Category: Self improvement

Posted in Self improvement

Tips for better health

Posted on by rashaadwan

Accepting that you need to make adjustments to become healthier and fitter is the first step toward achieving greater health. Here are some suggestions to help you enhance your health and become a better version of yourself.

  • Learn everything you can about how to improve your health and live a healthy lifestyle to support your new way of thinking. You may use the internet, books, DVDs, clubs, gyms, and support groups to your advantage; learning everything there is to know about healthy living provides you with a solid foundation from which to build.

  • Replace old foods with healthy alternatives, and don’t forget to buy any small gadgets you’ll need to support your new eating habits, such as blenders and food scales.

  • Positive ideas and self-talk or affirmations are essential; they will give you confidence in the beginning and will keep you going through the difficult periods that will inevitably arise during the early stages of transformation.

  • Give up any unhealthy habits you may have, such as smoking or drinking; you will never achieve your maximum level of health if you continue to smoke or drink on a regular basis.

  • Make it a life goal to have a positive outlook on life, which will undoubtedly result in a healthier you. It will be much easier to achieve if you are determined to bettering your health.

  • On your new diet, make sure you obtain the necessary 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day; fruits and vegetables are high in critical vitamins.

  • You must begin somewhere, so begin by examining and reorganizing your kitchen in preparation for your new lifestyle. Reorganize your kitchen cabinets, cupboards, and refrigerator to remove all traces of the old you and to make room for the items that will aid you in your new lifestyle.

Posted in Self improvement

Practical ways for self improvement

Posted on by rashaadwan

Are you someone who enjoys learning new things? Do you always strive for self-improvement, no matter what it takes?There is always something we can improve about ourselves. Because human potential is boundless, no point of no growth is imaginable.We can always improve when we believe we are good.

Get up early

Many people believe that getting up early increases productivity and improves quality of life.You’ll have time to devote to self-improvement before the rest of the world wakes up if you get up early. You’ll gain more time in your day, enjoy the morning calm, and soak in the early-morning sunlight, which will assist your brain adjust to active mode.

Get out of Your Comfort zone

Hard work and sweat are required for true growth. We can’t progress if we’re too comfy; we’ll become stagnant.

Determine where your comfort zone boundaries are and how you might begin to venture outside of them gradually Go on a hike on a track you’ve never been on, cook a dish you’ve never tried, or say yes when a friend invites you out when you’d ordinarily say no.

Avoid Negative People

There will always be negative individuals wherever we go. If you feel they are dragging you down, don’t spend too much time with them.

Stop Watching TV

Many TV shows and commercials are designed to distract you rather than empower or educate you. This time would be better spent with close friends, doing something you enjoy, or exercising.

Start a 30-Day Challenge

Make a goal for yourself and give yourself 30 days to attain it. Your goal could be to establish a new pastime or stick with a new habit.30 days is exactly enough time to strategize, prepare, implement, evaluate, and achieve your goal.

Learn From People Who Inspire You

Consider persons you admire and who inspire you. As you discover how to develop yourself, these people mirror particular attributes you desire to have for yourself.What attributes do you admire in them that you wish you possessed? How do you go about acquiring these qualities?

Focus on your To-Do list

Starting the day with a list of chores to perform will help you stay on track. Days when you don’t do this, on the other hand, might be hectic and unproductive. Because you haven’t made a plan to tackle each issue, you may forget about some of them or run out of time.

Posted in learning, Self improvement, Writing

How to write an A+ essay

Posted on by rashaadwan

writing an essay doesn’t have to be a challenging battle. In fact, once you understand how to write an essay, and how to take advantage of an outline, the paper will practically write itself for you!.

To help you navigate the art of writing an essay, we’ve provided a guide on how to write a perfect essay, by following easy and simple steps.

1-Pick a Topic and Start Your Research.

Before you sit down at your computer to begin typing up your essay, you must first choose a topic to tackle. Whatever you plan to write about, it is best to do your research before you start writing your essay. While you can certainly do supplemental research as you begin writing, doing the bulk of the research beforehand will help you have a clearer picture of the topic.

