Learn Spanish With the Help of Games

Learn Spanish With the Help of GamesEnglish to Spanish learning games are available in the market and this is one way of learning how to speak Spanish. This way of learning helps one to know all the parts of language in a shorter period of time. By getting the complete knowledge of the language, one can avail different job opportunities that come with it.There are many games that are available which are meant for the use of learning Spanish in different ways. For those who want to learn Spanish by playing them, they can choose the many games available in the internet which are specially designed for this purpose. There are a lot of websites that provide you with the games that can be used for any reason and are useful for this purpose. These games are available in different levels so you can also choose the one which suits your learning needs.Another advantage of these games is that it helps you learn in an easy manner. It helps you to speak Spanish with ease and it will help you und erstand every aspect of the language. This way of learning gives a feel of the other country also. By playing these games, you will get the feel of its language and also of other languages.While you learn by using games, you will also get the experience of listening to the Spanish language without going to a school or university for it. You can listen to the language while sitting comfortably in your house or when you are on a road in the countries. This is a great way of teaching in short periods of time.The biggest advantage of this kind of learning is that it is a better alternative for those who have limited time in their hands for learning. The use of games helps you learn in a short term period rather than making use of prolonged lessons with the help of books and lectures.Ifyou want to learn in an easy manner, then there are lots of games that are available that are meant for this purpose. They help you to gain the feeling of Spanish easily and to get the full knowledge of th e language. These games can also be played in online mode, which helps you to get the complete experience of the language.By choosing the best games, you can easily learn Spanish by playing the games. There are many websites which offer you the option of downloading these games in a variety of formats. Once you download the games, you can practice it as often as you want.

Learn Dutch With Dutch Books And Newspapers

Learn Dutch With Dutch Books And Newspapers Reading Dutch Newspapers And Books To Maintain Your Fluency ChaptersImportance of Retaining the LanguageReading Dutch Books in the Original and Official LanguageA Good Newspaper To Help You Retain Your Language SkillsFree Language Learning Techniques For LiteratureSo you have decided to learn Dutch, taken some lessons and can even confidently communicate. Now what? Well, aside from learning the language one of the other common issues is making sure that you retain the language once you have learnt it. Now if you live in the Netherlands, Suriname, Aruba or Dutch Antilles where Dutch is natively spoken.Then you won’t have to worry too much, it is likely that throughout your day you are having to use the language which will work to keep it fresh in your mind. But if you are learning Dutch and living in a country that speaks another native language, then you will need to keep working on your fluency to ensure that you don’t lose your language level or confidence.When you have worked hard to learn a language, it can seem like a good idea to ju st move on to the next goal. But remember that speaking a language especially fluently is an ongoing goal that you have to continue to maintain regularly.For example, do you remember how long it took you to learn English or your mother tongue to a fluent level? It was perhaps 6-7 years on average, and you had permanent teachers (your parents or guardians). On top of that, you were completely immersed in the culture, and the language surrounded you. Every person, school, shows on TV or music were in your mother tongue. I assure you that if you stopped living in your native country and stopped speaking your mother tongue for a year. It would no longer be so easy to express yourself eloquently and fluently.Watch movies in Dutch to learn quickly. Amazon Netherlands here.The Tea Lords are the popular book by Hella S. Haasse available in Dutch and English. This is a book about the Dutch plantations and follows a wealthy landowner whose life is slowly unravelling. Haasse was born in Indone sia but moved to the Netherlands and has become a widely famous author there. Her first book was published in 1945 so she is considered a classical author and her work are well known. You can find this book in all places where books are sold.Harry Mulisch is an international bestselling Dutch author of many books with one of his most famous being The Discovery of Heaven. This book is available in both English and Dutch and focuses on the twentieth-century trauma through the eyes of a full spectrum of philosophical and suspenseful emotions. The Dutch version of the book can be purchased from Amazon Netherlands for your Kindle here. It is also available where the book is sold online.Find Dutch lessons in London here.A good newspaper can help you to retain your language skills. Photo Source: UnsplashA Good Newspaper To Help You Retain Your Language SkillsIf you find books to be too intimidating at this stage in your language training, then you could try to read Dutch newspapers. Of cou rse, this can be a challenge if you do not currently reside in a Dutch-speaking country. But thanks to the internet you can easily find free online Dutch newspapers that will provide a bite-sized reading for you on all of the days of the week.Also, the advantage of reading the news over reading books is that you will learn a lot about Dutch culture, Dutch history and indeed the general goings on. You may also get news on your home country which will give you a fresh spin on your own local news. So lets read the newspaper and fast-track our Dutch.De VolkskrantThis newspaper offers national and international news and has a light-hearted voice.https://www.volkskrant.nl/NRC HandelsbladThis