How You Can Benefit From A Biology Tutor

How You Can Benefit From A Biology Tutor Taking Lessons for Biology Revision Chapters10 Great Reasons To Take BiologyHow To Find A Biology TutorHow to Choose The Right Biology TeacherHow Much Do Biology Tutors Cost?Studying Biology is not just for those who aspire to be doctors, it is a subject that has the ability to appeal to the masses. Yet, despite offering fascinating and, at times, mind-blowing content to learn and explore, many do not realise just how many different career paths Biology can open up for them.Referred to as the 'science of life', Biology is a science that explores all living things, including humans, animals and plants. As such, a biologist does not necessarily have to specialise in the human body and its many ailments.However, if that is what interests you, then this course studied at A Level alongside another subject such as Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry could enable you to apply for your medical degree.But you must get your GCSE exams out of the way first, and to enrol on a science course at college as part of your A Level studies (or International Baccalaureate, if that is the course you decide to embark on), then you must not only pass your Science GCSE, you must excel in the field.As mentioned, Biology does not necessarily mean a study of the human body, it can also relate to all other living organisms on our planet. Therefore, if you are particularly keen on nature, gardening and learning how things grow in and above ground, then Biology can help to answer many of your questions and theories.Find an A level biology online course here.Biology teaches you about living organisms, among other fascinating things. Photo credit: Five Acre Geographic via VisualHunt.comNot only can it educate you on the environment, it might even have the power to make you think differently about your surroundings and appreciate how fascinating life is.Furthermore, Biology focuses on animal species, teaching pupils how they evolved, dividing them into categories, detailing how the make-up of their cells distinguishes them as thes e types of organisms and also explains how they feed.8. You can better understand how to take care of the environmentBy learning about how vegetation and other plant life thrive, you can learn how to take care of the environment around you.9. You will receive accreditationThose who study Biology to a high level, for instance at degree-level, will receive accreditation for their qualifications and expertise. Science graduates are awarded with a B.Sc., or Bachelor of Science, which can then lead to a M.Sc., or Master of Science for post-graduates.10. It is important to societyMuch of what we know about our race, animals and plants has come from scientific research. As such, scientists are very important to our society. Biological research needs fresh, talented biologists to continue to drive this research forward and help in the development of cures for terminal illnesses, as an example.How To Find A Biology TutorWhether or not you struggle to keep up with the complex principles conta ined within Biology topics, a tutor can help you to significantly improve your understanding of the concepts and thus get you a much higher grade than you otherwise would have achieved.That said, where do you find a tutor who is not only qualified and knowledgeable, but who is familiar with your course structure and the examinations that you are ultimately working towards?First of all, you should know that your neighbour, with his grade B GCSE may be able to help you out with simple tasks like homework but only a professional tutor can really move your learning along.As such, you should be looking for somebody who has a proven record as a tutor in this subject. In many cases, tutors are past or existing teachers with knowledge of the subject as well as the syllabus being taught, which is why your school or college may be a good place to start your search.Consult your Science teacher to see if they know of any biology private tutors who could help you during your course, or ask aroun d among your peers and their parents, as a recommendation is always a great place to begin.Asking somebody you know to be your tutor is not necessarily a bad thing, however you should be certain they are suitably qualified. Not only can an uninspiring or under-qualified individual cost you your good grade, they could wind up costing you lots of money that would be better spent elsewhere!If you have no recommendations and decide to turn to the Internet in search for biology a level tutors, then make sure that you only browse genuine websites of candidates with the necessary skills. Our site, Superprof, features a long list of educated tutors covering a wide range of subjects, including of course Biology and its different subcategories (Marine Biology, Zoology, Ecology, are just some examples).Superprof offers a range of qualified tutors covering all subjects, including Biology. Photo credit: US Department of Education via Visual huntHow to Choose The Right Biology TeacherAs suggested above, one of the main things to remember is that you should always make sure you know your tutor’s educational background. For instance, if you know or find a tutor who specialises in Chemistry, they most probably don’t have the precise skills and knowledge required to successfully tutor you to a successful grade in Biology.References are a very good way of differentiating the services available. Most experienced tutors will have taught enough pupils to be able to provide some feedback on their tutoring approach.If you found your tutor by word of mouth, be sure to ask questions to the person who referred them and find out if they have a website or profile you can look at online. If, however, you have come across what appears to be the perfect tutor online then read their reviews and don’t be afraid to contact them to ask them some questions before you enter any agreements.It is also a good idea to interview your chosen candidate to make sure that they are the fit for you and your studies.Remember that, to keep the momentum going, you should ideally be having at least a two-hour session once a week (or perhaps just an hour if you under 14 and not studying towards a recognised, mainstream qualification) so if your preferred tutor can only fit in one or two short classes in a month, then consider looking for someone who can accommodate your needs. With tutoring being a relatively short-term process, you should be seeking maximum impact to ensure long-term gain.Finally, it is really important to make sure you have a rapport with your tutor, as nothing can be worse than dreading your next appointment. This is why a personal recommendation or meeting with the tutor in person can have a positive impact on your attitude towards tuition.How Much Do Biology Tutors Cost?Despite what you might think, tuition does not have to cost an arm and a leg. This is particularly good news if your parents or guardians are unable to support you financially or if you make the d ecision to pay for additional classes yourself.Privately hired tutors can cost in the region of £20 per hour, however anything less than this and you should hear alarm bells ringing.If you decide to consult an agency that specialises in hiring tutors, you can expect to pay anything upward from £40, with some very qualified members costing as much as £60 an hour.Find out more about the cost of biology tutors.

