Ask an Admissions Expert Rachel Korn

Ask an Admissions Expert Rachel Korn Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Rachel Korn has evaluated over 10,000 applications in her 7 years of experience on admissions staffs. She has worked at the University of Pennsylvania, Brandeis University, and Wellesley College. Rachel is also the author of two admissions books and has been a guest on The Today Show as well. She now runs her own admissions consulting firm and has helped hundreds of applicants make it to schools all over the U.S. and Europe. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Rachel: To survive the college admissions process, manage your work as it will manage your stress. New applications are available in the summer before the deadlines, so get a jump start before senior year begins. Take advantage of the quieter time without classes and activities competing for your attention. Even before then, start finalizing your college list so you can dive in right away when the applications go live. Buy a calendar to put on a kitchen wall and mark out weekly deadlines for yourself the peer pressure will help you stick to what you write. Make yourself constantly responsible for a part of your applications even if it is just fill our activities section on the Common Application one week. VT: What are the best ways to go about selecting a terrific essay topic? Rachel: The best essays (of 10,000+ I have evaluated as an admissions officer) were essays where I felt the applicant. You need not try to come up with the most imaginative theme in the world. In fact, you will succeed if you just find that subject that will share how you think and what you value with the admissions committee. Your will connect to the reader if you talk from the heart. Therefore, brainstorm about what the reader cannot see from the data in the application. Show what defines you: pick a topic that will allow you to share a brief significant story and then an analysis of it showing why that is important to know about you. Something you can analyze is key. A cool story on its own is not impressive. VT: Are there any essay topics you get tired of seeing or would warn students to stay away from? Rachel: Frankly, there is very little that an admissions officer has not seen before, so you can take the pressure to be extremely original off of yourself. Good news, huh? Great essays often still come from common themes - navigating through a struggle, something that has shaped your goals and values, personal identity, and family, for example. It is how you write and show the depth of your thinking that will impress. As for no nos, be very careful not to cross the bounds of taste (in terms of strong or inappropriate language or in terms of a sensitive subject you know if something is questionable); dont just praise something or someone else (readers will not learn anything about you); and dont use the essay as a place to vent about unresolved personal problems (it can be scary to see readers will worry about your being OK and will not want you on their campuses). VT: What is the biggest mistake a student can make on a college application? Rachel: Sending an application that you think the admissions committee wants to see. This can fail in two important ways: 1. You may choose an essay topic that is not actually important to you and/or you may write in a style than not your genuine voice admissions officers see right through these things and are turned off; 2. You may fill the why study here supplemental essays with things you imagine will flatter a school rather than why you actually love the school you will sound generic and not thoughtful if you quote things that do not apply to your situation. Overall, this mistake does not let the committee see you, and therefore it cannot admit you because it does not know and like you. VT: What is the typical process an admissions officer goes through to evaluate applications? Rachel: You would be amazed at the time and attention admissions officers can spend on applications. In fact, an application may have multiple readers, and each read can take half an hour or more. Admissions officers fill out forms summarizing the data and capturing their opinion, noting your achievements, both academic and extracurricular, in the context of your background and high school. You would also be amazed at how well admissions officers know your exact high school it is part of their job to understand your opportunities, or lack of them, to make the right decisions about who you are and if you would thrive on their campuses. Some colleges even run committees, in which all applications are presented for discussion, but at every college, truly, admissions officers are very careful to understand exactly who you are. VT: What do you think is the single most important thing a student should make sure they present in the best possible way on their application? Rachel: It may sound simple, but just present yourself. Your honest, thoughtful essay showing how you think or what you have done; your genuine, well-researched comments about why you are applying to a school; your carefully filled out application these show readers what you are all about and your seriousness as a candidate. You impress by showing what no one else should ever be able to show your unique story and your passion for a school through crossing all is and dotting all ts. The responsibility you take for a thorough, personal presentation gives you your best chance at admission and makes a great impression no matter what the admission committee ultimately decides. VT: How should students go about determining the culture of a university, and whether they would be a good fit? Rachel: I love this question. This is the heart of an intelligent, successful admissions process. Ideally, you should tour schools to see how you feel, as there is truly no better research than the gut feeling of wow, this is a fit, or whoa, what was I thinking this is not me you learn from both reactions. Also, to determine which colleges fit your personality and goals, especially if you cannot get onto campuses, read colleges webpages and other websites talking about colleges and reach out online. Colleges have armies of student volunteers ready to answer your questions and make a connection with you. Activate those possibilities. Ask your guidance counselor about colleges and check where people you know have attended. This can show you who is attracted to what kind of school. Always try to attend college fairs and presentations in your town and in your high school, too. VT: Early-action, early-decision, binding/non-binding, regular decisions...With so many choices when applying, what do you recommend to students? Rachel: See if you can answer yes to the following questions by November of your senior year: Will you have you found that one and only school for yourself? Will you have received satisfactory results from your standardized testing? Will you be prepared to accept a financial aid package according to what a school calculates for families in your situation? If you can answer yes to all these questions, a binding early plan can be for you. You would be ready to commit to a school. More broadly, any early plan can be for you you are set for early notification. If you are not clear about one favorite school, need to compare financial aid offers, and/or may compete for some scholarships, wait until regular decision. Early plans are for students who can present their best applications by the fall. You maximize your chances of admission when you apply at your strongest, so make sure you submit your application when you are truly ready. VT: How important are grades and standardized test scores when admissions decisions are being made? Rachel: OK, we have to be honest: this is #1 in terms of importance. After all, you are applying for entrance to educational institutions. The schools need to ensure your