Whether you consider yourself a born wordsmith or feel like written language is the absolute bane of your very existence, you’ll have no choice but to write your fair share of essays throughout the course of your higher educational career. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re studying — you’re going to have to write papers on it. Not just one, and not just once. Even if you’re a mathematician or chemist, you’ll still have to know how to wield the English language in a way that’s effective enough to set up an argument and prove it using whatever evidence has been made available to you by your research and studying.

Writing Techniques

Lucky for you, writing that perfect college essay doesn’t have to involve as much trial and tribulation as you might feel like it should. In fact, there are a few great techniques we’ll talk about that will help make your writing more effective, and a few things you can avoid that will help you keep from looking like you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Addressing Audience

How you address your audience is a key part of any piece of writing, and when you’re writing an academic essay, research paper, or the like, you’re going to want to make sure you avoid any kind of second-person or first-person language. Don’t say “you,” and don’t refer to yourself as the speaker of the essay. The idea, when you’re writing an essay, is that you’re presenting an argument and then backing it up with evidence that shows it to be irrefutable fact, no matter how you slice it. As such, the linguistic presentation of your essay should suggest complete objectivity.

Avoid Plagiarism
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Of course, one of the main don’ts of writing your college essay is making sure you avoid plagiarism, whether you do it intentionally or otherwise. It’s regarded by pretty much every seriously university as a major offense and can sometimes even wind up being punished by expulsion. The thing is, plagiarism can happen completely on accident, simply by you not doing your work carefully enough. The whole point of you writing an essay for college is displaying that you understand the material well enough that you can distill the main points of your argument effectively and in your own language. If you’re using the language of the sources you’re using for your research, then it becomes clear that you don’t understand the material in the way that the course requires.

Assessment Success

Whether you’re participating in clinical nurse specialist online programs or studying to earn your PhD in mathematics, it’s important to understand the basics of writing a good essay. No matter what you study, you’ll have to go through your general education track, and even when that’s done, it’s doubtful you can get through even the most numbers-oriented major without having to write some essays here and there. With the few tips and techniques, we’ve discussed, you’ll be able to avoid getting anything less than the stellar grades that you know you deserve.

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Linda S. Davis works as an English teacher at a local college. Besides, she is a highly experienced editor at 500 word essay. By the way, she is a great speaker and communicator.

College essays can be an exercise in frustration for those who aren’t adept at writing. Not all of us intend to have careers that will involve a whole lot the written word, and while communicating well is an important enough skill, it’s not always vital to know how to write a good argumentative essay. Nevertheless, as a college student, you'll have to write more than your fair share of essays whether you’re studying biology, engineering, or poetry. Luckily, there are a few easy tips that can help you come up with a great essay topic pretty much every time. Once you learn the steps to writing an effective argument, it becomes clear that there are plenty of formulas you can follow to put together a solid paper, all that’s required of you is coming up with the information to fill it in.
 
Make an ArgumentWhile this doesn’t mean you have to be contentious, it does mean that your essay should argue a point. That is, it should make a statement in the introduction to essay (and title), and then the body of your text offers the evidence that proves your claim. It’s less about coming up with something brand new or enlightening, and much more about showing that you can posit an argument, then back it up with a well-reasoned argument.

Go for Something Covered in ClassIf you can find a way to connect your essay topic with something that was covered in class, you’ll not only have an easier time writing it, but you’ll be able to connect with the teacher’s lesson plan in a way that shows that you’re genuinely involved in the class. This also makes it easier to supplement your research with notes from class.

Think Outside the BoxWhile every essay doesn’t have to be a revelation, it definitely helps to make an effort at approaching your topic or assignment from a unique perspective. If you can come up with a topic that perhaps examines or approaches the subject in a new way, then you’ll be able to write a paper that your professor notices and probably appreciates a lot more than the same old boring topics everyone else turned in.

Keep It SimpleOriginality is great, but getting too complex with your topic can be alienating and confusing. It’s never fun to give your professor more homework by creating a confusing and dense essay topic that’s harder to understand than the argument itself.

