Summarize the following:
Words aren't much good unless you know how to use them. Learning vocabulary in phrases rather than as isolated words is most helpful because it gives you context to help remember the meaning and gives you practicing using the vocabulary in natural ways.  “J'en ai marre” (“I've had enough” in French) is an example of a phrase. Learning vocabulary in phrases helps you determine which words to use to “sound right” (called collocations). For instance, “I had a cup of powerful tea” and “I had a cup of strong tea” are both grammatically correct in English, but the latter sounds right because it is said more often. Watching television, films, and other videos in foreign languages gives you chances to learn new vocabulary and to hear how it is used in authentic speech. If you are interested in the sources, you are more likely to pay attention and learn, so choose some that you love!  Podcasts, YouTube videos, streaming films and programs, songs, and similar sources can all be great ways to learn. As you watch and listen, pay attention to any vocabulary you know, and write down new words and phrases you hear. You can pick up lots of vocabulary quickly from reading, especially if you read out loud. When learning a foreign language, make it a point to read at for at least a few minutes each day. Read whatever you find interesting.  Studying a variety of texts is a surefire way to pick up vocabulary. Try reading the news, fiction, essays, comics, and even advertisements. When you encounter new words, try to guess their meaning first, based on the context. Then write them down and look them up later for practice and study. There are tons of possibilities out there, including Duolingo, Drops, and Memrise. While you can't really learn a language just from studying apps, they can be a great way to build vocabulary in a fun, interactive way. Most apps involve games (like matching words to pictures) and other tools that can make the learning experience engaging and help you retain words. Groups of words together that relate to a common topic are easier to learn than lists of words that are all over the place. Textbooks usually present new words in this way, but if you're learning on your own, you can follow the same principle. For instance, if you are studying German and interested in music, you could study not only “die Musik” (“music”), but also words and phrases like:  ”Die Band” (“band”) ”Der Jazz” (“jazz”) ”Das Konzert” (“concert”) ”Ich spiele Gitarre” (“I play guitar”) ”Mein Lieblingssänger ist Michael Jackson” (“My favorite singer is Michael Jackson”) If you're feeling overwhelmed by the amount of vocabulary you have to master to in order to understand and use a foreign language, look for cognates. These are words that look the same or nearly the same and have similar meanings in different languages. That means they're easy to remember.  For example, “computer” in German is “der Computer.” Likewise, “to drink” is “trinken,” which looks very similar. Just watch out for “false friends,” or words that look the same but actually have different meanings. For instance, “actuel” in French does not mean “actual,” but “current” or “up to date.” Many languages (like Spanish, German, and Russian) group nouns into different grammatical genders, which usually have no relation to biological gender. Learn the gender together with the noun's spelling and meaning so you'll know how to use it properly later on.  For instance, “dog” in French is "le chien" and NOT “la chien.” Learn the vocabulary as “le chien” and not simply “chien.” Similarly, if you're learning verbs, make sure to study their correct conjugation.

summary: Learn vocabulary in phrases to maximize retention. Draw on multimedia sources to enrich your learning. Read often to build context. Try language learning apps. Group words into categories to pick them up faster. Focus on cognates to build confidence. Make sure to learn to gender of nouns, if applicable.


Summarize the following:
When your teacher says a test is coming up, avoid cramming the night before. Plan to study for about 60 minutes each day to brush up for the test. Re-read the book chapters you’ll be tested on and look over your relevant in-class notes to see what mistakes to avoid. If you have time, you could even test yourself with flash cards or form an impromptu study group with your friends. If you find that you’ve forgotten some of the math lessons or are still struggling with a tricky concept, ask for help! The teacher will appreciate your earnestness and won’t mind answering your questions. Study groups are a great way to prepare for a test and a useful method for improving your math abilities in general. They let you and your peers ask each other questions about topics that confuse you and review material that’s going to appear on an upcoming test or exam. Try studying with flash cards, or working difficult problems together.  Keep focused during group study time! If it turns into a social hour, your math skills won’t get any stronger. If people start joking around or lose focus, say something like, “Hey guys, I’m glad we’re having a good time, but let’s keep focused on the math we came here to study.” Many people are anxious or nervous during math tests. Feeling this way can diminish your performance, unfortunately, and can lower your math grade. So, take a deep breath before you go into the classroom to stay calm. If you feel yourself tensing up during the test, stand up, stretch your legs, and take a 2–3 minute break to calm down. Also make sure you get a good night’s sleep and eat a full, healthy meal before going in for a math test.

summary: Plan to study for 3–4 days in advance of an upcoming text or exam. Study in a group of peers to help each other improve at math. Stay calm and focused during tests to do well on them.


Summarize the following:
If you encounter gossiping that focuses on another employee, end it by enlisting help from the gossipers themselves. Confront them and let them know that it’s impolite to gossip. Then, encourage them to help you silence the rumor mill. They’ll likely feel guilty and happily assist. Let’s say you overhear two coworkers whispering about your boss getting a cosmetic procedure. You might say, “I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I doubt she’ll be happy it’s going around…Why don’t you two help me stamp out those rumors? Honestly, they have nothing to do with our job, anyway.” Those who pass along damaging information are just as guilty as the person who started the rumor mill. Go to the culprits and discourage them from taking the rumor any further. For example, you might say something along the lines of, “If you wouldn’t say that in front of him, I don’t think you should be saying it behind his back.” In the midst of garden-variety conversations at work, you probably get multiple opportunities to shut down gossip. Start noticing these openings and use them to silence the rumor mill. Stand up for those who are being discussed. Try to steer the conversation away from gossipy topics. For instance, you’re talking to a coworker about Bill’s report and they say, “Yeah, I hear his wife asked for a divorce.” You might counter with, “Bill did a really good job with these numbers. What was your question again?”
summary: Enlist those who gossip to help you stamp out rumors. Call out instigators. Become skilled at changing the subject.