5 Best Apps for College Students

5 Best Apps for College Students Jill Cole Being a college student in 2014 has its pros and cons. The competition is fierce and college courses are more challenging and demanding. However, coupled with these expectations come a ton of technological tools and apps that can help make your life easier and more efficient. Here, tutor Natalie S. has picked out a few of the  top apps for college students that you should download right now! 1.  Dropbox This app and desktop tool enables you to back up all of your documents and easily share them with others. You’ll never struggle with emailing large attachments again, and you’ll never have to worry about losing all of your documents if your computer crashes. You can download Dropbox to your desktop, so you can save all of your files to this location instead of on your computer. Then, all of the info in your Dropbox syncs to the cloud and when you log into your account online, the account mirrors whatever you have saved on your desktop Dropbox. If you’re responsible for a group project, you can create a Dropbox folder and invite all of your group members to join. You can save all documents there and any updates will be seen in real time. 2.  Mathway This app is a great tool for students who are not mathematically inclined and who need additional help navigating homework and prepping for exams. You can utilize the Mathway app to check many math concepts, including your algebra, geometry, or calculus math homework. Also, if you’re stumped on a problem, Mathway will show you step by step how it can be solved. 3.  iTunes U This is a fantastic app to use in conjunction with your class lecture notes. iTunes U features lectures on all subjects by professors from leading universities, including as Cambridge and Yale. You can download lectures that correspond to the subjects you’re studying, and use iTunes U to supplement your lecture notes  and in-class seminars. 4.  SelfControl This app is designed to block certain websites like Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites that take your attention while you’re studying. Just download the app and tweak the settings, so you can block specific websites for a specific amount of time. Once you finish studying, SelfControl will turn off, and you will gain access to your favorite time-consuming social media sites once again. 5.  EasyBib This app is designed to help you correctly format all of your sources, so you can easily create your bibliography page for your research papers. Formatting bibliographies can be a daunting, time-consuming challenge. This app helps you create citations in multiple different styles, including MLA and Chicago. All you have to do is either search for the book or article you want to cite, or enter the basic information manually, and EasyBib will instantly create the correct citation. Whether you’re struggling with citations, self-control, math or file sharing, these apps for college students are must-haves to download right now! Natalie S. tutors English, ESL, History, Phonics, Reading, and  Test Prep in San Diego, as well as through online lessons. She received her BA in English Education at the University of Delaware, and her MA in English Literature at San Diego State University.  Learn more about Natalie 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  IN 30 MINUTES Guides

The Benefits of Living in France

The Benefits of Living in France Discover How Living in France can Benefit You ChaptersThe British DiasporaWhat France Has to OfferFrench InfrastructureHealthcare in FranceImmersion Into Language and CultureYou have just had it with massive snowstorms! You recall your holidays in the south of France, where the weather was just fine.A tentative Internet search reveals that the climate in that region is always balmy. How you'd love to live there!Moving to another country should not be a decision lightly made. Starting a new life abroad requires deep thought and careful consideration of all aspects of the human experience.Where in France would you live? In the countryside or a city, like Marseilles â€" France's third-largest metropolis?What will you do for money? Unless you are retired or otherwise independently wealthy, you will certainly have to work for your wages; so finding work abroad should be of prime consideration.Do you have school-aged children? France's education system needs to be investigated.What about elderly family members moving with you? Or mayb e you have a serious health concern that needs close monitoring. In any case, you will want to know all about the healthcare system in your new home country.So many questions!Not the least of which is how to deal with being an expatriate in a country where the currency is different and mass media does not broadcast in the language you grew up speaking.All of these factors and more can have a detracting effect: How can one leave home and heartland, kith and kin, and simply relocate?It's all fine and well to be a tourist in a foreign country, but adopting their way of life?And where in the world will you find a pasty so far from British shores?Take heart, dear Briton! After reading these benefits of living in France, you may find that relocating is doable after all!Get a French teacher here now.the Foreign Office estimates that nearly a half-million people leave Great Britain every year Source: Pixabay Credit: Dutchpiratesfollow the guidelines for buying it!Working in FrancePerhaps th e most attractive feature of working in France is its 35 hour work week and plenty of leisure time.Of course, the allegedly shorter work