Beware of These Ten Most Common French Grammar Errors

Beware of These Ten Most Common French Grammar Errors Do You Commit These Common Grammar Errors When You Speak French? ChaptersErrors in Using French ArticlesCommon Errors Using VerbsUsing Possessives ProperlyWhy So Much Trouble?You, the aspiring francophone, in your eagerness to use the language skills you've acquired, express yourself in French at every opportunity.With other students in your French class, with the French speakers in your neighbourhood, on holiday in France...Why do you get those puzzled glances? Why don't people understand you?It could be because you are committing unintentional grammar faux-pas: common French mistakes every language learner makes â€" at least, until s/he is at intermediate level or higher, when instinctive knowledge kicks in.Let Superprof provide you with this concise list of French grammar no-nos, so that you can pin them to the wall in your study area and internalize them using a method called passive learning.In learning French, dialogue is much more important than grammar rules Source: Pixabay Credit: Leo Valente not only because there is the issue of gender to consider.The English language employs no grammatical gender; rules of agreement tend more toward definite versus indefinite articles.The French language mirrors all of our tongue's rules of agreement, and adds to them their rules for gender.The most common errors made by those learning French is using the wrong gender article. The easiest way to avoid that trouble is to learn the rules for gender assignment in French.Now, let us look at particular instances where these rules most often are broken.Definite articles in French are: le, la and les; all of which correspond to English's the.Contrary to English, these articles are not the default in French; the  indefinite  and partitive articles are.Indefinite article: un and une, a and an, with the plural form des being equivalent to some.Partitive article: du, de la, and des represent masculine and feminine singular, and the plural form for either gender, respectively.They correspond to English's some or any.The correct use of articl es in French depends greatly on knowing the gender of the noun: you should not use a masculine article with a feminine gender noun, and vice versa.Article usage also depends on number: if the noun is plural, so too must the article be.Finally, extra conditions apply if the noun in question starts with a vowel, or with a mute H, in which case it would be treated to de l', rather than a wholly written article.Mon ordinateur a besoin de l'electricité â€" my computer needs electricity.This sentence demonstrates the use of article contraction, as well as the lack of article in the English translation.Misusing Indefinite and Partitive Articlesin English, we use different articles for countable and uncountable nouns: Some water versus a bottle of water, for example.You can count bottles; you cannot count water itself.The exception to that rule would be ordering a water in a restaurant, or buying a water. In these cases, it is because the definer was omitted: a glass of water, or a bottle of water.The same rules hold true in French. Still, many students get this wrong. Here is the way it should be:use partitive articles for uncountablesdu blé, de la crème â€" some wheat, some creamuse indefinite articles for countablesun livre, une maison â€" a book, a houseYou should only use definite articles if you are discussing something specific: the blue car, or the porcelain cups â€" la voiture bleue, or les tasses en faience.It would be correct to use definite articles to describe these glasses Source: Pixabay Credit: Pasja1000Common Errors Using VerbsThe French language, with its multiple tenses and moods, sometimes confound those working so hard to learn French.One of the biggest problems is that two of the language's irregular verbs, corresponding to our to be and to have, are most often used in various French verb forms!To Describe a ConditionWe English speakers describe certain conditions that afflict us using to be:I am hungry/thirstyI am cold/warmI am scaredThe Fren ch use to have to describe the same states:J'ai faim/soifj'ai froid/chaudJ'ai peurHowever, in the following examples, the French match us, be for be:I am tired       Je suis fatigué(e)I am sick         Je suis maladeI am angry     Je suis en colèreI am happy    Je suis content(e)For an in-depth study at how and when to use être â€" to be, you might look at this tutorial.Now, for a curve ball...To describe a human condition, you would use either to be or to have. However, to describe an environmental condition, you would use to make.It is hot outside translates to il fait chaud dehors, literally: he makes hot outside.To describe such situations, you should always use the masculine singular pronoun + fait + the condition.Il fait du vent would correctly describe a windy day; il fait beau means the weather is nice.Mixing up Verbs of Similar MeaningDuring your French lessons, you have surely covered the verbs dire and parler â€" to say and to speak.As in English, each of these verbs represents the concept of talking, but with slightly different meaning. Je veux parler means I want to talk. Je veux dire... means I want to say...See the diff? To use the word parler on its own, with no direct object, suggests the very meaning described above. However, using it with a preposition, specifically à or au, indicates that you are speaking with someone.Le gendarme parle au voyous, or le maître parle à ces étudiants.You can use the verb dire to report what someone else said. Dire, followed by a direct object is also acceptable.Tu dis qu'il fait chaud?Another verb pair with similar meaning is voire and regarder.Again in English there exists a similar pair: to see and to look.You can use je vois in the same way you use I see: to express understanding. This verb is also commonly used with a direct object, yielding the same sentence as in English.How to say we saw something beautiful in French? Regarder is reserved for things actively looked at; in this sense, it co rresponds more to our verb to