Can I use an indefinite article with a plural noun

Can I use an indefinite article with a plural noun Rule:Dont use indefinite articles with plural words.Incorrect:He hasa muscular arms.Correct:He hasmuscular arms. Rule:Use a partitive structure with words that are never singular.Incorrect:She worea blue jeans. (Other examples: shorts, pants, jeans, leggings)Correct:She worea pair of blue jeans. Exception:Words like series and species look plural, but they are also singular and can be used with an article.Correct:I founda seriesof books at the bookstore that I really enjoy reading.Correct:The Golden Palm Weaver isa speciesof bird in the Ploceidae family. Exceptions that defy explanation:An amazing two days, an awkward ten minutes, a whopping twenty-five pounds, a good many books, etc. Error Correction Exercises:  Find Irregular Plural Errors,  Correct Irregular Plural Errors Please follow and like us:

Helping Your Child Build a Greater Depth of Understanding in Math

Helping Your Child Build a Greater Depth of Understanding in Math Helping Your Child Build a Greater Depth of Understanding in Math You may have heard education experts, researchers or media outlets refer to mathematics curriculum in the United States as being a mile wide and an inch deep. The problem with math education, according to many, is that U.S. math teachers have historically been asked to cover far too many topics in each grade, resulting in students who have only a vague understanding of a lot of areas rather than a deep understanding of fewer, more essential topics. Students are introduced to advanced concepts haphazardly and before they have had an opportunity to master certain basic skills. Of course, the Common Core State Standards are changing all that. Researchers have concluded that mathematics education in the United States must become substantially more focused and coherent in order to improve mathematics achievement in this country, (corestandards.org). As a result, the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics will embody these three key shifts: Greater focus on fewer topics Linking topics and thinking across grades More rigorous overall (educators must help students gain a conceptual understanding of key math concepts, procedural skills and fluency, and application in situations that require mathematical knowledge) How can you help your child learn to apply math and use it as a problem-solving tool? Here are a few tips for parents when helping their child with homework: Have your child talk through math rules. As your child completes homework, periodically have him or her point out to you when a math rule is used and where that rule comes from. Explain the thinking. Even in the simplest math, have your child explain how he or she draws conclusions and why. That cognitive process is becoming more important in math than ever. Try different methods to solve problems. Children should practice using different approaches to solving the same problem and identify similarities among those different methods. Encourage students to visualize math problems. Help your child draw out visual representations of figures or numbers. For example, your child should be able to show what something (a shape, for example) would look like when divided up into fractions. Have your child talk about wrong answers. Just as students should know how to construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others (per the Common Core State Standards for Mathematical Practice), it is helpful for children think through incorrect answers and share their conclusions on why a certain answer to a problem is right and another is wrong. Use math in everyday life. Your child should practice writing down mathematical equations and assumptions when trying to solve real-world problems. He or she should use tools to aid understanding whenever it makes sensetools such as graphs, equations and flowcharts. Pay attention to detail. The new standards expect students to be precise when discussing math and working on math problems. Encourage your child to label his or her work, be neat and explain the symbols used in various mathematical equations. Precision and accuracy is important. As the Standards for Mathematical Practice state, students who lack understanding of a topic may rely on procedures too heavily. Although you may not feel equipped to help your child through probability and statistics homework, you can nurture his or her acquisition of a conceptual understanding of math. Encourage your child to make connections between mathematical ideas and life, use reasoning when working on math, and think critically about how math plays a role in day-to-day life. To learn more about the Common Core State Standards for Math, visit www.corestandards.org. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.

25 things you didnt know about italki 2014 Infographic

25 things you didnt know about italki 2014 Infographic 2014 is over , and  we have prepared an infographic that shows 25 interesting statistics about language learning at italki during the past year. 27 years of language lessons hours!!!  Well done italki students! If you want to  kick-start your language learning in 2015, just 20 hours are enough with the italki language challenge. Dont forget to sign up for yourself and check what other students have to say about previous challenges. Do you like the infographic? Share it on your site! a href=http://blog.italki.com/2015/01/25-things-you-didnt-know-about-italki-in-2014-infographic target=_blankimg src=http://blog.italki.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/italki-infographic-20141.jpg alt=2014 italki Language Learning Statistics Infographic width=640px border=0 //apWhen sharing pleaseinclude attribution to italki.com/p 25 things you didnt know about italki 2014 Infographic 2014 is over , and  we have prepared an infographic that shows 25 interesting statistics about language learning at italki during the past year. 27 years of language lessons hours!!!  Well done italki students! If you want to  kick-start your language learning in 2015, just 20 hours are enough with the italki language challenge. Dont forget to sign up for yourself and check what other students have to say about previous challenges. Do you like the infographic? Share it on your site! a href=http://blog.italki.com/2015/01/25-things-you-didnt-know-about-italki-in-2014-infographic target=_blankimg src=http://blog.italki.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/italki-infographic-20141.jpg alt=2014 italki Language Learning Statistics Infographic width=640px border=0 //apWhen sharing pleaseinclude attribution to italki.com/p

