Promote-able skills - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Promote-able skills - Introvert Whisperer Promote-able skills Leadership skills will get you promoted faster and will position you for continued success along with job satisfaction. This a core fact that many people simply don’t realize, even if they have no intention of “being in charge”. What are the Leadership skills I’m talking about? I’m going to list the Leadership skills I outline in the Leadership training I do but I’m only going to discuss a few of them because I think they are the most important ones.   That doesn’t mean you get a pass on the others but I think it’s good to know where to start focusing your skill building. Leadership Skills Positive Committed to a result Influential (social) Takes responsibility Shows Initiative Deliberately gets Involved See’s what possible â€" thinks about Improvement Has a vision Communicates Relationship developer; reads people Motivates by engaging Takes responsibility â€" A person that is being responsible for things in the workplace is first and foremost accountable for their own work and results.   They will also expand to become responsible for the work and actions of others as they step up and seek to lead work efforts or projects.   Taking responsibility for your own results is huge because a lot of people look for reasons why they didn’t do something well rather than doing what it takes to ensure a great outcome.   Anyone who can’t be accountable for the outcome of his or her own work will never go anywhere professionally.   They let situations occur that turn them into victims rather than do everything they can.   The same mentality exists by being accountable for the work of others. Shows Initiative â€" This is defined as: An individuals action that begins a process, often done without direct managerial influence. Notice the key words here and that is “without direct managerial influence”.   In other words, you don’t need the boss to be telling you what to do all the time.   They also don’t want to be directing all the time anyway as they have other things that will make better use of their time.   Think of it like this: The CEO of your company isn’t waiting to be told what to do.   When a person takes initiative in the workplace I can promise you that almost no one does this and it will make you an easy, positive standout. Deliberately gets involved â€" Employees that step up to solve problems or take ownership of projects are signs of leadership.   Again, it’s fairly rare to see so it scores high in the hearts of minds of decision makers. Communicates â€" Communication is the weak spot in almost all groups and for most people.   Communicating is one of the easiest of all of these skills to do.   Decision makers love a free flow of information about work, business and projects rather than trying to extract it from the people who are doing the work but its how the majority of people operate.   If you communicate consistently and proactively you will be uppermost in the hearts and minds of management. Wheww!   I could spend hours talking about this stuff but I’ll stop here.   This is important information if you have any ambitions professionally. Get started now. Go to top Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective.  But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will? If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

How to Prepare for Your Last Year of Business School

How to Prepare for Your Last Year of Business School With your first year of your MBA program complete, your final year of business school will likely have you feeling much more confident. You know the landscape, you have more freedom to choose the schedule you want, and you have a little more time to relax. But, stay sharp! These final classes will fly by, and youll want to make the most of them. A few ways to prepare for your last year of business school are to check your graduation requirements, connect with your colleagues, and remind yourself why you went to business school in the first place. Here are four ways to prepare for your last year of business school: 1. Check your business school graduation requirements Talk with your advisor to ensure that the classes you want to take fulfill the credits that your school requires for you to graduate. Furthermore, weigh your future career goals and academic interests when creating your schedule. For instance, if youre going into corporate finance, then including courses in debt markets, venture capital, and private equity might make sense. But if youre also interested in organizational behavior, then you could also enroll in a conflict management negotiation class. Furthermore, stay on top of your GPA so that you can walk on stage for commencement with no surprises. [RELATED: 4 Things to Do in Your Last Semester of Business School] 2. Connect with all of your business school colleagues During business school, you should build all kinds of relationships. Spend even more time this last year getting to know your classmates, alumni, faculty, staff, business friends, acquaintances, and the variety of people you encounter during your MBA program. These are the links in your network who can help you find success as you grow your career. To keep track of all these important individuals in your life, LinkedIn is a great, professional platform to use. Apps like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are fine for close friends, but LinkedIn is an ideal place for your career contacts and networking possibilities. 3. Apply for jobs during your last year of business school Specific recruitment seasons vary among industries, but your second year is the time to really start narrowing in on what you want to do after graduation. Although there may be an overwhelming number of organizations sending recruiters to your campus, focus on your target companies. Make a list of 10-20 places you would like to work. Dont try to interview for everything. Know what you want. You can do your research ahead of time by doing the following things: reading industry news visiting corporate websites talking with classmates and alumni who have worked at companies that hold your interest 4. Remember why you went to business school in the first place A lot can change between the moment you hit the submit button on your MBA application and the day that you graduate from business school. So much comes at you during the first year of your program that you can barely recall what you wanted out of an MBA in the first place. Therefore, sit for a moment to think about how you want to spend the months you have left in the program. Take the classes that you wanted to attend once you got accepted. Continue to make friends with the people sitting next to you. Participate in the organizations that you joined/lead. Make your business school experience something you can look back on and be proud of. [RELATED: 5 Tips to Ease the Transition from Business School to the Business World] Your last year of business school will move more quickly than expected, and soon you will be exiting the classroom and entering (or returning to) the workforce. During these last few months, look at the choices you can make to shape the potential finale of your formal education. Set yourself up for success in your career now! 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.