week is not necessarily so; plenty of expats in France report that their schedule is much more demanding!If you are an entrepreneur looking for new vistas to to grow your business from, you could hardly go wrong in France.An Ernst Young report lists France as one of the cheaper, less complicated countries to start a new enterprise in.You would still have to meet all of the criteria â€" valid residency and work permits, appropriate certifications for that business and proper education credentials.To encourage startups, French banks are required to offer financial assistance to any new business.Furthermore, the government scheme NACRE offers interest-free small business loans and advice for anyone just starting out, on any subject from taxation to paying social charges.The French government offers many incentives for new business startups Source: Pix abay Credit: Letti-SLearning in FranceGenerally, the first thought that comes to mind when you think of education is adorable cherubs toddling off to primary school.If you do have concerns over your young ones keeping up in school after your move to France, rest assured that immersion is the very best way for them to pick up language skills quickly.You might also engage a French tutor through Superprof to get your tykes to speak French faster.You may consider enrolling your school-aged children in an international school. France has no fewer than 105 such facilities, scattered throughout the country.In your quest for the perfect prefecture to settle in, you may want to investigate such institutions.That takes care of the little ones; what about your educational needs?To work in France, you must be properly educated and certified by the French government to operate in that field.That may necessitate enrolment and a period of study, be you an architect or freelance photographer.France has plenty of top-rated universities, where you can study just about any subject you have your mind set on!Find out about useful French phrases which will come in handy after you relocate.Wall Street Journal, France is most open to innovation.This is due, in a large part, to its superbly maintained motorways, fast trains, and airports with fewer restrictions than any other European country.Imagine how great it would be, travelling throughout southern France on a high speed train!Furthermore, its long coastal area is not only suitable to lounging on beaches, but provides plenty of harbours for the international shipping and receiving of cargo.If you are not in any business that ships anything, you might be interested to know that all of France's telephone lines are already capable of broadband Internet access.This country is considered light-years ahead of others, as far as technology is concerned.If your working abroad depends on instant communication, you would be well-served with France's advanced systems.Concerns about infrastructure â€" from transportation to telecommunication, is one criterion for moving abroad that you can cross off your checklist should France become your new country!Healthcare in FranceThe French healthcare system is generally recognised to be one of the best in the world.Compared to the UK, France has more doctors, more than twice the number of hospital beds and nearly half again as many nurses.French people maintain their system works very well, even though it is faltering of late, due, to an aging population and rising health care costs.When planning your relocation and life in France, you must budget for social fees which, in part, help offset these growing expenses.Furthermore, your wages will see a deduction for health care tax. If you are self-employed, you may be required to pay slightly higher social charges to offset any healthcare costs you and your family may incur.If you are considering retiring abroad, you may pay partic ular attention to geriatric health insurance options.No matter what, you must invest in expat health insurance  to enjoy medical benefits in France.Imagine the bliss of immersion into French culture once you move to France! Source: Pixabay Credit: SujuImmersion Into Language and CultureImmigration is both a linguistic and logistical challenge.You will have so many things to think about, not the least of which would be banking and finding a job.You may consult Numbeo for the cost of living in the area you hope to settle in.As exciting as it can be to start life anew in other countries, there is still the element of integration.No matter how eagerly you anticipate your move, you will suffer a measure of culture shock.The best way  to transition is to find old hands to advise you on settling in a new country by joining an expat forum, while still in the UK. There, you can find people in your area who know about everything from public transport to transferring citizenship, if that is yo ur goal.Once you move, if you can arrange a meetup with other English people where you live, form friendships and maybe even plan to travel together, the sense of disconnect will not overshadow the start of your new life.Take a leap of faith! Plan well and arrive soon. Whether for work, travel or living abroad in France is your prime motivation â€" with job recruitment being a means to an end, you will surely find that choosing expatriation offers substantial rewards.International relocation might just be the life for you! If so, you may need to brush up on your French language skills; searching for a French course London  produces the most results on Superprof but there is a lot more choice if you're willing to learn French online.

Historys Most Important Sculpture Artists.

