Science, Ideas, And Chemistry Defined

Science, Ideas, And Chemistry DefinedChemistry Defined is an interesting class by the instructor, David Elston. What makes this class interesting is that it features several different experiments and strategies used to study different compounds, molecules, or even elements. While some of the techniques may seem odd, the class teaches you how to study the organic world in a way that will help you succeed in all of your chemistry needs.One of the biggest problems faced by many students is figuring out what is worth studying and what isn't. This is a problem that many college and university classes can be hard to understand and many students don't grasp the concepts or they find the content boring. In Chemistry Defined, David Elston covers topics such as the difference between certain elements and how chemical compounds work. He even explains different reactions involving chemical reactions and illustrates the effects of reactions. This class helps students understand the topic so that they can understand the complicated concepts that are usually covered in high school or college.Chemistry Defined also discusses the chemistry used in the fuel industry. Students learn about the properties of different fuels, how they are made, and how to prepare them to meet federal fuel regulations. It's important for students to know the chemistry behind making fuel since it is so important to our society.The lecture outlines will help the student to understand the different theories that are presented throughout the class. This class helps the student to make an informed decision and can help them avoid costly mistakes while doing research on the subject. Students will learn how to read various papers, letters, and online materials related to the subject. Reading material can be intimidating, but with an informative class, this can become second nature to the student.Students will learn how to read a variety of data that are available online. There are sites that provide data su ch as reference books, laboratory guides, and scientific journals that are available for purchase online. Students will learn how to read these materials and other materials online and will have a basic understanding of the subject. They can also easily reference the course materials and take notes while working on their assignments.Aside from reading materials and doing research, students will also need to perform certain experiments to learn more about the subject of Chemistry Defined. When students finish reading the course materials and researching online, they can use the experiments to gain more knowledge about the subject. Students will be able to perform the experiments in class and bring them up at the end of the day when they are showing the materials to their peers. This class will teach students how to do experiments properly, which can be difficult for many people.After completing Chemistry Defined, students should be prepared to put the theory they learned into practic e. While it is possible to do research and take notes for each assignment, many students find that it is easier to just do an experiment with their peers or classmates and then explain the results to their professor. Working with others will allow students to learn more about the subject, get feedback, and increase their confidence level so that they can tackle more difficult projects.Good science and education are crucial for successful academics and should always be emphasized by educators, but adding creative and interesting study activities to an online course can make this process more fun and effective learning experiences. Chemistry Defined will teach students how to better handle the subjects they choose and how to have more fun while doing it.

Get It Right How to Apply Error Analysis to Your Language Learning

Get It Right How to Apply Error Analysis to Your Language Learning Get It Right: How to Apply Error Analysis to Your Language Learning Today, we’re going to learn how  to turn errors into lessons.We’ll turn bad into good  and wrong into right.Nope, it’s not going to require any magic. It’s going to tap into a  branch of applied linguistics called Error Analysis.But  what does this have to do with you, the language learner?Everything! Whats Error Analysis?Error Analysis  (EA) is simply the systematic study of language mistakes. This analysis is  done  so that  the identified errors can be systematically learned from and weeded out.Stephen Pit Corder is credited with  revolutionizing the field of applied linguistics in the 1960s, pointing out the utility of errors in language learning. Yes, language learners have always sought to learn from their mistakes, but Corder bolstered the effort of identifying and evaluating errors. In short, he made it less chancy and haphazard.The steps of Error Analysis, as suggested by Corder, are:a. collection of samplesb. identification of errorsc. description of errorsd. expl anation of errorse. evaluation of errorsLinguists basically comb through materials that have been produced by language learners, such as written tests, composed paragraphs and recorded