Organic Chemistry: 4 Tips For Newbies

Organic Chemistry: 4 Tips For NewbiesFor the newcomer to organic chemistry, there are certain challenges that one must face in order to understand the mechanics of organic chemistry. A lot of people seem to have difficulties with this field as their knowledge is limited and they are not sure what to look for and how to go about getting more information.As a newbie in organic chemistry, you must know that every process has several ingredients and that these can be broken down into several chemical entities. For example, you will find nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen gas, nitrogen, and a few others all are important in your chemical education. It is vital that you have an understanding of all these elements so that you can solve simple problems in your research projects and experiments.So, what are you going to do when you want to get the chemical formula for an element? Here are a few things that you can do:- First, you should be able to recognize the c hemical formula of a particular element from its physical properties. Look at the electrons of this element, so that you will be able to tell what chemical bond forms there are and how it is linked to the rest of the elements in your periodic table. You must remember that all bonding is irreversible, that is, if you break it up, you will not be able to restore the original bond.- Second, when you feel like you have studied all you can, you may want to try to calculate the atomic weight for this element. When you do this, you will be able to tell exactly how big this element is. You can also find out whether the substance has a nucleus or not.- Third, you may want to try to study the molecular structure of this particular element in order to solve any problems regarding its structure. Also, you will have to be able to read the atomic number of any element that you are studying.These are just a few tips that you need to know when it comes to organic chemistry. Before you know it, you will be able to find out the scientific equation for an element and you will also be able to tell if a substance has a nucleus or not.

New Interview Prep Partnership

New Interview Prep Partnership Improving Academic Performance MyGuru is proud to announce a partnership with NextLevel Interview Consulting.Everyone takes the GMAT, CFA, CPA, or Series 7 exam for a variety of reasons, but we all have one thing in common - we're looking to enhance our careers.This means the end goal of taking these tests is to get a job that is: More interesting Higher paying More flexible Less stressful More prestigious Capable of providing better learning experiences So, we all realize that a great GMAT score or a CFA or CPA certification is only part of the story. You need to find, interview for, and ideally land a job after taking these tests. With that in mind, MyGuru is proud to announce a new partnership with NextLevel Interview Consulting, a provider of customized, 1-1 interview preparation. The founder of NextLEVEL Interview Consulting, went to small school on theeast coast called Rider University, graduating with a degree in Finance and an MBA. He had a goal of getting a job in financial services at a large Wall Street firm, but his lack of a “big name” school hindered his efforts. These companies, and the executive recruiters that worked with them, would not grant an interview to a young guy from a smaller school. After a year of relentless effort, he convinced several recruiters and banks to interview him, and prepared so well for these interviews that he received several offers. He has a four part methodology to acing interviews that relies on being extremely proactive, engaging, and more importantly, prepared to answer and ask some key questions. We’re proud to be partnered with NextLEVEL Interview Consulting, and hopeful that he’ll complement our private tutoring and test prep services nicely. Click here to learn more about Dan and his approach to interview preparation.

Como ser brasileiro, agora em livro

Como ser brasileiro, agora em livro Ohmega1982 / FreeDigitalPhotos.comFalar das diferenças culturais de cada país é fácil, até certo ponto. O mais complicado é quando somos nós que estamos vivendo e tendo que lidar com situações repletas de comportamentos e pensamentos de uma cultura diferente. Até para os mais multiculturais, viver em um país que têm uma cultura diferente da sua, pode ser um desafio.  Por isso, para ajudar estrangeiros que querem evitar situações menos agradáveis quando visitam o Brasil,  Steve Luttmann escreveu o livro How to be a Brazilian.Baseando o guia na experiência que acumulou em 15 anos de Brasil, Steve, que é norte-americano e ambiciona ser brasileiro, fala de comportamentos e gostos, de forma a dar a conhecer ao mundo como é o jeitinho brasileiro de viver.  No  livro, escrito em Inglês, são relatados gostos como o de sair com os amigos, de paquerar e de ir para a praia.Nesse guia de como ser brasileiro, também é dada a conhecer a gastronomia e o gosto por comer churras co e feijoada. O autor comenta ainda o amor dos brasileiros pelo futebol, caipirinha e samba, chegando mesmo a dizer que o povo brasileiro é o que dança melhor. Além disso, há uma relação de gírias e frases que Steve considera úteis para o dia a dia.Segundo ele, houve uma grande preocupação para que os seu livro fosse divertido e prático, de forma a passar para os leitores a energia e o clima amistoso do povo brasileiro. Sendo que a sua intenção fundamental é ajudar os estrangeiros a experenciarem o famoso jeitinho brasileiro de viver.Sem dúvida que um livro que dê a conhecer facetas de uma cultura é uma ótima forma de promovê-la, especialmente sendo escrito em Inglês. No entanto, até que ponto um livro que tem como título How to be a Brazilian, mas que não aborda todos os costumes de um país multicultural como o Brasil, poderá ser mais do que uma caricatura do que é ser brasileiro?

