Writing Anxiety - Private Tutoring

Writing Anxiety BobbiM Apr 3, 2014 Do you have writing anxiety? Many students experience a great deal of stress when asked to write something for a class, especially if they are asked to write during class under the added pressure of time limitations. Students might be anxious about having to think up a good idea, flesh the idea out, and then have their writing evaluated by their instructor. They sit staring at a blank page waiting for the words to come. This is sometimes called writers block and it is a very frustrating experience. However, writing anxiety becomes harmful when students experience writers block almost every time they try to write. When students are anxious about writing, they try to avoid it as much as possible because they find it such a stressful activity. Coping with writing anxiety: -Write often. Like any skill, your ability to write will improve with practice. You may want to keep a daily journal where you record your experiences. Or you might want to do some free writing by giving yourself a fixed amount of time to write about whatever you want. Another alternative is to sit on a bus or in a coffee shop and write some character sketches about the people you see. Work from a plan. Its helpful to make a list of the points you want to make and them use your list to guide you when you are writing your paper. If you are having trouble organizing the points you want to make, talk to a classmate or a tutor about your ideas. Most campuses have a writing center or a place where students can talk to a tutor a out their papers at any stage-from choosing a topic, to reading rough drafts, to critiquing final drafts. For essay tests, predict questions. Use your class notes and topics emphasized in the text to predict the kinds of questions that might be asked. Start early. Because students were experience writing anxiety try to avoid writing, they often procrastinate until the last minute. Sometimes these students believe that they can write only under pressure, but they are fooling themselves because they are actually making their stress level greater by waiting until the last minute. If they do not make a good grade on the paper, they blame it on the fact that they have trouble writing instead of the fact that they churned it out quickly. Excerpt from  College Success Strategies  by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

