Where Can I Find a Sign Language Course

Where Can I Find a Sign Language Course How to Find Sign Language Courses ChaptersSign Language Classes in the UKLearn Sign Language in LondonLearn Sign Language in ManchesterLeeds Sign Language LearningSign Language in GlasgowUnlike German, French and Spanish or even Mandarin Chinese, the second languages of choice in our schools, sign language is a less obvious choice for becoming bilingual.Yes, you would be considered bilingual, with all of its advantages and benefits, if you learned sign language.Why do people learn sign language?The obvious answer is that they are deaf or hearing impaired or someone in their life is. Maybe they have a deaf child or want to work with deaf children. Or maybe they discovered the joys and benefits of a career as a sign language interpreter.Whatever reason you have for learning how to sign, we applaud you. Now, on to help you achieve your goal of learning sign language.First, you should be specific about which sign language you would like to learn. British sign language would be the clear choice; after all, you live in the UK, right?You might also be interested in French sign language; many of us like to hop the channel for a holiday in Provence or Brittany.American sign language is fairly popular; most of the online resources are for ASL, as it is called. You might focus on American signing if you have friends and family across the pond, or if you regularly communicate with deaf Americans in the course of your business.This article focuses on British sign language and where, in the UK, you can learn how to sign in that language.Our sources tell us that now is a good time to get into a sign language class. The year has just started and many of those courses are about to start, ready to tackle the basics before moving on to complex conversations.What are we waiting for? Let’s get to it! CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Disco ver all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSign Language Classes in the UKBefore we can lay out any courses, we have to make clear that, even though sign language is largely grouped into British, American, French, Mandarin… and so on for every spoken language of the world, there is no ‘one sign fits all’ in sign language.That is because signing grew out of the deaf community itself.Contrary to popular thought, it is not a language devised by hearing people so that the deaf can communicate with them. There are no universal signs save for perhaps general ones such as waving, nodding one’s head and ‘thumbs up’, indicating ‘good’.In British sign language, ‘good’ can be signed either by showing one thumb up, two thumbs up or by rotating the palms upward, similar to how a hearing person might gesture when saying ‘what?’.The word ‘hung ry’ can be signed in several different ways in BSL! Sign languages grew regionally, out of a need to communicate Image by StockSnap from PixabayEach sign is fairly homegrown and may even be region-specific. So, with few unifying factors â€" other than the consensus that that signing is a visual language and is very expressive, you might think it difficult to find class offerings at the national level.Still, there are a couple, and Signature is such an enterprise.Formerly known as the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People or CACDP, this organisation was founded in 1980 and became a registered charity in 1982 to promote the role of the deaf or hard of hearing in society.In 2009, CACDP became Signature, one of the few awarding bodies of deaf language services in the UK.They provide education and certification in the areas of:British Sign Language (Levels 1 through 6)International Sign LanguageSign language interpretingNational Vocational Qualifications or NVQ (now Regulated Qualifications Framework)Deaf Awareness and CommunicationsCommunication with deaf peoplecommunication with Deaf-blind peopleFacilitating communication with deaf people â€" lipspeaking skillsthey also provide Level 3 certification in note-takingLevel 3 certificates for Language Service Professionals in lipspeaking and note-takingSignature has training centres all over the UK; you only need to find their web page to find the location closest to you.The only other national training service we found that teaches British sign language, that offers online courses as well as other resources such as a signing dictionary and fingerspelling challenges is British Sign.We featured them in our companion article that lists resources for learning sign language.Now, let’s look at individual cities and what sign language courses they have to offer. You don't need to attend a school for the deaf to understand this sign! Image by PublicDomainPictures from PixabayLearn Sign Language in LondonAs you might suspect, our capital city hosts a wealth of classes intended to teach the deaf and anyone who wishes to learn how to communicate visually.Merton College and Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College both offer 5-week introductory courses while, in Stepney, at Sign Say, you might take a night course or an intensive-study course in sign language.In North London, in Camden, you’ll find the Frank Barnes School. It is a campus for deaf children but they also offer accredited BSL courses, including NVQ certification all the way to Level 6.Remark!, in central London, promotes their services by offering a free taster course after which you may continue your studies, ultimately earning your Level 6 certificate. As for making a career out of sign language, you may go on to take their interpreter courses…City Lit (Covent Garden) off ers the mother-lode of all BSL courses!From fingerspelling to receptive skills workshops, you can gain all of the practice and instruction you need in these intensive, one-day courses. If you are looking for something more durable, you may check out their full BSL curriculum, from Level 1 through Level 6.The only downside to City Lit’s classes is that they tend toward the pricey; you might consider free offerings if you are not sure whether pursuing full certification in signing is right for you.Manchester College and the other at the University of Manchester, the latter being open only to university students.However, The Manchester College offerings are open to the public and