The Dos and Donts of French Conversation

The Dos and Donts of French Conversation Megan L. Learning French takes time. However, that time can be shortened by understanding the best methods, tips, and tricks to use on your language journey. When mastering a foreign language, practice, vocabulary, and pronunciation are going to be keys to your successâ€"and like most things, when you adopt bad habits it may take longer to do it correctly and with clarity. You’ll also want to avoid certain faux pas when using your newly acquired language skills with native speakers. When spoken correctly and respectfully, French can benefit you in many ways. It can open up career opportunities, assist you on your travels, and allow you to meet new, interesting people. If you’re ready to get started, it’s helpful to know some of the do’s and don’ts of French conversation. DO Practice French Conversation Whenever You Can, Even if you’re on a Budget Lessons and classrooms aren’t the only place to practice your French. Many cities and towns around the nation have meet-ups and community groups centralized around practicing and conversing in a foreign language. Use your Google skills to find French conversation meet-ups in your area, and make them a part of your weekly routine. If you aren’t able to find a group nearby or travel to a French-speaking country, there is always the option to do live online conversations with native French speakers. Explore the multitude of free, innovative websites and other fun ways to learn and speak Frenchâ€"and remember you may have to reciprocate by helping someone with English. The more you practice the closer you’ll be to mastering French. DON’T Feel Weird about Reading French Books Out Loud Books are a wonderful option for practicing French conversation without having an additional person in the room. Find a book with plenty of dialogue, pull out your handy pronunciation app, and start reading out loud. At first it may be slow going, but if you do it often enough, you’ll be spewing out French phrases left and right. Highlight areas of interest, or spots where you felt your comprehension was weak. Revisit those areas after you’ve read a chapter and look up words and phrases. Feel free to repeat them a few times to commit them to memory. Hint: If adult literature seems a little too challenging, start with children’s books. The illustrations provide a colorful translator. DO Use the Internet as a Practice Tool The internet is the ultimate free tool when you’re tired of hitting the books. Flashcards and textbooks can only take you so farâ€"sometimes you need real-world experience. When you’re tired of studying, go ahead and surf the net. The trick? Do it all in French. You can change language settings to French and use Google translator to change a website’s text to a specific language (like French). Visit French sites, interact in French on social media, peruse French language blogs, Twitter and Facebook pages, and more. Watch French YouTube videos and even window shop on French websites. See if you can read the descriptions of items accurately. There is a whole world of French internet out there to explore. DON’T Forget Games, TV, Music, and Movies Reading and speaking are two methods for learning French conversation, but listening is another excellent tool. Search for online games in French, watch French TV, or stream French movies and music. Before you know it, you’ll start to identify words. Even more important, you can see what context they’re used in. Body language and tone of voice are two powerful ways to absorb a language on multiple levels. DO Keep a Vocabulary Book Many writers look and listen for new words. They keep a notebook with them (or use a note-taking app if they’re a technology fan), and jot down words that they are unfamiliar with. Once near a dictionary, they will look up these words so they can make them a part of their own vocabulary. The same principles work for foreign language. If you haven’t heard or seen a word or phrase before, write it down and look it up later. Before you know it you’ll be using it in your own French conversations. DON’T Practice Bad Words in French Chances are, somewhere along your language adventure someone has given you the gift of French curse words or insulting phrases. A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn’t say it on the job, to your grandmother or in an educational setting, it’s probably not a great idea to practice it in conversations with othersâ€"especially if you’re traveling abroad and are unsure of the cultural customs. In many countries, bad or disrespectful words and phrases come with more consequences than they do in the US. DO Work on How to Pronounce French Words Correctly It’s better to have it correct the first time than to continuously use incorrect pronunciation. Technology makes it easier than ever to learn correct pronunciation. If you aren’t in your lessons or with a native speaker, pull out a book, app, or check a language program on your computer. There are a variety of resources available, and each will appeal to an array of learning styles. Try a few methods to find the one that fits you best. Tip: Great apps include Lingodiction, (How to) Pronounce, and Pronunciation King. Excellent books are French Phonetics and The Sounds of French. DON’T Resort to Using English when French Conversation Gets Hard Understanding only a small fraction of a conversation can feel overwhelming and isolating. You feel lost and confused, and it’s easy for your confidence to suffer. When