The Beginners Guide to Starting Cross-Training

The Beginners Guide to Starting Cross-Training How Can You Prepare for Intense Physical Exertion? ChaptersThe Necessary Equipment for Cross TrainingA Cross Training Session for the First WeekA Cross Training Session for the Second WeekA Cross Training Session for the Third WeekA Cross Training Session for the Fourth WeekBeyond the First Four WeeksA Word on Nutrition“Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.” - Mark TwainOf all the sporting activities in the world, cross training, sometimes wrongly referred to as CrossFit, is one of the most complete workouts you can do.In this article, we are going to have a look at the key exercises of cross training, the non-branded version of CrossFit, the equipment you'll need for it, and some sample sessions that you could do.yes, there is a difference!Others who have started working out for a short-term goal such as losing weight or because of a health scare soon abandon their resolution because getting fit was not their overall goal.Still others are tempted by their lifestyle: a night out with friends, the call for overtime at work, the impatience with repetition... there are also those who rapidly get bored and those who have no clear direction in their fitness plan.If you have stuck with your workout for four weeks, you are to be congratulated: a large percentage of fitness hopefuls don’t make it even this far into their lifestyle change!So, now that you are well on your way to becoming a lean machine, what should you do next?  That’s what we now take a look at.Workout StrategiesEven if you are burning with passion for your personal fitness, you are not immune to feeling the crush of repetition. In other words, you are at risk for boredom - not through any fault of your own, you can rest assured on that.As you well know, physical exercise releases endorphins in the brain that makes us feel so good! In part, that is what keeps people working out in the early stages of establishing a regimen.However, your body soon hits a balance: the amount of those feel-good chemicals in our brains is evened out so that we don’t quite get the rush that we experienced when we first started our routine.Also, after the initial ‘water loss’, that period early in one’s regimen when those who exercise are bound to see inches and possibly weight melt away, your body’s metabolism adjusts to its new level of activity and those losses taper down to about a pound or two per week.Note: losing a pound or two per week is a healthy amount; any more than that would be a cause for concern.You can see why some would quit exercising, don’t you?Increasing your reps and adding resistance to your workout does not make for a brighter burn; in fact, dramatic increases could actually damage your muscles and connective tissues!That is why experts recommend diversifying your workout.Once you have your body conditioned to working out through the outlined routines above, it is time to take your physical training to a new level.Cycling, whet her indoors or out, is excellent aerobic exercise! Source: Pixabay Credit: 12019The Aerobic WorkoutWhile it is true that any workout will work your heart to a certain extent, activities specifically designed to speed up your heart rate with get your body’s most important muscle in optimal shape.You may consider adding an aerobic class such as Zumba or step aerobics to your fitness repertoire.If you have no time for an extra session at the gym for such a class â€" or, now that warmer weather is here, you wish to take your workout out of doors, you might like to walk, jog, run or dance your way into heart health.You might even consider cycling to work and back!To avoid the issue that plagues every workout, namely burnout, try to switch your activities up. You might go biking one day, dance the next, and try out Nordic walking before the week is up.Note: swimming is also a great workout for your heart and it comes with the added benefit of being no-impact, meaning your joints won’t suffer while you work your muscles!StretchingWhile building endurance and gaining muscle tone are important to weight loss and fitness goals, equally important is flexibility.If you lack the range of motion necessary to perform such manoeuvres as a squat, plié or even a sit-up, you may injure yourself rather than help yourself get fit.It is therefore vital to warm up before any workout. Such a warm-up should include stretching.Even before you engage in the jumping jacks or deadlifts mentioned above, make sure your joints and muscles are properly conditioned by stretching them before you get started.A good stretching routine may include:Arm lifts: feet shoulder-wide apart, raise your arms above your head while inhaling. Hold for a slow count of five; exhale on the release. Repeat 10-20 timesSpinal stretch: with feet planted, lace your fingers behind your head; elbows out. Gently turn from side to side for a count of 10 per side.Alternately, you may place your hands on your hips wit h your knees slightly bent. Pitch forward while releasing your arms, allowing them to hang down. Pull yourself back up to standing position; repeat 10-20 times.Leg stretches: these warm-ups may include hurdler’s stretches, leg lifts and calf muscle stretches.Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, hands on hips. Raise yourself on your tip-toes, release. Repeat 10-20 times.Another great way to work on your flexibility is through yoga.You may enjoy a particularly vigorous Bikram yoga workout, opt for a more relaxing Hatha regimen or sweat it out in a hot yoga session.Whichever type of flexibility training you choose, make sure that it becomes an integral part of your workout!A Word on NutritionYou have revolutionised your entire life: working out is a vital part of your lifestyle and your health â€" perhaps an area of concern before your turnaround, is now better than it’s ever been.As your body becomes leaner and burns more efficiently, the next step in your fitness crusade is to c onsider and, if needed, change your nutritional intake.Obviously, you will not have the same nutritional needs as when you started your fitness regimen; in fact, you may need to eat more in order to maintain your target weight and muscle mass.Furthermore, depending on what your fitness goals are, you may need to adopt one or another food plan.The essential guidelines for Crossfit are 40% carb intake, 30% protein and 30% fat.You may have heard of The Zone diet or the Paleo diet; both of those plans approximately reflect the recommended diet for those who are intent on optimal fitness.The key to these nutrition plans’ success is avoiding processed foods and high-glycemic carbohydrates.You might wonder about the 30% fat. Isn’t fat touted as bad for you?Indeed, certain fats are bad for you and counterproductive to your fitness goals. However, not all fats are bad fats; in fact, we need fats to keep our bodies functioning properly.The fats you should incorporate into your diet come f rom oily fish, coconuts, olive oil and avocadoes, just to name a few sources.Crossfit, Nutrition and Weight LossLet us say you have decided on a Crossfit plan to lose weight and get in shape. Obviously, by this regimen’s very nature, you will lose a certain amount of weight but, here again, it all comes down to what you eat.The simplest weight loss solution is to take in fewer calories than you expend.  That simplistic assertion is rooted fact but omits one critical aspect: what kind of calories are you taking in?Not all calories are the same, nor do they burn in the same way.Protein, for example, increases how much energy your body uses to break it down and absorb it. By contrast, it takes only a little energy for your body to crack open and absorb carbohydrates.So, if you eat the equivalent of 100 grams of protein, you will have consumed around 75 net calories  that will need to be burned off.Eating 100 hundred grams of carbs, on the other hand, results in about 94 net calories  to burn off.Applying the philosophy above - take in fewer calorie to lose weight, can you see where it is more difficult to burn carbs than protein?  If your short-term workout goal is to lose weight, you may consider shifting the 40/30/30 guidelines mentioned above into higher protein and fats intake while lowering your carbs.Eating more protein will help you feel fuller for longer, causing you to not feel hungry as quickly and to reduce your overall food intake at mealtimes.Please note that this is not a permanent arrangement! As soon as you’ve hit your stride in weight loss, you should revert to the more healthy balance of protein, carb and fat intake.Crossfit, Nutrition and Muscle MassIf you are interested in gaining muscle mass, here too your food intake will play a large part in your success in achieving your goals.By dialling back on your fats intake and increasing protein and carbs proportionately, you will soon see gains in your musculature.Bear in mind that this too sho uld not be a permanent condition.After years of touting low-fat diets as healthy, both medical and fitness experts stress that a certain level of ‘good’ fats intake is necessary for optimal health.In fact, low-fat diets have been proven to reduce testosterone in males which could lead to muscular atrophy â€" the exact opposite of the condition you are working towards.So, once you’ve kick-started your performance, you should go back to the optimal 40/30/30 ratio mentioned above.This short guide is by no means a complete digest of everything you need to know. For more information about CrossFit and cross training, don't hesitate to get advice from some of the coaches or tutors on Superprof.

