visiting during office hours to clarify information that will help them be successful throughout the next four years. Get ahead and stay ahead in high school with the help Irvine private tutoring from TutorNerds. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

English Language Learners What Methods Are Best for ESL Students and Teachers

English Language Learners What Methods Are Best for ESL Students and Teachers Current ResearchGoldenberg and Coleman’s “Academic instruction in a second language” is a straight-forward article talking about the many issues and strategies in goingabout instructing for students who are currently learning the native language. In the case of the article English learners are focus here. They are often referred to as English Language Learners, or, ELLs. The authors begin by explaining how effective instruction for ELLs will share many similarities to effective instruction for native English speakers. They build on this by saying that effective instruction for ELLs will require additional approaches and resources in order to be truly effective. However the questions of what adjustments and supports will best serve ELLs in obtaining grade-level appropriate academic content are still unanswered. The authors then say that it is the responsibility of all educators to provide for their students’ education, rightly so. They reference the Supreme Decision of Lau, which says anything less than educational equity is unconstitutional.After the introduction of the chapter/article’s content, the authors go into the real essence of the content. They talk about what is effective in terms of academic instruction, things such as clear goals and directions. As said before, many of their academic instructions are effective for both ELLs and native speakers alike. They also talk about Sheltered Instruction Strategies in English, most importantly targeting content and English language objectives in every lesson. They then draw comparisons between different ways of learning English, normally called ESL teaching (English as a Second Language) or, more formally, ELD (English Language Development). ELD is teaching English through different content (with less emphasis on the actual content), and Sheltered Instruction. In the end it shows how Sheltered Instruction is a more effective strategy in instructing ELLs. This is because content-based ELD, while providing an effective means to teach the English language, is ineffective in teaching content, thus the students will fall behind academically.Thoughts From An ELL InstructorMy intellectual reaction to this article is positive. I can really make sense of what the authors were trying to convey, the biggest item being the differences between content-based ELD and Sheltered Instruction. It makes sense, as the authors pointed out, that if the objective of ELL students to simply learn English, then content-based ELD is an effective means of which to go about that. But that is not the objective here. The objective is to teach every student that walks into my classroom the content for which they are required to know in order to become educated young adults. Thus content-based ELD will not do. Sheltered Instruction (SI), as the article implies, is the way to go. The primary focus with SI is content, with language development coming second. It can be a difficult path, for student and teacher alike, with SI, but in the end will be more beneficial for the ELLs. I remember having difficult moments in high school, and could not imagine how much more difficult they would be if my comprehension of the language was still being developed, like many ELLs. I have no personal experience of this from a teacher's perspective yet, but I am sure to run into at least a handful of ELLs in my future classrooms, and I hope at that time I am able to employ effective academic instruction for them, using Sheltered Instruction in order for them to learn the content, same as their peers.There are a few questions that I walk away from after reading this article (which is good). I’d like to know to what extent Sheltered Instruction is successful in teaching content to ELLs, while still also being able to develop their English language skills. I know at the bottom there is a short bit about how in science classes ELLs are relatively at the same level as their native English speaking peers in learning content, most likely due to much of the science vocabulary being as foreign to the native speakers as to the ELLs. So I suppose that’s a partial answer for my question of how effective Sheltered Instruction could be.What Does This Mean for Our Students?As a future teacher the implications this article has on my future policy and practice are very similar to what my intellectual reaction was. This article has shown be the beginning path of what I should do in terms of practice for my classroom. Scaffolding may be necessary for any ELLs in my class, as much of the work could prove difficult for them at first. However by creating objectives for both content and language developments, I think I could help them overcome the language hurdles they experience. Differentiated instruction has been stressed on myself and my fellow cohorts since day one of this program, and I can see why. Differentiated instruction is an effective way to go about our future practices in order to accommodate for any future challenges we may be facing, be they ELLs or learning disabilities. I would hope the policy of schools whom have ELLs is more in line with Sheltered Instruction and less of content-based ELD, because if it does happen to have a content-based ELD policy, that could potentially be unconstitutional as the education they are providing is not equal, but rather, segregated.

