Take Japanese Lessons to Better Understand Japans Relations with the West

Take Japanese Lessons to Better Understand Japans Relations with the West Why Learn Japanese: To Appreciate Japanese Relations with the Western World ChaptersJapanese Courses Can Teach You the History of Japanese-Western Relations: How Did It All Start?Let Your Japanese Lessons Show You the Modern RelationshipThe Benefits of Learning Japanese: The Similar Interests of Japan and the WestThe Economic Relationship Between Japan and the WestHow Your Japanese Classes Will Show You Japan's Intercultural Relations with the WestThe language and culture in Japan are both to be admired. Your language learning will not only teach you grammar, pronunciation, and words and phrases, but also about Japanese history, its traditions, and the important role that it plays in the world today.But how is it that a country perceived to be so far from the western world, with a completely different language, can be so important? To answer this question in detail, you should learn to speak Japanese as the language is so heavily intertwined into the culture and history.When it comes to Japanese learning, any learner will need to be motivated. This is the sa me for studying any new language, but luckily the benefits of learning Japanese serve as excellent sources of motivation.At the end of this article, not only will you want to learn Japanese, you will also have an idea of the important role that Japan plays in the international system, as well as understanding the relations between Japan and the Western world.Here is a good Japanese course for you.Learning Japanese can open doors in many different ways. If you are fluent, you can move to Japan to live and work. Learning Japanese for use in business  is one of the principal reasons that people decide to take language lessons. Remember that you will need to improve your listening, reading and writing skills, as well as mastering the spoken language.Working in Japan will require more than the greetings that basic Japanese will teach you, after all.Learn Japanese online with a tutor.How Your Japanese Classes Will Show You Japan's Intercultural Relations with the WestAt the cultural level , many associations offer exchanges between the two countries. Japanese language courses, Japanese vocabulary training, free Japanese classes, classes on the history of Japan: these are the different things you can focus on when taking classes at these Japanese cultural associations.Japanese language courses will get you one step closer to the cultural oddities of the land of the rising sun - so why not look up Japanese lessons London or Leeds or Swansea?Traveling to Japan could mean discovering a whole new culture!Some associations also offer preparation for the  Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JPLT), an official exam organized in July and December of each year aimed at certifying the Japanese language level of non-native speakers.What's more, the western world has benefited greatly from Japanese cultural exports such as manga, anime, and video games, with all three being a great way to improve your language skills whilst having fun. You Japanese classes will almost definitely touch on these key aspects of Japanese culture, but you can also use them to study outside of the classroom   as well.To learn Japanese, one of the reference manuals used in language schools in Japan is the Minna no Nihongo. It is considered indispensable if you want to take classes of Japanese anywhere in the world.Finally, look out for a look Matsuri in your area. These are cultural festivals that promote the Japanese culture, and can now be found in big cities across the world.There are lots of reasons to learn Japanese so don't miss out on it if you want to go to Japan, or are thinking about organizing a language study trip and need useful information before going on your way!

