6 Tools to Learn Spanish (and Other Languages) During Your Commute

6 Tools to Learn Spanish (and Other Languages) During Your Commute Sign up successful For an engaging plot line, get hooked on the Destinos Spanish soap opera series provided through  Annenberg Learner. Similarly, BBC’s mystery series “Mi Vida Loca” targets beginner Spanish speakers. Whether you listen to instructional lessons, enticing mysteries, or pop culture Spanish podcasts, you will be flooding your brain with contextualized Spanish and building your language skills. See also: 10 Cool Sites to Learn French by Podcast, Video, or Blog 2. News Sites In addition to following the news in English, find a local news station or newspaper in your target language. If you are familiar with daily news topics in English, you will be able to recognize names of culturally and politically relevant people and places. By already knowing the main concepts surrounding key people, events, and topics, you will slowly be able to translate specific words. Having trouble finding Spanish radio stations? The BBC and CNN are available in Spanish here or here. Try listening to video clips or print articles ahead of time to read during your commute alongside the English articles. 3. Radio What is a better memory tool than music? If listening to the news is too tedious for your morning commute, sing along to a Spanish radio station. The good thing about music is that lyrics repeat the same words and phrases. Many songs, regardless of language or genre, share common topics and themes. As those hit songs play again and again, you may find yourself inferring the meaning of those loving adjectives and verbs. 4. Audiobooks Listening to audiobooks is a soothing and educational way to enjoy your commute. Make the most of your audiobook experience by downloading a book you are already familiar with in English. If you know the story of “The Giver” or “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, you will pick up on vocabulary  words quickly as the plot unfolds. Better yet, download an entire series of books! With familiar characters and settings, you will expose yourself to more words in less time. You can easily find audiobooks in other languages, including Spanish, at Audible.com. If you commute via public transportation, you can use the same strategy with hard copy books. 5. Free iTunes Downloads You can find a wealth of free lessons, audio clips, podcasts, and radio shows to stream or download from iTunes. For example, “Coffee Break Spanish” is a podcast series ranging between 15 to 30 minutes, designed to  help you learn Spanish in the car as you drive. For shorter clips, search for “Five-Minute Spanish” to download 36 free five-minute Spanish lessons from the University of Arkansas. Similarly, “Discover Spanish” offers 44 free 15-minute lessons. “One-Minute Spanish” and “One-Minute Latin American Spanish” will each get you 17 audio clips to learn on the go. If youd rather listen to conversational Spanish , check out the free clips from “Notes in Spanish”. Finally, you can download a free Spanish textbook by searching “Español I” by David Vance. This requires iBook software and is obviously more appropriate for public transportation commuters, not drivers! 6. Language-Learning  Apps If you are a public transportation commuter, try using a fun language-learning app or game while youre in transit! Whether you want to learn and practice new vocabulary words, complete grammar drills, or watch videos in your target language, there are tons of great apps to choose from. Here are some more tips for learning languages with your smartphone, including recommended apps. Editors Note: See our other Spanish app recommendations here! Even though it is difficult to commit to second language acquisition, its easy to make the most of your time with these six tools to learn how to speak Spanish in the car during your commute or any other language, really! Of course, these should supplement the time youre spending each week with your private tutor. And with many tutors offering lessons via online platforms, its easier than ever to find a teacher who fits with your schedule. Book some lessons, practice during your commute, and youll be speaking Spanish in no time. Not signed up for lessons yet?  Find a Spanish tutor in your area here!   Lauren tutors various subjects in New York, NY. She has her  Masters Degree in Education (with a concentration in students with learning disabilities), and is a certified NYC Special Education teacher. Learn more about Lauren 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 Chris Goldberg