If your essay requires you to quote outside sources, gather books or links to reputable websites, so you will need in order to complete the assignment. Research your subject thoroughly, so you feel confident asserting your opinions, while you’re researching, think about the purpose of your essay.

2- Choose Your Thesis

The thesis of your essay is a statement of a claim that lets your reader know what your essay is about. Think of your thesis statement as the topic sentence for your whole essay. But more than just a topic, it gives your audience an idea of your stance. It’s a declarative sentence that you will refer back to throughout your paper.

For example, if you’re writing an essay about Shakespeare’s Hamlet, you might ask: Is Hamlet really insane or is he pretending? Come up with a theory that answers your question, and be sure that you can find evidence that supports your claim. Once you’ve done this, congratulations, you’ve come up with your thesis statement!

3-Write a Body Paragraphs

Many students think that they need to write the perfect introductory paragraph before they can get started on an essay, so they end up wasting a lot of time staring at a blank screen. Don’t get caught up in this trap! Dive right into your writing by inserting your thesis statement in place of your first paragraph, write the first body paragraph of your essay, and keep on going! It’s ok to jump around and leave gaps that you return to later to flush out. This way, you won’t feel the same pressure to start with perfection.

Be sure to give your paragraphs structure, so your writing is clear and stays on topic. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence. Next, give an example, usually a quote from your text or outside source, which supports your topic sentence. Explain what this example means, clarifying any ambiguous or difficult terms that your source may have used.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, relate the example you just shared back to your thesis, so your reader understands how this example relates to the broader topic of your essay.

4- write the introduction and the conclusion

Basically, your introductory paragraph should first grab your reader’s attention, then give them a broad overview of your topic, leading to your thesis statement.

On the other hand, your conclusion paragraph should do just the opposite. Start with a reiteration of your thesis, move to a summary of what you have covered in your essay, and end with a general statement indicating the significance of your topic in the broader world in general. Go out with a bang! Just because you’re wrapping up your essay in your conclusion doesn’t mean you have to simply repeat everything you already discussed. End on a powerful note to leave your audience with a lasting impression.

5- Revise your essay

Revising your paper is a major step in our guide on how to write the perfect essay. After all, the last thing you want to do is send in a paper riddled with typos and grammatical errors.

Make it a goal to finish writing the bulk of your paper at least one day before it is due. Set your paper aside for a day before revising, so you can look over your work with fresh eyes. Print a copy of your essay and read it aloud, highlighting or making marks on any sentences, words, or phrases that don’t seem quite right.

Often, you can hear awkward phrasing, overused words, and other mistakes much more easily than you see them when you are reading silently. You will also be able to hear if you’ve written something that just doesn’t make sense.

Or if you have a friend, classmate, or private tutor who is willing to read your essay, let them give it a once over to catch any lingering errors.

Posted in Grammar, Languages, Learning, Listening, Reading, Self improvement, Speaking, Vocabulary

IELTS missteps

Posted on by rashaadwan

Before using any study material or answering any questions, you should know the common IELTS pitfalls that may lower your band score. Most of them can be avoided, and keep them in mind when you are practicing or taking the test. So let’s take a look at these mistakes to avoid them and get a higher scores!

Grammar and spelling mistakes

Many candidates lose valuable marks on simple grammar and spelling mistakes. You can avoid these mistakes by checking answers. Check your spelling carefully. Check singular, plural and past forms before the test ends.Check out out posts on common IELTS writing mistakes, IELTS speaking mistakes and IELTS listening mistakes to learn detailed IELTS missteps in these sections. You can get higher scores once you know these missteps and keep them in mind!

Running out of time

You need to allocate your time wisely during the test. You will run out of time if you don’t pay attention to the timing. Some questions take more time to answer, so you have to leave more time for them. In reading test, questions on the last passage usually take more time to think than the others. Therefore, if you don’t know the answer to a question, just move on to the next and come back to it later. In writing test, you should finish the first task in 20 minutes. Otherwise, there won’t be enough time for you to complete the second task.

