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Tuesday, June 27, 2017

5 Best Hacks to Improve Your Working Memory

5 of the best hacks that you can implement to improve your working memory

Guest post by Justin Goh (Share your insight with 56,000+ Malaysian students)

You might find a strange similarity between your brain and your computer hard-disk but in reality, it doesn’t exactly work that way. Some will say that it works like RAM (RAM is a form of volatile memory where data is stored temporarily over time. You switch it off and it loses all its data) which might seem true to a certain extent.

But how do you explain all that feeling of nostalgia you get in specific circumstances if your brain does indeed work like RAM? You see a child going on a merry-go-round and you immediately start reminiscing certain pleasant scenes of your childhood as a result of that. Now how do you explain that?

You honestly can’t. Your brain’s not RAM or ROM; it’s something more. The more you use it, the sharper it’s going to be over time. Here are 10 of the best hacks that you, as a student can use to improve your working memory. Let’s go through them without further ado.

1. Crosswords can be an ace in the hole for you

Young man sitting on sofa doing crossword puzzle in newspaper back view
Crossword puzzles can be an excellent cognitive exercise for you if you do them periodically in a relaxed state of mind.

The practice of solving crosswords can greatly improve your working memory. You will be able to retain information for a longer period of time and can also recall them whenever you want depending on your requirements.

So practice them periodically and religiously to improve your cognitive skills and working memory. If it gets too easy for you, switch over to a different one. Yep, sudokus can do the trick as well.

2. Jigsaw puzzles aren’t that simple if you can use the right way

Jigsaw puzzle game background
You might think that jigsaw puzzles are meant only for the kids or toddlers but no, they definitely aren’t. You just have to find the ones that are meant specifically for you (to be more specific, I should say the “older kids”).

Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to improve your short-term memory and your critical problem-solving skills. The more the pieces, the greater is the benefit. So are you for it? You definitely should be.

3. Video games help you to multi-task

Boys playing video game console
Video games aren’t always that bad that you might think they are. Yes, too much video gaming can definitely hurt your studies but that shouldn’t portray “total” negativity, especially when video games are concerned.

Video games can improve your multi-tasking abilities. Now that is something that can make you a standout among the crowd, especially in your professional life.

Always remember that your multi-tasking skills are directly linked to that of your working memory. So you see you’ll always be at a benefit if you are able to “play” it the right way.

P.S. Too many hours of video gaming is STILL not recommended. An hour here and there is what’s recommended unless you’re on a vacation.

4. Learn a shopping game

Shopping bag with many items on sale
“Peg words”- Do you know what these are?

This is a remembrance technique where words are linked rhythmically with numbers to work in the form of a memory-aid. You can inculcate this tactic to improve your working memory. You can use the aid of peg words to memorize things better.

So how can use this tactic to great effects? You can use this tactic in the form of a “shopping game.” Try to remember small shopping lists through the use of peg words. Here’s an example,

If you are going out to buy yourself a pair of shoe, you can make a poem like “one two buckle my shoe” to remember the same.

These practices may look too petty on the hindsight but it can go a long way indeed if you keep on practicing them religiously every day.


5. Play a memory game with your friends or colleagues

Doodling infographic
If you are present in a group, you can play some sort of a memory game with your friends to improve your working memory over time.

A memory game is fun to play and it doesn’t even cost you a dime. Here’s how you do it.

You start with the name of any object say, “birds.” The person next to you will have to repeat the same and add another one of his/her own (like tiger). The next person will have to repeat from the start i.e. birds, tiger and then add one of his/own (say cheetah).

This will continue. The person who fails to recall the series perfectly at a stage is disqualified at that stage itself. This is a beautiful game indeed and can actually improve your working memory over time. Moreover, it’s fun; so is there anything not to like? Guess not!

So that’s it then. Hope the hacks or the games mentioned above come in handy for you. With that, I’ll sign off for the time being. Hope you had a great read.

Justin Goh
Justin Goh is a former teacher and prolific writer, penning blogs to help the parents, students and the educators alike. Regularly contributing articles for MyPrivateTutor Malaysia, he prefers to write on varying aspects of education ranging from learning strategies and preparation tips to the ways to reach out to the students better.


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Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Debunking Top 10 Study Abroad Myths

Debunking The 10 Myths About Study Abroad!

Guest post by Priscilla Ellie (Share your insight with 56,000+ Malaysian students)

Thinking of studying abroad? Just like any major decision a person can make, there are a lot of opinions about whether to go or not go abroad for studying. Well, study abroad seems difficult to deal with.

Many students don’t even consider studying abroad because of misinformation. Too many students mistakenly believe that there is no place in their academic plan for abroad or that it’s just a luxury that they cannot afford.
Myths Study Abroad Exchange Program International Students
There are a number of myths about studying abroad that make it seems like it is not an option. To clear the air, we are going to explore some myths and misconceptions about studying abroad.

Myth # 1 – I’ll Have To Speak A Foreign Language


First of all, don’t forget that the most widely-used language in the world is English. It is also the language of England, Scotland, South Africa and New Zealand etc. and in most of the non-English speaking countries, you are offered a choice of study programs depending on your language level.

