Here is an overview for those who want to teach overseas.

There are many myths circulating about teaching English overseas, one of which is the ‘you don’t need to be qualified to teach overseas, all you need to do is speak English!’ myth. This was indeed true in the past but now that the market is flooded by suitably qualified people it isn’t easy to find work without qualifications. Before you sign up to teach English overseas you need to ask yourself the following pertinent questions:

1. What are you looking for?

Think about what interests you about teaching and your options based on your experience. Make contact with others working in this field such as teachers, former graduates, and colleagues you can meet online. A good resource for this step is Dave’s ESL Cafe Job Discussion Forums.

If you want to teach English overseas, you need find out if there is a market for the skills you are going to acquire in your preferred geographical location. You may have to be prepared to go where work is available. Of course this could lead to work in a preferred location so don’t discount this option.

2. Are you mentally prepared to teach English overseas?

You may not be ready for what you find in another country in terms of culture and lifestyle and become disillusioned. Your employer bears some of the responsibility for preparing you to teach English overseas but you still need to prepare yourself for what to expect. If you have a clear professional aim in mind you will be able to go the extra mile in adapting to life in a foreign country.

You need to be prepared to expect the unexpected and be prepared for resistance to for example, changing established teaching methods.

Prospective teachers should make efforts to learn about cultural anomalies and in so doing aid their own transition into a foreign environment, for example learning the local language and keeping up-to-date with the current events in a country.

3. How can I better prepare myself to teach English overseas?

Plan for your teaching future during the first year of your program by:

• Researching the profession – Get an idea of the opportunities that are available and know what qualifications are required for specific jobs.

If you want to teach English overseas, get involved by volunteering or attending conferences. Becoming known in important circles is helpful, so become involved in a local TESOL society or organization. You may consider giving a presentation on a skills area. This will help others to see your skills and abilities and you can add the presentation to your resume later.

• Find out what jobs are available where you want to go.

Qualifications

To teach English overseas you are required to do the Teach English as a Foreign Language course commonly known as the TFL exam. Before enrolling consult the EFLWeb’s article entitle: ‘What to expect from a TFL course? The site will also provide information on which course to take.

Jobs are available in several overseas countries including:

* South Korea
* Taiwan
* Thailand
* Japan
* Poland

Preparing Your Resume If you want to teach English overseas you would do well to remember that you aren’t the only one who does! There are many people just like you looking for an employment opportunity and in some cases the applications far exceed available opportunities. So how do you stand out?

Preparing a good resume is one of the best tools for creating a good impression. Make sure your resume contains:

* Up-to-date biographical information

* A brief motivation for why you are a good candidate to teach English overseas.

* Details of your education and teaching qualifications

* Summaries of your relevant teaching or English teaching experience

* A list of contactable referees to vouch for your skills, abilities and desirability as an employee

* A list of travel documents you have, such as a foreign passport that will make your travel arrangements easier.

* A list of any prior travel, particularly to the area in which you are applying – this indicates that you already know the country and that your transition into the culture and lifestyle will be easier.

* The names and contact details of any employers overseas who can vouch for you as a good candidate to teach English overseas.

If you do decide to teach English overseas be prepared for a culture shock, at least initially. Make it easier on yourself by following the above suggestions and preparing yourself mentally for the demands of living and working in a foreign country. It can be immensely rewarding to teach English overseas if your attitude is positive and disciplined. Don’t forget to have some fun too! Good luck!

The first tentative step on your journey to become a comedian is to study the great comedians that have come before you. You can do this by renting videos of stand-up routines done by the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. Study how they go about their routines and why they are funny. Learn about timing and notice how every comic has a different persona. Being unique is the ultimate goal that could ensure you getting laughs.

Your next step to become a comedian is to sit down and actually write your own routine. Write everyday about what you think and then put a comedic spin into it. Go with what interests you and what interests other people. Celebrity impersonations, musical gags, and the use of props are just some of the things that you could do in your routine. Take note of having setups as transitions from one joke to another.

The third step to becoming a comedian is to train for the stage. Taking improv (improvisational) acting classes and public speaking classes can help make you a better performer. Part of being a comedian is your confidence on stage. Memorize your routine and run it with a test audience. (Hey! Thats what families are for!) Make changes to your routine based on the reactions that you get. Also, be prepared for those that would heckle you during your routine. To become a comedian is to have a thick skin and taking everything with a grain of salt.

To become a comedian, you need to start somewhere. Start out by joining open mic nights whereever you can to see how you are received. The practice you get from performing for different audiences can represent your growth as a comedian. Once you’ve mastered the open mics, you can now head to the comedy clubs.

But to become a comedian that would be rated, at the very least, good, you need to avoid some amateur mistakes like thinking you can do better than the others before you, thinking you can be famous easily, talking badly about other comedians, blaming the audience for having a less than successful show or reacting badly to hecklers.

