5 Sneaky (and Fun!) Ways to Study Spanish in Your Free Time

5 Sneaky (and Fun!) Ways to Study Spanish in Your Free Time Suzy S. Looking for ways to study Spanish that dont involve conjugation exercises? Read on as Carmichael, CA Spanish tutor  Joan B.  shares her fun ideas for incorporating Spanish in your daily life Studying Spanish can be as simple as incorporating these sneaky (and fun!) methods, all of which are simple, quick, and designed to strengthen your knowledge and skills in Spanish. Make a goal to incorporate at least one of them into your daily life for 14 days straight, and you’ll see a difference as you study Spanish! 1. Practice with any native speakers you know (or encounter). When you’re out and about, strike up a conversation with the woman speaking to her children in Spanish, ask for help from or offer help to native speakers, and otherwise engage Spanish speakers in whatever way is appropriate and friendly. You’ll be surprised by their delight that you are learning their language! These types of conversations will increase your fluency and allow you to easily communicate in future travel or work situations where you may want to use your Spanish. 2. When you’re taking a break from work or school, watch a short YouTube video in Spanish. This will not only break up the monotony of the work day, it will entertain and help increase your comprehension and listening skills. Try watching this playlist with helpful Spanish tutorials for beginners- 3. Read something light and entertaining in Spanish each day or week. I encourage my students to read an online horoscope or something similar in their free time that is engaging and fun. These types of short articles are a chance to learn new words as well as test your understanding. You will probably be surprised at your level of comprehension â€" reading these types of articles is a nice way to congratulate yourself on your progress and abilities in Spanish. Another fun way to study Spanish in your free time is to take online magazine quizzes in Spanish. If you enjoy taking these types of light-hearted quizzes in English, you may enjoy them even more in Spanish as you both increase your Spanish language skills and entertain yourself! 4. Engage yourself in Spanish. Do you talk to yourself as you do everyday tasks around the house? If so, make the conversation a Spanish one! Or if you share a living space, think in Spanish. Similarly, if you keep a dream journal, you can set an intention to dream in Spanish. The more immersion you find in your daily life, the more you will speak confidently and richly in the language. Something else I encourage students to do in their homes is to add post-its to everyday items, with the name of the item in Spanish. You can also add Spanish proverbs to post-its on a regular basis and post them on the bathroom mirror. 5. Download phone apps for fun learning in downtime. Have a minute at the doctor’s office, or in line? Pull out your phone and play a Spanish language learning game. Apps like DuoLingo are well-designed ways to test your skills and learn new vocabulary and grammar. Keep in mind that the best way to increase language skills is regular, consistent practice, and just a few minutes a day can help this goal greatly. With these ideas, you’ll find its easy to study Spanish as a regular and natural part of your day. Not signed up for lessons yet?  Find a Spanish tutor in your area here! Joan B. lives in  Carmichael, CA  and has been teaching high school Spanish for more than 18 years. A lover of language, she’s studied French, Arabic, and Italian and spent time living in Spain. Joan aims to help students improve on tests and increase their conversational ability when traveling to Spanish-speaking countries.  Learn more about Joan here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Nacho

