Singing Tutor App - Find A Singing Tutor That Will Help You Improve Your Voice Technique

Singing Tutor App - Find A Singing Tutor That Will Help You Improve Your Voice TechniqueAre you a singer or an actor who needs a singing tutor to improve your vocal abilities? With the advent of social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook and YouTube, there are now hundreds of singing tutors in the world, and more of them are getting popularity, which is all due to the fact that this can help you improve your voice technique. Let's see what you can do by searching for singing tutor apps on the internet.Social networking sites are a great resource for people who want to improve their skills, either by singing or just by hearing other singers and how they sing. You will not only get to learn about other singers' voice techniques but also learn about various techniques and approaches to singing, which will be useful as well as fun to try out. So, if you're looking for some ways to improve your singing, these sites are perfect, and you will have no difficulty finding singing tips and advice from many websites. The best part is that, with all this support, you don't have to worry about getting bored because there are thousands of websites to choose from. The key is to make sure that you find a website that offers really good services.Singing tutors' websites can offer resources that would help you improve your singing and will also help you understand what it is that you need to do to improve your singing. They have got all kinds of learning material from resources on singing, books, tapes, songs and recordings, and many more. Make sure that you get all the resources that you need so that you'll be able to improve your singing and reach your musical goals.Some of the online singing resources are free and others require a membership. One of the most interesting websites is the Facebook singing page, where you can find out information on singing tutors. You may also come across pages that offer free lessons and tips for singers and teachers.Many of the teachers on Facebookoffer free lessons to learn some basics of singing, which is really a great help if you need some basics information. Most of the free tutors do not go into details so you can follow and learn at your own pace and after you feel that you understand the basics. There are many teachers who post and listen to their favorite songs in order to teach singing lessons.If you need a singing tutor for a specific purpose, you can also use the internet to find it. There are singing software and singing lesson packs, which you can download and learn from on your own time. All you need to do is to learn some of the simple techniques of singing and mastering those techniques will allow you to sing better. Some of the popular singing software available in the market includes beginner lessons and advanced ones.Singing tutors can help you improve your singing and get better results in songwriting. You can also take suggestions from other singers' writing skills.

