10+ Fun Italian Grammar and Vocabulary Games for Kids

10+ Fun Italian Grammar and Vocabulary Games for Kids Brooke Neuman Learning Italian grammar and vocabulary can be difficult for kids.  Below, Italian teacher Nadia B. shares some games parents and teachers can play to help engage kids in learning Italian For kids, learning Italian can be a great adventure, filled with exciting new discoveries. As your child explores the joy of learning Italian, you can aid him or her by playing fun Italian grammar and vocabulary games. These games  are chock-full of fun activities so that learning Italian can become less painless and more fun! Below are 10+ Italian grammar and vocabulary games that will make a big difference in your childs learning. 1. Rhymes and Tongue Twisters These fun and imaginative verbal adventures will help your child to think of Italian as a playful and colorful exploration, not to mention build a strong Italian vocabulary and understanding of syntax and grammar. You can trade off reciting lines of a rhyme, have a tongue twister competition, or read a fable before bedtime. Before you know it, learning Italian will be just another fun part of the day. 2. Memory Games Using index cards,  write out some Italian vocabulary words. Try choosing a theme (for example, colors or animals). Then, create a matching card  with a related vocabulary word. Lay them all out with the words face-down and have your child try to select the pairs. Recalling where each word is located will help the vocabulary word stick in your childs mind. 3. Make Assuming Sentences This game is similar to MadLibs, as you provide all the parts of a sentence and then allow your child to choose words to form a unique sentence. Heres how to do it: Write out  all of the pronouns (io, tu, lui, lei, Lei, noi, voi, loro), a selection of verbs (volare, ridere, sorridere, pensare, andare), and some nouns (il gatto, il cane, lalbero, il poliziotto, lItalia, etc.) Keep each category of words in its own pile. Your child can select a pronoun, verb and possibly a noun to form a sentence. For example, Io volo con il gatto (I fly with the cat). You can help your child to form grammatically correct sentences by providing prepositions (con, sopra, sotto) when needed. The sillier the sentence, the better! 4. Sing in Italian Download, purchase, or stream some simple songs in Italian  in which  you and your child can sing along. For example, you can search  for Christmas carols or lullabies. Encourage your child to sing along, or to sing from memory when you have free time in the car, while walking, or some other time. Sing along together, or help your child as needed to remember the lyrics. 5. Charades Charades is a really fun game  and there are so  many opportunities to tailor it to your childs needs. First, write out a selection of verbs, nouns or phrases to act out. Once youve formed two teams, start by having the first team draw a verb, noun, and phrase to act out while the other team guesses.  This can be as simple as two teams you and your child or can involve other children and family members. 6. I Spy This game is an excellent option when youre on the go or exploring a new place. It will encourage your child to view and describe his or her surroundings in Italian. You can give your child a prompt of Io vedo (I see) and then let him or her choose an item to identify in Italian. For example, Io vedo una nuvola grande e bianca. (I see a big, white cloud). 7.  Describe an Imaginary Friend If your child has an imaginary friend, ask him or her to describe him or her to you in Italian. For example, Luisa è simpatica, alta e bionda. Le piace nuotare e saltare la corda. (Luisa is friendly, tall and blond. She likes to swim and jump rope.). This helps to build useful Italian vocabulary. You can also ask your child  to talk to his or her  imaginary friend in Italian! This is a playful way to show your child that Italian can be spoken anywhere and anytime. 8. Italian in the Kitchen If youre busy cooking in the kitchen, why not get your child involved? Go online to find a recipe in Italian  to use. As you cook, have your child read the recipe and then ask him or her  to name the ingredients as they go in the pot to be cooked. You can also ask your child to retrieve ingredients with the Italian name (for example, farina, latte, pane), and describe the colors and size (Comè il pomodoro? Whats the tomato like?). This is also a great  Italian culture activity, as cooking and eating together as a family is a common tradition in Italy. 9. Identify Characteristics Gather up some old magazines or newspapers laying around the house. Cut out pictures of objects and people from those magazines, and have your child describe the particular scene in Italian. Encourage your child to use color, specific characteristics, and numbers to practice adjectives, quantity and more! 10. Give Commands Designate a piece of clothing or a certain item, such as a hat or a scarf. Whenever someone is wearing that particular item, he or she is responsible for issuing commands to the other people in the group. For example, the person wearing the item could say the following: Gira a la destra; dimmi un piccolo racconto; chiamami Alessandro quando mi parli (Turn to the right; tell me a short story; call me Alessandro when you speak to me). This game is meant to be silly and encourage children to practice commands in a fun and memorable way. The roles reverse whenever the person with the item issues a command that the other person chooses not to obey, or