Ap Chemistry - Learn Chemistry Online

Ap Chemistry - Learn Chemistry OnlineWith the recent turn around in the Ap chemistry profession, the United States Department of Education has approved the Ap Tutor, a tool that teaches the core subjects and prepares students for AP Chemistry. Due to the recent policy shifts, educational agencies have the ability to offer a supplement to the AP course that includes core study guides, test preparation materials, and practice tests. This can prove to be an excellent aid to students who are struggling with the AP coursework.In order to become an Ap Tutor, students must first register for the class. Once enrolled, they will be sent homework and test-prep materials by the tutoring service. The tutor also provides guidance and mentoring to students in achieving success on the AP Chemistry exam.During the first four weeks of class, students will learn AP content and skills in chemistry using the AAK (Approved Algebra). The next four weeks, students will be studying AP material in chemistry with a focus on Alkali Metal or K-Molecule study. On the final week, students will spend time reviewing AP material, preparing for Alkali Metal and K-Molecule review, and applying the material they learned in class in their laboratory activities. Students then complete the AP course with two exams: one for alkali metals and another for K-molecules.The AP Chemistry exam covers the same material as the AP Exam. The AAK, however, is modified to make it more challenging. Students need to take additional notes and review their notes for several days leading up to the exam.An AP tutor in Kansas City can help students prepare for this test. He or she will examine your knowledge of the material and help you develop a test strategy. Based on previous tests, he or she will design questions based on specific types of material. The goal is to encourage each student to learn and practice the material.The skills taught in this course are applicable to every student studying in Kansas City. This c urriculum allows students to test themselves in every area and reach higher levels of mastery. The AP Tutor program allows students to focus on their strengths and weaknesses and consider ways to improve their knowledge.Throughout the year, students in Kansas City will continue to learn about this course. They will also be able to apply this knowledge to any other subject. This will allow students to learn from others who are already working toward the same goals. There is no better way to understand a topic than to have someone who has been through the process before you.If you are interested in finding a Kansas City tutor for AP Chemistry, you can begin searching online today. You can find a variety of different tutors online. This can be a great way to save time and money and to get the help you need to succeed.