History’s Most Important Sculpture Artists. The Sculptors from History You Really Ought to Know ChaptersAnonymous. The Forgotten Figures in the Ancient Art WorldPhidias (c. 480-430BC). The Maker of the Masterpieces of Greek SculptureDonato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi (1386-1466), or Donatello. The Founder of the Italian Renaissance in SculptureMichelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564). The Height of the High RenaissanceGian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680). A Baroque Sculptural Legend.Antonio Canova (1757-1822). Hero of Neo-Classical Sculpture.Auguste Rodin (1840-1917). The Birth of Modernist Sculpture.Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957). A Major Influence on Modern Sculpture.Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). The Famous Painter and Sculptor.Robert Smithson (1938-1973). Making Sculpture from the Land.Sculpture is one of the visual arts that has been with us since the earliest days of our being human. Long before the first art museum or curator, long before the first school of art, way before even artworks were thought of as art â€" made by artists, by individual painters, by a sculptor â€" sculpture w as with us.So, we are talking about a long time before the Greek and Roman ages, long before Hellenistic antiquity, Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, back to the most ancient civilizations of which we know.  The history of sculpture is coterminous with the history of humanity.And sculpture as an art form has come a long way since then - creating lots of different sculptural styles. From religious sculpture and primitive figurines, from prehistoric reliefs and figurative carvings, our sculptural history has blossomed.Western art and sculpture now include everything from kinetic sculpture to landscape gardens, paper sculpture and glass sculpture to architectural sculpture, snow sculpture and outdoor sculpture to public art, abstract sculpture, and all varieties of cross-disciplinary work.But who were the big names that made this transition possible? Who were the most important sculptures to take us from the monumental figures of Ancient Greece to the abstract sculptures of today? And how did they do what they did?It’s time to find out! 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The Forgotten Figures in the Ancient Art WorldThe trouble with focusing on sculptors in the history of sculpture is that the notion of the individual artist is a concern of the modern and contemporary world. Back in the Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic, in the ancient civilizations, and even as late as Roman art and beyond, people didn’t necessarily sign their name on the work.Consequently, unlike the contemporary artists that need recognition in the modern art economy, some of the most iconic statues of the ancient world were made by people we have no idea about.Take the Great Sphinx of Giza, a hugely famous statue, or the figurative sculpture of the Löwenmensch or the Venus figurines made of mammoth ivory or ceramics. We could go on: the medieval cathedrals and the stone sculpture tradition of the Scots and Scandinavians, the Greek and Roman statues that remain unattributed, the public art projects that, throughout history have been constructed collaboratively.Although you won’t find them in any museum of art, all of these forgotten figures deserve a mention.Phidias (c. 480-430BC). The Maker of the Masterpieces of Greek SculptureOne of the earliest named figures in the history of sculpture is Phidias, an Ancient Greek, from Athens, who designed and constructed some of the most important works in the classical period.He is known for having created the statue of Zeus at Olympia â€" one of the wonders of the ancient world â€" as well as a number of colossal statues of Athena, at the Acropolis, at the Parthenon, and the Propylaea.All of these, unfortunately, are now lost. But this doesn’t detract from his importance. Throughout the ancient world, Phidias’s name was known, and he is known for guiding the direction of future Greek sculptural design.Conveniently, in the fifties, we found the workshop of Phidias â€" and from this could confirm that all of these masterpieces of sculpture did indeed exist.Learn more about the world's most famous sculptures here! Phidias contributed to the work of some of most marvelous works of ancient GreeceDonato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi (1386-1466), or Donatello. The Founder of the Italian Renaissance in SculptureWe’re going to call him Donatello. One of the greatest â€" and most influential â€" sculptors in history, he turned the attention of Italian sculptors at the time back to the classicist principles of ancient Greece and Rome. With that, he kickstarted the renaissance in sculpture that was to change the course of the history of art.His most famous work is probably the Bronze David â€" one of the early Renaissance statues in the round â€" which depicts a boyish biblical David with a sword. Otherwise, the bronze statue of Gattamelata in Padova is considered one of his masterpieces.Whilst his works themselves are not exceptionally famous for those outsides of the art world, his work was hugely, indisputably, influential.Learn everything about sculpture!Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564). The Heig ht of the High RenaissanceWe usually associate the Italian Renaissance with Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Donatello. The fourth name in this last â€" and the last of the Ninja Turtles â€" is Michelangelo, whose own sculpture of David is perhaps the most famous sculpture ever.It’s incredible really that someone can be just so damn talented, but Michelangelo excelled at pretty much everything he laid his hand to. Alongside sculpture, there’s the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel â€" which probably goes down as the most breath-taking work of painting ever produced.Anyway, he was also hugely influential on the cultural landscape around him and following him. His Statue of Victory was massively influential on the Mannerist style that followed, whilst the marble sculpture of Moses and others at the tomb of Julius II still have an influence over contemporary sculpture today. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5 .00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st le sson 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 tutorsGian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680). A Baroque Sculptural Legend.For the arts, between the fourteenth and eighteenth centuries, the home was Italy, where artists were developing the naturalistic, representational, and expressive potential of different materials.Gian Lorenzo Bernini, following in the footsteps of the great sculptors of the Renaissance would only develop further their achievements, moving the history of art into the Baroque. Indeed, it is thought that he wanted to prove himself, in the art of sculpture, a worthy successor to Michelangelo.His most famous works include the Ecstasy of Santa Teresa, The Rape of Proserpina, and Apollo and Daphne. Yet, he didn’t stop with mere sculpture.Bernini was also an architect and town planner, and it is impossible to go to Rome and miss the massive influence that he had on the city.Find some good art classes here. Bernini continued the spirit of the Italian RenaissanceAntonio Canova (1757-1822). Hero of Neo-Classical Sculpture.After Bernini’s Baroque â€" and subsequently the rococo style that took the dynamism and decoration of this style to a greater extreme â€" sculptors calmed down a little. They returned to the classical values of Greek and Roman sculpture.This meant simplicity, nobility, and naturalism â€" and Antonio Canova was probably the most successful in capturing these values.His most famous works are Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, Perseus Triumphant, and The Three Graces. And, yes, he was Italian too â€" and lived in Venice his whole life. Canova is known for his neoclassical styleAuguste Rodin (1840-1917). The Birth of Modernist Sculpture.Rodin was one of those artists who was the continuous recipient of criticism throughout his life. Rejected by academic art school, and generally not accepted by his peers, his work was generally seen as quite unconventional.However, this struggle is one of the great testaments to his originality. These days, he is considered to be the father of modernism â€" the general description of the concerns of art at the beginning of the twentieth century.Rather than focusing on classical mythology, allegory, or religious themes and narratives, Rodin’s work was more impressionistic, more focused on the individual subject, and less polished in its finish. He took the statue’s pose off its pedestal and opened the door to the more subversive and innovative works that would follow.See his work in one of the best sculpture collections in the world.Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957). A Major Influe nce on Modern Sculpture.Incidentally, the Romanian Constantin Brancusi was one of Rodin’s students. However, like Samuel Beckett with James Joyce, he found the instruction by such a genius quite stifling.Brancusi left Rodin’s studio and made a career of his own in sculpture, developing an immediately recognisable style. Generally considered abstract in his work, Brancusi sculptural style moves away from the figurative sculpture that preceded him. Instead, he focused on simplicity of shape and form.The Kiss, or the Sleeping Muse, are probably his two most famous works, whilst the Endless Column is perhaps the most famous of twentieth-century outdoor sculpture.Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). The Famous Painter and Sculptor.Picasso is one of the most famous names in the history of art â€" and most people would be able to recognise one of his works. He has an incredibly distinct style, which came to be known as Cubism.Whilst known primarily for his painting, Picasso was almost as prolifi c in sculpture â€" and maintained this style across the different media.He is also known for pioneering the art form known as the assemblage â€" something like a three-dimensional collage usually made up of found objects.Robert Smithson (1938-1973). Making Sculpture from the Land.In the twentieth century, the limits of what artists could do â€" and what they could define as sculpture â€" burst open. It was a century of committed artistic innovation which brought with it a proliferation of styles, media, and themes.One of the most radical innovators in twentieth-century sculpture was Robert Smithson. His work focused on making art out of the land, manipulating land to make it artful.His most famous work is probably the Spiral Jetty, constructed in the Great Salt Lake in Utah, US.

Tips on How to Become a Better Leader - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Tips on How to Become a Better Leader - Introvert Whisperer Tips on How to Become a Better Leader Guest Author June 3, 2016 Leadership One response In this fast-paced day and age, leadership qualities are key to getting great jobs, earning promotions, and succeeding in school. Possessing leadership skills means you are able to communicate and work well with others, and most important of all, you have potential to lead and map out where you and your team need to go and what to achieve. These abilities are required if a person wants to grow in a career, or even to grow as an individual. That is why you certainly need to improve your leadership skills. Not only to be a great leader, but also to be a valuable member of the team. Here are steps to follow on how to become a better leader. Number 1: Evaluate Yourself An aspect of good leadership is constant self-evaluation. You need to know your leadership strengths and weaknesses. You can accomplish this in a number of ways. One of which is to keep a daily journal where you reflect on moments where you displayed great leadership, and on moments where you could have displayed better leadership. This will help you see what works and what does not work for you. Another tool to help you evaluate your leadership skills can be free online tests that evaluate your leadership styles, skills, and needs. You can find these at places like Mindtool. Use these tests to help you recognize and improve your existing good leadership qualities, and to recognize where you need to improve your leadership characteristics. Number 2: Determine and Plan Just like any worthy goal, you must make a plan to achieve it. In order to make your plan, you must first decide how you want to improve. Do not try to change everything about your team leader skills at once. Instead, focus on one aspect of yourself that needs to improve. Then make an action plan that has specific details of how you intend to change this characteristic. Put this plan in a place you can easily find it and refer to it often. Number 3: Prioritize One aspect of effective leadership skills is to prioritize your tasks. Practice doing this at home with chores and other responsibilities. Look