M SAT Subject Test

What to Know About the Biology E/M SAT Subject Test While many high school students take the SAT, not all take SAT subject tests. SAT subject tests pose many benefits to students seeking college admission. These exams are a great way of showing college admissions counselors that youre interested in at least one specific academic area. Two popular SAT subject tests are Biology Ecological (E) and Biology Molecular (M). Each of these tests assesses how well you understand important biology principles taught in high school. If youre interested and knowledgeable about biological communities, populations, and the flow of energy throughout the environment, the Biology-E test might be right for you. If youre more interested in biochemistry and cell structures and processes, the Biology-M subject test could be the best fit. When deciding which SAT subject test is right for you, examine the test structure, required skills, and specific prep strategies in an effort to ensure success. Keep reading to learn what to know about the Biology E/M SAT subject test. Biology E/M SAT subject test structure The Biology-E and Biology-M subject tests share 60 of the 80 multiple-choice questions asked on each exam. These questions cover fundamental biological topics and principles. There are 20 specialized questions asked on each test that focus on either ecological or molecular biology, depending on which exam you take. Both tests cover cellular and molecular biology, ecology, genetics, organismal biology, and evolution and diversity, with each exam slightly more focused on their respective topics. [RELATED: How to Succeed on SAT Subject Tests] Skills required for the Biology E/M SAT subject test For both the Biology E and M SAT subject tests, the College Board, which administers these exams, suggests that students possess the following skills: Understanding of foundational ideas and knowledge about biology, as well as being able to recall facts and concepts (about 30% of the test). Applying principles of biology to solving problems (about 35% of the test). Interpreting questions and new ideas about biology using existing knowledge in order to solve word and math problems (about 35% of the test). Another useful skill for these exams includes the ability to assess the results of observations or experiments. This can help you come to the right conclusions or inferences about experimental data found in the form of a graph or table (or a combination of both) on the test. You should also have some familiarity with the metric system before taking this exam. [RELATED: Should I Take SAT Subject Tests?] How to prepare for the Biology E/M SAT subject test A student who has taken a one-year introductory course in AP Biology would be very well suited to taking the SAT subject test in Biology E/M. Students who have taken standard high school biology courses would also do well on the exam. A one-year course in algebra, as well as laboratory experience, are also helpful when it comes to preparing for these exams. You should review the practice biology questions offered by the College Board, as well as specific questions for the Biology-E or Biology-M exams on the College Boards website. You may also want to consider taking SAT subject test practice exams. Chat with your biology teacher if you have questions or need help with topics youre not very comfortable with. Varsity Tutors also offers SAT subject test in Biology E/M tutoring. How to take the Biology E/M SAT subject test Once youre seated for your test, make your choice of exam clear by filling in the correct circle on your answer sheet. Its important to remember to mark the correct exam so your test is scored accordingly. While you cannot take both tests on the same exam day, its possible to take both tests on separate exam days, should you choose to do so. 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.