survivability, and for those competitive schools with too many qualified students lined up for only a few places, the academic piece makes even more of a difference. Do know, though, that many times, rejection does not mean that you did not do enough. You may be a star. It simply means others had to come first. VT: What tips do you have for students asking their teachers for letters of recommendation? Rachel: You are asking teachers for a favor requiring hours of their time, so be careful to respect this significant request. Ideally, approach teachers for recommendations close to the beginning of the school year - and certainly well in advance of the deadlines. Give teachers an information sheet to prepare them with data about what you have done well, both in their classes and outside of them, so they will not have to wrack their brains to come up with material. Make the recommendation writing easier for them. Do follow up with the teachers, too, before the deadline to see if you can provide any extra information to help and to make sure that they are on track to submit on time. FYI: students are not penalized for late-arriving recommendations, but it does hold up the evaluation process and your application will be read only when it becomes complete. Visit Rachels website for further information about her background and consulting services.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Everything You Ever Wanted (and Needed) to Know About Professional Voicemail Greetings - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Everything You Ever Wanted (and Needed) to Know About Professional Voicemail Greetings - Introvert Whisperer Everything You Ever Wanted (and Needed) to Know About Professional Voicemail Greetings GetVOIP.com September 11, 2014 Communication No responses Go to top This post originally appeared at GetVoIP.com. A voicemail recording is more important than you think it is. While many users pine away at intuitive user menus and expansive feature sets, many forget the importance of their recorded voicemail message. While this may not sound like a travesty, it could very well could be. Really think about it. Youre out of the office, its after business hours, or youre otherwise indisposed, whatever the case may be, your voicemail is now tasked with representing you (and/or your company). No pressure, right? Your voicemail message is a platform that represents you to callers; therefore it’s absolutely crucial that your message is perfect. (Click here to tweet this thought.) Here’s our ultimate guide, including video and audio samples, on everything you need to know about professional voicemail greetings. 1. Mistakes to Avoid With Your Company’s Voicemail Greeting Users often don’t invest enough time into their messages, resulting in incomplete, unprofessional or otherwise under-whelming greetings. Sure, crafting a greeting doesn’t sound all that complicated; however, there are a number of pitfalls users can fall into i.e. informality, terseness, sincerity, lack of direction and more. While none of these sound too catastrophic, they are often interrelated. As such, they tend to worsen any problem. For example, humor can cause informality, worsen ambiguity and weaken sincerity. That being said, users should strive to avoid all these pitfalls. The simple truth is that you need to be more aware of what you’re leaving for other people to hear. Sure, this doesn’t always register as a priority for users, but it’s never too late to reassess your greeting. Reading/Speaking in the Imperfect Tone Tone is absolutely everything. Users don’t want to come off as being too nice, as it sounds insincere, or being too terse, as it can be interpreted as being rude. That being said, striking the right balance is absolutely essential. Your greeting exists as its own entity, and therefore, it should not rely on callers’ familiarity with you. Instead, it needs to appeal to the masses. As such, your inflection, i.e. the way you state your name and directions, needs to be both welcoming and firm. Aside from the inflection, one should also consider the tonality, or timbre, of their voice. One should strive to utilize their voice as a tool to ensnare caller as vocal deficiencies/inadequacies can discourage some users. That being said, there are some key tonal factors users should concentrate on in creating their tone. These include: pitch the lowness or highness of your voice; projection/resonance how well does your voice carry speed how fast/slow are you speaking diction how articulate are you/how clearly are you speaking confidence is there nervousness (tremors or breaks) in your voice, or do you sound reassured, stern, and confident? All of these factors play into your overall tonality; therefore, once you know what you’ll be saying, you should devote some time and thought into how you’re going to say it. Injecting Humor and Insincerity While humor/lightheartedness can be welcoming, it can also convey a sense of informality, insincerity and ultimately unprofessionalism. Why? Because you’re not there to lend your humor or to contextualize. Instead, you’re assuming the caller has a working knowledge of your personality to ground the message. Though this might not sound like it’s all that terrible, it can be detrimental. As stated above, one should never rely on a caller’s familiarity with you. Instead, aim to appeal to the masses. Humor is ultimately subjective, meaning not everyone has the same tastes; therefore, someone is bound to be turned off by a quirky or off-color remark. While implementing a lighthearted or even tongue-in-cheek tone can work, it’s just a really bad idea. Personality is hard to capture, especially in a short greeting message; therefore, callers might misinterpret any type of gag/joke you leave behind, especially when you’re not there to lend contextualization. For example, one may leave a voicemail greeting that starts “Hello? Hello? Just leave a message.” While this may be funny to you, callers may not be able to decipher the humor, or they could be offended by said humor. Either way is pretty messy. If the caller doesn’t get your humor, he or she may really think you answered and hung up, which can portray you as discourteous (to say the least). Even if the caller does get your humor, he or she may not find it funny. Brian Allain, Humor Writer and Blog Coach, states, “It was funny the first time…” People have different humors; therefore, your message is never going to appeal to the masses. Instead, it’s more likely to isolate you. Humor also leaves a lot of room for misinterpretation, which subsequently weakens sincerity and authority. A caller can be very turned off by merely misinterpreting your joke. Why take this risk? Additionally, this could even cause callers to question your character. Say, for example, the president of a company’s mobile phone voicemail greeting was funny. What’s to happen if the caller didn’t like or get the joke? What if they found it offensive? Another scenario is that a caller is reaching out to you for the first time i.e. they have no idea regarding your personality. What next? The point is, with this type of greeting, humor is bound to be more divisive, so just avoid it altogether. Poorly Pacing Your Message/Bad Time Management Don’t speed through your message. Speak clearly so callers know what to include in their message and when to leave the message. At the same time, don’t drag your message out. No one wants to sit through a diatribe. Just get to the point clearly. Utilizing Ambiguity Over Clarity When setting up your voicemail greeting be direct and to the point. Tell callers your information, a brief greeting, and direction i.e. “Hi, this is Jim Shamalam (from Iron Industries). Sorry I can’t take your call right now. Please leave your name number, and a brief message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you.”  