What Is Organic Chemistry?

What Is Organic Chemistry?Organic chemistry condensed structure is another term for a physical explanation of the chemical processes that characterize organic molecules and their various structures. Organic chemistry is a branch of chemistry, and its main focus is to describe in detail the chemical reactions that take place in nature. The condensed structure of molecules in nature is important because it allows scientists to determine what properties these molecules have, and how they function together with other elements with similar or dissimilar properties.The periodic table, which is a list of all of the elements and the atomic and molecular types, is a more advanced illustration of the natural order that we observe in nature. A condensed structure is similar to the periodic table, but is much simpler, and less detailed, in its structure and chemical description. There are no details about the properties of the element on the periodic table, and no chemical reactions that describ e how the different elements form atoms.In organic chemistry, a condensed structure gives us a way to understand and describe the chemical interactions between all of the different atoms and molecules that make up the body of an organism, plant, or animal. There are many different kinds of condensed structures, and each of them has many different kinds of atoms and molecules. They are generally used to describe the chemistry that takes place in organic systems.Molecules are groups of atoms and their corresponding groups of electrons, or what we refer to as macromolecules. Each molecule is a group of atoms that all combine to form a bond with one another. Molecules can be in two different states, either positively or negatively charged, and they can be made up of several atoms.Macromolecules are the largest components of nature, and in particular the largest components of organic molecules. Macromolecules are made up of many different parts, and each part is different from the others . These different parts of macromolecules determine the types of chemicals and how they function with other chemicals and substances.Chemical reactions are the physical processes by which one chemical substance interacts with another chemical substance. These chemical reactions include oxidation and reduction, which is the process in which one chemical substance is reduced by another chemical substance, and bonding, which is the process in which one chemical substance bonds with another chemical substance. While the chemical reactions are important, they are only one step in the process of synthesis, which is the set of chemical reactions that occur when a substance is combined with another substance, usually another chemical substance.It is important to understand the role of organic chemistry in the process of science. This science provides a way to analyze and predict the chemical reactions that take place in nature. It can help us understand why certain chemical reactions occur, and it can give us information on how these reactions work in nature.

Are You a Work Martyr If You Answer Yes to Those 5 Questions - Take Action! - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Are You a Work Martyr If You Answer “Yes” to Those 5 Questions - Take Action! - Introvert Whisperer Are You a Work Martyr? If You Answer “Yes” to Those 5 Questions Take Action! 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

Whats Going On In Your Middle Schoolers Head

What's Going On In Your Middle Schooler’s Head Middle school can be a challenging time for children for a variety of reasons. When students reach middle school age, their brains begin to undergo changes that can cause disruptions in various aspects of academia. While these changes are many, they specifically focus on your students ability to utilize the rational aspects of their brain, their preference for active vs. passive learning, and their identity development. As a parent, its important to understand what these intellectual changes are and how you can best support your student during their middle school yearssuch as implementing a routine and encouraging open communication. Keep reading to learn more about whats going on in your middle schoolers head. Encourage your middle schooler to harness the rational aspects of their brain Your middle schoolers brain is specifically developing in the prefrontal cortex of the frontal lobesthe area that primarily focuses on decision-making and rational judgement. That being said, your student is likely beginning to gain a firmer grasp on how to mediate conflict, process emotions, and make ethical decisions. While these are all traits that will positively benefit their education, its important to note that their brain at this age is rapidly changingmeaning they might have moments of irrational behavior, as well, that they have trouble explaining. They may find it frustrating to have times when making decisions is a breeze, swiftly followed by a sense of confusion they cant explain. Note that your middle schooler may now prefer active to passive learning In the past, your student may have taken a passive stance on their education, going through the necessary motions to complete required tasks. As your student reaches middle school, however, you may begin to notice that they are more eager to delve into projects and assignments. Encourage your student to capitalize on this desire to take an active role in their education by asking more questions regarding the material taught in class and creatively approaching each project given. Utilize extracurriculars to strengthen your middle schoolers identity development At this age, your student will begin to discover what their interests and passions truly are. This is a pivotal time in their lives, as they will start to have opportunities to explore these interests and to see if they are something they would like to pursue further. Extracurriculars and electives play a vital role in providing your student with an opportunity to explore their passions. If your student is interested in science, for example, they may consider joining STEM-related groups at school, or speaking with their science teacher for insights on community clubs. A student interested in art might be able to take a drawing elective that will allow them to explore their talents. Whatever it may be, their brains at this age are eager to quickly expand their knowledge of the areas that grab their attention. [RELATED: How Parents Can Help Students Setand AchieveAcademic Goals] Support your middle schooler by providing routine and guidance at home Middle school students thrive off having a reliable routine in their daily lives. With the many pressures middle school students face, it can be essential to have a set and predictable schedule to depend on. Guide your student to complete tasks on time by creating an after school plan, including the following items: Establish a before school routine, allowing ample time for breakfast. Designate specific homework time, ideally a time where you or another adult is available for any assignment-related questions. Set aside time for chores and other household requirements, spreading them throughout the week if possible, in an effort to not overwhelm students after school. Select a time each week to have a check-in with your student about any concerns or comments they may want to share with you regarding school. By establishing a routine at home, your student can feel more organized to complete all tasks at hand. A set schedule can help them gain confidence and feel a sense of ownership over their education. [RELATED: 5 Tactics to Encourage Academic Confidence in Your Middle Schooler] Support your middle schooler by fostering an open line of communication Its important for your student to know that you are consistently offering open and honest communication. At this age, students are encouraged to address problems and concerns with their teacher on their ownhowever, your student may need your help to learn how to verbalize their concerns and your support on any issues. That being said, its essential for your student to feel confident coming to you with any issues they may be having. Purposefully allot time to have open and honest conversations with your student about any aspects of their lives they wish to discuss. This way, when issues do arise, they will know you are there as their ally to guide them to the best solution. Support your middle schooler by encouraging goal-setting and critical thinking Middle school age is the perfect time to begin to instill critical thinking skills in your student. Your student is beginning to develop flexible thinking abilities, specifically learning the valuable ability to switch from one task to another without losing sight of either task. Its important for your student to understand the importance of critically thinking through each obstacle they encounter, as well as to begin to develop concrete academic goals. Sit down with your student and have them establish a list of things they hope to accomplish this school yearwhether this be broken down into subject or compiled for the school year as a whole. Be sure to encourage them to think seriously about how each task will benefit their education as a whole. [RELATED: 4 Questions to Ask Your Child About School] At the end of the day, its vital to let your student begin to learn who they are. They will have moments of rational thought, followed by unexplained lack of judgement. In order to best support them, its helpful to understand the changes in their brain and how these can positively benefit their academic experience. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