audio. They then identify errors in the content and see if there are patterns that emerge. With the errors displayed in the light of day, explanations for them  are  posited and some prescriptions for course correction can  be given.Perhaps you arent a professional linguist, it’s true, but as a language learner you can actually use Error Analysis to inform  your learning.What linguists do for a class of Middle Eastern students learning English, you can do for  yourself. Youre both the linguist and the subject at the same time.Granted, you wont necessarily use the rigor of statistics to assess your errors like linguists might, but casually following the above steps can still yield a ton of great information.Even then, it’s no walk in the park, that’s for sure. This will  involve the brutal honest y to admit both your strengths and weaknesses. It’ll require some metacognition on your partâ€"an awareness and understanding of your own thought processes. But the fruits of your labor will be worth it.Want a little taste of those juicy fruits? Here are some of the benefits of applying Error Analysis to your personal language learning experiences.Get It Right: How to Apply Error Analysis to Your Language LearningYou Can Identify Your  WeaknessesThe most obvious value of Error Analysis is that it unequivocally points out your weaknesses. By looking through your mistakes, you can say to yourself, “Ah, this is where I need work.” For example, if you notice plenty of errors in verb conjugation, then you can decide to focus your effort more on that. If the verb conjugation errors are mainly  related to  certain tenses, then you can plan to hone in on those.You Can  Identify Your StrengthsPerforming your own casual Error Analysis  double-checks your knowledge of the target language , giving you a good sense of what you’re already good at. You can always review the topics youre better at, but you wont end up devoting an excess of time to these topics anymore. In short, Error Analysis guides the focus of your study, saving you valuable time and effort.You Get an Honest Look at Your ProgressError Analysis provides you with added insights that arent easily obtained from other learning approaches. With Error Analysis, you dive deeper. By following the steps of Error Analysis laid out earlier, you can seek overarching patterns. Instead of cursorily looking at overall exercise scores, youll carefully look at each one of your  slip-ups, then figure out if theyre at all connected, getting a better understanding of your current problem areas.For example, doing this might  help you realize if  the grammatical rules of your first language are negatively influencing your acquisition of the  target language. By looking at all your errors in a series of exercises, you migh t discover that a pattern of errors emerges: You’re still applying first language rules of syntax to your target language.You Gain  a Deeper Understanding of the Language Youre LearningFinally, Error Analysis increases your ability to recognize nuances in the target language. Noticing, thinking about and studying your errors  allows you to split hairsâ€"which can be an excellent thing in language learning. Youll find yourself thinking things like, “Why is this word appropriate in this context and not in that one?” or  â€œWhy is this case an exception to the rule?”As you can see from the above benefits, theres much to be gained here. With  Error Analysis, you can really make significant leaps in learning and avoid making the same mistakes over and over. Hopefully this will result in you  becoming fluent in your target language  faster.So, now that you know about the objectives and benefits of trying Error Analysis out, here are some tips on how to use it all on your own.5  Ho t Tips for  Using Error Analysis to Improve Your  Language Learning1. Complete  Plenty of Tests, Drills and ExercisesIf you’re going to make the most out of Error Analysis, youd better give yourself plenty of data to work with.The only way you can get  sufficient results  is  to give yourself a  significant amount of material from which to draw conclusions.A 10-item exercise on prepositions where you get 7/10  items correct doesn’t necessarily mean youre 70% of the way home. You might need to do much moreâ€"or much lessâ€"work to really master prepositions. Go through  as many exercises as possible on each topic so that you can get a clearer benchmark. Dont stop until youre scoring 10/10 consistently.Written material is the type that best lends itself to  Error Analysis, because youll actually have a record of the errors and mistakes. Audio recordings comes second, but theyre harder to keep track of and assess accurately.The good thing is that you can find plenty of exercises an d drills onlineâ€"just like this one for French learners. This resource  is certainly not the spiffiest of sites, but what it lacks in finesse it more than makes up for with the great number of tests and exercises you can take. You can easily rack up a solid number of completed French exercises on this site. Another advantage is that it shows you all the questions at the same time, not following the usual one-question-at-a-time format thats so common on similar sites. There’s also the easy print feature which could come in handy for keeping records and reviewing later. Find a site like this for your target language, and get going!2. Group Your Errors for Easy IdentificationWhats an “error” in the first place? Is it the same thing as a “mistake”?Linguists have differentiated the two.  