The Best Age to Start Dancing

The Best Age to Start Dancing Do You Have to Learn to Dance as a Child? ChaptersSign Up for Introductions to DanceLearning to Dance Aged 6Getting Teenagers Interested in DancingLearning to Dance as an Adult“Age is of no importance unless you're a cheese.” - Billie BurkeA lot of people are getting into dancing styles like Zumba and pole dancing. These two styles require a lot of physical training.But what about children learning to dance?Whether it’s a dance course with a dance company, dance class in a dance studio, or a private tutorial with a private dance instructor, here’s our guide on how children can learn to dance.In this article, we'll be looking at how people of different ages, from children to the elderly, can benefit from dance lessons and tutorials that are adapted to them both in terms of their mental and physical development. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSign Up for Introductions to DanceDoing sports can be tricky and sometimes it’s hard to know how much children benefit from it.  Some physical activities aren’t suitable or beneficial for children. The same is sometimes true for dancing.Dance schools and conservatoires often have a minimum age when it comes to dancing lessons for kids. Generally speaking, 6 is the best age for children to start learning to dance.Does this mean that younger children can’t learn to dance?Of course not!Very young children can get an introduction to the main concepts of dancing. (Source: Lin_da)Rather than dance courses, they should get an introduction to dancing. There are similar lessons for music, too, where younger learners are introduced to the basic concepts of the art.In these types of classes, children won’t be expected to adopt advanced postures or do complicated dance steps because their muscles and bones aren’t fully developed. These are far from the dance fitness classes you'll get in gyms and the demanding dance training they'll get from a dance company as they got over.When it comes to ballet classes, pointes should also be avoided for those under 6 years old. Intensive dance exercises could have negative repercussions for children. Of course, kids dance classes will have taken this into account and will focus on energetic fun rather than serious dance instruction.Introductory classes include exercises to help children developer motor skills. The main goal is to help children with their coordination and get them into dancing with some basic choreography and the kind of routine that a beginner of any age would be comfortable with.The goal isn’t to make a child a good dancer. Instead, the child is there to discover dancing and see whether or not dancing is for them. The dance lesson is so that they get a taste of dancing and develop their musicality rather than getting them dancing with the professionals on Broadway or the West End.The psychiatrist Patrice Heurre explains that “This will only work if the activity is seen as a game, fun, and then it won’t matter what age you start”.Dance classes should never be stressful for children, regardless of their age. Most of the programme will be covered by dance teachers and will include games and performances by the children.Find out what you can expect from your first dance lesson...Learning to Dance Aged 6Learning to dance really starts once a child is either 6 or 7. A lot of places offer dance classes for beginners.  Most children of this age will definitely be beginners, even if they’ve already attended introductions to dance.The teacher will generally start from scratch and won’t differentiate between those who’ve already studied a bit of dancing and those who haven't. Their dance education will introduce them to the discipline and they'll be taught about different dance styles and how to move in rhythm to the music.As children get older, their lessons get more technical. (Source: sobima)From this age, the lessons can become more technical but without being physically demanding. They’ll usually alternate between teaching steps and the dancers expressing themselves.Dancing is as artistic as it is physically demanding.  While children’s joints can deal with more complicated movements once they reach this age, they still have to takes things easy.Children are expected to develop their imagination and broaden their minds.  This is the age where children can choose between different styles of dance (ballet, jazz, hip-hop, Zumba, etc.)Find out more about how dancing benefits the mind as well as the body!It could be a good idea to sign up your child for a class where they can discover the different styles of dancing. They still have plenty of time to choose a speciality (salsa, ballroom dancing, breakdancing, ballet, waltz, flamenco, tango, etc.) later on in life.Learning to dance at this age is also a great way for children to get rid of some of all that extra energy they have. It’s also a great opportunity for them to unwind after school and make new friends.Of course, if a child is being forced to go to their dance classes, it could have the opposite effect. They may end up hating dancing.It’s important to talk to their dance teacher to find out how they’re doing in their classes throughout the year. Make sure you ask about how interested they are in their classes.Getting Teenagers Interested in DancingA lot of children start dancing once they’re teenagers. It might be because they’re developing new tastes or their friends are doing it, for exa mple.  It’s never too late for them to start.A lot of schools and associations offer classes to teenagers of all levels (beginners, intermediates, experts). Thus, they won’t find themselves in classes with little kids or adults.Teenagers also want to enjoy activities outside of school and make friends. Modern jazz and hip-hop are often popular with teenagers. That said, there are some that want to learn ballet.Lessons for teenagers need to be enjoyable and dynamic. (Source: czijp0)Learning to dance as a teenager is a great way to channel their energy and make sure they’re doing some exercise. Their joints are more flexible and, as a result, they can move a lot.They may also gain popularity with these best dance accessories!The most difficult thing when it comes to teenagers is to keep them motivated.  As teenagers, we start to learn who we really are. Some students start their dance lessons and want to immediately give them up.Their teacher has to find the right way to keep th em motivated. They could do this by showing them famous dance moves or letting them choose the type of music they want to dance to.There are also a lot of famous films about dancing like Step Up.However, dance classes london  aren’t necessarily like they are in the movies. They should ask the teenagers what they expect from their classes in order to get a better idea.Learning to Dance as an AdultWhat about learning to dance when you’re 40, 50, or 60? Why not?This is more an advantage than a disadvantage since your bones have fully developed by this point.  Of course, it does help to be in good shape. However, there’s nothing stopping adults learning how to dance.They may struggle in terms of flexibility since, over time, we become less flexible. Just trying doing a somersault and you’ll see.You can learn to dance at any age. (Source: werner22brigitte)However, as you get back into shape, your lessons will get easier.  You need to find the right approach, too. There are school s, courses, and private tutorials for adults wanting to learn to dance.If you live too far from where lessons are taking place, contacting a private tutor is a great option. If you have a suitable space to dance in your own home, a private tutor can come to you and teach you how to dance. In some cases, they'll either have their own space or be renting one in a gym or a dance studio.Just believe in yourself! We often think, wrongly, that it’s too late to learn something new and that it’ll take too long for us to catch up with those who learnt as children. While it's often better to learn something when you're young, as you'll have more time to learn it, there are plenty of examples of people who succeeded in something later on in their life.The most important thing is to believe in yourself. Dancing is an artistic pursuit that allows you to express yourself.  Don’t get discouraged if you’re not an expert in ballet or salsa after a few hours of lessons. These things take time .Salsa, merengue, cha cha, country, jazz, waltz, Argentine tango, tap, ballroom dancing, African dancing, Oriental dancing, rumba, breakdancing, and contemporary dance all need to be studied at length.Whether you’re warming up, stretching, learning new steps, or performing, you have to regularly practice dancing. You can learn to dance in dance studios, too. There are some good things about being an adult.With all the different options available for those wanting to learn how to dance, if you want to learn how to dance, you can. You no longer have an excuse!

