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English is the number one language of the world. As far as my knowledge is concerned I am too week in English language. My spoken English and English writing both are not up to the mark. The reason behind this was my primary education, which I mainly got in an environment where English knowing persons were too less.

Our mother tongue was Hindi and we did not get the English knowledge till standard seven. So when we got the knowledge about the importance of English language, it became too late to become a master in English language. Although I later studied English in my higher studies and now I can even comfortably talk to some people in English only. I am well aware that my English is poor, that’s why I never try to write some thing big in English.

When I came to professional life then I came to know the other importance of knowing English. I think most of the people are having the same problem. In India, I think I met with lots of people who are facing the same type of problem. Here are a few tips for those candidates who are going to learn English from some one:

#1 Tip: Don’t ever go to learn English from a guy who does not hold any master degree in English language. Also check out if the mother tongue of your tutor is English or not.

#2 Tips: You should check the overall approach of the course material before joining the course. Be aware from the frauds which we generally face daily.

#3 Tips: Check the emphasis of the course which you are going to join on Grammar and Vocabulary. These are the basic backbone of the English Language and you need to become a master in these to become a master in English Language.

It is not so hard to become a good in English language; only thing which is required is the approach in the right direction. There are so many courses available in web industry too which allows you to master the English language in a very short time.

Want to learn English Language properly, then check this Successful On-line Course To Learn English in a Fast And Easy way from Emanuels School Of English.

Tags: Benefits of English, Distance Learning, English, English Knowledge, English Language, Grammar, Learning English, Master in Egnlish, Vocabulary

If you’re new here, and interested in the latest news and insights on news from India and world, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting I News India.

This time of the year you can generally see anxiety and stress on the faces of all B-School aspirants because they are continuously preparing themselves for the biggest challenge of their lives. “Cracking CAT”. Those 2.5 hours decide the future of thousands of hopefuls. Strategizing, mock CAT’s, time management: these are all mandatory and have their own importance when it comes to making the CAT attempt meaningful.  After all success is just one correct answer away!

The first and foremost thing to do is set up a schedule for yourself. CAT preparation involves a lot of discipline because it’s all about concentration and reflex. You will have to be mentally prepared to sacrifice your weekend fun and long sleeping hours to practice the mock tests. These mock tests are very important and should be taken very seriously because they help you gauge your caliber very accurately. You get a clear picture of where you stand, what are your strengths and weaknesses and which areas you need to concentrate more on. At the end of every mock test all candidates are given a thorough solution list. Answering more and more mock tests is not the right approach. What is important is to analyze the solutions and use them when you spot a problem of similar nature sometime later on. The next crucial factor is time management. There is hardly enough time to read the question and think about its solution in CAT. You need to be very quick and sharp to crack the code.

You cannot afford to be slow from the very beginning. The momentum has to be build right from the very question itself. Another useful strategy is to know your strengths clearly. There are different sections in CAT. You might be good in some and might need extra time for others. Try to tackle the sections you are good at in the beginning. This will not only boost your confidence but will help you manage your remaining time more judiciously.

Always remember, every person is not a born genius and CAT is not only for those who are blessed with extraordinary intellect. With strict perseverance and discipline, you can also make your dreams come true.

Tags: CAT, CAT Exam, Cat Exam Guide, Cat Exam Help, Management, Mock CAT, Tips, Tips CAT Exam, Tips for CAT Exam

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If sportsmen had made India proud by winning gold medals in Olympics this time, Indian writers are not far behind in bringing laurels to our nation. The latest star of Indian soil is Aravind Adiga. This 33-year-old Chennai-born Mumbaikar has won the Man Booker Prize for his debut novel, The White Tiger. Adiga is the fifth Booker winner of Indian ethnicity and the second youngest winner in the award’s 40-year history. He is also the third winner for a debut novel, the first debut novelist to win the Booker Prize being Arundhati Roy.

Booker Award

In an interview about his novel Adiga gave some insight about the book by saying, “The book is funny and provocative, and I guess that is what has clicked. Humour makes a stronger point. I tried to tell a very real story about India on the brink of unrest. I tried to challenge the assumptions that many in middle-class India hold about the poor: that they are stupid, easily manipulated, excessively religious and bound by caste and family.”

“India is dealing with great duality today. There are men with big bellies and men with small bellies’. It’s a metaphor to capture the duality (feast or famine) of human existence in India today. The world needed to see the other side of India.”

Adiga is a journalist-turned-writer and had worked with Time magazine. While working for this magazine he got the opportunity to travel throughout India, especially UP and Bihar. This brought him in closer contact with the rural life in India and gave him a glimpse of the problems poor people are facing in most of rural India. In his book he has tried to capture the sentiments of the colossal underclass and has also attacked the rotten political system that is stopping half of this country from achieving its potential.

