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Is A Student Loan Consolidation Or Federal Student Loan Consolidation Right For You?

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

With the cost of education going through the roof, going to college can be very costly. Many students don?t have thousands of dollars to pay their way through college. This is why so many college students use student loans and federal student loans to get themselves through college. When it comes time to pay back their student loans, it can be a real burden and a distraction from their career.

Today?s career minded students can get help with the burden of having several student loans. One can focus on their chosen career, instead of losing sleep over paying several monthly student loan payments. Student loan consolidation and federal student loan consolidation can be the solution with several benefits.

How Does Student Loan Consolidation Work?

Here is typically how a student consolidation loan works. When a student first applied for several loans from several different agencies and student loan providers, they each gave a different interest rate and term for paying back the loans.

The idea of student loan consolidation, is to take all the different student loans and put them into one easy convenient loan. You then only have to make one monthly loan payment every month, instead of several loan payments every month over time.

This saves the student both time and money. Having a lower interest rate and less checks to write every month are a couple of the many bebefits of doing a student loan consolidation or federal student loan consolidation.

What About Federal Student Loan Consolidation?

There are several advantages when you get a federal student loan consolidation. You can take advantage of fixed interest rates, lower monthly payments, one payment each month, get payment incentives and new or renewed deferments.

There is usually not a minimum loan balance required with this type of loan program. Also, you have the option of which loans you may want to include and money saving payment incentive plans with some federal student loan consolidation programs.

Another benefit is that you can consolidate your undergraduate loans if you are still in graduate school. You can decide on what loans you want to consolidate from the loans that qualify.

However, federal student consolidation loans can?t include loans you may have received from banks, credit unions, personal loans, consumer debt loans or any other type of financial service loans you may have applied for in the past. They have to be federal student loans to qualify.

8 Helpful Benefits From Student Loan Consolidation

1. Lower Monthly Payments. Depending on your student loan situation and the type of lender you choose, you may be able to lower your monthly payments by up to 50%

2. Having Simple Loan Payments. By consolidating your student loans, you only have one loan payment per month and one check to write. This is very beneficial if you are writing several checks every month to multiple lenders.

3. Having Fixed Interest Rates. With some federal consolidation loans you can have a fixed rate for the life of your student loan. It?s best to do research to see what the best interest rates and term you are eligible for. You can check online to calculate the interest rate on a new student consolidation loan based on the rates of your current student loans. You can then round up to the nearest 1/8th of a percent of the weighted average of the interest rates on your eligible student loans.

4. Extending Your Payment Period. You may have a lot of student loan debt. With federal consolidation loans you may be able to extend the payment term up to 30 years. It?s a good idea to realize you will end up paying more interest over the life of your student loan consolidation. The idea is to get some leverage until your career takes off. You can focus on making money instead of several monthly loan payments.

5. In School Consolidation Programs. While still in school, eligible students can lock in a low rate. This would put you into repayment status, but since you are still in school, you are automatically put into deferment. The drawback of consolidating your loans while in school, is that you lose your 6 month grace period. The solution to this would be to request forbearance for up to 1 year on your student loan consolidation. Here again you can do some research and get more information online.

6. Lower Interest Rate. Student loan consolidation can save you thousands of dollars. You may be using credit cards with 12% to 28% interest trying to keep up with your bills. This can cost you thousands of dollars when you pay the minimum monthly payments on high interest credit card debt. Having a student loan consolidation may be your best option if you can get lower interest rates when consolidating your student loans.

7. New Interest Rates. With a new student loan consolidation, you may be able to get a much better interest rate. Interest rates are now at an all time low. You may have been paying on debt you built up from several years ago, at high interest rates. Things change over time in the financial industry.

8. Help Relieve Stress. With a student loan consolidation you don?t have to worry about several monthly loan payments and due dates. This in itself, can make a student loan consolidation worth your while. You can focus on your new career, instead of those nagging loan payments every month.

Student Loan Consolidation Services And Resources Online To Help You

You can get a student loan consolidation online quickly and easily. The Internet makes research and finding good consolidation loan programs. You can get done in a day, what used to take several weeks. You can learn everything you need to know from information sites that provide the latest news, resources, tools and data in regards to student loan consolidation and federal student loan consolidation.

With knowledge you can be empowered to get the best type of program for student loan consolidation. You can get loan quotes, rates and compare loan companies that are competing for your business.

Copyright 2005 Dean Shainin

Intermediate GCSE Maths Revision – Mistakes to Avoid in the Intermediate GCSE Maths Exam

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

Get More Marks (Without Knowing Any More!)

Intermediate GCSE Mathematics examines grades E, D, C and B. Each grade is worth 25% of the marks on the exam paper. Each Intermediate Maths GCSE exam paper starts off with the easier grade E questions and finishes with the harder grade B questions. Approximately 55% is needed for grade C, and approximately 75% for grade B, (these percentages vary from year to year according to the difficulty of the exam). Many students who revise thoroughly, forget to spend time on the easiest way to gain and lose marks in the exam. Candidates need to be aware of these 9 very simple steps as both a source of very easy marks, and as a way to prevent losing marks needlessly.

1. Show All Stages in Any Calculations

This is the advice given to candidates on the front of the Intermediate GCSE Maths exam paper. This is also the number one cause of losing marks. For some reason, many candidates (and it is more often boys), believe that everything they do will be perfect and mistake free, so why bother using up precious energy writing needlessly, when they can work out the answer faster their own way? Unfortunately, this is also the fastest way of losing marks.

Let us consider a two mark question where you have to work out the length of a model car. The student works out in their head, or on their calculator, that the length is 0.45 m and writes this answer down. Unfortunately the student will get no marks at all for this if the question stated that the answer should be given in centimetres. The two mark question is made up of 1 method mark for the method used, and 1 accuracy mark for the correct answer. The student will therefore not get the accuracy mark for the correct answer, nor the method mark as no working out has been shown. So although they can undoubtedly do the question and would have got one mark if they had shown their working out, they ended up with no marks at all. Instead of staying on target for a grade C by getting one mark out of two, they have fallen behind on an easy question. The exam is as much about how to prevent losing marks, as it is about gaining them.

2. Give the Final Answer as Asked For in the Question

The exam question will often state the level of accuracy needed for the final answer. For example to give your answer correct to 1 decimal place, or to 1 significant figure. If you do not give your answer in the form asked for in the question, you will not get the final accuracy mark (1 mark). In algebra or ratio questions, it often states to give your answer in its simplest form. Altogether on the average Intermediate GCSE Maths exam paper, around 10% (ten percent!) of all the marks are for giving your answer in the form asked for in the question. Once you start spotting this and making sure that all your answers are in the correct form that has been asked for, you will stop throwing away lots of marks.

3. Use the Marks Given to Help You

There is a significant difference between a 1 mark question, and a 4 mark question. If for example you are doing a 3 mark question in 1 line, then beware, as you have either not shown all your working out (and will lose marks), or you have not spotted correctly what to do, so look at the question again. As a rough guide aim to do one more line of working than the

number of marks in the question:

2 mark question: 3 lines of working out

3 mark question: 4 lines of working out

This will ensure that you show all the steps needed to get full method marks.

