Higher Education and Online Resources for ESOL Learners

Higher Education and Online Resources for ESOL Learners ESOL Courses: Access to Higher Learning and Online Resources ChaptersESOL Learners Coming to Britain to Learn EnglishLearning English as a Second LanguageEnglish Learning Paves the WayResources to Learn English OnlineOther Online English Materials?We are not suggesting that, nowhere in the world are there any finer universities or institutes other than those in English-speaking countries.However, according to the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, fourteen percent of all migrants come to the UK for educational opportunities.The main reason people migrate to the UK is for work or better opportunities in their professional arena, for which they study business English. Learn about the benefits of learning business English here.Without questioning anyone's motivation to do so, let's explore some of the reasons that people from all over the world choose to complete their tertiary and post-graduate work in schools that use English to teach.Many students come to Britain for higher education (Source: Pixabay Credit: Ihsanadity) JulianE SOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsESOL Learners Coming to Britain to Learn EnglishAdmittedly, the majority of immigrants are adults seeking better employment opportunities, with children who need to be educated.Government immigration agencies often require proof of English language skills as part of their admission procedures.Whether young children are also required to demonstrate any English speaking capability upon entering the country is not indicated.However, a recently adjudicated case indicates that every adult seeking to stay in the country long-term must be able to express him-/herself in English, even if married to a British citizen, and have basic understanding of the language.Given that immigrants must have mastered a certain level of English before being permitted into the country â€" for education or work, it seems counterintuitive that anyone would come to Britain to learn English.Statistics show that the level of English taught in developing and under-developed countries targets criteria needed to pass exams, including Ielts and Toefl.Everyday English is largely overlooked, and that is exactly the vernacular that immigrants most need to learn, and what they study once they've established themselves.Learning English as a Second LanguageRegardless of the age of the student, the same basic aspects of language learning apply:verbs, their tenses and proper conjugationhow to use adjectives and adverbs properlycorrect spellinggrammar rulesword order and sentence structureusing proper punctuationspeaking the language with proper tone and inflectionStudents who arrive in Britain work very hard to master these facets of the language, as well as modern slang and idioms with the hope of matriculating at any of our universities or colleges.The numbers don't lie! According to the UK Council for International Student Affairs, fully twenty percent of students enrolled at institutes of higher learning come from outside the UK.Learning English is the path to achieving your education goals (Source: Pixabay Credit: Pexels) JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsEnglish Learning Paves the WayIf you are one of many international students with eyes on UK universities, studying English in depth is the best way for you to achieve your goal.Learning English as a foreign language in itself can be tricky, but especially so if the subject you are passionate about requires additional, specialized vocabulary, such as  science or technology.To earn a degree in these subjects and others from a UK university, you would have to master the vocabulary associated with the discipline, as well as attaining comprehension and being able to write about it in English.Suppose sociolo gy or anthropology fascinate you: the jargon related to those studies is not commonly used in everyday English. Here again, you would need a separate lexicon to qualify for enrollment.Fortunately, you can improve your English and expand your vocabulary online, including adding specialized words for the major you choose.Resources to Learn English OnlineWhile the Internet abounds with materials to study English grammar and vocabulary, finding pages for learning English with regard to specific subjects can be frustrating... but it doesn't have to be.The British Council will not fail you in your quest to master English.They might not offer specialized vocabulary for the subject you intend to pursue, but their website presents grammar and vocabulary lessons as well as podcasts for you to sharpen your listening skills and increase your overall learning.The Khan Academy offers free online tutorials via YouTube in subjects such as computer science, physics, chemistry, health and medicine, a nd higher math.Their website hosts an expanded section on English grammar, from explanations of parts of speech and how to use them to a proper punctuation guide.The best part about these tutorial videos â€" besides costing nothing, is that they challenge you to quizzes, after each segment and at the end of the section you are reviewing.Beware that the Khan Academy posts videos using American English. Although words are more or less the same from one type of English to the next, the tone, accent and style of speaking is different than Oxford English.In some cases, spelling is different as well: center v. centre, for exampleThe best way to benefit from both sites is to alternate listening to a British Council podcast with watching an educational video in American English.Finding useful websites is not difficult (Source: Pixabay)Other Online English Materials?Before we explore that topic, let us take a look at the latest Internet statistics, provided by the premier agency that tracks usage for every country with an Internet presence.Asia, with a touch over 55% of the world's population, accounts for the greatest number of Internet users.Europe has the second largest group of Internet users globally in spite of falling third on the list of overall population.Africa, with the second-highest population count after Asia, represents just under ten percent of the global Internet usage.North America, the continent where English is spoken the most, accounts for only 8.6% of global Internet traffic.North America boasts the greatest percentage of global Internet penetration â€" the number of people who have access to the Internet. It therefore stands to reason that the greatest number of websites present materials using the English language.Even China's