Why Should You Be Taking a Look at Teaching English in San Jose?

Why Should You Be Taking a Look at Teaching English in San Jose?What is the greatest San Jose career opportunity you have never heard of? Perhaps, a career in tutoring, where many people have tried and failed.You may be surprised to know that San Jose has one of the best career opportunities in the country for teaching English as a second language (ESL). Many teachers, especially those from Asia, have returned to the U.S. after the global economic crisis and find themselves in a position where they are looking for an ESL teacher. A wonderful career for some, a nightmare for others.For those who love to teach English, this is probably not the ideal time to try your hand at a career as an ESL teacher, but fortunately there are other choices available to you. But first, let's talk about why San Jose, California has one of the best options.Historically, San Jose has always been a major city, and there are many challenges that come with that position. Since so many people need to find job s, the competition is very strong, and you can expect it to get even tougher as the local economy gets better.That is the first reason you should consider teaching in San Jose. It will give you a job with many people around you, who will be constantly interested in your classes. When you come back home, you will be able to count on your customers and your students to be happy with you.This is a great job for someone who loves to teach English, and who is looking for a long term gain. If you can teach both adult and children, you have a very lucrative, steady business in front of you. You may even find yourself teaching ESL to businessmen who are looking for qualified teachers in their company. San Jose Whether you choose to work as a teacher in San Jose or as a tutor for foreign students, you will find a wonderful, long term career in the process. So why not take a look at what you can do?

How effective are One-to-One Tutoring Programs for Higher Education

How effective are One-to-One Tutoring Programs for Higher Education 0SHARESShare Often students taking higher education get stuck up with their difficulties till the last minute resulting in a heap of uncompleted homework. When the test appears, the students get completely confused and puzzled to decide from where to start. Before your child face this situation, seek one-to-one tutoring program to get all possible extra attention to help your child to get the most from his studies and qualify degree with best possible score. Personalized Tutoring: With personalized tutoring, tutor can judge the student problems areas, how student will learn best depending on his grasping or aptitude towards the subject. The online tutor formulates study plan accordingly. This attitude helps students to gain a level of confidence in the tutor which is very positive sign to begin with. Access expert tutors across the world: Technology and the Internet have made a world very small place where it brings tutors from all across the world together under one roof of the reputed online tutoring company. Learning from subject experts is an altogether good opportunity for students pursuing higher education. Access to useful resources: Higher education requires students to access varied source of information to master the subjects. One-to-one tutoring helps student to access physical and online library resources across the world. Achieve Best Scores: What can stop achieving best scores when a student pursues higher education under the guidance of expert tutors offering one-to-one individualized tutoring with bagful of study materials. One-to-One tutoring programs for higher education is definitely effective keeping motivation level up with focused learning to achieve targeted scores. [starbox id=admin]