paper has a more serious business focus and also includes culture such as the arts and book reviews https://www.nrc.nl/The Financieele DagbladThis newspaper is the Dutch financial times, so this is the one to read for all things finance.https://fd.nl/TrouwIs a long-running paper founded in the second world war, it is clear and very reader-friendly when learning Dutch. https://www.trouw.nl/Get to read and learn dutch via books. Photo Source: UnsplashFree Language Learning Techniques For LiteratureAdding some new methods to your foreign language routine is essential. Here are some tips to help you when learning Dutch as a second language.Read your Dutch book or Dutch newspaper and highlight new words, words that you find difficult or words that you can not read.With the new Dutch words you can make a vocabulary tree.Draw the trees trunk and some branches.Write your new Dutch word on a leaf and stick it to your tree.Read out loud.Reading out loud allows you to hear yourself and increase your reading fluency.Practice reading to Dutch person and ask them for an evaluation.Download the corresponding audiobook to go with your book.Listening to the audiobook if it is available and read along with the speaker's This helps your pronunciation and conversational skills stay sharp.Practice r eading then rewriting what you rememberPractising your comprehension while learning Dutch will help you to retain more of the languageExtract a sentence and write the following paragraph in your own wordsTake your favourite phrase from the text and then build on it in the Dutch languageExtract an expression and practice saying it in the different verb tensesFor example, if your sentence is 'he is walking' you can change the tense to the past 'he walked' and check for any mistake which are really just opportunities to improve.Get interactive; Join or create a Dutch book club/reading group for Dutch language learners and Dutch natives.Join a Dutch social group on Facebook and create your own language family. Have a conversation with the people there and even share what you are reading about in your Dutch books.This is an example of a free online group that focuses on Dutch learning experience - https://www.facebook.com/learndutch.org/If you enjoy reading the newspaper or a good book, why not pick up a Dutch edition next time and even if you find it challenging you can always use a Dutch dictionary to support your reading. No matter what you do to diversify your learning and development when learning the language. Dutch books and newspapers can be a great resource to integrate into your language learning program and routine.While learning Dutch is challenging the Dutch culture is rich with opportunities to support your learning and delve into new art forms. The Dutch language is a fantastic language, spoken by more than 23 million Dutch people, so you will always have a considerable number of people to talk to. Even if you cannot get to the countries themselves, you can still meet native speakers of Dutch online which is also the best way to access new content that you may not know about.

Budgeting for Beijing

Budgeting for Beijing How Much Does it Cost to Visit Beijing? ChaptersHow Can You Find Cheap Flights to Beijing from the UK?Unavoidable Expenses when Travelling to BeijingThe Cost of Transport in BeijingThe Cost of Tourist Attractions in Beijing“If you expect great things of yourself and demand little of others, you’ll keep resentment far away.” - ConfuciusWhether you’ve visited Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, and Taiwan or not, there’s always China’s capital city, Beijing, which literally means the capital of the north.  China’s capital city is home to 21.54 million people, has a metropolitan area 4 times the size of New York, and has over 5 million cars driving around it.For two people on a modest budget, you can expect to pay around £35 per day per person for accommodation, £15 each day eating in restaurants, and £300- £400 for return flights from the UK (if you travel at the right time), and £200 for high speed trains if you decide to travel elsewhere in the country (Beijing-Xi’an, Xi’an-Shanghai, Shanghai-Guangzhou).H ere’s how much you can expect to pay for a short stay in Beijing?In this article, we'll look at how you can find cheap flights, the expenditures you won't be able to avoid, the cost of transport around Beijing, and how much you can expect to spend on tourist attractions.Learn Mandarin London from this trusted site. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Can You Find Cheap Flights to Beijing from the UK?Are you interested in Chinese culture, history, food, or just the c ountry itself?You best get to comparing the costs of flights then...If you travel at the right time, getting to China doesn't cost a fortune. (Source: Free-Photos)The first thing you need to consider when travelling to Beijing on a budget is the cost of flights:From which airports can you travel to Beijing on a budget?Which airlines offer the best prices?How much are domestic flights once you get to China?If you’re flexible on dates, retired, freelancer, or having a sabbatical, get yourself on Skyscanner and find when the cheapest flights to Beijing are.Of course, Skyscanner isn’t the only site. There’s also Momondo and plenty of sites for comparing the prices of hotels in Beijing.The People's Republic of China is made up of 23 provinces, 4 municipalities, 5 autonomous regions, and two special administrative regions: Beijing is one of the municipalities and even though the cost of living in China is quite low, the capital isn’t cheap.On Skyscanner, you can find return flight s for as little as £300.  You can also check out Holiday Pirates for cheap deals.  The comparison site Momondo also has cheap flights to Beijing in the low season.Once you get to China, you might need to get internal flights. A flight from Beijing to Canton will cost around £280 in August, £100 to get to Nanjing, £160 Guilin, and £120 for Shanghai.Unavoidable Expenses when Travelling to BeijingWhen we say “unavoidable expenses”, we’re talking about things that you’re definitely going to have to pay for.Given the size of Beijing, there's no lack of accommodation. (Source: zhjsun)In this case, we’re referring to food and accommodation.Staying in Beijing can cost a lot and accommodation can cost between £500 and £2000 for a month in the city centre.  