How to Approach an Admissions Phone Interview

How to Approach an Admissions Phone Interview Interviews are stressful enough, but having to make your first impression over the phone can make things even more difficult. There are so many things to think about when approaching an interview. Your facial expressions, your handshake, your hand gestures, your suit of choice, etc. So much of that goes into what these people think of you, so it would seem like the phone interview makes it impossible for you to get these great things you have to offer across. But fear not; just because you cannot physically be in front of the person does not mean you cannot still send a positive energy over to them. Lets look at one clear benefit you get right off the bat notes. You can write down whatever phrases, questions, and bullet points you like and have them right in front of you the whole time. That is a very reassuring factor of the phone interview, the fact that you can glance down at some helpful reminders whenever you need to. Certainly, that would not be acceptable in an in-person interview. Another comforting aspect is the fact that you dont need to dress up. Being able to relax in sweatpants during this conversation rather than being distracted by the unusual fit of your professional suit can greatly help you. Its these kinds of subtle things that make a big difference in easing your ability to carry a confident and intelligent conversation necessary to nail the interview. With those benefits in mind, its time to figure out how to get your persona across successfully. You may not be able to literally show them your smile and firmly shake their hand, but you can still get those same vibes across. One trick is to smile anyway a genuine, physical smile is effective in making your voice sound friendlier. On top of that, sit up straight instead of lying on your couch or bed. Its okay to be relaxed at home as you do this, but not so relaxed that you lose sight of the interviews importance. Moreover, speak slowly and clearly. Even if you think you are enunciating perfectly, enunciate even more. You dont want to hurt your chances of moving forward just because you didnt speak well enough into the phone. Voices over the phone can easily get muffled and hard to understand, so go out of your way to make yours heard. Additionally, listen very carefully to what the interviewer is saying. If you have trouble hearing them, its okay to ask them to repeat something. Dont worry about feeling the least bit awkward in that situation, because the awkwardness would be a lot worse if you continued on in the conversation without addressing a question correctly. Going along with that, remember that a little silence is okay. If the interviewer pauses after one of your responses, dont panic and feel the need to keep talking. He or she is probably taking notes, so let them take their time. It can certainly be hard to gage these aspects of the conversation when you are not able to see the pe rsons reactions, but keep calm and trust that the conversation is flowing just fine. In the end, a phone interview really gives you some big advantages. Use them to get past the nerves and leave that admissions officer ready to meet you!

Comparing fractions 2

Comparing fractions 2 Learning about fractions is one of the basic and important topics in math. A fraction is number written in p/q form. Where p is the numerator and q is the denominator of the fraction. The denominator of a fraction cannot be equal to zero i.e. q not equal to zero. Different mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division can be used to compare any two fraction numbers. While comparing fractions we can check if the fractions are less than, greater than or equivalent to each other. Example 1: Compare the two fractions 7/10 and 9/10. Which of them is a smaller fraction? Solution: Given are two fractions 7/10 and 9/10. Here both the fractions have the common denominator 10. Since the denominator is the same compare the numerators of the two fractions. The fraction with the smaller numerator is the smaller fraction. This gives 7 10. Therefore, 7/10 9/10. Hence, 7/10 is the smaller fraction. Question: Multiple choice question (Pick the correct option.) Compare the fractions according to the shaded region in the circle below? Which fraction is greater? 3/6 4/6 a) 3/6 b) 4/6 c) They are equal. d) None of these. Correct answer: option b. Explanation: Are two fractions 3/6 and 4/6. In the fraction 3/6, 3 out of 6 regions are shaded. In the fraction 4/6, 4 out of 6 regions are shaded. Since the denominators have the same value the fraction with the greater numerator is greater. Hence 4/6 is greater.