Use Online Math Problem Solver To Identify And Remove Your Mistakes

Use Online Math Problem Solver To Identify And Remove Your Mistakes 0SHARESShare It is true that one can learn better from their mistakes. Doing mistakes and understanding how and where you do mistakes is the part of learning process. Often, this becomes a pattern for lot of students who perform well in their academics. Analyzing and improving your mistakes can enhance your learning that lead to improve improvement. You can put into practice your identifying and remove your mistakes and errors, however, it can be time taking process. If you fail to learn any Math concept then you may not stop making mistakes. In such situation, online tutors are best help for students. Online tutor understands the nature and pattern of errors. They look closely over solved practice test paper to analyze your errors. They keep a track record or journal of patterns of errors. They very soon identify noted pattern that reflects the topics which you are unable to digest properly. Math tutor provide help like any online Math problem solver. They are available 24*7 with the students to solve their doubts, queries and mistakes. Tutor help to attain deeper understanding of ‘why’ instead of ‘how’ the problem was resolved. This attitude always gives better and deeper understanding of specific concept.   Tutor see to it that before you memorize the rule or pattern or formula and get success over previous errors, you better attain in-depth understanding on the topic. Math is the subject that requires lot of practice, review the concepts that caused you grief from previous tests. Just ensure that whenever you are struggling with any specific topic/concept, take self-initiative to ask your tutor and seek help to diagnose  problem area immediately. Do not wait to get assistance, get immediate help when you need it. [starbox id=admin]

Whats a Parent do With a Struggling Math Student

What’s a Parent do With a Struggling Math Student 0SHARESShare Math is a most concerned subject for tutors, students and parents for the reason that it is the most primitive and vast subject. It is used in our day-to-day lives makes parents worried if their child is found struggling Math. However, they do not know how to help their child improving them in Math. The best thing a parent can help their child to improve Math literacy is to regularly make them involved in solving practical applications of Math. This is not like teaching with pen and pencil but help them to develop the capabilities of mathematical reasoning on their own. It is observed that most often what children discover and learn outside the classroom can help learn conceptually than what they learn in class. The former tends to learn concepts more in practical and applicable situations while later often target learning concepts more in abstract and theoretical manner. Parents can merge both these realms. Learning Math outside the classroom should be like part of routine regimen. The parents should help their child develop mathematical reasoning without going much more in detail lessons. While, helping out children learning theoretical Math can be hired math tutor online. Online tutoring is the best choice that works one-to-one with individual child explaining the abstract and theoretical concepts. Online tutor involves children playing mathematical mind games like chess, poker, and monopoly.                                               The parent’s role should primarily focus transforming everyday occurrences into lessons and develop the skills and sense of applied Math. [starbox id=admin]