Separable and Nonseparable Phrasal Verbs

Separable and Nonseparable Phrasal Verbs One of the most difficult things about the English language are phrasal verbs. Our English students struggle with phrasal verbs even at the advanced level. So, we will be doing a series of videos to help our students tackle the phrasal verb challenge.This first video is very important, it is about separable and nonseparable verbs. Sometimes we can separate a phrasal verb. For example, you can say both: He put a coat on and He put on a coat.Sometimes we CANNOT separate the verb, for example:  He ran into a friend is ok, but not He ran a friend into. Watch the video to learn why and when to separate phrasal verbs.Try these exercises to see if you understand: take off, put on, or run into1. She ________ the coat ________ before she went outside. 2. They ____ __ a new opera, that was very successful. 3. Luke was driving too fast and he ____ ___ a tree. 4. Have you ____ ___ Frank lately? 5. Did you ____ it ___ the table? 7. I need to ______ some time _____ work, while my grandmother is v isiting. 8. Please _____ ____ your shoes before coming in. 9. I _____ the money ____ the table when no one was looking. 10. Our plane _____ ___ three hours late because of a mechanical problem.Rewrite these sentences using the correct phrasal verb. 1. The plane is leaving the ground. 2. I unexpectedly saw my cousin at the football game. 3. You almost hit a light post when you were driving the car too fast. 4. My mother attached her name-tag on her shirt before the meeting. 5. I removed my shirt before I got in the shower. 6. After my shower I dressed in a new shirt.Put the object in parentheses in the correct place: 1. She put on (her coat, the rack) 2. I took off (my shoes) 3. I took off (it) 4. Paul ran into (a tree) 5. Luke ran into (her, at the grocery store) Anna 1. She put the coat on before she went outside. 2. They ran into a new opera, that was very successful. 3. Luke was driving too fast and he ran into a tree. 4. Have you ran into Frank lately? 5. Did you put it on th e table? 7. I need to take some time off work, while my grandmother is visiting. 8. Please take off your shoes before coming in. 9. I took the money off the table when no one was looking. 10. Our plane took of three hours late because of a mechanical problem.Rewrite these sentences using the correct phrasal verb. 1. The plane took off the ground. 2. I unexpectedly ran into my cousin at the football game. 3. You almost ran into a light post when you were driving the car too fast. 4. My mother put her name-tag on her shirt before the meeting. 5. I took my shirt off before I got in the shower. 6. After my shower I put a new shirt on.Put the object in parentheses in the correct place: 1. She put her coat on the rac. 2. I took my shoes off. 3. I took it off. 4. Paul ran into a tree. 5. Luke ran into her at the grocery store. LOIEnglish Anna Good: Question #2; They PUT ON a new opera. (you can use put on as a way to say someone is hosting something. i.g. She put on the charity event f or the woman shelter.Next section:The plane took off. (we dont need the ground in this sentence because it is implied or logical)Great job! Thanks for answering! Silvia Deplano 1. She put the coat on before she went outside. 2. They have taken off a new opera, that was very successful. 3. Luke was driving too fast and he runned into a tree. 4. Have you putted on Frank lately? 5. Did you put it on the table? 7. I need to take some time off work, while my grandmother is visiting. 8. Please take off your shoes before coming in. 9. I putted the money on the table when no one was looking. 10. Our plane took off three hours late because of a mechanical problem. Rewrite these sentences using the correct phrasal verb. 1. The plane is taking off the ground 2. I unexpectedly ran into my cousin at the football game. 3. You almost ran into a light post when you were driving the car too fast. 4. My mother putted on her name-tag on her shirt before the meeting 5. I to ok off my shirt before I got in the shower. 6. After my shower I putted on a new shirtPut the object in parentheses in the correct place: 1. She put her coat on the rack 2. I took off my shoes 3. I took it off 4. Paul ran into a tree 5. Luke ran into her at the grocery store LOIEnglish Silvia, Question #2: They have PUT ON a new opera. We can use put on when we someone is hosting something; For example she is putting on a charity event, to raise money for Typhoon victims.Question #4: Have you RAN INTO Frank lately. We can use run into for when we see someone by chance. I ran into an old high school friend at the concert.Question #9: I PUT the money ON the table.(put doesnt change in the past tense.) You could also say; I took the money off the table when no one was looking.The next section:Question #1: The plane is taking off. (You do not need the ground as it is implied.Question #4: put doesnt change in past simple; My mother PUT her name-tag ON her shirt before the meeting . (There are 2 objects in this sentence: name-tag, her shirt; remember when there are 2 objects you MUST separate the verb.) Question #6: put doesnt change in past simpleGood Silvia! Thanks for answering. Cristina 1- put the coat on 2- run into 3- run into 4- run into 5- take it off 7- take some time off 8- take off 9- put the money on 10- take off1- she put her coat on the rack 2- i took off my shoes/i took my shoes off 3- i took it off 4- paul ran into a tree 5- luke ran her into at grocery store LOIEnglish Cristina,Question #2: put on (this can be used to say someone is hosting an event) Question #3: RAN into (past tense) Question #10: TOOK off (past tense)Next section:Question #5: Luke ran into her at the grocery store. (This doesnt have a Direct Object and in this meaning/definition NEVER takes a Direct Object and therefore is inseparable. Look at the sentence before. .at the grocery store is an adverbial phrase) Sean Hwang 1. She ___put_____ the coat ____on____ before she went outside. 2. They _take___ off__ a new opera, that was very successful. 3. Luke was driving too fast and he _ran into a tree. 4. Have you _run into_ Frank lately? 5. Did you _put_ it _on__ the table? 7. I need to _put_ some time __on___ work, while my grandmother is visiting. 8. Please _take off your shoes before coming in. 9. I _put the money on the table when no one was looking. 10. Our plane _took off_ three hours late because of a mechanical problem.Rewrite these sentences using the correct phrasal verb. 1. The plane is leaving the ground. The plane is taking off the ground. 2. I unexpectedly saw my cousin at the football game. I unexpectedly ran into my cousin at the foot ball game 3. You almost hit a light post when you were driving the car too fast. You almost ran into a light post when you were driving car too fast. 4. My mother attached her name-tag on her shirt before the meeting. My mother put her name-tag on her shirt before the meeting. 5. I removed my shirt befor e I got in the shower. I took off my shirt before I got in the shower. 6. After my shower I dressed in a new shirt. After my shower I put on a new shirt.Put the object in parentheses in the correct place: 1. She put on (her coat, the rack) She put her coat on the rack 2. I took off (my shoes) I took off my shoes 3. I took off (it) I took it off 4. Paul ran into (a tree) Paul ran into a tree 5. Luke ran into (her, at the grocery store)Luke ran her into at the grocery store LOIEnglish Sean, Question #2: put on a new opera-we can use put on to mean host. Question#7: take some time off work.we use take off-to indicate free from something.Good work!