LSAT Tip of the Week Logical Reasoning Practice Question #2

LSAT Tip of the Week Logical Reasoning Practice Question #2 LSAT Law School Blog This week, we will go over a practice problem from the Logical Reasoning Section of the June 2007 LSAT. Section 3, Question 6: Jablonski, who owns a car dealership, has donated cars to driver education programs at area schools for over five years. She found the statistics on car accidents to be disturbing, and she wanted to do something to encourage better driving in young drivers. Some members of the community have shown their support for this action by purchasing cars from Jablonski’s dealership. Which one of the following propositions is best illustrated by the passage? (A) The only way to reduce traffic accidents is through driver education programs. (B) Altruistic actions sometimes have positive consequences for those who perform them. (C) Young drivers are the group most likely to benefit from driver education programs. (D) It is usually in one’s best interest to perform actions that benefit others. (E) An action must have broad community support if it is to be successful. A good plan of attack for logical reasoning questions is a simple one- read the question, identify what question type it is, plan out the answer in your head, then proceed to look at the answers. Go ahead and make an attempt at this and then come back here and we will step through how to get to the correct answer. Solution: We can determine that this is an illustration question, as the stem states “best illustrated”. Now, to try to come up with a sample answer in our head we can conclude that the fact pattern tells us that Jablonski donated cars to driver education programs in order to encourage better driving, which resulted in helping her business out. Answer (a) has the word “only” so this makes it a very strong statement, which should be a hint to be wary of this answer choice. In addition to this, this answer is simply wrong since the question is not stating anything about the only way to reduce traffic accidents is if driver education programs are installed. So, (a) is wrong. Next, option (b) states that altruistic actions can have positive consequences for those who perform them. In our attempt to come up with an answer we concluded that Jablonski donated cars solely to encourage better driving, and her business grew as a result. This seems like the correct answer, but let’s continue ju st in case. Option (c) particularly states that young drivers will benefit from these programs, nothing in our original fact pattern states this at all- so (c) is incorrect. Option (d) has another strong word, “usually” which we cannot back up with this fact pattern since we have no facts given to us that state that altruistic actions lead to benefits- so this is incorrect. Option (e) implies there is both broad community support and this action was successful. Nothing in the question give us any facts to back up either of these claims; therefore, (e) is incorrect. Option (b) is the correct answer here. Visit LSAThacks.com for additional LSAT practice problem explanations.

