University of Toronto Tuten Tai Chi School - Live and Online

University of Toronto Tuten Tai Chi School - Live and OnlineThe University of Toronto Tuten Tai Chi School offers two full-time, live and online programs in Tai Chi. The instructor that is going to teach you the exercises and meditation, will be someone that has been trained in Tzu Chi and is a certified Tuten Tai Chi teacher. In order to get started with Tai Chi Tuten Tai Chi School, you are going to need to meet a few prerequisites first.First, you need to either have a computer, or a Bluetooth enabled phone, and an Internet connection. If you are interested in the full-time program, then you may need to meet with a tutor in person, as there is no online program available right now. For those that would like to do the online program, you need to log on to the University of Toronto Tuten Tai Chi School website, and fill out the registration form. You will be able to find out how many students are taking the course, the cost, and how long it will take to complete.Once you have found your class schedule, you need to determine if you can come into the campus, or if you would like to come to the school. Once you know what your options are, then you can decide if you want to enroll online, or if you are going to be taking the class on campus. Since online students need to go to the classroom, you will not get the same benefit as someone that took the class in person.On top of that, if you are going to be doing the class on campus, you will need to be more flexible when classes are over. If you are going to be using the live tutor, and you cannot go back to campus when class is ending, then you may have to be ready to cancel.This is the advantage of the online option. In addition to that, you can find out about what type of student you are going to be once you have signed up for the online program. If you are going to be the type of student that can take the class at anytime, you can be sure that you will have the proper time that is required to complete the program . Those that want the program to be complete as soon as possible can find out about the speed of the online program.Those that are committed to doing the program at the exact time that is expected, can be guaranteed to have the best results with the online program. This is because you will not have to rush through the program, since it is going to be done by someone that has been trained in Tzu Chi.The University of Toronto Tuten Tai Chi School provides both a full-time and online program. Students can choose which one they want to do, and the choice of which program is going to provide them with the benefits that they need.

6 Questions to Answer Before Buying a Musical Instrument

6 Questions to Answer Before Buying a Musical Instrument Suzy S. Thinking about buying a new instrument? Its a big decision, as an instrument is truly an investment especially if youre spending several hundred dollars (or more, for higher-end brands and models) on it. Before making your purchase, youll want to do some research. But where do you start? With so many brands out there, how do you know which ones are worth the money? What do you  really need to ensure years of playing and practicing? We came across a great article  over on Donna Schwartzs blog  that we think hits the nail on the head for what to consider before handing over your cash whether youre looking at new or used musical instruments. Donna writes: Whether you are a beginner, hobbyist or pro, here are 5 questions to ask yourself when trying out different musical instruments: Does the sound of this instrument match my concept of how I want to sound? Is the instrument free-blowing enough to allow me to get my “perfect sound”? (Or maybe I want a little resistance on this trumpet to help out with high notes?) Is it easy enough to play in all registers of the instrument comfortably? Can I control the intonation in all registers of the instrument? Are the keys placed in such a way that I can perform rapid passages comfortably? The above 5 questions are important and vary for every performer. This next question though is absolutely necessary for every musician that wants to perform at their best for a long time. When you are comparing a few different brands and have found some you really like, before you pull out the credit card, it is crucial to ask this question: If my instrument breaks, do you have the parts to fix it, and if not, can you get the parts? Donna continues to point out that an instrument like the saxophone has more than 600 moving parts so if you end up with an instrument with sub-standard parts that cant be replaced you may be out of luck if it breaks. Moral of the story? Do your research. Ask questions. Get help from your music teacher, and have him or her try out instruments with you. Make an informed decision! You can read the article in full  here. For even more tips, we also like this article from the Tampa Bay Music Academy blog.  As part of their steps for buying an instrument, they offer some additional pointers regarding instrument quality: Instrument quality can generally be assessed using three categories: student quality, intermediate quality, or professional quality. Your 5th grader doesn’t need a professional quality instrument yet, but should you go the cheap route with a student model or shell out a few more bucks for the intermediate? Ultimately, that depends on your goals for your student. Is this a “try it and see if you like it” endeavor, or have you and your child committed to this instrument for the long haul? Student quality instruments are usually made of cheaper materials and won’t produce as nice a sound, but they are good for students who don’t know if they will stick with it or not. They’re also good starter instruments if money is tight. If your child (and you) have committed to playing this instrument throughout middle and high school, however, go ahead and invest in the better quality option if possible. Continue reading the article here. And finally, if youre opting for the used musical instruments route, Get-Tuned.com has a great article on how to evaluate a used instrument. Readers, how have your experiences been buying new or used instruments? What other tips would you add? Let us know by leaving a comment below! Image by Vincent Diamante Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for safe, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

