A Day in the Life at Yale University

A Day in the Life at Yale University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Elena graduated from Yale University in 2013 with a Bachelors degree in French and the History of Art. She is a New York City tutor specializing in SAT prep tutoring, ACT prep tutoring, Writing tutoring, Literature tutoring, and many other subjects. See what she had to say about her undergraduate experience: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Elena: The campus is in the urban city of New Haven! Despite its gritty past, New Haven today feels very safe and the area around Yale is absolutely charming. There are campus buses, but they are often unnecessary as the majority of campus is quite centralized. Science students might want a bike, since the trek up Science Hill can feel arduous. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Elena: The professors, academic advisers, and TAs are incredibly welcoming! All professors have office hours, and students can go and talk to even the most influential of intellectuals. I have had many a coffee date with a professor or TA, and I have been known to email them frantically, receiving a response in the same day with a kind word or two. My academic advisers have written me recommendation letters, and one of them I have known for all four yearswe even met up in Paris when I was studying abroad there! VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Elena: Quite honestly, the best way to describe dorm life at Yale is to relate it to Hogwarts. Hilarious, I knowbut true! Like Hogwarts, Yale has houses; at Yale, these are called residential colleges. Each freshman is sorted into a residential college before arriving on campus. Each of them is meant to be a microcosm of Yale, so they are highly diverse. Your freshman year, ten residential colleges out of the twelve house their students on Old Campus, a huge quadrangle where all the freshman live. The dorms are all suite style. I lived with five other roommates; we shared a bathroom and a common room among us. Your sophomore year, you move into the residential college, where you can stay for the next three years if you would like to. Each residential college has a dining hall, a library, a gym, and tons of other facilities: a beautiful common room, music practice rooms, often extra libraries, and perhaps a dance studio, basketball court, climbing wall, photography dark room, or potte ry studio. Theyre quite amazing; each college also has a central courtyard and many have Neo-Gothic architecture, lending to their resemblance to castles. Each residential college has a lot of pride, but they are also all unified under Yale College, and all undergrads can access the other residential colleges and eat in their dining halls. There is also the main Commons dining hall which is huge (and very Hogwarts Great Hall-like). These automatic communities provide an incredibly easy way to meet people and make friends, not to mention all the extracurricular activities that provide social opportunities outside of the colleges. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Elena: Yale has historically been known for its Humanities and Social Sciences programs. These remain incredibly strong, but recently the Sciences have been gaining traction as well. I double majored in French and the History of Art. Both of these programs are one of the best if not the best of their kind in the country. The faculty in both were incredibly strong and welcoming. The French department especially has a very strong endowment, so I received grant money on two occasions to travel for study and research in France. The Art History department was also well supported, and I took an Art History class the fall semester of my senior year; we were able to travel to Italy to recreate the Grand Tour about which we were learning. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Elena: As I mentioned when discussing the residential college system, Yale makes it very easy for freshmen to make friends via these built-in communities. All freshmen live together on Old Campus and there are residential college events just for freshmen toward the beginning of the year. I made close friends immediately through my college, and I also made friends through the dance troupe that I joined in September of my freshman year. In the second semester of my freshman year, I joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority in order to expand my social circle. Greek life, however, does not play a huge role on campus, and I later disaffiliated because I felt I had too much on my plate. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Elena:The Career Center is very helpful for people looking to enter into fields with a very set hiring process: banking, consulting, Teach For America, etc. As someone looking to work in the Arts, I did not find it that helpful. The Fellowship Office was hugely helpful for me, though; they helped me become a finalist for the UK Fulbright Scholarship. Many major reputable companies are consistently recruiting on campus, though most are either in banking or consulting. If you want to go into those fields, youll definitely be at the top of the heap in terms of recruiting. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Elena: Yale has a veritable cornucopia or study spaces. As I mentioned, each residential college has at least one library (though usually more), plus a snack bar (called the buttery) with a lounge/common area. There are also computer labs in each college. Beyond that, Yale has the second largest university library system, and it has one massive library (Sterling) plus an underground student library (Bass), as well as tons of specialized libraries for the Arts, Sciences, Medicine, etc. Its library heaven. Since there are so many, spaces are very rarely crowded, and if they are, you can always find another space to go. One of my favorite places is the Sterling Memorial Library stacks, where there are old desks deep in the bookstacks that look out through stained glass windows onto Yales campus. It feels like youre hidden away in academia! VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Elena: New Havens main attraction is definitely Yale, but there are also great restaurants and bars around campus. Downtown is in fact very close to the campus, so students usually stay in that area to go out at night or for meals. There is also East Rock park where students can hike or go for runs. Its not the most exciting place, but it is definitely far and above a small, boring college town. Its still a hopping city with fun, interesting places. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Elena: The student body at Yale is about 5,300 undergraduates (I believe). It can feel big at times, but it can also feel quite small (often thanks to the residential college system). Class sizes max out at about 200 for the largest lectures, and the smallest class Ive taken was a graduate seminar with two other students, myself, and the professor. As a humanities person, many of my classes were seminars, and I regularly took courses with about 7 people. This close interaction with professors was absolutely incredible; it was probably one of my favorite things about Yale. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Elena: I mentioned the Art History course I took where we travelled to Italy to recreate the Grand Tour: it was taught by a specialist in Ancient Greek art and one in British art specializing in the Grand Tour. When we were in Italy at the Temple of Paestum, an ancient Greek temple, I was struck by what a unique experience I was having: to be standing in front of this ancient temple, discussing it with one of the experts in ancient Greek art, and then to have her British counterpart discussing how 18th century tourists would have viewed the temple. I could not get over how lucky I was to be in situ with these two great minds, viewing layers of history. Check out Elenas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Career Guidance for Teens

Career Guidance for Teens How Can You Help Your Kids with Career Guidance? ChaptersWhat Are the Parents’ Responsibility for Educational Guidance?Mistakes to Avoid when Guiding Your ChildHow Can You Help Your Child with their Academic and Professional Choices?Are Academic Appraisals Free?“Believe in your dreams and they may come true; believe in yourself and they will come true.” - AnonymousIn 2017, 32.6% of students went onto university, which means that their A Levels aren’t the end of their education. However, many others stop after their GCSEs or A Levels.With better educational guidance, more young people could find their way in the confusing world of education. When it comes to looking for jobs, a lot of teens could do with better career resources and guidance both before and after graduation.While teachers do have a role to play, career exploration and career development start with the parents who can help their teenage child make the right choices for their future.So how can parents help their child with their career planning and career choic es? TraceyPersonal development Teacher 4.92 (9) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IsamPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyPersonal development Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelePersonal development Teacher 4.73 (7) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlloydPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliverPersonal development Teacher 4.33 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Are the Parents’ Responsibility for Educational Guidance?Adolescence is a difficult part of a child’s life and the last thing they want to do is to think about their career options and decide upon a career path. Their bodies are changing and they’re full of hor mones, making them short-tempered. This can put stress on your relationship with your child and many parents often don't know where they stand. A child’s personality is formed during adolescence and rebellion is often part of that process.Find a good personal development course on this platform. Don't worry! You've been guiding your children their entire lives. (Source: ddimitrova)However, this transitional period is also when they need to be thinking about their professional futures and career goals. Believe it or not, they could do with your help and support.  While you mightn’t be a psychologist or guidance counsellor, you still play a vital role when it comes to educational guidance for your child.There are four main aspects of your role:Communication: discussion and dialogue with your child are essential to ensure you and your child trust one another. Listen to what they want without judgement as this could discourage them from talking to you. They must feel comfortable with opening up because this is a difficult time for the child and it’ll allow them to openly express their dreams and aspirations. You can also talk with their teachers to better understand their academic strengths and weaknesses.Encouragement: secondary school students and sixth formers need recogn ition for their achievements. Thinking that good grades are the norm won’t help or encourage them to work harder. Don’t hesitate to show them how hard work and effort are related to good results; by working on x, I improved y.Avoid blame: you don’t need to put the weight of the world on their shoulders when it comes to choosing their future. There’s a strong probability that they feel lost in all of this and that's okay. Your role is to reassure them and remind them that they can always shift careers later on in life.Support: They need to feel supported and guided. Talk to them about your experiences, show them to career and study guidance sites, student forums, and university websites. Show them that you’re by their side and supportive of their choice.As you’ll have understood, a parent plays an essential role in helping their child with educational and professional guidance.Find out more about helping your teen with career choices.Mistakes to Avoid when Guiding Your Ch ildNow that you know what your role entails, here are some mistakes you should avoid when trying to help your child. The biggest mistake is thinking that they don’t need your help. This is quite paradoxical as your child needs to make their own decisions but they also need your support. Be subtle and don’t be overbearing, show that you’re there if they need you and that you have the answers to the questions they’re asking. You need to make sure they're following the path, not choosing which path they follow. (Source: Pexels)Here are some common misconceptions:A good student doesn’t need guidanceGrades aren’t importantA child’s personality doesn’t matterThe guidance doesn’t need to take into account the student’s wantsHigher education is obligatoryYou don’t need to think about their academic and professional futureGuidance counsellors aren’t necessaryGood students can be just as lost as struggling students. Just because a student gets good results, it doesn’t mean that they know what they want to do with them. School is very different from the world of work.  