4 Convenient Ways to Keep a Language Learning Log

4 Convenient Ways to Keep a Language Learning Log 4 Convenient Ways to Keep a Language Learning Log Studying a new language? You could learn a thing or two from Harriet.  Whos Harriet?Shes the titular character in “Harriet the Spy,” an award-winning kid’s book written by Louise Fitzhugh. The book was published in the sixties, made into a movie thirty years later and still has a strong following. Why? Because Harriet is a kid “spy” who aspires to be a writer.What does this have to do with language learning? Well, Harriet fastidiously kept a secret log about everythingâ€"and I mean everything!Harriet’s log book went everywhere she went. In it, she noted all the important stuff andâ€"here’s how we can learn from the kid spyâ€"she remembered it all. Really, all of it.Logging is a great way to note and remember important facts, ideas and thoughts.Logging  consistently worked for Harriet. It can work for language learners, too!Let’s check out why logs work and learn how to compile one that’ll give your language program a boost! What Are Language Logs and Why Are They Useful for Language Learners?A language log is an abbreviated version of a standard diary or journal. It’s  a record of your language-learning journey.Language logs are used to track progress. As milestones are reachedâ€"moving from basic learner to intermediate, for exampleâ€"theyre noted in the log. It’s a snap to see where you’ve been and how far you’ve come if you keep a good record!Logs are also used to keep track of what materials you’re currently studying as well as what you’ve completed. Some reasons to keep a language log include:It keeps you on track.  Sometimes it feels like youre spending less time studying than you actually are, and if that’s the case, your log will show it immediately. Also, you may want to devote a certain amount of time to different resources: videos, reading, vocabulary, etc. Logging allows you to count and allocate that sort of time, as well.It helps set goals.  You can see where you are and make your way to where you want to be!It se nds a message to your brain.  Studies suggest that writing something down tells the brain we’ve actually done that thing. Kind of like crossing it off our mental checklist! It’s pretty interesting if we consider that when were logging our learning, the brain assumes logged material is “done”â€"or learned.It makes you feel good. Another study shows that learners who keep logs feel positively impacted by the experience. And learning a language  should be a positive experience!It helps you remember things better. Logging your studies increases the probability that what youve learned will be remembered! A total win-win as far as our brains are concerned.A language log is portable, customizable and personal. Whichever method you adoptâ€"paper or screenâ€"is entirely your call because both are beneficial to a language learning program.If you’d like to take a peek at other language learners’ logsâ€"for inspiration or just out of curiosityâ€"A Language Learner’s Forum is a gre at spot to do that. There are logs written by learners about countless languages.What to Include in Your Language LogFirst, decide what’s important. We all have different language learning goals: Some want to be fluent while others strive to acquire a massive vocabulary. It’s your choice what to include in your log but try to focus on the items that are most vital to your personal program.When you fill in your work in the log, jot down how long you studied or even some impressions about the activity you worked on. Was it easy? Do you need to find the next level study guide? Or maybe you struggled with the vocabulary. The log is the spot to keep track of these issues.Try to be consistent.Get into the habit of keeping your language log. Note your work daily so you don’t fall behind.You can use your learning log to record vocabulary lists or keep track of exercises youve done or videos youve watched. Use it in conjunction with  FluentUs language learning program and youll expand your language skills even more.  FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.  Whether you record how long you spent studying or how many videos you watched, adding FluentU to your daily language learning regimen is a step towards fluency!How to Organize Your Language LogHow you organize your log is equally important and should also be personal to you. There are two common ways to organize a language log, but you can do whatever works for you!Divide and conquer.Many learners divide their logs into sections. Splitting things up makes it easier to see what you’re doing with any particular facet of the program. Coursework, vocabulary, reading, pronunciation and cultural events are common headings for this type of log.Chronological order.Alternatively, section your language log by days of the week. Log specific work on particular daysâ€"say, Monday, Wednesday and Friday for v ocabulary and reading; Tuesday and Thursday for coursework and writing; weekends for cultural events.This style is my personal choice for keeping a language log. I know that if it’s Monday, I’m going heavy on vocabulary and reading. Simple, but effective.4 Convenient Ways to Keep a Language Learning LogNow that you’ve decided what to include in you language learning log, you have one more decision to make.Digital? Or paper? Both methods have value and work equally well. Its just a matter of personal taste, so choose whatever appeals more to you.Technophiles, well begin with three digital methods, then move on to the paper option.1. Plug n Play with Pre-Made Log TemplatesA pre-made log template makes organizing your log a breeze.Seesaw  (iOS, Android) is a digital portfolio app  that’s used in classrooms for communication between students, teachers and parents but it can work for solo learners as well.Use it to add folders for skills, track progress, share progress if you’r e working with a language partner, voice record (helpful for logging progress!) and more.Google apps offers another option that makes it easy to create your own log. Simply download the template, customize it (keeping your personal program and goals in mind) and you’re ready to begin logging.2. Graph It with an Excel SpreadsheetExcel spreadsheets are great for keeping track of just about anything and that includes language learning. The good thing is that many of us are familiar with them and might have used some in the workplace. Even if youre unfamiliar with spreadsheets, creating one is an uncomplicated task.To build a spreadsheet, launch Excel or create a new sheet in Google Drive. The grid will show on your screenâ€"don’t be overwhelmed! Just fill in the top cells according to what your program goals are (vocabulary, reading, writing and all the rest). Then determine when you’ll accomplish those items and assign cells down the left side of the page as time markers (a mont hly grid works well so numbering the vertical cells from 1-30 is a quick method).Tekhnologic has a great downloadable spreadsheet thats perfect for building a huge vocabulary list.If you’re studying more than one language, you can make one sheet for several languages. Additionally, you could make several sheets to track various facets (activity or length of time studied).3. Tell the World with a BlogLots of learners are going public with their language journey by keeping blogs.Turn your log into a blog and share your experiences with others!Blogs are updated regularly, which is consistent with the idea of a language log. Also, they’re generally written in a conversational tone, so sharing with other language learners can almost become a social event!Allow comments on your blog and you can also  enjoy chatting with other learners. Who knows? While you’re busy logging your learning you might inspire someone else to do the same thing. Or you could trade tips with others and learn some new ways to increase your program’s productivity.The Polyglot Dream and 5-Minute Language are two of my favorite language learning blogs to read!4. Go Retro with PaperIf you’re down with a no-fuss, low-investment option, grab a notebook and pen. It worked for Harriet the Spy and it works for language learners, too!There are even  notebooks made specifically for this endeavorâ€"but of course, you can use whatever paper you prefer.Honestly, this is my method of choice. It’s uncomplicated, takes only a few minutes each day to update and gives me an at-a-glance method to see what I’ve done and what I need to work on.Head the first page with the current month, add the date and log in your language work for that day. If you want to get fancy, use different colored pens to separate vocabulary time from reading time, for exampleâ€"but honestly, that’s not even necessary.Wondering what a paper language learning log looks like? Take a peek at this one written by Stefanie Zweig for some super ideas! Also, Lemonade, Languages, and Occasionally Cabbages has an interesting blog post on keeping a paper language log.As I said, Harriet did the job with a notebook and pencil. It works!Tracking your learning progress is beneficial for many reasons from goal setting to monitoring fluency, but let’s face itâ€"keeping a log keeps us honest. When we’re accountable for entering our hours and activities it’s less tempting to skip them.Harriet’s log was a witness to the activity in her neighborhood.Our language logs are witnesses to our language acquisition.We’re lucky, though. Unlike Harriet, we don’t need to crawl through shrubbery or hang out of trees. We know where we’re goingâ€"and our logs tell that story.Log your way to fluency, one entry at a time! And One More ThingIf youve read this far, youre obviously serious about tracking your language learning progressâ€"you can get started on this with FluentU today. FluentU makes it possible to learn lan guages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.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.

