Apple of one’s eye

Apple of one’s eye

The talented singer became the apple of the nation’s eye after winning the popular singing competition.

‘Apple of one’s eye’ means to cherish or highly value someone or something above all others. The phrase originates from the literal meaning of the phrase ‘apple of the eye,’ which refers to the pupil of the eye, considered a delicate and vital part of one’s visual perception. Therefore, calling someone or something the ‘apple of one’s eye’ suggests that they are held in the highest regard, similar to how the eye values and protects its pupil.

Sample Sentences

My little sister is the apple of my eye. I love her more than anyone else in the world.

The cute puppy became the apple of our eyes the moment we brought him home.

The teacher’s pet is clearly the apple of the teacher’s eye. She always praises him and gives him special attention.

Like a bull in a china shop

When I’m in a hurry, I tend to move like a bull in a china shop and accidentally bump into things.

‘Like a bull in a china shop’ means to act clumsily or recklessly, often causing damage or chaos. The phrase draws imagery from the notion of a bull, a large and powerful animal, entering a delicate and fragile place like a china shop, where delicate objects are easily broken.

Sample Sentences

Be careful with those delicate figurines. Don’t handle them like a bull in a china shop!

Watch your step in the antique store. It’s easy to feel like a bull in a china shop with all those fragile items around.

Jack was excited to help in the kitchen, but his lack of cooking experience made him feel like a bull in a china shop, knocking over ingredients and utensils.

Pros and Cons of Learning English Online

Although it is spoken in more countries than any other language, English is known for being one of the toughest to master. English can be learned in a variety of settings, and one effective method is to enroll in an online English language course. This concept of self-directed, at-home language learning is not uncommon. Students have the flexibility to study whenever it is convenient for them, thanks to online setups made to be on-the-go. There are pros and cons to everything, but if you want to get the most out of your education, you need to know what they are. The following are some key considerations:

Pros

The strengths of online education are the reasons why more and more people are turning to it. Here are some of the benefits of studying online:

  1. You can study at any place you desire.

Anybody, regardless of where they reside or what time of day lessons are held, may sign up for an online course and study for as long as they choose from the convenience of their own home. There are no geographical restrictions preventing you from registering for a course at an English class offered virtually. With the advent of online education, students no longer need to be physically present in a classroom to participate. Many low-performing schools have seen an uptick in enrollment as a result of the new system, which also reduces administrative burdens associated with maintaining a consistent schedule.

  1. You can learn on your own schedule.

Online English courses provide you with the flexibility to study whenever it works best for you, unlike classroom-based education. Online courses provide students greater leeway in determining their own pace of study. This is a terrific chance to focus on the aspects of the language with which you are struggling. Time spent commuting is reduced, and, depending on the subject, you may arrange your class schedule independently.

  1. You can use and share resources easily.

The ability to quickly and easily disseminate newly acquired knowledge is a major benefit of online education. Softcopy materials given by online classrooms are both low-cost and low-maintenance. You can now easily send relevant documents and files to anyone through email or social media.

  1. You can save on unnecessary costs.

Enrollment fees, material fees, and assessment fees are just a few examples of the hidden expenditures that often accompany traditional classroom courses. Transportation costs to and from school are also a consideration. With online education, you can maximize your learning at your own pace, saving money that may be used toward boosting your productivity.

  1. Online learning caters to a wider range of learners and accommodates different approaches to education.

Individuals who are more comfortable studying alone in their own time at home might benefit from online education. It’s available anywhere in the world and may be modified to accommodate different learning methods.

It is possible to personalize an online course so that it meets the requirements of each student. Students may be categorized as either visual or auditory, as social or solitary, or as someone who learns best in a group or on their own. Because of the variety of tools and materials available, online education can accommodate a wide variety of learning preferences. As a result, it fosters an optimal educational setting that targets the widest possible demographic.

Cons

Although the benefits of online education far outweigh its flaws, it does have a few drawbacks. The following are some of the cons of studying online:

1. You can’t interact face-to-face with your teacher/classmates.

Learning relies heavily on the give-and-take between instructor and learner. And since it incorporates all four skills—writing, speaking, listening, and reading—the face-to-face technique is very effective. The majority of students seem to be more engaged in and get more quick feedback from a traditional classroom setting than they do from their online courses.

2. If you have low motivation and poor study habits in online settings, you might lag behind.

The absence of a physical classroom may be advantageous for self-motivated pupils, but it can also be a trap for those who are less self-directed. Because there is no set meeting time and no frequent, direct engagement with professors and classmates, you are less likely to stay on top of your work and be motivated to complete it. Students who don’t have the self-discipline to complete their work on time or study enough before tests may end up failing because they didn’t make the effort to communicate with their teachers by email or phone.

3. It can either be time-saving or time-consuming.

It’s more efficient than going to a traditional classroom since you can take your lessons from the comfort of your own home or another convenient place. But, due to poor time management and a lack of self-discipline, the process is prolonged. Without a routine, it’s easy to let things like distractions, multitasking, and not having a set place to study get in the way. 

Also, most online classes don’t have strict deadlines. When this happens, students stop attending lessons whenever they choose in the hopes of starting again at a more convenient moment. Doing this regularly will lengthen and complicate the learning process.