5 Most Difficult Italian Grammar Rules Made Simple

5 Most Difficult Italian Grammar Rules Made Simple Suzy S. Are you ready for a lesson in Italian grammar?  Below, Italian teacher Liz T. breaks down the five most difficult Italian grammar rules Learning Italian can be difficult, not to mention overwhelming for new students. Many students are afraid of tackling Italian grammar, as it can be complex and confusing at first. If you take the time to learn Italian grammar, however, youre much more likely to understand what youre  actually saying, hearing, reading, and writing. Below, we break down the  five most difficult Italian grammar rules  to make it easier for you to understand. 1. Nouns and Adjectives We categorize nouns and adjectives  as either masculine and feminine. Typically, nouns  ending in -o are masculine, while nouns ending in -a are feminine. See examples below. Feminine: Donna (woman) Masculine: Uomo (man) If the noun ends in -i that means it’s masculine, but plural and  nouns ending in -e are  feminine, but plural. See examples below. Masculine: Bambini (children) Feminine: Ragazze (girls) 2. Singular vs. Plural Knowing how to create singular and plural nouns can be difficult. While there are a few  tricks to remembering the rules, its really all about memorizing the endings. See examples below. Nouns ending in  singular -o switch to plural -i Amico is changed to Amici (Friend, Friends) Nouns ending in singular -a switch to plural -e Torta is changed to Torte (Cake, Cakes) Nouns ending in singular -ca switch to -che Mucca is changed to Mucche (Cow, Cows) Nouns ending in singular -e switch to -i Professore is changed to Professori (Professor, Professors) 3. Introducing “The” Definite Articles (Singular) Singular: There are two main forms of the definite article in the singular, il (masculine) and la  (feminine)  and two alternate forms.  l’  for any noun starting with a vowel, and lo,  for any masculine noun starting with s- plus a consonant, p-s, or -z. See examples below: Masculine singular Example: Il gatto (the cat) Feminine singular  Example: La gatta (the cat) Masculine noun starting with a vowel Example: L’uomo (the man) Feminine noun starting with a vowel Example: L’amica (the friend) Masculine noun starting with a -s plus a consonant Example: Lo Zio (the uncle) Plural: Le is used to describe plural feminine “Le Ragazze” replaces La or L’. I is used to describe plural masculine “I Ragazzi” replaces il. Gli is used to describe plural masculine “Gli Zii” replaces Lo or L’. 4. Indefinite Articles “A, An” Describing Nouns Masculine nouns use “Un” before a vowel or consonant. Example: Un libro (a book) Masculine nouns use “Uno” before consonant beginning with -s, -z, -gn, -ps etc. Example: Uno specchio (a mirror) Feminine nouns use “Una” before consonant. Example: Una donna (a woman) Feminine nouns use “Un” before vowel Example: Un’attrice (a actress) 5. Italian Pronouns to Use When Describing People According to Italian grammar, there are singular pronouns and plural pronouns. Below is  a table that will help you better memorize the singular and plural pronouns: To gain a better understanding of the Italian language, it’s important to master these five grammar rules. Use flash cards, write them down, put them in a song, use visuals, anything that will help you memorize them. Here are some additional Italian grammar articles that can help supplement your studies: Italian Grammar: Mastering the Informal and Formal You 4 Quick and Easy Italian Grammar Exercises Italian Grammar Rules: How to Form Singular and Plural Nouns Photo by Phil Roeder Post Author:  Liz T. Liz T. teaches singing, acting, music and Italian lessons in Brooklyn, NY.  She is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music with a B.M. in vocal performance and has a graduate certificate in arts administration from New York University. Learn more about Liz here! 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

