Educational Support as an Alternative to Traditional Schooling Methods

Educational Support as an Alternative to Traditional Schooling Methods Can Academic Support Be an Alternative to School? ChaptersAcademic Support versus School: Two Completely Different MethodsTutors that Adapt to Their StudentsDeviate from the Programme and Learn MoreAcademic Support and the Freedom to Go FurtherHiring Private TutorsWhat is academic support? Academic support means complete freedom.The freedom of learning when you want, what you want, and how you want.While private tutoring is often seen as a punishment, it'll quickly become very enjoyable. That’s because there’s a huge difference between one on one tutoring services and the instruction you usually get at school. The tutor is usually “cooler” than your teacher at school, too.How else do they differ to regular classes? 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!Di scover 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 Rash miEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAcademic Support versus School: Two Completely Different MethodsThose who’ve already had academic tutoring will understand what we mean by freedom. Students have the option to experiment with different approaches to help them improve their grades.Academic support doesn't need to fight with traditional schooling. (Source: RyanMcGuire)Your tutor won’t always be a qualified and experienced teacher. In some cases, you can get gifted students.When it comes to this kind of one on one home or online tutoring, you can enjoy a methodology completely different to what you get in school.It mightn’t be the refined pedagogy of a teacher with years of training. However, you’ll probably get on with them much better. The lessons can be much more relaxed. The tutors will probably be younger than your typical teacher, too.The way they talk to the student is different, too. This helps break down the barriers between the two. You mightn’t always get a qualified or experienced teacher. In some cases, your tutor might be a student or self-taught.Flexibility or Discipline?It’s unfair to say that lessons at school fall into the discipline category and that academic support tutorials fall into the flexibility category.However, the methods used usually do.Why is this the case?Let’s take a school teacher, for example. Even their posture, standing in front of a class or sitting behind their desk, makes them more authoritative than a private tutor. During this hour, they’ll be teaching you.Your academic support tutorials probably won't be as strict as school. (Source: Free-Photos)While there are different ways to teach, there are still a lot of teachers who teach in this way. It’s hard to blame them when they have so many students and a very strict set of guidelines to follow.  That's a fact.Let’s go back to academic support tutorials. Since the tutor teaches the student in their house, there’ s already a different type of relationship. This means they can be more flexible when teaching their students. When it comes to academic support, tutors can focus more on teaching and less on discipline. The goal isn’t to keep twenty-odd students in line but rather teach a single one.Finally, even though the tutor is a teacher first and foremost, they’re also part of a partnership. Maintaining this partnership is one of their main focuses as its benefits will be seen in terms of the student's homework, how they perform in class and their exam results. This will take some time.The tutor will never be the student’s “mate”, but they probably won’t be “sir” or “miss”, either.Tutors that Adapt to Their StudentsWhen it comes to academic support, flexibility is essential. Of course, they need to be more than just flexible to teach a student who’s struggling in school or applying to top universities, they need to adapt!Once the child’s no longer struggling in school, the way the tutor teaches them will have to change.Academic Support Tutorials: A Tailored SolutionEach student is very different. Here are 3 examples:A struggling student. A student who’s looking to do resits or one who has a high probability of failing their exams.An underachiever. A student who does the bare minimum even though they’re capable of more. Or they seem to work a lot without the results. A tutor can help them reach their potential.An overachiever. They’re applying to the best universities in the country or around the world but need help making sure that their grades reflect their abilities.Like a good suit, tutorials need to be tailored. (Source: matham315)You wouldn’t teach these three examples in the same way, would you?The tutor has to adapt to each student. They need to work with their strengths and weaknesses.  Academic support offers a solution that’s tailored to each student.They need to adapt to their student’s personality, too. The tutor needs to work out whether their student’s curious, shy, dynamic, worried, etc.There are tutors for every subject including:MathsScience (Chemistry, Physics, Biology, etc.)Foreign languages (French, Spanish, German, Italian, etc.)PsychologyEconomicsEnglishA Relationship with Shared GoalsEveryone knows how difficult school can be. It doesn’t matter whether the student’s in primary school or secondary school.We’re not talking about the social aspects of school but rather the academic aspects. Lessons at school can be intense and with twenty-odd other students, it’s unlikely that everyone will completely understand the lesson. Some need to go back over the lesson again sometimes. Then there are the others who study all the time and just can’t get it. This is where academic support tutorials can come into play.  