Best Classes For Grad School Admissions

Best Classes For Grad School Admissions The classes you take outweigh the grades you earn in them or at least thats the case at most grad schools. Grad schools want to see that you challenged yourself academically, instead of just padding your GPA. While most schools still require a strong GPA to be accepted, they pay very close attention to the classes you took. For example, an A in a cooking class like Cuisine 101 can actually hurt your chances of being accepted, and a B (or even a B-) in an Advanced Chemistry class can improve your chances, especially if youre applying to a science program. But, ultimately if you can earn an A in your Advanced Chemistry class, there will be no doubt about your abilities. So, do what it takes: put your prof on speed dial, organize study groups, work with an individual tutor for some one-on-one learning. A tutor might be your best bet, as he/she works closely with grad schools and knows exactly what they are looking for in students and how to help you improve your grades. Other than that, here are some tips to improve your chances of being accepted into grad school with better classes: Take relevant classes: Do some digging to find out what the curriculum is like at the schools youre applying to and mimic it at your undergrad. Take the exact same classes if you can. You can search the Internet for a schools curriculum, ask professors at your undergrad what they think it will be like, reach out to current/former grad students, etc. Ultimately, a student with a 3.3 undergrad GPA in a curriculum similar to the schools has a better chance than one with a 3.8 in irrelevant classes. And most admissions counselors will look that far. Active learning vs passive learning: Theres an old adage saying that you will transition from a consumer of knowledge to a producer of knowledge when you move from undergrad to grad school. So, take as many classes as you can in which you are producing knowledge. Load up on project-oriented classes, labs and field-research classes instead of test-oriented classes because thats how most classes are set up in grad school. Being able to produce a project or case study with academic or practical importance is infinitely more valuable than being able to memorize a lot. Industry conferences: Field trips for grown-ups. Attending industry conferences can show you are seriously about your field. Find the classes that take students to conferences and enroll in them. Diversify general requirements: Ideally, you want your classes to be challenging and relevant to the graduate degree youre pursuing. General requirements typically miss the mark on both. So, grad schools want to see diversity. So, if youre a liberal arts major, take some science classes and vice versa. But, you dont want to diversify into pottery classes or anything like that. Still, try to take challenging, academic general requirements. What does this class say about me? Ask yourself this every time you sign up for a new class because thats exactly what grad schools will do when they see your transcript. Every class you take should say you are willing to challenge yourself and learn something new. Stick to that, and youll be golden.

Find Singing Lessons with a Voice Coach

Find Singing Lessons with a Voice Coach Why Singing Classes with a Vocal Coach are a Great Idea Chapters Where Can You Find a Private Voice Coach and Learn to Sing? How Can You Choose the Right Private Voice Coach? How Much do Private Singing Teachers Cost? The Advantages of Learning to Sing with a Private Singing Lessons The Disadvantages of Learning to Sing with a Private Singing TutorThere are more people taking singing lessons and getting vocal training than you would probably think. After all, everyone seems to love to sing. It's easy to tell who has an awful singing voice and is in dire need of some singing lessons.Are you one them? Would you like to learn how to sing? Shall we get started? TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tut ors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Where Can You Find a Private Voice Coach and Learn to Sing?The first question you need to ask when you want to learn to sing and improve your voice is “Where can I find a singing teacher to improve my voice?” There are a number of places you can go.Word of MouthDo you have a friend who’s taking voice lessons with a vocal coach and loving it? That’s a good sign! You can get in touch with their tutor as long as their teaching style is right for you.You can also look for coaching recommendations on Facebook. Maybe there’s someone amongst your friends who’s getting music lessons that you didn’t even know about!Going to a Music SchoolThis is probably the most obvious place to learn music, isn’t it? Beginners don’t always need to start in group classes if they w ant to learn how to sing.There are music schools where you can vocal coaches to help you work on your posture, vocal range, diaphragmatic breathing, and build self-confidence.  Maybe you’ll consider joining the music school after you’ve had a few lessons...If you want to learn to sing, you should probably learn how to read sheet music. (Source:  pixabay.com)Keep an Eye Out for ClassifiedsHave look for notice boards in supermarkets, the baker’s, butcher’s, greengrocer’s, chemist’s, or even nearby music schools.  You just need to open your eyes a bit when looking for a voice teacher to help you improve your vocal technique. There’s nothing stopping you looking at the digital equivalents of these, too. You’ll find plenty of tutors giving music tutorials.Sign Up to SuperprofThere are plenty of singing tutors already on Superprof, which is great for you! Whether you’re looking to become a gospel or opera singer or just learn to hit the high notes, you can find voice tea chers for all occasions.Signing up is quick and easy. You just need to put “singing” and your town in the search engine and the results will help you find the right voice teacher for you.Our tutors set their own prices and are free to offer whatever tutorials they like: music theory, vocal techniques, voice training, breath control, vocal exercises, vibrato, etc. You just need to choose the tutor that works best for you. How Can You Choose the Right Private Voice Coach?To choose your vocal coach, it’s important that you pay attention the details. Your goals, the tutor’s CV, reputation, methodology, and training are just a few of the things you should keep in mind when choosing your tutor.Define Your ObjectivesThe first thing you should do is think about what you want you want your instructor to teach you and the singing exercises you'll want to focus on:Learn to Sing in KeyImprove your elocutionLearn to harmoniseFind your vocal rangeBroaden your repertoireLearn to improviseW hether you’ve taught yourself how to sing or have taken lessons in the past, you might have found yourself having a few problems with certain aspects of singing. Make sure you bring these problems up to your tutor once you’ve chosen them.The Qualities of a Good Vocal CoachBefore you do anything, make sure that your vocal coach has a good reputation. Of course, you’ll also need to consider their training as a musician or music teacher and their experience before you make your final decision. Find out more about their methodology and pedagogy.Consider meeting up with your tutor informally to make sure you get along. Since you’re probably going to spend a lot of time with them, you’ll have to make sure that you like each other.A good private tutor should be able to work out your needs and then address them. They should also be able to help you get back up when you fail.A good tutor should also be a good listener. After all, private tutorials need to be personalised. A good tu tor will know how to give you advice and change their goals to meet your needs and adapt to your progress.Singing can sometimes be as physically demanding as doing exercise. (Source: pixabay.com)What should a singing tutor teach you?We often get stuck when working out where to start! That’s why your tutor should know exactly how to kick things off and get you learning from the very first lesson:Your vocal health is important: make sure you drink a lot while avoiding chilled or warm drinks, especially during your lessons and performances. You should also avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.Diaphragmatic breathing: learning to breathe