4. Don’t Cramp your Working Out

As candidates write on the Intermediate GCSE Maths exam paper itself, sufficient space is not always provided. Don’t be tempted to squash your work into a small space – ask for extra paper. If you are squashing your work in, then it is very common for candidates to leave some steps out ? these steps are frequently the method steps that the examiner needs to see to get the method marks!

5. Watch out for Mixed Units

Quite often different units are used to measure quantities in the same question, for example:

cm and mm

m and cm

km and m

The golden rule is to always work with just one unit throughout, either all centimetres or all metres or all kilometres. Change any different measures at the start of doing the question to the same unit.

6. Beware the Calculator Paper!

The GCSE Mathematics exam consists of a Calculator exam paper and a Non-Calculator exam paper. GCSE Mathematics is the hardest GCSE exam to get the grade you need, and far from making the exam easier, using a calculator often results in more mistakes and a lower mark than in the non-calculator paper. It is even more important to show all your working out on the Calculator paper as it is very easy to do two or three lines on your calculator without showing any working out. You would lose all your method marks, and if you have made a mistake you won’t get any marks at all. As the exam paper consists of more method marks than accuracy marks it is essential that you show all your working out.

7. Not being in DEG Mode

Make sure that your calculator is always in DEG (degrees) mode, otherwise you will never get Trigonometry questions correct!

8. Don’t Measure Diagrams

If it states ?diagram not accurately drawn? then do not bother measuring the diagram, it will not help you, and it will waste time. ?Diagram not accurately drawn? means you have to find a calculating method (not measuring method) to get the answer.

9. Write Down Measuring Units

Remember to write down the units you are using e.g. cm, m, km if they are not given at the end of the question. If you forget, you will lose 1 very easy mark. (It is very easily forgotten though!).

Conclusion

If you practise and remember these 9 simple steps, it is possible to prevent losing up to 10% of your exam marks needlessly.

Good examination technique should be practised as part of Intermediate GCSE Maths exam preparation, and when revising the most essential GCSE exam questions and Maths exam topics.

How to Write a Resume for Your First Job

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

Writing a resume for your first job requires patience, attention to detail, and a little creativity. All job seekers need a strong resume if they want to compete for the best jobs. But while seasoned professionals can rely on their experience to generate initial interest from prospective employers, individuals hitting the job market for the first time do not have such a luxury. New professionals, therefore, need to work even harder to sell themselves to managers.

To start your resume, you will need to select a resume format. A functional resume is usually the best choice for a new professional, since it allows you to present your qualifications by functional skills as opposed to purely chronological job order. Since your work history will be brief, if not non-existent, you want to place the emphasis on your skills and knowledge.

Layout of a Functional Resume:

The layout you select for your resume should attract attention and create interest, but not detract from your overall presentation. Use of capitalization, bold lettering, underlining, indentations, different fonts, and white space can add variety to your resume and emphasize important information. The layout should be consistent throughout the individual sections of the resume, be visually appealing, and be easy for the reader to follow.

A functional resume has several parts, which are typically included in this order:

Name and Contact Information

Objective Statement

Education

Key Skills and Qualifications

Work Experience

Additional parts may include a section for Awards and Honors or References.

Name and Contact Information

You should include your name, full address, telephone number with area code, and email address (if applicable) at the very top of your resume. If you are currently residing at a temporary address, such as a student?s college address, you may include it in addition to your permanent address depending on the circumstances.

Objective Statement

If you choose to include an objective statement, it should be a concise and meaningful statement that describes your career goals in detail. An objective can include your goals in regards to your desired position title, industry, level of responsibility, and desired utilized skills. The elements included in your objective should be reinforced and supported throughout your resume and your cover letter.

A major mistake that many new professionals make is that they use a generalized objective statement. This is due to the fact that many men and women new to the workforce may not necessarily know what they are seeking in a position. They fear that by limiting the scope of the objective, that they are knocking themselves out of the running for positions that do not neatly match their objective ? positions that they might otherwise be interesting in pursuing.

While this is true in some cases, it is advisable to either keep your objective focused and narrow, or completely leave it off your resume. A weak, unfocused objective in effect says nothing and will actually detract from your overall presentation.

Education

If you have a college degree, you should position the Education section near the top of your resume before your Key Skills and Qualifications. If you do not have a degree, the Education section should follow your Key Skills and Qualifications.

Your highest level of education achieved, whether you completed the program or not, should be the first listed in this section. All other schools you attended should follow.

For each individual school, list the following:

Name of the school

Dates you attended or graduated

Degrees earned (or degree program you were in, if not completed)

Major and minor subject areas

You may also list any honors, awards, Dean’s list commendations, and GPAs if they will enhance this section of your resume. Any certifications or completed training courses that that are relevant to the position you are seeking should also be included.

Newer graduates can include a list of completed courses that are directly relevant to the type of position you are seeking. For example, a newly graduated Accounting major may want to highlight her course in Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, and Tax Accounting.

You should only include high school information if you do not have a college degree or if you achieved high commendation in some area that reinforces your career objectives.

Key Skills and Qualifications

This is the most critical section of a functional resume. The Skills section of your resume should highlight any relevant skills that might not otherwise be disclosed on your resume. This section will be highly individualized to both the person and the position they are seeking.

First, identify the key skills relevant to the type of position you are seeking. Some examples of key skills include customer relations, graphic design, marketing, leadership, and computer technology skills. It may be necessary to develop several different versions of your resume so that you are able effectively market yourself to a variety of jobs.

Next, rank the key skills in order of importance ? you want the most important skill to appear at the top of your skills list. Then, under each of these key skill categories, include any information about yourself that demonstrates how you possess this skill. You can draw from any work experience, volunteer experience, schooling, extracurricular activities, or any other area as appropriate. As with the key skills themselves, rank this in order of importance so that the most relevant examples appear first.

Examples of key skills with supporting documentation are as follows:

Research

Designed questionnaire to assess customer needs

Identified sample population to be included in the study

Drafted analysis plan

Prepared survey results report and presented the results to the study team

Marketing and Distribution

Developed layout and organization of merchandise for a 25-page giftware catalog

Maintained accurate, up-to-date computer records of merchandise inventory, suppliers, customers, and shipping vendors.

Handled all facets of order receipt, processing, and fulfillment

Work Experience

Since you are new to the workforce, employers do not expect you to have much in terms of work experience. This section should be very brief. You should not provide any details of your responsibilities and accomplishments in this section (these should have been included under Key Skills and Qualifications). Instead, simply list your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the position, and your dates of employment.

Other Optional Sections:

Honors and Awards:

List any career, academic, leadership or athletic honors you have received. Academic awards may alternatively be listed under the Education section of the resume.

References:

You may include a statement declaring ?References Available upon Request? if you need to fill space on your resume. Otherwise you should list references in a separate document. References should typically only be provided when requested or once it is clear that the competition for a position is narrowing. Do not include specific reference names or contact information on your resume.

Other Categories:

If there is additional information that you feel is important to include butt does not fit into any of these categories, you can create custom categories. Examples of custom categories may include Background, Professional Activities, and Recitals/Art Shows.