It’s rarely the case that they’re just not capable. They’ve just hit a roadblock and need some help getting over it.When the school can’t help them, academic support, either with a tutor at home or online, can help. Unlike the teacher in their school, an academic support tutor has all the time in the world to focus on the only student in their class.Of course, you need to make sure you’ve picked the right tutor, and that you, your child and your chosen tutor form a stable learning framework.. They also need to use the right tools and teaching techniques.  The tutor can focus just on certain subjects, too. This can be beneficial for the student. 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 LouiseAut oCAD 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 tutorsDeviate from the Programme and Learn MoreWe’ve mentioned the freedom you get with academic support (be it online or i n person).  The freedom comes from the techniques used and the tutor’s and the student’s partnership. It also comes from the fact that they can go off script.There’s nothing forcing a private tutor to follow the curriculum to the letter. Parents hire private tutors because they believe them to be an alternative to the education they’re getting at school.This means a tutor can use different tools and resources and conduct their tutorials in completely different ways.We have to mention the ways they can integrate modern technologies into their tutorials. Nowadays, there are so many ways for tutors to make use of technology:For organising, scheduling, and planning their lessons.Timing activities.Learning with video resourcesAccessing infographics, quizzes, and interactive gamesLearning while having funOnline classes over SkypeDownloading coursesThese new tools, including other resources like YouTube, can help students to learn in new and interesting ways.Struggling with algebra , calculus, geometry, or trigonometry?It might be time to find a tutor specialising in mathematics. The benefits of such academic support are exponential!Academic Support and the Freedom to Go FurtherAcademic support can help students catch up with their classmates.  Thanks to private tutorials, students can do more than just catch up. They can go beyond what they’re learning at school.Once a students getting the results they need, tutors can challenge them to learn more. This is another huge advantage of academic support tutorials! Academic support tutorials can help students prepare for the future. They can learn more about plenty of different subjects, too. Whether for fun or for their future career!Keep on the lookout for good universities! (Source: Free-Photos)Hiring Private TutorsIf you're looking for private tutors or just an academic advisor, don't forget that a lot of the tutors on Superprof offer free tutoring for the first hour. While they probably won't provide much ac ademic coaching or tuition during this hour, it can be useful to see what kind of tutor they are and whether it's worth scheduling more in the future.You might also want to learn more about academic tutoring at home...If you're concerned about the cost of hiring private tutors, you could also consider getting a tutor to do a group tutorial or a workshop for several students at once. While these sessions will be more like a seminar at college or university, students can get far more out of working in a small group than they otherwise would in the larger classes they're used to at school.Online tutoring also tends to be cheaper than home tutoring because the tutor doesn't need to pay for transport costs or resources for the student. The advantage of these tutorials is that you still get one to one help with your studies.Whether they're at primary school, secondary school, sixth form, college, or university (undergraduate and postgraduate), any student can benefit from having someone t here to assist them with their studies during the academic year and the holidays.Of course, don't forget that you don't have to be studying for exams to get a tutor. You can also learn new skills with a gifted educator. You might just want to improve your grammar in preparation for a new job. You could get tutored by writing tutors.You can also learn to dance, paint, sew, or knit with private tutors. The possibilities are endless!If you're a tutor, don't forget that you can make your profile on Superprof and start finding tutoring jobs immediately.Now discover the long and the short of academic tutoring...

The Benefits of Buying a Secondhand Guitar

The Benefits of Buying a Secondhand Guitar Tips For Buying a Used Guitar at the Best Price Possible ChaptersThe Advantages of Choosing a Second-Hand GuitarThe Guitar's Brand and ModelThe Price of a Second-Hand GuitarWhere Can One Buy a Used Guitar?Check the Guitar's General StateTest Out Your New Guitar!A Quick Guide to Buying Other Guitar Equipment SecondhandYou watch that Guns N' Roses concert for the hundredth time and you tell yourself you'd love to play the guitar like them.Okay, but you don't know how to play the guitar!You'd like to start learning and you feel totally capable of learning by ear instead of spending money on private guitar lessons, such as bass guitar lessons  or guitar lessons online.It's out of the question that you walk into the first music store you see and buy a new Stratocaster with flames on it--your budget won't allow that!What if it was possible to find a used guitar without breaking the bank and being sure of its quality? How do you not get ripped off by the person selling you his or her instrument? How do you ensure that the fingerboard is of good q uality, or the headstock is in good condition? How do you ensure that this acoustic electric would actually work if you plugged it into an amp? How do