at a list of things to do and decide what must be done first in order to achieve total success of the whole list. Do this with group projects and on tasks at work to impress your teachers, and you bosses. This will help you be viewed as a leader which will lead to more leadership responsibilities down the road. Number 4: Encourage Improvement Whenever you are working in a team setting make sure to encourage yourself and your team members to improve in every aspect of the task at hand. Encourage everyone to try harder, to study more diligently, and to reap the benefits of an online learning. Effective leadership skills are cultivated by constant improvement. Also, one of the main responsibilities of a leader is to encourage improvement so their teams are the highest achievers and rewarded with greater responsibilities, better grades, higher pay, and more respect from their superiors. Number 5: Admit Your Mistakes By admitting your mistakes, you show that you are humble, human, and honest. These are actually very important leadership characteristics. By being humble, human, and honest it signals everyone around you that you are not only a good person, but you are trustworthy. Use your mistakes as a learning tool. Your mistakes today may just be your strengths tomorrow if you take the time to reflect on them and make plans to avoid those mistakes in the future. Number 6: Be Confident Leaders put on brave faces, look people in the eye, and are vocal about their opinions. Leaders need to be confident and self-assured in their decisions in order to convince others to follow them. If you are shy, or have confidence issues, practice having confidence. There is something to be said for the old sage advice fake it til you make it. Number 7: Be Kind There are many leaders who use fear as a tactic to gain respect. Fear and respect are not the same thing. People who love their leaders will respect them and fight on their behalf whether or not their leaders are wrong. People who fear their leaders will obey them but, if given the chance they will turn against their leaders. Fear will get the job done in the short term, but in the long term, fear will only cause uprising. Leaders are always outnumbered. Number 8: Listen A good leader will listen to their team-members concerns and ideas no matter the quality of the idea. The simple act of listening will make your team feel heard and respected and, in turn, they will listen to you and respect your opinion. It is important to at least occasionally try to implement the ideas of team members in order to show that they are valued members of the team. Even if you only use the idea in part, taking the opinion of that team-member will encourage them to improve their ideas, and it will show them that they are wanted. Number 9: Be Honest As kindly as possible, tell your team the truth. If something did not work, tell them. If their work needs to improve, tell them. If the sky is literally falling down around your ankles, tell them. People follow leaders they can trust. It is better for your team to hear a hard truth told as kindly as possible than it is for them to be unaware of the truth and, never improve. Number 10: Respect Your Leaders You will likely always have someone who leads you and, they can decide whether or not you continue to be a leader. Therefore, part of having good leadership characteristics is that you always show your leaders their due respect. Also, by demonstrating that you respect your leaders, your team will further respect you. This is not to say that your leaders are always right, or that you even have to like their leadership style. No matter the quality of your leader, even when disagreeing with them, you must show them that you respect them as your leader. Guest Author Bio: Emily Stone, a blogger and freelance writer, with BA in Business Administration. She worked for businesses in Melbourne as a content marketer. Emily specialises in writing about business growth, career growth, and personal growth. She currently works for Real Estate Academy Australia, a specialised training centre for the real estate industry. Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable.   Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Whens the Right Age to Start Voice Lessons

Whens the Right Age to Start Voice Lessons Sign up successful How do a child’s vocal cords look like and act before puberty? The young child’s vocal cords before the age of puberty are small and thin  with no difference between a pre-pubescent male and a pre-pubescent female.  When an adult sings high notes, their vocal cords become thin and small, and the  opposite is true when he or she sings low notes. Therefore, because of the nature of  a young child’s vocal cords, their tessitura (the place where it feels the most  natural and comfortable to sing) will be higher and lighter and they will have some  difficulty singing lower notes. What and how should your child sing at the age before puberty? The pre-pubescent child both male and female should be singing and doing  vocal exercises mostly in the higher range, and should be focusing on repertoire that  sits high in their voice. It is important for your elementary-aged child to avoid  singing songs that are too low, because the vocal cords have not  developed in that area yet and will not be able to produce a healthy sound in the  lower range. Singing too low too early can wear on your young child’s constantly  developing voice, while not singing high enough will inhibit him or her from  improving vocal range. What happens to the vocal cords during puberty? Puberty is the most delicate vocal developmental stage for the young singer.  