Lack of preparation

Some candidates have good English communicating skill in social situations, so they believe that they can get high scores on the IELTS even if they don’t prepare a lot. However, taking a test is different from using the language in your daily life because the IELTS tests your overall English ability in social and academic settings. You should do adequate preparation to get familiar with the test format and content.

Memorizing answers

It is a bad idea to memorize answers for the speaking and writing test. There is only a little possibility to meet questions which you have prepared. Even if you are lucky enough to receive a similar question to what you have memorized, the examiners can easily spot it by asking you more questions.

Not following instructions

If you don’t follow instructions, you will definitely lose important marks. Though it seems easy to follow instructions, some candidates are likely to ignore them. Read instructions carefully before answering questions and keep them in mind.

Posted in Languages, Learning, Literature, Reading, Self improvement, Vocabulary, Writing

Top 5 books to improve your English

Posted on by rashaadwan

Reading is one of the most important ways to practice English. It’s funny , relaxing and helps you to improve your comprehension skills and vocabulary.

To help you choose some helpful books, we’ve searched for some of novels and stories that are full of adventures and exciting characters – and better yet, they are easy to read for language learners.

So here are our top 5 books to help you practise English at home.

1. Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Wonder tells the story of August “Auggie” Pullman, a home-schooled fifth-grader living in Manhattan. He has a medical condition that has left his face disfigured. At the start of the novel, his parents decide to enrol him into a private middle school for the first time ever.

Throughout the school year, Auggie faces many challenges because of his appearance. He’s often bullied and beaten by other kids. Against all odds, the kind and courageous little boy manages to make friends.

Wonder made the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted into a hit movie starring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as Auggie’s parents and Jacob Tremblay as Auggie.

2.The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Published in 1961, The Phantom Tollbooth is still one of the best books for young adults and language learners.

The novel follows Milo, a young boy who goes on a fantasy adventure after receiving a mysterious package that contains a miniature tollbooth. He drives through the tollbooth in his toy car and finds himself in magical places where he meets all kinds of strange characters.

The text is littered with puns and wordplay, which make the book even more fun – and a great opportunity for language learners to practise their skills.

3.The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

This mystery novel – with a mysterious title – takes the reader on a journey into the mind of Christopher John Francis Boone, a 15-year-old boy who sees the world and the people around him in a different way.

Christopher finds himself in the middle of an adventure after he discovers the dead body of the neighbour’s dog, speared by a garden fork. As the story unfolds, Christopher finds out the truth about his mother. He also travels to London alone and takes an A-level maths exam, all in a frenzy of excitement and fear.

We love this book – and the English level is perfect for intermediate learners.

4. Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

Northern Lights – known as The Golden Compass in the US – is the first book in Philip Pullman’s fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials. It was published in 1995 and has since become a classic in the young-adult fantasy genre.

The novel tells the story of twelve-year-old Lyra Belacqua. She’s a brave and curious girl who lives in a world of mythical creatures and parallel universes. Like all humans in this world, she has a “daemon”, a talking spirit animal that constantly accompanies her. Together, they embark on a journey that is filled with danger and excitement.

If you’re looking for a thrilling but easy book to read in English, Northern Lights is a great place to start. You won’t be able to put it down!

5. The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway is well-known for his clear, straightforward writing style and short sentence structure, which is great for English language learners and many people have read it in school.

It’s the courageous tale of a Cuban fisherman and his battle to land a giant marlin and it’s a perfect introduction to Hemingway as an author.

Posted in Grammar, Languages, Learning, Reading, Self improvement, Vocabulary

Compound words and their meanings

Posted on by rashaadwan

English has a number of words that make the language confusing for those who are just learning the language. They include homophones, homonyms, compound words, and word pairs which look and sound similar but have different meanings.

Compound words which can be one word or two can be especially confusing. Here we will look at four of these confusing word pairs; everyday vs every day, anytime vs any time, awhile vs a while, sometime vs some time, and someday vs some day.

Anytime vs Any time

This compound word is an example of how the English language has changed. A few decades ago, the accepted standard was to always write “any time” as two words. A few scholars still consider using the compound version to be lazy writing.

