10 Pointers on College Loan Consolidation

Should I consolidate my college loans or not? 1 Still in school, yes! Rates are low, but they"re scheduled to go up.
Your college loan payments will then remain as manageable as possible when you leave school If you have graduated, or will be graduating this May or June, yes! Graduates can lock in historical low rates, and reduce their monthly payments more than half You can lock in a rate even while still in school, and even if you have been out of school for a couple of years can get a good deal, too2.
The newest twist in the consolidation puzzle is the "in school consolidation", affecting students who are currently enrolled and will be enrolled past the July 1 consolidation You can consolidate your existing college loans now to secure the low rates for at least part of their student loan portfolio3 Consolidating could save thousands of dollars in interest payments on college loans There are impending student loan rate changes and new interpretation of regulations by the Department of Education, also, Congress is considering ending the fixed-rate program Experts are urging students to consolidate to relieve themselves of a higher debt load4 Many students and families are looking for a simple, clear answer about whether to consolidate college loans or not The simple answer is to take some of the bite out of the debt by loan consolidation You could live like a miser and save as much money as possible or consolidate your federal student loans now5 For students still in school, you have an opportunity to choose consolidation Consolidating would put a college loan borrower into repayment status, but the student can defer payments until after graduation by making a deferment request Consolidating today can have payments put off until graduation6 The federal loan program allows consolidation, which is when a borrower pools his student debts together so that only one monthly payment is necessary, rather than several It"s not just the convenience of one payment that is making consolidation so compelling The most significant aspect of the program is that it allows a person to permanently lock in a lower interest rate on loans These loans are backed by, or granted directly by, the federal government7 Rates for federal Stafford loans, the most prevalent type of student loan, as well as some other types of federal student loans are set annually based on the rate of 91-day US Treasury bills at the end of May The exact rate won"t be known until the end of the month, but experts say it will be about 2 percentage points higher (Private loans and federal loans cannot be consolidated together)8 For the first time, the US Department of Education will allow students still in school to consolidate federally backed loans Federal PLUS loans can also be consolidated PLUS loans are used to help pay the cost higher education9 Students, regardless of enrollment, should absolutely consolidate their college loans, arranged through the student"s lender There are no fees, no credit checks, and interest rates are expected to move higher Those are good reasons to consolidate10 Act quickly to put lock on current federal-aid interest rates Graduates should act now to insulate themselves from a drastic rate change Apply early Do not wait until the last minute to file paperwork Those who have already graduated or left school should not wait to investigate consolidation In the first six months after graduation, you are in a grace period Within that six-month window, you can lock in a low rate on Stafford loans and spread the repayment over as long as 30 yearsIf you"re going to consolidate, now is the best time to do it

The Need for Poetry

“It is difficult to get the news from poems, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there” -William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)Poetry does have a place in our world, a necessary place Less and less do we find poetry taught in schools, and many people say poetry doesn’t belong in our lives That idea is wrong, sadly wrong However, a resurgence of teaching literature and poetry has occurred, even to teaching literature to medical students and others in the health-care fields, according to Dr PereiraThe study and writing of poetry brings much to our lives The Rev H C Beeching agrees in “An Address on the Teaching of Poetry” Ambleside Online because the study of poetry sharpens powers of observation and helps one store memories He states, “the purpose of poetry is to communicate or extend the joy of life by quickening our emotions”Peter Pereira, MD, writes in “The healing power of poetry,” The Writer March 2007, that “the reading and writing of poems can help us (physicians) develop empathy and thus become better doctors” Empathy is defined as an emotional connection and understanding Therefore, Beeching and Pereira agree on that point: the purpose of poetry helps with emotional understandingPereira goes on to say that since physicians have less time with their patients than ever, they need to develop listening and interpretive skills The study of poetry, especially the lyric poem, may be an way for students to learn needed skillsEmpathy is using one’s imagination to be in another’s position Poetry exercises one’s powers of imagination as well as helping to gain skill in the use of language Doctors, nurses, aides, as well as family members, friends, and business people need those skillsTwo other things Pereira believes to be true about the purpose and need for poetry are that reading and writing poetry can help patients facing life-threatening or life-altering illness I addressed this in my article “Writing through Troublesome Times” Poetry helps a person to “vent” and to pour emotions onto paper or computer screen, and then to manage the emotions and pain involvedPereira’s third idea is that the reading and writing of poetry can help heal the world The quote I used to start this article addresses that thought to some extent The doctor states, “Poetry of witness has long been a way that cultures and civilizations all over the world remember things – their war stories, the cultural milestones – and give voice to the oppressed or the disappeared”A way to bring some healing not only to individuals, but to the world, gives poetry a purpose and a need that can’t be ignored