What are the Different Drums in a Drum Set

What are the Different Drums in a Drum Set Base Drum, Snare Drums, Tom-Toms, Hi Hats: the Different Parts of a Traditional Drum Set ChaptersComponents of a Drum KitBass Drums and Kick DrumsSnare DrumsTom-TomsCymbalsElectronic Drum KitThough in the early days of classical orchestra, every percussionist was specialised in a specific instrument, as time went on drummers sought for ways to combine drums so they could play several at once. With the invention of the drum pedal, it became possible to have one or more hanging and floor drums, various stands and cymbal pedals allowed for a variation in sound from low to high.Thus, over time, the drum kit was born. However, there is an inordinate amount of different drums available. So what should you invest in if you want to take drumming lessons? What drums should you get for a beginner drum set? the main difference between the different music styles is in the number, exact size of the drums and their materials.A good size is the five-piece drum set; it can be expanded as needed. Professional drummers, especially in rock bands, like to personalise their drum kits, but wi th the five-piece variation, you can play the percussion to almost any song.You can learn to play these easy songs on the drum!A complete drum set includes:A bass drumA snare drumThree toms, tuned to a low, middle and high pitch. They can be hanging toms, or one of them can be a floor tom, depending on what music you want to play.Two crash cymbalsA hi-hat cymbalVarious effect cymbalsA drum throneA drum throneBass Drums and Kick DrumsBass drums are fairly large, cylindrical, with a depth much smaller than their diameter - this is what sets them apart from other low-pitched drums, such as concert timpani. They come in a variety of sizes, but the size doesn’t influence the sound produced as much as other factors such as construction.The diameter is the main factor in determining the basic note, together with the thickness of the drum shells, the material used - from birch to mahogany to metals for steel drums - and the direction of the wood grain. The way a drum is tensioned will als o affect its pitch.Bass drums are commonly sounded with one or more of the following drumsticks:A single felt-tipped malletA mallet in one hand and rute in the otherMatching malletsDouble-headed mallet for drum rollsA beater (a single mallet activated by a pedal).They come in three main variations.Concert drumsConcert bass drums are double-headed and rod tensioned. They typically measure 40 inches in diameter, and 20 in depth.They are mounted on a stand so their angle can be varied from horizontal to vertical.They have a big sound that reverberates somewhat.Kick drumsThe bass drums in drum kits are generally smaller than concert drums. Their diameter can vary from 16 to 28 inches, their depth from 12 to 22. The most common size for the past twenty years was 20-inch x 14 inch with the current preferred size being 22 inches x 18 inches.Having trouble finding the bass drum? It's the big one on its side, usually with the band name on it - or the brand name if you aren't in a band yet. P hoto credit: Marc Wathieu on Visual HuntKick drums take their name from the drum pedal used to sound bass drums when they are part of a drum set. The drums themselves are set up vertically on drum stands with the pedal on the floor. The pedals were first developed by the drummers themselves, then produced commercially as more and more music-hall bands used primitive drum kits - the Ludwig Ludwig Drum Company is known for having produced the first fast-action bass pedal.Learn more about the history of drums...  Many modern rock drummers use double bass drums in their drumkits - necessitating, of course, a double bass drum pedal. They were first introduced in jazz, and are now fairly common in fusion, rock and punk bands.Bass drums used in drum sets are often muffled in some way to shorten the sound.Pitched bass drumsPitched bass drums are hung vertically from straps and used in marching bands, usually several different drums with different pitches. They are used to set the rhythm, b ut also have important melodic lines. more modern ones are made of Mylar.Snare drums are characterised by parallel cords or wires strung just under the lower skin (except for tarol snares, where the snare wires are under the top drumhead).Here you can see the snares on this antique snare drum. Photo credit: quinet on Visual huntSnare drums started out as military