How to Survive a Bad Job - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Survive a Bad Job - Introvert Whisperer How to Survive a Bad Job Dorothy February 7, 2015 Adaptability, Career Development One response How to Survive a Bad Job Ideally, this won’t happen, but at some point in your career, you may need to survive a bad job. For whatever reason, sometimes our dreams and expectations about a new job simply don’t come to fruition, and in that situation, there are a few things you can do to keep your head above water. Have you ever had to go into survival mode in your job? Share your experiences in the comments! 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.

My Experience at Harvard University

My Experience at Harvard University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Anne received her Bachelors degree in Biophysics from Harvard University. She is currently a tutor in Portland specializing in Geometry tutoring, Physics tutoring, SAT Math tutoring, and several other subjects. See what she had to say about her experience at Harvard University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Anne: The Harvard University campus is extremely safe. I always felt comfortable walking around, even very late in the evenings and very early in the mornings. There are security guards who walk around the campus, and almost all the gates are closed in the evenings, other than a few main entrances. There are reliable, frequent shuttles, and there are multiple apps for real-time schedules and routes! The campus itself is based in Cambridge, so it is relatively urban, but I always felt very secure. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Anne:Academic advisers and teaching assistants are always available to offer help, support, and advice. Professors are busier, but they always take time and go out of their way for students. Office hours are a particularly great way to engage with professors. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Anne:Dorm lifeis quite active. In fact, it was frequently too much for me to handle! I lived in Kirkland House, which is one of the most amazing places I have ever lived. It was a 5-10 minute walk to most of my classes. The dining room was in the building, as were multiple common rooms, exercise rooms, and practice rooms (complete with pianos). The Junior Common Room hosted events, speakers, shows, and wine tastings, and you could reserve it for your own events. You could also just study or hang out there during the day, playing one of the two beautiful grand pianos! There were so many socialization opportunities with students that it was overwhelming a lot of the time. Still, one of my favorites was Kirkland Secret Santa, which was so much fun! You got to plan all these surprise gifts for someone else in the house, and everyone would help carry them out. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Anne:There is support for many different types of majors at Harvard University. However, it seemed to me that there were a lot of new and upcoming programs in Engineering Sciences and Business. I studied Biophysics because I was interested in research that applied physics to biological problems. My major turned out to be Physics with a track in Biology, which is what I wanted. The university did a great job of supporting my area of study there were a number of classes at the crossroads of Biology and Physics, as well as professors who did research on a range of topics in biophysics. Although I switched my major during my first two years (I was vacillating between concentrating more on math or neuroscience at one point), Harvard University was always very accommodating and understanding of my interests and the way I wanted to structure my time while in college. VT: 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? Anne:It was very easy to meet people and make friends as a freshman. In fact, sometimes it was too easy, and it become hard to find the right balance between a social life and my studies! People were extremely eager to get to know one another, and there were always a ton of things to do on campus. I immediately met friends in my dorm after moving in, and a lot of them ended up starting their own campus groups, which I participated in. There were so many wonderful campus activities. I especially loved the Harvard Ballroom Dance Team, volunteering at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, working with ExperiMentors, and helping to run the Harvard Composers Association. Greek life did not play a significant role in campus social life. Although there are fraternities and sororities, they maintain their presence outside of campus, and they are not recognized or funded by the university. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Anne:The Career Center is extremely helpful and informative, and the staff there is always receptive and eager to help. The worlds best consulting, biotechnology, and finance firms recruit at Harvard Universityevery year. However, I would have liked to see more recruitment by companies other than these, as it seems that Harvard University is strongly geared toward producing Business and Finance graduates (rather than graduates in fields like research, science, medicine, law, or public service). VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Anne:There are tons of wonderful study areas around campus. In my time at Harvard University, I did not even get to visit all the libraries and lounge areas and study halls. Harvard University has the largest academic library system in the world, which makes wandering in Widener Library all the more fascinating. You can always find a nook or cranny that works for whatever kind of study atmosphere you like, or you can go to one of the cute coffee shops in Cambridge (like Crema!) and work there. There is so much space that I never witnessed any kind of overcrowding. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Anne:Cambridge is one of the loveliest cities I have ever been to. I seriously considered moving there permanently after college. I did not go out to Boston all that much, although a lot of my friends frequented the city quite often. Cambridge was good enough for me, as it had an assortment of local shops and businesses that I enjoyed frequenting. I did do most of my activities on campus, as I participated in many campus groups. However, a lot of my campus groups were tied in with the surrounding community, like the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, ExperiMentors, and MIHNUET, which involved providing music as therapy for those in nursing homes and hospitals. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Anne:Our graduating class was around 1,600, which is quite large, but class sizes in general were very reasonable. Large lecture classes could have up to 300 students, and some of the very popular classes had even more. However, large lecture classes were always supplemented by small sections of 10-15 people with excellent teaching assistants, and professors were always accessible during office hours. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Anne:One of my most memorable experiences is working in a neuroscience lab, which I did for my last two years. My professor was great, and the lab did really amazing work. I remember staying late a couple of nights to finish up experiments, and one night I was so busy making agar plates that I had no idea that it was past 3:00 a.m.! In a way, though, I really enjoyed those nights. There is something really special and exciting about being the only one in a huge laboratory, conducting experiments that will allow you to be the first in the world to discover what will happen! Check out Annes tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What is the Slope Formula

