A vocational school is an institution operated for the purpose of giving the students the necessary skills to perform certain jobs. These schools do not aim to further a liberal arts education instead offer to teach job-specific skills. Vocational education being offered in the past usually focused on specific trades such as becoming an automobile mechanic or welder. Such training and education were then associated with the activities of lower social classes. As a consequence of this, vocational schools attracted a level of stigma. The youth would prefer going to universities and colleges for their education rather than at vocational schools. However, during the course of time, the labor market begins to develop itself into a more specialized market. More and more economies begin to demand more specialized skills from the workforce. Governments and businesses are now beginning to invest in the vocational education through publicly funded training organizations and subsidized apprenticeship or traineeship initiatives to provide for their need for more people with specialized skills. And also because of this, post-secondary level vocational education is now being provided by an institute of technology, or by a local community college. Vocational education has diversified over the years and now exists to provide training in industries such as retail, tourism, information technology, funeral services and cosmetics, as well as in the traditional crafts and cottage industries. People now have a wide selection of vocational training to choose from to personally equip them with skills for their chosen jobs. If you are looking for Chicago vocational schools, you will be able to find a number of them online. If you are looking forward to honing a certain technical skill in order to land a job, a good vocational school may be able to provide you with the education that you are looking for. There are vocational schools all over Chicago that offer a wide range of vocational training. There is the Chicago School of Massage Therapy for those of you who want to become future massage specialists. There is also the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago for those who want to follow a culinary path to success. The American Academy of Art in Chicago also offers vocational courses for those who are interested in graphic design, commercial art and illustration. There are many more vocational schools in Chicago that offer a wide range of training and education for those of you looking to improve or further advance their vocational skills. Such skill will be able to help you help you succeed in a chosen career that you choose to take.
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Learn to speak chinese mandarin 1 of 3 golden keys to start speaking in 58 minutes with no pen no paper
In any language, regardless of which one, be it English, German, Spanish, Hindi, Zulu – even Chinese – they share 3 common, powerful traits – ChinaSpeak traits. Understanding what these powerful traits are, is your passport to surge forward in your language ability regardless of whether you’re just beginning to learn Chinese or you’re already well on your ChinaSpeaking journey. A word of advice before you read on: These points are simple. I believe that it’s the simple things in life, like in nature, that are often the most impactful. It’s very easy to gloss over these 3 ChinaSpeak traits and have that little voice in your head say “Yeah rriiiight! – only three?” and after learning these 3 golden keys, say “…Is that it?!” If you believe that little voice in your head, you might as well save your time now and not continue reading on. Still here? Wise choice. So what Exactly are these 3 simple yet powerful ChinaSpeak traits? I want you to imagine your house. I assume it’s standing and can withstand the wind, the elements so WHY is it standing? Because it has a strong foundation, right? Strong walls. Let’s say that you live in a cottage-styled, brick house. Your strong walls are made of bricks. One of the 3 simple yet powerful ChinaSpeak traits to powering forward in learning any language is just like your house – made up of strong Bricks. #1 Powerful Language Trait – Bricks Bricks are the solid things that make up our wall. The type of ‘brick’ depends on the situation that we’re in. Are we in the desert? Deep in the humid, tropical jungle? In the arctic? In each of those settings, different building materials, different ‘bricks’ needed to be used, wouldn’t you agree? For example, in the desert, it’ll be sand, tundra, farm animal manure. In the tropical jungle, it’ll be logs and wooden planks. In the arctic, you guessed it, ice blocks. It is the same thing in language where vocabulary are our ‘bricks’. The type of vocabulary that we use very much depends on our situation. Are we negotiating in a business setting? Having a chat with friends over dinner? Bargaining and haggling with the street vendor in one of the open-air markets? In each of those situations, particular bricks, particular words are used and not usually used elsewhere. I can’t really imagine you referring to your mother when you’re negotiating in business…or asking for a fried rice when shopping for clothing. So HOW do you make the most of ChinaSpeak Trait #1 – Bricks? Look at your particular situation - ask yourself and write down: WHAT kind of words would I use in this situation? If it makes things easier – imagine, in your native language, what kind of words would you use in that situation? Be free with yourself and let it all flow out, whatever comes out until nothing else appears. Take a 7 minute break – get up and out, into the sun, outside, take some deep breaths, walk around. Then ask yourself Again right then and there... What would I Say or Hear in such a situation? You’ll find that the thoughts will start flowing again. Compile all these words that you’ve gathered for your particular situation, get their Chinese equivalent and you can start learning those you feel most relevant. Happy ChinaSpeaking!