What Makes a Good Art Teacher

What Makes a Good Art Teacher How to Become a Good Art Teacher? ChaptersTeaching SkillsListening SkillsOrganisationPatienceStudent ManagementDealing with Noise and ChaosPresentation SkillsArt History KnowledgeTechnical Art Knowledge“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” - Pablo PicassoIt’s not easy becoming a good teacher. To be fair, it’s not easy being a teacher, either. Most people agree that it’s a difficult job.To help you with this, in this article, we’re going to look at the skills and qualities that every aspiring art teacher should have and how to become a teacher. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Te acher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsTeaching SkillsTeaching art, whether in a primar y school, secondary school, college, university, or as a private tutor, requires you to be familiar with effective teaching approaches. This is definitely the most important skill for any teacher. Being good at art doesn't necessarily make you a good teacher. (Source: garageband)This is often referred to as pedagogy, which is defined as:“The method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept.”But what does this mean in practice?Teaching skills and pedagogy means being able to effectively transfer the knowledge and understanding of a concept to your students. In the hard sciences, this would be like explaining a theory in a way so that the students can understand how it applies in the real world. Similarly, you wouldn’t explain concepts in the same way to a 4-year-old as you would a teenager.It’s important that you choose the right words, approaches, and examples. A good teacher will use examples that their students can understand and relate to. Similarly, the lessons need to be structured so that the students know what’s going on and what you’re talking about it.You also need to be able to explain every problem in different wa ys. In fact, not every student will understand a given concept at first. While repeating an explanation can help, in many cases, you’ll need to rephrase it or look at it from a different angle.You can learn more about pedagogy. In fact, most of the PGCE includes pedagogy as it’s assumed you already have a mastery of your given subject. Almost every teacher certification will show aspiring school teachers how to teach. Whether you're in state schools or private schools, becoming a teacher is impossible without the basic skills to transfer your knowledge to your students.  Since most schools won't just take your word for it, you'll probably need to prove you have the necessary teaching skills to become a teacher by completing a degree in education or a PGCE, for example.In this case, you'll need to look for education courses at universities around the country. Usually, universities have a department of education or school of education that runs these courses and by getting in touc h with them, you can find out which teaching certification is best for you.Find out how to become an art teacher.Listening SkillsArt is a subject that is all about expressing your creativity. The goal for most students is to learn about artistry and translate their ideas into visual pieces.In this case, you need to listen to your students, what they want to do, and what they’re trying to express. This is a valuable skill for any teacher.This doesn’t mean you have to listen to them regardless of what they’re saying. It means that you need to help them make art out of their ideas. Discussion is an important part of art and the artistic process.Students need to feel like they’re being listened to if they have a problem understanding a certain concept. As some students are too scared to ask questions in front of the whole class, they might prefer to ask you at the end of the lesson if they feel you’ll listen.Being a good listener will help them to feel comfortable when they ru n into problems.Discover the qualifications available for art teachers.OrganisationWhen it comes to teaching art, you need to be organised as you’ll probably have loads of materials to worry about. Organisation is hugely important for art teachers. (Source: fietzfotos)You need to be organised in terms of time and space and you need to manage your classroom so that students have the space to work comfortably and express themselves.  With students moving around a lot, getting out paints, pencils, scissors, paper, etc., and looking for space to work comfortably in, you need to make sure everything’s organised.You also need to be organised in terms of time, too. You need to prepare lessons, check students’ work, provide advice, and get everything done within a limited amount of time.  