Five Ways to Reinvigorate Your Child This Winter Break

Five Ways to Reinvigorate Your Child This Winter Break Holiday break is here and if your child is like most, he or she is probably grateful for a little time off school and away from homework. While a break is certainly in order and important for children to recharge and rejuvenate, CEO and Co-Founder Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center encourages parents to use these next couple of weeks away from school as a chance to open the lines of communication and plan ahead for a great rest of the year. At this point in the year, report cards are coming out soon and its important for parents to check in with their children about how things are going so far and where or if they need additional support, she says. Keep it positive so that when January comes and its time to head back into the classroom, children feel refreshed and ready to finish the first quarter strong. Huntington offers five suggestions for parents this winter break: Talk about areas where your child feels strong. Whether your child got off to a great start in one or more classes or has made improvements in a subject since last year, take the time to recognize and celebrate your childs strengths. Ask your child about the homework routine. By now, it should be fairly obvious if your childs study and homework routine isnt as effective as it could be. Ask your child how he or she feels about it and then simply listen, offering gentle suggestions. Use winter break to get your child talking freely and resist the urge to overwhelm him or her with criticism and pointers about how to improve. Spend time tidying up the study space. Getting your home study space cleaned up and restocked is a segue to discuss study skills and get your childs thoughts on how his or her methods are working (or not). Ask your child for suggestions on how to change things for the better and whether theres anything that might support him or her at home (e.g. different supplies or a quieter space). Encourage balance. After a couple of months in school, lets face it: your child is probably worn out. Winter break is a good opportunity to remind your child about taking good care of him or herself. A routine will help make sure your child has time for everything (school, homework, sleep, and free time) but are there other areas where your childs life seems out of balance? Talk about it to see how your child is feeling. Set goals for the New Year. Theres nothing like the culmination of a year to inspire your child to think about what he or she wants to achieve for the rest of the school year. Make this a constructive, optimistic conversation. Encourage your child to share his or her goals for the remainder of the semester and year as well as any sources of stress. This winter break, take a step back from the day-to-day school grind and let your child know that youre there for support, whether the year has gone well or poorly. Most children need this break to unwind, but that doesnt mean parents should avoid talking about school, Huntington says. Lay the foundation for good communication now and when report cards come out in a month, you and your child can just continue the conversation youve started and formulate a plan to guide your child toward success. Wondering about tutoring options for the New Year? Call Huntington at 1-800 CAN LEARN to discuss our one-to-one programs of instruction and our unique individualized approach. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2018 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Happy Labor Day to all Tutors and Students!

Happy Labor Day to all Tutors and Students! Labor Day, observed today, on the first Monday of September, is a special holiday that marks the end of summer and is meant for paying tribute to working men and women for their economic and social contributions. The holiday originated in September 1882 when the Central Labor Union of New York City decided to create a day off work for the working citizens. In 1894 it became a federal holiday. Labor Day was initially celebrated with a street parade, which was demonstrating the strength of the trade and labor organizations, and was followed by a festival. In later years, speeches by prominent men and women were also introduced to place more emphasis on the civil significance of the holiday. Today this holiday in the U.S. is much less laborious than it was in the 19th century and it has evolved to become just a quiet day off for most Americans. However, it is still not just a day for festivals, beaches, barbecues, fireworks and parties. It is also a day to reach out to those who make our everyday life easier factory workers and farmers, bus drivers and nurses, carpenters and doctors, and of course to teachers who carry out a hard duty of training the young minds. According to the famous saying by Sophocles, an ancient Greek tragic dramatist: “There is no success without hardship.” We wish all tutors and students to get deserved reward and satisfaction for their persistent work both on disseminating and gaining knowledge. Work and study with all your heart and enjoy the fruits of your mental and manual labor. Time to say goodbye to summer and to wish everyone an Amazing Labor Day! Sincerely, The Tutorz.com Team Email: contact@tutorz.com Phone: (805) 288-7338