Sunday, September 25, 2016
San francisco schools fight fat
Childhood obesity is at alarming levels in this county. Children in the San Francisco Schools are no exception. Too much television and video games, and too little time spent playing outside has led to an epidemic of juvenile health issues. It sure doesn’t help that the San Francisco Schools have had to cut funding for physical education over the years. But the 2007-2008 school year does have something positive going for it. Several San Francisco Schools will provide fresh salad bars, whole grain options, and whole fruits and vegetable in their cafeterias. Twenty six San Francisco Schools from elementary to high school will benefit from a half a million dollar grant from the mayor’s office and the Department of Children, Youth, and their families. This is a big deal. The fact that a school district has actually recognized the importance of nutrition in education is enormous. For the past few decades public education has acted as if the only aspect of learning we should worry about are test scores. The San Francisco Unified School District has been forced to slash the arts, physical education, and anything not seen to directly affect standardized tests. How Does Nutrition Affect San Francisco Schools Students? Teachers in the San Francisco Schools know that a child’s academic success lies in several factors: home environment, proper nutrition, and a good night sleep greatly impact a student’s ability to pay attention and retain information. The fast food generation currently attending the San Francisco Schools needs to be made aware of how nutrition choices will affect their health. But it’s a pretty safe bet that the San Francisco Schools don’t have much extra time to teach daily health classes. That’s OK, what they’re doing now might be even better. Schools need to lead by example. Just think of the message that it sent to children to have soda in vending machines and options like chips, ice cream and fatty meals for lunch fare. The San Francisco Schools are setting an example that the rest of the nation needs to emulate. It’s high time that schools look at the messages they are sending to our children. What Else Can the San Francisco Schools Do? While healthier school lunches are a huge improvement to the San Francisco Schools, the reality is that every public school district in the country is struggling to succeed. The San Francisco Schools experimented with the salad bars with pilot programs in a few of the schools last year. Hopefully more San Francisco Schools will follow this example next year. It is more costly for the San Francisco Schools to provide this fresher fare than canned vegetables and mystery meat? I’m sure it is. But the San Francisco Schools will recoup the cost in children who are more likely to pay attention (maybe less ADD diagnoses), higher test scores, children who are less fussy, and who appreciate the taste of fresh foods.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Getting ahead with an online bachelor degree program
An online bachelor degree program is a powerful tool for forging a solid career path. The door to a career offering stimulating challenges, great benefits and an increased earning potential often begin by gaining a bachelor's degree. Online learning is a perfect way for many to obtain that degree and get on their way to a better life. The steady but busy rhythm of everyday life has made earning a bachelor degree online commonplace. Education is now a life-changing activity that can take place all online without much change in a person's regular schedules or routines. Online learning also levels the playing field, giving people from all walks of life a chance to achieve something that will markedly improve their lives. The flexibility of online learning tosses aside any worries a rigid class schedule may bring to mind. While still comfortably balancing home and career, getting a degree online will allow one to also become a student without upsetting an already established balance. It is no wonder online degree programs have become the most popular method for furthering an education among a majority of working adults. An online bachelor degree program can be accessed at home or in the office, wherever the student is comfortable learning. The student is also able to choose where learning fits in during the day or week. Other daily activities will not have to be put on hold or rearranged unless the student sees fit. Those who opt for this method of learning will find they can get a bachelor's degree in a number of specialties including Business, Criminal Justice, IT Technology or Healthcare. With year round enrollment, the choice of when to start is always up to the prospective student. Many come to find that online learning is a way to take control of their life and really make it count. Getting a bachelor's degree online cannot only be convenient but cost effective for the working adult. As with all accredited learning venues, financial aid will be provided for those who apply and qualify. Plus, costs related to commuting to a campus or relocating to be closer to one just to take classes is a total non-issue thanks to an easy, simple Internet connection. The subjects taught in an online bachelor degree program are the same as those found in a conventional brick and mortar campus. Finishing the required coursework