5 Careers for Those Who Prefer Crunching Numbers to Crashing Parties - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Careers for Those Who Prefer Crunching Numbers to Crashing Parties - Introvert Whisperer 5 Careers for Those Who Prefer Crunching Numbers to Crashing Parties Let’s face it: Not all of us want to climb the career ladder by working closely within teams, socializing every day, and trying to schmooze with the boss. Many of us introverts would rather clock in, sit down, and get to work. We’d rather crunch numbers and use hard data in our day-to-day work than get caught up in interpersonal concerns. If this sounds like you, you might want to investigate careers that allow you to impress your employer with your strengths â€" and deal with a lot less stress due to social demands during work. It’s important to find work that suits your strengths, rather than struggle to fit the mold your current employer needs filled. As noted by career advice author Jessica Kay: People are increasingly realizing that we are multi-potential and have many skills and strengths that we can turn into careers. So, knowing what your strengths are and what to do with them to turn them into viable careers in the (next) 2-3 years … is more important than ever in today’s workforce. Not only can doing this help you find a career that leads to personal fulfillment, it may also lead to higher pay and greater job security. As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), mathematicians and statisticians in a wide range of career fields make an average of $84,760 per year. Furthermore, such careers are growing at a rate of 33 percent per year, which is substantially faster than most positions. Ready to get started with your career search? This is a great place to start. Using job growth and salary statistics from the BLS, as well as data from leading universities, let’s take a look at five excellent careers for those who prefer to crunch numbers rather than crash parties: Marketing Analyst Marketing analysts, also known as marketing research analysts, are responsible for gathering and studying data to help an organization promote its goods and services. This data includes consumer behavior, information about competitors, and other market conditions. Analyzing this data, often with the assistance of recent big data innovations, can provide organizations with powerful insights that can inform future decisions. Marketers need data to effectively do their work. By doing effective research, you can help amplify your organization’s voice â€" even if you aren’t interested in using your own. Education Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in market research (or a related field) is necessary to become a marketing analyst. If you aspire to fill a senior position one day, a master’s degree is a smart choice. Average Pay: About $62,000 per year. Career Outlook: With an estimated growth of 23 percent from 2016 to 2026, this is the fastest-growing career in this list. As noted by Villanova University, marketing analysis is “projected to grow twice the rate of many other fields that are technically oriented.” Those seeking a career in market research analysis have many career opportunities ahead of them. Financial Analyst A highly desired career, financial analysts are much like marketing analysts in that they are responsible for gathering data about a business and current market conditions in order to help an organization make smart decisions. However, they are primarily concerned with finances. They learn as much about the company’s financial situation and niche in the market as possible in order to synthesize this information in comprehensive financial models. Using this informed outlook, they often make specific recommendations to the business. If you enjoy burying yourself in research and finding solutions to financial puzzles, this work is for you. Education Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in a finance-related major, though a graduate-level degree is preferred. If you want to become a financial analyst, it’s wise to get a degree in a versatile major such as accounting. In addition to preparing you to become an analyst, it can set you up for a number of different positions in the finance world, making you a versatile candidate. Average Pay: Around $84,000 per year. Career Outlook: 11 percent growth, which is higher than average. Financial advising is a growing field with many opportunities for graduates. Health Information Manager Information is the foundation of healthcare. Thorough, up-to-date, secure health information is essential. Health information managers (HIMs) are the constructors of this foundation, responsible for ensuring that patient records are updated and safely stored. They have to stay informed about recent developments in information management technology and cybersecurity risks in order to work effectively. While the specific duties of people in health information management can differ from position to position, they all play an integral role in patient care. Your work will ensure a smooth and secure transfer of information to those who need it, but strong social skills are not required for this work. Education Requirements: A minimum of a bachelor’s in health informatics is necessary to gain employment as a health information manager, but a master’s in health informatics is recommended for a competitive edge during recruitment. Also, as noted by the University of Cincinnati, “To qualify for an HIM position, certification as a Registered Health Information Technician or Registered Health Information Administrator is also critical.” Average Pay: Pay varies depending on your specific position. Entry-level positions pay approximately $30,000 