An Expats 5 Favorite Books About Expat Life

An Expats 5 Favorite Books About Expat Life As an American living in Hong Kong, I am interested in stories about the expat experience. Of course, “the expat experience” isn’t singular, but there are things that are universal about the sense of displacement and otherness that comes with living abroad. These are five of my favorite books about expat life.   But First, What Is An Expat? I admit, the lines between expat and immigrant can be murky at best. There are a lot of social and political nuances to the terminology, many of them problematic. For my purposes, I am simply defining an expat as someone who chooses to live in another country for a period of time without the intention of becoming a citizen or fully assimilating into local culture. An immigrant, on the other hand, is a person who relocates to another country with the intention of building a permanent life there. 5 Books About Expat Life 1. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris If you have read David Sedaris at all, you will be familiar with his dry, acerbic wit and hilarious way of stating the bizarre as though it were ordinary. This humorous essay collection partially focuses on Sedaris’s relocation from New York to Paris and his travails and triumphs trying to acclimate to a society in which he will forever be scorned. His attempts to speak the language are especially funny. “On my fifth trip to France I limited myself to the words and phrases that people actually use. From the dog owners I learned Lie down, Shut up, and Who shit on this carpet? The couple across the road taught me to ask questions correctly, and the grocer taught me to count. Things began to come together, and I went from speaking like an evil baby to speaking like a hillbilly. Is thems the thoughts of cows? Id ask the butcher, pointing to the calves brains displayed in the front window. I want me some lamb chop with handles on em.” 2. The Caliph’s House: A Year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah Shah is a Afghani British travel writer who strives   to dive deep into other lands and cultures to share experiences and insights that are off the beaten path.   After years in the London suburbs, Shah becomes obsessed with moving to Morocco to raise his children in the land of his childhood vacations.   The Caliph’s House is his account of investing all of his family’s money into an abandoned palace that once housed the Caliph of Casablanca. Shah shares the setbacks and pitfalls he experiences while trying to create a home there. They   wade through endless roadblocks from the government, the customs office, the neighbors, and worst of all the jinns (powerful and fickle spirits who seem less than happy to have foreigners moving into their home). Navigating these situations turns out to include bribes and haggling as well as goat sacrifices and exorcisms.   It is a story about letting go of an idealized version of life to accept that a much more complicated reality can still be beautiful.     3. The Very Worst Missionary: A Memoir or Whatever    by Jamie Wright This is not your traditional expat narrative. Jamie Wright and her husband are your typical white suburban family. With pure intentions, but no real clue, they move to Costa Rica on a four-year commitment   to become missionaries. During their time there, Wright begins to realize the many ways that the white western savior complex can do more harm than good. She grapples with what it means to live out your beliefs when you’re not sure you agree with the traditional structures anymore. And there’s the occasional gecko-up-the-pants incident to keep the mood light. Wrights humor, irreverence, and ability to tell it like it is gives this one a place among books about expat life.   4. The Expatriates  by Janice Y.K. Lee Janice Y. K. Lee is a Hong Kong native who grew up in the unique international environment of Hong Kong. This novel really hits home for me because it is about three American women living in Hong Kong. Mercy is a young Korean American college graduate adrift in the world, trying to find her place in it.   Hilary and her husband have been trying to have children for the past ten years, but it just isn’t happening. As her marriage begins to fall apart, Hilary is more determined than ever to become a mother. Meanwhile, Margaret is a wife and mother who followed her husband when he was relocated to Hong Kong for work. With an amazing package from his company that includes housing, a car and driver, and a live-in maid and cook, Margaret’s life seems like a dream. Then a devastating tragedy strikes, leaving Margaret questioning everything.   Although each woman represents a different kind of expat, their lives end up brushing against one another in significant ways. 5. Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen If you are interested in books about expat life, chances are high that you have heard of this one or possibly seen the movie (with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford). Dinesen (the pen name for Karen Blixen) was a Danish baroness who moved to Kenya with her Swedish husband to run a coffee plantation in the early 1900s.   Her account of their life in Kenya gives Dinesen’s perspective on the way the land, the animals, and the native people, and the white colonizers lived together. This is a classic expat narrative that tells about an important part of colonial history as well as making some astute observations about society, race, and coexistence.