will result in the reward of a fully accredited degree. The amount of time involved in getting a degree is totally dependent upon the student. There are a number of aspects, such as prior transferable credits, that can help speed up the process. Thanks to the quality of the curriculum, degrees earned from an online source are not only recognized but also greatly respected by employers. Employers look favorably upon those who choose to further themselves and find ways to achieve such despite what can be an already busy lifestyle. This type of tenacity is what an employer calls 'an asset'. The benefits of cost-effective learning coupled with a strong curriculum that is flexible and does not get in the way of every day life has made online learning an indispensable means for achieving success. As society becomes more and more independent, there is a need for a certain aspects of life to become less and less complicated. This is where online learning programs come in. An online bachelor degree program provides many with the option of getting themselves to the next level of success they dream about. With online learning, the control lies with the student who can take their education as fast and as far as they see fit.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Diamond color 101 what you need to know about the color of a diamond
A diamond is a highly precious stone and is one of the hardest known natural materials in the world. Many high profile celebrities, royalties and ultra rich people buy diamonds both for adornment and investments. When in time of unforeseen financial problems, diamonds can be easily sold for a high amount. The price of a diamond is generally based on 4 Cs – Color, Carat, Clarity and Cut. Among these four, the color may be the hardest to decide because there is a wide array of diamond colors to choose from. There are a variety of colors of diamonds found in the market today. There pink, yellow, blue, brown, red and many other colors. In fact due to structural shifting and a variety of impurities, many other tints of diamonds exist. To the jewelers, diamonds have color grading to determine the price of the stone. Grades D-E-F generally refers to the colorless type. Diamonds having these grades are usually the more expensive types and very difficult to find because of their rarity. Grade G-H-I-J are the nearly colorless types and maybe relatively expensive. Diamonds having grades K-L-M have usually yellow tints. Grades can reach up to Z and price decreases as the grading approaches Z. If you are a purist and have a lot of money, settle for diamonds with a grade of D-F. They are the best the industry but they maybe sold by select few jewelers. Near colorless diamonds within G-I grade show no noticeable color and tints to the naked eye can also be an excellent choice. It is very common to find fancy and colored diamonds in the market today. Even though they are designed for mass appeal, the still exude elegance and style so it is no wonder that one can see high profile people in public functions wearing these stylish colored diamonds. Fancy and colorful diamonds are created by irradiation which can turn yellow or brown diamonds into greens, blues, reds and other fancy colored ones. These fancy colored diamonds are an inexpensive alternative to the rare and very expensive natural colorless diamonds. But these fancy colored diamonds should not be considered as an investment. If you want to buy one of these fancy colored diamonds, make sure you ask the jeweler for care instructions. There are two general grading for fancy colored diamonds. The first is based on basic hue like yellow, blue, green, etc. The second grading is based on intensity. In general, the more intense the color, the more expensive the colored diamond costs. As an example, a fancy vivid pink diamond is more expensive than fancy light pink even if they have exactly the same clarity, shape and size. To conceal yellowish tints in diamonds that may affect the diamond's quality and price, some jewelers trick buyers by applying coatings to the diamonds to change the color. These coatings will eventually rub off in time. If you are buying diamonds, this is one aspect you should be wary about.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Stay alive earthquake emergency preparation tips
Earthquakes are among the most devastating natural disasters. What makes it more annihilating is the fact that there is no precise way of predicting when an earthquake may occur. The most effective tactic to minimize the effects of earthquakes in human lives is to make adequate earthquake emergency preparations. During an earthquake, you will feel the ground shaking or rolling. If the movement of the Earth's crust is really violent, you might even hear the ground rumbling or roaring. These earthquake characteristics may cause you to panic and eventually jeopardize your chance of survival. While strong and devastating earthquakes seldom happen, even in places located in the Earth's ring of fire, it is imperative that you have an emergency plan so that you and your family can stay safe. Here are a few pointers to remember to keep you prepared for an earthquake. Practice Makes Safety The key to being safe during an earthquake is having quick reaction. As soon as the ground shakes violently, you should know what to do as if by instincts. To be able