High School Tips Recognize a Legitimate Research Source

High School Tips Recognize a Legitimate Research Source 5 ways to help high school students recognize a legitimate research source Every high school student will write a research paper and research class assignments and projects. One of the biggest problems students face in the digital age is determining which sources are legitimate and which are not. In years past, students could visit the library and speak to a librarian who could point them towards the right types of sources for any given topic, but today students conduct most of their research online. The vast majority of legitimate academic sources are available in the digital world. However, there are also some sources with authors who are writing their opinion as fact. This means that students come across articles and books where the author has no specific credentials and doesnt cite the source of their information. Luckily, there are several ways students can recognize a legitimate research source to use in an assignment Our private Orange County high school tutors are here to help you with your next research paper. 1. Look up the author’s credentials The first thing students can do is look up the author’s credentials to see if they’re qualified to write about a particular subject. For instance, if a student is writing about biology and the author is a professor of biology with a Ph.D. in the subject, then they’re likely qualified to discuss their opinions on the subject. However, that same author may not be qualified to write about other topics such as art history or exercise science. An author can be legitimately qualified in one field but not others. 2. Gather a list of trustworthy sources As students begin to research they’re encouraged to maintain a list of legitimate sources. Established newspapers and news reporters might be able to write on some topics, and some newspapers may hire several qualified staff writers who report the news. Some news sources are more legitimate than others or have been around longer and have a better reputation. As students begin to create their list, theyre encouraged to consult an educator who can help them get started. Once students know which sources are almost always legitimate, itll make their research efforts more efficient. 3. Determine whether or not the author has a strong opinion Its OK for an author to write an argumentative piece where they insert their own opinion into the article. However, they should always be upfront that this is their opinion and not a fact. Additionally, if a student is reading an argumentative piece by one author, they’re encouraged to read text by another author who holds the opposite opinion. When neutrality isnt possible, its best for students to read about both sides of an argument. Determining which pieces are argumentative and which are factual is a skill that students will learn over time from their classes or when working with a supplemental educator. 4. What to do when its unclear if the source is legitimate Many students ask if the sources they have found are appropriate but cant quite figure out how to answer the question without guidance. They might be reading a text by a new author or publisher, or they may be unsure if they can confirm the facts in the article. The best way for students to determine legitimacy is to confirm the facts from a second trustworthy source. If students cannot confirm the fax elsewhere, its possible they’re reading somebodys opinion or a personal blog rather than a reliable news or research source (READ: 5 Tips for Success in English Class From an Orange County English Tutor). 5. What happens when a student cant find any good sources? Many students complain that they just cant find any good sources for a research paper. Some topics are more challenging than others, but there are always sources out there to be found. Students may need to work on improving their research skills, in particular, learning how to conduct internet research. Some highly academic papers require a trip to a brick-and-mortar library to find journals that aren’t found online. Many students simply Google a topic hoping to find valuable information (and in many instances they can), but some subjects will require students to know where to look so they may need to speak to their teacher or tutor for guidance before they get too far in the process. Having trouble with your research paper? Our experienced Orange County English tutors are here to help. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Teaching in Saudi Arabia Life for women