Furthermore, you'll have the curriculum to deal with. There are certain things that every school teacher has to cover and your teaching career can depend on how effectively you can do this.Teacher preparation is essential in primary and secondary education regardless of the subject area. While teaching degrees will probably show you how to plan lessons and courses, organisation skills are somethin g that every teacher should regularly be working on.Find out how much art teachers earn.PatienceAfter pedagogy, patience is a teacher’s second most important quality. As a teacher, you’ll need to work on your patience as students can very easily get distracted.Classes and explanations can be repeated again and again and again. Even if the students appear to be listening, that doesn’t mean any of it’s going in.  You’ll need to explain some things several times in different ways.  Similarly, you might need to repeat the same lesson several times to different classes.You might be teaching the same thing to different groups of students several times during a week. Similarly, there are different levels who might be studying the same thing. This means that classes can quickly get annoying if it’s the tenth time you’ve taught something.This is where your knowledge of different teaching methods will help. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Disc over all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors A damSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsStudent ManagementEveryone probably remembers how art classes could get in secondary school. As we said earlier, these are classes are an opportunity for students to express themselves but they’re also classes in which students can get up and walk around. An art teacher needs to manage their students. (Source: Taken)The teacher needs to maintain order and ensure that their classes don’t descend into chaos. In addition to annoying teachers in neighbouring classrooms, chaotic lessons aren’t conducive to learning.Student management is an important part of your teacher education. Glue guns, scissors, and Stanley knives are also present so you don’t want students to be going crazy anyway. If art lessons are chaos, they need to be organised chaos!While sixth formers and college students will be more mature, they still need managing. You might want to put them into smaller groups.Find out more about studying to become an art teacher.Dealing with Noise and ChaosAs an art teacher, you need to be able to appreciate the noise and chaos. Even in a controlled class, students will be moving around, working together, or making noise in general.  Group work is an opportunity for them to exchange ideas and talk. This doesn’t mean they’re goi ng to be shouting but they’re not going to be in silence, either.In some cases, art teachers can use this time to get on with other work that they may need to get done.Presentation SkillsYou’ll be surprised just how much “acting” you need to do as a teacher. In some cases, being a teacher can feel like you’re in a one-man-show.Dull presentations are a quick way to send your students to sleep and the younger your students, the more dynamic you’ll need to be to keep their attention. Knowing how to engage the students and get them involved in art is essential to your success as a teacher.Not only do you need to hold their attention but you also need to make them feel comfortable in your class.  You also don’t want your students to get overexcited or carried away.Good presentation skills will ensure that your lessons remain interesting and engaging. This doesn’t mean you need to have a drama degree, though.Art History KnowledgeIf you’re going to teach art, you need to know about it. Knowledge of art history is important as you’ll draw upon this knowledge when teaching your students about art history and about various techniques. You’ll need to know about different art movements (Fauvism, Cubism, Romanticism, etc.) as well as famous artists like Courbet, Monet, Manet, da Vinci, Gauguin, van Gogh, etc.Whether you studied modern art or fine art, you’ll need to have a knowledge of art. Generally, you’ll need to have studied art before you become a teacher. In fact, most teachers will require a bachelor's degree or master’s degree to do it.However, if you've done an education degree rather than a PGCE, you mightn't have studied art as much as you'd like. You might be an expert in creating lesson plans and have plenty of teaching experience, but if you don't know certain parts of your subject, not even the best pedagogy will save you.If you want to become a private tutor, you’ll also need all these skills.Technical Art KnowledgeEvery studen t will probably expect their teacher to be decent at art. You’ll need to know about painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, etc. if you want to be able to teach students about it. That doesn’t mean you need to be the next Leonardo da Vinci. You just need to have a good knowledge of techniques and styles. Art teachers need to be experts in their subject. (Source: booksarelovely)If you’re passionate about art and hardworking, you’ll be fine!While there are different requirements for different positions and one teaching certificate or qualification may be accepted for certain teaching jobs and not others, if you have these skills and qualities and the qualifications the job requires, you can easily be a teacher and have a successful career in teaching.