Accommodation in Beijing

Accommodation in Beijing How Can You Find Accommodation in Beijing? A Mini Guide ChaptersA Quick Look at Accommodation in BeijingFinding Accommodation in Beijing on AirbnbUsing HomeAway to Find Accommodation in BeijingOther Resources for Finding Accommodation in Beijing“China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese. ” - Charles de GaulleChina and its capital, in particular, don’t appear in the top 10 lists of tourist destinations around the world. However, if you’ve booked a flight to Beijing to see the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, or the Temple of Heaven, you’re going to need somewhere to stay.For the National Day of the People's Republic of China in 2017, Beijing welcomed 12 million tourists! By 2030, China could be the world’s most visited country. This is hardly surprising given how big China is; you can visit the Yangtze River, the Terracotta Army, The Great Hall of the People, and tonnes of tourist attractions!Are you looking for accommodation in China?Here’s how to book somewhere to stay in Beijing, the capital of the north, w hen you visit China.For a short stay, you won’t need to sign a lease with an agency. There are plenty of holiday rents and hotels available on sites like Booking.com, Hotels.com, Airbnb, and HomeAway.Where you stay and when you stay will drastically affect the cost of your accommodation.  Thus, try to avoid the National Day of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese New Year, or the high season in summer.  Summer in Beijing is really hot and humid anyway.Additionally, with so many people trying to visit in the summer, the prices are much higher than they would be in spring or autumn.By the end of autumn and the start of winter, things are much cheaper. However, the temperatures can drop to -25 °C.Find out more about the best time to visit Beijing.You can find beds in youth hostel dormitories for between £5 and £10 per person per night. If you want a private holiday flat in the heart of the city centre, you’ll be paying upwards of £100 per night (for two people).If you’r e looking for something between £50 and £60, you’ll have to look outside the city centre and make sure it’s near the metro.Alternatively, you can find hotels for less (from £20 per night per person), but you won’t enjoy the same amenities as you would in a flat or a house.Finding Accommodation in Beijing on AirbnbAre you already familiar with Airbnb?You can use the holiday rental site in Beijing too!Have a look round Beijing for the right accommodation. (Source: SW1994)The advantage of private rents is that you can find traditional Chinese houses, siheyuan, forming small streets known as hutong where you can stay.On Airbnb, you can find accommodation for between £30 and £50 per night for two people. However, they’re still quite a distance from the city centre.Just like in other large Chinese cities, the cost of accommodation will vary according to the neighbourhood and the amenities. The closer you are to the historic centre, the higher you’ll expect to play.You defin itely shouldn’t just find the cheapest place.You don’t want to end up 50 miles from the city centre.  If you want to stay in Beijing and enjoy the city’s history, the Ming and Qing Dynasties, museums, and temples, you could always find an Airbnb in the Central Business District (the CBD).  This area stretches from Dawanglu in the east to Dongdaqiao in the west and from Chaoyanglu in the north to the Tonghuihe River in the south.  Here you’ll find your typical Asian megalopolis with its huge modern buildings, shopping centres, and chain bars and restaurants.You can find the Temple of Heaven, a 15th-century monument that was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, just a few metro stations to the south-east.The Sanlitun neighbourhood to the north is great for party animals with its nightlife and expats. You can find some affordable accommodation for between £25 and £50 per night for two people in the middle of June.The Gulou neighbourhood near Houhai Lake has renovat ed hutongs you can stay in for an authentic Chinese experience as you enjoy one of the city’s most picturesque areas.  Gulou also has the advantage of being near the city centre. It’s just a few metro stops from Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.Enrol for and learn Mandarin London here.Using HomeAway to Find Accommodation in BeijingSo where should you stay when you visit Beijing?While most people know Airbnb, fewer know HomeAway.You don't want to have to commute to the most popular attractions. (Source: PublicDomainPictures)HomeAway is another holiday rental company and you can find accommodation in 190 different countries and there are over a million properties.Are you planning on staying in Beijing during your time in China?Each travel guide will tell you; staying in Beijing can be expensive.  China used to be somewhere you could go on a cheap trip with the low cost of living in the country, an abundance of noodle stands, and cheap accommoda tion.  Those days are over! The People's Republic of China’s economy has changed and it’s catching up to its western competitors.That said, the cost of living is still cheaper in China than in the UK and Beijing is cheaper than in London. However, travelling to Beijing will also cost more than visiting places like Chengdu, Guilin, Xi’an, or Yangshuo.  You can pay between £50 and £90 (for two people) to stay in the Sanlitun neighbourhood and enjoy the parties.You could pay between £80 and £100 if you’re looking for somewhere to stay in the business district to the east of the historic centre.Find out more about the different districts in Beijing.Other Resources for Finding Accommodation in BeijingThere are other resources and websites where you can find accommodation in China.Beijing is a mix of the traditional and the modern. (Source: wuwow)You can use sites such as Soufun and The Beijinger to find flats.  If you’re using Soufun, you’ll need to have an understanding of Mandarin Chinese since there’s no English translation of the site.  The Beijinger, however, does have an English translation. This is a bit like Gumtree or Craigslist.Would you like to stay in Beijing’s old town? Budget not an issue?Have a look at Home to Go.  This is very similar to Airbnb and allows you to reserve hotel rooms, guest houses, etc. in different neighbourhoods and for different prices.  You can also analyse offers on Airbnb using this platform. You can book hotels, a private room in a flat, or an entire property.There’s a wide range of prices. You can pay anywhere between £20 and £350 a night for two people.Of course, you can find double beds in a hotel room for between £25 and £30 a night.Make sure you book ahead so that you won’t be panicking once you land at Beijing International Airport.  Of course, as with any trip to China, be it to Xinjiang, Tibet, Shaanxi, Guangdong, Fujian, or Zhejiang, you can use these methods to find accommodation. Fortunate ly for you, accommodation tends to be cheaper outside the capital.Find out more about budgeting for a trip to Beijing.Before you go to China, consider getting private tutorials in Mandarin Chinese. On Superprof, there are three main types of language tutorials available: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.Group tutorials are closer to traditional lessons at school with multiple students and a single teacher. If you and your family or friends are planning a trip to China, you could all get Chinese lessons together from a tutor before you go.Face-to-face tutorials are bespoke lessons with one tutor and one student. As the only student in the class, this is the most cost-effective type of private tutorial. Your tutor can spend all their time focusing on you!Finally, online tutorials are similar with the main difference being that the private tutor isn't there with you in the room. Thanks to the internet and programmes such as Skype, you can learn Chinese from anywhere with a decent internet connection and from tutors from anywhere in the world.