How to Make 2020 the Year You Advance Your Career

How to Make 2020 the Year You Advance Your Career With the new year almost upon us, many people have already taken to contemplating their resolutions for 2020. As some sort out how theyll improve their health or academic standing in the coming year, countless working professionals think about how theyll advance their careers. Continuing ones education is a helpful, yet frequently overlooked, measure that can lead to professional growth. Continuing education comes in a variety of formscertificate programs and independent study among them. Both methods offer attractive benefits, but may achieve slightly different goals. Gathering additional knowledge and skills is paramount to professional growth. Whether you wish to receive a promotion or move from one career field to another, youll have to learn something new to get there. Keep reading to learn how to make 2020 the year you advance your career. Advance your career in 2020 through a certificate program Going back to college for a second bachelors degree or for a masters degree is not a feasible option for everyone. Degree programs can have significant or burdensome time and financial commitments, especially for those people who work full-time and have families to support. Certificate programs, on the other hand, tend to offer more reasonably priced courses and flexible scheduling. This is because certificate programs are generally designed for individuals who already hold college degrees, but who are looking to develop a new skill. Certificate programs are conducted both online and in-person, and either format can help you reach your goal. Before choosing a format, however, consider your learning preferences and your comfort level with virtual courses. You should also ensure that the institution offering the certificate program is one that is regionally accreditedotherwise, your completion of the program may not be recognized by your employer. Certificate programs are available in a plethora of specialties, such as: Editing Medical interpretation SEO UX design Upon successful completion of a certificate program, make sure to request a copy of your certificate, add this accomplishment to your resume, and let your employer know about what youve done. [RELATED: How to Continue Learning After College] Advance your career in 2020 through independent study The phrase independent study often conjures up the image of a student spending late nights researching at the library. However, thanks to modern technology, independent study can now involve a much more enjoyable and interactive process. There are a variety of websites that allow users to enroll in a great number of affordable and high-quality online courses. YouTube is also an excellent source of educational material that is totally free to the public. In addition, you can utilize both online and in-person tutoring to learn a new language or skill. [RELATED: 4 Ways Learning a Language Can Help Your Career] Independent study can be just as effective as a certificate program in helping you acquire new knowledge and skills. A key difference, though, is the degree of discipline required for each. In a certificate program, theres an instructor who emails students to keep them informed and to remind them of upcoming deadlines. With independent study, staying on task and motivated is purely the individuals responsibility. With the variety of continuing education options that exist today, you have many opportunities to advance your career in 2020. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Playing Games The Best Way To Learn German

Playing Games The Best Way To Learn German How Important Are Games To Learning German or Taking a German Language Course? ChaptersEducational Games In The ClassroomEducational Games For Independent LearningThe Hidden Advantages Of Video And Board GamesAs this title suggests, there could be no more enjoyable way to learn German than through the fun-filled pastime that we all look upon with great fondness: playing a game.While learning German or any language is a challenge, certain learning techniques can reduce the negativity and uncertainty that normally surround the initial phases of language acquisition, and work towards facilitating the process in the long run.One of these proven, successful methods is interactive teaching, i.e. using games, competitions or other interactive activities to help information to be processed and retained much easier.Games do not need to be childish, but all activities should have an element of fun to keep you engaged with the content. SönkeGerman Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClaudiaGerman Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discove r all our tutors SefaGerman Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HilaryGerman Teacher 5.00 (16) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LisaGerman Teacher 5.00 (8) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChrisGerman Teacher 5.00 (19) £39/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors WendyGerman Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HowardGerman Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsEducational Games In The ClassroomPlaying games is a popular teaching method in school, and it’s no surprise that it makes learning much more fun for all. Educational games, which are designed to teach a skill using psychological methods, are now mainstream in most curriculums.Classroom games can emerge in many ways, but most notably in the form of class participation, recitation, demonstration and memorisation, either used in combination