Academic success is important for certain choices but it isn’t the only thing that employers take into account. Personality, aspiration, and skills are also often taken into consideration.While degrees used to almost guarantee professional success, this is no longer the case. There are fewer opportunities for those with degrees than in the past. However, the second they get to secondary school, it’s drilled into them that university is everything. By the end of their GCSEs, they need to start focusing on what they want to do.They should take a step back and think about what they’re interested in professionally and what they like and get in touch with a guidance counsellor.How Can You Help Your Child with their Academic and Professional Choices?As we mentioned previously, parents need to openly communicate with their children, listen to what they want, and help them with guidance.So how can they do this?Firstly, as soon as your child starts secondary school, slowly introduce them to the world of work. In Year 7, children have little interest or idea what work is all about and it’s just something that grown-ups do. Your job is to help them get to where they want to go. (Source: sasint)To help them to make better choices, you need to slowly open the door to the working world:Talk to them about your job and your experience.Bring them to work one day if you can.Explain to them what your job’s like: hierarchy, schedule, colleagues, tasks, etc.Ask friends and family if they can help them to discover different lines of work.This will help them choose their work experience and find something in a field that they’re interested in.Don’t hesitate to help them do their research. There are plenty of useful sites and resources you can use and student fairs and university open days that you can attend to see which universities and subjects they’re interested in.  You can also help them by encouraging them to ask questions about educational guidance, their future, their personality, and their passions. This is a great way to work out what they want and guide them towards careers that they’ll find en joyable and rewarding.Finally, suggest that they meet a career counsellor to help them.Are Academic Appraisals Free?Academic appraisals and career counselling are useful for helping students decide what’s best for them by taking several criteria into account. Their exam results, personality, and likes and dislikes are all taken into account to see what line of work is best for them. Your job is to support them and this may include paying for an academic appraisal. (Source: ljcor)Some will struggle to find a career if they don't explore career options, get career coaching, or develop interviewing skills. Job hunting is tough when you know what you want to do, they need to ask themselves “What can I do?” and “What do I want to do?” and academic appraisals will help them answer the former. Attending a career fair could be a good way to answer the latter.Not everybody's suited to academia and maybe a vocational course might be better and present them with more job opportunities.  Usually, there are career services who can get you a career counsellor can help them with this but you'll have to pay for it.This is the first step towards better understanding who they are and what they’ll be good at, even if the student already has a good idea of what they want to do. However, the point of an academic appraisal is to help put together a plan of what they can do and how they can do it.There are plenty of these online but it’s best to do one face-to-face with a career counsellor. This might take some time, so talk to the counsellor about how long it’ll take.  It’ll be worth it because they’ll have a lot of answers by the end of it. Certain students might need educational guidance or additional tutoring.You can also find academic support tutors on Superprof to help your child regain confidence in their skills and make better choices for their career. You can expect to pay anywhere between £25 and £100 per hour depending on the tutor’s qualifications and experience. Effectively, the tutor can act as a career coach, helping them come up with a career plan, develop interview skills, discover employment opportunities, writing cover letters, etc.Find out more about the cost of educational guidance.So are you ready to help your child with educational guidance?

Geishas at a Glance

Geishas at a Glance The Japanese Artistry of the Geisha ChaptersWhat Is a Geisha?The Birth of Geishas in Medieval JapanThe Golden Age of the Geisha in the 19th and 20th CenturiesGeishas in Contemporary JapanJapanese culture is among the most fascinating in the world for Europeans and it’s hardly surprising as to why. With samurai, martial arts, manga, etc., there are plenty of ways to learn about traditional and modern Japanese life, rituals, and customs.The Japanese government has also done a lot to ensure that the West is familiar with Japanese culture through the “Cool Japan” campaign. Among all the folklore and tradition in Japan, geishas have fascinated the western world and these young ladies’ professions remain a mystery to many Europeans.In this article, we’re going to look at exactly what geishas are, the discipline, the clothing, and the famed tea ceremony. Far too often, geishas are thought of as Japanese prostitutes, so we’re here to lift the veil on the myths surrounding this traditional Japanese vocation. NanaJap anese Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YukoJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EllyJapanese Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoJapanese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MelanieJapanese Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesJapanese Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PippaJapanese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarikoJapanese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Is a Geisha?Most Westerners think of a geisha as a pretty Japanese woman in white makeup, wearing a kimono, and having sexual encounters with Japanese men. In fact, a geisha is often much more than that and the latter point is often wrong! Geishas are expected to be familiar with various types of traditional Japanese entertainment. (Source: albertobelenguer)The term “geisha” literally means “person of art” or “artist”. While it’s true that geishas often wear a wig and extravagant kimonos, it’s because their job is to entertain male clients through a variety of different art forms including:Playing the shamisen, a three-stringed instrument.Types of traditional Japanese danceCalligraphyKabuki theatrePlaying the Tsutsumi, a small drum placed on the shoulder or between the legs.The Tea Ceremony (Chanoyu).Floral arrangements (Ikebana).In short, the Japanese geisha is an entertainer. You can find geishas at banquets where they move around in their yukata to the music. While the prostitution aspect is exaggerated, some geishas do have sexual relations with their clients, though these relations are not obligatory.Geishas live in an Okiya (which literally means a house for geishas) and only young women and girls . On the inside, there are managers, women known as “Okasan” or “mothers” surrounded by 5 or 6 geishas, future geishas, servents, and an official prostitute (until 1957).The Birth of Geishas in Medieval JapanBeing a geisha was an official profession in Japan in the 18th century but its origins go