Probability Equations

Probability Equations Probability is defined as the chances for an event to occur. For a given situation or conditions there is always a chances for an event to likely or unlikely occur. The probability of an event is mostly in-between 0 to 1. The chances or probability for all the possible events to occur for a given condition add up to a 1. Therefore probability of an event is calculated by the following formulas: P (E) = Number of outcomes favorable for the event/Total number of outcomes. P (not E) = 1 P (E). Therefore P (E) + P (not E) = 1. Example 1: A dice is thrown what is the probability of getting the number 7? Solution: On throwing a dice the total number of possibilities are 6 either of the following numbers may show up i.e. {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6}. Therefore total number of possible outcomes on throwing a dice = 6. The number of outcomes favorable of getting the number 7 = 0. P (7) = Number of outcomes favorable for number 7/Total number of outcomes. = 0/6. Therefore probability of getting number 7 is P (7) = 0. Example 2: A dice is thrown what is the probability of not getting the number 5? Solution: Total number of possible outcomes on throwing a dice = 6. The probability of getting number 5 is P (5) = 1/6. Using the formula P (not E) = 1 P (E). P (not 5) = 1 1/6 = 5/6. Therefore probability of not getting number 5 is 5/6.

3 Efficient Ways to Study on the Go

3 Efficient Ways to Study on the Go The holiday season inevitably means lots of traveling, but doesnt often mean a break in the work that you are responsible for as a student. With finals right around the corner, it is particularly vital to maximize all of your available time. When youre on the go whether its to a family holiday party, traveling to cheer on your school in a basketballgame, or even just your daily commute to and from class or work, you should take advantage of that time to get some of your studying in. No matter if youre on a plane, taking a car trip, or walking through campus, use these following suggestions to study on the go. 1. Listen to a relevant podcast Even if youre the one behind the wheel, you can still get studying done on the go. Search for podcasts (before you start driving) that are educational and informative. There are general education podcasts that can help freshen up your skills in a variety of areas, but there are also specialized podcasts that may relate directly to what you are learning in class. Do you have an English test coming up? Try listening to Grammar Girl, which gives you tips on pertinent grammar rules. Many universities also have free podcasts that you can check out, often that come right from college lectures. If youre struggling with concepts in calculus, try downloading a few podcasts from a college calculus lecture. Not only are you revisiting concepts, but hearing it from someone other than your own professor might help you understand ideas in a whole new way. This doesnt have to be limited to car trips either. You can listen to podcasts on your way to class, on the plane during a long trip, or even on a bus ride to a nearby destination. 2. Mobile tutoring One of the hardest parts about traveling during the holiday season is you can often feel like youre missing out on the academic support youre accustomed to. When youre away from your professors, TAs, and other in-person instructors, it can be difficult to get the help you need right when you need it. Although your aunt might claim to know everything about physics, sometimes its best to go straight to the subject-matter experts. Varsity Tutors' mobile tutoring helps you find support no matter where you are. Download the app to connect with expert tutors who can assist you directly from the screen of your smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device. From test prep to help with papers to general study support, you can get connected with a personal tutor right at your fingertips. 3. Use digital practice problems, flashcards, prep books In addition to mobile tutoring, Varsity Tutors' series of free mobile apps can help you study subject-specific content, from AP Calculus to organic chemistry. Each app has educational resources that include practice tests, quizzes, flashcards, and additional learning tools to help you learn the content in a way that works for you. Studying for the ACT or SAT amidst all these finals? Download any of the free Varsity Tutors Test Prep Books straight to your Kindle to review hundreds of pages of content, including comprehensive lesson plans and full-length practice tests. New technology has made studying on the go just as easy as hunkering down in the library. Dont let busy commutes and travel interrupt your study time this year; maximize it, instead! 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.