AP Exams and the DBQ How to Improve - by TutorNerds

AP Exams and the DBQ How to Improve - by TutorNerds Tips From an Irvine Test Prep Tutor: AP Exams and the DBQ: How to Improve Many students have started studying for their DBQ essays that will appear on their AP exams in mid May. Many students struggle with the DBQ (document based question) essay because they have to combine both reading comprehension and writing skills while under a tight timeframe. Most students can write a high quality DBQ essay if they are given any amount of time to finish (assuming they had an adequate amount of practice). However, when the clock is ticking on the actual exam day, many students simply dont finish on time or they write a poor quality essay because they rushed. Its critical that students dont waste months of study because they needed more practice on one section of the exam (READ: Ask a Nerd! Taking the AP Exam). 1. Practice makes perfect Students should never attempt to do their DBQ essay for the very first time on the day of the test. Some AP classroom teachers will have focused heavily on the DBQ while others will not. Regardless of the amount of time spent in the classroom, students absolutely have to practice on their own to make sure they can write an essay in the amount of time given. The first thing students should do is buy a reputable test prep book that has multiple practice tests. Students can also rely on their tutor to provide additional questions or even create a mock DBQ essay. Students can start by writing a high quality essay without worrying about time constraints and then learn ways to cut down on time with their tutor. Without having mastered the skill of writing a quality essay, cutting down on time is fruitless. 2. Learn about yourself Each writer is different. No student will automatically fall into a category; it’s important that each AP student has an individualized study plan to put them on the right track. Some students will rush through an intro and conclusion thus making the entire essay of poor quality, while others will suffer from writer’s block and won’t even be able to get started. Its critical for students to know about themselves as writers so they can talk with their tutor about an individualized academic plan. 3. Content over style Before working on the style of the essay students need to master content. Part of mastering the content on a DBQ essay is learning how to find particular supports from each document. Students should highlight and underline as they go so they don’t have to search for this information a second time. Students who are practicing are encouraged to color code or use an organizational system that will help them separate one document from another (READ: Last Minute AP Style Guide). 4. Reading comprehension and speed reading Theres a fine line between effective speed reading and simply scanning a paragraph without picking up the information. This is another situation where practice makes perfect; students taking AP exams this May should work on this technique for several weeks prior to the exam date. Its crucial that students read the documents as quickly as they can while still maintaining a full comprehension of the information given. This is another example of the importance of individualized education and something students should work on with their Irvine test prep tutor. Organization and mental presence are the keys to success on this particular portion of the AP exam. 5. The visual DBQ Many DBQ essays have a photograph or painting in addition to written documents. Unfortunately, its one of the most overlooked documents in the DBQ portion and many students are not able to adequately interpret the visual document or write about it. Students should learn the difference between making a reasonable inference and an assumption that goes too far. They will also need to be able to understand the time period of a photograph or painting and put it in context. For example, a photograph from 1910 will have a different connotation than a painting from 1730. This is another thing that students should discuss with their tutor. If need be, students can write a short summary about each visual document explaining what they were able to comprehend. Students can then show this to their tutor to see how accurate their interpretation was (READ: AP Exams without the class?). In short Although many students find the DBQ essays to be difficult and have trouble cutting down on their time, it’s possible to do so with enough practice and guidance. However, students tend to get into trouble if they leave their test preparation to the last minute. Start early and keep practicing. Dont wait too late to book your Orange County AP tutor! All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about.