This is ideal, as you inform callers and let them know what they should do to ensure a return call. A lack of direction can lead to callers leaving incomplete messages (lacking contact or other information) or even callers hanging up without leaving a message altogether.For example, a message like, “Hi, this is Jim. You know what to do.” Well, not everyone is going to know what to do i.e. they won’t leave you inclusive information. Additionally, they may not leave you a message at all. Aside from this, humor can again be detrimental to your message, this time lending itself to ambiguity and costing you clarity. For example, if a message read, “Hi this is Jim, sorry I can’t answer your call right now. Please leave your name and number and I’ll call you as soon as I can, but you already knew that, right? Do I need to tell you what to do?” This is worse than the previous example as this is confusing and can also come across as rude and unprofessional. Complicating a greeting with phrasing like this is sure to cause some harm. Ignoring Personality and Identity Don’t use computer-generated greetings. Some users leave default messages (“you’ve reached the voicemail box of 777-777-777. Please leave a message”). Believe it or not, even this can cause problems. Callers may be unsure if the voicemail box belongs to you; therefore, they don’t leave a message. Also, some may even be uncomfortable leaving information through a message in a nameless voice message box As such, being impersonal can cause ambiguity, which again can hurt the effectiveness of your voice message system. This doesn’t mean you have to make an elaborate greeting if you don’t want to, just insert your voice and name so at least callers know they’re calling the right person. 2. What NOT to Say On Your Voicemail Greeting The above section details types of phrasing to avoid; however, it doesn’t detail what users should not say on their greeting. Though this is a bit loaded, as there are hundreds of combinations of things one shouldn’t say, there are some key components users should always avoid. Forget about slang. You should strive to be as professional and welcoming as possible in your greeting. While this may steer you toward using slang in an attempt to make callers comfortable, it’ll most likely work against you. As a professional, your demeanor, tone and speech should be clear-cut and well articulated. Using slang undercuts this and works against you. Don’t even think about profanity. This is a no-brainer. Never, under any circumstances, curse in your greeting ever! Keep your sentences clean; don’t ramble. Introduce yourself and give your caller specific direction. Avoid long diatribes detailing tangent thoughts. Keep it simple and quick. Always return your calls. It’s important for callers to feel they are valued. Nothing dissolves this quicker than a greeting that doesn’t stress this. For example, “I’ll call you when I can,” “If I don’t return your call, please call back” these phrases are terrible and completely destroy any good will you may have with a caller. Never assume anything. Phrases like “you know what to do,” “sing your song at the beep,” and others mentioned above are awful to leave in your greeting. For the sake of universality and comprehensiveness, never assume the caller knows what to do. Lay it out clearly. Never ask callers to “leave a message.” This phrase, by itself, will not do. It’s imperative for users to identify themselves in their greetings. Callers need to know they’ve reached the right person. Disregard lethargy. If you’re not excited about your greeting, why would anyone else be? Never display a lack of enthusiasm in your greeting, as it could turn callers off to both you and your business. Speak clearly and never slur. Callers need to understand your every word; therefore, mumbling, slurring and all other detractions of speech should never be recorded. 3. Tips for Professional Voicemail Greetings Know What You Want to Say Users should decide the type of tone they’re going for before ever concentrating on the actual message. As such, one must decide whether their greeting will be strictly professional, humorous, lighthearted, cut and dry, etc. While there are many potential dangers attached to each tonality, it’s ultimately up to the user to decide which tone works best for them. Though this can be a tricky process, it could help steer users towards a more fitting tone. For example, Film and Television actor Paul Cram states, “Evaluating what I am literally saying in my voice mail content has drastically changed what I say. Opting either for a colorful version, or for brevity, depending on my mood that day/week.” In addition to this, deciding what you want to say, and how you want to say it, can help move along another good habit scripting and practice. Write a Script and Practice As with anything else, practice makes perfect. Now that you’re more aware of how important this greeting is, you may be more willing to give a little more attention to it. If you’re serious about it, write a script and practice. Seriously actors, musicians, writers, artists, they all practice their form to make it perfect. While this may seem tedious, it definitely has its advantages. For example, in writing your exact message, you can perfect the message i.e. make it clear and concise. Additionally, you no longer have to speak on the spot. The creative process is complete, and with your greeting fully realized, you’re free to inject personality into them. Now, you don’t have to think of what you’re saying, but of how you’re saying it. Scripting and practice can not only help users find the right words, but the right way to say them. This process connect to users knowing what they want to say. Scripting and practice can help users refine, reshape, and retool their voicemail, creating a much more complete and rounded message. With a more rigid creative and performance process, your greeting is bound to be much more finely tuned. Make a Positive First Impression/Convey Happiness and Enthusiasm Yes, this does sound ridiculous in theory; however, the act itself may be much more practical. According to a UK study conducted by the University of Portsmouth back in 2008, people, in this case callers, are actually able to detect whether or not you are happy by the inflection in your voice. That’s right, take it in. When recording your voicemail greeting, it’s important to convey a sense of confidence and enthusiasm. Callers can tell the difference, and the last thing they want to hear is a grumpy, un-enthused message. For some callers, the voicemail greeting can be their first interaction with you; therefore, users should want to convey a sense of professional pride. Its not particularly charming to contact someone who is unhappy, so be sure to convey positivity. Be Creative Without Sacrificing Quality Callers know how voicemails work i.e. leave a number, message, etc. While you want to be clear, it’s important not to be contrived or redundant with your message. Creativity can help users to differentiate themselves, as well as intrigue callers. While users should avoid the tropes of creativity listed above, it’s definitely good to think outside the box. That being said, scripting and practice can help users to experiment more with their greeting ultimately allowing for more unique and creative approach. Speak With Diction It’s important to present your as an authority without alienating callers. As such, it’s crucial to articulate and speak with clear diction. “If your voice recording has you stumbling over words and speaking haltingly, it does not convey confidence and competence,” states Ron Sellers of Grey Matter Research Consulting. Remember, this greeting represents you; therefore, you want to appear collected and professional, as well as welcoming. To do this, you must carry yourself well through your recorded message. Account for Timeliness Your message should be concise. No caller wants to be sitting