way back. In fact, you need to go as far back as the 13th century to really understand what geishas are. However, you could go as far back as the 8th century and look at the dancers for the emperor Kammu. These women danced along to Buddhist prayers and soon started having sexual relations with their clients, the nobility and the warriors in the court at Kyoto.However, the real history of geishas to Gion, Kyoto’s traditional quarter. It wasn’t just women who entertained the lords; the taikomochi, masters of the tea ceremony, as well as dancers and artists. They also wore white makeup (oshiroi), which at the time was just for men.Bit by bit, women replaced men in this role and by the end of the 17th century (the Tokugawa period), leading to the terms geisha and geiko (“women of the arts”). The Japanese government quickly set up rules for authorised sexual acts. Thus, geishas were not allowed to offer sexual services, only prostitutes were.Geishas became increasingly popular in tea rooms and ryokan (traditional hostels), creating an industry between entertainment and pleasure. In fact, just because prostitution was illegal for geishas, this didn’t mean that the virginity of some geishas was sold at a high price.The artistic aspect of being a geisha was celebrated all over Japan.“We don't become geisha because we want our lives to be happy; we become geisha because we have no choice.” - Memoirs of a GeishaGeishas were under strict rules, like having to live in a particular neighbourhood, called a hanamachi or kagai. While these neighbourhoods were initially frequented by both geishas and prostitutes (yujos), they quickly became exclusive those in the traditional clothing and makeup.If you'd like to learn more about Japanese culture, check out our article on Japanese weapons.The Golden Age of the Geisha in the 19th and 20th CenturiesThe golden age of geishas was from the 19th century until the start of the Second World War. The role and popularity of the geisha changed drastically during the 20th century. (Source: patrik671)There were thousands of these living dolls from Kanazawa to Asakusa. The Meiji government promoted the profession and each tea room or house was regularly frequented by samurai that were fans of the geishas.Thus, the industry became hugely profitable, so much so that prestigious guests were often in attendance and a geisha could earn the equivalent of thousands of pounds for her Okiya.The geishas, during this period of prosperity, were considered as fashionable purveyors of Japanese traditions as well as being at the forefront of fashion through their hairstyles (often in buns) and their outfits, which often consisted of a hakama or a Japanese style tunic.By the start of the 20th century, the geishas were inspired by the western world as they discovered it. However, due to the opposition from many traditional geishas, this style didn’t last.The golden age of geishas ended with the start of the Second World War. In fact, in 1944, the Japanese government closed the geisha neighbourhoods in favour of serving the war effort by making them work in factories. The next year, after the end of the war, the neighbourhoods reopened.This is the time when a new type of geisha came about; the onsen geisha, women free to look for work themselves in the areas near the Japanese hot springs (onsen). They were closer to prostitutes than traditional geishas, looking for work from American soldiers.In 1957, prostitution in Japan was made illegal, so the Japanese people started distinguishing between geishas and prostitution. Furthermore, young girls had to be in education until they were 16 (and 18 in Tokyo). Thus, the number of geishas decreased as there were fewer ways to get into it.Find out more about Japanese culture and sumo wrestling.Geishas in Contemporary JapanGeishas still exist in Japan but in far fewer numbers than in the past. In 1965, the Kyoto dento gigei shinko za idan or the “Kyoto Foundation for the Development of Traditional Arts and Music” only had 65 apprentices. Ten years later, it had dropped to 28. Nowadays, geishas are more a symbol of Japanese culture and history. (Source: joiito)By the 1990s, the number of geishas was back up to 60 in Kyoto. In fact, being a geisha isn’t as popular because it’s just not as lucrative as it once was. Furthermore, young girls in Japan have more choices than they did in the past.  Furthermore, a genuine geisha kimono can cost around £5,000, making it not very accessible.However, there has been a recent increase in interest for geishas with over 100 apprentices in Kyoto in 2008. The information available about being a geisha has played an important role in how to become one.Similarly, being a geisha has changed a lot during the 21st century. The rituals are still there but their meaning has changed. For example, the mizuage ritual, which meant a geisha had lost her virginity, is now a ceremony that judges a maiko wishing to become a geisha, allowing her to change her collar from red to white.Similarly, while the haircuts are the same, geisha s can now wear wigs. In fact, this type of hairstyle pulled on a geisha’s hair, meaning that they would end their careers almost bald.It’s easy to understand why they changed.Today, a lot of young Japanese girls dress up as geishas. If you head to Harajuku in Tokyo, you’ll probably run into geisha cosplayers. Of course, if you want to see a real geisha, you have to go to Kyoto.There are around 200 geishas practising the art and tradition in Japan and keeping the cultural heritage of Japan alive.Now you should know a little more about geishas, the history, rituals, and their profession. If you want to learn more about Japan, we recommend reading our other articles on Japan or getting a Japanese private tutor!There are three distinct types of private tutorial on offer for Japanese students: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. Each type is different in terms of learning styles and cost, so what may be right for one student may not be right for another.F ace-to-face tutorials involve just a single student and tutor and will include a bespoke programme or course that's being taught to the student. However, you will be getting a tailored service which is very cost-effective!Online tutorials also involve one student with a tutor but the two aren't physically in the same place. Thanks to the internet, you can be taught Japanese online via webcam. With fewer travel costs and the ability to schedule more tutorials each week, the tutor doesn't need to charge as much for their tutorials.Group tutorials are more like the classes you would've had in school with one teacher and multiple students. With each student footing the bill, the cost per student per hour tends to be less than the other two types of tutorial.Don't forget that a lot of tutors on Superprof offer the first hour of tuition for free, too!