you were a toddler, it was second nature to simply sit and absorb, even if you didn’t fully understand what was going on around you. Try and put  that incredible ability back in your learning toolbox and apply it when you start to feel unnerved. You may want to resort to using English to get a point across or ask someone to explain something in Englishâ€"but don’t. Each time you persevere through an entire conversation as a listener or speaker, the closer you’ll be to understanding and speaking French fluently. It’s easy to give up, but far more rewarding to keep going, even when it’s hard. DON’T Ignore Common Cultural Cues One of the most important things you’ll learn to do is read and respect cultural cues. This is a skill that can take you far in life, whether you’re in your own country or abroad. Depending on the French speaker you’re talking to and where they’re from you’ll have a different set of customs to honor. For example, in France it’s not customary to be informal about names with people you don’t know well. It’s common to be more formal and direct. The warmth and familiarity will emerge as you get to know someone. If you plan on traveling or staying abroad for a period of time, do a quick search on common etiquette guidelines. It will enhance your conversations as well as your overall learning experience. DO Work Hard on Learning the Basics of French Grammar No matter what language it is, the word ‘grammar’ strikes fear into the heart of learners of all ages. Nothing is more daunting than conjugation, modifiers, tenses, and the endless rules. The good news is if you were able to learn the basics of English grammar you can learn the basics of French grammar. The rules tend to be more straightforward, and as you put them into play, speaking and interpreting French will get easier. While French conversation is indeed essential to mastering the language, so is basic grammar. DON’T Lose Hope In learning, we hit walls and roadblocks. Let’s say you’ve figured out greetings and can recognize a good amount of vocabulary. You may even understand basic grammar. Sometimes stringing all of those things together takes time. They say practice makes perfect, and it’s a common phrase for a reason. One day, all that hard work will give you the ability to put everything together and you’ll be able to have a fluent French conversation. Don’t lose hope before the transformation occurs. DO Travel Abroad and Accept French Conversation Opportunities France is not the only travel option for those looking to practice their French. If you feel like going off the beaten path or somewhere closer to home, try places like Quebec (and other parts of Canada), Belgium, Haiti, Madagascar, Monaco, Luxembourg, and Benin. Look into immersion programs, foreign exchange living situations, adventure travel, and volunteerism in French-speaking areas. If an opportunity to host a French foreign exchange student arises, or to have a French au pair, take advantage. Foreign language students talk about how much easier it is to learn a language when you are surrounded by itâ€"so practice whenever and wherever you can. DON’T Be Afraid to Initiate French Conversation If you’re standing in line at the museum and hear tourists speaking in French, go ahead and say, “Bonjour.” The worst thing that can happen is that they’ll ignore you. More likely, they’ll welcome the conversation and appreciate that someone made the effort. The same goes for traveling abroad. French speakers warm up quickly to those who attempt to use the native languageâ€"even if it’s a little shaky. A smile and an attempt goes a long way to receiving patience, practice, and help in French conversation. DO Put Theory into Practice Whenever You Can Sit down one day and make a list of where you can practice French conversation. Look at adding meet-ups, French restaurants, online communities, travel destinations, lessons, and classes. Brainstorm everything you can think of. Some will be practical and some will be dreams that happen later on. The purpose of your list is to put things into context. One of the most efficient ways to gain a skill is to use it in daily life in the proper setting. If you’ve just learned about ordering in French, find the nearest French bakery. Hop onto Skype and use your newfound vocabulary to talk about the weather with someone in the Congo. Head to your private tutor and practice telling them what you did the past weekend. The more frequently you use your French lessons in everyday life, the better your conversational skills will become. Think of the do’s and don’ts of French conversation as a essential guide for your everyday language learning lessons. Each step of the way you’ll know which paths to choose to keep you moving toward fluency. Interested in Private Lessons? 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Sexual Harassment Its Very Real - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Sexual Harassment It’s Very Real - Introvert Whisperer Sexual Harassment: It’s Very Real I’m prompted to speak to you about a topic I’ve never written about before:   Sexual harassment.   I got into a fairly lengthy discussion with a 30+-year-old male friend yesterday.   It started when discussing Matt Lauer’s’ (Today Show anchor) termination for “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace”. I appreciated his candor as he acknowledged that he really didn’t know what any of this meant as he personally had never witnessed what he thought was sexual harassment.   