7 Anxiety-busting Visualization Techniques for Introverts - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 7 Anxiety-busting Visualization Techniques for Introverts - Introvert Whisperer 7 Anxiety-busting Visualization Techniques for Introverts Nearly one in five Americans  are  affected by an  anxiety disorder  each year, and way less than half of those receive treatment. It stands to reason. When you’re suffering from anxiety, the idea of leaving the house and telling your troubles to a stranger may not be that appealing â€" particularly if you’re an introvert in the first place. Not everybody needs a doctor for their anxiety. But if it’s distressing you or making it impossible to live your life, it’s important to do so before things get worse. So how can you motivate yourself to pick up the phone, make that appointment, and then take the bus to the clinic? The answer lies in a set of visualization techniques that can help to calm your anxiety whether leaving the house is your goal or not. For example, you might start with the ‘blue light’ technique. Close your eyes and imagine you’re enveloped in a pleasant ball of glowing blue light. Breathe the light in and allow it to fill your mind and body, picking up those grim, gray thoughts like toxins, and then breathe it all out. Keep going until there’s no gray left. How about when you’re on the bus and everyone looks like they want to talk at you? Use your mind to escape. Imagine you’re lying on a warm, sandy beach. Imagine the smell of the air and the sound of the waves. Imagine sinking your feet down into the warm sand. Relax, and time your breathing to the rhythm of the waves. Don’t miss your stop! Do these techniques work for you?  Here’s  a handful more  visualizations to help you through different anxiety-causing situations throughout the day â€" and they’re tailor-made to do by yourself! 1. Double-paned window technique

College Tutors From Tutor Pace

College Tutors From Tutor Pace Struggling with math scores? Fearing about your next SAT/ACT exam? I don’t know if you are or aren’t, but I am not. All thanks to the wonderful college tutors from Tutor Pace.   College Tutors: How Tutor Pace’s college tutors have changed me I had been afraid of math throughout my school days. Then in college, I got quite scared to see algebra, calculus, and trigonometry. Since, I was not good at math earlier; I took it for granted that my college math will also be bad. But, then Tutor pace came in my life and everything changed. Now I’m able to: ? Perform much better in my math tests and college exams ? Keep pace with my teacher’s lectures ? Finish my math assignments on time ? Prepare with great technique for my upcoming SAT/ACT ? Better my math skills from time to time ? Have confidence in the subject College math tutor: How my college math tutor helps me 24/7 help from my college math tutor is a standout feature. I work with math experts as per my schedule. I just tell them when I want to learn and they get connected right away. Whether morning or night, I get a tutor as per my comfort. I learn in interactive virtual classrooms that are much better than real classrooms. I use whiteboard to solve problems. I interact freely with math experts on live chat. The easy and light learning environment adds a fun element to my learning. I get immediate answers to my math problems on instant live tutoring. I ask problems and my college math tutor gives me step-by-step solutions. Since, I’m an active sports student in my college. I usually don’t have time to take tutoring sessions each day. I can only learn when I’m free. So, I schedule my sessions on schedule based tutoring from Tutor Pace. An expert comes connects with me on weekdays, weekends, and anytime. Online tutoring: Why I  couldnt  get better online tutoring than Tutor Pace You see, I remember things for little time. So, home  tuitions  and coaching classes were never beneficial. Being a little lazy, I didn’t like  making notes either. So, I wanted an ever-ready personal guide for myself. Thanks to the session replay feature, I can anytime visit my previous sessions to refresh concepts. From calculus to algebra, all my topics are covered in my online tutoring. Whether algebra 1 or algebra 2, Tutor Pace has me covered. I get full homework help directly from the experts. They help me with every single math question. Also, I get math project guidance and exam-prep tips on time. I practice math problems using high quality math worksheets now and then. My online tutoring is all about ease, comfort, learning, and performing. In other words, it has all that I want and all what you want. So, be happy just as I am and get college tutors from Tutor Pace right now!