you make sure that the guitar pickups, the humbucker perhaps, works?Well, we'd like to talk about the benefits of looking at second-hand electric guitars, acoustic guitars, and classical guitars. And we'd like you to trust the random guitarists that you are discussing buying from.Ready to start up your career as a guitarist?What price should the guitar be? Here is some advice on how to choose and buy your second hand instrument calmly while discovering the joys of being a rockstar (no guarantee on becoming a rockstar)!LetGo and Wallapop.In all cases, have a look to see if the seller is offering anything with the instrument - hardshell guitar cases for instances - and whether the instrument is stringed or whether you will need to buy new accessories.Think of music schools, too! You'll find ads posted on local music school boards, right near ads for musicians.Check the Guitar's General StateThat's it: you chose your guitar, found your ad, the price is right---and now you have to meet the seller.Make sure the guitar of your dreams is really the guitar of your dreams in real life!If you are a beginner and this is your first purchase, have someone with more experience--like a talented guitarist or music teacher--help if possible.There are three main guitar parts to check before buying your used guitar: the head, the neck, and the body.The HeadCheck the mechanics are not too worn. For this, tune the guitar and play it a little. If it quickly gets out of tune, it may be the result of bad mechanics.Also check that the nut is not cracked. That said, this piece is inexpensive if you have to change it. You can find it for less than 5 USD.The NeckThe handle should be straight and the frets flat and in good condition.  Also check that the heel does not show any trace of glue.Remember to check that the strings do not curl (do you know how much guitar strings cost?)--that is to say they do not touch the frets when you play. If they do touch the frets, either the nut is worn or the handle is damaged due to poor storage. In any case, this is a bad sign - it will affect the intonation and your ability to enjoy techniques like vibrato.The BodyYou can see when the varnish is in good condition. If it's not, you can use it as an element that will allow for price negotiation if there are some scratches present on the guitar, for example. Be careful there are no real cracks or dents in the wood.There is a difference between signs of play wear around the rosette and sound hole and real problems due to unwanted falls and bangs into furniture. Hollow body guitars are delicate - and if they are broken, that's the end.The most important thing is to check that the bridge is well glued to the soundboard. It plays a vital role in how the guitar sounds.If you choose an electric guitar or electro-acoustic guitar, remember to check the status of the microphone and buttons: there should not be any strange or unwanted sounds.Test Out Your New Guitar!Test the guitar to be sure to find the one of your dreams!  Besides the fact that you may find defects whilst playing it, this is the instrument you will spend countless hours with, and you have to be sure it is the perfect one for you!Is the feeling good? Does the sound please you? Do your fingers fit well with it?  Remember to test it in all playing positions: sitting and standing.  How comfortable you will be whilst you play is very important. You will spend many hours on it, and it will depend on how pleasant it is for you to use.Also consider your build: if you have small hands, the guitar size should be 1/2 or 3/4.For sound, ask a more experienced guitarist or guitar teacher for advice if you are not sure.Is the sound good? If it's an electric guitar, does it spit?A Quick Guide to Buying Other Guitar Equipment SecondhandBy the way, you can perhaps nego tiate some accessories with the guitarist seller:a drum machine,a pedal board (with individual reverb, resonator, tremolo, overdrive, synthesizer, mesa boogie, condenser effect pedal)footswitch, fender,a protective film or hard casea charger,a guitar coverguitar amps?It's up to you to see! However, you might want to just buy one of these straight up. As with the musical instrument itself, you might benefit from going second hand. The secondhand market is not all about vintage guitars - that Fender guitar or Gibson acoustic, that Fender American Standard or jazz guitar.Rather, you can get anything you please - and as you long as you use the same shrewdness as you did with your guitar, there is no reason why you can't get a great deal too.A vintage amp might be just the kind of thing you are looking to be thrown into your sale!In conclusion, buy a second-hand guitar! All you need is to check a few important points before the guitar will become an extension of yourself.Now that you hav e all the information necessary, you just have to get started on finding the guitar of your dreams out there in the second-hand market.And if it's your first time strumming your baby, don't forget that we offer guitar lessons everywhere in the U.S.A :-)

5 College Dorm Room Must-Haves