How to Pick The Perfect Biology Tutors for you

How to Pick The Perfect Biology Tutors for you How To Choose The Right Biology Tutor ChaptersCheck On Qualifications And CredentialsRead Testimonials And Feedback From Other StudentsBear In Mind Location And AvailabilityMeet Them FirstHiring a tutor is not necessary for pupils struggling with their Biology studies; you don’t have to be failing in the subject to benefit from some extra help. Nor do you need to know what you want to do in the future (academically or professionally), as getting the best possible start in your education will only contribute to opening up more opportunities for you.Even if you aren't set on a career in the sciences, there are many reasons to love Biology.Success can mean different things to different people, but having the best start in life in terms of your education can open up many doors for the future. Photo credit: José Morcillo Valenciano via Visualhunt.comTutors are a very worthwhile investment as they are able to offer you one-on-one teaching assistance, which means benefiting from teaching techniques that are better suited to your learning needs and the pace at which you work. Plus, a tutor can really help to build your confidence in the subject.So, even if you feel that you are not a strong biologist, a good tutor can help you to see that you can in fact succeed in the subject. You might even be surprised at how effective the extra sessions are and how much more you enjoy the subject than before. They will be able to exemplify how, by breaking the challenging topics down into smaller and easier chunks, you can begin to understand the complicated concepts of Biology.To gain as much as you can from your tutor, you need to make sure that you choose the perfect tutor for you. While that is easy enough to say, how do you know who is the best person to choose? And what if you hire a tutor and then come to realise that the relationship just isn’t working out? Here are a few tips to help you to pick the right tutor.See where you can take A level biology courses. MahimaBiology Teacher 5.00 (10) £30/h1st less on free!Discover all our tutors AndyBiology Teacher 5.00 (2) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlishaBiology Teacher 5.00 (10) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SaifBiology Teacher 5.00 (9) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FrankBiology Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HeavenliBiology Teacher £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SiobhanBiology Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MackenzieBiology Teacher 5.00 (2) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCheck On Qualifications And CredentialsOne of the main things to consider is your prospective tutor’s educational background. For instance, if you know or find a tutor who specialises in Chemistry, they may not have the precise skills and knowledge required to successfully tutor you to a really good grade in Biology.That said, many tutors specialise in multiple related fields so don’t be hasty in ruling someone out before you've dis covered their interests. Someone with a Masters degree in Chemistry may well have studied combined sciences at Bachelor level and thus be perfectly able to tutor you in the field of Biology.Whst's important is knowing that your tutor has themselves taken the exam that you are currently studying for, and is therefore fully aware of the level of knowledge required to pass the exam and how to reach those higher grades (i.e. if you are enrolled on an A Level Biology course, you ideally want your tutor to be educated to at least A Level or equivalent in Biology).In addition, it is very useful for the tutor to be familiar with your particular syllabus, whether this be as a result of their past teaching experience, through having taught numerous other candidates on the same course, or thanks to their own children recently having completed the same modules. Tutors are able to pass on knowledge but they can also give you tips and tricks on how to maximise your score in exams!Finally, you sho uld always check that your tutor is genuine. The  best method for doing so is to choose someone who has been highly recommended by peers, parents or teachers at your school or, alternatively, to select someone from a professional agency. Tutors found via tutoring agencies will have undergone checks to ensure that they are as qualified as they state they are but also to be sure that they don't have a criminal record which prevents them from working with children under the age of 18.Read Testimonials And Feedback From Other StudentsWhile hiring a tutor from an agency means that they are suitably qualified on paper for the role, how do you know if they are actually any good at their job?References are a very good way of discovering who are the most influential and talented tutors available for your chosen subject. Ideally, you want someone who is passionate about Biology as it will make their teaching so much more effective.Most experienced tutors, whether they work through an agency o r independently, will have taught enough pupils to be able to provide some feedback on their tutoring service, including a great track record when it comes to their past pupils' grades. Seeing those high scores will often be proof enough of their ability as a tutor!If you found your tutor by word of mouth, be sure to ask questions to the person who referred them and find out if they have a website or profile you can look at online before booking in to see them.If, however, you happen to come across what appears to be the perfect tutor all by yourself on the Internet, then take into account any testimonials and don’t be afraid to call them or even request to meet with them before you enter any financial agreements.Discover this A level biology online course on Superprof.Searching for a tutor online doesn't mean you have to take a chance on a stranger. Photo via VisualHuntIt is a good idea to meet or interview your chosen candidate, especially if you have no mutual connections, to m ake sure that they are real, in the first instance (it is always good to be certain!), as well as genuine, and that they are the right  fit for you and your educational needs.Bear In Mind Location And AvailabilityRemember that, to keep the momentum going, you should ideally be having at least a two-hour session once a week (or perhaps just an hour if you are under 14 and not studying towards a mainstream qualification). If your preferred tutor can only fit in one or two short classes in a month, then you may have to consider looking for someone who can spare more time to accommodate your needs.With tutoring being a relatively short-term service, you should be seeking maximum impact to ensure long-term gain.It may seem obvious but when you start your search for a tutor, particularly when searching online, be sure to filter your search to professionals working in your area.In some cases, the best tutors might be located a bit further out than you’d like, but you will need to weigh u p the pros and cons of a long-distance tutor.Ask yourself these questions, for example: Are they willing to travel to you or will you need to find a means of transportation to meet closer to them? If they will be doing the travelling, do they have enough time to dedicate to your learning needs on top of that? If using petrol and mileage to reach you regularly, will they charge you for these extras? And, would they agree to tutor you via Skype or using other technology?Will your tutor come to you or will you need to travel to them? Photo via Visual huntIn an ideal situation, your tutor will live or work close by so that you can fit in regular catch up sessions to keep the momentum of learning up, while also giving you the opportunity to schedule more classes in the run up to your exams.Meet Them FirstFinally, as briefly touched upon above, it is really important to make sure you