6 Ways + 21 Tools to Unlock Language Learning on Your Phone

6 Ways + 21 Tools to Unlock Language Learning on Your Phone 6 Ways + 21 Tools to Unlock Language Learning on Your Phone If youre living in the 21st century (as most of us are) and reading this, your phone is likely your most trusted companion.You can use it to pay for coffee.You can use it to communicate with your friends and family.You can even use it to swipe through endless dating profiles full of filters and embellishments.(In reality, people dont have dog ears, not everyone graduates from an Ivy League school and the primary result of a long walk on the beach is usually strained calf muscles.)Between your favorite apps and all of its  other terrific features, your phone is a tour de force.But theres one phone feature you might not be using to its maximum potential: its language education powers.Your phone can be one of the most powerful learning tools youll ever encounter if you use it right.Heres all you need to know about learning a language with your phone. Why Learn a Language on Your Phone?First and foremost, learning a language on your phone is incredibly convenient. After all, you have i t with you all the time regardless, and you can keep language learning tools at the tips of your fingers with almost no effort.Plus, learning on your phone can involve a wide array of options. Whether youre learning  through innovative Android apps  or  your beloved iPhone, or listening to language audiobooks  on your commute, your phone is one of the most versatile language learning tools out there.Finally, opportunities to learn on your phone can grow and evolve with you. Some of the best language apps  monitor your learning to give you better material. But regardless of what tools youre using, theres enough variety that you can keep using your phone for learning from the moment you decide to study a language straight through until youre fluent.How to Get the Most Out of Learning a Language on Your PhoneUse multiple methods.When it comes to learning on your phone, there are countless methods you could use, which well detail below. But the best scenario is using multiple methods. E ach method has a different focus and can give you a unique perspective on your target language, so combining multiple methods is an ideal way to develop a more well-rounded skill set.Fit in some learning whenever you get a chance.More conventional courses might have you studying for an hour or two at a time, but when youre learning on your phone, theres no need to wait until you have a long stretch to practice your language skills. Whenever you have a moment, all you need to do is pull out your phone and select your favorite way to learn. Even if youre only studying for a minute or two at a time, those minutes can really add up.Dont be afraid to try new things.There are a lot of options when it comes to learning on your phone. It can be tempting to just stick to the first app or site you try and avoid branching out, but if you do this, you might just overlook some of the best ways to learn. Dont hesitate to try new things. Even if you love how youre studying now, theres no guarantee ing that there isnt something else out there that youll love even more. And remember, you never have to stick to just one tool, so you can always add more variety into your language learning routine.If you find yourself getting addicted, consider comfort measures.Learning on your phone may become addictive, so you might need to take some precautions to ensure your comfort and well-being. Particularly if youre using interactive apps, you might find that your hands and wrists get sore. To ensure that your learning binge doesnt have to end, you might consider investing in products that can make using your phone more comfortable, like  PopSockets  or wrist splints. You dont want to make your poor wrists unfortunate victims of your language learning habit!Easy Opportunities to Use Your Phone to Learn a LanguageIn just a minute, well get into some specific resources you can use for learning on your phone, but first, lets quickly note all the opportunities you have to make time for your la nguage learning.During your commute.If you drive yourself to work, try using audio-only phone options. Whether that means an audiobook, podcast or hands-free app, there are plenty of ways you can turn your drive time into learning time.If you commute via public transportation or carpool, youll have even more options. You can pop on some headphones and use audio-based content or go ahead and use your favorite app (as long as you dont get motion sick).While on a flight.No, you dont have to pay exorbitant prices for in-flight internet service. There are plenty of downloadable options that dont require an internet connection to use. Some apps offer offline content and you can download audiobooks or podcasts. And best of all, with the right noise-cancelling headphones, you can not only improve your language skills but also avoid hearing your seatmates sonorous snores. Its a win-win.Waiting in line.Whether youre at the gas station, the grocery store or the drive-thru, chances are that you wait in more lines than youre even fully aware of. Even if a line is short, youll often spend at least a couple valuable minutes just waiting. This is a great time to take out your phone and use one of your favorite apps. You dont even need to turn on the sound. You might consider studying flashcards, looking up words you dont know or just playing a quick game in your target language.This is a quick, easy opportunity to practice your skills and distract yourself from the fact that your ice cream is quickly melting as the person ahead of you slowly writes out a check to pay for their pack of gum.Whenever you turn on your phone.Want to trick yourself into studying? Just get a little studying in whenever you turn on your phone. Change your lock screen or phone background to a vocabulary word or list, and every time you pick up your phone you get a quick study session.  