Tips for Making Your Résumé

Tips for Making Your Résumé How to Make Your Resume Outstanding ChaptersThe Origins of the RésuméThe Purpose of a RésuméWriting Your RésuméFormatting Your RésuméWe’re not talking high literature, here â€" or, for that matter, popular literature. When reading a summary of your work experience, nobody is looking for engaging prose.The place for such prose is in your cover letter; more on that later.A resume, also commonly known as a CV or curriculum vitae, should be a snapshot of what you have to offer in the way of education, experience and suitability to the company you’re applying to.In a job search, suitability actually counts more than experience and perhaps even more than your educational background.Still, there are specific ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ to heed when composing or tweaking your résumé to better match the requirements of any job you apply for.Your Superprof wants to provide you with hacks, tips and tricks to nailing your first impression â€" the all-important resume; the first contact you make with a prospective employer.Indeed, most languages â€" French, Spanish; even Polish uses either ‘resume’ or ‘curriculum vitae’ (abbreviated as CV) to describe this document, albeit modified to suit their languages’ particulars.Job seekers in Spain should know to use only 'curriculum vitae'; CV means 'horsepower'!The word ‘résumé’   - with or without the marks, comes to us from Latin via the French. In that language, it’s meaning is ‘summary’, reflecting that such documents are intended to be a short recounting of your academic, professional and personal experiences.The personal aspect of the résumé, listing one’s hobbies and interests, did not become an integral part of the resume format until the mid-20th century. That segment is now considered standard and is used to determine a candidate's suitability to a position; what employers call 'a good fit'. You might think that, as a student, you will have trouble writing a professional resume Image by Selver Ucanbarlic from PixabayDid you know that Leonardo da Vinci is credited with presenting the world’s first résumé?In his time, this all-important document was not much more than a handwritten letter describing one’s abilities. Résumés maintained that seeming informality for nearly 500 years, until technology mandated a neater, more professional appearance of job applicants’ CVs.The words ‘résumé’ and ‘CV’ are often used interchangeably but they are (supposed to be) fundamentally different. The contrast is hinted at in their names: a résumé is meant to be a brief summary while the CV is an extended retelling of one’s life.Still, hardly anybody makes that distinction these days so, whether you are called on to submit a résumé or a CV, know that, to prospective employers (or websites) those documents are one and the same.Also discover how to write a cover lette r to complement your CV…The Purpose of a RésuméLong gone are the days when one could simply present oneself to a corporate establishment, seeking work.For the last half-century, two sheets of A-4 paper (maximum!) have done what supplicants had been doing for thousands of years. Indeed, if any random person turned up at an office building claiming they are looking for work today, security officers would promptly turn them away.On the other hand, your local newsagent, greengrocer or dairy farmer might not require you to submit a résumé to work in their shop, in part because they already know something about you.That distinction is key to understanding the purpose of the résumé in today’s business world.Every year, around summertime, the job market is flooded with newly graduated university students seeking their break into.That torrent of job seekers counts among its numbers students who have not yet graduated â€" from secondary school or university, who want/need to gain a bit of pocket money or to get some work experience under their belt while they have a chance, before the school year starts again.From this onslaught of workers, hiring departments must make the best selections possible to represent their companies’ interests but, you have to admit, it is hard to meet individually with swarms of applicants all vying for the same position.The noise, the crush of humanity… the ongoing moments of face time can only melt into one long blur. How could any job candidate stand out?By contrast, the hiring team that gets to review stacks of résumés, culling out the ones with the most potential and presenting only those to their manager, who gets to look over those picks in the tranquillity of his/her office…Presenting yourself well on paper gives you a far better chance at being hired than pressing yourself into an applicant scrum, hoping to get noticed in all of the clamour.Consider this a tip to finding your first job: write an effective résumé. Resume writing takes skill; maybe you should practise and bat some ideas around before sitting at the computer Image by Free-Photos from PixabayWriting Your RésuméIf you are preparing to graduate from university or still in secondary school, there’s a good bet you don’t have much work experience. Still, you shouldn’t worry about a thin résumé; you can still