Literacy Tutoring Raleigh NC - Reading the Basics is Important

Literacy Tutoring Raleigh NC - Reading the Basics is ImportantIf you are looking for a good way to get your child reading, but don't want to go to a third grade class or an adult class, there is another option: literacy tutoring Raleigh NC. You can do all the reading for your child in a classroom, but it is an important step to teach them reading skills. Teaching children to read should be their first priority, so take the time to develop literacy.This doesn't have to be too much of a struggle though because most children get it when they are around kids their own age. The class doesn't have to be as formal or as stressful as a school. You can learn to teach children to read through a variety of different methods.Once the class is in place, it should be made a priority to cover classroom reading for children. When your child is in class with their peers, this is where the learning really takes place. Some of the best teaching strategies will come from having kids working side by side , so that they will constantly pick up on words and phrases.For children that need help, an alternative approach to education might be to teach them reading through a mix of visual aids and audio. This way, both visual and auditory cues are used to help children to gain understanding of the process. It is much easier to have the child to focus on learning something than it is to get them to just read, so they will be able to absorb what is being taught.With literacy, the more you can push the child to read, the better. When they are in class, ask them to read specific texts, even if it is only the first paragraph. If they have trouble doing this, have them read passages from a story or from the textbook.Bring the child out to the library for some quiet reading time in a good time that doesn't require a lot of work on the part of the child. An example might be having them read something in bed while watching television. Kids like to read when they can do it alone without distractions . As long as you are careful to keep the environment free of distractions, the reading should be on autopilot.Make sure that the child knows that the reading time is monitored and that they follow a regular schedule. You can make sure that the child gets enough time by monitoring the behavior of the child. When your child is in a reading slump, don't try to force the reading, but have them go outside the room and read aloud to themselves instead.One of the biggest areas of reading in your child is vocabulary. Make sure that you give them plenty of vocabulary building practice. This is where the most important skill in reading comes from. By using the fewest words possible in a sentence, the child will acquire the habit of using the most words possible when talking about a topic.