Do you know the difference?A mistake is a slip-up, a one-off. Its situation-specific and can be easily corrected. Even native speakers commit them. A native English speaker could unintentional ly blurt out “I drinks the juice, even though he definitely knows the correct form. Maybe he was just sleepy or distracted. He just made a one-time mistake, and  hell probably  never make the  exact same mistake again.An error is more serious. It signifies a level of incompetence and cant  be corrected quite as easily. The error is part of a  pattern and not a one-time event. The person  may have intentionally chosen to use  that language, thinking its perfectly correct.  For example, if someone says, “I ate the juice,” “I ate wine and I eat milk every day, theyre consistently confusing two verbs, to eat and to drink. They still need to study these two verbs and how to use them when differentiating between imbibing liquids and masticating solids.So, now you know what an error is. Thats what youll need to be looking out for. Once you find them,  what do you do with yours?Group them  up!There are tons of potential errors that a language learner could make in any given language . You need to create a system of categorizing your errors that makes sense to you. Coming up with a logical grouping will help you understand where youre making most of your errors. Seeing the connections between your errors will allow you to  keep your focus on a few key areas.You can group the errors in any manner you like, as long as the groups make sense to you. Maybe you can group similar incidences. Is an error vocabulary-related, or is it grammar-related? If its grammar-related, then perhaps you can jot it down next to other errors made with the same part of speech. For example, you can  note down all your verb problems together. You can  note down all your conjugation problems together. You can  note down all your gender-agreement problems together. If one group is getting large, you can even start to create smaller sub-groups.As you can see, there are many ways to group errors. Youre free to build your own nomenclature. It just has to be personal and meaningful to youâ€"aft er all, youll be the only one to use it.3. Keep a Visual Record of Your Thought ProcessesNow we’re really getting into the deeper levels of Error Analysis here. This will require a certain level of self-awareness on your part. Like I said earlier, Error Analysis requires metacognition, an understanding of your own thought processes. Why do you tend to make the same errors? What was your thinking behind these errors?Heres how to go about keeping track of errors and the thought processes behind them.For example, when youre speaking and you suddenly take a long  pauseâ€"not for effect or for thoughtful reasons, but because youre unsure of what to sayâ€"that could be a sign of lacking knowledge or confidence in your language. You’re probably drawing a blank. What word are you unsure about? What caused the pause? What were you just thinking about?Indicate this moment on a sheet of paper, using your very own words. You could write something like:forgot the past tense of the word cut. didn’t know what the word for sleep is in Chinese.got tongue-tied trying to pronounce the rr sound in a Spanish word.When youre answering the questions in a multiple choice exercise and youre alternating between the choices, this indecision betrays a knowledge gap. It means you still havent gotten  a good handle on the subject matter in question. Mark down those numbers with a star or a question mark  so that when you review you can remind yourself that you had difficulty with that particular itemâ€"even if  it turns out that you got the correct answer.It’s these little marks on a sheet of paper that give you a visual of your thought  process, heretofore unseen. It’s a record of the areas that are challenging to you and a great way to discover patches of weakness.4. Evaluate Your Errors by Asking Yourself These 3 QuestionsWhen you do personal Error Analysis, you dont have a team of linguists positing explanations of why you made this or  that error. You only have yourself to i nvestigate and yourself to do the investigation.You need to ask yourself these questions as you evaluate the error.a. What rule or principle did I miss?Asking this question forces you to think about the grammar rules that exist in your target language. It checks if youve been the wiser this time and are now aware why an error exists. If you cant  answer this question, then you cant  be sure that the error wont  haunt you some other time.Note: When considering rules and principles, you should also consider their exceptions.b. Why did I think my initial answer was correct?This is another