or on their own.Games which rely on technology or other accessories include video and mu sic games, as well as card or board games.The latter two are less popular in the classroom, however, as they are designed for small groups of individuals and thus lose their effect on a classroom of 25+ pupils.The aim of using games in the class environment is to make learning fun, and this game-based learning has proven learning outcomes. The gameplay engages student and keeps them gripped for the duration of the activity, meaning that they learn more than they probably would have otherwise.So, without even realising that they are doing it, students can better understand key language attributes or historical events and expand on these concepts with vigour and vitality.Some of the games that banish boredom in the class are high-energy activities like competitions and quizzes, while games that call for the utmost concentration are memory and logic games such as crosswords, completing the missing word, choosing the right tense, and other focus-inducing tasks.Whether or not students pe rform better when participating in games within small groups or on their own is all dependent on a number of factors: the general behaviour of the classroom, the type of activity presented and the level they are working at are just some examples.Working independently or in groups to win a game can make learning more fun. Photo credit: University of the Fraser Valley via VisualHunt / CC BYUltimately, educational games are any activities that students see as a shift from a normal lesson and which succeed in lifting their spirits and their positivity towards learning.How Do Parents Feel About The Use Of Games For Teaching Purposes?Although some parents might disagree with the use of games in the classroom, particularly those parents of GCSE or A Level pupils, these dependents are more often than not misinformed about the  benefits that educational games can bring to the classroom.It is natural to be concerned with pupils staying on track and focused before exams, but a little bit of l ighthearted fun will do more good than bad, especially if the students are feeling the pressure of the upcoming assessments.Moreover, games are carefully planned and only used in appropriate circumstances â€" so pupils are very unlikely to play games during every single lesson of term!Learn German online with German tutors at Superprof.Educational Games For Independent LearningIf entertaining and educational games are successful in the classroom, then why not, therefore, play games at home to make your language learning journey more exciting?Teachers are normally presented with a range of teaching materials and guidance to make creating games much easier, but if you don’t know what you are doing then you might like to consult some people who do.A range of educational websites and blogs have been set up by either native speakers, teachers or other language experts to help beginners to learn German online. Among these, you are certain to find some games to target your different sens es, as these are clear-cut ways of learning that will no doubt be celebrated by most education-led websites.The website German-Games.Net has been created for just that reason. A quality online app for German language learners, it offers a range of games designed to help you revise the content you just learned via their tutorials and tests, some of which are mix and match games whilst others are multiple choice spelling games.The Goethe Institut, a renowned organisation helping beginners to learn German, also offers a range of interactive activities designed for German beginners.Using your time effectively, like playing German games, can help you to advance your language skills. Photo via VisualhuntFor instance, the website features a simple but strategic game involving a princess whereby the player must experiment with role reversal to create their very own story with the figures.The site also uses classic German fairytales with new perspectives to teach more of the basics to studen ts. In addition, quizzes are presented to test language knowledge and other interactive games are introduced for learners of A2 up, one of which is an adventure task which requires the learner to solve a mystery whilst travelling through Germany.With user-friendly, vibrant graphics that are pleasing to the eye, this website is a must for learners who want to inject a bit of fun into their german lessons!Need more tips and tricks to learn German? Check them out here.The Hidden Advantages Of Video And Board GamesPlaying games, especially if you have a competitive streak, give you an incentive to learn and absorb key language features so that you can feel that sense of elation when you get an answer or puzzle right.By engaging with German in this fun way, it will increase your likelihood of retaining the information you have learned, especially if the games are well-designed and thought out with colours and pictures that relate to the content.Some amateur language enthusiasts are makin g the most of the technological advancements available to them, and it is slowly becoming apparent that this technique does work very well.If you are a keen video game player, for instance, by playing German games you could find yourself easily picking up reading, writing and listening components without even realising it.Not all German classes have to be given in the classroom. Learn how to learn German by  reading German newspapers and authors.Playing video games can help you to pick up language attributes without realising it. Photo credit: jDevaun.Photography