How Italian Cuisine can Enthuse you to Learn Italian

How Italian Cuisine can Enthuse you to Learn Italian The Role of Gastronomy in Teaching the World the Italian Language ChaptersIs Pasta Even Italian?How Italian Food Conquered the WorldItalian Terminology and Recipes Used in EnglishItalian language lessons at school, online Italian courses and one to one Italian tuition are just some of the ways people study Italian as a foreign language.The Italian language is known around the world for its beauty, but why not deviate a bit from the beaten track and focus more on Italian culture for a while?Learning a new language doesn’t just have to be about reciting greetings, the Italian alphabet and doing countless listening comprehension and Italian grammar exercises â€" watch some Italian films, enjoy the literature of Italy, and, of course, try some Italian cuisine!As a learner of Italian as a second language, the way you learn to speak the language as you move from basic Italian to conversational Italian language skills and eventually becoming fluent in speaking Italian, is completely up to you.Starting with Italian conversation as a basis can be a good s tart if you're looking for some cultural immersion to learn more about Italy and its fascinating past whilst you pick up new words along the way.Italian culture is one of the richest and most active in the world, so let’s dive in!Starting with the world-famous cuisine of Italy, which is probably the reason why you already know a few Italian words and phrases. DanielaItalian Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuciaItalian Teacher 5.00 (4) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarilùItalian Teacher 5.00 (8) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarcoItalian Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GiusyItalian Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EnricoItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FedericaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsIs Pasta Even It alian?‘Should we eat at an Italian restaurant?’‘Do you fancy a pizza?’Here are two phrases which are asked across the UK and the rest of the world â€" it’s fair to say Italian cuisine has conquered the world.For a lot of cuisines on every continent, Italian food often sets a convivial and colourful mood for a meal.Pizza is often shared between friends at informal gatherings and times of celebration, and its nature makes for a cheerful atmosphere.Food brings people together - especially pizza! ¦ source: Pixabay - Engin_AkyurtThis is maybe the reason why Italian gastronomy has become a part of our eating habits over time, especially when we’re looking for a sociable meal.For many of us (students in particular), pasta is a go-to base for a lot of dishes.This inexpensive yet nourishing foodstuff can be served with different meats and sauces, meaning pasta is the queen of the food kingdom!For many people from all parts of the world, pasta is one of the great symbols of Itali an cuisine, however, it seems that this amazing food may not actually be from the Italian peninsula.There is a legend that holds Marco Polo responsible for importing pasta into Italy in the 13th century following his travels to China!So, are the Chinese the true inventors of this recipe?Unfortunately for our friends in the Far-East, the answer is no.This is just an urban myth that has managed to stay in the collective memory of the Italian people.There is, in fact, evidence to suggest that the Greeks and Romans were the first creators of pasta, as they cooked lasagne-sized ribbons which resembled the noodles we know today.And if that doesn’t quite cut it for you, there is a tomb in Rome which is dated at 300 B.C. and represents a pasta roller and cutter.Italian cuisine is heavily inspired by Roman dishes, although not completely.Find a tutor through Italian lessons London or a city near you to answer all your questions about pasta dishes - in Italian, of course!How Italian Food Co nquered the WorldIf we had to choose the 4 great cuisines of the world, there would certainly be some debate.The reason it may cause some argument is that taste is a subjective matter. Some people prefer spicy food, whereas others like lighter or sweet flavours.Still, in terms of ‘adoption’, there is no doubt that Italian, French, Chinese and Japanese cuisines are among the most widespread in the world today with restaurants on every continent. Italy, France, China and Japan are 4 countries that have made food an art in its own right.And let’s not forget Middle-Eastern, Spanish and even American cuisine to a lesser degree.Among all of these countries, it still seems that Italia is at the forefront of the cooking world as the most widely enjoyed.All you have to do is think of the amount of pasta, pizza and even cheese that is eaten every day.This may seem like a bit of an assumption but in January 2015, France TV Info broadcast a report precisely about the tasty food that comes from Italy.And here’s the crazy part:almost 14 billion pasta dishes are consumed and eaten every year worldwide. 