Ask for HelpIf you need to visit your professor’s office hours and don’t be afraid to ask for some help picking out a killer topic for your essay. This shows that you’re taking the initiative to get ahead in class, but that you aren’t afraid to admit when you’re unsure of your work. Humility goes a long way, even in a school setting.
Whether you’re working on an online MBA healthcare administration or a four-year university major track, there are a lot of ways that you can help yourself get ahead when it comes to picking a great essay topic. It’s the first and most important to coming up with a great essay, so it’s good to arm yourself with the right strategies as soon as you get started.

College Essay TopicsThis is not an essay that you will be writing for grades. The college application essay is the most important essay that you will write in your life since it will decide and determine your future education.

Hundreds of students like you will be applying to study at the college and each one of them will be writing an essay. To get selected for college, your essay should not only be well written but must also be honest and true to your personality. The purpose of college application essay is basically to test your writing skills and your ability to structure thoughts in an organized manner so as to express a point.

Selecting a good topic for your essay should be your first priority. The topic must not only be strong but should have a focus and the arguments that you put across for it must be valid. In other words, your essay topic must reflect your strengths and not your shortcomings.

Your essay should effectively highlight all your strong points, so choose a topic that inspires you. It would also be better if you select a topic that is relevant to the course that you are applying for at the University

List of Topics1.             Five things that you are scared of
2.             Most happy moments of your life
3.             Most sad moments of your life
4.             One person who influenced you the most
5.             One person whom you admire the most (Must be from your circle of friends and family)
6.             Why do you think kids run away from home?
7.             Recession in USA – How it affected me?
8.             Do you feel that Death Sentence will wipe out crime in the society?
9.             Effects of Global Warming
10.         Online Books Vs. Paperbacks. Will the online books replace regular books in the near future?
11.         How did the earthquake and tsunami in Japan affect you?
12.         Discuss your goals and career path after college?
13.         Your reasons for selecting this college.
14.         What are your strengths and weakness and how do you plan to overcome your weakness?
15.         Two important world events that has affected you personally
16.         Historical personality that you admire and why?
17.         National monument that fills you with inspiration
18.         Most influential book that you have read so far
19.         Places that you would love to travel to again
20.         The jobs that you have held so far and what you learnt through them
21.         The toughest job you have held so far and the toughest boss you had to deal with
22.         What do people think and say about you? Do you agree with them?
23.         Does your car reflect your personality?
24.         Your relationships with the opposite sex.
25.         The most meaningful relationship that you have held so far with the opposite sex
26.         What would be the worst nightmare that you have had so far?
27.         10 things that you worry about everyday
28.         10 things that you wish you hadn’t said
29.         What do you think about parents divorcing and its effect on children? (Write from your experience or from your friends’)
30.         Your favorite musician and reasons why you admire him or her.

There are many personal topics given in the list above. But do remember, that this is an essay and not a diary entry. Even if your essay is about a personal subject, there is no reason for you to get too personal about it!

Bio author:
​Nicholas H. Parker is an English teacher with a huge experience. He likes using different methods of teaching such a CLIL. Besides, he writes articles at BuyEssayClub.com to share his knowledge with others. He tries to keep up with advancing technology. For example, he is highly interested in the web design sphere. 

The last social activity of the year for Rice Intensive English Program students was a holiday party followed by a trip to the Houston Zoo Lights. We closed the year with a bang! Students gathered in the Dean’s Commons to eat pizza and sing holiday carols. After a collective rendition of “Jingle Bells”, a group of energized students hit the dance floor and moved to Latin rhythms like merengue.
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The celebratory mood carried on when, one hour later, students and teachers boarded a classic yellow school bus that took them to the Zoo Lights. For some students, it brought back childhood memories of riding the school bus in their home countries, while for others it was a symbol of the American way of life. The bus ride was a perfect opportunity to share special stories and celebrate togetherness. There were sparkles of joy and anticipation in the cool December air.

The Zoo Lights were spectacular! Throughout the holiday season, over 24 km of LED lighting illuminate the zoo’s historic oak trees, line its pathways and bring to life curious animal shapes. A remarkable group of over sixty students and teachers managed to stay together while they meandered across the monumental structures and shimmering designs. Students at the beginner levels of English were leading the bunch with their vibrancy and cheer. The chilly weather provided the perfect ambiance for the holiday-themed activity and made it a necessity to indulge in a cup of hot chocolate. As a perfect close to the festive evening, students met Santa and Mrs. Claus. A few may even have told him what presents they want to find under the tree!