you needn’t have any experience with sign language to take their part-time course. It is recommended that you start with Level 1; additionally, they offer a Level 2 course to expand your knowledge of signing.If you’d rather not attend college, you might enjoy BSL classes at the Manchester Deaf Centre.Loc ated in Crawford House on Booth Street, they offer deaf awareness training as well as sign language courses up to Level 3. All of their classes are taught by a qualified BSL teacher with more than a decade of teaching experience.You'll surely pick up some tips for learning sign language there!Leeds Sign Language Learning Your second language, signing, includes a universal sign that means 'good' Image by Niek Verlaan from PixabayLoiners have nearly as many choices for learning to sign as Londoners do!You may, for example, drop in on the courses at Swarthmore College. There, you will learn about deaf culture and become deaf-aware, learn basic sign vocabulary, body language and facial expressions.As you might expect from such a friendly, inclusive city as Leeds, there is a long-standing society for deaf and blind people; they offer courses in sign language as well.Under the rather clever name they’ve adopted, CoHearentVision, you can find introductory, Level 1 and Level 2 classes in sign language, as well as other classes, including deaf-blind awareness classes and tactics for communicating with deaf and hard of hearing people.These are long-term offerings; for example, the Level 2 BSL class lasts for 25 weeks. Oh, the things you’ll learn!Deaf culture, often overlooked by the hearing, is a very pert inent aspect of learning sign language. These courses will delve deeply into the deaf experience, ensuring you will come out with a more refined, more positive attitude towards deaf people and being deaf.If you don’t have quite that much time, you might be interested in Signability’s short course offerings.You cannot learn how to sign in a day but you can gain an awareness of the challenges facing the deaf community in a hearing world, take part in their BSL Bootcamp and take a taster course in signing.You may even get an introduction to the deaf community in Leeds, where you could learn more about the advantages of knowing how to sign.As we mentioned before, there are plenty of BSL classes on offer in Leeds and throughout West Yorkshire; you only need to look a little to find the course you want.Sign Language in GlasgowLike other great cities, Glesga has more than one venue for learning how to sign.Especially if you were approaching sign language as a future career prospect, yo u would benefit from taking BSL classes at Deaf Perspective. They teach signing to levels 1, 2 and 3; also up to Level 6 NVQ.If you are only just starting to learn how to sign, you might go for classes at Glasgow Clyde College. They offer both weekend and night classes; each course is eight weeks long and, if we daresay, very reasonably priced.Naturally, once you get a bit of experience signing, you will want to join the Sign Language Society at Glasgow University. This is an informal group who gets together every so often to talk together and sharpen receptive skills.They also have BSL Level 1 classes available… or maybe you would join them when they visit with hearing dogs.There are so many great people and agencies that teach sign language in the UK!If we’ve not mentioned the resources for learning sign language in your city, please list them in the comments section; doing so will help others near you who wish that they too could sign.

The Advantages of Drumming

The Advantages of Drumming The Benefits of Playing the Drums ChaptersTeach Children Coordination by Playing the DrumsExpressing Your Emotions with the DrumsLearning the Drums to Become CalmerLearning the Drums at a Young Age to Improve ConcentrationDevelop Their Creativity by Playing DrumsImproving a Child’s Reactions with the DrumsImprove Your Relations with the DrumsPlaying the Drums Can Improve a Child’s Discipline“If music be the food of love, play on.” - William ShakespeareA good number of teenagers play a musical instrument and the guitar, keyboard, and the drums are amongst the most popular instruments.A number of studies have shown that there are a lot of benefits to playing musical instruments such as making you smarter, improving your social life, relieving stress, giving you a sense of achievement, building confidence, improving your patience, and making you more creative!There are even more benefits if children are playing them. A child’s brain is a sponge. Playing an instrument such as the drums is beneficial for their c ognitive development.  Make sure you protect their ears, though.In this article, we’re going to have a look at 8 benefits specific to children who decide to play the drums.Find some drum lessons on here.Improving a Child’s Reactions with the DrumsPlaying the drums requires you to concentrate and coordinate your arms and legs quickly. The drums give a song its energy and the drummer sets the tempo.  They need good reflexes in order to play a song in a group. They need to also lead the group in terms of rhythm, feeling, and tempo.They’ll need to throw in a cymbal crash here, open the hi-hat there, etc. When you play the drums, you need to focus on what the band’s doing as well as what you’re playing.You will need to choose the right kind of kids drum set.This is where having good reflexes will help. Just like with concentration, good reflexes will come with practice.Improve Your Relations with the DrumsIf your child wants to learn to play the drums, you’ll have the choice between private lessons or group lessons. There are pros and cons to each type of lesson.At home, your child will build a rapport with their private tutor. It’s important to, therefore, choose the right tutor. If they don’t get along, your child will quickly get bored.Everyone remembers a teacher from school that made them hate a subject. This can be even truer when it comes to private lessons.The problem with private tutorials is that the student is on their own. This can be a disadvantage when it comes to drums.  Drums are meant to be played in a band or an orchestra.  With group classes, they have the opportunity to play with other musicians like guitarists, bassists, saxophonists, pianists, etc.  