well is essential to singing well and making the right notes.Sing with your whole body: vocalising and certain physical exercises can really help you with this.How the human voice works: the better you know your voice and anatomy, the better you’ll be able to sing!You can’t learn to sing just by singing! There are so many different aspects to vocal coaching and exercises and techniques for improving your voice when performing. There are exercises for things like:Improving your muscles: diaphragm, abdominal muscles, etc.Relaxing your vocal apparatusRealigning your voiceMaintaining your postureImproving your vocal projectionWorking on your elocution and tonic accentsSynchronising your voice and intentionHave a trial lessonOf course! There’s nothing better than trying out a teacher before you start working with them.When you can’t decide between two or three tutors, you should look to see if they offer free tutoring for their first hour. TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Tie mSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors How Much do Private Singing Teachers Cost?How long is a piece of string? The cost of private tutorials can vary massively depending on the teacher, the location, whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced learner, and how many hours you book.If you want to end up singing in places like this, you'll probably have to pay for the best teachers. (Source: pixabay.com)While it’s possible to find private singing tutors through classifieds, you should make sure you’re finding a quality tutor. A bad singing tutor could be an absolute catastrophe! Just like when you do sport, doing it wrong could result in an injury.  In these cases, it might be worthwhile paying a little extra to ensure you get that quality teacher who’ll look after you.However, if you're on a budget, there are still plenty of options available to you.On Superprof, for example, the average price for private singing tutors in London is £29 per hour. Of course, this is just the average and will change if you live outside of the capital and will depend on what you require from your voice coach. The Advantages of Learning to Sing with a Private Singing LessonsSo why should you consider learning to sing with a private tutor?Make the most of the voice you have: learn to master your voice means you can develop other aspects of your vocal timbre as well as learning to sing in tune.Benefit from personalised lessons: the tutor is there for you and only you, to work with you, meet your needs, and address your difficulties.More flexibility: unlike group classes, you can schedule private singing lessons online for when you’re available rather than the same time on the same day every week.Create a special relationship: your private tutor is your partner when it comes to learning to sing, you won ’t see them in the same way as a teacher in a singing class.Get over stage fright: some people are scared of singing in front of their own friends and family. This is normally down to a lack of confidence and a lack of experience. A tutor can help you with this.Feel better: music soothes the soul, after all. What’s better than singing better in order to feel better? Your tutor will know how to warm up voices, too. This means you'll be far less likely to damage your voice. The Disadvantages of Learning to Sing with a Private Singing TutorAs you can see, there are a lot of advantages to taking private singing classes with a vocal coach. However, there are a few disadvantages we should mention:While you can learn to sing as a group, it can be hard to stand out. (Source: pixabay.com)The cost: private tutorials are often more expensive than group classes.No group dynamic: you’re always alone with just your tutor. Sharing ideas with your peers is just one of the benefits of singing in a choir.A lack of interaction: you can’t listen to other people sing and learn from their strengths and weaknesses.No group singing: if you’re alone in class, you’re always going to be singing alone. Singing in a group is quite different to singing as a soloist, after all.In short:Thanks to the internet, it’s never been easier to find a quality and experienced tutor for every type of singing. Thus, learning to sing shouldn’t pose any sort of problem. There are classified ads, music schools, and private tutor platforms (like Superprof). You’re spoilt for choice!Choose your tutor like you would your friends. You should take the time to choose carefully! Their training, methodology, and reputation should all be taken into consideration. You should also get along with your private tutor. This will help you make quick and steady progress.For singing lessons with a qualified private tutor, you can expect to pay a reasonable sum.There are plenty of advantages to working with a private vocal coach. The classes of personalised to you and tutors are flexible with when, how, and how often you learn to sing.Beware of the disadvantages, too: you can’t benefit from a group dynamic, sing with other students or listen to them sing, nor can you learn from their mistakes and get feedback from your peers.Find a private tutor from Superprof.Find singing lessons London.Singing lessons Manchester

Taking Violin Lessons FAQs

Taking Violin Lessons FAQs How Do You Start Learning to Play the Violin? ChaptersHow Long Does It Take to Learn the Violin?Which Materials Should I Choose to Learn the Violin?Can You Take Violin Lessons Online?Can You Learn How to Play the Violin at any Age?The violin (or fiddle) isn’t an easy instrument to learn. It requires a lot of hours of practise and even more motivation, especially if you're trying to join an orchestra and become a concert violinist.There are very few people in this world who don’t like music. Music is for everyone, after all. That being the case, it’s worthwhile dedicating an entire article to starting your musical learning journey. Especially since it can take such a long time to become a virtuoso like Paganini.Buying a violin, deciphering sheet music, learning to read music, using tablature, learning arpeggios, studying music theory, expanding your repertoire, there are so many steps you have to take on your journey.How long does it take to learn to play the violin?Which books should you use to help you learn?Can you use t he internet?Should you call a music teacher?We’re going to try and answer all of these questions over the course of this article. TomViolin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StacyViolin Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtieViolin Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BenedictViolin Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaisiiaViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AmyViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuísViolin Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoViolin Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Long Does It Take to Learn the Violin?This is the first question you need to ask yourself before your first violin lesson is how much time you’re going to commit to your violin lessons.Learning the violin can take ages, especially if you want to become a professional performer, play concerts, or become a composer.A student can struggle to play a simple melody without hitting the wrong notes even after years of instruction. This might put you off the whole idea.You need to be willing to commit to learning for at least a year. This isn’t something you can learn to do in just a matter of months. Piano lessons tend to have more immediate benefits because making a note on a piano is effectively as easy as pressing a button your keyboard.  