Top 5 Books College Students Should Read this Summer

Top 5 Books College Students Should Read this Summer Ah, summerone of the most beloved times of the year for students. Unless youre taking a full load of summer classes, you can say goodbye to textbooks, quizzes, and essays for awhile. You may have a part-time job or an internship, but with summer always comes a lot more freedom, and with that comes a lot more free time. While there are tons of great ways to fill this time, reading a good book is one of the best ways to sharpen your skills while also simply enjoying yourself. Before you argue that you arent going to crack a book open again until the first day of the new semester, consider the benefits that reading gives you, regardless of the book youve chosen. Reading expands your vocabulary (without flashcards!), gives you a new perspective of the world around you, and entertains you. Whether youre in the car on a road trip, laying out on the beach, or spending a quiet day inside, a good book is a great option. The following books are not textbooks, but can definitely teach you a thing or two. 1. For an old classic: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Many students read great books in middle school or high school, but some of the greatness can be lost in a book when it becomes required reading. Revisiting a classic book from your early schooling is a great way to take a trip down memory lane, and since it isnt for class, you wont have to worry about the tests or essays. Theres a reason these books, like The Great Gatsby, are often required reading for students. This book, set in the 1920s, follows the wealthy Jay Gatsby while detailing the parties he throws in his mansion. The plot focuses on his love for Daisy Buchanan and the conflicts it creates. While reading The Great Gatsby, youll not only be transported back to the Jazz Age, but also to your high school English class when you first learned about character foils and rising action. The reminder of these possibly forgotten literary elements can help you refine your reading comprehension skills. Other classics to take you back in time: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 2. For a memoir that teaches a great lesson: Yes Please by Amy Poehler Light-hearted memoirs are not only enjoyable to read, they also can teach you valuable lessons. Memoirs can give you a different perspective on the world as you learn about other peoples experiences, which may be completely different from your own. Memoirs are also a great way to start the process of self-reflection, while reading the lessons that successful people learned can put you ahead of the game. Yes Please by Amy Poehler is an inspirational read that details her life as a woman in comedy, and you better believe Amy brings her comedic A-game with this bookbut it will have you thinking as much as it has you laughing, as you learn some of the most interesting life lessons she has to offer. Other memoirs for a lesson on life: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling, My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor (for a more serious read). 3. For a book that really makes you think: The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore The best part about a great piece of literature is the way it challenges you to think hard about the world around you. The Other Wes Moore is a true story of two children with the same name who grew up in poverty in Baltimore. As you follow both of them throughout their lives, one becomes a Rhodes Scholar, while the other serves a life sentence in prison. This book challenges you to think about how your choices can impact your entire life and how ones upbringing can play a major role in their future. Other books to challenge your perspective: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, The Giver by Lois Lowry 4. For a little self-help: Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell Reading a book meant to influence your lifestyle is always an intriguing learning experience. Think of these books as enjoyable and entertaining self-help books that leave you with actionable steps to improve some aspect of your life. Blink is about the choices we make on instinct without thinking, and how some people are strong at making the correct choices while others choices can lead to unintended consequences. Blink reveals how to be a great decision-maker while profiling some experts and some failed situations. This is a great book for any college student to read, as decision-making is one of the biggest skills you will need in the real world. Another book to help you get a fresh start: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg 5. For a hidden history lesson: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak When you pick up a great book that is set in a historical time period, you learn about history without even trying. The Book Thief follows a young girl who lives in Germany during World War II with her foster parents. The book describes her experiences with the Nazi regime and the political situation in Germany at the time, particularly the destroying of books by the Nazi party. Not only is this a beautifully written book, narrated by death, it also gives detailed insight into the past. Other hidden history lessons can be found in: Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