Like many people, he was left wondering if some woman was making it up or “mis-reading” an interaction with a co-worker. This issue is very real and you don’t have to go too far to find a woman who hasn’t had to put up with it at least once in their life.  I have had numerous “events” of this nature throughout my career so I know it’s very real. Most of them were repulsive but one was bad enough I’ve barely ever told anyone. This behavior also occurs with men but less frequently. First, I would like to say that I do know that there are people who have made up false accusations and are poor at reading social interactions.   I’m sure that some of what you’ve heard includes some of those people.   But like every social problem we have, you can’t disregard the problem because a few people have made false claims. What is sexual harassment? Just so we’re all on the same page, here is what the EEOC defines: It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person’s sex. Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. Harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature, however, and can include offensive remarks about a person’s sex. For example, it is illegal to harass a woman by making offensive comments about women in general. Both victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex. Although the law doesn’t prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted). The harasser can be the victims supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer. This is also the type of thing that is hard to prove and as a result, most people don’t do or say anything.   Keep in mind that when this sort of thing happens with a boss or a person of power (think Bill Cosby or Matt Lauer) the recipient of the harassment often feels powerless to push back verbally much less ask for an intervention by a company or authorities for fear of the repercussions.   It’s the perfect crime if you think about it because the bad behavior essentially gets reinforced due to lack of punishment or accountability. This is the sort of thing that can cause you to hate your job, lose your personal power and reroute your life.   Don’t inflict this on others and don’t accept it. If you are the recipient of sexual harassment, minimally you should speak up and let the offender know that it’s not ok to do or say the things they are doing.   We teach people how to treat us and if you don’t stand up for yourself you are reinforcing bad behavior, which means it will persist.   There are full-blown classes on this so I won’t get into a full course of action but my main message is to think through what would you do if it happened to you. Respect others and respect yourself. Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!   Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

How to Succeed on SAT Subject Tests

How to Succeed on SAT Subject Tests Learning to succeed on the SAT often means learning to succeedon the SAT Subject Tests, too, which can feel like a lot of extra pressure. Luckily, SAT Subject Tests are optional, which means students can prepare andsucceedby focusing on areas of their choosing. There are 20 different subject areas offering tests, and each is only one hour. Students might choose to take an SAT Subject Test to improve their academic portfolio, test out of some college courses, or stand out in scholarship competitions. If youre interested in taking one or more of these SAT Subject Tests, it will be important that you know how to approach them, improving your chances to succeed. 1. Choose your SAT Subject Testscarefully If you know that you struggle with a particular subject, it may not be a wise idea to take an SAT Subject Test in it (assuming it is not required by your college). If you dont have specific requirements for subject testing, choose exams that complement your course of study and show your expertise well. Topic SAT Subject Tests offered Mathematics Math Level 1, Math Level 2 Science Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics English Literature History U.S. History, World History Languages Spanish, Spanish with Listening, French, French with Listening, Chinese with Listening, Italian, German, German with Listening, Modern Hebrew, Latin, Japanese with Listening, Korean with Listening Above data comes from the College Board website. Avoid those that are irrelevant to your study or that will otherwise show a lack of preparedness. [RELATED:Should I Take SAT Subject Tests?] 2. Think about your SAT Subject Test timeline While SAT Subject Tests are available to you many months of the year, youll want to put a little more thought into your timeline, rather than just assuming you can conveniently take the exams whenever you wish. Allow yourself enough time to retake the subject tests if necessary, but also try to schedule them late enough into your accompanying studies that you are fully prepared. If possible, take the test when youre near the end of a corresponding class. 3. Practice makes perfect on SAT Subject Tests Of course, no exam prep is complete without a number of practice tests. This is true for the SAT Subject Tests as well. While your high school classwork will act as great preparation for the subject tests, theyre not the only things you need to do. Work with the specific subject test, making sure the practice exams you choose are from the current version of the test. At the end, go through the results carefully, which will give you a better understanding of the test and your learning process. Narrow down where specifically you struggle and then focus your attention and following SAT Subject practice tests there. 