The Pros and Cons of Professional Boxing

The Pros and Cons of Professional Boxing The Risks and Rewards of Becoming a Professional Boxer ChaptersThe Struggles of Becoming a Professional BoxerThe Disadvantages of Boxing ProfessionallyOther Disadvantages of Boxing ProfessionallyThe Advantages of Boxing Professionally“Anybody who knows me knows that I don't just love this sport, I am in love with it. I am really in love with this sport. I am obsessed with boxing. I eat, breathe and sleep it. You know, I do it all; this is my life. This is not a hobby for me. This is a lifestyle for me, and I address it accordingly. I take it very, very seriously.” - Deontay WilderBoxing is one of the most complete sporting disciplines. It’s also becoming increasingly popular. It’s this popularity that is behind a 10.2% rise in sports clubs in the UK with an estimated 6,587 clubs operating in the UK.2018 was the fifth successive year for growth in the sports club sector.  That said, you don’t need to be a heavyweight champion to start enjoying the benefits of boxing.However, if you’re good in a boxing ring, why not try becomin g a professional boxer?In this article, we’ll look at how you can do it. AndreyBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KostiaBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LeeBoxing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SajBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KaranBoxing Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThomasBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HaileyBoxing Teacher 4.50 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Struggles of Becoming a Professional BoxerThere aren’t enough jobs for global demand.  This has resulted in a lot of youth unemployment. Furthermore, there are economic and social factors that can hinder young people’s likelihood of finding work. Becoming a professional boxer and earning a lot of money can be gruelling. (Source: 12019)Can you find work as a professional boxer?There’s a big gap between practising in a boxing club and becoming a world titleholder!  Very few professional boxers live off their earning. While there are many physical and mental benefits to boxing, it’s a small minority of professional boxers who earn the big bucks.Like with top-level athletes across all sports, there are very few who earn their living professionally.  If you want to earn thousands from fighting, you need to be gifted right from your first fight.  You also need to be patient and put the effort in.  Additionally, you need a licence to practise boxing professionally.You can get this from the British Boxing Board of Control or an international federation such as the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, or APB.  These licences require you to never use boxing techniques outside of a boxing club.If you use boxing techniques in self-defence, you can en d up in hot water for the use of excessive force.  Some boxers have been imprisoned for using their skills outside of training or the ring. Don’t be one of them!The Disadvantages of Boxing ProfessionallyLet’s look at the disadvantages of boxing professionally. As you may imagine, boxing can be quite dangerous. (Source: skeeze)InjuriesOne of the biggest disadvantages of boxing is the risk of injury either during training or during a fight.Whether you do traditional boxing, kick-boxing, savate, or Muay Thai, you need to be aware that you run the risk of:Black eyesCut eyebrowsFractured jawsBrain damageOf course, these are the risks to professionals.  If you’re boxing just for fun, there’ll be very little physical contact and you’ll be boxing against a punching bag or pads.Normally, a professional boxer will regularly practise defending. They’ll learn how to keep their guard up, move around, and dodge their opponent’s attacks. However, everyone makes mistakes.Even with all the protective equipment such as mouth guards, cups, boxing gloves, and hand wraps, injuries aren’t uncommon among boxers.  A blow to the head can knock out any boxer and injuries often occur when a boxer makes a mistake.That said, certain weight categories wear helmets during fights.Find out more about becoming a professional boxer.Time Spent TrainingIn boxing, you have to train a lot.  Just like with other combat sports and martial arts, there are a lot of techniques to learn.  There are many things that each fighter needs to work on:Cardiovascular system and cardio performanceThe precision and power of your attacksMovementDodgingGuardingFootworkSpeedBreathingKnowing your limitsThrough training and experience, you’ll form useful habits that you can use during a boxing match. To form a habit, though, you’ll need to regularly practise for a long time. The sacrifices boxers have to make is enough to put even some of the most determined competitors off.Other Disadvantages of Boxing ProfessionallyA boxer needs to find opponents so that they can climb the rankings and increase their earnings. As dangerous as it can be, many find boxing rewarding. (Source: dfbailey)They need to run their career like a business and employ a team that will prepare them for fights and manage their training.  