5 Most Common Italian Pronunciation Mistakes

5 Most Common Italian Pronunciation Mistakes Suzy S. Do you want to speak like an Italian native? Below, Italian teacher Giulio G. shares the five most common Italian pronunciation mistakes and how to avoid them Italian is a relatively phonetic language, which means that almost each grapheme corresponds to a singular phoneme. In other words,  the Italian language is spoken as it is written. Thanks to this characteristic of the language, it is  easy to  learn proper  Italian pronunciation just by knowing the alphabet. However, there are still some  letters and combinations that may  be difficult to pronounce, especially for students who are  just beginning to learn  Italian. Below we explore the five most common Italian pronunciation mistakes and how  you can avoid them. 1. The Letter C The first common mistake that many beginner students make  is related to the letter C, as this tricky consonant can have a hard or soft sound. Proper Pronunciation of Hard C The sound of a hard C, which precedes the vowels A, O and U, is pronounced as a /k/, as in the English word car. Common Italian words  with  this type of sound are: cane (dog) cosa (thing) cultura (culture) Proper Pronunciation of Soft C The sound of a soft C, which precedes the vowels E and I, is pronounced as a /Ch/, as in the English word chair. Common Italian words  that  have this particular sound are: cena (dinner) cibo (food) Exception:  If the C is followed by an he or an hi, it has a hard sound, meaning that the /Ch/ has to be pronounced as a /K/. 2. The Letter G The letter G is another problematic consonant. Its pronunciation essentially follows the exact same rules of the letter C, in that it has both a hard and soft sound. Proper Pronunciation of Hard G G has a hard sound if it is followed by the vowels A, O and U. The sound of the Italian hard G is the same of the G in the English word game. Examples of Italian words that contain a hard G sound are: gatto (cat) gola (throat) gusto (taste) Proper Pronunciation of Soft G G has a soft sound if it is followed by the vowels E or  I. This sound is the same as the J in the English word journey. Some examples  of common Italian words containing the soft G are: giraffa (giraffe) gelato (ice cream) Exception:  If the G is followed by he or hi, it has a hard sound. 3. The Letter Combination Gli The letter combination gli is one of the most difficult sounds to pronounce. Beginner students, who are not familiar with the Italian language, mistakenly pronounce it as the English word  glee. However, gli has a soft sound, not a hard one.  The best way to perfect your  pronunciation of gli is to say the English name Lee, but, instead of touching your teeth with the tip of your tongue, you have to position the  central part of your  tongue on your palate. 4. The Letter Combination Gn The fourth common Italian pronunciation mistake is related to the sound gn. This letter combination is present also in the English language; however, in Italian, it is pronounced in a totally different way.  Essentially, the gn sound in Italian is pronounced as ny in the English word canyon. 5. Double Consonants Last but not least, the final Italian pronunciation mistake that beginner students make is not pronouncing double consonants.  Unlike in English, you must pronounce a double consonant in Italian, utilizing more energy and giving more length to the sound. For example, the words capelli (hair) and cappelli (hats) are pronounced in two different ways. To pronounce the word  cappelli, its necessary to put more energy into saying the consonant P. If this proves to be difficult for you, another possible solution is to pronounce the consonants  separately without pausing too much. For example, try pronouncing cappelli  as kap-pel-lee. For even more tips on the Italian pronunciation rules, check out this quick summary from Italian teacher, Liz T. Lets face it: The proper pronunciation of Italian words can be difficult. However, you now have the tools to help you, so you can continue  to practice and eventually perfect your speaking skills! Post Author:  Giulio G. Giulio  G. teaches in-person Italian lessons in New York City. He is originally from Florence, Italy and is currently a student at the University of Florence for Languages and Intercultural Relations. He has been teaching lessons since 2009.  Learn more about Giulio  here! Photo by  Michael Foley Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Critical Reasoning Question Types-Strengthen Or Weaken Questions - Private Tutoring