14 billion!The French media also claims that the famous pasta carbonara, that many of us strive to cook with cream instead of eggs cleverly mixed with pasta, is probably the most regularly cooked recipe in the world.Italian Terminology and Recipes Used in EnglishWhen it comes to discussing gastronomy as well as music, cinema and art history, Italian as a romance language has become adopted across the globe â€" and sometimes we don’t even realise we’re using Italian words!By listening to music and learning basic music theory, you’ll be using Italian words to describe what’s going on. These may include forte, piano, crescendo, adagio, allegro, meno mosso, the list goes on.You may not even realise it, but you might also be familiar with Italian painters such as Raphaël, Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.You’ve probably also tried some traditional I talian recipes which are known all over the world, such as lasagne, cannelloni, and gelato.Even though recipes have been borrowed and adapted, Italian cuisine certainly hasn't lost its essence ¦ source: Pixabay - greekfood-tamystikaYour knowledge of Italian culture, vocabulary and expressions often goes a lot further than this.Italian may not be your native language, but you could have already mastered some aspects before you even have your first lesson!PizzaAlong with pasta, pizza dishes are also a strong symbol of Italy and its language and culture.Trying it at a restaurant with your friends, ordering it from the takeaway when you don’t want to cook or maybe even having a slice before a sporting event, ‘pizza’ is one of the most commonly-used Italian words in the world.The basic recipe has its origins in the Italian city of Naples in the south of the country.Today, there are all kinds of pizza with varying sizes and toppings, but the original dimensions of the base were 35 cm in diameter with a depth of 2 cm for the crust.CarpaccioLet’s have a look at something a bit lighter.When we think of preparing or ordering a carpaccio, one immediately thinks of something fresh where we can savour for the delicacy of each slice we eat with a little olive oil and ‘parmigiano’.Carpaccio has spread around the world as more and more people make it a part of their diets. Today, carpaccio represents thinly-sliced meat served on a plate.MozzarellaDespite the worldly successes of gorgonzola and parmesan, mozzarella is a real best-seller when it comes to Italian cheeses.Tomato and mozzarella is a match made in heaven in terms of taste and freshness, which explains the reason why it is such a popular pizza topping.Mozzarella and tomatoes: a classic combination ¦ source: Pixabay - RitaEFor those who regularly eat this kind of cheese without knowing much about it, it may interest you to know that it is made from buffalo milk.Veal MilaneseThis is yet another typical I talian dish.Veal alla Milanese is made from breaded veal escalopes which are covered with parmesan cheese and browned in a frying pan.This recipe has been adopted and adapted by many people around the world and the ‘alla Milanese’ part of its name is now used to describe any dish cooked in this way with parmesan.RisottoLike veal Milanese, pizza and pasta, risotto is a perfectly Italian dish which is used by many as a basis for their own recipes.The rice is fried in oil or butter before being cooked in a broth.After this, you can add whatever you like to the recipe! This could include mushrooms, meat, fish, cheese or veg.LasagneIf you’ve ever taken a trip to Italy, you must have sampled some of the local lasagne.Lasagne, just like pizza and pasta, always appears on the menus of Italian restaurants as a highly-popular and incredibly symbolic export of Italy.Today, you can easily find all kinds of lasagne such as beef, chicken, salmon and vegetable lasagne.Learning to speak Itali an isn’t just about mastering the Italian verbs in all of their tenses and learning how to perfect your Italian pronunciation â€" achieving proficiency in Italian is also about the culture, which includes its wonderful cuisine.Of course, engaging in Italian culture and occasionally learning a bit of Italian vocabulary and reciting grammar rules won’t be enough to reach fluency in your Italian speaking.The best way to learn Italian is by taking a pro-active approach to your learning by looking for online Italian course, taking an Italian language course at a local language school, looking for private Italian tutoring, signing up for an Italian classes near me in the evenings, studying Italian at university or even looking for free Italian lessons are all things that will keep your language active and equip you with the language skills you need to fluently communicate in Italian.Did you know that speaking Italian is a real asset in the fashion industry?