The Most Famous Chemists Ten People who Changed Chemistry and the Way we Live

The Most Famous Chemists Ten People who Changed Chemistry and the Way we Live We Owe a lot to These Incredible Chemists ChaptersThe Founders of Modern Chemistry: Famous Chemists from the Eighteenth CenturyPerhaps the most Famous Chemist of all: Dmitri MendeleevRenowned Chemical Scientists: the Nineteenth CenturyTwentieth-Century Chemists You Should KnowOver the last two thousand years, we’ve come a long way in science. We no longer think that everything is made of water or fire, for example, or that the human body is composed of only four things. From this subject â€" one you might sigh about in the classroom, or get frustrated at before exams â€" came some of the most important developments of the human race.The field of chemistry has contributed to this development, and this discipline has given us some of our basic knowledge of the world. All these things we might now take for granted: that the world is made of tiny little particles, that you can burn things like coal to get heat. Not only that, but chemistry has revolutionised the way we live our lives â€" offering us technologies from radiation to solar panels to the dye in jeans. If a lot of people think that chemistry is for the academic, the professor, or the weirdo scientist in his big round glasses and white lab coat, it is important to remember that it is so much more than that. And those weirdo chemists changed your life in more ways than you probably realise.In this article, we’ll look at ten of the most important scientists in the history of chemistry. You can decide just how crucial their discoveries have been.chemistry tutor guide your learning!Alfred NobelYou know this name too. This chemist and businessman, Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), is known in all fields, due to the Nobel Prize â€" the award for excellence in literature, the sciences, and economics.But this man’s biography is not as nice as you might expect. His professional life was in selling weapons â€" explosives, mainly â€" and to chemistry, his contributions were generally in inventing the explosives that he sold.Nobel’s main achievement was the invention of dynamite. Intended as a tool for construction â€" for roads, industry, and canals â€" this chemical discovery was to have a sordid history, as we know.In his later years, as the story goes, he felt a little guilty about producing one of the most destructive chemical substances ever devised. He donated his massive fortune to inaugurating the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, and Peace.Find out what the essential equipment you need in your chemistry set is.Twentieth-Century Chemists You Should KnowIn the twentieth century, the subject of chemistry blossoms even further, branching out into different sub-disciplines and becoming the subject we know today.Linus PaulingLinus Carl Pauling (1901-1994) has often been hailed as one of the most important scientists ever to have lived â€" and if you haven’t heard of him, now is your opportunity.Pauling essentially invented, single-handedly, what we now know as molecular biology â€" the study of things like proteins and acids in the body â€" and quantum chemistry, or the study of the relationships between the smallest things in the atom. And if, at school, you’ve heard of covalent or ionic bonds â€" you have Pauling to thank for understanding them too. Learn more about chemical bonds in our piece on basic chemistry concepts.As a lifelong activist for nuclear disarmament, Pauling was not only a Nobel Laureate in chemistry, but he won the Nobel Peace Prize too. Finally, his research into proteins also inspired the work of Francis Crick and James Watson, who, without Pauling, would never have discovered the structure of DNA.Dorothy HodgkinNow time for a chemist that is often overlooked in the histories of famous scientists: Dorothy Hodgkin (1910-1994). Another Nobel Laureate, Hodgkin is the only British woman to have ever won a Nobel Prize in a science. Hodgkin’s main discoveries were in the structure of molecules and proteins in the body, and her research had a massive impact on biochemistry and medicine. She and her team worked on the structure of penicillin, vitamin B12, and, importantly, insulin. Her career was notable for her advocating for the importance of knowledge of insulin, too â€" for its central role in diabetes.My online chemistry tutor introduced me to her work; she is a truly admirable scientist!Kathleen LonsdaleAnd another twentieth-century chemist that deserves to be more famous than she is: Kathleen Lonsdale (1903-1971). As a scientist, she was one of the first women to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society and was awarded numerous titles for her important work in crystallography, or the study of the arrangement of atoms in crystals.Alongside her work on diamonds, and her profoundly influential research into the structure of benzene, she was an advocate for pacifism and an inspiration for women scientists across the world.Still hungry for chemistry? We have an all you need to know about chemistry piece just for you!