Remember that to become a comedian is no easy task. Persistence is key. It’s a hard road as it does not necessarily bring in big money. But if you have the qualities for the job, you should know how to have fun along the way.

John F. Kennedy started the Peace Corps in 1951 with the aim of providing assistance to countries in need. If you join the Peace Corps you will be sent to a foreign country and serve its government in a variety of ways – mostly providing some sort of service capacity or other. You might get involved in teaching or providing aid to children who are ill or do urban clean-ups – jobs that many of us wouldn’t regard as particularly glamorous.

You will generally live, work and absorb in its entirety the culture and lifestyle of another country for a total of two years and during that time receive many long-term benefits on a professional and cultural level as well as giving something of yourself to those who are not as fortunate as most Americans.

Volunteers who join the Peace Corps range in age from 18 to 65 and almost anybody can become involved. In fact, there are about seven thousand volunteers in 78 countries around the globe most of whom work in health and educational services or business and environmental fields. Once you join, you will have to spend a three month period in training that takes place in the country you have been sent to.

Getting Started in Joining the Peace Corps

Before you sign on the dotted line, remember that if you do join the Peace Corps you are saying ‘yes’ to two years of living and working in another country – you can’t come back before that time and it’s not a holiday by any stretch of the imagination.

Don’t make a decision until you have done some research and really understand what you are signing up for and what the goals and ethics of the Peace Corps are all about. To find out more you could start by visiting the Peace Corps Web Site. Here you will find all the official information you need as well as getting the gist of what to expect.

Another way to find out more is to get it straight from the horses’ mouth – so talk to others who have been volunteers for the Peace Corps but keep an open mind. There are bound to be some horror stories mixed in with some great tales. Don’t let another person’s personal impressions get you off track of making up your own mind.

What are the Benefits to You in Joining the Peace Crops?

Even though everything you do and see will probably not be perfect or even pleasant – these are nations in need of aid after all – you will have the great satisfaction of actually helping other human beings to improve their lives. For some people this really is enough reward. You’ll also make new friends, become more mature and learn a new culture.

There are also several more practical benefits such as getting your student or other loans deferred, getting help with a resume that looks good and job networking perks. If you join the Peace Corps to get some on-the-job training your experience could really help in getting a good job back in the U.S.

Universities and colleges really do view those with Peace Corps experience favorably and sometimes even offer scholarships or fellowships to ex-Peace Corps members.

As far as money goes you will get a monthly living allowance that (while modest) will help with the basics and maybe some travel. When you leave you will get over $6,000 to help streamline your transition back into America.

How to Apply to Join the Peace Corps

There are four steps in the process of Joining the Peace Corps:

1) Complete an application

Remember there will be some red-tape involved in the application process to join the Peace Corps but this is just to make sure that the right people are chosen for the job. If you have any questions pick up the phone and talk to somebody and try to be patient.

When you fill out the (rather lengthy) application form you will be asked to provide a ‘personal statement’. This involves answering some essay questions about your values and general knowledge of other countries. It is designed to gauge how well you deal with stress and your readiness to fit into another culture and way of life.

Next you will need to give the government three written references: one from an employer, one from a volunteer supervisor and one from a friend. A word of advice – round these up as fast as you can – the application process can take anywhere from three to six months!

2) The interview

Wow, you’ve made it through the application process and now it’s time for ‘the interview’. The Peace Corp office closest to you will ask you to meet with them within a month of getting your application. Depending on who you meet you may be grilled for answers or just have a chat. The best way to handle whatever may come your way is to just be relaxed and natural and as honest as possible.

The way you behave during your interview could determine where you are sent. They will also ask you where you would prefer to go but in the end, if you join the Peace Corps, you really will just be sent where you are needed – and that may not be your preferred choice.

3) A medical check-up

You do need to be physically fit if you join the Peace Corps and step number three involves a medical exam to make sure that you are in good health. If you are found to have any problems you will be asked to get well before you are allowed to go anywhere. This is just common sense. If you do have an illness like asthma for example, you won’t necessarily be rejected you may just be given a placement that has good medical facilities. So don’t worry too much.

4) Waiting to be placed

Now that steps one to three are completed you may be raring to go but you have to wait and this may be the toughest step of the entire process. The whole process can take three to six months, as we said and it’s made worse by the fact that you still have no idea where you are going.

Be patient and don’t have any expectations about your destination – even though you may have been told about openings in certain countries, by the time your name comes up these may no longer be open. Try not to be disappointed if your placement seems less than ideal – merely adapt and find out as much about it as you can – you may be pleasantly surprised!

If you think you, now, understand what the Peace Corps is about and still want to join then we think you should – after all if you can handle the application process you can handle a foreign country! If you do decide to join the Peace Corps go into it with your whole heart and mind and keep both of these open. Thousands join every day and swear it was one of the best experiences they have ever had.