What Is a Food Technologist

What Is a Food Technologist The Role of a Food Technologist ChaptersScratching the Surface of Food TechnologyWhat a Food Technologist DoesThe Difference Between Food Science and Food TechnologyThe Need for Food Technologists is GrowingWe are all quite lucky: we live in a time when we can go to Tesco or Sainsbury’s and buy anything from a packet of crisps to a tin of beans.Each of the products found on supermarket shelves has been carefully treated to ensure the maximum degree of food safety and the optimal balance of nutrients, all neatly wrapped up with a label bearing an expiration date so that we don’t inadvertently eat something that has gone off.Buying food products hasn’t always been that simple.Until Pasteur’s era, food chemistry wasn’t considered a legitimate field of study or work. The universal practice of pasteurisation marked the start of food science and technology.We are all familiar with the process of pasteurisation â€" heating a substance at relatively low temperature to kill off enzymes that cause foodstuffs, espec ially milk, to spoil.In the late 19th Century, French scientist Louis Pasteur gave his name to the process that was actually established nearly a millennium before but his were not the only advances in food preservation.Salting, smoking and curing meat, making hardtack out of water and flour that could later be reworked into some sort of bread or gravy… drying and fermenting foods are also preservation techniques that humans have used for centuries.In fact, long before universities where one could study food science were built, and even way before food science was considered a valid field of study, people have been adept at protecting their food stores from rot and spoilage.Considering things from that perspective, you might wonder: what do we need food technologists for?That’s the question your Superprof answers today. You may have occasion to use biotechnology in the course of your food technologist duties Image by FotoshopTofs  from Pixabaynatural preservative.If you look at the ingredients list of a frozen dinner, you may be shocked to discover how much salt (sodium) it contains!If you are in the habit of reading food labels before selecting those you will buy â€" a practice that a dietician would strongly recommend, you should thank a food technologist for the information what your food consists of.Common entries on food labels include:food colouring makes the food look more appealingBHA â€" butylated hydroxyanisole, a preservativeBHT - butylated hydroxytoluene, a preservativemaltose: a sugar added for flavourdextrose: a sugar added for flavourniacin: a B-complex vitamin essential to human healththiamine: Vitamin B1riboflavin: Vitamin B2vitaminsOften, these supplements are added either to enrich the food, preserve it and enhance its flavour and appearance.Also, because preserved foods tend to l ose some of their nutritional value during processing, vitamins and minerals are often added back in, hence those entries on the labels.Food science is constantly on the search of new ingredients and ways of making food more appealing, healthier and safer, and food technologists play a leading role both in food security and in food product development.With the global population growing ever larger, the pressing issue within the food industry is on finding more ways to maximise the food available so that it will feed more people.Granted, the largest part of these scientific studies are conducted in a laboratory. Maybe the nutrition and microbiology aspects of food science technology are not what you are angling for.You may want to know what subjects are covered in a food technology curriculum… Not all of a food technologist's duties are about nutrition and food; you may also visit farms to ensure cleanliness and food safety Image by Ryan McGuire from PixabayWhat a Food Technologist DoesIf s/he isn’t working directly with food in a lab, a food technologist enjoys a host of other duties such as verifying that government standards for food safety are met and making recommendations for better, safer processes.You may choose to work in a food processing plant doing just that, or you may find yourself drawn to the quality control department, making sure strict hygiene standards are upheld to prevent contamination of the food.With environmental concerns now at an all-time high, devising more efficient ways to package foods is currently the hot topic.Food technologists are desperately searching for new materials and ways to package