The, The Inner World Of The Outcast - 1707 Words

Essay 1: Fantastical Realities in the works of Tim Burton â€Å"I get so tired of people saying, ‘Oh, you only make fantasy films and this and that’, I’m like ‘Well no, fantasy is reality’, that’s what Lewis Carroll showed in his work,† spoke animator, writer, producer, and director Tim Burton in regards to the themes of depression, isolation, and fear within his collection of work. Influenced by Gothic fiction and the art and film movements of Expressionism, Surrealism, and Noir, Burton crafts the inner world of the outcast and explores the ideas of Jungian and Freudian psychoanalysis in his films, particularly in Vincent (1982), Beetlejuice (1988), and Edward Scissorhands (1990). This paper will explore Burton’s aesthetics of chiaroscuro lighting, color symbolism, and composition to recreate the realism of human emotions through the eyes of a misunderstood character’s solitude in a highly fantastical world. Burton breaks conventions of narrative Hollywood cinema and focuses less on the script, but largely on the psyche of the character and the visual outer world that portrays their inner anxieties. Although, Burton’s films are directly influenced by the work of Fritz Lang, F.W. Murnau, Robert Wiene, and Salvador Dali, he creates his own auteur style by mapping out the psychological journey of his characters through symbolic hand-drawn concept and costume designs that mirrors his own struggles of displacement throughout his life. In Tim Burton’s 1982 debut children’s horrorShow MoreRelatedEssay about Escaping Isolation1069 Words   |  5 PagesMany people experience what it is like to be isolated at some point in their lives. But when does one feel like an outcast? Being isolated can change one’s entire outlook on life. Alienation can be described as â€Å"a powerful feeling of isolation and loneliness† (Alienation 1). Different people react differently to alienati on and some express it by becoming â€Å"withdrawn and lethargic [and] others may react with hostility and violence† (Alienation 1). Many suffer from alienation for a variety of causesRead MoreRole of Identity in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essays1046 Words   |  5 PagesIn past and present, society has always put an emphasis on external appearance as opposed to inner personality. As a result, social classes are formed, such as upper and lower, wherein members of each class must uphold the norms defined by the prestige of the class. Upper classes are deemed to be perfect, as they contain the wealthy and the beautiful. This class distinction is heightened in Gothic literature where emotions and the persona of the characters are externalized. Emotions are literalizedRead More The Inaccessible Inner Life of Wakefield Essay849 Words   |  4 PagesThe Inaccessible Inner Life of â€Å"Wakefield† â€Å"All these—all the meanness and agony without end I sitting looking out upon, See, hear, and am silent.† –Walt Whitman We are presented with a piece of gossip of a man named Wakefield who leaves his wife for twenty years to live in a house the next street over. If this story were workshopped in a present-day fiction writing class, it would be argued that this story has interesting elements but is not, as a whole, an interesting story--Read MoreEssay on Role of Identity in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein1010 Words   |  5 Pages In past and present, society has always put an emphasis on external appearance as opposed to inner personality. As a result, social classes are formed, such as upper and lower, wherein members of each class must uphold the norms defined by the prestige of the class. Upper classes are deemed to be perfect, as they contain the wealthy and the beautiful. This class distinction is heightened in Gothic literature where emotions and the persona of the characters are externalized. Emotions are literalizedRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1656 Words   |  7 Pagescompelling word h eroic. Over the course of the novel, The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, I’ve come to discover that these adjectives do not fairly denote who a hero truly is. Can you ever consider an outcast a hero?... living within the norms and ideas of society that may reject his/her own philosophy, an outcast that may just be eagerly fighting, both physically and mentally to convey what others cannot see. It’s time we realized that a hero can be derive from distinctive ideas or norms build within societyRead MoreWhat is a Cult? Essay1225 Words   |  5 PagesA cult is a good place for social outcasts to express their ideas freely, to feel safe, and to be enlightened for the future. A cult is a good thing to be involved in especially if you are a delinquent or criminal. Most people that join cults have a desire to belong, a lack of self-confidence, a desire for spiritual meaning, or to quit their addictions. A cult is a religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted r eligion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme. TheRead MoreEssay on Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights - A Great Romantic Novel835 Words   |  4 Pagesirrational (Damrosch, 1317). Other common elements of the writing during this period were the returned interest of gothic romance elements, a fascination of exploring the inner world of the mind and the unconscious into its dark side, an interest in emotional adventures in exotic and remote times and places, an interest in the outcast people in society (outlaws, rebels, nonconformists, exiles, etc.), and an interest