4. Work smarter, not harder While there are a number of different SAT Subject Tests, they all follow similar scoring systems. Each correct answer earns the test-taker one full point, while incorrect answers subtract a partial point. If youre struggling to come up with an answer, feel free to skip a question, making a note that youll need to later return to it. For questions you simply dont know, try to work backwards, eliminating possible answer choices until you come up with a reasonable decision. 5. Look into SAT Subject Testrequirements Every SAT Subject Test requires a different set of supplies, so make sure you look into each ones details so youre familiar with the equipment required, as well as the format. Some tests require headphones and a CD player while others might require nothing. Knowing what you need will be crucial to your success on the SAT Subject Test of your choosing, so dont come unprepared. 6. Create a great study space Having a great spot to study can really help your prep process. Create a space that is conducive to your learning style and well stocked with the appropriate study materials, which might include the following: headphones a graphing calculator highlighters extra pens and pencils notebooks Knowing that youve got an effective place to learn can help motivate you to put in the hours of study youll need to ace your SAT Subject Test(s)! Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us atblog@varsitytutors.com.

7 Reasons For Not Giving Up On Yourself - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 7 Reasons For Not Giving Up On Yourself - Introvert Whisperer 7 Reasons For Not Giving Up On Yourself Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective. But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will? If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Start watching now: CLICK HERE! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

The Best Books and Resources to Learn Business English

The Best Books and Resources to Learn Business English The Books and Resources to Help You Improve Your Business English ChaptersThe Best Books to Help Your Business EnglishThe Best Websites to Improve Develop Your Business English SkillsOther Places for Business English InspirationSo, you want to improve your English language for business purposes? Great! It’s a great way to improve your chances of employment, promotion, and business success in the English-speaking world.But how do you go about doing it? Whilst it can feel like the right step in life â€" and whilst it certainly can be â€" it can also feel like something of an intimidating challenge.That’s okay. In fact, that’s totally normal. Because it is hard enough to start learning English as a second language â€" but business English can almost feel like a third! With its specific idioms and new vocabulary, business English is a particular linguistic niche all of its own.Whilst there are business English courses in the UK â€" and all over the world â€" that will prepare you with some language skills for the business world, it is possible to learn it on your own. In fact, you want to really get proficient at business English, you will really train both in English classes and independently.And how do you do this on your own? Luckily, the world is full of resources to help you learn business English. From those old school things called books to more modern websites, you’ll find plenty of materials around to help you speak English for business fluently.And we’re here to point you in the right direction. Here are some of the best resources for learning business English around. Welcome to the world of business English. JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Best Books to Help Your Business EnglishAs you will know if you have read our article on business English examinations, there are a number of different business language courses â€" and course providers â€" that you can enrol with.As is still the norm with these provid ers, they supply language course material, in the form of books, for test-takers and students to practise with and benefit from.These make up the majority of books on business English â€" but not all of them. There are also books that teach business as part of English as a foreign language as self-contained coursebooks â€" without the need for an exam.Pick Up a Copy of the DK English for Everyone Course BookThe English for Everyone: Business English coursebooks are part of the latter category. They are self-contained coursebooks through which you can work independently â€" and they don’t teach to any exam, although they will help for them.They are aimed at adults learning English as a foreign language and they focus on writing skills, listening skills, speaking skills and writing skills in the context of business. You’ll be talking about finance and learning how to apply for jobs.Of course, this range of books cover English grammar and English pronunciation too. Outside of the classroom, keep on learning!Check Out Collins’s Business Speaking Study GuidesCollins have done a similar sort of book, Business Speaking, aimed at English learners who want to learn English for business purposes.In these books, you’ll cover everything from networking to small talk, from presentations to interviews, whilst dipping into important words and phrases and grammatical issues too.Like the DK guide, it comes with a CD for you to practise your listening comprehension.Delve into Pearson’s Business