Myth # 2 – It’s Too Expensive To Study Abroad


Obviously! It depends on which field you select but lots of the time cost of living is lower when you are abroad. Students get financial support from the university and if you are eligible there are many external funding options as well and most of the time scholarship opportunities are also available.

Myth # 3 – Will Miss My Home & Friends 

Maybe! But keep in mind that studying abroad is an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. The number of students chooses to study abroad grow every year so you can easily find many other students in the same situation. You can also live with a host family at their home so you won’t feel lonely.

Myth # 4 – Studying Abroad Is Dangerous


This is not true at all! The colleges / universities take cares to make the campuses most secure but if you are still afraid so you can find a location which better suits you. Your country government websites can help you regarding this in finding most secure places to study abroad.

Myth # 5 – Study Abroad Programs Are Not For Everyone


Study abroad programs are for everyone. It does not matter which gender, country or religion you belong to. There are lots of programs available for studying abroad according to your interests. You can find them by searching via the internet.

Myth # 6 – Studying Abroad Is Only For Language And IR Majors


It’s not like that; you can pursue any course abroad. You can do your majors for almost every subject. Study abroad is for all majors and students of every field can benefit from it including engineering history, political science, medical, business or maths etc.

Myth # 7 – It Won’t Help My Career 

That’s not true at all because of employer’s value study abroad experience of a person. It demonstrates that you are adaptable, open to new experiences.

Myth # 8 – International Students Don’t Receive Support Properly


Almost all the teachers are very helpful to students or refer people who can help them in studies as other things as well. The students are also very helpful and friendly and welcome them in a very good manner.

Myth # 9 – You Have To Study Abroad For A Year

Many of the study abroad programs are short term and take place during summer. They don’t last for a year. Courses last for 3-4 weeks usually.

Myth # 10 - It's Difficult To Get Accepted

Most of the students who meet the minimum qualification criteria and complete the process of application properly are easily accepted to study abroad. Most of the universities looking towards increasing the number of students studying abroad and working closely with students to find the program that best meets their qualifications.

So, there you go! Some myths clarified!

Hoping that with these clarifications of myths you can travel abroad without any misconceptions in mind.

I took help from different sources to write my assignment. For example: 46 Good SPM English Model Essays / Free Essay Samples for O-level, IELTS, TOEFL & MUET Writing 

Priscilla Ellie is studying MBA from London School of Economics, UK. As an academic writer, she also helps students who spend hours on internet searching, “Who will write my assignment?” In her leisure time, she loves to read and write. She began her academic writing career in 2010.


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Monday, June 05, 2017

5 Tips to Fight Writer's Block for College Term Paper Essay Writing

5 Tips to Fight Writer's Block for College Term Paper

Guest post by Kevin Nelson (Share your favourite tips with 56,000+ Malaysian students)

Every student has been in the situation when you have a topic and sometimes even a list of literature, but you have no idea what to say. Moreover, sometimes you know what to say but they have no clue how to say that. Still, the outcome is one and the same, students just do not know how to fight writer’s block for writing a term paper or any other kind of an essay.

In this article, we are going to investigate whether there are any methods that help to deal with this problem. We will reveal one big secret right now, these methods do exist and perhaps you have been using some of them intuitively. However, when you discover them being structured and explained, there will be more chances that you will start to use them anytime you have some problems with generating ideas and implementing them in your writing.
Tips to Fight Writer's Block for College Term Paper

1. Find your working hours


Have you noticed that some hours of the day are more productive for you? Some call it being early or night birds, other connect that with the processes that happen in our bodies. We cannot tell you for sure how it works on the physical or psychological level, but the effect has been proven by thousands of the students all over the world. If you know that 5am – 7am are the best hours for writing for you, you should use them to write your papers. Just try to make a couple experiments with the time when you write papers, and you will definitely find the best working hours for you.

2. Start with the ideas


To write a paper, you need to get an idea. If you have none of them, this is the first problem to be solved. Why the idea is important? The matter is that based on the idea you may define the methods that you will use for investigation, the facts that will prove the idea and the arguments that will make your essay even more interesting to read.

To find the idea that will work in the best way for you, write down everything that you have in your head. If you feel that this does not work, try to make the association list. If you still feel that the writer’s block prevents you from writing, use the latest method – just check the paper of other students available online and find the ideas in which you trust.

3. Set the deadlines for each part of work


Before you start to work on your paper, you need to make a clear outline or at least a plan for it. In this plan, you should include all the processes that are involved in reaching the ultimate goal and all the resources that you may need. Additionally, estimate the time necessary for working on each of the parts of your essay. It is always better to give yourself some extra time for coping with the tasks than to set deadlines that can hardly be met as this will cause even more pressure and won’t be helpful at all.

4. Fill the pauses with sports


Remember to give yourself some rest. If you work all the time, you cannot keep demonstrating high performance and good results. However, when you have those pauses in your schedule, you need to use them wisely. The best decision is to make some physical exercises. They are both good for your body and they will help you restore your energy for continue working your paper as well.

