An Introduction to Irish English

An Introduction to Irish English What Makes Irish English So Special? ChaptersThe Origins of English in IrelandEnglish and Irish: Two Different LanguagesThe Particularities of Irish EnglishResources for Learning Irish English“A man with an Irish accent could sound wise and poetic and interesting even if he wasn’t.” - Kate AtkinsonWhen we think of Ireland, we often think of verdant landscapes, Saint Patrick, and U2. There’s also a passionate culture, national identity, and language.  According to a recent survey, only 2% of the population speaks Irish on a daily basis.Are you lost?Ireland has two official languages: English and Irish. This is what we’re going to have a look at throughout this article.Linguistic immersion is a great way to learn the English language, especially since culture and language are linked. This can turn language learning into a way of life rather than just a school subject!In this article, we're going to take a look at how English made its way into Ireland, the differences between the English and Irish languages, how Irish English differs to other varieties of English, and how you can go about learning Irish English. JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Origins of English in IrelandThere are two main languages in Ireland. English was first brought to Ireland by English colonists in the 13th century. It took some time for English to establish a foothold in Ir eland.Ireland is home to a rich culture and unique English dialect. (Source: MetsikGarden)By the 17th century, when the Tudors conquered Ireland, English was adopted in the court, judiciary institutions, administrations, and even by businesses.Irish speakers were considered to be poor and less intelligent than those who spoke English as their mother tongue and English became the essential language for those wanting to get ahead in this new society.  As a testament to the language’s nation and international importance, it’s the most commonly taught language in Ireland.However, Irish English, just like Scottish English, also includes a variety of different dialects. There are also regions where Irish Gaelic (known locally as just Irish) is spoken. Since Ireland’s independence, there have been attempts to increase the use of Irish in the country.Why not get online English courses? Find the nearest ESOL courses.English and Irish: Two Different LanguagesBoth Irish and English are t he official languages of Ireland. Two languages for two civilisations, a challenging part of Ireland’s history.A conversation with a native Irish English speaker will do wonders for your comprehension and your accent. (Source: Engin_Akyurt)Currently, the Irish government attempts to make the two languages equal by giving the Irish language the status of the country’s first official language. However, Ireland is a predominantly English-speaking country in terms of its popular culture.Furthermore, the Celtic languages (which also include Scottish Gaelic and Manx) and English are two completely different languages in terms of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.How different are they?The differences between English and Irish adds to the rich and fascinating culture of Ireland, which has been rebuilding itself following its independence from Great Britain.It’s definitely worth a visit. Even though the grammar and conjugations are mostly the same, Irish English is also different from other forms of English in terms of accent and idiomatic expressions. Learning Irish English is a great way to improve your English, especially if you’re planning on going to Ireland.For example, the verb “have” is the same whether you’re in Cambridge, New Zealand, or Ireland. The main words and most common verbs used in languages tend to stay the same regardless of where they're being used. However, terms for fashion, food, and local customs are where languages really come into their own.Irish English is distinct from other variants and you can study it by doing a language exchange, working, or studying in Ireland. As you’ll see soon enough, studying English in Ireland is fascinating.Have you heard Australian English?The Particularities of Irish EnglishLike all languages, there are different variants of English around Great Britain and Ireland.If you plan on going to Ireland, you should probably learn more about the languages they speak there. (Source: MemoryCatcher) So what makes the Irish variant of English so special?Here’s some advice to get you started speaking like a local.  In terms of pronunciation, the vowels are softened and the consonants hardened. For example, the letter “a” is pronounced as an “ah” or “aw” in Ireland. “How are you?” would sound like “Ha ware ya?”. The same happens with the “aye” sound, which becomes “oi”: Ireland being pronounced like Oireland.In terms of consonants, most of them are pronounced differently as to how they would be in the United States of America. The “t” in certain words is pronounced like a “ch” (tube is pronounced as choob, for example) and the “th” is pronounced like a “d” for words like “that” and a “t” for words like “think”.The letter “g” at the ends of words is almost never pronounced: Morning and walking become mornin’ and walkin’.Of course, this isn’t true for every region in Ireland as they each have their own local variant s on the language. However, these rules are common for most dialects of Irish English.And what about typical Irish idiomatic expressions?They’re another useful tool when speaking a foreign language. Here are some examples:Cheers: a useful word that’s rather casual. While initially used for making a toast, it can also be used in a variety of different situations.Lad: This term refers to any “man”, but usually someone you know.Right: A term used to clarify what somebody is suggesting or saying.All these terms are used in specific contexts. Generally, Irish English is spoken quite quickly, quickly but clearly. That said, it can be useful to have a few expressions up your sleeve.  There are also other ways to get started with Irish English and improve your level in English.American English can be tricky, too!Resources for Learning Irish EnglishTo improve your accent, speak English better, or just get involved with Irish culture, it’s a good idea to use local media and resource s.Whether you're drinking coffee or beer, make sure you're practising your English! (Source: 6689062)You can turn on your TV and watch BBC Northern Ireland, UTV (Ulster Television), or RTÉ (Raidió Teilifís Éireann = Radio Television Ireland Ireland) to understand more about Irish culture, get used to Irish words, and improve your English.There’s nothing better than popular culture when it comes to learning English, be it the radio, newspapers, travelling, or doing a language exchange where the language is spoken!Why not read books written by the Irish?In terms of local artists, there’s James Joyce (Ulysses), Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot, Endgame, etc.), and Oscar Wilde (The Picture of Dorian Gray).Literature is a gateway to another language, its lexicon, vocabulary, and just a way to travel to other faraway lands. If you’re learning without an English teacher or language classes, burying your head in the books is a great way to immerse yourself in the language and cul ture.There are also organisations offering podcasts and interviews with Irish celebrities. This is a simple and effective way for both adults and children to learn more about Irish English and improve their understanding of the language.Bono, Colin Farrell, and Pierce Brosnan (James Bond was Irish!) are some of the best Irish teachers in the world and will help you with your language training.The same is true for newspapers. You should try and get your hands on a copy of The Irish Times, Metro Herald, Sunday Independent, or the Metro Éireann, which will be useful for learning about the language of the country as well as the culture.  With a rich linguistic landscape, a strong identity, and extra challenges for your English, learning Irish English is highly recommended for everyone!If you're interested in learning Irish English, working with a native speaker is probably your best option. If you have a look on Superprof, you can find tutors all over the country who are ready to teach you English. Of course, you should make sure that they're from Ireland before you start working with them to improve your accent.If you can't find any tutors near you, don't worry. You can also find online private tutors who can teach you English using video conferencing software like Skype. As long as you've got a computer with a webcam, microphone, and a decent internet connection, you can get private tutorials from anywhere in the world from anyone in the world. You just have to find the right person!With so many tutors to choose from, finding the right one can sometimes be quite difficult. Fortunately for you, a lot of the tutors on Superprof offer free tutoring for the first hour. This is a great opportunity to see if you get along with the tutor, if their teaching approach works for you, and work out the details of your private tutorials such as the rates, location, and how often you'll need them. Make sure you try out a few different tutors before you finally decide on the o ne that's going to teach you how to speak Irish English perfectly!