important question to ask when you evaluate the error because it looks into your incomplete understanding of the target language. When you completed  the exercise, you did it using your present and personal understanding of the language. Comparing your original reasons to the correct answers hones more of this understanding, eliminating faulty impressions and replacing them with accurate ones.Note: If you answer this question with, “I only guessed,” then it counts as an even bigger knowledge gap.c. What should I do so I won’t make the same mistake?This is the proactive part of the evaluation process. Not only are you now aware and wary of your  errors, youll be taking active steps to weed out your  weaknesses. Think of this part as the “New Year’s resolution” of the process.Your answers to this question could be something like:Create flashcards  for the rules of this verb conjugation.Memorize five new words a day. Review them before going to sleep.Use my language learning app every day, for at least 10 minutes.Listen to an audio course or podcast  on my daily commute.Most important of all, have the nerve  to follow through with your plan. There’s no point in making a resolution and an action plan if you’re not going to resolve to act on it.5. Enlist the Help of a Native SpeakerYouve probably had the experience of listening to an English beginner, right?The mistak es and errors are evident to you, and they poke you like a string out of tune. As a native or fluent speaker, youll have a sharp ear for language mistakes in English.If you’re looking for someone to spot the mistakes and errors you make in your target language, a native speaker will do a great job. Even  minor grammatical errors will  ring loud bells in their heads.A native speaker can guide you towards mastering the  nuances of your  target language. There may be instances when a certain word you’re using is grammatically sound, but to a native speaker itll sound a bit offâ€"a little less than natural. They can point out things like this and give you a more appropriate lexicon.A native speaker can also highlight some of the exceptions to grammatical or syntactical rules that go beyond what can be offered in any textbook. And if you want to learn the most contemporary way of speaking the target language, youll certainly want a native speaker to keep you updated.Luckily, native s peakers in any major language are readily available on any language exchange site. A language exchange site is a place where you can trade your innate knowledge of your native language  for another persons native knowledge of your target language. For example, lets say youre an English speaker who wants to learn Spanish. You can find a native Spanish speaker who wants to learn how to speak Englishâ€"thus, an “exchange” takes place. Youre helping another as that person is helping you.If that sounds great, youll definitely want to  check out the best online  language exchange sites to find your learning partner!So, there you have it!Don’t be too hard on yourself and always remember that linguistic errors are never fatal. Nor are they permanent. Theyre but signs of an incomplete understanding and can be remedied with a little study.You’re now ready to face the music and tango with your  own  linguistic errors.

How much you can save teaching English in China

How much you can save teaching English in China There are more and more teachers looking to teach English in China. It’s by no means a new phenomenon - teachers have been pilgrimaging to this ancient country for longer than any of us have been alive. The first American missionary was Elijah Coleman Bridgman (what a name!) who arrived in 1830! What’s new is the sheer number of people flocking toteach ESL in China. Every day we talk to teachers who are curious about the opportunities. Part of this is because China has become competitive when it comes to salary and benefits. The doors are being flung open and teachers are lining up to find out what all the fuss is about. Although there’s a lot of controversy around whether China has the most English speakers in the world, there’s no doubt that it has the most English learners. An estimated 250 - 350 million English learners are living in China today. And English learners need English teachers! AMIRITE? ??? With all these English learners knocking about, it’s no wonder China is investing so heavily in teachers and becoming such an attractive TEFL destination. It’s such a massive country, that you could spend years and years there and still have more to see… Let’s check out the numbers and see what all the fuss is about! How much can you earn teaching English in China? There’s a big salary range when it comes to teaching English in China. Like anywhere, it’s going to depend on your experience and education. At the top end of the scale, you could be making as much as $3,000 USD per month, but it’s more likely that fresh-faces will land somewhere between $1,500 - 1,800 a month. For an in-depth breakdown of teaching salaries in China, check out our blog post on the average salary for a teacher in China. The average salary for those teaching English in