Alibaba, that country's giant of online sales, has an English version of their site in order to attract a larger share of the global E-commerce market.That's not to say that other countries don't have great websites in the ir own language, but if we search for the most frequently used websites in Germany, for example, the top five addresses indicate English-language sites, albeit translated: Google, Amazon, Ebay and Wikipedia.YouTube remains in its native language.Culture, History and StatisticsIf you are of a will to learn what you can about every country in the world â€" as well as practise your English reading skills, the Internet has several sites you can refer to, one of them being Wikipedia.Another such site is Expatica, that is targeted to people who want to learn about different countries before moving there. Although their selection of profiles is limited to western Europe, you can learn essential information on living and working in their listed countries.The only language that site publishes in is English. If you would like an in-depth study of every country, you can refer to America's CIA website. They have a factbook with a page for every nation that includes transnational issues as well as relations with other countries.Find the best  online English courses.Cooking and FoodAre you interested in exploring the culinary arts?You can improve your English vocabulary while learning new words relating to food and cooking. Web sites in English, detailing recipes for dishes from just about any country, abound!You only need to conduct a search for the feast you wish to prepare. Upon finding it, a trip to the grocer's to buy the ingredients and you can call yourself a chef!Be sure to practice your English conversation with the butcher while s/he weighs out your cuts. Movies, Music and Other EntertainmentTo be sure, streaming films and listening to music in English are great ways to learn and there are popular Web activities, and sites with such materials are plentiful.Chatting and language learning can also be fun on the Web! Sites such as Lang-8 permit you to enhance your English writing skills while helping native English speakers learn your mother tongue.That site does not have a live chat option but you can make friends with other language learners and invite them to chat with you on Skype.Chatting with a native English speaker online could break conversation barriers that might otherwise prevent you from talking with people you meet around your neighbourhood. Play Games OnlineFor Esl students, nothing beats playing word games to improve your vocabulary and spelling.Esol teachers often conduct such activities in class and recommend follow-up exercises at home.To heed such a recommendation, simply search for games you can play by yourself or by challenging other players.One online activity that would give you a wide range of situations to practice your spoken English is Second Life, a site where you get to create a persona that engages in a virtual society.A key aspect to this role-playing activity is socializing with other personae, and English is the predominant language.Living a Second Life can help you learn new phrases and gain proficiency with reading and writing in the course of communicating with other characters.English is your all-access pass to higher education, information and web-based entertainment.What a great decision you made, to be an English learner!Learn how to make English learning easy with our guide to simplifying ESOL courses.

Why is Origami Important to Japanese Culture

Why is Origami Important to Japanese Culture How Important is Origami to Japanese Culture? ChaptersWhy Origami is Attributed to Japanese CultureThe Meaning of OrigamiThe Breadth of Paper Crafts in JapanIf you’ve ever eaten at a Benihana or other Japanese restaurant, you may have been struck by the presentation of the food and of the dining elements â€" specifically how your napkin was folded.Your place setting might have been graced by an origami swan, or maybe the napkin was folded into a cunning pocket for your chopsticks...Did said restaurant have red paper lanterns on display, possibly with ideograms painted on them?Although those lanterns are reinforced with wire, they nevertheless fall under the origami umbrella because they are primarily made of paper.Incidentally, it is not difficult to make such a lantern; you can follow these easy step instructions to make origami paper lanterns of your own...To take the relationship between Japan and origami one step further: it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to conclude that a kimono, the traditional Japanese wrapped garment is akin to making origami.One must wrap the kimono and fold the obi â€" the wide waistband just so; origami must also be precisely folded.It was during Japan’s Edo period (1603-1867) that the kimono became truly stylised; it was also during that time that origami found its place in Japanese culture.These days, while kimono-wearing has been relegated to special occasions, especially weddings, origami remains a pastime for young and old. However, it is quite common to make kimonos out of money.Money origami is a niche art, especially using US currency because a dollar bill does not have the same dimensions as standard origami paper.But we’re not talking about origami in the United States; our topic today is origami in Japan, specifically why that paper art is such an integral part of their culture.Still, if you must know, origami is quite popular in the states; so much so that the Ginter Botanical Garden in Virginia routinely puts Japanese paper creations on display and lets chil dren of all ages float origami boats in their ponds.Enough about that! Our focus is the chain of islands on the other side of the world and what origami represents for them.Let's get on with it! 