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It was in 2004 that Chris Anderson coined the phrase The Long Tail, which contrary to some people’s expectations has nothing to do with the dog’s anatomy. Actually, it is an entirely new economic model for the media and entertainment industries. In a nutshell, the Long Tail theory claims that infinite online ’shelf space’ and relatively easy access to potential users make it economically feasible to provide content for niche interest groups. This, in turn, should result in a growing demand for niche content. After reading Mr. Anderson’s book, I asked myself a question: Does this long tail theory work for ESL? Do we - English language teachers - get more varied resources satisfying the needs of niche learning groups?

As a teacher of English with over 20-year experience, who would like to provide his students with the most engaging learning materials, I am continually surfing the net for new resources that I can use in my lessons. Why am I looking for resources on the Internet instead of sticking to a coursebook? After all, don’t we have a great choice of coursebooks? Well, the problem is I really respect my students, - mostly adults - and I don’t find most coursebooks suitable because they are either boring, childish or outdated. Actually, most of them perfectly combine all these three characteristics. Although, we could find some good examples, such as Innovations series published by Thomson Heilne or Oxford’s English File series, the rest of what’s on offer in bookstores is rather disappointing for adult learners.

The past decade has seen a boom of online services for teachers of English; some of them are free, other charge users fees. Some of them give advice on different issues related to teaching foreign languages, other list job offers for teachers, and most of them, if not all, provide worksheets. However, the quality of what is available online varies a lot. A lot of them repeat the mistake of appealing to the lowest common denominator, have patronizing content, or have such horrible graphics that would put my students off learning instead of encouraging them in their efforts. Hence the idea for a website which would put a long tail theory to the test on the ESL ground. I wanted to create an online service where ESL teachers could find current, niche topics, controversial opinions, taboo subjects, and colloquial vocabulary. A few years of hard work and now I know that a long tail works for ESL - English-4U - ESL Lesson Plans is used by thousands of ESL teachers all over the world, it lists hundreds of worksheets on such niche subjects as: vanity sizing, shopping on Sundays, queuing, 2008 presidential elections in the USA. The topics are engaging because they do relate to students’ lives, they are current - these are the topics that your students probably discuss around the water cooler.

I hope that the long tail of ESL resources will grow longer and longer. I strongly believe that the Internet will dramatically change the way we teach and the resources we use. I think we need more materials for niche purposes: Learners are different, so are their interests, so should be the resources we use. The Internet could make it possible to adjust our teaching to individual needs of our learners.

The GED test is run by the American Council of Education and is also known as the General Education Development test. The GED consists of five main sections which are science, social studies, language arts reading, language arts writing and mathematics. By practicing your skills in each of the following subjects you dramatically increase your chances of passing the GED test with flying colors.

Language Arts (Reading)

Language arts always includes at least some questions from drama, pre-1920 prose fiction, poetry, 1920-1960 prose fiction and post 1960 prose fiction. This wide variety of possibilities means that you never know what will be presented to you in the test, but with some practice you can apply the same principles to any situation or topic.

There are also non fiction parts of the GED test. The non-fiction section can include critical reviews, non-fiction prose or workplace/community documents. That covers the reading part of the GED practice test.

Language Arts (Writing)

There are 2 parts to the writing test. The first is made up of multiple choice questions numbering 50. They cover sentence structure, organization, mechanics and usage.

The other half of the writing test is an essay. The entire score for the language arts writing section is then totaled from these two sections.

Science

There are 50 multiple choice questions in the science GED test. They cover various scientific fields like chemistry, physics, earth science and life science.

Mathematics

There are two 25 question parts in the math test. You may use a calculator in the first half. The math test will cover subjects like geometry and measurement, statistics, data analysis, number sense and operations, algebra, probability, patterns, functions and some formulas may be provided for some questions.

Social Studies

There are 50 multiple choice questions in the social studies GED test. The areas covered include history, geography, economics and government.

You will receive a score between 200 and 800 on your GED test. To determine if you have passed the exam the scorers average your marks from all sections. Each state differs, however the average passing score is 410 for each test and an overall average of 450.

The GED test takes 7.5 hours in total but is broken down into 5 tests as outlined above. You can take each test at different times which will give you ample time to study and practice each subject. There are many websites online offering free and paid practice GED tests and study guides.