OFSTED grades are misleading, and often inaccurate - Tutor Hunt Blog

OFSTED grades are misleading, and often inaccurate OFSTED grades are misleading, and often inaccurate, says ex government advisor OFSTED grades are misleading, and often inaccurate, says ex government advisorSchoolsWith no way to objectively assess how good one school is over another many people will simply rely on anecdotal evidence. Parents may select a school they attended many years ago, wishing for their child to enjoy the same educational benefits that they benefited from - or they might choose another school they have heard is academically good, perhaps from friends whose children are pupils there. Like any institution schools can change over time: headmasters and mistresses will come and go, much of the teaching staff will be entirely different decade to the next; and funding structures from local councils may vary over time. All these factors can have a dramatic influence on the school. How is it possible then for parents, when trying to select a place for their child, to objectively judge how good a school is? League table results can be misleading, as schools often have the practice of only allowing pupils of appropriate ability to sit certain exams. Ofsted reports seem like the perfect solution to determining just how good, or bad, a school may be. The institution itself is a non ministerial department of the UK government, unaffiliated with any particular school or university, and is an independent institution which reports only to parliament. Schools can be visited at any point during the term, and though they used to have to give 48 hours notice, this is presently set to change to a mere 15 minutes notice, with Ofsted announcing their imminent arrival with a phone call. New research published by the EDSK, a new Education and Skills think-tank, has cast serious doubt as to the reliability and objectivity of Ofsted reports. The results are indeed astonishing, with separate international studies conducted during 2012 and 2013 revealing that different inspectors are able to arrive at vastly contrasting assessments about the very same school. A small discrepancy would be expected in any kind of large scale review - but the research from the EDSK has shown that, in as many as 50 per cent of inspections, simply having a different inspector can mean the same school receives a vastly different grading. Tom Richmond, Director of the EDSK and former advisor to the Education Secretaries Michael Gove and Nicky Morgan, has said the whole rating system is misleading parents in as many as half of all cases. He did express understanding at how parents consider Ofsted reports to be helpful when selecting a school for their child, but cautioned as to their reliability: `We know that many parents use Ofsted grades when choosing a school for their child. But these same parents have never been told these grades could be very misleading in terms of how well a school is performing.` `Instead, we should focus on giving parents simple, accessible information to help them decide if a school is right for their child rather than Ofsted trying to come up with all the answers themselves.` Ofsted are planning to make changes to the way it assesses schools, with their new system being rolled out this September. The new grading system will apparently focus more on children`s behaviour, with the whole school being marked down if any unruly or discourteous conduct is observed. The new framework for the report will feature a `personal development` category, which will judge how schools are planning to build up their pupils` `resilience and confidence.` A spokesperson Ofsted has recently declared: `We are open to serious debate about how we inspect, as shown through our recent consultation on a new inspection approach. We will be publishing the outcome soon.` The proposed changes have met with positive comments, with The Association of School and College Leaders saying the alterations Ofsted are proposing are a `step in the right direction`. Tom Richmond, Senior Research Fellow at Policy Exchange think-tank in Westminster has said that there`s no evidence that suggests a benefit to `summarising an entire school in a single number or phrase.` Ofsted itself have criticised the report, and rejected the judgement that their school grading system is `inaccurate.` Despite their defence, it seems that Ofsted is planning a major change to its assessment system. Schools do need to be independently graded - parents need a comprehensive tool to help them select the right school for their child; and school`s themselves need to be kept under check, to ensure standards do not slip. 11 months ago0Add a Comment