Concept of E-Learning Solutions: Better or Worse

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

Increasing demand for corporate training as well as the logistical headaches associated with assembling instructors and students at a single location has been the main reason for the birth of E-learning services. In an attempt to avoid the logistical complications of on location training, many companies have opted for a virtual approach to training. Stand-alone CD-ROM modules, enterprise-wide, Web-based programs comprised of hundreds of courses custom-designed for thousands of users all fall under the concept of E-Learning. However, there?re many who?re skeptical of E-learning services and believes it to be just a lot of hype.

E-learning is basically a new or different form of learning. E-learning enables learners to combine traditional methods of learning with the internet facilities. In fact, some learners opt for a mix of face-to-face experiences with network-based education. However, like everything, E-Learning programs have its pros and cons. It has been found that often, E-learning provides a more individualized, self-paced, self-directed learning experience.

A main advantage of E-learning services is flexibility. With E-learning services there is no need to go to an institution in order to learn a subject or a skill. Also, you can work as well as study because E-Learning solutions don?t have fixed classroom timings and therefore you?ve the freedom to learn at your own pace and at your convenience. E-Learning solutions also have the flexibility of being CD-ROM-based, Network-based, Intranet-based or Internet-based.

It?s a hands-on learning experience without the disadvantages like crowded classrooms or a huge auditorium, where your questions and views might not get addressed. Another advantage is the amount of time you can save. With E-learning services you can save the time as well as costs that you?d otherwise spend commuting to your classes. But, you?ll however miss out on the experiences that come with campus life and the social interaction that are a part of traditional classrooms and institutions. And with E-learning solutions, you can learn as and when you need it and your learning options aren?t constrained or limited by your geographic location.

Another unique feature of E-learning services is that the instruction can be more personalized and flexible. Therefore it?s more effective for particular kinds of learners like, shy, reflective, language challenged or slow. Within E-learning the focus is on the students and not on the instructor.

However, like everything, it has its share of disadvantages as well. For example, E-learning services that have ineffective online instructors are not very useful. Also, many instructors find it difficult to use E-learning services for traditional content. And it?s at the same time more time consuming as instructors have to provide individualized feedback. Also, often there is the matter of equipment needs of students and learning providers as well as the technical training and support of learners and instructors.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is the academic honesty of online students, especially when it comes to testing and assessment. In this matter the absence of face-to-face interaction is a big set back. Another fact is that E-learning services are not available to all learners from all walks of life, because it needs special infrastructure to support it as well as new skills and responsibilities from the students.

However, E-learning services provided by offshore E-Learning solutions provider companies have now become more universal, and is now giving people and organizations the competitive edge that allows them to stay ahead of the quickly varying global information economy. In the long run, this will help the Indian economy grow, since many companies have now started to outsource their E-learning services to India.

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Successful Way To Homeschool Your Children

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

Starting a homeschool will involve a lot of research, investigation, studying and making inquiries before a homeschool begins. Parents who are looking into homeschooling to educate their children should find state and local homeschooling groups, as they will provide the best kind of information on homeschooling in your area.

On the internet, parents can also discover homeschool websites wherein it allows you to ask and discuss your options about homeschooling, as they will provide you with a variety of information as well as help you get started. The more that you investigate and communicate with others regarding your plan to homeschool, the more that you will learn and discover what you desire and need to do in your curriculum for your homeschool as well as avoid the common problems that should come your way in the process.

Homeschooling is a term that is very extensive. There are several methods that can fit and be measureed under it. There are numerous different techniques that can be used.

Parents can opt to buy packaged curriculums that exactly focus on homeschoolers. Some decide to register their kids in ?correspondence programs?, others acquire and make use of software and others combine everything.

As parents obtain more confidence as to their homeschooling capacities, they can decide on a less systematized approach.

When new or inexperienced to homeschooling, discovering the ideal and exact learning method for your kid will be a real challenge. Generally, the majority of private as well as public schools make use of a formal and conventional curriculum for each student, and as a parent, you might misguidedly be certain that you have to follow and keep on with that same course in your home.

Usually, parents start with homeschooling utilizing a complete set of curriculum package. However, several find the workload or structure too overwhelming; so they start to experiment and try out different methods of teaching.

The technique here is to determine a certain method that can accommodate the learning style of your child. As you come to be more proficient and knowledgeable and achieve certainty, you’ll find out useful, efficient and effective teaching and learning tools that will help your family reach educational independence and freedom.

Traditional and conventional methods of teaching are also explored here, along with some non-traditional styles and approaches that might amaze you. As a parent and a homeschooling teacher, you have several different curriculum options. Your child will benefit once you are well acquainted with all of them.

You know your child, so choose the best curriculum that will meet all his needs. Along with understanding and support, homeshooling will surely be a success!

The Misplaced Academic Values

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

Based on endless discussions upon the usefulness of University degrees, it seems obvious that undergraduate and especially graduate students around the globe constantly wonder what the outcome of their efforts will be. Since perceptions and goals differ, so does the interpretation of the word outcome, especially when the complex issue of knowledge and academic performance is evaluated. Inside the realm of a University’s environment, the outcome for most students is the actual value of their academic performance, the product of their intellectual exchange. Monetary or spiritual, the discussed value is usually interpreted as a product ready to be consumed by the private or public sector after the completion of the academic effort by the subject. But, is this interpretation a misconception, or the only outcome of contemporary Universities? Are students misusing the term or have they misplaced some of the values that used to govern the intellectual world?

In fact, making more money Hand reaching a desired social status are the main reasons that drive prospective students to pursue a degree. Future gains are considered to be the basic motivation that urges people to strive for superior academic performance. Moreover, the fierce competitive environment of every discipline forces the individual to identify new ways of excelling and increasing his/her bargaining power before facing an interested employer. This capitalistic notion of today’s reality has forced institutions to recognize the power of monetary gains and has made the academic world a microcosm of this obvious shift in values. Under this social transformation and having to deal with these strong socioeconomic forces, Universities are challenged to survive as intellectual entities. In this altered environment, the academic changes that many scholars have identified have transformed modern Universities into corporate agents.

Moreover, the meaning of excellence has been altered. Nowadays, it is considered a synonym with quality of studies and is used as a basic marketing tool. Through this generic term, prospective students can be attracted and applications collected. A change has occurred to the initial intention of an application. Students do not enter an institution in order to acquire the intellectual pleasure of a degree, to elevate their knowledge, and increase their critical understanding regarding the world, but rather to acquire the intangible asset of a University’s name as later this intangible asset will be translated in totally tangible outcomes. The most promising institution is the one which is most attractive to companies who wish to employ its alumni, since corporate managers have shifted their focus from what is taught inside a classroom to the physical location of that classroom. Thus, students who compete for the same corporate position tend to value differently the outcome of their studies. By evaluating their institutions’ after-graduate appeal, as well as the rating scores issued by academic journals, students tend to consider their degree as a commodity rather than a reward for their intellectual struggle.

But the fact still remains that students enter a classroom ready to discuss, listen and share their beliefs. Depending on whether the existing academic environment promotes this intellectual exchange, students will shape their characters and value systems. There is no misconception of the role Universities play today. As different values penetrate an academic institution, its stakeholders integrate academic and social roles. These global citizens can give birth to the altered University’s role, by accepting or rejecting the proposed changes during their time.

