Getting A Video Tutor Session Quiz System Can Help You Learn Faster

Getting A Video Tutor Session Quiz System Can Help You Learn FasterFor those who are unfamiliar with the term, video tutor session quizzes are interactive video tutorials that require the student to navigate through a sequence of questions using the study guide. The most common quiz provided is a PTC (Practice Test, Study Guide) where the student can practice answering multiple choice questions. In addition, there are many other type of quiz systems available that have similar topics.Video Tutor Session Quiz System generally consists of a learning course, which contains information on each lesson and the quiz that accompany it. These sites usually include a tutorial, which is an online movie that walks the student through the course. The tutorial is usually accompanied by audio, written explanations, photos, and even animation.It is important to note that for a video tutor session to be successful, a student should always look at the videos themselves. The videos must always be taken with a learner's eyes. This is one of the first things you will notice about the tutorial. You should also ask yourself a few questions such as: Is this video user friendly?How long does the video tutor session take? How far into the video does the tutor cover? How does the tutor demonstrate various concepts? Who else is included in the video?Tutors are a lot different than when you saw one last semester. These new online tutors are typically paid in a variety of ways. Some are given to the user for free, while others give their users access to their library for a fee. The fee allows the tutor to display and record a variety of quizzes, sometimes including more than one type of quiz.You should also take into consideration whether the tutor you are viewing has any recommendations or tips for how to take the quiz or if they give hints for solving a particular puzzle. Most of these sites have diagrams and videos showing solutions to these types of puzzles. Most of these sites will giv e you the opportunity to try your quiz out for free before making a decision on the one you would like to purchase.It is easy to find a video tutor session quiz system that you are interested in. Be sure to use the search engines and read reviews for potential tutors and what other users have to say about the video tutors available.

How to Teach ICT

How to Teach ICT How do You Become an IT Teacher or Find IT Tutor Jobs Chapters How Can You Find Students for Computer Science Classes? What Price Should You Charge for IT Lessons? Do You Need Qualifications to Teach IT Courses? How to Prepare your IT Classes?With computer technology becoming a bigger and bigger part of our everyday lives, it’s hardly surprising that more and more jobs that make use of the computer as a productivity tool and everyone should at least learn some basic computer skills like using Microsoft Office or improving their typing.A lot of people want to learn more about computers and improve their digital literacy but don't want to take group computer classes.Are you an IT technician, programmer, student, or instructor? Would you like to give IT or computing classes?Whether it’s to earn a little extra money each month or as your main job, deciding to teach computer basics or advanced computer training can leave you asking yourself a lot of fundamental questions about teaching.To help you in this endeavour, here are some of the things you should keep in mind when starting out on private IT tutor jobs and teaching computer courses.If you want to teach computer tutorials, the first thing you need to do is start searching for students. You’ll need to let people know that you’re a private tutor and start networking.There’s a lot of demand for tutors since IT tools are everywhere nowadays and children in the UK learn to use computer hardware as part of the national curriculum. Make sure your computer skills are up to the challenge.You’ll quickly find your first students. From students to seniors and amateurs to professionals, there are plenty of people who want to learn how to use computers and, since computers are constantly evolving, there’s constantly demand.Where should you start when looking for students? (pixabay.com)To find your first students, there are a few options for you:Word of mouth: this is an easy solution that’s often very effective. Speak to your friends, family, and work colleague s. They can give your details to people in their network and tell them that you’re giving private IT tutorials. Later on, your own students will recommend you to their friends and family. It’s important to make sure that they’re happy with their tutorials and that you offer quality tutorials.Advertise in local businesses: this is another way to make people aware that you’re offering tutorials, place adverts in local businesses and on noticeboards. What are the advantages? You’ll find students who live near you or are easy to travel to. You should make clear and readable adverts with important information such as what you do and how you can be contacted.Sites dedicated to private tutorials like Superprof:  in just a few clicks, you can create your profile and let the internet know that you’re ready to teach. You'll benefit from increased visibility and you can reach a large audience of potential students. You can also choose your rates and the content of your tutorials. O n Superprof, for example, there’s no fees for contacting students.Specialist organisations for private tutorials:  you don’t have to look for your students. These organisations will ask for you when they need a tutor to give private IT tutorials. On the other hand, they often take commission on your private tutorials.Make your own website: Is making websites also what you teach? You could create a site dedicated to your work as a private tutor on WordPress. Either a web page or a blog could help you attract potential customers.As you can see, there are plenty of different ways to find new students.Don’t forget that you can choose more than one method at the same time to increase your chances of finding students. What Price Should You Charge for IT Lessons?The second thing you need to do when starting as a private IT tutor is work out your rates.This is an important criterion when students choose a tutor. However, it’s certainly not the only one. When they start looking for a tutor, they’ll compare several different tutors before they end up