Choosing Your Biology Chemistry College

Choosing Your Biology Chemistry CollegeAre you one of those students who did not enjoy science in high school and, more than likely, still have no interest in it? The answer to this question is a resounding 'no.' Yet, if you continue on your studies, you could well find yourself with an interest in Chemistry. In this article, we will outline what you should know and what sort of opportunities await you.If you are not very well versed in the English language, then you may feel lost in the sea of learning and information that surrounds you in your school. At the same time, you should also know that there are a number of opportunities for you to pursue higher education through your chosen subject in chemistry.The first opportunity is an exam retake program, which will allow you to retest your diploma at different institutions. Not only does this provide you with a free pass to show to prospective employers, but it is also an excellent way to take further independent study in a subject y ou would like to study further. Of course, it is a fine idea to think about taking extra exams as part of the program as this can also be an opportunity to reflect on what you are learning from the courses you are taking.Of course, another avenue is to attend a junior year chemistry class. This can be an excellent way to further your knowledge and thus allow you to make important decisions as to what course you wish to take in your university career. The reason for this is that junior year chemistry classes teach a great deal of this subject matter.If you do not have the time to attend all of the seminars and lectures, then consider attending some of the many online conferences that can be held at colleges, universities, or new colleges. The lectures and sessions offered are just as valuable as attending the regular lectures and they are completely free.Finally, do not forget to attend faculty meetings and to even have a talk on your topic of interest. These are important times that give you the opportunity to discuss the topics you are interested in and thus you may get further ideas on your future study options.These are just some of the other exciting and interesting avenues that exist for those who desire to pursue a career in chemistry. Take the time to understand how it is possible for you to choose the course you would most like to attend in your college career.

Tips for Helping Children Change Schools

Tips for Helping Children Change Schools This post is part of our 2017 Back-to-School Series. Throughout the month of August, visit the Varsity Tutors blog for back-to-school advice, tips, and tricks for all ages. Even at the beginning of the school year, changing schools can be a nerve-racking experience for families. Any new activity or scenario that disrupts a comfortable routine can be rife with uncertainty and fear. However, it can also be an exciting opportunity rich with rewards. Tips for helping children change schools can include attending back-to-school nights as a family, reading up on any necessary pre-school year material, and reaching out to other parents in your new school community. Changing schools is a shift for parents and students alike. Knowing how to handle this change as a team can help it go more smoothly. Here are tips for helping children transition into a new school, broken down for entire family units, parents, and students: Tips for helping children change schoolsfor the family Is there a back-to-school event hosted by the school before the year begins? If so, make an effort to attend it as a family. Your child may feel more comfortable in their new environment when surrounded by loved ones. Parents may also feel more comfortable seeing where their child will be spending most of their time. It may seem like a small step, but it can make a big difference. If there are siblings attending the same school, it might be worthwhile to have a discussion with them to ensure that family members will support one another at school. [RELATED: 5 Questions to Ask Your Students New Teacher] Tips for helping children change schoolsfor parents Starting a new school can be just as scary for the parents as it is for the children. There are many things to navigate, including: New parents New policies New teachers. Give yourself a leg up, and read all of the material provided to you prior to the school year. Having that knowledge will help you in the year to come. Are there any school parents you can connect with in your community or online before the school year starts? It may also be helpful to hear other parents perspectives. They may even give you some key tips. [RELATED: 4 Ways Parents Can Help Middle School Students Succeed] Tips for helping children change schoolsfor students A new school can be overwhelming, but it doesnt have to be! Youre in a unique position to make some great new friends and to learn a lot. If youre starting at a new middle or high school, you might be in the same position as everyone elseyoure all new, so embrace it! Everyone is learning, and its okay to ask questions. Its also okay to not know how to do things. It will get easier. If youre starting at a new school and youre one of a few new students, youre in luck. Students are usually happy to show you around. Take advantage of that, and have fun meeting your new classmates. Sometimes it can be hard to know what to talk about right when you meet new friends. But since youre coming off the summer months, it could be fun to talk about your favorite summer activity or a movie you saw. Also feel free to ask them questions. Sometimes making new friends can feel overwhelming. When that happens, it could be helpful to focus on other fun aspects of your new school. Its going to be great to learn new games at recess and to check out some interesting books that your old schools library didnt have. Maybe your computer lab has a fascinating game that you have never played before. There are lots of positive aspects to be on the lookout for at your new school. A few weeks before school starts, it might be helpful to begin getting into the swing of things school-wise. Start a more regular sleep schedule so youll be at your best come the first day of school. Make sure youre reading and brushing up on your math skills. That way, you can act confidently in your new classroom. And rememberyour new school is lucky to have you. [RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to Backpack Essentials] Finally, keep an open mind. You never know what will surprise you throughout this new experience. 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.