doesnt obey. 11. Ask Questions Ask your child any question in Italian. You can find a set of  questions in your childs  Italian textbook or online. If your  child   answers the question with the proper Italian grammar, he or she can then ask you a question. The game can be played with just the two of you, or with other children. This is another exercise that can be silly and amusing, while simultaneously reinforcing interrogative words, grammar, and vocabulary. Learning Italian doesnt have to be boring. Make learning enjoyable for your child by playing games with him or her in between his or her lessons. Photo by Leonid Mamchenkov Post Author:  Nadia B. Nadia B. teaches Italian in New York, NY. She graduated summa cum laude from New York University, with a double degree in Italian Language and Literature and Classical Music Performance.  Learn more about Nadia here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Why Is It Important To Develop Emotional Intelligence Skills

Why Is It Important To Develop Emotional Intelligence Skills Why is the Emotion Quotient Relevant? ChaptersWhat is the Emotional Quotient?How to Become Emotionally IntelligentAre Emotional and Social Intelligence Important?How to Develop Personal Intelligence SkillsOnline Help for Self-AwarenessIf you’ve never heard of Goleman’s seminal book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, this guide is for you. Many of us tend to think of our emotions as something that is outside of our self-control and self-regulation abilities. In fact, up until recently, empathetic or emotional people tended to be portrayed in popular media either as offbeat, bohemian souls or as emotionally chaotic and troubled.While films and novels seem to have caught up with the fact that self-awareness and empathy are traits we all possess, and constantly have to work on, many still don’t consider self-management and interpersonal skills as on par with those that come with becoming intelligent in particular fields.Emotional intelligence, however, is becoming increasingly more important to all aspects of life, improving everything from job performance to social skills. In fact, there are articles produced every week not only on the importance of gaining interpersonal skills, but also the best ways to teach yourself and others the art of managing emotions and moods. If you’re still not sure how developing emotional intelligence is relevant to your life, we suggest starting by understanding what exactly emotional learning is and why it is such an important skill to learn. Here’s everything you should know about emotional intelligence! Doing the things you love can help boost your EQ TraceyPersonal development Teacher 4.92 (9) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IsamPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyPersonal development Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelePersonal development Teacher 4.73 (7) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlloydPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliverPersonal development Teacher 4.33 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is the Emotional Quotient?Ever heard about multiple intelligences? While the concept of measuring intelligence on the basis of characteristics other than skills based on logic and reasoning has been criticized by many in th e scientific community, those same scientists do tend to agree that there is a need and demand for a more holistic approach to defining intelligence.Emotional intelligence isn't a new concept, but it was brought into the mainstream by the help of journalist Daniel Goleman. Goleman's bestseller  Emotional Intelligence brought social competence and emotional awareness to the forefront of the conversation revolving intelligence. More than twenty years after his publication, the importance of measuring emotions and empathy with their own intelligence test hasn't been lost on the psychology and self-help industry.If you're interested in emotional intelligence, you should understand that the concept deals with a human's capability to understand, process, and react to their own emotions and the emotions of others. These abilities deal with being able to empathize, be self-aware and be able to self-report one's own emotions. The majority of the work behind this subject has been developed or iginally by psychologists Salovey, Mayer and Caruso. If you're interested in reading some of the history behind emotional intelligence and an emotional intelligence test such as the MSCEIT, start by reading some of their published works.How to Become Emotionally IntelligentEveryone from gardeners to salespeople all have one thing in common: they all have to deal with having emotions. Whether you're interested in building up the rapport between you and your boss, want to develop your soft skills or want to improve the relationships you have with your family, becoming more emotionally intelligent may be in your best interest.Some of the tips that you can take advantage of to kick-off your journey into emotional intelligence are:reading more about the subject through blogs and websiteslistening to knew podcasts about mental health and well beingtrying out new health food recipeslearning a new skill such as gardening or crochetingEmotional intelligence can be a difficult field to naviga te. Luckily, there is plenty of material online with everything you should know about the emotion quotient to help get you started! If you want to learn more about trust and leadership, read more about EQNeedless