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!D iscover 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 tutorsWhy Origami is Attributed to Japanese Culture A kimono is decidedly harder to fold than an origami flower! Image by Sasin Tipchai from PixabayYou may be disappointed to find that origami did not originate in Japan, nor were/are they the only culture to practise the art of paper folding.If you are a Japanophile, you may already know that the Chinese ‘invented’ paper and had been plying paper as an art form long before Buddhist monks introduced papermaking in Japan.To this day, the ancient art of paper cutting, kirigami in Japanese, is more popular in China than in Japan.Kirigami and kusudama â€" glueing or sewing several origami shapes together used to feature in Japanese origami but, when the Shogun ruled the country (off and on between 1192 and 1867) they standardised origami and made origami folding a part of their training.Are you wondering how sitting for hours, folding origami can train someone to handle a samurai?Even simple origami takes patience and precision to execute; those are two qualities every warrior needs. B esides, the ability to visualise â€" to see shapes in an otherwise unremarkable sheet of paper promotes thinking skills and imagination.Finally, using both hands to make a mountain fold, a valley fold and a multitude of creases improves hand-eye coordination, a quality every soldier needs.These reasons to turn sheets of paper into distinct shapes still hold true today; they are why classes in origami for kids offers so many educational benefits even though they are not being conditioned to swing samurai swords.Meanwhile, before paper made its way to Europe, people there amused themselves with napkin folding but, once paper came along (and became affordable), it was not uncommon for children to amuse themselves by making toys out of paper.For example, the fortune teller has a centuries-long history on the continent and it made its way to our shores almost 100 years ago.All of that still does not explain why the art of folding paper is attributed to Japan exclusively.We need to find m ore reasons... Did you know that protein sequences have been modelled using origami? Image by _Alicja_ from PixabayThe Meaning of OrigamiLet’s say that, for you, a square piece of paper represents unlimited possibilities.You might make an origami rose out of it, or an origami box that, once a few coats of lacquer are applied, will make a wonderful gift.You might make a paper aeroplane to distract a young child or a paper boat s/he can set afloat in the pond.What does origami mean to you? Do you build origami models for the sake of creation? For stress relief? To hone your fine motor skills?What do you want to represent in the origami designs you make?In no way are these questions ambiguous for Japanese origami enthusiasts. Their ancient Japanese traditions speak to them loud and clear as they make their folds.the origami dragon is a symbol of power, wisdom and successby contrast, the dragonfly represents strength, courage and good luckthe origami butterfly is symbolic of a girl growing into a you ng womanan origami frog in the pocketbook means that spent money will returnthe origami cat stands for strength, self-assurance and independenceThese origami animals are all significant in but there is one origami bird that outshines every animal you might make out of folded paper.Cranes have a special significance in Japanese culture.Not only are they thought to live for 1,000 years â€" hence they are a symbol of long life, but they believe that folding a thousand cranes will make their fondest wish come true.You can learn more about the symbolism of origami in our related article.Origami cranes are made more poignant by the story of a young, cancer-stricken girl.In the aftermath of the Hiroshima blast, many were afflicted with life-threatening illnesses. Young Sadako, embroiled in a fight for her life, set out to fold one thousand paper cranes so that her wish to be rid of her cancer might come true.Upon entering the children’s cancer ward she realised the futility of her exerci se but continued to fold every origami crane she could, believing that, if she attained senbazuru â€" literally ‘a thousand cranes’, her wish for lasting peace would come true.She exceeded her goal and, having folded a total of 1,300 such birds, leaving an unrivalled legacy.Touched by her story, after her death, her classmates petitioned for a statue of her to be erected as an eternal plea for hope for peace. To this day, people from all over the world send origami cranes to be laid at her memorial.If you didn’t know the story behind the iconic paper crane until now, surely it will persuade to you pick up a pack of Washi paper and learn how to fold them.If you don’t yet know how to make an origami crane, you can find video tutorials or written folding instructions online.See the different available art courses near me here. Origami boxes such as these are often traded in Japan; usually they contain a sweet or a lucky star Image by Letterblade from PixabayThe Breadth of Paper Crafts in JapanThink back to your school days or, if you’re currently in school, take a moment to review the type of work you do there.Did/does any of it involve paper craft? Do you remember being assigned any origami projects?It is quite common for students in the UK to work with coloured paper and tissue paper, especially up to the first Key Stage but, after that, we get into more ponderous topics like art appreciation or painting and drawing.In our schools, we’re not actually taught how to make origami let alone how to make paper, which is surprisingly easy.Now, let’s take that thought a bit further: were you shown how you can use easy origami to understand geometry and vertices or create tessellations? Have you modelled any complex shapes using 3D origami?Would you be wildly surprised to learn that such learning is commonp lace in Japan primary schools?There, children learn folding technique before they are old enough for school. Parents help their children make easy paper constructions; maybe an origami heart or origami flowers.As little fingers fold and crease, they hear the stories of their culture.  They learn how bokashi â€" the shading or gradation of paper can enhance their designs and how to create kawaii creatures.Kawaii is Japan’s particular brand of ‘cute’.All of this happens before they are enrolled in school so that, by the time the teacher hauls out the square paper, they already know how to fold origami.Even better: they are already endowed with the patience to sit still for long periods, the perseverance to work through frustrations and precision to fold just about any origami model, as long as it is not too complex.From an early age, Japanese children are indoctrinated into the wonders of origami â€" Satoshi Kamiya, the world’s most renown origami artist, avers he started fold ing when he was two years old.There is no doubt that origami is important to the Japanese; possibly more important to their culture than any other â€" even though it is extensively used to model engineering applications all over the world.For their culture of cute, for their traditions and history, even for all of the Japanese words that populate the vocabulary of origami, we could rightly say that origami is Japanese art.Even if people in other countries have long amused themselves by folding paper origami.