The Myth of Multitasking

The Myth of Multitasking “Supertutor” Mark Maclaine is Tutorfair's Co-founder and Director of Learning. Mark is currently working on his new book which is based on a series of real life clients and the experiences he has gained over his many years of tutoring. The first snippet of this series looks at how tutors can create engaging and memorable lessons and also examines how effective multitasking  really is.   The Myth of multitasking Simon had been struggling to get his homework done on time, and his grades were slipping. His parents complained to the school that he was getting too much homework, and they called my tutor friend Andrea to help. In their first lesson, Simon insisted on putting music on in the background. Suddenly his mobile phone chirped with a message. Andrea protested and Simon said “It’s ok, I can multitask.” He stopped writing and responded to the message. In the next few minutes his computer screen lit up with a few more messages and he answered his brother on the home intercom. By the end of the hour he had done less than half of what they’d expected to cover. The  Science behind multitasking   He believed that he could multitask without a dip in productivity but his brain did not play along. The sticking point was the anterior prefrontal cortex, the brain’s control centre. It monitors activity within brain and information from the external world, and decides what is most urgent and relevant at a given moment. Then it activates and suppresses appropriate parts of the brain so the information can be processed. This is what happened in Simon’s brain as he started to write his essay and then got interrupted: In the time it took Simon to respond to the message, the information relevant to his writing had faded somewhat, or had been replaced by information from the message. Thus, returning to the task, he virtually had to start over: “Now, where was I?” Switching tasks releases dopamine, which serves to momentarily increase brain performance, and also makes multitasking a bit addictive. Researchers at Stanford University spent years looking into the benefits of multitasking, and failed to find a single one. They concluded that if you attempt to do two tasks at the same time it takes about 50% longer than if you do them sequentially. Moreover, in numerical and letter-based tasks you are likely to make twice as many errors. Top tips to help your students leave multitasking behind   Hide mobile phones from view: researchers from the University of Texas found that people who had a smartphone within view are worse at conducting tasks and remembering information. If devices have to be used, notifications should be turned off, and they should only be checked at set times Have students ask family and friends not to disturb them when they’re working. Take regular breaks (to avoid boredom which can lead to the desire for distraction)