foods so that they retain or exceed their current levels of safety while reducing the impact on the environment.Bulk food dispensers are one way that retails stores are cutting down on packaging.Foods, at this point mainly dry goods such as breakfast cereals, grains and beans are shipped to the markets from the processing plants in large containers. Retail employees then fill the dispensers as needed.Going hand in hand with that effort is the ongoing search for more efficient, less impactful transportation options at both ends of the processing plant â€" when the raw goods come in to be worked and when they ship out, ready for supermarket shelves... or the stores’ bulk dispensers.If this field is of particular interest to you, your future career plans would benefit from engineering studies.Adding an engineering elective to your food science and nutrition degree plan will permit you to design a piece of equipment or a process that would make food processing and transportation more efficient and safer.Are you warming up to the idea of being a food technologist? Find out how you can become one…The Difference Between Food Scienc e and Food TechnologyYou might wonder at the difference between these two branches of study both related to food engineering so we thought we would clear things up a bit.The disciplines are closely related but food science deals more with food at the molecular level.A food scientist draws on chemistry and biology to study food and how best to grow it and process it so that it retains most of its nutrients. They conduct food research to determine how foods deteriorate â€" lose their molecular structure, grow colonies of bacteria and become unsafe.Food scientists and food technologists work hand in hand designing new foods and their packaging.As a food technologist, your focus would likely be oriented more toward food production and processing.Working from the information provided to you by the food scientists, you may design food production processes that won’t compromise the flavour, texture or appearance of the food.You may also conduct market surveys to determine if a new food a ppeals to the public before it is mass-produced.Said surveys include opinions about the food packaging: if consumers find the container difficult to manage or the labelling unappealing, they would not be likely to buy it.When this new food launches into production, you may be tasked with quality assurance â€" making sure the food meets health and safety standards, all while maintaining its desirable qualities.You may also be tasked with finding ways to streamline production without sacrificing any of those factors.If that sounds exciting, you should read our complete guide to food science technology! Food technologists often run microbiological tests on food samples Image by FotoshopTofs  from PixabayThe Need for Food Technologists is GrowingIn this article, we’ve mentioned three very pressing concerns that have a direct impact on the food industry: climate change/environmental concerns, food safety and the growing number of mouths to feed.Right now, our production of food is delicately balanced against the earth’s ability to produce enough to feed everyone… and the food industry is fast falling behind on meeting the demand for safe and nutritious food for all.More food being produced faster leaves the door open to greater risks of contamination.Leaving aside genetically modified organisms â€" GMOs, as they are commonly known, food technologists are in demand everywhere from the livestock pens and growing fields to the government agencies that provide our food growers oversight and guidance.In case you’re wondering, GMOs are the purview of scientists specialising in food microbiology.Naturally, if that is where your interest lies, that is the area of study that you should pursue but, if you are keen to get your boots on the ground, to start working as soon as possible, there is nothing wrong with getting your undergraduate degree and training as a food technologist.Your Bachelor’s Degree will qualify you to work in a food manufacturing plant in several capacities, the aforementioned food safety and quality being just one of them.You may also enjoy working in the food analysis department, improving on the foods being processed.You could also work in Research and Development, not just in food and nutrition but in equipment design and even the layout of the processing plant.To make a long dissertation succinct: as a food technologist, there is a field of opportunity waiting for you!