Learn Spanish: Finding that Horse

What do we know so far? We found out that the best approach to language learning is to learn Spanish the very same way you learned your native tongue Lots and lots of intensive listening without speaking comes first This is how you learned your native language and this is how little kids will instinctively approach learning a second language.
By the time speaking comes, you will have mastered the fundamentals of the target language You will know how to use parts of speech before you know what those parts of speech are even called You have got to find a way to mimic this process You have to find a way whereby you can learn Spanish in the same very manner in which you learned your native language.
This is what it means to start with the horse and not the cart To start with the cart—the traditional way in which foreign languages are taught in the United States (and virtually all over the planet)—you will become a good interpreter of written text but you will not develop speaking skillsTo start with the cart could possibly short-circuit your speaking ability foreverSo how does on start? Does one go back and become a child again to learn Spanish the natural way? Is it even possible to come anywhere close to finding a method of language learning that mimics as closely as possible the natural, child-like manner in which we learned our native language? There is.
I know you"ve been thinking the whole time you’ve been reading this that this is sounding more and more like a sales pitch And, if you"ve been indeed thinking that, then you are absolutely right The only thing is, damn it, is that I have no financial interest in what I about to share with you! It"s true.
You will be able to call these companies that produce these products and ask if Douglas Bower has a financial interest in their company and you will get a big fat no! I do no own stock, I have no relatives who work for them, nor do I have an affiliate program going with any of them—damn it! My interest is this: Americans are expatriating to Mexico in record numbers They are transforming entire cities into something quite un-Mexican and it is because Americans cannot or will not learn the language The consequent of their Spanish illiteracy is that they congregate into American Enclaves and create "Little Americas" all over MexicoI want that to stop and I am convinced it can if Americans learned a non-threatening, natural, fluid, and almost child-like way to learn Spanish That is my interest; that is my motiveRemember the quote in the previous paragraph,"In a study by Postovsky, 1974; Winitz, 1981; J Gary and N Gary, 1981, they postulated that the most effective methodology for the adult learner of a second language is one in which listening (that "period of silence") before any speaking is done"There is a home study course that does exactly this There is absolutely no speaking in the course There is just listening This course mimics that "period of silence" which research shows children go through when learning a foreign languageThere is first the intensive listening and observing There is the association of word, sight, and actions that teach you the necessary vocabulary and grammar long before you begin to speak a word of Spanish The course also takes into account that as an adult you have distinct advantages over children in your more advanced brain developmentThis course is called, The LearnablesThe Learnables"International Linguistics Corporation, founded in 1976, develops and markets premier foreign language teaching programs for children and adults The language materials reflect the most modern developments in language research and are thoroughly tested at different educational sites before being placed on the market The language programs are recommended by educators and individuals, and have been used successfully by schools, home educators, and individuals in business and public affairs since 1976 All books are developed so that they may be used for self study and for classroom instruction"What is Unique"International Linguistics Corporation produces an extensive set of materials to acquire the foreign language, especially in Spanish, French, German, and English It is not a beginning program that teaches a limited number of phrases It is a full course of study When purchasing language programs, we recommend that you examine the product to determine whether it is a beginning program or a full course of studyInternational Linguistics uses a large number of illustrations to enable the learner to think directly from picture to foreign language Some language programs mix English and foreign words in the same sentence, preventing thinking in the foreign language Translation decreases the ability to think in the foreign language, whereas the use of pictures increases the ability to think in the foreign languageInternational Linguistics employs native speakers of foreign languages so that you hear only authentic pronunciation Some programs may not use native speakers It is recommended that you inquire whether all the speakers are native speakers before you purchase a language program"The "Period of Silence"This course is designed at address the "period of silence" I mentioned previously It is, in my view, uses the same natural process we used to learn our first language"Individuals can acquire a foreign language as easily as children develop their first language by following some relatively simple procedures THE LEARNABLES® is a picture system of instruction that requires no translation from English Students look at hundreds of pictures and listen to tape recordings of words and simple sentences by native speakers Language comprehension takes place without difficulty Students think directly in the foreign language"I went through all the levels of their Spanish course It was easy, fun, interesting, and quite amazed me that I was able to retain Spanish vocabulary without the need for rote memorization I once had a situation where I was trying to remember a Spanish word but could not I visualized the little cartoon drawing with the action I was trying to recall and the word came to meThis works This meets the need for the "period of silence"—that period of intense listening to the target language words and grammatical structure You do no speaking You are not ready for speaking All you need to do is listen and follow the course directions to the letterI cannot emphasize enough the need for this intense period of just listening to the language The Learnables gives you a directed and guided tour of the fundamentals of the language You will absorb the vocabulary and grammar without even knowing it This course will get you ready to start speakingCompleting this course of Spanish study will get one foot in the stirrup of the saddle of that Horse of spoken fluency Once you finish the five-course sequence of the Learnables Spanish I believe you will be ready to start the "speaking stage" of your Spanish learning For this I direct you to the Pimsleur Spanish