Freshman Year Survival Tips

Freshman Year Survival Tips Goodbye, middle school; hello, high school! The adventure that is secondary education certainly comes with much excitement and trepidation.Eileen Huntington ofHuntington Learning Center says that while starting high school is a big change, there are many things parents can do to help their teens make a successful transition. This is a time when children become young adults and the school experience reflects that, she says. Freshman year sets the stage, so its important that parents help their children get off on the right foot. Here are several tips to help your teen ease into freshman year successfully and lay the foundation for a great high school experience: Commit to good organization. If your teen has previously struggled to stay organized, now is the time to get more serious about this essential skill. Set up routines at home like five-minute sessions at the beginning and ending of homework time to neaten the workspace, organize the backpack and get mentally prepared for the next day. Encourage your child to embrace tools like a planner or homework app, and consider color-coded folders or notebooks for each subject to minimize time spent finding notes and important papers. Talk about grades. Grades always matter, but in high school they are especially important. This is because students immediately start building their cumulative GPA, which is one of the top factors college admissions officers consider when evaluating applicants. Talk with your teen about why poor decisions lead to poor grades, which are harder to recover from when college is on the horizon in just a few years. Practice self-advocacy. On that note, because grades have a lasting impact in high school, its critical that your teen gets help as soon as he or she encounters trouble in a class. Set the expectation this year that its time for your teen to take ownership of the academic experience, which starts with making school the top priority, keeping up with homework and studying, and asking the teacher for help when he or she is confused or struggling to keep up. Take control of time management. High school is a whole new ballgame with multiple classes, different teacher expectations, extracurricular activities and more. Encourage your teen to strive for balance by scheduling absolutely everything, keeping on top of the daily to-do list and knowing his or her limits. The planner should become your teens best friendencourage him or her to put all test, homework and other important dates on the calendar and plan out time for the most essential tasks every day. Last but not least,Huntington reminds parents that keeping open lines of communication with their teens is essential. Its so important to share with new high school students that theres nothing to be ashamed of if challenges arise this year or anytime throughout high school, she says. Let your teen know that youre always there for support, no matter what. Having a solid family support system plus a positive outlook will help your teen survive and thrive as a freshman and for the rest of high school. To learn more about how to help your teen succeed in high school, call Huntington at 1-800-CAN-LEARN. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams.Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards.Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2017 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

What Defines a Modern Library

What Defines a Modern Library If it was allowed to drink tea and wrap myself in a blanket in the library I would definitely live there! Do you like to visit libraries and get new ideas? I hope so, I definitely do! But do we know a lot about them? Is modern library the same as the first library in the world?   The first libraries consisted of archives of the earliest form of writingâ€"the clay tablets discovered in Sumer, some dating back to 2600 BC. Private or personal libraries consisted of written books appeared in classical Greece in the 5th century BC. It is obviously that today library is not the same thing as it was many years ago.  Today we can find there much more then just usual paper books. Modern libraries are  more than just a  quiet studying space  for students. Some of them offer us different workshops and courses outside of formal, graded coursework, research materials.  Today, libraries are incubators for innovation, the great forums of modern times, where great minds congregate to learn and discover. They help to find many interesting friends and start to think outside the box. Today, we have not just private libraries that are open just for kings and queens â€" now there are  public,  budgetary,  municipal, personal (family)  and  training  libraries. Can you believe it? What a great variety! My family, for example, has great personal library, it consist of many old and modern books. I have not read all of them yet, but I will. Also, I visit public library twice a week. How often do you visit your local public library? Jorge Luis Borges, famous   Argentine writer, once said: I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library. There are many people in the world that like going to the libraries. Children, teenagers, adults and pensioners, poor and rich people, well-educated people and people without any education â€" different people enjoy using libraries!  Why? Well, its probably the best place to study or work in quiet and comfortable atmosphere, surf the internet, read unusual, uncommon and very old books, enjoy spending time on cool workshops and courses.  As  one famous  Russian historian and literary critic, teacher  and humanist Dmitry Likhachev said: If as a result of any disaster all centers of education and culture disappeared from the earth and the world had nothing but libraries  the world and people still would be able to revive. Library is a center of culture,  information and ideas. Modern libraries  mean a lot for humanity and even if they become more and more computerized and virtual, they are still unbelievably helpful, useful and important. And, of course,  we remember that libraries are very important and useful place  for tutors and their students. It is so comfortable for all of us to study in  neutral  place  that can offer us free wi-fi, computers, great diverse books and other services. If you are a student looking for a  tutor to help you with any subject â€" use TutorZ.com. And if you are a tutor, please, tell us if you like to have classes at libraries or not, why? If you are not in our team yet but you want to become a tutor here youll see how to become a TutorZ tutor.