How To Do Authentic Self-Promotion Without Being Obnoxious - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How To Do Authentic Self-Promotion Without Being Obnoxious - Introvert Whisperer How To Do Authentic Self-Promotion Without Being Obnoxious As a rising Introvert Leader, it doesn’t matter where you are in your climb; you have to self-promote or plan to stay put. The very idea of self-promotion is disgusting to most people because the ones you see doing self-promotion aren’t the role models. Those people are obnoxious. In fact, the people you don’t see self-promoting are the ones doing it right. Well-executed self-promotion is subtle, tasteful and yes, (this will blow you away) useful. Do I have your attention now? The first thing you need to know about self-promotion is that we do it all the time. We are constantly promoting our ideas, our agendas and ourselves. If we didn’t, we would never have anything “go our way,” no one would know anything about us, nor would they know our good work. What this means is that you might be in need of an attitude adjustment about self-promotion. How to Pull Off Authentic Self-Promotion To authentically self-promote without negatively impacting your personal brand, try these actions: Engage your boss. Let your boss know your career aspirations and enroll them into an action plan to get you there. Update. Actively keep your boss, your peers and stakeholders up-to-date on key projects and issue resolutions. Ping the big boss. Periodically, update an executive on a pet project of theirs so you gain visibility. “Seed” conversations. “Seeding” means that occasionally you want to inject a comment that lets people know your expertise. Example: “I’ve solved problems like this before…” or “Usually when I solve a problem similar to this….” Take on more. Volunteer to be responsible for a project or task that will help demonstrate your ability to work at the next level up. When you do, let it be known that this is a stretch goal for you. It will also give you visibility, which is important. Compliment others. There’s nothing like other people thinking you’re a wizard than when you publicly let others know someone did something great. What this does is cement in the mind of the other person that you’re smart enough to realize how great they are. They will spread the word. (Tweet this!) Be informative. The difference between a bragger and a subtle self-promoter is that you are being informative by offering up information that might be useful to others. Don’t compete. When you chose to compete with others, it will show and you will be obnoxious. Choose your timing well and don’t compare your accomplishments to others. Pay attention. As I mentioned, there are self-promoters around you that you never realized. Pay attention to those around you who are being promoted and given raises who seem to be doing things right. You can learn just by being aware of what works for others. While it is important to perform well, you must understand that good work is not enough to get you climbing up that ladder of success. You must help the decision makes realize you are a star and the only way that will happen is if you help them. What comes naturally to extroverts can become a great process for you to follow. You don’t need a personality transplant to move your career forward. You simply need “adaptation” strategies. Go to top What are your thoughts on self-promotion? Share in the comments! Image: Photobucket Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective.  But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will? If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Reported Speech To Tell Stories