via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NDAlthough this method is never going to teach you to excel in all areas of language, it is a really good way to grasp the basics. Some of those who have followed this approach prior to starting their language course at school found that they were considered to have a much more advanced level than their peers (who probably had no experience whatsoever of the language).It is important to note, howe ver, that constantly playing fast-paced shooting games isn’t going to do much for your language skills, as you are left with so little time to translate. You should ideally be focusing on strategic or role-playing games that give you time to pause and think.Contrary to what you might think, playing single-player is preferable when first learning the language because it allows you to take the game at your own pace. However, as you improve, you might like to experiment with multi-player modes and take the opportunity to listen to and chat with other players in realtime.As you may be aware, video games are no longer limited to Playstations and Nintendos. Most modern games combine video graphics with a connection to real life, some of which even allow you to bring your game's surroundings into your own living room or bedroom with the use of Virtual Reality devices. This makes game playing action far more vivid and thus gets participants more involved and  committed to learning.Meanwh ile, the value of board games in German shouldn’t be underestimated. Games like Monopoly played using German cards can encourage you to decipher the language in order to move forward with your game.Plus, with more than one player involved, you can all put your heads together and take a stab at translating the content on the cards. They do say that two heads are better than one!Discover how to learn German through TV and film and perfect your German speaking with audiobooks and podcasts.If your learning German, be sure to validate your German level with a certification in the German language.Hire a personal tutor to help you progress faster:German courses LondonGerman courses ManchesterGerman lessons Leeds

Reading Materials for Learning How to Sew

Reading Materials for Learning How to Sew Learn How To Sew with Books and Tutorials ChaptersThe Best Sewing Books to Look For in Your Local BookstoreGreat Sewing Tutorials on the WebSewing Tutorial Videos: Good for Visual Learners and Perfecting your Sewing TechniqueAlternative Online Sewing TutorialsLooking for an effective and interactive way of learning how to sew? There is a lot to be said for the digital revolution. The 21st century - the beginning of a third millennium that opened with the Internet already omnipresent - allows anyone with a connection to the World Wide Web to rediscover a multitude of arts and crafts that had previously been reserved for a small group of elite professionals - or else had fallen into disuse.Whether it be learning a musical instrument, bookbinding or origami, the Web is full of pages and blogs run by fans dedicated to transmitting their knowledge on amazing expressions of human ingenuity.Naturally, sewing occupies an important place among the old crafts. Whether you want to become one of the great fashion designers or simply sew adorable clothing for your children (or yourself), the Net is the Holy Grail of learning a new skill.Small steps lead to big ones: using quality sewing tutorials found on the Web will allow you to progress and hone your skills with ever more complicated sewing projects - and eventually play with the big boys (and girls).comprehensive guide that takes you through the whole process step-by-step, from choosing your fabric to understanding patterns - and doesn’t forget the importance of ironing!Alison McNicol, How To Use Your Sewing Machine: A Complete Guide For Absolute Beginners, Kyle Craig Publishing, 2013. This book shows you the basic sewing skills you will need to use your sewing machine and includes some easy projects to get you started.Jane Bolsover, Sewing Machine Basics: A step-by-step course for first-time stitchers, CICO books, 2010. This book has handy tips on how to sew things such as a bias binding and zippers.Jan Saunders Maresh, Sewing for Dummies, Wiley Publishing, 2010Lee Hollahan, How to Use, Adapt and Design Sewing Patterns: From Shop-Bought Patterns to Drafting your Own, A C Black Publishers Ltd., 2010 Teaches you everything you need to know to adapt ready-made patterns to your body and start drafting your own.Caroline Fairbanks-Critchfield, Crafty Little Things to Sew: 20 Clever Sewing Projects Using Scraps and Fat Quarters, Lark, 2017Emma Hardy: Learn to Sew: 25 quick and easy sewing projects to get you started, CICO Books, 2016Emma Hardy, My First Sewing Machine Book: 35 fun and easy projects for children aged 7 years + , CICO Kidz, 2014.Never fear - modern sewing books have gotten more visual, with lots of illustrations of the various sewing techniques. Photo by ohsohappytogether on VisualHunt.comAnd don’t forget your local newspaper stand: there are several sewing magazines out there with step-by-step instructions in every issue for, say, how to sew a button-down dress or make a tote - such as Sew, Love Sewing, Simply Sewing or Mol lie Makes.Discover more resources for learning how to sew...Great Sewing Tutorials on the WebWhen learning something new, there is nothing more frustrating than having to feel your way in the dark, not knowing what simple beginner’s mistake has just ruined your entire project.But now with the Internet we are no longer alone in our endeavours and can profit from other people’s experience without ever having met them.Sewing