The other children will have the same level as them.In any case, the group dynamic will help them to progress more quickly. They will learn together and push each other to do better.  Being part of a group is part of a child’s development as they’ll develop empathy and respect f or others.Playing the Drums Can Improve a Child’s DisciplineDrumming from a young age is a good habit for a child to pick up. Playing the drums can improve your lifestyle, tone muscles in your arms and legs, and improve your cardio fitness.Whether in a workshop or a group, there are plenty of ways for children to learn about music. (Source: musikschule)You need to be great fitness in order to play the drums for a full hour during a concert or a gig. Once again, practising will help you improve your endurance, especially if you began playing young.  You need to put a lot of work in, too. This isn’t an easy instrument to learn and you’ll need to practise almost every day if you want to really improve.  Thus, it’s a great way to improve your discipline.A child will quickly learn that you won’t learn everything after the first attempt and that you’ll need to keep practising in order to learn that tricky drum beat.In any case, whether your child learns to drum professionally or just as a hobby, there are plenty of benefits.So are you ready to get them started with the drums?If you’re looking for private tutors, check out those on Superprof. You can search for tutors by both the subject they teach and where they are. If, for some reason, you can’t find any drum tutors near you, don’t forget that there are also tutors who can teach students over webcam with video conferencing software such as Skype.Most tutors on the platform offer free tutoring for the first hour, allowing you to see whether they get along with your child or not and giving you the freedom to choose the right tutor for your little one. Take your time choosing the right tutor.

Literature Study Guides Supplements NOT Substitutes!

Literature Study Guides Supplements NOT Substitutes! Suzy S. Think you can skip the book and go straight to the literature study guides or CliffsNotes? Not so fast! Check out tutor Matthew H.s advice here Many high school and college students will use some form of literature study guides during their schooling. These can be really useful tools when implemented appropriately. Unfortunately, too many people view them as a way to avoid doing the assignment rather than as a way to understand the material better. First of all, let’s discuss the structure of most literature study guides. The general format (keep in mind that this will vary by brand) begins with a brief overview of the book’s major themes, a plot synopsis, short character descriptions, chapter breakdowns/analyses and ends with a dissection of quotes and key points. Important questions to keep your focus on the actions and impact of the literature will be included throughout the guidebook. This is clearly a great tool that presents the key concepts of the book or play in an easy to digest, accessible way. However, if you solely rely on a guide, you are going to be cheating yourself out of a fully fleshed out understanding and appreciation of the reading. Why is that? Remember that study guides essentially are condensed versions of the original writing. That makes for a great reference, especially when factoring in all of the additional background details they may provide, such as the historical perspective of when the work was written. While this type of guidebook in and of itself is particularly helpful in honing in on specific elements, it never will replace the complete experience of reading a book and drawing from your personal experiences after emotionally connecting to a character or story. This is why literature study guides should be supplements and not substitutes to reading! I know what you’re thinking: “But the whole point is so I can free up my time. If I use that on top of doing the actual reading, I’m adding more work instead of less!” It’s true that students have increasingly more homework, projects, extracurricular activities, studying for SATs, the list goes on and on. While using a literature study guide after doing the reading may seem redundant, it actually will end up saving you more time in the long run. If you opt to skip out on the reading and solely use an abridged version instead, you are not going to be able to connect to the reading in a substantial way to answer every question in class. You might feel like it’s enough to pass by, but if you are tested on the material, you may not be able to provide enough depth to earn a high mark. You even might have to retake a quiz or test to ensure a higher GPA, and that’s only if your teacher or professor allows it. Either way, it’s a big hassle. Here’s how you should go about any reading: First, use the synopsis and thematic overview portions of your study guide to know what to look for in terms of the general plot and ideas. Next, read the book! If it’s a longer play or novel, break up your readings piecemeal by chapters or scenes. As you’re reading, write down any questions you have regarding the characters, their actions, and anything else. Be sure to take notes on any obvious symbolism or something that jumps out at you. Once you’ve done that, you can use the guidebook to answer your questions and see how much of your own commentary matches theirs. If you spend some time to read the assignment, the literature study guide will clarify anything you weren’t sure about by introducing new concepts or reinforcing the ideas that you already came up with on your own. In short, literature study guides like CliffsNotes or SparkNotes are good tools in addition to but NOT instead of the reading. They can provide you with another perspective that you might not have considered before, as well as affirm what you already thought. Either way, they will help you out tremendously when applied correctly. Use one (and your brain) today! Matthew H. provides tutoring in various subjects both online and in New Milford, NJ.  He recently received his MA from NYU with a background in Sociolinguistics and related research. Learn more about Matthew 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 Kevin Dooley

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert Hamada Z.