GED Courses

GED courses (General Education Development) such as online training programs prepare you for the real GED exam. Although you cannot get your GED online, you can certainly study for it online and do online courses. This means you do not have to attend any classes but can take your time and study when you wish. Taking GED courses online provides many benefits including:

Speeding up the study process so you can get your GED faster

Gives you a greater chance of passing

Take prep GED courses at home

Sometimes the registration fee is waived after you pass a preparation course

The English writing skills section requires that you write a composition. Good knowledge of English is required and you should be proficient with adverbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, spelling, punctuation etc. GED courses will take you through all you need to know to pass the English GED test.

The second part of the GED test is mathematics. GED courses will cover all the types of math that are in the exam such as algebra, arithmetic, geometry, fractions and more. Some questions will take several steps to solve a mathematical problem whilst others involve formulas that you must study.

Part three is about science. This covers physics, biology, earth science and chemistry. This is one of the hardest sections, but if studied for correctly can be passed.

Part number four covers English but is more focused on reading than writing. Here you will have to interpret literature, both classical and modern. You will generally have to write a short essay and/or answer questions about the works you read.

The final part of the GED exam covers social studies such as geography, economics, politics, history and others. Applying theory to practical situations is vital knowledge here and your writing skills must also be up to par to fully answer the questions properly.

Getting your adult education diploma through GED courses can increase your chances of employment dramatically. Record numbers of employers are now hiring people who have their GED compared with those who don’t. Studying for your exam through online GED courses is the best way to prepare and ensure that you pass your exam the first time. Having passed the GED exam also puts you in a good position to gain a college or university position.

Distance education is a field of education that focuses on the use of instructional systems designed to deliver education to students who are not physically on site of a school campus. Rather than attending courses in person, teachers and students may communicate at times of their own choosing by exchanging printed, electronic media or through technology that allows them to communicate in real time. In the past medical assistants and medical office staff were usually trained on the job with informal instruction. However with the advent of internet technology medical assistant and office staff classes can be taken online. St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants is a good example of an educational service using these new innovative technologies to deliver online instruction to medical assistants and medical office staff.

Medical assistants usually perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. They should not be confused with physician assistants, who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the direct supervision of a physician. The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the practitioner’s specialty. Employment for medical assistants is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the fastest growing occupations over the 2006-16 decade. Job opportunities should be excellent, particularly for those with formal training or experience, and certification. Medical assistants may advance to other occupations through experience or additional training. For example, some may go on to teach medical assisting, and others pursue additional education to become nurses or other health care workers. Administrative medical assistants may advance to office manager, or qualify for a variety of administrative support occupations.

According to the U.S. Department of Education (National Forum on Education Statistics) virtual education is now part of the planning agenda of most organizations concerned with education and training. The quality of distance learning has greatly improved in the past few years, as both students and educators have become more comfortable with the technology, and as stories of best practices have been shared and duplicated.

Recent research has shown that the most significant factor helping students to succeed in online classes has been their ability to manage time. Distance learning features a number of advantages such: as accessibility for those living away from the training center, no waste of time or other resources in transport, and flexibility to study in any convenient location with an Internet connection. Self-paced online learning also allows students to quickly browse materials you have already mastered, and concentrate time and effort in areas containing new information. They can study materials at a personal speed and intensity, without having to wait for slower pace of the average classroom.

Online classes such as the medical assistant program offer at www.medassistant.org provide more opportunities to study the most current material available and provide flexibility for those with irregular work schedules. Also providing accessibility for those with restricted mobility, such as the handicapped and accessibility for those with family responsibilities (e.g., parents with young children at home). If you are interested in learning more about online medical assistant classes you may wish to consider a program such as that offered by St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants and other online distance education providers.

Dish gardens…corsages…tussie mussies…the language of the floral industry can be really confusing for those who aren’t familiar with it. Sometimes it can make you feel like you need to log in to Wikipedia and look it all up before you can place an order. Don’t start clicking yet, though-it’s not as difficult as it might initially seem, and you’ve got a professional who speaks the language on your side.

A good, professional florist is one who cares enough about his or her customers to take the time to explain the many options available for floral gifts and decorative accents.