When it comes to the violin, you’ll need just a few months to make sure you’re adopting the right posture. Your progress will also depend heavily on your motivation.If you choose to teach yourself rather than working with a teacher, your motivation will decide whether or not you continue to learn the violin when things get tough. The more regularly you practise, the more quickly you’ll progress.The time taken to learn the instrument will also depend on your background as a musician.Use online violin lessons to practice more.It can take a few hours per week of practice in order to become an adept violinist. (Source: Monoar)Those who’ve already studied music theory with teachers or learnt another musical instrument (like the bass, cello, accordion, electric guitar, flute, etc.) will find learning the violin much easier than somebody who’s an absolute novice with no experience of performing.Those with an experienced ear will also find things much easier. Ear training will help you better understand pieces when you listen to them and your brain will find reproducing these pieces much simpler, too.This is a good habit to have when you’re learning any musical instrument.If you’ve never done music, you’ll need some time to learn these skills, too. Don’t worry, though, this will come with time.If you want to speed up the learning process, there’s some advice you could follow. For example, you could use tablature to learn songs without needing to be able to read sheet music or call a private tutor to give you violin lessons near me.Regularly working on your fingering and finger placement can also help you learn much more quickly. There are exercises you can do daily wherever you are, on the bus, at work, etc.Which Materials Should I Choose to Learn the Violin?To learn to play the violin, whether on your own or with a tutor, you might need to get some reading materials.They can help you learn more about certain concepts outside of your classes. In addition to books, there are also smartphone apps and online tutorials you can follow. These can be really useful for beginners but become less helpful the more you know about the violin.So where can you find useful materials on holding the violin bow correctly, tuning your violin, positioning your left hand?There are specialist music stores that have lots of books on violin techniques as well as sheet music and tablature.  You can choose the right materials for you and there’s usually a knowledgeable sales assistant there t o help you.Websites can also be a good option for picking up reading materials but you should always read the reviews from other customers before buying.  It’s recommended that you peruse the book offline before committing to buy a copy. You don't want to pick up a book for intermediate and advanced techniques when you've just started learning.This will help you see if the book’s easy to read, how clear the images are, and how difficult the exercises in it are.There are plenty of good books for learning to play violin. (Source: Moritz320)You also need to invest in books that you’ll want to read. Many musicians buy books that end up collecting dust on their shelves. However, that doesn’t mean that they weren’t useful books, they just weren't for them.While they’ll never replace a private lessons with a violin teacher or music lessons at a conservatoire (a special school of music), books can structure the learning process and often follow a programme designed by profession als. They can also be a valuable resource on a particular skill or technique.Using these books alongside books on music theory can sometimes be all you need to start improving.  As long as you’re motivated!Some books, such as Max Jaffa’s “How to Play the Violin”, come highly recommended.  Additionally, a brick and mortar music store has staff who'll be happy to suggest the best resources for music students.You should heed their advice. The sales assistants in music stores are often musicians, too, after all.Can You Take Violin Lessons Online?While violin manuals and books are often more comprehensive, there’s nothing stopping your from learning to play the violin online with the help of the internet.As a beginner, it can be really useful for helping you to progress. On the other hand, once you reach a certain level, you’ll find it more difficult to progress just using the resources available online.You could use the internet to access tablature for contemporary or classi cal songs and learn how to play them.There are plenty of YouTube channels with beginner violin lessons looking to learn the basics of the instrument.Whether free or otherwise, there are many detailed videos on how to do certain basic techniques like holding the bow.This is one of the most important things you’ll ever learn, after all.You can use YouTube channels to learn to play violin. (Source: Mohamed Hassan)Whether you choose to use free sites like YouTube or paying a subscription, the progress you make will be down to you. You need to keep the following in mind if you want to advance:Practise regularly. This means that you need to set aside some time for your violin lessons.Make a schedule and stick to it. While it’s not always easy to juggle your professional and personal lives while also learning a musical instrument, you need to ensure that you dedicate time to your learning.Put together a programme that suits you. When you get in touch with a private tutor or buy a book that you’re going to follow, you need to make sure that your learning process suits your level and your learning style. It’s pointless learning more advanced techniques like vibrato if you’ve never even picked up a bow.Good things come to those who wait.If you’re looking for more advice, checking out dedicated violin forums is a good idea.  There are lots of musicians and violinists who can answer your questions and help you. There's also plenty of music for violin players online that you can play along to.Why not find a video that teaches you how to play a particular solo or ensemble piece?If you're struggling to find instrumental violin music, you should check out some of the following violinists:NameBornDiedAntonio Vivaldi16781741Johann Sebastian Bach16851750Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart17561791Niccolò Paganini17821840Pablo de Sarasate18441908Jascha Heifetz19011987David Oïstrakh19081974Yehudi Menuhin19161999Isaac Stern19202001If you feel that things are getting too difficult, you should consider looking for a violin instructor on tutoring platforms and choosing the teacher who's right for you.Can You Learn How to Play the Violin at any Age?10? 25? 50? 80?You can start your music education and learn to play violin at any age.The violin is sometimes taught in retirement homes in order to keep the elderly active and work on their memory.  In fact, there are different ways that learning a piece can help you improve your memory.Being older doesn’t mean that your brain is incapable of learning new things. Of course, manipulating violin strings can be tricky at an older age.  The violin can therefore be learnt by students of all ages. It just depends on how you learn it.Adults generally struggle to learn the violin because of other commitments rather than being unable to learn new things due to age.Adults struggle more with setting aside time to practise each week or attending lessons at a music school or centre. Additionally, the tuition at music schools an d universities can be rather expensive. They also struggle to find a time between looking after the kids and working to pick up the violin.My advice is to be honest with yourself and choose a part of the week that you know you’ll always be free.No matter your age, you can start learning to play violin today! (Source: HCE70)It’s not the same for children learning to play the violin. Children struggle to focus when playing the violin. It’s therefore not recommended that children attempt to teach themselves the violin.  They should work with a private tutor or attend lessons at a music school. Their tutor should also have experience with children and adapt their teaching to the age of their students.Music classes for children can teach them about several instruments at once (ukulele, recorder, guitar, saxophone, violin, singing, etc.) before they choose the one they liked the most. If they preferred the piano, don't force them to perform in a string quartet!If your child enjoys p laying violin, keep in mind there are smaller violins available for smaller hands.What about teenagers?It can be tricky getting them interested in anything at all, let alone violin playing, especially if the music they listen to doesn't even include any violins.The violin is an instrument that can take years of study. They can’t give up in the middle of their studies.To make sure they remain interested in their violin lessons, there are certain techniques, like using games and challenges, to keep them interested. Smartphone apps (for either  iPhone and Android) can also be really useful since they probably spend most of their time on them. There are violin teachers who specialise in teaching adolescents, too.They’ll soon be familiar with more advanced violin techniques as a result.