China with a little experience under their belt is between $1,800- 2,000. Although you may need to complete a year at a slightly lower salary before you make that much. As with everything else, it completely depends on the program, the school and the teacher. But you can rest assured that there is money to be made in China for qualified candidates. Side note: Teachers who are licensed teaching professionals in their home country (with a 120-hour TEFL and teaching experience) could make a monthly salary as high as $4,000. This is a side note because it would be disingenuous to pretend that this is common. Most teachers will make a salary in the average range, with opportunities to increase their salary over time. One last thing! Salaries vary from rural to city areas to account for cost of living. Smaller towns or rural areas tend to pay teachers a lot less as teachers won’t have a high cost of living (we know, that seems a bit counterintuitive when South Korea offers bonuses for teachers willing to brave the wilds). We recommend applying to cities if you’re planning to save money. There are absolutely tons of them, and it can seem daunting to decide where to go, so why not check out our blog on the best Chinese cities to teach TEFL in. If you’re worried about requirements: check out this blog on the qualifications you need to teach English in China. Is housing included in my overall compensation package? Most, but not all schools, offer free housing. So you need to factor this into the equation. And there should be some sort of equation happening if you’re planning to teach abroad. Including projected costs and the cost of living are just as important as salary. So the fact that housing is covered is a big benefit for teachers hoping to teach in China. Obviously, if your rent is covered you will be making substantially more than a teacher who has to pay for a place to rest their head. What about those benefits? China is pretty sweet when it comes to benefits and they’re right up there with all the best countries for ESL teachers. More than likely, English teaching positions in China will include free housing, flight reimbursement, visa assistance, health insurance and the added bonus of Mandarin lessons. You’ll obviously need some savings to get set up and it’s wise to be prepared to pay for your flights (you’ll get it back later, don’t worry) and have enough money to survive for your first month. Anything between $2,000 - 3,000 should cover flights and set-up expenses. This is giving you room for unexpected costs, so you could save less and still get to China! As always, it depends on how thrifty your spirit truly is. What do I need to know about the cost of living in China? The cost of living in China is generally very low. Teachers usually are surprised at the quality of life they can afford. From food to weekend travel, there’s no shortage to what a TEFL teacher in China can budget for while still making bank. Expenses in the countryside are remarkably lower than in the cities, but without too much effort a teacher in the city can get by on well under $1,000 per month (and that’s being conservative). We’ve got some money saving tips below! Read this: What it’s really like teaching English in China So, tell me how much I can save already? In one year teaching in a Chinese city, it’s possible to save between $10,500 - 18,000. The less you travel the more you will save, but even those who travel quite a bit should have no trouble making bank. Countryside dwellers will be able to save something closer to $5,000 - 10,000 (if they’re particularly frugal) in one year. It’s worth noting that most teachers will receive raises as they gain experience and so that if you want to build a career in China, your savings should increase every single year. Our top 5 tips for saving money while teaching in China Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. 1. Travel China - not Asia. China is massive with tons to explore and if you really want to put away some serious money, it makes sense to save money by sticking to the country you’re in. Food, accommodation and transport are all cheap, so you can see a lot of the country for very little. 2. Eat local food. It’s all part of the experience and foreign/American food will come at a premium. Of course, there’s plenty of it, but eating traditional food and learning to cook some of it will save you loads. 3. Make sure your accommodation is covered by your job. This is one of the biggest costs most people have every month. One of the major advantages of teaching abroad in China is that you might not have to worry about this. 4. Make a budget and stick to it. It’s easy to spend your money without realizing. Why not break down your monthly income (including target savings) and watch the money pile up. This will stop you blowing it all on a spur of the moment weekend in Thailand, just because! 5. Make sure your flights are reimbursed. ?? Air travel is pricey and paying for flights yourself will make a dent in your current savings. Making sure they’re included will mean you can save the $1,000 or so that you would otherwise be spending.