productsPimsleur Spanish"Dr Pimsleur devoted his life to language teaching and was one of the world"s leading experts in applied linguistics After obtaining his PhD in French from Columbia University, he taught French Phonetics and Phonemics, and supervised the language laboratory at UCLA He went on to become Professor of Romance Languages and Language Education, and Director of The Listening Center at Ohio State University; Professor of Education and Romance Languages at the State University of New York at Albany; and a Fulbright lecturer at the University of HeidelbergDr Pimsleur was a member of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), American Educational Research Association (AERA), Modern Language Association (MLA), and a founding member of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) His many books and articles revolutionized theories of language learning and teachingAfter years of experience and research, Dr Pimsleur developed a new method that is based on two key principles: the Principle of Anticipation and a scientific principle of memory that he called Graduated Interval Recall This program incorporates both of these principles to provide you with the most simple and effective learning method possible"Principle of Anticipation"The Principle of Anticipation requires you to "anticipate" a correct answer Practically, what this means is that you must retrieve the answer from your own memory before it is confirmed in the lesson It works as follows:The lesson will pose a challenge -- perhaps by asking you, in the new language:"Are you going to the movies today? "There will be a pause, and, drawing on information given previously, you will say:"No, I went yesterday"The instructor will then confirm your answer: "No, I went yesterday"Before Dr Pimsleur created his teaching method, language courses were based instead on the principle of repetition Teachers drummed words into the students" minds over and over, as if the mind were a record whose grooves wore deeper with repetition However, neurophysiologists tell us that, on the contrary, simple and unchallenging repetition has a hypnotic, even dulling effect on the learning process Eventually, the words being repeated will lose their meaning Dr Pimsleur discovered that learning accelerates when there is an "input/output" system of interaction, in which students receive information and then are asked to retrieve and use it"Graduated Interval Recall"Graduated Interval Recall is a complex name for a very simple theory about memory No aspect of learning a foreign language is more important than memory, yet before Dr Pimsleur"s work, no one had explored more effective ways for building language memoryIn his research, Dr Pimsleur discovered how long students remembered new information and at what intervals they needed to be reminded of it If reminded too soon or too late, they failed to retain the information This discovery enabled him to create a schedule of exactly when and how the information should be reintroducedSuppose you learn a new word You tell yourself to remember it, but after five minutes you can"t recall it If you"d been reminded of it after five seconds, you probably would have remembered it for maybe a minute -- then you would have needed another reminder Each time you are reminded, you remember the word longer than you did the time before The intervals between reminders become longer and longer, until you eventually remember the word without being reminded at allThis program is designed to remind you of new information at the exact intervals where maximum retention takes place Each time your memory begins to fade, you will be asked to recall the word Through this powerful method, you progress from short-term to long-term memory without being aware of it, while avoiding the monotonous rote repetition used in traditional language courses"Core Vocabulary"The Principle of Anticipation and Graduated Interval Recall are the foundation of the Pimsleur Method, but there are other unique components that are also important One is the theory of a core vocabulary We have all been intimidated, when approaching a new language, by the sheer number of new words we must learn But extensive research has shown that we actually need a comparatively limited number of words to be able to communicate effectively in any languageLanguage can be divided into two distinct categories: grammatical structures (function words) and concrete vocabulary (content words) By focusing on function words and enabling the student to comprehend and employ the structure of a new language, Dr Pimsleur found that language learners were able to more readily put new knowledge to use There are very few content words that are used every day The essential core of a language involves function words, which tend to relate to human activities"Organic Learning"The Pimsleur Method centers around teaching, in the shortest time possible, functional mastery in understanding and speaking a language You will be working on your vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation all at once, while also learning phrases that have practical use in daily life It has been said that language is primarily speech With this concept in mind, Dr Pimsleur created his language programs on audio because he knew that students of languages would learn better with their ears, not their eyes This is achieved through what Dr Pimsleur called "organic learning”, which entails learning on several fronts at once His system enables the student to learn grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation in a natural and exciting wayThis course is designed to teach you to understand and to speak the essential elements of your new language in a relatively short time During each half-hour lesson, you will actually converse with two people, using the type of language spoken by educated citizens in their everyday business and social life The program"s unique method for presenting dialogue relieves you of most common learning problems"Just the other day I got a reader e-mailing me asking me what I would suggest he use in the United States to keep his hard-earned fluency level at a high pitch I suggested, without hesitation, the Pimsleur’s courses that sit on my shelf I still use them and I live in Mexico They are like having your own personal tutor with whom you will be talking all through the 30-minute lessonsThe course is the perfect follow-up to the Learnables Once you go through the Learnables you will be ready for the Pimsleur Spanish products—the speaking component of your new language acquisitionIf I were Bill Gates rich, I would buy the Learnables and Pimsleur products and pass them out like candy That is how sold I am on these products I"ve used them They work What more can I do to convince you to begin your Spanish training course of study with these products Use The Learnables first to achieve that educative "period of silence" and then The Pimsleur Spanish products to begin your speaking component of your instruction