Of course, this is for longer stays (working or studying abroad, for example) and this price will vary depending on how close you are to the city centre and the comforts you can afford.  For short stays, you can find inter active maps on Airbnb and HomeAway, for example. After all, Beijing is huge.In some cases, any money saved on accommodation will be lost on public transport.Prices can vary massively. For example, you can find youth hostels (with beds in dormitories) for £15- £20 per night and private holiday flats costing between £200 and £300 a night!Don’t forget that accommodation in the very centre of Beijing is quite expensive.  For short stays, you can get accommodation in the Sanlitun neighbourhood and there are plenty of amenities such as hotels, guest houses, bars, restaurants, and modern shopping centres.Accommodation costs between £40 and £60 up to £100 per day for two people.  This means you’ll be paying £20 to £30 each but it’s alright since your other expenses will be lower.When it comes to food, Beijing, like many of Asia’s biggest cities, is an open-air restaurant!  Jiumen Xiaochi and the Guije Street Night Market are some of the most popular places to eat authentic C hinese food in the city.You can eat for between £5 and £10 a day each. This would only add up to between £75 and £150 for a fortnight.The Cost of Transport in BeijingSince the Chinese capital is absolutely huge, you’re going to have to factor in the cost of transport.It’s a 30-minute walk from Tienanmen Square and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong to the old city and the Forbidden City.Bicycles are the quintessential way of travelling around China. (Source: 12019)How much you use public transport will also depend on your budget.  To go from one district to another, you can use the metro, bus, taxi, bike, or walk. Cycling and walking can be enjoyable but not during days where pollution is at its highest. While the Chinese government is trying to curb pollution, overpopulation and industrialisation are working against them.Find out more about Beijing's different districts.Between 5:10 and 23:40, you can take the metro’s 18 lines connecting 370 stations. Expect to pay between 3 and 9 Yuans (between £0.35 and £1.00) depending on the distance covered for one of the world’s cheapest metros.While buses only cost between 1 and 6 Yuans ( £0.12 and £0.70), traffic jams are common.There are 68,000 taxis in Beijing and hailing a cab isn’t difficult. It’ll cost you 10 Yuans for the first three kilometres and 2 Yuans for each kilometre after that. You’ll also be charged for standing time in traffic jams.Make sure you take official taxis with a meter and a licence.You’ll need between £250 and £350 per person if you plan on taking China’s high-speed trains. If you want to head to the centre of China, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan, Yangshuo, Tianjin, Suzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an, or Shenzhen, trips in China are long and costly.In any case, avoid trying to travel during the Chinese New Year when it’ll be packed and expensive.Find out more about the best time to visit Beijing.The Cost of Tourist Attractions in BeijingOnce you get to Beijing, you can visit T iananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the ancient imperial city of the Ming and Qing dynasty, and plenty of UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The Great Wall of ChinaThe Jingâ€"Hang Grand CanalThe Summer PalaceThe Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing DynastiesThe site of Peking Man, dating between 730,000 and 300,000 ago.The Temple of HeavenThe imperial tombs of the Ming and Qing dynastiesThe Miaoying TempleIf you go to Beijing, you have to take the time to go visit the Great Wall of China. (Source: gmshtwjl)You can expect to pay between £150 and £600 for activities and between £150 and £400 for bars, nights out, etc.This is a budget based on two people spending a fortnight in China with:A visit to the Great Wall of China from Beijing: £50 each.Visiting tourist sites in Beijing: £35 per monument.Souvenirs, gifts, etc.: £1.50 per item.Buying items in upmarket stores: £25 per item.Packets of cigarettes: £10 per packet.Visiting a café or bar: £3.50 each.Other Chinese cities, such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, etc. tend to be cheaper than Beijing with the exception of Hong Kong and Shanghai. It all depends on your budget and what you do.Are you staying for a while?Make the most of your time in China by getting Mandarin Chinese lessons!  Before you go to China, consider getting private tutorials in Mandarin Chinese. On Superprof, there are three types of language tutorials available: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.Face-to-face tutorials are bespoke lessons with one tutor and one student. As the only student in the class, this is the most cost-effective type of private tutorial. Your tutor can spend all their time focusing on you, rather than having their attention split between you and other students. In most cases, the tutor will travel to you.Online tutorials are similar with the main difference being that the private tutor isn't there with you in the room. Thanks to the internet and programmes such as Skype, you ca n learn Chinese from anywhere with a decent internet connection and from tutors from anywhere in the world. Your Chinese language tutor may even be in China! With no travel costs and fewer expenses, the tutor can pass their savings onto their students.Finally, group tutorials are closer to traditional lessons at school with multiple students and a single teacher. This is usually the cheapest type of tutorial since the cost of the tutor's time will be shared amongst all the students in attendance. If you and your family or friends are planning a trip to China, you could all get Chinese lessons together from a tutor before you go.Each type has its pros and cons so it's up to you and your budget to decide which type of private tutorials you want.