Chemistry Review Questions - Get Ready For Your Chemistry Chapter 7 Exam

Chemistry Review Questions - Get Ready For Your Chemistry Chapter 7 ExamAnswering a chemistry chapter 7 review can be one of the most important parts of your college career. If you are in high school, or college, this review may be a bit intimidating. This is because in chemistry, as in other subjects, the answers to your review questions are as important as the facts that you are learning.It is also very important to have fun while reviewing your reading material. A reading material review can be intimidating, but the more you read and use your notes, the better prepared you will be for any test that you might have to take. The better you know your subject matter, the more prepared you will be for tests that might come up in college. Some information that will help you understand the content you are reading, and make it easier for you to make a review question to test yourself on.Start reading Chemistry text books from your local library. Ask your teacher for any materials they migh t be able to provide for you to read. This is a great place to start because you will find everything that you need to review the material.It will not be hard to find new questions because there are plenty to be found. If you are having a difficult time finding them, you can also try asking your teachers if they know of any good free resources.Do not forget to take a test! This is one of the most important parts of your review. When you are doing a review, you are only going to be looking at the material that you have studied. That is why a test is so important.If you did not get any good test questions before, do not worry. There are many places online that will provide you with materials that you can review and use to make more questions to test yourself on.Make sure you have fun when reviewing your chemistry chapter 7 exam. You can find out everything you need to know by taking a test.

An Introduction to Affinity Definition Chemistry

An Introduction to Affinity Definition ChemistryAffinity definition chemistry offers a new approach to understanding chemistry. The name can be misleading because it doesn't really define chemistry as much as it defines one's mental image of what chemistry is. You probably wouldn't have thought about it as a topic, and even if you did, it would probably be in the context of a particular field of study.There are several ways to get from where we are now to the place that affinity definition chemistry intends to lead you. Some will be familiar to you, others will be entirely new. Now let's look at each of them one by one.Now, we're living in a world of information. We no longer have to go through the information on our own to obtain it. More importantly, we don't have to have everything spelled out for us every time we turn around. It would take an enormous amount of time, and possibly some instruction or even a college education, to be able to do this. Instead, we'll get all we need f rom some online resources that offer concise descriptions of what it means to study chemistry.This is especially important in today's world. With a large number of professional jobs now being done by those who have PhDs in their field, many of those jobs are only available to those with a broad knowledge of chemistry. By the same token, we've seen an increase in the need for information in our schools. Perhaps our kids are more 'focused' on understanding the world today, but in order to keep up with their peers, it seems, they need to learn about the physical world and its properties. Fortunately, the internet allows us to tap into a vast resource of useful information to help them become well-rounded, effective learners.There are two very important things to remember about chemistry in our everyday lives. One is that it deals with the matter and that it'all around us. The other is that it connects to all of the different things that make our world work. It's almost as if it's all p art of the same concept. These two things are actually more important than any single one of them.Affinity definition chemistry helps us deal with the second concept. Without an understanding of the physical world, it can be difficult to deal with our current circumstances. It's almost as if we haven't fully internalized the role that all of these things play in making things work the way they do. Without this mental understanding, it can be hard to identify and ultimately end a particular problem, much less to make changes that will reduce stress.Science doesn't have to be difficult. You just need to make a few simple changes to how you think. No matter what your field of interest, there's no excuse for not learning the most useful methods for learning.