through a rant/diatribe of redundant statements. Your greeting should flow without dragging. Inversely, one doesn’t want to be terse, either. Engage callers with a simplified approach laden with creativity. Stay On Target The best thing users can do is convey a sense of concise uniformity meaning your greeting focuses on the topic at hand while reflecting your personage (or company) accurately. Again, Ron Sellers talks about this, stating: People dont realize that every touch point should be an expression of the brand. If you have a contemporary brand, the hold music shouldnt be Steppenwolf and Three Dog Night. If the brand is friendly, all phone recordings should be intentionally read with a smile. Even subtle things such as this impact how people perceive the brand and/or the employee. Users should strive for their greetings to have an even flow that deploys information evenly, free of tangents. That being said, please allow me to be frank for a moment: Do not rant on your message. Seriously, no one will sit through it, and even if they do, the message itself could do some serious damage to your reputation/appearance. Give callers exactly what they need, no more, no less. Account for Quality Aside from speaking clearly, users want to eliminate any noise in the surrounding environment. The quality of the greeting is just as important as what’s being said in the greeting itself. As such, don’t undermine a great message with poor quality. Courtesy, Tastefulness, and Tact This is pretty self-explanatory and straightforward: never be rude. Being lighthearted and humorous is very different from being obnoxious and/or abrasive. Again, these tools can be helpful if used properly, but not everyone perceives humor the same way. So play it safe. The last thing your voicemail greeting should do is offend a caller. Holiday Greetings Holiday greetings are great, as they show callers you’re updated, in touch, and involved in the present. Standardization is good, but it sometimes lacks the human touch. Also, holiday greetings can express your consideration; however, in using this method, there are a number of routes you can go. For example, SnapRecordings lists a few samples in which one may choose a more lax greeting; i.e. “Happy Holidays from [Company Name]! At this time, our office is closed for the holiday season. Please leave a message and your call will be returned when we return,” or even something more formal, “Thank you for calling [Company Name]; we are currently closed for the holiday. Please leave a message and your call will be returned when we return.” Another good use of a holiday greeting can be to relay variances in business hours, specials, etc. Provide Options If you’re part of a bigger company, it might be good to offer caller options. For example, allow a menu to defer callers to a colleague or co-worker in your absence. This can help show callers you care about their well being. Another option might be offering different modes of communication i.e. email, fax, etc. In offering users diversity, contact may be much easier to maintain. 4. Tools Available for Professional Voicemail Recordings While there are a number of resources to help coach users in making a proficient voicemail greeting, some users still feel they are not doing enough. As such, there are a number of tools currently available to help even further. Professional Voice Recording Now that you’re versed in the process of recording your greeting, you may feel a burdening sense of responsibility; you may find that weight to be too heavy to lift alone. Well, rest easy. There are a number of companies and services for recording quality professional greetings. With a wide variety of choices available, users are able to choose every aspect of the process i.e. the provider (a business or a voice professional individually), the service and the tools involved. Typically, most of these services are uniform they include the same tools and features (send a script, they record it in a tone you approve, they send it as a file, you supply any feedback, etc.); however, there are some services that go above and beyond. For example, VoiceOverPro, is a single voice professional who records 30 second voicemail messages based on users’ scripts. This is standard; however, users also have options like adding music, recording up to 60 seconds (or 150 words), rush, 2-day turnaround, and even same-day delivery. With VoiceOverPro, there is only one professional recorder; therefore, there are no tonal options. If a user was looking for different voice options, they may be better to head to a larger company. For example, VoiceArchive offers a library of over 1300 professional voice talents (including child talent). Users can select commercial samples of each talent to get a feel for the talent’s style. While this can be a bit daunting, the provider even offers a search option to find specific talents letting users experiment with much more flexibility. Additionally, users are able to select from over 90 languages including Dutch, French, German, Italian, English, Spanish and many more. Aside from this, users are guaranteed delivery of their message within 24 hours. This type of service can be very beneficial because users are able to craft their own messages, while a professional reads them. Companies can spend more time on the scripting process, making sure the text conveys everything they want it to even bring in expert teams to draft, revise, and/or finalize the script itself. Additionally, in working with a professional voice talent, you are ensuring your words have the utmost impact i.e. the words are read perfectly with the right tone, resonance, pacing, etc. For users who want to avoid the scripting process altogether, there are also services that provide pre-recorded messages. Again, your voicemail greeting shoulders a lot of responsibility. Some people aren’t comfortable with having to create a message to deal with it. With this option, users can choose from libraries of pre-recorded messages, which are standardized greetings, for their voicemail. There are a variety of applications, services and companies that provide this service. For example, VoiceNation, a voicemail, virtual PBX and answering services provider, offers users a variety of samples. Online Communities The Internet is a big place. It gives everyone a voice; therefore, it can be really hard to discern useful information from fluff. While this can be frustrating, the virtual environment also allows for extensive social interaction and communities. If hiring a professional or using a service isn’t a viable option, leverage yourself in an online community. Run ideas past people in the same position. Get feedback, tips, advice, etc. from countless people who are in the same boat (or were at one point). For example, sites like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ all make it easy to find people, experts, colleagues, etc. who may be able to help you. Additionally, you may even be able to help others out. Aside from social media, blogs, how-to type sites and forums make it easy to get feedback and information, too. A good example of this can be seen with the University of Chicago. This university compiled an extensive list of voicemail greetings that merely requires you to fill in the blanks. You can see a variety of applicable greeting choices, which can help you better draft your own greeting. In Summary If you don’t know it by now, you might never know. Voicemail greetings are incredibly important to users. The greeting conveys identity, character, and image to callers. In an increasingly digital world, where business is conducted online and over the phone, phone presence is increasingly important, your greeting is a crucial part of the platform. While there are a number of obstacles to be aware of, utilized properly, voicemail greetings can be incredibly helpful and beneficial; therefore, it’s in your best interest to invest yourself in creating a quality recording. What’s the trickiest aspect of voicemail greetings for you? Let us know in the comments! 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How to Set your Rates when Teaching Arabic