Your Complete Guide to Foreign Language Podcasts

Your Complete Guide to Foreign Language Podcasts Your Complete Guide to Foreign Language Podcasts Serial.What does that word make you think of?For millions of people, their first thought wont be a serial number, serial code or serial killer, but rather a podcast.Serial  has completely captivated its audience, holding  the record for  the fastest podcast ever to break 5 million downloads on iTunes (when season one premiered  in 2014).Lucky for us language learners, podcasts arent just made in English.That means  the sources  you use  to improve your listening skills could be addicting podcasts like Serial.Sure, there  are lots of podcasts out there specifically made for  language learners, but thats not what this is about. Im talking about podcasts made by native speakers  for other native speakers.  Not only will your listening skills bloom, but youll improve your vocabulary, gain cultural insights and, if you choose wisely, even learn about something else that interests you.Podcasts are  also an easy way to incorporate language learning into net time,  time when youre doing some thing else which doesnt require much concentration, like washing dishes or commuting.To help you benefit from this valuable resource,  Ill show you where  to find such podcasts, how to pick the best one for you,  plus  strategies for using them the most effectively. Your Complete Guide to Foreign Language PodcastsWhy Use Podcasts as Part of Your Foreign Language LearningImprove your listening skillsListening skills are essential to language fluency, but there arent that many ways to practice listening exclusively, in a way that is totally devoid of visual cues that can serve as a crutch for the times you dont understand something.Podcasts solve that problem since they are usually audio-only, which means you need to pay attention to the words being said.Learn new vocabularyPodcasts meant for native speakers of your target language will give you exposure to a huge variety of vocabulary that would not make it into any book for language learners.You might not pick up everythingâ€"at l east not at firstâ€"but listening to podcasts on a regular basis will expand your vocabulary significantly. Youll also become familiar with words you learn elsewhere and get a better feel for the rhythms of the language.Improve your cultural knowledgeLike a TV show or movie, a podcast is a small window into a foreign culture. As you listen to podcasts in your foreign language, youll get a peak at how speakers of that language see the worldâ€"or, if the podcast is about a very specific subject, how they approach that specific subject.Either way, the more you listen to podcasts the more youll be able to understand subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences between your own culture and that of your target language.Getting Technical: How to Find Podcasts in a Foreign LanguageOn iTunesPerhaps the easiest way to find podcasts in your target language is through the app store on iTunes. This strategy requires essentially zero knowledge of local culture or celebrities and allows you to easily br owse subjects, so its a great place to start.Open iTunes and click on iTunes store.Scroll all the way down to the bottom and click on change country.Find a country that speaks your target language (preferably the country that speaks your preferred dialect of your target language) and click on it.Click on the podcast icon on the upper-left-hand of the screen. If you dont see the podcast icon, click on the more icon or scroll all the way down to the bottom and click on podcasts.Once youve done that, you can start browsing for podcasts in the language! You can either look at the most popular podcasts for that country (on the right-hand side) or you can search for a particular subject. I like anything related to food and cooking, so I often look for podcasts about food.To get that specific, put the subject in the search box in the upper-right-hand cornerâ€"in your target language, of course. For example, I can search for food podcasts in French by putting cuisine  (cooking)  in that sea rch box. And I get loads of results!On radio stationsThis is a slightly more difficult way to search for podcasts, but entirely valid. Most radio station these days offer specific programs as podcasts that can be downloaded and listened to anytime. These podcasts are often but not always available on iTunes. But they are available directly on the radio stations website.The first step to finding podcasts directly on the producers websites is to find a list of radio stations in your target language. You can accomplish this through Google searches or lists of radio stations like the one on Live-Radio.net.Secondly, you should poke around the website and look for something like programs or podcasts. In most cases, youll be able to find something and download the programs directly onto your phone or computer and be on your way!On blogsA related way to search for podcasts is to visit the websites of influential bloggers and podcasters in your target country. This is the most difficult opti on, because it requires you to know who those bloggers or podcasters are, or do a Google search to find them.If you do search with Google, its a good idea to first change your language preferences in Google so that you get results in your target language!Want a couple suggestions? Here are some thoughts on the best podcasts for French, Japanese, Spanish and German learners.How to Choose  an Appropriate PodcastChoose a level-appropriate podcastNot all podcasts are going to be equally easy to understand, even if they are produced for native speakers. Like with learning material, its important to choose a podcast that matches your language level.Only choose the most difficult kinds of podcast (humor, local dialects) if you already speak your target language very, very well.  