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert Hamada Z. Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. He has offered Law School admissions advice before, but now Hamada Z. is discussing Business School. Hamada is the co-founder of Write Track Admissions, a global admissions consulting service. He has counseled hundreds and hundreds of students all over the world and is currently leading the international expansion of Write Track Admissions. Hamada received his law degree from The University of California-Berkeleyand his Masters in International Relations from The University of Cambridge. Being highly knowledgeable in all areas of admissions, Hamada has advice to offer for students going down any path see his insights on the MBA admissions process below. VT: How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and complete the application for an MBA program? Hamada: The MBA admissions process is dependent on Rounds, which create staggering deadlines throughout the admissions season. Therefore, if you plan to apply in Round One, be sure to have started the process over the summer so that you can complete the applications by the early fall. If you apply to Round Two, then you want to start the process in late summer/early fall for the December/January deadlines. Whatever Round you apply, make sure to give yourself 3 months for the entire process. One thing to note, you must have your recommenders lined up as soon as possible. I know numerous applicants who missed a particular Round because their recommenders were late in submitting letters. VT: What would you say is the single most important thing to focus on for this kind of application? Hamada: Your essays are critical! But I have to say that your Letters of Recommendation can also make or break your application. A poor or mediocre letter can completely derail your prospects of admissions, especially if you are a borderline candidate. Therefore, make sure to select your recommenders wisely. VT: What do MBA admissions officers look for most in the essay questions? Hamada: Well-thought out answers; a logical flow in your career path; maturity; and a unique set of experiences professionally and personally that can add value to the entering class should all be demonstrated in your overall application to a given program. I would also say this: one thing I personally believe business schools look for is a winner candidate. This doesn't mean someone who is or will be a millionaire or a celebrity. Rather someone who will wear their MBA alma maters colors proudly as an ambassador so that others recognize the institution and in turn tap into its resources. Of course, an MBA applicant who screams financial success, is quite appealing given that this will result in alumni donations and influence in circles that will similar donate or add value to that institution. VT: What are the biggest mistakes one can make on this application? Hamada: A badly thought out response to this B-School favorite: Why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your career, and how do you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals? If there is no method to the madness and you don't know why you are really applying, then whatever cover story you concoct it will be the kiss of death for your application. VT: What aspects of the MBA admissions process makes it most different from undergraduate admissions process? Hamada: As an MBA applicant, you really need to discuss and showcase your professional and personal experiences, as well as exhibit signs of maturity, responsibility and the desire to succeed in the future. VT: Is there anything that automatically disqualifies an applicant from being considered for an MBA program (i.e. low GPA, lack of particular work experience, etc.)? Hamada: Other than a horrific GMAT, rock-bottom GPA, or a felony record, Admissions Committees often harp on the need for experience. Why? Because they want to stack their classrooms full of students who can add professional experience value and contribute to the networking environment that is so key to an MBA program. This can only realistically take place if the class is full of students that possess a host of diverse and rich professional experiences. VT: What kind of work experiences should be highlighted in the MBA application? Hamada: Leadership, teamwork, initiative, willingness to assume responsibility for a failure and how you grew from that experience, congeniality with others by demonstrating your seamless ability to report up or down. VT: What advice do you have regarding GMAT test prep? Hamada: Practice the timing. Its all about timing. If I gave you a day to finish the GMAT, needless to say you would ace it. But lack of practice in time management will lead to panic, panic to wrong answers (for even the simplest of questions), wrong answers ultimately to a low score, low score to an unfair denial of your program(s) of choice. VT: Is it absolutely necessary to have work experience prior to starting an MBA degree? Hamada: If you look at the class averages of any top program, there are so few, if any, of those programs that have fewer then 2 years of average experience. Quick note, there are those that have more education than actual work experience, i.e. former Masters or PhD students. For those candidates, always try to spin your education and subsequent internships, research, or interactions with industry to your advantage and how that will help the schools respective program and allow you to be a successful professional upon graduation. VT: What are the characteristics of a great MBA program? Hamada: Diverse class (personally and professionally); wealth of resources (cross-cultural business school trips, career placement center, technology resources); network in top companies (private sector) or organizations (public sector); world-renowned faculty not cerebral juggernauts, but practitioners and leaders in their respective fields. You also want to be mindful of the geographic location of your program. I am a firm believer that being in a vibrant city, steeped with job opportunities, will help you rub elbows with movers-and-shakers, giving way to employment after you graduate and long-term contacts for the future. Visit WriteTrackAdmissions.com for more information on Hamadas admissions services.