TutorZ Completed Email Certification Audit

TutorZ Completed Email Certification Audit FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TutorZ Completed Email Certification Audit Los Angeles, California, May 5th, 2014 TutorZ.com, a leading nationwide tutoring service announced today the completion of Return Paths Email Certification Audit. Most email mailbox providers rely on certified email white lists to help separate responsible senders from spammers.   In the past TutorZ has been adversely affected by this ongoing trend. Many of TutorZ’ legitimate emails to tutors, parents and students were caught by spam filters and ended up in the spam folder. In doing so TutorZ lost uncountable opportunities to serve the educational needs of America. “In 2013 we noticed that many of our well-intended and helpful emails were caught by spam filters at Google, Yahoo, Hotmail, Comcast, universities and government institutions, stated Dirk ? owner of TutorZ LLC. “Thats when we knew we had to be included in emailing white lists.  TutorZ decided to apply for this certification from Return Path because they are the worldwide leader. After six month of the audit process we are now very proud of having passed the Return Path’s audit.” We also like to thank Return Path’s Certification Analyst Jacob Hansen for his knowledge, advice and encouragement while guiding TutorZ through the process. Certified Return Path program members receive up to a 40% lift in inbox placement rates at mailbox providers. These include Windows Live Hotmail, Yahoo!, Cox, Comcast, Road Runner, Tencent QQ, Italia Online, Terra, Telstra and hundreds more.   Images and links embedded in the email will be automatically enabled at Windows Live Hotmail, for improved click-through, and your mail will fly through spam filters, Web security filters, volume filters and content filters. Now TutorZ is a also a part of a healthy email ecosystem â€" one that is free from the damages of spam, phishing and fraud. For additional information on TutorZ LLC contact Lilly Kuleshova at contact@tutorz.com. ABOUT Return Path â€" is the worldwide leader in email intelligence. Return Path’s industry-leading email intelligence solutions utilize the world’s most comprehensive set of data to maximize the performance and accountability of email, build trust across the entire email ecosystem and protect users from spam and other abuse. Return Path helps businesses build better relationships with their customers and improve their email ROI. ABOUT Tutorz Founded in July of 2006 by Dirk Wagner Tutorz.com operates a tutor referral service that helps parents and students find educational tutors. Currently TutorZ is based out of Los Angeles, CA and is a privately owned limited liability corporation (LLC) with four employees. The Tutorz.com site provides listings of over 40,000 tutors nationwide. -End-

Top 5 Study Spots

Top 5 Study Spots This post was written by Megan YbarraWhen I was in college, my study set-up during my first semester of freshman year was a package of chocolate chip pop tarts, some coffee, and my books and papers all over my bed. And then my roommate decided to start up a sorority for Hispanic scholars, so my dorm room became less of an educational oasis and more Latina World Command. It was then I discovered a desk in the northwest corner of the sixth floor of the library, which was to be my constant companion throughout the next three and a half years. Libraries top the list, of course, but here are some other alternatives to study in when your house has become your hell (academically speaking).1. LibrariesThey’re quiet, they have alternative texts if the book you’ve got isn’t much help to you, and these days many local libraries host and sponsor free tutoring programs. In fact, though Frog Tutoring specializes in private, in-home tutoring, most of the tutoring sessions for college students happen at libraries due to the disruptive nature of the student’s home life and the accrued cost of meeting at a coffee shop three times a week. Library chairs are also very cushy, by and large.2. Coffee ShopsAh, for the days when I studied James Joyce on a soft, velvet cushion with a nice blueberry muffin, a caramel macchiato, and an industrial sized bottle of ibuprofen. You can find an English tutor to help you with pretty much any genre and/or book but Finnegan’s Wake, although I understand that getting an A on that paper is a good indication that your psychiatrist is about to up your dosage. It’s also a great place for small, relaxed study group sessions, as long as everyone’s wallet is equal to the task. 3. Designated Study HallsMany high schools and dorms have large rooms dedicated to this purpose. Mine had one with a piano in it, which was nice when the pianist was a music major, but impossible when the pianist was practicing for his Billy Joel cover band (true story ). Nine times out of ten, this is not an issue.4. Parks or The QuadFresh air and sunlight are actually conducive to retention and performance. You are also likely to run into a classmate who may also need to study. These situations are actually really great for language students looking to hone their conversational skills.5. Laundry Room/LaundromatYes, seriously. The background noise is white and not distracting and people will generally leave you alone. If you’re a structured studier, your study breaks are predictably timed and you’re managing your time effectively â€" especially if you do actually meet the [person] of your dreams there after all. Tell us what your favorite study spot is in the comments below!