50 Most Interesting Facts About Spain [Infographic]

50 Most Interesting Facts About Spain [Infographic] Suzy S. Curious to learn some interesting facts about Spain? If youre planning a trip to Spain soon and are interested in Spanish culture, theres a  lot to learn about this awesome country. If youre learning how to speak Spanish, studying the culture of Spain will motivate you and make your studies much more interesting! So without further ado, here are 50 interesting facts about Spain that you might be surprised to learn. 50 Interesting Facts About Spain Spanish Culture Not all Spaniards are native speakers of (Castilian) Spanish. There are four  official languages in Spain (Castilian, Catalan, Basque and Galician), three unofficial regional languages (Asturian, Aragonese, and Aranese), and several more dialects. The Spaniards have a completely different life rhythm from other Europeans. They typically have lunch between 1 and 3 pm, and dinner around 10 pm. Spanish culture greatly influenced modern art from the late 1800s, with artists like Antoni Gaudí (Art Nouveau), Pablo Picasso (expressionism, cubism, surrealism), Joan Miró (surrealism), and Salvador Dalí (surrealism). Flamenco is not actually a dance; it’s a musical style, which sometimes has dancing in it. 58 million tourists go to Spain every year, making it the fourth most visited country in the world. Spain is renowned for its lively festivals, including San Fermín  (running of the bulls) in Pamplona and Tomatina  (tomato battle) in Buñol. More than 150,000 tomatoes are usually thrown at La Tomatina. The official name of Spain is “Kingdom of Spain.” The national anthem of Spain has no words. There are no laws about public nudity in Spain. 43% of the world’s olive oil production is done in Spain. From 2008 to 2013, the Spanish national football team was named  FIFA Team of the Year. Spain won its first  World Cup football  title in 2010, which made the country the 8th country to have ever won. The tooth fairy is a mere rodent in Spain, referred to as Ratoncito Pérez. Our favorite of all the interesting facts about Spain Breaks, free time, and siestas are a huge part of everyday Spanish culture. Spain was the world’s third most popular tourist destination in 2013 (after France and the US). Don Quixote, the famous book written by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes in 1605, was voted the “most meaningful book of all time” in 2002 by a panel of top authors. Traditionally, you have two surnames in Spain â€" the first surname from your father, and the second from your mother. Spaniards celebrate the New Year by eating one grape with their family for each bell strike of the clock. The quill pen is thought to have originated in Spain about 1,400 years ago. The Spanish often use gestures with, or to substitute for, words. Flicking the teeth with the thumbnail, wiggling fingers from the nose, and grabbing the left arm with the right while making a left-handed fist are all thought to be offensive. There are fewer marriages in Spain than in any other EU country, except Sweden. The divorce rate in Spain is 17% (relatively low compared to over 50% in the USA). Madrid  is in the physical center of the country and the plaza  Puerta del Sol is the exact center of the country. Spain has the  second highest number of bars per inhabitants. Do not be alarmed by a  dirty floor in a bar. It is completely acceptable and normal to throw things on the ground in bars. Most of the time a dirty floor means a good bar! Tortillas  in Spain are not the same as  tortillas  elsewhere. Tortilla española  refers to a very popular egg and potato dish. Spaniards use the word  â€œtortitas”  to refer to flour/corn tortillas. Most households buy fresh bread every day. Traditionally, they are long baguettes called  barras  or  pistolas. Bread is present (and required) at almost every meal. Tomatoes, potatoes, avocados, tobacco, and cacao (for chocolate) were all imported into Europe by Spain. Though Spain is more famous for its  red wine  than white, the majority of its vineyards have white grapes. Spain is one of the worlds biggest producers of saffron, an important ingredient in paella. The Madrid subway is the  second largest underground system in Europe  and the sixth largest system in the world. The family is the basis of the social structure and includes both the nuclear and the extended family, which sometimes provides both a social and a financial support network. Owning ones home is very important to Spanish people, and some 80% of Spanish households do. The majority of Spaniards are formally Roman Catholic, although different religious beliefs are accepted. People are often referred to as Don or Dona and their first name  within formal occasions. If invited to a Spaniards home, you can bring chocolates, pastries, cakes, wine, liqueur, brandy, or flowers to the hostess. In business, face-to-face contact is preferred to written or telephone communication. Despite the beret being associated with France, the Basques in Northeast  Spain invented it. It is not customary to tip in Spain, especially for cheap meals. Each regional country of Spain â€"  Pais Vasco, Cataluña, Galicia  â€" has its own language, hymn, and flag. Barcelona has 15 million visitors per year, while Madrid has only 6 or 7. The  Madrid-Barcelona route  has the highest number of flights per week in the world. Spain has more than 8,000 beaches. The name Spain diverged from the word Ispania, which means the land of rabbits. Of all the interesting facts about Spain, this one is perhaps the most bizarre. On May 15th all the single women in Madrid visit the chapel called Ermita de San Isidro to prick their fingers with pins and put it in a vessel, in order to find a husband. Same sex marriage has been legal in Spain since 2005. On St. George’s Day (April 23rd) in Barcelona, it’s customary to exchange a book and/or a rose with the person you love. Spaniards own more cars than cell phones. Spanish people are very fond of food. A famous saying is Barriga llena, corazón contento, which translates to A full belly and a happy heart! For those who are visual learners, here is a fun infographic with dozens of interesting facts about Spain.   If these facts dont get you excited about taking a future trip to this beautiful country, we dont know what else will! Interesting Facts About Spain Infographic Do you know any additional interesting facts about Spain or Spanish culture? If so, feel free to leave a comment below and share!