5. Allow some cheating by using professional help in proofreading


If you are afraid of making some mistakes in your writing, this may become the most problematic writer block. To get rid of it, allow yourself some help from writing experts. For example, you may rely on the custom writing proofreading service in case you have no time for proper investigation or order editing and proofreading service if you are not sure in the quality of your writing. It does not necessarily mean that you will use these cheats, but they will definitely help you feel more relaxed. And as many students say, when there is no tension and no necessity to rush, they always provide better results paying fewer efforts.

Did you love our tips to fight writer’s block for a term paper? We hope you did! Nevertheless, we recommend you to try at least some of the methods just to compare how your productivity rises with them. Perhaps, you will discover that some of them are so good for you, that you no longer feel the problems with writing, or maybe you will decide that writing is not for you and will concentrate on some other activities. As a student, you need to define your strong sides and such lists of tips will help you to get to know what’s better for you.

Kevin Nelson Profile Picture
Kevin Nelson started his career as a research analyst and has changed his sphere of activity to writing services and content marketing. Currently, Kevin works as a part-time writer at BreezeWriting. Apart from writing, he spends a lot of time reading psychology and management literature searching for the keystones of motivation ideas.


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Thursday, June 01, 2017

Do You Identify With These 8 Excuses For Not Studying Abroad?

Do You Identify With These 8 Excuses For Not Studying Abroad?

Guest post by Anna Marsh (Share your insight with 56,000+ Malaysian students)

In today’s academic culture, a big chunk of the proportion of students chooses to study abroad. But when it comes to studying abroad, dozens of questions start surfacing in the minds of students. There is no denying that studying abroad is a challenging thing but that’s what makes it worth your time and efforts. Nonetheless, a portion of students finds excuses when it comes to studying abroad. Some of the excuses are as follows:
Female Student Girl Peeking Behind Book Library Table

1. It Is Too Costly


No doubt students who wish to study in a foreign country need to manage a hefty amount of finance to cover all expenses. This is because you will need to pay semester fees, accommodation charges, traveling cost and etc.

In addition, many international colleges offer a scholarship opportunity to international students but they set very tough criteria. In case you’re willing to take a financial aid then you will need to pay it as per your agreement. So make your mind for study abroad program if you’re in a sound financial position else you mind end up without achieving a foreign degree.

2. I Will Miss My Family


Of course, it’s in human nature. When you will move to a new place for study purpose you will genuinely miss your friends and family. It will take a lot of time to come closer to anyone. This is why when you will move to a new country, you can’t make get attached to new friends instantly.
Additionally, the chances are high that you will feel homesickness. If these things are challenging for you then considering study abroad program is not the right choice for you.

3. I Can’t Speak Foreign Language


It is true to say that not everyone can speak a foreign language. Some students find it hard to learn a new language, while some hesitate to speak in a different way. Every student needs to buy stuff, get on the train, and need to communicate with their academic counselors.

These necessities of life will force you to learn and speak a new language. If you find speaking in a foreign language a daunting task, then you should give up your decision of study abroad.

4. Admission Procedure Is Complex


In order to secure admission in an international college or university students need to go through an entire admission process. Different colleges have different admission criteria which students need to follow appropriately to grow their career.

At first, you will need to figure out each and every admission requirement of the foreign admission you desire to pursue your career. Afterwards, you will be required to accomplish them in the prescribed way to please the admission counselor.

5. I Love My Country


The majority of students are so much attached to their living environment that they’re not mentally prepared to live in a new place. This is because they grow up in the same culture from childhood so it’s hard for them to adjust to a new lifestyle. If your country environment fascinates you more than any other country, then it’s hard for you to settle in a new country for study purpose.

Thus it’s better to research about the lifestyle of the country you’re planning to study abroad than to fail to adjust to it.

6. I Don’t Know Anyone 


Many students don’t have connections in a foreign country. And this is why they give up the decision of study abroad. According to research, the biggest fear of studying abroad is the strange environment. Normally when someone moves to another country for the purpose of study, he faces a tough time to cope with the new people.

However, if you think you can’t interact with new people so easily then you should withdraw the decision of study abroad.

7. I’m Afraid Of Travelling


Traveling is a scary experience for many people especially when it comes to travel abroad. And this is why when students think about studying abroad too many questions pop up in their mind that stops them to travel.

When students move to a new country they explore new things on a daily basis. Some people easily adjust to the new culture while some take ample amount of time. Therefore it’s essential to make a wise decision when it comes to studying in a new place.

8. It Won’t Benefit Me


A large proportion of students ignores the opportunity of studying abroad because of the less demand for foreign qualification in their country. Many employers underestimate the value of a foreign degree while recruiting new staff.

This is why a lot of students are not interested in pursuing higher education in a foreign country. If you’re also living in a country where foreign qualification fails to impress the employer, then it’s useless for you to study abroad.

Anna Marsh is the writer of this post. She is a veteran UK Essays Academic Counselor and Career Analyst. Personally, she is fond of listening to music, watching movies, and playing sports. Her favorite sports include parasailing, rafting, and boating.


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