Thriving In A Brainstorming Meeting as an Introvert - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Thriving In A Brainstorming Meeting as an Introvert - Introvert Whisperer Thriving In A Brainstorming Meeting as an Introvert As an introvert in the workplace, nothing is more draining than meetings. I just want to sit at my desk, do my work and leave meetings to other people. Whenever I go to a meeting, even if I have nothing to say, I get called on to give my opinion. The hardest types of meetings though are brainstorms. With other meetings, you can get away with sitting in the back, saying something only when asked or when it’s your turn. Brainstorm meetings force creativity, interactions, and holding full-fledged conversations. Every time I’ve walked out of a brainstorm, I feel totally drained.   If you work in a creativity demanding environment like me, you’re probably well acquainted with brainstorms and the toll they take on your emotional well-being. Here are some tips to not only handle the stress but thrive in brainstorms and how to walk out not feeling squeezed dry.   Prepping Everybody Before the Brainstorm Far too much time is wasted at the beginning of poorly planned brainstorms trying to figure out what they’re gonna brainstorm. Having no topic, or an extremely loose topic just leads to long side conversations, additional interactions and wasted time.   By emailing everybody ahead of time and informing them of the focus for the brainstorm, it will help everybody hit the ground running. That means less chit chat, more work and the sooner you can get back to sweet solitude and start to recharge. If you aren’t in charge, encourage the facilitator to send that email out.   Finding The Right Place Lots of workplaces aren’t designed to promote creativity and collaborating, or may just don’t have a spare room to dedicate to brainstorms. In these situations, making everybody feel relaxed, including you, is next to impossible. Nobody wants to throw out ideas in a room next to the boss or in a public space where everybody can hear.   Finding a safe, relaxed spot for everybody helps get those creative juices flowing. If your office doesn’t have a space like this, encourage going off-site. This will transform a stuffy, stressful meeting into a more casual and relaxed get together with coworkers. Just be sure to stay focused and actually working. Some great places to head to are: coffee shops, libraries, local parks and office lobbies.   Promote creative ideas by providing members of the group with the tools needed to think up and explain ideas. Have a whiteboard or massive notepad for people to sketch out ideas to explain to the group. Have access to a computer so somebody can show an existing idea and bounce ideas on how it applies to the current problem. Identify and provide the tools your team needs so they can provide the most value in the meeting.   Being The Scribe Your brainstorm is only as good as the ideas remembered. That means somebody has to record all of the ideas that get tossed around. Volunteering to be the note taker for the meeting not only makes you a valuable member of the brainstorm but also allows you to be more in the background. Nobody expects too many ideas from the scribe because they are busy writing everything down.   That doesn’t mean you are off the hook, though. Be sure to still contribute ideas to the group and not use note taking as an escape. You simply have better control of your interactions and don’t have to push yourself to match those around you.   Every Idea is a Good Idea One massive fear in a meeting is saying an idea that people deem stupid and you being judged as unintelligent. Add that to crippling social anxiety or an introverted nature, and there is no chance of contributing to a group discussion.   The best brainstorms are upbeat, positive, sessions where ideas should be given without fear of judgment. You never know how your ideas can influence others, and crazy ideas can lead to great innovations. Having each participant be on board with this idea will reduce a lot of stress and make the meeting that much better.   Set a Time Limit One of the dangers of a brainstorm is people simply chatting or getting off topic. Brainstorms can easily turn into a two or three-hour time suck, even though all of the ideas were burned through in the first hour.   These drawn out interactions can be extremely draining, with you sitting, just wishing it would end, but too afraid to walk out. If you are in charge of setting up the brainstorm, define a clear start and stop time for the meeting. This will help focus the group to squeeze as much out of that time as possible. If you aren’t in charge of the meeting, scheduling a task after the meeting will give you an excuse to duck out and encourage everybody else to end the meeting. Be sure to let everybody know beforehand that you’ll have to leave so it doesn’t seem you are just abandoning the brainstorm.   