6 Tasks for the Summer Before Graduate School

6 Tasks for the Summer Before Graduate School The summer before graduate school is an exciting time. How you use the next few months can influence your transition back into life as a student, especially if you took time off after graduating college. These are 3 tips for starting graduate school. Here are six tasks for the summer before graduate school: 1. Arrange your move If youre moving to a new city, one of the first things to think about is where youll live and how to get yourself (and your belongings) there. Youll need to find a place to rent or buy, so check out online listings, and, if youre able, visit potential apartments or houses in person. Then, decide how much you want to bring with you, and schedule transportation and/or shipping for your items. Also arrange for people to help you move friends or a moving company. Make sure youve tied up any loose ends with your old landlord (if applicable), and dont forget to update your address where necessary. 2. Communicate with current and incoming students Communicating with students in your program is a great way to ease the transition into the school year. Contact your department for email addresses, or find your classmates through social media. This way, you can ask current students any questions you may have, such as recommendations for housing or what to expect when you move. You might even be able to ask them if there is anything you can do to mentally prepare for your first semester. Getting in touch with your incoming class is also a great idea. You may be able to get to know people youll soon be studying with. 3. Buy a planner and other school supplies Being organized is key to successas a student. These 6 habits will help you become a more oganized student.Take some time to buy supplies that will help you in this regard. Think about whats worked for you in the past: what kind of folders, binders, and writing utensils do you want to use? Do you need a physical planner, or will you use a calendar on your phone? Once you start your semester, you may need to head back to the store for additional items, but aim to start day one strong. 4. Research campus and local resources A huge benefit of being a student is the variety of resources at your fingertips. If you live close by, visit campus and see what kind of resources are available to you in terms of technology, the library, and your specific department. You may even find some good study spots while youre visiting. Check out local community resources, as well. What can your town offer you thats related to your graduate work, such as organizations or job opportunities? If youre not able to visit, contact other students or research online. 5. Read for pleasure before schoolwork sets in Before youre assigned your first batch of schoolwork, take some time to readfor fun. Visit your library or bookstore and savor the free time you have left. Find online magazines or newspapers that interest you. Hopefully youll enjoy your assigned readings and be able to budget in reading time during the school year, but doing so in the summer is a great way to enjoy your remaining months. You may even find books that are fun and relate to your chosen path of study. This guide to summer GRE prepmay help you get a head start! 6. Enjoy summer events in your city Before you move, or even if youre staying in the same location, look for summer events to attend before the school year starts concerts, street festivals, movies in the park, plays, etc. You can plan activities according to your schedule and interests, like trying new restaurants or being outdoors. Find a way to enjoy the summertime before you hunker down with your studies. Preparing for the next chapter in your academic life is both exciting and nerve-wracking, but the six tasks listed above are a great place to start in the summer before graduate school.

Learning English Common Grammar Mistakes

Learning English Common Grammar Mistakes How to Learn English Grammar for ESOL Courses: Know what Mistakes Not to Make ChaptersThe Trouble with VerbsIrregular PronounsVocabulary Gone AwryPunctuation PitfallsWord Order MattersMany ESOL  students report that learning English grammar is their biggest stumbling block to achieving language fluency.  Many people make common mistakes in every aspect of English.With so many irregularities â€" in verb conjugation, with pronouns, with punctuation, with word order, it is easy to understand why.Today, we would like to point out these tricky aspects of English learning in the hope that you will avoid them.Along the way, we will give you some handy work-arounds, too!These instances of subject and pronoun usage, though quite common, are unfortunately not correct.Neither means not one or the other. With that understanding, it is plain to see that using the plural pronoun their would be incorrect.Neither girl brought her book to class would be the correct way to express this idea.Can you correct the second sentence?Using words as slang sometimes creates the wrong ide a (Source: Pixabay Credit: PdPics)second sentence, a measurable quantity cannot be given.Thus, the second word suggests immeasurable quantities and the first represents definite distance.A note on farthingsIf you are reading classic literature as part of your English lessons, you might have encountered the word farthing.It seems like that word would have the same root and origin as farther, but they are in no way related.You can consult the Oxford English Dictionary for this and other words'  etymology and current usage as a slang term.Punctuation PitfallsModern communication methods seem to encourage disregard for proper punctuation, and nowhere is that more evident than the use of your and you're.Your taking English classes.Your, being a possessive pronoun, is not used correctly in this instance. However, you would be correct in saying:Your taking English classes is bound to improve your English.Let us now examine this sentence:You're taking English classes!Apostrophes denote poss ession,  but they also mark contractions â€" as in the sentence above. It is important to learn how to use apostrophes and other punctuation marks correctly.As you progress through your English courses in London or elsewhere, you will gain a greater understanding of punctuation and its uses in reading and writing.It is true that one must cultivate an aptitude for listening for, and speaking, punctuation. The exclamation point and question mark are easy to hear when spoken, but others, such as quotation marks, are not.To that end, native speakers have adopted the technique of air quotes â€" making quotation marks with their fingers as they say the phrase they wish to emphasize.Using air quotes improperly is considered bad grammar, just as writing them at the wrong place in a composition would be.As your language skills develop, you too will be able to add emphasis to your speaking skills with body language. Learn how to avoid common mispronunciations with this blog.The pretty little grey cat displays proper adjective order (Source: Pixabay Credit: Susannp4)Word Order MattersIn English, arranging words to form sentences generally follows this form: subject-verb-object, except to phrase questions.  Don't forget the many exceptions in the English language.This exception was probably covered in your earliest English language classes. The following example is a further step in understanding word order.A pretty little grey cat sat under the tree.Listing adjectives requires a certain order. The qualifications are as follows:Quantity or numberQuality or opinionSizeAgeShapeColorProper adjective (often nationality, other place of origin, or material)Purpose or qualifierAccording to this list, the color of the cat is less important than its size; therefore little precedes grey.Similarly, the opinion that the cat is pretty is far more meaningful than either of its other attributes, hence it is the first adjective on the list.Whether studying for Ielts or learning English f or everyday use, this is one of the grammar lessons you should exercise often, until you can use serial adjectives like a native English speaker.Who is More Important?You might find, in the course of your reading, a such a sentence:I love my parents, Sean Connery and the Queen of England.This sentence lacks a comma after Connery, leaving the reader to wonder if that person's parents are indeed those illustrious  beings.The issue of the Oxford comma is currently the topic of a heated debate among scholars. Some argue that the sentence could be thus written:I love the Queen of England, Sean Connery and my parents.Changing word order eliminates the need for a serial comma, but it also indicates that the speaker's parents are less important than the other people on the list.The more you practise, the more fluent you will become, and more adept at recognizing these and other tricky grammar rules!Are you interested in learning English online? Find a private tutor for specialised online le ssons.