Reported Speech To Tell Stories English Grammar: Reported SpeechReported speech (sometimes called indirect speech) is used in English to relate to what other people have said. It is really useful to use in conversation as it allows you to tell more in-depth, interesting stories. You may have noticed this style of writing in your favorite English novel, so today we will try to help you become a  J.K. Rowling-like storyteller!  The first thing to understand is that you need to take a step back in the past  for reported speech. That a look at what I mean in the sentences below:present simple past simpleDirect speech= I play football everyday.Reported speech= He said that he played  football every day.present continuous past continuousDirect speech= She is playing the violin very badly.Reported speech= My friend said that she  was playing  the violin very badly.present perfect past perfectDirect speech= I have seen that movie one million times!Reported speech= John said that he  had seen  that movie one million tim es!past simple past perfectDirect speech= He washed his car yesterday.Reported  speech= He said he had washed his car yesterday.past continuous past perfect continuousDirect speech= They were sitting next to the umbrella.Reported speech= He said that they had been sitting next to the umbrella.will would  Direct speech= I will see you tomorrow.Reported speech= He said that he would see you tomorrow.going to was/were going toDirect speech= They are going to fly to Tokyo tomorrow.Reported speech= They said that they were going to fly to Tokyo tomorrow.Summary Of English Reported SpeechHave you got that? Always remember that you must take a step back in the past. You are telling a story about what someone did or what they said. Try the 5 questions below to see how much you can remember. For each question, can you change the direct speech to reported speech? Write your answer in the comment section so that we can check your work!example: direct speech= I  swim in the river every day.r eported speech= He said that he swam in the river every day.1. He ran a marathon 2 months ago.2. Derek lives in San Francisco.3. They will travel around Asia for two months.4. She has finished that book a few times.5. Tim and Laura are playing tennis in the parkLast Reported Speech ActivityFor this last activity, can you complete the direct and reported speech sentences with a correct verb?example: direct speech=  David eats at the Italian restaurant all the time.reported speech=David said that he  ate at the Italian restaurant all the time.1.a.  Karin and Eric were ____________ a large pizza when I knocked on their door.b. She said that Karin and Eric _______ _________ _________ a large pizza when I knocked on their door.2.a. Her English  ________ _____________  a lot since she started taking English classes.b. She said that her English ________ _______________ a lot since she started taking English classes.3.a. We ___________ have class again in one week.b. He said that we ___ _______ have class again in one week.4.a. He is ____________ on his computer upstairs.b. She said that he ________ _____________ on his computer upstairs.5.a. I ____________ in an office from Monday-Friday.b. Jessica said that she ____________ in an office from Monday-Friday.We hope that you enjoyed todays blog post. For more information about reported speech, look at this class. As always, leave your comments and answers below so we can get back to you, and sign up here for a trial class!

