Looking to Study Arabic Any Idea of the Best Way

Looking to Study Arabic Any Idea of the Best Way Learning to Speak Arabic: What to Study? ChaptersWhat Is Linguistic Immersion?The Arab World.Learning Arabic through ImmersionAiding Memory Through Arabic ImmersionThe Other Benefits of Learning Arabic AbroadThe 'Year Abroad': Going to the Arabic-Speaking World with University.The 'Home-Stay': Learning Arabic Locally.The 'Private Tutorial': Get Your Own Arabic Tutor.The 'Conversation Class': Join an Arabic Class - or Set One Up Yourself.The 'Self-Taught' Learner: Can You Learn Arabic by Yourself?What, then, Are You Waiting For?“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardour and attended to with diligence.” - Abigail AdamsLearning Arabic, like any other language, often happens in the same way if you learn in a school. You’ll learn some words, practise reading and writing, and it can be painfully dull at times.There are 22 different Arabic-speaking countries who are also members of the Arabic league.In 2014, the Arab League covered 13.5 million km ² and is home to 378 million Arabic speakers.What better place to learn how to speak in Arabic?In this article, we’re going to look at what linguistic immersion is, how you can use it to learn a language, how immersion aids memory and the benefits of learning a language abroad through immersion.But we're also going to look at some of the other ways to learn the language - those same ones that can be painfully dull, those that might help you get to where you need to be before you go abroad, and those that you can fit around your schedule seamlessly.University of Cambridge: - at Cambridge, you can do as you please for your year abroad - obviously within reason. Their students have travelled to Palestine, Oman, Lebanon, and Egypt, and usually return pretty satisfied with their experience.University of Edinburgh: - in a similar way, Edinburgh has no fixed destination to which you will travel, but, over the thirty weeks you will be required to spend abroad, the university will make sure that you keep working and improving with your la nguage.School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London: - on an Arabic course at SOAS, you can take a year abroad at one of three institutions: the Qasid Institute in Amman; the Alif Institute in Fez; or the Alexandria School of Languages, in Egypt.Years abroad are a fabulous way to hone your language skills - and it is the reason language degrees are usually an extra year long. And these years make these extra years well worth it.The 'Home-Stay': Learning Arabic Locally.One of the most rewarding options available to those seeking an Arabic language immersion programme is the home stay. If you haven't heard about these before, they sort of do as they say on the tin: you stay in an individual or family's home, and learn the language whilst you are experiencing local habits, ways of life, food, and routines.People who do something like this usually say it is one of the best experiences of their life - and it is the peak of that contemporary buzzword that drives travelers these days: authentic.There are many organisations offering these experiences these days, with options available in Oman, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and more. The prices vary dramatically by region and by organisation, but you could be paying as little as $60 a week and as much as $1000 a week too!If you want to bypass the organisation and get a cheaper rate, you can go direct to your host. However, this can be something of a risk, as the organisations both accredit the host and insure against any risk.The 'Private Tutorial': Get Your Own Arabic Tutor.If you're interested in learning how to speak Arabic, then private tutorials are a great option. On Superprof, you can get one on one private tutorials, online tutorials, or group tutorials.Private tutorials are the most effective and also the most costly. This is because your tutor will tailor the lessons to you, your strengths and weaknesses, and your preferred learning style. This means you'll get a bespoke service from them.S uperprof is a great place to find yourself an Arabic tutor, with over 800 available across the world. They charge an average of £17 an hour, and you can find native speakers, graduates, university students, and even academics available to give you tuition.They are qualified, experienced, and friendly, and they will have you speaking, reading, and listening effectively in no time.This is the best option for those of you who don't fancy traveling abroad just yet, or who don't have a sufficient grasp of Arabic for immersion to be productive. As, sometimes, it's helpful to have a basic understanding of the language before you dive in.Online Arabic Tutors.Online tutorials are similar but are cheaper because the tutor doesn't have to factor the cost of travelling to you into their rates. They'll deliver their private tutorials via webcam using a programme such as Skype.And honestly, these days, such technologies can facilitate as productive and helpful conversations as those had face-to- face. Talk to your heart's content - whilst you will be set up with homework, writing tasks, and solo research to do in your own time.If you are not in an area well-served by Arabic tutors, you can find - through Superprof again - and connect with more tutors than you could possibly imagine. Technology is awesome these days.So, if