Starting German Lessons with a German Tutor

Starting German Lessons with a German Tutor How to Learn German by Taking A German Language Course with a Tutor ChaptersFind Out How Much a German Tutor CostsFind the Right German Language CourseChoosing Your German TeacherMake the Most of Your German LessonsDespite popular belief, anyone can learn a foreign language regardless of their age!Firstly, learning a foreign language not only improves your linguistic skills, it also benefits your cognitive functions.  Additionally, whether you’re a student or working, a foreign language can improve your career prospects.Germany is one of Europe’s most economically powerful countries and, as a result, its language is also hugely important.Do you want to learn how to speak German but don’t know where to begin?  By taking the right steps, you can find the right tutorials for you!Once you’ve made your decision to get German tutorials, you’ll quickly see that there are plenty on offer, especially if you've searched how to learn German online.It’s easy to feel bewildered as you try to choose one German course over another.How can you work out t he price of a German tutorial? (Source: pexels.com)Furthermore, the price of these courses can vary wildly one tutor to another. Usually, the price gap can be explained by the tutor’s level in German.A Student or Native German SpeakerThere are plenty of German students (either bilingual or studying German) who offer basic German tutorials. Students are a great choice if you're far from fluent, would like to learn how to speak German for beginners, and pick up a few useful German words and phrases for your next holiday.German natives living in the UK also tend to advertise private tutorials, too. They'll be great if you're working on speaking German and your German pronunciation. Teaching German isn’t usually their day job.This is why their rates tend to be lower than a teacher working under the ministry of education. However, this doesn't mean you can get free German tutorials!Their German tutorials tend to be less academic. However, this doesn’t mean they’re not effective e ducators. Quite the opposite! A lot of people prefer learning how to speak German in a more relaxed language course.Both students needing academic support and adults wanting to refresh their German knowledge can benefit a lot from these “amateur” tutors.They’ll help you learn to speak German with activities that are more fun than your typical German lesson.  The rates for non-professional tutors tends to be under £30.Experienced TeachersYou’ll also find plenty of experienced and qualified German teachers offering German tutorials for all levels. They’re usually doing this for some extra money at the end of the month by putting their academic experience to good use.They are well versed in pedagogy and know their way around German grammar, conjugations, and declination.  Their exercises are usually very effective.Find German classes near me here.Chat with your professor to improve your German. (Source: Startup Stock Photos)If you need to improve your German speaking, they c an converse in German as well as provide you with appropriate audio to listen to.Their rates tend to be above £30 per hour.Teachers with only two or three years of experience tend to offer lessons for a little under this amount.On-line German TutorialsThere’s more than just one way to learn German. Thanks to the Internet, plenty of different sites for learning german online are popping up every day.Some offer free on-line German courses while others you’ll need to pay for, like Babbel.  However, Babbel works on a sliding scale. The longer your subscription, the less you pay per month.  Once you’ve signed up, you’ll have access to tonnes of interactive German lessons and activities.  Learning German on-line is great for those who like to be self-taught, especially when it comes to language learning.Find the Right German Language CourseOnce you’ve decided to learn German, you’ll quickly see that their are plenty of organisations offering German lessons. There are therefor e plenty of ways to find the German Tutor that works for you.The Goethe InstitutThanks to international relations, Germany has a strong cultural presence in the UK.This is mainly through the country’s Goethe Institut.  Created in 1925, its main goal is to promote the German culture and language around the world.The Goethe Institut has centres in both London and Glasgow and there are plenty of different courses for plenty of different levels.There are catch up courses for school students, intensive courses during the summer, courses to prepare for German level tests... the list goes on and on!Why not get some German lessons during your holiday? (Source:  Roman Bozhko)Generally, these courses have a student limit and start at the same time as academic trimesters.  There are courses for everyone.Academic Support Organisations and Language SchoolsThere are plenty of organisations offering German courses.  The amount of time they’ve been around tends to affect how much they charge.In these instances, the tutors are usually qualified and experienced teachers. Some request several years of experience as a minimum requirement for their teachers.These centres tend to charge a registration fee as well as the cost of the classes themselves.  