It will only take a second, but you might find your vocabulary slowly expanding with very little effort.During your s hower.Yes, you can get clean while cleaning up your language skills. The safest way to do this is to purchase a Bluetooth shower speaker. Then, you can listen to your favorite audio from your phone while you shower without the risk of losing it to the dangerous waters.While working out.If youre looking to keep your body in shape, that doesnt mean you cant get your mind in shape at the same time. Your phone can be an easy way to infuse learning into your workout.If youre doing something like running or weightlifting where it would be difficult to look at your phone, you can lean on hands-free apps, audiobooks and podcasts. However, if you like something more stationary, like spinning, you might even be able to use some video apps during your workout.Whenever you want to tune out the outside world.Sometimes, the world is too much and you just need a retreat. Whenever youd ordinarily resort to daydreaming, you can instead improve your language skills by using your phone. There are plen ty of engaging options out there, so using your phone to study a language can be a great way to zone out when you need a break.6 Ways + 21 Tools to Unlock Language Learning on Your PhoneAppsTheres a massive array of apps that are beneficial for language learners. Between learning apps, conversation apps, translator/dictionary apps and entertainment apps, theres an app for virtually every language learning need and level imaginable. Here are some of the best apps to help you learn a language on your phone.Learning AppsFluentU The FluentU app adds a language learning punch to videos youll want to watch anyway. Thats because FluentU takes real-world videos, like music videos, movie trailers, news and more, and captions them, giving you easy access to any words definition, example sentences and an associated image.FluentU is flexible. Since you select what you watch and for how long, you can use the app on your phone for just a couple minutes or for hours on end. Additionally, FluentUs algorithm tracks your learning to present you with level-appropriate questions, so it can stick with you from the moment you start learning straight through until youre fluent.One plan gives you access to FluentU on any and all devices, so try out the free trial today!Duolingo Available: iOS | AndroidDuolingo is one of the most popular language learning apps on the market, and if youre looking to learn a language on your phone, the thought of downloading Duolingo has probably been on your mind. And it should be!The Duolingo app has a lot to offer for phone-based learning. For one thing, its free. But beyond that, it offers reading, writing, speaking and listening practice in short, bite-sized chunks, making it easy to fill whatever spare moments you have available.MemriseAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf youre looking for an app that focuses on real-life language skills, Memrise might be the app for you.Memrise aims to teach useful words and phrases through fun games and videos featuring n ative speakers. You can even compare your pronunciation directly to that of a native speaker.Not only that, Memrise also offers an offline mode. Perfect for those heart-wrenching moments when free Wi-Fi just isnt an option.Conversation AppsitalkiConversing with native speakers is one surefire way to improve your language skills, and italki offers some great options for doing just that.Through the italki app, you can connect with a native speaker for language exchange or hire a language tutor. You can message users, interact with the learning community, read articles, book lessons and more. Whether youre looking for practice or more formal lessons, italki enables you to get what youre looking for through your phone.HelloTalkAvailable: iOS | AndroidWant to talk? Want to write? Want to read? Want to listen? HelloTalk is an app that can allow you to do all this through your phone.HelloTalk not only connects users with native speakers, it also allows them to exchange text and audio messa ges, for terrific, free reading, writing, listening and speaking practice whenever its convenient for you.Translator/Dictionary AppsGoogle TranslateAvailable: iOS | AndroidGoogle Translate is probably the biggest name in online translators, but its app packs a learning wallop, too.Through the app, language learners can look up words and listen to pronunciations. You can also translate text, images and/or speech. You can even translate text without a data connection. This makes it super easy to look up unfamiliar words on the go.Bing Microsoft TranslatorAvailable: iOS | AndroidBing Microsoft Translator also comes in the form of an app that you can use on your phone. Like with Google Translate, you can translate text, voice and/or images. Plus, Bing Microsoft Translator offers audio pronunciations and offline text translation.So whats the difference between Bing and Google Translate? Well, on the surface, there isnt a huge difference. However, some individual translations may vary. Pl us, the interface is different. You might see which translator you like best or even keep both on your phone in case a particular word or phrase isnt translating well in one app.Entertainment AppsSpotifyAvailable: iOS | AndroidLike listening to music on your phone? Well, you can work in a little language practice by listening to music in your target language. The Spotify app offers music in a variety of languages. You might search for playlists in your target language or even create your own for easy listening on the go.NetflixAvailable: iOS | AndroidNetflix offers tons of foreign language content. Just search the name of your target language to see what Netflix has to offer.This app is a great companion since it will allow you to watch foreign language content wherever life should take you. Plus, the app even allows you to download some material to your phone, so you can binge-watch it on your next flight.YouTubeAvailable: iOS | AndroidYouTube, everyones favorite source of free con tent, also has a terrific app. Between user-generated authentic content, learning material, movies, music and more, youll never lack for language learning material here.Since YouTube videos range from just a few seconds to several hours, having the app on your phone is an easy, convenient way to fill whatever time you have available. If youre watching authentic content, you might even switch between the YouTube app and a translator app for quick translation. (If youd rather not bother with all that, though, FluentU takes care of all translations and lookups for you.)Phone Settings/FeaturesYou might not have noticed, but your phone already has some helpful features you can use to learn a language. Here are some of the features you can use to improve your language skills.Lock screenWant to learn words every time you turn on your phone? Change your lock screen to a vocab list.Just take a screenshot of whatever vocabulary you want to learn and set it to your lock screen.BackgroundYes, y our phone background can be changed to vocabulary, though try not to make it too text-heavy or it might be a little much to look at.To do so, follow the same basic protocol used for changing the lock screen. Just be sure that when given the option, you