The Ethics of Plagiarism

The Ethics of Plagiarism To put it bluntly, there are no ethics when it comes to plagiarism. Copying someone else's work or getting someone to write it for you is deeply unethical and is one of the Cardinal Sins of university life; to the extent that some unis will kick you out on your first offence, if it's serious enough. Compare this to their stance on students who are involved in crime and drugs (strangely lax, as long as they don't indulge on their turf), and you begin to see how seriously they take it. At its core, it's anti-academic and anti-learning; and while you may gain a few grade points, you won't have actually benefitted at all in an educational sense. But what does 'plagiarism' consist of, exactly? How do you define it? After all, isn't all work based on something? Aren't we all, in a sense, 'standing on the shoulders of giants'? The classic response is that it is perfectly reasonable to relay someone else's ideas and use them in your own argument, as long as you state the fact, usually by formally referencing them (the Harvard Referencing System is the mode du jour for UK unis). But what if you ask a tutor, or a friend, to look over your work, to check for grammar and spelling? They'll go uncredited, usually; and without their input you may have received a lower mark. But I doubt many people would count this as plagiarism. Now, let's take it one step further. So you ask your tutor/friend to look over you work, and they duly do so. But they find a critical flaw in your argument, or something you've overlooked. They give you a suggestion for improvement, and you duly act upon it. Your paper is marked and you get a first. Happy days. Now, is that plagiarism? After all, the genesis for a critical part of your argument came from someone else, uncredited. Basically, there's a sliding scale of personal-vs-external work input, ranging from asking others to be human spellcheckers to the wholesale thievery of another person's words and ideas. Like all sliding scales, where do you draw the line? There is no black-white binary we can easily define. The issue is compounded when you consider students whose first language is not English. As good as their command of conversational English may be, they may have a fundamental difficulty in conveying their thoughts and arguments in an effective manner. Would it be wrong for them to ask a tutor to help? To have someone check their work, to iron out inconsistencies and improve the clarity of writing, often to the point where the final product is vastly different from the original? Some would argue that the person editing their work is merely 'teasing out' the non-native speaker's core argument, rather than 'writing it for them', but the reality of the situation differs case by case. As a rule of thumb, if the tutor is doing anything but helping you clarify your language and structure, you're doing it wrong. Policies on the above differ considerably from institution to institution. And while all unis are particularly strict on plagiarism, some take their fervour for originality to inquisition-like levels. From personal experience, I know of people who have been called up for plagiarism for incorrect referencing, which looks rather unforgiving however you cook it. Clearly, there is a broad difference of views on the matter. Grey areas abound. But from this mass of uncertainty we can distil a few drops of solid advice: - If you use another person's idea or argument in your paper, or even just mention it, reference it! - Regardless of how many eyes pass over your paper before you submit it, the core content must be your own. - If you're not a native speaker, and you decide to have a tutor proofread your text, acknowledge them in some way at the beginning/end of the paper. - Basing your paper around so-called 'model answers' is at best educationally misleading and at worst demonstrates your lack of independent thought: use them at your own risk. - Getting someone to write your paper for you contravenes universal law and is a despicable thing to do. Ultimately, the only person you're cheating is yourself. For users of the site, you can check out our stance on the subject here.

Is it safe to teach English in China Yes, of course!