English SeriesThe respected publisher, Pearson, has teamed up with the Financial Times’s own publishing imprint to provide a series of coursebooks called Business Partner. These are primarily aimed at teachers of business English, but often precisely these are the best resources: they give you extra insights and exercises to help you make the most out of your learning.Pearson do their own qualification, by the way, alongside the London Chamber of Commerce and I ndustry â€" and these books match well with those.The Best Websites to Improve Develop Your Business English SkillsIf books feel a little passé to you â€" although they are becoming ever more engaging as learning tools, by the way â€" there are plenty of websites hosting resources that can boost your fluency and your business English vocabulary.You’re probably savvy enough to find your own way around the internet. However, we have put together a list of some of the best places online for learning a new language like business English.Let’s take a little look.Check Out Business English ResourcesBusiness English Resources are a website that host a formidable array of different materials for students and teachers of business English.From reading and writing exercises to grammar rules and core business vocabulary, you’ll find heaps of stuff to keep you occupied here.Luckily enough, it’s also free â€" so don’t miss out! This will be you - as soon as you have mastered business EnglishHead to the Cambridge Assessment Website for Official Materials for Exam PreparationCambridge English â€" or Cambridge Assessment â€" are the undisputed masters of English language training in the UK. This applies to business English too.Given that Cambridge run most of the examinations for English as a foreign language â€" including the IELTS and the BEC, the Business English Certificate â€" it’s good that they have a massive selection of learning resources from which you can learn too.Head to the ‘business English resources’ page on their website and you’ll find them.Try FluentU for Business English Learning MaterialsFluentU is a site and app that provides training materials, exercises, and information on learning pretty much any language you can think of.Whether you want just standard English or you want to venture into business English â€" or learn some other language as well â€" it can help you out.There is a small fee to pay. However, if you are reluctant, check out their free content â€" because a lot of it is well worth knowing.Explore the British Council’s Learn English Site for Business Language LearningAlongside Cambridge English, the British Council is known around the world for the place to go if you need to sit the IELTS. They operate in over a hundred countries and they have the reputation for providing excellent â€" if slightly pricey â€" English language training.Their website hosts lots of resources for those specifically interested in developing their business English skills. They are mainly video â€" which can help hugely your comprehension of spoken English.Try One Stop English for Business Vocabulary, Games, and TestsOne Stop English claims to be the best place on the internet for teachers of English as a second language. We don’t know about that â€" but they do have an impressive array of business English resources.You can navigate the resources by topic, by skill s, or by language features â€" which makes for a very usable and informative bank of resources.Download the IELTS Word Power AppWhilst not directly relevant to business English, the IELTS â€" the International English Language Testing System â€" is the gold standard for testing the proficiency level of learners of English as a foreign language.And the IELTS Word Power app is a great way to learn English for learners of all priorities and desires. It’s primarily geared towards the IELTS test, yet its vocabulary banks are indispensable for all.Other Places for Business English InspirationLearning English doesn’t just happen in those places designed specifically for the purpose. Rather, one of the best ways to learn is through authentic language situations â€" namely, where native English speakers do their speaking, reading and listening.Reading widely will help you become comfortable with English in natural contexts, where you are not being tested and won’t have the help that te achers can offer. It will show the contexts in which you will need the language once you are out in the world using it for real.Follow the Financial Times’s Business NewsFor business news, there is no better place to go than the Financial Times. Native English speaking businesspeople rely on it â€" and so you should too.You’ll find updates on the economy, on finance, and on all the biggest deals and developments. If you really want to read about business where it happens for real, this is your best option.Read Business BlogsThe trouble with the FT is that you do have to pay. So, if you are not interested in forking out for its quality content, then its best to look elsewhere.The internet is littered with business news â€" from insider blogs to magazines. Check out the Business Insider or Forbes.Keep Speaking to Native SpeakersNative speakers are your secret weapon in your search for fluency. And as you are interested in business English, a native speaker that does business might be your best bet.Having conversations and continually practising is the most important part of your language learning process. So, an English speaker â€" or a native tutor â€" is probably your best resource.