drums, often used for signalling. They have a short, staccato drum sound, and can be played by drum sticks, brush or rute.Famous techniques for the snare drum are drum rolls and rimshots. In classical rock rhythms, they are often used for the backbeat.Different types of snare drums include:Marching snares: snare drums hung by straps, 12 by 14 inches. They are often highly tensioned with the use of a drum key.Pipe band snares: used to accompany the bagpipes. They require a lot of skill and are as much a visual performance as a musical one.Drum kit snares: smaller than marching snares, 14 in diameter, with varying depths. The y are played on snare stands.Piccolo snares: used by drummers wanting a higher-pitched snare. They come in soprano, popcorn, and standard piccolos.Discover more facts about drums...  Tom-TomsToms are cylindrical drums but without snare wires. Many toms are tunable thanks to the use of hoops and tuning lugs. Most toms have two drum heads, but not all.They are usually used for drum fills.The main difference in the various music styles is in the number and types of toms in their acoustic drum set: they’re basically a frame (usually of steel) and a single head.Floor tomsFloor toms are double-headed generally as deep as they are wide. They are set up on three-legged stands, usually to the drummer’s right (for a right-handed drummer).Delve deeper into the parts of a drum kit...  CymbalsThe final element in drum kits is the cymbals. The use of cymbals for percussion music was revolutionised by the cymbal stand and pedals. They allowed drummers to crash cymbals with only one hand or non e at all, opening up the way to more complicated percussion music.There are several different types of cymbals regularly used with a percussion set:Hi-hatsHi-hat cymbals are a pair of cymbals mounted horizontally on a hi-hat stand. A foot pedal moves the top cymbal while the bottom one stays fixed.A hi-hat cymbal. The top cymbal is stationary, the bottom is raised and lowered with a pedal. Photo credit: Timothy Valentine on VisualhuntThis type of cymbal evolved from sock cymbals, originally set at ground level and operated with a spring mechanism. They were eventually mounted on short stands (”low-boys”) which were then raised so the cymbals could be clashed with the sticks as well as with the foot pedal. This setup was originally called “high socks” until it was superceded by the term “hi-hat”.Hi-hats are frequently used for the beat or for accents within the rhythm, occasionally for effect accents. They can be played with sticks in the open, closed or half-open positio n.Ride CymbalsRide cymbals are used in a similar fashion to high-hats, but since the ride cymbal is a single cymbal, its sound cannot be varied as much. However, it has a certain amount of sustain when struck, hence the name: it rides with the music.There are different types of ride cymbals, each one shaped slightly differently and giving a different sound:Flat rides have a dry clash and a clearly-defined soundSwish and pangs are similar in sound to China cymbalsSizzle cymbals are thinner and larger than main ridesCrash CymbalsWhere ride cymbals are used in rhythm and ride with the music, crash cymbals are single-effect cymbals for one loud crash. They can be crashed by hand in pairs or mounted on a stand as a single cymbal, as in a drum set.A crash cymbal in a drum set. Photo credit: HckySo on VisualHuntChina CymbalChina cymbals give a light, crisp tone and are generally mounted upside-down on their stand. They have a bell but no taper and are named after their similarity to Chines e gongs.Electronic Drum KitThough there were a few previous forays into electronic percussion, the first true electronic drum was invented in the early 1970s by drummer Graeme Edge of the Moody Blues.Electronic drums are usually set up like a traditional drum kit, but theoretically, you can program each of the drums to sound like any percussion instrument at all.Basically, each module is a drum pad that produces an electronic sound when struck. The first pads were rubber-coated, but Roland, with its “V-Drums”, introduced a mesh-head pad with a bounce similar to that of acoustic drums.It has the advantage of sounding like any percussion instrument - from maple drum set to cowbell - and can be played with headphones to promote neighbourly feelings when practising. However, the sounds do not replicate acoustic drumming exactly - something that some drummers love and others don’t.Have you heard of these 15 famous drummers?