Students tend to be regularly tested and appraised.There are other platforms for those looking for private German tutorials like Superprof that aims to connect German tutors and students.Tutors can be students, qualified professionals, or native speakers of German.  Once you’ve paid the £19 fee, you can be put in touch directly with your tutor. There’s no commission paid for your German tutorials after that.German SchoolsIf you want to learn German, you could also head off to Germany. There are several German universities offering language courses to foreign students during the summer holidays.Why not go to a German university town to improve your German? (Source: stock.tookapic.com)In addition to being completely immersed i n a German speaking culture, you’ll improve your German speaking and learn more about German culture.The universities in Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt all offer these types of courses.The Humboldt Institute also offers German language courses around Germany for students wanting to learn Germany quickly.Choosing Your German TeacherWhen you’re looking to learn German as a second language, you have to remember that your teacher is one of the most important things to consider when it comes to choosing the right German language course. There are a few steps you need to take to make sure you make the right choice.Clear German ObjectivesYou need to first work out what level you are.  Are you a beginner who’s never spoken a word of German? Would you like to get better at writing in German? Are you a professional whose German vocabulary needs some work and would like to get better at speaking?Make a note of your experience with German, the courses you’ve taken, your professional expe rience with the language, and what your future goals are. This will help you better define the type of German teacher you’re looking for.Make a List of the Qualities You’re Looking for in a German TutorYou need to find a tutor that will help you improve your German. However, remember that a tutor that’s right for one person may not be right for another.Private tutorials are tailored to teach student. Thus, you should make a list of what you expect from your future tutor.  This is an essential stage of your research.If you think you’re going to need academic tutorials with plenty of German language activities, you’ll want to be looking for a tutor who also works in schools.However, if you want to learn about the German culture and the language by practising a lot of speaking, you might want to look for a native speaker living in the UK.Establish the Practical Aspects of the TutorialsYou also need to consider the practical aspects of your private German tutorials. You need t o work out when you’re available and when the best times to study German are.  You need to also make sure that your tutor is also available at these times! Then you need to find a place where you can study effectively since private  tutorials normally take place at the student’s home. Make sure you’ve tidied the room you’re going to use!Since the tutor will travel to you, you should make sure that your tutor lives within a reasonable distance of your home when you’re searching for tutors.Follow your InstinctsYou can use your gut feeling to help you choose the German tutor of your dreams. If you want to get better at German, you have to feel comfortable with your tutor.If you don’t get the right feeling from your tutor after one lesson, maybe you should continue looking!  Your German language learning needs to take place under the best conditions possible.Make the Most of Your German LessonsOnce you’ve picked the right organisation and/or tutor for you, you need to make sure you’re putting in the effort to get the most of your lessons.Focus and AttentionIn every lesson, pay as much attention as possible. Whether it's German for beginners or an advanced class, paying attention is key to learning, especially if you have to learn German fast.Make sure to be inquisitive and ask your German tutor questions about words and phrases you don't understand and German verbs you're struggling with. Turn off your phone, too!Take care of your revision sheets and resources.  Underline, use colours to highlight important information, etc.Ask for a Summary After Each SessionA lot of tutors will offer this without being asked but if they don’t, ask for a summary of your progress after each private tutorial.This can be sent by email and give you an idea of how you’re performing in each tutorial and whether you’re meeting your goals.It can also cover what you need to prepare before each lesson as well as giving you revision advice.Study DailyStudying regularly is key to success when it comes to learning German. You have to study what you’ve learnt daily in order to consolidate everything you worked on with your tutor.Supplement your learning with films in German, reading German newspapers, or watching YouTube videos in German.If you have the chance to practise your German with native speakers, make the most of it!  These are all great opportunities to get the most out of your German tutorials and become a German language professional!Find a private tutor with Superprof for German lessons:German language course LondonGerman courses GlasgowGerman lessons Leeds