The Value of Brainstorms While they can be very draining, brainstorms can be incredibly valuable in a creative career. Don’t shy away from calling a brainstorm when you’re stuck with something. You can avoid big scale brainstorms by having short, effective, impromptu sessions with just a few coworkers. Getting a few more minds involved in a problem can make creative solutions and build workplace camaraderie.   Do you have some tricks for getting the most out of brainstorms? How do you prevent yourself from getting totally drained after a meeting? Let us know in the comments below. Author: Ben Allen Ben Allen is a writer that covers topics from business, marketing, motivation and video games. His goal is to help everybody become better and make the world a nice place to live in. You can see more of his work by following him on Twitter @allen24ben. Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable.   Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

CO2 Molecular Geometry

CO2 Molecular Geometry CO2 Molecular Geometry Molecular Geometry: The three dimensional structural arrangement of different atoms in a molecule is called as Molecular Geometry. There are different types of molecular structure formations depending on the number of covalent bonds. The VSEPR theory which also means valence shell electron pair repulsion theory is used to decide the geometrical structure of the given molecule. How is VSEPR theory used in Molecular Geometry? According to the VSEPR theory the number of valence electrons on the central atom decide the molecular structure of the compound. The central atom can either form bond pairs or lone pairs with its valence electrons. The bond pairs are formed when the central atom shares the electrons with another atom. The lone pair are the electrons which belong to the central atom in a molecule and are not shared with any other atom. Lone pairs are also called as non-bonding pair of electrons. Here is how the number of bond pairs and lone pairs can be calculated for a given atom. Number of bonding electrons = (Total possible valence shell electrons) - (Valence shell electrons of the atom) Number of non-bonding electrons = (Total possible valence shell electrons) 2 x (number of bonding electrons) Using the formulas for finding the bonding and non-bonding electrons for some atoms: Atom Total number of valence electrons possible. Number of valence electrons Number of bonding electrons Number of non-bonding electrons Carbon C 8 4 8 - 4 = 4 8 -2 (4) = 0 Nitrogen N 8 5 8 - 5 = 3 8 2 (3) = 2 Oxygen O 8 6 8 - 6 = 2 8 2 (2) = 4 Fluorine F 8 7 8 - 7 = 1 8 2 (1) = 6 Neon Ne 8 8 8 - 8 = 0 8 - 2 (0) = 8 According to the table mentioned above here is how the atoms will look like: Depending on the number of bonding pairs and the lone pairs the molecular geometry of atoms can be predicted. Here is the table mentioned by the VSEPR theory: Bonding Electron pairs Lone pairs Shape of the Molecule Angle 2 0 Linear 1800 3 0 Trigonal Planar 1200 2 1 Bent 1200 4 0 Tetrahedral 109.50 3 1 Trigonal Pyramidal 109.50 2 2 Bent 109.50 5 0 Trigonal Bipyramid 900, 1200, 1800. 4 1 Seesaw 900, 1200, 1800 3 2 T-Shaped 900, 1800 2 3 Linear 1800 6 0 Octahedral 900, 1800 5 1 Square Pyramidal 900, 1800 4 2 Square Planar 900, 1800 CO2 Molecular Geometry: For the Carbon di-oxide molecule, Carbon is the central atom and it forms covalent bonds with the two oxygen atoms. The first step is to write the electronic configuration for the carbon atom and check for the number of valence electrons it has. The Carbon atom has an atomic number of 6. The electronic configuration of Carbon is 1s2, 2s2, 2p2. The number of valence electrons of carbon is 4. As already shown in the table above Carbon has 4 bonding electrons and no lone pairs. The Carbon atom needs 4 more electrons to reach the stable state configuration. Hence it forms 4 covalent bonds. The Oxygen atom has the atomic number of 8. The electronic configuration of Oxygen atom is 1s2, 2s2, 2p4. The number of valence electrons for Oxygen is 6. As already shown in the table above Oxygen has 4 non-bonding electrons (2 lone pairs) and 2 bonding electrons. The Oxygen atoms needs two more electrons to reach the stable sate configuration. Hence it forms two covalent bonds. Using the VSEPR theory for Molecular Geometry, CO2 has linear shape. Central atom carbon forms double bonds with each Oxygen atom [C=O]. Due to the sharing of electrons Carbon and Oxygen now have 8 electrons in the outermost shell. As the molecular Structure for the Carbon di-oxide CO2 molecule is linear, it has an angle of 1800. Since the Oxygen atom has 2 lone pairs, it pulls the shared bond pair of electrons towards itself due to which there is an electronegativity generated in the carbon oxygen bond formation. This is the reason carbon oxygen double bond is polar covalent. However as there are two oxygen atoms on both sides they form symmetry due to which the CO2 molecule is non-polar.