blogs and sewing tutorials are not hard to find - just google what you want to know and you will be confronted with a plethora of how to’s. The hard part is choosing the best ones to succeed in you sewing project.But fear not! We are here to guide you through this labyrinth of sewing sites and free sewing instructions. Note that we will not be covering sites that offer nothing but sewing patterns without any other explanation.Best Sewing BlogsThere are some excellent sewing blogs out there, a small selection of which are:Sunny Gal Studio makes casual wear and gives you tips on how to improve your sewing.Sigrid’s Sewing Projects lets you follow along with her as she sews specific projects, letting you pick up tips and tricks along the way.Blog for Better Sewing for lovely vintage sewing - and she has her own range of vintage fabrics, too.Male Pattern Boldness:  tired of being a man in a world of women’s sewing blogs? This one is run by a man and includes a wide range of menswear and some women’s dresses.Mrs. Hughes specialises in plus-size tailoring.Made by Rae makes her children’s clothing herself and takes you along for the ride.Made Every Day is a sewing crafts site with a blog.Male Pattern Boldness is one of the few sewing blogs run by a man interested in dressmaking. (screenshot)This is only a small selection. We have tried to cover a wide range of specialities and interests, but in the end, it must remain arbitrary as everyone responds to different approaches and there is wonderful quality to be found almost everywhere. Itâ €™s up to you to take the information gleaned from these blogs and from there try and find the sites that best suit your techniques, styles and what you like to sew.Would you like to find more great sewing blogs?Learn Sewing Basics OnlineFor general sites on learning how to sew from the ground up (as well as specific sewing techniques such as what to do with raw edges or how to hem a skirt), try teaching sites such as Victory Patterns with lots of sewing tutorials; Sew Mama Sew offers tutorials and online sewing classes.Crafts Projects Step by StepYou will have noticed that there is a difference between general sewing tutorials (the fundamentals of sewing) and step-by-step sewing instructions to help you finish a specific sewing project.Re-create sewing projects you find online thanks to simple tutorials. Photo by Dot D on Visualhunt.comSo don’t hesitate to try more precise searches in your search engine - such as “how to make a sewing kit” and many other sewing projects: ther e are almost as many sewing tutorials as there are creative ideas - so we won’t even try to list them all! Try Purl Soho for a variety of projects from home dec, while Tilly and the Buttons has hundreds of cute sewing projects you will be sure to nail - even without sewing lessons.Discover some of the best sewing classes...Sewing Tutorial Videos: Good for Visual Learners and Perfecting your Sewing TechniqueAs time goes by, courses made up entirely of text seem more and more boring. In fact, studies show that the same text presented in different ways (black-and-white compared with colour-coded) will not have the same impact.This is even more true when we come to manual hobbies: a proper sewing tutorial should have a lot of illustrations.Some sites base their whole concept on this: Pinterest, for example, is a social network that lets their users share pictures with others - including fun and unique sewing tutorials.And it is also possible to add sound to image - voilà, we now have an audiovisual tutorial!Many sewing blogs have their own videos on their website while others are hosted on specialised interfaces of which YouTube is the best known.Though there are a few fame-crazed individuals imagining themselves champions of haute couture while posting mediocre content, there are a lot of channels worth mentioning.The Crafty Gemini  Q2HANWith WendySew Over It  Clueless SeamstressThough the quality of sound and the grain varies, the basic information is still good. Very often, you will be following the creation of a specific piece of clothing.Cosmetic pouch or sponge bag, beach bag, tote, pillowcase, cushion - nothing escapes Dailymotion and its rivals!Look up for online sewing classes on Superprof.Alternative Online Sewing TutorialsHave you considered taking online sewing lessons? It might be the ideal solution for becoming a dressmaker without losing motivation when your sewing projects don’t come out just right.No time for physical sewing classes? Try onli ne lessons to learn how to sew! Photo by sassycrafter on Visualhunt.comKnitting, crochet, embroidery: these are activities a sewing teacher can teach you; he can supplement his sewing lessons with digital media to help you make your creations.Whether you decide to get a private sewing tutor or not, don’t forget that you will need some basic sewing accessories available in any local habershadery (thread, iron, zippers, etc.) - a basic sewing kit could be useful for covering your bases - as good quality materials are indispensable for successfully completing a sewing project.There are e-learning courses - paying and free - available on several websites including, of course, Superprof.They will take you through the most basic sewing skills you will need, then build upon them to craft more and more complicated creations. The first fruits of your labour might not be a matched-pattern skin-tight evening dress - but rather a tote or drawer organiser - but chi va piano, va sano e va lonta no, and you will soon be conquering DIY thanks to the best sewing tutorials out there.Also discover where you can find free sewing patterns...