They’ll earn their money from fights, sponsorship, pay per view money, etc., but they’ll need to constantly be at the top of their game.  Losing a fight can lose money and potential earnings.Even after a defeat, though, a boxer can learn from their mistakes and set their sights on winning the next fight.  Boxers wanting to win a title will be constantly looking for stronger opponents.With the help of their team (coach, personal trainer, physiotherapist, sports doctor), they’ll need to register with a professional boxing federation.  After all, before you can box professionally, you’ll need a boxing licence.You’ll need to defeat increasingly difficult opponents to maximise your earnings.  Unfortunately, boxing follows the rule of supply and demand, which means most boxers don’t become millionaires from fighting.However, there are multiple weight classes (flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight) and it’s not uncommon for boxers to move up or down a weight category.Another disadvantage is that only the most famous boxers get any media attention.  This attention is what gets them sponsorship deals, increasing their earnings. High-level athletes can earn a lot of money as ambassadors for brands.Find out more about starting a professional boxing career.The Advantages of Boxing ProfessionallyThere are many benefits to boxing both in terms of your physical and mental health. You'll improve your endurance more through boxing than you will golf. (Source: Pexels)Boxing is also great for your self-confidence.  Professional boxers are also in great shape. You use almost every muscle in your body when you box, which is great for losing weight. Just have a look at some pictures of famous boxers. Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Frazier, Klitschko, Cissokho, Stevenson, Michel Soro, Gatti, etc. all have fantastic physiques.Additionally, boxers also improve their:Reflexes and enduranceFlexibilityComposureControlThere’s also the prestige that comes with being a world champion or titleholder.  Boxing is also an art form. The way boxers move is like dancing and it’s hardly surprising that boxing is also known as the Noble Art.Boxing develops agility, improves your cardiovascular system, and increases your lung capacity and endurance.  Professional boxers can also use boxing as a way to alleviate stress and improve their self-confidence.  Boxing is a complete spo rt and a lifestyle that can help you both physically and mentally.Are you tempted by the idea of becoming a professional boxer?The first thing you should do is look for your nearest boxing club and join it.  Perhaps in a few years, you’ll be competing professionally.  If you dream of becoming a world champion in boxing, kickboxing, Thai boxing, mixed martial arts, or any other combat sport, find the best tutors pound for pound on Superprof to help you with throwing punches, preparing for bouts, sparring, etc.Before you pick your private tutor, there are several things that you'll need to carefully think about. Firstly, no two tutors are alike and you need to pick the one that'll help you to get the most out of your training and set on you on the path to glory. Secondly, there are three main types of tutorial available from the tutors on Superprof, face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials, and you need to pick the one that's right for you.Face-to-face tutorials are between you and your tutor or coach. They'll work alongside you, tailor the sessions to you and your goals, and give you their undivided attention. They'll often also work outside of your sessions on planning and preparing your training. Of course, all this extra work will come at a cost and while face-to-face tutorials are often the most cost-effective type of private tutorial, they also tend to be the most costly per hour.Online tutorials tend to be cheaper than face-to-face tutorials since the tutor doesn't have to travel to each of their students or clients and can schedule more tutorials per week. However, these types of tutorials tend to be much better for academic subjects than sports and while you could very easily get started with boxing through online tutorials, you may reach a stage where you'll need to have the tutor or coach there in the room with you.Finally, group tutorials have the coach teaching several clients at once. Unlike the other two types of tutoring, y ou won't have your coach's undivided attention. However, you will be dividing the cost of the tutor between yourself and the other attendees.