A Day in the Life at Duke University

A Day in the Life at Duke University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Anna is an Atlanta tutor specializing in GRE prep tutoring, AP English tutoring, Essay Editing tutoring, and several other subjects. She graduated from Duke University in 2006 with a Bachelors degree in Literature and Cultural Theory. See what she had to say about her experience at Duke University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Anna: Duke University is divided into three sections: East Campus, West Campus, and Central Campus. A number of restaurants and shops are within walking distance of East Campus, and an easy-to-use bus line connects the three campuses. West Campus feels a bit more rural, and it is surrounded by Duke Forest. Many students have cars, but they are not necessary. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Anna: Professors are always happy to meet with students during office hours, and by my junior year, I was meeting with my major adviser frequently. Teaching assistants are friendly and available to answer questions. As a freshman, you are set up with an academic adviser who helps you choose courses and plan for the kind of experience you want to get out of your four years. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Anna: Students are required to live on campus for three years, and fraternities are housed in the dorms, as well, so the student body feels very concentrated on the campus. Juniors and seniors can live in small apartments on Central Campus. Dining options abound, with two large dining halls, a number of on-campus restaurants, and delivery options that accept payment through your DukeCard. In my experience, official social activities were rarely coordinated through dorm life, but many of my closest friends lived in my freshman hall. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Anna: Duke University has a number of very strong programs, including environmental science, biological anthropology, religion, and English. I majored in literature and cultural theory, which is distinct from the English major at Duke University, and focuses on popular culture, film, and theories of literature. The major was small when I was there, but it is very strong with a sizable faculty, so I felt well supported. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Anna: I initially made friends through dorm life and classes. Duke University also has optional programs for freshmen right before classes begin, and I would recommend participating in one as a way to make friends early on. About 30% of the men are in fraternities, and about 40% of the women join sororities. Sororities at Duke University are non-residential, but fraternities are housed on campus. Greek life is a large part of the social scene, but it is not the only part. Rush does not begin until spring semester, so freshmen have a chance to make friends before rush kicks off. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Anna: Many large companies recruit at Duke University, particularly investment banks and consulting firms. I visited the career center a few times, but I found my adviser and other academic mentors to be my most useful resources. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Anna: There are multiple large libraries on campus, and the Gothic Reading Room is a beautiful, silent place to study. You will get shushed for shuffling papers too loudly! There is also a large atrium with a caf on West Campus, and the student union is a good place to study if you need a bit of background noise. I always liked to go off-campus to a coffee shop to do my work. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Anna: Durham is a mid-sized city that has seen a host of new restaurants and entertainment options in the past few years. The Durham Performing Arts Center and the American Tobacco Historic District, adjacent to the Durham Bulls stadium, are highlights. Although a lot of the social life takes place on or around campus, there are also a number of places to go out and dance or socialize near 9th Street. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Anna: The Duke University undergraduate population numbers about 6,500. Classes ranged in size; I took eight-person seminars and large lecture classes. Most classes in my major were about 40 people, which is quite large for a humanities class. My favorite classes had about 15 people in them. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Anna: My freshman year, I participated in a program called FOCUS, in which you take a set group of classes that concern a particular theme and live in the same dorm with your classmates. We took a field trip down to Wilson, North Carolina to learn about tobacco farming, then on to Wilmington to learn about North Carolinas growing film industry. It was wonderful to get to know a group of fellow students through that program and to learn about how the states industry has changed over the last century. Check out Annas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How Will Online Tutor Use Individualized Instruction to Help My Child Learn

How Will Online Tutor Use Individualized Instruction to Help My Child Learn 0SHARESShare With dramatic improvements in academic scores, Tutors are increasingly incorporating individualized instruction in their curriculum. Let’s see how online tutor use individualized instruction to offer the best help to your child achieving good academic score: Computer aid learning: Online tutors harness computer technology to its maximum especially in Math subject. They learn Math concepts using Math games, puzzles, problem solving techniques designed depending on learner’s aptitude towards the topic. It makes learning stress free and relaxed. They help in regular Math homework help, problem solving with personalized one-to-one tutoring. Learning through hands-on activities: The tutors provide hands-on activities which is especially very useful to learn science subject. Such activities empower students learning with their own individual efforts. The tutor offers help in designing science projects, laboratory work and experiments, etc. They promote group activities with peer tutoring and collaboration aid learning with extensive support making them successful. Vocabulary Building:   Vocabulary building is very essential for students at each level. The tutor gives dictionary help, practicing vocabulary building and picture dictionary to the students. The individualized tutoring also helps students improving English idioms and idiom dictionary. Reading and Writing practice: Online tutoring offer individualized and group level activities for reading and writing practice. They work on strategies to read better, practicing different readings like short stories, novel, fiction, etc. The tutor also gives personalized tutoring to improve writing skills. They offer interesting topics that target improving writing sentences, paragraphs, essays, spelling, punctuation and style. The personalized attention corrects your mistakes and makes learning techniques to become a better writer. The primary goal of individualized instruction is to impart one-to-one tutoring, monitor and track progress of each student personally. Online tutors target weak areas to turn them in strong by applying more focused instruction tools and techniques. [starbox id=admin]