Can the ACT Aspire Predict Your ACT Score

Can the ACT Aspire Predict Your ACT Score In 2014, a brand new test preparation program called the ACT Aspire replaced the ACT Plan, a pre-test similar to the actual ACT, and ACT Explore. Unlike the ACT, which measures student understanding at a consistent level year after year, the ACT Aspire is designed to reflect the progressive difficulty of each year of school. That being said, can the ACT Aspire predict your ACT score? Read on to learn more about the differences between both tests. An overview of the ACT Aspire test The ACT Aspire, which can be administered beginning in third grade and through 10th grade, is designed to assess both understanding of new Common Core standards and college readiness. The program tests students in five main subjects: math, reading, English, writing, and science. The goal of the ACT Aspire program is to measure student educational growth as an indicator of how well each student may eventually score on the actual ACT. [RELATED: What is the ACT Aspire?] Differences between ACT Aspire test and the ACT There are a few differences between the ACT Aspire test and the actual ACT that are worth mentioning. One of the bigger differences between the ACT Aspire test and the actual ACT is how each is scored. The ACT is scored on a scale from 1 to 36 for each subject, with 36 being the best score. The ACT Aspire is scored on a scale from 400 to 470 for each subject, with 470 being a top score. As you can see, the scale is very different between the two exams, which may make it more difficult to interpret how your ACT Aspire score will translate to the ACT. When students receive ACT Aspire scores, they do also receive an estimated ACT scorehowever, keep in mind that this is an estimate based on their performance on the Aspire (which usually happens before you move on to advanced classes that are tested on the ACT). The best way to truly gauge how you might score on the actual ACT is through ACT practice tests. Additionally, the ACT Aspire and the ACT differ in test format. The actual ACT consists of all multiple-choice questions (with the exception of the optional writing portion), but the ACT Aspire consists of multiple-choice and constructed response (short-answer and long-answer) questions. The idea is that students will be tested using multiple question formats to ensure they fully understand the concepts, even though the actual ACT is not set up in this way. This may affect your preparation. To succeed on the ACT, you may only need to have content knowledge, as well as strategies in place for multiple-choice questions. An ACT tutor or other test prep instructor can also help you determine how you should study, depending on which test you take. [RELATED: What is an Average ACT Score?] Is the ACT Aspire test worth taking? It is evident that the ACT Aspire Test is quite different from the actual ACT. However, the ACT Aspire can still provide valuable information about potential gaps in a students knowledge, due to its cumulative scoring. Students who take the ACT Aspire over several years receive test scores (and subscores) each year, making it easy to monitor their progress and skill level during that time. [RELATED: What Test Do I Take? A Guide to the Testing Acronyms] If you are looking for a way to sharpen your skill set for the real ACT, in addition to studying an ACT test prep bookand other resources, the Aspire test can also be a helpful precursorbut dont put too much weight into your estimated ACT score. A students score and improvement on both tests depends on how seriously he or she takes preparing for each test. If the student uses study strategies tailored to each test format, the chances for success are greater. However, if you are looking for an exam to replicate the ACT exactly, then you may need to look into other test options. If youve received a high score on the ACT Aspire test, dont make the mistake of winging the ACT. The tests are not necessarily comparable. There are a variety of ACT practice tests out there that are professionally written to mimic the rigor of the actual exam. Students can time themselves while taking these practice tests to get a more accurate picture of how they might score on test day. ACT hopes that this new testing program will become the national standard for testing college readiness. It is important to consider all of the differences between the programs before making a decision on which preparation program is best.