Private Tuition How to Lower the Price

Private Tuition How to Lower the Price Our Advice for Reducing the Cost of Private Tutors! ChaptersHave Group TutorialsSpread Out the TutorialsWorking between Private Tutorials to Better PrepareWhy Not give Competent In-Home Tutors with Less Experience a Chance?What are the Risks of Paying Less?The cost of having one on one private tutoring or online tutoring can quickly mount up!The teaching approach can differ greatly depending on whether the student is at primary school, secondary school, university, or an adult learner. Whether they've chosen tutoring services for test prep, exams, or to work on their homework.In fact, the higher your level in a given subject (be it German, English, geography, science, or even Spanish), the more you'll pay when it comes to private tuition. You'll pay less to study basic grammar with a French tutor than you would for an advanced-level conversation class.However, whether your just starting out or you’re at an advanced level in a given subject, the goal of your private tutor isn’t to empty your wallet, but rather do everything they ca n to make you succeed! With that in mind, what is the right price to pay?Here are a few tips and tricks to help reduce the cost of your private lessons! 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 T eacher 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 tutorsHave Group TutorialsBeing tutored in a small group comes with plenty of benefits, especially financial benefits.In fact, the rate per hour is:either divided amongst the studentsor the tutor offers a reduced rate for each student which will be agreed upon before the tutorials (for example, £12/hour instead of £20).In addition to the financial benefits of these types of tutorials, they can also be more effective as it allows you work with other stude nts while the educator monitors and provides important feedback.You’ll no longer be alone when you struggle: students can help each other to learn! With a certified teacher guiding the group, you can develop study skills that'll help you become a better learner and do better in school.Can you have a tutoring session as a group in your house?Of course! By having academic support at home, you can reduce the cost of the tutorials, which, in London, are usually as follows:Maths: £21Physics: £22French: £20Biology: £18Philosophy: £30History: £23Design: £28Technology: £22Don't forget that Superprof has a new system of tutorials in place: webcam tutorials.Thanks to this device,  online tutoring can be organised through video-conferencing with other students! This can also help reduce the costs of a lesson: webcam + group classes = twice the savings!Don’t hesitate to ask your tutor if they accept group tutorials and offer a discount!Spread Out the TutorialsIf you prefer routine o ver intensive learning, set up a lighter schedule with your private tutor and save some money.Whether it’s help with homework or an assignment, academic or online tutoring, or exam preparation, by starting earlier you can outline your objectives without having to increase the frequency or intensity of the tutorials!In order to do this, you have to talk with your private tutor and ask them the right questions:When are you available (weekends, evenings, holidays)?What approach can we take?Can you effectively tutor me over a longer period of time?How often should I have my tutorials to learn effectively?How can we set up regular academic coaching?There’s no problem with planning ahead!Make sure to plan your private tutorials in advance! (Source: Virtue Digest)Contrary to what you might think, reducing the number of tutorials per week doesn’t necessarily have a negative affect on your academic performance as long as you give each class your undivided attention!The aim is to have a n effective hourly tutorial rather than hour after hour of intensive study that tires you out.This method is very cost-effective.Rather than spending around £200 per month on home tutoring, you can have a single tutorial a week and effectively half the cost of your tuition! Make sure that you’re paying a fair price for tutoring jobs, though!Spreading out your tutorials will therefore be great for both your learning and your wallet! 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!Disc over 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 tutorsWorking between Private Tutorials to Better PrepareThere’s no secret to having a successful year. Work, work, and more work...Of course, a private tutor can’t perfo rm miracles if you’re not putting the effort in! Working on your own outside of your tutorials can also be very beneficial!When it comes to academic support, the private tutor has to follow the national curriculum, which they can help you with by giving your adapted exercises to do on your own when they’re not there. To better advance and improve, use extra work outside of class in order to help you learn better!If you follow your tutor’s approach to learning, there’s a strong chance that you’ll be able to lighten your workload during the private tutorials.However, working on your own isn’t just a good idea for academic support tutorials.For example, if you’re working with a sports coach, they’ll probably teach you the techniques in order to work more effectively on your own.Make sure you train outside of our tutorials, too! (Source: Pop Psychology)You can also save money on the sports tutorials and classes on Superprof. The average rates for London are as follows:Sp orts Coaching: £27Fitness: £23Martial Arts: £36Suggest a block-booking discount with your tutor: for example, for 10 hours of tutorials, they could offer you a 15% discount (some tutors already offer this)!If the tutorials are prepared well in advance, you’ll waste a lot less time when it comes to catching back up and learning new things.This is a much better use of your money!Why Not give Competent In-Home Tutors with Less Experience a Chance?If you’re set on reducing your costs, you’ll have to make the odd compromise! While one on one tutoring is an investment for the future, not everyone is willing to pay top dollar for it!You’re going to be hard-pressed to find a home tutor with a PhD working for less than £20 per hour! The best tutors in terms of qualifications tend to demand the highest rates for in home tutoring.The tutors with less experience could be just as good when it comes to giving one on one tutoring. Give them a shot!We love rising stars at Superprof: tha t’s why a lot of students teach their first ever private tutorials on our platform.Talent knows no age! (Source: National Geographic)Start by having a look at potential tutors, their qualifications, and their experience.Then, using Superprof, get in touch with your tutor. Most of our tutors offer free tutoring for the first hour, meaning there’s no risk for you if it doesn’t work out!Going with a younger tutor can save you a lot of money since their hourly