What is the Slope Formula Slope of a line, also known as gradient of a line is the measure of steepness and direction of a line in the coordinate plane. Given any two points on the line, slope is the rate of change of y-coordinates with respect to the x-coordinates. Slope is calculated by using the rise-over-run method where we take the ratio of the rise with respect to the run. Slope is denoted by m in general and it plays a very important role in writing equations of the lines. Example 1: What is the equation of the line passing through the points (1, 2) and (3, 4)? Given two points: (1, 2) and (3, 4) Slope of a line passing through any two points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is, m = (y2 y1)/ (x2 x1) This implies, (x1, y1) = (1, 2) and (x2, y2) = (3, 4). This gives: Slope, m = (4 2)/ (3 1) = 2/2 = 1 Therefore, the slope of the given line is 1. Example 2: What is the equation of the line passing through the points (4, -2) and (5, 1)? Given two points: (4, -2) and (5, 1) Slope of a line passing through any two points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is, m = (y2 y1)/ (x2 x1) This implies, (x1, y1) = (4, -2) and (x2, y2) = (5, 1). This gives: Slope, m = (1 (-2))/ (5 - 4) = (1 + 2)/1 = 3/1 = 3. Therefore, the slope of the given line is 3.

Nursing Glossary

Nursing Glossary Doctors diagnose, but nurses do many of the medical procedures you will receive at a hospital. If you want to help people and would like a little more time with patients, a career in nursing might be for you. But what if your patient only speaks English? Learn words related to this field of study with this handy glossary of nursing terms. Nursing word cloud Glossary adviceGuidance or recommendations concerning prudent future action, typically given by someone regarded as knowledgeable or authoritative. antibodyA blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. asthmaA respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results from an allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity. bandageA strip of cloth or other material used to bind up a wound, sore, sprain, etc. bloodThe red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body. blood pressure monitor A device used to measure blood pressure, composed of an inflatable cuff to restrict blood flow, and a mercury or mechanical manometer to measure the pressure. This device is also called a sphygmomanometer. bloodstreamThe blood circulating through the body of a person or animal. boneAny of the pieces of hard, whitish tissue making up the skeleton in humans and other vertebrates. brain damageAn injury to the brain that impairs its functions, esp. permanently. careProtection; charge. chartA sheet listing information in tabular form. checkupA thorough examination, esp. a medical or dental one. clinicalPertaining to a medical clinic. diabetesAny of several disorders characterized by increased urine production. diagnosisThe identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms. diseaseA disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, esp. one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury. drugsA chemical substance used in the treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being. emergency careLife-saving measures in life-threatening situations. H1N1A type of highly contagious respiratory disease that causes symptoms similar to those of the seasonal influenza in people. healthThe state of being free from illness or injury. home carePertaining to, or designating care, especially medical care, given or received at home: a member of the hospitals home-care staff. hospitalAn institution in which sick or injured people are given medical or surgical treatment. hypoglycemiaDeficiency of glucose in the bloodstream. immune systemA system (including the thymus and bone marrow and lymphoid tissues) that protects the body from foreign substances and pathogenic organisms by producing the immune response. infectionAn infecting with germs of disease, as through the medium of infected insects, air, water, or clothing. infirmaryA place in a large institution for the care of those who are ill. intravenousAdministered into a vein or veins. masksA covering for all or part of the face to prevent infection. morphineThe most important narcotic and addictive principle of opium, obtained by extraction and crystallization and used chiefly in medicine as a pain reliever and sedative. nurseA person formally educated and trained in the care of the sick or infirm. palliative careAn area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients. patienceThe quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like. patientA person who is under medical care or treatment. pharmacyA store that sells drugs. prescriptionA written direction by the physician to the pharmacist for the preparation of a medicine or remedy to be used by a particular patient. procedureA particular course or mode of action stethoscopeA medical instrument for listening to the action of someones heart or breathing, typically having a small disk-shaped resonator that is placed against the chest and two tubes connected to earpieces. stretcherA frame with two poles and a long piece of canvas slung between them, used for carrying sick, injured, or dead people, or a similar device on wheels, adapted for use in ambulances and hospitals. surgeryThe treatment of injuries or disorders of the body by incision or manipulation, with instruments. syringeA small device consisting of a glass, metal, or hard rubber tube, narrowed at its outlet, and fitted with either a piston or a rubber bulb for drawing in a quantity of fluid or for ejecting fluid in a stream, for cleaning wounds, injecting fluids into the body, etc. thermometerAn instrument for measuring somebodys temperature. treatmentManagement in the application of medicines, surgery, etc. vaccination Taking a vaccine as a precaution against contracting a disease. vaccineA substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease. veinsAny of the tubes forming part of the blood circulation system of the body, carrying in most cases oxygen-depleted blood toward the heart. wheelchairA chair built on wheels for an invalid or disabled person, pushed by another person or propelled by the occupant, or motorized. woundAn injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impact, typically one in which the skin is cut or broken. 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How to Get Started with the College Application Process