Chronological vs. Functional Resumes – Which To Choose?

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

Your resume is a marketing tool that should effectively sell your skills, experience, and educational qualifications to prospective employers. When developing your resume, there are two different types of resume formats you should consider: a chronological resume and a functional resume. Your decision to choose one format over another should be dependent on your career background and personal circumstances. The ultimate decision will be based on that format that allows you to most effectively present your qualifications.

Chronological Resumes

Q. What is a chronological resume?

A. In a chronological resume format, your employment experience history is organized in reverse chronological order so that your most recent job position is listed first. This type of format emphasizes your job titles and employers, as well as your dates of employment with each employer. Your responsibilities and accomplishments should be described in detail for each individual position.

Q. What are the advantages to using a chronological resume?

A. Chronological resumes are easy to read, use a logical flow, and can effectively highlight career growth. Since this type of resume emphasizes the details of each position, using a chronological resume will draw attention to impressive titles and prestigious employers.

Q. What are the disadvantages to using a chronological resume?

A. Because of the format of a chronological resumes, this style easily undercover gaps in your employment history and frequent job changes. It also draws attention to the fact that you may be relative experienced in the workforce or in a particular career.

Q. What types of candidates should choose to use a chronological resume?

A. Chronological resumes are best suited for those individuals whose job history reflects steady career growth, those who are remaining in the same field, and those whose career goals are clearly defined and in alignment with their work history. This type of resume is also suitable for candidates who have prior employment with a prestigious employer that they want to highlight.

Functional Resumes

Q. What is a functional resume?

A. Functional resumes have often been referred to as problem solving resumes in that they allow you to organize your resume by functional skills as opposed to purely chronological order. This allows individuals to make sense of their work history by matching up skills and accomplishments from different jobs that might otherwise be overlooked by an employer in a more traditional chronological formatted resume. The goal is to highlight specific key qualifications which have been demonstrated through a variety of work-related achievements. As opposed to a chronological resume, skills do not have to be presented in the order of accomplished in a functional resume, but instead may be presented in order of importance and relevance to the job for which you are applying.

Q. What are the advantages to using a functional resume?

A. Using a functional resume keeps the emphasis on key relevant skills you possess that make you a good fit for a position. It allows candidates to align accomplishments from several different positions for a more powerful impact, since these skills might otherwise be lot in the shuffle in a traditional resume. Functional resumes also minimize the impact of inexperience in the workforce or field, frequent job changes, and any gaps in your employment history.

Q. What are the disadvantages to using a functional resume?

A. The presence of a clear career progression can easily be lost in a functional resume, as can extended experience in your targeted industry or field. Impressive employers or job titles are de-emphasized, which is a disadvantage if these are strong selling points in your experience. Additionally, some recruiters and managers dislike functional resumes due to their perceived lack of logical flow.

Q. What types of candidates should choose to use a functional resume?

A. A functional resume is a solid option for individuals who are looking to change careers, returning to the job market after a long absence, trying to minimize fair-to-average career growth. This format is also appropriate for new graduates, candidates with limited work experience, and individuals whose work history is a mixed bag of unrelated experience.

4 Reasons Why You Should Homeschool Your Child

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

A recent survey indicated that nearly 30% of American parents are seriously considering homeschooling their children rather than sending them to school. Home schooling is a different way of education for many parents. It allows children to be educated at home free from the daily school assignments and pressure. It also allows more bonding time between the child and the parent fostering closer relationships.

There are 4 main reasons why you should homeschool your child. They are

1) Academic Results

One of the reasons parents are hesitant to adopt homeschooling is because they are afraid their child?s academic results will suffer. However studies have shown that children who are homeschooling have the same and if not better academic results than those going to traditional schools.

You could also say some of the world?s most famous people were homeschooled. Examples include Benjamin Franklin, Florence Nightingale, Winston Churchill and Thomas Edison. Their achievements do not compare less than those who went to school.

Home Schooling allow the parent to cater the study schedule according to the needs of the child. In school, since a teacher has to teach 40 to 50 students at a time, it is quite impossible to cater a specific teaching schedule for each child.

2) Social Reasons

Another important reason why you should homeschool your child is because traditional school do not deal with this aspect of education. Teaching your child to be comfortable with dealing with people.

By introducing your child to church programs and other volunteering programs to help others, it educates the child?s moral values which are just as important as academic results.

Homeschooling also shields the child from bad habits due to peer influence. Examples are smoking, alcoholism, gambling, sex, drugs and violence etc

3) Family Bonding

Since homeschooling allows more time between your child and parents, the family relationship is strengthened and there is more family bonding. The child self-confidence and self-esteem improves. Studies have also shown that homeschooled children values family ties and kinship more.

4) Religious Reasons

Schools have always kept away from religious issues due to its sensitive nature in our country. The schools typically has a neutral stand regarding religion and spirituality. Therefore, most schools do not have any kind of religious education

Homeschooling does not have that limitation. Parents can pass on their religious values to their children. This has a great impact on the spiritual development of the child.

Online Language Course

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

The name Tassis in the German language is spelled ?taxis?. In reality, the German language has many dialects that are spoken in a large part of the country (and even in other countries). Besides deviations in word order, the German language is different to the English language in that German makes extended use of inflectional endings.

Through my online language course, I learned that my most beloved *lingua franca* apparently had some of its origin from the German language that I regard as so cryptic. So why should you learn the German language. These are things I realized after coming back from Germany and things that wouldn’t have happened without my knowledge of the German language.

The word ??ber? of ?berburger comes from the German language that means super. Now you can cobble together a German language course ad hoc, by extensive searches on the Internet, and by book marking pages that provide topic based language units, preferably with sound files. They help you to communicate to German customers in German language.

Therefore, you will need to try to communicate with them in the German language. I took a German language course (as a natural recourse to the trip I just had) through learn plus. Whether you are interested in learning the German language for academic reasons or professional reasons, or you are interested in learning how to speak German for a vacation, knowing another language is an intellectually and personally stimulating achievement that will open your eyes to a new culture.

In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records has listed the German language as one of the three languages that are learned the most by people. Germanic Umlauts are just a small bit of the German language. Such a means of instruction is often out of the reach of most people?s pockets, so in this article I am going to be looking at some of the most effective ways to learn the German language for free. If you are interested in learning the German language for professional reasons, you have several options from which to choose.

History Of The Early Gardens

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

In the beginning there was a garden with natural water fountains. Creation’s garden. And life was good. All plants were natives. Food was pure and abundant. Predators and prey were in balance (which is not to say they were equal).

Then people got involved and introduced concrete fountains and many other things. They brought with them their urge for order and control, and a robust curiosity fed by experimentation. Soon, the earth was plowed into furrows and crops planted in rows. The best specimens were selected for breeding.

Yet even after farmers began growing food for whole communities, and pharmacists took responsibility for mass-producing medicine, people continued to tend gardens. For sustenance, yes, but also to create beauty, retain a connection to nature, and enjoy the simple pleasure of digging in dirt. Cast stone fountains were a way to carry water to the gardens. For a clearer picture of what a cast stone fountain looks like visit http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=61.