A Career As a Tutor

A Career As a TutorIf you are looking for a career as a tutor, you may want to consider tutoring in South Gate CA State University. Some of the most fascinating jobs out there require a bit of knowledge and experience, but this doesn't mean that this is not an exciting field.Tutoring is a service which can help people with education, such as those who are experiencing disability or mental illness. Tutors can also be hired to assist in the assessment of children and adults who have developmental or learning disabilities.If you are interested in working in a tutoring facility, you must consider your education, which includes the use of standardized tests in the workplace. These tests are used to determine what kind of job an applicant has and whether or not they can perform in the workplace. You must also consider how you will pay your bills while you are at work.Your employer might have your training when they ask you to teach in a California school, but you can make it more exciting if you choose to tutor in South Gate CA State University. Tutoring allows you to work in a classroom environment instead of having to work in a waiting room. In addition, you can set your own hours so that you have time to go to therapy and prepare yourself for the days ahead.Tutoring is also a great way to get paid by working at home. If you have a computer and Internet access, you can be your own boss at home. You can make all of the decisions, but your employer can't.If you are looking for a career, but are not sure where to begin, consider tutoring in South Gate CA State University. The programs are relatively new, but are in high demand because of the amount of money they make. For instance, if you get involved in the tutoring program, you may be paid for ten or twenty hours per week, but you can make as much as six hundred and fifty dollars per hour!It is important to consider your needs and other requirements in order to find the right career. You can check out tutoring in So uth Gate CA State University, but you will need to interview with the principal to find out what type of curriculum is offered, and whether or not you will be required to take any tests or assessments.

How Much is a Maths Tutor?

How Much is a Maths Tutor?There are many different kinds of tutors, but one thing that all tutors have in common is that they are all there to help students learn to do better at mathematics. The cost of a maths tutor will be different depending on the tutor and the country they work in. This article will talk about the costs of tutoring. There are some things that you need to consider when choosing a tutor.If you are living in the UK then you can expect to pay about the same amount for tutoring as a tutor living elsewhere. When you are looking for a tutor then it is important to look at the cost of living in the country that you are living in. You will often find that the prices are similar in the United States and the UK, for example. The only difference is that in the UK the price will usually include everything, for example, gas, so that the tutor doesn't need to stay in one place. In the US it might not, depending on where the tutor lives.For example, if you live in Chicago, and the tutor is from London then you might be paying quite a bit more for the tutor than if the tutor was from another city. Sometimes it is the cost of gas. A tutor living in London, for example, might be coming from London, but can be charged more because the price of the petrol might be higher. Also, in the United States the price might not be the same as what the tutor is charging.When you are looking for a tutor to teach maths then you can find it difficult to know exactly how much you are paying, especially if you are comparing different types of tutors. There are no fixed charges for tutors in the UK or the US, so the prices can vary quite a lot. Therefore the tutors can charge a bit more or a bit less, which means you may have to bear that in mind when comparing different tutors.Other things to think about when you are comparing tutors are your personal preferences. Is the tutor in the UK the right type for you? Do you prefer an English tutor, or would you rather have someone from another country? These are all factors that you will need to think about when you are comparing tutors.Another thing to think about is the availability of the tutor. Do you live in a country where there is no one willing to tutor maths for free? In this case, you will need to find a tutor somewhere else, and pay for it yourself. This can be a time consuming process. The tutor could be in another country, but you may have to find out where he or she is, either through a phone book or newspaper.It is important to remember that you will only find out if you do look around for a tutor. You don't have to pay for your tutor if you don't want to. You can always make a request of the tutor's work if you don't like the work he or she has done and ask for a replacement. This means that the tutor will feel more confident with their work and will do a better job for you.