Anytime [any time]

is an adverb which means whenever.In almost all cases the two word version and the compound version mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably.

For example:–

  • I am available anytime if you’d like me to help with your move
  • I am available any time if you’d like me to help with your move.

“Any time” [or anytime]

can also serve as a conjunction.

– Anytime we had the chance we would go for a swim.

– Any time we had the chance we would go for a swim.

There are a few instances where any time should be two words.

When the phrase is used with a preposition like “at” two words should be used.

– I will gladly help at any time of the day or night.When you are referring to an amount of time the two word version is used.

– Do you have any time to review my test today?.

Everyday vs Every day

Like many compound words, “everyday” and “every day” are typically more confusing in spoken English than in written English since most speakers do not parse the words correctly.

Everyday

 – This is an adjective; which means “mundane”, “typical”, “ordinary”, or “standard”. The phrase “everyday routine” refers to a normal, ordinary day where nothing unusual occurred. As the English language becomes even less formal, you will occasionally hear people use the word as a noun, sort of a shorthand version of “everyday chores.”

Every day

– When written as two words it means “each day”, “every” is an adjective for “day.” One easy way of checking your usage is the replace the work “every” with the word “each” and checking that your sentence still makes sense. For example, “each day routine” is not correct whereas “each day I drink a glass of milk” does.

Someday vs Some day

Someday

– This compound word is an adverb and means “at an indefinite time in the future.”

– Someday I will invest in a new mobile phone but the old one will be ok until I do so.

Some day

– Some day is an adjective, some, and a noun, day. Some means “unknown” or “unspecified”.

When paired with day it means a single day that is unknown.– The term paper is due some day in May.

Posted in Learning, learning, Reading, Self improvement

Most effective online learning tips

Posted on by rashaadwan
  • Choose the best time and place to learn

Choosing when to learn and study is very important in terms of maximizing your energy and learning more efficiently. We all have different energy levels over the course of the day, and some of us prefer to do certain activities at certain points in the day, being able to strike a balance between your energy and alertness levels while also considering the time of day is crucial when it comes to learning and studying and even doing other things, another factor that can come into play aside from time is location.

The atmosphere around you can contribute greatly to the quality of your studying and learning time.

  • Taking notes

How good your notes are will determine how useful studying them later will be. A sign of good note-taking is when the notes are written or seen in such a way that you know the sequence of information that was brought up revolving around them.

Some other strategies to consider that can help you out are the following:

  • If you’re in a class that’s given assigned reading, read through it before the next class. Do the same with your previous notes.
  • Keep your notes from each subject together. Have notebooks for every class or topic you’re deeply exploring. This way, you avoid confusing them or mixing up information while reviewing them.
  • Always write down the main points of the topic so you can get a brief but solid overview of the subject.

  • Study in groups

discussing topics with other people around you is another way that you can help improve your learning. This online learning tip is a touch different from the previous tip because it’s more of a collaborative approach to understanding something.

  • Avoid distraction

Sometimes, distraction comes from outside sources that are beyond our control. However, there are also several other things that are internal that can be distracting.

These are things like our cell phones or having various tabs on your computer up while you’re reading or studying something else. We don’t often think about those as distractions, but they can and will pull us away from learning. So you need to Turn off your cell phone, Close down tabs or even blocking access to certain sites during a period of time.

  • Using a learning strategy that works for you

There are four methods for us to learn:

  • learning through sight.
  • learning through hearing.
  • learning through reading and writing.
  • learning through action.

We often have a mix of each one of these things. However, there is definitely one style of learning that each of us prefers over the other if we can get away with it. Knowing which type of learner you are most dominant in can help you devise strategies and techniques around your studying habits whenever possible. Of course, you can still use the other methods loosely or may have to rely on them more in certain circumstances.

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Posted in Languages, learning, Self improvement, Speaking, Vocabulary

Important phrases for a job interview

Posted on by rashaadwan

In job interviews you have to be convincing , and to show why you want this job also why you deserve it . So you need to speak confidently and to have good expressions to convince your interviewer about your personality, strengths, experience and why you want the job .