5 Business English Sayings

5 Business English Sayings Proverbs are short, concise, sayings that express some generally held truth. They are very useful in helping people overcome not only the trials of life in general but also in the workplace.Here are 5 common business English sayings.1. Great Haste Makes Great WasteThis means that if someone tries to do something in a hurry he/she will make mistakes and then will waste time later trying to correct these mistakes.For example: If you write a report in one day rather than taking the necessary week to do it, it might be inaccurate and then you will have to spend time you had allocated for other activities in re-writing it.2. There’s No Use Crying Over Spilt MilkIt’s a waste of time feeling bad or regretful over something that has been lost or a mistake that has been made that you can’t rectify.For example: If one of your clients has decided to go with the competition and there is nothing you can do to bring them back to your company, there is no point feeling depressed or angry abou t it. This will not change the fact.3. Never Do Things By HalvesNever leave a task incomplete or half-done. If you are going to start something you should always finish it.For example: If you are going to start a company, give it your all. Don’t be half-hearted about it.4. Rome Was Not Built In A DayDon’t expect achievements or successes to be immediate. Even great empires like Rome took time to develop.For example: Don’t expect your company to be market leader as soon as it is launched on the market. This takes time and a lot of effort in the meantime.5. He Laughs Best Who Laughs LastThe person will the final victory is the one with the greatest satisfaction. In a competition, the overall victor is the one who has most to be happy about.For example: Your competitor might have been ahead in figures during the year but if you have the edge at the end of the year and win all the annual awards in your field, then you will have the greater sense of achievement.QuestionsWhich of th e proverbs do you find most helpful?What is the proverb you most use in your language? What does it mean?British band Morcheeba liked one of these proverbs so much the band wrote a song about it. Lets enjoy it now and remember the message next time we feel frustrated at work!Did you find this blog helpful? Please share it on Facebook and Twitter. asiq some proverb touch my sense

5 Ways to Overcome a Fear of Speaking in Public -TutorNerds

5 Ways to Overcome a Fear of Speaking in Public -TutorNerds 5 Ways to Overcome a Fear of Speaking in Public Public speaking is something nearly every student dreads. Every high school and college student will have to do some public speaking both in and outside of the classroom so its something that students should become comfortable with sooner rather than later. One of the reasons teachers put students through this torture is because they will need these skills later on in their career. In fact, a great orator is more likely to be able to persuade their audience and perhaps even advance further in their profession. Although every public speaker feels nervous, there are some excellent ways to overcome this fear of public speaking and win over the audience. 1.   Start with a small group setting School assignments are categorized into a small group setting and a larger setting. Speaking in front of an entire auditorium of people tends to be a lot more difficult than speaking in front of three or four people. Students are encouraged to start out in a small group setting where they can more easily connect with their audience and determine if the audience is getting bored and they need to move on from a topic or if people are confused, and they need to slow down. A small group setting will also allow audience members to give constructive feedback that will help the presenter engage more in the future. 2. Practice connecting with the audience One of the best ways to make a public speaking engagement successful is to engage with the audience truly. If they are interested in what the speaker is saying they will be more easily persuaded towards the argument or come up with interesting questions that can make the presentation better overall. When students start out they may not be able to make eye contact with the audience but, as they get more comfortable with the situation, they can connect with one or several members of the audience at a time perhaps even making them part of the presentation itself (READ: 5 Tips to Ace Your School Presentation). 3. Be 100% prepared A surefire way to make any public speaking engagement better is to be 100% prepared and knowledgeable when it comes to knowing the material. Students should be able to answer any number of questions and know a lot more about the subject matter than just what they are directly presenting on. Audiences, and teachers can easily tell when a presenter doesnt truly know their stuff so preparation is the key to an excellent public speaking assignment. 4. Dont worry if theres a bump in the road It is easier said than done to tell a student not to worry if something goes wrong during their presentation. However, the reality is that, at some point, something wont work. Either a Power Point slide will fail, or an audience member will be rude. Its important for the speaker to be able to take it in stride and either fix the situation or move on. Public speaking assignments truly fail when the presenter gets totally thrown off balance by a disruption and cant get back on track. If theres a little bump in the road, no sweat just keep going. 5. Practice makes perfect At the end of the day, practice makes perfect when it comes to being an excellent presenter. Speaking in front of a small or large audience can be difficult for many people, and their first few assignments might be a little bit tough. However, over time speaking in public will become second nature and, hopefully, students will develop this essential skill in time to apply it to their career. Still nervous for your school speech/public speaking event? Talk to your private Los Angeles academic tutor for tips. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Join the Club! How to Find the Best Language Learning Clubs (Or Start Your Own!)