How To Learn Drums For Free

How To Learn Drums For Free Learn About Percussion Without Paying A Penny! ChaptersDiscover The Drums While Attending A FestivalStudying To Be A DrummerLearn To Play The Drums With Free Sheet MusicTake Free Drum LessonsThe ability to tap your hand and be able to make your own music is very empowering and connects with us all on a deeper level. Because everyone claps their hands or taps their fingers on the table to the beat. The beginner's desire to learn drums is quite high The drum seems like the physical representation of our own natural tendencies.This certainly translates since the drum does seem to attract more and more followers.  This is perhaps because it can be used with all musical styles and sound amazing, from pop, rock to metal, through jazz and hip-hop, the drums are never far away. But unlike some other instruments, the entry level to playing the drum is costly to buy and maintain (change of skins, purchase drumsticks, drumming lessons). Learning to save money with this instrument is very useful, so how can a beginner drummer save while lear ning how to play the drum rudiments, rhythms and drum beats? Here are some tips for you to learn how to play the drums for free.To progress in drum on the Internet, it is possible with determination. Photo Source: Unsplash SerbanDrum Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyDrum Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RussellDrum Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesDrum Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StephenDrum Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeteDrum Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OllieDrum Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexDrum Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDiscover The Drums While Attending A FestivalDisclaimer! You do actually have to pay entrance fees to get into most festivals. But with more and more events popping up around the UK and Europe they are a great value way to gain access to other drummers and have a meaningful learning experience. Sometimes even watching professional drummers and their different techniques can be inspirational and motivating. Observation in many cases is worth more than a  Drumming lesson, especially when you have already reached a certain level and have an understanding of what it is that you are seeing.The Top Regular FestivalsThe UK drum show - Is a Manchester-based festival where everything is dedicated to the mighty Many percussionists attend this event, and it is an excellent introduction to the drum if you are a beginner to the instrument. This is a great place to get information and meet like-minded people.Bag'Show Drum Festival in Paris - Is a Paris based festival which is like a trade show and workshop in one. This one is also dedicated to the drums, and they have everything that you need to get started from drum sheet music to drumming lessons. This is a fantastic pl ace to take a free drum class and learn some new drum patterns.The London Drum Show - As the name says this show is in London, UK and is a whole weekend dedicated to the drums. It has masterclasses where you can learn about the hi-hat, eighth notes, sixteenth note and drum beats. Performance is also plentiful and hosted by industry professionals and other artists. They even have other percussion instruments displayed in an exhibition of the drum through history.The Drums Summit Festival - The purpose of this festival is the sharing passion for music and especially the drum. It has run every year for the last 18 years, and it’s a fantastic family event. It has free drumming classes, free lessons where any beginner can learn to play.Drummers Festival - This is a Belgian festival which has already run more than 25 times. If you visit this festival, you will get to attend concerts and masterclasses. The last festival was this year (2018) and honoured drummers and musicians T. Lang and V. Donati,Drum Fest - this festival has run every year since 2012, This festival has a fun twist, which is that the attendees get to enter into a competition to showcase their skillsFestivals are a great way to explore and expand your drumming knowledge. Although you have to pay a cover charge to enter, the entry does allow you to discover drumming novelties regarding the bass drum, the electric drum, the snare drum, conga and other drums which all produce very different styles of music.  The free classes with the drumming teachers and drumming instructor will be invaluable to your practice. The great thing is that you can feel free to explore the show and ask questions to improve yourself based on your perspective.Studying To Be A DrummerStudying music at school is an excellent opportunity to deepen your musical and instrumental knowledge. If the school isn't free for you, then you may be able to get a free grant to help with the costs. When you are studying music, it will follow a program which will prepare you for being a professional drummer.The benefits of studying the drums at school are numerous. Taking up drums at school will be a great idea for a few reasons.You will save money on buying the instruments, and the entire drum kit as all facilities will be provided at schoolYou can use the school recording studio to practice and not disturb others but also to record yourself and track your progress, and you continue to learn.The teacher at music school are often professional musicians, and so they can pass on their knowledge and advice to help you shape yourself as an artist.You will have access to playing live events with your schoolIf you are young, the biggest benefit is that it is totally free to study at school. Make the most of it as when you have graduated it might cost from £25 per hour to follow your interest.While in school you need to take every opportunity to learn new things about the drum and develop your personal drumming style.   If you don’t do your best to gain as many skills as you can while you are studying, then you will have to pay for it later. This is up to you to decide, the faster you learn, and the better you become, the more opportunities that you are going to have in the future. If you dream of being the drummer for a large band one day, now is the time to prepare yourself to step into those shoes. Being a musician is definitely about raw talent, but it is also hugely based on training and understanding music as a whole. Not just your drum or your drum beats, to make it as a professional you need to be able to see the big picture.While studying you may not get to learn the music that you are interested in, one year you may be learning about a popular piece of jazz such as  Birdland.  The next year you might be learning about classical music with a revival  of Vivaldi's  Four Seasons  by Max Richter. If you are a professional artist, you should be able to play and practice every style of music so be patient. Once you have learnt what it is that you need to learn about how to compose, play and create music you will graduate and be free to create the music that you love.In any case,  trying and practising different musical styles  can only be beneficial for a drummer. Truly being Interested in different things is what allows you to  develop your creativity.  