– phrases to describe your personality :

  • Trustworthy: someone who you can rely on.
  • Proactive: someone who takes steps to complete tasks without supervision.
  • Committed: a person who is loyal to a project or person.

– phrases to describe your strengths :

  • Speak foreign languages.
  • Communicate well.
  • The ability to multitask.
  • Perform to a deadline.
  • Solve problems.

– phrases to describe your experience :

  • I studied at the University of ……………….
  • I have five years’ experience as a waitress/in retail/as a teacher
  • I worked for ………..as a lawyer.
  • I worked in …….. for seven years and was promoted to manager in my second year.
  •  I can say my top 3 skills are: ……………….,…………. and……………….. .

– phrases to describe your goals for the future and why you want this job:

  • I feel my skills set is a perfect fit for your team and I can contribute by…
  • I believe your company is an important player in its industry
  • I’m looking to further my skills as a barista/in hospitality, as a childcare worker/in early childhood education
  • I’d love to work here because I ………….. .

– phrases to thank the interviewer at the end :

  • I want you to know that I am very thankful for this.
  • It was a pleasure meeting you .
  • before I leave I want to thank you for the opportunity.
  • thank you very much for your time . I’ll be waiting for your call .
Posted in Grammar, Languages, learning, Self improvement, Vocabulary

Your best guide for the verb tenses

Posted on by rashaadwan

There are 12 main tenses in the English language, the result of the following combination of tenses and aspects:

  • Present
  • Past
  • Future
  • Present perfect
  • Past perfect
  • Future perfect
  • Present progressive
  • Past progressive
  • Future progressive
  • Present perfect progressive
  • Past perfect progressive
  • Future perfect progressive

The Simple Verb Tenses

To begin, let’s take a closer look at the simple present, past, and future verb tenses. 

Present

The simple present tense indicates actions that are habitual or generally true.

  • I like sushi.
  • The weather in Texas is hot.
  • When we visit Bologna, we walk under miles of porticos.

In particular, notice the use of the simple present when stating a habitual action. It would sound incorrect to say, “I eat pasta,” in response to the question, “What are you doing right now?” Instead, you would use the progressive tense: “I am eating pasta.” 

You do use the simple present to describe a routine action, though.

  • He paints portraits.
  • I eat fresh strawberries in the summer.
  • The dogs bark whenever she takes a conference call.

You also use the simple present with stative verbs , which indicate possession, senses, emotions, or states of being.

  • I love that new song.
  • That shirt belongs to me.
  • She thinks spinach is delicious.

Past 

The simple past tense indicates an action that is already complete. To form the past tense of a regular verb in English, you add the suffix “ed.” Sadly, for ESL speakers, there are a number of irregular verbs that do not follow this rule, such as felt, came, and thought.

  • I donated to the food drive yesterday.
  • He felt nauseous after riding the roller coaster.
  • Thousands of Chinese immigrants came to the United States in the nineteenth century.

Future 

The simple future tense indicates an action or state of being that will take place in the future. You form it by adding auxiliary words (such as “will,” “shall,” or “am going to”) to the main verb.

  • I am going to love my trip to Hawaii.
  • The principal shall make the announcement tomorrow.
  • He’ll bring a casserole to the potluck if you don’t have enough food. 

The Progressive Verb Tenses To describe actions that are ongoing in the past, present, or future, you apply the progressive aspect to each of the three simple tenses. The three progressive tenses can be formed by adding the correct form of the auxiliary verb “to be” to verbs ending in “ing.”

The Progressive Verb Tenses

To describe actions that are ongoing in the past, present, or future, you apply the progressive aspect to each of the three simple tenses.

Present Progressive

The present progressive tense describes an ongoing action that is happening right now. The action began in the past and will continue into the future.

  • She’s filing the divorce papers.
  • I’m checking my social media accounts.
  • The neighbor’s dog is barking loudly and enthusiastically.