to $50,000 per year, though upper-level roles can pay well over $80,000. Career Outlook: The BLS estimates 20 percent growth for the field, which is much faster than average. With plenty of positions opening each year, this is a strong field to get into. Public Auditor Public auditors work to determine if organizations are compliant with laws and regulations. They research law, do thorough investigations, and inform others about any discrepancies. From building codes to employment policies and beyond, they regularly do audits to gather information and recommend improvements. This involves digging through documentation, crunching numbers, and formulating cost-efficient solutions. Given the nature of this work, public authors are held to strict standards in regards to confidentiality. While you may need to convey your findings to others, the bulk of your work will consist of research and ensuring compliance. Education Requirements: At minimum, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in accounting to work as a public auditor. However, a master’s in this field is necessary to be a competitive candidate. Furthermore, some employers will prefer that you have taken the steps necessary to become a certified public accountant. Average Pay: Approximately $60,000 per year. Career Outlook: 10 percent growth, which is higher than average. This makes this field reasonably secure in terms of employment. Entrepreneur If you want to take your future into your own hands, consider becoming an entrepreneur. Organizing your own business can be a financially risky move, but it also opens doors to new opportunities. Do you have a unique idea for a product or service that you think has potential? Are you so passionate about something that you want to leave your mark on the industry surrounding it? Doing research about the market will allow you to make inferences about the viability of your potential business venture. A deep understanding of market forces and data will be essential to minimize risk and maximize profits. While some social finesse will be needed to convince others to invest in your idea, rock-solid hard data and research will convince investors more than any rhetorical move could. Education Requirements: Obviously, starting your own business venture doesn’t require a specific educational background. However, having a bachelor’s or master’s in a business-related degree can help you when it comes to securing funding. Furthermore, education in the specific niche you intend on marketing within can prove to be invaluable. Average Pay: According to research, the average entrepreneur makes approximately $68,000 per year. However, this number can vary wildly depending on your venture’s success. Career Outlook: Your chances at a secure income are dependent on the viability of your idea, whether you can secure adequate funding, and the integrity of your business practices. While pundits argue that becoming an entrepreneur is becoming harder in this day and age, the right idea, at the right time, with the right execution, can land you in an enviable position â€" but it’s important to be realistic with yourself about your prospects. Tempted to look deeper into these careers? Or do you want to keep exploring more fast-growing careers that introverts can excel in? Leave your thoughts in the comments below! Author Bio: Frankie Wallace  is a freelance writer from Boise, Idaho and contributes to a wide variety of blogs online. Wallace writes about many different topics, from education to the environment. Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

What is Diplomatic History

What is Diplomatic History The History of Diplomacy ChaptersOf Marriages and MergersDiplomacy Through Gift ExchangesTreaties: the Bureaucracy of PeaceFeudal Diplomacy: the Game of ObligationAlliances and ConsequencesMutually Assured DestructionOf the many aspects of political history, diplomatic history focuses on the relations between political entities that don’t involve pointy objects or guns. Generally, the role of diplomacy is the avoidance of conflict and the safeguarding of boundaries by securing allies.We tend to think of diplomacy in terms of men in grey suits discussing foreign policy, but often forget that international relations are not merely a thing of the twentieth century. Here are a few of the many ways diplomatic relations have influenced global history. MarkHistory Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JohnHistory Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarjotteHistory Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErinHistory Teacher £15/h1st les son free!Discover all our tutors ChantelleHistory Teacher 5.00 (2) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyHistory Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterHistory Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SerenaHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsOf Marriages and MergersOne of the sad truths of diplomatic history is that important women were frequently bartered as commodities. In monarchies, a royal woman was an important asset if you used her correctly.Royal hostagesIn the early Middle East and Ancient Egypt, alliances were cemented by marriages. With polygamy a common factor among ruling families, it was common to send a daughter to the court of your new ally as a bride. The family would get regular reports through their embassy - usually a single official envoy with an entourage - and she could be held as a hostage against the opposite number’s good behaviour.In China, the occupied territories would, for much of its history, provide daughters from influential families for the Emperor’s household as either wives or concubines in order to curry favour.In