Is it safe to teach English in China Yes, of course! China remains one of the most popular places to teach English abroad and plenty of teachers who’ve worked there can tell you what a great adventure teaching in China really is. Not to mention that it’s a top TEFL destination for saving money, which you can spend on whatever you want â€" like traveling the world! Unfortunately, teaching English in China seems to have gotten a bad rep lately, but don’t let that make you miss out on everything this top TEFL destination has to offer. If you’re dreaming of teaching English in China, but are worried about safety â€" don’t be! You just have to be smart and know how to go about it the right way. So even though Chinese political tensions have been making headlines lately â€" and there are stories out there about foreigners in China having bad experiences â€" it’s important to look at things in perspective. Chances are that you are only hearing about the negative stories because they’re more likely to make the news. On the flip side, positive stories just don’t get as much media attention and aren’t writtennearly as often online. In saying that, as with any teach abroad destination, it’s essential to do your research before you accept a teaching job in China. A little knowledge about local laws, customs and TEFL best practices will help you ensure that your overseas experience is a positive one. The most important thing to remember is to always be flexible and open to other cultures. To get you started, we’ve rounded up our top safety advice to keep in mind as an English teacher living in China. Let’s look at some tips at a glance and then dive in deeper. How can you ensure your safety while teaching English in China? Work at a reputable school. Have theproper work visa. Don’t teach on the side. Follow local laws (especially regarding drugs). Stay up to date on government advisories. Find a job at a reputable school in China. When doing your research about teaching English in China, one of the biggest fears you may have is the possibility of not being paid. That’s why it’s important to find credible schools and job opportunities from a trusted source like the Teach Away job board. As with anything: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. So trust your gut. And if anyone reaches out to you through social media (especially Facebook) regarding a job opportunity teaching in China, it could be a red flag that you shouldn’t ignore. It’s no secret that some teachers have had negative experiences with schools in China in the past. And that’s why applying to the Explore Program is such a great option. You can feel confident that the program’s recruitment experts will smoothly guide you through the application and visa process of finding a teaching job in China. But the best way to really ensure you secure a job with a trustworthy employer is by asking the right questions during your interview and reading your employment contract very carefully before signing it. What are some smart questions you should ask during an interview for a teaching job abroad in China (or really any other country for that matter)? Could I get in touch with a current teacher? (Most reputable schools will provide an email contact.) Could I see some photos or (ideally) a video of the accommodations? (This one only applies if housing is included in your contract, which is often the case.) Get a work visa for China in advance. One thing is for sure: you need to get the right visa before landing in China! You’ll need a work visa to teach in China. Any school that states otherwise, or suggests you travel to China before you have a valid work visa, should set off alarm bells ringing in your head. Despite the rumors you might find on online forums, it’s currently illegal to work in China with a tourist visa (officially known as the “L visa”) and doing so could leave you vulnerable to fines, deportation or even jail time. Any reputable school, which is the only kind of school you should work for, will only hire you if you’re eligible for a work visa (known as the “Z visa”). What do you need to get a Z visa to teach English in China? A bachelor’s degree (in any subject) Native English speaking proficiency A teaching qualification (usually a TEFL Certificate) OR 2 years of teaching experience The process for applying for a Z visa starts once you’ve been offered a job and your employer, who will sponsor your visa, will walk you through it. Don’t worry, the process is fairly straightforward, especially if you’re recruited through the Explore Program. Don’t teach English on the side in China. On the subject of work visas, once you have one, it’s your legal responsibility to stick to the employment terms you sign up to. For English teachers, this generally means working exclusively for the school that sponsored your visa and no one else. If you look around on forums, you’ll probably find plenty of posts from teachers who claim that they work for multiple employers and private clients anyway, but bear in mind this is something the Chinese authorities are increasingly keen to crack down on. So while it might be tempting to pick up private classes on the side, or even a few lessons with other schools, remember that doing