you are travelling to Morocco and want to polish your Moroccan Arabic, or if you are going to the Levant and want to brush the cobwebs off your Levantine, then connect with a tutor there who speaks the dialect, and you'll be talking away immediately.The 'Conversation Class': Join an Arabic Class - or Set One Up Yourself.Finally, it's worth mentioning that group tutorials have the advantage of being the cheapest per hour. This is because the hourly rate is shared by all the students in attendance.This also means that you won't get the same amount of attention from the tutor and the class won't be designed with just you in mind. But, that needn't be such an issue. The thing here is that people often learn better in group environments - building on different people's mistakes, hearing questions that they hadn't necessarily considered themselves, and enjoying the social element added to it.If there aren't any group classes or conversational classes in Arabic available in your home town, why not set one up? Get in touch with a Superprof tutor and see whether they are available and willing. It won't be good just for your language skills - but for your social life and your wallet too.The 'Self-Taught' Learner: Can You Learn Arabic by Yourself?This is a question that people often ask about learning languages:  can I learn it by myself?It's also a method that people think would be best, as they can study in their own time, at their own pace.It might even be possible with a language that is a little more similar to English - a language that shares the alphabet, that shares a few words, that has similar phonological patterns. Even then, with no -one to talk to or to ask questions, it's still pretty tough.With Arabic, you aren't going to enjoy any of the similarities that a language like Italian or German has with English. With Arabic, the alphabet, the sounds are incredibly dissimilar to English, and it is one that you may not have come into much contact with before.Sure, with all the resources available online and in books it might be  possible.  But it is far from preferable, and the challenge might prove too much.What, then, Are You Waiting For?If you are committed to learning Arabic, the last thing to say is, what exactly are you waiting for? The language is not going to learn itself!

How to Trick Applicant Tracking Systems and Get the Job - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Trick Applicant Tracking Systems and Get the Job - Introvert Whisperer How to Trick Applicant Tracking Systems and Get the Job It takes time to create a great resume. You have to sit and think about each and every word or achievement. You have to figure out what the hiring manager wants to hear. You have to take the time to review each and every line in order to make sure it presents yourself in the best light possible. By the time you send in the resume, you will likely have spent hours writing, researching, and analyzing each and every detail. So it may be a bit disheartening to learn that, even after all that time spent crafting the best resume you can possibly make, most hiring managers will never see it. Thousands of Resumes, So Little Time These days, employers are frequently overwhelmed with job applications. The internet has made applying for jobs so easy, that a job opening in a big city can receive as many as 1,000 applications or more within 24 hours, and the average job in almost any city receives at least 118 resumes by the time the job is closed. For the average hiring manager â€" many of whom have other tasks to perform â€" that number is absurd. So to make life easier, many use an applicant tracking system, or “ATS.” What is An Applicant Tracking System? An ATS is a database of resumes. As soon as a resume is received, someone cuts and pastes the details of the resume into a form, which adds it to the database. When an employer is ready to start hiring people, they’ll search that database for a key term, and the database will filter through all of the applications and bring up the resumes that have that term in it. Some applicant tracking systems using an automated scoring mechanism, but the process is largely the same. For the company, there are many different benefits for using this type of system: It makes reviewing resumes much faster. It allows you to keep a database of applicants for future jobs. It is less likely to introduce biases. But for the applicant, it can also be problematic. You can create an amazing resume that meets all of the required criteria, but if you are missing just one key detail or keyword, your resume may not ever see the hiring manager’s eyes. How to Beat the ATS The idea that you may spend so much time on a resume only to have it ignored may be disheartening. Luckily, there ways that you can ensure that you show up for any searches, and tricks that you can use to make sure you put yourself in the best position to get a call. These include: Use Every Key Term in a Job Posting â€" Many of the key terms will already be in the job posting. For example, if the company wants someone with “Salesforce CRM Experience” then you should make sure that “Salesforce CRM” is in your resume. Review Competitor Job Ads â€" Do your research as well. Find out what other job descriptions from competitors and those in other states ask for. Not every company puts every qualification on their job advertisements. But if you look at what other job ads for other