I’m personally enthralled at Aravind Adiga’s achievement and wish him all the best for his future endeavors.

Tags: Adiga, Aravind Adiga, Arundhati Roy, Book, Booker Award, Chennai, India, Mumbai, Novel, Political System, The White Tiger, Time Magazine

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I’m indebted to my mother to have inculcated a great habit like reading in me. I still remember how she used to just gift books for the special occasions like birthdays and Diwali. Slowly her perseverance of this trend became a passion for me.  This habit grew stronger as I grew up. I started working and the mounting pressure of work kept me away from reading for long spans of time. But whenever I got some pockets of idleness in between projects, reading always came to my rescue. It never let me be unoccupied. Besides just keeping me engrossed, reading helped me improve my vocabulary and general awareness about the world, introduced me to the different cultures around the globe, kept the motor of my brain working and imbibed a certain level of discipline in my life.

Want to learn English Language properly, then check this Successful On-line Course To Learn English in a Fast And Easy way from Emanuels School Of English.

Reading is one of the best hobbies a person can have. But it’s saddening to know that majority of us aren’t introduced to the fabulous world of books. If you are one of the non-book readers who feels you “don’t need no stinking books”, here are some reasons to start the habit…before you are left behind!

1. Reading is an active mental process: Unlike sitting in front of the idiot box (TV), reading makes you use your brain. While reading you would be forced to reason out many things which are unfamiliar to you. In this process you would use the grey cells of your brain to think and become smarter.
2. Reading improves your vocabulary: Remember in elementary school when you learned how to infer the meaning of one word by reading the context of the other words in the sentence? You get the same benefit from book reading. While reading books, especially challenging ones, you will find yourself exposed to many new words you wouldn’t be otherwise.
3. Gives you a glimpse into other cultures and places of the world: How would you know about the life of people in Mexico if you don’t read about it? Reading gives you an insight into the diversity of ethnicity of people, their customs, their lifestyles etc. You become more aware about the different places and the code of conduct in those places.
4. Improves concentration and focus: It requires you to focus on what you are reading for long periods. Unlike magazines, Internet posts or e-Mails that might contain small chunks of information, books tell the whole story. Since you must concentrate in order to read, like a muscle, you will get better at concentration.
5. Builds self-esteem: The more you read, the more knowledgeable you become. With more knowledge comes more confidence. More confidence builds self-esteem. So it’s a chain reaction. Since you are so well read, people look to you for answers. Your feelings about yourself can only get better.
6. Improves memory: Many studies show if you don’t use your memory, you lose it. Crossword puzzles are an example of a word game that staves off Alzheimer’s. Reading, although not a game, helps you stretch your memory muscles in a similar way. Reading requires remembering details, facts and figures and in literature, plot lines, themes and characters.
7. Improves your discipline: Making time to read is something we all know we should do, but who schedules book reading time every day? Very few… That’s why adding book reading to your daily schedule and sticking to it, improves discipline.
8. Improves creativity: Reading about diversity of life and exposing yourself to new ideas and more information helps to develop the creative side of the brain as it imbibes innovation into your thinking process.
9. You always have something to talk about: Have you ever found yourself in an embarrassing situation where you didn’t have anything to talk about? Did you hate yourself for making a fool of yourself? Do you want a remedy for this? It’s simple. Start reading. Reading widens your horizon of information. You’ll always have something to talk about. You can discuss various plots in the novels you read, you can discuss the stuff you are learning in the business books you are reading as well. The possibilities of sharing become endless.
10. Reduces boredom: One of the rules I have is if I am feeling bored, I will pick up a book and start reading. What I’ve found by sticking to this is that I become interested in the book’s subject and stop being bored. I mean, if you’re bored anyway, you might as well be reading a good book, right?

If you want to break the monotony of a lazy, uncreative and boring life, go and grab an interesting book. Turn the pages to explore a new world filled with information and ingenuity.

Tags: Benefits of Reading, Birthdays, Books, Boredom, Concentration, Creativity, Cultures, Discipline, Diwali, Hobbies, Lazy, Memory, Mental Process, Pressure of Work, Reading, Self Esteem, Special Occasions, Talk, Uncreative, Vocabulary, Work Pressure

When I graduated from my engineering college, I had a strong desire to pursue further studies like a management degree. But immediately after my college got over, I got a job offer from a leading IT company. I was in a dilemma since both the paths were alluring. I discussed my situation with some friends and they suggested that I should do a distance learning course from a renowned institution.

