ことになっている

A plain, non-past verb + ことになっている is used to mean that "something has been decided and the result of that decision is still in effect." In my head I sometimes read it as "It has become that..." because that kinda sounds like a formal way of announcing a new rule or decision that's in place. This grammar point is commonly used in such scenarios, along with stating one's schedule.

授業を休む時は先生に連絡しなくてはいけないことになっているが、忘れてしまった。
It's a rule that if we miss class, we have to contact the teacher, but I forgot.

子どもがこのレストランに入ってはいけないことになっているんだよ。
It's been decided that kids cannot enter this restaurant.

私の家では食事の後、自分が使ったお皿を洗うことになっている。
At home after we eat now, we're supposed to wash the dishes we used ourselves.

その美術館の中時に、写真を取ってはいけないことになっているよ。
It's been decided that you're not supposed to take pictures when you're in the museum.

として to Indicate Role

A noun + として can be used to indicate the role, occupation, or capacity of someone or something. It often functions like the word "as" in English, as in "I was working as a waitress for awhile."

この携帯電話は電話をするだけでなく、カメラとしても使える。
Not only can you use this cell phone for calls, but you can also use it as a camera.

トイレである鏡は赤ちゃんにおもちゃとして効くね。
The mirror in the bathroom also works as a toy for the baby.

私の友達はフランスでファッションモデルとして働いています。
My friend works as a fashion model in France.

部屋である机は収納として使われている。
The desk in my room is used as storage.

More on なら

Previously I learned that なら can be used as a contextual "if" type word, although it can't be used universally to express an if statement. As Tobira says, "it's used when the speaker supposes that something is the case or is true and makes a statement, suggestion, etc. based on that supposition.

の is added before なら if the supposition is based on hearsay, i.e., if the speaker has heard what they're saying from someone or somewhere else.

One difference between なら and たら, another "if" form: The sentence structure [Sentence 1 + (if word) + Sentence 2] is often used. In the case of  なら, the action or event in Sentence 1 does not need to take place before that in Sentence 2. However, when using たら, the action in Sentence 1 does have to take place before that in Sentence 2. An example:

本を読むなら、電気をつけなさい。
If you're going to read a book, turn on the light.

Since the "turn on the light" action would have to take place before the "read a book" action, the たら "if" form could not be used here.

車を運転するのなら、お酒を飲んではいけません。
If it's true that you're driving a car, then you must not drink.

日本語なら、一日中に勉強出来るよ。
If it's Japanese, then I can study all day long.

日本に行くのなら、JRパスを買っておいた方がいいですよ。
If you do go to Japan, then you should buy a JR pass (in preparation).

部屋でゴミがたくさんあるのなら、捨てなきゃよ。
If there really is a lot of trash in your room, you need to throw it away.

それに to Provide Additional Info

それに can be used at the start of a sentence or mid-sentence to mean something like "in addition", "furthermore", "and", or similar types of "additional language." It means that you're about to provide extra info on whatever you were talking about.

日本語を勉強し始めた時、ひらがなとカタカナ、それに漢字を覚えなくてはいけなかったので、とても大変だった。でも、やめなくてよかった。
When I first started studying Japanese, I had to memorize hiragana, katakana, and on top of that, kanji, so it was really tough. But I'm glad I didn't quit.

リーさんはすごくかっこよくて、頭がいいよね。それに富んでるんだよ！
Lee-san is really handsome and smart. And on top of that, he's rich!

そのアルバイトはあまり大変じゃないし、それに給料もいい。
That job's not very difficult, and the pay is good too.

明日仕事では親分にお茶をいれなきゃ。それに昼ごはんを払わなきゃ。
Yesterday at work I had to make tea for my boss. And then I had to pay for his lunch.

型 As a Suffix

The word 型 can be added to a noun or a select few adjectives to function as something meaning "style", "type", "model", "design", or other similar words. It reads as がた when used as a suffix like this.

ドラえもんは、実はネコ型ロボットなんです。知っていましたか？
Doraemon is really just a cat-type robot. Did you know that?

妹の誕生日に ドラゴン型の毛布を作ってあげたんだ。
I made my little sister a dragon-pattern blanket for her birthday.

父は1950年型のキャデラックのクラシックカーを持っています。
My dad has a 1950 style classic Cadillac car.

毎日学校でリーさんは車型の弁当を持っている。
Every day at school, Lee-san has a car-shaped bento.

同じぐらい / くらい

The particle ぐらい / くらい can be used after 同じ to express "approximately the same" or "about the same." The structure is often noun + と同じ + ぐらい / くらい. As a side note, I looked up the usage of ぐらい versus くらい and people stated that they're interchangeable, although ぐらい sounds more colloquial.

今、私が住んでいるアパートの広さは、この部屋と同じぐらいです。
The size of the apartment I'm living in now is about the same as this room.

東京の物価はニューヨークと同じぐらい高い。
Tokyo's prices are about as expensive as New York's.

そのロボットは人間と同じぐらい上手に自転車に乗れる。
That robot can ride a bike about as well as a human.

田中君は僕達と同じぐらいの年だと思うよ。
I think Tanaka-kun and I are about the same age.

他に as "Other Than" or "In Addition To"

A noun + の他に is typically used to mean "in addition to [noun]" or "besides [noun]." It can also be used with verbs and adjectives to mean "in addition to [verb]-ing" or "in addition to being [adjective]", respectively. In some contexts it's used to mean "except for" or "other than."

このクラスにはキムさんの他に韓国語が出来る学生がいますか？
Is there a student in this class who can speak Korean besides Kim?

今日は授業に出る他は、何も予定がない。
Besides going to class today, I don't have any other plans.

日本では、日本語を勉強する他に、色々な所に旅行にも行きたいと思っている。
In Japan, in addition to studying Japanese, I think I also want to go traveling to various places.

週末は宿題がたくさんあったので、勉強の他には何も出来なかった。
I had a lot of homework this weekend, so I couldn't do anything else besides studying.