How to Calculate your Metabolic Rate

How to Calculate your Metabolic Rate A Personal Trainer Talks about Daily Calorific Intake and Base Rate of Metabolism ChaptersWhat is Base Metabolic Rate, Anyway?Causes of Slow Metabolic RateWhat to do About a Slow MetabolismVariations on BMR CalculationsBuilding a Health and Fitness PlanCalories and Special PopulationsThe human body is a sophisticated organism that, even today, with all modern diagnostic and imaging capability that permits real-time viewing of functional organs, still holds us enthralled.Imagine how the physiologists of yesteryear would feel if resurrected for just one day, to view human anatomy through modern technology?In their day, a body at rest was considered the same way as a body at work.No one considered the energy expenditures of the body supine: indeed, the most learned of physicians may well have proclaimed that no calories were being burned at all.That is, if they knew about calories, let alone how the body uses them.Even at rest, our bodies need energy to keep fundamental systems going.In fact, this inconspicuous calorie consumption comprises up to 70% of our daily ene rgy use.By contrast, physical activity lays claim to only 20% of our energy stores, with the remaining 10% attributed to our digestive system.Knowing one's base metabolic rate â€" or BMR is indispensable: it permits a more or less exact calculation of how many calories our bodies need just to survive.For athletes who wish to lose weight, or by contrast: want to gain muscle mass, knowing one's BMR is vital.Let us now learn more about our bodies, our metabolism, and what we can do to become the best and fittest version of ourselves.balanced meal versus empty calories, is crucial.Keeping one's body mass stable and eating as much of anything you want must be most everyone's gustatory dream!Confess: do your workmates talk about juicing and detoxing while looking over selections on the light menu at lunch?Aren't they the very same ones that you know brunch expansively after a pious Sunday morning, in the pews or at the pool.And there you are, feeling like you are packing on the pounds, no matter how skinny your meal selections are.Maintaining your current weight, and even losing any pounds, is not commensurate with how many desserts and sweets you turn away from.In fact,  food fads  and Draconian deprivation diets will go further to undermine your weight loss efforts than to facilitate them.Likewise: cutting out meals will have the undesired effect of putting your body into starvation mode, effectively slowing  down your metabolism.A slow metabolism = fewer calories burned = more body fatSkipping meals will virtually guarantee that you will not lose the weight you want in the time frame that you target.Could a health fitness professional set you on the right track, metabolically speaking?We can assure you that eating right, coupled with any sports program will indeed help boost your energy levels and assist in your weight loss efforts, but why take our word for it?If you would calculate your own BMR, you could track your success by yourself!There is quite possibly a medical reason why you are feeling like a lump on a log Source: Pixabay Credit: Chado NihiCauses of Slow Metabolic RateYou eat right, take the stairs to get to your office and take the dog on long walks at night.You snack sensibly, avoid fizzy drinks and birthdays are so great because that is the only time you ever eat cake.In short, you are a nutrition and fitness specialist's gold standard.You don't feel ideal, though. You feel tired and heavy, and stepping on the scale reveals that you are in fact gaining, rather than maintaining your weight.After taking variables such as age and gender into consideration, you would almost have to conclude that you are the victim of a slow metabolism.This condition can be brought on by any of these factors, or a combination  of them:too much cortisol, brought on by chronic stressCushing's Disease can also overstimulate adrenal glands, producing excess cortisol.Too much insulinhere too, stress can play a role in producing undesired levelsa thyro id imbalancelow estrogen / testosteronepoor body compositiona high ratio of fat to musclenatural agingAnd, of course, the aforementioned starvation diets â€" the only factor contributing to your metabolic rate that you truly have control over.online BMR calculator.Once you know your specific BMR, things get really simple...Building a Health and Fitness PlanLet's see where you are in your fitness career:been to see the doctoreliminated any serious health concerns (or are under treatment for them)taken a physical assessment testCalculated your base metabolic rateNow what?The next step really depends on what your fitness goals are.Weight Maintenance and Muscle Toning1. To keep your current weight and tone your body overall, a fitness business expert would recommend resistance training.Using bands, weights â€" dumbbells, barbells or kettlebells; assorted gym equipment and gravity, your fitness instructor would prescribe a routine that would help build muscular endurance while reinforcin g connective tissues and joints.2. If you want  to become a bodybuilder, strength training is the regimen for you.Rowers, ellipticals and pull up bars â€" you will find it easy to bulk up with this type of regimen.Your training program could include isometrics,  interval training or crossfit.3. Proper nutrition â€" fuel is important at any phase of sports conditioning.  and should be targeted to your desired results.To that end, consulting with a registered dietitian or fitness nutrition specialist is always advisable.Your personal  trainer most likely works with such an expert â€" or has undergone certification programs himself, so that s/he is qualified to counsel you on food choices.Don't reward yourself with food after a workout! Source: Pixabay Credit: Ryan McGuireCalories and Special PopulationsOne third of all UK  children, and a quarter of the overall population are obese.Nationally,  a whopping three-quarters of Britons are overweight!Of those, we find that seniors, the eco nomically disadvantaged and the disabled are the most likely to struggle with obesity.In spite of programs targeted to senior fitness and even sports events exclusively for disabled athletes, Britons of every stripe  continue live in the shadow of this health threat.And if our children continue on this path, we can only expect that shadow to grow.Youth fitness programs and group exercise classes might not be the only solution.Of course, personal fitness training is paramount, but perhaps we should instruct our young on practical skills with regard to diet and nutrition.Food gardening is an excellent way to get kids involved in nutrition: planting and caring for food stocks can forge a mind body connextion that could revolutionise they way they think about eating.And it is a great way to get them up and moving: off the sofa and away from the gaming console, too!As long as they are out of doors, how about squeezing some functional training in?This type of physical exercise program  pr ovides an individualized focus on meaningful tasks, such as walking, climbing stairs and carrying (book bags, groceries and the like).Functional training builds the muscles that support the body's core, otherwise known as the torso.Motivating your child (or parent) to get moving can be difficult, but you should never offer food as an incentive to working out!The goal of functional training is to build strength and flexibility, and to move on to the next level of health and wellness.Don't defeat all of that hard work by rewarding the least bit of effort with a treat!Once your little trainer (or senior trainer!) is motivated and ready to take the next step, place accountability for his caloric intake back on him.It is at that point that you should share knowledge of how poor food choices affect one's body and well-being.A fitness and nutrition education will serve your child, parent and you better than any amount of exercise science or interval training  ever could.As long as you know about calories, how they are used and how many you need, you could help others get fit.We're talking about the work mates who drizzle dressing on their salads at lunch, naturally.