FAQs About Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA

FAQs About Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA You probably have a pretty good idea of how your teens Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated based on your own experience as a high school student. But these days, many schools weight GPAs, giving new and confusing meaning to the term 4.0 student. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions to clear things up: What is the difference between a regular GPA and a weighted GPA? A weighted GPA takes into account how challenging classes are, while an unweighted GPA does not. In other words, your student might receive up to 5.0 grade points for an Advanced Placement (AP) English class but only up to 4.0 grade points for a regular English class. So, a B in that AP class earns the same amount of grade points as an A in the regular class. How do colleges compare students GPAs correctly? Because high schools across the country might have different policies for calculating GPAs, you might wonder: how do colleges compare students in an apples to apples way? Rest assured, they have their methods. Admissions officers scrutinize transcripts to look at the classes that students take and their rigor, and they probably recalculate weighted GPAs to their own scale. How can colleges tell that classes are weighted? If your teen is worried about this, put him at ease: the marking system for weighted vs. unweighted grades will appear on the high school transcript. Some schools might include a school profile with the transcript that goes into even more detail on the grading scale, number of honors/Advanced Placement courses offered at the school, and the like. What if a teen takes some regular classes and some honors/advanced classes? Your teens high school guidance counselor can explain how a GPA is calculated, but remember that each classs grade is calculated based on its level. That might mean combining 4.0 grade points for four As in regular classes (16 total points), 4.5 grade points for an A in an honors class and 5.0 grade points for an A in an AP class: all As, but some worth more than others. Whats a typical grading scale? Every school is different, but many schools go with each decile being a new grade. So, 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, and so on. Some schools go with a +/- scalefor example, 97-100% = A+, 93-96% = A, 90-92% = A-, and so on. Whats a typical marking system? Again, this varies school to school, but typically, unweighted classes receive 4.0 grade points for an A, 3.0 for a B, 2.0 for a C, 1.0 for a D and 0.0 for an F. Many high schools award additional grade points for Advanced Placement (AP), honors, International Baccalaureate (IB) or other college preparatory courses. Weighted classes might receive 0 grade points for an A, 4.0 for a B, 3.0 for a C, 1.0 for a D and 0.0 for an F. It is possible that AP classes will receive more points than honors or IB classes. The GPA is a significant factor in college admission, but its also essential that teens also show colleges that they are challenging themselves in high school. A student who takes a rigorous class load and earns mostly As might seem like a stronger candidate to a competitive college than one who takes all regular classes and earns As and Bs. As always, encourage your teen to work hard and push himself. And if you need support, contact Huntington. Well help your teen build the knowledge and skills to do his best in high school.

The Ultimate Guide to Taking Notes on PowerPoint

The Ultimate Guide to Taking Notes on PowerPoint pixabay.com The prep work Before your lecture, you should extract your professor’s PowerPoint document and download it onto your computer. You should familiarize yourself with the contents of these slides so that you are prepared for the next class. Beyond reviewing these PowerPoint slides, you should add questions in these slides. These queries can range from issues understanding a concept or about a relevant problem in the textbook. To add a question, I would suggest that you add a comment so that you can resolve these comments with answers during your next lectures. In order to add a comment, simply click Insert in your PowerPoint document and then click comment. The Comments section will appear to the right side of the document, where you can type a question or concern in individual comment bubbles. These blurbs will serve as helpful reminders during class. Otherwise, you can add questions and additional text in the form of notes in your PowerPoint. Adding notes In order to add notes to an appropriate slide, select the slide and at the bottom of the PowerPoint document click the Notes or Add Notes space. If you would like to change the hierarchy of your notes per each slide, you may select the Home tab and use the Font and Paragraph tools to reorganize how these notes will be printed out. These adjustments will not appear as you view the PowerPoint document. Instead, you will only see these amendments in the Presenter View or Preview Mode or once the document is printed. Drawing a diagram or figure In order to create a comprehensive figure in a PowerPoint document, all you need to do is select the Insert tab, then click either the SmartArt or Chart tab (dependent on the purpose of your visual). Both the SmartArt and Chart options open up an additional dialog box so you can choose the perfect shape(s) or chart(s) for your needs. Once the appropriate dialog box pops open, you can change the diagram’s shape, size, and spacing to make your professor’s hand-drawn illustrations. You can add an uncomplicated diagram or chart by creating a diagram in OneNote, separate from your PowerPoint document entirely. The benefit to creating a diagram separately in OneNote is that it will give you more space in your PowerPoint’s notes section to actually type notes. Simply click the Draw tab and then select various objects in the Shapes gallery to form your desired diagram. If your diagram requires you to use multiple different shapes, such as for a simplified illustration of a molecule, you can select Lock Drawing Mode once the toggle menu from the Shapes gallery appears. Microsoft Office support also has additional videos to show you how to choose the diagram or chart for your PowerPoint slide. However, you can also hand draw your own custom shapes and figures, which can help you create more detailed figures for anatomy classes, engineering classes, or otherwise. In order to design your own custom visuals for your PowerPoint document, you should start by clicking the Review tab. This tab may also be labeled as Draw for any Microsoft Office 365 users. Afterward, select the option that says Start Inking on the far right-hand side. After you select Start Inking, a plethora of drawing options will appear. You may use a pen to freehand an educational illustration, the highlighter option to highlight portions of your notes, or even clip and select sections entirely. When selecting the pen tool, you make alter the color selection and even the line thickness of your PowerPoint drawing utensil. The Start Inking feature is particularly useful if you are skilled at creating simple drawings using your mouse or if your laptop has a touchscreen. If you are a design student  or would like to create more detailed visuals for your PowerPoint, you can simply purchase an inexpensive and portable drawing tablet to connect to your laptop. A drawing tablet, such as a HUION H420 Graphics Drawing Tablet Board, acts as a sketchbook so you can actively draw images on your laptop’s screen. While you won’t be able to see the image you’re drawing on the tablet’s surface, you can easily train your hand-eye coordination to cultivate functional figures for your PowerPoint document. It’s essential to note that you can only add these drawn diagrams and figures to your slides. You cannot add them to your notes; however, you may add additional slides to your PowerPoint presentation to make room for these supporting visuals. You can also add photographs of your professor’s notes to your PowerPoint’s notes, as this will also save time so you can focus on the lecture. If your professor gives you verbal and/or written permission, you can also record his/her audio during class and include it into your PowerPoint document. To add audio, click Insert, Media, and then Audio. However, it’s critical that you ask for your professor’s consent before each lecture, as otherwise, you can face a prodigious lawsuit. While it’s important to annotate your PowerPoint slides appropriately during class, it’s vital that you understand the difference between necessary, or noteworthy, information and filler knowledge. You shouldn’t waste the entirety of the course writing vigorously typing notes in your PowerPoint slides. Instead, spend your time listening to your professor and dissect and type in any information that isn’t self-explanatory in the slides or the textbook(s) themselves.