Prepare For May 2015 AP Exams - Redesign Physics Exam

Prepare For May 2015 AP Exams - Redesign Physics Exam Now that its March, AP exams are only two months away (find the complete AP exam schedule at the College Boards website).  If youre currently enrolled in an AP class, taking the AP exam in May is a great way to get college credit.  However, many colleges have upped their requirements for awarding credit for AP courses, with some of the most prestigious colleges only giving credit for 5s the top score on the AP exam.If youre thinking you could use a little assistance preparing for your AP exams, AJ Tutoring is here to help!  We offer a couple options for AP exam prep in 2015: group classes and one-on-one tutoring.AP Test Prep Group ClassesAJ Tutoring offers group classes at our Palo Alto office for AP US History and AP English Language.  Both the APUSH and the AP English Language prep classes are taught by our resident experts in the subjects, Dominic Booth and Emily Foster.  Our group classes include 6-8 hours of classroom instruction as well as two full-length proctored pract ice AP exams.For course schedules  or to sign up for a class, please visit our AP exam prep page.One-on-One AP Exam TutoringAJ Tutoring also offers private one-on-one tutoring for all other AP subjects.  Each student meets with their tutor for 3 to 5 weekly sessions leading up the AP exam in early May.  During the sessions, the tutor focuses on timing and test-taking strategies appropriate for problem solving, essay writing, and multiple choice questions on the exam.  The tutor will also review the students weaker content areas and potentially assign additional content review for homework (i.e. outlining important material or creating timelines).  Generally, homework consists of full-length AP exams or 90-minute assignments relating to test-taking strategies or content review.One-on-one AP tutoring students are also encouraged to take proctored AP practice tests at our Palo Alto office.Changes to the AP US History and AP Physics Curriculum in 2014-15If your student is currently enrolled in AP US History or AP Physics 1 or 2 (the replacement for AP Physics B), you may have heard that the AP curriculum for both courses changed significantly this year.The AP US History course has been redesigned to focus on broader historical understandings.  The College Board highlighted seven major themes: ideas, beliefs, and culture; America in the world; environment and geography; politics and power; identity; peopling and migration; and work, exchange, and technology.  While students are still expected to have extensive content knowledge of American history, the course now focuses on fitting content knowledge into these major historical themes and finding causal connections between events.  The AP US History exam has also been redesigned for 2015, with an increased multiple choice focus on interpreting sources, and new short answer questions.AP Physics has also changed extensively, with the one-year AP Physics B course now split into a two-year sequence of AP Physics 1 and 2.  AP Physics 1 covers Newtonian mechanics; work, energy, and power; and mechanical waves and sound.  AP Physics 2 includes fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear physics.  The AP Physics exams have been revamped accordingly, with more emphasis on deep conceptual understanding of physics and less emphasis on rote mathematical operations.AJ Tutorings AP US History and AP Physics tutors are fully versed in the redesigned curriculum and AP exams, and weve created extensive proprietary material to assist students who are preparing for the first administration of these redesigned tests in 2015.  If you have any questions about the AP changes or would like to sign up for tutoring, please give us a call at (650) 331-3251 or email us at info@ajtutoring.com.  Were looking forward to working with you!