Online Surface Area of a Trapezoid Tutors

Online Surface Area of a Trapezoid Tutors Trapezoid is a 2-dimensional geometric shape which has one pair of parallel sides and one pair of non-parallel sides. A trapezoid therefore has 4 angles and 4 sides. If the non-parallel sides are equal to each other in length, then the trapezoid is known as an isosceles trapezoid. Surface area of a trapezoid is the area of the trapezoid and the formula is given by half the product of the sum of the lengths of the parallel sides and the height. Example 1: Find the area of the trapezoid which has parallel sides of length 6m, 4m, and height 5m Given: length of the parallel sides = a and b Height of trapezoid = h The Area of the trapezoid is = 1/2 *(a + b)* h. The value of a = 6m, b = 4m, h = 5m This makes the solution = 1/2 * (10m) * 5m = 25m2 Therefore, area of the given trapezoid is 25m2 Example 2: Find the area of the trapezoid which has parallel sides of length 10m, 7m, and height 8m. Given: length of the parallel sides = a and b Height of trapezoid = h The Area of the trapezoid is = 1/2 *(a + b)* h. The value of a = 10m, b = 7m, h = 8m This makes the solution = 1/2 * (17m) * 8m = 68m2 Therefore, area of the given trapezoid is 68m2

4 Most Challenging Questions on the New SAT

4 Most Challenging Questions on the New SAT The College Board is rolling out a redesigned SAT, slated to be given for the first time in March 2016. After a complete overhaul, the test is now designed to quiz students on the skills that are most valued by colleges. If you will be taking the new SAT, you may be wondering how the test is different, what you can expect, and how you can best prepare yourself to address these new questions. Heres a look at some of the most challenging questions on the new SAT: 1. Data interpretation questions in the SAT Reading test The SAT Reading test will no longer be a mix of questions on vocabulary and prose. On the new SAT, all of the questions are based on passages, you are not tested on obscure vocabulary, and some passages may require you to analyze graphs and data. In this sense, the new SAT Reading test doesnt just evaluate how you can interpret prose and fiction passages; you also will be tested on passages and data with a historical, scientific, and sociological focus. These new questions are meant to assess your readiness for data-based college courses. If you arent fully comfortable with your data interpretation skills, these questions may be particularly difficult for you. Plan ahead and start practicing these skills by reading essays or studies that are scientific, historical, and nonfiction in nature, and immerse yourself in data sets and graphs. Try using a prep book designed for the new SAT. 2. Advanced mathematical reasoning and trigonometry on the SAT Math section In the past, the SAT did not venture into math topics beyond the level of Geometry and Algebra I, but on the new SAT you can expect questions involving complex math, including trigonometry and new concepts in statistics and geometry. If youre taking the new SAT before youve reached these more advanced topics in class, find a math tutor or reach out to a teacher for help mastering these concepts before the test. In addition, make it a habit to practice these new concepts on your owncreatetrigonometry flashcards or take practice tests in advanced algebra. Maximize your score by becoming comfortable with every topic tested on the SAT Math testeven the hardest topics! 3. Questions on grammar and rhetorical skills in the SAT Writing and Language section You may already be familiar with the current SAT Writing test, which includes a mandatory essay and about 49 questions that test your command of grammar, style, and punctuation. The new SAT Writing and Language test will still test these concepts, but will also test your knowledge of the message, organization, and development of a passage at varying levels of difficulty. For this test, you should think of yourself as an editor, identifying and correcting factual errors, grammar missteps, and improving the text of various passages, charts, tables, and other infographics. Much like an editor, you will need to consider the tasks of the old test (grammar, style, and punctuation) as well as the passages effectiveness as a whole, making decisions about the cohesion and overarching structure of the passage. [RELATED: What is an Average SAT Score?] 4. The new, optional SAT Essay The old, mandatory SAT essay was a rushed endeavor for many students, who found that constructing and supporting a persuasive essay in 25 minutes was a tough task. The new SAT essay is optional, and it differs drastically from the past SAT essay. The new SAT Essay is 50 minutes long and asks test-takers to thoroughly analyze a short passage. Youre not expected to develop and defend an opinion; rather, youll have to analyze how the author of the passage constructs his or her argument using evidence from the passage. Although you may not be used to doing such heavy analysis on a standardized test, with practice your SAT Essay skillsand all of the other new skills required for success on the new SATcan improve. [RELATED: How is the New SAT Scored?]