companies list, you can often find additional information that should be placed on your resume. Use Both Acronyms and Full Titles â€" Always remember that the people that search these databases are human beings. They may search for an acronym, like “ATS” or “CRM” or “BYOB,” or they may search for the full phrase, like “applicant tracking system.” Since you don’t know what they’re searching for, it helps to have both versions in the resume. Use a Professional Summary â€" You have limited space to put information that helps in an applicant tracking system. Skip the space clogging “objective statement” and instead use a professional summary â€" a 5 to 6 sentence paragraph where you can highlight some of your best features, and plug in valuable key terms. Add Numbers â€" Automated ATS can read numbers to determine important information, such as the number of years worked for a company. Make sure you’re using the numerical version of numbers, rather than the typed out version of the number (ie, 5 vs five). Keep it Simple â€" The average ATS is designed to look for specific information. For example, a “Work Experience” section with the job title above each bulleted list. If you do anything fancy, such as changing the title of the Work Experience section to something unique, like “Sarah’s Job History,” or if you add special formatting that isn’t normal for resumes, you may confuse the applicant tracking system and have your resume discarded. Tweak Often â€" Finally, don’t be afraid to make little changes. Consider different keywords and phrases that may be important. Use synonyms whenever possible. Alter your job title to be more in line with what the title would be at the job. Avoid any filler text and unnecessary information. Tweaking often can make sure that even if one ATS doesn’t like your resume, others will. Technology may have made applying for jobs easier, but it also means that job seekers need to take the time to perfect their resume for the positions to which they’re applying. Often that means making sure that your resume is ATS ready. Consider the above tips and strategies to maximize your chance at landing the job, and remember that the time you spend to build the perfect resume is always worth it. Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective.  But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will?  If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Online Tutoring Right Choice for English Assignment Help

Online Tutoring Right Choice for English Assignment Help 0SHARESShare Tutor Pace, USA’s most recognized online tutoring website has hired experienced professionals to deliver excellent guidance to students looking for online English Assignment Help. The technology offers service at affordable rates.   The live tutors are committed to proffer high quality guidance to students from k-12.  If you are looking for a suitable tutoring to excel in your English classes and achieve the expected grade, Internet learning is the right choice for you. Exams are essential for evaluation of a student’s performance, but the thought of examination bothers majority of students. In such a scenario, online tutors can be a smart choice. Online tutoring helps students to resolve difficulties of any subject. Changes in technology have provided equal opportunities to all the students. Students can book a class with a professor to get assistance for a particular problem or topic. Sitting at their home students can interact with teachers of their choice. Distance education is undoubtedly becoming more and more popular these days. [starbox id=admin]

16 Phrasal Verbs with OUT - English Lesson via Skype

16 Phrasal Verbs with OUT - English Lesson via Skype In this post you will learn 16 phrasal verbs with out. Phrasal verbs change the verbs meaning based on the preposition that goes after them.You might want to refresh your knowledge on the grammar of phrasal verbs and find out about the types of phrasal verbs in English.Today, lets concentrate on the preposition out and the phrasal verbs that I have for you today are:  break out, check out, come out, die out, find out, hand out, knock out, leave out, look out, make out, pass out, put out, run out, stand out, try out, turn out Phrasal Verbs with Out LOOK OUTyou usually shout this to warn someone that they are in danger. For example, when there is a car or bus approaching and they dont notice it.Example: Look out! There is a car coming he shouted to the boy who was about to cross the road.PUT OUT1. to extinguish a fireExample: Paris firefighters battled through the night to put out the blaze at Notre Dame cathedral.2. to switch off a lightExample: Could you please put out the light in the kitchen?TRY SOMETHING OUTto test something, to see if something works the way you want it to workExample: Nowadays software comes in so many forms, you need to try it out before you buy it.HAND OUTto give something to different people in a groupExample: The teachers asked me to hand out the exam papers.BREAK OUTsomething starts suddenly and quickly spreads (a war, epidemic, etc)Example: The disease first received international attention when an epidemic broke out at the end of the XIX century.DIE OUTsomething gradually ceases to exist and eventu ally disappearsExample: Unless something is done soon, hedgehogs will die out in the UK within the next 20 years.TURN OUTto happen in a certain way, to have a particular resultExample: We thought we were seeing the real painting, but it turned out to be a fraud.  