What is it Like to Attend Chatham University

What is it Like to Attend Chatham University Alexandra earned her bachelors degree in English and cultural studies from Chatham University. She specializes in writing tutoring, study skills tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Chatham University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Alexandra: Chatham University is an arboretum located in the city of Pittsburgh. As a student, you enjoy a lush, beautiful campus full of history and old mansions established as the Chatham College for Women in 1869. Now a co-educational institution, its nestled between the Shadyside and Squirrel Hill neighborhoods, two very popular and trendy places to live for students who attend the surrounding schools. Chatham is one of many schools in Pittsburgh that provides free public transit to their students by using their ID cards. Chatham also has shuttles available to take students grocery shopping and into town. The campus feels rural, but is located in an urban setting popularly and endearingly referred to as the Chatham bubble. I have never felt unsafe on campus, as Chatham is very much a community, and security is taken very seriously. Transportation options include free bus and shuttle access, ample space for parking bikes, as well as Zipcars on campus for student use. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Alexandra: Chatham doesnt have separate academic advisers from faculty; instead, the faculty who you work with in classes on a daily basis serve as your academic advisers and mentors. Professors are readily available during their posted office hours and are incredibly open to finding time to meet with you to talk about school and life. They also help you choose and schedule your classes each semester. You get, if you choose, to have a lot of personal interactions with professors at Chatham, and each and every one of them is invested in helping you succeed and reach your goals. Teaching assistants are graduate students in the MFA and science programs and are also readily available to help. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Alexandra: The dorm life at Chatham is as social as you want it to be. Woodland Hall is the biggest dorm on campus and most central to the other facilities on campus with about four floors, housing 20-30 people on each floor. Fickes Hall is just down the hill from Woodland Hall and is the second biggest with three floors, housing about 20-40 people on each floor. The rooms and bathrooms in these two buildings have a lot of character. Rea House and Laughlin House are two smaller, but beautiful old mansions. Rea House includes residents who are involved with environmental issues, while Laughlin House includes international students and residents that are involved with cultural immersion and international issues. There are also apartments available on Fifth Avenue for undergraduate and graduate students. I was the Resident Assistant for Rea House and Apartments on Fifth Avenue, and I can honestly say that you can be as involved or not involved in the community as you wish to be. The fur thest housing, Apartments on Fifth Avenue, has a private walkway that leads up to campus. To get to classes and other facilities on campus is less than a 15 minute walk. The main campus is small and self-sustaining. Dining options are greatthere is a coffee shop on the main campus and a huge dining hall with amazing, mostly locally-sourced food. You are also a short walk away from the Shadyside and Squirrel Hill neighborhoods, home to amazing coffee shops, restaurants, and diners. Student Affairs at Chatham is a strong force and there are always programs happening. Again, you can choose to be as involved or not involved in the thriving academic and extracurricular Chatham community as you like. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Alexandra: Chatham has some really unique and amazing programs, including the newest food studies program for undergraduate and graduate students. Professors at Chatham have strong ties to the Pittsburgh community and around the world, so no matter what your professional goal is, they are able to provide strong insights and mentorship. The strongest programs at Chatham are their science programs, psychology, English, and marketing. I studied English and Cultural Studies at Chatham because I had an amazing high school English teacher that studied at Chatham and inspired me to attend. There are many intersections between the English and Cultural Studies programs, so adding the Cultural Studies major was a natural extension of the English major. Professors definitely push students to do graduate-level work and have an incredibly high acceptance rate for getting students into prominent graduate programs. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Alexandra: It was incredibly easy to meet people and make friends as a freshman at Chatham. As a student in the Chatham Scholars program, I took the same classes with the same group of people, so we were able to foster strong relationships that have endured long after graduating. There are many events and organizations on campus that allow you to meet people as well as get involved off campus. Student Affairs, particularly working in resident life, actually led me to meet some of my best friends. Chatham does not have Greek life; however, Student Affairs invites Greek life from the surrounding universities to attend events. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Alexandra: The PACE Center on campus is in one central location inthe Jennie King Mellon Library. It houses many services, including the Writing Center, Tutoring Services, and Career Center. The Writing Center is where graduate students work with undergraduates of all levels to complete writing assignments. Tutoring Services allows students to set up tutoring appointments and request note takers for classes. At Career Services, students can set up internships and attend career workshops. Chatham is really good at bringing in alumni that have achieved significant career goals and who love to work with current students to help them achieve their professional goals. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Alexandra: At Chatham, any type of study area that you could imagine is available, and all are in beautiful facilities. You can work individually in study cubbies in the library or in spacious conference rooms with a group. You can also work individually or with friends at the coffee shop. The dorm lounges are all spacious and comfortable, and never over-crowded. You can go off campus to one of many coffee shops and diners in Shadyside, Oakland, or Squirrel Hill. All of these spaces are never too crowded, are easily available, and spacious. Describe the surrounding town. Alexandra: Chatham is nestled between the Shadyside and Squirrel Hill neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. Many of the universities in Pittsburgh are all located along Fifth Avenue, including Chatham. Directly outside of the Chatham campus are small, residential streets with beautiful mansions that lead to the popular Ellsworth Avenue and Walnut Street in Shadyside and to Murray Avenue and Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill. Both of these places include stores and restaurants. Downtown, you can watch a Pittsburgh Penguins game across the street from Duquesne University at the PPG Paints Arena. You can also attend a play, symphony performance, or musical in the Cultural District where all of the theaters are located. If youre feeling adventurous, you can cross one of the many bridges to the North Shore and attend a Pirates game, Steelers game, or even visit the Andy Warhol Museum. Whether youre into the arts, sports, food, hiking, or biking, Pittsburgh has something for you. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Alexandra: Chatham is a small liberal arts school where faculty members are incredibly invested in your success. My common core classes had 20-25 students, which was incredibly effective and comfortable since the professor easily learned our names and mediated fascinating and enlightening conversations among the group. Some of my English classes had 10 people, while some had up to 25. Regardless of the size, professors were always incredibly attentive to students' needs. I was really pleased with the typical class sizes, and these sizes are pretty much the same across majors. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Alexandra: Every class that I had at Chatham was incredibly enlightening and helped me to become the professional I am today. One of the many memorable moments during my time as an undergraduate student at Chatham has to be my Tutorial defense. I had three amazing professors who were on my committee and encouraged me throughout the process. The head chair of my committee was a professor I knew even before I started at Chatham, the chair of the English department, who had taught and inspired my high school English teacher. The second chair of my committee, the Director of the Food Studies program, had directed my study abroad trip to Italy. The third chair of my Committee, the Director of Cultural Studies, was and remains a dear friend and mentor who I had worked as a research assistant to. The moment when they told me I had passed and that they couldnt wait to see what the future had in store really exemplified the entirety of my educational experience at Chatham. Check out Alexandras tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