Who is Frida Kahlo

Who is Frida Kahlo Frida Kahlo: A Life of Passion ChaptersBeginnings: Meeting Young FridaTotal IncapacitationFrida’s StyleFrida Kahlo, the iconic painter from Mexico, was in the news recently â€" not for any of her works but for the insensitive question posed by the newly-installed American ambassador to that country.While everyone would agree that insulting one of your host country’s most renown citizens is not in good form, his doing so had a somewhat positive effect. Thanks to his faux-pas, Frida is back on stage!Of course, your Superprof has to jump on the chance to tell you all about this remarkable woman: her life and trials; the pain and tragedy she endured for much of her time...A life cut far too short; an ability to speak volumes through brushstrokes silenced before it had properly begun.We’re honoured to examine the life and art of Frida Kahlo. FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Te acher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaPainting Teacher 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePainting Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsBeginnings: Meeting Young Frida This abstraction of Frida belies the petite person she actually was Image by truenorthbound from PixabayMagdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón was an awfully long name for the scrap of a girl born on the 6th of July, 1907 in a small village outside of Mexico City.Like Pablo Picasso, she was named according to the Spanish tradition of listing each parent’s last name separated by ‘y’ (and). Rather than uttering the entire name, the household’s newest member was called simply Frida.Frida would be the youngest save one in what she described as a ‘very, very sad’ home. Her father, a photographer of some repute, was plagued with epilepsy, a condition that ended his university studies in his native Germany.He would occasionally have seizures at home which his daughters, especially Frida, were witness to.Frida describes her mother as kind and intelligent but also as cruel and fanatically religious. While Frida relationship with her mother was rather tense, by all accounts she a nd her father got along famously.That might have been because they both lived with a disability.When Frida was six years old, she was stricken with polio, leaving her right leg incapacitated. Her father, desperate for her to fully recover, encouraged her to run and play sports â€" even though, at that time, it was considered unseemly for girls to run about.It was those months battling polio that caused her late enrolment in school; something that other students bullied her about, along with her small stature.It’s hard to say exactly where Frida developed her fiery temper â€" whether it was a result of being picked on in school, feeling pressure at home or if it was simply in her nature.Certainly, even later in life, she dissembled over seemingly inconsequential matters, for instance averring she was born at Casa Azul, the family homestead â€" now a museum to exhibit her life and work, when official records list her grandmother’s house as her place of birth.Nevertheless, her tale nt for mischief and artifice got her expelled from the German school her father had insisted she attend. Determined to see his favourite daughter educated, Dad enroled her in a vocational school but, soon, she was back home; she had been abused by a teacher there.With nothing but time on her hands, until she became old enough to apply to high school, Frida helped her father retouch, colour and develop photos for clients. It may have been at this time that the desire to create artworks crystallized for her.This National Prep school, the oldest and most esteemed in Mexico, had only recently started accepting female students; when Frida applied there in 1922, there were only 35 women enroled out of a student body of 2,000.Frida did not apply to study art; she wanted to be a doctor. She studied hard, learned well and generally fit in with the campus revolutionaries... especially after she shifted her birth year to match the year of the Mexican Revolution.American artist Helen Frankentha ler was Frida’s opposite in just about every way!And then, a terrible accident changed the course of her life. Tributes to Frida are wide-ranging and extensive Image by ban75 from PixabayTotal IncapacitationWhile on the bus with her boyfriend, it collided with a tram. Several passengers lost their lives and many more were injured, including Frida.With both of her legs fractured and her pelvis shattered, she stayed in hospital for one month and then endured more rehabilitation at home.When she finally returned to active life, she was in constant agony. Her doctors ordered a new series of X-rays, discovering only then that three of her vertebrae had been displaced. Confined to her bed and wearing a plaster corset, Frida was forced to abandon her studies.While some might rail at their fate, Frida asked for a mirror to be hung on the ceiling over her bed. She fashioned an easel to her position