4 Hacks for Learning a Language Through Immersion Without Breaking the Bank

4 Hacks for Learning a Language Through Immersion Without Breaking the Bank Complete language immersion is within your grasp.Thats right.You have the ability to  learn a language  by being immersed in it, whenever and wherever you want.Whether or not youre in college, or going to college anytime soon.Whether or not you can afford to go abroad.In either or both of the above scenarios, youd get to learn a lot,  meet new people  and oftenpay a lot of money.We might wish that we could go on being college students forever, but the sheer amount of time  and money  needed probably means this isnt going to happen.Similarly, a long stay  in a foreign country to learn a new language is out of the question for many.There are ways to work (literally) around the costs, but we may have jobs, families or other obligations that require us to stay put for the time being.But thats okay.As Scott Young demonstrated at TEDx  when he challenged himself to learn the whole MIT curriculum for computer science without actually enrolling, you dont necessarily have to go to a specific place to get a quality education.Believe it or not, the same idea applies to language learning.If language immersion in a foreign land is what youre seeking, but you just cant seem to make it there, never fear!If, on the other hand, youre already in a foreign land or enrolled in a course to learn your desired language, you can still benefit from what Im about to tell you.Either way, you have everything you need right where you are.So stay where you are, and read on. What Is Language Immersion, Exactly?Im sure weve all heard the term thrown around quite a bit and are familiar with it, but its popular meaning has changed quite a bit from its original meaning.While you might think of language immersion as actually living in a country where they speak the language youre learning, the term was actually originally intended to describe classrooms where the target language (the language being learned) was used exclusively.Thats right.Language immersion from the very beginning has been abo ut learning a language outside of its spoken areas.  Lets focus on that for a minute, because its really important. Language immersion is just using the language you want to learn all the time.Somehow, weve come to think of living in a foreign country as some sort of mystical experience, whereby the language will creep into our brains and slowly grow itself, like some sort of beneficial tapeworm.First of all, gross.Secondly, the truth is that to learn a language you just have to practice. And immersion, whether at home or abroad, is one way to do a lot of that quickly.The 10,000-hour RuleYou may already be familiar with the 10,000-hour rule popularized by Malcolm Gladwell. Its come under a lot of flak lately, but the research on neither side is definitive, so I think it still serves as a handy guideline.Basically, the rule says that if you study something intensively for 10,000 hours, youll have a good shot at being a pro. Language is no different. Study for 10,000 hours, no matter where youre living, and youll be at the top of the heap.But never forget that these 10,000 hours have to be  focused.  If its not difficult, youre probably not learning. Watching 10,000 hours of anime with the subtitles turned on has, I think its safe to say, produced no masters of Japanese listening skills.This is why you should carefully form a detailed plan, allocating a certain number of hours each day to the four main skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing.Some time should also be set aside just for nailing down grammar and vocab.While everyone wants to emphasize different things in their learning, its a good idea to be well-rounded. Working on one skill set will reinforce what youve learned in another.But what should you actually do? And how can you really achieve total immersion?Read on.4 Hacks for Learning a Language Through Immersion Without Breaking the Bank1. Technology: Its changed everythingWell sure, you might say. That sounds great, but language is a differe nt kind of knowledge. You have to speak to people and most of the people you need to speak to live far, far away.And yes, many of them will most likely live far, far away from you. But thats starting to matter less and less.Common pieces of technology that you use every day can be repurposed for language learning.For example, your iPod or iPhone can easily be converted into a handy listening immersion tool. All you have to do is take a movie or television series and convert it into an audio file.Then, when youre out walking around, turn on the file and disappear into a world of foreign sounds.  Continually finding new files and converting them might be a bit time-consuming, but its worth it to have your surroundings take on the tones of a distant language.And if youd rather skip the hassle of compiling appropriate material and get right to learning, you always have the option of using  FluentU,  an online immersion platform that caters to all levels of learners and now offers an app you can download from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.FluentU takes real-world videos created by and intended for native speakersâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.Speaking is probably the hardest skill to practice when youre not living in a country where the language you want to learn is spoken, but by having online language partners it suddenly becomes possible to get speaking practice anywhere and at any time.If youre looking to connect with native speakers,  theres a long list of websites that now offer language exchanges online.Some websites, like Livemocha, will even help your language exchange along by offering guided conversations.There are similar platforms for writing. Take Lang-8,  for instance. Here you can submit a piece of your writing in whatever language you like and have it corrected by a native speaker. All you have to do in return is correct someone elses writing in a la nguage you speak.2. Letting the people come to youGlobalization. For better or worse, it seems like its here to stay. For language learners, this is undoubtedly a blessing.In both the USA and the UK,  there are significant pockets of recent immigrants and long-established ethnic communities that continue to speak a foreign language.Of course, some languages will be easier to find than others. Obviously, if you live in the United States and you want to speak Spanish, the odds are pretty good that you can find someone to speak with.But dont rule out the less common languages! Im currently living in Prague in the Czech Republic, but Ive managed to meet dozens of Japanese people.Oftentimes, you just need to meet one speaker of the language youre learning and theyll connect you to a whole community of speakers of that language.One of the easiest ways to find these groups, if youre not already in the know about a local ethnic community, is to go looking for local foundations or cultural c enters.For example, for Japanese theres the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center as well as the Japan Foundation operating inside the USA.Others examples include the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the Goethe Institut  and the Korea Foundation.While youre at it, be sure to hit up your local universities for any cultural clubs or international exchange programs they might run. If you can speak their language at all, study abroad students will happily befriend you and help you out in exchange for help with their English.3. Your very own immersion mindsetIf you have the right mindset, you can live anywhere and learn a language.If you have the wrong mindset, even living in the deep Siberian wilderness surrounded by country folk whove never heard a word of English wont help you learn Russian.Many an expat has lived years outside of their home country without learning much more than Hello and Thank you in the language of their new country, relying solely on English or a nati ve spouse to translate for them.So if that mindset is what we want to avoid, what mindset  should we have?Well, we should start with a no English language pledge.This is famously used by the Middlebury College immersion program, but its something you can do by yourself. If you work or have one of many other legit reasons for being unable to spend all day every day avoiding English, then choose clear goals that are challenging but not impossible to accomplish, like setting aside four hours each day to read, write, speak listen and even think in another language.Dont forget the last item on that list.Being able to internalize a foreign language  is incredibly important to learning languages and learning them well.If you want to have an immersion mindset, then naturally that mindset should be in your new language.4. Letting the immersion come to you  If you do want to go all out and have the classical immersion experience but still cant quite find a way to make it abroad, there are num erous language immersion programs that can be found throughout the U.S. and elsewhere.While many of these immersion programs are intended for younger learners, there are also some for adults.The program at Middlebury College in Vermont, already mentioned above, is particularly well-known and has a long track record of having students take a no English pledge for their time at the school.You can also check out your local universities to see if they have any public immersion classes up for offer.This type of classical immersion experience would undoubtedly be beneficial for any language learner.But remember, if you put in the effort, you can flip your everyday life inside out, leaving English safely tucked away for only when its really needed.All you need is motivation, a computer, some adventurous friends and a new way of thinking. And One More ThingWeve already mentioned FluentU, but theres a lot more to see, so we thought wed offer you a more detailed look.With FluentU, you learn r eal languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, including movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive Transcripts You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.