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Transferable Skills That Military Personnel Can Embrace To Enter Civilian Job Roles - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Transferable Skills That Military Personnel Can Embrace To Enter Civilian Job Roles - Introvert Whisperer Transferable Skills That Military Personnel Can Embrace To Enter Civilian Job Roles Once you’ve left the military, it can be tough transitioning back into civilian job roles. Having to accustom yourself with the rules and regulations of typical 9-5 life can be difficult. This can often leave many feeling unsure about whether they’ve got what it takes to succeed in the commercial job world.   However, once you’re settled into another job with brand new prospects and goals, the sky’s the limit. Still don’t think you’ve got any relevant skills? See below all of the transferable skills that military personnel can embrace to enter civilian job roles: Leadership Without a doubt, many members of the military will leave with extremely strong leadership skills. The military’s unrivalled emphasis on duty, honour and respect means that you’re already equipped with fundamental characteristics and qualities that an employer will look for. Even at the lowest rank, you’ll have needed the ability to manage and work in a diverse team. This is a skill that’s always in high demand. Communication During your time in the military, communication will have been one of the strongest skills you developed. This is a wonderful transferable skill to take into the commercial job market. In fact, amongst many candidates, you’re likely to be the one with the best communication skills. From basic interaction with colleagues to briefing the management board with a presentation, these are typical challenges that military personnel are used to. Organisation Organising your thoughts in hectic surrounding will come naturally to you. Staying calm and collected during even the busiest and toughest periods is a skill that many employers look for. Your personal organisation can be easily transferred into the work environment where you’ll take on multiple tasks and projects with ease. This level of experience and maturity is well suited to the corporate world. Determination Military personnel are trained to think of tasks and projects in terms of missions. This way of thinking means you have a streamlined way of working which gives you great determination to complete the tasks as efficiently and quickly as possible. Teamwork Teamwork is a common term used on CV’s, but rarely will other candidates have experienced the same level of teamwork as you. In the military, teamwork is about operating in a tight-knit group who may experience tragedy together. Seeing your comrades fall victim to military brain injury or loss of a limb is sadly not an unlikely occurrence. This level of loyalty and friendship creates a dynamic team who are able to work together and identify every persons strengths and weaknesses. Problem Solving After serving in the military, you’ll become a natural problem solver. Your analytic mind is highly sought after, so be sure to include all past experiences where you’ve helped to overcome hurdles on your CV and in your interview discussions. Furthermore, your skills in problem solving are developed from a unique perspective, adding a completely new viewpoint to any situation. Strong Work Ethic Employers are looking for staff who will always go the extra mile and dedicate themselves to the job. Military personnel have an incredibly strong work ethic instilled in them from day one. Of all the potential candidates, you’re the one who’ll be the first to turn up in the morning and the last one to go home.   Will You Take the Leap? Now you’ve been reminded of all the fantastic qualities and skills you possess; do you feel brave enough to take the leap into the civilian job roles waiting for you? There’s no reason to feel any less qualified that other candidates competing for the same job. You’re capable of bringing the exact same skills and experience â€" they’ve simply been developed from a different background. Author Bio: Jamie Costello is an experienced Business writer based in the UK. He uses his experience from education and work experience within several industries to help create his articles. His topics range from career advice to resolving disputes in the workplace. For this particular article, hes looked into wider research on the topic of military personnel and employment skills. Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

16 Phrasal Verbs with Down ?? - Learn English with Harry

16 Phrasal Verbs with Down ?? - Learn English with Harry Hi there.Were now going to look at some  aspects about phrasal verbs and in particular phrasal verbs with DOWN.Theyre  going to be quite a few phrasal verbs for the next  four sections.Phrasal verbs  are made up by a normal verb,  usually  quite a simple verb like take,look  or come followed by a preposition or even  two prepositions.  When phrasal verbs have  two  prepositions,  theyre called multi verb  phrases.Phrasal verbs  are used in English a lot.  So theres something that you need to be aware of and how to use them particularly in your speaking English and also in your written English.  If you  are doing exams like IELTS or the first  certificate,  there will be a requirement  that you  know phrasal verbs,  you know  how to use them and you know where to or  not to include them.   10 Phrasal Verbs with Down Often its advised that phrasal verbs are informal language.And, of course, they are. Any phrasal verb can be replaced by a more formal verb quite easily.But its be wrong to think that phrasal verbs can only be used in an informal capacity.Often when I read business letters or business reports, they will include from time to time phrasal verbs. So you can use them if it is appropriate to use them in the correct and right context.Phrasal verbs will appear more frequently in informal books and writings and, of course, letters and now emails as people’s preferred choice of communication. Emails in themselves are much more informal now and therefore the English language that you see both in personal use and business use is of a more informal nature anyway so phrasal verbs come to the force. I wouldnt get too hung up about them.You dont have to learn thousands and thousands of phrasal verbs because literally there are quite a lot.  But you do  need to know how and when to use them.  