Join the Club! How to Find the Best Language Learning Clubs (Or Start Your Own!) Join the Club! How to Find the Best Language Learning Clubs (Or Start Your Own!) Unce unce unceIts time to hit the clubs.But rather than leaving you with ringing ears and a spinning head, these clubs will leave you with something even better: language skills.Thats rightâ€"were talking about language learning clubs. While they might not be as trendy as your favorite nightclub, what they offer will probably benefit you more in the long run.Language clubs are groups where like-minded language learners can meet up online or in-person. Members can all be learning the same language or even studying different languages. The main point is that they work together to further their language educations.Learning a language with friends  is a great way to increase motivation and focus, but language learning clubs can also provide an opportunity to  immerse yourself  in your target language, so theyre a helpful tool for any student.And since being able to interact with people around the world is one of the main reasons to start learning a language, why not start practicing now? Heres all you need to know to find a club or start your own, and get the most out of it! Why Join a Language Learning Club?One of the best things about language learning clubs is that they make you accountable to someone. Whenever you engage in a big challenge like learning a language, it can be easy to lose focus and give up. However, when someones paying attention to your language progress, youre much more likely to keep studying if for no other reason than to avoid embarrassment.Language learning clubs also give you someone to commiserate with. When you face setbacks, they can be demoralizing. If you can talk to someone else whos struggling with the same issues, the language learning process becomes a lot less lonely and intimidating.Finally, language learning clubs provide answers to your questions. Struggling with a conjugation? Ask the club. Dont understand a grammar rule? Your club has your back. Suspicious rash? I mean, your club might be able to help, but sometimes its be tter to see a medical professional.What Can Your Language Club Do to Aid Learning?Whether you join an existing club or create your own (well cover both of those options below) youll get the most out of it by participating actively and driving success for yourself and your club-mates. Heres how.Set goals: Goals can be small, large or a combination of both.  Maybe each member wants to learn a certain number of vocabulary words a day. Maybe you want to read a book in your target language together. Maybe you want to use a learning app for five minutes a day.Regardless of the scale, setting specific goals will help keep club members focused and pushing forward. And, since you have one another, youll always be accountable to someone.Have challenges:  Competition can drive learning, so having challenges that pit you against club-mates can help push everyone towards fluency. Challenges might include learning the most vocabulary words in a set timeframe, or getting the farthest ahead in an o nline/app language program. Whether youre playing for a small prize or even just bragging rights, the desire to win will help each club member excel.Need an idea for a fun language challenge to get started? There are tons of entertaining videos designed specifically for language learners at FluentU, with plenty of opportunity for a little friendly competition. Each video comes with flashcards and exercises to test your understanding and make sure you remember the vocabulary from the video. Pick a video for your club to watch and see who does best on the exercises!Youll find everything from movie trailers to hilarious YouTube clips to inspiring talks and more, all organized by genre and learning level. Plus, the videos have  interactive captions you can click for an instant definition, visual learning aid and native pronunciation of any word.Its an awesome way to actively build your skills solo or with your club, all while absorbing your target language the way native speakers actual ly use it. Check out the free trial to rev up your language club!Discuss a book:  Book club-style meetings provide helpful, well-rounded language practice.The club can select a book in the target language. Then, all club members read the book. Finally, you host a meeting where you discuss the book while using your target language. This way, you get reading, speaking and listening practice.Host a viewing party:  Lets face facts: watching TV and movies is fun. And if your language club has a viewing party, you can get so much more out of your favorite entertainment. Simply select a movie or TV show in your target language and get ready to learn!Viewing parties can work online or in person. For online clubs, you can all watch the same movie and then discuss it via Skype or in writing. For in-person clubs, the group can get together and all watch the movie together. This provides the opportunity to rewatch key scenes and/or take breaks to discuss the movie or TV show, which can provide valuable listening and speaking practice.Host cultural nights:  Cultural knowledge is important for language learners. Hosting cultural nights is a valuable way to get your cultural education while using your target language.In-person groups can share food, listen to music or even do craft projects. For online groups, cultural nights are a little more difficult, but group members can still listen to music, do craft projects or even eat thematic food while interacting with one another via Skype or instant message.Join the Club! How to Find the Best Language Learning Clubs (Or Start Your Own!)Where to Find Language Clubs Online or In-personFinding an existing club is the quickest route to enjoying the benefits of a language club. There are plenty of language clubs out there, but finding the right one for you can be challenging. Language students in bigger cities are likely to find more selections, while anyone from a smaller community may have to use an online club and/or start their own club.This brings us to another important point, as noted earlier: language clubs can be online or in person. Online clubs are convenient in that you can interact with learners around the world from the comfort of your couch. In-person clubs are appealing since they allow for more interaction and more natural speaking practice.Of course, its always important to remember to play it safe when meeting strangers in person. Any club meeting you go to should be in a public place, and you should always let someone know where youre going ahead of time. Better still, find a friend or fellow language lover to go along with you!Search Facebook  for Online or Local ClubsThere are many ways to learn a language on social media, so it should come as no surprise that you can connect with language clubs through Facebook.Whether youre looking for an in-person or virtual club, Facebook is a great jumping off point.  Many locally-based language clubs have Facebook pages so you can connect online but then attend the in-person meetings. Similarly, there are some clubs that exclusively use Facebook to connect.To find a club, simply search the name of your target language and language club. A menu will drop downâ€"scroll to the bottom and select See all results for Then, click the Groups tab.Youll see all the options for your search terms as well as how many members belong to each group, which can help you identify the more active ones.Some clubs are private or regionally based, so be sure to read the groups page before joining.Join Polyglot ClubPolyglot Club is a website that can help you connect with other language learners online or in-person.If you want to join an existing, in-person club,  head to the Events page, which promotes local language club meetings. Each meetings location is noted on the upper right corner of its listing. You can click on any listing to get the deets on when, where and whats happening, and then you can RSVP.If there arent any meetings in your area or that appeal to you, you can even post your own event to try to get a club up and running.Polyglot Club is also a great place to connect with other learners virtually.  