PASS OUTto faint or lose consciousnessExample: It was so hot and stuffy in the room that I thought I was going to pass out. Phrasal Verbs with Out Enjoyed this infographic? Here's what you can do next: CHECK OUTwhen you check out of a hotel, you pay the final bill and give back your room key before departingExample: We checked out of our hotel this morning after three-night stay.STAND OUTto be very noticeable on one way or otherExample: Shes   recently dyed her hair blue and now really stands out in a crowd.LEAVE OUTto not include something or someoneExample: Sarah was very unlucky yesterday. She got an awkward seat at the table   where she was completely left out of conversations.FIND OUTto learn or discover something that you didnt know beforeExample: Visit the link below and find out about the online English courses I offer.MAKE OUTto manage to see, read or hear somethingExample: His accent is so strong, I can hardly make out what he is saying.COME OUTto be available to the publicExample: His last book came out just before Christmas.KNOCK OUT1. to make someone unconscious for a whileExample: The pills knocked me out, I didnt hear her.2. to eliminate someone from a competitionExa mple: They were lucky to stay in the top four with victory over the team  they knocked out of the tournament.RUN OUTto not have any leftExample: I really wanted to have porridge for breakfast but weve run out of milk and I cant have it with water.

PLAY BALL - Why Fall Sports Are Great For Kids with ADHD

PLAY BALL - Why Fall Sports Are Great For Kids with ADHD With the school season fast approaching, now is the time to start thinking about your childs extracurricular activities. Think sports are not the place for kids with ADHD? Think again! Youth sports can be one of the most valuable experiences your child has in their development and is especially well-suited for kids with ADHD. Youth sports provide a unique, life lessons classroom. There are very few places where kids learn teamwork, where its okay (and in fact encouraged!) to make mistakes and learn from them, where you learn to control your emotions, and where you learn how to set and achieve goals. Kids also learn good sportsmanship winning with class, and losing with dignity. Youd be hard pressed to find another place where you child could learn so much! Kids learn the benefits of routine. Its sometimes hard to convince your child that their morning routine actually sets hin/her up for success. But that lesson becomes a bit clearer to kids in sports. They start to understand the benefits of practice before games, they start to understand the importance of following steps or plays to achieve a goal, and they start to see how following that routine leads to success (goals scored!). The ability to learn the importance of a routine and adhering to that routine then rubs off in other non-sports areas. Kids learn teamwork. Relating to other kids can sometimes be a challenge for kids with ADHD, especially in a classroom environment. In sports, success comes when kids work together and early-on kids start to see the benefits of teamwork. They understand that in order to score points, they need the other players to communicate and understand each other. And oftentimes kids with ADHD who otherwise struggle to connect with other kids can find quick common ground on the need to pass, to call for a ball, or to look ahead for a teammate. When kids can master that teamwork in the sports environment, they oftentimes can parlay those lessons into life outside of sports. Mistakes are okay. Kids with ADHD are often down on themselves, always being disciplined or scolded for their out-of-bounds behavior. They feel like they are always making mistakes. But in sports, mistakes are okay actually, they are encouraged. Coaches remind kids that in order to learn how to do it right, they need to do it wrong and learn from those mistakes. And even more importantly, that past mistakes dont matter that you brush it off and move to the next play. Learning that type of thinking allows kids with ADHD to recognize that, for example, they might make a mistake in the classroom, but that doesnt mean they will keep making those mistakes or will forever be the bad kid, but instead that they can learn from their mistake and do it differently next time. Staying positive. Along those same lines, sports help teach kids how to stay positive. Do you remember the McDonalds commercial where the coach takes the losing team to McDonalds after the game, while the winning team just gets a trophy? Somehow losing was actually a more positive outcome! Kids learn in sports that there are positives to be had even in loses and that sports is about having fun, spending time with your friends, learning new skills, and trying something new. And for kids with ADHD who may feel down on themselves about school or are not looking forward to another challenging academic year, sports can be a bright spot something for them to look forward to, to get excited about, and to be engaged with you and their friends. Focus on effort, not outcomes. In sports, kids learn that they cant control the outcome they cant control whether they win or lose, because that really depends on the other side. What they can control is the effort they put forth. They learn to control the controllables their effort, their commitment to learning, and