How to Set your Rates when Teaching Arabic What Price should you charge when Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language? ChaptersAbout the price of a private lessons5 tips to follow before setting your tariff for an Arabic courseCriteria for determining pricesLatest tips for evaluating the price of your lessonAccording to the latest statistics dating from the end of 2015, the tariff of a modern standard Arabic course is $22 an hour.How to set a price for such a lesson? Are there any modalities to be followed before giving standard Arabic lessons?Are there different rates in each cities?Superprof is going to shed the light on this practice.In the US, the price of a private lesson for school support is around $25 per hour.But this price can change greatly according to several criteria. Between the professor's level of education, the level of the pupil, the number of courses required to master Arabic, the teacher's transportation, this tariff can undergo significant changes.Then, if you decide to go through a tutoring agency or a specialized platform, it is quite possible that prices vary: indeed, certain platforms take a fee for the connecting the student with the teacher.Share your passion for the Arabic language.Similarly, some Arabic teachers offer their first free hour while others charge from the start.Before setting a private Arab class's cost, it is therefore recommended to learn well about the price usually practiced in the profession.To determine the price of a particular Arabic course, we will detail the essential points you need to know, so you will be able to determine the price you can offer to your students.5 tips to follow before setting your tariff for an Arabic courseThe best way to set the tariff for your Arabic course is to evaluate it according to its importance and the solutions that this course can provide.Do a benchmarkIndeed, before deciding on some random price look around you what is practiced.Check in your city, in your neighborhood if there are already such services, what are the methods of learning Arabic and see what rate is requested.Even if you notic e higher rates than the one you want to offer, it is not necessarily the student himself that counts, but the resolution of his problem that you can bring him.Remember one thing: you offer quality content, it's not the packaging that makes it all.Bring out the content of your private lessonDo not hesitate to mention numbers to talk about your lesson.Tell your prospective students or in your announcement about the number of people you have already helped, your different diplomas in relation to the Arabic language, the linguistic stays you have made, etc.Talk about your experienceIn front of the plethora of tutoring ads for foreign languages ??and particularly for courses of so-called rare languages ??such as Arabic, it is important to stand out from your experience.The more accurate you are to talk about your experience, the greater your credibility will be.Do not overdo it, no need to spread out everything you've done. Your experience should enhance your level as an Arabic speaker ( if you are a Native speaker then you are of course experienced), and you as a teacher (if you have already taught private lessons or group classes).Be concise, eloquent and make yourself desirable, so that the student or his parents want to meet you for an interview, before you start Arabic classes.Giving value to your lessonsOften, it is believed that the content is less important than the container or vice versa, but this is not true.To attract new students to you, to make your Arabic classes known, you must treat both the external aspect and the content of your course.Love Arabic language and history.Describe your method in a few points, quickly demonstrate the value of these, evoke useful books to learn Arabic. Show that you'd be giving more than what a student can simply get with a book, â€" learning the Arabic alphabet, vocabulary and giving exercices. You need to show adaptability and stay dynamic. It's not only about knowing the Arabic words: your lesson will about speaking Arabic, it will be alive.Show that you have a logical mind, that you know where you take the students in your teaching of Arabic and much of the way will already be done.Finding the right priceThe idea is to ensure that your course is perceived to be less costly than the value it brings. If you manage to do this, then you will have found the right price.Criteria for determining pricesThere are several reasons for the difference in the price of a private lesson, especially for the teaching of language courses such as Arabic.Your student's level of knowledgeFirst of all, try to determine whether your student is in high school or university: if Arabic is a new language for him or not. Maybe he already know Arabic letters, or has tried to learn Arabic online before,... It's important to get a good idea of what he knows of the Arabic language but also the Arab world and culture. For example, a sutdent who knows the greetings, the Quran, has traveled in the Middle East, but doesn't speak proper Arabic will maybe be a beginner, but not for long, and you should adapt your price to his actual level.Indeed, the difference in methodology as well as the investment in the preparation of private lessons is not at all the same and so, the price of the course of Arabic will suffer the consequences.Do you know you can find tutoring jobs on Superprof?Improve your level in Arabic with relevant courses!You will charge less for a high school student than a university student or an adult.A student who is passing an exam to enter a school or who wants to take a translation exam will need a professor with an advanced level, which is more expensive obviously.You may enjoy this guide to teaching Arabic...The frequency of Arabic coursesYou can offer a single price for your Arabic classes but you can also offer a discounted rate if you want to follow a student over several months.Learning Arabic is not a 1 month long process, it takes several weeks, even several months and years: some st udies estimate an average of 80 weeks to understand, write and read Arabic properly and know how to manage in any situation. And that's with intense classes!The frequency of tuition, the number of hours you will have defined with the student will play on the proposed tariff: even if the scientific courses are more time than an English course, for the Arabic course this can take a lot of time also because of the complexity of the language, its grammar, its spelling.There are not only the theoretical courses to be taken into account but also the exercises and the exercises.It will be necessary to review with the student a notion or several notions.The choice of the materialUsually, a language course pays at the median rate of $24 which is much cheaper than a private computer course at almost $27per hour, a music course at $33 or even a dance lesson at more than $38 euros on average.Nevertheless, even if learning the Arabic language remains less difficult than the Korean, Cantonese, Po lish, Sanskrit or Japanese, it will be difficult to exceed the $23 per hour rate.Take into account the academic level of the pupils if you wish to enroll in a tutoring body that is certified.At each level of study its price for a private Arabic lesson.The prices fluctuate according to the pupil's level: the price of a pupil in elementary school will be between $35 and 37, for the secondary school and high school, it will be between $37 and $45 while it will exceed the $45 of the university level.If you want to reduce the cost for your students, you can offer home classes for small groups, but be