If you think you have what it takes to make a success of this venture – join the Peace Corps and get involved. Oh, yes and at least see some of the sights while you’re at it. Enjoy!

If like me, you have ever dreamed of working in an exotic location and seeing the sights in your spare time then this one is for you. Let’s face it if you don’t mind some occasional hard work, getting a job in another country can be one of the best ways to travel. Being one of the ‘people’ you get an entirely unique and down-to-earth experience, one that is a little off the beaten track. If all this sounds just up your alley you may be wondering just how to begin your search for overseas jobs. It isn’t always easy to find jobs that provide a good all-round experience and the answer is to do research, research and more research! Yes, doing some in-depth, intensive researching is the best way to find those exotic and exciting overseas jobs and there are some good places to start.

By working your way around a country you can be sure of an experience that is a little more than the India, Africa, Far East or Europe that most travelers see, but an international job search can be tricky and more than a little confusing. How do you know that what is being advertised is really what you will find when you get there, what is the value of a countries money when you get back home and will you be safe there? These are just some of the questions potential travelers find themselves faced with when they try to find work overseas.

Here are some job search tips to make it a little easier for you:

1. Approach your job search like you would any other. Put in some effort and planning and see the process as a learning experience rather than a complex mission.

2. Read and research as much as you can about a countries history, culture, economics and people as you can. Learn about the local customs, pastimes, transportation and any crime problems. This will help you to avoid a horrible, even dangerous, mistake.

3. Remember that the overseas job market is very competitive and fairly saturated. You may get lucky and find a good position immediately but it is far more likely that you will need to be persistent and very focused on the job you want or you won’t get it. Don’t forget there are hundreds of other people vying for the same jobs. Don’t give up and you will be well rewarded.

Where to begin your Overseas Jobs search

You may want to start your search the old fashioned way by sending for brochures or magazines from the local tourism board, however, most have really great websites these days. They are a veritable treasure trove of information not only about job opportunities but also airline information, climate, culture, places of interest, rental cars and other modes of transport. This is probably the best way to begin a search for overseas jobs. Write to the tourism board administrators and ask for a list of companies who offer temporary or part-time employment or full time work if you will be able to work there permanently. This should give you a basis from which to start your search.

Many web sites have online groups or message boards where visitors to a particular country share news, views and good or bad experiences with each other including those about overseas jobs. This is a great way to network and get the inside story about the pros and cons of a particular country.

Once you have a country or job description in mind, try to answer the following questions to see how well you rate:

* Foreign language skills – Is the country well versed in English? While English IS an international language many small towns and cities don’t use it very often and rely on local dialects. If not, can you speak any of the languages most frequently spoken?

* Overseas Experience – Many people have a problem adjusting to life in another country. If you have lived and worked in other countries before and been away from home for fairly lengthy periods, it will stand you in good stead on your job application.

* Make sure your resume reflects the same information as your covering letter or e-mails or any job application forms. All documentation should contain the same information. In other words update your curriculum vitae!

* Determine where the company holds interviews. If a firm is canvassing for employees in a specific country it generally arranges interviews there too, but it is a good idea to make sure before you submit your application.

* Valid passports – Are you eligible for one to the country you want to work in? Overseas jobs often exclude certain groups from applying.

* Visas and work permits – Make sure you understand what these are and how they work. Different countries have different visa requirements and work permits may only cover certain types of work within the country.

* Salaries, taxes and the cost of living – Sure it may sound like a lot of money when you apply but if no accommodation is going to be arranged for you, you will have to find your own. Make sure you understand the real value of the money you will be earning with your overseas jobs.

* Health concerns – Will you need any vaccinations or blood tests to rule out certain diseases before entering the country? Is it a high-risk area for a specific disease and will you need to take any preventative medications? Many overseas jobs are in areas that could be hazardous to your health!

* Transportation – If you will be traveling on public transportation make sure you know exactly how reliable this is. Many countries offer cheap transportation but much of it can be unsafe and unreliable. There could be nothing worse than being stranded in a strange country!

Searching the web sites above and answering these few basic questions should help you to narrow down your selection down to at least a few good options.

Whichever country and job you do decide on make sure you feel comfortable with its lifestyle, culture and living conditions. You are not going to be happy if you get a horrible shock when you arrive and have to work there for a whole year!

The truth is some overseas jobs are fantastic experiences to learn and travel and others are a nightmare journey.

Take the time to research and discover all you can BEFORE signing on the dotted line and you will go a long way to finding the job of your dreams.

The best overseas jobs are the ones you write home about!

Happy Traveling!

A great option for moms, students or retired people mystery shopping flexible and easy to do.