How to revise for chemistry GCSE

How to revise for chemistry GCSE GCSE chemistry revision challenges you in several ways. Aside from having to memorise facts spanning the whole specification, you also need to know your chemistry formulae. As a result, it's hard to know where to start. Here's what you need to know. Start revision early With a subject as broad as chemistry, you need to start your revision earlier in the year, compared to other subjects. This then allows you to break the core topics down into digestible chunks and study them little and often. This method ensures better memory retention and recall. At the same time, stay engaged in your lessons right until your exams. Ask questions, and be honest about your knowledge gaps so your teacher can help you fill them. Identify what you need to know Before you start your revision look at the specification for your examining board and ensure you know what exam papers you have and the exact chemistry topics that will be covered. This will help you to identify what you need to know, and what you don't need. If you're confused in any way, see your Chemistry teacher for confirmation of the core areas. Work out where you are right now Next, looking at the specification work out and highlight everything into three zones: Green indicates what you know and understand. Orange indicates what you vaguely know but aren't sure about. Red indicates what you don't know, and or don't understand. This colour-coded key will help you to see where to focus your revision and where to seek help. Always start with the topics in the red zone as this is the area that will help improve your grade. If you have large knowledge and understanding gaps seek the help of a chemistry tutor who can work with you to catch up. Change up your revision tactics For ideas on how to revise do check out our blog post on How to revise for GCSE science - for general tips and advice. Alongside this, find yourself a chemistry revision partner. Explaining what you have learned to a peer is the best way to work out what you know and understand. It also has the added benefit of someone being able to add ideas that you may not have considered. Work on past papers You will hear this piece of advice a lot. However, it's vital to look at past papers at the right time. Trying them without revising or before you have started your revision is demoralising. Factor them into your revision, but only when your revision is in full swing, and you are ready to test yourself. Ask for help Chemistry involves a lot of concepts, which are essential for you to understand before you apply the information to your exam questions. So, if there are any chemistry topics you don't understand, don't be afraid to ask your teacher or a tutor and bring it up in class. Look here for a chemistry tutor in your area.

What Does a US History Teacher Does?

What Does a US History Teacher Does?Are you ready to get a good education and make your career in a good and credible career in the United States history, and if so, then you may need some online information and guidance for your future. With the help of the internet and the knowledge you have now, you can use it to your advantage and start your education on the right track. There are many websites that offer learning resources and tips for those students who are ready to start their life as a professional historian.When you go for the online courses, you are definitely going to get the guidance and the instruction you are looking for. Students can also get the advice from the tutors while completing the course. The courses are so much in demand that some colleges even offer free tuition to the students who can afford it. But, this is only for those students who can afford the fee.If you want to become a history tutor in the United States, the best way to do it is to apply online. Th e process for getting the certificate from the American History Standards Institute is quite simple.The exam for the history teacher's certificate is an open-book exam that the candidates have to take and pass in order to be certified as a history teacher. This certificate is the official certification to the teaching profession. So, the exam will be easy if you are prepared with all the knowledge you will need for the exam.There are many other certification in the education business as well, like the Master's degree. You can find it if you search for it on the internet. Some schools also offer the BA in the United States history in order to prepare more individuals for the more specialized jobs and also to provide more opportunities to the students.As we all know, the United States has so much to teach for humanity as a whole. The books of the people in the United States history are great examples and references for the rest of the world, as we all know the strong history of our co untry, and these are the reasons why the United States history teacher is so important.In conclusion, the United States history teacher is also considered a vital aspect of the United States culture and the history of the people of the United States. So, it is very important to get the certificate to prove you are a genuine teacher. So, you need to visit the websites that offer the certificate.