in characters performing dangerous self-explorations that take them to hell, and notRead More The Tower Pig Essay1292 Words   |  6 Pagesaround a young man who suffers the hardships of imprisonment in an American correctional facility. The protagonist is throughout the tale addressed only by his surname, Caine. Caine expresses incomprehensible anger he feels for one of the wardens, an outcast despised by colleagues and inmates alike, and who is commonly known as â€Å"The Tower Pig† by all the prisoners at the facility. â€Å"Pain, joy, worry, are shielded away until the cell doors slam and we’re alone in our solitude. For ten days in the hole,Read More Descartes, Leibniz, And Spinoza Essay700 Words   |  3 Pageswith as furiously disparate and uncompromising ideals as one would find in a meeting of Andrew Weil, Jerry Falwell, and David Duke, I expect that the philosophers would find some surprisingly common ground. Descartes, the Christian outcast, Spinoza, the Jewish outcast, and Leibniz, the creative mathematician all acknowledge that what we know better than anything is the mind. Given this, we can deduce that any knowledge we acquire of our perceived bodies does not necessarily relate to some externalRead MoreThe Beauty Of Individuals : Sydney J. Harris1603 Words   |  7 PagesTillie, the laughingstock of the entire school, uses these seeds to create an ex periment for her science fair project. Despite the negative factors around her, Tillie is able to create a winning science fair project, and she is no longer her school’s outcast. Melinda and Tillie both feel isolated, and their isolation serves to teach them critical life lessons, while they remain hopeful and experience growth as individuals. Melinda lives in a household that does not validate her feelings. Furthermore

Sacrifice of Values to Please Authority in Shakespeares...

Sacrifice of Values to Please Authority in Shakespeares Hamlet It seems that it is human nature to want to please others, but compromising ones values in order to do so can result in people getting hurt emotionally or physically. In William Shakespeares Hamlet, the desire to please those in authority overweighs the judgment of many characters. These characters are more interested in pleasing those in power than doing what is in their best interest. This is seen in Polonious eager attempt to use Ophelia, in Rosencrantz and Guildensterns being coerced into spying on a good friend, and finally in Laertes all too easy manipulation by Claudius to take revenge on his fathers death. In all these instances, the characters put their†¦show more content†¦Polonious uses his daughter almost like one would use a horse, with his loosing of her and does so just to try and get on the good side of Claudius and Gertrude. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern also looked to the King and Queen for approval. They didnt resort to the use of a daughter, but on the use of a close friendship. They used their bond with Hamlet to get information that the Court wanted. Claudius and Gertrude were very convincing in telling Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of how Hamlet was suffering, telling them that [Their] visitation shall receive such thanks as fits a kings remembrance (P.34). At first Rosencrantz and Guildenstern werent too keen on selling out their friend. But instead of standing up to the King and Queen, Guildenstern told them that we both obey and here give ourselves to be commanded (P.34). They were more interested in doing what was right in the eyes of the Royal Court than doing what right in their eyes. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern werent just Hamlets friends; they were greeted by Hamlet as his excellent good friends (P.40). Hamlet viewed them in the same regard as he viewed Horatio, one who Hamlet stayed with an d loved all through the play. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern didnt seem to care, and used this trust and love by their friend to please Claudius and Gertrude. This neglect of heart by these two characters was not something that they wanted to do for themselves, but something that they didShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet, Prince Of Denmark953 Words   |  4 PagesIn William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Polonius is shown to be the bumbling counselor to King Claudius. He is considered a high class-citizen although he is below Hamlet and the king. When examined from a Marxist perspective, Polonius is often treated poorly by Hamlet because he is not in the same social rank as the prince; however, Polonius values his position as counselor highly and goes through great measures to assure that he keeps his job because it guarantees him a place in upperRead MoreSAT Top 30 Essay Evidence18536 Words   |  75 Pages.............................................. .................................... 25 Muhammad Ali (â€Å"The Greatest† boxer of all time) .................................................................................. 27 Fiction and Literature: Hamlet by William Shakespeare (â€Å"To be? Or not to be?†) ...................................................................... 29 Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (Witches, Wizards, and Muggles!) .......................................................... 31

Self-Awareness Through Dis-Closure, Feedback and Reflection. Free Essays