Christian Europe, polygamy was officially condemned, meaning that while the mistresses of European kings definitely had influence, they came from the local aristocracy and were pawns in internal affairs more than international ones. The fact that they only had one official consort made the choice of partner all the more important. All the European royal families vied for each other’s sons and daughters as means of forging alliances.Though the women had very little say in these matters, many of them used their charisma and sexuality to pursue their own goals and influence politics both internal and external. Among the many influential queens of European history, some of the most famous is Eleonore of Aquitaine, a French princess who married an English king and became the mother of Richard the Lionheart and John Lackland in the Medieval Period for England or Catherine de Medici   - an Italian noblewoman who became queen of France in the sixteenth century.Eleanore of Aquitaine came from a French kingdom and married an English king. She was the mother of Richard Lionheart and John Lackland. Photo credit: tnchanse on Foter.comMarrying into the familyAs an early chief seeking to expand your territory, you had several options for expanding your territory. You could take it by force of arms, of course. But if you were lucky, your neighbour lacked a male heir - in which case you could offer him one by marrying his daughter. The resulting children would rule over both kingdoms, thusEarly ivory labels from Ancient Egypt show diplomatic marriages between chiefdoms that helped expand a small territory in order to encompass a large part of the Nile valley - changing North African history forever.Diplomacy Through Gift ExchangesOf course, not only women were exchanged. Many societies practised elaborate gift exchanges to cement relationships with other groups. Ancient Egyptian diplomatic correspondence mention the elaborate gifts exchanged between Egypt and Mitanni, including horses, golden chalices, weapons and statues.Throughout social history, some societies present gifts to other chieftains or kings during elaborate feasts in the expectation that there would be a return ceremony in the future with gifts of equal or increasingly higher value. From the point of view of economic history, gift-giving could represent the main form of economic exchange between one nation and another.Most people in the Middle Ages never saw an elephant - except maybe in Charlemagne's menagerie. Photo credit: peacay on Foter.comEven in societies where gift-giving was not the main form of international relation, it remained usual for a long time for diplomatic envoys to bring gifts from their respective nations. This is how, for example, Charlemagne received an elephant from the Caliph of Baghdad. The gifts were meant to show appreciation for the high status of the receiver while flouting the wealth of the giver and presenting them as economies to be reckoned with.Read more about Ancient civilisation history. MarkHistory Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JohnHistory Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarjotteHistory Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErinHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChantelleHistory Teacher 5.00 (2) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyHistory Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterHistory Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SerenaHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsTreaties: the Bureaucracy of PeaceOf course, the rise of literacy means that there was eventually a desire arose to write down the exact conditions of treaties and other points of foreign affairs. The earliest surviving recorded peace treaty of modern civilization dates to about 1276 BC and gives a point-by-point list of all the articles of the bilateral agreement between the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II and Hittite ruler Hattusili III.The Hittite version of the Treaty of Kadesh. Photo credit: Steven Tan (maethlin) on Foter.comThe text has survived in both Hittite and Egyptian versions and includes articles devoted to mutual financial/humanitarian aid (put into effect about a generation later when Ramses’ son Merenptah sent grain to help stem a famine in the Hittite Empire) and extradition of political criminals fleeing to one or the other country. The continuing relations between the two kingdoms are also interesting for the history of medicine, as the Hittite king asked for help from Ramses’ court physicians.Since then peace treaties have encompassed a number of different postulations, have been signed between equal partners and peoples that had no idea what they were signing, were signed between two co nsenting parties and under duress. Peace treaties have actually promoted peace and cooperation between two countries, while others have resulted in more war.When peace treaties go wrongMany “peace treaties” between European nations and indigenous people in the seventeenth century stole their self-governance from native populations leading to their disenfranchising and the spread of poverty and infectious disease. In some cases, the treaties of European imperialism condemned the natives to little more than slavery.And at least one peace treaty in modern history led to a world war. After the submission of Germany at the end of the Great War, the various diplomatic corps that sent a delegation to the summit to draft the Treaty of Versailles imposed extremely heavy sanctions as well as arms control on Germany, feeling threatened by its influence on world affairs during the war. Economic history shows that the sanctions led to rampant inflation, paving the way for the