Part IV How to Conjugate the Imperfect in Spanish

Part IV How to Conjugate the Imperfect in Spanish Suzy S. As you learn Spanish, imperfect conjugations are bound to come up. Learn  how to handle  them and improve your Spanish grammar knowledge in this post  by Fairfax, CA tutor  Jason N... As you probably already know, conjugation is crucial to learning Spanish! As we get to this fourth post in my conjugation series, you may be pleasantly surprised when you realize that its all about mastering patterns and formulas! By now, you have come a long way; you know about  conjugating basic Spanish verbs in present tense, stem-changing verbs in present tense, irregular verb conjugations in their yo form, and how to conjugate Spanish verbs in the preterite (past)  tense. This post is about learning how to conjugate the imperfect tense, when to use it, and how it differs from the past tense. Whereas the past tense refers to a one-time isolated event of the past, the imperfect tense describes past events that occurred in a habitual, repetitive, or routine manner. Identical to the past tense, the Spanish imperfect tense also breaks down verbs into five different ending variants. By now you have probably realized how it works. All we need to do now is learn a new formula for Spanish imperfect conjugations. As we have already used the example of the verb mirar (to watch) in Spanish, let’s continue to stick with the same example: How to Conjugate -ar Verbs in the Imperfect Tense: Shave off the ar ending If you are referring to yo or ‘I,’ add the ending aba to end the conjugated verb, forming miraba. If you are referring to tú or ‘you,’ use the ending abas, to form mirabas. If you are referring to él or ella or ‘he or she,’ use the ending aba to form miraba. (Yes, this is the same as the yo  form!) If you are referring to nosotros or ‘we,’ use the ending ábamos to form mirábamos. If you are referring to ellos or ‘they,’ use the ending aban, to form miraban. How to Conjugate -er Verbs in  the Imperfect Tense: What about -er  verbs? Let’s use comer (to eat) again, for example: Shave off the er  ending Yo  uses the ending ía, (instead of aba) to form comía. If you are referring to tú  or ‘you,’ use the ending ías, to form comías. If you are referring to él  or ella  or ‘he or she,’ use the ending ía, to form comía. (Yes, this is the same as the Yo form as well!) If you are referring to nosotros  or ‘we,’ use the ending íamos, to form comíamos. If you are referring to ellos or ‘they,’ use the ending ían, to form comían. How to Conjugate -ir  Verbs in Spanish This conjugation has the same rules as  -er verbs. Lets review the  following charts of key imperfect conjugations: Mirar (to watch): Yo miraba Tú mirabas Él/Ella/Usted miraba Nosotros mirábamos Ellas/Ellos/Ustedes miraban Comer  (to eat): Yo comía Tú comías Él/Ella/Usted comía Nosotros comíamos Ellas/Ellos/Ustedes comían Vivir (to live): Yo vivía Tú vivías Él/Ella/Usted vivía Nosotros vivíamos Ellas/Ellos/Ustedes vivían Ready for some practice? Conjugate the following in the imperfect tense: What’s the difference between the imperfect and the preterite past tense? We use the preterite tense in Spanish to describe an isolated event that occurred in the past. This event usually happened only once, and then ended. In this sense, it stays in the past. To reiterate, imperfect tense, on the other hand, describes past events that occurred in a habitual, repetitive, or routine manner. Ready for the Quiz? In which of the following would you use the imperfect tense instead of the preterite  tense?  What would the correct verb conjugation be? 1) I used to play basketball after school with my dad. 2) I went snowboarding with my friends in December of 2007. 3) I would do my homework on Sunday nights after school in high school. 4) I had six  pets when I was a teenager. 5) I cut my finger when I was cutting an apple in Yosemite. BONUS   6) When I was 25, I walked across a tunnel. In conclusion, in Spanish,  imperfect conjugations are  the easiest to learn because there are only  three  irregular verbs: ir, ver and ser, whose stems are iba, veía and era, respectively. If you’re feeling really ambitious, practice these ones. I’ll remind you again to experiment with a Spanish tutor to see how well you can learn this! Answer Key: 1) I 2) P 3) I 4) I 5) P 6) Trick question!  Cuando tenía (imperfect, AND in Spanish we have years, instead of being years) 25, caminé (past tense) por un  túnel.   Post Author: Jason N. Jason N. tutors in English and Spanish in Fairfax, CA.  He majored in Spanish at UC Davis, lived in Mexico for 3 years where he completed a Masters degree in Counseling, and studied Spanish Literature and Psychology at the University of Costa Rica. Learn more about Jason here!   Photo by rhodesj 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