to say, attempting to distill emotional intelligence and general intelligence into specific definitions will, by their nature, become outdated or incomplete over time as society’s views and tastes shifts. So why is having a high emotional intelligence important? The first way we can view the importance of emotional intelligence is through the ability of correctly perceiving the emotions of oneself and others.Salovey and Mayer posit that recognizing “emotional patterns” are vital to the way we reason through problems. Fore example, correctly identifying and processing someone’s disappointment or happiness is a vital mental step in determining what actions to react with. Not being able to judge someone else’s emotions over particular topics or body movements can be detrimental not only in social settings but in professional settings as well.   Social awareness is something that many people have t o consistently work on in order to improve how well they interact with strangers, uber successful people, family and more.The significance of controlling your facial expressions and body language is easy to understand - you don’t need a Harvard Business Review article to tell you that mastering social interactions can lead to personal and professional success. However, emotional intelligence can be extremely important for your mental health as well.Being able to identify negative emotions and process them in healthy and productive ways are tasks that many adults struggle with, sometimes for a lifetime. Developing an emotional literacy with yourself, being able to keep inventory of your emotional catalogue, can improve your physical health, help you achieve your goals and improve the relationship you have with yourself and others.Learn more about the emotional intelligence with this guide to EQ basics! Testing your EQ skills online can help determine which areas you can focus onHow to Develop Personal Intelligence SkillsIf you're into the theory of multiple intelligences and are curious to see how the new science can improve your personal, professional and leadership skills, learning about emotional skills should be your first priority.Emotional intelligence is like brain science but for your emotions. The art of perceiving and understanding emotions is a broad topic and can sometimes be overwhelming to understand. If you want to learn of different leadership styles or coping mechanisms, start by practicing some emotional intelligence skills.Some of the ways you can take part in improving your relationship management or taking part in social and emotional learning are:Joining a music classJournaling about your dayPracticing mindfulness meditationIf you're curious to learn about all the different ways you can practice these sorts of skills, take advantage of the many online guides d ealing with ways to improve your emotional intelligence.Online Help for Self-AwarenessThere are countless bestselling novels and informative podcasts surrounding the subjects of building a particular social skill, improving your emotional state or on perceiving the emotions of others better. If you want to start being an active participant in the world of self-awareness and want to start taking in advice from the experts, here are some websites you can start with:HelpGuideSix SecondsPsychology TodayWith plenty of online guides dedicated to the subject of emotional intelligence, you're bound to find exactly what you want to learn about the subject.

Life Is All About Change - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Life Is All About Change - Introvert Whisperer Life Is All About Change I’m a bit sentimental today. Some of you may know or realize that when I started out as a coach, my website and business name was Next Chapter New Life. When I launched Introvert Whisperer over a year ago, I was unclear what to do with that website. Because I wasn’t clear, I kept it going and continued to post content to it. I decided to “end-of-life” the website, thus closing that chapter in my life. That’s why I’m waxing nostalgic. It won’t impact anything you typically see from me. Because my roots are in change, I have to use this as an illustration for you on how we work in making change and the emotional reaction to change called transition. The first phase of transition is an ending. Something has to come to an end and for me, the end started last year as I ramped up Introvert Whisperer. During the end phase, you begin to disengage and begin to lose identification with what you are ending. I was identifying less with Next Chapter and more with Introvert Whisperer. The next phase is what I called confusion; Because it is largely a period where you feel unshaped by purpose. With my Next Chapter website/persona, that period of confusion has lasted a year.     