making their choice. When there are several identical offerings, they’ll often use the price to determine which one they’ll choose.Before you decide upon your rates, you should look at your competition to see what the going rates for private IT tutorials are for those with your experience and in your area. A good price doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s low. You want to look credible to your future students.So what are the criteria that you should consider when setting the rates for your private IT tutorials?The type of tutorials: beginners classes, browsing the internet, studying for exams, programming languages, app development, cyber security, or office IT skills like creating an Excel spreadsheet or making Microsoft Powerpoint presentations, etc. The type of classes you’re offering will determine your rates as they don’t all require the same amount of experience or preparation.The competition: as w e said before, you need to be competitive. You should look at the other tutors your customers will look at when choosing you and make sure that your rates are competitive.Place: maybe you’re going to give an introduction to computers over the internet or help those new to desktop computers a face-to-face tutorial. It's important to make sure that your rates are reflective of the cost of living and comparable to the rates of other tutors in the area.The students: you can’t ask for the same rates from a senior citizen learning how to use a computer as you would for someone learning complex programming languages.Your CV: your rates will vary depending on your qualifications and your experience in the field. The more qualified and experienced you are, the more you can ask for. You wouldn't pay the same for self-taught tutor teaching you how to use your computer as you would an IT technician with all the relevant qualifications and years of experience.Before you fix the rates for you r tutorials, have a look around and do a bit of research on sites like Superprof. You’ll quickly see what the average rates are and you’ll be able to find a fair rate for your tutorials.You should also keep in mind your expenses when providing private tutorials (materials, travel, etc.). Remember that in order to make sure your tutorials last, your rates need to be profitable as well as affordable for your customers. Do You Need Qualifications to Teach IT Courses?You don’t need a formal qualification to give private IT tutorials. At least not legally speaking.  However, not having a certification will make it harder to prove to potential customers that you have the skills you say you do when you first introduce yourself.Everyone nowadays needs to know how to use computers. (pixabay.com)Of course, tutorials on computer basics require fewer qualifications than advanced computer training and you probably won't even need a degree in IT to teach certain basic skills and computer li teracy to beginners.  Professional experience can help, though. You need to reassure your future students that you’re capable of teaching a personal computer class effectively. Don’t forget that your professional experience can affect how much you can charge for tutorials, too. It’s therefore important that if you want to teach private IT tutorials as your main job, you should probably have official proof that you can do just that:This doesn’t mean that you need to do a degree. There are other qualifications available.You should consider teaching qualifications, too. It’s pretty pointless having plenty of experience in IT but not the skills to transfer all this knowledge. A good tutor needs to be a good educator. There are private tutorials available in teacher training if you need to improve your teaching skills.Etc.If you don’t have a qualification, there’s nothing stopping you getting a job as a tutor. There are training centres and academic support organisations th at hire a wide range of different employees. You’ll have to prove yourself, but if you have the experience, it’s definitely a route you should consider going down. You could even open your own training centre.  Of course, before you do anything, you should make sure you do your research. How to Prepare your IT Classes?Before you give your first private tutorials, you’ll need to prepare them.  Not only do you need to have a good understanding of your student’s level, their expectations, and their needs, but you also need to make sure that they have the equipment required.It’s important that your students get the most out of every hour they spend with you.Before giving IT tutorials, it's important to check your students have the essential equipment. (Source: negativespace.co)Here is what you need to think about when preparing your IT tutorials:The IT materials: a computer as well as specific programmes related to the tutorials you’re teaching (spreadsheets, word processing , database management, etc.) You should offer to help your students install the programmes they’ll need.The content of the tutorials: organise your tutorials so that they focus on a given point and consolidate it before moving on to other topics.The resources needed: make sure you prepare resources that will help your student remember what you’re teaching them so that you won’t have to go back over it during their next lesson.Practical exercises: in IT, it’s very easy to learn by doing. This is the best way to learn, in fact. Prepare exercises that will have your student putting what they learn into practice.When you prepare your private tutorials, you should also look for teaching resources that you can download. You can integrate these into your tutorials so that your student gets the most out of their lessons. Preparing lessons takes a lot of time in comparison to group lessons but that’s why students pick private tutorials, because they’re tailored to them.If you wan t to give private tutorials online over Skype, for example, you should also invest in a quality dedicated webcam and microphone. The webcam built into your laptop probably won't cut it.Online tutorials over webcam are a useful solution for those who can’t travel very far or who’d like to reach students across a wider area.By following this advice, you’ll quickly become a trusted and quality private tutor: you just need to choose the types of courses you want to provide and find your first students. You should consider offering free computer instruction for the first hour so that you and the learner can get to know each other.