Combinations And Permutations - Math Online Tutoring

Combinations And Permutations - Math Online Tutoring Combination Formula is a useful tool to find a way to choose several things out of a large group. In combination order of things does not matter. The formula for combination is n! = n (n 1) 2 (1) C (n, r) = n! / r! (n r)! In case of permutation it is a tool that helps to select objects in which order of objects matters. Formula for permutation is: nPk = n! / (n-k)! Example 1: How many ways can 3 students from a group of 9 are lined up for music? Solution: There are 9P3 possible permutations for 3 students from 9 = 9P3 = 9! / (9 3)! = 9! / 6! = (9 x 8) x 7 = 504 = Answer: There are 504 ways 3 students from a group of 9 may be lined up for music. Example 2: Computer the number of 6 car groups possible from a 30 collection of cars. Solution: There are 30 choose 6 possible combinations of 6 cars from total set of 30 in all. = Combination of 30 choose 6 is given as = 30! / 6! 24! = (30 x (29 x 28) x 27 x 26 x 25) / (6 x 5 x (4 x 3) x 2 x 1) = 593775 Answer: There are 593775 possible combinations of 6 cars possible from a set of 30 cars.

ACA Associated Chartered Accountant

ACA Associated Chartered Accountant The Benefits of Becoming An ACA Chartered Accountant ChaptersGetting Through The ACA ExamsWhere Can An ACA Qualification Take You?How Do I Start Studying Towards The ACA?If you’re looking at a career in accountancy, tax, business, or finance, then you may want to consider whether it’s worth studying for the ACA qualification.Being known as an ACA qualified accountant can bring a huge range of benefits when it comes to advancing your career prospects, as you’ll have the relevant experience and professional knowledge to help you succeed within your chosen career.While it can take a long time to get the ACA qualification, and there’s certainly a lot of hard work that goes into getting the qualification, the advantages of having those letters after your name are often found to be worth it.So whether you work for one of the “Big Four,” a top-20 professional services firm, a small accounting practice, or you work in an industry, there are plenty of reasons why the ACA qualification might be right for you.Have you thought about ta king accounting lessons online?You will have to make time to commit to many hours of study if you want to successfully pass your ACA exams. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, congerdesign, Pixabay)Assurance;Management Information;Business, Technology and Finance;Principles of Taxation; andLaw.Professional Level ExamsThere are a further six exams at the professional level stage:Financial Accounting and Reporting;Audit and Assurance;Business Planning;Tax Compliance;Business Strategy and Technology; andFinancial Management.Advanced LevelAt the advanced level, there are only three final exams to pass:Corporate Reporting;Strategic Business Management; andThe Case Study.The ACA exams are difficult, there’s no getting around that fact. But there is plenty of support available throughout your studies. Whether you prefer to learn the modules in the ACA via distance learning or group study, the ICAEW offers a number of flexible study options to suit most preferences.Equally, if you think that you’d like to study the ACA in the future, but you’re not sure whether your knowledge of basic maths is up to scratch, then you could also reach out to a maths or accounting tutor London at Superprof for advice. They could provide some additional support, advice, and study tips to help you on your way.Find out also how Superprof could help you prepare for your ICAEW qualification exam...You will likely become very familiar with using a calculator during a large number of your ACA exams! (Image Source: CC0 1.0, moreharmony, Pixabay)Where Can An ACA Qualification Take You?Having the letters “ACA” after your name can offer huge benefits if you’re looking at having a career in the accounting or professional services industry.Being ACA qualified means that you’ve successfully completed the extensive examination process that comes with obtaining the award. As a result, an ACA accountant will be well-versed across a number of different technical areas, for example:IFRS accounting stand ards;The taxation of individuals and companies within the UK; andThe different ways of evaluating the value of businesses, and how to assess how a business is performing based on its financial position and performance.In addition, anyone with an ACA qualification will have to have completed a rigorous amount of practical work experience, meaning that an ACA accountant has had a good amount of time in industry or in practice and will have gained experience working with a wide variety of clients.You may also be interested in sitting the CPA exam...This experience and knowledge are often highly sought by employers. Indeed, many ACA qualified accountants that work in practice find that they are approached by recruiters more frequently once they are qualified to see whether they would like to change jobs and take up a position in an  industry.Often, such moves also entail a pay rise and promotion, although many ACA qualified accountants also decide to remain in practice