How to Speak up When Youre Hurt at Work - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Speak up When Youre Hurt at Work - Introvert Whisperer How to Speak up When Youre Hurt at Work Sarah Landrum July 25, 2016 Communication, Dealing with Fear, Office Politics No responses Go to top If you’re naturally introverted, you might characteristically go about your job and scarcely speak up unless answering a direct question. However, when you’re injured at work, being assertive by letting someone know what happened is a necessity. Otherwise, you might end up with an untreated injury that’s more severe than you first realized. There are several reasons why people feel nervous about telling their supervisors they’ve been hurt, including: A fear that people won’t believe the injury claim Uncertainty about whether their supervisors will care and take appropriate action Being under the impression they may lose their jobs or be subject to disciplinary action by disclosing their injuries Worry about the lost income they could be subjected to if their supervisors ordered them to stay home to recover Thinking fellow coworkers might feel jealous if the injuries require them to take time off work, but are eligible for worker’s compensation These stresses are all compounded if you’re very quiet and tend to go about your business without wanting to bother anyone. By following some actionable steps, it should be easier to keep your head clear and feel more confident about letting a superior know what happened. Know Your Company’s Policy for Reporting Injuries Most companies have specific guidelines in place that instruct people how to file reports about being hurt at work. Unless the business has fewer than 10 employees or is part of an industry that’s considered exempt, it’s required to report accidents on a particular form to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). If you’re not aware of the policy that applies to your workplace, getting educated offers a good opportunity to become more comfortable with being assertive. One easy thing to do is to speak up after getting some safety-related information at work. Simply say something like, “I think it’s great that you offer such clear instructions so everyone knows how to operate that piece of machinery safely. Out of curiosity, is there a procedure in place for reporting workplace accidents?” At the very least, you’ll learn something new that might come in handy for yourself or someone else. Plus, your decision to ask a question benefits everyone within earshot who also might need to know the answer but didn’t make that fact known. Notify the Appropriate Person Immediately As soon as the injury occurs, communicate with the designated individual who can help you file an accident report. If the injury is so severe that you are unable to notify that person yourself, send someone to do it for you. On the other hand, if you apparently aren’t badly hurt, you may be tempted to finish your shift before notifying someone about what happened. It’s essential to speak up about your injury right away rather than waiting. The timing of the accident is usually a crucial part of filling out an accident report. If you wait for days or even weeks before letting a supervisor know about the injury you’ve suffered, there’s a good chance you’ll be asked to provide a valid reason for your delay. Be Aware of Your Average Income If the injury requires you to receive worker’s compensation payments, the amount you get is calculated based on the amount you earn. Laws vary by state, but in Pennsylvania, injured workers should receive 66 ?% of their average gross weekly wages through compensation payments. Eventually, you’ll get a calculation from the worker’s compensation insurance company that describes the amount of compensation you’ll periodically get while recovering from your injuries. Check the form carefully and assertively tell your workplace if a mistake has been made. If you know the portion about your earnings isn’t accurate, it may be necessary to confirm the discrepancy by showing pay stubs to your employer. Fill out the Accident Form Thoroughly When officially documenting the injury, you may feel very timid about describing the extent of your injuries, and possibly even be tempted to downplay what happened. However, doing anything except providing an honest, full and accurate account of what occurred could negatively affect your ability to get compensation. You’ll also probably need to list the associated medical treatments you’ve received, if applicable. Be sure to follow your employer’s instructions about whether you must only get treatment from particular healthcare providers. Document How the Accident Has Affected Your Ability to Work When following up your worker’s compensation claim, make sure to keep records that discuss how being hurt has adversely influenced your ability to do your job. It may be appropriate to focus on factors such as: Whether it takes longer than normal to do certain things If you experience pain that didn’t occur before you got hurt Whether the pain has worsened, moved or otherwise changed since the accident How it’s become necessary for you to take more rest breaks than usual because of the injury By providing those kinds of details, you’ll be able to give evidence to your workplace about how your life has been since getting injured. In the same way it’s essential to be truthful and thorough when documenting the injury, don’t leave out pertinent details when describing how the injury impacts your life. Informing superiors about getting hurt at work is something that can cause even the most self-assured workers to feel uneasy. If you’re so anxious that you think it’d be better to keep quiet, reshape your perspective by remembering how your decision to disclose injuries promptly should make it easier to get the required treatment so you can get back on your feet as soon as possible, and hopefully not suffer any long-term effects. Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