This is why music schools ask students to study historical and culturally relevant artists.Now coming to the part that could be free for you, because if you are a drummer that is not in attendance in a music school, you could advertise to join or support a group that attends the school, and you would then be able to get free training with the other members of your band.If you cannot read music you are musically illiterate. Photo Source: UnsplashLearn To Play The Drums With Free Sheet MusicWhen you first start to learn drums, it is advisable to practice  with the rhythmic solfeggio learning style.  It is much easier than tradi tional music theory, and it would be a shame to deprive yourself of a tool that facilitates the fundamental task of improving when you have to learn music.On the Sheet music, the notes represent the elements of the drum.  If you can learn how to read the notes and placements on the sheet music, you will have developed the fundamental skills to needed to improve upon you drumming notation. Remember learning to read music is important and it has many benefits such as:Sheet music is the same no matter which instrument you play.You have options, you can read tab music or sheet music.Tab music is specialised to the drum and is a simple form of line notation. It's great because it shows you which drum to play and when to play it.Sheet music is specialised to music, not just to the drum. It's great because once you learn to read sheet music, you can use the same skill for all instruments.To read notes on your sheet music is to  learn the language of the musicians.  This will make it easier for you to communicate with other members of your band. Also the musical community as a whole.There are several free sheet music websites which are dedicated to supporting the community and musicians:Muse Score - This website has been created by 3 musicians from different countries in Europe, who decided to set up a musical community to support fellow musicians to have access to free sheet music. It is a great community where contributors upload their sheet music to share with the artists on the site. This website is very organised and easy to get around, it also has hundreds if not thousands of pieces of sheet music.8 Notes - makes it easy to find many free sheet music. You can search for music by musical genre or instrument. This site has other free resources too.Musopen - is a well-organised website which gives you access to thousands of pieces of sheet music and it is all free for the music community as a whole.Professional Drummers read sheet music, so you decide. Photo Source : UnsplashTake Free Drum LessonsBeyond learning through educational institutions, festivals and the free options listed above, here are some tips for taking free drum lessons.Music Association and music school test classes:  From June to September, Music and Drumming schools open their doors to attract new students, often will give sample classes for free.  You will be able to benefit from a free class with other students to gain knowledge and tips here and there.Have a mentor on drums:  If you have a big family or wide circle of friends there has to be 1 musician who might like to take some time to help you. You can take an informal lesson with your drummer uncle or your father's best friend.  Sometimes you do not have to look too far.  The world of music is above all synonymous with sharing, and many musicians will feel flattered to be asked.Service Exchange Platforms:  Offering something that you have in exchange for something that you want. This is the exchange system at its bes t. Cleaning, Admin, DIY, gardening, there are lots of tasks that you can offer to do to help someone. If you can find a musician that needs that help, you will be able to exchange your services for free and make a new friend in the process. A great service for this is called HelpxYouTube tutorials: It takes a bit of motivation, but in reality, you can learn the drums completely Video creators offer detailed and full-length videos for free online. Take a look at the Cifraclub Now their channel is in Portuguese, but it is an amazing channel.   They have created a visual system to play any instrument. If you search for drums, all of the drum videos will come up, and you can follow them.The key to decipher Cifra Club tablature, it is a little different as they are using a Portuguese system, but you have the key below and should be able to follow along.Cr = crash cymbal,Ri = ride cymbal,Ch = Charleston (HH in English),Cx = snare drum (SD in English)T1 = tom alto (also seen as TA or HT),T 2 = tom medium (also seen as TM or MT),Su = low tom (also noted as TB or FT or even F),Bu = bass drum (BD in English).Multiple methods exist to learn an instrument for free.  But having free resources doesn’t mean anything unless you are will to actually use them. Thus your motivation and focus is the key to getting the most from these tools. What was your favourite method for learning the drums?

Ask an Admissions Expert Dr. Carol Langlois

Ask an Admissions Expert Dr. Carol Langlois Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Dr. Carol Langlois has over 17 years of experience in higher education admissions and recruiting. She has been on the admissions boards for many schools including the University of San Francisco and also holds a Doctorate in Education. Dr. Langlois has handled all aspects of the admissions process and reviewed thousands of applications during her time in past positions as well as her time as an independent admissions consultant. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Carol: Families are starting the college search process earlier and earlier. I recommend that as a family you start the college conversation during the end of the sophomore year to gear up your teen for the junior year search. I use January of the junior year as the starting point. I find that telling families slow and steady wins the race helps them think through this process. We basically have one year to help you and your teen put his or her best foot forward, the finish line being December or January of their senior year. VT: What are the best ways to go about selecting a terrific essay topic? Carol: Look at a bunch of college essays from the year before to familiarize yourself with what the schools will be looking for. That way you wont be surprised when you actually start your applications. As a rule of thumb, I recommend to students that they think about their best English paper. Pull it out, read again and remember why it was your best paper. Then, keep that in mind when writing the essays for the colleges you have selected. A lot of times, I find students becoming very conservative with their essays. Writing about what they think colleges want to see. I start with students by having them brainstorm; having them think outside the box when it comes to some of these questions, then create an outline, which will build into an essay. Dont think a perfect finished product will happen in one session. You need to go back to these essays and reread, and rediscover. I guarantee the way your essay looks at the beginning of this process is not the way it will look in the end. VT: Are there any essay topics you get tired of seeing or would warn students to stay away from? Carol: I wouldnt say there are specific essay topics, but there are formulated ways of writing. Many students start an essay with a quote, reflect upon how it has related to them in their life, and then at the end, somehow bringing things back to the meaning of the quote. Yes, there is