and rise through the ranks of professional services firms such as Deloitte, Ernst and Young, PWC, KPMG, and many others.The other benefit of having the ACA is that it’s an accountancy qualification that is recognised internationally. According to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), who issues the ACA award, there are “membership recognition agreements in place with CAANZ in Australia and New Zealand, HKICPA in Hong Kong, SAICA in South Africa.”So, whether you’re looking to stay within your current position within an accounting firm, are looking to start your career in accountancy and taxation, if you would like to have a highly-respected and internationally mobile qualification, then the ACA can be a great choice.Even if you stay in the UK for the full duration of your career, the skills that you learn while gaining the ACA qualification can set you up for success, even within the wider business world, as many board members of top companies in the UK have an ACA qualification or equivalent.Would you be interested in becoming a certified fraud examiner?An ACA qualification is internationally recognised in many different countries and can really help boost your career prospects, both in the UK and abroad. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, GDJ, Pixabay)How Do I Start Studying Towards The ACA?There are a number of different entry routes into the ACA, but typically you would find an employer that is willing to pay for you to study towards your ACA exams, while you work for them and gain the relevant practical work experience that you need.There is no typical ACA candidate, as no university degree is required to study for the qualification. Even if you have been to university, the background of candidates varies widely. For instance, many ACA students may have studied finance, accounting, or business studies while at university, whereas others may have studied unrelated subjects, as diverse as:Law;Modern languages;Engineering; orHistory.While an accoun ting graduate may have an initial upper hand over other candidates when it comes to modules such as accounting, ultimately you’re at no major advantage or disadvantage when it comes to completing the ACA exams, as everything in each module is taught from scratch, and many of the ACA course covers topics that aren’t likely to be taught in an accounting degree course at university.However, if you’d like to combine your degree studies with the potential to study for the ACA, there are university courses out there that offer modules that are accredited by the ICAEW.This means that, if you pass these modules during your degree, you may be entitled to a credit for prior learning in respect of a relevant module within the ACA course. Note that such credits only apply to certain exams within the ACA qualification, so you will still need to sit some exams to complete your ACA.Also discover what a certified management accountant does...ACA And CTA Joint QualificationIf you’re looking to work within the area of taxation or have a particular interest in tax, then one potential option is to study for the combined ACA/CTA joint programme, which has only been available as a programme for the past few years.CertifiedAre you interested in joining the Certified Financial Analyst Institute?Previously, tax professionals, particularly at larger professional services firms such as Deloitte, would generally complete their ACA qualification first, before separately studying for the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification, which is its own qualification awarded by the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT).While you can still choose to obtain both qualifications separately, students can now choose to study for the ACA and CTA qualifications at the same time. Joint programme students generally will study the same modules as a pure ACA pathway student, although there will be some differences in the number and type of exams you take. Further information on the joint qualificati on can be found here.Passing the ACA exams can be tough, but once you’re ACA qualified, a lot of career opportunities open, and all the effort becomes worth it. Often, people working through the ACA find it difficult, and understandably so, but then once they have the letters after their name, they often feel that all their hard work has paid off, and they now have a qualification that they can be proud of that should help them advance in their career.If you feel like you need to improve your understanding of accounting concepts or want some additional support to improve your accounting knowledge, then you could consider hiring a personal accounting tutor to help you. A tutor can be especially helpful if you’re currently studying accounting at school or university and would like some extra help when it comes to preparing for your end of year exams.Just enter your postcode to find local accounting tutors near me who are happy to offer lessons on a one on one basis. Equally, if yo u’d prefer to have remote lessons, then remote accounting tutors are also available on Superprof. It’s just a case of finding the best tutor for you!Now discover the many ways you could put your accounting degree to use!