strategic rise of nationalism and a power play by an intellectual elite bent on the subjugation of Europe through questionable ethics and the rise of the imperial German regime.Feudal Diplomacy: the Game of ObligationOne of the most fascinating and complicated means of keeping an equilibrium of power is the complicated web of feudal obligation that characterised much of the Middle Ages. In some cases, the borders of countries changed depending on the allegiance of feudal underlords.The idea was that a smaller lord would put himself under obligation to a feudal overlord. He would provide men and resources, and the overlord would use his greater resources - expanded by the men and taxes of his other underlords - to defend his underlords from threats and help them in times of need. Everything from economics to agricultural labour was somehow embroiled in the feudal system.Though we tend to think of Europe in relation to feudalism, but other cultures had similar systems. Photo credit: Okinawa Soba (Ro b) on Foter.comOver the centuries, feudal obligations were passed on from father to son and the feudal hierarchies became more rigid.Absolute monarchies arose that put most of the aristocracy on the same level underneath the king, and the complex give-and-take of international affairs under the feudal system gave rise to single powers who dealt directly with each other through means of embassies and variations on the foreign service - until the wave of revolution in the eighteenth and nineteenth century introduced democracy onto the diplomatic stage.Alliances and ConsequencesFrom another perspective, some wars started from diplomacy in an indirect way. Any historian will tell you what an odd cascade of circumstances started the Great War. It has occasionally been compared to a bar fight between pub buddies. The actual crisis seemed at first to be a matter between two nations - or at least, between the emerging Serbio-Yougoslav nationalists and Austria - Hungary.But after the wars of the nineteenth century, countries began forming alliances to promote peace and trade. Unfortunately, by the twentieth century, this system of alliances formed two main blocks in Europe. When the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire was killed, their allies were drawn into the war, each of them bringing their own baggage and enemies, setting off a chain reaction of conflicts that would lead to one of the most gruesome wars in history - one in which even the Holy See took an interest. The Vatican tried in vain to initiate an attempt at negotiation between the international community.Delegates leaving after signing the treaty of Versailles. Photo credit: Archives New Zealand on Foter.comBut it wasn’t until the Vienna Convention in 1969 that an attempt was made to regulate the international law on treaties and provide rules as to how foreign relations should handle the breaking of them.Mutually Assured DestructionAny undergraduate of cultural history will tell you that possibly the mo st important war of the twentieth century was the one that never happened. The interesting thing about the Cold War was that a balance was achieved entirely without diplomacy, but instead with the constant threat of war between Russia / the communist nations and the US / the Western world. The threat of mutually assured nuclear destruction prevented all-out conflict for decades while making a contribution towards advancing technology at an astounding pace.However, true peace wasn’t achieved until the Cuban Missile Crisis forced the two factions to ignore criticism by their more strident members and re-establish lines of communication. Though the Cuban government under Cuban president Castro remained shut off and it only became possible to visit Cuba recently, the events of that day convinced both sides to actually sit down and talk. This is what gave the world a real hope for peace, proving the importance of negotiating versus simply having bigger guns.Read more about what studyin g History really is about.

Mollusca Examples Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace

Mollusca Examples Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace In general molluscs or mollusks are invertebrates that has hard external shells on their outer body.The various examples of Mollusca are Pila globosa, Unio, Mytilus, Pinctada, Teredo, Loligo, Octopus etc. Pila globosa: It is common fresh water.In water they respire with the help of gills and on land with pulmonary sacs or lungs. The body is divided into head, visceral hump and foot. Head has a pair of stalked eyes and two pairs of tentacles.The body is enclosed by protective shell. Unio or fresh water mussel: It is a common bivalve .The outer surface of the shell is marked by numerous concentric linescalled lines of growth. Head is absent. Foot is the locomotory organ. The respiratory organs are the gills. Mytilus or sea mussel: It is the common edible mussel. It is a sedentary form and remains attached to rocks and other solid objects with the help of bunch of adhesive threads called Byssus threads. Pinctada or pearl oyster: They are pearl producing bivalves commonly found in the seas. The valves of the shell are unequal and their free margins are characterized by finger like processes. The foot is reduced. Terredo: It has an elongated soft body covered by a tough mantle. At the anterior end is pair off reduced shells with which the mollusk bores into the wood, turning it into saw dust. Respiration through gills. Loligo: it is a marine edible mollusc.The body is narrow elongated showing two regions the head and the trunk. Octopus: It is a marine bottom dwelling mollusc.The mouth is surrounded by 8 long arms bearing two rows of suckers. Tentacles are absent.