How to Cope When Your Job Doesnt Offer Enough Time Off - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Cope When Your Job Doesnt Offer Enough Time Off - Introvert Whisperer How to Cope When Your Job Doesnt Offer Enough Time Off The modern world has woken up to the power of breaks. These can be especially beneficial to introverts who feel stifled by a bullpen or endless string of face-to-face meetings at work every day. But even in an era where cutting-edge transformational leadership methods are helping to bring out the best in introverts on a regular basis, there are still plenty of employers who don’t allow their employees to take a reasonable amount of time off. If you find that your employer doesn’t provide a healthy amount of vacation days to properly relax and destress from work on a regular basis, here are a few suggestions to help remedy the situation. Create a “Safe Zone” If you don’t have the ability to take time off from work, that shouldn’t stop you from finding respite within each workday as it unfolds. Even if you work in a toxic workplace, it’s still worth trying to create a “safe zone” for yourself where you can retreat to. Having a place to feel comfortable and alone at work can do wonders for the long-term health of an introvert that feels trapped in their workplace. Request to Work From Home One easy way to get some time away from the office is to simply not go into the office. Many modern jobs and work-related tasks are easily done from home. If this is the case for you, consider asking for permission to do at least some of your work remotely. While working from home is hardly that vacation to the Bahamas that you were planning, it still provides a much-needed break from a bustling corporate work environment. It also has the added benefit of allowing you to save on time and the costs of commuting regularly. Make the Best With What You Have Another way to cope with less paid time off is to make sure you carefully take advantage of whatever vacation time you do get. Look ahead into your year, plan out the days you know you’ll need, and then see what you have left. If you do have enough time to actually take a vacation, make sure to plan it out thoughtfully. Start by saving up money beforehand in order to keep the financial stress of your trip to a minimum. Try to travel during the offseason, bring snacks, look for airfare deals, and so on. When it comes to the trip itself, make sure to go over your itinerary carefully and arrange your time to get the most rest possible. Critically, that means not overplanning or excessively micromanaging your vacation plans. Try to stay flexible. Just make sure you’re structuring your trip to get as much RR out of the experience as possible. Become an Advocate If you’re feeling bold, one option is to approach your boss directly with the concern that you and your fellow employees aren’t getting enough rest. Make sure to do so respectfully and with a strategy or you may come across as simply lazy. Instead, focus on the fact that time to rest and recover isn’t just about allowing employees to have more personal time; it’s also intimately tied in with the mismanagement of human capital in a corporate setting. For instance, one study pinpointed 10 of the main causes that lead to turnover in the workplace. The second largest cause on the list was the issue of work-life balance, a struggle directly impacted by paid time off. If you approach your boss with a genuine appeal for more rest in order to be more committed, productive, and generally function better in the workplace, you may find that the request doesn’t fall on deaf ears. Budget Your Own Vacation While an insufficient amount of paid time off can be an injustice, there’s only so much you can do about it in the workplace itself. If you find that you simply cannot get your boss to budge on the vacation question, consider creating your own paid time off by setting aside some cash to cover the cost of unpaid leave. It’s much easier to request time off when your workplace doesn’t have to take a financial hit so you’re more likely to actually get this request approved. When that happens, though, you want to make sure that you’re able to cover the added expenses and lack of income for the duration. Begin by breaking down your budget and making sure that you know exactly how much you need to be saving in order to take some well-earned time off. Next, make sure to use weekends to your advantage. If you work in a company that operates in a traditional Monday through Friday work week and you want to take time for a vacation, start it on a Friday evening and go through the following two weekends. This enables you to take a nine-day vacation that only extends over five actual workdays. Finding Rest Without PTO While paid time off is a valuable perk for any job, the lack of it does not mean you’re stuck. The most important thing is to maintain a positive mindset as you go about addressing the issue. It’s easy to feel slighted by a lack of vacation days, but that only hurts yourself. Take stock of your situation, size up your options, and then create a plan of action in order to find that rest and relaxation that every employee needs on a regular basis. Image Source: Pixabay By Sam Bowman Sam Bowman  is a freelance writer and introvert who enjoys getting to utilize the internet for the community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time, he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore. Go to top 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! 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How to Sing the National Anthem 9 Videos You Can Learn From