Helping Your Child Cope With Exam Stress

Helping Your Child Cope With Exam Stress Exam season can be a stressful experience for students, but parents may also find it difficult to help their child during this time. Here are some strategies for parents to help their child cope with exam stress written by Priory Group's Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg. A parent’s guide to helping your child cope with exam stress By Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg Exam season can see stress levels rise in your children and household. We understand that this can be a challenging time for everyone and is probably the most pressured your child will have ever felt. There are ways you can help to manage exam stress and anxiety so that it doesn’t become overwhelming. While feeling some stress is normal as it can kick start the ‘fight or flight’ response and help your child to perform at their best, unrelenting stress can see their health and wellbeing deteriorate. Priory Group’s Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg has provided some exam tips for parents that you can use to prevent their stress from escalating. By equipping them with stress-busting strategies, you will not only be helping your child during exams, but will also be giving them tools they can then use to deal with stresses they face later on in life. Make time to talk Start a conversation with your child when you are both free from distractions. Ask them how they feel. If they say they are angry, sad, worried or anxious, explain that it is normal to occasionally have such strong emotions, but that they shouldn’t have to deal with these feelings all the time.   Let them know that that they can always turn to you for support. If they feel that they are going to fail their exams or perform terribly, challenge these irrational thoughts and help them to recognise all the hard work they have put in so far. You can also help to problem solve their concerns. For example, if they are worried that they won’t get their expected grade, identify the options that are available following on from this so that they are aware that they have alternatives and a future. Help them recognise the symptoms of stress Explain to them what symptoms of stress they should look out for. Are they finding it difficult to sleep and do they constantly feel tired? Are they not feeling hungry or are they finding it difficult to finish their meals? Does their heart rate constantly feel high? Have they lost interest in hobbies that they once enjoyed? When your child is busy revising or preparing for exams, it is important that they check in with their body throughout the day to see if they are exhibiting any symptoms of stress. Get them to set an alarm on their phone, or to take time before meals to check. Has their leg been jiggling? Has their heart been beating faster than usual? Is their mind racing? Let them know that it is not okay to feel like this constantly and that there are ways that they can reduce their exam stress symptoms, which you can teach them. Show them strategies for dealing with exam stress When your child feels that their stress is escalating and becoming distracting, get them to visualise their worries. Then get them to build a metaphorical wall between themselves and these concerns. You can also teach them to put an expiration time on their stresses, where they can only worry for 10 minutes once or twice a day to prevent their anxiousness from becoming overwhelming. You can also get them to sit with you and think of a relaxing place. Ask them to tell you what they see, smell, hear and feel. Encourage them to go back to this place once or twice a day, so that they can practice removing themselves from moments when they begin to feel too stressed. Set times for revision breaks Make your child aware that revising when they are exhausted is not an effective or healthy way to prepare for exams. It is important for them to feel that they have tried their best, but there are ways to do this without it negatively influencing their health and wellbeing. Encourage them to take short, regular breaks. Suggest going for a walk or a drive together, book in time for daily exercise, and make sure they spend meal times away from their books to give them an opportunity to refresh and restart. By helping your child manage their exam stress, this can prevent their anxieties from snowballing into something that impacts their health and wellbeing. If you feel that their stress isn’t improving you may need to get help from your GP, who will be able to give you the right advice and support you need. Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg  is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist for The Priory Group. You may also be interested in:  The science behind exam stress  or  A top tutor's tips to help with exam stress. Photo by  Alexis Brown  on  Unsplash

Improve Your English in 3 Minutes With This Tip