Throughout this assignment I shall discuss how I have developed my self-awareness through dis-closure, feedback and reflection. â€Å"Being self-aware enables us to identify our strengths and also those areas that can be developed† (R Ashmore D Banks 2000 p47), self-awareness is continually being developed through the reflection of our life experiences. Reflection of my life experiences has given me the opportunity to become more aware of my strengths and weaknesses through being honest and the use of disclosure firstly to myself and then to others. We will write a custom essay sample on Self-Awareness Through Dis-Closure, Feedback and Reflection. or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Gibbs Reflective Cycle 1998 is a useful model for reflecting on a life experience to gain further self-awareness through evaluation and analysis to finally having an action plan identifying what would be done differently in the future. The more knowledge we have about ourselves, the easier it becomes to relate to others† (R Ashmore D Banks 2000 p47), the self-concept (Murphy 1947, Argyle 1969, Burns 1980) enables us to learn more of our self through self-image, self-esteem and the self-ideal, by reflecting on each of these three parts in regard of myself I have determined that I see myself as being confident with a high self-esteem which I find makes me a friendly and approachable person however I have also realised that I have to listen more to receive feedback. When we try to see and feel the world from another person’s perspective, we are trying to be empathic. If we are successful, we will not just be able to understand the persons thoughts but also feel someth ing of what they feel† (G Firth, R Berry, C Irvine 2010 p148) within my past career path of working with people with learning disabilities with an inability to communicate it has enabled me to develop my empathy and consideration for others, which is not to be confused with sympathy but is more of a connection towards somebody else’s feelings. By developing my connection to other people’s feelings who are unable to communicate verbally it has enabled me to develop non verbal cues as described in Egan’s model 1998, such as adopting an open posture with a relaxed and unhurried appearance and the importance of eye contact, however within my new career role now working with people of which most can communicate verbally I need to stay aware that the use of non-verbal cues and the tone of the voice used is still of upmost importance. Self-disclosure, a process by which we let ourselves be known to others† (R Ashmore D Banks 2000 p48) the Johari window can be applied to increase self-awareness and focuses on the theory that being more self-aware is of great assistance in developing as an individual, within the framework of the Johari window the subject of self-disclosure is of great importance. The Johari window is composed of four parts, the open self, blind self, hidden self and the unknown self, through the use of disclosure, by sharing information from your hidden self to others the open self increases in size and in return for disclosing information feedback is received from others, giving insight into your blind self therefore increasing your self-awareness. Appropriate disclosure avoids the two extremes and means that it is fitting, suitable, the right amount at the right time† (Egan 1990 p45), it is important to ensure the correct amount of disclosure is made so that the relationship is not put at risk. Through disclosing too little information it does not allow for the reduction of uncertainty and also doesn’t allow for the build up of trust in a relationship, yet on the other hand if too much is disclosed to soon it may cause a feeling of pressure to recipertate. Self-disclosure between the nurse and patient occurs as part of the developing therapeuti c relationship, where both must determine jointly what, when, where and how if at all they will disclose themselves† (R Ashmore D Banks 2000 p 49) I have come to realise that no two relationships are the same and progress at different time scales depending on the individual and can also be determined by several variables such as age, status, gender or personality. Ultimately the use of disclosure in a therapeutic relationship is to gain trust and encourage reciprocity. Students may consciously chose to give little personal information to patients whom they perceive as ‘risky’ and likely to abuse the self-disclosure† (R Ashmore D Banks 2000 p55) within my current workplace it is policy not to disclose personal information to the people we provide care for which can hinder the progression of a therapeutic relationship, however as I am unable to disclose my hidden self in reflection this has made me more aware of that the use of non verbal communication and t he tone of my voice towards the people I provide support for helps to build trust, although on the other hand on reflection of feedback I have received it is apparent that if I have not communicated effectively due to personal issues it can affect the way others feel and reduce the trust within the relationship. â€Å"Conveniently others are constantly giving you the very feedback you need to increase self-awareness† (J A Devito 2004 p33) to receive and further develop from the feedback received we have to be active and effective listeners. Related article: Secondary Reflection Example Listening is a skill that can be thought of as effortless and undemanding however many people fail to listen to each other actively and are often either non or partial listening, whilst doing this we may pick up on partial bits of feedback but are not receiving the entirety. On refection the skill of listening is something I need to further develop as I can often find