to react fast during earthquakes, you must regularly conduct earthquake drills. This will keep you on your feet when the real thing comes. Plan Your Home Structure If you are living in a place that is frequented by earthquakes, you must plan your home in such a way that it will not become your deathbed. Use light materials for your home and provide ample exit ways to run to during emergencies. Collapsing home and building materials commonly cause injuries and deaths during earthquakes; and to avoid this, you must make sure that most of your home structure and appliances are not heavy enough to crush you. Make sure also that your place has strong doorways or doorframes; as statistically these places are the most likely places that can withstand earthquakes. Fasten tall and heavy fixtures to the wall. And ensure that your cabinets have latches so that whatever they contain will not fall out during an earthquake. Plan For Everybody Everybody in your office or home should know your emergency plan for an earthquake. Make sure that everybody understands the procedures to perform whenever the big shaker happens. Coordination is an important survival aspect particularly after the earthquake. Know Your Place Knowing where to run and hide for cover during an earthquake may save your life and limbs. Learn the safe spots of your home or office. And practice going to these safe spots so that you can immediately react by going into these places during an actual earthquake. Also plan a meeting place for your officemates or family where all of you can gather yourselves up after an earthquake. Delegate Responsibilities In your office or within your family, assign duties that everybody must perform during earthquakes. Earthquake preparation should never be a one-man job. Your officemates and family members should be made to understand of what to do, especially if you are not with them during an earthquake. Have Emergency Kits On Standby Finally, you must have a number of emergency kits ready in the office or at home. These kits must have the bare essentials that can help preserve life during emergencies. From drinking water, food, to first aid materials, your emergency kits will be your lifelines. Make sure that everybody knows where these emergency kits are kept.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Milwaukee schools something to talk about
The Milwaukee Schools’ District is the largest public school district in Wisconsin; it has 207 schools, 6,055 teachers, and 90,925 students. Hot topics in the district are voucher programs, Chinese Language education, and WiMAX, a free broadband internet access for all students and staff. WiMAX, an emerging wireless broadband technology, is a tool that Milwaukee School officials are hoping to install in the homes of all students and staff members. This technology can reportedly broadcast a signal for miles without needing a clear line of sight. If Milwaukee Schools are successful, they will be one of the first school systems in the nation to use this technology. The pilot program will cover approximately five square miles and is scheduled to be up and running by August 2007. James Davis, Milwaukee Schools’ director of technology, has said he views WiMAX as the way to provide internet access to students whose families are too poor to even afford a phone line. Davis recently told The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that “without this kind of initiative, these students will fall further behind in competition for college entry and the work force, [which] will increase the digital divide.” A very exciting new school will be opening in the Milwaukee School District…a Chinese School! There are already at least a dozen such programs in place throughout Wisconsin. Approximately 130 students have signed up so far to attend the “Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language”. James Sayavong, who started this new school, said that he expects to see 200 students enrolled by the fall. To date, many of the school’s students are from the surrounding neighborhood, which is generally African American and low income. Sayavong said that he wants Milwaukee Schools’ children to learn more about one of the United States’ largest trading partners. He believes this will give them an edge later in their careers. Of particular interest, a 2006 Department of Education news release stated that more than 200 million of children in China were studying English, but only around 24,000 of U. S. students were studying Chinese. One way that the Milwaukee School District is battling to educate low-income, minority students are voucher schools. However, the voucher schools look and feel surprisingly like other Milwaukee Schools. While the program has brought some “fresh energy” to the mission of educating low-income youth, about 10% of the choice (voucher) schools exhibit alarming deficiencies. There’s a lot of taxpayer money going into religiously affiliated Milwaukee Schools. About 70% of students enrolled in the voucher programs attend a religious school. The collapse of four schools and the state’s limited ability to take action against other “alarming” schools has led to some agreement for the need for increased oversight. While the voucher program has both its champions and its detractors, the Milwaukee Schools seem have a lot of work to do to make the voucher program a success.