Improve Your English in 3 Minutes With This Tip I hear it ALL the time. My students use emall  /emincorrectly. Im so used to it, sometimes I dont even notice. But today during one of my classes I noticed the mistake and I decided to investigate why this is so hard for English language learners. It turns out that it is actually quite complex, grammatically speaking. Do you say emall my things/em or  emall her life/em? If yes, you can learn to useem  /ememeverything/em and emwhole/em  and instantly sound more fluent in English. Watch the video for the rules and explanation. p style=text-align: center;iframe src=//www.youtube.com/embed/Clr8Z8Yni7s?rel=0 width=560 height=315 frameborder=0 allowfullscreen=allowfullscreen/iframe/p p style=text-align: center;Think youve got it? a href=/?p=16395Click here to try our quiz./a/p p style=text-align: center;/p

Can I teach English abroad with an associates degree

Can I teach English abroad with an associates degree Almost 700,000 people graduate with an associate’s degree, a two-year degree awarded at many junior and community colleges across the States, every single year. (Note: The Canadian and UK equivalent to a US associate’s degree are two-year diploma programs, offered at a variety of post-secondary education institutions.) There are so many great reasons to earn an associate’s degree. Whether you plan to transfer to a four-year college for a bachelor’s degree or better prepare yourself for the job market, an associate’s degree is a cheaper and less time-consuming way for any student to get their first two years of college under their belt. But what if you want to move abroad and teach English? Does your associate’s degree count for anything in the competitive global ESL job market? Where can (and can’t) you teach with your associate’s degree? And how can associate’s degree holders make the most of their credential when it comes to teaching English abroad? Read on to find out the answers! 1. Add more value to your associate’s degree with a TEFL certificate. The standard qualifications to teach English abroad usually include a bachelor’s degree, native-level English skills and a TEFL certification. If you’re falling short of this first requirement, then a surefire way to make your resume stand out amidst the competition (the majority of whom will have a four-year degree) is to get TEFL certified. Getting TEFL certified will not only get you shortlisted for jobs. It will also expand your ESL teaching know-how and help you impress at the interview stage. In short: It’s going to be difficult for you to get hired for a well-paying, legit English teaching job without a TEFL. 2. Search for English teaching jobs abroad you qualify for with an associate’s degree. Most government teaching programs (like EPIK in South Korea)accept only graduates with a bachelor’s degree. While China is one country where you need a four-year bachelor’s degree, there are a whole bunch of English teaching destinations overseas that welcome applications from associate’s degree holders with the right TEFL training. Take for exampleSouth Americancountries, like: Costa Rica Bolivia Chile Argentina Nicaragua These are all great countries to focus your job search if you’re interested in living and traveling in an astoundingly diverse, beautiful and dynamic region. (Yup, that makes two of us!) The salaries aren’t as high as you can expect inEurope or Asia, but the cost of living and competition for jobs is much lower. And if Asia is where you want to teach, don’t panic - all is not lost! Countries like Taiwan, Thailand and Cambodia don’t require overseas teachers to have completed a four-year degree - your two-year degree and TEFL certificate is plenty. And South Korea isn’t out of bounds, either. The TaLK program accepts candidates with an associate’s degree as well as students who are currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program. The perks aren’t quite as good as you’ll get with EPIK, but you’ll earn enough to live comfortably and explore this incredible country. Read this: No degree? 5 places to consider teaching English abroad so you can see the world this year. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. 3. Consider volunteer teaching job opportunities. English teaching opportunities overseas come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re into the idea of teaching English abroad on a volunteer basis, then there are organizations based in countries worldwide that are clambering to hire people with an associate’s degree. Usually, you’ll earn a stipend to cover your daily living expenses, plus accommodation costs covered. Best of all? By volunteer teaching abroad, you have the chance to live like a local and immerse yourself in the culture and community, rather than experiencing it as a tourist would! Sold? Get started by reading more about volunteer teaching English in China. Moving abroad is daunting for any new graduate. You’ve been in education for quite a while and the real world might feel like a terrifying place. But think of the amazing people you’ll meet, the life skills you’ll gain and the experiences you’ll encounter while teaching English abroad. The world is your oyster. Grab life with both hands and go for it!