When asked what was his favorite thing at Zoo Lights, one student said, “I saw a giraffe with wonderful friends”! What more can one ask for? From all of us at the Intensive English Program, we wish all our friends and followers a wonderful and magical holiday season!

Author: Milagros Lugo-Amador, Assistant Director 

For more information:  Rice University Intensive English Program

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Textbooks–they’re my own personal form of Ambien. I’ve never been able to figure it out, no matter what it is, one page and I’m out like a light. But let me play with my iPod and the music carries me for days. I boast about being able to learn an entire new song in just a few hours.
You might not think of it as studying but in a sense that’s exactly what you are doing. You listen and repeat, listen and repeat, until the lyrics are permanently implanted in your head. And unlike material gained through books, songs can radiate through your head for days or even weeks before they’re entirely flushed down the drain.
So, what better way to study English than learning it through song? You get to learn vocabulary while hearing its proper pronunciation, though you might want to stay away from rap or anything too modern for now, since colloquialisms are best learned at a more advanced stage, when you can tell the difference between correct and incorrect idiom usage. Below are some quick tips on how to study your lyrics:

1. Pick a song that you like but that is not too complex. It’s extremely important that you get the correct lyrics so that you can decipher the right meaning of the song. There are a lot of great sites to get accurate lyrics.
2. Read the lyrics in their entirety. You don’t need to understand everything but try to see if you can at least get a good feel for what the song is about. Is it a romantic song? A sad song? A happy song? Is it abstract or literal? Try to compare and contrast the English song to something familiar in your native tongue. It’ll help you see similar and cultural differences from your own.
   
3. Re-read and circle all the words/phrases you don’t know and would like to learn. Sometimes context clues will give you a better understanding of what the word means but if necessary, by all means look up their exact meaning in a dictionary. A dictionary might also be useful in finding other interesting phrases or words.
4. Hear the song three to four times before you decide to chime in karaoke style. Read the lyrics a few times right before bed and also try listening to the song while you sleep. Even in your slumber, your brain will still retain the information. Listen and repeat until you got it down.
   
5. Test yourself. There are  many websites such as  Lyrics Training that are especially designed to help non-English speakers learn the language. As a series of song lyrics run down the screen it's up to you to fill in the missing words. You can choose from a huge selection of contemporary songs in their bank that are divided into easy, medium and hard difficulty levels.

About the author: Diane H. Wong is an English teacher. Moreover, she works as an editor for DoMyWriting.com. Besides, she likes elaborating her own strategies of learning languages. 

International students have the benefit of experiencing new cultures as they pursue their education. While it is wonderful to have the opportunity to see the world, it can get a little scary to enter a new country where you might not know the primary language. Learning to speak English takes time and practice, and your desire to visit another country gives you the perfect chance to refine your skills. In the meantime, you can use these tips to make it easier to travel as a student until you have a firm grasp of the language.
 
Brush Up on the Basics

The English language has several key phrases that help you get through many common social situations that you encounter while traveling. For instance, you should know how to say your full name along with where you are going. You should also know some proper greetings and polite sayings such as how to ask for help or directions. Remember that the smallest amount of vocabulary can help you handle the largest amount of social interactions.

Put Essential Information in Writing

There are times when it is easier to communicate with pre-written language. For example, you can get custom engraved luggage tags that list important information such as your name, home address, and destination. This can help you to avoid trying to navigate your way through a conversation with people at the airport who may not understand your language. You can also pre-print a few of those key phrases that you have trouble remembering. This way, you can just point to them when you encounter a challenging conversation.

Use a Language App

Technology is an asset for international travelers. Make sure to keep your cellphone powered up so that you can access your favorite language translation app. You should make sure to download the app and practice using it before you head out for your trip. In a pinch, Google tends to have a translation function in the search bar that is easy enough for most students to use.