Charlotte Today Highlights Heart Math Tutoring - Heart Math Tutoring

Charlotte Today Highlights Heart Math Tutoring - Heart Math Tutoring Charlotte Today Highlights Heart Math Tutoring Charlotte Today Highlights Heart Math Tutoring March 14, 2019 Heart Tutoring Executive Director Emily Gaffney on Charlotte Today discussing how our volunteers are tackling the achievement gap in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Closing the elementary math achievement gap may not be easy, but it can be fun. Emily Gaffney, Executive Director of Heart Math Tutoring, shares how volunteer tutors support CMS elementary students who are behind in math with fun games and effective tutoring. “Helping somebody with math is a great way to help them with their life. Our volunteers are there to give high-fives and point students in the right direction,” says Gaffney. See the entire interview here.

An Introduction to Grit A Key to Academic Performance

An Introduction to Grit A Key to Academic Performance Improving Academic Performance Over the past five years, I’ve done a fair amount of secondary research (reading articles, books, etc.) on academic performance. Two of the most interesting and actionable discoveries I’ve made are that A) a student’s mindset is far more important in explaining academic success than I would have imagined and B) a concept called Grit is what seems to power the performance of a student with the right mindset. The “Growth Mindset” is a concept invented by Dr. Carol Dweck, a Standford Psychologist. Her research shows that individuals can generally be placed into one of two buckets: a) those that have a growth mindset and b) those that have a fixed mindset. Here, briefly, are the key differences between the two mindsets. If you have a fixed mindset, you believe your intelligence, for example, is a “fixed’ trait that you inherit. You can “make the best of it” of course, but you’ll be “capped” at performing at a certain level, because you just don’t have the genes or intellectual horse power to succeed in certain academic situations. If you have a growth mindset, however, you believe your intelligence is something you build over time. Instead of thinking about your intellect as an inherited trait, you view it as a muscle that grows the more you use it (i.e., study, take difficult courses, etc.). An individual’s mindset might shift when considering academic performance, personality traits, or athletic ability. One might have a fixed mindset in some areas, and a growth mindset in others. For example, you might think you are shy because it’s just your personality, but be more growth oriented when it comes to intelligence or learning new athletic skills. All else equal, Dweck has shown that individuals with a growth mindset outperform those with a fixed mindset in an academic setting. The reason for this is, in some ways, very simple and intuitive. Most people would probably not argue that success in school comes from a mix of “IQ” and effort. You can make up for lower innate intellectual horsepower by working hard. In fact, there’s even research which suggests that intellectual horsepower itself is not as “fixed” as most people believe. For example, increased levels of education have been shown to improve IQ scores, and getting the right amount of sleep and eating right has been shown to improve cognitive function. So, if you have a Growth Mindset when it comes to academic performance, you’ll be better off. In part, this is simply because with more hard work, you’ll improve and learn more. But what is it exactly that drives the growth mindset-oriented individual when the task at hand is particularly difficult? To perform well in school, you must put forth a lot of effort, solve problems, pay attention, ask question, work with classmates and teachers, etc. A mindset sets the stage for success, but how is that mindset actually implemented? In Grit: The Power Of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth suggests a combination of passion and perseverance - or, as she calls it, Grit, explains why some people are successful, and other people are not. . What is Grit? To make it through West Point at the United States Military Academy, one must survive the Beast Barracks â€" a training program designed to filter out those without the mental and physical stamina to succeed. During the admissions process, West Point calculates the Whole Candidate Score; a combination of SAT scores, high school rank, appraisals of leadership potential, and physical fitness measures. It is designed to find the people who will succeed. Remarkably, Duckworth found that the Whole Candidate score didn’t predict who made it through Beast Barracks. Actually, those with the highest Whole Candidate Scores were just as likely to drop out as the those with the lowest. What did predict success in Beast Barracks, however, was a score on what Duckworth calls the “Grit Scale.” According to Duckworth, people who are relatively “gritty” are resilient, work very hard, and know on a very “deep” level what they want to achieve. Her “grit score” measures those factors. Duckworth has found that, in almost any domain, the grittier you are, the more successful you will be. Why? Because you simply keep practicing, keep learning, and keep trying different approaches until you succeed. In an academic context, I have come to believe that students place far less importance on focused effort than they should. Students incorrectly assume that a certain innate “talent” for a subject is required to succeed at what they consider “advanced” courses, when in fact it’s the Grit to engage in sustained practice that matters. For example, do you think getting a PhD in Physics requires a certain innate talent or IQ level? If you do, you are probably wrong. In fact, it is probably grit, not IQ, that explains why one person obtains a PhD in Physics while another does not, even though they’d like to. This might not seem intuitive, because after all, getting a PhD in Physics requires mastery of some extremely complicated concepts, but let me explain. Students seem to observe the best student in class easily answer questions, or the teacher, graduate teaching assistant, or professor breeze through discussions of complicated subjects, and assume there must be some natural ability that underlies their knowledge. What they don’t see is all of the time spent practicing and studying, likely in a very deliberate way. It’s practice, not innate talent, that almost always explains knowledge and understanding of a subject. And, the gritty person is more likely to practice more and stick with difficult concepts until they fully understand them. Now, I’ll grant you, if you are going to earn a PhD in Physics from Harvard or certainly if you are going to earn a Nobel Prize in Physics, your IQ is probably going to matter. But even then, there is no Physics “gene.” Your effort and your work ethic combine to explain your performance. For an interesting exploration of these ideas, read this article by Cal Newport, a Computer Science Professor at Georgetown University, who was asked “To what extent does intelligence matter in college success?” Newport begins his response by saying “I don’t believe that intrinsic intelligence plays any significant role at the college level.” Read the full blog article about why intrinsic intelligence doesn’t drive academic success here. In my next post about grit, I’ll cover why effort matters twice, and discuss some ways to become grittier