How to Get Started with the College Application Process ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Have you thought about starting your college applications this fall? If so, you should spend some time considering which teachers you want to write your college recommendation. So much of the college applications process is based on scores, grades, and other ways of ranking students numerically. Recommendations, along with the personal statement and any supplemental essays, are an opportunity to highlight a student’s unique qualities that may not be as readily apparent from a transcript. Leadership, empathy, persistence? Those are traits a teacher recommendation can highlight to give admissions counselors a fuller picture of who you are not only as a student, but also as a person. Think about which teachers know you best and who can write eloquently about your strengths and your development over the course of high school. If you want to study economics and have taken an economics class in high school, get that teacher to vouch for your passion and talent for the subject. The same goes for chemistry, history, film, or any other topic. English teachers tend to get favored for college recommendations because they write well, but if English isn’t your best subject, consider a teacher who can speak to your abilities in other classes. A teacher who coaches a sport you play might be a good choice. That teacher may get to see another side of you outside of the classroom, and involvement in team athletics demonstrates a great deal of dedication and perseverance. There are many ways to contribute to a school’s community and culture, and colleges are looking for students who will do more than just excel academically. Find someone who can speak to your character as a leader and as a committed and enthusiastic member of your student body. If you have a favorite teacher, chances are other kids love that teacher, too. In the fall, popular teachers will be inundated with recommendation requests and likely won’t be able to say yes to everyone. Beat the rush and make asking them for a recommendation your top priority. Supply them with a copy of your resume or a summary of your course load. They may be unaware of how much work you’ve put into other classes and can include that in discussing your unique qualifications and potential for success in college. If you have specific achievements you’d like them to highlight, make sure your recommenders are aware of them before they write the recommendation. Make it as easy as possible for them without telling them exactly what to write. And be sure to thank them for the time and energy they spent extolling your virtues for the college admissions boards. A nice thank you card or even a small gift (though it is not necessary) would be a great way to show your appreciation for their support of your college admissions goals. Remember to take the extra time to think about who would be able to give a true sense of you as a student and as a potential member of a college community. Be ready to seek that person out in the fall and let them know why you are choosing them. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, 'a519c073-790d-4c67-b0fd-7095f1869478', {});