4. Online language immersion is not as effective as in-person learning.

Language immersion is a practical strategy that may help students in a variety of classrooms. The immersive mode is also often hidden from view while using remote guiding. Online courses and traditional classroom settings provide more personal learning experiences than  smartphone apps or desktop software. Most apps are great for memorizing words, but they aren’t helpful for learning how to use the vocabulary and grammar you’ve learned in a natural context. You won’t learn how to construct sentences in the most intuitive manner from them. To do so, you must engage in conversation, mingle, integrate, and debate with native speakers.

The takeaway…

While there are certain drawbacks to online education, the great majority of students are pleased with their experience and glad they opted for it over a more conventional classroom setting. E-learning is now altering the worldwide dissemination of training and information due to its primary benefits of convenience and affordability. 

Many prestigious educational institutions are increasingly incorporating cutting-edge technological tools into their course offerings and methods of training and development. The new technology also provides access to pedagogical tools that were previously unavailable. 

The Internet has unquestionably altered the landscape of how people acquire new skills and knowledge. Who among our learners today and tomorrow’s workforce will be prepared to take advantage of these newest possibilities?

Author:

Kate N. Sarador

Poly Languages Institute

Famous Quote: If you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love…

If you are looking for a job you love, where you are committed and challenged, you need to look beyond compensation. If you do what you love, you put the action above; But if you love what you do, love prevails. The reason that this phrase has become contagious is that there is a way on how to do it. Finding a job that you like not only enriches you but also increases the chances that the result of your performance will be of higher quality. It is what happens with enthusiasm and the best enhancer of your worth.

Love what you do

There are people with shitty jobs, who smile all day. There are also people with their dream jobs, impressive salaries, who maintain a constant long face and sigh all day. These are neither ironic nor strange. Life is a state of mind – that’s the most important thing. Forty percent of employees are not committed to their work according to a study. With this, you have to do a self-assessment to know if you are within that percentage. In contrast, there is also a large number of employees who are engaged and who love their job.

The number one reason that a person loves his job is the co-workers themselves or the people he works with. The second most crucial factor that makes a person loves his work comes under the banner of freedom. Most people speak of freedom, autonomy, and flexibility as critical components for job satisfaction. They want the freedom to create, improvise, and be entrepreneurs. Others said that they love being free to experiment and fail, and still support their actions. 

Some also list camaraderie as the third most important factor in loving their work. The camaraderie has a significant impact on having a positive work environment. People love their work since it is a constant challenge. On the other hand, many leave their jobs because they become a routine, something mundane that does not represent challenges. With this, employees stay engaged when leaders who are good at delegating, provide opportunities and challenges.

Putting customers first

Markets have become very competitive. Companies today copy products more quickly and at a lower cost. Given this scenario, the best way to achieve a competitive advantage is to create relationships with customers through excellent quality of service and or product, which exceeds their expectations and generates a positive emotional state, that they feel part of the brand and become your communication channel to other customers.

Remember that positively surprising the customer is a strategy of guaranteed success, generating memories, and good comments. With this, wonderful attributes should last so that they do not lose strength over time. Any company that achieves customer satisfaction will get as benefits: Customer loyalty, which translates into future sales. 

In conclusion, love what you do. Focus on the company’s goal of customer satisfaction. When the goals and objectives are done with love, success is guaranteed.

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction

Famous Quote: Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction

Most people make decisions about the actions they will take at the moment they arise, without much planning on their part. With this, they don’t realize that they are losing something essential in their lives, something that cannot be recovered, and they are wasting their time and efforts. Your goals serve as your guide as to what purpose you are headed to. It will lead you in the right direction.

Your goal is what you want to achieve, while purpose is the reason behind achieving your goal. Think about it in another way, living without having a dream, without having clear goals, is like sailing aimlessly. Some are clear about where they want to go, and others get carried away by the tides.

The importance of having a purpose

The importance of having a purpose lies in the fact that it will allow you to organize yourselves better to know how to work or act, what things or results to look for. When you know where you are going, you can set goals that fit and align with your long-term goals. Hence, this assures that you are on the right path.

Your purpose inspires your actions. They stimulate you, and they encourage you, they move you to do. They push you to climb steps and the bar of your effort. Having a clear purpose allows you to reorient yourself if you get lost or don’t know what to do. It makes all your effort be directed towards a particular goal. In short, they give meaning to your effort and bring results.

Successful people know what their goals are and perform the daily actions necessary to achieve those purposes. Time is limited and is the same for everyone. And since time is limited, perhaps you should ask yourself what you can do to make the most of it. 

It is also essential to note that people have a purpose in their lives, which is the engine that leads them to face challenges and difficulties to achieve that purpose. Every day, you have opportunities to make the necessary changes that allow you to improve your quality of life. So what are you waiting for to take control of your life? Why don’t you spend a few minutes now deciding what you want to do with your life? 

John F. Kennedy: A charismatic leader with courage and purpose

John F. Kennedy is one of the most remembered American politicians who served as the 35th president of the United States. He is known as a leader with a sense of purpose and a risk-taker. He also neither complained nor stopped moving for any trials he had encountered in his life that made him known to have the ability to inspire people to act.