myself not actively listening to a person I am communicating with which is hindering the development of my self-awareness. In conclusion the growth of self-awareness is continually progressing over time and is never complete â€Å"becoming self-aware is an on going process that is never complete. Therefore, self-evaluation needs to be undertaken at regular intervals† (R Ashmore D Banks 2000 p 50), evaluation of ourselves through reflection and the feedback we receive from others is a task which should be completed frequently to enable us to recognise both our positive and negative areas and ultimately becoming more self-aware giving us the means to manage the demands of both work and personal lives. References Egan G 1990, You and Me-The skills of communicating and relating to others. Brooks/Cole, California Essential of Human Communication (Joseph A Deviot) Fifth Edition 2004 Patterns of self-disclosure among mental health nursing students, R Ashmore D Banks 2000, Nurse education today (2001) 21,48,57 Harcourt Understanding Intensive Interaction (G Firth, R Berry, C Irvine) 2010 Jessica Kingsley How to cite Self-Awareness Through Dis-Closure, Feedback and Reflection., Essay examples

The American Red Cross Case Study free essay sample

?1. Explain the possible problems in the ethical culture of the Red Cross that created the issues discussed in this case. One of the possible problems in the ethical culture of the Red Cross that creates issues is because it is a charitable organization, its leaders have assumed that all employees and volunteers will act ethically. Although this has been disproven many times recently, the Red Cross still has not taken all necessary steps to ensure that it is truly a socially – conscious and ethically – responsible organization. One of the other problems with the ARC’s ethical culture is the moral lack displayed by some of the organization’s leaders. An organization can only be as strong as the person who is leading it. How can you fault the volunteers for stealing ARC money when the organization’s leaders have been caught numerous times with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar? These leaders also benefited from a historical lack of transparency about how the ARC used its money. We will write a custom essay sample on The American Red Cross Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page While the lack of transparency may not have been a problem in previous generations, America’s moral fiber has been weakened. 2. Name some of the problems that the ARC has encountered with handling donation money. One of the main problems that the ARC has encountered with handling donation money has been overcoming inadequate technological infrastructure. Just as the ARC did not adapt well to other changing workplace trends, the organization failed to update its technological infrastructure until it was forced to do so. The technological infrastructure problems not only included the ARC’s inability to handle heavy website traffic after Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters, but it also includes a distinct and continuing lack of any real inventory system, cost controls etc. The other main problem that the ARC has encountered with handling donation money is how to allocate monies donated in response to a specific crisis. Several times the ARC has given an inadequate response when they were desperately needed because they do not have a real system to handle crisis – specific donations. Because of this, the ARC has come under fire for using monies given in response to a specific crisis in ways that do not benefit that crisis’ victims. Often donations will be held up after a natural disaster, or even worse improperly disbursed, because of the ARC’s lack of a clear strategic plan. 3. What are some of the reasons for the ARC’s ethical dilemmas, and how can the organization guarantee that these problems will not recur in the future. I feel the main reason for the ARC’s ethical dilemmas is its failure to adapt to changes evident in America’s moral fiber. Before, it was more acceptable for the ARC to trust its leaders and workers implicitly because of the difference in the times. Unfortunately now many Americans do not have the same moral standards or work ethic they did a few decades ago. Although there was corruption then too, it was nowhere near the levels that we see in America now. More than ever before, organizations – especially charitable organizations like ARC – need to spell out their ethical stance. Everyone who works for the ARC as an employee or volunteer needs to be trained on how to act ethically. Furthermore, the ARC needs to establish inventory controls, cash controls, checks and balances, and monitoring systems that will ensure that employee misconduct will no longer be a pervasive problem. 4. What effect does organizational structure and compensation have on ethical behavior among chief executives at ARC? I have always believed that chief executives’ salaries should be a true reflection of their work performance. America has too many chief executives who are merely highly – paid figureheads. Chief executives would perform more ethically automatically if they knew that their continued compensation was tied to them acting ethically. At the ARC and so many other organizations, we have seen CEOs leaving in disgrace with enormous severance packages. This practice has to stop. If I stole from, lied to, or endangered the welfare of my company, I know that I would not be rewarded for it. There has to be accountability from the top down in organizations like the ARC.