Better, Cheaper and More Fun! 7 Rosetta Stone Alternatives

Better, Cheaper and More Fun! 7 Rosetta Stone Alternatives Better, Cheaper and More Fun! 7 Rosetta Stone Alternatives When it comes to language learning, theres no one-size-fits-all option.It fact, its easy to get stuck with a learning program that doesnt suit you.Popularity and expense arent guarantees that any software, website or book will work for you.And thats why today, were going to help you shop around.Specifically, were going to help you compare Rosetta Stone with other language learning tools.As you probably already know, Rosetta Stone is an award-winning language learning course that can boast of accolades like the Best Language-learning Software  from PC Magazine, six years in a row.For many, thats enough to immediately buy the product and start learning now. And that may work out just fine!But for language learners who want to look around, crane their necks and say, What else is there?â€"well, this post is for you.Were going to talk about alternatives that can, just as effectively, or maybe more effectively,  teach you the language of your dreams.Some of these programs may help you, per sonally, learn better than Rosetta Stone can. Others you may simply find more fun. And still others well, lets just say there are definitely cheaper and more price-flexible options out there. But its even possible theres something out there that costs about the same or more, yet is still a better value for you as a learner.But before we get to those alternatives, lets first look a little bit closer and see whats at the heart of Rosetta Stone, so we know what were up against. Whats the Deal with Rosetta Stone?If you havent been living under the actual Rosetta Stone, and if youre a serious language learner or seriously thinking about becoming one, youve probably heard of Rosetta Stone. Its a well-established player in the world of language learning.Here are three elements of the Rosetta Stone approach. These will be useful to keep in mind for later, when looking to see if other programs meet your requirements as much as, or more than, Rosetta Stone.The target is the mediumThe Rosett a Stone learning system comes with no translations. If youre trying to learn German, chances are, youll be getting the lessons in German.Huh? What?!Really.Rosetta Stone believes that for students to learn most effectively, they have to immerse head-on in the target language itselfâ€"none of that translating back-and-forth with English.As kids, we learned our first language without the benefit of translations. We simply listened and observed what the adults around us said. We deduced what they meant, and through trial-and-error and countless repetitions, we were able to pick up the language.Learning a language with Rosetta Stone feels very much like this. Its also like staying for a week in a remote area, where nobody speaks a word of English and your smartphone just ran out of power. Its a situation where you might start mixing up basic expressions like My tummy feels funny with Im hungry and not realize your mistake until the person you said it to continues feeding you.In the begin ning of the course, youll feel like so much is going over your head. But the more you get into it, the more things start clickingâ€"things slowly begin to make sense, and the dots get connected. Thats the idea.So youre going to have to do a lot of deducing what the presented words mean. Through repetition and some very helpful pictures, youll be able to learn vocabulary without the need for translations. However, while its completely possible to learn this way, it can be a matter of preference. There are varying degrees of language immersion in the alternative programs listed below.Spoken language is keyWhat good is it if you mentally know all the words, but cant express them in a meaningful way?Rosetta Stone believes that communication is the primary goal of learning any language. So they focus on pronunciation and actual spoken use of the language. The program itself attests that you learn the language, not just the words.Grammar is not taught overtly. Yes, youll be learning gramm ar, but not because the rules were explicitly explained, at least not immediately or extensively. Youll learn to deduce the rules by using the language yourself. Through repetition and practice, youll gradually figure out how your target language works.Speaking is at the core of the game, and Rosetta Stones propriety technology, TruAccent, is a speech engine which is able to listen and help you fine-tune pronunciation so that you slowly begin to sound like a native.So be prepared to talk a lot when working with Rosetta. And hey, no procrastinating on it. Youll be speaking from day one. There are plenty of other programs that take this approachâ€"still others focus more on other skills, so be aware of this when shopping around for the right language program for you.Itll cost you a bitRosetta Stone is available as an online subscription, an instant download or a CD-ROM. It works with both Windows and Mac, and the app is available on iOS and Android.As an example, an online subscriptio n for learning Spanish will run you as follows (prices may change or vary):$79 (3-month access)$119 (6-month access)$179 (1-year access)$249 (2-year access)For some potential learners, these costs may not be a big deal at all, and some may consider it a good deal. Your subscription includes the interactive course, the speech recognition technology and engaging games and