Tutor the People Pre Med Scholarship

Tutor the People Pre Med ScholarshipA person who wishes to complete their premedical courses and get their associate's degree can apply for a pre med scholarship. Scholarships for students who completed their premedical course are provided by universities, colleges, associations and foundations. People who wish to get a premed degree and pursue their dreams, are eligible for this scholarship. Getting this scholarship ensures that they have enough money to pursue their dreams.Applicants need to ensure that they submit all necessary documents with the required information. Applications need to be submitted in the med students newspaper. There are many scholarships for students who passed their premedical courses. In order to take the best out of these scholarships, one has to submit the right papers and applications. Some of the important aspects that one has to understand are, application fee, application, essay, reference letters, financial information, medical school records and cer tification, health insurance, financial obligation.Applicants must not underestimate the role of those who help them get more scholarships. One can use online resources and forums that are linked to all the scholarship organisations. An applicant has to know about the various scholarships and schemes offered by these institutions. Most of the time, these colleges and universities provide free education to their students.Free tuition is offered to the students who take up the scholarships. However, if the applicants are looking forward to self-funding, then it is advisable to talk to the university and see if they offer any sort of free tuition to the applicants. The students also have to make an effort to keep themselves updated with all the changes in their college or university as well as in the world.Grants can be availed from all the people who wish to study. It is advised that an applicant should apply for the grants from different sources. They may contact banks, the governmen t, corporations, or organisationsand see whether they offer any kind of loans or grants.It is always better to apply for grants. In order to take the best out of grants, the applicant should apply from different sources and make sure that they fill up the application form correctly. Applicants have to submit all the required documents before applying for the grant.Counseling helps in gaining understanding and coping with the problems faced by them. Counseling is very important in helping people through every step of their life. Students who have had a bad experience due to wrong decision, can relate and learn from them, and use them as an example.

Online Algebra Tutor- Seek Rapid Solutions for Your Algebra Puzzles

Online Algebra Tutor- Seek Rapid Solutions for Your Algebra Puzzles 0SHARESShare Feel like skipping Algebra classes? Want to learn tricks and knacks to puzzle out Algebraic expressions? Tutor Pace stands by you to impart solvable measures for your troubles at the winking of an eye. Online Algebra Tutor-know what to do with Algebra It is a bit tough to look into letters in the place of numbers. You can find out solutions for Algebraic expressions and inequalities with Online Algebra Tutor who trains you with easy tricks to resolve Algebra issues. Exponents and Absolute value could focus ideas that are beyond your comprehension at the initial stage for which you need explanations and in depth understanding of the topics with the help of Tutor Pace’s tutors. Algebra Tutor-Your ideal friend in times of need Simplifying Radicals would take you to a land of unknown with all numbers and letters dancing before you. Algebra Tutor from Tutor Pace takes you out of the maze with his long lasting support and guidance. He explains the core concepts with clarity and pushes you to a realm of safety with his tutoring methods. Personalized tutoring through high tech tools is the hallmark of Tutor Pace and that is greatly helpful for Math students who feel stumped whenever they touch Algebraic expressions. Algebra Homework Help- ardent support on time Tutor Pace’s two way chat and interactive white board help you through tough concepts while seeking Algebra Homework Help. They help you complete your task with fun as in Rationalizing the denominator. Tutor Pace provides solid help for Algebra through its Online Algebra Tutor. [starbox id=admin]