For nearly… well…forever, gardeners and farmers grew plants using common sense, careful observation, and the resources nature provided. Today, we call that approach “organic.” But that term became necessary only to distinguish those time-tested tactics from the shortsighted chemical practices foisted on the public in the name of progress within the last century. The garden was, and always will be, our connection to the earth. The garden may be the true water fountain of youth.

7,000 B.C. Barley, millet, and lentils are cultivated in Thessaly, one of the Greek isles.

5,000 B.C. The staples of Native American cuisine, corn (maize) and common beans, are cultivated in the Western Hemisphere.

4,0000 B.C. Hello, variety: The people of the Indus Valley (what is now Pakistan and Afghanistan) are raising wheat, barley, peas, sesame seeds, mangoes, and dates on irrigated fields, as well as bananas, citrus, and grapes for wine in smaller plots.

3,000 B.C. Potatoes are cultivated and harvested in the Andes Mountains.

2,700 B.C. The Egyptians already know and grow 500 medicinal plants.

2,700 B.C. Olive trees are raised in Crete.

2,000 B. C. Watermelon is cultivated in Africa; figs are cultivated in Arabia; tea and bananas, in India; and apples, in the Indus Valley.

1,900 B.C. The Egyptian pharaoh Ramses III commissions more than 500 public gardens.

600 B.C. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, are built by King Nebuchadnezzar II (with help, no doubt, from a few thousand slaves). The gardens are laid out on a brick terrace about 400 feet square and 75 feet above the ground. Irrigation screws are designed to lift water from the Euphrates River to the gardens.

301 B.C. In the History of Plants and Theoretical Botany, Theophrastus (considered the Father of Botany) describes plant diseases, such as rusts and mildews, and explains how to hand-pollinate fig trees to maximize productivity.

149 B.C. Cato the Elder, in De Agriculture, urges farmers to plant grapes and olives (because they draw moisture and nutrients from the subsoil) instead of planting drought-susceptible grain.

900 A.D. Tofu becomes a dietary staple in China.

1305 Opus Ruralium Commodorum, by Bolognese agriculturist Petrus de Crescentiis, is the first book on agriculture to appear in Europe since the second century.

1354 The Alhambra, built by the Moors in Spain, is completed. The Islamic-style garden features enclosed courts surrounded by arcades, planted with trees and shrubs and enhanced with tile, fountains, and pools.

1510 Sunflowers from the Americas are introduced to Europe by the Spanish. In many countries they become a major oilseed crop. In others, they are bird food.

1528 Sweet potatoes, and haricot, cocoa, and vanilla beans, are introduced to Spain by Hernando Cortes, who presents some of the beans to Pope Clement VII. Until then, fava beans have been the only beans known to Europeans.

1540 A potato from South America reaches Pope Paul III via Spain. The pope gives the tuber to a Frenchman, who introduces it into France as an ornamental plant. Stay tuned for French fries.

Gardening continued to evolve with the addition of water wall fountains, new vegetables, fruits, flowers and bulbs from various parts of the world. For a distinctive water wall fountain idea visit http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=66. Machinery and chemicals also evolved as the demand to feed the world increased. Today, we face the overuse of synthetic nitrogen by farmers that causes soil to age the equivalent of 5,000 years. The good news is that composting can replenish depleted soils in just one season.

Discover Hidden Gems of Online Education

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

The World Wide Web is embracing all spheres of human life at a phenomenal rate. Ticket reservation, e-mail correspondence and online shopping have become an inherent part of our life. Sure enough, the education field was not left out of the loop?

In fact, according to CCA consulting, nearly 50% of all higher education institutions are currently engaged in some types of online learning. This percentage promises to rise drastically very soon, since the benefits of online education are vivid and speak for themselves.

1. High Quality Education

The outstanding feature of online education is that it can rank on a par with traditional campus education, since the online instructors have the same qualifications and demands to the students.

On top of that, online educators come with practical knowledge and may be from various parts of the world. This allows students to be exposed to the knowledge that can?t be learned in books and see how class concepts are applied in real business situations.

2. Who Pays The Piper Calls The Tune

Another bulky advantage of online education is that it is ?student centred.? This means that once you pick up some online course, you become your own master in terms of studying, having the unlimited choice of:

1. time and duration of your studies: since course materials are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week, you can download them any time you want. Moreover, you can plan your schedule so that to be able to fulfill all your tasks apart from studying, such as work, child care;

2. way to study: this means that you can choose your own pace, methods and your own degree of intensity that work best for you;

3. place of studies: all you need to start studying online is a computer with an access to the Internet. That is all that matters. Where you are going to study is solely your choice. Thus, you can study at home, work, on a street or wherever your imagination drags you;

4. special subjects you want to pay special attention to and feel interested in.

Such freedom is a significant part of online education. At university you are restricted to certain rules that don?t register with you, but online education is custom, thus more pleasant and resulting.

3. Cost and Money Savings

Your satisfaction may be even more warmed up by the fact that online education is quite often cheaper than traditional campus education. Truth to be told, online education saves you quite a fortune.

First of all, you are saved from travel expenses, or paying for hotel rooms you will need to stay during all years of your campus education. Moreover, with online education you can print items as needed when provided with handouts and readings online. The result is the reduced expenses for the cost and time associated with never-ending copying, collating, and distributing these materials.

4. Equality with Other Students

Another benefit of learning online is that it provides the learners with the reinforced feel of equality.

Participating online is much more intimidating than in a classroom. All online students have equal opportunities to ?speak up? by posting messages without typical distractions such as seating arrangements, volume of student voices, and gender and race biases.

Shy and anxious students feel more comfortable expressing ideas and backing up facts when posting online instead of speaking in a lecture room. Students can also think longer about what they want to say and add their comments when ready. In a traditional class room, the conversation could have gone way past the point where the student wants to comment.

5. Vast an Unlimited Resources

Since there are no geographical borders in online education, students can find diversity of course materials that may not be available to them during traditional education. Internet links can take you to other web-sites, databases, libraries, agencies, special archives and much more.

It should be also mentioned that with technology it is much easier to learn. Course materials include resources with a variety of perspectives in any number of media types-photos, audio, texts ? thus enhancing the quality and the interest factor of your course. This is especially true for professional training such as medical billing training or purchasing training.

6. Unlimited Access to Teachers

Online environment makes your instructors more approachable. Thus, whenever you have a question to specify or want to get a sound piece of advice, you can contact with your online instructor either via e-mail or in chat boards whenever it is convenient for you without waiting for office hours. In his return, the teacher will try to respond as soon as possible. This option for communication provides enhanced contact between instructors and students.

Taking everything into account, we can see that online education is undoubtedly the best option for those who wish to get qualitative and appropriate education which will easily fit in in their hectic lifestyles. If things keep on developing at the same rate online education promises to deliver even greater benefits in the future.

Do You Have a Budding Specialist on Your Hands? Give Her the Resources She Needs

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

If you have a child who gets really excited about a particular subject or activity, you’re lucky. The enthusiasm for learning that comes from getting deeply involved in a specific area of interest can be parlayed into better reading and learning skills, increased concentration, and a love for knowledge that can last a lifetime.

