Wednesday, May 9, 2007

10 tips on how to improve your listening skills.

students, business people and others improve the ways they organise their life an do things. An organised person is much more likely to be a successful person. To see other articles visit my site at articles about education and other issues of interest to students and parents .

Improve your listening:
1. Stop talking - You cannot listen if you are talking - and if you are talking you are not learning.

2. Put the speaker at ease. - Encourage the speaker. Try putting the speaker's feelings into words. ‘I am sorry to hear my decision has upset you. I do appreciate what you are telling me. Tell me what we can do about the problem.’

3. Show that you want to listen - Look and act as if you are interested. Give full attention. Show you are listening. Nod and make encouraging remarks. ‘Yes, I see what you mean.’

4. Remove distractions - Shut the door, turn off the radio, don't doodle or walk about.

5. Empathise with the speaker - Try to put yourself in the speaker's shoes and see his or her point of view. ‘Why did he say that? What would I have said?’

6. Be patient - Allow plenty of time for listening when you make appointments. Don't interupt. Don't keep looking at your watch.

7. Control your emotions - If you get emotional you will not hear properly. You will get the wrong meanings from words and you could get the wrong message.

8. Go easy on argument and criticism - Ask questions to draw the speaker out. ‘Why did you say that? Is that what you really feel? What facts have you to support that statement?’ Don't argue or attack. If you put speakers on the defensive they may 'clam up' or get emotional.

9. Ask questions - Questions encourage the speaker and show you were listening. Ask questions for amplification. It helps to develop a topic. Ask: ‘Why do you believe that?’

10. Summarise, review and reflect - From time to time summarise what you think the speaker has said and repeat the speaker's words. This will help the speaker and help you remember.

Good luck
Gary Hadler
B.Ec, Dip.EdArticle Search, MBA
Principal ITS Tutorial School
www.tuition.com.hk


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gary Hadler B.Ec, Dip.Ed, MBA Has had over 15 years experience in training in the Business and Management area. To read more articles from Gary please visit http://www.tuition.com.hk/articles.htm.

Culinary Education

Preface: This article is intended to introduce you to cooking schools and culinary institutes, and to give you a few things to think about as you investigate a culinary education and career.

Do people like your cooking? Do the dinners you serve make guests say "How lovely!" or "Mean spread, dude!"? Have you worked your way through a recipe book or two? Do people tell you that you ought to be "a chef or something"? Or do you just feel like you could really get into food and hospitality? If the answers to any of these questions are "yes," maybe you should look into attending a culinary program such as those offered by a cooking school or culinary institute.

At such a school, you can quickly master culinary techniques that took the chefs of centuries past lifetimes to create and perfect. As at other schools, you can make good friends while studying in a culinary program, but you can also learn the deeper trust and skilled interpersonal organization it takes to function as part of a team in a restaurant or hotel. If you're so inclined, you can learn how to manage such a team. You might even learn how to make dozens of new dishes well enough to dazzle your family and friendsFree Web Content, and not just your customers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Culinary Artist - Specializes in French & Thai Cuisine
Website : http://www.best-cooking-school-culinary-arts-schools-classes.com

Is a Career or Technical School Right for You?

Career colleges and technical schools offer the benefits of a targeted education, which leads to increased opportunities for employment.

Do you want to go to college, but are not ready to commit to a four-year school? Do you already know what kind of job you want? With many options such as career colleges, community colleges, and four-year colleges or universities, making the decision on where to attend school can seem overwhelming. You might want to consider your options before taking your SAT of scheduling campus tours. While there are strong and real benefits to each kind of education, many people are less familiar with some of the reasons to attend a career college. If you are looking to acquire a marketable degree that leads to a great job but you don't have the time or money to complete a traditional four-year degree, your best solution may be a career or technical school.

Career colleges and technical schools offer the benefits of a targeted education, which leads to increased opportunities for employment. A career or technical school is essentially a shorter and less expensive, career-driven option to traditional education. This category of schools is attractive to students who desire careers in business and industry or trades for which most traditional learning institutions do not provide training. In most cases, the set of courses at a technical school focuses on a particular program of study, rather than providing an educational overview. These kinds of programs are intended for immediate employment after graduation.

Career and technical schools offer a variety of programs, including 1-2 year diploma programs, technical certificates, and 2-year associate degree programs. Some schools offer short-term courses, continuing education courses, and bachelor's degree programs. Technical students can choose from many different areas of directed education. Some two year programs include aviation mechanics, computer science, culinary arts, legal assisting, and paramedic training.