How to get a TEFL job abroad teaching business English to adults

How to get a TEFL job abroad teaching business English to adults If you’re thinking about teaching English abroad, you might have plenty of questions, but there’s one thing you probably already have strong feelings about: whether or not you want to teach children or adults. Teaching young learners can be extremely enjoyable and rewarding, but it (understandably) may not be the best fit for everyone. It’s no secret that commanding a classroom full of kids or teenagers â€" especially ones who don’t speak your language â€" can be a challenge. So if you’d prefer to work with adults, teaching business English abroad may be just the thing for you! Whether you already have experience in the workplace or just graduated with a bachelor’s degree, there are plenty of opportunities out there for teaching business English. You just need to make sure to prepare yourself properly for this TEFL career path. So we’ve rounded up a few tips to help you get started. Let’s look at them at a glance and then dive in deeper. How can you start a TEFL career teaching business English to adults? Do a TEFL course with a specialization in teaching business English. Highlight your business English expertise on your resume. Find the right teaching job for you â€" whether it’s abroad or online! Do a TEFL Certification course with a specialization in teaching business English. First up, you’ll need a TEFL certificate. Yes, even if you already have professional or teaching experience, you still need a TEFL certificate because teaching English to business professionals is no easy feat. Whereas young learners can be won over with games and fun activities, positive relationships with adult students are often based on mutual professional respect. Your students will want to see that you know your stuff as a teacher, so choosing the right TEFL course is the best way to prepare. A good place to start is to look for a TEFL course that’s associated with a respected university, like the OISE University of Toronto TEFL Certification. Taking a university-level TEFL course doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have to go in for lectures. You can still study online, but have peace of mind knowing your TEFL certification course is legitimate. Plus, you’ll get to add a professional qualification from a world-renowned university to your resume. Once you’ve found a course that interests you, do some deeper research. Any good TEFL course should provide detailed course information online, including reviews from former students. But it’s worth looking up external TEFL course reviews as well to get some real, unbiased opinions! For instance, you can find great reviews for the OISE University of Toronto TEFL course on TEFL Course Review OISE TEFL, Go Abroad and Go Overseas. Next up, it’s time to specialize! Teaching business English requires a unique approach. You’ll be working with highly motivated students and teaching them specific skills that will have a direct impact on their careers. This can be deeply interesting and also hugely rewarding. Just imagine the difference you can make coaching someone for a big interview in English, helping them find the words to connect with colleagues, or giving them the confidence to speak up in meetings. With so much on the line, the best way to prepare yourself and your students for success is by doing a TEFL certification with a specialization in Teaching Business English. Highlight your business English specialization on your TEFL resume and Teach Away profile. Once you’ve built up your teaching skills, it’s time to show them off! The first thing you’ll need to help you find the business English TEFL job of your dreams isakiller resume. Even if you have no professional experience, there’s plenty of valuable information you can include when creating a TEFL resume. In addition to your education and the teaching skills you’ll gain with your TEFL business English specialization, you can also list any international experience you may have. And don’t forget to include transferable skills, such as public speaking, organizationand/or leadership. If you do have professional experience, now’s the time to talk it up. Any real experience you have in the business world will make you a huge asset to your future students, so go into detail about the fields you’ve worked in and the different roles you’ve held in the workplace. Finally, your TEFL job search will probably take place online, and your resume will be your employer’s first glance of who you are as a professional. Take time to make your resume the best it can be, and pay attention to formatting, spellingand grammar. Don’t forget that you’ll also need to craft both a strong resume and cover letter once you start applying for specific jobs. If this sounds a little overwhelming, don’t worry, there are plenty of great resources out there with tips on how to write a resume/CV for teaching English abroad. A little research can go a long way. What about my Teach Away profile? So glad you asked! As well as using the Teach Away website to search for jobs, you can also contact schools directly through the site so, resumes and cover letters aside, building a complete teacher profile is a great way to catch a TEFL employer’s eye. Completing your profile gives recruiters a well-rounded idea of who you are and what assets you can bring to their school. Find your dream job teaching business English abroad (or online). Once you have a killer TEFL resume ready to go, it’s time to start looking at postings on TEFL job boards. English is the international language of business, so you’re sure to find that business English teachers are in demand all over the world. If you don’t have a country in mind to work in, think about the professional fields that interest you. If there is a particular industry you are interested in connecting with through teaching, it’s worth researching where in the world these industries thrive and focusing your job search there. While you’re job hunting, make sure to read job postings very carefully and only to apply to language institutes that specifically focus on teaching adults, such as Wall Street English. If you’re not ready to move abroad right away, teaching online can be a great way to ease yourself into a TEFL career. Although most online teaching companies focus on teaching young students, iTutorGroup is a great example of a company that also caters to adults and offers online business English tutoring. Start your TEFL career journey today! To sum up, business English to adults is a thriving TEFL sector and one that can provide meaningful, intellectually stimulating work for many teachers who want to focus on teaching adults around the world. If you know that you want to teach business English abroad, choosing this TEFL course specialization will give you the skills you need and set you up for a successful job hunt. All teachers have different strengths and working in a role that suits you will help you bring out the best in your students and yourself. Start your TEFL journey today by enrolling in a 120- or 150-hour online TEFL certification course that lets youchoose a specialization in teaching Business English.