change the wallpaper rather than the lock screen.SiriIf you have a recent iPhone, your Siri can provide you with plenty of help.Cant resist a good simulated conversation? Change Siris language settings by accessing Settings, then Siri Search, then Language. Now you can speak with Siri in your target language and receive a response in your target language.However, if youre looking for something simpler, you can also ask Siri to translate. Yes, Siri can translate words for a number of common languages, making it easy to learn new vocabulary whenever you realize youre missing a key word.Change settings of existing appsSome apps come in several languages. If you wish you could use your apps in your target language, you might try changing your phones language settings. You can usually do this under Settings. For beginning students, this might be overwhelming, but once you build up your skills, using your target language in as many apps as possible can be excellent, immersive practice.AudiobooksIf you want some immersive listening practice, foreign language audiobooks can be a terrific choice. After all, you can download them and have them with you wherever you go. Once you have the audiobook you want, you can listen on your headphones or through Bluetooth speakers.AudibleAvailable: iOS | AndroidAudible is one of the leading providers of audiobooks. And you can either search for audiobooks entirely in your target language or language learning books. Either way, its incredibly convenient.LibriVoxAvailable: iOS | AndroidLibriVox also has audiobooks, and guess what theyre free!LibriVox offers audiobooks in a wide variety of languages. These are intended for native speakers, so they might be a little challenging for begi nning students. However, more advanced students can download classic works to their phones for convenient, on-the-go listening practice.PodcastsPodcasts designed specifically for language learners can offer easy, affordable listening practice that you can take with you when you travel. Theyre usually shorter than audiobooks and are particularly useful for beginning and intermediate students since theyre intended for non-native speakers.LanguagePod101LanguagePod101 offers learning podcasts for a huge variety of different languages, including popular options like Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Podcasts are relatively brief, so theyre easy to listen to on your phone whenever you have a few minutes.NewsinSlow.comNeed some listening practice but not ready to dive into authentic material just yet? NewsinSlow.com is a great resource for transitioning to more native-level listening activities. The reading is much slower and clearer than native-level speech, so its approachable for beginning and intermediate speakers. You can download podcasts to your phone to get a hearty dose of listening practice and news wherever and whenever you have a chance to listen. Podcasts range from a few minutes to around half an hour, so theres a podcast for any amount of time youre prepared to commit.NewsinSlow.com offers podcasts in French, German, Italian and Spanish.WebsitesReading websites in your target language can help you practice your reading skills through your phone. Best of all, there are some websites that offer relatively short articles that can keep you up-to-date on the latest news while giving you reading practice in your target language. It only takes a few minutes to read an article, so you might squeeze one in the next time youre waiting for your friends to arrive for coffee.BBC NewsBBC News offers high-quality news stories in a wide array of languages, giving you a terrific opportunity to read a l ittle news in your target language whenever you have a moment. Youll get a nice mixture of world news and more regional stories, which will give you additional insight into the cultures of places where your target language is spoken.BuzzFeedYou may know BuzzFeed for the viral articles you see posted all over your Facebook news feed, but you might not know that it can also be a language learning tool. In addition to English-language pages, there are regional editions in different languages for Brazil, Germany, France,  Japan, Mexico  and  Spain. And best of all, articles tend to be short and image-heavy, making them easy to read on your phone.Social MediaSocial media is a fun, interactive way to practice your language skills. You can access social media via app or website on your phone and get some reading, writing, speaking and/or listening practice. You cant get much more well-rounded than that!SnapchatAvailable: iOS | AndroidYou might already be using this on your phone, but chanc es are, you havent started using it for language learning just yet.To make Snapchat a language learning tool, start posting in your target language and following speakers of your target language for a quick learning fix. Whats great is that your Snapchats will be deleted, so there wont be a long, embarrassing record of your language mistakes.InstagramAvailable: iOS | Android Instagram is your go-to source for inspiring photos, but can it help you learn a language? Of course! You can post in your target language, interact in the comments section in your target language and/or follow native speakers to get some practice whenever you open Instagram on your phone. But beyond that, you can find language learning accounts that offer graphics designed to help you practice your target language.TwitterAvailable: iOS | Android Whether youre posting in your target language or following native speakers of your target language, Twitter is a great source for reading and writing practice on your p hone. It only takes a moment, so you might find yourself sneaking in a few tweets whenever you have a second.Facebook Available: iOS | Android Facebook offers plenty of language learning options. You can friend native speakers, post in your target language and/or join groups that use your target language or are dedicated to studying it. No matter what you choose to do with it, having your Facebook set up for language learning will make it easy to maximize the learning potential of your phone.PinterestAvailable: iOS | Android Pinterest is helpful for pinning things like articles and study guides for your target language. Have trouble with a particular verb conjugation? You can probably find a graphic on it to pin. Once youve pinned it, youll have easy access to it on your phone and can use it like your own private reference material whenever you need a little guidance.With these tips, tricks and resources, youll have all you need to learn a language on your phone.All you need to do n ow is swipe right on learning!