Online Tutorials What to Expect

Online Tutorials What to Expect What Are Online Private Tutorials Like? ChaptersChecking Your Equipment Before an Online TutorialDefining the Objectives of Your Online Private TutorialsThe Structure of an Online TutorialHow Are Online Tutorials Different to Face-to-Face Tutorials“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” - Anthony J. D'AngeloThe private tutoring market continues to grow but it’s difficult to find information on what percentage of students are taking online tutorials via webcam. However, with technology advancing and the market growing, it’d be safe to say that more students are probably opting for online tutorials as well as face-to-face ones.It might be difficult to find face-to-face tutorials if you live away from a large city. In this case, online tutorials via webcam are a great way to avoid paying for the tutor to travel to you since they’re often cheaper than face-to-face tutorials.But are the same as face-to-face tutorials? What are online tutoring services like? CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsChecking Your Equipment Before an Online TutorialThe first thing you need to do before getting online tutorials is checking that everything works fine. Before you start your lessons, make sure that everything works fine. (Free-Photos)Your tutor won’t be next to you but you will need to ensure that they can see and hear you. Poor communication can ruin a good lesson. Similarly, you’ll waste time and the lesson will be less effective.Here are our three tips for ensuring you’re ready on the day of your first lesson.Check the quality of your webcam and consider getting a new one if the quality is really low. You can also use a camera plugged into your computer as a webcam if necessary. Make sure that you’re in a well-lit room and avoid glare.Check your microphone: call a friend or family member over Skype and ensure the sound quality if good. It’s important that the teacher can you as clearly as you can hear them. If your microphone isn’t very good, you can get decent microphones for under £20. If you can’t hear very well, you might want to use headphones.Check your internet connection: if the call regularly drops or the video freezing, your internet connection may not be quick enough. You can use resources like Speedtest to check.If you’ve got everything working fine, you can then start looking for an online private tutor. Make sure you turn your computer on at least 15 minutes before the lesson in case it has any updates to install or you need to check your equipment again. The right equipment will make your online tutorials better.Before your first online tutorial, ask the tutor which video conferencing software they prefer. Download and test it before your first lesson. More often than not, tutors will opt for Skype or Google Talk. In some cases, private tutoring companies will use their platform and software.Make sure you check the quality of the call before you start any online tutorials. Find a quiet place where you won’t get interrupted or distracted.Now you’re ready to start your online private tutorials.Defining the Objectives of Your Online Private TutorialsDuring your first online tutorial, your tutor will probably want to know about your level in the given subject, your learning objectives, and establish a methodology that will work well with your learning style and goals. Your tutor will plan your lessons according to your objectives. (Source: StartupStockPhotos)Your first session will be used to establish the best course of action and is a great opportunity for the tutor and student to get to know one another a bit. You’re more likely to just chat with each other rather than do an actual lesson.Your tutor will probably ask you questions like:What is your level?What is your goal? Catch up, preparing for an exam, learning a new language, preparing for a job interview, etc.Do you need help in the long-term or short-term?When are you available?Of course, there’ll also be questions specific to the subject you want to study. This first meeting isn’t just about getting to know one another. It’s also about working out how your tutor can teach you, how much time they’ll need, and what they’ll need to teach you. Of course, this isn’t all set in stone and can change over time.Discover how much online tutorials cost.The Structure of an Online Tutor ialYour lesson will be just like traditional one-on-one tutoring in many regards. Of course, unlike home tutoring, your supplemental instruction will be provided using a webcam. You might want to keep a note of your online tutorial schedule. (Source: Free-Photos)Going Over the LessonIn any academic support tutorial or private tutorial, you’ll need to first go over what you’ve previously learnt to ensure that the knowledge has been consolidated. They’ll check that you’ve remembered the stuff from the last lesson or what you’ve been studying in school, for example.You’ll need to either send your tutor notes or materials from your classes via email, Dropbox, or Google Drive or via the video conferencing software you use. They’ll use this information to plan future tutorials and exercises.They’ll also be interested in your notes as they’ll be able to help you improve your note-taking. Poor note-taking can hinder your learning in a giving subject. If you can’t follow your notes or the lesson, it’ll be harder for you to learn.Your tutor is there to help you with all this.ExercisesAfter you’ve gone over previous lessons, the tutor will take you through some exercises to check your understanding of certain concepts. These can be speaking or writing exercises. At this stage, you might need a few tools to help you:Screen sharing: this allows you to show the other person what’s on your screen and it’s effective for correcting errors.Google Docs can be used to send documents to one another and also work on the same document simultaneously.GeoGebra is a useful tool for maths including geometry, algebra, statistics, and calculus.Each Lesson is UniqueNot each lesson will be the same and follow this revision, exercises, correction structure. The tutor can change and adapt the lessons according to your needs.  Don’t hesitate to tell them how you feel about certain activities and what you need to study.The lessons can change according to how you progress and your strengths and weaknesses. Trust that your tutor can guide you towards success.  Don’t hesitate to ask for regular feedback and assessment every month if your tut or isn’t already offering this. This will help you see how you’re progressing towards your goals.Learn how to find online tutorials.How Are Online Tutorials Different to Face-to-Face TutorialsAs you’ll have noticed, you have to prepare differently for online tutorials (scanning and sending documents, screen sharing, checking your connection, etc...). But other than that, there isn’t that much difference. The advantages of private tutorials are that the student isn't as shy about asking questions. (Source: weisanjiang)The academic support tutor is there to help the student to learn. Over webcam, you can still ask the same questions that you’d ask a tutor who’s there in the room with you.They can also show you different resources and make use of technology to make the lessons more entertaining and engaging.  They'll help you rediscover a passion for learning. You’ll learn more effectively through the learning approaches they can teach you. They can do this either via webcam or face-to-face.The tutor’s there to give you confidence in your abilities and support you through the learning experience. They may need to motivate you and ensure you don’t get distracted by everything you can find on the internet.  Whether you need help with test prep, study skills, test-taking, or a particular subject, you can find many talented and experienced private tutors on Superprof, many of whom offer free tutoring for the first hour.While it's true that anyone can become a tutor (as there are no formal prerequisites), the best tutors tailor their lessons to those being tutored, whether they're tutoring them online, in person, or as part of a study group.No matter what you want to learn, there are three main types of tutorial available: the online tutorials we were discussing in this article, face-to-face tutorials, and group tutorials. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and it'll be up to you to choose which works for you, your learning objectives, and your budget.Group tutorials tend to be the cheapest per person per hour since the cost of the tutor's time is divided between all the students attending. However, this means that you won't have the tutor's undivided attention during the whole class.Face-to-face tutorials are just between you and your tutor. The courses are tailored to you and as a result, you'll pay a premium for all the time inside and outside of th e class the tutors puts into planning and teaching the course. These tend to be the most cost-effective type of tutorials even if they're also usually the most costly.And you already know what you need to know about online private tutorials!