rates are usually lower!For example, if a younger maths tutor charges £15 (with the average being £21), you could save nearly £50 per month if you have two tutorials a week. Just because they're younger doesn't mean that they don't have a good grasp of algebra, geometry, or calculus!To start getting better results, get in touch with a tutor today!What are the Risks of Paying Less?Saving money is great but there must be some risks, right?A lot of people ask this question. They worry that a reduced rate means a reduced qual ity.There’s always an inherent risk when you spend any money: whether it’s pennies or thousands, you can never guarantee that you’ll get on great with your tutor.Prices for private tuition vary considerably, and if you decide to pay less for your tutor, you’ll have to compromise on a few things.For example, your tutor could refuse to travel to your house since they’ll end up paying half their hourly rate in petrol.It might be best to find a place halfway like a library or café.The same can be said for their schedule: If you’ve decided to go with private tutorials from a university student, you’ll have to understand that their timetable can change from one term to the next and they mightn’t always be able to provide tutorials at the same time or day!University students also have really busy schedules. (Source: Journalism Research News)The qualitative issues are normally those that cause the most problems.When it comes to academic support, there are fewer risks since tutors can follow the national curriculum.Of course, experience can still be an issue. However, our young tutors should know how to motivate students and provide tailored private tutorials since they’re usually working towards becoming a teacher.On the other hand, when it comes to leisure or sporting tutorials, you’ll have to concede a few of the privileges you get from the more expensive tutors!For example, you can’t expect your “low-cost” sports coach to bring all the latest equipment with them (dumbells, weights, mats, etc). You’ll therefore have to put in a bit of effort if you want to be the next Arnold Schwarzenegger!Don’t forget that there’s no obligation to keep having your tutorials: Since you have the first hour free, if you choose to keep searching for a better tutor, you can do so!This is one of the many advantages of Superprof: you can save money on your private tutorials by leaving your doors open to the rising stars of the tutoring world.

What Kind Of History Should You Study

What Kind Of History Should You Study What Are The Different Types Of History? ChaptersMedieval HistoryModern HistoryArt HistoryHistory is a science in and of itself and like most if not all scientific fields, History is divided into many more sub-categories, each specifically studying a period of Human history or a specific region of the world.If you are studying for a History degree or you are already an undergraduate aiming for a bachelor, you will most likely study many though not all, aspects of History.With the rise of civilisations, not in one unique location on the planet but everywhere man had settled, many different cultures emerged across the globe. Each of these cultures possesses their own history, often written down by local historians but frequently passed from a generation to the other through oral tradition.Not only history is divided chronologically and geographically, but some fields of history also study specific subjects of Human culture, such as:Political history, which studies the story of government, political leaders, elections, policie s and the interaction between the different branches of governmentDiplomatic history, which studies the relations between countries, ambassadors, and ideas of diplomacySocial history, which studies the ways and customs of a people, of families and children, education, as well as demography, and social institutions such as churches.Cultural history, which studies languages and their uses, the arts including literature, sports and   other entertainments and the way they participate in constructing cultural identitiesEconomic history, which studies how a whole system of production and consumption (or of any of its parts) works, of businesses, industry, banks, and working classes at all levels of the systemIntellectual history, which studies ideology and epistemology and works to analyze how ideas affect human lives and how the material world influences human ideas.There is much more than that still. There is even a field of History called Historiography, which is  the history of histor y. Instead of subjecting actual events - say, the conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy - to historical analysis, the object of historiography is the history of the  history  of the event: how it has been written, the often conflicting bias pursued by those writing about it through time, and the way in which such circumstances shape our understanding of the actual event in question, and of the nature of history itself.Questions of historiography include the following:who writes history, what was their agenda, and towards what goal?how reliable can a historian ever aspire to be, interpreting past events from the point of view of the historian's present?what about the sources a historian choose to include in their work or purposefully exclude?To keep it simple we will only look at the main groups of history, Ancient, Postclassical and Modern as well as Art History.Ancient HistoryThe History of humanity starts when the first civilisation emerged and historians defined everyt hing that came before as Pre-History.Commonly, Ancient history is accepted to begin around 3000BCE with the apparition of early writing system in Mesopotamia. It extends up until the 6th century CE when the Western Roman Empire collapsed following a succession of invasion and the death of the last Roman Emperor,  Romulus Augustulus.Archaeology has been at the centre of any research regarding Ancient History. It has played a huge part in our knowledge of early civilizations, from the excavation of the Terracotta Army of the First Qin Emperor in ancient China to the exploration of the Mayan Pyramids in South America.Even though, most of our current knowledge of Ancient time events relies on the writings and accounts of antiquity historians (Herodotus,  Thucydides,  Arrian,  Plutarch,  Polybius,  Sima Qian,  Sallust,  Livy,  Josephus,  Suetonius, and  Tacitus), those records were often produced decades if not centuries after the events they described occurred and they are always to tak e with some precautions.Egypt, as the birth place of one of the earliest civilisation on the planet, is full of historical sites that have fascinated historians for hundreds of years. (by  Retlaw Snellac Photography)In the East, Japan's medieval period is commonly accepted to start with the Nara period (when  Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijo-kyo) in 709 and