How To Navigate Russian Grammar

How To Navigate Russian Grammar Basic Russian Grammar for Beginners ChaptersVerbs in RussianSome Basic Russian VerbsBuilding Russian SentencesUsing Games to Learn RussianFind Russian Lessons Near YouEager to start learning Russian and find out more about the land of the Tsars, maybe even take a trip to Moscow or St. Petersburg? Learn to read Tolstoy or Pushkin or other greats of Russian literature in the original language?Wonderful! This Slavic language is spoken by about 154 million people worldwide, and while at first, it may seem daunting to learn a whole new alphabet, Russian grammar, while quite different from English in many ways, is in others also much simpler.So once you have mastered the Cyrillic alphabet and learned a few basic Russian words and phrases, it’s time to study the core of the Russian sentences and how to build them - and how to continue your Russian lessons London and make learning Russian fun!EditAspectGroup lessons Private tutorTimeforce you to take time to learn - great if you always have an excuse for rescheduling.adapt t o your schedule if your job doesn’t leave you time off at the same time every week.TeachingStrict curriculums and set exercises. Wonderful if you tend to go off on tangents when learning.Adaptable curriculum that lets you advance at your own pace. Perfect if you find learning a language difficult.Feedback. You can learn from the questions other students ask - the ones you didn’t realise you needed to ask, too.Your teacher will help you ferret out and work on your weak points.Motivation.Other students are in the boat as you. You will have a support structure and study buddies if you revise best in a group.Your teacher will notice a lack of motivation and help you overcome it by adapting their teaching style or offering a mix of games and study.Missing a lesson.You’ll have to catch up!No need to make up that lesson since it simply didn’t take place. Continue where you left off when you see your Russian tutor again.With the help of Russian language tutors, you can learn how to read this sign. Photo credit: Ilya Khuroshvili on VisualHuntFinding Russian teachersAssuming you live somewhere where Russian is not a popular language to learn and you need a private tutor. Where can you find one?Here are a few tips:Is there a university near you? If so, you can look for Russian private tutors either at the Russian faculty if they have one, or simply go around campus putting up leaflets looking for a Russian native speaker. Russians studying in the UK may be eager to earn a few extra pounds by teaching you their language and culture!Is there a Russian community in your town or near it? Look for Russian Orthodox churches online and contact them to see if it’s all right for you to put a leaflet on their message board, or if the priest might recommend someone to you.Or look online! Here at Superprof, we have hundreds of Russian tutors eager to give you private lessons at home or via Skype.Check out our platform for the best  Russian teacher.With these tips, you are primed and ready to take the leap and improve your listening comprehension and accent at a more advanced level, perhaps even with language immersion or a trip to Russia!

A New Perspective on Academic Success

A New Perspective on Academic Success Improving Academic Performance The average person probably believes that a critical key to success in life, particularly one’s academic life, is intrinsic intelligence as measured by IQ. Yes, most of would say, hard work matters a lot too, but at least in many academic situations, no amount of hard work can really make up for a lower level of raw intelligence or aptitude for certain types of academic or cognitive skills. Some of us are “math people” and some of us just aren’t, right? Not really. A large body of academic research has been developed over the past two decades which suggests that the above sentiment is fundamentally misguided; it’s much closer to wrong than right. And as Mark Twain once said, it’s not what we don’t know that gets us into trouble, “it’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” In this “Ted Talk,” the popular author Malcom Gladwell explains how the story of David and Goliath, where David, a small, unarmed underdog carrying a few rocks, slays Goliah, a giant-like, fully armed warrior, is one gargantuan misconception and mischaracterization of the facts. For literally thousands of years, people have used the David vs. Goliath analogy to describe situations where a smaller, weaker, opponent with very low odds of success somehow miraculously pulls off a victory. If you watch the video, it turns out David may have been a sharp shooting, battle trained member of the artillery, firing rocks out of a sling with the force of a modern day revolver. Goliath, on the other hand, may have been a giant with a medical disorder that made him move slowly and suffer from double vision. In other words, David was the favorite. He was more likely to win. But consider this. When people misuse the “David vs. Goliath” analogy, it doesn’t actually matter that the original story might not be true. There certainly are many cases of “underdogs” who are underestimated and thus able to pull off a victory, so the analogy is still useful in helping people understand and frame situations the encounter in their lives. But, when parents and students believe that success in general, or even in certain classes or areas, is in large part pre-determined by IQ or natural aptitude, that can be a huge, debilitating problem that prevents students from realizing their potential. It leads to lower levels of effort, higher stress, and poor academic outcomes that the student believes were pre-determined, but which actually were not. Academic success is actually a very complicated process to understand, and much more in every student’s control than many parents and student seem to believe. In fact, your raw intelligence is somewhat “malleable” â€" it can improve over time. Most cognitive or “pure” academic skills (i.e., mathematic, reading comprehension, etc.), like those tested on the ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, and LSAT, which seem to correlate with IQ, can clearly be developed with practice. Even performance on IQ tests themselves can change over time (i.e., there is evidence that simply having more education seems to lead to improved IQ scores). And in any case, non-cognitive skills unrelated to IQ, like the ability to pay attention, be curious, plan ahead, and persevere through initial failure and adversity, may be what really lead to success in high school, college, and beyond, anyway. The academic research that supports the above points is generally very strong. But, our society’s general understanding of why some people succeed in school while others don’t has not kept up. The emphasis is still on IQ and aptitude, when it should be on practice and perseverance. There have been a variety of entertaining, insightful, and award winning books based on this research with titles like “The Talent Code” and “Brain Rules” and “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.” We feature some of these books on our virtual bookshelf. Each of these books, in its own way, tells part of the “story of academic success.” A parent or student, after reading one of these books, walks away with a few new insights and more tools to increase the odds of success in school, at work, and in life in general. There is a problem, however. The problem is that success is not easy to understand. The true story of academic success is a complex one. Even though it may not be true, it’s easy to understand the idea that your IQ in large part determines how well you perform in your math class. In fact, it’s even an excuse, or at least an explanation, for any given student’s average or worse performance. In that sense, it’s a belief that some may want to hold on to on some level. Particularly when you are starting from the above point of view, the idea that how well you perform is actually a function of your mindset about intelligence in general, your ability to pay attention, how you approach homework, how well you plan ahead, and how you deal with obstacles, etc. just seems hard to digest. Based on my understanding of the current research, I’d like to introduce a framework for understanding what leads to academic success. In future blog articles, we’ll explore each element of this framework. From my perspective, academic success is a function of: Recognizing that cognitive (math, reading comprehension) and non-cognitive (grit, work ethic, etc.) skills are equally important and complementary PLUS Developing the right mindset about intelligence and cognitive skills PLUS Practicing deliberately to build your cognitive skills PLUS Building non-cognitive character skills, like curiosity, determination, and perseverance PLUS Developing non-cognitive executive functioning skills, like the ability to focus, plan ahead, and self-monitor PLUS Bringing it all together through longer term, strategic educational planning To learn more about these topics, you can continue to read future articles on this blog, check out our virtual bookshelf, or sign up for our book summary distribution list, where we’ll systematically and concisely summarize some of the most important recent research on what really explains academic success. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, 'bf23a065-a3c9-4ac9-bab1-42400c7da48e', {});