How to Find a Good Private Tutor for a Child

How to Find a Good Private Tutor for a Child There is a great choice of private tutoring services in Internet and on notice boards in each school or college. A private tutor can provide for substantial learning support and improve the study results of your child or can just waste your time and money.  How to choose a private tutor who can find an individual approach to your kid? First of all it is necessary to define clearly What do you need a private tutor for? If your descendant is slightly behind the rest of a class in a school program is one thing, but if child has completely failed exams or needs an urgent help to get ready to ACT or SAT test is another. If your youngster needs some tutoring help to regain a school program in one or two subjects, to improve reading skills or to write an essay you can look for a school teacher or even a student. School teachers are the best variant in most cases because they know school study program well and can detect the gaps in your child’s knowledge. But beware of selecting a teacher from the school that your child attends. Tutors-students are also a nice variant as it is easier for them to find a common language with juniors. Usually they are very enthusiastic and can pass this mood to your child. Besides do not charge much for their tutoring assistance. After couple of trial sessions private tutor must have clear learning plan for your child, be sure to check if he really has it. Besides tutor must have a good contact with a student. Mutual understanding between teacher and child is vitally important for successful study results. Otherwise there is no need to spend your child’s time for these lessons. If a child does not understand many subjects or needs a professional tutoring assistance in preparing for the exams parents must make great efforts to find the best tutor for him. Nice way to find such tutor is to ask friends and acquaintances who had similar problems with their children. But the best choice of tutors is offered by online tutoring referral services such as TutorZ.com where parents can browse through number of tutors’ profiles that contain all necessary information including tutoring experiance, references, study methods, select several tutors meeting the reuests and then interview tham in order to make the final choice. Do not believe to tutors who guarantee perfect test results or immediate improvements at once . How can they promise this in advance without checking the abilities of a student? While choosing a private tutor it is also important to take into account the personal qualities of a child. For example, hyperactive child will more likely turn to study with a strict teacher with a strong voice. On the contrary, quiet and shy child would benefit from one-on-one assistance of a tutor with a soft voice and calm learning style. If your child is falling behind a school program or needs an individual tutoring help to cope with some study difficulties do not hesitate to apply to help of a qualified private tutor. Keep in mind there are not many excellent tutors and if you managed to find one do not lose this opportunity! Visit TutorZ.com to find an excelent tutor for you or your child. How to Find a Good Private Tutor for a Child There is a great choice of private tutoring services in Internet and on notice boards in each school or college. A private tutor can provide for substantial learning support and improve the study results of your child or can just waste your time and money.  How to choose a private tutor who can find an individual approach to your kid? First of all it is necessary to define clearly What do you need a private tutor for? If your descendant is slightly behind the rest of a class in a school program is one thing, but if child has completely failed exams or needs an urgent help to get ready to ACT or SAT test is another. If your youngster needs some tutoring help to regain a school program in one or two subjects, to improve reading skills or to write an essay you can look for a school teacher or even a student. School teachers are the best variant in most cases because they know school study program well and can detect the gaps in your child’s knowledge. But beware of selecting a teacher from the school that your child attends. Tutors-students are also a nice variant as it is easier for them to find a common language with juniors. Usually they are very enthusiastic and can pass this mood to your child. Besides do not charge much for their tutoring assistance. After couple of trial sessions private tutor must have clear learning plan for your child, be sure to check if he really has it. Besides tutor must have a good contact with a student. Mutual understanding between teacher and child is vitally important for successful study results. Otherwise there is no need to spend your child’s time for these lessons. If a child does not understand many subjects or needs a professional tutoring assistance in preparing for the exams parents must make great efforts to find the best tutor for him. Nice way to find such tutor is to ask friends and acquaintances who had similar problems with their children. But the best choice of tutors is offered by online tutoring referral services such as TutorZ.com where parents can browse through number of tutors’ profiles that contain all necessary information including tutoring experiance, references, study methods, select several tutors meeting the reuests and then interview tham in order to make the final choice. Do not believe to tutors who guarantee perfect test results or immediate improvements at once . How can they promise this in advance without checking the abilities of a student? While choosing a private tutor it is also important to take into account the personal qualities of a child. For example, hyperactive child will more likely turn to study with a strict teacher with a strong voice. On the contrary, quiet and shy child would benefit from one-on-one assistance of a tutor with a soft voice and calm learning style. If your child is falling behind a school program or needs an individual tutoring help to cope with some study difficulties do not hesitate to apply to help of a qualified private tutor. Keep in mind there are not many excellent tutors and if you managed to find one do not lose this opportunity! Visit TutorZ.com to find an excelent tutor for you or your child.