Ask a Law School Admissions Expert Derek Meeker

Ask a Law School Admissions Expert Derek Meeker Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Derek Meeker is the Founder and President of Dean Meeker Consulting, a law school admissions consulting company. Derek previously held the role ofDean of Admissions and Financial Aid for the University of PennsylvaniaLaw School. He has also served as theRecruiting Manager for the global law firm, Paul Hastings, and as an admissions reader for The University of ChicagoLaw School. VT: How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and complete a Law School application? Derek: The amount of time it takes to adequately prepare for and complete a law school application is anywhere from six to ten months. Applicants must give themselves several months to study for the LSAT, and preparing for and taking the exam should (ideally) be done before the application season opens (i.e. prior to the fall). That way, applicants can focus solely on the other components of the application during the late summer and fall months, as they likely will also be juggling school and/or work obligations. Applicants also need to arrange for letters of recommendation, and they should give their references at least two to three months advance notice. Professors will be much busier in the fall and may be difficult to reach during the summer, so, again, planning several months in advance and well before the admissions season opens is ideal. Finally, the personal statement is a crucial component of the admissions process, and most applicants find writing a personal statement to b e extremely challenging; thus, allowing a couple of months to brainstorm topics, write several drafts, get feedback, and tailor the essay for various schools is essential. There are several other administrative steps (e.g., requesting and submitting transcripts) and written components (application forms, resume, and possibly supplemental essays or addenda) that will also add to the timeline. VT: What is the single most important thing applicants should focus on with this application? Derek: Aside from LSAT preparation, the single most important thing applicants should focus on is superior writing in all components of the application (i.e. the application form, personal statement, supplemental essays, resume, and any addenda). Writing is the single most important skill for success in law school and for success as a lawyer; everything you submit as part of your application will be a measure of your ability to write effectivelyi.e. in a way that is descriptive, informative, and compelling, yet also cohesive, concise, and genuine (and, of course, grammatically impeccable!). VT: What are the biggest mistakes one can make on a Law School application? Derek: Aside from the obvious mistakesgrammatical errors, typos, failing to follow instructions, or failing to respond to required questionsone of the biggest mistakes one can make is writing the personal statement as a mini biography, or taking the admissions committee on a resume tour, as I like to call it. I always advise applicants to complete the resume before writing their essays. (And note, a two-page resume for the application is perfectly acceptable, unless the instructions specifically state otherwise.) Writing a detailed resume will paint a broad picture of your academic, work, community, and extra-curricular experiences; use the personal statement and supplemental essays to delve more deeply into specific experiences or to present valuable information that may not be apparent from other parts of the application. Another big mistake that applicants make is submitting the same exact personal statem ent to every school to which he or she is applying. Simply changing the name of the school in every essay (or worse, forgetting to change the name of the school!) is not advisable, particularly for highly selective or reach schools. What often separates similarly competitive applicants from one another is the extra effort or personal touch that one puts into his or her application. Show through your essays the unique perspective you would bring and contribution you would make to that particular law school. Show that you have done your research on the school by discussing why it is a good fit for you personally, academically, and professionally given your values, interests, and career goals. (Note, some schools provide this opportunity through optional supplemental essays; do the supplemental essays.) Putting in that additional effort will make your application stand out because it will convey that you are genuinely interested in the school, focused and goal-oriented, and, thus, more prepared for law school and legal practice. VT: What do Law School admissions officers look for most in an applicants essays/personal statements? Derek: My advice for the personal statement is: be who you are and share who you are. As the Dean of Admissions for Penn Law School, I always asked when reading applications, What voice will this person bring to the classroom? How will he or she contribute to the law school community and to the legal profession? Two of the most common questions I hear from applicants are: But theres nothing unique about me; I grew up in a middle-class suburb, went to fine schools, didnt have to overcome significant challenges, etc. What could I write about that would be interesting? Or, at the other end of the spectrum, But dont a lot of people write about their challenges as a first-generation American (or being raised by a single-parent, or spending time abroad to study or work)? The personal statement is about youyour experiences, your achievements, your challenges, your goals. It matters less what the topic is (e.g., whether it is common) and more how you write about it. What did a particular exp erience or challenge mean to you? How did it affect, influence, inspire, or teach you? What decisions have you made or what actions have you taken as a result? How will you affect, influence, inspire, or teach others as a result? It is a personal statement, so make it personaltake the reader into your experiences through clear, vivid, and descriptive prose. As long as you write about something that is meaningful to you, about which you genuinely feel passionate, and that has somehow shaped you or defined your goals, it will be compelling. VT: Is there anything on a students application that would automatically disqualify them from being considered for the program? Derek: Providing information that is dishonest or failing to write an addendum that adequately explains a criminal record or academic misconduct could lead to automatic disqualification. VT: What about the Law School admissions process differs the most from undergraduate admissions? Derek: Because you will be applying for a professional degree, it is important for the law school admissions committee to understand why you are interested in attending law school and what your career goals are (at least, generally). In this regard, the information you submit needs to be more specific. Law schools expect their applicants to be more mature and focused, to have a deeper awareness of themselves, and a broader awareness of the world in which they live. Also, very few law schools offer the opportunity to interview, something that is much more common in the college admissions process. VT: What kinds of things (experience, grades, etc.) might a student lack that would lead you to advise them not to apply? Derek: Maturity, focus, and a keen understanding of what law school entails and what it will cost them, as well as an understanding of what lawyers do and earn. Law school is expensive and the current legal market is extremely competitive. It is absolutely imperative that students understand what career opportunities are likely to be available to them from the schools at which they will be competitive (i.e. what the return on investment will be). Also, having spent the last four years as the Recruiting Manager for a large law firm, I highly encourage students to get some full-time work experience before enrolling in law school. While it is not required, substantive work experience will make them more compelling as candidates for attorney positions and more prepared for the rigorous work ahead of them. VT: Is there anything you might see on a students application that would quickly put them ahead in the running? Derek: The admissions committees goal is to put together a class of students that will engage, challenge, and teach one another through their diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Thus, anything that is distinct or unusual relative to the overall applicant pool (e.g. a particular course of study, job, or accomplishment, geographic background, cultural upbringing, a personal hardship or significant challenge, etc.) will immediately stand out. One of my favorite stories from my time at Penn is when I called an applicant to tell him that he had been admitted. Apparently in shock, he replied, Why did you admit me? And I said, Because you grew up working on a ranch in Montana. Now, I distinctly remember that that applicant did not have as high a numeric profile as the majority of applicants admitted to Penn. But what put him ahead of the running is that he brought a perspectiveone that he effectively articulated in his applicationthat was not represented in the student body. VT: What advice do you have regarding LSAT test prep? Derek: How much time it takes to sufficiently prepare for the LSAT varies greatly from applicant to applicant. What is important to note is that you will not know how much time you need to adequately prepare until you start taking practice exams. You also may not know what the most effective method of preparation will be for you until you are in it. Some applicants will find that studying on their own by using resources that are available through LSAC is sufficient; others may feel a classroom environment would be more effective and will want to take a prep course. Still others may learn best by working one-on-one with an LSAT tutor. The cost of each of these methods also varies greatly. Thus, my advice is to begin preparing and taking practice exams many months before you plan to take the LSAT so that you have adequate time to determine the method of preparation that works best for you, and to save additional money or make scheduling adjustments, if necessary. VT: What do law school admissions officers look for in recommendation letters? Derek: Admissions officers expect the letter writers to know the applicant extremely well from an academic setting, employment setting, or, perhaps, through substantive community service or extra-curricular activities. The letters should include specific and detailed examples that illustrate the applicant has the skills or characteristics that are necessary for success in law school (and as a lawyer), such as outstanding writing, oral communication, advocacy, analytical, and critical reading and reasoning skills, discipline, perseverance, confidence, maturity, focus, adaptability, judgment, and attention to detail. A diverse portfolio of letters (i.e. letters that provide unique perspectives on the applicant) is ideal. Visit Dean Meeker Consulting for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Coordinate Plane