A Sure-Fire Way to Land a Job You Hate - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / A Sure-Fire Way to Land a Job You Hate - Introvert Whisperer A Sure-Fire Way to Land a Job You Hate Recently, I have spoken to a couple of people about the importance of clarifying what they are pursuing in their job search.  In this economic environment, it’s important if not vital to focus on a specific position so it drives what content you focus on in your resume and LinkedIn profile.  Without doing that, you don’t stand a chance of being pulled out of the Applicant Tracking System, much less passing the all-important “first skim.” At the same time, many people who are out of work are using this job search time to pursue jobs that made up previous positions, but not the last job.  Usually the motivation is to avoid doing something they really don’t like to do.  That is understandable but (and here’s where the lack of clarity comes in for these people) they are still submitting their resume for those types of positions.  Which means they lack clarity for what they are pursuing and that won’t get you what you want.  It’s how you end up with a job you hate.  And it won’t be a pretty picture for how long and painful it will take to end up with a job you don’t really want. Granted, in this hiring environment you will be much more competitive if you are looking for the same type of job as the last one you did.      If the last job you did is the last thing in the world you want to do then you need to be clear on what job you are pursuing. (Tweet this!)  Then focus not just your resume but also all of your activities on that specific job. Finding Something vs. Finding the Right Thing Many people think that casting the net of your job search to all of the jobs you might be qualified for will increase your odds of “finding something” regardless of whether or not you really want to do that work.  In today’s environment, that logic will backfire on you.  You first have to make a choice on exactly what position you are pursuing, then rework your resume and LinkedIn profile to reflect the skills needed to support that position.  After that your behavior needs to line up behind that decision.  You need to communicate clearly to your network what you’re looking for.  You must be submitting that reworked resume to those specific jobs. In my years working on various business processes, the one thing we always used to say is that you get the results that your process is designed to get.  If your job search process is going after jobs you don’t want, THAT will be your result.  Think about it. Go to top What’s the worst job you ever had? Share in the comments! Image: Flickr Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable.   Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Visiting Beijing

Visiting Beijing How Can You Get Ready for a Trip to China? Our Guide to Visiting Beijing ChaptersWhen Should You Visit Beijing?How Much Does it Cost to Visit China?Where Should You Stay in Beijing?What Are the Different Districts in Beijing?“Adventure may hurt you but monotony will kill you.” - AnonymousWhether you want to visit the Great Wall of China, Buddhist Temples, the Forbidden City in Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China is a great place to start.In 2013, the capital was visited by 4.5 million tourists but this was a 10% decrease in 2012 as a result of overpopulation and the ensuing pollution.In 2017, however, Beijing welcomed over 12 million tourists just for the National Day. With this in mind, you should probably think about exactly when the best time is to visit China on holiday.In this article, we're going to have a look at when you should visit Beijing, the cost of visiting the Chinese capital, and where you should stay in the capital.You can use courses available on Superprof to learn Mandarin London. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £ 25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhen Should You Visit Beijing?When it comes to choosing holiday destinations, you should really consider when the climate is at its best, how many other tourists will be there, and the cost of travel and accommodation when you’re planning on going to Beijing.China can get surprisingly cold! (Source: zhu810529)Is your next planned trip to one of China’s biggest cities?Be aware that the climate in Beijing can be rather cold in winter and almost suffocating in summer. We also recommend that you go, if you can, when there are fewer tourists for a number of reasons:You can easily learn more about Imperial China and the history of the Chinese Communist Party when there are fewer tourists.You can visit Tiananmen Square, the temples (the Temple of Heaven, Lama temples, Tianning Temple and its pagoda, the Niujie Mosque, etc.), the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, and museums (National Museum of China, Museum of Chinese History, etc.) without wasting time in long queues.Flights from the UK are cheaper and you can travel with low-cost airlines.You can visit attractions off the beaten track.There are plenty of good reasons to visit Beijing in winter or spring.The only problem with winter is that the city is subjected to cold spells where temperatures can drop to -25 °C!  Unsurprisingly, there are very few tourists visiting the capital and its historic monuments in full winter gear.In summer, temperatures soar and it’s in credibly humid with average temperatures of 30.5 °C in June, 31.4 °C in July, and 30.3 °C in August (with some days being as hot as 40 °C!).  Additionally, there’s the pollution, even though the Chinese authorities like to downplay just how bad it is.So when should you visit Beijing?Autumn in the north of China is rather short, quite dry, fresh in the mornings, and mild during the day.  