5 College Dorm Room Must-Haves This post is part of our 2017 Back-to-School Series. Throughout the month of August, visit the Varsity Tutors blog for back-to-school advice, tips, and tricks for all ages. Getting ready for college is an adventure that starts before you ever set foot on campus. With academic challenges, new social situations, and maybe even a new city to explore, the last thing you want to worry about is dorm room essentials. College dorm room must-haves can include an alarm clock, ample storage, and a handy first aid kit. And these materials can make adjusting to dorm life much easier. Looking to feel prepared when dorm living begins? Here are five college dorm room must-haves: College dorm room must-have #1: Alarm clock While this might seem like an obvious item to mention, todays college students often forego a physical alarm clock, instead opting for an alarm on their cell phones. However, cell phones are not indestructible, and in case something happens to yours, it helps to be prepared. If youre a particularly heavy sleeper, try setting your alarm to repeat, and move it across the room before you go to bed at night so theres no way you can sleep through the racket. Ring, ring! Whats that? The sound of you being on time for your 8:00 a.m. biology lecture. [RELATED: How to Create Your First College Schedule] College dorm room must-have #2: Power strips and surge protectors Older dorm rooms sometimes undergo multiple renovations over time. Often, this means outlets can be in corners behind doors or furniture. If youre hosting a study party or movie night, you wont regret having easy access to those out-of-reach spots. Having a surge protector means you can charge your electronics with ease, even in your lofted bed or behind your roommates futon. College dorm room must-have #3: Storage seating Dorm rooms can be tight when it comes to space, so its important to utilize every nook and cranny. Furniture stores carry many useful seating pieces that are hollow and can double as a space to store anything from textbooks to scarves and gloves when theyre out of season. Bonus tipfind furniture pieces that are similarly shaped so you can stack them or tuck them out of sight under your bed or a desk when you arent using the extra seating. [RELATED: A Summer Checklist for Incoming College Freshmen] College dorm room must-have #4: First aid kit Dorm living is an adventure, and it comes with its ups and downs. University clinics and healthcare services might not be available 24/7, so it can help to have some emergency medical supplies in your dorm room. When youre feeling down, having a customized first aid kit can hold you over until you can get an appointment with a health professional. Consider keeping these items in your dorm room: Over-the-counter pain medication Antihistamines Cough drops Band-aids You never know when you might need them! College dorm room must-have #5: Shower caddy and bath towels The bathroom is the last place you want to be caught unprepared. Extra bath towels will always come in handy, especially for that day you get caught in the rain on the way home from class or take an impromptu trip to the beach or lake with friends. Make the daily trek from your dorm room to a shared bathroom a little easier by bringing a waterproof shower caddy to organize your shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. When you arent using it, a shower caddy is compact enough to tuck away in your closet. Dorm living doesnt have to be synonymous with living without. These are a few dorm room essentials that will make your life easier as a dorm resident. Your best college self starts with a safe and comfortable living space, so make sure to follow this list to set yourself up for academic success! [RELATED: Things to Know About Living in a College Dorm] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

How Much Do Cooking Classes Cost

How Much Do Cooking Classes Cost How Much Do Cooking Tutors Cost? Chapters1. Duration Of Course2. The Qualifications And Experience Of Your Teacher3. The Location Of Your Course4. Other Key Factors To ConsiderExamples Of Cooking SchoolsPrivate tutorsSo, you have your mind set on attending your first course or hiring a cooking tutor to help you to develop some level of practical skill in the kitchen. Now, let's take some time to establish how much your learning experience will set you back, which will be determined by a number of factors.In the same way, you don't tend to find young, successful chefs in their prime taking the time to teach others (other than their staff, of course) because they are simply too focused on their career to look beyond it.High-profile chefs like Gordon Ramsay are often too busy to be able to run cooking classes. Photo credit: BreakingTravelNews on VisualHunt.comThat said, you can find a number of culinary schools set up by the greats, like Rick Stein (as previously mentioned) and Raymond Blanc, which have the chefs' valu es rooted in them. You can find out more about some of these highly-respected cooking schools below. GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors3. The Location Of Your CourseWhile location shouldn't be too big a factor in the cost of your chosen course, you can expect to pay a premium when attending a class in central London, because naturally everything in the capital is more pricey than outside of the city!When I refer to location, I do al so mean the grounds on which your course will be held. Take for example a course held in a modern college, and one taking place in an 18th century manor house steeped in history. Which do you expect will be a more expensive location?Of course, any place that has welcomed a wealth of famous guests, or has been standing for hundreds of years, will usually lend itself to a nicer setting in which to cook and therefore enable the organisers to charge more.4. Other Key Factors To ConsiderOther things that might have an effect on the price of the course you opt for are whether you get a group deal (some offer a reduction in price if you bring a friend), have coupons or vouchers (if they have spaces to fill, an organisation might advertise places at cut-down prices to lure customers in) and the cost of the food (including refreshments for participants) you will be using whilst on the course to make those delicious recipes on