So w hat Im going to give you in these sections are a number of quite common popular English verbs and prepositions to form the phrasal verbs.Ill also give you examples with each of them so by the end of each of these sections hopefully you would have a better understanding of what a phrasal verb is, how to use it so that you can introduce it into both your written and your spoken English. 10 Phrasal Verbs with Down I  will also give you  some examples  and some  exercises that you can practise yourself.So lets move on so the first  phrasal verb and I am going to  cover in this  particular section are those phrasal  verbs with the preposition DOWN.  Ive  got a number of verbs that were going  to use.  The first one is TO BREAK DOWN.  When  we look at and use break down,  you can  use it to talk about some calculation,  some mathematical equation.  You can also  use it in any other situation,  formal or  informal,  where you want to break down a  letter into its individual paragraphs,  where you want to break down any type of  calculation formula,  any booklet  concerning numbers,  statistics,  everything  connected with that.  BREAK DOWN  also has another  meaning.  When we talk about to break down  a wall,  to break down barriers  perhaps.  For example, were  trying to break down the barriers that  exist between different communities.Or  if youre trying to do  some repairs or renovation to your home,  you might also be talking about breaking  down some walls to create more open  space in your apartment or your home.  Next  one TO CALM DOWN.To calm down  usually means to take things easy.  Particularly we use  to calm down  when somebodys getting  very excited.  They may be shouting and  screaming.  So a mother might say to a  child:  Just calm down, take it easy well talk about it. Everything is going to be okay.So youre trying to introduce an  element of peace and quiet  when  somebodys getting rather excited  shouting and screaming.  We ask them  to calm down.  We can also use to calm down  to  describe the weather.  So there may have been a stormy night or day. Thunder, lightning, strong winds and when you come to the window, look out and you say:Oh the weather has calmed down a little bit. We now only have a gentle breeze and theres no further thunder or no further rain.Next one TO COME DOWNTo  come down is an  instruction,  an order,  a command  somebody  might give to another person.Please come down from that wall, youre going to fall.For example, a parent says to a child:  Come down at about eight oclock and Ill cook you dinner.We can also say:Come down to the city later on.For example,  if youre living on a  hill overlooking the city or some other  place somebody you might say:Ill come down later on to the pub and Ill buy you a drink. 10 Phrasal Verbs with Down - Image to share The next one is TO CUT DOWNThis as it  says would suggest something being  brought down in size,  perhaps a tree or a  fence or something that is no longer  required.He cut down the trees in his  back garden so that there was more light  coming in.I  will cut down that fence because it is  certainly blocking  out the light.  We  can also use to cut down  a slightly different way.To cut somebody down means to try and  get them away from being a little bit  pompous or a little bit superior.You might make a comment that  will cut them down to size.  Meaning make  them feel a little bit smaller,  a little  bit like the rest of us rather than  being pompous and overbearing.He  quickly made a comment that cut him down  in size and everybody laughed.  The next one we  have is TO DIE DOWNTo die  down refers to situations where they may have  been some trouble.  So weve been watching a lot of  problems in Paris France where these  yellow vests people have been protesting  against various issu es to do with the  government and they have been blocking  the streets,  breaking windows and has  been generally a situation of unrest.However,  after a period of days or weeks  the unrest disappears,  discussions take  place and the heat of the situation dies  down.  So when something dies  down,  it becomes lower or it reduces in  its intensity.Like a  fire that you like to  keep yourself warm during the winter.  We  build it up during the day,  put plenty of  wood or whatever we are using as a fuel  and then as the evening gets late  we let the fire die down.  There could be  situation,  rumours in the newspaper about  some business thats is in trouble or  somebody that has been doing something  they shouldnt have been doing.  But when  the journalist digs further,  theres no  information or no truth to the rumours  and eventually those rumours die down or  go away. Next one is TO GET DOWNAgain  to get down is about some instructions so its usually  said with a little bit of harshness in  the voice.Get down from that wall. Get down out of that tree.A  parent might insist  that their son or daughter stop doing  what theyre doing and get down immediately.  So these are very strong or said in a  strong way to give emphasis to the fact  that its not really a request.  We can also use get down to instruct somebody else to do  something that perhaps they dont  want to do.Get down to your studies!HOLD DOWN  Hold down means to  stop something  moving. You might be talking that say  about a sport fixture,  lets say a rugby  match which is very popular in the  northern hemisphere particularly in  those countries like Ireland England,Scotland,  Wales and France where they  play rugby to a high intensity.  During  the rugby match one player held down  another player and prevented him from  releasing the ball.Somebody might just ask you simply could  you hol d down something to stop it from moving.Hold down that lid of the box whilst  I tie some string around it.We can also use hold down when were describing somebody whos got a particular job. We mentioned that hes been in this position for several years so we could say it quite informally:He has held down  a senior position in this company now  for 10 years.Meaning he’s well  accepted,  he is quite experienced and he  has been in the company for some time,  so  he managed to hold down a job even  though his bosses didnt like him.  KEEP DOWN  is the next oneTo keep  down can have several meanings.  When  were not feeling so well and we  might be feeling nausea sand we might  think were going to be sick,  we might  say to the doctor:I find it very  difficult to keep down food these days.  