This is because both genders undergo a very dramatic change in their bodies, their  emotions, and their vocal cords. The female vocal cords start undergoing changes  from around age 10 to age 14. During this time, her vocal cords start to thicken,  which results in breathiness, huskiness, and a little unsteadiness in the voice. A  male’s vocal cords also thicken during puberty, resulting in a significant pitch drop  in his voice. However, he is still able to sing in his previous high range, and should  continue to do so during puberty in order to keep his upper range after puberty. What and how should your child sing at the age of puberty? For a female singer to successfully get through this change, it is  important for her to focus on singing lightly (singing too loudly will harm the  changing female voice), and explore singing repertoire in high, middle, and low  ranges. The breathiness in the changing female voice is caused by an inability to  properly close the vocal cords, and can be corrected by different techniques that  focus on chord closure and that focus on preventing air from escaping through the  vocal cords. For a male singer to maximize range after puberty and to reach his full  potential in range, he should sing low, middle, and high notes in the lower chest  register, the middle mix register, and the upper “soprano” head register. The use of  this last register is often neglected or forgotten in the male changing voice, but is the  most important register to sing in to keep his high range in the future. In order to  maintain a healthy transition into the mature adult vocal cords, the pubescent male  should not sing too loud or too soft, just like the pubescent female. For both males  and females during the pubertal stage of development, natural vibrato will find its  way into the voice, but should not be manufactured or consciously made by any  means. What about after puberty? While the vocal cords reach full maturity by age 18, vocal development does  not stop for the majority of the singer’s life. Therefore, it is important to continue  furthering vocal instruction and technique for as long as the singer would like to  pursue singing. The most important technique that a singer should focus on  throughout all the ages and stages of vocal development is correct diaphragmatic  breathing and support of the voice with the body. So, what REALLY is the right age to start singing? The most successful singers start their vocal instruction very early in life. If  they are correctly instructed throughout the developmental stages of the vocal  cords, the result of the mature vocal cords will be beautiful, healthy, and  rewarding. So, to answer the question simply there is no age too young to start  voice lessons, but at every age different instructional techniques must be employed  in order to create a healthy, strong, long-lasting, and beautiful voice. Atalia M. teaches singing,  composition, ear training, music theory, and more via online lessons.  She received her Bachelor of Music, as well as her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Redlands. Atalia has  performed many opera roles and currently teaches online students all over the world. Learn more about Atalia 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  morgan.davis

Key GMAT Sentence Correction Concepts Diction

Key GMAT Sentence Correction Concepts Diction GMAT MBA Admissions Blog As we wrote in our recent article on how an understanding of common subject-verb agreement traps can help you improve your GMAT verbal score, the GMAT Sentence Correction section is the only part of the GMAT Verbal section where you can quickly and clearly acquire new skills and knowledge to improve your score. Unlike Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension, where performance is in large part a function of your long term commitment to reading and writing critically, GMAT sentence correction offers ample opportunity for quick acquisition of new knowledge that directly helps you answer more questions correctly. As we discussed last time, in this section, you’ll be given a sentence to read, and part of it will be underlined. Your task is to determine whether and how to change the underlined section so that the sentence is written correctly. As discussed last time, three ideas must be kept in mind as you answer these questions: Grammar, Meaning, and Style. In our last article we addressed subject-verb agreement, which is a matter of grammar, but can impact meaning, too. Today, we’ll address diction, which is more directly a matter of meaning, since it refers to word choice. Diction As Wikipedia will tell you, diction is about word choice, and how those choices impact the meaning, clarity, and style of a piece of writing. On the GMAT, you will often see passages underlined, and it will be clear that either of two choices is correct. But, which choice is best? Here are some typical pairs of words that are often used interchangeable, but which have distinctly different meanings. 1.) Among/Between a. Among is used when there are more than two things: Among, X, Y, and Z, I prefer Z. b. Between is used when there are only two things: You must choose between the GRE and the GMAT. 2.) As/Like a. “As” = “in the capacity of.” For example: Joseph Soandso serves as the appellate judge in the umpteenth district of Narnia. b. “Like” = “similar to.” For example: The GMAT is not like any other test you have ever taken. 3.) Like/Such as a. “Like” = “similar to.” So, Joe likes sports like hockey, basketball, and soccer means that Joe likes sports that are similar to hockey, basketball, and soccer. b. “Such as” = “for example.” Joe like sports such as hockey, basketball, and soccer means that Joe likes hockey, basketball, and soccer. 4.) Their/His or her a. Substituting “their” for his or her is a common mistake that is becoming part of day to day English. i.Incorrect: Does everyone have their copy of the 13th OG? ii.Correct: Does everyone have his or her copy of the 13th OG? 5.) That/Which a. “That” introduces a restrictive clause â€" a clause that is essential to the meaning of a sentence. b.Example: The car that has voice activated ignition is the Chrysler on the far side of the parking lot. c. “Which” introduces a non-respective clause â€" a clause that is not essential to the meaning of a sentence. In this case the non-restrictive clause is surrounded by commas. d.Example: The car on the far side of the parking lot, which is a Chrysler, has voice activated ignition. 6.) Who/Whom a. “Who” is a subject pronoun, so it will perform the action of the verb. It serves the same function as “he” or “she” b.Example:Who gave you this book? He gave me this book. c. “Whom” is an object pronoun, so it will receive the action of the verb. It serves the same function as “him” or “her.” d.Example: To whom did you give the book? I gave the book to her. Of course, the above is not an exhaustive list of scenarios on the GMAT that involve diction. However, it’s helpful to keep in mind the concept of proper diction, and as you read for pleasure, work, school, or specifically for GMAT preparation, notice when proper diction plays a role in the meaning of a particular piece of writing. In our next article, we’ll address how the principles of logic can be applied to improving your GMAT verbal score on the sentence correction portion of the GMAT. About the Authors This article was written by MyGuru founder Mark Skoskiewicz, a 2010 graduate of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. However, it pulls very heavily from materials developed for MyGuru’s small group GMAT prep class. These materials were written by John Easter, one of MyGuru’s senior GMAT tutors in Chicago, the instructor for this class, and the founder of Jedi Prep. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, '6baac2ae-05a3-4610-9d1f-265c8cbd809f', {});