You can become a mystery shopper with the minimum of fuss, few special skills are needed and you can be almost any age! What could be easier than going to the bank or to a restaurant with your kids or stopping at the supermarket to pick up a few items? You probably already do these things for no money at all!

So how can you get paid for doing what you do best? Follow this easy guide and see if you would like to become a mystery shopper too:

What Does a Mystery Shopper Do?

Mystery shoppers visit stores, restaurants, banks and many other businesses and secretly observe and evaluate the service provided by filling out questionnaires. Services you will rate include helpfulness, safety and cleanliness. Recently mystery shoppers have gone ‘virtual’ and there is now a growing demand for online mystery shoppers to evaluate e-commerce sites (so you never even have to leave home!).

How Can You Become a Mystery Shopper?

Get started by registering with a mystery shopping company. You will occasionally receive assignments with detailed instructions and a time-frame by which you need to complete your task.

For example, you might be asked to visit a clothing store and ask for assistance from a store clerk whose assistance you will evaluate afterwards or to visit a fast food restaurant and order a kid’s meal and time how long it takes to be served. You may get assigned to visit a bank and open a new account and measure the customer service you receive.

How Much Time Will being a Mystery Shopper Take?

Most assignments take about a half hour of ’shopping time’ and another half hour to fill out the questionnaire.

How Much Does Being a Mystery Shopper Pay?

You aren’t likely to become a millionaire by being a mystery shopper but it is a good option for students or mom’s as it can be done part-time and you can take the kids along.

You will earn between a range of about $5 for a supermarket or fast-food evaluation to $100 for a complex, time-consuming trip to the bank to open a new account or evaluating service standards at the airport ticket check-in counter.

Most mystery shopper jobs pay in the $20 to $40 range. You will also get the additional benefit of coupons for free dinners or movies. There are companies that don’t pay cash but offer coupons, free products or services or gift certificates.

What Skills are Needed?

A mystery shopper needs to be detail oriented and have a good memory since you will only be able to make notes afterwards. During the ’shopping trip’ you are required to act like any normal consumer and can’t bring any undue attention towards yourself. You will also need good record-keeping skills so you can keep track of the expenses you incur on your trips for example gas and mileage. You will need a driver’s license in most cases and if you ’shop’ online you will need to be conputer literate.

What Equipment is Required?

You will need a car to get to and from your assigned stores and a computer if you are going to be an online mystery shopper. It is preferable to have a fax machine or e-mail/fax service.

Start-Up Costs

You are responsible for the costs incurred for each mystery shopping assignment. This could be the price of a meal, tickets to a movie or groceries at the supermarket. You will bill the mystery shopping company for the expenses when you submit your evaluation form and they will reimburse you.

Mystery shoppers work as independent contractors so you can write off any non-reimbursable expenditure on your tax form.

How to Sign Up

Register your particulars with several mystery shopping companies. This helps to get as many jobs as possible on a regular basis.

You can become a mystery shopper today. It’s just so simple to sign up and start making money. The hours are flexible, you can take the kids along and you get some pretty decent perks too. Why not earn a little extra cash for those extras your family loves but can’t afford? Become a mystery shopper today and start earning those dollars!

Since the introduction of the internet companies have found it easy to find out what consumers want and this is where getting paid to take surveys comes in. Big companies outsource market research functions who then gather the information they require. These companies find out this information by asking you to tell them what you think. They will pay you to do so.

So how much can a getting paid to take surveys scheme earn you? This really depends on how much time you devote to the surveys. In general a survey will pay from $2 to $10. What you get paid usually depends on how long it takes to complete the survey. In some cases you are not offered payment but rather a chance to win money in a lucky draw.

Getting paid to take surveys will only be lucrative if you devote enough time to doing so. One survey usually takes about five minutes to complete so it is possible to do several in one day if you have time to spare. Longer surveys will generally pay a higher rate. Your program should state how long it is going to take so you can choose to do it or not.

Getting paid to take surveys suits anybody with some time and an internet connection. Remember the faster your connection the higher will be the hourly rate you can qualify for. You usually need to be eighteen or older to join. Some surveys are targeted i.e. at woman or people of a certain age, or people in a specific geographic location.

Where can you find paid surveys? Almost anywhere! The internet is littered with programs for getting paid to take surveys. Some sites allow you to take paid surveys for a nominal fee. Try ExpressPaidSurveys.com (membership fee of $34.95), SurveyScout.com (rated the number 1 best site) and PaidSurveysonline.com ($34.95 to join).

Getting paid to take surveys is one route to generating an income online but there are other related ways to make money online. Try Get Paid to Shop, Get Paid to Drive, Real Estate Investing or starting a small business from home. However, you do need to exercise caution.