Otherwise, stick to something easier. Just being able to listen to something meant for native speakers is a win.Here are some guidelines to help you  find a level-appropriate podcast:The easiest podcasts include:Na tional news programsDocumentary-style radio programsNiche subjects that are still quite mainstream, like parenting, fitness or filmsInterviewsMore difficult podcasts might cover:More technical niche subjects, like cooking, cars, DIY instructions, economicsLocal news (local news programs are more likely to have local dialects)Very difficult podcasts include:Any kind of humorAnything produced in a local dialect or non-standard languageTalk shows that involve people interrupting each otherKnow your interestsIts best to choose a podcast that fits both your language level and your interests. When youre looking for a podcast to listen to, choose one that will be interesting to you for reasons other than language learning. If you like to travel, for example, listen to travel podcasts.If youre just starting out with podcasts, try to choose a podcast thats in the easier category. After youve practiced for a while you can move up to listening to comedy routines!Settle on 3-5 podcastsThe major advantage of podcasts is that there are recurring episodes, recorded by the same narrator and about the same subject. This means that (a) once you find a podcast you like, you dont have to spend any more time searching for listening material, and (b) you get used to the voice and language pattern of the podcast narrator.Since most podcasts have regular episodes, you dont need very many podcasts to give you a good amount of listening material. For language learning purposes, its really better to listen to a small number of podcasts regularly than to listen to a large number of podcasts sporadically. So find 3-5 podcasts that you like and stick with them.4 Ways  to Use Foreign Language Podcasts for Effective Learning1. Listen to each podcast several timesPodcasts also have the advantage of allowing you to repeat them as often as you wantâ€"and thats something you should take advantage of! Especially at the beginning, as you get used to listening to a native speaker talk normally and to the format and vocabulary in the specific podcast, listen repeatedly. This will allow you to take note of any unknown vocabulary you need to look up, and to repeat any phrases or grammatical constructions that didnt make sense.Usually, the best bet is to listen to the podcast once all the way through without stopping, even if you dont understand everything. Then listen a second time, stopping to make sure you understand most of the vocabulary and grammar.The third or fourth time you listen to the podcast, you should be listening without stopping againâ€"but this time, you should understand everything. After youve listened a couple of times, try talking along with the narrator and mimicking his or her voice, pronunciation and rhythm.2. Study specialized vocabularyIf youre listening to a podcast about a niche subject, study some specialized vocabulary ahead of time. If its a subject youre interested in anyway, this will be particularly useful vocabulary.If youre into cooking, for e xample, words for poach or rolling pin are going to be usefulâ€"both in understanding the podcast and talking to people about cooking later on.3. Read comments and participate in the commentingOne of the best aspects of listening to podcasts directly on a radio station or blog homepage is that there is often the ability to comment. Reading through the comments will both give you extra reading practice and let you make sure that you understood the podcast in the first place.If youre feeling especially ambitious, start participating in the comments yourself! It will serve as extra writing practice and allow you to build a virtual community with people in your target language.4.  Use the podcast as an icebreakerIf you have a language tutoring session or a language exchange, talk about the podcast. Try to integrate any new words or grammar into your discussion.Try to summarize the podcast as well as give an opinion about its contents: Do you think the travel destination discussed in the podcast sounds interesting? What do you think about current events the podcast mentions? Use the vocabularyâ€"and ideasâ€"from the podcast to start a conversation!Podcasts are a fantastic  resource for language learners. They provide a window into the target languages culture and a never-ending amount of listening material. Plus most  are also free.Like with so many other language learning activities, youll get the most out of podcasts if you focus on material  that is both level-appropriate and intrinsically interesting to you. So choose a podcast about something youre already passionate about and watch your language skills skyrocket!Emily Liedel  is a writer and polyglot. She speaks French, Spanish, Russian, German and Mandarin Chineseâ€"her goal is to speak all of the official UN languages fluently (HINT: Arabic is the language left on her list). She writes about language learning and living abroad at  www.thebabeltimes.com. And One More ThingIf you enjoy learning languages wi th podcasts, youll love learning with FluentU.FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks, and turns them into language learning experiences, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website with your com puter or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or Google Play store.