activities. However, some language learners may find it too steep. For others, it might not be a matter of whether they can afford it, but whether the money is worth it for what they get.Beyond the price, the more important thing to think about is the programs compatibility with your learning style and preferences. What language areas and skills do you want to focus on?For example, since Rosetta Stone isnt known for a direct focus on grammar, if you want to master grammatical nuances faster, then other programs can do that better for you. Or, if you want studying with smart video clips and to immerse in the language via audio-visual content, then there are programs that focus on that. If you want a more game-fied approach, or a closer sense of community while studying the language, there are programs that bring those elements to the table, front and center.So what other programs out there might be more compatible with your learning expectations? Lets find out.Better, Cheaper and More Fun! 7 Rosetta Stone AlternativesFluentULanguage learning videos are the forte of FluentU. More specifically, authentic language learning videos.If youd like to learn language through the benefits of audio-visual and contextual content, then our program can take you by the hand, right from day one.FluentU aims to be immersive, but its immersive in a more flexible and personalized way than Rosetta Stone. FluentU takes a videoâ€"say a movie trailer, an interview or a music videoâ€"and sprinkles it with some linguistic magic. What our team does is turn ordinary, run-of-the-mill (but fun and interesting) videos into bo nafide language lessons on steroids.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"the way that native speakers actually use them. Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos for you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word youre studying.The program e ven keeps track of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes store or Google Play store.DuolingoDuolingos owl mascot has won the hearts of many language learners. With millions of users learning any of the 30+ languages supported (with many more in the pipeline), Duolingo is considered one of the most recognizable language learning platforms.It seems that if you gamify language learning, people flock to your doors. Add the fact that Duolingo, in both the web and the app versions, is free, and you have a pretty potent combination.Duolingo captivates you into playing simple repetitive language games. The activities include pairing words and their translations, forming a proper sentence by tapping a set of words in the proper order or even speaking into your phones mic and reading a sentence al oud. They seem innocent enough, but with robust repetition, youll be slowly picking up vocabulary and grammar and not even really knowing it.Thats why Duolingos a big hit!A study has suggested that 34 hours with Duolingo is equivalent to a semester of university level education, and by those standards, it  may be even more effective than Rosetta Stone. And considering that everythings free, it may be like having a free semester of college.Duolingo also has a lively forum where learners from all over ask their questions, share what they know and dish out some cool resource recommendations. And this community engagement is something else that Duolingo has over Rosetta Stone.The biggest drawback to Duolingo may be the fact that it will only take you up to a certain level, but thats not a reason to avoid it, as there are plenty of ways to continue learning after youve completed a Duolingo course.Rocket LanguagesIf you like Rosetta Stone because of its focus on speech and pronunciation, then youll probably love Rocket Languages for the same reason.This program comes with podcast-type discussions or dialogues where hosts talk about a certain topic (e.g., preparing for a party). Youll hear the target language spoken in a meaningful context. Youre not just memorizing a list of expressions. Youre listening to interactions. And Rocket Languages provides you with the text youll need to keep up with the conversations. Youll have PDF files and you can print those if you want.But the best thing is that the program keeps you talking in the target languageâ€"probably more so than Rosetta Stone. Rocket Languages gives you plenty of opportunities to practice. Voice recognition technology can take a listen and compare your recorded speech with the native speakers and give you feedback.Rocket Languages, like Rosetta Stone, does hit on the four linguistic skillsâ€"speaking, reading, writing and listeningâ€"but theres another element the program excels at more than Rosetta Stone: i ncorporating cultural insights and tidbits into the lessons, which enhances the overall flavor of the course.Rocket Languages is able to do this because it doesnt follow a cookie cutter approach to content development. Each program is unique to the language. So whether its Chinese, Arabic, Spanish or any of the languages on offer, you can be sure that your course has been highly tailored to the nuances of your target language. Rocket Languages may be a bit on the pricier side, but its a formidable learning course.There are three course levels available (prices may change or vary):Level 1 only ($99.95)Levels 1 and 2 ($249.90)Levels 1, 2 and 3 ($259.90)All are one-time payments and include lifetime access to materials and 24/7 email support. The following languages are available from Rocket