Interview with an Educational Psychologist

Interview with an Educational Psychologist At Tutorfair, we aim to give people a really valuable experience in tutoring. We were introduced to Stephanie, an educational psychologist, and felt what she does would definitely be of interest to our readers. Here, Stephanie answers some questions for us about what she does, which we hope you enjoy. Please be in touch at sam@tutorfair.com if you’d like to hear more. So, Stephanie what do you do in your job? As an Educational and Child Psychologist I aim to understand the cognitive and educational development of children and young people within the context of their home, school and community. Through my in-depth knowledge of learning and teaching, I enhance understanding of how children and young people think, learn and behave. I aim to bridge the gap between theory/research and practice, so as to maximise learning for all pupils! Different modes of teaching and learning are most effective for different people. Working with you, your child and your child’s tutor, I aim to gain a clearer understanding of your child’s strengths and abilities, which will help us understand the teaching and learning strategies that are most effective for them. Using positive psychology, we will build upon your child’s strengths to maximise their learning and help them reach their full potential. When might I want to use one? You may want to use an Ed Psych in a number of different instances When you would like to learn more about your child’s learning style and how the environment (and their tutoring experience) can be adapted to maximise outcomes. When you have concerns about your child’s development and you would like to explore these concerns further so as to understand how to help them and adapt their environment to maximise their development. This could be related to their learning, cognitive, social, emotional and behavioural development. When your child has a specific difficulty and you would like to learn strategies to help them progress further, such as dyslexia, AD/HD or dyscalculia. How does the process work? Following an initial meeting, I will carry out an assessment of your child’s abilities and the current learning environment. This will in turn enhance our understanding of how your child learns best; what they can do to maximise their achievement, and what you and their tutor can do to support them. The above may take place within one meeting or may involve a more in-depth assessment, which would be tailored according to the situation. What is the cost of hiring an educational psychologist? All maintained schools in the UK have a link EP that works directly with schools; you may be able to request that your child sees their school EP. However, this can sometimes prove difficult, as schools may have different priorities. Tutorfair have tried to make this service more accessible to you so as to make the most of your child’s tutoring experience. You access my service through any of the following forms: What has been the proudest moment in your job? That is a tough one! I don’t have one particular moment… but I feel its the moments where I’ve realised that my involvement has had a positive impact on a young person’s life. It may be on their learning, behaviour or their wellbeing and enjoyment school, and/or learning. However I do feel a sudden surge of happiness and pride when a parent has turned to me and said “thank you” - thank you for a change that may be insignificant to the whole world but means the world to that family. Ultimately its when I’ve realised that through my involvement (in part or fully) the world of learning has come alive for that young person! Do you have an amazing hidden talents? I do! Its an amazing hidden talent of being able to sing off tune â€" unfortunately for my poor friends and family its not always that hidden! Stephanie is a D.Ed.Psy, Cpsychol HCPC registered.  To view her profile - please click here

Improve Your GPA by Training Your Brain

Improve Your GPA by Training Your Brain Improving Academic Performance Have you ever caught yourself being too critical of your abilities in a given area? Students in particular can be their own worst enemies. They don’t realize how powerful an influence mindset can be on day-to-day actions. In reality, what we think about ourselves and our abilities will determine what we can achieve, especially academically. In fact, there’s evidence that, if you believe you aren’t good at standardized tests, or aren’t very good at math, your brain is actually looking for ways to reinforce that belief, so that it can put the belief on autopilot, and spend more of its energy figuring things out that it’s not sure of. So, let’s talk about the power of thinking differently to improve your performance in class, standardized exams, or undergraduate and graduate institutions. We call this phenomenon the cycle of perpetual same-ness, which is a term and concept we borrowed from Dana Wilde, creator of the Mind-Aware brand. So-called facts and ideas that you think about yourself might very well be holding you back in ways that you don’t realize. Your thoughts may be reinforcing unsupported, mostly negative assumptions regarding your abilities that, paradoxically, your brain naturally wants to keep reinforcing, even though they negatively affect your performance. This occurs in a sequence of reinforcing steps over the course of months or years. Step 1: It begins