Hydroponics1 essays

Hydroponics1 essays Have you ever thought of growing plants without soil? A science known as hydroponics will allow you to do just this. Hydroponics systems have been used since the time of the ancient Babylonians who used them to used them to grow their famous hanging gardens. Today, all around the world, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants are grown using hydroponics. The word hydroponics was derived from the Greek words hydros, meaning water, and ponos, meaning labor, or literally, water working. Hydro-ponics is simply growing plants in a water and balanced fertilizer solution. It is rapidly becoming the most common way of growing speciality crops and crops that require special conditions to grow. Hydroponics is also known as Soilless/Controlled Environment Agriculture. This means that plants are grown without soil in greenhouse environments in which everything from the amount of nutrients applied to the temperature and humidity can be monitored closely. Greenhouses are ideal for hydroponics systems because they have their own climate. New types of greenhouses are designed to distribute light from the sun during the day to promote better plant growth and retain heat at night which saves on fuel. These greenhouses are quickly becoming choice places for growers to set up their hydroponics systems. These set-ups are increasing yields and decreasing plant loss which is more profitable for the grower. Speciality crops such as tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and hot peppers, which cannot be grown conventionally all year long, are being grown in hydroponically. These vegetables which were previously scarce in some seasons will be plentiful all year. Hydroponically grown vegetables can be harvested year round so even regions that have harsh winters, or short growing seasons can enjoy these special crops anytime. One fruit that is especially hard to find at certain times of th ...

What Is the ACT Kaplan ACT Low Cost Test Prep Program

What Is the ACT Kaplan ACT Low Cost Test Prep Program SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The ACT has just announced its first official partnership with a test prep company: Kaplan. This may be big news for students who are planning to take the ACT - in cooperation with Kaplan, ACT, Inc. will be providing a low-cost (or even free) test prep program calledACT ® Kaplan Online Prep Live. There isn’t a ton of information just yet about the quality of the new test prep platform - students won’t be able to access it for a while - but we do know what the program should include and what it should cost. Free streaming courses are airing live in advance of the program launch - you can read more about what these courses are like towards the end of the post. Read more to find out what this new test prep partnership will mean for you! The ACT/Kaplan Partnership The ACT and the SAT are in perpetual competition for student test-takers. Last year, the College Boardannounced a partnership with Khan Academy to provide free test prep - it’s no surprise that ACT, Inc.has followed suit with a similar move:formally partnering up with Kaplan to offeran online prep programat no cost to low-income students and a â€Å"significantly lower cost† than other prep programs for all other students. Although the partnership was just announced, the test prep program won’t be available until Fall 2016 (so it won’t be of much help to students who are taking the ACT this summer). The program is offering a few free classes before the official launch date, however - check out the ACT streaming events page, and keep reading for more info. Program Costs This test prep program will be free of charge for low-income students. To qualify, students need to register for the ACT with a fee waiver (read our complete guide to ACT fee waivers for more information). Access to the platform should come to less than $200 for students who don’t qualify for the fee waiver. What Will the Program Include? The price for this test prep program seems pretty reasonable, but more important than the price is what you’ll get for your money. First, the program includes access to live classes taught by Kaplan instructors. Students should be able to interact with these instructors through the course platform, although it’s unclear how much individual feedback each student will receive (it’s likely that many students will be watching each live class - there’s no way one instructor could respond, in real time, to questions from hundreds of students). Students will also have access to recorded classes if they’re unable to watch live - this affords some flexibility. These courses will be available on computers, tablets, and phones, so you can watch them on the go. The ACT/Kaplan haven’t publicized a list of class topics, but they currently have a few free courses on the calendar - I imagine that the new prep program’s courses will be similar in scope. Here’s the free course schedule: Understanding Your ACT Scores and What to Do Next (April 30, 2016 @2pm EDT) Introduction to Stem Concepts (May 11, 2016 @7pm EDT) Introduction to ELA Concepts (May 22, 2016 @2pm EDT) The program will also include access to a social platform including teachers and peers. This social media platform is supposed to facilitate a community for discussion, encouragement, and support. Whatthe Program Will Not Include Based on the program’s press release, there are a few key things not provided by this test prep program. First, as an online version of an ACT prep course, this prep program does not provide personalized or customized instruction to students (aside from any feedback provided via live course instruction). Instead, I predict that it will serve as an introduction to core concept areas, test strategies, and logistical concerns. Second, although instructors will use official ACT questions as examples when they teach thelive courses, it doesn’t seem that students will have access to any additional official practice materials. The ACT does release some official practice materials for free - these are available to everyone -but other official prep