a time and a place for an essay like this, but it needs to match with the proper essay question. I would suggest that students think outside the box, get creative. Admissions teams will remember you not for playing it safe, but for sharing something very real, very funny, very interesting very you. When you read a well-written essay, it is as if the individual is right in front of you. You get an understanding for who they are. Thats what admissions people are looking for. VT: What is the biggest mistake a student can make on a college application? Carol: Some of the top mistakes I see would be (in no particular order): Not paying attention to the word count requested by a college. Mentioning a different colleges name in the essay. Just plain laziness. Meaning, they dont thoroughly reread their work, watch for spelling and edit. I highly encourage students to bring their final essays to their English teacher and have him/her take a final look through to help with structure, flow and clarity. VT: What is the typical process an admissions officer goes through to evaluate applications? Carol: I cant say that all colleges have the same process because it really depends on the size of the institution and the size of the admissions staff. Generally, the admissions counselors/recruiters work a specific region. Here, he/she will recruit in that region, visit those high schools, and conduct presentations. They will then follow-up and communicate with the interested applicants from that region. That counselor tends to be the one to take the initial look through your file and make sure that it is complete. They may rate or rank the individual based on that colleges specific system and make a recommendation to either the director or the Dean, depending upon who makes final decisions. That individual (the director or the Dean) will reevaluate the applications taking into consideration the counselors suggestions and from there here he/she will make the final decision on who is admitted. They will most likely be the individuals deciding upon the scholarship awarding. Other sch ools may review files as a committee. Those committees can be made up of staff as well as faculty. VT: What do you think is the single most important thing a student should make sure they present in the best possible way on their application? Carol: Just be honest, and be yourself. Make sure to be consistent in how you respond to the questions. Make sure your answers and major choice match your interests. Follow the directions carefully and make sure everything is complete before submitting! VT: How should students go about determining the culture of a university, and whether they would be a good fit? Carol: The only way to know the true culture of the college is by visiting. Yes, you should first do your due diligence and read the guides and college-board site. Learn about the students, majors, activities, etc., but not until you step foot on that campus, will you truly know if its a good fit. There are intangibles that cannot be learned by looking at a website or by reading a brochure. I would encourage you to tour the campus, meet with admissions people, attend a classroom lecture, and stay overnight (if offered) by the institution. Talk to as many students on campus as possible and see why they like their institution. Seek out people in your hometown who attended your top choice institutions and asked them about their experiences. VT: Early-action, early-decision, binding/non-binding, regular decisions...With so many choices when applying, what do you recommend to students? Carol: Im personally not a big fan of early action or early decision. I dont like to see a student put his/her eggs all in one basket, so to speak. Not to mention that you may feel differently after visiting all the campuses. If you apply early decision, you are informing the institution that if accepted, you will attend. All other applications must be pulled. What if you come to find out that you dont like the cultures, the extracurriculars, the students? Then youre stuck. Also, keep in mind that you cannot successfully negotiate a financial aid package when you apply early action or early decision. Since colleges know that they are your number 1 choice, they can offer you less aid. Whereas if you applied during regular admissions, you can review all your acceptances collectively, visit campuses, call the institutions and see about your aid and inquire about other scholarship opportunities. I personally think that is the better route. VT: How important are grades and standardized test scores when admissions decisions are being made? Carol: Grades and standardized tests are very important for college admissions. Keep your high school GPA solid, meaning, colleges dont want to see you as a C student one semester and then an A student another. Practice, practice, practice when it comes to taking the ACT or the SAT. Schools want to tout very high SAT and ACT scores. This gives them higher rankings and more opportunity to be selective. VT: What tips do you have for students asking their teachers for letters of recommendation? Carol: Make sure the teacher knows you very well. Ask them for the recommendation in person. Also, you may want to provide them with some general highlights from your high school career since they may not know some of your involvements, prior to when you were a student of theirs. Also, dont hit them up last minute for a recommendation. I suggest that you secure that recommender early on. There is nothing worse for a teacher then being bombarded by 10 to 20 students, all asking for a letter of recommendation at the same time. Be sensitive to the time involved with writing a good letter of recommendation. Again, talk to them early on in the process so they have more time to think about the letter. Remember, your recommender doesnt need to be the most impressive person from your town. They need to be someone who truly believes in you, knows you firsthand, and can speak to your character. Trust me, it is very easy to detect the level of involvement between recommender and student based o n how the recommender writes the letter. The more in-depth, more intimate, more impassioned, tells admissions teams that they truly know you and believe in you and your success. For more information, contact Dr. Carol Langlois at drclanglois@gmail.com.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Choosing Cooking Classes Or an Individual Tutor