aware you need to have students of the same level.Thus, you will be able to adapt your tariff of course of Arabic.The location of your Arabic courseIt is a fact that not all private rates are the same depending on the State in which you live, wether it is North or South, etc.Of course, the fare in New York is higher than in other smaller cities because of the higher cost of life but also the price of public transport.If you have to take a private lesson that takes you up to 30 minutes to 45 minutes to get to, this is a factor to consider when calculating your tariff.Latest tips for evaluating the price of your lessonHere are some recommendations to help you make the right decision regarding pricing of Arabic courses.You must have at least 3 years between your level of education and that of your pupil.Your academic background must be in total coherence with the Arabic language; specify your curriculum in foreign languages for example.Be, if possible, specialized in Arabic literature or Arabic dialect when you offer an Arabic course to graduate student. You need to let your student know if you are going to teach him a dialect different from modern standard Arabic: wether you teach Egyptian Arabic, Moroccan Arabic, or from another Arabic speaking country.The higher the learner's level, the higher the rate will be.If you go through an organization, check that it has good s tudent testimonials and that it will listen to your request. Take all the information you need from this professional: the price he will deduce, information on your payments, contact with students, setting up a profile on the site, etc.Do not forget to consider the cost of transportation unless you go through a tutoring platform which usually includes these fees in the price of the Arabic course (hence a more expensive price for some competitors).If your price is high, show that you have an extra-value, that you know Arabic speaking and can teach the arabic alphabet but also about the Arabic world, culture, or politics. Teach your student the conversational vocabulary but also the less colloquial expressions that will help him to truly speak Arabic with fluency.Now discover this complete guide to becoming a teacher of Arabic!

How to Perfect the French Accent

How to Perfect the French Accent Everything to Know About Learning the French Accent ChaptersWhat Does the French Accent Consist OfHow to Pronounce the Letters “e” and “r” in French?How to Pronounce Silent Letters in FrenchTake French Language Courses in the UKListen to Others to Improve Your French AccentThere’s a reason why people more and more people with British accents in French are striving to learn how to perfect their French accents. During the past decades, the French language has taken its place amongst language giants such as Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish and Arabic.With nearly 300 million Francophones in Europe, North America, Africa, and Oceania â€" you’ve probably also heard the incredible diversity of the speakers themselves through Australian, Japanese, and American accents.While language learning can sometimes feel like learning how to program, from understanding the concept of diphthong to ascii codes or alt codes â€" many people around the world are making it their mission to become a French speaker. In fact, according to a study p erformed by the Francophone Observatory, 90% of French language courses in 2018 could be found in places like North Africa, Europe and the Middle East.Whether you have a Spanish accent, English accent or Arabic accent while speaking standard French, this article will give you tips on how to perfect your oral expression in French!French language courses can help you get started on your French accentAdvanced French courses can help you understand the linguistics of the language AnnieFrench Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolineFrench Teacher 5.00 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriFrench Teacher 5.00 (9) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarianneFrench Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThibautFrench Teacher 5.00 (3) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickFrench Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DéborahFrench Teacher 5.00 (10) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamyFrench Teacher 5.00 (2) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow to Pronounce Silent Letters in FrenchWhile it might be easy for native speakers to understand when and how to pronounce certain syllables and words, the rest of us will have a hard time discerning when not to pronounce a letter. Silent letters are ones that are written but not said aloud. It can be especially difficult to navigate these as they can vary from dialect to dialect.One special rule you can take with you is that letters with diacritics, or other special characters such as those with a circumflex, will always be pronounced. What makes French such an interesting foreign language to learn is that there are 23 letters in its alphabet that can be silent in certain words.Some examples of words that have a silent letter in the middle are: compter, comptabilite, grand-pere, grand-mere, etc. Some words with the silent letter at the end include: fond, rond, long, etc.Take Fre nch Language Courses in the UKOne tried and true bit of advice to master a new language, and reach fluency in its pronunciation, is to immerse yourself completely into francophone life. Whether that be by moving to France in order to become a native speaker, or taking courses led by fluent French language professors with Superprof, native English speakers can perfect their accents in no time.The fortunate thing about professors is that, regardless of what country you live in, they will be preparing you for the levels of knowledge set out by the European Union. These levels are ordered by skill, where A1 would signal a beginner and C2 complete mastery of the language.Some other great resources to check out are online platforms geared for learners, such as Facebook groups headed by either a linguist or French professor, or language exchange sites. While you're browsing for courses, it may be good to keep in mind that there are different prices involved in different programs.One method to better your accent is to study abroad in FranceListen to Others to Improve Your French AccentStressing the importance of oral comprehension cannot be done enough â€" it is not only important for developing your understanding of the spoken language, but also a great way to learn new vocabulary.Some ways in which you can accomplish this are:Watching French films and seriesListening to the radio in FrenchSpeaking with native French speakersThe great thing about France is that they still pour a lot of effort into their radio programs â€" one example of this can be seen through Radio France. This radio station, having developed into multiple channels, is great because it offers audio in a diverse amount of subjects.While some people may still be struggling with a new keyboard layout for French, the tech-savvy amongst you might want to try one of the newer forms of practicing oral French: going on YouTube. The great thing about learning French online isn’t just that its free, and th at the web stores thousands of resources for learning online, but also that you can watch whatever already interests you in a different language.The goal of perfecting the French accent isn’t to forget your foreign accents, but instead to try and express yourself as best you can in French. That is the reason why you might want to consider another method of acquiring a French accent and actually go and study in France. Not only will you be able to make Francophone friends on your linguistic journey, but you’ll also get a chance to learn about the culture in real time.Who knows, learning the accent might take you less time than you thought! Bon courage!