I wasn’t clear what to do with it so rather than pulling the plug or redefining it, I decided my clarity would eventually come as I spent more time defining myself with Introvert Whisperer. I’ll note that we all move through our transition phases at different rates. For me, I felt that there would come a day where the answer of what to do would eventually arrive. It also let me come to grips with ending something I was very emotionally invested in. The last phase is beginnings. Introvert Whisperer to a large degree was the beginning and with this phase you have a new identity or direction. It’s an energetic phase as you are further touching into new territory. I’ll note for you that while these three parts of transition are called phases, they occur at the same time. They occur in different proportions throughout the change but we shift through them daily. Because of the overlapping nature of the phases, we also experience mixed emotions and can often confuse these mixed emotions for making a wrong decision. You can feel happy and sad at the same time. It’s a huge reason so many people avoid change because its not that comfortable. Transition = Endings-Confusion-Beginnings. You will always go through them with any change. Just know that when you’re at a low point or anxiety-ridden â€" you’re normal! You will get through it. So, bye-bye Next Chapter New Life. Think about changes in your life and how these three phases occurred. It will help you the next time you have a change. Go to top 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! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

9 Must-Read Career Books for Professionals - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 9 Must-Read Career Books for Professionals - Introvert Whisperer 9 Must-Read Career Books for Professionals Who does not want to be successful in life? But success does not come easy. It comes only to the most dedicated and the perseverant of professionals. No, you do not have to be a workaholic to taste success in your career. A professional has to be sincere and hardworking enough and most importantly, he or she should be alert and dynamic. Many of the young professionals these days fret about the wrong things in life. As a result, their work suffers, and they end up being depressed. What I have noticed is that this young generation is very impatient. Professional life is not a click away, and success never has a shortcut. In school, you could turn to someone and ask them, “Could you do my assignment for me?” But in your work life, there is no such shortcut available. There are several other aspects of life that make us better professionals and help us have a successful career. Although you can resort to a life coach or a career counselor, books can be your best friend too. There are several books that can guide and inspire you to become a great professional. These books will help you tap your potential and will help you make it big in your career. If you are dreaming of making it big in your professional life, then here are nine career books that are sure to give your professional life a boost.   1. So Good They Cant Ignore You by Cal Newport This book is a gem of a book that tells you more than the flowery aspects of professional life. Quite often, you will find books that will just give you a heads up and motivate you to take the plunge but will refrain from telling you about the dark secret of the world that awaits you out there. Being an author and a professor, Cal Newport reveals and talks about the many hurdles that you will have to pass before you taste success in your field. While inspiring you to follow your dream, he warns you about the reality of the world too. So that once you find your passion, you do not have to look behind again. It teaches you how to survive in the rat race and be brilliant in what you do, so that your efforts do not go unnoticed. 2. Zero to One by Peter Thiel Peter Thiel, a legendary entrepreneur and an investor in startups is the best person to tell you how to make it big as a young entrepreneur. The world is advancing towards better dawn where young entrepreneurs are achieving beyond the conventions and replacing some of the Wall Street gurus. The book serves as a concise guide and will tell you the formulas to establish a game-changing business. 3. How to Win Friends Influence People by Dale Carnegie A favorite among professionals for a long time, several career coaches recommend this book for its treasure box of wisdom. Written by Carnegie, the book gives us an insight into the more subtle working that goes in inside an office. The book talks about the human interactions and the meaning behind it. In the end, Carnegie tells you how to understand human behavior and use it to your benefit to emerge as the leader. The language used in the book is personal, and you can connect to it despite the fact that the book dates back to the time of the Great Depression. 4. Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg We already know how difficult it for a woman to survive in a workplace. With all the sexism and the patriarchy around, women can barely breathe in their professional life, let alone climb up the ladder of success. But most often, what we forget is that a woman herself can be her enemy and can, therefore, hamper her work. Lean In tells all the young women professionals out there that despite the bias and favoritism, women can be great leaders and influencers too. Through brilliant storytelling, Sandberg picks out instances from her own life and sites them as examples to tell you how to achieve professional progress. 5. Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath Most of us suffer from an inferiority complex which makes us magnify our flaws. Tom Rath’s Strengths Finder 2.0 reminds us of the potential each one of us has that can help us to soar higher to gain career success. The book motivates you and tells you to focus on your qualities and what you are good at, instead of spending time assessing your weaknesses. The book gives you a much-needed morale boost, and the book helps young professionals in determining their strengths and teaches them to convert their strengths into action. If you are feeling lost about selecting a job that you think is the right one for you, then this book is a must-read for you. 6. Getting Things Done by David Allen This book is an absolute personal favorite, and Ill tell you why! If you are just a college graduate and have started working very recently, then this book is ideal for you. Allen who has been working for Essayassignmenthelp.com.au tells you about the basics of the professional life that however trifling it might seem to be; it can help you have a satisfying life. From how to be better at time management, to maintaining work-home harmony, the book has it all. The author tells you what to do and what not to do, so that you can achieve your goals on time. 7. Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader by Herminia Ibarra When you start your career, it is crucial that you start with the right mindset. It is in your early stages, that you develop your take on leadership and success. The book Act like a Leader is just the right kind of a career book that gives you advice on all the things that may help you in having a better work life. The book will inspire you to achieve success and satisfaction in a rapidly evolving workplace. As the name suggests, the book by Ibarra will train your mind to think like a leader so that you realize the potential that you have within you. 8. Unfinished Business by Anne-Marie Slaughter Former director of policy planning for the US State Department under Hillary Clinton, Anne-Marie Slaughter talks about how difficult it is to achieve a balanced life in between work and home. She cites examples from her own life too. She has been a constant supporter of the protection of rights of women workers, and her book is just about that â€" the struggle of a woman at her workplace. The book talks about how to establish gender equality and how a woman can make work-life harmony a possible thing. 9. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson Steve Jobs is a name that is an epitome of success. Now which person does not want to become like him? In the biography, Isaacson talks about what made Jobs tick. When you read about Jobs, you will find how important it is to change in order to keep up with the fast-paced world. This book is sure to inspire you and make you dream big. After a read, you will want to give it your all to achieve what Jobs had. The fact that Jobs was turned down by several investors before he went on to become the magnate that he is will give you a much-needed morale boost.   Professional life is hard. But the above career books act as mans best friends and save you from the stress and give you some valuable insight into the mechanics of a workplace. These books will train you in a way that nothing can stop you from attaining success in life. So what are you waiting for? Get hold of these books and set yourself to conquer the world! Good luck, you young gun! Author Bio: Nathan William is a writer and an editor who also provides assignment help and all other kinds of homework help to students through MyAssignmentHelp.com. Besides being a voracious reader, he loves to backpack around the world. Bonus suggestion:   Accelerate Your Career (Even with a Bad Boss) by 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! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

How To Improve Your MCAT Score

How To Improve Your MCAT Score The MCAT is the cornerstone of your entire med school application process. Its where your acceptance conversation begins. And it may be the most important factor in your application. You can actually improve your MCAT score. Its not easy, but it can be done. The following tips can help: Practice tests: Youve probably heard it before, but this is THE BEST WAY to improve your MCAT score. Practicing helps your brain organize and structure its thinking around the format and rigor of the MCAT. Practice tests can also rapidly improve your speed, allowing you to answer more questions. Click here for free practice tests from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Pace your practice tests: The way you practice can make a huge difference. Try to take one practice test a week, every week preferably every Saturday morning because thats when youre going to take your real test. Its the same idea as cramming for a test versus studying in smaller increments. Pacing yourself gives your brain a chance to learn and process the information presented on the MCAT, rather than memorizing concepts and patterns. Maintain consistency: Your brain likes sameness; so try to emulate the real test as much as possible. Take full-length practice tests when you can. Also do not take breaks longer than youre given on the test and take the test at the same time in the morning. Do this for 12 weeks, and you will boost your mental endurance. Then you will begin to see rapid improvements. Answer every question: There is no penalty for an incorrect answer; so make sure you have an answer to every multiple choice question before time runs out. If youre going to flat-out guess, select B or C because there are more correct answers for those options. Learn howMCAT tutorscan help you improve your chances of acceptance into a top med school. Do not dwell on questions: Youre not going to get every question right. So, dont spend lots of time on challenging questions. If its a tough, time-consuming question you may not even get it right in the first place. Answer the easier, less time-intensive questions first; then move on to the more difficult ones. Use a MCAT study book: They are not difficult to find, and nearly any book can help improve your score. The books