with an event in the actual world. At some point, some specific event causes you to react and begin to believe something about yourself. For example, in second grade, you do a math exercise in class and get it wrong. Immediately, you wonder if you’re “bad” at math. You look around and notice that all of your friends in class are smirking, and you have trouble following your teacher’s explanation of why your answer is wrong. Step 2: This is followed by a reaction, and a conscious belief in your mind. You consciously think about the situation, and conclude that you must not be good at math. Not only did you get the question wrong, the teacher tried to explain it to you, and still you couldn’t understand. It seemed clear that everyone else understood. It seems apparent that the other students had an easier time with the question. They are better at math than you. Step 3: Eventually this belief enters your unconscious mind, and becomes part of the lens through which you view the world, affecting how you behave and reaffirming the belief. That initial run-in with math may happen a few more times. Perhaps by chance, or perhaps because your confidence with math has eroded a bit. Eventually, you decide that yes, you aren’t good at math, and that belief slips into your unconscious mind. It is just part of who you are. Being bad at math is a little frustrating, and uncomfortable to think about at first. But, you resign yourself to not being a math person. After all, you’ve been told we all have different talents, and people that are good at math may not be good at things in which you excel. After you come to believe that you’re just generally not good at math, your brain may try to fit its internal subconscious belief into the external world around you. So you’re going to find yourself automatically reaffirming your belief that you are bad at math again and again through behaving in a way that will endorse it (i.e., by not studying very hard or much, by avoiding difficult math problems that build math skills, etc.). The brain is trying to make sense of the world efficiently and effectively. Why would the brain work like this? Imagine the first time you rode a bike. Your mind was intently focused on every step of the process, putting your feet on the pedals, moving one foot forward, then the other, keeping your balance, grasping the handle bars. If you had to consciously go through all of that every time you rode a bike, it would get pretty overwhelming and you’d have trouble productively thinking about other things while riding that bike. The way our brains work, we have to constantly take a lot of information and put it into our subconscious to make room to bring in new observations. That’s why you can easily ride a bike or drive somewhere you’ve been a million times without thinking about it. Your brain has already catalogued it into your subconscious so that you don’t have to actively think about it to make room for new things. Why is this relevant to you or your child’s academic success? Let’s say, once again, you get a bad grade on that math test. We have the tendency to then say to ourselves, “I’m bad at math”, especially after witnessing other kids excelling. That opinion sticks with you until it becomes a fact. You do poorly on another test because of your already existing low confidence, and the cycle perpetuates itself. You need to break that cycle. Just as you stop thinking about how to ride a bike after the first few times, you stop thinking about how badly you believe you are at math and it becomes a part of who you are. From now on, your brain rejects any thoughts that you would rather be good at math or the possibility that you could be a natural with numbers. Your brain rejects these ideas in an attempt to make your daily life easier and go about it with as little stress as possible. You continue believing that you are lousy at math because it’s effortless. You form these beliefs early on in life, they influence your personality, your personality influences your behavior, and you grow old always ‘knowing’ you were never a math person. And, surprisingly, you’re completely comfortable with that because your brain automatically accepts it as fact due to your early experience and observations of others’ experiences around you. However, in reality, you can train your brain to behave differently by breaking that cycle. How can you do this? There are a variety of ways to go about breaking this cycle. Here are some options: Actively question your own assumptions about your abilities. Use positive “self-talk” in place of negative self-talk. If you catch yourself saying “I’m horrible at math” consciously stop yourself and just say “I have the potential to become much better at math than I currently think I am” Choose one academic area that you don’t consider a strength, and devote an extra hour per week to practicing in that area. All you need to do is apply practice - the right kind of practice - to a new belief that you can improve your math skills, or English skills, or creative skills, or whatever it may be that you seem to lack natural talent in. It is up to you to decide whether you are going to be a math person or not. It is up to each of us to decide where we place our passion and our focus and our hard work; don’t let your brain’s attempt at efficiency stop you from becoming great at something, or just getting generally better grades in school and higher scores on standardized tests.