There are many benefits to attending career and technical schools. Career and Technical schools usually have smaller classes than traditional universities, which give students the opportunity for individualized attention. These types of schools oftentimes offer night and weekend courses which aim to accommodate to students who work full time. Technical and career schools also offer all of their courses over the summer to make the completion process more convenient.

Most career and technical schools have relatively high acceptance rates. A high school diploma or its equivalent and a minimum age requirement are generally all that is needed for admission to most schools. Submissions of high school transcripts and or an entrance exam may also be required for other schools. Some might even require SAT or ACT scores, or additional entrance requirements for particular programs. There are even some schools that will take any student who wishes to take courses regardless of whether or not they have earned a high school diploma.
When searching for a career or technical school, make sure that you research the programs and majors that are offered and the specific entrance requirements for your desired area of study. Some schools may offer a wide range of optionsFree Articles, while others may cater to one or more specific trades. A career or technical college can help you get a marketable degree and assist you in getting a fulfilling career - in very little time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Steele, Senior Writer, EducationGuys.com
Find College Degrees & Online Schools Worldwide

Featured School of the Week - April 23, 2007: PCDI - Professional Career Development Institute

If work and other life commitments have prevented you from attaining a quality education to further your professional outlook, then let the Professional Career Development Institute (PCDI) afford you the opportunity to acquire your education without interfering with daily routines. "We offer professional-level career training courses to adult students who prefer the flexibility and convenience of self-paced home study," is the welcoming statement from PCDI.

At Professional Career Development Institute, home-study students can achieve career diplomas in more than 50 professional fields, including correspondence programs in accounting, auto mechanics, carpentry, computer network technician, computer programming, floral design, graphic design, medical transcription, pharmacy technician, and website design, among others.

For example, if interior design is your niche, PCDI's comprehensive home-study interior design course teaches individuals how to effectively use accessories, color, fabric, furnishings, lighting, paint, style and texture to enhance entrepreneurial skills and knowledge to become an interior designer.

In addition, PCDI's correspondence courses in graphic design and website design are attractive to carfeer climbers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, graphic designers and website designers can expect entry-level earnings of about $32,000 yearly. In these home-study diploma programs, students learn how to create and design webpages using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), organize and plan web content, color schemes, graphic elements, frames, JavaScript, and many other associated elements of desktop publishing.

Other fast-growing professional field training programs offered by Professional Career Development Institute include paralegal, pharmacy technician, medical transcriptionists, medical billing, and medical/dental assisting. Through PCDI's nationally accredited correspondence courses, students can gain the skills and knowledge necessary to compete in today's workforce.

PCDI offers student services like course material tracking and academic and administrative assistance should students require help. In addition, PCDI provides financing options that include interest-free monthly tuition plans, as well as tuition reimbursement plans, under the Employee Education Assistance Act and the DANTES program.

If work and family life have stopped you from achieving your educational and professional goals in the past, don't let another day pass you by without reviewing the affordable career diploma programs offered through the Professional Career Development Institute. Begin your academic journey to professional success today!

HolisticJunction.com recognizes PCDI - Professional Career Development Institute and applauds its quality standards in being an academic pioneer in home-study career training education.

If you would like more information about this comprehensive educational institute, please visit PCDI - Professional Career Development Institute today.

Featured School of the Week: PCDI - Professional Career Development Institute

The CollegeBound Network
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd - Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com- part of The CollegeBound Network, an interactive media company that specializes in recruitment lead generation solutions for colleges, universities, and career schools.


Education loans can augment the boundaries of what you can achieve

Education never ends – it is not said without reason. We are educated all our lives and getting an education not only is a great achievement but something that gives you the tools to find your own way in the world. Education is indispensable; little do we realize how much more it can bring to us in terms of worldly amplifications. Anyone can have propensity and the natural endowment for education. But one might not have the resources to finance their education. You certainly can’t let lack of resources impede you from advancing your prospects through education. Then you accidentally stumble upon the word ‘education loans’. Loans for education – you have never thought about it as a feasible arrangement. Education loans can open newer panoramas in regard to your education aspirations.