How Do You Know If You Need A Career Change - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How Do You Know If You Need A Career Change - Introvert Whisperer How Do You Know If You Need A Career Change? A lot of professionals often dread the term “career change” because of the many things it implies. This doesn’t just mean “changing work,” but rather changing everything there is to change with regards to your pursuit. This can range from transitioning into similar industries, such as moving from Marketing to Advertising, or going into a completely different industry, such as shifting careers from Writing to Acting. Regardless of what industries get “shifted,” a career change means adjusting almost everything you know about work and your pursuit â€" ranging from knowledge and lessons, to practical applications, working lifestyles, and even your network. And considering how this decision can have massive implications, just how exactly would we know if we need a career change? You should probably consider the following points: How does your current work make you feel? One of the most important questions you should ask when considering a career change is how you “feel” about your current work. If you have an opinion on your industry at large, then all the better. The point of asking this question is for you to determine where you stand in your work and your field. If you’re just there for the sake of stability but you’re not necessarily happy, then that’s almost a surefire sign of needing a career change. Are you slowly losing passion for your work? When you lose passion for what you’re doing, tasks seem a bit overbearing or difficult for you. And while you may have enjoyed your tasks at first, job burnout is an actual thing you should consider. When you start lacking motivation when you start becoming late, miss deadlines, or lose interest then you might need a career change soon. Do you feel trapped at work? It’s one thing to work in a cubicle, but another to feel as though you’re in an “endless cycle.” When you feel trapped or stuck or stunted, especially in terms of growth, then you might want to change jobs. How do you want work to affect your growth? Another element you should put into consideration in terms of career change would be looking at your overall growth. Ideally, your career should constantly help you learn more about yourself, the people around you, and at the same time help hone your skills. If work has gotten to a point of being stagnant, and if you’re not seeing yourself grow with your company or team, then now might be the time to consider changing careers for the sake of your growth. Are you receiving proper and fair compensation? When you keep on delivering quality work for what seems to be unfair compensation, consider raising this concern to HR. And if work keeps on piling up without just compensation, you might be in the wrong field. Is there a lack of challenge in your current work? Most, if not all, work can stress us especially when we deal with difficult tasks. However, when work doesn’t give us a “drive” anymore, then we might not be in the right career. Remember, challenges help us grow when we find ways to overcome them. Are you experiencing constant depletion, exhaustion, and being worn out? When you constantly feel stressed about work and your body keeps on giving up on you, then this might be your body telling you this work isn’t for you. How do you see yourself in the future? Another important question when considering a career change would be asking yourself about your future plans. Where do you see yourself in your current work after a few years? Where do you see yourself in the next decade or so? One way of determining the need for a career change is to pinpoint whether you see yourself spending the next decade doing the same work you’re doing. If you have a passion you want to pursue, or if you’ve always wanted to try doing something else aside from your usual work, then now might be a safe time to pursue other interests or career. What kind of outcome do you want to have in your career? Sometimes, we tend to make “the right” choices, especially when people expect things from us. However, when we still feel empty and lacking despite these choices, then we may be choosing from the wrong perspective. Do you feel as though your talents should be used in different ways aside from your current work? If you feel this is the case, then you should probably be shifting into a career in a new field. Try to be precise with what you want for yourself in the future. You might want to have remote work, or work from your phone through mobile internet from providers like Metro by T-Mobile. While you might still need to pay metropcs bill, and encounter other stresses of work like finances, maybe encountering these in work you’re more confident with might be a sign that you need a career