the menu.As all foodies, or anyone who shops for groceries at the supermarket or the local food market for that matter, will know, ingredients don't come cheap! And depending on the class of course you choose to enroll on, you can expect the cost of the ingredients to fluctuate in accordance too.Anyone who has ever done grocery shopping knows how expensive food is! Photo credit: Indiana Stan on Visualhunt.comExamples Of Cooking SchoolsLe Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, OxfordThe cost of a cooking tutorial at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxford can cost anywhere between £185 (for a half-day intensive session) and £1,775 (for five consecutive days). This cooking school is run by the infamous  Monsieur Raymond Blanc himself and is set in a beautiful manor house, so this is probably on the higher end of the cooking schools spectrum.Llanerch Vineyard, Vale of GlamorganLlanerch Vineyard in Vale of Glamorgan offers prices starting at £25 for a demonstration. The cookery school is run by educator Angela Gray, a chef who has catered for big names like Andr ew Lloyd Webber, and offers a relaxed and informal setting whereby students can learn from the teacher and through interaction with eachother.The Bertinet Kitchen, BathIf you want to be taught by the best but for a smaller outlay than Le Manoir, then why not consider The Bertinet Kitchen in Bath which is run by french dough expert Richard Bertinet and requires a budget of £165 for beginners classes? You will learn about all things bread and pastry here, including pastry arts like how to make a buttery croissant worthy of a French patisserie!Leith's School of Food and Wine, LondonIf money is no object, then Leith’s School of Food and Wine in London is at your disposal with a £21,000+ diploma on offer, achieved over three terms! Past students include the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton herself, the epitome of class. Now there is a course that really is fit for royalty! I bet Kate cooks up a delicious feast for the young prince and princess.Private tutorsPrivate tutors are no different when you take into consideration the above, however they do have the advantage that they can pick and choose how they price their lessons because, ultimately, they are working alone.While this can go against you in some ways (one-to-one lessons can be priced higher because of the value of one-to-one time), it can also work in your favour. For instance, you might be able bring the price down a little if consulting a self-employed tutor, or you might be able to discuss reductions for blocks of lessons.Other benefits to hiring a private tutor are the flexibility they offer. In most cases, you will be welcomed into their kitchen where they will show you a range of cooking skills on display, but you might find a tutor who is happy to come and teach you at your home.You might attend a cooking demonstration at your tutor's house or they may come to your own home. Photo credit: tracie7779 on VisualhuntFurthermore, with one-to-one lessons, you can fit classes in around your busy sc hedule which means you don't have to miss out on doing something you love just because you work long hours. For instance, you might be able to book tuition on a weekend or on a weekday evening, which is something that you can look forward to while you are hard at work!When searching for tutors online, you will more than likely find a pretty expansive range (as much as £9p/h-90p/h!), which makes it hard to ascertain what the average price of a beginner cooking lesson is. Sadly, it is very difficult to narrow this down to a specific price range, because of all of the above elements that come into play.The key is to set out a realistic price in your head and start your search for a tutor with this firmly in place. You know what you can afford and what you can't, so rule out any tutors that come above (or fall below) your expected outlay. However, never forget that you do pay for the best, so if you find the perfect tutor who is just outside of your range, then consider stretching that little bit further for a richer experience in return.When it comes to the content, you can expect to learn a wide range of fundamental things from your cooking lessons, like the difference between vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian and traditional diets, what artisan bakery is, the flavours of authentic Thai cooking, the secrets of French cuisine, the art of cooking Italian cuisine, how to make next level Italian dishes, what cookware you should have in your home cooking space, how to prep vegetables, how to prepare a chicken, grilling meats, what makes a perfect British roast, the technique for making a garlicky cordon blue, how to bake a melting chocolate fondant, how to pack flavour in a broth and how to make sushi, for example. That's date night or those weeknight meals  sorted then!Your guide may be able to teach you some things you never knew about the hospitality management industry too, like how you should ideally wear closed toe shoes when using a knife and cutting board in ca se of any accidents, and the terms that the chef uses to communicate with his or her staff. This includes words like 'pass', 'oui chef' and 'chit'.Find cooking classes near me with a private tutor:Cooking classes LondonCooking classes GlasgowCooking classes ManchesterCooking classes Leeds

10 Useful Italian Phrases You Wont Find in a Travel Dictionary