Breaks, Mini-Tests, and Multi-Task Avoidance Three Ways to Study Better

Breaks, Mini-Tests, and Multi-Task Avoidance Three Ways to Study Better Improving Academic Performance Few people like to do homework or study for a test. But it’s obviously important to do these things to perform well in school. And if you must engage in these activities, you might as well be as efficient and productive as possible. You want to get as much benefit from each hour you invest in studying as possible. In this article I’ll share three very practical, yet science-backed ways to get more out of every hour you invest in studying. #1 Know when to take a break. I’m not sure if it is widely understood that the brain has two main “modes” of thinking: Focused and Diffuse. I first learned about this concept in an online course called Learning How to Learn. When most people think about the process of studying for a test or going to a course lecture, they are envisioning “focused learning” where there is conscious effort to pay attention to a fact or concept and understand how it works. This is absolutely the primary way in which we learn. We apply reason and logic to understand how the pieces of a puzzle fit together, whether that “puzzle” is about history or algebra. However, there is another mode of learning called “Diffuse.” To understand this mode, which operates in the “background” of your brain, imagine you are struggling with a difficult math problem. You’ve been at it for 15 minutes, but there are 15 other problems you need to do for homework, so you just let it go and move on because you literally don’t have any more time. In the diffuse mode of learning you are not consciously thinking about a problem, but without realizing it, your mind is still working on it (in a sense). You know it’s something you’d like to solve or understand, and sub-consciously, your brain connects dots in the background and sort of “tests” a large number of potential linkages that might shed some light on the problem for you. It’s unlikely that the answer to the math problem will magically come to you at 9PM that night. However, when you crack open the book to do homework or sit down in the next class lecture, you may be surprised to somewhat quickly realize that you now understand the concept. The moral of the story here is that instead of continuing to struggle with a problem, sometimes it makes sense to take break and do something else, or at least move on to a different problem. #2 Stop underlining, start summarizing and testing yourself The brain retains more information when it is truly “activated.” Put differently, more learning occurs when you engage in “active” vs. “passive” studying. And, a great example of a “passive” activity is reading. Obviously, reading, as far as activities go, is a good thing to be doing and a very important part of learning and doing well in school. But, it’s important to try to get the most out of the time you invest in reading. Many studies have shown that simply reading about something is not a great way to learn or remember it. Reading passages and underlining them often feels good, because it seems like you are accomplishing something. But studies show little benefit. In this article on effective studying techniques by Annie Murphy Paul, she discusses several more effective alternatives to underlining. I will cover or have covered some of these ideas in other posts, but two strategies that are better than underlining include summarizing key ideas in your own words. This forces your brain to “activate” and re-formulate the idea before writing it down. Even better than summarizing, according to the article, is to use flashcards or other means to quiz yourself. Quizzing yourself is the ultimate way to truly engage with the material vs. passively absorbing it. This process of engaging is what researchers believe leads to higher levels of retention and learning. #3 Stop multi-tasking and start focusing You will learn a lot less and will find it more difficult and time consuming to understand and complete assignments if you multi-task. It’s as simple and clear as that. In an article in Inc. magazine, Larry Kim (@larrykim) writes about how multi-tasking lowers work quality and efficiency because it “makes it more difficult to organize thoughts and filter out irrelevant information.” He references a study at the University of London that suggest multi-tasking while performing cognitive tasks experienced IQ drops that were similar to subjects who hadn’t slept for an entire night or who had smoked marijuana. Multi-tasking is another topic written about very well by Annie Murphy Paul in her article You’ll Never Learn in Slate. On the one hand, you don’t need to overthink this one. Of course, when you try to do more than one thing at once, you are paying less attention to each thing. You’ll be more likely to miss important points altogether or not fully understand any given point you are hearing or reading about. Paul quotes a psychology professor at the University of Michigan who says “Under most conditions, the brain simply cannot do two complex tasks at the same time. It can only happen when two tasks are very simple and when they don’t complete with each other for the same resources…an example would be folding laundry and listening to a weather report on the radio. That’s fine…but listening to a lecture while texting or doing homework while being on Facebook â€" each of these tasks is very demanding.” Here are five research-backed results of trying to multi-task: Assignments/tasks take longer to complete, both because of time spent on the distracting activity and the need to re-familiarize yourself every time you re-engage You’ll experience mental fatigue from switching back and forth, and that will lead to mistakes Your memory of what you’re learning will be worse, as a direct result of having been switching back and forth across tasks when originally formulating the memory Our brains process information less efficiently when we are multi-tasking. In one study, students who multi-tasked remembered facts as well as non-multi-taskers, but were far less adept at extrapolating key themes to different contexts. Finally, some studies have simply shown that students who, in general, do more multi-tasking, simply have lower GPAs overall. Most likely as a result of all of the other issues we’ve already discussed. Summary There are many ways to start becoming a better student and a more efficient studier. Three important ones include: Knowing when to take a break Choosing more “active” ways to engage with what you are reading than simple underlining, and Avoiding multi-tasking at all costs when you are trying to learn or study something.