and, using the mirror, she painted her self-portrait, over and over again.Till then, she’d only been playing with joining the ranks of great female artists.Nearly three years after the accident, now fully recovered (save for the pain and discomfort she would suffer all of her life), she met Diego Rivera, a muralist of some repute, at a party. With typical directness, she asked him to appraise her work.It was obvious to me that this girl was an authentic artist. Diego RiveraThe two began a romance that would endure the rest of Frida’s life but by no means was it blissful. There were jealousy and betrayal, and a disconnect in social and personal values that made the relationship particularly difficult.For a time, Frida allowed her work to take a backseat to Diego’s; in fact, shortly after their wedding, they relocated to a more rural part of Mexico because he had been commissioned to paint a few murals.It was there that Frida, till then a cosmopolitan woman, truly got in touch with her heritage. She changed her wardrobe, discarding the stylish skirts worn in the city for the more colourful skirts of the womenfolk there.Much of her work from that point on would reflect her reverenc e for her culture:Portrait of a Girl with a Ribbon Around her WaistThe BusSelf-Portrait with NecklaceSelf-Portrait with Curly HairMy Grandparent, My Parents and MeFrida was not bashful about trying out different media.The Bus was is an oil on canvas but My Grandparents is oil and tempera on zinc and Curly Hair is oil on tin. While she never tried her hand as a sculptor - likely she would have been too frail, she frescoed her likeness onto masonite, whimsically titling it 'Very Ugly'. Living away from the city, Frida discovered her heritage, including the colourful style of dress Image by ????? ?????? from PixabayFrida’s StyleTo some, Frida’s paintings look almost cartoonish, an appearance that belies the seriousness of the woman behind the easel.Her early works were influenced by European Renaissance artists as well as more avant-garde painters. Later, of course, she was far more inspired by Mexican folk art.Anyone knowledgeable about her work might wonder about the large number of Fridas she painted; she explained that her loneliness and isolation left her no other subject to paint.Art historians still debate whether Frida was a surrealist painter or whether she was simply painting a vivid realism... or even whether she was an art movement onto herself.Surrealist Andre Breton was an early supporter but she rejected the categorisation he put on her art. Even as she showed her work at surrealist exhibits, she averred she detested surrealism.Compare that attitu de with impressionist painter Mary Cassatt, who would have loved to have been argued over in such a way!Frida never saw her work as figurative; to her, every oil painting she executed was representational... even if you had to reach a bit for what it was supposed to represent.In a sense, you might compare her with another impressionistic painter, Vincent van Gogh â€" not for his work, certainly, but for their determination to paint what they see, against all odds. You may also note their use of bright colours...But Impressionism does not describe Frida’s assault on your senses.Paintings by Frida have an ‘in your face’ quality to them, almost as if she is daring you to look beyond the oil paint and behind the canvases, to see the woman with such a passion that she would bare herself and her soul for all to see.In that sense, she was indeed a realist.It is quite unfortunate that much of Frida’s work is lost to art history; she had a habit of making art and then destroying it i f what it was depicting did not please her... or, sometimes, in a fit over Diego’s infidelities.Still, she has made her mark, both in the ranks of female artists and as an art teacher, a position she held until her health made it too difficult.She was the first Mexican artist to be featured at the Louvre. The Frame is now on display at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris.  Although quite a few of Frida’s original paintings grace private collections, there is more than one art museum exhibiting her work: the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the National Museum of Women in the Arts in the US and, of course, in Mexico City.Frida Kahlo has done as much for western art as she has for women artists; in fact, she has recently become an icon of the feminist movement as well.By contrast, Artemisia Gentileschi, the post-Italian Renaissance painter, did not make such an impact on the art world until centuries after her death.Frida Kahlo’s style of painting may defy classification but one thi ng is certain: she takes a front-row position among women painters, not just for her painting techniques and for highlighting the Mestizo culture, but for her depiction of anguish, on canvas after canvas, perpetually hidden behind her stern, unsmiling gaze.Now discover Georgia O'Keeffe, another of the great women who have made our world more beautiful through their art.