make a good first impression on paper.On any résumé, work experience is less important than relevant experience, meaning any experiences relevant to the field of work you are applying to.Let’s say your future ambitions include a career in law. A logical place for you to apply for work would be in law offices. As someone who might never have even had a brush with the law, you might be hard-pressed to flesh out your résumé but you’re not down the pan just yet.Are you a member of your school’s Debate Club? Do you do any volunteer or charity work, especially with less fortunate segments of the population?These are both fine examples of relevant experience relating to careers in law; now, all you have to do it present them in the proper context.Let’s get started by writing your header.Aligned with the left margin, list your name, address and contact details: email, phone and Skype â€" you may have a phone interview or a video interview so it is important to let prospective employers know that you would be happy to talk with them by any means possible.Because your résumé will be light on information â€" not through any fault of your own, you may write an introductory paragraph; something to the effect that you are a (university? secondary school?) student.This paragraph should be no longer than two or three sentences and reflect directly on the position for which you are applying.Next, you will list your educational accomplishments.The chronological résumé is generally considered the norm; it starts with work experience and progresses through educational accomplishments. As you are rather light on work history, perhaps you should write a functional résumé; one that highlights skills and experience. With this type of résumé, you can make your educational achievements the focus.Obviously, there is no need to divulge your primary school awards and accomplishments; only from secondary school up.If you have participated in any extracurricular activities, perhaps the aforementioned debate club, you would list them in the 'education' section, under the header ‘Extracurricular Activities’.The next segment you should populate is ‘Experience’. Later in life, once you have experience, you will be able to revise and edit your résumé so that you can adapt it to suit any job you may want.For now, here is where you would list any volunteer work and any experiences you might have had that are relevant to the job you're applying for.Please keep in mind that you will not write rambling paragraphs detailing thoughts and feeling; the essence of the exercise is to be conci se; present your thoughts as bulleted statements. And always stay relevant!The Résumé SkeletonHeader: the place for your name and contact information; you may list social media profiles only if they are professional â€" a LinkedIn profile or a sanitised FaceBook pageIntroductory paragraph: only a couple of sentences, targeted to the job you are applying for.Education: go no further back than secondary school; list relevant courses and test scores if you have themExtracurricular activities (and achievements): if you’ve won debate competitions or played team sports, list them here.Experience: any ‘work’ experience relating to the field you are applying in. Include any volunteering and freelancing you’ve done that connects back to the job you want.Skills: list any special skills you might have that could bear on your ability to do this job better than others.Hobbies and Interests: in this last section, feel free to list key skills that bring out your best qualities â€" readin g, community work, etc.Join the discussion: does anybody still expect a thank you letter after an interview? You don't have to look professional while you write your resume but, for your job interview, you have to look sharp! Image by kropekk_pl from PixabayFormatting Your RésuméA good résumé is formatted such that the hiring manager or job recruiter needs only to glance at your document to know that the job seeker who wrote it merits more than a cursory glance.Everything, from the font you use to the font size, matters!Experts advise that Arial and Verdana ‘pop’ more than tried-and-true fonts such as Times New Roman. Also, a 12-point font is optimal and it should remain consistent throughout your document.Also, these fonts work better with the online applicant tracking system, a hiring tool more personnel departments are gravitating to for applicant screening.Avoid stylising your résumé with bold, italic or underlined scripts; trust the hiring managers to find critical information without your having to point to it. However, you should make your section headers a bit bigger and i t wouldn’t hurt if they were in bold.Feel free to jazz up your résumé with targeted keywords; these are words that relate directly to the job field you’re applying to.Finally, the most important advice: proofread!Run your résumé through a spell-checker. Ask two or even three other sets of eyes to go over it â€" for both content, appearance and correctness. There is truly nothing worse than presenting yourself through a grammatically unsound, poorly written document.Once you’ve sent your résumé in, you only need to sit back and get ready for your phone interview…