Practice Talking as Much as Possible
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Finally, don’t get so hung up on being nervous that you forget to try out your English speaking skills. Go ahead and try to speak the language to the people that you meet. It’s okay to let them know that you are still learning, and remember that most people can understand you if you take your time to get most of the words right. Practice helps to give you confidence as you spend more time in your new country.
 
As you travel, most people that you meet will be excited to hear that you are learning English. You’ll also discover that immersing yourself in a new culture allows you to experience the language in ways that you cannot at home. From making your way through the airport to sitting down in your brand new classroom, using every method that you have available to communicate enhances your experience.
 
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Author Bio:
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan

The modern human being cannot deny the importance of English Language in the contemporary world. It is hard to survive in the modern era without having its basic knowledge. Immigrants or students who are non-native English speakers can get assistance from the ESL courses at school.

ESL is an acronym for “English as a Second Language”. It is a course purely designed to provide newbies with the basic instructions to learn the second language efficiently. The upcoming content will enlighten you with the top twenty tactics, which a beginner can adapt to excel in his ESL class.

Choose the best ESL learning book
To prepare yourself for something big, it is better to have a basic insight into it. ESL programs help students to learn English in the best possible way. Before you attend an ESL class, do a little bit of research on your own. Dig out for the best-selling ESL beginners’ book. Read and try to comprehend as much as possible. It is preferable to sit prepared in the class rather than being a clean slate.

Search out for a good mentor
“If you have correct word and correct perspective, you can change the whole world”
says Mr. William Brown, English Language Mentor at Academist Help.

There is always a good mentor behind a successful student. To learn effectively, target the best institute in your area that has the most qualified instructors on board. The reputed organizations provide their teachers with course specified training that efficiently enhances the output. They also equip their tutors with the information regarding tools and techniques that make the entire learning process more interesting and impactive.

Build a schedule
It is very beneficial to prepare a schedule for yourself and stick to it. Keep the entire ESL curriculum in your mind and map it accordingly. This will help you to revise the lecture daily and be on track. Furthermore, scheduling will help you envision your goal and encourage you to fight for it.

Practice with dedication
Even if you have crammed all the material required for the ESL course, your knowledge will be of no use until you practice it. After attending the class at school, review the entire lecture thoroughly at home. Practice the basic rules of English by using your four core skills; speaking, writing, reading, and listening. This habit will improve your performance drastically throughout your learning journey.

Suitable learning environment
The environment has a strong influence on the cognitive abilities of an individual. Surround yourself with people having constructive attitudes, who encourage you to learn passively. Apart from this, find a calm spot at your school or college, where you can memorize and exercise things easily without being distracted.

Memorize phrases not words
To repeat and retain one word at a time seems easy for beginners. This approach might work for students in some cases, but learning English on this pattern seems a bit counterproductive.
One of the tips for English Language beginners is to learn phrases rather than words. For instance, before going to a restaurant, prepare the phrases in your mind which can be used while ordering the food. This practice will encourage a learner to be confident in various circumstances.

Build a small audience
One of the most productive ways to learn English is to speak in front of the audience. Seek help from your friends and family in this regard. Prepare a topic and ask them to gather and listen to the material you have prepared. This will enhance your confidence, and you will not feel shy anymore.

Take it lightly on your nerves
There is no need to panic if you are unable to keep pace with the rest of your class. Getting too hard on yourself will only worsen the situation. If you feel overburdened at any stage during the course, seek help through meditation to release stress. Give yourself a break and start again when you feel ready.

Avoid single-word answers
While attending ESL classes, teachers usually ask students various questions to polish their English speaking skills. Whenever you are presented with any sort of query, make sure you avoid giving a one-word answer such as; yes or no. Go into a little bit of detail, almost two to three sentences. This will boost your confidence and consequently enhance your grip on the language.

Opt for an entertaining route
To make your ESL training a bit more exciting, choose an entertaining way to master the art of English language. When things start to get boring, spice them up by watching a Hollywood movie or a season. You can also listen to songs or podcasts. This will improve your listening skills and also increase your vocabulary.

Group discussions
Participating in group discussions can have numerous positive effects on your learning abilities. Choose a topic and share your point of view in the group. Allow other members to support or negate your idea and put forward their stance. Avoid getting distracted by the other factors in the environment and correct each other's mistakes in a constructive manner.