Online Simplifying Expression Tutors

Online Simplifying Expression Tutors Simplification is a very useful method in mathematics. I helps reduce the given question or solution to a simpler form. Expressions consist of one or more than one variables with different coefficients and constant numbers. There are different types of expressions in math such as algebraic expressions, rational expressions etc. There are various mathematical operations which are used to simplify and solve the given expressions. Example 1: Find the solution by simplifying the expression 3 x/ 7 + 4 x/ 3? The given question is on Adding rational expressions. This question contains adding with the same polynomial x. The first step of the question is to calculate the LCM of the denominators 7 and 3, is 21. Now 3 /7 and 4 /3 can be added with the LCM of the denominators as 21. This makes the solution 3 x/ 7 + 4 x/ 3 = 9 x3/ 21 + 28 x3/ 21 = 37 x3/ 21. Hence the solution is 37 x3/ 21. Example 2: Find the solution by simplifying the expression 2 x/ 5 + 2 x? The given question is on Adding rational expressions. This question contains adding with the same polynomial x. The first step of the question is to calculate the LCM of the denominators 5 and 1, is 5. Now 2/5 and 2 can be added with the LCM of the denominators as 5. This makes the solution 2x/5 + 2x = 2 x3/ 5 + 10 x3/ 5 = 12 x3/ 5. Hence the solution is 12x3/ 5.

How to Prepare for Your Med School Admissions Interview Part 4

How to Prepare for Your Med School Admissions Interview Part 4 By Michelle Finkel, MD Insider Medical Admissions The following piece was written byDr. Michelle Finkel. Michelle has been featured in ourAdmissions Expert seriesand is a former Harvard Medical School faculty member. She is the founder ofInsider Medical Admissions. Success at your medical school interview can hinge on subtle components of the day that you might not even consider to be influential until it's too late for damage control. Several of those points were covered in my last Varsity Tutors blog entry, which included two important topics that I called You can check out anytime; but you can never leave and Thats amore. Please also take a look at my July Varsity Tutors blog entry on medical interviews for advice on how to Let your story show your glory and how to Fake it until you make it, and my August entry emphasizing that You can run; you can hide; but you cant escape. Now, lets review some more nuances of the interview day. Shiny Happy People Holding Hands In an effort to attract desirable applicants, some medical schools invite candidates to social events immediately before or during the interview day. These events may include dinner, lunch, or an optional hospital tour with students.Some institutions will even offer an optional happy hour the night before to meet the schools current medical students. It's in your interest to attend these events; they show schools that you are serious about their programs, afford you the opportunity to score social points, and allow you to gain valuable information about students' satisfaction. These events are also an opportunity to get to know other applicants whom you might end up seeing next year as fellow class members. Finally, the social events allow you to relax a bit and perhaps even get to know the city surrounding the school. However, there is a caveat youll want to know before you attend these events: Ensure you act professionally, and disregard promises that what you say will not affect your candidacy or get back to Admissions. Even if everyone has good intentions, information garnered from these events can make its way to decision-makers. If you had a bad experience at the interview day, hate the city the school is in, or know your first choice is a different school, these social events are not the time to reveal that information to current medical students. Don't unwittingly provide the torpedo that sinks your candidacy. Importantly, this rule is especially pertinent for those applicants who choose to stay at students houses or dorms. Be friendly, but dont blab. Keep your ears open to hear what students think are the pros and cons of their institutions, but dont feel obligated to share your negative opinions. Remember that once you are accepted, you can always be more explicit about your concerns and ask frank questions to current students. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away Speaking of being frank, applicants have valid personal reasons for considering an institution less desirable than another. These may include family or health concerns, or a significant others opinion or career. Certain personal details are not the business of the interviewer and are considered off limits. However, if you are sitting in a small room with a faculty member whose opinion will largely affect your professional future and you are asked a personal question, it may be hard to maintain your privacy. When I was interviewing for residency, an interviewer asked me if I had a boyfriend. As it turned out, he asked all of the women who interviewed that day that exact same question. (We spoke to each other confidentially after the interview day had ended.) Why would the interviewer pose an illegal question like this, and what should you do if you are asked? Likely, the interviewer is trying to get a sense for whether you are serious about an institution. If you have a significant other or children, their concerns may affect your decision-making. Again, this line of questioning is illegal and distasteful, but, sadly, there are still interviewers who might pose these questions to assess your interest in their institutions. If you are asked these types of questions, you can simply answer if it's not objectionable to you, or respond by addressing the intent of the question without revealing personal information. For example, you could say, I think what youre asking me is whether I am serious about this medical school, and I can assure you I would be thrilled to receive an acceptance and matriculate here. Alternately, you can also decline to answer the question; of course, this tactic might cost you the position you are seeking as unfair as that is. (In my case, I answered the question, but then mentioned the incident to a faculty member at my school who had trained at the residency where I had been interviewed. The faculty at my school later told me the interviewer had been dismissed from his admissions responsibilities.) Next month, Ill offer more tips on the medical interview process. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How to Use Apps to Supplement Your Spanish Lessons