7 Steps To Take After Your Internship Interview

7 Steps To Take After Your Internship Interview www.snagajob.com Ending Questions Ending an internship interview can be a smooth process in itself. All you are doing is telling them thank you for taking the time to speak to you and that you look forward to hearing from them soon. They will most likely ask you if you have any questions for them and if you do,  MAKE SURE TO ASK THEM! They aren’t just saying this so that you don’t; they genuinely want you to ask them things. This makes you seem interested in the company and it makes you look like you want to become more invested in this job. Asking questions can also give you more insight into things that may help you make a more accurate decision on whether or not this internship is for you. Handshake This one is simple. A handshake can tell a lot about a person. At the end of an internship interview, giving your potential employer a firm handshake can tell them a lot about you. There are many types of handshakes that mean various things and can send certain signals to the interviewer. Make sure your handshake is firm, but not a hand crusher. Also make sure your palms aren’t sweaty; that is a no-no and also kind of gross. Check Email Sometimes interviewers will send additional files or things for you to do when you get home. Or the email they send you may just be a thank you for interviewing with us email. Regardless of which they send, it would be good to check your email just in case anything of importance comes in. lifehacker.com Thank You Email Sending a thank you email can go a long way. Not all companies will care if you send one or not, but it’s always nice to send just in case. Personally, I know that sending thank you cards is what many students do when they interview for medical schools and even graduate schools; therefore, why not go the extra mile for your internship? It may just be an internship, but an internship can take you a long way if you learn a lot from it. Many online sites have templates for thank you emails, if you are lost on how to start one. Waiting Game Those days/weeks of waiting to hear whether or not you got the job can be agonizing. Unfortunately, some employers will choose not to email you or contact you at all if you did not get the internship. I’ve had this happen through personal experience, but if they do decide to contact you whether the news is good or bad, you still say thank you and whatever else and you move on. The Call/Email When you get that call or email stating that (in this case) you got the job, you can internally do a little dance and freak out, but the idea is to focus and make sure you get all the information you need before your first day. If any paperwork needs to get sent to you or if you need to send anything in return, you need to make sure you don’t miss anything. metro.us First Day Make sure you are there on time, dressed to impress and ready to work. Your boss will expect you to know what you are doing or go straight to them to learn your new tasks. Possibly, you will have a supervisor to go to and who you direct all your questions towards. The first couple of days is to learn how to do things and commit certain things to memory. After that you can choose to flourish in your new job or you can choose to fall to rock bottom. I would choose the first one. The interviewing process is hard enough, there is no need to add more stress to yourself during the aftermath of said internship interview. These tips are meant to help guide you through the small window of waiting time between the interview and the company’s decision whether to hire you or not. Unfortunately, there aren’t classes you can take on how to conduct yourself AFTER an interview. In the end, you will have to figure out what works for you and what seems to get you the best results. It is all about how much you want that internship.