will show you patterns, common pitfalls and skills you need to perform better on the MCAT. Also, buy the most recent edition of the book because test makers are constantly updating the MCAT, and a new edition can reflect those updates. Work with a one-on-one tutor: Its really easy to figure out where you struggle. Anyone can do that by taking a practice test. But, then how do you improve in those areas? Thats the real challenge to raising your MCAT score. Working with a tutorcan help you rapidly improve in your most problematic areas; so you can fine tune your skills on other sections. Taking classes on the MCAT could also be a good idea, but a tutor can tailor each session to your specific needs. Balanced diet: Everybody says you should eat a big breakfast the day of the test. Well, everybody is wrong. Eating a gigantic breakfast is only going to make you tired during the test. Your body will be using energy to break down your food, energy that should be spent focusing on the MCAT. Eating a smaller, high-protein meal of eggs, nuts, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc and lots of fruit can help give you energy for the big test. Set a routine: How early will you need to wake up on test day to eat a well-balanced meal, get your mindset right and be ready for the test? Say, its 7 am. Then, you should wake up every day at 7 am 7-10 days before the test. Eventually, your body will be used to getting up that early, and you wont feel as tired. Also, dont pound Red Bulls in the morningunless thats what you do every morning. Try to mimic the exact same morning for 7-10 days, and you will feel great on test day. Flash cards: Make these your best friend while you are preparing for your MCAT. Write down any concepts, equations and other information you are struggling with and carry your flash cards anywhere. Constantly review these before class or work or while youre working out/walking around. This will give your brain a chance to spread out its learning. Do not try to cram your studying for the MCAT please this isnt your freshman biology class. Keep confidence: Not everyone takes the exact same test, and by nature some tests are more difficult. There can be up to 10 variations of the MCAT on test day, and each is graded on its own curve and scored differently. So, dont get discouraged if your questions seem incredibly difficult. For example, eight correct answers on a difficult test may yield a higher score than 11 correct answers on an easier test. About the test: The MCAT is a 5.5 hour, computer-based test. You can only take it three times in one year. The test is scheduled to undergo minor changes in 2015, as the questions will be updated to reflect advancements in the medical field. It is designed to measure your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The test is comprised of four sections: Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, Biological Sciences and WritingSample. Each section (except writing) has 40-52 questions and is 60-70 minutes long. Sections are scored 1-15, and the writing section is scored alphabetically from J (lowest possible score) to T (highest possible score). The writing section is not as important as the other sections, but you can draw attention (positive or negative) if you have a really high or low score.

Words Paucity to Prodigious - Private Tutoring

Words Paucity to Prodigious BobbiM May 6, 2014 Use some of the words below to describe amounts: There are SO MANY ants in our yard!  Sounds much smarter when you say, Theres a plethora of ants in our yard!  Say that and youll get all the ladies, boys. Paucity; n. Smallness of number. Those in charge of the election were disappointed when they saw the paucity of voters that came. Scarcity of amount. There was a paucity of clean water which caused some panic. Petty; adj. Trivial; of little importance. I am in charge of many things an I must leave the petty details to be taken care of by others. Narrow-minded; shortsighted. Dont be petty and miss the big picture while being trivial over small details. Mean and grudging. Shes so petty that shes still mad at me for the wrong I did to her ten years ago. Pittance; n. A very small amount, often referring to an unusually meager amount of money. I only earn a pittance at my current job and that is why Im looking for new employment. Scant; adj., v. Adjective: Barely sufficient; falling short of a necessary amount; inadequately supplied. Because of the weather, only a scant amount of fans came to the baseball game. Verb: To shortchange or deal with something inadequately or neglectfully. Because of my demanding job, I scant on time with family. Mammoth; n, adj. noun: a great, hairy, prehistoric, elephant-like creature. I have seen a replica of the remains of a prehistoric mammoth. Anything if unusual size. Did you see the mammoth mosquito? Adjective: enormous; of great or unusual size or proportions. Driving the enormous truck was a fun experience for me. Monumental; adj. Resembling a monument. The monumental gathering for the opening or the store was really fun. Exceptionally large, sturdy, or enduring. It may seem like a monumental undertaking but I know it will be worth it to write a book. Plethora; n. An excessive amount; a surplus. We had a plethora of jelly beans left over from Easter. Prodigious; adj. Excessively great in size, force, or content. The tornado caused such prodigious wind that many trees snapped in half. Exceptionally talented. She is a prodigious student in her school. She especially excels in theater.