Critical Reasoning Question Types-Strengthen Or Weaken Questions BobbiM Feb 6, 2014 Determining an arguments necessary assumption, as weve just seen, is required to answer and Assumption question.  But it also is required to answer another common type of question: Strengthen or Weaken the argument. One way to weaken an argument is to  break down a central piece of evidence.  Another way is to attack the validity of any assumptions the author has made.  The answer to many Weaken the Argument questions is the one that reveals an authors assumption to be unreasonable; conversely, the answer to many Strengthen the Argument questions provides additional support by affirming the truth of an assumption or by presenting more persuasive evidence. Lets use the same stimulus as before but in the context of these other question types: Allyson plays volleyball for Central High School Therefore, Allyson must be over 6 feet tall. Remember the assumption holding this argument together?  It was that all volleyball players for Central High are over 6 feet tall.  Thats the assumption that makes or breaks the argument.  So, if youre asked to weaken the argument, youd want to attack that assumption: Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument? Answer:  Not all volleyball players at Central High School are over 6 feet tall. Weve called into doubt the authors basic assumption, thus damaging the argument.  But what about strengthening the argument?  Again, the key is the necessary assumption: Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument? Answer:  All volleyball players at Central High School are over 6 feet tall. Here, by confirming the authors assumption, weve in effect bolstered the argument.

Last chance to take the SAT, ACT, and SAT subject tests before summer 2012

Last chance to take the SAT, ACT, and SAT subject tests before summer 2012 High school juniors: with college applications looming in fall 2012, now is a good time to take (or retake) the SAT, ACT, and SAT subject tests.   Those tests aren’t offered over the summer, so consider signing up for the June 2012 tests.The SAT and the SAT subject tests are offered on Saturday June 2, 2012.   Register for those tests on the College Board’s website.   AJ Tutoring can help you with private tutoring for the critical reading, math, and writing sections of the SAT, as well as for several SAT subject tests (US History, Math 1 and 2, Literature, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Spanish).   Check out our website for more information about our SAT and SAT subject test tutoring programs!The ACT is offered on Saturday June 9, 2012.   Register for the ACT at the ACTs website.   AJ Tutoring also offers 1 on 1 ACT tutoring, with a full 8 or 9 session program for those students who haven’t tutored with us before, or a shorter hybrid ACT program for students who have complete d our SAT program already.Tutors at our Bay Area locations in Palo Alto, Saratoga, and San Jose offices are almost full for the June 2012 tests, so if you’re interested in tutoring, please call (650) 331-3251 or email info@ajtutoring.com as soon as possible.   We’d love to get you prepared for your upcoming tests!