Like everything in life it pays to make an informed decision. Don’t let the anonymity of the internet lure you into a false sense of security. You can get your fingers burned online, too! Before signing up for getting paid to take surveys make sure that the program offers a plan that suits your individual needs. If it doesn’t keep looking until you find one that does.

Today, over 1,500 professional organizations and universities in the United States recognize and accept IELTS scores as evidence of English proficiency as well. Included in the list are prestigious schools such as Brown University, UCLA, MIT Graduate School, and Princeton University.

There are two types of IELTS exams – one is General, for immigrants; and the other is Academic and General Academic for those who plan on becoming students abroad. Your proficiency is reflected in a band score from 0 to 9, 9 being the highest.

The IELTS test consists of four main parts:

A. Listening

This part takes about half an hour. You are given approximately 20 minutes to listen to a recorded voice and answer questions based on what you have just listened to, and another 10 minutes to transfer your responses to the answer sheet. The answers range from a word to a figure (number) to a phrase. This part has four sections and 40 items in all.

You can find sample audios on the Internet to get an idea of how a the Listening part of the IELTS exam goes. The speakers may have a variety of accents – some have a light British or Australian accent, while others have a Western U.S. accent, so it would be helpful if you practice listening to various audio clips for practice.

Tips: Unlike other tests when it’s okay to leave things for later, it is better for you to answer the questions as you are listening on an IELTS test. This is because the audio will not be repeated and you will more likely forget the answer to Item 1 when answer clues for Item 3 are already being read. In addition, pay special attention to repeated or spelled-out words – there’s a big chance that they are important.

B. Reading

This is the part that most test-takers find the easiest because they can always go back to something they have missed on first pass. The only thing to remember here is you need to estimate your time because although an hour is devoted to this part, the multiple-choice answers can be a bit ambiguous and you would need to go over them several times to select the best one.

Basically, the task is to read passages and answer questions related to the selection you have just read. The Academic Reading and General Training Reading exams both consist of 3 sections and 40 items in all.

Tips: Don’t over analyze the question. This may lead you to complicated logical trains of thought that can merely take you away from the correct answer. Another important thing to remember is the answers should be based on what is on the text, not on what you know. For instance, if the question in a ‘True-False-Not Given”-type of exam states, “Research revealed that smoking in pregnant mothers causes low birthweight.” You know this to be true, but if the selection states, “No study has shown evidence proving that smoking in pregnant mothers causes low birthweight,” then the answer is False.

C. Writing

You are allotted 1 hour for this part, which consists of 2 sub-parts: 20 minutes to compose a report or a letter and 40 minutes to compose an essay.

Tips: If, for instance, you are asked to write a report analyzing a given graph, the rating of your composition would be based on several factors. You will be rated on how you fulfilled the task requirement; the manner by which you selected the information to be included in the report; the overview and key features; how you organized your presentation; cohesion and variation (if you use the same sentence structure over and over to present data, it will cost you); and your vocabulary range. If it isn’t that extensive, you’ll still be awarded points if you were able to present a clear report.

D. Speaking

This may be taken right after the first three parts, while sometimes a test-taker is rescheduled for another date. This is because the IELTS Speaking test is a one-on-one session. It may take about 15 minutes and comprises 3 parts: a personal interview, a brief speech, and a discussion.

Tips: As opposed to the Reading part, this one is considered by many to be the toughest, mainly because of the face-to-face interaction which worries many young people especially. Before you enter the interview room, make sure you’re thoroughly relaxed. The questions are very simple but avoid answering with one-word replies. Similarly, stop yourself from rambling if you’re not that confident.

What are half-band scores?

Beginning July 2007, IELTS changed its rating for the Writing and Speaking tests. These will now make use of both full and half bands, just like in the Listening and Reading parts of the test.

This change has been made in response to feedback from various organizations that use IELTS scores. In light of this development, organizations would be able to set their recruitment and admission requirements more precisely, especially if they want more specific results from any of the exam parts.

In the test-taker’s viewpoint, this change will help them have more precise information on where their strengths and weaknesses lie. The reults will also be easier to understand because all four parts will already be rated in the same manner.

It takes several weeks to a few months to sufficiently review for the IELTS exam. Even if you consider yourself fluent in English, it still helps to learn about the exam format so you will know what to expect, to be able to budget your time well and achieve the best score you can possibly get.

The monks had to defend themselves at a series of five gates guarded by their teachers. The master monks would choose methods of defense from five different fighting styles based on animal behavior namely the tiger, leopard, snake, crane and dragon. Today the animal techniques number 170!

Shaolin monks served the people of China as warriors and priests for many centuries earning respect for their discipline, bravery, adaptability and action-oriented approach. Today these same principles are the example for students dedicated to Shaolin.

How to Become a Shaolin Monk – The Ten Steps

To become one of these admired warriors it is necessary to follow the ten basic precepts of the combat arts, the most of important of which is believed to be persistence. A Shaolin monk needs to train in weaponry and combat no matter what the weather, his circumstances or physical condition.