12 Addictive Apps Every Musician Needs (2015 Update)

12 Addictive Apps Every Musician Needs (2015 Update) Suzy S. Since the invention  of the app store, aspiring and experienced musicians have been finding inspiration,  practicing their skills, and immersing themselves in their craft all with the help of some of the top music apps! There are so many  noteworthy apps that can benefit all musicians, from guitarists to singers and songwriters. Whether you are looking for something educational or creative, this list will benefit your collection of apps. And best of all, they are all fun to work with and pretty addictive, we might add! Here are our picks for top music apps Songwriters Pad Songwriters Pad  is the ultimate songwriter’s tool. It contains powerful idea-generating tools to inspire creation while making lyric-writing easier than ever. Everything you need to write music is packed into this one application. Finally, an app to defeat writer’s block once and for all! Download:  iOS,  Android Songsterr Tabs Chords Songsterr Tabs Chords was  featured in the Wall Street Journal as, “one of the best apps for learning to play music.”  With a  huge catalog of 500,000 accurate tabs and chords, all musicians can learn something with this app. Most songs have tabs for individual instruments too, including the guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. Download: iOS, Android GarageBand Do you need a full recording studio on the go? If so, this is the app for you. GarageBand turns your phone into a collection of instruments, including  piano, organ, guitar, and drums.  Guitarists can even plug their electric guitar in and play through classic amps and stompbox effects! Download: iOS My Note Games This is a fun music game that teaches music theory and instrument mastery, including lessons for saxophone,  piano, guitar, recorder, trumpet, violin, viola, and  cello, plus vocals and whistling. The app actually listens to you playing your instrument,  checking your tone, pitch, and accuracy. Download:  iOS Beatwave With Beatwave, you can make unique music just by tapping  on your screen! No musical skills are required, and  you can  create songs anywhere from your phone. In minutes, you  can make  complex songs  with multiple layers of instruments and sounds  and then share them on  social media! Download:  iOS Ear Trainer Ear Trainer is an  educational application designed for beginner to  advanced musicians, music students, and anyone interested in improving ones musical ear. There are more than  260 individual exercises covering intervals, chords, scales, relative pitch, and melody. Download:  iOS Sing! Karaoke by Smule Are you ready to take karaoke to the next level? With Sing!  Karaoke by Smule, you can sing your favorite karaoke songs and show them off to the world. Record yourself, add audio effects, and share with the apps global community! Download:  iOS, Android Polyphonic! Polyphonic! is a simple interface app for creating your own complex layers of music, even without any prior musical ability. Each square represents a different sound and each color represents a unique group of sounds. This app is perfect for anyone interested in music creation. Download:  iOS Hum Hum makes note-taking and audio recording of song ideas  easier than ever! Every aspiring songwriter needs this tool in his or her arsenal. Hum keeps your lyrics and song ideas organized and sortable so you never lose anything again. Download:  iOS Lyrics Pro With this app, you get access to the lyrics of millions of tracks, straight from your phone. You can search by artist, song name, or the lyrics themselves. It also has a cool auto-loading feature that delivers the lyrics to any song that is currently playing! Download:  iOS Figure You now have the ability to create awesome music in minutes! Simply open  Figure and start by creating a beat, then share it with your friends. Whether you are new to music production or are a seasoned veteran, this app is super fun to use. All musicians can use it to improve their rhythm and expand creativity. Download:  iOS SongPop Do you know everything about music? Test yourself against friends with  SongPop. As you play, youll listen to song clips from thousands of original artists in more than  300 genres, and the idea is to guess the artist or song faster than your friends. Download:  iOS, Android Readers, what top music apps are missing from this list? Let us know in the comments! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Upgrading Your Gear Must-Haves For the Intermediate Guitarist