Languages:ArabicChineseFrenchGermanItalianJapaneseKoreanPortugueseRussianSpanishBabbelFinding out on the first day that there will be no English during the lessons can prove unnerving to many langu age learners.If you want a little handholding, and would rather have your feet get wet before diving in head first, then Babbel might just be the thing for you.Just like with Duolingo, youll be introduced to plenty of basic vocabulary through test-style marathons. Youll find yourself doing a series of tasks, like choosing the correct translation from a list of choices or typing the translation yourself. Through the spaced repetition system thats repeatedly exposing you to words youre having difficulty with, youll gradually pick up plenty of vocabulary.Unlike with Rosetta Stone, youll be more explicitly taught grammar points. Babbel loves to do grammar sidebars and further explain nuances in grammar. Youll be taken behind the scenes and taught how the rules apply. So if you want grammar lessons that are given to you straight, instead of doing trial-and-error sussing them out, then go for Babbel.Check to see if your target language is one of the 14 languages on offer. A monthly subscr iption is available for $12.95.Mango LanguagesFor $19.99 a month, you can have access to lessons and exercises for over 70 languages, including hard-to-find dialects like Urdu, Tamil and Javanese. If you dont find your target language supported by Rosetta Stone or any of the other major language content providers, then Mango Languages has got you covered.You may not even have to fork over your $20. Mango Languages is a unique offering in that it works with a great number of public libraries around the world. This means you may be able to get it absolutely free from yours.Like Rosetta Stone, native speaker voice comparisons and pronunciation practice allow you to get the hang of your target language. You’ll be prompted to enunciate the words, phrases and sentences in the lessons. In addition, cultural insights are built into the lessons so you can understand language from a broader context, making learned vocabulary more memorable and meaningful.A feature (for some languages) that Rosetta Stone doesnt have are the foreign language full-length movies that come with closed captioning. You can do a scene-by-scene study of the films, examining dialogue and grammar.Considering its great variety of supported languages and a possible great deal on price, language beginners might want to check out Mango Languages.MemriseMemrise is an awesome tool for learning vocabulary and phrases. You can download the app or play around on their website with any of the over 200 language courses on offer.Memrises greatest strength is that it taps into the wisdom of crowds. Their language programs are not solely developed by an in-house team of researchers. Users can actually create lessons and share them with everybody. You can curate a list of vocabulary words, say words related to food, and let everybody else benefit from it.Another way users are contributing to the whole here is through mems, or mnemonic devices that can help a word stick. Say youre working on vocabulary flashcar ds for foods in Spanish. You can actually add texts and pictures to the lessons to help make a word memorable. For example, the Spanish word for corn is  maíz.  Some other user who studied the word ahead of you could write something like, Sounds like some hungry kid asking his mom for corn: Ma, iz corn available?' And someone else may  add pictures of corn kernels that spell maíz.Now, not all mems will resonate with you, so you can choose which of the user-generated mems you wish to be highlighted in your own flashcards to help make lessons more fun.Like Duolingo, this sense of community is something Memrise offers that Rosetta Stone doesnt.And oh yeah, its absolutely free!ClozemasterClozemaster is perfect for intermediate and advanced language learners of over 50 languages who want to learn both grammar and vocabulary.The program is sentence mining in its simplest form. Basically, what you have is immersion into sentences in the target language. Youll be exposed to hundreds of th ousands of sentences. Each sentence will have a crucial word blanked. At the start of the game, you can select whether you want a multiple choice or fill-in-the-blanks test type.If Rosetta Stone immerses your ears through the use of spoken language as the medium, youll have similar immersion in written form with Clozemaster.The whole thing is simple enough, and dont be misled by the dated graphics, because the more you work with sentences, the more youll realize their power to instruct you on grammar and vocabulary. Because the words come in a specific context, youll be able to suss out the grammar rules, or the meaning of words after a number of repetitions. Just as Rosetta Stone lets you experience the language and work out for yourself the underlying rules of the language, Clozemaster submits you to an almost infinite number of sentences and lets you connect the dots.And oh, yep, its free!So what are you waiting for? Get to work!With the seven alternatives weve given in this post , youre now in a very good position to conquer your target language. Theres a world out there beyond Rosetta Stone.In fact, dont feel you need to limit yourself to any one language program. If you can, get a combo that works for you.So get on with your language journey.Whether its Spanish, German, Italian or another language, you have access to  affordable and effective learning tools.Good luck!