The Coordinate Plane A two dimensional coordinate plane is a surface on which there are two axis perpendicular to each other, the horizontal axis known as the X-axis and the vertical axis known as the Y-axis. On the basis of these two axis, points are plotted on the coordinate plane. The point of intersection of the X-axis and the Y-axis is known as the origin and the point of origin is (0, 0). The coordinate axis divides the coordinate plane into 4 quadrants known as the first, second, third and the fourth quadrants. Example 1: Given 2 points, (1, 2), (-2, 4). On the coordinate plane, in which quadrants do the points lie? The coordinate plane is divided into 4 quadrants as shown above. The point (1, 2) - x = 1 and y= 2. Since both x and y are positive numbers, the point lies in Quadrant I. The point (-2, 4)-x= -2 and y= 4. Since x is negative but y is positive, the point lies in Quadrant II. Example 2: Given the points, (-3, -1), (5, -6) and (-4, 5). On the coordinate plane, in which quadrants do the points lie? The point (-3, -1)-x= -3 and y= -1. Here both x and y are negative, hence the point lies in Quadrant III. The point (5, -6)-x= 5 and y= -6. Here x is positive and y is negative, hence the point lies in Quadrant IV. The point (-4, 5)-x = -4 and y= 5. Since x is negative but y is positive, the point lies in Quadrant II.

How the Violin is Played in Asia

How the Violin is Played in Asia Asian Violin Practices ChaptersString Instruments in AsiaThe Violin Around AsiaEstablishments for Learning the ViolinThe Greatest Asian Violinists“We are well aware that the future of classical music is in Asia” - Didier Schnorhk, President of the World Federation of International Music Competitions.Playing the violin (or fiddle) is wildly popular in Asia. Asians represent 47% of entrants and 35% of winners in violin competitions such as the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists.Of course, the violin and other string instruments like the cello and viola aren’t thought of in exactly the same way across the whole continent. In this article, we're going to have a   look at the ancient practices, how the violin differs from region to region, and how people learn to play the violin in Asia. TomViolin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StacyViolin Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtieViolin Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover al l our tutors BenedictViolin Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaisiiaViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AmyViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuísViolin Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoViolin Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsString Instruments in AsiaThe violin follows a long tradition of string instruments in Asia. While the violin first appeared in Cremona, Italy, in the 15th century, there was already a long history of bowed stringed instruments by other names on the Asian continent.Asia has its own instruments and culture, too. (Source: NeuPaddy)In a lot of countries, there are instruments similar to the violin being played:In China, the erhu is common. It has an open sound box which is often covered with snakeskin. The soundboard is a wooden plank and the strings are made of hairs which are vibrated with a bow.In India, they play the vînâ, a musical instrument that’s very common in traditional Indian music.In the Middle East, the vielle is commonly played, though it's slightly different in each country.In Japan, they play the kokyu is popular. This is like a vielle and a blend of a traditional Western violin and the Chinese erhu and is Japan’s only bowed instrument.It should be noted there have been many a disagreement between luthiers. While Europeans traditionally made the best luthiers, with big names such as Antonio Stradivari and the Guarneri and Amati families, there’s a lot of competition coming from China. Pinggu, a city near Beijing, is home to many luthiers selling violins sold outside of the country. 70% of Geng Guosheng’s sales are to countries other than China.Stradivarius isn’t the only brand of violin you should be thinking about. It's all down to what a musician prefers, after all. Additionally, if you can't play the violin, any violin will sound terrible.An Asian soloi st won’t have the same training and understanding of music as a European soloist. For example, an Asian violinist may not have grown up listening to Paganini, Bach, Mozart, etc. so their musical reference points and their teachers won’t be the same. The same is true for the sound. The violin is different all over Asia.The Violin Around AsiaAsia includes many different countries: 47 in total and the majority of Russia. This means you can’t generalise when talking about the violin.Each country in Asia has its own way of playing the violin. (Source: Free-Photos)The Violin in Southeast AsiaThere are musical influences from the following countries:IndonesiaMalaysiaThe PhilippinesSince these countries were colonised by European empires, you see the violin pop up again and again. The inhabitants of these countries are more familiar with the biola, a local variation of the violin brought by the Portuguese and the Spanish, than chamber music and symphonic orchestras.The Violin in the M iddle-EastThe violin is quite famous in the region where the violin is a part of most countries’ traditional music. We’re talking mainly about the following countries:IranIraqTurkeyIsraelJust like in North Africa, you can find Gyspy music influences. The violin, as well as the kamancheh, djoza, kemençe, and the folk violle, is played on your legs or knees without a shoulder rest or chinrest.The violin is very common in classic Turkish music as well as contemporary popular music. The violin is regularly practised and is taught in music schools just like it is in Europe and it's quite easy to see a symphony orchestra or hear a violin concerto.Passion for the Violin in China, Korea, and JapanWhile the Chinese empire seems to have used traditional bowed instruments from as early as the 8th century, Japan and Korea would take longer to adopt them. This grew from competing musically with Europe and other continents.Learning the violin and modern music training requires discipline and work, two things that are considered very important in this part of the world. As Didier Schnorhk said in South Korea, “There has been a willingness to invest in general education and culture, in particular. Incredible music schools have opened, they’ve welcomed the best teachers from abroad, and created structures which help spread culture.”These plans seem to have had a positive effect.So where can you learn to play the violin in Asia? Where can students become famous violinists?Establishments for Learning the ViolinIn order to learn the violin, you need exceptional training, music theory lessons, and a lot of practice. The main places to get all this are conservatoires and universities.Students go there to learn how to become violinists and will get training on different types of violins and can train regularly with string quartets and orchestras.A lot of Asians come to Europe to learn more about the violin. (Source: 4997826)The best way in Asia to become a violinist is to attend higher education establishments such as conservatoires, specialised music schools, and universities. You’ll be able to improve your playing abroad as well as get the opportunity to enter international competitions if you’re good enough.The most reputable establishments across Asia for learning to play the violin are:The Korean National School of Music in South KoreaThe Delhi School of Music in IndiaThe Khoshnahad Peiman Conservatoire in IranThe Bechmann-Mehta School of Music in IsraelThe Aichi Music School in JapanThe Kuala Lumpur International College of Music in MalaysiaThe Taiwan Normal University College of Music in TaiwanThe Istanbul Mimar Sinan Conservatoire in TurkeyThe Conservatoire of Hanoi in VietnamDid you know that 23% of violinists trained in Europe are of Asian origin?Each year, Asian violinists attend European institutions in order to complete their violin training. This allows them to get a similar musical training to the greats like Beethoven, Brahms, St ravinsky, and Profokiev.The Greatest Asian ViolinistsNot all violinists are created equal. Playing in a philharmonic orchestra or a national orchestra will definitely increase your chances of being one of the greats. That said, there’s still a huge number of Asian violinists winning international violin competitions.There are tonnes of famous Asian violinists. (Source: 6335159)Looking for a good performer?Here are some of the greatest Asian violinists:Ray Chen. A violinist from Taiwan has perfectly mastered modern violin techniques.Kyung Wha Chung. A famous violinist from South Korea.Vanessa-Mae. A classical Chinese-Thai violinist who became famous from a young age.Nedim Nalbantoglu. A violin prodigy from Turkey.Lakshminarayana Subramaniam. An Indian advocate of multicultural violin playing.Kayhan Kalhor. The Iranian king of the violin.How long does it take to become a great violinist?The average age of violinists, not including child prodigies, is 33. Of course, that doesn't mean that you can't learn to play the violin if you're over this age.When we consider conductors, too, there’s also:Jing Huan. A young woman from Beijing.Myung-Whun Chung. A holder of the prestigious Kumkuan award whose both a pianist and violinist.Despite the historical, social, and cultural differences, violin playing in Asia shares a lot of similarities with Europe. Additionally, the traditions of both continents are available to everyone.After all, music is international, isn’t it?Would you like to learn how to play the violin, become a violin virtuoso or composer, and see these great violinists live?If you can't make it all the way to Asia, don't forget there are private tutors available in the UK such as the tutors on Superprof. Since you're a tutor's only student (in that class), they can tailor all the lesson to you.Additionally, a large portion of the tutors on Superprof offer the first hour of tuition for free. This is a great opportunity to talk to them about how they tea ch, what they can teach you, and just to see if you get along. Whether you want to learn the violin for fun, get into a prestigious music school (in Asia or elsewhere), or become a professional violinist, you can find a tutor to help you work towards your goals.For those who live rurally or have a work schedule that doesn't allow them to get regular violin lessons, there are always online private tutorials via webcam. These are often cheaper than face-to-face tutorials as the tutor doesn't have to cover the cost of travelling in their rates.Violin is played creatively around the world, read more regarding how the violin is played in Africa or how violinists  play in America  and the influence of the violin in Europe.