ended with the last battle of Sekighahara in 1600 when  Tokugawa and his allies defeated the Toyotomi regime and unified the country.At the same time on the continent, China's different historical periods did not follow the same pattern and the Imperial Era of China began in 221 with the Qin dynasty and only ended with the Qing Emperor in 1911.In the Middle East and North Africa as well as the Iberian Peninsula, Medieval times were marked by the ascent of Islam and the creation of powerful Empires.As studying and following history courses requires a lot of critical thinking skills as well as research skills, many u niversity alumni who graduated from a scholar institution with a degree level in History turn to the law after completing their undergraduate tuition and become lawyers.Why not hire a History tutor?The Vikings left far more than just a few casks in England (by Arthur_ASCII)Modern HistoryThe Middles Ages slowly faded in Europe as Renaissance was making its way to a full-blown social, religious and economic change. Even though the Renaissance movement started in Italy around the 13th century, with the rediscovery of Antic philosopher and the contact with the scientific knowledge of the Middle East, Medieval History only ended around the year 1500 following a few major events:The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in 1439The discovery of the Americas by Christopher Colombus in 1492.The globalisation of the world and the acceleration of the exchange of ideas, goods and money through Europe, the Middle East and Asia.Academics commonly split Modern History into two periods, Earl y Modern History and Late Modern History. For students who have successfully past the admission stage in their undergraduate degree, Modern History will probably be studied over more than one semester along with other humanities discipline, some elective and some mandatory.Early Modern History includes:The Renaissance, marked by a new school of thought, Humanism, and the rediscovery of classical Greek philosophyThe Reformation (the split in Western Christianity launched by Martin Luther and sustained by Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin and other Protestant Reformers in 16th-century Europe)The Counter-Reformation, was the Catholic resurgence launched in response to the Protestant Reformation, starting with the Council of Trent (1545â€"1563) and ending at the end of the Thirty Years' War (1648). It was initiated to protect the power, influence and wealth held by the Catholic Church.The Age of Discovery, spanning from the 15th century until the end of the 18th century and was marked by ex tensive overseas exploration which led to a profound change in European diplomacy and was the inception of globalization.The Rise of capitalism,  based on the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit.The Golden Age of Piracy, which spans from the 1650s to the late 1720s and includes three separate upheavals of piracy:The buccaneering period of approximately 1650 to 1680, characterized by French and English sailors based in Tortuga and Jamaica and targeting Spanish ships and colonies throughout the CaribbeansThe Pirate Round of the 1690s, marked by long-distance cross sea voyages from the Americas to rob Muslim and East India Company possessions in the Indian Ocean and the Red SeaThe post-Spanish Succession, from 1716 to 1726, when English and American seamen and privateers, turned to piracy after the end of the Spanish Succession war and roamed in the Caribbean, the North American Eastern Coasts, the West African seaboard, and the Indian Ocean.Hist ory is such a vast and interesting subject that most universities and school institutions offer the possibility to pursue a History degree or to study history in an interdisciplinary bachelor of arts degree for example. You could even look past your graduation and continue on getting a doctoral degree in History.Commonly accepted to start at the end of the 18th century and was marked by major events such as:The American Revolution, which ended the dominion of the British Crown over its American colonies.The French Revolution, which ended with the abolition of monarchy and initiated a democratic government system.The Colonization of Australia,  driven by the need to address overpopulation in the British prison system, and the fact that the British Crown had lost the Thirteen Colonies of America in the American Revolution.The Revolutions of 1848, which were a series of political upheavals across Europe in 1848 (France, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland and Ireland were all affected). It continues to be the most widespread revolutionary wave in European history.The Russian Revolution, which was not one but two revolutions in Russia in 1917 which struck down the Tsarist absolutism and led to the rise of the Soviet Union. The Russian Empire fell with the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II.The First World War and the Second World War, from 1914 to 1918 and 1939 to 1945 involved all the main powers of the time and almost all countries on the planet. Those two conflicts resulted in the death of tens of millions of soldiers and civilians and changed the world order forever.If you study civilization and societies, time spent in the classroom will mainly focus on historical research and analytical and critical thinking, all research skills being the requirement for journalism or a career in sociology.Laocoon and his Sons' was one of the first piece of art to be describe by an Historian, Pliny the Elder (by Kartlyn Earth ArtKN)Art HistoryOne of the sub -categories of History is the History of Art. While the main focus of Historians has mostly been to study and analyse historical, religious, social and political events through different periods, Art History has been focused on something different.Art Historians have been studying the visual, aural and oral expression of humanity. Scholars scrutinising Art History have been trying to interpret visual art, music and fictional writings through a thorough investigation using  different approaches and methodologies.One of the earliest Art Historians that we know of is one of the most Antiquity Historian, namely Pliny the Elder. During his time he was considered to be one of the most famous Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher and even served as a naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire.If you are studying liberal arts, it is very likely that your coursework and curriculum will include some Art History before the completion of your degree programs.There are many mo re fields of History that one can spend their life to study, from Western civilization to Latin American History, African History, anthropology, American History or even African American History. The different history  degrees that you can earn are many if not endless.Check out the cost of private History tuition on Superprof.