their willingness to take risks and make mistakes to get better. That lesson, too, can translate to their life outside of sports and help them be far more resilient as they work to improve, say, their math skills. Exercise! Last but not least, the research is clear: kids with attention-issues benefit from exercise. Think about it: youd find it hard to concentrate and get your work done if you werent allow to step away from your desk and clear your head. Thats even more true for growing kids. They need a break! They need time to run around, use their muscles, get some fresh air, and release some of that pent up energy. Running the length of a soccer field multiple times in practice and games is great for them! And when its over, they can then sit down at the kitchen table to tackle homework. So go ahead! Register for a fall sport this season. One last piece of advice: introduce yourself to your childs coach right away. Let them know that your son or daughter has ADHD, and share the strategies that work best for your child. More often than not coaches respond positively to having this information upfront. It helps them plan ahead and strategize about which ADHD management activities may work best. If your childs coach doesnt respond well, it may be a sign that this coach isnt the right fit. You know your child and their ADHD better than anyone. When you partner with your childs coach, youll help create an ideal environment for your child to learn and grow. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Burlington, Vermont the U.S. Smallest Big City

Burlington, Vermont the U.S. Smallest Big City Vermont’s largest city Burlington is the states business, financial, educational, medical and cultural center. Located on the picturesque shoreline of Lake Champlain near the Green Mountains, Burlington offers its inhabitants astounding opportunities in all spheres of life: health and recreational facilities, educational and career prospects, entertainment and arts events. Traditional farms coexist peacefully with high-tech and space-age industries in this amazing city. Burlingtons successes have been acknowledged many times by various organizations. It was named “One of the Top 10 Best Small Cities to do Business in” by Inc. Magazine (2004), “No.7 Most student-friendly U.S. City for populations under 1 million” by Collegia Magazine in 2004, Best of the Best places to live (top 5 of their 50 Best Places to Live) by Mens Journal Magazine in 2006, “The Greenest City in the USA” by the The Star.com in 2008, “No.1 Place to Raise a Family” by Childrens Health Magazine in 2009. Recently Forbes ranked it as one of Americas Best Downtowns. In 2010 Burlington won The Home Depot Foundations Award of Excellence for Sustainable Community Development (small city category). It was noticed that Burlington’s sustainability efforts focus on the four Es: Education, Equity, Environment and Economics. Highly educated and qualified labor force is one of the leading factors that creates the general prosperity of the city. Over 40% of Burlingtons residents have Bachelors or higher degree. The education system in Burlington is aimed at providing young students with high-quality education, social supports and lifelong learning opportunities for all. The high standards for learning in the Burlington schools are based on deep community connections, enhancements in arts, music and environmental sustainability, and increased hands-on learning. On average, tutors in the district hold masters degrees and 15 years of experience. City school system educates almost 3,600 students in nine schools from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade Twelve. There are also two unique learning institutions for K-5 students: the Sustainable Academy at Barnes and the Integrated Arts Academy at Wheeler Elementary. Burlington is home to several institutions of higher education, including the University of Vermont, Champlain College, Burlington College, Burlington Technical Center, Woodbury Institute at Champlain College. The University of Vermont (UVM), established in 1791, is the 23rd college founded in the United States. UVM combines faculty-student relationships typical to a small liberal arts college with the resources of a major research institution. The university enrolls over 10,000 undergraduates, 1,500 graduate students and almost 500 medical students. The most popular major programs at UVM are Business Administration and Management; Political Science and Government; Psychology; English Language and Literature; and Biology/Biological Sciences. Among the university’s programs for graduate students is the highly ranked College of Medicine that offers 54 masters and 24 doctoral programs, and an M.D.program. University of Vermonts ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 82. The University provides many prospects for lifelong study, such as the Division of Continuing Education, offering programs for high school students, online courses, certificates and programs, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Community Medical School, UVM Extension and other courses. These numerous learning opportunities maintain Burlington’s strong reputation as a top college town, educational and cultural center of Vermont. TutorZ.com provides for private tutoring assistance for students of all ages. Visit www.tutorz.com to find the best tutor for you or your children in Burlington, Vermont.