Upgrading Your Gear Must-Haves For the Intermediate Guitarist Suzy S. Is your guitar gear stage-ready? If youve been playing for a while and youre ready to start performing, your set up might need some upgrades. Follow this guide from guitar teacher Nathan D. and enjoy rocking out   So perhaps youve been playing steadily for a few months to years, and youre taking this whole “guitarist” thing seriously. Maybe you now have a band, and want to start playing out. Theres plenty of necessities to get or upgrade guitar gear as you start to go a bit more pro, and countless sticker-shock options as well. What do you need to know before going on a crazy, card-maxing shopping spree? Ideas For The Road A floppy gig bag will need an upgrade, so definitely buy a hard-shell case to protect your instrument. Consider the hardships of packing your guitar into your tour vehicle and traveling. It will pay for itself after a hard drop out of a van door or trunk, or even a single pass through the TSAs often brutal gauntlet. Buy a few supplies for your case. I keep a spare string winder, a pack of strings, a tuner (or pitch pipe, as they dont need batteries that can leak if left unchecked), and a few extra picks. A pen and some paper wont hurt, either. You never know when youll have to trade info with a promoter and run out of business cards (bar napkins easily get thrown out). If you live in dry climates, I shouldnt even have to tell you to have a humidifier in your guitar case. However, if youre going on tour or vacation, its not the first thing you might think to pack. You dont know what the weather will be from state to state (or continent), so its worth the twenty dollar or more investment. Suggestions For The Active Stage Rocker Consider installing strap-locks onto your instrument, especially if youre in an act that flails around a lot. Be aware of the current size of the strap screws in your instrument. You may be drilling a deeper or wider hole for larger screws to properly secure the locks. Have it done by a pro if you dont want to potentially split your body apart (or ask a reliable carpenter friend). Its not worth putting strap-locks onto a guitar strap that will break at your next practice. Please dont repair your straps with duct tape. If it looks shoddy, get a new one. Also, if you notice that your shoulder gets fatigued after wearing your guitar for an hour, immediately upgrade to a wider strap with some padding. If youre tired of pulling your cable from your amp (regardless of its length), become entangled with mic stands and bandmates, or have ever pulled your amp to have it fall directly onto pavement, you might be a candidate to go wireless. There are budget packages that run for only a couple hundred dollars or less, just check the reviews on your favorite retailers websites. Its incredibly fun to run the full distance possible through or around your audience while playing, whether its an outdoor show or in a bar. Playing With Power Heres the big one: your practice amp probably wont cut it live. Even if a microphone and PA is used in conjunction with it, relying on a tiny, low-watt amp and/or stage monitors doesnt always work out very well. Dont be the player on stage that insists on using a microphone on a 20 watt amp, constantly glaring at the poor sound guy, angrily shooting a finger repeatedly upward, and yelling to crank you up in the stage mix. Youre going to need at least a couple hundred watts to be loud enough. If you cant hear your playing while on stage with drums and other instruments (and actually want to play with a band), youll need a new, more powerful amp. Prepare to shell out several hundred dollars to a grand (or more). Note the differences in buying an all-in-one versus a speaker cabinet setup and separate amplifier (or head unit). You can always upgrade the amp if you buy separate units, but in any case you can always upgrade the speaker(s) down the line. If youre handy, you can also build your own speaker box with plans found online. Dont rule out using a small yet powerful amp to power any speaker box, as my $300 200 Watt ZT Lunchbox (its the size of a lunchbox) is actually powerful enough to power my 4X12” Marshall cabinet. However, its built-in 6.5” speaker actually is enough for me in most small venues. Bring your instrument to the store to try out different amps, dont just go by reviews. You dont want to pay return shipping on a 100 pound amp if you decide to buy online without even trying it in person. Your sound doesnt need compromises, plus your wallet could take a big, non-refundable hit for a simple mistake. When you purchase or construct a new, more powerful amplifier setup, you can always keep your little old amp for low-volume practice, or sell it to a beginner. For more great amps check out this list from Music Skanner. Last Words To You Rockers My final, very important advice is have ear protection. Your ears are your most important organs as a musician. Tinnitus is not fun. Im in my early thirties and I have already started developing it in my left ear, and sometimes it wakes me up at night. Theres plenty of options in foam, rubber, and silicone models that are under twenty dollars. That being said (and hopefully heard), a wide assortment of guitar gear possibilities await you. Has some of that anxiety calmed of what to do next? I hope some of these suggestions help you out. Youre at an exciting stage of being a musician! Keep playing! Nathan D. teaches guitar, bass, drums, and more in North Wales, PA. His specialties include  rock and heavy metal styles, but he teaches every genre.  Learn more about Nathan here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  Andrew_D_Hurley