The ten precepts detailed below and give a guideline of skills and practice requirements for those who want to become a Shaolin Monk. These are the ‘Holy Grail’ for a warrior to be and if you truly want to join this elite group you will need to understand them.

1. Precept 1

Agility – The body must be agile, fast and alive with energy. If you take any step you hand must make a corresponding quick movement. The movement of all body parts must be completely coordinated. If about to strike do not even look at the shadow of your hand, never attract attention to your fist. Only if you improve your skills constantly will you reach the pinnacle of your combat potential.

2. Precept 2

‘Motion and rest of two arms and two feet must be in coordination and in supplement of each other’ It is believed that the motion of the heart is in control of how energy or ‘chi‘ is distributed to the whole body and originates at the cinnabar or ‘dantian’ field i.e. three to five centimeters below the navel.

How the chi is vibrating affects how the body will behave. If the chi flows freely the body will be heroic and tough like a tiger or dragon. When the body’s force and energy combine it is manifested by the ability to ‘exert astonishing sounds.

3. Precept 3 It is believed that during a fight all the five elements should be uniquely fused. The five elements of nature interact constantly and to understand them they should be observed. An understanding of the laws of birth and the ’surmounting of the five elements’ enables a Shaolin warrior to absorb the meaning of combat arts.

Each element originates with unified chi energy, the force which causes the body to act. If you grasp these concepts you will have incredible strength. Blood and chi are required to be in harmony and if so the Shaolin warrior will have superior health and strength.

Precept 4 for a Shaolin Monk

You must know and understand the eight-point theory of ‘ba tiao’. For example you move up and down and retreat in such a way that your retreat seems to be an advance. Following this law, the eight successes will be phenomenal. Precept four aims at learning how to make swift movements up and pliable, soft downward movements. All movements will be supremely coordinated.

During combat you need to be prepared to take on an enemy who appears, disappears and reappears. An enemy can be as dangerous as a tiger which has been let out of his cage but if you can turn and defend yourself in an instant from both front and rear you are a divine protector of combat arms who is guarded from all sides.

You need to be able to protect the left and the right very quickly. When retreating, you must decoy your enemy in a trap. Be furious as this will help you. Small birds who take their chance can fly over a high mountain!

Precept 5

‘Your gait must be as stout as that of gods’. It is a better idea to make five more steps than to make a mistake by one qun (one qun is equal to 3.2 cm approximately)’.

Movements during combat vary. Measured steps or ‘gun bu’ must be separate from each other by not more than three chis (one chi is equal to 0.32 m). As your life is always at stake in combat you must step carefully. Steps that are steady should be separated from each other by five chis. Steps that are too big are equal to two gongs (in ancient times one gong was equal to five chis).

Quick stepping (kuai bu) is equal to one zhan (one zhan is equal to 10 chis). A horizontal leap is made with the energetic force of thighs and feet. Spilling steps (zhan bu) are great upward leaps taken to break out of encirclement.

Precept 6

This rule pertains to the knowledge of arm and leg movements during combat. Shaolin fist work is unique in the discipline. Each punch should ‘pierce the enemy and cut him into pieces’. An arm should bend without bending and unbend without unbending. This is so the enemy can’t follow your movements and can’t get a good view of your punch.

The arms must separate the thorax with great speed. Training and activity of sinuous body parts determines how much force the arms have. Punches must take your enemy by surprise, so he can’t avoid the blow. The arm should make an accurate cut, flying upwards obediently and readily, or, if required, go down.

It does not matter in what way the body is twisted or if your hands are bound, it is believed that you might free yourself, ‘like a swallow has always a chance to find water springs.’ If one hand is pinned down or both hands are restrained, you can punch with a stone elbow into the enemy’s pudenda from below.

Seven leg works also exist:

“qi” – uprising
“fan” – overturning
“lo” – tumbling
“zhin” – advance
“ti” – kick
“qai” – kick
“zhuan” – kick.

The five natural elements bond to form a single “chi” and feet act in unison from the front and behind so you cannot be approached. Warriors must move step-by-step and make no sound but those of ‘punches of infuriated soles touching the ground after strikes. The legs are like ferocious tigers or dragons in the sky’.

Precept 7 for a Shaolin Monk

This rule demands the simultaneous advances of arms and legs. During combat arms and legs act together and depend on each other. This means when you advance towards your enemy the legs, arms and torso act in complete agreement.

The following qualities are to be achieved: mind, body obedience, manhood, speed and fury.

Mental work or ‘gong’ means that during a fight one must depend on your mind. Body obedience or ’shun’ means you must train for a long time to make movement natural. Manliness or ‘yong’ indicates that you should work out bold plans and achieve them boldly. Speed or ‘ji’ demands that during hand-to-hand fighting you must act quickly. Fury or ‘hen’ must be present only at the moment when you attack.