When Should I Start Taking AP Classes

When Should I Start Taking AP Classes Thousands of high schools across the United States offer their students the chance to take Advanced Placement (or AP) classes. These classes are taught at a high level, covering more material with greater in-depth analysis and perspective. AP classesare typically on par with college-level courses, and students can take a year-end AP examto prove their mastery and potentially earn college credit. But many students wonder, When should I start taking AP classes? While this is unique for everyone, students should start taking AP classes based on their answers to the following questions: Which AP classes are appropriate for my grade level? When answering, When should I start taking AP classes? one of the first things to think about is grade level. Students can take AP courses and exams as early as 9th grade, but this is rarely recommended. Certain AP subjects, such as European History and World History, are great choices for 10th graders, but most AP classes are best suited to high school juniors and seniors. If you are an ambitious freshman or sophomore, you can work with your high school guidance counselor to ensure you are taking academically rigorous courses that will prepare you for the AP classes in your future.Don't forget to use the free resources available to you as well; theseAP practice testsare a great resource to help you prepare to take your AP exam. APTopic Number of Courses Offered History Social Science 9 World Languages Cultures 8 Sciences 7 Math Computer Science 5 Arts 5 English 2 Above data comes fromthe College Board website. Do I have prior subject knowledge relevant to any of the AP classes? AP courses are offered in a wide variety of subject areas. You will have regularly studied some of these subjects (such as English or math) for years. But you may be learning others (such as AP Psychology) for the very first time. If you are considering one or more AP classes, it certainly helps to have some familiarity with the content area. For example, if you have excelled in a particular subject in the past, the advanced curriculum may be well suited to you. However, if you havent had experience with the content area before, you risk taking on a bigger challenge than you are prepared to handle. Think of AP subjects in larger categories. For example, if you did well in Introductory Chemistry, your skill in lab sciences may translate to success in an AP Biology course. Although prior subject knowledge helps, it is not a requirement to do well in an AP class. You may just need to devote a bit of extra time to studying and completing course assignments. If you are prepping to take your AP exam, you should learn how to answer free-response questions on AP exams. Do I meet the necessary AP class prerequisites? Some high schools have APprerequisites that block students from enrolling in these courses before the school feels theyre ready. For instance, certain schools may require: prior experience in an honors-level class in the same subject a minimum GPA a certain grade level to be completed/surpassed In these cases, you may need to wait to start taking AP courses until you have met your high schools prerequisites. Speak with your guidance counselor to determine the steps you must take in order to enroll in the AP classes that interest you. If you are still unsure of your decision, here are five questions you should ask yourself before taking an AP course. When should I start taking AP classes? is a question that many students ask themselves. AP courses are challenging and exciting, and your readiness for this curriculum is key. Be sure to consider the above factors before you enroll in an AP class to ensure the timing is right for you. And as always, consult with your high school guidance counselor and teachers for recommendations on preparing for your high schools AP courses. 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 atblog@varsitytutors.com.

Gerund or Noun Video with Exercise

Gerund or Noun Video with Exercise One of our long time students asked us a few weeks ago to explain when he should use the words investment, or investing. The noun or the gerund form of this word. Particularly, he wanted to know if he should write:The (investing/investment) ideas produced by the Financial Times are interesting.It was a good question, and while we, as native English speakers, intuitively knew the correct answer, it took some thinking and studying to explain it. Here are two more examples. Can you decide whether to use the noun or gerund?Deep (thought/thinking) is needed to decide to change jobs.The (sale/selling) of the company was completed in May.  Watch the video below to see the answers to the examples, and hear a detailed explanation for when to use the noun or gerund in English.Complete the exercises below. Write your answers in comments and we will respond.1. (Moving/Move) to Buenos Aires was a really good idea.2. The (decision/deciding) was very difficult to make.3. A lot of (read/reading) is required to finish school.4. It will take a big (investing/investment) to make the company grow.5. (Selling/Sale) the company was a really good idea. Simone Hi!1 Moving 2 decision 3 reading 4 investment 5- Selling LOIEnglish Good work Simone! Did you have any questions or uncertainties? Monalisasmile84 1-Moving .2-decision.3-read4- investing5-sale Hoàng Anh 1. Moving because it is an action and no article2.Decision because it has an article the and not a process or action3. Reading because it is an action , but i wonder about article a in a lot of4. Investment because it has an article a5.Selling because it is an action and no article Tiziana 1- moving 2- decision 3- reading 4- investment 5- selling