HOW TO LEARN ANY LANGUAGE ANYWHERE

HOW TO LEARN ANY LANGUAGE ANYWHERE We discovered this post on Backpacking Brunette, its a great blog written  by Alex who is living her post-college life exploring new cities, experiencing new cultures and meeting new people.  In this particular blog post, she shares how she has been learning Spanish and how she uses italki to help her reach her language learning goals.  When we read it, we wanted to share this with the entire italki community as its full of great tips and suggestions on how to get the most out of italki.  Reposted with permission from Alex.  Original post here. One of the reasons I decided to au pair in Spain is because I’ve always had an interest in learning Spanish. I completed four years of Spanish classes in high school, but unfortunately, I did not continue my language studies in college. I could kick myself for that now. In preparation of living in a village where the majority of people do not speak any English, I brushed up on my Spanish with the help of a website called italki. You can learn absolutely anything nowadays without even leaving the comfort of your home thanks to the internet. It’s amazing. My boyfriend, Taylor, discovered the wonders of italki when he was searching for native speakers to practice his Spanish with (unlike me, he actually stuck with it in college). He also used the site to learn some Italian before we went to Europe! So, what exactly is italki? According to its website, italki’s mission is to make human connections between language learners and language teachers. It believes anyone anywhere in the world can become fluent in a foreign language. Using technology, italki is revolutionizing the way people learn foreign languages. For example, this platform provides a way for someone interested in learning Spanish (me) to connect with a professional Spanish tutor. My tutor, Rocio, lives in Madrid and has a master’s degree in teaching Spanish as a second language. From mid-July until my departure, we Skyped twice a week for hour-long lessons. Each lesson costs approximately 120 â€" 140 italki credits (ITC) which is equivalent to 12 â€" 14 USD. Now, that’s super reasonable considering most private language tutors charge upwards of $20 an hour. You purchase ITC prior to scheduling sessions with a tutor. After the completion of the lesson, you receive an email asking you to confirm the lesson took place. Once you do, the tutor receives his or her payment through italki. It’s that simple! Worried about not knowing what you’re paying for when you sign-up for a session? italki gives you three trial-sessions at a majorly discounted rate (50 ITC or 5 USD). It allows you to try different tutors out to see if their teaching style is a match for your learning style. In addition to connecting language students with professional tutors, italki also offers informal tutoring. Informal tutors are individuals who don’t have a teaching degree but have a background that allows them to help you learn a language. For example, some informal tutors are interpreters or translators. I’ve never had a lesson with an informal tutor, but I think it might be a good option for people on a budget. Most lessons with an informal tutor are significantly cheaper than lessons with a professional tutor. It varies from tutor to tutor, but I’ve seen rates as low as six ITC or six USD an hour. Remember though, the person you’re paying isn’t a professional! One of the coolest things about italki, in my opinion, is the language partners community. After you set up a profile, you can start chatting with native speakers in whatever language you’re studying. These conversations might start within italki messenger but later migrate to email, Skype, Facebook, Viber or What’s App. Every conversation is generally a 50/50 exchange. For example, for the first part of the chat with my language partner, we would speak in Spanish (the language I’m studying). Then, for the second part of the chat, we would speak in English (the language my partner is studying). Oh, and did I mention finding and chatting with language partners is absolutely free? How cool is that?! Taylor has a lot of experiencing using the language partners part of italki. Not only has he improved his Spanish, but he’s also met some really cool people. In fact, when we were in Europe this summer, we traveled to Jaen, a city in the south of Spain, to visit his friend Daniel, whom he’d met through italki. We ended up staying with Daniel and his girlfriend for three days in his family’s summer cottage. They showed us around their city, cooked us traditional Andalusian foods and provided us with a comfortable room to stay in free of charge. Staying with locals (and more importantly, friends) really made our time in Andalusia special. If it weren’t for italki, Taylor would have never met Daniel, and we might have never had the opportunity to experience the Andalusian culture so intimately. According to italki, the global community has over a million language learners. You can learn anything from Spanish, French or Italian to Mandarin Chinese, Arabic and Hindi. If you want to learn a language, chances are there is someone on italki who can teach you. So, what are you waiting for? Check out italki today! What language are you interested in learning? Would you consider finding a professional tutor on italki, or would you rather meet with a tutor in-person?