What Are Quenching And Why Is It Important?

What Are Quenching And Why Is It Important?The quench definition chemistry serves to bring out and preserve the quality of liquids that are at a high boiling point. It is not usually used in the more common reactions in organic chemistry, but is frequently used for quenching and classifying the temperature of liquid. In organic chemistry, this term refers to the process of boiling and quenching as a method of purification. There are two basic types of quenching in organic chemistry: the slow and the fast.The slow quench definition is just that. It involves higher temperatures during boiling, which can last for several minutes or even hours. This produces relatively dilute solutions that need to be re-boiled to produce the same conditions as the original reaction. It is important to note that there is no irreversible step in this process - you cannot get back the original reaction. Only the change of the polarizer allows the molecules to move back into their original positions.The fas t quench is performed at much lower temperatures, but can still last for several minutes. This allows for boiling to continue for several minutes after the solution has been poured onto the heating plate. The result is generally a higher concentration of the molecules that have lost their valence electrons, making them more reactive. The molecules are not too reactive anymore, but they are in the state of 'commercially viable' which means that they are much more reactive. After a few minutes of cooling, this same molecule is able to be drawn to the surface of the boiling plate again, and so on and so forth.The transition from one type of chemical reaction to the other can be relatively easy in any case, but it is not necessarily straight forward. One example would be where you introduce a new kind of compound that reacts to another chemical in a way that is completely different from what it reacts to. One example of this could be a reaction between hydrocarbons and alkanes. The comp osition of each compound is different, and so one will react differently to the other. If you make an abrupt change, such as by introducing a new compound, the existing equilibrium will not allow for the free flow of the new compound into the reaction.This leads to the idea that you must be able to do a similar transition from one type of reaction to the other - a transition that can't be made without a temperature change. For the slow quench, this is done by using a new chemical for the first cycle. It would be like combining acids with bases and getting a new mixture that reacts to a solution containing the original acid. For the fast quench, the new compound is added immediately after the old compound has already been oxidized. For example, if you did a reaction between ether and hydrochloric acid, you would use either chloroform or ammonium chloride instead of the ether.For the fast quench, the compound that is included in the reaction is added after the reaction has started, so that the number of molecules that react is at a minimum. You would do this by either mixing the two chemicals, or adding the two chemicals together in the appropriate reaction vessel. It is best to mix the two chemicals together, since that will produce a mixture that is stronger and more stable than if you add them to the reaction vessel separately.Slow and fast quenching are both very useful in the organic chemistry lab. However, you should know what the terms mean so that you are not confused in the process. If you are not sure, the slower process is used in most labs, whereas the faster process is only used in industrial settings. Even then, the fast process is used in most labs, so the difference in terms of ease of use will hardly matter.