watch.Regarder la tele means watching the telly.How do you say look at that girl? The final verb pair to not confuse is connaître and savoir: to know and to know â€" but not interchangeably!You can aver that you know a location, a person, or a possession by using connaître, in the sense that you are familiar with them.Savoir is reserved for actual accrued knowledge. Tu sais?Using Possessives ProperlyIt is an innocuous action, and everybody should do it: wash their hands.In English, we are compelled to assign as the sentence's object whose hands were washed:  Marie washed her hands.In French, those hands are only identified as Mary's by the pronominal verb construction that precedes it:Marie s'est lavée les mains, translated into English, is: Marie washed herself the hands.Often, this is incorrectly expressed as: Marie s'est lavéeses mains.In fact, using the possessive pronoun ses would make the her in her hands redundant, as the sentence already exp resses that Marie has washed herself.The rule is: any time you invoke body parts, from hair to toes, use pronominal verbs but not possessive adjectives.The French idiom 'te casse pas la tête' - don't break your head over French grammar, is apt Source: Pixabay Credit: TypographyimagesWhy So Much Trouble?Native speakers, those who grew up in French speaking countries, do not commit such crimes against grammar.Thanks to their immersion â€" surrounded by French language and culture, they are quick to pick up on words and phrases and use them correctly... most of the time.Often, one can hear parents gently improve their youngsters' spoken French: ça se dit..., Chéri(e).Just as you learned to express yourself by trial and error in your young age.Today, you're doing your best to excel at language learning, and you may get understandably frustrated at making these niggling spelling and grammar mistakes on your way to being bilingual.There's the thing about mistakes: they are vital to lea rning how to speak French.If you want to learn French fast, we urge you to direct your efforts more to absorbing French vocabulary, how to use words in proper context, and exercising French pronunciation.To understand French better, listening to French audio online and participating in French conversation is the way to go.Naturally practicing conjugation of French verbs is a must, in each tense and mood!Partaking of French culture, learning new words, the greetings - bonjour and merci beaucoup!, developing your comprehension and accent: these are all aspects of French learning that will soon make you fluent.Speaking French clearly, with accurately pronounced words, will make you so easy to understand that those whose official language is French will forgive any flouting of grammar rules you may commit.To further improve your second language, we now offer a list French words that are used in English, but with a decidedly different meaning!In EnglishIn FrenchFrench Meaninggrossgros/gr ossefatlocationlocationrentalpatronpatronbossrestresterto staycommodecommodeconvenientdeceptiondéceptiondisapointmententréeentréeappetizer/startedassistassisterto attendruderudeharshcollegecollègesecondary school

Learning ESOL Heres Some Helpful English Spelling Rules

Learning ESOL Heres Some Helpful English Spelling Rules Helpful Spelling Rules to Remember When Learning English ChaptersPluralisation of NounsSilent and Ambiguous LettersHow Tenses Affect SpellingEveryone who knows how to speak English, whether it's their native language or they're aiming to learn English as a foreign language, knows how tough the spelling can be.Since the English language is a mish-mash of several tongues of people who invaded the British Isles, it is sometimes difficult for non native  speakers to spot any reliable pattern in its spelling.This means that learning to spell fluently in English can be a daunting task, as there are few examples to refer to.Another downside to this is that any rules that are made usually have plenty of exceptions, such as the ‘I before E’ rule.The rule says:I before E is always the same, except after C.Sadly, this isn’t always true.Exceptions include ‘weird’, ‘ceiling’, and ‘science’ to name a few.But it’s not all bad â€" even the trickiest of spellings can be learnt with the right methods and plenty of practice.So, let’s de lve into the world of English spelling rules, and find out which ones are most likely to help you improve your vocabulary as well as your writing fluency and accuracy so that your writing skills are close to those of a native English speaker in no time!Nota bene: this article will focus on British English spellings.Curtain ? CurtainsHowever, some phonetics do not allow this in English pronunciation, such as the word ‘church’, which is almost impossible to pronounce as ‘churchs’.For this reason, singular nouns ending in ‘s’, ‘ch’, ‘z’, ‘sh’ and ‘x’ take an extra ‘E’ when they become pluralised.Church ? ChurchesGas ? GasesBush ? BushesBox ? BoxesWaltz ? WaltzesAnother exception to the general ‘add an S’ rule is words ending in the letter ‘Y’, and since ‘Y’ can behave as both a vowel and a consonant, there are two different counter-rules.Foxes, not foxs! ¦ source: Visualhunt - rrrtemFirstly, words ending in a ‘Y’ following a vowel.These are simple, all you need to do is add an ‘S’ as usual.Boy ? BoysBut for words which have a consonant before their ending ‘Y’, the rule changes, and you have to remove the ‘Y’ and replace it with ‘i-e-s’.Dolly ? DolliesWords ending in a single letter ‘F’ also change slightly when they are pluralised.This happens by replacing the ‘F’ with ‘v-e-s’ to make pronunciation easier.Calf ? CalvesThis also goes for words ending in ‘f-e’, such as ‘knife’.Knife ? KnivesWatch out for words ending in ‘ff’, though, as these take an ‘S’ as usual.Quiff ? QuiffsGetting the hang of subtle differences such as these will make a big difference to how others view your level of English proficiency in both spoken and written English conversation.There are exceptions to these pluralisation rules, and, just like with English verbs, the exceptions affect some of the most common words.Man ? MenChild ? ChildrenTooth ? TeethOther, less