The ESL Experience Teaching Abroad in Paris, France

The ESL Experience Teaching Abroad in Paris, France Kindergarten teacher Beck, 26, from Australia’s Sunshine Coast, spent a year as an ESL teacher at various schools and language centres across Paris, teaching children as young as 9 months and up to 12 years old. Did teaching in France live up to your expectations? How? In every country that you teach, the children are different and learn differently. In France, it took me a while to figure out what types of activities the children enjoy and what kind of lesson content gets their attention. In this case was competitive games and competitions. Once I’d cracked that part, working with the children was amazing. They really love learning English because they can see its relevance everyday through road signs, transport announcements in English and more. Tell us something you found interesting or surprising about schools in France. The days are long for the children. School starts at 9am and doesn’t finish until 6pm. However, when I was teaching in Paris, all the children had Wednesdays off. How long did it take you to find a position? It took a few months to find a good company in Paris that paid well, according to your experience, and a company that was also supportive. What attracted you to Paris to teach English? I love to travel and wanted to explore more of Europe. The UK and Paris are very much in the center of all that. I knew that it would be easy to get to London for the weekend or to Switzerland for a week away skiing. Paris is a long way from Australia... What was the hardest part of French life to adjust to? The general lifestyle was one of the hardest things to get used to. The working day for anyone in Paris is long and tiring. However, it was usual for us to finish the day off at a cafe, with a glass of wine and a plate of bread and cheese, so I’m not complaining... What kinds of lessons did your students enjoy most? Active lessons - we were always moving, playing games and dancing during the lessons. Because the children are in school for a lot of the time, they really respond well to fun activities that allow them to use all that stored up energy. Tell us more about how you teach babies English. The aim of the class was to getting them used to hearing English being spoken through songs and play, which helps them to understand and pick the language up. Mothers and nannies came with their babies and it was as much about teaching them English too! Having experience in teaching young children at a previous job helped me to get this position, as I didn’t need any special training. What did your students find especially challenging about learning English? Pronunciation. My students found it extremely difficult to pronounce some sounds correctly, such as the letter ‘h’ in 'hello'. But we worked on that and they improved so much during the year. How did you spend your free time in Paris? Travelling and sightseeing. We would go away on weekends to North France, Belgium and London or we would stay home and go have a picnic under the Eiffel Tower with friends. Did you get the opportunity to improve your French skills? Absolutely! Even though I was an English teacher and spoke English most of the day, I still had to communicate with parents in French and also do day-to-day things such as buying food and bus fares in French. What did you learn about yourself from your experience? I learnt that language is not an impossible barrier. It shouldn't stop anyone from travelling somewhere or making new connections and friends. I also learnt to enjoy and make the most of the times that you are not working. If you could give one piece of advice to someone heading off to teach English in France, what would it be? Teaching wise, I would suggest that you learn lots of games and activities to play with younger children that encourage them to speak in English and repeat words. Learn every single nursery rhyme you can and plenty of songs. I also want to say 'learn French,' but you will once you arrive, you won't have a choice! So I think I would say, travel and make the most of living in Europe. Go and see the major sights but also travel to the small towns where no one really goes to because that is where you will see the culture and meet some amazing and helpful people.