A Dag in A Waka A Travel English Guide for New Zealand

A Dag in A Waka A Travel English Guide for New Zealand New Zealand is famous for its extreme sports, indigenous people called maori and All Blacks rugby team with their pre-game war dance called the haka. However, New Zealand is also known for its particular way of speaking English which has influences from nearby Australia, Britain (its former colonizer) and also local Maori vocabulary.Don’t feel overwhelmed. These different elements make the English spoken in New Zealand a just a little different rather than complicated.Here is a short travel English vocabulary guide to help you out:Food and drinkBreakfast might be referred to as brekkie.A cooler to keep food cold is called a chilly bin.A gathering with friends or family with food might be called a bun fight.A soft drink is called fizzy.A sandwich is called a sarnie.If you are invited to a social event where you have to bring your own food, you will be told to bring your own plate.ClothesA sweater is called a jersey.Beach sandals or flip-flops are called jandals.A raincoat is called an oilskin.A swimsuit is called togs.SocialA friendly conversation between friends is called a yack.A person who is slightly weird or eccentric or a comedian might be called a dag.If someone is happy, they are said to be chuffed.If someone is tired they are fagged out.If someone wants you to leave them alone, they might say naff off!If you are lying you are said to be spinning.RandomYou will hear native New Zealanders referred to as kiwis (after an indigenous bird of the same name).People from New Zealand’s south island are called mainlanders.If something is great it is said to be a beaut (i.e. short for beauty). It might also be said to be flash.If life is going well, everything is said to be hunky dory.You might hear a convenience store called a dairy.A child is referred to as a sprog.Somebody who thinks they’re great and loves to show off is called a skiter.Portable telephones are called cellphones.A holiday home (generally a small one) is called a crib.To steal is called to flog.An apartment is called a flat.To vomit is said to chunder.A university student could be called a scarfie.Any kind of vehicle might be called a waka.A we learn vocabulary for New Zealand, let’s listen to two of New Zealand’s most famous musical exports, The Finn Brothers (from the band Crowded House) with their solo project Won’t Give In.Did you find this lesson helpful? Feel free to share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