French for Kids Whats the Best Way for Kids to Learn French

French for Kids Whats the Best Way for Kids to Learn French Sign up successful 3) Learn French with your child Start reading beginner’s children’s books in French together, and practice simple vocabulary. Turn studying French into a fun bonding activity for you and your child to do together, and this will give him or her someone to practice with in between lessons. It will make studying a new language less intimidating, and you’ll be learning, too! 4) Bring the French culture into your home Show your child what the French culture is all about by introducing some French dishes into your kitchen. Try baking some pastries or other dishes  with your child  from a French cookbook. This is a great way to teach basic food words and get your child excited about the new culture that he or she is learning about. If your child loves music, start listening to some songs in French. Once your child has learned enough vocabulary, you can even find a French translation of his or her favorite Disney movie. If you can make the language fun and interesting, your child will be more motivated to learn. 5) Find a French tutor There are so many tutors out there who specialize in teaching French for kids. A private tutor will be able to give your child the individual attention they need in order to excel. Private lessons will move at your childs own pace, avoiding the dangers of group classes that may move too fast or too slow. French tutors are available to work with your child online via Skype or in-person, depending on locations and availability. Search for your French tutor now! Natalie S. tutors in 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  Wellington College

The Organized Backpack Yes, its Possible!

The Organized Backpack Yes, it’s Possible! Have you looked inside your childs backpack lately? If your child has ADHD theres a good chance that its pretty messy in there! ADHD can make it hard to stay organized, and messy backpacks often lead to lost homework, missing or crumpled permission slips, and heavy loads that weigh kids down. Try these tips to help your child clean out their backpack and keep it neat all year long. Make a list. Together with your child make a list of things that should be in the backpack. Be very specific. For example, if your child likes to keep library books in their backpack, allow them to carry only one book (two at most) at a time. Have a homework folder. Select one specific folder that is used to bring homework sheets to and from school. Use the left side of the folder for unfinished work, and the right side for completed worksheets. Check the homework folder every day to make sure the completed side is empty when your child comes home. Kids with ADHD often forget to turn in completed work! Have a second folder for notes to parents and other papers. Keep permission slips, notes for parents, and papers that dont belong in the homework folder in a second folder. This keeps the backpack from getting cluttered with loose paper. Use a pencil pouch. Keep pencils, pens, and erasers in a pouch. Theyll be easy to find and will be less likely to be lost or broken. Set limits on toys in the backpack. Kids often want to keep non-school related items, like figurines, stuffed animals, or trading cards, in their backpacks. Usually theyll get into trouble with teachers when they pull these things out in class. So, its best to keep them at home. If your child insists on bringing toys to school, set limits. Allow only one item at a time. Do a backpack check every day. To keep the backpack in tiptop shape, youll need to do a quick backpack check every day. Give your child lots of praise when theyve used their checklist and organization plan! If they are backsliding, catch it early. Try not to criticize. Just let them know what is out of place and how to fix it. Clean out the backpack every week. Pick a time once a week when your child will go through the backpack checklist and do a cleanout. Check the backpack once the cleanout is complete, and help them along the way if they need it. Praise their effort! If they meet their checklist goal, consider providing a small reward. An organized backpack is a great way to start teaching important organization skills that can help kids stay focused and get things done. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center 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 of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