change. How is your current relationship with your family and friends? Lastly, you should partly base your decision on pursuing a career change depending on how your current work affects your personal life. Try answering how your current relationships with your family and friends are. If you’ve come to a point where you’re missing out on family occasions and friendly gatherings because of needing to do overtime at work, or if you’re jeopardizing your relationships with other people because of work, then you might need a career change. Is your workplace still a place you want to work in? Consider the kind of environment you’re getting into, especially with fellow employees. If your work environment is hostile and everyday feels like “going into battle,” then this might not be for you. Are you beginning to miss out on things in life? Lacking work-life balance can decrease your quality of life. If you end up taking calls or doing work even during your vacation, you might want to consider switching careers. What are your thoughts on taking risks? Perhaps one of the most important considerations when changing careers would be your willingness on taking on risks. Remember, a career change has a lot to do with “switching up” your status quo. This means, regardless of whether you’ve read about career change or not, that switching careers won’t guarantee any form of “victory” on your end. As such, it’s essential to assess the level of risk you’re willing to take before switching careers, as there’s no turning back when you do. Are you confident in trying out a completely different field? When you feel an “itch” to try something new, and you really need a “push” to do it, then you probably should do it. However, if there’s a hint of hesitation out of fear of failure, then you should probably still plan your career shift. What are your plans after the shift? When thinking about a career shift, you should always consider having a plan regardless of whether your plan fails or not. The last of your worries should be missing out not just on work, but on bills as well. Shifting Careers: Less About Work, More About Passion With the above tips in mind, it helps to remember that oftentimes we have to change careers when we don’t “feel” where we currently stand anymore. Sure, we can settle for a “stable” job â€" but when we know that we’re not happy with what we’re doing, we’re likely going to suffer a lot of consequences. Staying in a career we don’t appreciate can be detrimental to our overall well-being, and it can lead to complications regarding work performance and our growth. With the tips above, you’ll hopefully be able to “detect” whether you might need to reconsider where you currently stand as a professional and see if you might need to change industries to thrive. Jeff Spencer Jeff Spencer is a content marketer with a keen interest in all things business and finance. Hes also very into science and technology topics, with a bit of health on the side. When he has free time, he loves jogging with his Pomeranian Zoomie. He loves writing about tech stuff, especially guides such as how to pay your metro pcs bill, how to play the best games in your phone, among others. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

The PSAT Your First Step to SAT ACT Success

The PSAT Your First Step to SAT ACT Success ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog This fall, many high school juniorsâ€"â€"and even some sophomoresâ€"â€"will take the PSAT. In all likelihood, this will be their first experience with standardized college admissions exams. You may have heard that students’ PSAT results “don’t count” and “don’t matter.” While it’s true for most students that college admissions committees won’t use PSAT scores to gauge their college readiness (that is, after all, what the SAT and ACT are for), the view that the PSAT doesn’t matter at all is both shortsighted and counterproductive. In truth, PSAT scores can provide valuable insight into your strengths and weaknesses; when used correctly, the results can help students take a big first step toward success on the SAT and ACT. But what do we mean when we say used correctly? There are several ways to take advantage of your scores, some more practical and valuable than others. Here are three tips for getting everything you can out of the data on your PSAT report. 