Getting into a Top Ten Business School - An Introduction

Getting into a Top Ten Business School - An Introduction GMAT MBA Admissions Blog Applying to business schools is a daunting exercise. For many of you, this may be the first time you come in contact with extreme competition. By the time you are contemplating business school, you will have already been successful in your career â€" graduated from high school with stellar grades, landed in a top-tier undergrad program, and got the highest paying jobs out of college! However, in most cases, you were the big fish in a small pond compared to what you are going to encounter while applying and studying in business school (think Lake Michigan vs. Pacific Ocean). Many of you will experience failure for the first time as in not getting into your top choice school - in no way this is a reflection of your capabilities, but is purely a numbers game â€" the total openings in all elite schools combined is miniscule compared to the number of applicants! This is the first in a series of articles where we will de-mystify the entire application process and share with you the tools that will enable you to succeed. The same tools will help you succeed during business school and also your career! First, let’s distill what we mean by the APPLICATION PROCESS. Is’nt it just taking the GMAT, filling out a few forms, writing a few essays and voila!... you get admitted to Harvard? You could not be more wrong!! It all starts with understanding what you want to do in your career, what critical skills gap that you currently have, which school will help you bridge that gap, and how do you successfully get into that school. While most of us (including yours truly) focus on how to successfully get into a school, we do not pay enough attention to the other aspects which strangely enough is the “magic” that helps you land in the right school. So, in other words, the APPLICATION PROCESS broadly has the following steps: Introspection and truthful self-assessment Identify your “personal narrative” Identifying and selecting the school(s) Preparing the application package (GMAT, essays, etc.) Finalizing the school to attend (for all the lucky ones who will have multiple admissions) In a perfect world, going through the above steps will help you get into a right school. But, we need to be pragmatic and smart about b-schools. After all, we do not have all the time in the world and need to move on with life. We will be sharing with you here on how to achieve your goals without compromising on the integrity of the above approachWith regards to planning and timing, you will need to start approximately 2 years in advance to the start of the school term. i.e., if you need to start your MBA in August 2014, you should begin your self assessment and school selection (steps a b) by mid 2012! You will be taking the GMAT in early 2013 and begin preparing the application packages to submit by late 2013. It is a long drawn out process!! In future posts, we will dive into each of the five steps discussed above. To listen to MyGuru's podcasts on the MBA school admissions process, visit MyGuru's Podbean Podcast site on the MBA School admissions process. Good luck!

5 tips for living in Japan Japanese cultural practices

5 tips for living in Japan Japanese cultural practices Before you embark on your overseas teaching adventure, it is important to have a good understanding of the cultural practices and traditions unique to your new home. Doing your cultural research will help ensure you enjoy your experience while making new friends and avoiding accidentally offending the locals in your country of choice. Japan is a country home to a distinct set of cultural practices. Here is a list of social rules foreign teachers in Japan will find very helpful for their time abroad.1. Slurp your foodMaking slurping noises while eating your dinner is perfectly acceptable. In fact, a slurp can be viewed as polite way to share that you are enjoying your meal. Slurping tends to accompany a meal of noodles, or ramen, served piping hot.2. Do not tipWhen travelling, whether or not to tip service people is always an important piece of information to have in your back pocket. This is vital when visiting Japan because not only is tipping an uncommon practice, it may also be vi ewed as rude or insulting.Refrain from tipping, the price is the price. (If your service is significantly noteworthy, a gift might be an appropriate replacement for a tip).3. Cheers!Drink etiquette is strict. You might be familiar with the concept of serving yourself last in Western culture, but in Japan this social rule goes a step further: never serve yourself.Once your glass has been filled by another guest, don’t forget to share a cheers with your group. In Japanese, “cheers” translates to “kanpai”.4. Footwear etiquetteDifferent spaces call for different footwear. When you arrive at the entryway to someone’s home, remember to remove your shoes and if available, put on a pair of guest slippers to wear indoors. Hosts may also provide another pair of guest slippers to be worn in the bathroom only.  5. Fear the number 4The Japanese word for “four” sounds a lot like the word for “death”. For this reason, it is commonplace in Japanese culture to avoid using the num ber 4. This fear is known as tetraphobia.When teaching in Japan, do your best to avoid giving or sharing things in groups of four or using it in day-to-day to speech. You’ll be reminded of tetraphobia when your elevator skips the fourth floor.  Click here for more info on teaching in Japan.