The Importance of a GMAT Score

The Importance of a GMAT Score GMAT MBA Admissions Blog If you are applying to an MBA program, you probably already know that the business school admissions committees will look at a number of elements in your application, but also that not all components are made equal in this process. One of the most important factors when applying to business school is your score for the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), which is a standardized exam developed specifically for business school applicants, intended to measure their capability in pursuing an MBA program in an objective way. Applicants to MBA programs often think that the GMAT is only important in the admissions process, to get admitted to their dream business school, but that is actually not true. Instead, it is likely that you will be asked to disclose your GMAT score after graduation, as many prospective employers, companies and talent scouts will want to see these to evaluate how suitable you are for specific jobs. In this post, however, we will be focusing on the importance of a GMAT score for MBA application purposes, as we know many MBA applicants are wondering: just how important is the GMAT score? And is it worth retaking the exam, should you get a less than perfect score? The answer to these questions is that it depends where you will be applying. Not all business schools place the same importance on the score. It is known, however, that many of the top business schools use the score to weed out applicants, before looking closely at other parts of their application. It is also said that even in cases where they do look carefully at the application as a whole, a lower than average GMAT score can often be such a hurdle that the applicant needs to be extraordinary in other areas in order to overcome the low score and even be considered for admission. Some of the top business schools known to place a lot of importance on GMAT scores are Wharton, MIT and Stanford. That doesn’t mean it is unheard of for an applicant with a low GMAT score to be admitted to these schools, it just means they will have to make up for that score in a big way in the rest of their profile. Applicants applying to such GMAT-heavy business schools may want to consider retaking the test if they end up with a less than desirable GMAT score to improve their chances of admission, and repeat if necessary. On the other hand, there are plenty of other reputable business schools that just see the score as one part of the application and are looking for a well-rounded application instead. Applicants applying to these schools need not worry as much about their GMAT score and may want to consider other ways of boosting their profile (excellent recommendations, strong essays, etc.) instead of retaking the exam. What is a “good” GMAT score then? Again, this really depends on the business school in question but for most top ranked business schools, a score above 700 is considered to be a good thing, meaning the applicant will probably not be rejected on the basis of the score alone. Anything under 700, however, for the top 10 or even top 20, and the applicant may want to consider retaking in order to maximize their chances of admission. For lower ranked business schools, the definition of “good” will vary considerably but keep in mind that an above average score may really boost your chances at these schools, including for scholarships. About the Author Michelle Miller is the CEO ofARINGO Americas, an MBA admissions consulting firm specializing in assisting candidates gain entry to the top MBA programs around the world. Michelle has worked in higher education for over 10 years and is currently writing her PhD dissertation.

9 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Refinancing Your Student Loans

9 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Refinancing Your Student Loans blog.credit.com 5. Will they combine federal and private loans? The allure of refinancing student loans is being able to group all of your loans into one. Many students took out government financed loans as well as personal loans which can be tricky because of varying payments and amounts. Refinancing usually allows you to bundle all of your loans together into one payment which can be a huge plus. 6. Have I done my research? Similar to what I said about finding the best rates, do your research on the company in general. It’s likely you’ll be working with them for five to 10 years and if you’re constantly frustrated with them, it’s a recipe for disaster. Make sure the company you have is helpful and provides personal information for you. Don’t fall into the trap of finding good rates at a company you hate dealing with. 7. What are minimum rates? Even though it may seem counter intuitive, sometimes your debt may be too low. Most times, companies require a minimum of $7,500-10,000 of minimum student loan debt. If you’re under that, it may be easier to just pay off your student loans in the traditional fashion. Again, these rates will vary based on the company you’re looking at, so if your debt ranges around those numbers, be sure to check for minimum rates. 8. What’s my income and credit score? Like many loans, refinancing companies will often require either a steady (and relatively high) income or a really nice credit score to be approved. If you’re fresh out of college, it isn’t likely that either of those will be your first priority and might be lacking. However, some companies will accept you based on timely payments in general. Because of this, you’ll probably need a cosigner on your refinancing loan. If finding someone to cosign seems like a large issue, refinancing may become an issue for you. 9. Should I shorten my loan horizon? Ultimately, as it is with any loan, the shorter the horizon of your loan, the less interest you’ll be paying. This means you’ll be paying less money than you already owe. However, this doesn’t mean that the shortest loan is always the most feasible option. If you are seriously doubting your abilities to make the monthly payments on the shortest loan plan, don’t force yourself to. Make sure you’re settled into something reasonable and safe. Ask yourself if you can seriously take on the responsibilities of the loan. With all the grey areas of student loans and debt, finding out exactly how and what to do about them seems difficult at best. Because of the varying nature of student loans in amounts, grants, loan types, and other things, no one formula works. The best thing to do is to always do your research and really understand the benefits and repercussions of any loaning option. Talk to the staff of loaning companies to get a true feel to what you should be doing and how they’ll be able to help you. Once you do decide to refinance or not, you’ll be glad you know why.