have a rapport with your tutor. Nothing can be worse (for you and the tutor in question!) than dreading yo ur next appointment and hating every minute of your time together.This is why, in some ways, a personal recommendation is one of the best ways to discover a tutor. If they have done a great job with someone that you know, and you have heard nothing but praise about their methods, then the chances are that you too will profit from and even enjoy their tutoring service.However, as not everyone is lucky enough to know somebody with this level of skill in Biology, many people turn to the Internet to find a local Science tutor.This, however, does not mean that you have to take a chance on a biology tutor that you have never met before, as you always have the opportunity to meet with a tutor before committing to hiring them.Most tutors will be used to meeting with pupils and their parents, and are usually equally keen to meet face to face so that they can gain a mutual understanding of what they are needed for and what level you are currently working at. That way, they can be better equip ped to confirm how regular your meet ups need to be.So, when hiring a tutor for the very first tine, try to organise a meeting with the tutor in person, accompanied by your parent or guardian, to get a feel for their teaching methods and how they might be able to motivate you.Meetings such as these can have a positive impact on your attitude towards tuition and can cement the relationship between tutor and pupil from the offset, giving you confidence in your ability to improve and making you look forward to those extra lessons.

Starting an English Conversation

Starting an English Conversation English Conversation classes are one of the best ways to improve your English. This can sometimes be a daunting task. Today we are going to show you some easy ways to have conversations, so you can speak to anyone, anywhere. Before you become the conversation initiating expert, lets look at something you should not do when trying to learn a language:Starting an English ConversationAs you can see, these guys could do with practicing some English. How do you begin a conversation in English? Well, the best way is often to simply ask a question. Here are some examples to get the conversation going:Do you know what time it is?Is this seat taken?/ Do you mind if I sit here?What time is this place open until?What is your name?As you can see, most of these questions are a little direct. Do you know how we could make them more polite? Write your comments below on how to make these questions sound more friendly.Compliment in EnglishInstead of making the above questions sound nicer, you can als o simply comment on another person. For example, you could say something friendly about their appearance or a possession they have, and follow this with a question. Lets look at these examples:That is a really nice hat. Can I ask where you got it?Thats a really cool phone! Is it easy to use?Look at these images. Can you think of a way to begin a conversation? First try to compliment the person/their possession, and then ask a question. Wed love to hear your  ideas, so make sure to write them in the comments section! This is a great way to practice your English conversation skills.2.Comment on surroundings in English ConversationAnother way to start a conversation is to simply comment on what is around you. For example, if you are at a party and you want to start talking to the person next to you, you could say, Hi, this is a great party isnt it? As you can see, this is another question to invite the other person to have a conversation. It doesnt need to be a question every time to s tart a chat. Take a  look at this next sentence:I love this fish! Its so tasty.As you can see here, a simple statement can invite the other person to give you their opinion/ feeling/ interest, which can then lead to a conversation. Easy, right? As you look at these next images, write a way to begin an English conversation.2.  Now, lets try to  add a question to these comments in order to invite the other person to engage in conversation. Use the previous example above:  I love this fish! Its so tasty. How could we add a question to this? Well, we could ask Do you like fish? What is your favorite seafood? Are you a seafood lover? There are many possibilities. Try to think of a question to add to your statements above.Likes and dislikes in English ConversationWe have begun a conversation with all of these comments. The next step is to have a more interesting, in-depth conversation. By doing this, your vocabulary will improve whilst allowing you to really show your personality-the best way to make friends. Well  begin with likes and dislikes.To ask questions about someones likes or dislikes, we can use words such as like, dislike, dont like, prefer and enjoy. Look at these examples below:Do you prefer  going on vacation to the beach or to the mountains?Do you enjoy speaking English?Are there any sports that you dislike?Now, to make your English even more advanced, we can add adverbs to these sentences. Adverbs are words that can modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. We commonly use adverbs such as quite, really, much and mostly, which often go before your like/dislike word:Do you really  enjoy speaking English?Are there any sports that you mostly  dislike?Habits in English ConversationAnother way to engage someone in conversation is to discuss habits. Habits are things  that you do regularly. We often use the present tense to talk about habits. Lets look at the sentences below:I occasionally go hiking.Typically, I wake up around 8am.Normally, I go to that re staurant for breakfast on Sunday mornings.So, how can we start talking about habits in a conversation? Thats right-we can ask questions! As you can see above, Ive added some adverbs to my questions (occasionally, typically, always), so we can ask questions using adverbs to find out how often someone does something. For example, How often do you go hiking? Can you think of questions for the last two sentences above?Changing topics in English ConversationSometimes a conversation can start to fade, and maybe the other person is beginning to lose interest. This means that it is time to change the topic. Here are some phrases we can use to switch things around:That reminds me.Example: .. I didnt like that restaurant either. That reminds me, there is a big game on TV tonightOh! Did you hear about/ that.Example: .the weather is always bad here. Oh! Did you hear the news about ?Speaking of (topic), I found out that.Example: . I agree that Brad Pitt is a great actor. Speaking of movies, I fo und out that.Can you give us any examples of you changing topics when someone is becoming bored/ uninterested? Write your comments below so we can see your switching skills!Closing the conversationSo, weve taught you lots of tricks and tips to start an English conversation and how to keep a conversation going. However, sometimes you might run out of time, the conversation might be really boring, or maybe you just want to talk to as many people as possible. For one of these reasons, youll need to stop the conversation. Here are  some ways to do that:“Feel free to call me if you want to hang out. Here, I’ll give you my number.”“Well, if you ever want to chat again, I’m usually here on Mondays“It was really nice meeting you.”“I had a great time talking with you. Hope to see you again soon.”Its always a good idea to be as nice as possible when ending the conversation. The other person will feel much more appreciated if you end with phrases like these.So that wraps it u p for today. We hope  you will go out and start having  conversations to improve your English.To continue your development, sign up here for a free trial class with a native English speaker, and practice your newfound skills today! LOI English offers great English conversation classes focused on the communicative approach.