common examples include:Crisis ? Cr isesCriterion ? CriteriaCactus ? CactiUnfortunately, there is no real pattern to the very irregular plurals, so you just have to learn them.Luckily, it’s easier than you think.By regularly engaging in English conversation and exposing yourself to the English language, you will get used to exceptions without necessarily realising.Silent and Ambiguous LettersLogic of English is a handy website which sets out the concrete rules of English spelling and how it relates to pronunciation.It covers all topics such as how the ‘silent E’ changes vowel sounds, and how letters such as ‘C’ and ‘G’, which have two possible pronunciations, should sound depending on their position in a word.The ‘silent E’ may seem to be silent but deadly for some English learners, but thankfully there are plenty of rules and explanations around this rule to help you get the hang of it.When the final letter in a word is ‘E’, the preceding vowel says its name.This means ‘A’ becomes ‘ay’ i nstead of ‘ah’, ‘E’ becomes ‘ee’, ‘I’ becomes ‘eye’, ‘O’ becomes ‘oh’, and ‘U’ becomes ‘yoo’.So, if you add an ‘E’ to the word ‘hat’, you get ‘hate’, pronounced ‘hayt’.And it’s not just vowels that are altered by a final ‘E’.‘C’ and ‘G’ are also pronounced a certain way when followed by an ‘E’.They may seem confusing at first, but these spellings will soon become instinctual ¦ source: Pixabay - RobinHigginsThe letter ‘C’ may be pronounced as a hard ‘K’ in some instances, and as a softer ‘S’ in others.‘C’ takes its soft pronunciation, becoming ‘ss’, so words such as ‘dance’ end with an ‘s’ sound.And ‘G’ sounds as a ‘J’ rather than a hard, glottal ‘g’ in words like ‘tonnage’.When these rules are put into writing, they can seem overly complex, however, as you progress through your English learning, spelling rules will become instinctual and you’ll have no trouble making an educated guess when in doubt.How Tenses Affect SpellingTenses are another aspect of English grammar which can have a dramatic effect on spelling â€" especially when it comes to the irregular verbs.So, the general (and simple) rule of forming the past tense in English goes like this:For regular verbs, add the ending ‘-ed’ to the word.In spoken English, this is usually pronounced as a ‘d’ or a ‘t’ sound at the end of the infinitive (basic) form of the verb.So, instead of ‘walk’, you have ‘walked’, pronounced ‘walk-t’.An important point on the difference between British and American English is to do with these verbs.In US English, the past participle of verbs such as ‘to learn’ and ‘to dream’ follows the ‘-ed’ pattern, whereas in English English there is a ‘t’ in the place of ‘-ed’, since this better reflects the pronunciation.InfinitivePast participle in US EnglishPast participle in British EnglishTo learnlearnedlearntTo dreamdreameddream tSometimes, the ‘-ed’ ending will sometimes add a new syllable to the infinitive, giving you ‘wanted’ instead of ‘want’.This is usually the case for infinitive verbs which already end with a ‘D’ or a ‘T’.Shout ? ShoutedFound ? FoundedThe English language contains at least 370 irregular verbs, and this may seem daunting, but thankfully, most of them are part of everyday language, which means any English learner can easily get used to them.The most striking examples include ‘to be’ which becomes ‘was’, ‘go’ which becomes ‘went’ and ‘do’ which becomes ‘did’.Both regular and irregular verbs are easy to learn in their imperfect or ‘simple past’ form, as they don’t change depending on who they relate to.This means you can have:I walkedYou walkedHe/she walkedThey walkedWe walkedBut you can also have:I didYou didHe/she didThey didWe didOf course, there has to be an exception to this rule, and in this case, it happens to be the verb ‘to beâ €™, which has two imperfect forms: ‘was’ and ‘were’.I wasYou wereHe/she wasThey wereWe wereProblems arise in spelling when it comes to generating the imperfect form of an irregular verb.A good example of just how much the infinitive and imperfect form can differ is the verb ‘to buy’.This is because ‘I buy’ becomes ‘I bought’ â€" which looks nothing like its infinitive.An even more striking verb is ‘to seek’, which becomes ‘sought’.It’s important not to be put off by the spelling of these verbs, and be thankful that you don’t have to conjugate them for each pronoun as you have to in so many other languages.When it comes to how to learn the forms of these verbs as well as their sometimes-ridiculous spelling, there are many methods you can use.English subtitles could be the key to learning English spelling! ¦ source: Pixabay - StockSnapSome people test themselves with online quizzes and grammar exercises in preparation for the grammar section of English exams, whereas others do their best to absorb as much information as possible through surrounding themselves with English language material.Even watching English TV and films with the subtitles on can help you get used to how pronunciation and spelling links together in English.This way, you will be able to rely on your natural instinct rather than inconsistent ‘rules’ when it comes to spelling, as well as improving your English speaking and listening skills as you study English.No matter whether English is your native or second language, English spelling is anything but a walk in the park, but improving your general language skills as you learn slang and work on your comprehension of idiomatic expressions and phrases to become fluent really is all down to practice.So if you aim to learn to speak English as a second language, you'll need to get the hang of the tricky details including spelling. Why not carry a dictionary with you to perfect your daily language.There are plenty of ways you can practice your English and improve your overall English skills including practising  speaking English and not relying on your native language as well as getting the most from your English lessons by learning grammar rules through studying English literacy and getting used to English media.With the right attitude and a good amount of motivation, you’ll soon be on your way to spelling success and 0 mistakes!