A Level Results Day Survival Guide

A Level Results Day Survival Guide A Level Results Day Guide Our A Level results day guide aims to help answer the  dreaded question: What if I don't get the grades I expected or needed? With A level results day upon us and GCSE grades coming out the following week, this is understandably a stressful time for many young people across England and Wales. Revision sessions are already a distant memory and ring binders full of notes are gathering dust, so hopefully all of that hard work will pay off. However, if you don’t get the results you expected or needed, then read our top Tutorfair tips on what to do next. Before you arrive at school Before you even get to school or college, try to get  a good night’s sleep so that you arrive early and ready for whatever lies ahead. It may end up being a long day of partying or a longer one of speaking with admissions tutors. Before you open that envelope, have someone nearby that you value and trust. Having a friend, family member or teacher around will act as a pillar of strength. Have your UCAS personal ID ready so you can login to Track, UCAS’s online application tracking system. You can check the status of your application here and make modifications to your contact details if necessary. Didn't get the grades you wanted? If you don’t get the exact grades required for your first choice university, get in touch with the university directly as they may still accept you if you’ve only missed the grades by a hairsbreadth. Alternatively, make sure you have your UCAS clearing number ready to hand because if your top higher education choices haven’t come through, then time will be of the essence. Go on the UCAS clearing service and find a course that still suits you. (It is even quicker and easier if you have a list prepared in case.) If your exam result is different from that predicted by your teachers, check with your school or college to see if they would be willing to pay for it to be remarked. Otherwise, you could pay for that yourself but this can be an expensive option. Consider alternatives For some students, their results are going to come as a big shock to them. If there’s nothing suitable in clearing, maybe consider taking  a gap year. You could get a job to earn some extra money, volunteer with a charity or even go travelling. If you don’t get into your first choice of university, alternative options should be considered. You could always get onto an  Apprenticeship scheme  where you can work for a major corporation or firm and get ahead of your peers by the time they graduate.  City and Guilds apprenticeships  are also an option that offer in-work training with professional qualifications. Seek out useful advice from the  National Careers Service. For alternative careers information, you could always use  professional tutors  of whom many have already navigated the complicated hurdles of university admissions and are experts in helping students gain access to Oxbridge and Russell Group institutions. Resits Arrange for resits in the exams that disappointed you the most and seriously think about contracting a tutor in the build-up to the final tests. The expertise of tutors like those at Tutorfair will be able to resolve any curriculum issues and boost your skills and confidence.