10 Useful Italian Phrases You Won’t Find in a Travel Dictionary Suzy S. Are you planning on taking a trip to Italy? A travel dictionary is a great resource to have on hand. However, it doesnt always list common phrases and expressions used by native Italians. Below, Italian teacher  Christopher S.  shares 10 useful Italian phrases that you wont find in a travel dictionary Italian is an extremely expressive language. Not only is it beautiful for the way it sounds and the theatrical hand gestures, its also beautiful because of its rich expressions. Like many cultures, Italians use a variety of proverbs and idioms to help express themselves. When traveling abroad, its important to learn how to speak and understand these phrases, as it will help you carry on conversations with natives. Below are 10 useful Italian phrases and words you might want to consider learning before your trip. Modo di dire (Idioms) 1. In bocca al Lupo (into the wolfs mouth) Literally meaning “into the wolf’s mouth,” this Italian phrase means  â€œgood luck.” The expression is the English equivalent of “break a leg, comparing any challenging scenario to being caught between the hungry jaws of a wolf. If you want to have good fortune, the proper response to this phrase is crepi  meaning “may the wolf die.” If you want to tell someone good luck in Italian, you better use this phrase, because if you say the literal English translation buona fortuna,  youre not actually wishing good luck to someone at all. 2. Mangiare come un maiale (to eat like a pig) If you plan on doing any eating in Italy (which I hope you planning on doing, because the food is delicious), this is a phrase youll want to know. In English, this phrase simply means “to eat like a pig.” Use this useful Italian phrase when you want to describe to your Italian friends how much food you and your friend ate at the restaurant you recently visited. 3. A tutta birra / A tutto gas / A tutto vapore (full speed) Are you planning to go out on the town while in Italy? Meaning full speed, this is an appropriate phrase to use if you want to emphasize that youre ready to party it up in Italy.  Heres an example of what you can say to a friend, Andiamo di fretta. Forza, a tutto gas! (We are in a hurry. Come on, full speed ahead!) 4. Rompere il ghiaccio (break the ice) The phrase Rompere il ghiaccio  has the exact same meaning as in English. In other words, its how you would break the ice in a conversation with someone youve just recently met. Heres an example of how the phrase can be used in a sentence, Volevo parlare con Eleonora e alla fine sono riuscito a rompere il ghiaccio. ( I wanted to talk to Eleanor, and eventually I was able to break the ice.) 5. Spezzare una lancia a favorevole (to break a lance in favor of) This is an old saying which most likely comes from the medieval times. Meaning to break a lance in favor of, this phrase is the equivalent of the English expression to give someone a break. If someone says something bad about a friend, you can respond with this phrase and really sound like a true local. Heres an example of how to use the phrase in a sentence, E’ vero che Enrico si è comportato male, però spezziamo una lancia in suo favore: non conosceva tutti i fatti. ( Its true that Henry behaved badly, but break a lance in his favor, he did not know all the facts.) 6. Grana (grain) This word has an interesting history in Italy, which most foreigners probably dont know. The literal meaning of this word is “grain.” However by military bureaucratic jargon, the word passed through a phase of meaning a “designating nuisance” or “trouble.” It was also used as a form of referring to money in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. 7. Essere al verde  (to be on the green) The English equivalent of the phrase to be broke, this expression is good to use if youve spent all your money, and youre trying to get away from vendors. When Italian speakers hear this phrase, they will think youre a true native and leave you alone. Proverbi (Proverbs) 8. Morto un papa, se ne fa un altro  (Once a pope is dead, there will be another one) Even someone as important as the Pope has to be replaced. This proverb is used to stress the fact that life goes on no matter what happens, or, as they say in English, “the show must go on.” If  you fall in love in Italy and get dumped, the phrase is also used to ironically encourage people who get dumped to move on. When used like this, the phrase is similar to the English expression, “There are plenty more fish in the sea.” 9. Chi nasce tondo non può morire quadrato  (He who was born round, cannot die square) This phrase essentially means that you cannot expect people to change radically. You will hear this phrase used commonly, especially in family situations. Therefore, its good to know if you need to make a point about a crazy uncle or aunt. 10. Meglio un morto in casa, che un pisano all’uscio  (It is better to have someone dead in the house, than a soldier from Pisa at the door) This is another phrase which most likely came from the medieval times. It is a war phrase that people from Lucca said when Pisa used to attack and loot their region. This is a good phrase to know if youre in Tuscany and you want to give people a good laugh. This is just a sample of the common phases used throughout Italy. While learning these useful Italian phrases is a good start, you might want to consider taking Italian lessons with an experienced teacher  if you really want to sound like a true local. Christopher S. teaches in-person Spanish, Italian, and guitar lessons in Randolph Center, VT. He lived abroad in Seville, Spain for two years where he studied classical and flamenco guitar and taught lessons to beginner students interested in classical guitar. He is currently working on his Masters Degree in Guitar Performance, and has been teaching students since 2004. Learn more about Christopher here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Tjflex2