An Introduction to Geopolitics

An Introduction to Geopolitics Understanding Geopolitics ChaptersWhat Geopolitics IsWhat Geopolitics Isn’tExamples of Geopolitical InitiativesThe Geopolitics of BrexitInternational Relations. Foreign policy. Statesmen and ambassadors. International Organisations. Global society.All of these are aspects of geopolitics but they don’t quite express the full concept of what, exactly, is meant by that term.Political scientist Rudolf Kjellén coined that expression early in the 20th Century, applying his notion to alliances during the 1st World War; by the end 2nd World War, everyone was discussing international relations theory.Still, geopolitics is not a word you hear in everyday conversation; at least not outside of political science circles.News sources seldom mention it but most outlets discuss geopolitical situations such as instability in the Middle East or unease over Russia in virtually every broadcast.These are only a couple of aspects of the discipline we call geopolitics; there are others.In fact, to thoroughly acquaint you with the principles of geopolitics, Superprof dissects the concept to give you a comprehensive look at what geopolitics is and isn’t, what factors come into play and where to look to see geopolitics in action.No man is an island â€" John DonneThis 17th Century poem, espousing the human need for interconnection, could be seen as the basis of geopolitics.  It expresses the idea that no single individual, his actions or thoughts, can be separate from greater society.As for individuals, so too for nations.Our interconnected world demands interaction between governments, whether they hold similar ideas or not. Out of this need arises a set of protocols predicated on a variety of factors, including:natural resources, including raw goods such as minerals, ores and rare earth metals, as well as coal and petroleumtopography: is the land in question easy to live on? Easy to access? Easy to defend? Is there ample water to sustain the population?Population and demography: how many people is that l and expected to sustain? What are those people’s religious and dietary requirements? Can they be met?Climate: which foods can grow in which regions? Does the climate pose a significant danger to life or food production?One aspect of geopolitics we hear quite a bit about is territory.Last year, the American president broke with decades of diplomatic effort to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel.The problem is that at least a portion of that city had previously been promised to the State of Palestine, to say nothing of the fact that Jerusalem holds special significance for all the three of the Abrahamic religions.You can read more about the implications of this declaration in our companion article covering the geopolitics of the Middle East.Conversely, an ongoing dispute over waterways is taking place in the South China Seas. Territorial waters is another pertinent feature of geopolitics as it encompasses everything from national security to trade and food supplies.Whereas it is easy to draw a border on land, it is much more difficult to mark off where a country’s waters end, which can sometimes lead to squabbles.Obviously, it would be difficult to circumnavigate those waters in an attempt to appease the nation that claims them, a factor that leads political bodies to the negotiation table.How much power one side or the other exerts over its neighbours and global affairs, and how that power is exerted falls under the header of geopolitics.Now that we know a bit about what geopolitics covers, let’s look at what it doesn’t.Did you know that there is a whole other article written about geopolitics in Asia?What Geopolitics Isn’tMoney makes the world go ‘round â€" John Kander and Fred Ebb, from CabaretThere are tons of quotes, such as the one above, about money but, interestingly enough, a country’s economy has little to do with its geopolitical status.A country’s economy depends on many factors, some of which also determine its geopolitical posit ion and its role in global governance. Human and natural resources top that list.If there is nothing to work with or, conversely, nobody to perform work, the economy will not grow â€" and that country will not be able to exert as much political power in the region.Social and political factors also weigh heavily on a country’s economy.Not allowing a segment of the population to work and forcing retirement at an age where one could still be productive undercuts the available pool of labour, a condition for which the economy suffers.The trading of goods is an important part of international relations so, if a country has few goods to trade or cannot afford to trade without tariffs, its geopolitical position would be weaker than nations who do have a strong economy.One more way that a country’s economy plays a role in geopolitics: being able to provide for her citizens.Venezuela’s currently destabilised economy is a dramatic example of collapse that drives people to flee to other countries.We examined the Venezuelan crisis in depth in our article on geopolitics in Latin America.Such a case would be a perfect set-up for a vicious cycle: people flee to a nation with a stronger economy, which they then contribute to by finding work and paying taxes, making that country’s economy even stronger.Countries with a strong economy have the ability to build military power which gives them more clout in transnational as well as international affairs.Still, because a country’s