Why teachers shouldnt be a last-minute hire

Why teachers shouldn’t be a last-minute hire It’s like anything really, leave it to the last minute and you’ll end up in a long queue with everyone else, waiting for whatever's left over by the time you get to the cake counter. (Yes, this metaphor will continue to revolve around baked goods ). Maybe you really want a Victoria Sponge, but you left it late, got stuck in traffic, and well, by the time you get to the bakery, it feels like everyone else has had the exact same idea. You stand in the queue, dread building, as you watch all the lovely sponge cakes walk off the shelf. Their smug owners are disappearing out the door and into the horizon. The lady at the till chimes “next,” so you take a deep breath, face the counter and try not to cry. There’s nothing left but a sad eclair. You probably haven’t been asked this question before. In fact, I’m 90% sure you haven’t… Do you want your teachers to be the Victoria sponge cakes of this world or, well, the sad eclairs? You might ask what’s so complicated about hiring a teacher? And I counter with this: what is so hard about buying a cake? It’s life. It’s tricky. There are often unforeseen obstacles. Maybe you spent your morning looking for the car keys while taming a toddler. Perhaps there was a traffic accident. There are so many things that can get in the way of buying a bit of sponge cake; a seemingly innocuous item on a to-do list. Those complications are only multiplied when it comes to hiring great teachers. Complications new teachers face that take time: Obtaining visas is no joke. You are going to want plenty of time for candidates to get their paperwork in, sort themselves out and sail past this hurdle. With a job offer, there’s unlikely to be any issues aside from actually having the time to go through the process. Booking flights can be pricey. This takes time, especially if candidates are footing the cost. Hiring far enough out that they can take advantage of cheaper flights will be a massive bonus for some. Nobody wants the stress of putting last-minute flights on their credit card right before they move to a new country. Finding and researching accommodation. You might have a fair idea of where teachers will end up living. But they don’t! So this will be a big concern. They will want some idea about availability, costs and if you offer a stipend. Other concerns will be proximity to the school and basic facilities, how the average kitchen is equipped, what it might look like. You don’t need hard-and-fast answers, but painting an honest picture of what teachers can expect in your country is something you need to have thought about. Because these are questions teachers will have. Packing up entire lives. Whether it’s forwarding their post, giving notice on apartments, finding suitcases, saying goodbye to family and friends, trying to get their lives under the weight limit of 50 kg… all of this is a headache and a half. Teachers need time to sort it all. You don’t want teachers arriving half-organized and stressed out of their minds, they need time to adjust to what is a significant life change. Giving notice in their current roles.Many great teachers are already teaching, which is wonderful - they have experience, they know what the job takes. Too often I see schools hiring teachers out of work, even though they may not be the best candidate. Great teachers often find their next role before handing in their notice, or start looking before renewals. That means you need to be on the lookout for teachers now, and not just when you need them. Researching your school. Some people will just go where the wind takes them, with little concern for logistics, school culture and all the rest. But most people want as much information as possible. They will need some time to google you, read online reviews and get a feel for the school and surrounding area. People can spend hours and hours researching a two-week holiday, imagine how long they can spend researching a place they’re planning to set their lives up in. Reaching out to other teachers at your school. This is one of the best ways to transition a teacher into your school. Set them up with a communicative, like-minded teacher who was either in their shoes or has enough empathy to understand what moving across the world is like. The new teacher is likely going to want to ask them a truckload of questions about the school, and well, questions take time… This might sound like an awful lot of hand-holding to you. But taking the time to consider where these teachers are coming from and the time it will take for them to make a balanced and informed decision is pivotal. You don’t want them to agree in a hurry and then jilt your school at the last minute. If they’ve had time to consider and become properly informed, they’re going to be a lot happier and better prepared in the classroom. Rushing it reduces the quality of teacher at your school I was recently chatting with a school that is struggling to recruit teachers in Moscow. They’ve got a strategy in place that they assured me “always worked before.” I bet you’re wondering what that strategy is? Well so was I! Naturally, I didn’t want to jump to any conclusions or make any suggestions without getting a feel for what was really going on, maybe something about their school was broken? It couldn’t possibly be as simple as a defunct strategy, maybe their website was down, or they were cutting spending on recruitment. After a few minutes it became clear what the problems were: Their recruitment strategy was too basic. It left too many rocks unturned and far too many teachers unaware of their presence. They left recruitment too late, so ended up hiring teachers by waiting for staff in other international schools in their area to jump ship. Yup, they were recruiting their competitors’ castoffs I’m all about reduce, reuse, recycle in the broader sense - but when it comes to teachers, I’m not so sure. If they just happen to be hanging about, and you happen to be hiring, how much of a choice are they making? Isn’t it better to hire teachers who have decided wholeheartedly to work for you? Who are excited to make a home there and see what you have to offer? Will a quick hire be the best possible teacher you could imagine working at your school? Just because they happen to be in your city…is a convenient hire, the best hire? Clearly they, or the school, were unhappy - and you have to wonder if they’re going to be able to stick it out at your school. Are you hiring quitters? Your strategy is SO 2000 and late...FIX IT! ? ….as the heading implies, trends do not last forever, and you need to stay ahead of them. Just when you get comfortable with your strategy, it is likely that there will be a new innovation or development that can enhance your recruitment. Finding a recruitment partner (like Teach Away..ahem! ) is imperative when it comes to keeping your school moving forward. Think about it this way… Why do parents choose to send their brood to your school and not your competitor? If your STEM teaching staff are made up of your competitors ‘castoffs’ and not the finest educators you can source, are you really going to remain the top choice? Do you personally rush into choosing a new role the second you have let your school know your intentions to leave? Or do you research schools and roles for months in advance, carefully constructing a hit list of desired locations and target schools? I’m guessing the latter. It’s only fair that you give your future teachers the same time and consideration you expect. That means - using recruitment solutions, social media, your website, better job postings and making your school as visible and transparent as possible. Don'tlet poor timing be the enemy of your school’s excellence. In case I haven’t hammered the point home already, all of this takes time. And it’s my job to help you find that time and make sure you get the best quality teachers teaching in your classrooms. If you’re curious about how to make recruitment easier, tweaking your strategy, or just having a general chat about whatever ails your school...feel free to contact me! I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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

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