10 English Idioms about Decisions - Learn English with Harry ??

10 English Idioms about Decisions - Learn English with Harry ?? Here you will learn English idioms about decisions to be in two minds, to sit on the fence, to stick to your guns, up in arms, and more.  You will also watch a short English video lesson about UP IN THE AIR meaning. 10 English Idioms about Decisions Do you have an important decision to make but cant decide between two good options? There are many interesting English expressions you can use in spoken English and written English. Today, were going to learn English idioms about decisions and priorities. 1. THE BOTTOM LINEThere are three possible meanings of the idiom:The financial position of a company as seen in the companies accounts.The final result or outcome.The main point.Example: The company signed a very important contract with its main customer. This would improve the financial position of the company and add profit to the bottom line.Michael resigned from the company after only 6 months in the job. The bottom line is that he did not enjoy the work and felt he made a mistake.The politicians argued about the new budget for several hours. The bottom line is that severe cuts had to be made to reduce the countries deficit.2. THE ICING ON THE CAKEto top something off, to make something even betterExample: Mary got a promotion because she worked very hard. She also received an increase in her salary and a bonus which was the icing on the cake. 3. IN TWO MINDS  where you are not able to make up your mind and are unsure as to what you should do or chooseExample: John received an invitation to attend a party. It was on the same day as the football game he really did not want to miss. He was in two minds whether to accept the invitation or not.4. TO SPLIT HAIR  to argue over issues that are not importantExample: David and Kate were arguing about the temperature that day it was very hot. Kate said it was 32 °C and David thought it was 33 °C. John told them not to split hairs, it was still very hot!5. STICK TO YOUR GUNS  to be firm and stick to your decision about something despite criticism from other peopleExample:   If youve thought things through and are comfortable with your decision, just stick to your guns. 10 English Idioms about Decisions 6. SIT ON THE FENCEto stay neutral and not take sides (in an argument), be undecidedExample: No decision has been taken about where to build the new school, city council is still sitting on the fence.7. TAKE A BACK SEATnot to participate in issue or situation, allow other people to have leading position.Example: I took a back seat and allowed my daughter to decorate the cake.8. UP IN ARMSstrongly protestingExample: The teachers were up in arms again over the new Junior Certificate reform. Up in the Air Meaning 9. UP IN THE AIRno decision has been made yetExample: It was up in the air whether or not I would be going on this trip.10. TO MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL to exaggerate unimportant problemsExample:   Ive been thinking far too much about this and made a mountain out of a molehill.  Now you can practice idioms about decisions in everyday situations. Share them with friends who might be stuck deciding what option to take or are unsure how to use English idioms about decisions correctly

Help Your Child Strengthen His or Her Weaker Learning Styles

Help Your Child Strengthen His or Her Weaker Learning Styles When it comes to learning, no two children process information exactly the same. Like adults, children have their own learning preferences and styles and it can take a little trial and error to determine exactly how they learn effectively and retain information.Eileen Huntington, Co-founder and CEO ofHuntington Learning Center says that while knowing a childs preferred learning style or styles is valuable information, parents should still help their children improve their lesser-refined styles too. Not every classroom or subject will fit a childs tendencies, so even though it is natural for children to gravitate toward certain subjects because the typical class activity fits their learning style best, they shouldnt just ignore subjects that are a bit more out of their comfort zone. How can you help your child strengthen any weaker learning styles? Here are a few tips: To become a stronger visual learner, have your child try the following: Use mnemonic techniques for memorizing information. Organize notes logically so that main concepts and ideas are highlighted and it is easy to skim supporting information. Try a variety of visual aids to learn new material, such as graphs and chartsand combine these tools with reading aloud. Pair any of these techniques with his or her stronger learning preferences. For example, if your child generally enjoys reading and talking aloud, he or she could do so while writing things on a whiteboard or in a notebook. To become a stronger kinesthetic learner, have your child try the following: Study in small groups to talk through ideas. Use flashcards and other active tools. Have your child share material with you or a study partner to reinforce learning. Take notes while reading, draw out concepts on a whiteboard or piece of paper, or act things out with you or someone else. Pair any of these techniques with his or her stronger learning preferences. For example, if your child generally needs a quiet place to focus, he or she can still improve those tactile learning strategies by active studying (e.g. highlighting while reading). To become a stronger auditory learner, have your child try the following: Record information (such as vocabulary words) on a tape recorder and play back while on the go or in the car. Use the Read Aloud tool in his or her word processing software to review drafts of what he or she writes. Purchase both the audio and regular version of textbooks and listen to chapters while following along in the text. Read aloud to him or herself. When learning new information, make associationswith music, for exampleto remember what he or she learns. Pair any of these techniques with his or her stronger learning preferences. For example, if your child benefits from the use of memory devices and flash cards, he or she could also have a partner read those tools aloud to strengthen the auditory learning aptitudes. Lastly, Huntington reminds parents that students who are versatile in their learning preferences will be better prepared for the real world. When children spend time developing their less comfortable learning styles, theyre essentially helping transform themselves into stronger, more agile students, she says. The world is fast-moving and children who are able to adapt as the situation requires will be well equipped for lifelong success. For more information about how Huntington helps students strengthen their learning styles, call Huntington at 1-800-CAN-LEARN. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams.Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards.Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2017 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Teach Away Telegram - December 2012