It’s a great time to visit Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xi’an, Chengdu, or Guilin.You could also go in the spring once the city’s thawed and the flowers are in bloom, it’s dry and warm with average temperatures between 20 °C and 25 °C in April and May.You probably want to avoid events such as the Chinese New Year and the National Day of the People's Republic of China:Chinese New Year: 24-31 January 2020, 11-18 February 2021.National Day of the People's Republic of China: 1-7 October.Qingming Festival: 4-7 April.Labour Day: 1-4 May.Dragon Boat Festival: 7-9 June 2019, 25-27 June 2020 .Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival): 13-15 September 2019.These types of events are subject to a massive influx of tourists and visitors.Find out more about the best time to visit Beijing.How Much Does it Cost to Visit China?Generally, things are cheaper in Beijing than they are in London. Whether you visit Hangzhou, Sichuan, Tibet, or the Chongqing, once you've paid to travel to China, you'll find that your money goes farther.Make sure you budget for your time in Beijing. (Source: moerschy)It will cost you around £36 per person per day for accommodation, £15 for food (in restaurants), £500 for flights, plus £200 for tickets on high-speed trains if you want to visit the south (Beijing-Xi’an, Xi’an-Shanghai, Shanghai-Guangzhou).  This means, for a fortnight in China, you could be spending around £1,500 per person.As you can see, China isn’t the cheapest country in Asia since it’s economic growth has led to inflation.So how much exactly does visiting Beijing cost?Let's s tart by having a look at flights on sights like Skyscanner, Momondo, etc. You can find return flights for as little as £300.  Don’t forget that accommodation in the very centre of Beijing is quite expensive.  In addition to the cost of flights and accommodation, you’ll need to allocate some of your budget to leisure activities (trips, bars, etc.), tourist activities, and food.The only thing that’s really cheap in Beijing is the food. The capital is effectively an open-air restaurant! There are plenty of street vendors, food courts, and night markets where you can find cheap food at any time of day.  The Jiumen Xiaochi and Guije Street Night Market are great examples.In terms of visiting monuments, you can spend between £20 and £50 per visit.  While you can find cheap flights, places to eat, places to stay, etc., these all add up to quite the amount.To find cheap trips and stretch your budget, you could have a look at Doyoogo, a price comparison site for activities, and see the Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, or Temple of Heaven at a good price.Find out more about budgeting for Beijing.Where Should You Stay in Beijing?21.54 million people live in Beijing permanently. Due to overpopulation, housing is incredibly expensive and so is accommodation.There's plenty of accommodation in Beijing. (Source: ken19991210)If you want to stay in Beijing, here’s our advice...Firstly, there's accommodation. If you’re on a modest budget, you’ll want to stay off the beaten path, outside the city centre, expect less comfort, and stay in a private room or in a youth hostel dormitory.  You can find private rooms in a local’s house but these can go for exorbitant prices (between £50- £100 a night for two people).Hotels are more affordable, depending on the comfort, of course. You can pay between £20 and £30 per night for two people but you won’t have the intimacy you’ll get from a private rent with its own kitchen and living room.Have a look at the follow ing sites if you want somewhere to stay:AirbnbHomeAwayBookingHome to GoStaying in the historic centre, near the Old Summer Palace, Imperial City, and museums will allow you to discover more about the history of the city and China itself but this does mean you can expect to pay between £30 and £100 per night.You could always stay in Beijing’s Central Business District (the CBD), stretching east to west from Dawanglu to Dongdaqiao and from Chaoyang to Tonghuihe north to south.Are you looking for picturesque sites?Consider staying in traditional Chinese houses, hutongs, to really see how people lived in ancient China.Find out more about accommodation in Beijing.What Are the Different Districts in Beijing?Out of Beijing’s many neighbourhoods, we’ve chosen four in particular: The Shichahai, Dongcheng, Chaoyang, Haidian Districts.Which district will you opt to stay in? (Source: 7645255)Here are some Mandarin courses London you can take.Even though these are just four districts, th ey cover several thousand km2 and are home to 7 million people.  Shichahai includes the historic centre, where you can find many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Jingâ€"Hang Grand Canal, the Forbidden City, the Palace Museum, Tiananmen Square, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, the National Museum of China, and three lakes:Qianhai LakeHouhai LakeXihai LakeThis is a popular district with plenty of places to relax in summer or ice skate in winter.  There are plenty of hutongs and lots of bars and places to visit in the small streets. This is where you’ll find the city’s most beautiful sights.Would you like to visit the Temple of Heaven, Temple of Confucius, and stay a stone’s throw from the Forbidden City?Set your sights on Dongcheng, which is next to many museums, including the National Museum of China.Around Wangfujing Street, you can find the home of shopping in Beijing. This pedestrianised area is great for those travelling with their family or people just wanting a greener holida y.There are also districts further out that will offer you a great base for visiting China, especially if you’re considering spending a long time there and learning Mandarin, for example.Chaoyang and Haidian are effectively their own cities that have been engulfed by Beijing. They are popular amongst the wealthy and western students and expats since they have modern housing and infrastructure.Before you go, consider getting help from a Chinese language tutor on Superprof. They can help you learn at your own pace with bespoke lessons covering how to read the language, say some essential phrases, and get around Beijing without too many problems.So are you ready to book your flights and head to China?