Student Loan Consolidation July 1 Interest Rate Hike Nears

The federal student loan consolidation program is heading down a path leading to interest rate increases On July 1, 2006 interest rates are expected to increase and fixed rates no longer will be availableWith the changes set to occur in approximately two months it is important for college students to consolidate prior to the July 1 deadline Following that date, the lives of student borrowers throughout the country easily could take a turn for the worse.
With all the expected negative changes, students could find it impossible to consolidate their loans after July 1 By taking action now, student borrowers will save a lot of money in interest – money that could be used for more important things in their livesInstead of paying for rent and the necessities of life after graduation, borrowers who do not consolidate their student loans could find themselves with extremely high monthly student loan payments, not to mention thousands more in interest than is necessaryStudent Loan Consolidation Can Save ThousandsHowever, by consolidating student loans before July 1, borrowers can lock in a lower, much more reasonable rate, which, over time, will save thousands.
The lower monthly payment also will enable student borrowers to breathe easier knowing they have extra cash to put toward other everyday needsWith current student loan consolidation borrowers who still are in school can receive a 4.
75 percent interest rate that will be in effect for the life of the loan if the process is complete before July 1 A 275 percent interest rate now is available to eligible borrowers This low rate includes applied benefits that typically feature the use of Auto Debit and incentives for making 36 consecutive on-time paymentsStudent Loan Consolidation Makes Life EasierWhen college students graduate they oftentimes are left with numerous student loan bills of differing amounts all with high interest rates After adding everything up, most students find they have exorbitant monthly student loan bills With the high price of college, the interest rates on loans make things worse, especially for borrowers who do not consolidate their student loans Those borrowers should take into consideration that they can consolidate student loans while in school or after they graduateThe last thing students need after graduation is a pile of student loan bills to pay Following graduation students have to find a job and a place to live Along with rent and other everyday expenses, numerous student loan bills with high interest rates will make things worse Student loan consolidation will bundle together all of a student’s loans into one easy payment, which makes life simpler In effect, it also will save thousands over the yearsNextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible Learn more about Student Loans at http://wwwnextstudentcom/

Unsecured Loans - Credit Solution For All

It is a known fact that for people who are capable of pledging collateral, secured loans are the best option But, offering security against the loan amount is neither always required nor always possible, ie, when the monetary requirement is small or urgent respectively.
Hence, unsecured loans can be a better alternative for homeowners and property owners, depending on the practicality of getting into property related legalities and risking the property for a small amount In addition, as every person living in the UK is not a homeowner or a property owner, these loans are the only option for people who are:Living in a rented house – tenants Living with their parents – studentsIt’s no collateral attribute in turn leads to less paperwork, quick service and no immediate risks in the event of repeated defaults or non-repayment of the loan amount.
But, in the absence of security, the lenders has to imposes certain restrictions like limited amount, high interest rates, fixed payback option, and preset loan terms and conditionsBased on usage, some of the most saleable unsecured loan products are bad credit loans, business loans, car loans, career development loans, cosmetic surgery loans, debt consolidation loans, education loans, holiday loans, home improvement loans, homeowner loans and wedding loans The basic approval criteria to avail any of the above-mentioned unsecured loan product remains the same – UK residency, above 18 years of age, credit history, employment status and debt to income ratio (DTI = Income/Debts).
However, the APR (Annual Percentage Rate) varies according to the type and amount of loan required, desired payback option and period, past and current credit record and value of the pledged collateral Please note: Inability or unwillingness to pledge collateral is the basic criteria for opting for unsecured loans However, loan seekers must also give importance to APR and other loan benefits