Choosing Cooking Classes Or an Individual Tutor How To Pick The Course Best-Suited To You ChaptersAn Overview To Finding Cooking Lessons In Your AreaWhat Are Your Cooking Goals?Gifting A Course To Someone Else GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAn Overview To Finding Cooking Lessons In Your AreaFinding cooking classes and choosing the best tutor  to learn about gastronomy from are two very different stories.By now, you have probably found some information about the available cooking courses in your area, but now it is time to choose one! For some, the decision may be made for them immediately for financial reasons, whilst for others, it may be harder to narrow down the selection. Aside from the cost of hiring a cooking tutor or attending a class, there's a few other key things to be on the lookout for when considering a cookery school of any type.One thing I will say is that you should consider not only the nature of the course, i.e. if it has a particularly interesting angle (like focusing on French cuisine, Italian dishes, sushi making, or making pasta, for instance), but you should also take some time to familiarise yourself with the person running the class.While your one-to-one teaching time will be more limited on a group course, where the tutor will have to work their way around the room answering numerous queries (in some cooking classes London, the instructor might only have time to offer a demonstration with no pupil interaction at all), a private cooking lesson will mean much more time spe nt learning from your leader.As such, I would suggest that you speak to the individual on the phone or in person before you attend a class or, if your tutor is well-known in the food service industry, you might like to see if you can find videos or live feeds of them in the kitchen cooking. What are their combined teaching and cooking techniques like?Feedback and recommendations from past pupils is also a fantastic way to figure out how much you might gain from your first experience at culinary school, while it can also tell you how the tuition is conducted (including how much pupil-teacher time to expect).The chef might be gentle and soothing, loud and intimidating or somewhere in between, so think about the style of classroom you'd prefer to be in. Do you really want to be grilled in the kitchen on your first culinary class?What Are Your Cooking Goals?While you may have thought to yourself how nice it would be to learn to cook with a professional chef, have you really considered w hat exactly it is about cooking with the chef that appeals to you?Is it the idea of being taught how to cook a particular dish to the level and class of a renowned chef, so that you can then go on to recreate the dish and impress your dinner party guests? Or is the valuable knowledge that you might gain from watching an expert move around the kitchen, use utensils and hearing their general kitchen tips and tricks that gets you excited?See some cooking classes near me here.You may not get up close and personal with the chef himself, but Jamie Oliver does have his own cooking school. Photo credit: landrovermena on Visual huntThe culinary arts incorporate a number of food disciplines, which are so very different from one another. For instance, if you have links to Thailand and want to learn more about your heritage, i.e. learn how they cook authentic Thai cuisine, then you might be a little disappointed by a beginner's cooking class which may not even branch out to foods of the world.M y message is to sit down and have a good think about what it is you want to achieve by attending a cooking class, and then focus on this important aspect when comparing the classes you have found. Jotting down a list of pros and cons, or doing a comparison of two or more courses might help you to narrow down your choices and find the best one for you.Do You Want to Specify In A Particular Discipline Or Not?As mentioned above, most people will be drawn to a particular type of food or a specific cooking method over all others. Whether that be French cuisine, Italian delicacies, seafood or sushi, for example, there is usually a course closely related to that going on somewhere near you.Of course, if a cooking demonstration is being held at your local church, school or community hall, then don't be put off paying a small entry fee even if it's not a subject that deeply interests you. However, if you are paying a more substantial amount of money on a course (which you are unlikely to wan t to have to pay twice for), then it might be best not to rush into anything and spend more time looking around for a suitable course.Don't forget also that if you can't find a class related to your chosen discipline, there is always the opportunity to hire a private tutor who specialises in the field to help you out. Popular themes for private tuition are cake decorating, making sushi, cooking tapas and pairing wines with food.While some novices may be keen to simply gain a better understanding of fundamental cooking skills, so that they can go on to confidently do home cooking, others might not want to attend a class that doesn't have a memorable or interesting theme. What's more, not all people seeking cooking lessons are complete beginners, so those intermediate level cooks might be looking for more challenging food preparation techniques to satisfy their passion for certain areas of the culinary arts.During your search for courses in the local area, you most likely came across some short-courses focusing on particular themes or disciplines, some of which are  gluten free cooking, vegan cooking, how to make fresh pasta, how to slow-cook stews stuffed with flavor, the art of preparing state of the art sushi, how to create tasty weeknight meals, the secrets of Mediterranean herbs, hearty roast dinners, tuition on how bake artisan bread, vegetarian cooking, traditional Spanish recipes like paella and, last but not least, pastry art like making patisserie-worthy croissants.Other food or sommelier related themes might include wine tastings, how to throw a great dinner party and food and wine pairings.You might like to specialise in preparing seafood dishes. Photo credit: 46137 on VisualhuntGifting A Course To Someone ElseDoes a loved one have a desire to cook, which you would like to fulfil by offering them pre-paid lessons as a gift? Perhaps your son or daughter is very difficult to buy for and you think that cooking lessons would be a great surprise this birt hday or Christmas?Learning to cook is a fabulous skill to acquire for anyone, so I'm sure that your act of kindness will be greatly appreciated, even if it isn't something they would have chosen for themselves.If you aren't sure what the person in question would prefer to focus on in cooking classes, then you have the option to put some money aside so that they themselves can make all of the plans after having done some research. On the other hand, you might like get the planning out of the way for them and be able to present them with a voucher or a booking form to confirm their registration.Many online websites offer experiences to purchase, which often include culinary classes at top schools. You can usually buy these in the form of a voucher, which is later used to book in the desired experience. However, you might prefer to look at specific voucher sites like VoucherCodes.com and Wowcher, who always have great deals on a number of items and experiences.You may want to buy a vou cher for a loved one or send them a virtual voucher as a promise. Photo credit: jules:stonesoup on VisualHunt / CC BYAlternatively, you can go directly to the place of study to arrange a block of sessions as a present. Although you will be held accountable financially, the administrative team will gladly take down the details of the person who will be attending so that any achievements are written out in their name and not yours (just be sure not to put down their email address or phone number and risk ruining the surprise!).Whenever purchasing vouchers or making a deposit for classes, it is wise to check out the company's cancellation policy in case of any issues. It may be, for example, that you have picked the wrong course for that person, that the sessions clash with another commitment or that they simply don't like the idea of learning to cook... either way, you want to make sure that you are covered under all situations.