A Day in the Life at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst

A Day in the Life at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Jennifer received her bachelors degree in English and History from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and her masters degree in Higher Education Student Affairs from Ohio State University. She is currently a tutor in Austin specializing in writing, literature, and clarinet, among other subjects. See what she had to say about her experience at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Jennifer: The University of Massachusetts-Amherst is nestled in the Pioneer Valley. This large campus is near several other colleges (Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, and Mount Holyoke) and has great, free, public transportation throughout the county. When I was in school, I did not have a car and was able to get to class, the grocery store, the movies, and my friends apartments safely and quickly on the busses. The campus core is well lit at nights, and there are always people around, so I felt safe after night classes. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Jennifer:Depending on your major, or the course, professors and academic advisors are accessible. In my first year, I was undeclared, so I had to schedule an academic advising session. Once I declared English, my advisor was assigned and we met regularly. Faculty are good about creating opportunities to work on projects with them too. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Jennifer:I lived on campus for two years, and it was a lot of fun. My residence hall had learning communities, so I was placed with other people who shared similar interests and classes. In fact, as part of my Learning Community, a few of my classes were in my residence hall which was really nice in the winter! Dining is buffet style at most of the dining halls so you can choose what you like to eat (and how much). There are also caf-style options at the Union. Getting involved in student organizations can be tricky at first because the campus is pretty big, but I met a lot of people through my Learning Community and music classes. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Jennifer:I studied English and History because I liked the flexibility of choosing my own course plan. The University of Massachusetts-Amherst was great in substituting course requirements in these majors, and allowing me to take classes at other colleges that I found interesting. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Jennifer:It was easy to make friends because I sought out student organizations. I joined marching band, and met over 400 people before classes even started. Having a common interest helped break the ice for sure. Greek life is active at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, but definitely didnt drive the entire campus. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Jennifer:I used the Career Center to help apply for graduate schools. They advised me on my applications, resumes, and planning for interviews. My application process required me to travel to other colleges, but the University of Massachusetts-Amherst was helpful in preparing me before these visits. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Jennifer:The W.E.B DuBois library underwent major construction and renovations while I was in school. There are a ton of study spaces for individual and group projects. My friends and I would stay at the library several nights a week because it is near the Union and had all the resources we needed to do our homework. There are over 20 floors, so it is easy to find a quiet space if you need. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Jennifer:Amherst is a small town with a few restaurants and shops, while Hadley and North Hampton are pretty accessible by bus and car. There are many music performances, theater, sporting events, and festivals on or near campus to keep you busy. I would often go out to eat at one of the local restaurants, and never felt like I couldnt afford a nice meal. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Jennifer:The University of Massachusetts-Amherst is one of the biggest campuses in the state. With that said, I had a few classes with over 300 students, but 90 percent of my classes were under 15. There were generally enough sections of a class so students could get individual attention from the professors. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Jennifer:I joined the marching band so I could continue playing saxophone in school and make friends right away. During the football playoffs, almost everyone was watching the games. When the team won the semi-finals, everyone was cheering and celebrating and then we found out that the band would get to travel to National Championships with the team. This was a great way to end my senior year with the band and have a lasting memory from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Check out Jennifers tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Photosynthesis Equation Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace

Photosynthesis Equation Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace The process in which certain carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water by chlorophyllous cells in the presence of light, oxygen being the byproduct is generally called photosynthesis. The summary equation for photosynthesis is 6 CO2 + 12 H2O + Solar energy C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O By the use of water and Carbon dioxide labeled with isotope oxygen biochemists have been able to demonstrate that the oxygen released in photosynthesis comes not from Carbon dioxide but from water. Photosynthesis is an anabolic process in which green plants or green parts of the plants synthesize or manufacture complex carbonaceous organic food substances carbohydrates with carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and evolve oxygen as a byproduct .Thus in this process radiant energy is converted into chemical energy. The green plants apart from taking nutrients from soil,make their own food by utilizing carbon dioxide, water and sunlight. This is the basis of photosynthesis. During this process oxygen is evolved and released to the atmosphere. During photosynthesis carbon dioxide is chemically reduced to carbohydrate. Water molecule splits in presence of sunlight. This process is called photolysis and oxygen is released. Importance of photosynthesis: Food is the source of energy needed by animal and plant life. And this food is manufactured by green plants from inorganic substances with the aid of sunlight energy during photosynthesis. Food represents the stored energy of sunrays. Fuel in the form of wood is also the indirect result of photosynthesis activity of plant and it is also thought that coal, petroleum etc. are also the remote consequences of photosynthesis.