According to them, this would not hinder my job prospects and at the same time allow me to fulfill my aspiration of MBA. The idea was very appealing and I applied to Symbiosis school of management. Unfortunately, I could not complete my course and had to drop out of it mid-way. The mounting pressure of a new job (that too of a software engineer) and the heaps of weekly assignments was taking toll both on my performance at work and my health. So personally distance learning didn’t prove fruitful for me. But this does not mean that it is not a good option for working people. As every coin has two sides, even distance learning has its pros and cons.

Advantages:

It does not require commuting: You can save on a lot of time, money and energy by cutting down on travel.  The time saved can be judiciously used for personal and professional life.

You can work at your own convenience: Since all the classes are asynchronous, you have the liberty to review your assignments or do your homework during off-hours or at home.

You have the freedom of living anywhere you like: All you might require is an internet connection or a computer, and you can do your correspondence course from anywhere in the world.  This provides a lot of flexibility to professionals, especially if they have a travelling job.

It’s a self paced learning: Not everyone is born a genius. Some of us might take longer to grasp some concepts as compared to others. In case of distance learning you have the advantage of learning and understanding at your own pace. This reduces unnecessary stress and increases satisfaction.

It’s easily accessible to all: Online classes address physical accessibility issues that some people with limited mobility encounter when taking traditional classes. You don’t have to worry about gaining access to a classroom or sitting on uncomfortable desks. Instead, you can use your comfortable furniture in your home while enjoying free movement and a chance to further your education.

Disadvantages:

You have to juggle between job and studies: Distance learning is only fruitful if you can manage both your job and studies with equal sincerity. You have to put in a lot of efforts at both fronts. If you falter at ant one front, it is bound to have negative repercussions.

It does not offer immediate feedback: In a traditional classroom setting, your performance can be immediately assessed through questions and informal testing. With distance learning, you have to wait for feedback until the instructor has reviewed their work and responded to it.

It may not be acknowledged by all employers: Till now, all leading companies show preference for candidates who have done a regular course. The job prospects might not be as bright with a correspondence course as otherwise. You might even have to compromise on the pay-package in some situations.

It doesn’t help in building oral communication skills: You do not get the opportunity to interact with teachers and other students on a personal basis. This inhibits the building of verbal skills which is an essential trait when you go for interviews.

It leads to social isolation: Most often you’ll be studying alone. Distance learners may feel isolated or miss that social physical interaction that comes with attending a traditional classroom. However this impersonality has been lessening with advances and use of communication technologies such as bulletin boards, threaded discussions, chats, email and conferencing.

Tags: Advantages of Distance Learning, Correspondance Course, Disadvantages of Distance Learning, Distance Education, Distance Learning, Education, Literature, People, Society

Taslima Nasrin the controversial Bangladeshi writer came back to India on Friday after spending more than four months in Sweden. She arrived at the Indira Gandhi  International airport in the morning and was immediately taken to an undisclosed destination by security officers.

The future plans of Taslima, who shot to fame with her controversial book “Lajja”, were not immediately known.  She has been requesting for permanent residentship in the country, but the government has not taken any decision on the issue. As par information her visa is valid till August 12.

Taslima was kept in safe house in the capital city Delhi before leaving for Sweden on March 18. During that period, Taslima had not been allowed to see any visitors during the period. She had described her confinement as living in “a chamber of death”.

The 45-year-old doctor turned writer, who has been a target of Islamic fundamentalists, was bundled out from west Bengal in November, 2007.

Tags: bangladeshi writer, confinement, Lajja, Sweden, taslima, taslima nasrin, West Bengal, Writer

Admissions for the current session 2008-09 have started in the renowned Delhi University with its first cut off list out today. The cut-off marks have moved up by almost one per cent for most popular courses.

The Delhi University is also implementing quota for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from this year.

A list of the cut off marks declared by some of the popular courses in few colleges is as follows:

B.Com (Hons) course

SRCC: 94.5-98%

Venkateswara: 94.5-95.0%

Economics (Hons) course

SRCC: 92.75-95.75%

Hindu: 94-96%

History( Hons) course

Kirori Mal: 81-87%

Ramjas: 74-84%

English (Hons) course

Venkateswara: 84-92%

Ramjas: 85-90%

Tags: Admission DU 2008, Delhi, Delhi University, Delhi University Admission Procedure, DU Admission 2008

A survey showed that for the children who change schools frequently or even once or twice, it is a hell lot of a problem related to adjustments, proving their worth and finding the right kind of company.

A lot of children have to face changing of their schools due to transfer of their parents to different cities, or due to the popularity of a better branded school. Students spending a majority of their time in these early stages in school, this education temple becomes a second home for them. A sudden change of this second home sometimes brings petrified situations for the students.