5 Essential Study Skills That Every Middle School Student Should Master

5 Essential Study Skills That Every Middle School Student Should Master Improving Back to School Study Skills for Middle School Students Middle school is a vital time in a student's educational career and middle school study skills are essential to success in high school and beyond. Think of middle school much like the practices leading up to a big game. An athlete's practice performance is important because that time spent mastering the fundamentals pays off when the stakes are high during a game. Middle school is the same way. There are many different study skills that students should master in middle school that will play a valuable role when the stakes are much higher. As a parent it is vital for you to play an active role in your middle schooler student's education. Working with your child now to master essential middle school study skills will help lay a strong foundation for future grades. Parents and students should work together to: Find the best time to study Every student is different. It is important to remember what works for others, or what worked for you, may not be best for your child. Spend time experimenting with study times to see when your child is most effective. For several days have your child complete homework and other school tasks immediately upon arriving home. Then try switching the study time to later in the evening, perhaps immediately after dinner. If neither of these times work for your child, evaluate your family's daily schedule for other available study blocks that may be more beneficial. Keep materials organized Many middle school students don't naturally possess essential organizational skills. The ability to organize materials, schedules, and assignments can be difficult. Work with your child to establish and maintain an organizational system that is efficient and tailored to this year's coursework. Provide the materials necessary for your child to stay organized such as binders, folders, and an assignment planner. Take the time to help your child keep the materials organized and intervene if your child is experiencing difficulty. Learn to take notes Taking notes is a critically important study skill in high school and college. Middle school is an ideal time to learn note taking skills because it provides plenty of opportunity to practice and refine this skill. Huntington Learning Centers offers students the opportunity to learn study skills, including note taking, from highly trained professionals. Your child's tutor will teach specific note taking skills to help with this year's courses. There will also be an emphasis on general note taking skills that can be applied to a variety of subject areas. This helps your child view note taking as a universal study skill that can be used in any course. Develop a study schedule Your child has a schedule full of challenging academic work and may be overwhelmed by the prospect of managing all of the assignments, projects, quizzes, and tests. Ask your child for course schedules and syllabi and work to create a master schedule. Help your child see the big picture and understand that planning ahead is essential for success. Work together to devise weekly and monthly study schedules that provide plenty of time for all coursework. Build foundational research skills Think about all the research papers and projects in your child's future. High school and college courses require students to research topics to write papers, complete laboratory work, prepare persuasive arguments, and present material. This research based coursework will be much easier if your child has the research skills necessary for success. As part of the study skills tutoring sessions at Huntington Learning Centers students learn how to conduct effective research and how to use valuable reference skills to determine important information. Students learn how to find the information they're looking for and ways to compile it for use in papers, projects, and presentations.