How Colleges Make Admissions Decisions

How Colleges Make Admissions Decisions How colleges make admissions decisions In about 30 seconds. Hours of tedium and toil into your application, schoolwork, extra-curriculars and SAT/ACT all comes down to a quick 30-second yes or no. The sad truth is, thats usually how colleges make admissions decisions. In 2012, Rachel Rubin, a doctoral student at Harvard, surveyed 75 of the most competitive colleges regarding admissions processes. Her research revealed that there really is a black-and-white approach to some admissions, despite the constant claim we look at students holistically. College admissions have multiple steps to go through; however, most dont make it past the very first one. Step one: GPA/Test-score screeningMost schools set minimum GPA and SAT/ACT requirements. If youre significantly above the requirements youre in. If youre significant below youre out, and if youre somewhere in the middle, youre on the fence. It really is that simple. At top schools, youll need to score in the top 10% on your SAT or ACT and have a GPA of at least 3.5. But, top schools will demand that you take a tougher curriculum, meaning if you dont have any AP classes, you probably wont get in. You will need at least a 28 on the ACT and a 2,100 on the SAT (for 2012 statistics). Most colleges post their ACT/SAT requirements online. 76% of the colleges surveyed said this is how they make admissions decisions. The others (comprised mostly of selective liberal arts schools) said they look for students who are a good fit with the colleges standards and culture first. In other words, they look at your essay, recommendations and application questions first, then your grades/test scores. Step two: Quick read of your applicationIf you meet the GPA/test score requirements, schools then consider your essay, extra-curricular involvement and application. Some colleges assign letter grades to each student. A and B students will be accepted D and F students wont be, and C students will receive further review. Admissions committees are looking for students who stand out, students who will thrive at their school. You have to show passion and that youre headed for a great academic/professional career. But, most importantly, you have to DO SOMETHING. If youre majoring in Creative Writing, write a collection of short stories and publish them on a WordPress site. Include the link in your essay. Science majors can complete a project and enter in a competition. Write about your findings. For business, try to start a small company, even if its just you. It doesnt have to be successful and profitable, but the fact that you tried sets you above the rest. Those are the types of students who get accepted based on essays and letters of recommendation. Step three: Scrutinize your applicationSome colleges will make a decision after step two, but others will further consider your application. This is where they look at you holistically and compare every detail of your essay, involvement and recommendations to other students. This is usually the last step, but some colleges may require an interview. The intangibles:Colleges favor students for a variety of factors beyond race/ethnicity. Your selected major could play a role, especially if its uncommon in the applicant pool. Schools try to avoid making decisions based on students financial needs. But, all factors equal, a student who has no financial needs may get in over one who has major financial needs.

What is the USMLE

What is the USMLE Medical students spend a significant amount of time in school. Once a doctor has their M.D., or Doctor of Medicine degree, theres one last thing to do before they can practice medicine: get licensed. In order to become licensed to practice medicine in the United States, doctors must pass the USMLE. Given in a series of three steps, this exam, administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners, is designed to test a physicians knowledge and ability to provide appropriate medical care. If youre planning on pursuing a career in medicine, keep reading to learn what you need to know about the USMLE exam. USMLE basics The USMLE is a three-step examination that tests what youve learned about providing appropriate medical care to patients. The USMLE is given at different times throughout a students allopathic medical school career. If you pass all the steps of the USMLE, you become eligible to apply for a license to practice medicine in the U.S. [RELATED: 10 Study Habits to Avoid] USMLE Step 1 Step 1 of the USMLE is designed to assess whether or not youre able to apply basic scientific concepts when practicing medicine. Most medical school students take it after their second year. This step incorporates practical questions about a number of subjects, including anatomy, behavioral sciences, microbiology, pharmacology, physiology, and others. Step 1 is given in eight hours on one day, and is divided into seven 60-minute parts. There is a maximum of 40 questions in each partaltogether, there is a maximum of 280 questions. Students are not allowed to retake Step 1 if they pass just to earn a higher score. This test costs $630. [RELATED: Time Management Tips for Students] USMLE Step 2 This portion of the USMLE is meant to judge your ability to apply your medical and scientific knowledge to practicing medicine in a clinical setting under supervision. Most medical students take Step 2 during their fourth year of medical school. Step 2 is divided into two parts: Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills) During the CK part of Step 2, you will demonstrate your basic clinical knowledge and skills throughout eight 60-minute blocks spread out over a nine-hour test day. In this part of the exam, youll answer multiple-choice questions that run through different medical scenarios that you must determine how to react to. Step 2 CK costs $630. Step 2 CS is an in-person exam where you see multiple actors who play roles as patients. When you see these patients, you must perform a physical exam, collect their medical history, diagnose any conditions he or she may have, and write a patient note based on your interaction. Youll have 15 minutes for your patient encounter and 10 minutes to write your patient note. Step 2 CS costs $1,290 to take. USMLE Step 3 This is the last part of the USMLE, and its usually taken upon a students graduation from medical school during their first year of residency. It tests your knowledge of medicine and ability to practice unsupervised. This is a two-day examination that covers a wide range of medical issues, from pregnancy and childbirth to behavioral and emotional disorders. Step 3 of the USMLE is held over two days. The first days test session lasts about seven hours, and includes 232 multiple-choice questions split into six 60-minute blocks of 38 to 39 questions. The second days test session lasts about nine hours and is split into six 45-minute blocks of 30 multiple-choice questions. The last part includes 13 patient case simulations that last 10 to 20 minutes each. This test costs $875. USMLE scoring You must pass all parts of the USMLE in order to apply for a license to practice medicine. Each part of the test, except Step 2 CS, is weighed on a three-digit scale. The minimum passing scores are 194 for Step 1, 209 for Step 2 CK, and 196 for Step 3. Step 2 CS is scored as pass or fail based on your performance. [RELATED: 3 Efficient Ways to Study on the Go] After you pass all parts of the USMLE, you can request a transcript be sent to the medical licensing authority of your choice. If you can get through these many years of testing, it can pay off in the form of a rewarding career in medicine. 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 at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Charity News