A certain friend of mine had a few shifts of school and each time he’d be in a new school he would face tons of problems. Being a little introvert and simple, he would take time to mingle with people and choosing the right kind of mates, but by the time he would satisfy his needs of a companion of his type and would start to bond, he’d have to change the town due to his father’s job type. Similar situation was experienced by Radha, 14 years of age who had shifted from a small village to a metropolitan city such that even before reaching her destination, the very thought of leaving back her friends and the teachers she had been attached to was horrifying. Plus, the fear of adjusting in a bigger city with broader minded people brought her morale real down. Adding to all this, she got to know that the new school she had to enter to followed the CBSE board opposite to the ICSE board her prior school followed. Things are not always easy when a child has to completely shift to new surroundings.

There is a mental stress of proving again his abilities and capabilities after overcoming the fear of getting lost in the new crowd of achievers. The sensitive minds of youngsters are mis-balanced with such dilemmas.

To help them, the parents must prepare their kids well in advance about their shifting and keep reminding them that the surroundings or the people don’t affect one’s capabilities and it is very important to become outgoing and a little more friendly to solve their problem of making friends. They must be made to realize the positive parts of it as one of them being a chance to know a variety of people.

Tags: CBSE, Children, ICSE, School, Schools, Tragedy

It’s very good news to the Indian students and Indian nation too that the very well known and renowned Oxford University of London has rated the Indian students among the best in the world.

Oxford has presently 257 Indian students on roll, one-third the numbers of students from China. Still the Indians have won more scholarships than the Chinese. Last year, according to an Oxford journal they had won 54 different scholarships, including the prestigious ‘Rhodes Scholarship’.

The university Chancellor Chris Patten has said that they would like more of them joining its campus.

“We want more Indian students because we want the best in the world to come to Oxford,” Patten said. Most of the Indian students are in the said business school.

“About a quarter of the students are doing MBAs… But I would like to see more in social sciences and humanities, doing both under-graduate and post-graduate work,” he said.

The number of Indians is less in the university as compared to Chinese. But still they are the best.

“They (Indians) probably got more than China,” the Chancellor said. He said the number of scholarships may go up as the university improves its financial position.

“I hope as we develop our endowments we will be able to offer many more (scholarships) to post-graduate students in the next few years,” Patten said.

The university has developed a master’s program in South Asian studies. For a one-year MBA program, it could cost as much as Rs 40 lakh, including the cost of tuition fee, boarding and lodging and the out-of-pocket expenses.

Students are also satisfied in the university. They are gaining the profit of their studies in Oxford.

“It is a different world out here…We are gaining immensely,” said Karandeep Singh Vohra, pursuing MBA at the said business school.

This is really a proud feature for the Indians. Oxford is the famed university which produced the likes of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Tags: China, Indian, Oxford, Student, Students

In the latest release of the mark list of the candidates qualifying in the prestigious IIT-Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) in 2007 by IIT-Bombay under the Right of Information Act (RTI Act), displayed a shocking scenario where even a candidate scoring as low as 7% in the mathematics paper got a decent rank to book his place at one of the most respectable and highly reputed institutions of India.

The disclosure detailed that there were 7,202 general category candidates who qualified the joint entrance examination in 2007 with an average cut off of 206 marks, the total being (162×3) 486 and the individual lowest subject marks of the selected candidates went as low as 12(math), 22(physics) and 18(chemistry).

It was revealed that the candidate scoring 12 marks in mathematics over a total of 162 and an aggregate of 239 over 486 had a rank of 3,989 in the AIR list which can easily and most comfortably fetch him a seat in IIT Kharagpur or IIT Kanpur.

Another candidate who scored 24 marks in mathematics and 245 in the aggregate managed a 3399 AIR good enough to hold the prestigious tag of an IITian.

The amendments in the test process introduced in 2007 have surely brought negative effects over the reputation f this transparent and tough admission system. It is being talked that it might lower the standards of the institute and have brought the authorities into serious thoughts of reviewing the criterion of admission.

Although, it is being believed that the relaxation in the subject wise cut-offs is not being seen as a downfall in the quality of intake by the IIT Bombay authorities but it has been announced that the board would review the system.

N Venkatramani of IIT Bombay, vice-chairman JEE 2007 assured a close review of the new system and a certain refinement in it wherever the pot holes seem to be. Moreover he reminded of the majority of the selected candidature to be the best brains of the country and promising to solve the problems of the cut offs for the next year.

With this we hope that the authorities take up the issue seriously and keep up the repute of this institution.

Tags: Engineering, IIT, IIT JEE, IIT-Bombay, JEE, Literature, RTI Act