Orca Welfare and Safety Act Its Time To End The Cruelty

Orca Welfare and Safety Act It's Time To End The Cruelty image via gifts.worldwildlife.org It’s crazy to think that everything you love about something can be based on a lie. You know what they say: the more you tell a lie, the more you start to believe it yourself. SeaWorld used to be one of my favorite parks to visit. Watching the trainers do mind boggling tricks with the orcas made me want to be a trainer too. I wanted to have that special bond with the animals and know that I was doing some good by taking care of them. But SeaWorld is built on a fragile bubble of lies, and it was only a matter of time before something came along and burst it for the world to see. That something was Blackfish. If you haven’t seen the documentary Blackfish, you need to get on your Netflix account ASAP because it is definitely worth watching. The truth is ugly, and what Blackfish exposed about SeaWorld made people fight back. Blackfish has inspired the making of a new bill, the Orca Welfare and Safety Act, which to SeaWorld’s dismay, is backed up by many. The bill was introduced by State Assembly member Richard Bloom, Dâ€"Santa Monica, and if it passes, it will make it “illegal to hold in captivity, or use, a wild-caught or captive-bred orca for performance or entertainment purposes.” David Kirby, Professional Journalist and author of Death at SeaWorld, said in this article that the bill would also ban “artificial insemination of captive killer whales in California and block the import of orcas or orca semen from other states.” image via thebroccolibulletin.wordpress.com The documentary is making people realize how cruel it is to hold these animals captive in tiny pens for their whole lives. They aren’t meant to perform little circus tricks for our amusement; they are meant to swim miles and miles in the ocean and be free. I mean, how would you like to be ripped away from your family and then stuck in a tiny bathtub your whole life? Bloom said “There is  no justification for the continued captive display of orcas for entertainment purposes.” That’s the thing about the truth: you can’t un-hear it, no matter how much you wish you could. Luke Siller, a second year biotechnology student at Palomar College, said “the whales at SeaWorld live in non-natural conditions such as being held in a cramped dark tank until needed or even stripped of some of their teeth to protect the trainers.” So then we have to wonder, why did it take a documentary to make us see what we all knew was wrong? Michael, an analyst for the Department of Defense, said “SeaWorld was established as a haven for injured or displaced animals, reminiscent of a rehabilitation center (Conservation).” Like many others, I always assumed that all of the animals were rescued, so I was able to reason in my head that they were only in captivity because they weren’t fit to go back to the wild and they were having a great life performing and feeling better. But that is the façade, and exactly why this captivity of the animals has been going on for so long. As long as we can hold on to the lie, why question it? According to SeaWorld’s company spokesman, Fred Jacobs, SeaWorld has “assisted whales many times, including killer whales,” when they were lost or stranded. But as Kirby mentions in this article, “in at least three cases, SeaWorld seemed more interested in sending these orcas into a life of  captivity to entertain tourists, rather than releasing them back into the ocean.” That’s the problem. SeaWorld could keep us as pawns in their spiel because we never saw the aftermath to what they were doing. We just heard that they were helping the animals, and we felt good paying the overpriced park tickets and parking fees because we knew that it was all going back to the animals. image via www.pinterest.com So now that people are fighting back, what will this mean for the whales that are currently at SeaWorld? When I first saw Blackfish, I was pissed, and like many others, wanted the whales to be released immediately. People think that if the bill passes that all the whales will be set free, and this is sadly not the case. Seven of the ten whales currently at SeaWorld in San Diego were born in captivity and therefore would not be able to survive in the open sea. The best alternative for these whales would be a sea pen sanctuary that people would be allowed to visit, but no tricks would be performed. According to this article by Kirby, “As for the three wild-caught orcas, it could be that only one, Corky, is a viable candidate for releaseâ€"and even then, only after an intensive period of rehabilitation, in which she would need to relearn how to catch fish.” Corky is the main potential candidate because she still might remember her pod, which whales need to be in to survive. “The ‘Free Corky’ page  at Whale and Dolphin Conservation reads, ‘She visibly shook and vocalized poignantly when a tape recording of her familys calls were played to her in 1993,’” Kirby said. But what about the others? Would sea pens be the answer? “Realistically, the answer to the problem is to stop the breeding program and ensure that the animals are taken care of until the end of their lives,”  Michael said. So it could be argued that if SeaWorld were to agree to certain terms of agreement, that maybe it would be okay for them to keep the whales they have, but not capture or breed any more. image via niagaraadl.com Even though some people may fail to see it, these animals have feelings, a sense of self, are intelligent, and deserve to be treated as such. Cruelty ends now. Are you in?