Preparing your child for A-levels

Preparing your child for A-levels With competition for university places getting steeper, the pressure on A-level students is more intense than ever before. So how can you prepare your child for sixth form without stressing them out? Here are a few of our top tips: 1. Your child may have mixed feelings about their A-levels before they've even started them. Assure your child that with the right discipline, they have as much chance as anybody else of attending a good university. 2. Unfortunately sixth form coincides with a very busy social time for teenagers. Explain to your child that if they do well in their A-levels they can socialise all they want at university. It's worth keeping social activities to a sensible minimum for two years to secure a bright future. 3. Check that your child is happy with their choice of A-level subjects and that their choices are accepted by their target universities. The top institutions are very fussy about what they accept. If they're not happy, they must tackle this and change subjects as early on as possible. Better to change and do some catching-up than to suffer later on. 4. Make sure that your child feels organised, happy and on top of things generally. Check in with them on a regular basis and reassure them that they can discuss any problems or issues with you - you're there to help. 5. Encourage your child to supplement their studies with some well-chosen activities. Not only will these help to refresh and recharge their brains, but they'll also look good on their UCAS forms. It's often these activities which help candidates to stand out. Visiting old people's homes, learning an instrument and taking the Duke of Edinburgh awards are good examples.

Five Tips for Learning Languages During Travels

Five Tips for Learning Languages During Travels Languages and travel are two words that are difficult to separate, since you learn key words when visiting other countries. Luckily if you’re trying to learn the language, being a traveller offers many benefits. For example, being forced to learn vocabulary and basic grammar changes how you approach the language. Quickly putting what you just learned into use helps you remember it better. If you don’t, good luck knowing how to get out of the subway station, and even better luck asking for help. Another benefit is that you can now link vocabulary you’ve learned to feelings and experiences of your travels, helping them stay in your memory. Without further ado, here are our top five tips for learning languages during your travels: 1. Learn the basics before your trip. Don’t fill your head up with complex grammatical structures and vocabulary which you really aren’t going to use during your trip. Actually, do the opposite: Learn simple vocabulary, such as “hello”, “thank you”, “how are you”, etc. Also make a list of the activities you plan on doing, such as the food you will eat, your means of transport and the places you plan to visit. In action: I know memorizing new words and phrases can be challenging. To make it easier, try to connect words with your anticipated image of them. Regarding your pronunciation, Google translate has a voice option you can use to listen to words you aren’t sure about. After hearing a word be pronounced, make a connection between two syllables that sound similar in your language and the language you’re learning. 2. Get a good phrasebook. Learn complete sentences related to situations such as ordering food in a restaurant, asking for help on how to get somewhere and introducing yourself to a new person. When preparing for your trip, you need to optimize your efforts. Stay away from long, complex learning material, and instead, use resources that ease the learning process. In action: The Internet puts many free resources at your disposal. A great option is MosaLingua’s travel phrasebooks. They’re incredibly useful, containing expressions and phrases you are going to use on your travels. You can download them free off their blog. 3. Be sociable. Not everyone is comfortable initiating conversation. Making matters worse is not having mastered the language you’re speaking! However, your success at finding people to speak and practice with depends on your determination, and above all, finding the correct people and context with which to do so. Seek out activities and locations where you’ll be around people who are locals but also travelers like you. In doing this, you can feel a little more comfortable speaking with somebody who has been in your shoes before and who can possibly relate to the stress of learning a new language. In action: An increasingly popular decision for this is Couchsurfing, an online travelers’ community which offers infinite possibilities for meeting other travelers whose countries and cities you want to visit. 4. Stray from tourist hotspots. Participating in a tour can be enjoyable and a new opportunity to meet people, but if you want to learn the language and approach the culture of your destination, you should avoid these and other tourist clichés. In action: Try searching the web for a short course or an open lecture (in a university, cultural center or museum) you would find interesting. Learning vocabulary is great, but you have to get a feel for the pronunciation and intonation of the language. Spur small talk with taxi drivers, vendors or welcome center employees about their favorite lesser known locations. 