What is it Like to Attend Walla Walla University

What is it Like to Attend Walla Walla University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well.Dan received his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Walla Walla University. He is currently a tutor in Portland specializing in Accounting tutoring, Economics tutoring, Finance tutoring, and several other subjects. See what he had to say about his experience at Walla Walla University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Dan: Walla Walla University is located in southeast Washington near wheat fields and wineries. Being in the country, it felt pretty safe there. The Tri-Cities in Washington (Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland) are about 45 miles away when you need to get off campus. I was fortunate to have both a car and a bike during my college years. I did not use public transportation during that time. VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Dan: I found professors at Walla Walla University to be readily available when needed, and I made sure to do the same for my students when I taught accounting courses a few years back. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Dan: I lived in the dorms during my first three years, and we had a cafeteria and a smaller student lounge where we ate. I enjoyed playing sports and socializing with others, but I got tired of dorm life and was able to get an apartment near campus my senior year. I enjoyed being near campus and having a place to get away from school. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Dan: Business was one of the top five largest majors on campus. After I graduated, they moved the Business department into a new building, which is a huge improvement over being on the fourth floor of an 80-year-old building. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Dan: We did not have Greek life at Walla Walla University. I made friends playing sports and participating in activities. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Dan: I did not find them very helpful. In my case, I moved to Portland on graduation day, and I found a job shortly thereafter and began my career in accounting. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Dan: There were libraries where we met for study groups, as well as student lounges, but I found studying in my room or at the dining table to be my best study place because it was quiet and offered few distractions. However, we did have many study groups at Merchants Coffee Shop in downtown Walla Walla. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Dan: Walla Walla was a relatively quiet town come sundown when I attended the university. We went to a lot of movies. A highlight was going to Tri-Cities once every month or two for dinner and a movie, as well as to the water park during the spring and summer. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Dan: Our student body was about 2,000 students, but most of my Business classes were 20-30 students. General classes could have 60-70 students in a class in an amphitheater setting. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Dan: I had one professor, Ann Gibson, who was the most amazing teacher. I had taken a course taught by her mother in high school, and she was a fantastic teacher, as well. I took every class Ann taught in my last three years to gain the knowledge she offered. She was hard, but I learned so much about business from her. I modeled my teaching and tutoring from her example. On the other hand, I absolutely hated it when a teacher came to class unprepared. I had a couple of professors that came to class and opened the textbook for the first time in front of the class. I consider those wasted lectures. I learned that preparation was the key, and, as a teacher, you owe it to your students to come prepared to answer their questions. Check out Dans tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How to Write a Winning MBA Personal Statement

How to Write a Winning MBA Personal Statement GMAT MBA Admissions Blog If you’re in the process of applying to business schools, you already know that there’s so much that goes into a successful MBA application. You need strong GMAT or GRE scores, good work experience, great references and a compelling, effective MBA personal statement. Your MBA personal statement tells the admissions committee who you are as a person, why you should be admitted into an MBA program and how the degree will shape your career plans. It’s one of the most important pieces of your application, as it gives you the chance to address weaknesses in your materials and present yourself as a well-rounded person. A well-crafted MBA personal statement allows a school’s admissions committee to see the person behind the resume, but how can you use a brief written statement to show admissions committees who you are as a person and professional? Tell a Story Your MBA personal statement shouldn’t be a dry recitation of your career progress to date. It should tell a story about who you are, what you’ve been working toward in your career and how you think an MBA from the specific school to which you’re applying will help you reach that goal. Remember that admissions committees at some schools read hundreds, if not thousands, of these essays, so you want yours to be memorable and stand out. Think about what makes you unique, and seek to craft an essay that reflects your personality and voice. The story you tell should be about what you’ve already done in your career, but it should also go on to show admissions committees what you hope to achieve in the future and why their program can help you achieve it. Show How the Program and School Are Right for You Whether you’re applying to traditional or online MBA programs in California or across the nation, admissions committee members are going to want to know why you chose their school. Does the program offer a concentration that suits your career goals and the interests you’ve already developed through prior experience? Does the school offer resources that appeal to you? Is it located in the region where you hope to work? Do you have personal connections to alumnae, faculty or current students? Did you form a good impression of the school and program during a campus visit? Answering some or all of these questions can help admissions committees determine whether you would be a good fit for the program, and vice versa. Express Confidence You don’t need to waste precious space in your personal statement pointing out that no one can predict the future or know whether you will achieve your goals. This is obvious; admissions committees know that not some graduates will come up against obstacles they can’t surmount. While it’s a good idea not to seem too proud of your current achievements, you should express confidence in your ability to reach your stated goals. Show that you have a realistic, solid plan for your career, and give the committee confidence by showing what you’ve already accomplished. Address Shortcomings Do you have weaknesses in your application, like a low undergraduate GPA, less-than-ideal GMAT scores or fewer years of work experience than the admissions committee requires? That doesn’t mean you can’t apply, but you can use your personal statement as a place to address those shortcomings and show the admissions committee that you’ve moved beyond them. Address your shortcomings head on, and explain how you’ve worked to overcome the obstacle. Reassure the committee that you’re capable of recognizing your personal weaknesses and taking action to overcome them. Writing a successful MBA personal statement can mean the difference between getting into the school of your choice and having your application tossed into the garbage with the dozens of others who didn’t make the cut. You should focus on making your personal statement as well-written and compelling as possible. Let your personality shine, so admissions committees can get a sense of who you are and what you’ll bring to the program as a person, professional and student. Admissions committees want to make sure that each member of a given cohort is a good fit for the program and the school, and your personal statement is your chance to show them that you’d be an excellent candidate for their degree.