Your Professional Field Guide to Be a Rockstar Introvert (Part 1) - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Your Professional Field Guide to Be a Rockstar Introvert (Part 1) - Introvert Whisperer Your Professional Field Guide to Be a Rockstar Introvert (Part 1) Finally, Introverts are getting into the mainstream of the collective consciousness. Books and articles are now springing up on the topic and just now, I saw a retreat for Introverts. It’s a good time to be an Introvert. The biggest issue I have with most things I read on the subject of being an Introvert is the translating all of that into practical, useable advice. If I’m an Introvert, I want to know not only “What does this mean to me?” but also “What do I do with this  information that will help me with [fill in the blank]?” Most of the time, when we take an assessment, theres this big “so what?” factor that comes along with it. With the advent of the Internet,  personality assessments abound. Who doesn’t like to hear more about themselves? But once you know what youre classified as, it then begs the question of  what good that information is to you. Even if you haven’t taken an assessment and have only surmised your personality type, what does that mean in the day-to-day arc of your life or career? The short answer is: not much. It’s like learning about the formation of granite: interesting, but does it do anything at all to change your behavior, make a difference in your career or advance a cause? Again, no. Knowing youre a specific personality type does you no good if you can’t do something useful with the information. (Like this thought? Tweet it!) So in this post, Id like to give you both insight into your personality as an  Introvert and how it works on the job. The Introvert Personality The central concept to understanding our personality is the use of our energy. When I first heard that, it really didn’t mean much to me. I’m sure someone else reading this has the same reaction. (We just didn’t connect the dots.) Energy in the context of your personality means the personal energy it takes to do something, even if all youre doing is setting in a meeting. Think about going to a daylong seminar or even a project you work on all day. It’s the kind of thing that really has no physical expenditure but nevertheless, at the end of the day, youre pooped. Not because you used your energy to move around, but because your brain was working overtime to soak up all of the value you were there to obtain. Rarely does anyone talk about the fact that your brain uses up energy almost faster than a good workout at the gym. It turns out the primary difference between an Extravert and an Introvert is how their energy is created and spent. For an Extravert, their battery is recharged through their environment or “outside” of their head. The things you commonly equate with an Extravert, like speaking more than we do, are  an energizing activities for them, as is being interactive with others. For an Introvert, those very things can suck the life out of us. Our energy is restored inside our head through more internally focused things like working on a solitary project, listening to music or reading. When we are around others or interact with others, it spends our energy. If you begin with this basic understanding of energy creation and expenditure, it starts to make abundant sense when you then start equating energy to some of the behavior that goes with it. Below is a quiz I developed to help you  self-identify your personality type. Its also designed to show the contrast between Extraverts (E) and Introverts (I). I should point out that you have other facets to your personality than just Introvert and Extravert, but we are only focusing on those two right now. Personality Orientation Assessment Instructions:   This is a “forced choice” assessment, meaning at each line, you should select the statement that is truer for you or reflects you more than the other statement. You will notice the other statement may apply to you as well, but you must pick the one that applies to you the most  between the two. Scoring: Once youve made a selection for each line, tally your  X’s in the left column and in  the right column. This should give you a good idea of which type you are. X if yes Extravert X if yes Introvert Attuned to external environment or things surrounding you Drawn to inner world or thoughts, memories, information, ideas and impressions Prefer to communicate by talking Prefer to communicate in writing Work out ideas by talking them through Work out ideas by reflecting on them Learn best through doing or discussing Learn best by reflection, mental “practice” Have broad interests Focus in-depth on your interests Sociable and expressive Private and contained Readily take initiative in work and relationships Take initiative when the situation or issue is very important to you Energized by interacting with people and speaking Energized by yourself Oriented to people and action Oriented to thoughts and feelings Active Reflective Use trial and error with confidence Consider deeply before acting Scan the environment for stimulation Find stimulation inwardly Lively, energetic, seek spotlight Calm, enjoy solitude, seek the background Interactive, want contact, listen and speak Onlooker, prefer space, read and write Want to belong, broad circle, join groups Seek intimacy, one-on-one, find individuals Demonstrative, easier to know, self-revealing Controlled, harder to know, private Sociable, congenial, introduce people Reserved, low-key, are introduced Gregarious, expressive