Once you register, you can search for other language learners in your area or connect with learners around the world. If you like, you can use these connections to start your own in-person or online club. Plus, Polyglot Club has a chat room and text and video chat options you could use for club meetings.Join a Duolingo ClubDuolingo is a popular app among language learners. Its easy and fun, and joining a Duolingo club can take it to the next level.Duolingos main focus is gamified learning built around repetition. But beyond using it to expand your vocabulary and improve your grammar, you can use Duolingo to connect with other learners through the clubs.If you want to join an existing club, you can browse public clubs on your favorite mobile device and select a club to join. Otherwise, you can start your own private c lub for your friends and family to participate in.Duolingo clubs allow you to track the progress of other club members and even compete against one another. Since tournaments can aid learning, this is a great way to stay motivated. Whenever you compete online, its easy to become addicted, even if it involves doing a menial task like switching around brightly colored candies.Imagine what could happen when you apply that addictive nature to language learning!Search  Meetup  for Local ClubsMeetup is a website used to connect like-minded people. You can use it to find people with similar hobbies, including learning a language.To find language clubs near you, simply enter your location and a radius to search in.  From there, find out all you need to know about the club (like their goals and requirements), browse pictures of previous events and sign up to attend an event.There are dozens of language club meetings listed in major cities around the world. However, if there arent any clubs n ear you, you can also start one of your own.Search Your Regions CraigslistCraigslist may be your go-to spot for selling your TV or buying some lightly used Ikea furniture, but it can also help you connect with other language learners!It may not be quite as popular as other Craigslist features, but Craigslist does have a community section where users can post events and meet-ups where you might find some language clubs. Sub-sections like activities, events and groups may have some listings.Simply browse posts or search your target language to try to find a club. Youre much more likely to find clubs in bigger cities, but this is Craigslistâ€"you never know what youll find.If you cant find a club, you can also post your own club meeting!Check with a University Language DepartmentUniversities are a treasure trove of opportunities for language students, even if youre not actually enrolled in language courses there.If you happen to attend a college or university, all the better. There are often language clubs associated with universities, and if youre a student, youll probably be able to join these clubs. All you have to do is find out when and where they meet, which your schools language department will be able to help you with.However, even if you dont go to a college or university, an institution of higher education might be able to hook you up. While university clubs are often reserved for students, university language departments should be aware of other area language clubs you could join, or at least public activities or events hosted by the department where you can meet fellow language learners.Check with Your Local LibraryYour local library wants to help you learn. Why not let it?Libraries can be an inside source to help you find local language clubs. After all, many libraries host clubs like this, so they can provide you with the information you need on whom to contact, when the meetings occur, etc.Even if your library isnt the home base of a language club, it could provide you with the information you need to find a club elsewhere. Libraries often have bulletin boards for local organizations like language clubs to share information, announce meetings and more, so you might want to look over this material carefully!Plus, librarians seem to know everything, so even if the library doesnt host a club or have a bulletin board, your favorite librarian might be able to direct you to other organizations or resources that might have more information.How to Start Your Own Language ClubFinding MembersWeve touched on some options to find language club members above. If you need more, try online message boards like Reddits language learning subreddit.Message boards are often used to share successes, lament setbacks and chat. But if youre looking to start a language club, you might also use them to recruit members.Dont forget to also check with friends, family and coworkers to see if any of them are studying a language or know someone who is. A lo t of people are actively learning a language and even more people are thinking about learning a language.If you reach out to your friends, family and coworkers and they reach out to people they know, youre bound to find similarly-minded language learners that can build the foundation for your language club.Plus, did you know theres such as a thing as a language-learning social network? Websites like Speaky, HiNative and UniLang  help users connect with other language learners and speakers of their target languages.These websites are designed specifically for language learners but dont offer specific clubs. However, since they help you connect with other language aficionados, you might be able to cultivate enough of a friend group to start your own language club.Establishing Your ClubFirst things first: discuss club goals with one another.  What does everyone hope to get out of the language club?To ensure your club is functional and thrives, its important to ensure everyone is on the same page. After all, if some language learners want the club to push everyone forward rapidly and others just hope for some casual language practice, tension may arise. Addressing these issues early will provide focus for your club.Next, set an agenda.  Whatll club members do and when?  Whenever you have a meeting, there should be an agenda for that meeting.Without an agenda meetings can be directionless, and no one likes a directionless meeting, so you could lose members quickly. Plus, developing an agenda for a meeting ahead of time will ensure everyone is prepared with whatever information or ideas they need to get the most out of the meeting.Once you have your club formed, youll need to find  a place to meet.For in-person meetings, find a space to meet up. If your group is small and composed of friends and/or family, you might rotate whose house you go to. If your group includes strangers, a public place like a library is best. Plus, if youre looking to grow as a club, new mem bers will be less intimidated by meeting in a public place.For online meetings, youll still need a place to meet. Some options include starting a message board or a Facebook group, or connecting via Skype. You might even try a combination of these things in order to find a better balance between written and spoken practice.So its time to hit the clubs! Your language skills will be smoking hot. And One More ThingSince youve read this far, youre obviously serious about learning languages, so you may just love FluentU.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word ? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.