Students Discover Your Niche By Using Career Assessment

Annmarie Edwards is a certified International Job & Career Development Coach. She works with individuals and businesses on career development. She is the author of 50 Ways to Maximize Your Potential and 50 Proven Strategies to Maximize Your Job Search. She has a BSC degree in education and also a MA degree. Presently she is a doctoral student at the University of Phoenix. For more information check out her website at http://www.ariaresearchgroup.com

In our ever changing world where job competition is rampant it can be difficult to understand one’s strengths and what one wants to do in lifeIf you feel uncertain about your career path you’re not alone Most college and high school students are unsure what path to take in their future or even what is their chosen career niche Unfortunately, this uncertainty comes through in job interviews This is a chance you can’t afford to take in today’s competitive marketWith career assessment you not only learn your niche, but you reap the rewards! Consider these distinct advantages that come from knowing your niche• Save time and money • Optimize your skills • Target the right jobsDid you know that college students often do not know where they are going? Amidst pressure from family members they embark on career paths that might be unsuitable for their skills Some college students waste the first two years of college without a career pathInstead of taking charge of their life, they go with the flow, and waste time and money on courses they will never use Some students try to play catch-up and overload their course work This could be hazardous to their health When students are overburdened, they are more likely to drop out of collegeCareer assessment reduces the risk and pressure for students by showing them their individual niches When students know their niche, it’s easy to choose a career path that’s compatible with their strengthsThis type of vocational testing is also well suited for high school seniors, who are also at a critical time in their livesHow many high school seniors know what their skills are before entering the workforce or enrolling in college? A simple, standardized test does not provide all the details, which make up an individual student’s skills These tests might show a glimpse of what a student knows in math, reading, language and arts, but they do not explore the true skills or potential for each individualA vocational and career assessment for high school students opens the doors to college by giving them a roadmap and guidance on how to move forward in their chosen careers This will indeed save time and money while giving them the ammunition they need to go forward in lifeWhen you have a good plan in place and take charge of your destiny it’s an excellent way to get started on the right track This plan should include a career assessment to identify the specific skills of each individual and explain how these skills can be used most effectively

What"s the Musical Stoplight Called?

Sometimes piano students shy away from learning “music facts” because they see them as rules they have to follow Teaching music facts in a way that is interesting to kids offers creative perspective to children in piano lessons This is important so they don’t fall into the trap of slavery to “music rules” to be “good students,” without learning to play creatively; or, so they don’t go to the other extreme and ignore learning musical facts altogetherThe musical symbol called a fermata, for example, means to pause.
It’s kind of like stopping at a traffic light In print it looks like a bird’s eye, but this analogy doesn’t really help students in piano know what to do when they see one Young students will remember that this musical symbol reminds them of a bird’s eye, but they don’t remember what to do.
Fermata is the Italian word for “Stop” When the fermata is placed over a note it means to pause or stop on that note, and then resume the normal tempoIf you think of the fermata as a musical stoplight, imagine you are traveling along in the music at a moderate to lively speed when you suddenly come to a note with a “stop light” over it that is red.
What do you do? Don’t park your care and get out! Don’t run the red light! Just wait at the intersection with the car running until the light turns green, and then resume your musical journey at your previous moderate to lively tempo The idea of a fermata is to create anticipation in the music, or a feeling that the melody is coming again, but you have to be a little patient and wait for it This creative technique adds interest to the music that kind of teases the listener’s ear.
Now it’s true that as a parent who may find red stoplights more that just a little annoying, this explanation might sound disingenuous But I guarantee it’s a creative idea that will work for your piano student.
And who knows, when your piano student becomes a driver they may view stoplights as just fermatas there to make their journey more interesting! You’ll be making the world a better place