How to Stay Motivated While Studying for the GRE

How to Stay Motivated While Studying for the GRE GRE/MAT Graduate School Blog What’s the hardest part of preparing for the GRE? In my experience as a GRE test-taker and a GRE tutor, I’d say it’s not any one skill or a single section of the exam. It’s motivation. Beating the GRE is a big, high-stakes undertaking. It can be easy to get discouraged if you run into difficultiesâ€"and you will! So many test-takers delay their entry into grad school, or get disappointing scores, because it was just so hard to stay motivated and on task during their studies. Don’t let this happen to you. Stay motivated by making the right study plan A good study plan can be a fine balancing act. You want to study enough to build your skills and make real progress. But you also want to schedule your studies realistically, making a plan that you have time for. A typical plan for GRE prep lasts about a month, but it’s also possible to improve your plan by extending it to last two or three months long. Keep your plan focused, organized, realistic, and flexible. Flexibility is especially important for staying motivated, because it’s easy to get discouraged if you set up a rigid, detailed study schedule, and fail to follow it exactly. Flexibility gives you the ability to get “back on the horse” even if you miss a day or two of your study plan. But even flexibility can only go so far. Sometimes the best-laid study plans of mice and men (and women) can go awry. So to be in the right, motivated mindset…. Be mentally prepared for setbacks You may fall behind on your study plan for reasons beyond your control. You may even need to put your study plan on temporary hiatus for something else in your lifeâ€"a move, a greater workload at your job, illness, family obligations… who knows? Life happens. And when life puts an obstacle on the road to your academic goals, that doesn’t mean your goals are truly out of reach. Make sure you think about how you’ll feel if you have to take a break from your GRE studies, either for a few days or longer. Think about ways you can stay in practice, at least a little, if you are on break. In other words, be ready to continue your GRE prep no matter what. Have the mindset that you will finish practicing for the GRE, and that no possible setback could be permanent. This is thekey to staying motivated,and this attitude decreases the chances that setbacks will actually delay your goals. Have fun Learning to enjoy your GRE studies is probably the biggest factor in staying motivated. It’s also a “motivation ingredient” that test-preppers often overlook. And this is understandable; at a glance, GRE prep doesn’t look like fun to most people. But GRE prep really can be a lot of fun. For GRE Verbal practice, you can read GRE-like articles from interesting news websites, such as the New York Times, BBC, and the Atlantic. You can play vocabulary games or math games with fellow study buddies. You can practice AWA by writing on Internet message boards that interest you, or posting to social media websites with your friends. There are many other possibilities as well. To say motivated, look for the ways that you can take the language and math skills on the GRE and use them in activities you enjoy. Keep your eyes on the prize This really ties it all together. While you’re carrying out your study plan, bravely weathering distractions and setbacks, and having fun, never let yourself forget that passing the GRE will get you into your dream school. And always think of passing the GRE as a matter of when, not if. Study time will pass, studying activities will be completed. And motivation will be your best friend along the way, walking with you on the road to your target score, and beyond. About David Recine David is a test prep expert at Magoosh. He has a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a Masters in Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He has been teaching K-12, University, and adult education classes since 2007 and has worked with students from every continent.