The Dos and Donts of Dropping a Class in College

The Dos and Donts of Dropping a Class in College Dropping a Class: The Dos and Donts Many students get to a point, especially in their first semester,   where they have to decide whether theyre going to power through a class or give up and drop it. For many years students would take the majority of a difficult course, drop it and save their notes for the next term. However, over the years professors figured this out and will often change key aspects of the course so that students have one shot at a passing score. On the other hand, some students honestly didnt know what they were getting into when they signed up for a class or simply werent ready for the material or the time commitment required. So what are the essential rules of dropping a class in college?                       Do: Always make the decision to drop a class after sleeping on it. Students who get overly stressed will often run down to the registrar’s office and drop a class after getting one bad test grade. 99% of such students painfully regret that they dropped the class when they later find out that they could have completed an extra credit assignment or that the ‘D’ they received on their exam was only worth 2% on the final class grade. Students who are considering dropping university level courses should always sleep on it to make sure that their decision is an informed one and not made out of anxiety (READ: 5 Things Successful Students Never Say). Do: Talk to the professor prior to making a final decision. If a student is truly struggling, professors will be able to sit down during office hours and talk about the student’s chance of passing the class. If the professor already knows that the best possible final grade a student could get is a ‘C’, and that they are at risk for failing, they will communicate this. In this case dropping may be a good option. Always talk to the professor beforehand. Dont: Don’t re-enroll in the same class without figuring out what went wrong the first time around. Signing up for the same class next semester without doing additional research will generally result in another low final grade. Students who need to repeat a class should do research on the subject, consult a private tutor, and make sure that they are in line for an A or B grade prior to signing up for a second time. Do: Find out what the long-term repercussions will be for dropping the class. Think about how this will look to potential employers or on a graduate school application. For example, Students who drop a class one week after they enrolled can easily explain that it simply didnt fit into their schedule or the description of the class was not what they were expecting. However, students who drop a class on the last possible date may have some explaining to do (READ: 6 Ways to Spend February Break). Dont: Its not necessary to share the reason for dropping a class with classmates. Certainly classmates will notice a friend’s absence from the drop date forward and will be curious. However, its generally not a good idea to talk about the intricate details of deciding to drop a course. A student’s reasons for their individual academic path are their own. Do: Always find out if the exact course will need to be repeated. For example, if a student is thinking about dropping Math 101 during their freshman year it’s extremely likely that they will have to take Math 101 a second time. On the other hand, if a student wants to drop Anthropology 203, its very possible that they will be able to find an alternate class to fill their science credit requirement (READ: Extra Curricular Activities For Your College Resume). Do: Find out if the same class can be taken with a different professor. Many students drop a class not just because of the subject matter but because they find the professor’s assignments to be overly difficult. If the subject matter is within a student’s grasp but the professor’s personality is not a good match, the student is advised to find out if they can take the same course with a different professor next term. If this is the only professor that teaches the specific course, students may decide to simply power through the class, pass it and be done. In short? With the exception of dropping a class within the first week due to scheduling issues, its important for college students to weigh the various options, benefits, and repercussions when they decide to drop a course if youre still not sure, talk to your Orange County college consultant. There are both pros and cons to dropping a course and its a decision that should not be made lightly. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about â€" our Orange County private academic tutors are happy to help. The Dos and Donts of Dropping a Class in College Dropping a Class: The Dos and Donts Many students get to a point, especially in their first semester,   where they have to decide whether theyre going to power through a class or give up and drop it. For many years students would take the majority of a difficult course, drop it and save their notes for the next term. However, over the years professors figured this out and will often change key aspects of the course so that students have one shot at a passing score. On the other hand, some students honestly didnt know what they were getting into when they signed up for a class or simply werent ready for the material or the time commitment required. So what are the essential rules of dropping a class in college?                       Do: Always make the decision to drop a class after sleeping on it. Students who get overly stressed will often run down to the registrar’s office and drop a class after getting one bad test grade. 99% of such students painfully regret that they dropped the class when they later find out that they could have completed an extra credit assignment or that the ‘D’ they received on their exam was only worth 2% on the final class grade. Students who are considering dropping university level courses should always sleep on it to make sure that their decision is an informed one and not made out of anxiety (READ: 5 Things Successful Students Never Say). Do: Talk to the professor prior to making a final decision. If a student is truly struggling, professors will be able to sit down during office hours and talk about the student’s chance of passing the class. If the professor already knows that the best possible final grade a student could get is a ‘C’, and that they are at risk for failing, they will communicate this. In this case dropping may be a good option. Always talk to the professor beforehand. Dont: Don’t re-enroll in the same class without figuring out what went wrong the first time around. Signing up for the same class next semester without doing additional research will generally result in another low final grade. Students who need to repeat a class should do research on the subject, consult a private tutor, and make sure that they are in line for an A or B grade prior to signing up for a second time. Do: Find out what the long-term repercussions will be for dropping the class. Think about how this will look to potential employers or on a graduate school application. For example, Students who drop a class one week after they enrolled can easily explain that it simply didnt fit into their schedule or the description of the class was not what they were expecting. However, students who drop a class on the last possible date may have some explaining to do (READ: 6 Ways to Spend February Break). Dont: Its not necessary to share the reason for dropping a class with classmates. Certainly classmates will notice a friend’s absence from the drop date forward and will be curious. However, its generally not a good idea to talk about the intricate details of deciding to drop a course. A student’s reasons for their individual academic path are their own. Do: Always find out if the exact course will need to be repeated. For example, if a student is thinking about dropping Math 101 during their freshman year it’s extremely likely that they will have to take Math 101 a second time. On the other hand, if a student wants to drop Anthropology 203, its very possible that they will be able to find an alternate class to fill their science credit requirement (READ: Extra Curricular Activities For Your College Resume). Do: Find out if the same class can be taken with a different professor. Many students drop a class not just because of the subject matter but because they find the professor’s assignments to be overly difficult. If the subject matter is within a student’s grasp but the professor’s personality is not a good match, the student is advised to find out if they can take the same course with a different professor next term. If this is the only professor that teaches the specific course, students may decide to simply power through the class, pass it and be done. In short? With the exception of dropping a class within the first week due to scheduling issues, its important for college students to weigh the various options, benefits, and repercussions when they decide to drop a course if youre still not sure, talk to your Orange County college consultant. There are both pros and cons to dropping a course and its a decision that should not be made lightly. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about â€" our Orange County private academic tutors are happy to help.