Teaching in Saudi Arabia Life for women Saudi Arabia has a lot to offer its teachers, including very competitive salaries and benefits packages, a very intimate look at rich Arabic culture, and a homebase amidst vast coastlines and the storied Arabian desert. But we understand that female teachers may have questions about what they can expect if they head to teach abroad in Saudi Arabia. Some may even be put off by some of the laws and attitudes toward women, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Read below to learn more about daily life, customs, and accommodations in Saudi Arabia. Customs in Saudi Arabia It’s true that all international teachers living in Saudi Arabia are expected to respect and adhere to local Saudi laws and customs. And though upon first look, Saudi society can seem quite male-dominated, it’s also an extraordinarily safe location for female teachers and a society that promotes and values female camaraderie. Women will no doubt experience some initial challenges and cultural adjustment, including not being allowed to drive or ride a bike, but your school will often provide workaround solutions to help make these adjustments easier. In fact, schools typically arrange to have a driver designated to their teachers for travel to and from their home to the school. as well as any errands they’d like to run. Though some female teachers may feel some initial irritation around being required to wear an abaya (a loose garment that covers the head and body down to the ankles), you won’t be required to wear it while on the compound and some teachers find it helps reduce unwanted attention from strangers anyway. Accommodations for women in Saudi Arabia Female teachers in Saudi Arabia receive many benefits including furnished single-dwelling accommodations. These residences are typically located in compounds designated for international teachers, but these compounds have plenty of entertainment and shopping options on-site, including tennis courts, swimming pools, gyms, grocery stores, and restaurants. Living in a compound might sound oppressive, but it’s actually the complete opposite. Though some compounds will be subject to all Saudi law, many will allow for more freedoms for women and a more relaxed interpretation of customs. Women often don’t require an escort, don’t have to conceal their faces (you can walk around freely in shorts or relax by a pool in a bikini), and it's possible to meet many other teachers to form friendships with. Public spaces in Saudi Arabia Education institutions are either all-male or all-female facilities, so female teachers will only have female students. Some things that westerners find commonplace are prohibited in Saudi Arabia, including alcohol and public cinemas. But shopping is a popular pastime, and there are many modern malls to visit with coworkers and friends. You’ll also find plenty of activities on your compound, often even movie rooms, to keep you busy! As with anything, reading about the lifestyle might be more difficult than living the lifestyle. Very few teachers report problems with adjusting to Saudi customs once they’ve settled in to their accommodations and teaching jobs. And those who really miss western culture can take a quick trip into Bahrain, where laws are much more relaxed and teachers will even find bars and clubs. Interested in seeing what positions we have teaching in Saudi Arabia? Take a look at the Teach Away jobs board!

Student Tips To Stop Sickness Before It Starts

Student Tips To Stop Sickness Before It Starts Image via Pixabay 1. When you first identify a symptom, immediately take action to slow yourself down. Treating symptoms in their preliminary stages is key to avoiding sickness. Ignoring them will only allow your body to get sicker, making for a longer recovery time. The instant you feel even a little under the weather, slow yourself down in whatever capacity you can. If you have a packed schedule for the rest of the day, see if you can shorten a few meetings or reschedule that coffee date with your friend. Make necessary schedule changes to accommodate your physical well-being so that you can go home and rest. 2. Get extra sleep the night that you realize your depleting energy. On the day you notice your energy depleting, make an effort to add two or even three hours onto your usual sleep duration that night. If you normally sleep from 1 a.m. until 8 a.m., sleeping from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. will give your body time to replenish and strengthen your immune system. Getting this extra sleep sooner rather than later will again reduce the chances of you getting full-on sick. 3. Amp up your fruit and vegetable intake. Spaghetti 24/7 won’t do much in the way of strengthening your immune system, I’m sad to say. If you’re wondering what to eat when you aren’t feeling well, you can’t go wrong with nutrient-filled fruits and vegetables! Round up as many citrus fruits as you can and make a fresh feast for yourself with fresh produce. You’ll notice that this good food may improve your mood as well. P.S. Drink lots and lots of water! 4. Don’t overexert yourself. Skip the errands you were going to do today and hang out in bed with a cup of tea. You have all the time in the world to buy a new hairbrush and pick up those packages, so take today to ward off your illness in advance so you aren’t inconvenienced later for a longer period of time. 5. Use medicine to your advantage. Before more than 1 or 2 symptoms arise, stock up on Airborne or Emergen-C to make fizzy drinks filled with vitamins and antioxidants. These supplements are great because they don’t contain harsh ingredients like other medicines may, and instead they are packed with elements like zinc to help you fight whatever virus or pathogen may be trying to invade your body. These supplements come in chewable tablets or fizzy drink tablets, so you can even take them to go in case you feel sick at school or work and need an instant boost. These products taste like delicious berries and oranges, so give them a try! Image via Pixabay 6. Avoid toxic people and environments. When you’re on the verge of getting sick, your mental state is just as important as your physical state; this means you should try to stay away from people in your life who typically leave you feeling drained after you interact with them. Maybe it’s a family member who often puts you down, or an acquaintance that has a way of taking up a lot of your time when you would rather just leave. Why would you want to be around negativity when you already don’t feel well? Make sure to spend your energy on resting and fueling your body until you’re feeling better. The best way to avoid sickness is to stay aware of how your body feels at all times. Even if you aren’t sure that you’re getting sick, it won’t hurt to eat an orange or two if you find yourself with a runny nose on a given day. Taking precautionary steps against a potential cold can make all the difference in keeping yourself healthy and minimizing the chance of you missing several days of work, classes or meetings. Students can’t afford to compromise their health for a busy college schedule, and it’s much easier to stop sickness before it sinks in than to fend it off once you’re already feeling low. Stay healthy!