Where Can You Find the Best Dutch Tutor For You

Where Can You Find the Best Dutch Tutor For You Finding a Dutch Tutor ChaptersSpecify the Purpose of StudyingDo Your ResearchDon't Rely on ReviewsDon't Overestimate the Qualifications of a TutorLearning a language with a personal tutor is one of the best ways to learn. Learning with a tutor means you get all the attention! Your tutor will adapt Dutch lessons to your goals and learning style, so you don't have to go at any else's pace like you would in a group class.A tutor can also give you  direct feedback so you can continue to improve quickly. Having a personal tutor leans everything is adapted to you, so you don't have to be scared to ask a stupid question or to ask to cover a topic again. You will develop a more personal relationship with a tutor so you'll feel more confident in your learning. This is especially true when learning a language; it can be daunting to hear yourself speak another language so having someone invested in your learning will help a great deal!Finding a native Dutch tutor in your area might be difficult, depending on where y ou are, so don't hesitate to look online for a tutor. An online private tutor will offer you all the same benefits as an 'in real life' tutor. You can arrange lessons over Skype and they can send you feedback via email or over the Skype call. Superprof has plenty of tutors all across the country and online that can help you reach your language goals.No matter if you are looking for a tutor online or in your area there are some things to keep in mind so you find the right one for you.Learning one-on-one is a great tool for language learning (Source: Pexels)Here are some of our tips on finding the best Dutch tutor and make sure to check the price of the lesson first. JessicaDutch Teacher 5.00 (5) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NaomiDutch Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EliseDutch Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelleDutch Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CéliaDutch Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discov er all our tutors VanshikaDutch Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelleDutch Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LizaDutch Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSpecify the Purpose of StudyingTo find a good tutor, you need to clearly understand what you want. What is your goal and what do you want to achieve. Do you want to pass a specific exam? What grade are you aiming for? Maybe you want to travel to the Netherlands so you are just looking for conversational Dutch, or maybe you are moving there permanently for a job so you need to get up to a level of working and delivering presentations in Dutch.Whatever your goal is try to be specific when reaching out to tutors. Each one will have different skills and will be able to help in different areas. Knowing what you want beforehand will save you a lot of wasted time with the wrong tutor.It’s always easier to find a perfect tutor if you have a goal in mind. To use  a maths analo gy, if you need to get 85% in a  maths exam but you're currently at 70%  you should  look for a tutor who is the best choice for this specific purpose, who has experience in this area, and not just a “good teacher of mathematics.”Do Your ResearchOf course, you can do a quick Google search of “…tutor “, click on the first link and leave a request there. You will probably be promptly contacted by a teacher and it's as easy as that!But be careful doing this.  You won't know if this teacher has the requirements you're looking for  to reach your goals or their  reputation. Do a little research to  ensure you're picking a good tutor.Examine at least 5 different websites that offer services of tutors. View profiles, look at what tutors say about themselves. Looking at various websites will give you an idea of the standard tutors should be at.Check the reviews of the websites and check the reviews of the tutors if there are any.Look for some information on different forums, blogs, and social networks. Check out how other people found their  tutors, how they interacted and how the lessons went.Do your research online before choosing a tutor (Source: Pexels)Don't Rely on ReviewsA  good tutor, especially if  they been teaching for a long time, should have many good reviews. But at the same time, good reviews don’t guarantee that the teacher will fit you and your needs.A few tips on how to evaluate teachers:-Of course don't consider contacting teachers with a large number of bad reviews, if everyone had a  bad experience there is inevitably some truth  to these reviews.  But having said that if there are  1-2 negative feedbacks amongst a large number of positive reviews don't be put off.  Any teacher could have been in a situation where it didn't go well with  a student because of some reason. Maybe that teacher wasn't suited to that student, it doesn't mean they wouldn't suit you.-The reviews on the websites of the companies searching for tutors are for the m ost part, real â€" most companies value their reputation. But if the tutor only promotes  themselves through a particular website or their own social  media accounts there might be only good reviews that may not reflect reality.-Find out what your  tutor’s specialty is. If you want to work towards a  specific exam and most of the reviews are from students who just wanted to learn conversational Dutch then this tutor probably isn't  the best choice  even if all of the reviews are positive.