economy is meant to satisfy the needs and desires of that nation’s people, it has no consideration in international politics.Today's Belt and Road initiatives is less about political economy than global leadership Image by Konevi from PixabayExamples of Geopolitical InitiativesThe simplest definition of geopolitics is political power linked to geographical location.To give you a good idea of how geopolitics affect countries’ foreign affairs, we put two well-publicised instances of world pol itics under the microscope.The rise of China as a world power led to global security concerns; whether they are well-founded remains to be seen.However, China’s Belt and Road initiative, a plan to connect that Asian superpower with three other continents by land and sea, serves to present China as an arbiter of world peace and security.The grand strategy behind these multiple infrastructure projects in Europe, Africa and Latin America is to promote trade while advancing China’s diplomacy across the globe.You can learn more about this ambitious project’s impact from our geopolitics in Africa article.The intended consequence of this international system is to reconfigure the global balance of power so that that Asian nation may claim a larger share than world powers had previously accorded it.With China well on its way to becoming a great power, the U.S. senses their global hegemony slipping away.Uneasy over the subtle shift of power, the Obama Administration announced it’s Pi vot to Asia plan, in which meagre peacekeeping forces kept in Asia would be augmented to full military contingents.This was done in an effort to contain China’s peaceful rise, all while protecting American allies Japan and the Philippines from a possible military threat from their much larger neighbour.International studies have concluded that the Pivot to Asia initiative did nothing to stop China’s rise as a global power.However, it did much to reinforce that nation’s grip on the South China Seas, even to the extent that China built military outposts on formerly deserted islands.Not all geopolitical initiatives have a catchy name.During the Cold War, containment was the strategy applied to the former Soviet Union to halt the spread of communism. After the fall of that regime, Russia painstakingly rebuilt its infrastructure and reasserted its century-long ties to the Middle East.Russia’s role as a conflict resolution orchestrator in Syria and Afghanistan has no snappy title, partly because Mr Putin prefers less scrutiny of his global politics.The other reason is that the Middle East is both strategically and economically important to Russia: it benefits that country to improve relations between themselves and those nations through which their pipelines run.Discover the many ways those pipelines impact geopolitics in Russia.What Brexit represents to those who are working or studying abroad is still an open geopolitical question Image by Stux from PixabayThe Geopolitics of BrexitFinally, we come close to home!As you might have learned from this article or from studying geopolitics around the world, virtually everything one people (think 'Jihadist') or government does sends ripples â€" if not outright shockwaves around the world.We need only to look at events following the Cold War for proof.The tension between competing powers (China and the U.S.), the use of force in the Middle East and emerging powers such as Russia, plying heretofore unseen soft power and economic clout in regions traditionally overlooked.All of this competition is taking place against a backdrop of rising nationalism.Over the last decade, shifts in power and international development have clashed against international security concerns, causing foreign relations to deteriorate... or, at least, cloak themselves in mistrust.Sometimes, it is just best to pull back, right? Take oneself out of the fray and reassess where priorities lie for that country and that population.Three years ago, our country put that question to its citizens: would our interests be better served remaining in the European Union or would we fare better without?Whether we like our Brexit hard or soft, leaving the European Union is already causing substantial geopolitical concerns.Those great powers, Germany and France, have a strong influence in Brussels; our most advantageous exit may depend on how favourably they see our role in international institutions and how generous they are in their t rade agreements.No man is an island; neither is any nation-state.Barring the fact that our country is indeed an island, we will nevertheless have to find our place in today’s world order once we are no longer a part of Europe.That is going to take a lot of studying global trends and rethinking our position. Which countries would work best with our international policy? Once separated from Europe, where would our rivalries lie?To understand our position better, we really need to delve deeply into the geopolitics of Europe.For further reading on the topics presented in this article, you may enjoy these pages:TopicWeb AddressBrexithttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/18/england-eu-referendum-brexit https://warsawinstitute.org/brexit-geopolitical-perspective/Pivot to Asiahttps://thegeopolitics.com/the-south-china-sea-disputes-and-the-pivot-to-asia/The Belt and Road Initiativehttps://thegeopolitics.com/geopolitical-and-economic-implications-of-the-belt-and-road-initiative /Geopolitical mapshttps://geopoliticalfutures.com/the-geopolitics-of-2017-in-4-maps/