Volunteering Experience - Ritas Story

Volunteering Experience - Rita's Story Rita P  has had many years of experience as a private tutor, both in Italy and the UK. She's an enthusiastic investigator of the History of Ancient Languages, and studied Prehistory, Archaeology and Classics in Rome and Verona.   Rita has a huge heart, she gives her time to 3 different schools, helping underprivileged children with Spanish, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. She volunteers at Pimlico Academy, Highbury Fields, and Wilbury Primary School. She has kindly written about her volunteering experience so far in hopes that it will inspire others to follow suit! I started tutoring in Italy some years ago, and I still vividly picture a shy girl who happened to be my first student. I had just finished my Master's Degree in Archaeology and Classics. She was a 16 year old student who attended two different schools, a music conservatory and a grammar school. Studying on her own was a big effort which she found stressful and quite demanding. At first I thought she probably needed a little more structure as well as a bit of encouragement to keep her focused. I was only there to help her with Ancient Languages, but we soon made a habit of spending some time at the end of every lesson to talk about anything that was on her mind, including her other subjects. By the end of the year she surprised me. She confessed that our lessons and talks had helped her to become more organised, self-confident and open with people. She then went on to express to me how grateful she was for this. She soon finished her studies, and now she’s a musician who lives in Amsterdam. She taught me something too. I learned how important it is to establish a relationship with your student, aside from helping them with their studies. I learnt that lending an ear and taking the time to “know” my students is equally as valuable in helping them perform better in school and in their private studies. I have since moved to London, and brought my vast experience in education with me! I began tutoring in November, after a comprehensive training day, perfectly managed by Tutorfair. Currently I volunteer in two different high schools and a primary school â€" exposing myself to students of varying ages, ambitions and distinct backgrounds. Working with year 11 students everyday has been challenging. Initially I felt that they were doing a great job of living up to their teenage stereotype of being moody, demotivated, unfocused and tired. It took some time for them to accept me. They were shy and rather closed off as they were uncomfortable discussing any difficulties they were having. After a few lessons they began to open up and relax around me, and subsequently I did too! They understood that I was there to help them unconditionally, which turned out to be the single most important thing to them. Working with students at this age can be really extraordinary, and genuinely wonderful. I also help a group of Year 6 students who are part of an afterschool special learning program. These younger students were much more welcoming, and took to me straight away!   They were also more demanding of me and the teacher leading the class. No matter how old the student is, I believe that nothing can help a student more than applying the J Factor: If I can help make the learning experience Joyful, the results are always astounding. I try to hold the picture of my first student in my head and what that experience taught me.   It reminds me to remain patient and dedicated, the rest then comes naturally. Are you interested in becoming a volunteer tutor? If so click here  to get involved, or email Pete Kirby at pete@tutorfair.com we would love to hear from you!