If you’ve got a budding archeologist, a fledgling fashion designer, or a future basketball star in the making, make sure she has easy access to as much information on the subject as possible. A vast array of children’s magazines offers up-to-date info on every topic imaginable, including ones that interest your child. Genre books, both fiction and non-fiction, are popular among children for their focus on everything from sports and sci fi to animal care.

Visits to interactive museums, classes in art, sports, or poetry writing, and DVDs can widen your child’s vistas, as can special-interest websites designed for children. The more access to information, the better.

Of course, your budding NASA specialist may decide next week she really wants to be a gourmet chef, which means she’ll need a different collection of books and magazines, different DVDs, and so on. Not to worry; any money spent on the acquisition of knowledge is money well spent, especially where your child is concerned.

Learning How to Learn Makes Every Student Genius

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

Santosh Prem, a teacher at Malet Lambert School, claims that ?the difference between a genius and a “normal” person is that the former “accidentally” acquired the critical combination of the appropriate environment, motivation and learning technique to excel in his particular field.? Literally it means that every student has the same potential to excel and succeed in studying without having any exceptional inborn gift.

One of the most vital components in this ?genius formula?, which significance is underestimated both by teachers and students is acquiring and harnessing of ?Learning How to Learn? skill. ?This is probably the one skill that was never explicitly mentioned in all the years that you’ve spent in school. But it’s the one where there’s the most reward for the smallest investment.?

Indeed, knowing how to learn is a universal skill which every learner can make good use of for self-education in future life. Learning how to learn is a critical starting point in studying, which promotes students? success in the whole course of education. This drastic know-how forms not only the basis of successful learning, but develops a peculiar learning style of the person.

Some learners choose more methodical approach to learning and try to dive into the essence of processing data, breaking it into logical units in order to memorize large blocks of information in parts. Meanwhile, other approach to learning less structurally, relying heavily on loci memory improvement technique, which involves making associations between facts and visualizing things.

Thus, every learning style is unique and it is impossible to elaborate a set of standard learning strategies and methods which can be utilized by every learner. Hence, I offer you to get acquainted with the following learning techniques and experiment with some of them to see if they work for you.

Seven Principles of ?Learning How to Learn? Formula

  • Connect everything you learn to a specific goal. Remember that you can learn anything if you have a clear cut goal, which will motivate your advance in studying. Trying to learn something reluctantly or under compulsion, is always difficult and usually doesn?t bring any fruitful results. You should create a desire and speculate over the reasons of your learning very carefully. Bear in mind that learning more implies earning more; consequently everything you learn can be transformed into your career success.
  • You will learn faster if you structure and logically organize all information in hand. It?ll increase the effectiveness of memorizing and help you immensely in your studying. You can break the data into small chunks or make a general outline of what you are learning.
  • Single out the most important points of new material. Use a ?highlight strategy?, which implies processing of information, underlining its major points and brief summarizing.
  • Learn how to make drafts and set out in writing all your thoughts. The main idea of drafting is stating and organizing of key information meaningfully and coherently on a sheet of paper.
  • Take regular breaks. Always combine work with rest. Try to make a change of scene and look aside. Have some food or turn to some physical training. If you don?t want to interrupt your work, but still feels that learning in the same surrounding is unbearable, try to accompany your studying with background music or make some visual images that involve moving, interaction or color.
  • Learn to budget your time wisely, to accomplish all your work in time and make use of every minute of your studying. Distribute your work rationally and establish priority of each task in hand. Plan your time in accordance with quantity of work you have. Never yield a temptation to postpone tasks of secondary importance. Remember if you violate your deadline once there is a great likelihood that you?ll do it again.
  • Learning works more efficiently if you are relaxed and your mind is calm. Concentrate your attention solely on studying during your learning periods. Have an organized working place to avoid any distractions and don?t forget to give yourself rewards when you have completed some tasks efficiently.

Take risks and don?t be afraid to experiment with different techniques. Always remember that those who learn and do it constantly over their lifetime do much better in their career and have more advantageous position than those who stop on attained results and rest on laurels.

A Health Care Degree Online Removes The Sting From Job Woes

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

If you are currently in the medical field and want to advance further, or are just now looking to enter the medical field, you may be wondering what your plan of attack might be. Seeking a better job with more responsibilities, or receiving a higher salary probably will require further education. Many people assume that a great job in the medical field requires years of medical school or many years of on-the-job training. This is not true. A good quality health care degree online allows you to enter the medical field or advance in it, and this sort of education program does not require you to quit your current job while you prepare for a better life.

The truth is, there is a great need for medical care workers right now. A growing, aging population requires plenty of care and there are simply often not enough trained, qualified healthcare workers to provide optimum care for everyone. It is not just nurses and doctors who are needed. People who are trained in medical transcription and medical assisting are also in high demand. In fact, these people are sometimes even in higher demand. Every company providing health care requires the services of people who know about medical transcription and medical assisting. There is a lack of trained professionals out there, which means that some companies and clinics are forced to outsource their work to overseas companies. By getting a health care degree online, you can get jobs in the exciting medical field often after only months of training.

The exciting thing about getting your health care degree online is that you can train for a real career that can truly help others. The potential for job satisfaction is huge, since once you get your degree you will be able to help people recover and enjoy great health. You will be able to directly and positively affect people’s lives. At the same time, you will be able to enjoy career opportunities that afford good wages, excellent benefits, and plenty of room for advancement.

A health care degree online is great for adult learners. Whether you want to advance in the medical field or want to enter it, you may not be able to simply drop your current job and family responsibilities to purse on-campus education full-time. Getting a health care degree online is the perfect solution. As you hone your skills, you can attend your regular job, since online classrooms are open all the time, including those times when it is convenient for you to study. In many cases, online programs hire faculty with real-life experience, since these programs of study are geared towards teaching real-life skills. Rather than focusing on learning plenty of theoretical and abstract ideas, you will focus your time learning the actual skills you will need in your new job. As a nice bonus, you will save money, since you will only pay for your tuition and books.

Whether you want to enter a new field or want to advance in the health field you are already part of, a health care degree online is a very cost-conscious and time-smart way to study. With many opportunities now available in health care, an online program can start you specifically on a path of success towards an exciting and rewarding new job.

There are plenty of jobs now available in this field, and contrary to popular belief, you do not have to put your life on hold or get into six-figure debt in order to enter the field. Plus, as the population continues to age and health care becomes an even bigger concern, more opportunities may open up for trained professionals in the field. Make sure that you find an accredited program and speak to your chosen school about financial options. You may find that a new job opportunity can be yours more easily than you ever imagined.

Freshmen, Learn How to Hook Your Professors!

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

To commence something new is difficult from one side, but very exciting and interesting from the other. You never know what to wait and get ready for, though the feeling of unexpectedness makes new undertakings unusually thrilling and fabulous.

By starting your freshman year at college you are turning over a new leaf in your life, opening a door to the world with a spate of opportunities. The feeling of agitation, anticipation and joy you experience on the threshold of college education are incomparable and unforgettable sensations, which retain with you for a long time and usually turn into vivid recollections. After all, student life is one of the most notable and impetuous periods in people?s life.