The Good Persons Guide to Office Politics - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / The Good Person’s Guide to Office Politics - Introvert Whisperer The Good Person’s Guide to Office Politics Like a lot of people, I used to think Office Politics was only about people who played dirty with each other. They were people who would smile and be friendly while figuring out how to undermine your efforts and make you look bad. The rest of humanity did their best to stay under the radar while the mud-slinging was taking place. With all of the nuclear fallout, it’s often difficult to not be impacted in some way. I discovered that, like many things in our society, we tend to notice the most outrageous, obnoxious examples of something and ignore the rest. Is It Possible That Office Politics Is Not Always Bad? In a word: YES! It’s important to understand that “politics,” no matter if it’s office politics, exists all the time whenever you assemble a group of people. I’m sure that’s a shocking revelation. Let’s look at what Politics is, why it’s important to understand and how you can play it well without turning into a person people avoid. I think you’ll change your opinion of it. In its simplest form, office politics is about building relationships in order to achieve some kind of end result. It’s how things get done and it’s done 100% of the time on all jobs. Our jobs are always dependent on our interactions with others. Also, when I say “jobs” or work, it doesn’t have to mean paid work, either. If you belong to a neighborhood association, parent-teacher organization or volunteer, all of those things have no income but there is still politics going on. Any time you get a group of people together, a dynamic soon forms. Generally, it starts with a person seeking to influence others to do something. That isn’t a bad thing most of the time. People need to sell others on their ideas most of the time in order to get them to give their resources. Those resources can include money, time and skills. In the workplace, we influence people to support and take action on everything from helping with a project to promotions. In other words, Office Politics is a constant. Once you start paying attention, most of the time Office Politics is taking place and when it is positive we either don’t notice it or call it something nice like “group harmony.” What Makes This Important to You? Office Politics happens all the time and it happens as a result of the relationships each person forms. Some people think that all they should have to do is show up, do their work and go home. They think they shouldn’t have to befriend people at work. Those people are the ones who are most damaged by office politics, because no one at work is there to support them and that is a huge problem. You can’t function like that. No one is autonomous, ever. You have to think of yourself like a cog in a watch, each cog interconnecting with others in harmony to make the watch tell time. If you aren’t “meshing” with others, you create problems for them and you. Sooner or later, you will feel like you’re working in a hostile work environment. It’s almost a primitive reaction that when a person doesn’t fit in a group, the group wants the outlier to either integrate or leave. It may seem like people are then playing dirty office politics with you as the brunt of what is transpiring. When I say you put your career at peril is because the situation I’m painting means that you not only won’t get vital support and information to perform your job well but people can openly want you gone. Clearly, none of that inspires a desire to promote you, no matter how skilled you are. It’s all connected, it won’t be fun and your career will crater. What Do You Do? Easy-peasy. You form good working relationships with people around you at work. This includes the boss and other people in management. Many people are too intimidated by management to feel like they can form a relationship with them. If this is you, you need to snap out of it. Management didn’t instantly show up as management. They are regular people like you who simply have a different job as you. They most likely had to put in the time and demonstrate some capability so they would get promoted. To be “awe-struck” by management does nothing for you, your career or the other person. The reason why forming good work relationships is easy is that you come in contact with a number of people routinely to get your work done. You may be so focused on your work that you ignore the few extra minutes it takes to connect at a personal level. If you’re like a lot of introverts, getting personal may have its challenges. The easiest way to start developing a relationship with a coworker is to show interest in them by asking questions. Start with the work they do and progress to interests they have outside of work. A vital part thing of getting to know the other person is to learn what is important to them professionally. (Like this thought? Tweet it!) Build Trust When you can understand where a person’s priorities are, you’re better able to support them. When you offer support to another person, it can be a gesture that will solidify your relationship and trust in you. Trust is a funny thing. For the most part, we trust each other but only up to a point. From there, our actions dictate if we endow the relationship with more or less trust. When our actions demonstrate that we have the other person’s interest in mind, the level of trust goes up. On that basis, the Office Politics is formed. We support and promote people we trust. People we trust are positioned to influence our decisions and actions. When we don’t penetrate the superficial nature of simply working at someone’s side, we don’t allow trust and understanding to form. You have to dig deeper and then show the other person you understand what’s important to them. Positive vs. Negative or Dirty Everything I’ve outlined is true no matter if the politics is positive or negative. What makes Office Politics negative is when actions and decisions are made at other’s expense. Positive Office Politics happens when it is done for the benefit of the business and in support of others. This means that even if some people are building trust and support of one another, the influence that is transpiring may be to advance one person’s objectives while destroying another person’s in the process. It doesn’t have to end up this way, but people who are jealous or competitive only see one possible outcome and that is to push back others as a means of advancing. I personally like to think that people who act like this will have karma visited upon them. I hope by this point you have discovered what I did: Office Politics is all around us and you can either play it well or be crushed by it. The fun thing to recognize is that it’s all about the relationships you form, and who doesn’t need another person in their corner? Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer What’s your understanding of Office Politics? Let’s discuss in the comments. Image: Flickr

How to become a great tutor...fast!