The Simple Secret to Foreign Language Fluency

The Simple Secret to Foreign Language Fluency Whats the hardest part of learning languages?They feel arbitrary.They have their own logic, but it takes trial and error to figure them out.What if there was a shortcut?A way to learn from your mistakes before making them?Heres a simple but useful tip.Learn example sentences rather than  memorizing words individually and out of context.  In other words, sentence mine.What is sentence mining?Google “sentence mining” and you’ll find a community of hardcore sentence miners who get into passionate debates.Sentence mining is learning languages by collecting, saving, and reviewing sentences.The more traditional approach is to memorize long lists of vocab words individually.Why does sentence mining work?Sentence mining works for several reasons.First, it helps you create mental associations with what you already know. The sentences give you a place in your brain where you can attach the new vocabulary.Second, it exposes you to the vocabulary in different contexts. This accelerates you r learning in the same way that you would get to know a person faster if you see them in multiple social settings.Third, vocabulary is nuanced, like people. Just like you dont truly know someone by knowing their name, you dont truly know a word just by knowing its definition.Sentence mining lets you master a word more quickly.How do I do sentence mining?There are 2 ways.The Traditional WayFirst, Ill tell you the traditional, painful way:Find a resource that can provide a steady supply of accurate sentences.Select simple sentences that demonstrate the word’s meaning.Save those sentences in your notebook or flashcards.Periodically review.As you can imagine, the traditional way is a test of your discipline and organizational skills.If you enjoy challenges, have an iron will, and are very meticulous, go with the traditional way.If this sounds like too much work for you, theres an easier way. The FluentU WayTheres a new, painless, and even delightfully fun way: FluentU.With FluentU, youre able to see multiple examples of any word.These examples are all high quality.They either come from authentic sources like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksor theyre created from scratch by native speakers, and written in a simple way that still clearly demonstrates how the word is used.The words even come with representative images.Take a look at the FluentU app to see what I mean:FluentU lets you learn any video through a fun, multimedia quiz. And at any moment in the quiz, you can swipe left or write to see more examples for the word that youre being quizzed on.Download the FluentU iPhone  or Android app for free!

College Application Crunch Time - by TutorNerds

College Application Crunch Time - by TutorNerds College Application Crunch Time: Last Minute Tips From an Irvine Admissions Consultant Most college applications are due December 1st. If there was ever a time to hand in an assignment on time, this is it! Some high school teachers may choose to give partial credit to a student who handed something in late but colleges will never ever cut a student slack on this issue Our Orange County college admissions consultants are here to help. In all seriousness, if the paperwork arrives on the 2nd, they wont even open it. So now that it is November, what can you do in this very last month to make things work? 1. Make a check list If you are running behind on applications, it will be very easy to forget about tiny details. Make a list of each and every thing that you have to do and cross it off only when it is completely done. 2. Get that essay polished up Hopefully you have written at least a first and second draft of your application essay. Now is the time to get it polished up. If, for some reason, you haven’t started your essay, then call up a tutor or college counselor ASAP and get it done (READ: Ask a Nerd! How Should I start My College Entrance Essay?). 3. Choose a safety school I can’t stress this enough. Every student should apply to at least one safety school. Safety schools are ones that your college counselor has told you that you are nearly guaranteed acceptance to. Do not choose one of your target schools and designate it as a safety school. Pick a college with a nice campus that has the program you are looking for and add it to your list. 4. Find out about super scoring Find out if the universities that you are applying to use a ‘super score’. You don’t want to simply hand in your most recent SAT scores if it turns out that you could have sent in a super score that ended up giving you 100 composite points higher. 5. Get those teacher recommendations Hopefully, you asked two or three teachers who know you very well to write a lovely letter of recommendation. If November 1st has passed, now is the time to check up on them. Teachers are incredibly busy and most of them are looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday break just as much as you are. However, if the recommendations don’t come in on time, it will leave you in a bad spot. Send a polite and respectful email to any teachers who haven’t yet returned your letters of recommendation (READ: The Best Way to Ask For A Letter of Recommendation). Just remind them that you are both excited and nervous to apply to college and that you want to have everything in by the due date. Don’t forget to thank them for their time. If you get a feeling that a particular teacher might be late sending in the letter, it would be a good idea to ask another person. It won’t hurt you to have an extra letter of recommendation. The ideal situation is to have completed the college application process the summer after junior year. However, this ideal is almost never met. If you find that you are down to crunch time, let your friends know that you will be spending the next couple of weekends focusing on applications. Get it done and out of the way so that you can sleep soundly on November 30th. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by TutorNerds. 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 post about. Applying to college this fall? Don’t hesitate to sign up with one of our experienced Orange County college admissions consultants. Call us today and we’ll get you in!