Education loans are open to all people in all its myriad forms. Education loans can realize your education plans or the education plans of your children. You can strengthen you own future and the future of your son or daughter with education loans. An extensive range of student and parent loans are presented under the category of education loans. There are many types of education loans. Discerning about the types of education loans will help you in making the accurate decision. The single largest resource of education loans is federal loan. The two main federal education loan programmes are the Federal Family Education Loan Programme and the Federal Direct Loan Programme. In the Federal Family Education Loan Programme the bank, credit union or the school is the lender. While the federal direct loans programme, the department of education is the lender.

Private education loans are offered to people so that they can provide financial backup to their education plans. Private education loans are not endorsed by other government agencies but are provided by other financial institutions. Private education loans programme are optimum for both undergraduate and graduate studies.

Formal education is requisite for future success. Though this is not a hard and fast rule, but education certainly helps you in gaining an upper hand. With universities getting expensive by each day an education loan will certainly give you an incentive to go ahead with your education plans. Each year while contemplating on your education plans the thought of finances almost invariably comes in. While working towards you degree, you are constantly plagued about paying for the education fees, books, and other living expenses. Education loans can provide funding for tuition fees, board and room, books computer, and even student travel. An education loan can help you with all these expenses. Education loans are sufficient enough to take care of all these expenses. If you have been forced to drop your education for any reason, you can still take up your education at any point of time. Irrespective of your age and also where you have left your education.

There are no specific eligibility criteria for education loans. Any person who is in need of sponsorship for education can find an education loan that befits his or her financial necessity. Loan amount on education loans vary with the kind of education you want to pursue. The repayment options with education loans will similarly accommodate your personal financial preferences. You can either repay interest amount while still in school or six months after graduation. Education loans offer upto ten years for repayments. The refund alternatives on education loans also include deferment, forbearance and consolidation. The various sites on education loans can give you innumerable repayment options and monetary remuneration.

Education loans will help you in planning your life after graduation. However, an education loan like every loan is a huge financial obligation. An education loans is generally the first substantial loan for most people and therefore the first major expense. Do not be completely dependent on your education loans for the funding of your complete education. Try to apply for any other financial sustenance like university grants, scholarships, fellowships, work study programmes and assistance ship and any other form of aid. This will certainly encourage a fluid dispensation of your education loans. You can start by going to the financial aid office in your school or university. It will provide you further insight to the kind of education loans, you must apply for.

Education is an experience of life. It is so rewarding in itself that it helps you to manage almost everything in your life. Education loans discipline your impulse towards education and training into a fruitful contrivance. The payoff is delicious in terms of improved quality of life. Education is expensive! Is it? With education loans it can’t be. NowFind Article, you don’t have to take the road in front of you. Make your own road with education loans.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Thompson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from CPIT and has completed her master’s in Business Administration from IGNOU. She is as cautious about her finances as any person reading this is. She is working as financial consultant for http://www.chanceforloans.co.uk To find a personal loans,bad credit loans,debt consolidation loans,home equity loans at cheap rates that best suits your needs visit http://www.chanceforloans.co.uk

Researching The Pros And Cons Of Online Degree Education

Online degree education is the act of getting a bachelor's or master's degree online. It's a growing field that is receiving acceptance and approval for all types of career and education goals.

The biggest advantage to online degree education is that it is a complete college degree program that is delivered via the Internet. All classes, materials, tests and lectures are delivered online. This process allows the student to "attend" class from anywhere at any time that is convenient to them.
Another advantage is that the class material and program is continuously updated for up to the minute, real world application. This allows the student to immediately begin applying their new knowledge to their existing work environment.

There are many different types of online degree education programs available. Students can receive a bachelor's or master's degree in many areas such as accounting, marketing, human resources, e-business, information technology, nursing and even elementary education.

The typical online degree education program takes three years to complete. A master's degree program may take up to four years depending on the type of degree sought and the prior education of the student. Most programs are accredited and they usually accept the transfer of prior credits from other accredited universities.

While enrolled, a student typically takes just one class at a time for a five to six week period. This allows the student to concentrate solely on that material before moving on to the next module of information.

The price of an online degree education program is comparable to that of a regular college degree. Plus, many students are eligible for financing in the way of a student loan. Sometimes employer education programs can even reimburse a student's tuition fees.

The main disadvantage is that some employers prefer that their employees have degrees from traditional colleges. With the advent of new technology, however, these views are rapidly changing. Soon, online degree education will be as accepted, if not more acceptedArticle Submission, than traditional degree education.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amba is the owner of http://www.on-line--education.com a website that contains all the latest resources and information relating to on-line degrees. Visit http://www.on-line--education.com
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