One-on-one meeting with tutor
Once you have understood the basis of ESL, have a one on one meeting with your tutor whenever feasible. You can talk to your professor about the problem you are facing currently regarding the course. Moreover, you can share your doubts with the instructor and ask him to pinpoint the areas you need to work on.

Reading aloud
To improve your reading skills, try to read out loud in class. This will make super easy for your mentor to identify and correct your pronunciation mistakes. Furthermore, this habit can assist you to improve your accent, allowing you to communicate with native speakers easily.

Practice writing
If you want to excel in the ESL course, it is important to work on all the core skills simultaneously. At an early stage of learning, assignment help can be taken by using various essay writing services that will introduce you to the basic guidelines to complete your writing tasks appropriately. To further enhance your skills in this domain, google a random topic daily and try to write about all its aspects. Compare it with the standard texts available on various websites. This will allow you to self-evaluate your skill-set.

Assessment sessions
Students often go through examination phobia and feel reluctant to appear in the test sessions. It is advisable for the students to never miss an assessment session even if he has less knowledge of the subject. Keep in mind that you don't have to opt for cheating methodologies to prove yourself.

Learn spelling rules
The best way to learn English is by focusing on three pillars; vocabulary, grammar, and spelling. A student often loses his marks by making huge blunders in the spelling section. To avoid such mistakes, educate yourself with all the rules to make things easier rather than just cramming them again and again.

Own your mistakes
Most of the students feel reluctant to own their mistakes. They blame their tutors and organization for not providing them with adequate material and accuse them of their loss. This destructive behavior can halt progress and make their learning journey even more frustrating.

Don't overburden yourself
The students who want to excel from the rest of the class usually overburden themselves. They make a tight schedule for themselves and take very few breaks. They usually stay aloof from the rest of the class and do not socialize actively. Their only goal is to leave everyone behind. Such an extreme attitude will never benefit an individual and thus decreasing overall productivity.

Keep a diary/journal
It is essential to keep a journal or diary by your side while attending the ESL course. Try to make notes while listening to the lecture attentively and highlight the important points. This technique will help you to revise the content and apply it in your daily conversation.

Take rest
When you exercise strenuously, your body demands an adequate amount of rest to regain energy. Similarly, after putting so much effort into learning a new language your brain needs to relax too. Napping between study hours has proven to be the best tactic to boost your brain activity. Furthermore, reward your taste buds with yummy treats after reaching short term study goals.

Learning English as a second language is not easy tasks but remember nothing is impossible in this world. So, don’t stress yourself and keep up the good work!

Claudia Jeffrey is an experienced Linguistic Teacher at King Essay, one of the leading academic writing services. She also provides consultancy regarding various academic queries. She loves reading novels in her free time.

Moving abroad to study is no small task and can lead to plenty of headaches down the line if you don’t consider things carefully before setting off. To help ensure students experience a smooth move, here are a few essential things they need to think about before moving to their new home – from handy packing tips to useful advice about language learning.
 
Income
 
First things first, how will you support yourself? This may sound like a strange one to begin with, but you’d be surprised by just how many students don’t fully consider their finances before moving.
 
The attraction of a new life and a new start abroad can be intoxicating, and lead you to make rash decisions and head off too soon. So before you pack your bags, make sure you’ve got everything in order, even if you already have a student loan/grant/scholarship, a part-time job lined up or a passive income to keep you afloat.
 
Either way, it’s always helpful to have enough savings to support yourself to begin with. Besides, moving to your new home a few weeks before you start studying can give you some time to explore your surroundings and settle in, without the added stress of adjusting to a new course.
 
Packing
 
Packing your life away can take up a lot of space, and space when moving abroad comes at a premium. So to make your move cheaper and less chaotic, think about what you’ll really need in your new home. For example, if the climate in the US is warmer than that of your home country, will you really need all those thick winter clothes?
 
Clothing can pile up quickly, so before you start packing, it’s a good idea to invest in some vacuum bags. These are simple to use and, once filled with your clothes, can be used to compress your luggage so that it stays fresh, nicely pressed and takes up less room.
 