Effective Approach for tutoring math by Erwin Salinas

Effective Approach for tutoring math by Erwin Salinas Mathematics uses building blocks, meaning it requires mastery of the fundamentals before moving on to advanced concepts thus requiring a certain approach different from History or English. My approach is designed to accommodate different types of learners. I call it the 'concept-details-confirm' approach.Here are two examples of how I used 'concept-details-confirm' approach when tutoring Mathematics in Elementary Math and Calculus I, respectively:Tutoring Elementary Math:One of the most challenging concepts in Elementary math is multiplication. To do multiplication, the student should have mastered addition first. The approach I am going to take when a student is having trouble with multiplication is make them understand the concept first, then show them step-by-step how to multiply. 1.) CONCEPTUnderstanding the concept is important, a student can learn how to multiply using certain techniques, but if they do not know why they are doing it then they will eventually forget after the t est.To make students understand the concept, I will use objects like marbles as visual representation. For example, to represent 3x5 with marbles, I would have 3 SETS OF 5 MARBLES, and I would make the student count it. The total number of marbles from all sets is the answer, which is 15. Then I would have the student represent 4x6 in marbles to get the total number. Once the student understand this concept, he/she can move on to memorizing the multiplication table.2.) DETAILSAfter memorizing the multiplication table, I would now show the student step-by-step how to do one-step multiplication and two-steps or more multiplication. Two-steps multiplication requires mastery of addition.3.) CONFIRMAs I give the student math problems, I would oversee how they do the problems step-by-step, if the student is prone to making mistake in the addition part of two-steps multiplication, then that means the student has not mastered addition, and I would go back and make sure the student masters a ddition using the 'concept-details-confirm' approach. Once the student mastered addition, I would have them correct the mistake they made in two-steps equation. With practice, the student will master two-steps multiplication.Tutoring Calculus I:One of the most challenging concepts in Calculus I is Derivatives. There are many different derivative techniques such as Limit Definition, Product Rule, Quotient Rule, Chain Rule, Impartial differentiation. etc. Before a student can learn these derivative techniques, it is imperative that they have mastered Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus, and understand the derivative concept first. Otherwise, if they do not have the prerequisites math mastered, they will be prone to making small mistakes even if they understand the concept really well. If they do not understand the concept, even if they execute the derivative techniques well, they will most likely forget the material after the exam, which will be detrimental when they tak e Calculus II and higher level math.1.) CONCEPTTo make students understand the derivative concept, I will use concrete world examples. I would use a story and a visual, these would ensure to accommodate all types of learners.To represent the concept of derivative in a story, I would use a car going from home to school. As the driver steps on the gas to go to school, the vehicle accelerates, the rate of which the car velocity is increasing is the derivative. When the driver is reaching a red light, the driver will step on the break decelerating the car, the rate of which the car velocity decreases to stop is also the derivative.To represent the concept of derivative in a visual, I would use two graphs of of the car acceleration, and the car speed. In the acceleration graph, I would have x-coordinate as time and y-coordinate as acceleration. In the velocity graph, I would have x-coordinate as time and y-coordinate as speed. The two graphs is a representation of one car. If the car is accelerating in a constant acceleration say 3 m/s^2, then the velocity of the car is increasing by 3 EACH SECOND.So in this case, the layman's definition of derivative is the rate of how fast and slow is something changing.2.) DETAILSOnce the concept is understood, I would teach the mathematical definition of derivative and theorem of the particular derivative technique they need help, and show step-by-step how to do problems using the particular derivative technique.3.) CONFIRMCalculus problems are not easy to make up, so I would assign 3 total problems from their book (if they have one) and my Calculus I book which I still have, and oversee how they are solving the problems step-by-step. If they got the incorrect answer, I would oversee and analyze their steps. There are two possible causes of wrong answer in Calculus I: Not following the calculus steps properly and/or algebra mistake. If it calculus steps, I would have them correct the steps they got wrong. If it's algebra mistak e, I would analyze what part of algebra they are prone to making mistakes and review that concept of algebra with them using 'concept-details-confirm' approach. Once the student mastered that algebra concept, I would have them correct that algebra mistake they made for their assigned Calculus I problems.Conclusion:Whether it's Elementary Math or Calculus I, Ultimately, I would make sure my clients are one-step ahead of their math class by teaching the future materials in their classes using this approach before my clients learns the material in their classes.