How to become a great tutor...fast! We've had an amazing 2015 here at Tutorfair thanks to our fantastic community of tutors and students!  We asked a few of our favourites to share their adventures with us.  Here, Charlie tells us how to become a great tutor. Charlie s   My name is Charlie, I’m 22 years old and my core subjects are Psychology, Statistics, and Primary education. I was introduced to Tutorfair in September 2015, and being a part of the community has already proven to be amazing! For someone who is studying a highly demanding course, it is a great way of earning an income whilst also knowing you’re contributing to a good cause. Since starting out on Tutorfair, I have been quite successful in attracting a respectable number of clients in a short space of time. Although it may be partly due to beginner’s luck, I think a big reason for the success is because I am willing to go the extra mile for my students. Accommodating for their individual needs is essential to getting established, which can be easily achieved by having some key principles of your own… Flexibility and availability â€" Quality and quantity are both important! The more lessons you advertise; the more potential bookings you can get. Additionally, the more spread out they are; the more needs of potential clients you will be meeting (so more bookings by different clients!) Honesty â€" Always be straight with your students and Tutorfair. If you know you’ll be late to a lesson, or may have to cancel, tell the client ASAP (adding an apology with a smiley face helps!). Advertisement â€" Don’t be afraid to ask past teachers or students for a reference! You rarely buy something before reading a couple of reviews, so fish for the compliments and stand out. It is important to play on your strengths. Everybody is different, and in my case I am often described as funny, enthusiastic and energetic, all of which I use in my teaching style. Lastly, if you enjoy what you’re teaching, your students will enjoy learning it (trust me, I tutor stats!)   Want to book Charlie for Psychology revision?  Or perhaps you want to sign up as a tutor? There's something for everyone at Tutorfair!

How to Write Effective Supplemental Essays

How to Write Effective Supplemental Essays ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog I recently spoke with a former college admissions officer who mentioned that a lot of applicants fail to give supplemental essays their proper attention. Instead, these students focus all of their energy on the main essay. While it’s obviously important to have a knockout personal statement, overlooking the supplemental essays could be a fatal error in judgment. Every individual piece of your application matters. Here’s how to maximize the positive impact of your college application supplemental essays. FILL IN THE BLANKS The personal statement isn’t your life story â€" it’sonestory, hopefully with a lot of character and detail, but still â€" just one story. The supplements allow you to mine from other stories in your life â€" various skills, interests, or challenges you’ve overcome. Use your quirks, your passions, and your unique life experiences to give your application greater depth. It’s an opportunity to share another side of yourself â€" something that wouldn’t necessarily be on your resume. Doing so will give the admissions committee a fuller picture of who you are. Your supplemental essays should help illustrate the many facets of your personality, and you’ll leave the impression of a real person instead of just grades on a page. DECLARE YOUR INTENT The most common supplemental essay question is “why this school?” or some variation of it. In this essay it is crucial that you illustrate your familiarity with what makes the school unique â€" and how your own individual strengths will complement it. By combining those two points, you demonstrate how you will thrive as a result of being a part of the school’s community and how the school will benefit from adding you to their student body. Be specific (always! Specificity is the key to avoiding the trap of being forgettable) about aspects of the school that appeal to you, and about the qualities you possess that make you a good match for the school. ANSWER THE QUESTION There must be substance to your supplemental essays. It’s easy to write something vague in these answers â€" you don’t have a lot of words to work with and not, having been to college yet, it might be difficult to articulate what aspects of a school truly matter to you. That’s why it’s important to do the research and to answer the question as directly and succinctly as possible. Being vague or generic reads as insincere â€" like you’re just filling out another application. Colleges want individuals who bring something to the table and who know what they want to get out of a great education. Always ask yourself “Why?” â€" why do you believe this answer to be true? Come up with concrete answers. The more you refine your “why” statements, the better. CHECK YOUR TONE If you can’t come up with specific, exciting reasons to be there, why are you even applying to the school in question? Are you excited about the school’s curriculum and its opportunities for growth or leadership in both academic and social realms? Don’t focus on what’s expected of you by other people â€" like following in your family’s footsteps or the earning potential a degree from the school will give you. Focus on your individual growth potential. Show them you want to challenge yourself to become a better person by the time you graduate, and how you believe the school will help you achieve that goal. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, 'a519c073-790d-4c67-b0fd-7095f1869478', {});