5 Practical Strategies for Combating Boredom in Kids with ADHD

5 Practical Strategies for Combating Boredom in Kids with ADHD Many kids with ADHD struggle with feelings of boredom throughout the day, especially during activities that fail to meet their high mental engagement needs (see my previous post for more on this topic). When boredom kicks in, kids feel miserable and their ability to stay focused and engaged plummets. While every hour of every day cant be filled with fun and exciting activities, there are many strategies that parents and teachers can use to make everyday tasks more engaging for kids with ADH, 5 Key Strategies for Reducing Boredom and Increasing Engagement Make Activities Meaningful When an activity is meaningful to a child, either because it is helping him or her to improve skills in an area that is important or because it is tied to a topic that he or she enjoys, his or her interest and enthusiasm will increase dramatically. For example, many kids with ADHD complain that math is boring, but when a child learns to use his or her skills to predict the scoring potential of a favorite athlete, math suddenly becomes much more interesting. Or when a child learns that getting through homework quickly (and accurately) means that he or she will finish sooner and have more time to play a favorite game, he or she becomes much more engaged and less distracted during homework time. Incorporate Physical Activity Physical activity provides essential mental stimulation for kids with ADHD, and can make typically boring activities much more engaging. Physical activity can come in the form of a hands-on project, an opportunity to complete assignments while standing and fidgeting rather than sitting still, or frequent pre-planned activity breaks. In an ideal scenario, active games can be used to teach new skills, routines, and habits. Whenever activities are fun and game-like boredom quickly disappears! Keep it Short Kids with ADHD become bored with almost any lengthy task. For very young children, even a 10-minute activity can induce boredom. Older children may have a 20-minute limit before the boredom sets in. In general, helping kids with ADHD learn new skills and complete everyday tasks through short bursts of activity will reduce boredom and increase engagement. Try reducing the length of repetitive academic assignments, and breaking down longer activities, like cleaning up a very messy play area, into smaller chunks. Set Short-Term Goals Most kids with ADHD find activities boring when they lack a clear purpose or have a very delayed outcome. Build small goals into activities to bump up engagement. For example, rather than having a child passively listen to a book report presentation in class, have him or her complete a worksheet that requires him or her to listen for very specific details during the presentation. Challenge the child to have an answer written down for each question before the presenter has finished the report. Reward Progress Providing immediate rewards can make almost any activity more engaging for kids with ADHD. In general, rewards should be immediate, they should be something that the child wants to earn, and they should be used sparingly. Rewards are powerful tools for kids with ADHD, but when they are used too frequently they can be difficult to sustain. In addition, they may undermine a childs internal motivation when they are paired with activities that the child perceives as easy or inherently interesting. So, build in rewards when they are needed, but use them only after youve tried one or more of the four strategies listed above. Anytime an otherwise boring activity can be made engaging for a child with ADHD he or she will receive a boost in his or her ability to focus, be productive, and feel proud of his or her efforts. Its not possible to escape boredom altogether, but with a few tips and tricks most activities can be made interesting for kids with ADHD. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Second wave of university strikes to affect millions of students - Tutor Hunt Blog