Gadgets are another must-have item when you relocate. It’s important to backup your files before moving, though, especially the photos and videos you hold dearest, as even the most well protected laptops and devices can be damaged en route. Take plenty of plug-in adapters with you as well, as there’s nothing worse than carrying a heavy laptop halfway round the world to realise you can’t use it straightaway.
 
Documents
 
Making sure your visas and passports are in order is a must before moving – you won’t get far without them. So before making tracks, research all of the legal red tape you’re likely to encounter. What are the rules and limitations of your visa? Will you be entitled to things like healthcare, or will you need a health insurance plan to cover you while living abroad? Considering these matters before moving abroad is imperative to a smooth transition, as well as returning home if you need to, and can save you money in the long run.
 
Language
 
If you’re not a native English speaker, learning a new language can be hard – but it can make the difference between fitting in and feeling isolated when you first arrive. Knowing a few handy phrases and having a reasonable understanding of the local lingo before you move can make relocating a lot simpler too.
 
One of the main roadblocks to learning a new language for many people are memories of school and the thought of spending hours sat in front of a desk reciting from a textbook. This type of learning, however, though common, isn’t the best way to retain new words and can actually hamper your ability to recall new vocabulary.
 
To truly learn a language, you need to spend hours immersing yourself in it, using books, songs, speaking to native speakers and watching foreign TV and film. Learning this way also teaches you colloquial, everyday language and can help you to sound more like a native speaker.
 
Settling into your new home
 
Getting used to your new surroundings can take some time, so make sure you put plenty of effort into getting settled before you start your course – taking home comforts like your favourite snacks can make a real difference when you’re feeling homesick.
 
Feeling like you’re truly ‘home’ is important, which is why you’ll need to try and get out of the habit of referring to your old home as ‘back home’. This kind of comparative language can feel so natural and automatic, which is why it can be difficult to shift the habit. But to keep homesickness at bay and to help you settle, it’s best to avoid using phrases like these.
 
Moving to a new country is never simple and can involve jumping a lot of hurdles before you even get to passport control. Take plenty of time to organise certificates and visas, ensure you have plenty of savings to fall back on and get to know the language before you move abroad – all of these things can make your transition much smoother and simplify your integration. 

Sabrina Bucknole is a professional copywriter from the United Kingdom. When she’s not looking for her next adventure abroad, she spends her time writing about travel, international living and studying abroad. Some of her most recent, previous work includes: https://www.livinginperu.com/5-reasons-why-peru-is-attractive-to-expats/ and https://www.recruiter.com/i/taking-a-job-abroad-get-these-10-things-in-order-first/

It can be disorienting to go to school in a new place. The challenges of a new environment and level of scholastic stress are even more overwhelming when you’re an international student coming to a college in a foreign country for the first time. Here are some of the strategies that you can use in order to deal with any cultural shock that you may be experiencing.

Develop a Support System

The biggest way to combat culture shock is to have a support system that you can reach out to when you start to feel homesick. This support system can include friends and family that are at home, but you also need to establish relationships closer to where you are now. Try to connect to other international and local students. Being able to sit down with someone on a daily basis can help you to find your equilibrium. The biggest problem with cultural shock is that sometimes you don’t feel like yourself anymore and can start to get lost in the shuffle. Remember that other students will also be sure to feel out of place, and that you can help lift others and be supported in turn.

Create Familiar Atmospheres

Surrounding yourself with familiar items helps to maintain your self-image and comfort. For example, you could read a favorite book or play music from your home country. You could even share parts of your home with others; installing speakers in your room will let you share music with roommates if they’re interested, and hanging posters on the wall can spark conversations. This affords you the opportunity to share your culture with those around you. Creating a sense of home away from home will enable you to combat some of your anxiety.

Keep a Routine

A routine will help you be able to keep up with school even when stressed. It also serves to get you out and interacting with others, which is good for your mental health. As a part of your routine, you should incorporate exercise. A healthy body is a major part of maintaining balance in your life. In order to deal with some of the cultural shock, consider joining an activity like a sport or game group on a regular basis. This can help you to make new friends that can become a part of your support system.