Charity News HEART is selected to receive funding from Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Charlotte HEART is selected to receive funding from Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Charlotte January 28, 2014 Eleven Years of Ivy League Giving Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Charlotte through the Management Development Program to Donate $50K To Local Charities January 14, 2014 Charlotte, NC â€" At 6 p.m., Thursday, January 30, 2014, the Harvard Business School (HBS) Alumni Club of Charlotte will celebrate their eleventh Management Development Program and reveal the names of local non-profit agencies slated to receive a portion of the program’s $50,000 surplus. By way of history, HBS Club of Charlotte’s MDP program utilizes volunteers from their own alumni base to teach a 13 week Management Development Program â€" a mini-MBA program based on Harvard’s famous case study method â€" for mid and high level executives throughout the Carolinas. The executive education program has become popular with over 120 local corporations, including Bank of America, Coca Cola Bottling, Duke Energy, Electric Guard Dog, Snyders-Lance and Wells Fargo. Electric Guard Dog CEO Jack DeMao commented, “Well worth the time and money involved. My CFO had to drive 90 minutes each way to attend, yet he immediately saw the value. Many of the cases he studied have already had direct applicability in managing our high growth business. His growth as an executive those 13 weeks was greater than other programs we have paid 10 times as much for. We will continue to send executives to this program in the future.” Students were no less enthusiastic. “Different discussion leaders allowed us to see different perspectives on broader topics like leadership style, culture, finance, etc.” commented Chris Baisey, a Senior Operations Manager at Red Ventures. Duke Energy Communications Manager Jennifer Zajac echoed, “The takeaways from this course included knowing your values, seeking first to understand, and the importance of taking risks.” But the MDP celebration is not just a night of executive emulation; it’s also a night of giving. The club uses the company-sponsored tuition to promote and fund homeless shelters, crisis assistance, and help for abused and neglected children here in the Charlotte area. The club’s 11 years of giving totals over $350,000. “Activism in the community is a Harvard tradition, and this club’s membership is particularly keen on upholding that tradition,” HBS member and MDP Chair Bill Berry commented. “The charities here in the Charlotte region are exceptional. Everyone at the Harvard Business Club of Charlotte has a favorite they want to help and if they teach, they get a vote in which charities will receive monies. As a result, we’re never short of volunteer teachers.” Out of numerous charities nominated by MDP instructors, there will be 14 non-profits who will receive a cash award. Representatives from the winning charities will receive their award at the January 30th event, which will be held at The Whitehead Manor Conference Center, 5801 Sardis Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210. A club’s activism is never successful without support. Bill Berry also thanked the sponsorship of The Center for Intentional Leadership, McGuireWoods, LLP and McColl School of Business â€" Queens University of Charlotte. For more information, or if youd like to attend the celebration and learn more about attending the MDP course or sponsoring someone to attend the MDP, please contact Grace Hayes at 704-366-2835 or via email at sarnt. Find us on the web at http://www.hbscharlotte.com.