Every time I eat I vomit. Its always difficult  for me to keep food down.To keep down  you can also use it again as an  instruction.In a war zone the captain  or person in charge of the soldiers may   shout an order to keep their heads down.  To keep the heads down means to bend  it sufficiently low not to make  themselves a target for enemy and  gunfire.  We  can also say to keep your head down  where when were talking metaphorically. It doesnt literally mean to keep  your head down but it means to keep out  of trouble,  not to let anybody notice.My recommendation and advice to you is  to keep your head down for a few months,  just get on with the work and everything  would be okay. TO LET DOWN is  our next phrasal verb.Let down again has  a number of meanings.You can be let down  by a colleague or a friend or a family  member.  Meaning they have disappointed  you.  They promise to do something and at  the last minute they didnt follow  through and you feel let down.For  example,  you were hoping to go to the big  rugby match or football match and your  colleague said that he would be able to get you tickets. However, the  day before the match you find out that he didn’t keep his promise. So he let you down.Oh  dear, youve really let me down.  I  promised my son that I would take him  to this game.We  can also use to let down  when we’re referring  to  clothes alterations.For example, your son has grown several  centimetres and you need to make his trousers longer. So you take them to the the  tailor and say:Is there any chance you  could let down the hem of  these trousers? They are too short.The last  one in this particular section is TO SETTLE DOWNSo agai n settle down has a few different  meanings.  It can be used when somebody  finally decides that their life is about  the family or that job or the career,  so  they decide its time to settle down.  Means to stop acting like young man, stop travelling  around the  world, stop changes jobs.Its  time for you to settle down,  get yourself a  permanent job,think about getting married and make  something of your life.We can also use settle down  as an  instruction where the teacher in a  classroom comes in and theres a lot of  noise before the beginning of the the  class.  The kids are a little bit excited  so  she says:Come on,  settle down.  Time to get your books out and start the  work.Okay.  So theres a number of phrasal  verbs with DOWN.Join me  again for the next  section of my English phrasal verbs course.  Thank  you.              

What You Should Expect from a Private Tutor 25 Rules (Part 2)

What You Should Expect from a Private Tutor 25 Rules (Part 2) Improving Academic Performance In our last article in this series, we discussed that while it’s important to take ownership of your investment in private tutoring, you should still expect specific behaviors from your tutor. We covered what is reasonable to expect before the actual session from a communications, logistics, and preparation perspective. In this article, we’ll explore what you should expect during the tutoring session. During the Session Environment, timing, and focus You should be very comfortable with the tutoring environment. When you are struggling in a class and have decided to invest in a private tutor, you need to focus on the learning process. If there is too much noise or other distraction, future sessions should occur at a different location. Now, this doesn’t mean that public coffee shops can’t be good places to conduct a tutoring session. In fact, many students are far more comfortable meeting a tutor in a public coffee shop than in their home. A private room in a library is typically an excellent venue for a tutoring session. There should be open communication about the starting and end times for the session. If the tutor is late, if you spend 10 minutes discussing the weather, politics (probably something to avoid) or sports, or if the tutor must step away for a private call, this time should not count against the hour(s) you’ve purchased. At the same time, if you are late, it’s fair to expect the tutor to “start the clock” when the session was supposed to start, although we encourage tutors to be flexible. Also, at MyGuru, we ask tutors to report time in 15 minute increments, rounding down. So, if the tutor has been working with you for 65 minutes, it would be very reasonable to discussion whether a) things should be wrapped up in the next 5 minutes so you are billed for an hour or b) you continue working together for 15 or more minutes, so you are billed for 75 or 90 minutes. You should feel and observe that the tutor is 100% focused on your learning during the sessions. If you feel the tutor is distracted (i.e., checking his or her phone, not listening to you, etc.) then you are not receiving the attention you deserve. Your tutor should be 100% focused on you. Planning and organization One of the keys to a successful tutoring relationship is the development of a customized study plan. If you are receiving tutoring in a specific class, this becomes quite a bit less important, as the syllabus for the class can be followed. But even then, your strengths and weaknesses might necessitate a different “path” to learning the material for the class. You should be aware of the plan being followed in the tutoring relationship overall. Generally, the first session is somewhat diagnostic. The tutor is identifying and confirming strengths and weaknesses and coming out of that session, creating a plan for you. You should be aware of the plan being followed in any session. The tutor should explain the key objectives of the session, and highlight the major topics and expected takeaways. A student should never feel as if they aren’t sure where a session is going or why something is being covered. Tutoring techniques Every tutor has their own style, and there are different ways to connect with a student to help them understand difficult or new concepts and build new skills. That said, it is reasonable to expect the following from a tutor: Some upfront investment of time should be made in establishing a personal rapport with you. Tutors are generally well served by getting to know their clients/students a little bit. What are they motivated by? What do they like/dislike? This helps both parties get more comfortable with one another and can even be a source of useful analogies in explain the