-Also, there might be other evidence of qualification of teachers. Some companies conduct the  preliminary selection of all tutors or say that they do it. In this case, contact the company and  ask for details on the selection methodology â€" if they can’t clearly answer, they don’t do it.Don't Overestimate the Qualifications of a TutorMany people think that the more experienced and qualified a tutor is, the better. But this is not necessarily always the case. It is important that you find the right tutor for you. You don't need a tutor that has written a book on learning Dutch you just need someone who understands how you learn and can adapt the lessons to suit your needs.You don't even need to get a tutor that is a qualified teacher. Often private tutors are University graduates or they are still studying and want to earn some extra money on the side. Whatever the case, as long as you can find  a native Dutch person that can adapt lessons to you, you're on to a winner. (Plus you'll find they charge a lot less per hour than professional teachers!)You need to feel comfortable with your tutor. Learning a new language can be daunting so you want to have a tutor who will encourage you and who you feel is invested in your learning. Speaking Dutch requires confidence and you should be able to draw confidence from your tutor and not feel shy in front of them. Finding the right tutor for you is just as much about your gut feeling about them as it is their qualifications.Don't h esitate to ask to meet your tutor, or arrange a Skype call, before you commit to lessons with them. If you connect with them and you feel at ease then this is just as important as their experience!Remember, you're paying for a personal tutor, so make sure they're exactly what you want.

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert David Petersam

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert David Petersam Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. A graduate of The University of Chicago MBA program, David Petersam is well-known for his knowledge of MBA admissions. His expertise is drawn from his experience in The University of ChicagoMBA admissions office, where he contributed to numerous admissions committee decisions. David is now the founder and President of AdmissionsConsultants, Inc., a service he started back in 1996 directed toward helping MBA applicants gain acceptance into the worlds top business schools. VT: How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and complete the application for an MBA program? David: Weve conducted numerous polls of our clients over the years and have never found any type of consensus for the number of hours needed. Some applicants dont come from work backgrounds that require a lot of writing and even many that do are surprised when they find it is harder to write about themselves than whatever topics they are generally used to writing. The important things to remember, however, are that (1) an early start is critical for the brainstorming and introspection phases and (2) it is generally better to apply in a later round with an application that reflects 100% of your best effort than rush an application into an early round that is full of incoherencies. VT: What would you say is the single most important thing to focus on for this kind of application? David: Be true to yourself. Have genuine reasons for why you want an MBA and why you want to attend that particular school. Any attempt to cheat the school with insincere reasons is equally an attempt to cheat yourself as you will be spending a lot of time and money pursuing a graduate business education. VT: What do MBA admissions officers look for most in the essay questions? David: Fit. While the term is often interpreted as elitist, exclusionist or just plain mean, applicants need to understand that it has a much different meaning to organizations. It has to do with how well an individuals abilities, ambitions and values complement those of the organization. When individuals and organizations are in synch, both benefit. The organization receives productive workers, committed members or enthusiastic students. The individual receives a supportive and appreciative home for his or her efforts and growth. VT: What are the biggest mistakes one can make on this application? David: The one that most surprises new admissions officers is the percentage of applicants who forget which school they are applying to. It happens more often than you probably think! VT: What aspects of the MBA admissions process make it most different from undergraduate admissions process? David: The first difference is that MBA programs expect you to have a clear vision of your career goals. The second biggest difference involves the admissions interview. It is not only far more evaluative, but it is generally by invitation only which means the goal of the essays is to secure an interview invitation. VT: Is there anything that automatically disqualifies an applicant from being considered for an MBA program (i.e. low GPA, lack of particular work experience, etc.)? David: Failing to prove that you can clear the academic qualifications hurdle (GPA and GMAT/GRE) is an automatic disqualifier. Everything else could be stellar, but if the school believes you cant handle the rigor of its program, you will be receiving a ding letter. VT: What advice do you have regarding GMAT test prep? David: A well thought out test prep strategy is just as important as a well thought out application strategy. You need to dedicate a segment of time to your preparations and if you run into any issues, seek out help. Chances are you are not the only one with that issue and competent help is available if you look hard enough. VT: Is it absolutely necessary to have work experience prior to starting an MBA degree? David: The key is to ensure your MBA will help you achieve your career goals. For most applicants, the pre-MBA work experience is an essential component in achieving those goals. However, since this is not always the case, the answer is no. VT: What are the characteristics of a great MBA program? David: All of the top MBA programs are well differentiated and different applicants will put different relative weights on different criteria. The only universal characteristic across all applicants is fit. Visit AdmissionsConsultants.com for more information on the services David and his colleagues provide.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Places to Stay in Shanghai