15 College Gameday Snacks

15 College Gameday Snacks pixabay.com Gameday snacks are definitely the most important part of any good college football party. Nothing brings college students to a party like a good plate of loaded nachos. If you want to have an awesome party, you have to have awesome snacks. Gameday parties are the perfect excuse to try out a new recipe and put some creativity into it. Flex your creative muscles by trying to make any recipe you use into the shape of a football, jersey, or football field. Bring a Martha Stewart-worthy snack to a party and you are sure to be invited back for more. If you are hosting a party, whether it be a tailgate or a get together at your apartment or dorm, snacks are a must. The best way to ensure that your party will have a wide array of yummy snacks is to host it potluck style. Make a couple dishes yourself and ask your guests to bring gameday snacks of their own. Not only does this make things easier on you as a host, but it ensures there will be plenty of food to last the whole game. Here are 15 delicious recipes to choose from for your next college football party: 1.  Pigs in a Blanket These are the perfect bite-sized snack for your football party, and you only need three ingredients! Easy to make and easy to eat they are the perfect snack for hanging out and watching the game. 2. Buffalo Chicken Dip Add some heat to your party with this dip. Pair it with chips or veggies for a spicy snack. 3. Football Snack Bags These are great to munch on while watching the game. Easy to make and fun to eat from, these are great for hanging around the TV just watching and munching. 4. Football-Themed Ice Cream Sandwiches These take basically no effort to make, but taste delicious! Basically, all you have to do is stick a popsicle stick into an already bought ice cream sandwich, slap some designs on it, and you’ve got a football themed treat! 5. Bacon Potato Bites Nothing goes together better than cheese, bacon, and potatoes; it’s the holy trinity. 6. Chocolate Covered Strawberries It’s a fruit so it’s healthy, right? 7. Mac Cheese Bites As if there’s anything better than easy to eat, bite-sized mac cheese. These are easy to make and are sure to make your friends go wild. 8. Banana Oat Bites For a healthier snack to compliment your hot dogs and potato chips. These banana oat bites are full of protein to keep the energy high throughout the entire game. 9. Mini Buffalo Chicken Calzones Pizza and wings all in one. These are definitely good to make if you want to show off your stellar cooking skills. They are sure to be one of the most impressive dishes at the party. 10. Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings These will be gone in the first five minutes of the party, so make sure you bring a lot of them. 11. Football-Themed Rice Krispie Treat A classic childhood favorite that is sure to be a hit. 12. Taco Cups Tacos without the mess! 13. Pepperoni Pizza Cheese Ball Literally just a big ball of cheese. Sounds amazing, right? 14. Grilled PBJ Upgraded childhood classic. This will bring peanut butter jelly to a whole new level of awesome. 15. Chocolate Peanut Butter Footballs Chocolate and peanut butter were made to go together. These chocolate peanut butter footballs are basically football shaped Reeses and every bit as delicious in football form as they are in cup form. Hopefully, these recipes can get you started with some ideas for your next party. Whether you are looking to make something sweet or something savory, there are tons of amazing recipes here and all over the web to choose from. Don’t forget to provide or bring some drinks as well. Soda, Gatorade, beer, or cider are great beverages for watching football. If you really want to go out, you could do a bit of fun decorating as well by getting some inflatable footballs or football-themed streamers, but that’s all extra. You don’t need to have a fancy apartment or crazy decorations to host a good party. All you need are good snacks, cool drinks, and awesome friends.

The Pros and Cons of Online Tuition

The Pros and Cons of Online Tuition Many articles have been written about the disadvantages of online tuition. Parents and students have a natural tendency to assume that online tuition can hardly match face to face tuition. Our experience reveals that much depends on what subject is being taught, the age of the student and if the student has good organisational skills and self discipline. Below are a few pros and cons that we at First Tutors think are important points to consider before deciding if online tuition is the most suitable option. Pros Online tuition can be the perfect solution for older students who are comfortable with computer technology and virtual environments. Online tuition is convenient, it can save time, travel expenses and in some instances can be slightly cheaper than face to face tuition. Online tuition has been working successfully since 1998 with The Open University. Computer software permits users to record, save and access information at a later date. The whole lesson could even be recorded and kept on file. Students using digital pens can allow the tutor to see what is being written in real time. Parents feel calm knowing their child is safe at home, they can even monitor the quality of online lessons. Cons Online tuition can't substitute human interaction and observance of facial expressions in the same way as face to face tuition. Some complex subjects are more difficult to explain online. When teaching a young child how to multiply, subtract or similar, the tutor can't physically show the child with actions what they are trying to explain. Students will need to acquire new technical skills to handle frozen computer screens or server downtime - this can cause added frustration. If the student becomes frustrated or upset over a certain task, it's not easy for the tutor to console the student without being physically present. (again lack of personal interaction) Online tuition is on the increase but First Tutors have noticed that the majority of requests for online tuition come from older students - from the age of 16 and upwards. This does not mean that younger children cannot successfully engage with a private online tutor but we do think that parental assistance and guidance could be necessary to help the child overcome any possible technical issues. If you and your child are tech-savvy then why not try it out! First Tutors is primarily focused towards face to face tuition although online tuition is available from our registered tutors who have already received positive feedback from providing face to face tuition. This provides a certain peace of mind for parents and students approaching a stranger online for the first time. If you live in a remote area where transport is a problem, online tuition could prove to be a good alternative.