Second wave of university strikes to affect millions of students Over a million students will miss out on lectures in second wave of university strikes Over a million students will miss out on lectures in second wave of university strikesUniversitiesMost young schoolchildren will very likely be only too happy to learn their school has closed for the day. They might be compelled to feign disappointment, but secretly many of them will probably be delighted that they have an unexpected day off from school, thanks to excessive snow, flooding, or some other unforeseen incident. One would hope that university students are be more concerned about missing lessons, but I can recall, back when I was studying for my degree, feeling delighted when I was informed a lecture was to be cancelled. To be quite honest, my peers and I simply saw this as an excuse to visit the student union bar. Of course this was back when there were no university fees, when I was lucky enough to study for a degree without having to pay tens of thousands of pounds. So how do students feel now, given the high fees they are required to pay, when they learn the lecture they have paid to attend has been cancelled? The University and college union (UCU), a British trade union for higher education, has announced that 74 universities are planning 14 days of strikes, over disputes staff are having with pensions, working conditions and pay. It is thought that more than a million students could be adversely affected by this, the second wave of mass walkouts across the UK. Last November and December saw eight days of strikes, involving tens of thousands of workers across 60 universities. Angela Rayner, current Shadow Secretary of State for Education, commented on these strikes last year, imploring universities to put students first, and to bring `a reasonable offer back to the negotiating table` to prevent hundreds of teaching hours being lost. With students leaving university with, on average, around 30,000 worth of debt, I can well understand how frustrating it must be to have parts of your course just cancelled. In any other sector, be it the leisure or service industry, compensation would definitely be forthcoming, but it seems these thousands of students are just going to have to accept that large parts of their courses, education they have paid for, will simply not be delivered. The UCU has warned that there will possibly be even more strikes going into the summer term if these disputes are not resolved, with Jo Grady, the General Secretary of the trade union warning `If universities want to avoid further disruption they need to deal with rising pension costs, and address the problems over pay and conditions.` Tom Barton, a student in his third year at Sheffield Hallam University, has said that his dissertation could suffer because of the walkouts, as he will have no one to offer academic advice for two whole weeks. Mr Barton has been motivated to create a petition for all those students who have been adversely affected by the industrial action, and has said the strikes of last winter were very detrimental to his studies, as `I had a piece of work that I needed feedback on, but I couldn`t get in touch with my tutor to get the feedback.` `This led me to completely rush my work when they came back off strike to meet a deadline, which I fully believe got me a much worse mark than I should have.` The petition requests that each student affected by the strikes should receive at least 860 in compensation. Such is the chagrin amongst the student body that Mr Barton`s petition received an astonishing 6000 signatures in less than 24 hours. The figure hasn`t just been chosen arbitrarily, but rather accords with the calculated cost of the tuition the students will be missing. `We are paying 863.33 for 14 days of study which we won`t receive,` the petition explains. I fully support the rights of workers to strike, but at the expense of students` education well, that certainly gives pause for thought. Across the country pension costs are rising, and it may simply be the case that universities are simply not funded enough to meet these increased costs. Commenting on this a spokesperson for Universities UK, a national representative for the employers, in this case the universities, has said: `We regret that UCU are planning further strike action at a time when positive talks on the future of the scheme are making significant progress and are ongoing.` `Despite this, UCU continue to request that employers pay still higher contributions at unaffordable levels. The best way forward is to work collectively to secure a pension scheme that is highly valued and affordable for all.` `By law, pension costs had to rise to maintain current benefits. Employers have agreed to cover 65 per cent of these increased costs, taking their contribution to 21.1 per cent of salaries from October 2019 together committing 250m more a year. Members have been asked to make a fair contribution too.` One can only hope that these matters are resolved before students begin to be put off applying for university, in the belief that they could be paying for a substantial number of classes they simply won`t receive. Thankfully such lengthy strikes have not yet affected primary and secondary schools, but who knows what the future will hold? 20 days ago0Add a Comment