Places to Stay in Shanghai Finding Accommodation in Shanghai ChaptersChoosing Where to Stay in ShanghaiChinese Language Immersion on a BudgetTypical Hotels in ShanghaiUnusual Accommodation in ShanghaiIf you want to discover more about the People's Republic of China, its history, and what modern life is like, Shanghai is av great place to go.Of course, you’ll need to know where to stay. You should know that there’s accommodation for all budgets in Shanghai. With so much competition, even luxury hotels are available are a good price.In this article, Superprof is looking at the different types of accommodation available in Shanghai, the best places to stay in the city, accommodation for different budgets, and how to get the most out of your money when you’re there. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsChoosing Where to Stay in ShanghaiLike any trip abroad, you have to prepare and plan your trip to China. Learn more about where you’ll be going, what you’ll be doing, and the routes to take through the streets so you don’t end up in the wrong city!There are different districts for different tastes and different budgets. (Source: SeanSheng)You should learn a bit about the different districts in Shanghai so that you know where you can stay. Each district is different and includes temples, shopping centres, skyscrapers, and typical Chinese buildings. Here are some of the most popular districts in Shanghai:HuangpuPudongXuhuiJing'anChangningYangpuHongkouMinhangThere’s accommodation all over the city but some districts are more interesting than others. Take Jing’an, for example, which includes the Jing’an Temple. Its location relative to the metro network makes it one of the best places to stay in Shanghai.Then there’s Xuhui, the Former French Concession (FFC), then Luwan and Huangpu. These districts make up Puxi, the historic centre of Shanghai, across from Pudong to the east. Other interesting places include East Nanjing Road and People’s Square.Beware that the prices in the FFC, Xujiahui (in Xuhui) can be expensive with all its luxury hotels for western tourists. It doesn’t matter too much how much you spend on a hotel if you’re staying for a week or two because the cost of living is quite cheap.Chinese Language Immersion on a BudgetYouth HostelsNot everyone visiting the world’s biggest cities is a lottery winner staying in a 5-star hotel. Don’t worry, though. There are plenty of great options for all budgets.You can stay in a youth hostel or an Airbnb if you're on a budget. (Source: Atlantios)Shanghai is home to many youth hostels and a lot of them are affiliated with Hostelling International. This is a good way to find accommodation for cheap when you’re in China.The important thing about Shanghai isn’t the hotel you’re staying in but where you’re staying.You can pay between £50 and £200 for a week in Shanghai. In comparison to hotels, they can be really cheap.You can get a Hostelling International membership which entitles you to discounts for each night. There are plenty of youth hostels in Shanghai, especially in Jing’an and Huangpu.Airbnbs: Typical AccommodationAirbnbs are a great way to stay in Shanghai on a budget.  You can rent a room or a flat in a house as you lived in Shanghai.  They tend to cost more than youth hostels, with the rates being between £30 and £150 a night. If you want to spend a week in an Airbnb in Shanghai, you’ll need at least £400.Make sure you book well in advance because these types of accommodat ion are very popular with tourists and go quickly.Typical Hotels in ShanghaiIf you have the budget for it and enjoy the services and comfort, you can always get a hotel in Shanghai. You can find them in every district with many available at reasonable prices.Make sure you do your research when looking for hotels in Shanghai. (Source: Philippsaal)You can get a room for one person for between £50 and £150 a night if you’re staying in 1- to 3-star hotels. For 4- and 5-star hotels, the rates can go up to £500 a night! For this price, you’ll get breakfast included and many other services and amenities such as a gym, Chinese garden, or a spa.The best hotels go for between £100 and £300 per night. Whether you’re in the old town or near the television tower, you’ll easily be able to find something. If you’re staying for a small amount of time or have an early flight, you might want to stay near the airport.Here’s some advice on choosing your hotel in Shanghai. Firstly, keep a business card from the hotel on you at all times as English isn’t widely spoken in China and it’ll help with taxi drivers.You can also save money by staying in Chinese hotel chains. If you have the money for 4- or 5-star hotels, keep an eye out for service fees, which can increase the cost by up to 15%.Additionally, autumn is the best time to visit Shanghai as the rates are better and the weather is more agreeable.Find out more about when to visit Shanghai.Unusual Accommodation in ShanghaiIf you want to spice up your trip a bit, there are some interesting places you can stay. Additionally, there are places for all budgets.You could stay in a normal hotel of you could opt for something a little different. (Source: bottlein)There are also capsule hotels where you can stay with the comfort of TV and WiFi. Of course, you will have communal toilets and bathrooms but at £10 a night, you can’t really complain.There are also love hotels, with rooms for couples spending a night or even an afternoon together. There’s a romantic setting, jacuzzi, and circular beds.If you can afford it, the Shimao Wonderland Intercontinental is a 5-star hotel built on an abandoned mine. With underground and underwater rooms, you’ll have an unforgettable time.With the Bund, the Shanghai World Financial Center, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the Shanghai Museum, the Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Yangtze River cruises, there's plenty to do in Shanghai so make sure you don't blow your entire budget on your accommodation!Find out more about budgeting for a trip to Shanghai.If you’re planning on visiting other cities in China such as Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, or regions such as Sichuan, Guangzhou, or Yunnan, there are sites where you can find good rates and book multiple hotels together.Now you should have a better idea of the accommodation available