Instructor Spotlight Kim Nguyen

Instructor Spotlight Kim Nguyen Instructor Spotlight: Kim Nguyen Kim Nguyen, Instructor of Kumon Math and Reading Center of Kearny Mesa Long before becoming a Kumon Instructor in 2010, Kim Nguyen was a Kumon Student herself. Her journey with Kumon began when her mother enrolled both Kim and her sister at a local center in northern San Diego, CA. After enrolling, Kim’s confidence began to soar, and she started excelling in school. Still to this day, Kim credits her former Kumon Instructor Kayoko Barr with untapping her passion for learning. “Under Kayoko’s instruction, I began to love reading at a young age and excelled at math throughout my school years,” said Kim. “I have such fond memories of various math challenges the center would hold. I used to love watching my completed worksheets pile up. It was a really satisfying feeling.” Once Kim entered high school, she began working at the same center she attended as a student. She first started grading worksheets and gradually took on more responsibilities until she became the Lead Assistant â€" a role she continued while attending college at the University of California San Diego. Upon graduating with a bachelor’s in sociology, Kim’s former Instructor and mentor, Kayoko Barr, offered her an opportunity that would forever change her life. Her Kumon journey came full circle when she took over Kayoko’s center. This year, Kim Nguyen, Instructor of Kumon of Kearny Mesa, will be celebrating her 10th anniversary as a Kumon Instructor. “Since I was a Kumon Student myself, I knew the value of the program and the potential it has to really build up a student’s confidence and abilities,” said Kim. What inspired you to become a Kumon Instructor? My experience working at a Kumon Center and being able to interact with students of so many different backgrounds and levels was definitely the biggest inspiration. I love being able to work with students over long periods of time and really see their growth. It’s been an absolute joy to be able to work with a student for multiple years and watch them transition from elementary to middle and high school, and then hear about their college acceptances! Kumon has allowed me to connect with so many wonderful students. What is it about being an Instructor you enjoy the most? I enjoy the interactions with students the most. When I’m helping a student with a problem and things just click in their mind, nothing compares to that feeling of truly helping someone. I love seeing that “Aha!” moment â€" when they understand the concept and walk away confidently, knowing they don’t need my explanation anymore since they have it themselves. Aside from instruction, moments when we can joke and talk about our favorite Pokémon makes my days so easy and fun. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a Kumon Instructor? The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is that each student is different and there are no templates for how you should work with or plan for them. Just like there aren’t any shortcuts to getting better at math, there are no shortcuts for working with students. Every student deserves and requires your utmost attention and care in order to develop their confidence and ability. Can you describe an instruction moment where you made an impact on a student? Recently, I challenged a student who had low confidence to try working independently for the day. His automatic reaction to any new concept or correction was usually to go to an assistant for help. I wanted to break this habit and show him that he had the ability to work through math on his own. At the start of class, I spoke to him about how confident I was in his ability, and how he should trust himself and try things on his own. After building him up, he completed his entire long division assignment on his own without asking for help â€" he even got a perfect score to top it off! Since then, he has become so much more independent and confident, not only in his math, but reading as well. Who is your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration would have to be my mother. She holds an incredible amount of kindness, empathy, and optimism that radiates in every aspect of her life â€" from her work as a nurse, to her role as a mother and friend to me. She has instilled in me the importance of a smile or kind word, and how little acts can change a person’s day. These are all things I’ve tried to carry with me in my role as a Kumon Instructor. With each interaction, whether it’s with a parent or a student, I apply the rule of understanding and empathizing first before anything else. What do you like to do in your spare time? I’ve always loved creating and have dabbled in sewing, painting, drawing, printmaking, and many other crafts. I have a million projects I’ve started and will pick up every so often. Aside from crafts, I also love to read, get outdoors, and play music. I’m in the process of teaching myself how to play the drums, which can be challenging at times. It’s less difficult when I’m able to stick with my daily practice. Kumon taught me that a little practice every day makes all the difference. What is a fun fact about you that people may not know? I’m an amateur ceramicist and love working with clay! Weekly I go to a ceramics studio where I make pitchers, pots, vases, and anything else I can create. It requires a lot of patience, but it’s so rewarding to have a functional piece that you’ve created at the end of the day. Learn more about the Kumon Franchise opportunity and discover additional franchisee success stories. You might also be interested in: Instructor Spotlight: Scott Manis Instructor Spotlight: Laura Bubbico Instructor Spotlight: Jennifer Ju Instructor Spotlight: Ann Quigley Instructor Spotlight Kim Nguyen Instructor Spotlight: Kim Nguyen Kim Nguyen, Instructor of Kumon Math and Reading Center of Kearny Mesa Long before becoming a Kumon Instructor in 2010, Kim Nguyen was a Kumon Student herself. Her journey with Kumon began when her mother enrolled both Kim and her sister at a local center in northern San Diego, CA. After enrolling, Kim’s confidence began to soar, and she started excelling in school. Still to this day, Kim credits her former Kumon Instructor Kayoko Barr with untapping her passion for learning. “Under Kayoko’s instruction, I began to love reading at a young age and excelled at math throughout my school years,” said Kim. “I have such fond memories of various math challenges the center would hold. I used to love watching my completed worksheets pile up. It was a really satisfying feeling.” Once Kim entered high school, she began working at the same center she attended as a student. She first started grading worksheets and gradually took on more responsibilities until she became the Lead Assistant â€" a role she continued while attending college at the University of California San Diego. Upon graduating with a bachelor’s in sociology, Kim’s former Instructor and mentor, Kayoko Barr, offered her an opportunity that would forever change her life. Her Kumon journey came full circle when she took over Kayoko’s center. This year, Kim Nguyen, Instructor of Kumon of Kearny Mesa, will be celebrating her 10th anniversary as a Kumon Instructor. “Since I was a Kumon Student myself, I knew the value of the program and the potential it has to really build up a student’s confidence and abilities,” said Kim. What inspired you to become a Kumon Instructor? My experience working at a Kumon Center and being able to interact with students of so many different backgrounds and levels was definitely the biggest inspiration. I love being able to work with students over long periods of time and really see their growth. It’s been an absolute joy to be able to work with a student for multiple years and watch them transition from elementary to middle and high school, and then hear about their college acceptances! Kumon has allowed me to connect with so many wonderful students. What is it about being an Instructor you enjoy the most? I enjoy the interactions with students the most. When I’m helping a student with a problem and things just click in their mind, nothing compares to that feeling of truly helping someone. I love seeing that “Aha!” moment â€" when they understand the concept and walk away confidently, knowing they don’t need my explanation anymore since they have it themselves. Aside from instruction, moments when we can joke and talk about our favorite Pokémon makes my days so easy and fun. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a Kumon Instructor? The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is that each student is different and there are no templates for how you should work with or plan for them. Just like there aren’t any shortcuts to getting better at math, there are no shortcuts for working with students. Every student deserves and requires your utmost attention and care in order to develop their confidence and ability. Can you describe an instruction moment where you made an impact on a student? Recently, I challenged a student who had low confidence to try working independently for the day. His automatic reaction to any new concept or correction was usually to go to an assistant for help. I wanted to break this habit and show him that he had the ability to work through math on his own. At the start of class, I spoke to him about how confident I was in his ability, and how he should trust himself and try things on his own. After building him up, he completed his entire long division assignment on his own without asking for help â€" he even got a perfect score to top it off! Since then, he has become so much more independent and confident, not only in his math, but reading as well. Who is your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration would have to be my mother. She holds an incredible amount of kindness, empathy, and optimism that radiates in every aspect of her life â€" from her work as a nurse, to her role as a mother and friend to me. She has instilled in me the importance of a smile or kind word, and how little acts can change a person’s day. These are all things I’ve tried to carry with me in my role as a Kumon Instructor. With each interaction, whether it’s with a parent or a student, I apply the rule of understanding and empathizing first before anything else. What do you like to do in your spare time? I’ve always loved creating and have dabbled in sewing, painting, drawing, printmaking, and many other crafts. I have a million projects I’ve started and will pick up every so often. Aside from crafts, I also love to read, get outdoors, and play music. I’m in the process of teaching myself how to play the drums, which can be challenging at times. It’s less difficult when I’m able to stick with my daily practice. Kumon taught me that a little practice every day makes all the difference. What is a fun fact about you that people may not know? I’m an amateur ceramicist and love working with clay! Weekly I go to a ceramics studio where I make pitchers, pots, vases, and anything else I can create. It requires a lot of patience, but it’s so rewarding to have a functional piece that you’ve created at the end of the day. Learn more about the Kumon Franchise opportunity and discover additional franchisee success stories. You might also be interested in: Instructor Spotlight: Scott Manis Instructor Spotlight: Laura Bubbico Instructor Spotlight: Jennifer Ju Instructor Spotlight: Ann Quigley