Language Learning Gamification Why It Works, How to Use It and 5 Games to Play

Language Learning Gamification Why It Works, How to Use It and 5 Games to Play Language Learning Gamification: Why It Works, How to Use It and 5 Games to Play “Quit playing that game and do your homework!” your mother would always say.But what if I told you that you really don’t need to turn your games off?What if I told you that you can actually play more games to learn a language?Sound tantalizingly fun?Welcome to the world of language learning gamification, where new words and grammar rules meet points, quests and trophies.If youre looking for new motivation to learn a languageâ€"or you just want to shake up your study routineâ€"weve got five recommendations for game-based tools thatll get you racing to fluency.But firstâ€"what the heck is gamification, exactly, and how does it work? Language Learning Gamification: Why It Works, How to Use It and 5 Games to PlayWhat Is Gamification?First off, let’s clarify the term “gamification.” It simply means to make a game out of something.Let’s say you’re on a camping trip with your family. And you’re now gathering wood for the night. A run-of-the-mill chore, right?That is, unt il one of your cool uncles says, “I’ll give $10 to the person who gathers the most firewood in 30 minutes.”That instantly perks you up, right? And not just youâ€"your siblings and cousins are getting into it, too. And now grandma has a glisten in her eye.You start moving faster, the promise of a prize echoing in your head. Just to make things even more exciting, your uncle adds, “And I’ll give a $5 bonus to the person who gathers the most maple and oak. They’re the best for campfires.” So you scurry back to the forest with even more enthusiasm. The stakes just got higher and you want to win it all.That’s how you make gathering woodâ€"or any other taskâ€"exciting. You make a game out of it. You “gamify” it. You add game elements like prizes, missions, points and rankings. And you could apply that to any human activity from washing dishes to coding computer programs to, of course, language learning.Note:  Gamification is a little bit different from Game-based Learn ing (GBL). While gamification involves applying the rules of a game to a task or lesson, GBL involves using an actual game to teach something (like this board game that teaches middle schoolers about math).Both gamification and GBL can incentivize learning with competition and fun. Here, well point you to language resources that make use of both techniques.But first, an important question: Do they actually work?Do Gamification and Game-based Learning Work?What do the experiments and examinations into gamification say? Heres a look at some recent research.Gamification ResearchA New York University journalism professor injected his 14-week course with gamification. He took the class to Wall Street for some journalistic sleuthing and turned information gathering into a healthy class competition.When tested on the material a week later, students recalled more of their gamified scavenger hunt than information they read just a few minutes earlier!This aligns with a 2006 report from the Su mmit on Educational Games by the Federation of American Scientists that claims students recall only 10 percent of the things they read and 20 percent of the material they hear. But when experiencing the material themselves, even if it’s just in a simulation or a game, recall can climb as high as 90 percent.Gamification has also been adopted by corporations in the hopes of boosting customer engagement and increasing bottom lines.For example, even Domino’s Pizza is getting in on the action, gamifying the ordering process through their app. Gamification has also been tapped to influence health and lifestyle choices, from Nike’s FuelBand, which gamifies feedback about physical activities, to Piano Stairs, which saw a 66 percent increase in people’s use of stairs.So whats this all mean for language learners? Gamification has been shown to increase peoples interest in and engagement with even boring tasks like ordering pizza or taking the stairs. That makes it a great resource for shaking up your study regimen and practicing grammar, vocabulary and more.Still don’t believe that gamification can work? Here’s a list of 90 gamification applications and some stats on how successful they’ve been.Game-based Learning ResearchA University of Florida study reported higher math achievement by students who played math computer games.Students said that the game was fun and challenging, while teachers concurred with the quantitative results, noting that said students did indeed have improved understanding of the subjectâ€"and added that the game overcame their math phobias and made them want to learn.Well, thats all well and good. But how about games applied to language learning?Researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have examined the effectiveness of todays gamified second language learning apps. They found that these apps have benefits for efficient learning and that the way information builds on itself (like in-game levels) can reinforce previously learned lessons.They also found strong initial motivation for these apps, but it should be noted that dropout rates are also high. Researchers emphasize that gamification can be an effective learning tool but should probably not be anyones sole study method.That said, there are some exciting gamified and game-based tools out there for language learners (well point you to some great ones later in this post) and with some smart strategies, you can get the most out of them based on your learning style and goals.How to Make Language Learning Gamification and GBL Work for YouOverlearn the levels. Repeat the whole game if you have to.  Your ultimate goal is to learn the language. Remember that. It’s not to beat the game or rack up as many points as possible. The game and the different gamified elements are just vehicles to a more important goalâ€"learning the language.So if you’ve passed a level, or even finished the game, don’t think yourself too cool to go over the whol e thing again. Going back to corners you’ve gone before not only cements what you’ve already learned, it serves to remind you why you’re doing it in the first place.Practice in a non-game environment.  Maximize those gamification and GBL apps by bringing their lessons outside the game environment. That is, try to actually use the skills that youve learned in real life. For example, look for native speakers to try new vocabulary out on. Apps like Bilingua and HelloTalk can help you find language exchange partners.You can also integrate the vocabulary words into your day. Use sticky notes to label objects around the house as constant reminders. Or work the vocabulary into a deck of flashcards and start flipping.Track your progress and mark your language weak spots.  Gamified resources are famous for giving you this type of data before you even ask for it. Built-in progress tracking tools help you pinpoint areas of the language that you need to work on. If you heed the data, youl l get insights that ensure every minute in the game is time well spent.If need be, get a journal and write down some notes. Are there specific words you have trouble with? Are there specific rules of grammar that always trip you up? Being honest with yourself and consciously getting a picture of your present language skills puts you in a better position to consistently improve.Cross train by having multiple games targeting different language skills.  Theres no one game, no silver bullet so perfectly fashioned that it delivers language fluency. So you’ll have to play many games and repeat them several times.Different games focus on different language skills and have different learning approaches, as youll see below. Even if you start encountering the same words or concepts, the different environments, graphics and audio will help cement them in your memory.Connect with other language learners.  