1. Don’t get too distracted by the overall section scores; instead, focus on the detail. The highest-level scores provided by your PSAT report will be in the form of two numbers, each out of 760: your Math score, and your Evidence-Based Reading Writing (ERW) scores. (Note that on the SAT, both of these are scored out of 800.) Students and parents tend to obsess over these scores, forgetting about the other numbers the PSAT report provides. While they do suggest something about overall performance, these numbers are not terribly revealing. Instead of focusing on your 540 in Reading Writing and your 580 on Math, pay closer attention to your subscores, listed on a scale from 0 to 15. These scores reveal more specific areas of strength and weakness. For example, let’s suppose you do score a 580 on the Math. That number alone tells you that you are “above average” (average for juniors is around a 510), but not much else. The subscores, however, can reveal where that 580 came fro m. Perhaps your “Problem Solving and Data Analysis” subscore was a very strong 12 out of 15, but your “Heart of Algebra” score was an 8. This immediately reveals that you need to direct your focus toward reinforcing your algebra skills, which include interpreting, creating, and rearranging equations and expressions. 2. Make a list of topics you need to work on; use the test to isolate examples. It will be easier for you to formulate a prep plan if you translate the information within your PSAT score report into your own summary. Use your subscores to assemble a list of topics that disproportionately impacted your score. Furthermore, take a look at the answer sheet provided on the final page of the report to isolate the specific questions you found difficult. You’ll have your test booklet, so you will be able to see the exact questions you could not answer or that you answered incorrectly. Consider taking pictures of these questions with your phone, or even printing them out and pasting them into a notebook. Now, you have a suite of problems and questions that will form the basis of your prep. And by the way, even if you’re planning on sticking to the ACT, know that the (P)SAT and ACT share lots of content: the subscore categories presented by your PSAT report are just as likely to reveal pot ential strengths and weaknesses on the ACT. 3. Use the scores to establish a baseline and formulate goals. Realistic expectations and goals are are both very important. Assuming you put in a decent effort while taking the PSAT, your scores reflect where you stand without any concerted prep. Now, you can use the report to begin planning. How many topics must you focus on to increase your scores? How much time are you prepared to dedicate to SAT or ACT prep? Do your initial scores suggest you may benefit from a prep course setting (students who score around average are more likely to benefit from multi-student group courses than are students whose scores are on the extremes), or would small-group or private tutoring be more productive? Is your goal to increase your score by 50 points, or by 300 points? On which section can you focus to maximize the points earned for the time spent studying? The answers to all of these questions lie within your report: you simply have to use the data at your fingertips. Remember: though the PSAT may seem inconsequential, the information it provides can be extremely helpful in raising your scores. Using the PSAT to develop positive and proactive momentum can mean the difference between productive, meaningful prep and last-minute frantic cramming. So take advantage of all the PSAT report has to offerâ€"â€"when all is said and done, you’ll thank yourself for doing so. -Evan Wessler, Vice President of Educationâ€"â€"Method Test Prep

MyGuru Announces Partnership with Elemental Learning

MyGuru Announces Partnership with Elemental Learning Improving Academic Performance MyGuru recently signed a partnership with Elemental Learning, a Naperville-based tutoring company that shares its vision for high quality, affordable 1-1 tutoring. Unlike MyGuru, Elemental Learning focuses on meeting the educational needs of K-8 students. It accomplishes this by using only certified teachers, who it screens by requesting references and discussing previous tutoring experiences and teaching philosophies. This is a perfect fit with MyGuru, which focuses on older high school students (particularly for ACT and SAT prep) through graduate school students with 1-1 tutoring and test prep. Elemental Learning’s typical student might be in 5th grade â€" while many of MyGuru’s students are in college or graduate school taking advanced statistics, business, or science courses. MyGuru also maintains an active focus on GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, and GRE tutoring solutions.Details of the partnership include the following: All of MyGuru’s appropriate tutors (i.e., those who are certified teachers), will be available to work with Elemental Learning students when needed MyGuru will be Elemental Learning’s exclusive test prep provider in the city of Chicago and its Northwestern and Northern suburbs The companies will be able to refer students to one another whenever tutor location or availability becomes an issue for either one Elemental Learning is a women-owned company with branches in several states. Visit www.elemental-learning.com to learn more.