How to Start Off Your Fall Internship With a Strong Foundation

How to Start Off Your Fall Internship With a Strong Foundation via Interns Australia Internships are an extraordinary time to put what you have been learning into practice and to gain some experience in the working world, and hopefully, in the field you would like to work in someday. Interns often receive a lot of guidance and support from those who supervise their work and those who work alongside them that puts them in a good position to succeed after graduating. Like any new experience, there is initially some trepidation on the first day coupled with the goal of making a good impression. Making a good impression could mean a full-time job in the future as well as good references and lifelong friends. With that in mind, there are a few things you can do to ensure your internship is well-worth the time and effort. Seek the right internship opportunity Avoid getting into an internship just because some of the students in your class have one. If you do this, you will most likely take the first one you find and not receive the full benefit of such an experience. Begin your search by asking questions: How does this relate to my academic goals? Is this needed to receive class credit? Will I be able to use this experience on my resume and/or in the working world? Is the company I’m choosing worth the time and effort? Questions like these can help guide you to the right internship. Set personal goals and expectations for the experience The more goals you set for yourself, the more likely you are to succeed. The more expectations you set for yourself, the better you’re going to be at holding yourself to a certain standard. The company or organization has goals that you will be a part of achieving and setting your own goals inside the company goals means you can personally achieve too. Go into an internship expecting to do what your supervisor tells you, but also be prepared to take initiative and make the opportunity one that is worthwhile. Almost every situation can be a learning experience if we make it so. Meet the people you will be working with beforehand People help to make companies what they are so it is a good idea to reach out and connect with some of the people you’ll be working with. Doing so can help you learn more about the company, the type of characteristics it looks for in its employees, and the goals of the company. A face to face meeting is sometimes possible, but if not, simply research them. LinkedIn can be a very good source of information as well as a simple Google search of their name. Develop lifelong connections early Internships are an opportunity for you to develop connections with people that will last a lifetime. You will always be able to refer to those connections if you have a question or even if you need a recommendation. Further, you can place your internship on your resume for future job applications and count the skills you developed as part of your repertoire. Be prepared to do your best work Like anything in life, you must give it your very best shot. Those who make the best grades, many times, aren’t necessarily the smartest, but they work the hardest and are committed to doing excellent work. Giving your best isn’t just an activity; it is a state of mind and enhances your personal well-being. One reason is that when we do our best work, we not only help reach the overall goal and impress the boss, we also feel good about our performance. Seek out advice from your supervisor and coworkers Be ready and willing to ask questions. Many times, interns fear asking questions because they think it will come across as stupid or it will be overlooked because of their age. That is almost never the case. In most instances, people are willing to answer your questions and give you advice when and where you need it. Seeking advice and asking questions is part of what it means to learn. If we dont understand or know something, we ask. Even Google is willing and ready to give us answers; all we have to do is type in the question. Of course, it takes practice but over time, you will learn a lot more by overcoming that fear and reaching out. Internships, like most everything else, are what you make it. With classes and other duties, you can still make your experience a rewarding one with the suggestions above. Once you get past the first day, I promise, it will become easier. And if you’re not in your final year yet, you may want to consider doing another one for the fun, the connections, and the experience.