What can you do to help your child cope with stress - ALOHA Mind Math

What can you do to help your child cope with stress A fifth grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School in Janesville, Michael Smrekar talks in this articleabout how expectations on today’s kids have become much higher than even a few years ago. He says today’s fifth graders are learning even pre-algebra skills which is a lot more than the parents of today’s kids did when they were young. Not just math, but even where reading levels are concerned, children are expected to read earlier and better than their predecessors. Image courtesy : www.flickr.com/photos/saranv/35212873881 What can a parent do in this scenario? Here are some ways in which we can help our children cope with the stress, as well as understand it a bit better ourselves: Communicate: This is the base skill most important for all parents. Try your best to set aside a part of each day, when you just “talk” to your child. From the happenings in school, and among friends, you will learn a lot of what goes on in your child’s day. As time goes on, if she feels that there is always a non-judgmental time she can share with you, you can hope that she’ll open up about anything that bothers her. Keep track: Have regular discussions with your child and occasionally with his teacher if possible, so that you have an accurate idea of what is happening at school. This way, you can try to approach difficult subjects in advance to make your child more comfortable with them. Get rid of preconceived expectations: In the same vein, do not form an opinion based on a report from school. Discuss with your child to understand what exactly the problem might be, and why he might not be doing well in a particular subject. This is the best approach to decide on whether extra coaching may be necessary, or even in a few cases to diagnose a learning disability. Parents are the best observers of their children, and can make a decision accordingly. Extra-curricular activities: Set aside some time each week for an activity that would help your child to blow off some stress. Remember that this should not be just something that you would like her to learn, but something she loves as well. In this context, if you can find some games for children that emphasizes fun over competition, that would be the best option. With these small tips, you can do your bit towards enabling your children in a high-pressure environment, and to help them perform to their best abilities. Our Math and English classes at Aloha are tailored to coincide with the learning content at school, to help your child gain confidenc e in all subjects. Do have a look at our website for more details: http://www.aloha-usa.com

Its not too late to get hired overseas!

It’s not too late to get hired overseas! There’s a lot of conversation buzzing around the Teach Away community right now. While a large portion of this chatter is excitement at new global teaching opportunities, other bits express concern over a missed opportunity. Let’s clear the air: Don’t panic. It’s not too late to lock down a new international education job in 2016. Although schools overseas have been very busy conducting in-person interviews as well as hiring staff for roles with 2016 start dates, this doesn’t mean there are no - or even limited - opportunities remaining. So, don’t be discouraged. If you’re qualified and haven’t yet found the position for you, or if you’re just late to apply, you can still get your foot in the door. It’s not uncommon for teachers to commit to a new position overseas and then have a change of heart, which requires them to abandon their new position and leave the role open to a different candidate. In the case this occurs, don’t miss your chance. Make sure you continue to frequently monitor the job board and that your dashboard is complete, so that you can quickly submit a complete application as soon as a position becomes available. There are also plenty of schools and education organizations overseas that conduct waves of last minute hiring. If you’re ready and willing to apply, be interviewed, and move overseas all within a short period of time, then keep your eyes on the job board over the next several months, as we see these types of job postings happen every year at Teach Away. Abu Dhabi public schools are seeking more teachers for positions beginning in August 2016. A third section of interviews is to be expected to happen in late March. If you’re interested in interviewing for a position in Abu Dhabi, I strongly recommend making sure your application is submitted as soon as possible! Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools are still hiring, too. If you meet requirements for an NIS position and haven’t yet applied, you should. Living in Kazakhstan while teaching in these progressive schools is an incredible opportunity you shouldn’t miss out on if your goal is to teach internationally.