You are encouraged to watch over enemy’s stances and positions and understand them with a view to finding his weak points. Never start fighting and deliver blows without thinking about and studying your enemy.

Precept 8

This rule relates to the concept of ‘all-round defense’. It concentrates on its unique manifestations and timely pursuit. The rule of cover or ‘ting’ relates to permanent protection in the front, from the behind, from the left and from the right. Apart from these areas one need to remember that the enemy may strike from above and from below.

‘Zhe or the rule of distinct manifestation is used for work of arms, body, head and heart. All movements should be clear and efficient at the moment of action. Your shout should frighten your enemy. ‘You should be able to win without a fight, only with your loud laughter’.

The rule of pursuit or ‘zhui’ relates to of using any opportunity to pursue your enemy. Never give him a chance to collect himself. When an enemy’s steps become faster you should use the chance to attack him.

Precept 9

The three human elements namely: eyes, ears and heart intelligence should be in harmony at all times. Eyes must be attentive and active and monitor the enemy’s movements constantly. Keep the ears alert to sense movements and rest.

Precept 10 for a Shaolin Monk

This rules advises warrior monks to use their sinews. ‘Shen’ is the ability to use spiritual sources. Sinews are chiefs of bones and if they tremble, “chi” energy is wasted. It is believed that sinews are transmitters of information from the three senses (vision, hearing and mind).

There are several attributes required by Shaolin warriors and you will need to attain them if you want to become a Shaolin monk.

1. To be as graceful as a cat

2. To be as aggressive as the tiger

3. To step like a dragon

4. To act like a lightning stroke

5. To shout like thunder

6. To move like a gust of wind

7. To stay like a nail

8. To be as heavy as a mountain

9. To be as light as goose down

10. To be soft as cotton wool

11. As hard as iron

If you are serious about your intent to become a Shaolin monk you will need to study, understand and practice the ten basic precepts of combat until you have mastered them. Still this is only the beginning; there is a wealth of skills and techniques to discover as well. For in depth information oh how to become a Shaolin monk read ‘72 Secret Arts’ (now in English) compiled by Jin Jing Zhong.

Those are the Ten Basic Precepts of Combat Arts. To achieve them, one must work a lot. The most valuable quality for mastery of combat arms is persistence. One must persistently practice pugilistic arms and weapon use.

One should remember that only the noble men of high morals may be taught the true combat art. On no account a bad man who does not follow true “dao” (the way) should be taught.

Step # 1

Learn All You Can About the Job of Crime Scene Investigation

* Find out exactly what a crime scene investigator does (and not only the exciting parts, the paperwork too!). Learn what special skills, knowledge and abilities you need to do the job well. Find out if your personality type suits the job you want to do (for example do you faint at the sight of blood?).

Do research to determine what education and experience will get you your dream job. Of course there is some flexibility here as requirements vary from job to job and also depend on the agency you will be working for.

* Do a thorough study of the job summaries listed on the employment pages. This way you can get a good idea of the type of responsibilities successful applicants will have and understand the requirements for the job.

* Visit the Crime-Scene-Investigator.net Web site at : http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net and look over the article entitled: Duty Description for the Crime Scene Investigator, by Mike Byrd of the Miami-Dade Police Department Crime Scene Investigations Unit. This will give you great insight of the daily life of those who become a crime scene investigator.

* Make contact with several nearby agencies and find out what their employees do each day as well their minimum application requirements. Ask also about how often they have job openings.

Step # 2

Prepare for the Job as a CSI

* There are jobs in crime scene investigation that ask for a 4 year degree in science to become a crime scene investigator but other jobs require only a GED or High School graduation. In some cases you may be required to be a sworn police officer before you will be able to work as a crime scene investigator.

* In the case where the job you would like does require you to have formal training your next step would be to contact local colleges and universities. The above site has a college and university page for you to peruse but many community colleges have ‘Criminal Justice’ classes that do include crime scene investigations in the curriculum.

* No matter what the job requirements are you can prepare for the interview by informing yourself as much as possible by teaching yourself about the job you have your heart set on. Do this by:

* Reading the right books On Crime Scene Investigation – good examples are:

1. Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation by Barry A.J. Fisher 6 edition (January 26, 2000) -This book details important concepts, field-tested techniques and procedures, and technical information relating to the field. It is used by police academies, community colleges, and universities.

The International Association for Identification, the American Board of Criminalistics, and the Forensic Science Society recommend this book for the certification examinations required by all those who seek to become a crime scene investigator.