in Shanghai and how much it costs. Make sure you book ahead in order to get the best rates and avoid nasty surprises. You can also check out Superprof’s other articles on visiting Shanghai or get a Chinese tutor to help you improve your language skills before you go!If you'd like to learn some Chinese before you go to Shanghai, you could consider enlisting the help of one of the many talented tutors on Superprof! The tutors on the site offer three types of private tutorials to help you learn the lingo: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.Face-to-face tutorials are taught with one student and one tutor and tend to be the most costly per hour because you're paying for both bespoke lessons and a bespoke course. While they are the most costly per hour, they're usually the most cost-effective type of tutorial since every minute in the lesson is spent focusing on you as the student. Additionally, the tutor will also be spending time outside of the lessons finding resources and planning the time they'll spend with you.Online tutorials are similar to the face-to-face tutorials but take place either on a call or over webcam. Thanks to the internet, you can now video conference tutors from all over the world and be taught for less per hour since the tutor won't have the travel costs to worry about and can fit more students into their schedule as a result. Of course, online tutorials can lack intimacy and while not ideal for hands-on subjects, they're great for language lessons. Your tutor might even be from China!Take the best Mandarin lessons London here.Finally, group tutorials are more like the classes you'll have had in school with one teacher and multiple students. However, with group tutorials, you and a group of friends (perhaps the people you'll be travelling with) can get in touch with a private tutor to plan lessons that you'll all attend together. While these tend to be the cheapest per student per hour since the cost of the tutor's time is shared, you'll also get far less one-on-one time with your tutor.Each different type of tutorial has its pros and cons and it's really up to you and your budget to decide how much you'll need to learn, how you want to learn, and what your budget is going to be for Chinese language lessons before you go.So when are you going to go and visit Shanghai?

Taking the Stress out of Back-to-School Shopping

Taking the Stress out of Back-to-School Shopping With the first day of school just weeks away, its time to stock up on all of the school supplies, clothes, and accessories that your kids are going to need this year. Back-to-school shopping can seem overwhelming when your child has ADHD. The idea of having to keep track of an active, impulsive, and distractible child while also managing a long shopping list is daunting for parents. For kids, the stress, overstimulation, and temptations that accompany back-to-school shopping lay the perfect foundation for the predictable arguments and meltdowns. No one can avoid back-to-school shopping, but there are many things you can do to make it a more positive experience for you and your child. Design a shopping plan with your childs limits in mind. While you may be tempted to embark on a back-to-school shopping marathon so that you can finish everything in one day, chances are good that your child is not up to this monumental task. Instead, break the shopping trip up into chunks either by store or by category (clothes, school supplies, shoes, etc.). Plan to spend only as much time in each store as you think your child can reasonably handle. Remember that unlike typical shopping outings where you pick up some groceries or a few household items, back-to-school shopping requires your child to help make decisions about things youll be buying. Decision fatigue, and the irritability and frustration that accompany it, will inevitably creep in if you shop for too long. Make a list and let your child check it off. Creating a list for each shopping trip will help you and your child stay focused on the things that you really need to buy. Empower your child by assigning him or her the task of checking off items as you go. Better yet, have your child write down the price of each item as it is purchased, so that he or she can track the amount of money being spent. When children pay more attention to cost, they may be more understanding when they ask for something extra and are told No. Set clear expectations. Your child will feel more calm and patient while shopping if he or she knows what to expect before you leave the house. Let your child know which stores youll be visiting, how long youll be shopping, and what youll be buying (only items on the shopping list!). Be prepared to help your child deal with temptations. When a store is filled with temptations, your child is going to see many things that he or she would like to buy that arent on the list. It hard for kids to be surrounded by so many things that they cannot have, and this is especially true for more impulsive kids who have ADHD. You cant remove the temptations, but you can help your child cope with his or her impulsive feelings and the need to have so many things that he or she sees: Create opportunities for choices. Empower your child by allowing him or her to make choices about the things that he or she is able to have. Let your child pick out his or her favorite notebooks, pencils, erasers, backpack, etc. If having too many options is overwhelming for your child, then point out two or three items that are a good fit for your childs needs and your familys budget, and allow your child to choose from this smaller selection. Add extra items to a birthday, holiday, or future rewards list. Spending time shopping with your child actually provides an excellent opportunity for you to learn about things that he or she may want to earn as rewards for meeting behavior goals, or receive as gifts on his or her next birthday or holiday. So, if your child sees something that he or she wants, let him or her know that he or she cant have it now, but he or she can add it to the reward or gift list. Some kids like to create the list as they