Follow 3 Principles To Improve Your GMAT Score

Follow 3 Principles To Improve Your GMAT Score GMAT MBA Admissions Blog Improving your academic performance, and really any type of performance (i.e., athletic, musical, professional, personal â€" you name it), is a function of following three important principles: Fuel your mind and body habitually Employ strategies methodically Practice the right skills deliberately My belief in these rules is based on my personal academic and professional experiences, my observations and discussions with MyGuru’s students and GMAT tutors, and from methodical research and review of books, articles, presentations, and podcasts on topics related to each of the rules. First, let’s introduce the rules in general (this post), and then discuss how to apply them specifically to improving your GMAT score (our next post). We’ll try to keep things short and simple in these blog posts, while fully covering the main ideas. Rule # 1: Fuel your mind and body habitually Adopt a “growth” mindset There is tons of research that shows your mindset can have a huge impact on how you perform in school, in sports, in music and the arts, and in anything else. People tend towards, in various aspects of their lives, two mindsets: fixed or growth. With a fixed mindset, you believe intellect, abilities, talents, and skills are very much “given” at birth. You have it, or you don’t. Mistakes are seen as evidence that you “don’t have it.” You can read more about how mindset influences success atmindsetonline.com. As a result, you avoid activities that you aren’t good at, and in which you are likely to make mistakes or perform poorly. For example, you may think you aren’t very good at standardized tests, and as a result you might be dreading the GMAT. With a growth mindset, you believe that ability, talent, skill, and intellect are things you can improve over time with practice, feedback, and guidance. Mistakes are viewed as opportunities to improve and learn, and you embrace the struggle. As a result, you tend to learn more, improve faster, and build skills in new areas. Believe in the link between nutrition, exercise, sleep, and performance All else equal, the person who eats better, exercises more, and gets more and better rest, will: Have higher cognitive function Perform better in athletics Get along better with others There are lots of studies and research on these topics, but they often seem so obvious that they are assuming to be minor or important. But, they really aren’t minor. For more information onhow cognitive function can be positively impacted by exercise, proper nutrition, and sleep, visit mindfull.spc.org. Adopting the growth mindset and improving your nutrition, exercise, and sleep are changes best made by building new habits slowly over time, to ensure they stick. Rule # 2: Employ a strategy methodically In one of the most popular blog articles of all time on Harvard Business Review’s web-site, Heidi Grant Halvorson, a PhD from the Columbia Business School, wrote about the nine things that successful people do differently. In that article, she writes that “decades of research on achievement suggests that successful people reach their goals not simply because of who they are, but more often because of what they do.” But, in an accompanying podcast episode where she talks about this blog post, she describes this a little differently. Instead, she says, quite simply, successful people use strategies to reach their goals. Indeed, in my former life as a business strategy consultant we often defined strategy as a clear explanation or description of what you will and will not do to achieve a goal of increasing the market value of a company. When developing business strategy, that meant making decisions about products and services to offer (or not), capabilities to build (or not), assets to buy (or not), etc. The outcome was a prioritized list of decisions and actions covering where and how the company was going to complete in the marketplace. The process of developing a strategy tends to involve: Setting a goal Gathering all of the information required to understand how to meet that goal Prioritizing a list of issues that will have the greatest impact on your ability to meet your goal Developing alternative courses of action (i.e., different paths you could take) Evaluating those alternatives using whatever criteria are relevant Choose the best alternative (or designing one that integrates the best of several) Developing a detailed plan of action to execute that alternative Rule # 3: Build the right skills deliberately As was mentioned in rule #1 and #2, contrary to popular belief, success comes from doing specific things differently, not from being intrinsically smarter or more talented. It turns out that even in highly intellectual fields, like mathematics, people viewed as geniuses have, in fact, spent hundreds or thousands more hours than anyone else in their field practicing their craft with an intense, focused, and mistake-embracing way. They have built their skills methodically and deliberately over time. In fact, Einstein once said, “it’s not that I’m so smart, I just stay with the problems longer.” To be clear, simply working hard or working for a long time is actually not enough. The research shows that skills are built by practicing in what is called a “deliberate” fashion, where you break skills down into component parts, practice with intense focus, get feedback, and learn immediately from mistakes to build good habits. This is the way to build skill in all areas of life: mathematics, reading comprehension, music, basketball, etc. More on deliberate practice and how it builds skills can be found on the Talent Code Blog. In in our next post, we’ll apply these three rules to improving your GMAT score specifically. Also, please visit our GMAT tutoring page to learn more about how MyGuru can help you achieve your best score possible.