materials must be purchased. The Bottom Line What’s included with this program is definitely subject to change, but for now (at least based on the official press release), here’s what students seem to get for their money: Access to live (or on-demand, if you can’t watch live) courses on ACT content and logistics topics. Opportunities for interactions with teachers during live classes. Access to a social media platform with peers and instructors. No extra practice materials or personalized instruction. However, keep in mind that we have only very preliminary informationright now. A lot of details could change before the program's official release this fall. Online Prep Live: Free Streaming Events To get a taste for what the paid Online Prep program will be like, I watched the program's firstfree streaming class: Understanding Your ACT Scores and What to Do Next. It aired on Saturday, April 30. Course Overview This live, online course(presumably similar to what the actual Online Prep Live classes will be like) was easily accessible via this announcement page. This course addressed: What the info on your ACT score report means and how you can use it ACT College and Career Readiness Standards (both what they are and why they matter) ACT next steps, including deciding whether or not to retake the test and improving your scores Exploring future college and career options Pros I was impressed with howeasy it was to access this course, as well as how clearly the information was communicated. The instructor (Boris) was engaging and knowledgeable, which is a big plus. Although students weren't able to chat directly with the instructor, he noted at the beginning of the course that a "team of ACT experts" were online to answer student questions throughout the live session. Borisnoted particular student comments or questions throughout the live event, so he seemed generally plugged in to student concerns. In addressing student questions, the instructor referredto real-life data which helped back up his claims.He wanted to answer, for example, whether retaking the ACT would make students look bad to admissions officers. In responding, he pointed out that many students retake the test, and the majority of them (57%) end up with a higher score the second time around. Finally, I appreciated that anyone who's interested caneither watch the recorded event on-demand and access a full transcript of the course at any time. Cons First, this hour-long prep course was nowhere near an hour long. If you reference the event recording, you'll notice that the first and last sections are ads for the paid ACT Online Prep Live program, NOT course instruction footage. This meant that Boris was actually teaching for about 36 minutes in total. Second, the coursedidn't always providehelpful, concrete instructions or resources when addressing student concerns. In discussing some free tools that are available to help students raise scores, for example, Boris notes that you should take a list of your weak test skills to a guidance counselor for more help. Although it's greatto know where you should work to improve, students may have benefitedfrom references to helpful test prep materials. Next, the instructor spent some time encouraging viewers to participate in the chat platformwith prompts like "tell me if you empathize with these struggles!" Some viewers may really appreciate how this approach fosters a sense of community among viewers, but I felt it wasted time that could have been spent reviewing other material. These free streaming courses won't be helpful for everyone (especially students who already know the ins and outs of the test), but I encourage you to check out the transcript or recordingbefore deciding whether they're right for you. How the ACT/Kaplan Partnership Will Affect Student Test Prep Since this is the first time the ACT has officially partnered with any test prep company, the new online prepprogram is bound to make waves. It hasn’t officially launched, so no one can be completely sure of the program’s strengths and weaknesses. Based on what the program offers (and what it doesn’t), however, I can speculate as to the program’s benefits and drawbacks. The important stuff:what does this program have to do with how you study for the ACT? Here’s how I think students may benefit (or not) from this new partnership: Potential Advantages The ACT Kaplan Online Prep Live program is a step in the right direction when it comes to providing reasonably-priced and flexible prep to busy students. Here are the program's biggest perks: Official ACT Material Whenever you're studying for any sort of standardized test, it's best to get your hands on official test prep material. ACT questions are written in a very specific style and format (something that's difficult for unofficial test prep sources to emulate).In order to do well on the test, it's important to familiarize yourself with itsunique style. Test-makers are usually pretty careful with how much official material they release for practice. Since this Live Prep Program is endorsed by the ACT, you can be sure that instructors will only refer to official sample questions as they teach. Ease of Access Whenyou sign up for your standard ACT course, it means committing to attending classes at certain times and dates.If you're dealing with a packed schedule and/or limited transportation options, an in-person ACT course may not work for you. The ACT Live Prep program makes it easy to watch classes at times that are convenient for you - all you need is internet access. You can choose to watch classes live or on-demand, which is helpful if you're working around other commitments. Even the best ACT course won't help you if you can't find the time to attend - an online program should make things a lot easier for the average student. Price Point One of the major barriers to accessing quality ACT prep is the cost. Kaplan is one of the biggest names in test prep - before this partnership announcement, the company's least expensive ACT course was priced at $299, whereas its more intensive courses start at $749. This is simply out of reach for many students