shop, and others like to write out the full list from memory when they get home. Praise your child. When youre busy and stressed it can be easy to focus on all of the things that your child is doing wrong and forget to focus on everything that he or she is doing right. So, make a conscious effort to notice the times when your child calmly puts something back after he or she was told that he or she couldnt have it or when he or she stayed by your side instead of wandering off. Praise your child and let your child know that you appreciate the way that he or she is behaving. Also acknowledge that its not always easy to follow the rules and accept tough decisions on school shopping days. The more positive attention your child receives from you, the more likely he or she will be to meet your expectations and enjoy the experience. Back-to-school shopping isnt easy for kids with ADHD or their parents. But when youre prepared with a few key strategies and solid shopping plan youll be able to get your child everything that he or she needs and may even enjoy each others company along the way. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center 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 of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Grammar Checker Poem

Grammar Checker Poem William Shakespeare, famous English poet and playwright For help finding the contextual spelling errors and eggcorns in this poem, copy and paste it into the  VirtualWritingTutor.com  and hit Check Grammar. Poem Eye halve a spelling chequer, It came with my pea sea, It plainly marks for my  revue Miss Steaks I kin knot sea. Eye strike a quay and type a word, And weight four it two say, Weather  aye  am wrong oar write, It shows me strait a weigh. As soon as a mist ache is  maid, It nose bee  for  two  long, And I can put the error  rite. Its  rarely ever wrong. Aye have run this poem threw it Iamb shore yore pleased to no, Its letter perfect in its weigh. My chequer tolled me sew. Anonymous Practice Activity Click to Find Grammar Checker Poem Errors Please follow and like us:

Career Advice to Know Before You Graduate

Career Advice to Know Before You Graduate Image via Pexels 1. Nurture Your Resume: One of the most important elements of the job process is your resumè. In order to stand out the best you possibly can to potential employers, be sure to constantly and consistently construct your resume. Advisors at your campus career center can definitely help you refine, polish and boost your resume to make it attractive to employers. Don’t worry about the formatting being awful, not having a good amount of experience on paper, or the whole thing just being certified ‘trashable’, it is OK if your resume is a work in progress. 2. Dig Deep to Find Your Strengths: Many college students have a hard time figuring out their strengths. According to Raymond Tang of Careermetis.com, “Plenty of graduates, job entrants, and job changers only know what they are functionally good at i.e. being good at coding, filling out balance sheets, writing content, etc. but lack the identification of soft skills that are often overlooked.” Before you graduate, dig deep to find your softer strengths, identify the skills that you naturally possess- skills that will be attractive to potential employers. Advisors can help you identify these skills, and help you convey them to employers. Unfortunately, it is not enough just to know you have these strengths, you have to show them. 3. Learn How to Network Effectively: As technology has advanced, so has the increased presence of job opportunities on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Before you graduate, clean up your accounts by looking at pictures, posts, and comments that may not be appropriate and make you look better in the eyes of an employer. Second, search for your ideal job by using keywords on search engines, job sites, and social media. You can even look for people with similar interests as you in regards to finding a job! Doing these two things can definitely help you get on track to networking, but it also doesn’t hurt to reach out to your professors, join club organizations, and talk to classmates! Image via Pexels 4. Schedule a Meeting with Professors or Administrators:  For some students, it’s easy to build connections with professors and faculty in college, while for others it’s a difficult process. Regardless of it being ‘easy’ or ‘hard’ for you, one of the best things to do before you graduate is to meet up with your professors, whether they be from your freshman year or this current semester. Connecting with university faculty is important for because they can help guide your career search and they can also be apart of your growing network of people! Robert Hellman of Forbes  writes, “Even if you already have a job lined up, set up these meetings. You want their advice, and you want them in your network for subsequent career transitions.  Start building these relationships  now. You will be so glad you did in a year or two when you want to make your next move (or when your company starts letting people go in the next recession).” 5. Meet at Your Career Center:  Many students are under the false impression that going to a career center is an automatic guarantee of a job. While reaching out to a career center  can  help you find a job, it is not a lottery of job offerings with you having the lucky scratch-off ticket. With that being said, during your appointment with an advisor, expect them to help you narrow down career choices, pull out inner strengths, discover your passions and compliment those with your skills. This personal evaluation will help you figure out what kind of job you want and in a specific field! Post-graduation life is sometimes scary and overwhelming, especially when it comes to the working world. Sometimes things don’t always line up like they’re supposed to, however, if you do the work to create a steady path while you’re in college, navigating your career path after college will be a breeze. Don’t shy away from resources that can be utilized on campus and go outside your comfort zone. As always, good luck!