2016 Presidential Candidates Whos Who Republican Edition

2016 Presidential Candidates Who's Who Republican Edition Photo Credit: DonkeyHotey 1. Jeb Bush. Former governor of Florida (1999-2007). *Stance on LGBT Rights: now believes people should show respect for gay people in committed relationships. *Stance on Abortion: thinks abortions should only be legal in cases of rape, incest, or if mothers life is in danger. *Stance on Gun Control: favors right to bear arms. 2. Ben Carson. Retired Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon who is known for being the first surgeon to successfully separate conjoined twins who were connected at the head. In his closing remarks at the first GOP debate, he  delivered this great zinger: Im the only one to separate Siamese twins, the only one to operate on babies while they are still in their mothers womb and the only one to take out half of a brain, although you would think if you go to Washington that someone had beat me to it. *Stance on LGBT Rights:  believes marriage should be between man and woman. *Stance on Abortion: no abortion for convenience. *Stance on Gun Control: strongly in favor of 2nd Amendment. 3. Chris Christie. Governor of New Jersey (2010-present). *Stance on LGBT Rights: believes marriage should be exclusively between man and woman. *Stance on Abortion: pro-life. *Stance on Gun Control: focus on violence control, mental health not gun control. 4. Ted Cruz. US Senator from Texas (2013-present). *Stance on LGBT Rights:  believes marriage is between man and woman but thinks legality of same-sex marriage should be left to each state to decide. *Stance on Abortion: pro-life unless pregnancy endangers mothers life. *Stance on Gun Control: supporter of gun rights. 5. Carly Fiorina. Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard (1999-2005). *Stance on LGBT Rights: supports Supreme Court ruling but personally believes marriage is between man and woman. *Stance on Abortion:  pro-life except for cases of rape, incest, or if mothers life is in danger. *Stance on Gun Control: opposes restrictions on the right to bear arms. 6. Jim Gilmore. Former Governor of Virginia (1998-2002). *Stance on LGBT Rights: opposes gay marriage. *Stance on Abortion: right to abortion in first 8-12 weeks of pregnancy. *Stance on Gun Control: supports 2nd Amendment rights. 7. Lindsey Graham. US Senator from South Carolina (2003-present). *Stance on LGBT Rights: marriage should be defined by states. *Stance on Abortion: pro-life. *Stance on Gun Control: thinks current gun laws are broken. Photo Credit: Getty Images   8. Mike Huckabee. Former Governor of Arkansas (1996-2007). *Stance on LGBT Rights: opposes same-sex marriage and civil unions. *Stance on Abortion: pro-life unless pregnancy endangers mothers life. *Stance on Gun Control: anti-gun control. 9. Bobby Jindal. Governor of Louisiana (2008-present). *Stance on LGBT Rights: opposed legalization of same-sex marriage. *Stance on Abortion: pro-life. *Stance on Gun Control: supports 2nd Amendment rights. 10. John Kasich. Governor of Ohio (2011-present). *Stance on LGBT Rights: accepts gay marriage  even though its counter to his beliefs. *Stance on Abortion: anti-abortion. *Stance on Gun Control: opposes restrictions on 2nd Amendment. 11. George Pataki. Former Governor of New York (1995-2006). *Stance on LGBT Rights: opposes same-sex marriage, supports gay and lesbian rights. *Stance on Abortion: pro-choice. *Stance on Gun Control: pro-gun control. 12. Rand Paul. US Senator from Kentucky (2011-present). *Stance on LGBT Rights: opposes but thinks states should get to decide. *Stance on Abortion: pro-life. *Stance on Gun Control: opposes any form of gun control. 13. Rick Perry. Former Governor of Texas (2000-2015). *Stance on LGBT Rights: believes in traditional marriage. *Stance on Abortion:  pro-life except for cases of rape, incest, or if mothers life is in danger. *Stance on Gun Control:  opposes restrictions on 2nd Amendment. 14. Marco Rubio. US Senator from Florida (2011-present). *Stance on LGBT Rights:  pro-traditional marriage. *Stance on Abortion: pro-life. *Stance on Gun Control: supports 2nd Amendment. 15. Rick Santorum. Former US Senator from Pennsylvania (1995-2007). *Stance on LGBT Rights: opposes same-sex marriage legality. *Stance on Abortion: anti-abortion. *Stance on Gun Control: opposed to gun control. 16. Donald Trump. Former host of The Apprentice, real estate tycoon, author, and TV personality/celebrity. He is why you should be following news on the 2016 election because you never know what completely ridiculous thing will come out of his mouth (or hair). *Stance on LGBT Rights: doesnt support same-sex marriage. *Stance on Abortion: pro-life. *Stance on Gun Control: supports 2nd Amendment rights. 17. Scott Walker. Governor of Wisconsin (2011-present). *Stance on LGBT Rights: believe marriage is between man and woman, thinks Supreme Court ruling was a mistake. *Stance on Abortion: pro-life. *Stance on Gun Control: opposes restrictions on 2nd Amendment. There you have it a whos who of the 17 Republican presidential candidates currently campaigning. With more than 20 presidential candidates running overall, the 2016 election is starting to look like an overcrowded dinner party  and theres still time left for others to announce their candidacy and pull a chair up to the table.