How will your freshman year look like?

Always remember that your first year of studying at college is a challenge you have to confront and respond to it with dignity, as all the decisions and actions you will make will have a great impact on the rest of your college education. Don?t expect anyone to stand back, remember that a law of jungle rules here, so that you have to survive and find ways how to thrive in your studying.

Your freshman year will be a hard nut to crack, because you will have to adapt to the new surroundings, to get familiar with a new place to live in, to find a rapport with your roommates, to work hard on your studying. Nevertheless the biggest challenge you will have to encounter is to win a position of prestige. It means that you will have to make a good showing before your tutors.

What does it mean to hook your professor?

It can seem a trifling thing, which you actually don?t want to treat seriously. Though, I don?t recommend you to neglect it, because producing a good impression on your tutor and winning of the favorable attitude are not peanuts. Literally it means to hook your professors by establishing a rapport with them.

I don?t summon you to become a favorite student of your professors by all possible means. Quite the opposite. I intend to reveal you the ways how to find an appropriate appeal to your tutors and enlist their support and understanding. After all, it can prove useful to you when you run into some snags.

Bear in mind, that many professors you have your freshman year will give you lectures and conduct seminars in your group again and it will help you a lot if they recognize you as a good student.

How can you find those pegs which will hook your professors? What is this code with rigorous rules and principles which every freshman has to be consistent with to hook his professors?

A secret code which guarantees you a favor of your professors

Rule 1.1 Attend lectures regularly and try to occupy the places in the first rows. It is a great strategy to stick in memory of your professors and pass face control at the exams. According to the monitoring of Andy Tucker, a professor of Durham University, students, who attended less than 30% of lectures invariably failed their exams and dropped out. At the same time, ALL of the students who gained a first in their final degree classification had attendance rates of 90% or more. And a student who attends 85% of lectures is statistically going to gain marks that are 10% higher than somebody who attends only 50% of lectures.

Rule 1.2 Be all ears during the lectures. Show your professor that you are genuinely interested in his subject and that his lecture is the only thing that matters for you now. Your intellectual curiosity and thirst for knowledge should be evident to your professors.

Rule 1.3 Always follow the thread of your professor?s thoughts in the course of the lecture and ask to the point questions. Though, never interrupt your lecturer even with the wittiest and most appropriate questions, because it provokes dissatisfaction of your tutor. Moreover, that he loses the train of his thoughts, he remembers you as an upstart rather than a forward student.

Rule 1.4 Be active during the seminars. Give your original views and perspectives on the problem, come out with interesting suggestions, show your thorough work with primary sources, feature and analyze the positions of scholars. In a word, a seminar is a great chance for you to show your competence in different fields.

Rule 1.5 Be versed in your course requirements and due dates. Your professors should understand that you are organized and responsible person, who can be always relied on. Take advantage of office hours professors schedule for the purpose of meeting with their students. Turn to your professors with all academic issues and ask for help when you need it.

Rule 1.6 Deliver all your written assignments before the deadline and always be prepared for your classes. Show an example of persistence and diligence.

Rule 1.7 Be involved, join Athletics, UIL, Clubs or Student Government. Take initiation and it will be paid off generously by helping you build up your reputation. Remember that involved student is a successful student.

What You Need To Know About a University of Phoenix Online degree

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

The University of Phoenix Online offers degree programs in several disciplines. Depending on your professional pursuits and interests, you can opt for an Undergraduate, Graduate, or Doctorate course in business management, business administration, nursing and health care management, social and behavioral sciences, and education. It is important that you carefully select the program that is most suitable to you from the numerous online programs offered by the University.

To enroll, you need to ensure that you have the basic configuration set on your computer, a reliable Internet service provider, and a phone connection. The entire process is online, from registration to the completion of the degree program. This places an added responsibility on you because, unlike a classroom situation where the learning process is set, in an online situation you have to decide the pace at which you want to complete the program.

All the study material is in the form of text only, and it is important that you save the material for review later. The advantage of the online medium, however, is that you do not miss any part of the learning process. All your interactions will be in the form of email messages, and most of them will be with your instructor directly. The instructor is a member of a highly qualified faculty at the University, and is a practitioner in that particular field. Since the only channel of communication is through the internet, you will not have any face-to-face interaction as you would expect in a classroom situation. Therefore, you need to make the most of the email exchanges with your instructor as well as other professionals in course of the online discussion forums and question-answer sessions.

Each course has duration of 5-6 weeks, and you can opt to take breaks within this duration. However, you must avoid a situation where the breaks prove to be detrimental to the progress of the course. To a considerable extent, the success of an online degree at the University of Phoenix depends on your skills to think creatively and communicate effectively with the faculty and other professionals online.

Texas Schools See Increase In Number Of AP Exams Taken And Improved Results

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

The Texas schools released figures in September 2006, showing substantial increases in the number of Texas schools students taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams, as well as their resulting scores.

High schools across the nation are allowed to teach college-level coursework that is first approved by the College Board, the national administrator of the AP exams. Under current rules, a high school need only sign a form promising to teach the specific curriculum for any class to be designated AP.

When Texas schools students take and pass an AP exam with a high enough score, they receive college credit for the course, which they will not have to take when they attend college. Not only does this allow college-bound students to take fewer courses in college to fulfill their degree requirements, but it also means that they and their parents save money on the cost of college tuition.

Many Texas schools districts see this as a win-win situation that encourages students and provides incentives for them to attend college after graduating high school. Here is some of the information released by the Texas schools:

? The number of high school students in the Texas schools that took AP exams increased from 80,240 in 2002 to 122,969 in 2006 ? more than a 50 percent increase;

? The number of Texas schools students, who scored high enough to earn college credit in 2006, increased by more than 40 percent from 2002;

? There was a total of 224,168 tests taken in 2006 and 49 percent of these scores were three or higher ? this is a slight drop from the 53 percent of three of higher scores in 2002;

? English language, English literature, and U.S. history remain the most popular of the 35 AP exams available; and

? Italian, Latin literature, French literature, microeconomics, and physics of electricity and magnetism were the least popular.

To encourage students to participate in AP coursework, as well as to take and pass the exams, many Texas schools districts provide cash incentives to both their students and teachers. They partner with nonprofit donor organizations or use foundation grants to fund their AP incentives. Some students and teachers earn from $100 to $300 for each exam passed. The incentives must work, since all of the schools using them have seen a dramatic increase in the number of students taking and passing the exams. Galveston?s Ball High School, for example, expects to receive $15,800 this year in student-earned incentives.

The Texas schools attributed their improved results for 2006 to the cash incentives, incentives to reduce exam costs for students (up to $80 for each exam), increased teacher training, and the overall push by the Texas schools to create a college-bound culture within their high schools.

Federico Garcia Lorca

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

Born in Fuente Vaqueros near Granada in 1898, Federico Garcia Lorca was the son of a prosperous farmer and a school teacher mother. It was from Lorca?s mother that he took most influence in early life ? she taught him to play music and sing ? skills that would lay the foundations for the poet?s sense of rhythm and timing. In 1909 the family moved into Grenada where he would later mingle in artistic circles and wield a great influence amongst his peers. He first studied law at Grenada before moving to university in Madrid to the famous ?Residencia de estudiantes? in 1919.