How to Sing the National Anthem 9 Videos You Can Learn From Sign up successful Some of them have been successful at it, and some havent. And to tell the truth, its one of the toughest songs to sing. Its wordy in its fast-moving rhythmic patterns, it requires a big range of both pitches and dynamics, and the longest-held note in the song is also the highest note. Lets take a look at some of the best Star-Spangled Banner performances as well as some not-so-great   and where each singer went wrong and right. Then,  well look at ways you can nail it yourself as you learn how to sing the national anthem! Whitney Houston Considered by many to be one of the best  Star-Spangled Banner  performances, Houstons soaring rendition (performed in 1991) is pretty exciting. Shes impeccably in tune, gives us plenty of her signature vibrato, and she lets the beauty of the words and melody shine through without distractingly excessive runs. Houston also isnt afraid to use a softer dynamic level to emphasize the meaning of certain phrases; it makes the audience listen harder, too. The legendary singer does have some facial tension that couldve been alleviated with a little self-massage. Renée Fleming Grammy-award winning opera superstar, Renée Fleming, is using all of her good training and technique here to sing a the national anthem in a  free and precise way. Her diction is great, too. But her best decision was to choose a key low enough to be comfortable enough for her to sing a dramatic high note on Oer the land of the free. Mike Eli This lead singer of the Eli Young Band, a popular country band, simply skips two lines of the song, and starts over. The bottom line? Mistakes happen. Performers blank. But what a professional does when they forget the  lyrics or another embarrassing mistake is to go on without making it completely obvious. Unfortunately, the singer here is also barely in tune and seems rushed throughout. Josh Groban Groban uses a broad range of vocal dynamics here to makes an otherwise lackluster rendition sound decent. Im not sure if he has facial tension, or if hes trying to convey emotion. Either way, he should just relax and allow spontaneous feelings to happen in the moment, instead of choreographing his face. Mariah Carey Shes known for being the best-selling female singer of all time (well-known for her five-octave vocal range) but you can hear a lot of breathiness and vocal swelling in Careys voice here (listen for the tiny moments where her voice suddenly isnt there). Toward the end of the song, when she sings, Oer the land of the free, and goes up into her signature whistle register, it seems out of place, almost as if she did it just to remind everyone that shes Mariah Carey. Christina Aguilera Aquilera is singing a cappella (and as far as I can see, she doesnt have an ear monitor). This makes it pretty tough for anyone to sing the national anthem in tune, but she does. Her higher notes seem secure and solid, albeit tight. Taylor Swift This 2008 performance of Taylor Swift isnt exactly fantastic. Theres virtually no power behind the voice and the higher notes are strained. What is fantastic, however, is that Swift doesnt aim to sound like anyone but herself, and thats important. Jennifer Hudson I consider this the gold standard of national anthem performances. Hudson doesnt start too low, and therefore breathy, as a lot of singers do. Her high notes are powerful and free, without any noticeable tension, throughout the entire song. Her vibrato is pleasant-sounding and at her command. And theres plenty of sincere drama, but she remains in control. Roseanne Barr Dont. Just dont. So, What Have We Learned? Tips for Singing the National Anthem As you learn how to sing the national anthem, keep these tips in mind: Get your physical energy up. Jumping jacks work great! Start low in your range, but not so low that youre breathy. Think about what the words mean to you. Dont just yell! Use different dynamics to your advantage. Sing a dramatic high note only if you have an emotional or lyrical reason (and its super solid!). Be yourself and dont imitate. [Editors Note: For a hilarious account of what its really like to sing the Star-Spangled Banner in front of a crowd, we love this post  by Chelsea Dyreng!] I believe that the most important keys to singing  the national anthem well are  to know your own voices capabilities and limits, and sing in your own style; its also important to match at least some of the drama behind the song. That means knowing the history behind it and keeping a high energy level up throughout the entire song. But there should be a balance. Dont let the need for a dramatic performance compromise strong and solid technique. Oh, and make sure that you know the words. Post Author:  Heather L. Heather L. teaches singing, piano, and more in St. Augustine, FL, as well as online. She attended Westminster Choir College and has performed with the New York and Royal Philharmonics, the New Jersey and Virginia Symphonies, the American Boy Choir, and the internationally renowned opera star Andrea Bocelli. Learn more about Heather here! Photo by Nathan Rupert 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