Good Books Reading Recommendations for High School Students

Good Books Reading Recommendations for High School Students Stephen King said that books are “a uniquely portable magic.” AJ Tutoring is a team of avid readers, but our literary interests vary richly across genre, field, and subject. With that in mind, we’ve crowd-sourced a diverse list of book recommendations from leaders and veteran tutors at AJ Tutoring. The only requirements were that the books be appropriate for high-school-aged readers, and that they not be books that regularly show up on high school reading lists. Fiction and nonfiction, memoir and sci-fiâ€"it’s all here. Take a look and find something new for your student (or you) to enjoy!Under the Eagle by Simon ScarrowRecommended by Andrew HoughtonSimon Scarrow is a Cambridge historian who specializes in Roman history. In his Eagles of the Empire series (currently up to book 17) we follow 2 members of the Roman army in their adventures in the days of Emperor Claudius. As a historian, Scarrow writes books that are very historically accurate. However, they are far from boring with plenty of gripping combats, love interests and political intrigue from the Imperial Palace! This book will get you hooked on the series!The Best Short Stories of O. HenryRecommended by John RichardOHenry captures in vivid detail the lives of Americans around the turn of the century in a highly entertaining and poignant manner. While most of the stories are quite short, they never fail to draw the reader in, and the twist endings would surprise even M. Night Shyamalan. One of the few great American authors who seems to enjoy life and love happy endings. OHenry is a breath of fresh air.Skyward by Brandon SandersonRecommended by Chelsea GreeneA quick science fiction read that is touted as a cross between How to Train Your Dragon and Top Gun, Skyward features a strong female lead and is super fun. It is also a great intro to Brandon Sanderson, whom I cannot recommend enough!Moral Letters to Lucilius by SenecaRecommended by Matthew DownhourThis book is also called Senecas Letters t o Lucilius or Letters from a Stoic. It explains Stoic philosophy but also discusses Epicurus and other ancient philosophers as well. Its a good introduction to philosophical discourse without being boring or too formal. Its also a good introduction to Classical literature and to the Classical world in general, as it makes the Romans seem very human. Finally, its a interesting discussion of form in writing and rhetoricâ€"Lucilius may not have even been a real person, but Seneca chose to publish these letters to him to educate people about his beliefs, so it can start a good discussion of epistolary literature and why letters from one person to might be more interesting or persuasive than a straightforward philosophical treatise.Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Aspergers by  John Elder RobisonRecommended by Elizabeth EmeryJohn Elder Robison wrote an incredible autobiography about his life with Aspergers before there was a name for it. Not only does he provide a unique glimpse into the inner workings of his mind, he also has an absolutely fascinating life. This book is funny, sad, heartwarming, and insightful all rolled into one; its a roller coaster of emotions, but its so, so worth it!Sawbones: The Hilarious, Horrifying Road to Modern Medicine by Justin McElroy Dr. Sydnee McElroyRecommended by Jessica EmbreyI didnt always love history class when I was in school, but who doesnt love the weird, misguided, and gross ideas doctors had throughout the ages about human health? From grave-digging opportunists to over-confident doctors experimenting on themselves to prove a point, this book will appeal to anyone who loves TV medical dramas and historical oddities alike.The Coddling of the American Mind by  Greg Lukianoff Jonathan HaidtRecommended by Matthew GrabowskiNo one is omniscient or infallible, so a willingness to evaluate new ideas is vital to understanding our world. Yet universities, which ought to be forums for open debate, are developing a reputation for d ogmatism and intolerance. Lukianoff and Haidt, distinguished advocates of freedom of expression, offer a deep analysis of whats going wrong on campus, and how we can hold universities to their highest ideals. Steven PinkerAngelas Ashes by Frank McCourtRecommended by Chiranjeevi RaghunathAngelas Ashes offers the truly a fascinating experience of growing up through adolescence through the eyes of a poor Irish Catholic boy. Its a really engaging, thoughtful and hilarious memoir from the late Frank McCourt.The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. DickRecommended by Daniel PincusThis reality-bending science fiction classic takes place in a dystopian version of 1960s San Francisco in which the Axis powers won World War II. When a contraband book that imagines an alternate outcome to the war begins to circulate, the world of the characters and the world of the reader start to swirl together in a meta twist that propels the story forward to a surreal surprise ending. The Man in the High Cas tle is the inspiration for an Amazon series of the same name.Your Body and How it Works by J. D. RatcliffRecommended by Stephen HorabinThis book can be hard to findâ€"check your local library!â€"but is well-worth the effort to track down. In a series of first-person narratives, the organs and systems of the human body are broken down. The writing is great, the sections are relatively short (great for on-the-go and intermittent reading sessions!), and it was one of the first books that got me thinking about becoming a doctor. Great stuff for anyone curious about how we tick!