so counts as working illegally and may lead to deportation or other legal troubles. Follow all local laws in China (especially regarding drugs). Living in China, you are sure to experience a few culture shocks, and you are equally sure to cause a few cultural shock waves yourself as you adapt to a new way of life. But, cultural don’ts aside, it’s important to be aware that some behavior you might consider a simple cultural preference could actually be illegal in your host country. That’s why it’s essential to properly educate yourself on China’s local laws and customs before you move there. For instance, drug use (including recreational and medicinal marijuana) is forbidden in China and carries extremely severe penalties, especially since the Chinese government’s crackdown on drugs. So if you want to steer clear of the Chinese legal system: DON’T DO DRUGS IN CHINA. I really can’t stress this enough. In fact, you shouldn’t even do any drugs shortly before landing in China because Chinese authorities have been known to do random drug tests on foreigners entering the country. Regardless of where or when the drugs were consumed, if you test positive, you can face severe penalties under Chinese law. And if you haven’t heard of the “Great Firewall of China” yet, let me fill you in: Don’t be surprised, when you open your Internet browser in China, that you won’t be able to access some of your favorite websites. Not only are international social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube permanently banned in China, but the country has now blocked a long list of US tech companies â€" including Google. Not to mention that there are plenty of other banned websites â€" most notably those that address politically sensitive issues, such as human rights and criticisms of the Chinese government. Many Chinese residents have been going around these online restrictions by using a virtual private network (VPN) to access blocked websites. However, I strongly discourage doing this now that Chinese authorities have recently started cracking down on this illegal practice and issuing fines for VPN use. While this might all sound a bit heavy, don’t let it scare you away. There are plenty of ways to stay connected with family and friends while teaching in China. Plus, you’ll make plenty of new connections while teaching abroad. Not to mention that there are plenty of fun and exciting offline things you can do while teaching in China! You can treat this as a (possibly once-in-a-lifetime) opportunity to ditch that tech addiction and replace your screen time with a rich social life and plenty of exciting experiences. China’s rich culture makes it a top destination for eating out, shopping, attending festivals, and visiting historical landmarks. It’s also a vast and beautiful country to explore during your days off. Don’t forget: one of the perks of being a teacher is having lots of vacation time, which means you’ll have plenty of free time to explore everything China has to offer. Plus, you’ll have the rest of Asia at your doorstep with exotic travel destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia only a shortcheap flight away. Stay up to date on government travel advisories for China. Local laws and international relations between countries can change frequently. Staying up to date on the latest information from your government is the best way to know what your rights and responsibilities are while you’re in China, as well as who to turn to for help should you need to. Letting your home government know that you’re living abroad is a simple way to make sure you’re protected while you live in China. Canadians, Kiwis, and Irish citizens can register their status with their government, while Americans can enroll with a local embassy and UK citizens can inform their local council. Many governments also provide specific up-to-date advisories for citizens who are traveling to or living in China: ???? Advice for Australian citizens ???? Advice for Canadian citizens ???? Advice for Irish citizens ???? Advice for New Zealand citizens ???? Advice for UK citizens ???? Advice for US citizens To sum up: be smart! With tens of thousands of native speakers working in China at any one time, it’s safe to say the vast majority of English teachers find living in China to be safe and enjoyable. So to recap, how can you make sure you have a positive experience teaching English in China? Choose an employer with a track record you can trust. Make sure your visa paperwork is all in order. Always respect the local laws and culture. Be flexible and open-minded. Bonus pro tip: bring some extra cash with you (min. $500 USD) to get you by until your first pay cheque arrives! Ready to take the leap and find a teaching job in China? Apply to theExplore Program or directly to one of the great schools featured on our job board. Not ready to move to China just yet? Teaching English online to Chinese students with companies like GoGoKidandVIPKid can be a great stepping stone! Still need to do a TEFL Certification? The University of Toronto OISE TEFL Certification is a perfect fit for anyone interested in teaching in China because it includes an optional Specialization in Teaching English to Mandarin Speakers.