Is There Really A Linked In English Tutor For Chinese Students?

Is There Really A Linked In English Tutor For Chinese Students?If you are a Chinese speaking student in the United States and also do not have a teacher, or even an English tutoring teacher, your options will be quite limited. Most colleges and universities do not offer their students the option of choosing their own study partners, because they feel that this would discourage a lot of students from learning English. A lot of people who are already studying in Chinese do not have the time or patience to work with their studies independently. Many also do not want to work with other students.The only good news is that if you are studying in a Chinese Language school, there is a way that you can still learn English. Yes, it does require a very high level of English knowledge, but it is still possible to teach yourself to speak English. This is what a tutor is for, though. In the United States, many Chinese Students go to China as part of their education, for the sole purpose of learnin g English. By working with a tutor from the time they arrive, they are already almost certain to be able to speak English fluently, once they leave China.There are several advantages to working with a tutor from China, if you are Chinese students. First of all, you do not have to leave the country. You could remain in China and continue to learn English, by visiting other countries, but, having a partner to teach you will make it easier. Plus, you won't have to sacrifice your own studies for your partner's.Another thing about a tutor from China is that you do not have to deal with the local culture or traditions, and, you won't need to learn Mandarin in order to communicate with your tutor. Because of these two factors, many Chinese students also prefer to study at an English speaking school. When they first arrive in America, the majority of them will try to learn English by themselves, because they cannot afford to learn a language with their parents.It will become much easier for them to develop an understanding of the English language, once they have a good English teacher, and, they will be far more comfortable when talking to their friends. They will also be able to make use of their vocabulary, in conversation, and in books, which will help them learn English faster than others.Besides, you may find it interesting to know that you will be learning English for the sole purpose of speaking with your tutor. The majority of the American students at Chinese language schools will not be a part of this experience. They will be the only one teaching you, so, you can compare notes, to understand the difference between the two languages. That way, you will be more comfortable when talking to him/her, and, you will not be embarrassed by your inability to speak Mandarin.While you may find it difficult to approach an English speaking student with such a limited English vocabulary, a tutor from China may be just the answer that you need. After all, you do not have to learn Mandarin to have a good time speaking with your tutor. Also, there is no need to leave the country, because your tutor will come to meet you at a later date, to take you to dinner or for your apartment.

SIC Chemistry - What Is It And How Does It Help the Environment?

SIC Chemistry - What Is It And How Does It Help the Environment?First you need to understand that SIC chemistry is not all that different from the conventional ones we have been doing for years. We now use solvents, solvents and additives to make chemicals, but this is just a change in how the chemical is created.SIC chemistry is a science that is commonly used in the clean up of these chemical reactions. It is considered a 'clean up' because they are in it more than they actually were a time or a place. Some things will still get into our environment when we use the oil byproducts as the basis for their uses and in our daily lives.This makes us think about the future of clean up of this type of chemical and if it can be done, then it will certainly help in the environment. The most interesting thing about this is that if you would like to do some SIC chemistry yourself, the best way to go about it is to create your own products out of it. In doing so, you'll be able to release the c hemicals, but not be creating new compounds and reactions.After all, if you want to use this special type of cleaning on any sort of material and not have the harm that we are all becoming aware of with everyday use, you should think about this a bit more and realize there are ways to release these compounds into the environment as they come from the solid. You will need to take a little bit of work, but it can be very rewarding. I don't know about you, but I'm not all that impressed with some of the chemicals that are readily available in our supermarkets.The natural ingredients in SIC are nothing more than vegetable oils. These vegetable oils will actually form the basis of your cleaning products. You will need to mix them with other materials so that you can actually make something that does not contain hydrocarbons and they will not react with anything that is in the environment.I think that you will find these chemicals are not harmful, but if you do happen to find that there a re reactions going on, don't worry. Remember, SIC chemistry is completely safe. This will be great news for those of you who are trying to help the environment and clean up from the chemicals that are used every day.This is a very exciting thing to see, but don't forget that you also need to use it to clean up the oil deposits. The earth would be a better place if the other pollutants in our environment were taken care of.