How to Use Apps to Supplement Your Spanish Lessons Suzy S. Its nice to have a little help when learning a new language. But what if help were available at the push of a button? Good news it is! In this article, Spanish teacher  Joan B.  discusses  how to find and use the  best Spanish learning app for you Spanish lessons are a great way to build a strong foundation  so you can speak, write, and understand Spanish fluently. A large part of your success  during lessons is what you do in between them. Reinforcing and practicing the concepts learned  can make a huge difference in your learning. One excellent way to manage your time in between lessons is to use apps as a supplement. Apps  offer immediate feedback, fun and creative games, pronunciation help, and much more. A while back, tutor Jason N. shared his recommendations for the best apps for learning Spanish, and then Breanna D. followed up with 15 MORE Spanish learning apps; now, lets take a closer look at  ways to use these kinds of apps! 1. Reinforce concepts If you learned a new concept in your lesson, you might still be struggling with how it works, as well as incorporating it smoothly into your repertoire. Practicing a new grammar concept with an app like Open Language (for iTunes and Google Play) will guarantee that you use it properly and understand it thoroughly. 2. Get extra feedback Here’s where you can take the initiative so your teacher can help you even more. Since lesson time is limited, why not do some extra practice with an app like Lingualia (for iTunes and Google Play) to pinpoint problem areas and concepts that aren’t totally clear to you? Then you can rapidly address these areas directly with your teacher. When you’ve already done the detective work of identifying the problem, your teacher can help you more effectively. 3. Immerse yourself Practicing Spanish frequently  can make it much easier to recall what you’re learning, in addition to improving fluency. Using apps on a regular basis when you have a few spare moments (on the bus or waiting in line, for example) can increase the time you spend practicing  Spanish, which in turn increases  your skill  level. 4. Comprehension practice Another great thing about lessons  is the opportunity to practice comprehension  when your teacher speaks to you. You don’t have to lose an opportunity in between lessons â€" you can continue to practice dictation, listening, and translation by using an app like FluentU, (for iTunes) where you can listen to Spanish audio. 5. Improve your accent Apps like Rosetta Stone (for iTunes and Google Play) use voice recognition in exercises. This ensures that you’re not just repeating, by rote, a word with incorrect Spanish pronunciation as you try to learn it. Using apps that help you in various ways to improve your accent will ensure that you’re pronouncing words accurately the first time you say them. 6. Make quick progress for a specific goal Some of the best Spanish learning apps, like Duolingo (for iTunes and Google Play), focus on the most useful and common words. This can be a great way to achieve a specific level of fluency in a limited amount of time, such as for a business interaction or upcoming travels. The app can provide you with a path to identify what level you want to reach and how to reach it, in combination with your lessons. 7. Discover your learning style Some apps use a more visual approach, like Fluencia (for web), while others, like Memrise (for iTunes and Google Play), use memorization as a key tool. The key to using apps as a supplement to your Spanish lessons is to discover what learning style works best for you. Experiment with different apps to see what works. Once again, this will also help you with your lessons â€" you can share with your teacher what ways of learning are working well and which ways aren’t as effective. 8. Have fun with the language Keeping it fun and fresh as you learn is important to avoid burnout and frustration. Apps like Cat Spanish (for iTunes), which is humorous and educational with its game format and pictures of cats, will keep you engaged and having fun while learning. Keep these suggestions in mind as you look for apps with which to supplement your Spanish lessons. As you find some apps that work for you, try to make steady progress â€" often the apps will keep track of your frequency of practice and your score, so use it to your advantage as a motivation tool. Your hard work will pay off! Readers, what do you think is the best Spanish learning app? Let us know in the comments! Post Author: Joan B. Joan B. lives in Carmichael, CA and has been teaching high school Spanish for more than 18 years. Shes studied French, Arabic, and Italian and spent time living in Spain. Joan aims to help students improve on tests and increase their conversational ability when traveling to Spanish-speaking countries. Learn more about Joan  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