One year earlier, Lorca had his first collections of poems published, entitled ?Impresiones y paisajes?. It enjoyed critical acclaim without much commercial success. However, now in Madrid, Lorca was to make friends with a great many influential young Spanish artists, two of the most notable being Salvadore Dal? who needs little introduction, and Luis Bu?el, the groundbreaking film maker, who Lorca was to become great friends with. 1919 also saw Lorca get his first break on the stage; he wrote and staged his first play: ?El Melefico de la Mariposa?. It didn?t go too well and was laughed off the stage after four shows; the incident was to sour Lorca?s feelings towards the theatre going public forever.

During the twenties, Lorca improved as a poet and playwright and became increasingly involved in the ?avant garde? movement becoming a key member of ?generation of 27?, a group of poets and artists keen to employ the latest techniques and theories to their medium. In this period he published another three anthologies of poetry including, probably his most well known work, ?Romancero Gitano? in 1928. His second play, ?Mariana Pineda? had also opened to great acclaim in 1927.

Behind his public success Lorca was struggling to keep his private life together and experienced extreme bouts of depression during this period. His friendship with Bu?el and Dali was becoming strained and his attempts to hide his homosexuality from his family were becoming increasingly thin-veiled. During this period his turbulent and often one-sided relationship with sculptor Emilio Alandr?n was also collapsing, adding to Lorca?s torments.

In 1930, Lorca left Spain for the USA in order to study English at Columbia University. Lorca was somewhat let down by his first experience of a modern democracy, America?s rampant commercialism and discrimination of minority groups provided Lorca with the fuel to produce some of his most challenging work. His poetry anthology ?Poeta en Nueva York? and his play ?El Publico? were both penned whilst Lorca was in the USA; indeed, ?El Publico? wasn?t to see the light of day until the 1970?s due to the repression of his work under Franco?s dictatorship.

Garcia Lorca?s return to Spain in 1931 coincided with the fall of the Prima Rivera dictatorship and the reestablishment of the Spanish republic. Lorca was asked to head-up a government sponsored theatre company, aimed at bringing classic theatre to rural Spain. During this period Lorca created his celebrated ?rural trilogy? of plays: ?Bodas de Sangre?, ?Yerma? and ?La Casa de Bernada Alba?.

The outbreak of the Civil War in 1936 was to mean an untimely end for Garcia Lorca. Ultimately an independent and free-thinking artist, the specific reasons for his murder still remain something of a mystery. We do know that he left for Granada in 1936 where he was arrested and later murdered by Falangists (who would later go on to commit some of the greatest atrocities of the war) and thrown into an unmarked grave in or around Viznar, near Granada. Andalusia was the main stronghold of the nationalist movement and some maintain that when Lorca set out to Granada, it was more than likely he knew he?d never return alive, especially as his brother in law was the Socialist mayor of Grenada at the time.

Lorca was to become one of the great martyrs of the Civil War and in many respects epitomised the free-thinking opposition to Franco?s regime. Franco himself wouldn?t want to hear mention of the author or the circumstances of his death so Lorca?s full oeuvre hasn?t really been in print for much more than 25 years.

His undoubted talents place him in the same bracket as Cervantes and he has gone on to become Spain?s most influential literary figure of the 20th century despite his untimely and, ultimately premature, death at the age of 38.

5 Reasons to Consider Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

The advantages of hosting an exchange student are abounding. From the exposure of another culture to the rewarding sense of fulfillment, there are five reasons to open one?s home to students studying abroad.

Personal and familial development.

Be it travel, school or work, foreign interaction is a part of life. When individuals and families, open their home to a student studying abroad, personal development is inevitable. Familiarization with other races, cultures and ethnicities expands the mind to the new and exotic. It offers the entire family a fast study on how to be adaptive to foreign interactions, demonstrates how similar and different everyone is.

Newfound respect and understanding.

Once hosts open their homes to exchange students, a natural family-like relationship transpires between the foreign exchange student and the host family. Learning about another person?s ancestry represents an understanding of the world as seen from the foreign exchange student.

Inspires new language possibilities.

As globalization redefines the world we live in, learning a new language is a rapidly growing asset in the business world. It can be beneficial for both a host and their family. When children are exposed to foreign exchange students, they can learn the fun and simplicity of learning a new language. Hosts, who speak the native language of the foreign exchange students they support host, can brush up on the language.

An enriching life experience.

A fresh perspective along with a renewed appreciation can be learned from the host and exchange student student. The co-mingling of divergent ethnicities alleviates the potential of prejudice against other cultures ? helping to unite the world making it safer for future generations.

Lifelong Acquaintance.

At the conclusion of a study abroad student?s term, many host families and students remain long-term friends. Saying good-bye represents the next phase of the newly developed, lifelong relationship and a rewarding lifetime experience.

An Associate Degree Online Lets You Study At Your Own Pace

September 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under education

There are a number of reasons to get an associate Degree. For recent graduates from high school, it can make the transition to college or university a whole lot easier if they get an associate Degree on their way to getting a Bachelor’s Degree. For some people that are looking for a technical education, an associate degree is in most cases what they need, and they may not want or even need further education. For those whose college plans or schedules are interrupted, having an associate degree makes it much easier to carry on their education later in life. For all of the groups of people mentioned above, getting an associate degree online is a good option.

Associate Degree online programs are available worldwide, and you can choose numerous of major courses of study. There are a whole bunch of good reasons to consider getting your associate degree online.

How much expense should I expect?

In most cases the tuition costs are lower for an associate degree online than through a traditional college or university program. In addition, if you take your degree on the internet you’ll have the benefit of living at home as well as saving money for transport, since you don’t have to travel to classes. It’s also easier to stay in a job while going to school when you take your associate degree online, because this kind of learning give you a lot more flexibility and freedom to make your own schedules. This gives you the advantage of being able to work more, as well as the possibility of getting higher paying jobs while you go to school.

It’s Convenient

With online education – also known as e-learning, you go to school and do your school-work at your own convenience. Online education means that you work your classes around your life, instead of the opposite; working your life around your classes. You don’t have to miss classes or assignments either; you work at your own pace, no matter what is currently going on in your life. The school-work is available when you are. All the lectures, assignments, notes and and other material are archived on the web, so you can retrieve them anytime you’re ready to.

Studying at your own pace

By taking your associate college degree online, you have the benefit of studying at your own pace. If you are among the busy people and have a lot on your plate and therefore need to go through your classes at a slower pace, you are free to do that. Otherwise, if you are in a hurry, you have the option of accelerating your pace as well. One of the big advantages with e-learning is that you are not stuck learning at everybody else’s pace; you do your work and learn at the rate that’s comfortable for you.

The Portability Is Unlimited

If you are young and your life is unsettled, getting an associate college degree online is ideal. If you move to another area, or go on a three months vacation to Africa, your college or university education goes with you. You can travel to any country all over the world, and keep on to take classes online.

As you can see, there are a lot of benefits associated with online education. If any of the benefits I have mentioned applies to you, it’s definitely worthwhile for you to consider getting your associate college degree online.

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