Get Prepared
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There will likely be differences between your culture and your school’s culture. Getting prepared will assist you in making the transition. Being prepared on a mental level is one of the best ways to overcome your cultural shock. Absorb what’s going on around you and remember to reserve judgment. Every culture is unique in its own way. This is part of the reason you wanted to study abroad and expand your horizons.
Coping with cultural shock doesn’t need to hold you back in your studies. Employ these techniques to help you integrate without experiencing the negative side effects.
 
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChapla

If you are struggling with writing in English, you are not alone. English might be the most widely spoken language, but it is the most complex one in the world. Writing in English is agonizing to many people, and some don't even believe that there is a way to improve it. However, no matter how much you think you have mastered the art, some person, tool, or software will always point out a mistake in your writing.
If you are reading this, it is highly likely that you are a writer already, and are looking for ways to improve your skills. Use the following tips and tools to improve your English writing skills.

1.  Know how to spell English words correctlyYou don't want to change what you mean by spelling words incorrectly. You also want readers to understand what you mean. The best way to do so is to ensure you master English spelling. You can use flashcards to practice the correct spelling of words. When you have time to spare, test yourself to see how much you have mastered. 
Tools such as Grammarly, Ginger, and most word processors can help you become a better writer. These tools will catch grammar errors and propose to you the correct way to spell the words. 

2.  Use punctuation the right wayYou need to polish your punctuation skills if you want to improve your English writing skills. Poor usage of apostrophes, commas, and conjunctions can change the meaning of an entire sentence. Check if your writing is properly punctuated by using a tool such as Grammar Girl. 
This tool posts regular blogs or podcasts explaining how particular punctuation marks are used. The Economist Style Guide and Grammarly are also good tools that can guide you on how to use punctuation marks, abbreviations, and more. 

3.  Expand your grammarGrammar is the ingredient that makes your writing stand out. Proper grammar requires you to use appropriate punctuation marks, tenses, and contextual words. Luckily, this is not two decades ago. There are very many tools that can help you with your grammar. The most widely used is Grammarly. 
It is a free tool from Chrome that checks the correctness of your grammar, corrects grammatical errors, and teaches you how to avoid the same error in the future. Grammarly also checks for poor vocabulary use and contextual spelling errors. Grammarly is quite useful when writing an email, blog, or a social media post. 
Other tools that can help you improve your grammar include Ginger and Grammar Girl. Install one in your computer today. 

4.  Use simple sentencesIf you want to be a great writer, you don't want to bore your readers with long and complex sentences. Keep your sentences simple, short, and less complicated. Think about how readers perceive information. The simpler sentence much easier perceived by the brain and remembered. And don’t forget to also maintain a nice flow of your sentences. If you are struggling with forming simple sentences, don't worry because there are applications available to help with this. 
The Hemingway App is a free tool that will help you break down long and complex sentences into simple sentences. The app ensures your writing is immediate, direct, and doesn't use the passive voice. It also has a feature called readability score that lets you know how easy it is for your readers to read your text. 

5.   Read a lotThe best English writers are also regular readers of English material. Written materials such as newspapers, books, and brochures help you master different styles of writing. They also improve your vocabularyand grammar. If you are looking forward to becoming a better English writer, expand your skills by reading even more challenging material. However, you must always ensure they are within your line of interest. Underline words you don't understand, then look for their meaning later. 

6.  Practice! Practice! Practice!Like any other art, practice makes perfect. If you want to improve your English writing skills, you must put that pen on paper and write something. The more you write, the more you get better at it. You can look for a personal tutor, professional instructors, or a native English speaker to help you with your written exercises. 
Such persons will correct your work and give you feedback. You can also use apps such as 'hello talk' or Grade Mark to check. These give you feedback on whether you are using the correct style and grammar or not, which will improve your skills. 

Wrapping UpWhether it is for academics, profession, or a personal routine, written communication is a crucial skill today. Unfortunately, there is no magical pill to swallow to help you master written English skills overnight. You must invest time and effort to finally get it right. However, writing English doesn't have to be an intimidating experience. It can be fun too. Use the above tips, and you will notice a significant improvement in your English writing skills.
 
Author’s Bio: Randolph Bunnell is an experienced copywriter and blogger. He works as a freelance writer and regularly contributes to various blogs and online magazines. Randolph also has a medical background and shares tips about health problems in his blog Skin Answer.