The First Nations - literally, the first peoples here - likely began settling in Alberta as early as 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, after the glaciers that helped carve the Rocky Mountains and the prairies finally receded. In the south, peoples such as the Blackfoot, Blood and Peigan hunted the bison that in the early 19th century numbered some 40 million across the North American plains. Further north, First Nations such as the Woodland Cree and the Chipewyan took advantage of rivers and woodland to fish, and to hunt game such as moose and caribou.

The arrival of European explorers in the late 1700s, followed by fur traders, missionaries and settlers, placed such pressure on the First Nations that their traditional way of living on the land - moving with the game and the seasons - began to change, especially with the near extinction of the bison here by the late 19th century. Those years also saw the creation of a new people: the M

Green tea has a history that dates back thousands of years. Although this particular type of tea is only now gaining major notoriety in the West, it has been known to the Chinese and Japanese for centuries. This type of tea is less heavily processed than its counterpart made from the same leaves, but despite this fact, it has not been a heavy export from Asia until the past few years.

The recent rise in popularity of green tea is largely credited to the many health studies that have revealed some rather big benefits that can go along with consuming this drink on a regular basis. Although green tea is still hard pressed to rival its black counterpart in regard to worldwide popularity, it is giving that variety a run for its money.

The Early Years

The exact time frame in which green tea rose in popularity in China is a matter of debate. Some tea enthusiasts put the date at about 3,000 years ago, others longer. According to one legend, green tea’s history began around 2730 BC when the Emperor Shen Nung accidentally had leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant fall into his boiling water. His discovery is said to have caught on rather quickly.

Other evidence of green tea’s early popularity in the orient abounds. For example, there is a written record from the year 350 AD that explains how to brew this drink properly. Records also show that Buddhists were known to chew on the leaves of the tea plant while meditating as early as 520 AD. Lu Yu’s \”The Book of Tea,\” written in 780 AD chronicles the benefits of green tea in regard to health - revelations which are only now being discovered in the west.

The spread of green tea from China to Japan is also a bit murky. The rise of this variety in Japan is credited to the emperor who is said to have bestowed gifts of green tea upon monks in the 700s AD.

Whatever the actual date of green tea’s first discovery and use, there is little debate that this drink originated in China centuries ago and remains a popular beverage there and elsewhere.

Understanding Green Tea

To understand why this particular form of tea was and is so popular in China and Japan it helps to understand a bit about how it is made. Green tea and black tea both are derived from the exact same plant leaves. They both come from the Camellia sinensis.

Unlike black teas, which are heavily processed, green tea is almost wholly served in its natural form. The leaves of the sinensis plant are heated or steamed and then dried for the green variety. Since the processing is very little in regard to green tea, the natural chlorophyll and other nutrients found in the leaves remain behind. This helps give green tea its distinct coloration and flavoring.

On the other hand, black tea is more heavily processed. The steps involved in creating black varieties do tend to strip away many of the natural health benefits of this kind of tea along with the lighter, green to yellow coloration. Despite this, black tea is still one of the most widely consumed varieties in the world.

The reason why green tea was likely so popular early on lies in the fact it is simply easier to create. The lack of processing makes this a product that is much simpler to get from tree to table. Keep in mind though that the health benefits of green tea do not seem to have been lost on the early users of this variety either.

The Rise Of Green Tea In The West

Green tea has found itself being served in western settings for many years. It has, however, only recently come into extreme vogue.

Some of the earliest examples of green tea consumption outside of the orient include Portuguese imports of the product in the early 1500s and the writings of the Venetians in the late 1500s. Tea began to be sold quite readily in London by the 1650s, although the black variety was the one that really took hold.

Green tea has also been known as a staple in Chinese and Japanese restaurants throughout North America for years. Its spread beyond these establishments, however, has been relatively recent.

In the past few decades, green tea has taken hold of the North American and European markets by storm. The rise of popularity of this variety in the West is largely credited to the many health studies that have concluded this form of tea can have major positive impacts on medical standing.

Thanks to the light processing it receives, green tea is known to contain a high amount of antioxidants in its brewed form. These antioxidants have proven beneficial for warding off cancer, heart disease and other ailments. Recent studies out of the United Kingdom also show that green tea can help increase insulin sensitivity and even assist in calorie burning and fat oxidation.

The Future Of Green Tea

It would take a crystal ball to see the exact path green tea consumption will take in the future. If current market trends hold, however, it’s not out of the question to see this form of tea far surpass other varieties in popularity and sales.