7 Note-Taking Strategies for High School Students

7 Note-Taking Strategies for High School Students A lot changes when students transition into high school and one skill that becomes more important than ever is that of note-taking. In high school, students are expected to become proficient note-takers, and those notes will become essential study tools that they use to review material for quizzes and tests, says Co-Founder Eileen Huntington ofHuntington Learning Center. Note-taking should augment student learning and help students recall difficult concepts more easily and remember what teachers teach. Our goal when working with students is to share some of the basics that will help them retain what they learn and study smarter. Huntingtonshares these seven strategies for effective note-taking with parents and their teens: Record meaningful facts. The goal of note-taking should be to summarize the most important parts of what a teacher shares during a lecture: dates, names, places, formulas or anything else that is emphasized. Its good to write lots of notes, but teens should focus on recording points that seem important, recurring themes or other details that are critical to their overall understanding. Group ideas. Lots of raw notes may not make studying any easier for a student. Its a good idea to leave space on the left- or right-hand side of the notebook for condensing and recapping concepts. During class or afterward, teens can write down any main ideas on the side of their notes, or at a minimum, subtitles of what was discussed. Think quality over quantity. New high school students tend to think good note-taking means recording everything the teacher says. Its a common challenge for students: focusing so intently on taking notes that they forget to listen and process information enough to be thoughtful about what they record in their notebooks. Big picture: notes should concentrate on what the teacher wants the class to know. That may very well mean teens pencils arent moving the entire class period, and thats perfectly fine. Follow along in the book if appropriate. When the teacher focuses on a particular chapter or topic, it can be helpful later on to have page numbers to refer to for clarification or more information. Teens should ask at the beginning of the period if the teacher is referencing textbook material. Date and title notes. Its a minor thing that can make a huge difference: labeling notes will prove helpful when it comes time to study for a test. Teens should always put the date, class name and topic(s) discussed at the top of their notes. Highlight the clues. Teachers usually point out information that students need to know and it is a smart idea to call out these cues in notes. Teens should listen for phrases like the most important part, for example, in summary, as a review and the only exception to this is. These should trigger careful note-taking and teens should notate these important points with an asterisk or other symbol. Say it another way. One of the most important parts of note-taking is not the note-taking itselfits the reflection process. Teens should write down complex points in their own words so they are easier to understand later. This helps information click and reinforces long-term retention. Huntingtonreminds parents that taking notes is not a natural skillit must be taught and practiced. Organized students tend to take cleaner notes, of course, but note-taking is meant to solidify knowledge and make studying easier and more effective, and that doesnt come easily to many students, she says. Huntington helps students develop their study skills, including their note-taking abilities. For more information, contact Huntington Learning Center at 1-800-CAN-LEARN. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams.Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards.Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2017 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Best free apps for learning a new language

Best free apps for learning a new language When teaching abroad, although it's not usually necessary to speak or understand the language, having a basic grasp of key phrases will certainly make your day-to-day life much easier, more enjoyable and will definitely win you friends!  For teachers interested in picking up the local language, there are some great free apps available for tablets and smartphones. Apps are a convenient, flexible way to get a taste of speaking another language and make it easy to regularly practice your skills. Here are our picks of the most user-friendly:DuolingoOne of the most popular, free, language learning apps available, Duolingo is a fun, game-based encourages users to learn new words and practice phrases every day with frequent, motivational reminders. It also incorporates website translation to allow for practical learning experience.Google TranslateMany of us have ordered food in a restaurant abroad but have no real idea about what the waiter will actually be serving us. Not only does Google Translate allow you to make simple translations and hear the correct pronounciation of phrases in hundreds of world languages, but it's highlight feature is a 'photo translator.' Take a snap of a menu in a restaurant or a sign you just can't understand and let the app do the hard work for you.BykiThis flashcard style app is well suited to learners who have a fast memory and prefer rote-style learning. Working through words and phrases at speed encourages users to absorb what they've seen and heard at a quicker pace.BusuuDuring the first stages, Busuu focuses learning around a basic flashcard and task methods. Once learners prove they have grasped all the basic principals, they can move on to community-based learning, through which they can connect with other learners and native speakers who are able to share feedback and advice.