10 Career Options for People Who Want to Make a Difference

10 Career Options for People Who Want to Make a Difference Image via pexels.com Career options for bettering kids’ futures: 1.  Education Pursuing a career in education is sometimes overlooked when people think of ways to make a difference in the world. The truth is,  teaching is one of the most important paths to creating change. You will educate the young minds who are responsible for the future. Change will come from what you teach your studentsâ€"on top of basic school subjects, teach them to be leaders. You can motivate your students to want to make a difference themselves. It may not seem like you’re making a difference directly, but the changes will start with you. A career in education  doesn’t have to mean teaching in a classroom  if you don’t think it’s right for you. For example, you can assist students with learning disabilities. Living with a learning disability is likely not easy for themâ€"give the students a safe space. Help them learn in a way that works for them but be a friend to them as well. If you can empower even just one student, you will make a difference. 2. Social work As a social worker, you can  directly change the lives of children in need  as well as advocate for substance abusers, domestic violence survivors, mental health patients, and more. You will provide clients with the necessary resources to succeed and counsel them through trauma, unemployment, obstacles to education, addiction, and poverty. Many social workers are associated with governmental agencies, but there are also jobs in schools, nonprofit organizations, and hospitals. If you choose to specialize in working with children, you might be responsible for easing the transition between foster homes or protecting them from abusive households. In addition, you will work with the parents or guardians to improve the family’s life as a whole. Social work doesn’t always mean helping unstable households, though. According to Social Work Licensure, “they respond to crises in the classroom and assess and counsel school children who are experiencing stress, acting out, and/or being targeted by bullies.” In these cases, you might lead prevention groups or conduct training sessions about prevention. 3.  Child psychology If you’re drawn in by the counseling aspect of social work, then studying child psychology may lead to other career options for you. Psychologists can provide support for children with mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, and give them a place to be open about their feelings. You may wish to become a school psychologist and guide children (and their parents) through education while coping with mental illness or trauma. As a psychologist, therapist, or counselor, you will help your patients find the source of trauma or stress and discover ways of reducing or eliminating the issue. You may even conduct your own research on new treatment methods. Learn the differences between psychologists, counselors, and therapists here, and see which career is right for you. Helping patients improve their minds can inspire them to create change, too. Image via pexels.com Career options for creating a better environment: 4.    Sustainability How can you help make businesses more environmentally-friendly? Create some green differences by pursuing sustainability-based career options. For instance,  as a chief sustainability officer or director, you can work within any company that wants to put effort into helping the environment. Your job will entail monitoring the company’s environmental impacts and determining where they can make eco-friendly changes. You will also assist with budgeting for these changesâ€"they can be priceyâ€"and ensure that the company reaches its environmental goals. You also  have the option to advise multiple companies  and government agencies on their environmental impacts as an environmental engineer. In this job, your goal will be to minimalize the harm that big projects do to the environment. You might help agencies start their own recycling programs, write up new policies, or create plans to reduce water and air pollution over time. The changes won’t be immediateâ€"you might not see mass environmental improvements in your lifetime. Sustainability, after all, means to  maintain something at a certain level, but the earth needs to get to that better level first before it can be maintained. However, you can improve the world for later generations, which means you’ll be making a huge difference. 5.  Environmental science We can’t help the environment if we don’t know anything about it. To study existing environmental trends and develop new green technology, consider a career in environmental science. Again, you may work for government agencies or individual companies if you choose to be an environmental scientist. These scientists split time between the field and the office and use their knowledge of the earth and its species to develop policies that protect everyone. There are plenty of similar science jobs, too. Study water as a hydrogeologist and help maintain a safe drinking water supply for everyone. Build new solar power platforms for homes and companies to receive an alternative energy source as a solar power project developer. Become a geoscientist to study the history of the earth’s composition and discover where to find natural resources. You can even specialize in maintaining parks and forests as a conservation specialist. If the science part isn’t so much for you, you can still fight for the rights of the earth as an environmental lawyer. Defend policies meant to protect the environment and keep clients informed of issues that arise in things like air quality and hazardous waste. Image via pexels.com Career options for keeping others safe: 6.  Crime investigation Solve cases and catch criminals by pursuing a career in crime investigation. Keep in mind that it won’t always be glamorous (television might give you the wrong idea… or the right idea. Have you watched  Criminal Minds? It’s not pretty). Even though your job will be done after the crime is committed, you can prevent more similar crimes and possibly save many lives by solving one case. Sometimes, with the right leads and a gut intuition, you may be able to prevent a crime from happening in the first place. Consider being a crime scene investigator, police officer, or a detective. You can find work with federal agencies, private investigating firms, or local law enforcement. Maybe a job in criminal justice/investigation interests you, but you’re wary of putting yourself in possible danger. That fear is okay to have, and there is good newsâ€"you can solve crime from behind the scenes, as well. Computer forensic investigators  find and analyze data from crimes  committed on the computer, such as hacking or internet stalking. Someone also needs to analyze evidence in a labâ€"this is where forensic scientists do their work. Perhaps one of these career options is right for you. Your role will be vitalâ€"you provide the necessary analytic details for solving a crime. 7.  Armed forces You may also choose to enter an active duty military branch. Pilots, soldiers, and nurses might be the first careers that come to mind when you think of the military, and you may wish to pursue these options, but the field is much more diverse than that.  There are plenty of unique career options  in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard fit for people of all backgrounds with many different interests. For example, if you have experience working in auto shops or have an interest in the inner workings of cars and machinery, you should look into automobile maintenance in the Army. In this position, you will ensure that all equipment is safe to use and up to military standards. You might supervise other technicians and order or repair equipment parts. A Coast Guard Boatswain Mate must be a jack-of-all-trades at sea. You might find yourself conducting search and rescue missions, supervising maintenance, or operating ship machinery, and that is only a few tasks. There are even positions for studying languages. Army Linguists are in high demandâ€"so much that there is a $40,000 enlistment incentive, according to  Learn How to Become. You can work as a Strategic Linguist, translating documents from all over the world in an office. Or, you can work in the field as a Tactical Linguist, speaking to citizens in person and gathering information in other languages. While these positions are all very different, they all play such a crucial role in completing military tasks. There are hundreds of career possibilitiesâ€"see a full list here. 8.  Emergency personnel Emergency response teams play a vital role in saving lives, homes, and businesses before emergencies get worse. You will create change with every rescue and those involved will be ever grateful. As a firefighter, you can prevent disaster from spreading and save families from huge losses. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) play a vital role in providing care to injured patients on their way to a hospitalâ€"without this work, a life might be lost during the ambulance ride. When you take on a role as a policeman, you can keep situations from escalating or quickly take action in ones that already have escalated. Dispatchers are incredibly important components to emergency response teams. If you choose this route, it will be your job to send the right team to the right address as fast as possible and ensure that the person who called 9-1-1 is safe and calm enough to provide you with this information. These career options take a lot of training and you need to be quick on your feet, but they are some of the most rewarding ways to make a difference. Infographic created by Elise Nelson via Canva Career options for building the community: 9.  Economics All communities have their own economies built by businesses, culture, architecture, and people. The way in which a community uses their money plays a big part in how it will develop. If you choose to pursue a career in economics, you can help these communities grow through jobs like urban planning. Urban planners work with both public and private groups, such as property owners and corporations, to come up with the best uses for land that promote economic and environmentally-friendly growth. To directly help communities spend their money wisely, you can become an economist. You will assess where funds can help revitalize the community as a whole and benefit its people. A better economy is one of the most important steps in eliminating poverty. 10.  Community service   Community service is often done through volunteer work, but that doesn’t mean there are no career options embedded in it. You may be able to work your way up through the ranks within a nonprofit organization and become a leader. Someone needs to oversee the service projects, right? That person needs a good mind with the motivation to make a difference, and it could be you. In the meantime, there are several community revitalization groups to join forces with. Americorps, Peace Corps, and United We Serve are national service programs that work to fight poverty, increase academic achievement, prepare for and clean up after national disasters, and sustain national parks. Habitat For Humanity builds homes with affordable mortgages for communities in need. Similarly, Rebuilding Together repairs damaged homes with the help of volunteers to avoid expensive repair costs and revitalizes small communities. As a branch of AmeriCorps, Teach For America “is  a diverse network of leaders who confront educational inequity through teaching and work with unwavering commitment from every sector of society to create a nation free from this injustice.” They aim for each child to have an equal opportunity for growth. Mentor Foundation USA has a similar goal, offering children one-on-one support through daily challenges and guiding them to success. Family Support Services, The Family Support Center, and the Center for Family Services focus on assisting families who have fallen beneath the poverty line or experienced trauma. There are plenty more organizations where these came from. Choose one that interests you and start making a difference. For more career options, check out this blog post that ranks careers by their potential to make a difference in the world.