At present, green tea is widely sold in a number of different forms. Some of the most popular include chilled, bottled drinks, within tea bags and even loose for brewing and proper steeping. As it stands at the moment, the future of green tea looks very bright.

From its ancient roots in China and Japan to the grocery stores of today, green tea has a long and storied history. What the future holds for this variety only looks bright at the moment. With its distinct flavor and noted health benefits, green tea is likely to remain a hot commodity for some time to come.

5/19/2008 9:48PM China’s love affair with green tea is believed to have begun thousands of years ago. It took centuries for the Chinese to share this secret with their neighbors in Japan and even longer for the country to begin exporting this bountiful crop to destinations all over the world.

As China’s second biggest export behind silk in the pre-industrial years, tea no doubt had a major impact on this country when it was finally released for general consumption. But, what exactly happened to China when the tea craze went global? Did this export create the desire for mass production and the creation of surpluses? Did it plunge the Chinese into a capital frenzy? Or, was the impact of exportation minimal?

Looking At A Microcosm

Historian Robert Gardella took a very close look at the impacts of global trade on China in the 19th century. One of his studies focused heavily on the tea trade in particular in one small region. Southeast China’s Fujian was the subject of his study on tea and globalization in China.

Prior to global trade coming to China, this particular region survived economically by focusing on two different means. The first involved working the land and the mountains by growing crops, engaging in forestry and creating hand crafts. The second involved maritime activities, such as fishing, piracy, smuggling and migration of people out of China. These two distinct ways of living came together in a big way when in 1842 the Port of Fuzhou was opened up to foreign trade. This led to a huge rise in tea exportation to the United States, Great Britain and other global destinations. Tea produced in the northern area of Fujian was suddenly in high demand - a state that would remain so through the 1880s.

The Positive Impacts

While the globalization of green tea products was long in the coming, when it arrived in the Fujian region, some good things did happen as a result.

Historian Gardella points to a number of benefits the Fujian people realized as a result of the tea trade. They include:

Output increases - The Fujian region became much better at growing and exporting tea to meet the booming demands. This had all sorts of positive impacts on the region.

Higher incomes - The people of the Fujian region found that the ability to earn an income was suddenly increased thanks to the tea boon.

Government resources - As more money flowed through the port, the Chinese government offered more resources to the area.

A bringing together of the region - The tea trade brought the people of the Fujian region together in a mutually beneficial act.

While the tea trade did bring some very big benefits to the Fujian region, not all impacts were good. Unfortunately, some of the impacts would prove even a bit devastating to the region.

The Downside Of Globalization

The tea trade wasn’t all wine and roses for China. As demands increased for tea, so too did the negative impacts of production and exportation. According to Gardella’s study, some of the pitfalls on the Fujian region included:

Vulnerable local economy - Unfortunately, the tea trade did not come with a structural transformation of the local economy. This meant that the people who made their livelihoods in the trade found themselves at the mercy of the global market. As worldwide conditions fluctuated, so too did the conditions within this region.

Environmental impacts - The Fujian region and its lands were not acclimated to the mass production of crops. As the trade grew, so too did soil erosion and deforestation.

Social problems - To meet the growing demands of the tea trade, many foreign workers moved into the region. Just like the gold rush in South Dakota’s Black Hills, the tea rush brought \”undesirable elements\” into the region, led to some outbreaks of social unrest and also involved an increase in the imports of opium to the region.

Why The Boon Ended

Although the Fujian region enjoyed a major shot in the arm for several decades, there were several factors that combined to bring the boon to an end. Gardella points to the decentralized, market-driven type of production and the loosely formed marketing networks that oversaw the tea trade as pitfalls that led to the end of the boon. Also, as advances came in the production of tea, the Fujian region often did not adopt them. Between an inability to keep up with the high costs of production and the introduction of taxes, the region could not compete with other countries that began to produce tea in mass. Fujian, in short, lost out. It was simply unable to compete with industrial plantations in places like India. Competition from Japan also put a beating on the local market.

As the tea trade moved elsewhere, the Fujian economy fell into decline. As it was in many gold mining towns in America at roughly the same time, the trade moved elsewhere and so did many of the people and much of the money.

The globalization of the green tea trade in the 1800s brought both perks and pitfalls to China. Within the Fujian region itself, an economic upswing brought jobs, government support and immigrants. These changes, however, were soon followed by a crash.