2. Crime Scene Evidence: A Guide to the Recovery and Collection of Physical Evidence by Mike Byrd (July 2, 2001) – Written by a veteran crime scene investigator, this book is designed for use in the field and is a reference in the recovery, collection, and packaging of crime scene evidence.

Evidence dealt with in the book includes impression evidence, forensic biology evidence, trace evidence, firearms evidence and questioned documents. Several photographs, diagrams and tables are included. Most crime scene evidence is dealt with including fingerprints on human skin, to recovering bullets from inside walls. An appendix listing likely evidence found at scenes by type of investigation is invaluable for anybody wanting to become a crime scene investigator.

Buy a basic fingerprint kit and use the book to teach yourself to collect fingerprint evidence properly. You can get a good one at Chief Supply for upwards of $35.

* If you want to become a crime scene investigator two skills will help you land a good job, these are photography and fingerprint taking. You may even be required to be a skilled photographer to apply for a job. Find yourself a good book on basic photography and teach yourself this valuable skill.

* You will also need to clue yourself up on crime scene and evidence photography. Try: Crime Scene and Evidence Photographer’s Guide by Steven Staggs (June 1997). This book details instructions for photographing a crimes scenes and evidence and is important reading for all those who wish to become a crime scene investigator.

It is a valuable reference tool when combined with training and experience and perfect for students and others interested in entering into the field of crime scene investigation. It is intended to be carried in an evidence kit or camera bag and is a wealth of information on photographing crime scenes and evidence.

* To improve your fingerprinting skills read: Introduction to Fingerprint Comparison by Gary W. Jones (October 16, 2000). This book was written by retired FBI Supervisory Fingerprint Specialist Gary W. Jones and is a great choice for understanding and learning the basic skills in fingerprint comparison.

* Candidates that speak both English and Spanish are often given preference when applying for jobs. Take classes in Spanish or another second language to make your application more attractive or learn Spanish by means of tapes or an online foreign course. If you want to become a crime scene investigator you will need to be prepared to deal with all kinds of people and situations and a third language will prove invaluable.

Step # 3

Apply for the Job as a Crime Scene Investigator

Right! Now that you have clued yourself up on the job you are applying for it’s time to get your resume in order. Always attach one to the application unless you are expressly asked not to. A good resume can make all the difference between getting a job or at least that all-important interview.

* Use a good resume writing service to prepare a unique and informative resume and attractive cover letter. Make sure that before you apply you know what the job entails and as much as you can about the community it works in. A question that is often asked in interviews is “What do you know about our department and community?”

Know the answers to standard questions as well as the more tricky ones. Your interviewer will almost certainly ask you why you want to become a crime scene investigator so be prepared to know the answer!

If you truly want to become a crime scene investigator your job won’t always be easy so be sure to prepare yourself psychologically for the stress of a job that isn’t always pretty. Before applying for the job you want ask yourself if you feel you will be able to cope with its demands. If the answer is yes and you want a job with amazing rewards and a sense of community service then by all means go for it. Follow the guidelines above to become a crime scene investigator and get the job of your dreams. Good luck super-sleuth!

Being a movie or TV extra can sometimes pay fairly well. Even though some projects use extras that are not paid, you almost always at least get free food and drinks for the day. Being an extra can be quite a fun experience, especially for anyone interested in the movie or TV business. If you would like to become a writer, actor, producer, director, or a tech, then being a movie or TV show extra is a great way to see the behind the scenes processes and see if “the business” is right for you.

There are many ways to become a movie or TV show extra. Living in or near a city which is home to a movies filming is a great start. If you live in or around New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, or San Diego, you have many opportunities to become an extra, and it is only a matter of time before you get picked. You can also become a television extra, especially if you live around Hollywood.

You can use casting agencies to help get you work as an extra. Most casting agencies do not charge money for people trying to be extras. Many casting agencies can even get you work as an extra in a very short time. The amount you get paid will vary from a fair amount, to almost nothing, to absolutly nothing. You should not expect to make a living as an extra, but it can be a good source of additional income and is at least a fun experience.

Getting picked as an extra often depends on how you look, but you do not need to appear as if you are a model to get picked. Most casting directors actually look for average looking people to be extras. You can look a bit scruffy, overweight, or unusual and have a very good chance of being chosen. Many movies have specific requirements and look for people of a certain height, weight, or that have tattoos, long hair, or a beard.

Being a movie or TV extra takes a lot of patience since you will often have to wait around for long periods of time and repeat the same scenes many times. If you go to an open casting call, you may spend your entire day in line and not even get picked. This is made easier if you bring friends and food along. You can make a very fun time out of it.

Being a movie or tv show extra can be a boring experience since you might be continuously repeating the same action over and over (such as taking a sip of tea at a certain cue), but it can also be fun and exciting. Don’t expect to see your name in the film or tv shows credits, but you can always (at every opportunity!) point out where you are in the movie or TV scene!