Quiet, contained Initiating, enthusiastic Receiving, intimate Now that youve taken this brief assessment, you should be in “so what?” mode. Never fear, read on The first thing to notice is that more than likely, you had some X’s in both columns. While the Meyers-Briggs folks believe youre either one or the other personality type, I’m in the camp that says you are “mostly” one or the other. That means you aren’t always consistently behaving as an Introvert. You may have moments when youre a bit more “E,” and vice  versa. There is also a vital but little-known aspect to our personalities, and that is versatility. It turns out that as we travel through life situations, we learn we must adapt to the situation in order for it to produce the best results. We aren’t always aware we are adapting; when you adapt enough to various situations, it becomes fairly automatic. As an Introvert, we learn in which situations  we can be more chatty or demonstrative without sucking up all of our battery life, like when were  with our family. As Darwin said, “Change is central to our existence.” Which means that both the “E” and “I” do adapt, and the ones who  adapt the best the most frequently and the soonest will be the most successful in life and work. You can probably think of people whose personality is rigid, and you know these are the people having the greatest difficultly and who are usually seriously unhappy. Take heart if you are one of those rigid people! (Or even slow to learn to adapt.) Adapting is a learned skill. Some people who are particularly self-aware pick up adaptation skills very naturally. For the rest of us, we can learn to adapt. What you may have thought was the domain of some very lucky people is now yours, should you choose to do so. I’m going to really dive deep into adaptations, but first, it’s important to dispel some Introvert myths. Myths and Misconceptions 1. Social Anxiety Is Part of the Introvert  Personality When it comes to our personality type, there are a lot of notions attached to it that aren’t entirely correct. What I’m speaking of is when you hear any of the following traits: Shy Anti-social Dislikes people Reclusive If you take Webster’s definition of an Introvert, those things are certainly characteristics you could include. Webster’s definition and synonyms: Reserved and shy Turned in upon itself: marked by being wholly or predominantly concerned with and interested in ones own mental life Bashful, coy, demure, modest, diffident, retiring, sheepish When people speak broadly about Introverts as  shy and antisocial, they aren’t entirely correct. There are other things going on with a person besides  their personality. Usually a shy person suffers from social anxiety and may be systemic to being Anti-Social. So, yes, you could attach those elements to the word Introvert, but not to the personality of Introvert. This may be a bit of a fine distinction, but I think it is a distinction worth noting. I point  this out is because your personality is a given, just like your eye color. Social anxiety is developed for a variety of reasons and is something that can be reduced with focus and professional help. You can’t change your personality, but like social anxiety, if you have problems with your behavior that are  driven by your personality, you can make some adaptations or changes to improve your situation. In other words, both the issues that stem from  Social Anxiety and the issues that stem from the Introvert personality have solutions, but they are different. There are many other mental health diagnoses that have these characteristics. I think that like many things, when you start seeing the more extreme examples of behavior, you aren’t talking about a personality as much as you’re talking about a disorder. My point is that some people mistakenly think if youre an Introvert, it’s a problem or something that needs to be fixed. If it’s your personality you need to appreciate that there is nothing wrong with you. If youre suffering from  social anxiety and it’s impacting your life, you may want a professional to help you. It’s interesting, if not slightly unfortunate that no other MBTI personality seems to have the baggage associated with them that  Introverts do. Oh well. 2. Introverts Cant Perform in Some Professional Occupations This  myth really bothers me, especially as a career coach. Granted, there are some occupations Introverts  may be more drawn to, but I’ve seen highly successful Introverts in all occupations. I’ve seen them  as managers, leaders, sales people, actors, teachers, doctors and police.  An array of Introverts are captains of industry, including Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. President Obama, who is at the highest post politically in the US, is also an Introvert. There is simply no merit to the myth that we can’t be successful in all jobs. It’s just not true. To summarize, there is no right or wrong when it comes to personality type, and theres certainly nothing wrong with being an Introvert. Unfortunately, the word Introvert itself does seem to have “problems” associated with it, but I guess that is our burden to bear. Now that you know a little about how being an Introvert affects you in the workplace, stay tuned for next weeks post in which well discuss how you can change or adapt your Introvert tendencies for better career success. Go to top What does being an Introvert mean to  you? Share your thoughts in the comments! Image:  Flickr Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. 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