How to Improve Interpersonal Intelligence

How to Improve Interpersonal Intelligence Socially savvy students seem to have a sixth sense about how to interact with anyone from peers to strangers. A person's ability to recognize and respond to non-verbal cues from others indicates a high interpersonal intelligence. While it may seem as though this is natural instinct, people can improve their interpersonal intelligence. Practicing time management skills and organizational skills will raise a person's interpersonal intelligence. 3 Ways to Improve Time Management Skills 1) Track time: Keep a diary to account for all of your time over the course of one week. This will serve two purposes. First, you will become aware of how much time you spend completing a task. For example, you might have thought paying bills and opening mail takes five minutes. In reality, you might spend twenty minutes on this task. Being aware of the time it actually takes will help you to plan and manage time better. Additionally, documenting the time you spend will demonstrate the amount of time wasters that can be eliminated from your routine. 2) Disconnect: Phone calls, text messages, notifications from Facebook and the like all serve to as distractions from the task at hand. Disconnect for an hour at a time to facilitate focusing on work. 3) Schedule activities: Create an honest schedule that includes routine tasks and upcoming deadlines. Remember to schedule breaks and buffers between tasks to ensure that you meet deadlines and accomplish all of your goals. 3 Ways to Improve Organizational Skills 1) Prioritize: Prioritize your schedule and to-do list by giving the most dreaded tasks the highest priority. Tackling these tasks first will get them over with and give you a sense of relief and accomplishment. Then, you'll be motivated to continue focusing on accomplishing the remainder of your list! 2) Batch: Designate time to complete similar tasks in batches. This can include paying bills once per week, scheduling time to check and respond to emails, or cleaning the kitchen while the meal cooks. For students, batching household tasks and errands is as important as batching academic tasks. Reinforcing organizational skills in daily living will benefit a student's academic progress. 3) Create mini-goals: Just as educators divide a curriculum into daily and weekly components throughout the semester, individuals with high interpersonal intelligence know to create mini-goals for any major task. Mini-goal setting is a talent that becomes a good habit for everyone to have. For example, a student can create a mini-goal to improve his science grade over the semester and schedule fifteen minutes per day to review the prior week's material. The mini-goal is manageable and achievable, and the repetition will become habit. The experience of mini-goal setting will become a habit that the student can apply to fiscal responsibility!