Advanced Vocabulary Booster #2

Advanced Vocabulary Booster #2 ? Previous 12 words On this page, you will find another dozen randomly chosen, low-frequency, high-impact vocabulary words that you can integrate into your speaking and writing. If you are preparing for the IELTS or the TOEFL exam, using these words correctly will give the examiners a good impression of the size and sophistication of your active vocabulary. Scroll to the bottom of the page to download a PDF of these words arranged onto cards. Print them out, cut them up, and play a guessing game with friends and family. See below for instructions. philogynist /fill-LOJ-in-ist/ Noun A lover of women uxorious /uk-SO-ree-us/ Adjective Excessively devoted to one’s wife in a submissive way eloquent /ELL-oh-kwent/ Adjective Having power to speak vividly and appropriatelyStirring or persuasive philomath /fill-LO-math/ Noun A lover of learning; specifically, a devotee of mathematics and science nubile /NOO-by-ull/ Adjective Of females: suitable for marriageOf marrying age meretricious /Meh-ruh-TRISH-us/ Adjective Showily attractiveOf the character of a prostitute lecher /LECH-ur/ Noun A lewd manA man addicted to lewdness lewd /L(Y)OOD/ Adjective Indecent, lustfulObscene misogynist /miss-SOJ-in-ist/ Noun A hater of women steatopygic /STEE-ah-tuh-PID-jick/ Adjective Having large buttocks misandrist /miss-AND-rist/ Noun A hater of men philandrist /fill-AND-rist/ Noun A lover of men Download and play the card game Download and print the cards and the card backs on a double-sided sheet of paper. Cut the cards along the lines and place them in a pile facedown. In groups of 3 or 4, take turns selecting a card from the top of the pile, reading the definitions. Player One takes a card from the pile and reads the definition and part of speech. The other players try to guess the word first. The first player to guess correctly gets the card, placing it faceup in front of him or her. The player to the left takes the next turn. If no one can guess the word from its definition, the player whose turn it is reads the answer and returns the card to the bottom of the pile, and selects another card from the top of the pile. The player with the most cards (and therefore the best vocabulary) at the end of the game is the winner. Advanced-vocabulary-card-gameDownload More words? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Please follow and like us:

5 ways to help your kids finish their homework on time

5 ways to help your kids finish their homework on time 5 ways to help your kids finish their homework on time It seems like young students are getting more and more homework these days and many kids find it difficult to get assignments done on time. Whether they are reading several chapters in a textbook or completing math problems to prepare for an exam, its essential that kids get things done on time so they can be successful academically and enjoy a general balance in their young lives. Its important that kids have a chance to be outside, spend time with family and friends, and explore extracurricular activities. Time management is an essential skill for todays busy academic life. 1.   Improve focus Many young kids get distracted by any number of things in their environment. There might be a lot of noise in their study space or social media might be playing a role in time management issues. Having excellent focus is essential to getting homework done on time so this is one of the first things parents might want to look at. Perhaps a student needs to work in an environment like a library to avoid distraction or maybe they need to sit down and eat a snack so their brain is functioning at its best level. 2.   Provide adequate brakes Students also have trouble getting assignments in on time if they dont have appropriate breaks. Many students try and finish their entire assignment and end up running out of steam or taking a break at a less than ideal time. When a student has finished a particular sub-topic or chapter they should consider taking a short break so their brain can relax and refocus. Finding a good stopping point is essential to time management because students who stop at random intervals often have to go back and reread information in order to get caught up; all of these things take up time. 3.   Arrange outdoor or exercise time Kids also have trouble concentrating if they havent gotten enough fresh air and exercise in a given day. Kids might need to run around outside for a little while before tackling their homework or they might need to participate in a regular exercise program so their general concentration improves. On the other hand, some kids struggle to transition from playtime to homework time and may need help from a parent or tutor to get started on longer homework assignments (READ: Irvine Tutoring Tips: 5 Tips For Coping With Summer Stress). 4.   Encourage organization Good organization is essential to finishing any task on time. Most students need to learn which assignments take a long time, which assignment is due first, and how much energy they might need for each task. Kids who can organize themselves, or who have help with organization, have a much better chance of improving their overall time management and getting their homework done at a reasonable hour so they can enjoy balance and time with family at the end of the day. 5.   Help kids become self-starters Although younger kids will need a lot of direction from parents and teachers, the best thing is for them to develop their time management skills so they can become a self-starter and get things done on time by themselves. At what age and level this occurs will depend a lot on personal circumstances, but its something that every kid should work towards. As kids get older, its ideal for them to be able to know how much homework they have, about how long it will take to complete, and which assignments are most important to their successful learning. Independent study habits help kids maintain higher academic standards throughout all levels of learning. Our private San Diego academic tutors are here to help your child finish their homework. Call us today to learn about our San Diego in-home summer tutoring. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Why The Pen Is Mightier Than The Keyboard