Common Present Perfect Errors and How to Fix them

Common Present Perfect Errors and How to Fix them The Present Perfect tense is a challenge for many learners. If your first language doesnt have a tense analogous to it, perfect tenses can seem mysterious and unnecessary. Nevertheless, there is a logic to the Present Perfect that is easy to understand. Look at the following common errors, their corrections, and the explanation that follows. You will see that the Present Perfect is not so difficult as you might have thought. Inthepastfewyears INCORRECT: In the past few years, there was a great deal of controversy surrounding soy.CORRECT: In the past few years, there has been a great deal of controversy surrounding soy. Explanation:Use the Present Perfect to refer to an action during the time leading up the present. The keywords In the past few years indicates a time leading up to and including the present. Since then INCORRECT: Since then we hold a tournament each year.CORRECT: Since then we hold a tournament each year. INCORRECT: Also, she decided to become Japanese teacher since then.CORRECT: Also, she has decided to become Japanese teacher since then. Explanation: Use the Present Perfect to talk about an activity that started in the past and continues into the present. The keywords sincethen indicates a time leading up to and including the present. Since2013 INCORRECT: I am in Canada since 2013.CORRECT: I have been in Canada since 2013. Explanation: Use the Present Perfect to talk about an activity that started in the past and continues into the present. The keywords since2013 indicates a time leading up to and including the present. Have you lived here since you were a child? Sinceyouwereachild INCORRECT: Did you live here since you are a child?CORRECT: Have you lived here since you were a child? Since  a  young  age INCORRECT:   I speak French since a young age.CORRECT:   I have been speaking French since a young age. (Present Perfect Progressive)CORRECT:   I have spoken French since a young age. (Present Perfect Simple) IstartlearningSpanish(recently) INCORRECT: I speak French, English, and I start learning Spanish.CORRECT: I speak French, English, and I have started learning Spanish. Explanation: Use the Present Perfect to ask about an activity or situation that started in the past and continues into the present. When you talk about starting to learn a language, you mean that you started learning in the recent past and you are continuing to learn the language now. Present Perfect Practice Activities Foror SincewithfamilyFor or sincePresent Perfect versus the Simple PastPresent Perfect used when talking about pranksPresent Perfect versus the Present Perfect Progressive More online grammar practice activities Try this quiz on the Present Perfect and practical jokes More examples of Present Perfect errors He had a boyfriend since a met him. It is already 12 years that I work for Acme.I live there since I was 5 years old.I live here since I was born.I take dance classes since I was 5 years.Its been a while that nobody cleaned the house so that was a huge opportunity for us to clean up and decorate.Its ten years since I am in Canada.Since I was very little , I liked to create my own dresses for my barbie dolls.Since the age of 12, im part of a freestyle skiing team.I have the same job for about two years.I speak French since 19 years ago. Copy and paste the errors listed above into the Virtual Writing Tutor grammar checker to see how to correct them. Try this quiz on the Present Perfect Progressive Please follow and like us:

Clog Up - Phrasal Verb of the Day

Clog Up - Phrasal Verb of the Day Todays phrasal verb of the day is: Clog UpInfinitive form: Clog UpPresent Tense: Clog Up/Clogs Uping form: Clogging UpPast tense: Clogged UpPast Participle: Clogged UpClog Up is a separable English phrasal verb. It can be used in two different ways:When you put something in a drain that prevents water or other liquid from going through and therefore stopping it from working properly1. Hey, watch what you eat! You wouldnt want to clog your arteries up with cholesterol, would you?2.  Mandy poured all the grease in the sink and accidentally clogged the drain up.When describing a blocked, slow movement1.  The accident down the road had caused the traffic to clog up.2. Theres a robbery in progress, thats why the traffics pretty clogging up.Note: (part.adj)The term clogged up can also describe how a particular object blocks a drain or something where liquid is supposed to flow freely, from functioning properly.Oh, great! The car engine died and were in the middle of the road. Can you ple ase check to see if the engine valve is clogged up?Video?Exercises: Write your answers in comments and we will correct them.Fill in the gaps from the video above:Complete the sentences below with the correct form of Clog Up.1.  I wonder who is responsible for ____ ___ the toilet?2.The snowblower is ____ ___.  Please try to see if theres dust or something else ____ __ in there.3. The leaves must have caused our drain to ____ __. I dont see anything else blocking it.4. I dont want to think were the ones responsible for ____ __ traffic in this road.5. A ____ __ drain can sometimes be caused by lots of stuff getting into the drain. We need to unclog it as soon as possible.Change the example sentences above to negative sentences (or positive, if the sentence is already negative). Then change them to questions.