5. Do not cave in and speak your native language. Restaurants in Amsterdam and Camden Town, London might surprise you, because when you order your meal, they usually respond in your language. As a native English speaker visiting Berlin, I was surprised when a local answered me in English after I had asked how to get somewhere in German! In action: Prepare yourself to be placed in these situations, and always act with courtesy and continue to speak the language you’re learning. Keep in mind that the locals will speak your language in order to facilitate the conversation, yet while you are in the bars or cafes, the locals may be more willing to listen and talk to you although you can’t speak their language fluently. Good luck on your travels! Author: Mildred Sarachaga. Mildred creates content for MosaLingua blog since 2012, her articles are focused on her experience living and learning English in the UK. Mildred is from Bogota, Colombia and recently got a Masters in International Development: Poverty, Conflict and Reconstruction from The University of Manchester. Five Tips for Learning Languages During Travels Languages and travel are two words that are difficult to separate, since you learn key words when visiting other countries. Luckily if you’re trying to learn the language, being a traveller offers many benefits. For example, being forced to learn vocabulary and basic grammar changes how you approach the language. Quickly putting what you just learned into use helps you remember it better. If you don’t, good luck knowing how to get out of the subway station, and even better luck asking for help. Another benefit is that you can now link vocabulary you’ve learned to feelings and experiences of your travels, helping them stay in your memory. Without further ado, here are our top five tips for learning languages during your travels: 1. Learn the basics before your trip. Don’t fill your head up with complex grammatical structures and vocabulary which you really aren’t going to use during your trip. Actually, do the opposite: Learn simple vocabulary, such as “hello”, “thank you”, “how are you”, etc. Also make a list of the activities you plan on doing, such as the food you will eat, your means of transport and the places you plan to visit. In action: I know memorizing new words and phrases can be challenging. To make it easier, try to connect words with your anticipated image of them. Regarding your pronunciation, Google translate has a voice option you can use to listen to words you aren’t sure about. After hearing a word be pronounced, make a connection between two syllables that sound similar in your language and the language you’re learning. 2. Get a good phrasebook. Learn complete sentences related to situations such as ordering food in a restaurant, asking for help on how to get somewhere and introducing yourself to a new person. When preparing for your trip, you need to optimize your efforts. Stay away from long, complex learning material, and instead, use resources that ease the learning process. In action: The Internet puts many free resources at your disposal. A great option is MosaLingua’s travel phrasebooks. They’re incredibly useful, containing expressions and phrases you are going to use on your travels. You can download them free off their blog. 3. Be sociable. Not everyone is comfortable initiating conversation. Making matters worse is not having mastered the language you’re speaking! However, your success at finding people to speak and practice with depends on your determination, and above all, finding the correct people and context with which to do so. Seek out activities and locations where you’ll be around people who are locals but also travelers like you. In doing this, you can feel a little more comfortable speaking with somebody who has been in your shoes before and who can possibly relate to the stress of learning a new language. In action: An increasingly popular decision for this is Couchsurfing, an online travelers’ community which offers infinite possibilities for meeting other travelers whose countries and cities you want to visit. 4. Stray from tourist hotspots. Participating in a tour can be enjoyable and a new opportunity to meet people, but if you want to learn the language and approach the culture of your destination, you should avoid these and other tourist clichés. In action: Try searching the web for a short course or an open lecture (in a university, cultural center or museum) you would find interesting. Learning vocabulary is great, but you have to get a feel for the pronunciation and intonation of the language. Spur small talk with taxi drivers, vendors or welcome center employees about their favorite lesser known locations. 5. Do not cave in and speak your native language. Restaurants in Amsterdam and Camden Town, London might surprise you, because when you order your meal, they usually respond in your language. As a native English speaker visiting Berlin, I was surprised when a local answered me in English after I had asked how to get somewhere in German! In action: Prepare yourself to be placed in these situations, and always act with courtesy and continue to speak the language you’re learning. Keep in mind that the locals will speak your language in order to facilitate the conversation, yet while you are in the bars or cafes, the locals may be more willing to listen and talk to you although you can’t speak their language fluently. Good luck on your travels! Author: Mildred Sarachaga. Mildred creates content for MosaLingua blog since 2012, her articles are focused on her experience living and learning English in the UK. Mildred is from Bogota, Colombia and recently got a Masters in International Development: Poverty, Conflict and Reconstruction from The University of Manchester.