Past Progressive

The past progressive tense indicates an action that was ongoing in the past. It began at some point and may continue after a second action has taken place.

  • She was talking to her friend when their biology class ended.
  • I was watering my plants when three cop cars sped down the street.
  • They were driving up the coast when it began snowing so hard they could barely see.

Future Progressive

The future progressive tense indicates an ongoing action that will take place in relation to some future event.

  • I will be coming home for the holidays.
  • She’ll be heading out the door the minute she wins the lottery.
  • We will be singing the same song, undoubtedly, when our daughter graduates from college. 

The Perfect Verb Tenses

The perfect verb tense describes an action or state of being that is finished or already completed. You form each of the three perfect tenses by adding the correct form of the auxiliary verb “to have” to the past participle of the verb. Perfect tenses can be used with dynamic or stative verbs.

Present Perfect

The present perfect tense indicates an accomplishment, experience, or action that occurred over an indefinite period of time. The action may have ended sometime before the present moment or may still be happening. The present perfect and the simple past are sometimes used interchangeably in the English language. In fact, the difference between them boils down to context.

  • I have been horseback riding.
  • The train has been delayed until future notice.
  • The English language has been transformed several times since the Anglo-Saxon invasion.

Past Perfect

The past perfect tense indicates that a past action was completed before another action took place.

  • Gwen had invested in the company just before it went bankrupt.
  • We had argued for peace, but the opposition decided to wage war.
  • I had fixed the drywall cracks before the mud storm shifted the home’s foundation again.

Future Perfect

The future perfect verb tense indicates an action that will have been completed in some future time.

  • The dogs will have been fed before we arrive home.
  • She will have been exhausted by playing with her nieces and nephews.
  • By the time we see their light, stars will have been already alive for billions of years.

The Perfect Progressive Verb Tenses

The perfect progressive tense describes an action that occurred in the past and is ongoing in relation to some past, present, or future point in time. While the perfect tense indicates a completed action, the three perfect progressive tenses describe continuous action.

Present Perfect Progressive 

The present perfect progressive tense describes an action that began in the past and is still ongoing in the present.

  • I have been watching Netflix all morning.
  • They have been trying to build their new desk.
  • The lawyers have been eager to get the testimony of a key witness.

Past Perfect Progressive

The past perfect progressive tense describes an action that was ongoing in the past but stopped before the present time, often because of another action.

  • They had been working until the pizza arrived.
  • I had been shopping for Christmas presents until I exceeded my credit limit.
  • She had been daydreaming about visiting Italy for so long that it felt strange to actually be there.

Future Perfect Progressive

The future perfect progressive tense indicates an action in the future that will be ongoing and may continue past the time of another event, though the second future event often implies the cessation of the event that is ongoing.

  • I will have been working for ten hours by the time I go to bed.
  • The legal team will have been compiling research even if the parties agree to settle.
  • She will have been eating meat for 40 years if she decides to become a vegetarian in the New Year.
Posted in Grammar, Languages, learning, Reading, Self improvement, Writing

Kinds of noun

Posted on by rashaadwan
  • What is noun

A noun is a part of speech that names a person, place, thing, idea, action or quality.

  • Kinds of nouns
  • Common noun

Nonspecific people, places, things or ideas.

Man, city, relegion etc…….

  • Proper noun

Specific people, places, things etc……

Albert Einstein, London etc……

  • Abstract noun

Something that you can not perceive with your five senses.

Belief, bride, happiness etc…..

  • Concrete noun

Something that you can perceive with your five senses.

Apple, llion, eyes, flower…….

  • Countable noun

Something that can be counted, like pencils, trees, cars etc……….

  • Uncountable noun

Something that can not be counted, like snow, rice, water, food etc……….

  • Compound noun

Made up of two or more words, like sunflower, textbook, snowball, etc…..

  • Collective noun

Refer to a group of things as one whole.

Bunch, audience, flock, group

  • Singular noun

Refer to one thing, person or idea.

Cat, ship, hero etc……

  • Plural noun

Refer to more than one thing, person or idea.

Dogs, cats, ships etc…….