A sense of community is very important for language learning. You cannot be an island un to yourself.The names on those leaderboards arent merely a set of letters. There’s a breathing human being behind those names. And while you may not be able to get in touch with them directly, you can definitely meet kindred souls in language forums or language exchange sites and apps.Dont give in to the temptation that says, “I’ll just keep to myself for a few months. When I’m ready, I’ll engage.” No, engage now. Find somebody. Don’t hide behind the games.Try to create your own gamified learning experience! You dont need to be an app developer. You just need pen and paper. Make rules. Make it fun for you.It can be a series of tasks in the tradition of “Mission Impossible” for example, where you give yourself different tasks for a whole weekâ€"like collecting things in your house that start with the letter s in French.Youll quickly see that even before you start playing your game, the mere act of gamificationâ€"thinking about key concepts, words and goals in your t arget languageâ€"will get you engaged and motivated to learn. Creating this type of game will make you a winner in more ways than one.Get Fluent with Games: 5 Addictive Language Learning Gamification OptionsMindSnacksMindSnacks, “games for your brain,” is one of the App Store’s 2011 winners of the “Best Education Apps of the Year.”It’s really an awesome collection of games that you can use to learn Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Chinese and Japanese. There are around nine games for each of the offered languages, and about 1,000 vocabulary words up for mastery.For example, MindSnacks offers a game called “Swell” that’ll really keep you on your toes. Imagine this: You’re staring at your screen, which features a lone fish peacefully swimming about when suddenly the water level starts dropping.Youre then presented with a vocabulary word and given two choices for its translation. Choose the correct one and the water level pops up a bit (before beginning to drop again as you’re presented with a new vocabulary word). Pick the wrong translation and your poor fish instantly dies and goes to heaven.What happens is, as you get more questions right, the water level drops faster and faster and you have less and less time to think about your answer before the water reaches the bottom, killing your fish. You’re given three live fishes before the game is over.Then there’s “Belly,” a picture recognition game where you help feed a hungry frog by pairing a word or phrase with its corresponding picture. The little frog then unleashes his sticky tongue to snatch the picture from the screen and into his belly.As a player, you have an avatar, which levels up the more you play the games. MindSnacks keeps you interested because it’s like youre taking care of an evolving avatarâ€"which starts from being a harmless egg to an increasingly awesome creature. You get the feeling that you’re raising a pet while learning the target language.The MindSnacks graphics may look all cute and cuddly, but this is one seriously useful app that’s great for all language learners.LanguagenutLanguagenut is a complete language learning platform containing stories, songs, tests and games. It was originally designed to be seamlessly integrated into classroom instruction. But that doesn’t mean individual language learners can’t take advantage!Of interest for us here are the games and the gamified language learning elements. With Languagenut, you don’t just win points and gold medals. You actually see how well you’re doing compared to other learners on a leaderboard. It’ll give you the spark, that inner motivation to work on the program moreâ€"if only to see your name on a higher rank.Speaking of games, there are over a dozen here, some of them involving an educational twist to a classic game.For example, in Tic-Tac-Toe you still get the traditional nine-square playing board. But this time, there’s a picture or image behind e ach of the square. You can only mark that spot with your “X” or circle if you can give its name in the target language. So for maximum chances of winning, youve got to learn the previous vocabulary lessons really well.In their version of Hangman, the stakes are even higher. You don’t just gradually see a human figure about to get the noose. This one has an environmental spin to it. To begin, you see a picturesque backdrop on your screen. Youre still given blanks corresponding to every letter of the answer, but every time you guess a letter wrong, something happens in the picture that turns it into something awful.Maybe your grassland turns into a toxic dumpsite. Then your waters become polluted and animals start dying. Every wrong turn is bad for nature, so you have to know the answer early to avoid the total destruction of your scenery.A lesson in nature preservation embedded in a language learning game? Sounds awesome to me!FluentUTo truly get fluent, youll need to hear your target language the way native speakers really use it. FluentU is a unique tool that manages to combine the fun and motivation of a game with authentic target language resources.With FluentU, you get to watch diverse video clips including real-world interviews, movie trailers, YouTube clips and much more.  The magic starts to happen as you watch and explore the interactive subtitles. Click any word you’re interested in and youll get a definition, translation, pronunciation and usage. You can even cross reference the word and see other videos that contain it, so you can have more contexts for its use.After youve watched a video, the game elements kick in. Youll get quizzed on the new words you learned with fun exercises and visual learning tools. Youll be given performance indicators so you can track your accuracy as well as the percentage of the video that you mastered or learned.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Each day as you watch and complete exercises, youll earn virtual currency and build up learning streaks. Plus, FluentU remembers what youve studied and suggests new content based o n that info, so you get a truly personalized game-learning experience.All while absorbing your target language the way it really sounds!The Language GameThe Language Game is a fun tool composed of mini-games. It’s something you can play with another language learner, perhaps a friend, a family member or relative. You don’t need an internet connection to play this one since you’ll download it to your computer.The unique thing about the Language Game is that it can create competition even when two people are studying different languages. So if you’re studying Spanish and your friend is learning French, you can still go head to head because the game will adjust to your target languages when it’s your turn to play.If you know  â€œBlockbusters,” the game operates along the same lines. Youll see a screen that’s populated with hexagonal tiles. Each tile represents a task: answering a multiple choice question; pairing a picture with its translation; etc.The mission is to get t o the other side of the board by strategically choosing hexagonal tiles. One player will go from left to right, and the other will go from right to left. The player who gets to the other side of the board using continuous tiles wins. (The twist is that when you’re able to “sandwich” your opponent’s tiles, that tile becomes yours and is flipped to your color.)Whats especially motivating is that instead of some anonymous learner on the other side of the world, the person you’re playing with is someone you know. You can trash talk and tease each other, in real time. It makes language learning not only fun but also very competitive and challenging.DuolingoWith over 100 million downloads, you know this app is doing something right.Duolingo gets you to do a series of gamified language learning tasks, such as translating words and phrases back and forth, listening to a phrase and typing what you hear, pronouncing target language words into your phone’s mic or building sentences in your target language.These tasks are delivered through micro-lessons arranged by theme. Each question that you answer correctly slowly fills up your progress bar.  When you successfully complete a lesson, youre rewarded with virtual currency, which you can use to buy yourself prizes (everything from extra lessons and bonus skills to cool outfits for the Duolingo mascot, Duo the owl).And then there’s the “Double or Nothing” wager, where you bet your currency as a wager. And the deal is that if you’re able to go on Duolingo every day, for a full week, youll earn another five.If these points and prizes arent enough motivation, Duolingo also peppers highlights of your achievements throughout its lessons. For example, there’s the “Sharpshooter” badge given to somebody who completes a new lesson without getting anything wrong. There’s also the “Triple Digits,” given to the user who earns 100 points in one day.With Duolingo, you feel you’re constantly progressing toward something, and every minute feels like you’re winning. It’s very difficult to let go of that feeling. You always want to keep playing, keep winning (and keep learning)!So, there you go!You now know what gamification and game-based learning are all about. You have the resources you can tap and some tips on how to make them work double-time for you.Can you imagine how easy learning a language can be if it’s mostly fun and games?What are you waiting for?Let gamification lead the way. Make a game out of your language journey.