Teach Away Telegram - December 2012 As always, the end of the year has crept up on us. We wish all of our teachers a very happy holiday season and hope you have plans to celebrate the new year (if you’re in a country that does so on January 1st!).In this month’s issue, we’re announcing the launch of our new Application Portal! We’ll also share five New Years Resolutions for teachers and travelers. Finally, our country spotlight for December is Vietnam.  Teach Away News: A Better Way to Apply!Teach Away is excited to announce the launch of our new Application Portal. Applicants will now create a user profile that they can update with career developments in order to be sure their information is always up to date.The enhancements to the new Application Portal ensure that teachers with fully completed profiles will be matched with the best opportunities for their qualifications, experience, and locational preferences. With this new, more comprehensive system, Teach Away reinforces its commitment to providing its ed ucators with the highest level of service.Teachers who already have applications with Teach Away will have the opportunity to update them through the Application Portal. We hope our educators enjoy the new and improved user experience!5 New Year’s Resolutions to Make this YearStarting fresh in a new year is a great goal. Actually doing so, however, is another story. We’ve all triedâ€"and failedâ€"before, possibly because we’ve set resolutions that are impossible or overly vague. The success of a New Year’s resolution depends largely on its size and specifics. Teachers and travelers could consider one of the following resolutions:1. Learn something newThis is a great and attainable resolution, as long as you settle on something specific you’d like to learn. Resolving to learn something new is great for a teacher: we’re used to instructing students, but we sometimes forget what it’s like to be a student!You might want to learn something academicâ€"a new language, or the comprehensive history of a new country (come on, you’ve got a year!). Maybe you’d like to learn something technical, such as how to use Photoshop. Or perhaps you just want to pick up a new hobby, like knitting. Whatever the case, come up with your plan firstâ€"will you enroll in an online course, research through blogs, or buy some books to get you started? Set a goal (“learn to create a basic website”), design the plan (“take an online course”), and go!2. Reach at least one additional student who’s been having troubleWe all want to start the new year as better versions of ourselves. But simply deciding you want to be a better teacher isn’t a clear goal. Instead, resolve to make an extra effort to reach out to students with whom you’ve been having difficulty. Perhaps you find there are a few students who make you lose your patience, or a child who is having difficulty learning to read. Make it your goal to improve this situation in some measurable way. This could m ean making a conscious decision to let go of the small things, or counting to ten before raising your voice, or giving up a free period to provide extra tutoring. Try to make a habit that will last the year.3. Try one new cultural experience each monthIt’s easy to fall into a routine once you’ve grown accustomed to your new home. For many teachers, though, the experience abroad won’t last forever, and it’s important to take advantage of your time overseas while you can! Many teachers fall into the same trap after moving overseas: they have every intent to visit all those museums, restaurants, and festivals, but because they’re no longer in “tourist” mentality, they put it off. Don’t let yourself say, “I really want to check that place out someday.” Check it out now! Learn more about your country, and take advantage of every minute.4. Learn local recipesAgain, it’s important to take advantage of living in a foreign country. Resolve to learn to cook one new local specialty each month, and work that dish into your repertoire (if you don’t have a repertoire, now’s the time to build one!). You’ll be thankful if you move back to your home country and can still enjoy tasty reminders of your time abroad!5. Add something new to your lesson plansIf you’ve been teaching a long time, you might be comfortable with the routine you’ve established in your classes. It’s easy to fall back onto the same activities and projects, and it’s great to find a comfortable rhythm. But don’t let yourself fall into a rut. New activities can energize you as a teacher, making your classes more dynamic. Try out a new game, introduce a different book, or change the way you approach certain concepts. You might be surprised with how the change resonates with your students!If you are a relatively new teacher, identify an area where you’d like to improve your teaching. Perhaps you’re a haphazard lesson planner, or your classes are always running behind sch edule. Pinpoint a specific area where you could improve, think of how you could get better, and resolve to change!Country Spotlight: VietnamDespite the influences from other cultures that are so apparent in Vietnamese architecture and cuisine, the country has an identity all its own. Vietnam is developing rapidly and is leaving behind the legacy of its tragic past, although some remnants remain. The country’s many museums and monuments provide fascinating commentary on the American War, but visitors and residents have ample opportunity to relax. Visit a French-style café in Hanoi, lounge on one of the nation’s many tropical beaches, or simply enjoy a piping hot breakfast of pho from a local stall.Though the whole of Vietnam is located in the tropics and subtropics, the country’s long, narrow shape means that climate can vary greatly from north to south. The south sees little difference between the hot and cold season, while the average temperature in the north varies more wid ely. Though each region comes with its own set of weather complicationsâ€"monsoons, typhoons, or extreme heatâ€"the months of April, May, or October are generally the best bet in terms of hitting pleasant weather throughout the country. Teachers can relax on one of the many tropical beaches, visit the mountains, or explore the villages and floating markets of the complex Mekong Delta.Educators who currently teach English in Vietnam enjoy a low cost of living and a beautiful location. Despite the country’s long history of foreign occupation, foreign visitors are treated warmly. For more information about working in Vietnam, check out the current teaching jobs abroad.