Why The Pen Is Mightier Than The Keyboard Photo by jaypacres via Flickr. Researchers in the 1970s began delving into the act of writing and the affect it has on the brain. During a study involving children and their memorization of abstract shapes, they found that the children who retraced the shapes with their fingers memorized them more efficiently than the children who just looked at the shapes. There have been several more studies since that time that highlight the link between writing by hand and better memorization and learning, such as the  study  conducted by researchers Anne Mangen,  of the University of Stavanger in Norway, and Jean-Luc Velay, a French neuroscientist, which show that learning letters in an unfamiliar alphabet by hand rather than typing may lead to longer-term memories, and suggest that handwriting has unique cognitive properties that help to shape how children learn to read and write. The study also suggests that the act of holding a pencil and shaping words connects with the motor area of the brain, creating a motor memory, and making it easier to recall the information connected by the movement. The fact that Johnny B. was copying down his notes twice was, in fact, instilling a motor memory into his brain, so he was more likely than the rest of us who just stared at the chalkboard to remember the steps to solving the problems on our tests. Once I began mimicking this, I didnt become a whiz of any sort, but my test scores did improve, and I did feel a mental focus I had been lacking before I started writing down each step in the problems. John Paul Titlow, technology journalist in Philadelphia, speaks on this phenomenon via  Readwrite. Ive long noticed that when Im writing in a paper journal, it mentally feels different than when Im typing out my thoughts on a computer, he said. Technology versus pen and paper The advent of technology has certainly made the process of writing by hand a lengthy one, as it is much quicker and more efficient to tap a few keys than to engage in shaping letters. However, Velay, the French neuroscientist in the above study, mentions that writing is essentially what has created technology. Citing  studies by Jay David Bolter, professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Walter J. Ong, professor of English literature, she writes, From using clay tablets and animal skins via the medieval manuscript and the ancient papyrus roll, to the mechanization of writing with the printing press and the current digitization, writers have always had to handle physical devices and then apply these to some substrate. It would be foolish of us as a civilization to not fully realize the effects writing has on not only our childrens development, but our development as adults and our journey through college. As more and more technology is involved in our learning process, the less writing were engaging in. For example, the law in Illinois does not require handwriting training and leaves it up to the districts to decide how it will be taught. Athough  Mary Fergus,  spokeswoman for  the Illinois State Board of Education, said most of their schools take the time to teach longform, she also said that there has been a heightened focus on typing skills. Developmental and learning benefits aside, writing also increases productivity and focus, whereas typing and being plugged in can prove to be immensely distracting. As Chris Gayomali for Mental Floss wrote, The computer in front of you is a time-sucking portal to puppy videos and ex-boyfriend/girlfriend stalking. Typing and doing work on a computer indeed offers plentiful ways to distract yourself and procrastinate, whereas a pen and paper only allow doodling as the biggest distraction. Leveling the writing field There are many apps that attempt to mimic the art of handwriting, such as Penultimate and iTrace, but many question this attempt. The whole idea behind writing is to form the connection between the brain and the motor skills of the hand, and while tracing letters on an iPhone may be better than simply tapping keys, its effect isnt the same. Wendy Carlson, a handwriting expert and forensic document examiner, said in an interview  that if you are typing or texting, its a matter of punching and finger-moving. You are doing very little thinking because you are not allowing your brain to form neural processes, she said. While the advent of these various apps is a great attempt to bring handwriting and technology together, there is still more research to be done in order to discern whether, say, Johnny B., would have received the same benefits by writing with an app on his iPhone than actually writing with a pen and paper. Writing may be deemed inefficient or even obsolete in the years to come, but with 33 percent of individuals having difficulty reading their own handwriting, I think its safe to say its an area that should be of great concern. With our laptops, tablets and smartphones, many of us may scoff at the romantic notion of handwriting, labeling it an ancient and crazy pastime. Just remember, while students were scoffing at crazy Johnny B., he was scribbling to the top of his class.