Thanks to tech advancements, internet, smartphones, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are collectively revolutionizing the education sector as we know it and making learning a little bit “cooler”. Globally, education entities have made AI investments to the tune of billions in an effort to cope with the fast-changing world. Tech companies, on the other hand, are continually designing intelligent systems that “think” through and memorize information in an almost identical fashion to humans. 
 
Smartphones and tablets are also having their fair share of contribution to this new trend. All learners need to access volumes of information is a browsing device and an internet connection and everything else falls into place. There are even university courses on the internet today, not forgetting the articulate, easy-to-follow YouTube tutorials on literally every topic imaginable. 
 
These tech advancements aren’t only changing how learners consume information. It is sweeping across every big and small department within the education sector. I’m talking changing how educators interact with the learners, how classrooms are set, to how grading and awarding are done. In a nutshell, technology has successfully made education a personalized experience rather than a mass exercise. The learner has a direct link to the information sources and the educator’s role has changed from being the information owner to a learning facilitator. 
 
Case Study
 
Osmosis is offering students smart, highly effective ways of studying thanks to technology. The organization has an assembly of thousands of video tutorials, flashcards, and guiding questions that assist learners to access information in a more consumable fashion. All you need is to purchase a study plan amongst a host of their plans and you will be good to go.
 
Learning by osmosis is no longer a far-fetched dream. Learners of pathology, physiology, and pharmacology have greatly benefited from this form of learning. They get personalized learning and exam schedules based on each learner’s potential and previous performances, reference materials, and personalized reminder emails that keep the learners on their toes at all time. At the end of it all, learning becomes fun and effortless. 
 
Ways through which Internet, AI, and Smartphones are Shaping the Education Industry:
 
1.         Enhanced continuous learning
 
Traditionally, learning started at a finite age- say 3 years- and ended somewhere in the mid-20s. It is as if learning has a specified shelf-life and then once it reaches expiry date, it is substituted with working life. This trend is swiftly coming to an end thanks to the internet and smartphones. People in their 60s and even 80s are now learning through their phones. People are using YouTube tutorials to learn about lawn management, rodent control, cooking, and many other areas that they previously thought were reserved for professionals. 
 
2.         Teaching method algorithms
 
Traditional teaching methods have been blamed for putting all learners into a single basket and then teaching, testing, grading, and awarding them using the same parameters, without caring about how unique people are. Some learners are good in sports, others are good in social sciences, others are good in math, while others are good in sciences. Thanks to AI, educators can be able to tell where exactly a student is weak and where he/she is strong. That enables them to focus more on the strengths other than condemning a kid to failure just because he/she is learning the things she can’t comprehend. 
 
3.         Learners are more empowered with information.
 
Previously, educators have been focusing on training learners on how to handle different tasks in an already-established job market. There wasn’t really any room to learn and tweak things in the market- graduates had to fit into the system otherwise one would be deemed unprofessional. Well, not anymore.
 
Thanks to the internet, educators are now challenged to prepare learners to become innovators. Graduates can now enter a profession and change their outlook from within. No one will ever be forced to conform to ridiculous industry requirements anymore.
 
4.         Better grading
 
Thanks to AI, students will soon start getting the grades they deserve without having to worry about impressing the examiners. Machines have the ability to read a learner’s handwriting, mark an exam, and then grade it appropriately. Professors will no longer hold the fate of the students.
 
5.         Kids will be teachers as well
 
If a kid is conversant with computers and programming codes from as early as 5 years, then he/she is a prime candidate for teaching roles. He/she can, for example, help her mother to organize her recipes or teach her grandparents how to use different prescription drugs. In a classroom setup, that kid can teach her teachers how to set up different tech learning tools. In simple terms, technology has made it possible for teachers and learners to change roles every now and then. 
 

Author Bio: Laura is a marketing specialist at SEOforX. She helps her company advertise its products and services and she has a thorough knowledge on developing marketing approaches for products and brands. Besides being a marketing specialist she has a special interest in financial technology. She finds Fintech fascinating and writes about how the new technology is being used to improve activities in the finance sector.
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