Move In - Phrasal Verb of the Day

Move In - Phrasal Verb of the Day Todays phrasal verb of the day is: Move InInfinitive form: Move InPresent Tense: Move In/ Moves Ining form: Moving InPast tense: Moved In Participle: Moved InMove In is a separable English phrasal verb. It can be used in the following ways:When you bring your personal belongings and stuff to a new place where you will live. The English phrase Moving Into can be used alternatively in this case. The term Move Out is the antonym of Move In.1. My friends are all excited because they will be moving into a spacious apartment next month.2. Once a couple gets married, they would naturally move in together right away.When you move something into a place, you take something in1. Dylans family moved all their furniture in really fast.2. Jack needs help in moving all the stuff into his new pad.When you move all your belongings and live with people1. We will move out of this dump and move in with my family soon.2. Once my sister moves right in with me, I can finally rest and go on vacation.The tr ailer below for the movie Someone Like You features Hugh Jackman in a much milder role than Wolverine, and uses Move In 3 times.Exercises: Write your answers in comments and we will correct them.Fill in the gaps from the video above:Jane: My apartments been re-rented and I have got to be out of here by Monday!Eddie: Why dont you ____ __ with me?Man 2: Youre ______ __ with Eddie?Jane: The place I was supposed to ____ ____ just suddenly fell apart.What does the sentence above mean?Complete the sentences below with the correct form of Move In.1. Can you please make up your mind as to when you are ____ __ so that I could inform the landlord?2. The place around the corner looks really good. If given a chance, Id _____ __ there at moments notice.3. He cant seem to make up his mind whether he should move out for good, or if he should ____ back __.4. ____ __ is a pretty big step. Are you sure you want to do this?5. Carl says he will be moving in with his girlfriend ____ __ next year.Change the example sentences above to negative sentences (or positive, if the sentence is already negative). Then change them to questions.

Irvine English Tutor 4 Tips to Study for a Reading Final

Irvine English Tutor 4 Tips to Study for a Reading Final Tips from an Irvine English Tutor: 4 Tips to Study for a Reading Final Students in all grade levels are likely to have a reading element as part of their English final exam. Its important for students to be able to remember the various elements of the novels they are to be tested on, especially if they need to write an essay or response as part of their examination process. Unfortunately, because students study so many things simultaneously, they may not remember a book they read earlier in the semester. Additionally, if a student wasnt interested in the particular novel but was only reading it for academic purposes; they may not have fully comprehended the various aspects of character development. One of the best ways for a reader to relate to characters is to find something in common with them. However, many historical characters dont have obvious common elements with todays students. Nonetheless, there are still plenty of ways students can remember plot line and character development so they can ace those finals score high on your reading final with the help of a private Irvine tutor from TutorNerds. 1. Start with one or the other Attempting to study character development, setting, plot, and details of a novel simultaneously can become seriously overwhelming. Its better if students start with either plot or the main characters. Many students start out studying two or three important characters so they can see how they interact when they review the plot later on. Learning about the protagonist or antagonist first can be extremely helpful and once a student has a handle on this they can see how these characters move through the story. If the setting is an important part of character development, students can also see how characters react to various parts of the setting. 2. Simplify the storyline Some novels are written in a linear format, meaning that something happens first, second, third and so on. These are the simplest types of novels to comprehend. Students in middle and high school will also be asked to deal with complicated plot lines that either deal with flashbacks, merging storylines, multiple narrators, or twists and turns. Although these types of novels can be more interesting in many ways, they’re also more difficult to review. If necessary, students are encouraged to create a simplified plot summary as part of their study guide so they can remember what happened in each chapter of the story. After students have conquered this element, they can go back and study the most complicated flashbacks or twists. 3. How do the characters react to one another? Another great way for students to remember important parts of character development is to summarize how different characters relate to each other. Its important to know how the protagonist reacts to the antagonist, how they relate to secondary characters, and how they react to plot elements or the setting. Students can even create a character tree, just like a family tree, where they discover who is related, who gets along, who the nemesis is, and so on. Depending on a students preferred learning style they can either write a paragraph summary or create an actual visual character tree (READ: Decoding Literature: Plain English Please). 4. Pick out important elements of the plot It’s also a good idea for students to figure out which elements of a plot are crucial and which simply move the story forward. For instance, if a natural disaster changes the lives of many characters then this particular chapter should receive a heavier focus. If a character is in conflict and needs to make an important decision, something in the plot might change as a result. If students are having difficulty picking out important elements of the plot they can speak with their classroom teacher, tutor, or refer to the many great online study tools available. Its not too late to book your Irvine reading tutor. Call us today for more information. 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.