SAT Tip of the Week Know When the Author is Speaking

SAT Tip of the Week Know When the Author is Speaking Welcome to AJ Tutorings SAT Tip of the Week blog series!   Well be doling out behind-the-scenes tips and tricks from veteran test-takers to get you the best SAT score possible.Todays tip focuses on the critical reading section of the SAT.   Critical reading is typically seen as the most difficult score to improve on the SAT.   Your critical reading score, based on vocab and reading comprehension, is for the most part resistant to quick fixes.  In order to maximize your score on reading comprehension, you must do one thing well: understand the passage authors main argument.The corollary to understanding the authors main argument is understanding what is NOT the authors argument.  Difficult reading comprehension passages often present multiple viewpoints, all delivered in the authors voice.  Its your job as the reader to distinguish between when the author is stating his argument and when hes just describing the other sides position.Heres an excerpt from a passage in the College Boa rds Official SAT Study Guide:As a scientist, I find that only one vision of the city really gets my hackles upthe notion that a city is somehow unnatural, a blemish on the face of nature. The argument goes like this: Cities remove human beings from their natural place in the world. They are a manifestation of the urge to conquer nature rather than live in harmony with it. Therefore, we should abandon both our cities and our technologies and return to an earlier, happier state of existence, one that presumably would include many fewer human beings than now inhabit our planet.Now, its clear from the first paragraph that the author believes that cities are a part of nature (a viewpoint hell expand upon later in the passage).  But if you, the reader, are reading too quickly, you might skim the second paragraph and think that the author believes we should abandon  our cities, because they are unnatural.  After all, the author affirmatively states: Cities remove human beings from their natural place in the world.  Many students who arent reading attentively come away from this passage feeling very confused they think the author somehow believes cities are both part of nature and at odds with nature.The careful reader, on the other hand, will note that in the second paragraph, the author is presenting the opposing sides view, the vision of the city that gets his hackles up.  The careful reader reads slowly and methodically, and distinguishes between the authors argument and the opposing sides viewpoint.You can bet that the folks who develop SAT reading comp passages are aware that students will misunderstand the second paragraph.  In fact, one of the questions in this passage directly refers to that paragraph, and its a question that students often get wrong.  Read carefully, and you can be one of a small number of students who get this one right!SAT Tip #1: On tough reading comprehension passages, make sure you know when the author is speaking and when hes p resenting the other sides argument.

Importance of Writing Skills in College

Importance of Writing Skills in College You and your teen already know how important writing skills are in high school. It probably comes as no surprise that they are just as critical in college. In just about every subject, professors assign essays along with many other writing assignments. But beyond the fact that students are expected to do a lot of it in college, why else is the ability to write so important? Here are six reasons: Communication is vital in todays world. Its a digital world where communication skills matterand writing is at the core of strong communication. No matter what students go on to major in at college (and what they intend to do after they graduate), they will be expected to express their work clearly, concisely and coherently in writing. Writing helps students refine ideas. In college, students are often asked to do research and formulate arguments and present that information in written format. This prepares them for the real world, where professionals in many industries must do this on a daily basiswhen emailing colleagues and creating and sharing reports, for example. Good writing leaves a strong impression. Like it or not, these days, many people are judged by their writing because so many introductions in the real world are made via email or similar. Quality writing will make students stand out (and bad writing will also make them stand out, but not in a good way). Writing skills prove workplace readiness. The goal of college, of course, is to prepare students for their future careersand communication is consistently ranked as one of the most valued traits by all types of employers. Having an aptitude for writing earns people credibility, no matter what field theyre in. Having writing ability shows professionalism. Great leaders are often great writers, capable of inspiring others and instigating change with their words and ideas. Even on a more practical basis, professionals must be able to write emails, reports, memos and letters that are clear and effective. Students who hone their writing abilities in college will be better equipped as professionals. Poor writing gets ignored. Rambling essaysconfusing emailswordy titlesdisorganized papers: these will get ignored by a professor, just as poor writing in the workplace will get disregarded as unimportant and irrelevant. Whether a student plans to become a journalist, business professional, teacher or engineer, its essential to learn that writing well means getting heard and noticed. Its crucial that your teen has good writing skills and techniques before she sets foot on a college campus. If your teen needs support throughout high school, call Huntington. Well help your teen hone those imperative writing abilities and become a more confident writer before she heads off to college.