material. This article on edutopia.org lists the personal relationship first in a list of keys to a successful tutoring relationship. Students are far more likely to learn when they are asked to actively engage with the material. If the tutor is talking for most of the session, or simply working out problems while the student watches, then the learning that is occurring is likely to be passive. Instead, there should be a give and take of questions, answers, problems being completed in real-time by the student, etc. You should be an active participant in the session, not just an observer. You should be getting clear feedback associated with your mistakes. Whether it’s during real-time review of problems or as you are reviewing practice sets you completed on your own time, your tutor should be providing you with clear feedback around why you missed a certain problem and what to change moving forward to complete the problem correctly. Even if you feel the tutor explains things well, you are still not maximizing the value of the sessions if clear, targeted feedback isn’t provided. This is an excellent article about the importance of feedback in building study skills and learning new things. Your tutor should generally be able to explain most concepts in more than one way. One of the major benefits to 1-1 tutoring vs. reading a test prep book or taking a test prep class or sitting in any given math or English class is the high level of customization that is possible. If something isn’t clicking with you when explained this way, the tutor can approach the problem that way, etc. Concepts should be broken down into small pieces where possible and brought back to their more basic underlying components. A common issue teachers or tutors face in connecting with students is using language or concepts that seem basic to them, but which the student does not understand. There should be a constant drive to break things down to their more basic, foundational parts, and then build them back together. If a student is missing foundational conceptual knowledge, the tutor needs to identify that gap and find a way to fill it. This is an excellent article on the importance of creating increasingly larger “chunks” of information over time when learning new things (but by starting with very small ideas and concepts). Your tutor should be giving you “mini tests” during the session to check your understanding. Studying with heavy use of “mini” ‘quizzes is critical. Even if you are actively engaged in the session, asking questions, etc., it’s always possible that you aren’t truly understanding the material. Frequent “mini tests” can serve two purposes. First, research shows that “mini tests” are an excellent way to retain information because it is a highly “active” form of learning as described in this article. Second, “mini tests” help identify whether or not you truly are understanding a concept. Your tutor should be forcing you out of your comfort zone. To be getting the most of a tutoring session, there should be a certain level of discomfort. If the whole session is very comfortable and you completely understand everything that was discussed, then what really was the point of the session? If it seems like you are having no trouble at all in understanding the questions or concepts being reviewed, an excellent tutor will move on to more advanced material in the same area to push the student’s thinking. In our next and last article, we’ll discuss what to expect after a tutoring session.

What to Do With Your Undergraduate Research

What to Do With Your Undergraduate Research pexels.com Whether its individually directed or under a professor, beginning undergraduate research is daunting. After all, you dont have any letters after your name you might not even have a full year of college under your belt! Is there really anything you can do? Yes! There are entire conferences dedicated showcasing undergraduate research. Besides that, a foundation in research is great way to grow in your area of study, serve the community, and bulk up your resume. Heres how to get started: Find A Research Project Maybe you already have something in mind, something you wrote a paper on way back when that youd like to explore. Fantastic! If not, thats okay, too. There are several different ways to get involved in undergraduate research. You can work on your own project if you or a group of your friends have an idea. Or, if you have no idea where to begin, you can get involved in faculty research projects. Most big universities have faculty performing research in a variety of disciplines, from chemistry to psychology to English literature. Most of the time, these professors use graduate and undergraduate students to help them with the nitty-gritty research categorizing articles, writing case briefs, sorting and clean vials, etc. If you really have no idea where to begin, pick your favorite professor and ask if theyre working on research and, if so, could you possibly be involved. They might say no and thats okay they may be able to direct you to a project you can work on or advise you as you c reate your own. Get Cracking! Once you find or create your research project, get moving on logistics. Can you get funding for  undergraduate research or a scholarship for participating in a faculty project? What about community service hours? You might even be able to get school credit for it. Talk to your academic adviser, supervising faculty, or research department if your school has one about the tangible benefits of undergraduate research. They may surprise you! Find an Audience Youve made leaps and bounds in your project, come up with startling conclusions, and you want to tell the world. But how? You can try for publication at your school if they have an academic journal. You can also talk to your academic adviser or supervising faculty member about publication opportunities. You can also apply to present at conferences such as the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) and ACC Meeting of the Minds. These two conferences are devoting to showcasing undergraduate research and are held yearly. Not only are they great opportunities to publicize your work, but theyre great networking opportunities. Undergraduate research really bulks up a resume, particularly if youve been published and/or participated in a conference. pexels.com So what are you waiting for? Get out and get researching!