Exam Techniques, Tips and Tricks

Exam Techniques, Tips and Tricks A Winning Formula Thinking back to the time when I took my GCSEs, I remember the restless sleep the night before; standing outside the school gym in alphabetical order and my classmates clutching their revision guides desperately hoping to cram in more over the next 5 minutes.   There can’t be many students who look back on exam term with fond memories, and there’s no one who’d say they didn’t find it somewhat stressful and overwhelming. After all, years of study will be assessed over the next hour or two, so it’s time for you to shine! Which in itself is enough pressure. Over the next few years I discovered a formula, some exam techniques, tips and tricks that helped me through my A-levels and University exams. You may find them useful, you may not!   If you have any others to add, please leave a comment below. Preparing for the exam Make a Revision Plan I know what you’re thinking, “this tip always comes up!”, I know it does, but there’s a reason for that - it’s a very good tip! Making a plan will help you stay on track and keep you focused. Sitting down and making the plan itself can be a daunting exercise. You will be mapping out the start of your revision in half-term and Easter holidays when your exams are months away! But trust me, it is well worth organising your time and starting early. Try and make the plan yourself, be realistic and allow for regular breaks. Try and plan to study 2-3 different subjects a day so you don’t get bored, and break down the hours in the day by the number of topics. If you’re struggling, attempt to make the plan yourself, then ask your teacher or tutor to help. Engage with the subject Sitting there reading through your notes over and over is not exactly the best way to revise. The more you engage with the subject you're revising, the more you’ll remember! Get creative, make timelines, mind maps, summarise your notes on cards, make up mnemonics (rhymes, acronyms, phrases, images etc. anything that helps you to remember). I still remember the mnemonic I made for remembering the first 10 elements in the periodic table: Hybrid Hedgehogs Like Being Boastful Carpenters Nibbling Oxo Flavoured Nectarines It isn’t particularly good... but it means something to me because I made it up - hence why I still remember it! The first two letters of each word are the same first two letters of the element. Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine, Neon Get your verbal, visual and auditory muscle memory working! Get active. Have a go at making your own mnemonics! Get your hands on lots of past papers Ask your teacher and/or tutor to give you as many past papers as possible, and work through them. Afterwards, look at the mark schemes to understand what the examiners are looking for. If you are stuck on a question don’t be afraid to ask your teacher or tutor for help! Another great way to get more exam question practice is for you and your friends to write questions for each other and discuss the answers together. In your last week of revision you should just be doing timed practice papers, get yourself used to the time constraints and working within those limits. “Exam term” will mean LOTS OF WRITING. Start practising now, it sounds silly but you need to “train your hand” to write for longer, as it can be tiring and your handwriting must be legible for the examiner. The day before the exam Get a good night's sleep If you’re up past midnight the night before cramming, then I’m sorry to say, but you’ve already failed. Last minute cramming doesn't work, you will be tired and stressed the next day during your exam, making it very difficult for you to perform at your best. Try and go to bed a little earlier than usual, especially if you have more than one exam the next day. If you can't sleep, don't panic. The most important thing is to let your body rest, just close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Eat protein not carbohydrates Eat brain food, foods that will slowly release energy. Try eggs and fish (maybe not together!) Stay away from coffee and energy drinks like Red Bull. Filling yourself up with sugar is a bad idea, you may feel energised for an hour or so but then you will experience a sugar low and become very lethargic. Look over the facts The day before the exam is not a time to cram in new information; you won’t remember it. Instead, look over the key points in your notes â€" I suggest making flash cards with the answers on the back. Test yourself, test your friends and refresh your memory. Exam Technique Planning Spend a few minutes reading the questions, plan which ones you are going to do, especially if it’s an essay topic with a few options. Plan how much time you have for each question e.g. is a mark a minute? Don’t be tempted to answer question 1 because you feel you know more about the topic, it could be a really really tough question. Look at Question 2 too, it could be a harder topic but a much easier question. Once you have chosen, make a small plan of the main points you will make. This will help you keep on track and organise your thinking. Write your plan in your answer booklet, and once you’re done with it cross it out with a single line. This is a great tip if you happen to run out of time as you may get a few marks from the bullets in your plan. Look at the marks. Is it a 5 mark question? They would probably like you to make 5 key points. Jot these down in your plan; there is no point in writing a long answer that only makes 2 points. Read the question properly. Seems obvious I know, but you will feel tempted to jump ahead due to the time pressure and make assumptions. Read the question twice if you have to! Also scan ahead. Sometimes there are clues in the next question which can help with the previous question, so you could gain a bit of insight into what the examiners are looking for. Answer the easy questions first Do the easiest questions first. This doesn’t just mean the 1-2 mark questions at the front of the paper.... Look ahead, there will be certain topics you are really confident with. Do these first. By answering the easy questions first you will