and their families. This Live Prep program is reasonably priced when compared to many other test prep programs (especially if students qualify for ACT fee waivers, in which case they can sign up for free). A lower price point means greater access to ACT prep, which is always a good thing. Social Media Support When they sign up for the Live Prep course, students also gain accessto a social media platform with other peers and instructors. Some students may study just fine independently, but others may find it helpful to interact with peers in an effort to maintain good study practices. Potential Drawbacks Like I mentioned earlier, it's difficult to say for certain what we can expect from theACT Kaplan Online Prep Live program. Based on the itsdescription, however, there are some important weaknesses in the prep program's approach. No Extra Practice Material Like I noted earlier, there's no mention of extra material provided to students for independent study. If you want to practice any content or strategy that was discussed in a particular class, you'll likely have to find your own practice questions or tests. No Customization This is a weakness that you'll find with any test prep course. Instructors are there to teach an entire class, not individual students - as such, you may find certain lessons less helpful than others (for example, a lesson that goes over content you're already very familiar with).Conversely, there won't be opportunities for you to get extra help with concepts youstruggle with. To study most effectively and most efficiently, you'll want to spend the most time on things that are difficult for you. Because every student is different, every student's ideal study plan will be different. This is something that the ACT Kaplan Online Prep Live program can't accommodate. Most group classes take a "one size fits all" approach out of necessity. Limited Interaction With Instructors The program description states that students will be able to ask questions of instructors during live classes. Although this is an interesting idea, I don't see how it would work in practice -each live course will likely have hundreds of students (or even more) watching at one time. There's no way that an instructor could personally respond to questions from so many students. I expect that select questions (e.g. questions that would apply to the greatest number of students) will be answered during live questions. Hearing teachers respond to others' inquiries may be helpful, but I wouldn't go into a class expecting to have my own personal questions answered. Reliance on Social Media Support You may be wondering why I have this in the "potential drawbacks" section. A big problem that I have with the social media support platform is that the prep program is preemptivelydirecting students therefor answers to test-related questions. This is problematic because most of the people on this platform aren't going to be ACT instructors - they're going to be other students. Although it's possible to get reliable help from savvy students, it's also possible to get very misguided (and simply incorrect) advice. The social media platform is likely to be an awesome resources for thosewho are looking for a test prep community,but students who turn to it for test prep help should take advice with a grain of salt. Overview Versus In-Depth Course Material The Live Prep course has yet to release the full rangeof topics that they'll cover with their classes. They may very well introduce classes that address higher-level content and strategy concerns, but based on their list of free streaming classes, I doubt that will be the case.Students who are already familiar with ACT logistics, strategy, and content won't benefit from classes that primarily address the basics. Should You Use the New Prep Plan? Now that you have all the available information on theACT Kaplan Online Prep Live program, you might be wondering if you should sign up. I can't tell you whether you should definitely buy the program, but I think some students would benefit from it more than others. Consider Signing Up If ... You qualify for an ACT fee waiver.If you qualify for a waiver, the program is free. There's no harm in signing up, even if you don't end up finding it that helpful. You don't know much about the ACT and you would benefit from an overview course.Based on the free streaming events the program is offering in advance of its actual launch, it looks like the courses will address important introductory concepts (e.g. "Understanding Your ACT Scores and What to Do Next"). If the ACT basics are new to you, this program may be a good fit. It's difficult for you to committo any in-person ACT prep programs. This ACT/Kaplan program makes it easy for students to watch courses anywhere, anytime. If you require more flexibility from an ACT prep program, you might want to check this one out. Consider Passing on the Course If ... You're a relatively high-scorer and need in-depth ACT review. If this is the case, I doubt the course will teach you anything you don't already know. Spend your time more effectively by perfecting your scores. You're planning on taking the ACT this summer, fall, or early winter. The program doesn't launch until Fall 2016, so if you're taking the ACT before then (or soon thereafter), you won't have enough time to benefit from the online courses. You have the resources (and motivation) to participate in a program that provides customized feedback. You'll be able to prep more effectively if you can get real feedback on your strengths and weaknesses. Courses like this one are a good place to start, but if you want more guidance and support, I'd encourage you to look into other options. What's Next? Want more information on other ACT prep options? Read about whether online prep (and online tutoring) is right for you, and learn more about the differences between in-person and online ACT courses. Maybe you've considered getting an ACT tutor, but you also want the flexibility of online prep. Learn more about the difference between online and in-person tutoring. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.