Four reasons to get an Irvine back-to-school tutor - TutorNerds

Four reasons to get an Irvine back-to-school tutor - TutorNerds Four Reasons to get a Private Irvine Back-to-School Tutor Kids are going back to school this week and discovering all of the interesting things they will get to learn about throughout the academic year. Many subjects will pique a student’s interest while others may simply be a review. Every student will have at least one subject thats a little more challenging than the rest, and it can be tough to get organized after having two months in the fresh air and sunshine. A great way to help students get ready for the semester ahead is to hire an Irvine tutor to help treat the back-to-school blues. 1. Organization Everyone, regardless of age, needs help organizing from time to time. But, younger students need more help staying on track because theyre still figuring out what type of organizational system works for them as an individual. Tutors are great at helping students figure out what tools they need to remember all of their assignments, avoid getting overwhelmed, and staying on top of their GPA. Having just a few sessions at the beginning of the school year can save students from an entire semester of late night study sessions and last-minute assignments (READ: Help Your Teen Adjust to Fall Semester). 2. A study group Many high school students now hire a tutor to lead their study group for advanced placement classes or test prep. Small group tutors can get to know each member of the study group and work with them on their strengths and weaknesses while, at the same time, helping the group move in the right direction. It can be difficult for any student to figure out what they need to focus on in an AP course or when studying for college entrance exams thus working with a tutor is a great way to be encouraged and supported by peers while also getting the expert advice of an educator. 3. Work on a challenging subject Most students have one or two topics that give them some trouble from time to time. For the majority of students, the difficult subject is either math or English, but they might need help with any particular subject. When students tackle these difficult topics early on, they have a better chance of staying at grade level and feeling confident about their ability. When it comes to challenging subject matter, its better to work with a tutor early on rather than wait for the student to fall far behind and be stressed out for the rest of the school year. Working with a tutor even one hour a week can easily make the difference between success and stress. 4. College prep Students in 10th through 12th grade have the extra challenge of getting ready to apply to college. These days it seems like college prep is so time-consuming that’s it essentially becomes its subject but students have to learn about it outside of the classroom. Its a very good idea for students to work with a college counselor to figure out what stuff they need to go through to successfully apply to college and a tutor can help keep them on track. Students may need help brainstorming to come up with ideas for a personal statement, they may need general organizational help, they might need help studying for SAT or ACT exams, or they might need assistance juggling college prep with other academic subjects. Tutors are a great help when it comes to working on these applications but still doing well in the classroom environment. Book your private Irvine back-to-school tutor today! Our experienced tutors are here to help you have a successful school year. 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.

Best Places To Live During Business School

Best Places To Live During Business School image via universumglobal.com If you are planning on attending business school this fall, it might be time to start looking into places to live. You don’t want just any place, you want the best space possible for you! What does that really mean? Here are some location ideas that can give you a head start on finding the perfect place for you. The Perfect View Picture this: you are working tirelessly on some econ homework and getting ready for a big presentation in your business class. You are feeling the pressure. You open the blinds to your room and stare out into the most breath-taking sunset view that you ever did see. You stare at it for a moment, taking in how gorgeous nature is, and then get back to work, basking in the view that is yours. This isn’t for everyone, but most people function better when they have a view that is aesthetically pleasing. This view doesn’t have to be of nature either. You might prefer a place that has a view of the city, the place where you dream to work after finishing up school. Motivation like this can be essential when you are having one of those days where you just want to curl up in bed and never have to get up again. The Perfect Vibe Where you live is going to play a big part in how much work you get done. If you are in a place where everything is fast paced and loud and the neighbors party too much for their own good, chances are you aren’t going to get the focus you need. And if you are in a place that is so silent that you are starting to go crazy, well, that isn’t good either. What you need is a good balance between the two, a place that is close enough to fun things so you can let off some steam, but also in its own little nook so you can get away when you need to and bust out some late night research. If you love the hustle and bustle of the city, try and get a place close to a quaint coffee shop or that is in walking distance to a library or study center. This way, you still have your escape, but can enjoy where you live. The Perfect Location We all know that networking is everything, especially in the business world, so when you are choosing where to live around your school, pick a place where a lot of professionals also live, or at least pass through. You never know what kind of conversation you might strike up in your local Starbucks, and never know when an opportunity will hit you. The better you locate yourself, the better chances you have with this! It’s also good to be in a place where you can witness professionals in your field firsthand. This should motivate you to keep going, to get to where they are at some point in your life. If you haven’t yet picked a school and are still trying to decide where to apply, why not look into ones, like San Jose State, that are close to hot spot locations, like Silicon Valley? You are going to end up in an area like this eventually for work, so if you can have a school that is already centered there, you’ll be golden. The Perfect People The people who you associate with are either going to make you or break you. If you are striving for success, you want to live around people who are also trying to make it, and will want the best for you. This could mean living around some friends that you know are hard workers, or look for areas that contain recent grads, so you can see where you will be in a few short months. Partying is fun every once in a while, but you don’t want to be living around people who will distract you, or who will post Facebook photos of you that will hurt your chances of getting hired. If you live around people with a professional vibe, you too will embody it. The Perfect Distance You want to find a place that has a decent commute between school, work and fun activities. While this can be a bit trickier to find, it will be worth the effort of finding. This way, if you don’t have a car, you can walk or bike where you need to go without breaking too much of a sweat. Don’t want to look unprofessional now, do we? This way you can still get some exercise in to be of sound mind and body, and won’t have a hard time getting to where you need to go, thus always being on time and always looking like the professional you are. When it comes to where you are living, there are a lot of things you should be looking for. It’s not just a place, it’s the space that can help you become all that you are meant to be and more. Good luck out there! Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.