How the Language Challenge helped me with Arabic

How the Language Challenge helped me with Arabic Language Challenge contestants, how are you doing? Its only been a week hopefully youve completed a few lessons by now. To help give you some extra motivation, we wanted to share with you a recent email that one of our members (and Community Tutor) sent us. Andrea successfully completed the last language challenge and it helped her become a professional Arabic Translator. Read her story below Dig deep! Keep up the good work! Written by Andrea in Arabic [Translated into English below] ?????? ???? ???????? ????? ? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? “???????” ??? ???? ????. ????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? !?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????. ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ????. ????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ????????. ?? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????????? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ????????? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ??????? How the Language Challenge helped me with Arabic Hi friends, both old and new! I really delved into the italki challenge just a few months ago. The primary reason behind my doing so is because I wanted to be an incredible translator (even though most of them are native speakers of whatever language theyre translating from). I think Ive succeeded in that, however. I got a new job at a NYC based translation company where I was responsible for an Arabic language team. The most important thing Id like to mention is that Americans should especially take up a foreign language, or two or three. It hardly crosses our minds to do so because English is considered the language of the world, especially considering that America isnt exactly a prime location for those of us who are language nerds. So, its up to us to seize every opportunity as much as possible to find the most optimal linguistic resources available to us, even if that means registering on a website conducive to such goals like italki! Here are Andreas Language Challenge Before and After Notebook Entrees. It helped her reach her greater goal of becoming an Arabic language translator! BEFORE CHALLENGE To improve my Arabic language skills and pursue my dreams in becoming a fluent translator. AFTER CHALLENGE So, I completed my 10 Arabic lessons with an excellent teacher from this website, Yaser. Highly recommended. The lessons ranged from reading short story excerpts to translating articles from Arabic to English, and my favorite from English to Arabic. That exercise is rarely practiced by native English speakers, and it truly helped me to measure my knowledge of the language. I have a translation job interview this Sunday, so itd be such a treat to see how much I can prove myself to the company if they make me a part of their team! These lessons were rigorous and at times I felt like I was being held underwater, haha, but in a way, thats the point. You allow yourself to be pushed beyond your comfort level because you want this. Salaam! Andrea is joined italki in 2012. She became a Community Tutor in 2013. How the Language Challenge helped me with Arabic Language Challenge contestants, how are you doing? Its only been a week hopefully youve completed a few lessons by now. To help give you some extra motivation, we wanted to share with you a recent email that one of our members (and Community Tutor) sent us. Andrea successfully completed the last language challenge and it helped her become a professional Arabic Translator. Read her story below Dig deep! Keep up the good work! Written by Andrea in Arabic [Translated into English below] ?????? ???? ???????? ????? ? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? “???????” ??? ???? ????. ????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? !?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????. ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ????. ????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ????????. ?? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????????? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ????????? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ??????? How the Language Challenge helped me with Arabic Hi friends, both old and new! I really delved into the italki challenge just a few months ago. The primary reason behind my doing so is because I wanted to be an incredible translator (even though most of them are native speakers of whatever language theyre translating from). I think Ive succeeded in that, however. I got a new job at a NYC based translation company where I was responsible for an Arabic language team. The most important thing Id like to mention is that Americans should especially take up a foreign language, or two or three. It hardly crosses our minds to do so because English is considered the language of the world, especially considering that America isnt exactly a prime location for those of us who are language nerds. So, its up to us to seize every opportunity as much as possible to find the most optimal linguistic resources available to us, even if that means registering on a website conducive to such goals like italki! Here are Andreas Language Challenge Before and After Notebook Entrees. It helped her reach her greater goal of becoming an Arabic language translator! BEFORE CHALLENGE To improve my Arabic language skills and pursue my dreams in becoming a fluent translator. AFTER CHALLENGE So, I completed my 10 Arabic lessons with an excellent teacher from this website, Yaser. Highly recommended. The lessons ranged from reading short story excerpts to translating articles from Arabic to English, and my favorite from English to Arabic. That exercise is rarely practiced by native English speakers, and it truly helped me to measure my knowledge of the language. I have a translation job interview this Sunday, so itd be such a treat to see how much I can prove myself to the company if they make me a part of their team! These lessons were rigorous and at times I felt like I was being held underwater, haha, but in a way, thats the point. You allow yourself to be pushed beyond your comfort level because you want this. Salaam! Andrea is joined italki in 2012. She became a Community Tutor in 2013.

The Chemistry Department at Hunter College

The Chemistry Department at Hunter CollegeThe Chemistry Department at Hunter College is one of the most popular in the country, especially in urban areas like New York City. Unlike some schools where the department may be small or only as large as the major, the Department of Chemistry at Hunter College is a department for the whole Hunter College student body.Chemistry is such a broad subject that you can study it at any university as long as it is related to chemistry. The exact word you will hear is 'academic chemistry'academic chemistry and biological chemistry.' Both these disciplines include chemistry for teaching in classrooms, labs, and lecture halls. However, the exact sciences that are taught in the curriculum are different.If you have taken an undergraduate chemistry course, you may have found out that most of the students who get into chemistry graduate at a lesser level. This is because the syllabus that they use at the major college where they are majors are different f rom the syllabus that they will use in their undergrad.If you took biology courses, you will find that your science classes are slightly more challenging and you will probably have to take remedial chemistry if you are not prepared for this. After you take science classes, you may have to take a similar type of chemistry class to follow up with that course. The Chemistry Department at Hunter College has six different science courses, which they offer in a bi-weekly basis.These chemistry courses for biology majors are the following: A Physical and Biological Chemistry, Computational and Quantum Chemical Chemistry, Physics of Nature and Applications, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and Molecule Structure and Functions. The chemistry department covers all the sciences necessary for a good university and they offer a lot of supplemental courses, based on the classes that the major and minor course students take. The department also offers a first-year course on organic chemistry. Th is is something that is offered every year at every university.The department has thirty class numbers in all, and each class number has ten to fifteen students in it. Some of the class numbers have no seating on the floor and some have seats in the gymnasium. Each class numbers class has a corresponding chemistry department sign and they have each of their students sit down at their assigned class number when they sit down for their respective chemistry class.In addition to the other chemistry courses that they offer, they also offer four different majors: Biological Engineering, Medical and Clinical Chemistry, Applied and Computational Chemistry, and Computational Analysis and Science. All of these different departments provide students with a full range of scientific knowledge that includes anatomy, botany, geology, biology, chemistry, physics, and all the rest of the sciences of nature.