gain some confidence and feel less panicked about the harder questions later on. It is a great feeling to have gained a few easy marks at the beginning. Also, easy questions will take you less time to answer, as you don’t need as much thinking time. This will leave you with some extra time to answer the more tricky questions later on! Move on, don’t get stuck. If there is a question you can’t answer, move on. There are easier marks to gain in this time, you can always go back to it. It may be a case of writers block, and you’ll be amazed what comes back to you in half an hour! Show your workings Another obvious one, but due to time constraints many students don’t write down their workings. Showing your workings is especially helpful in maths, economics, science etc. where you’ll have longer equations, bringing in a few answers from previous questions. You may come to the wrong answer at the end, but your method may be correct so you’ll gain a few marks, which is better than none! If you don’t show your workings, the examiner can’t give you any credit for what went on in your head. “I’m running out of time!” Imagine that you’ve kept an eye on the time and realised you only have enough time to answer 1 of 2 questions left, what do you do? Most of the marks to be gained in a long/large mark question are earned at the beginning of the question. Answer: Do the first half of both questions! If you don’t even have time to write sentences, then write bullet answers. If you don’t have time to do the equation, then bullet what calculations you would do. Examiners can give you marks for your method. Don’t ever leave the exam early Firstly, I have never left an exam early and I really can’t think of a reason why you ever should! If you have powered through an exam and finished a little early, then take this time to go back through your paper and check your answers. -                   Have you explained your workings? -                   Written the correct units? e.g. minutes, kilos, moles, Celsius? -   This is a great time to check any calculations -                   Check the key points in your answer, do they correlate with the number of marks? - Does your introduction set out the journey your essay will cover, and your conclusion look back at the original question? I hope you’ve found these exam techniques, tips and tricks helpful! Good luck from us all here at Tutorfair :)

5 things college prep students should do before winter vacation

5 things college prep students should do before winter vacation Tips from a Costa Mesa College Admissions Consultant: 5 Things College Prep Students Should do Before Winter Vacation Summer is over, and high schoolers are back in the classroom. Students who are in the 10th through 12th grade are now prepping for college in addition to staying on track in their courses. The college prep years can either be a fun and productive time or they can become incredibly overwhelming and stressful depending on how prepared a student is and if theyre able to work efficiently. Although each student’s schedule will be tailored to their specific college goals, there are some things that every college prep student should do before they reach winter vacation. 1. Sign up for college entrance exams Its important to sign up for either the SAT or the ACT in advance of the actual test date because each testing program has strict cut off dates after which students will have to wait until the next test, sometimes months away. Once student know when theyre going to take the exam, they should take a practice test and get a baseline score. They can then work through a test prep booklet with the guidance of a tutor to assess their strengths and weaknesses and potentially improve their overall score before test day. 2. Take a college tour College prep students will also benefit from taking a tour of some of the college campuses they are most interested in. Deciding without visiting the campus leaves students with a big question mark in their mind regarding their future college experience. Its better for students to have an idea of what college life will be like to ease the transition. If students are not able to travel long distances to visit some of the schools on their list, they can visit their local university so that they can get an idea of campus life. Students can take an organized tour sponsored by the college, or they can go on their own with their family and take a look around (READ: 5 Things English Majors Should Do This Fall). 3. Get used to AP classes Many students start taking advanced placement classes as early as sophomore year. These classes require students to study and test at a much higher level and require an incredible amount of homework. One of the best things students can do is get used to the rigors of this type of a course, so they dont fall behind. They may need to work on study skills or learn how to study more efficiently, or they may need to develop more of a balance in their after school schedule. Students can also utilize the help of a tutor, study group, or their classroom teacher to get extra help when needed our private Costa Mesa AP tutors are here to help you succeed. 4. Join a club or organization In addition to working on academics and test prep, its important that college prep students have a chance to explore some of their interests so they can start thinking about what they might want to major in once in college. Most high schools offer several after school opportunities where students can explore personal interests. If a student is not interested in what their local school has to offer, they can often find activities for teens within their local community. Being involved in extracurricular activities help students find a balance in their schedule, allows them a chance to socialize with other motivated students, and looks great on college applications. 5. Refine study skills Study skills and personal organization will become essential during the college prep years. Students need to get things done as efficiently as possible, so they have time to complete all of their assignments, study for entrance exams, perhaps work a part-time job or volunteer within the community, and also just enjoy some free time to themselves. At this point, most students will know what study habits work best for their learning style, but they may need to work with a tutor a few hours here and there to stay on track. Our Costa Mesa private college admissions consultants have a 97% success rate. Call us today to learn more. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.