The Importance of Using Images Unlicensed

The Importance of Using Images UnlicensedTutoring adults and the use of images copyrighted are a growing concern for the educational community. If you are a tutor or a parent looking for resources to help your child, this article can help.Tutoring the elderly and physically challenged often requires greater responsibility. These are individuals who often lack the critical thinking skills to determine what will benefit them. When you provide them with resources that are inappropriate for their age group, you may be opening up a can of worms.Adult tutoring can have many advantages. Many of the gifted individuals who are physically challenged and cannot readily interact socially are often the most creative and enjoy being around other people. Once you realize this, it is easier to find appropriate materials to use in your adult classes. You can also be aware of the person's personal issues, such as problems with alcohol or drug abuse, to help you make informed decisions.Research has sho wn that teenagers and children learn differently. The goal of any student of grade school or high school is to gain literacy and numeracy skills. Some students have a higher level of literacy than others and some are much better at math. Just as you would not provide materials that would be inappropriate for a child's age group, you cannot provide materials that will harm an adult student. Avoid any and all examples of adult photos and images that might require significant judgment on the part of the person receiving the work.Tutoring images copyrighted is best done with a qualified professional in mind. This is an individual who is well versed in the laws governing the use of photos and images for educational purposes. They are also aware of the growing concern over the use of unauthorized content. Your resources must be created with the sole intent of teaching the student or assisting in their education. Any photos or images that might be considered an aid to the student are likel y to run afoul of the law and become the subject of legal action if used without the written permission of the copyright holder.In addition to hiring a professional, you should review your entire photography and image selection process to ensure that your staff and management system have the proper rules and procedures in place. As you may already know, using photos and images that are protected by copyright can open you up to a lawsuit. In fact, the United States Copyright Office has published a series of guidelines to ensure that you comply with all federal copyright law. The copyright law is designed to protect the intellectual property rights of the author of the work. Proper guidance in this area can help you avoid common pitfalls and legal headaches.While you may be uncertain about what your options are for adult training and literacy tutoring, your answer is right in front of you. If you want to try using photos and images copyrighted, you can do so with a little bit of effor t and guidance. After all, most companies offering this service do offer a free trial. This will allow you to check out the program and determine if you are comfortable with the idea of the website. If you are, you can take advantage of the benefits of tutoring images copyrighted while you learn the ropes of this important profession.If you are looking for an opportunity to help the young and the old, adult training and literacy tutoring can be a great place to start. By using images copyrighted, you can be sure that you are only providing your students with the appropriate educational tools. If you feel confident enough to try to use copyrighted images, you can be sure that the program is ethical, safe, and highly effective.

Swift Stardom How to Improve Your Foreign Language Listening Skills in a Flash

Swift Stardom How to Improve Your Foreign Language Listening Skills in a Flash Swift Stardom: 5 Tips to Improve Your Foreign Language Listening Skills in a Flash So youre cruising down the highway with some good friends when suddenly your favorite song comes on.The atmosphere instantly changes. What was just a moment ago a dull discussion about weekend plans has foamed into chaotic sea of flying hands and ridiculous yelling. The car floor can barely hold out against the rhythmic stomping.And, of course, every passerby is looking in and thinking youre all insane.Fast forward a year or two and now youre in a foreign country. Maybe youve already got the language down a little or maybe youre  just beginning.But after being there for a while youve begun to miss some things. Like understanding the lyrics when  a song comes on the radio or being able to catch the news in your car on the way home.Listening is incredibly important in making our everyday life satisfying, and is in fact the most used language skill.Yet, in our native language, we receive no training in it. Which might leave you wondering just how in the world can you get better at liste ning in a second language.Thankfully though theres nothing all that complicated about making quick progress in your foreign language listening skills. With a few quick tips for how to improve listening skills in a foreign language, youll be well on your way to wowing your foreign friends at karaoke. Swift Stardom: 5 Tips to Improve Your Foreign Language Listening Skills in a Flash1. Mentally Prepare YourselfOne of the biggest hurdles to listening skill mastery can be our own perceptions.Poor mental frameworks can  cause us to pursue time intensive but unrewarding tasks, give up quickly when were faced with a challenge or simply not achieve as much as we would like to.For listening one of the most damaging perceptions is this idea that you have to understand  everything. Your language exchange partner is talking to you at a thousand miles an hour, you feel like you have no clue whats going on and a sensation similar to sea-sickness is beginning to take hold.But  thats okay.When wer e listening to anything, whether it be a conversation with a friend or a television drama, when were starting out we should consider ourselves successful as long as we understand the gist of what were listening to.Another unfortunate belief that has stolen many an hour from language learners is that you can learn from passive listening. By passive listening I mean things like having the radio on in the background while youre focused on writing an essay or listening to music while trying to study for a brutal science test the next day.The audio is there, the sound waves are physically entering your ears,  but its not being processed.Think about all of the times youve watched a foreign movie in a language you havent studied with subtitles. Even if youre physically hearing Chinese when youre watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, you probably didnt improve your Chinese listening skills any by the end of the movie.Hence, we must be active listeners.What is active listening? Giving you r full attention to any audio material that youre using to study.For instance, if youre going to watch a drama you should be focused on trying to figure out exactly what is happening in the shows plot line through the characters speech. No talking on the phone. No cleaning your room. Just focus.And if you really want to push your active listening, try writing a summary midway through what youre listening to and then again at the end of it. Or, listen to an audio clip, write down five questions about things you didnt understand and then listen to the file again while trying to answer your own questions.Both options will help you to keep your attention focused on the task at hand.2.  Play with Audio PacingListening is notoriously difficult for a lot of people learning a new language. Unlike reading, the other receptive language skill,  you usually cant do it at your own pace.However fast people want to talk to you is what youre going to get. There are exceptions of course (hopefully y our language partners slow down when they talk to you), but for the most part this is true and often proves to be a substantial hurdle.Thankfully, technology has provided us with a solution to our problem. Now with programs like Audacity,  you can take any audio file and slow it down to something more your speed. Suddenly listening is more like reading.Just find some audio files or movies that you can convert into MP3s, which  you like and dont mind listening to several times. Take the speed down as low as you need to so that you understand everything thats being said. Then gradually adjust the speed until its back to normal.This can be a fairly intensive study method, so if youre using a movie its probably best to break it up into segments and do a little each day.If downloading a program and converting files sounds like too much trouble, you can also try the transcription method.With this method you dont alter the speed at all, but simply try to write down as much as you can of wh at the speakers in the audio file are saying. When you start out there will almost certainly be big holes in your transcription. Thats okay!Replay the audio file and pause often until you can get most of the transcript down. As you practice with more and more audio files, youll find you wont have to replay them so much.3. Listen Everywhere, All the TimeIn language learning circles,  extensive reading is a well-known strategy. If you want to be able to read and comprehend lots of text quickly, you have to read a lot of stuff all the time.Just as important, but less often mentioned is extensive listening. Extensive listening has  a host of benefits ranging from improving how quickly you can comprehend the spoken word to fine tuning your understanding of pronunciation and intonation.There are two key principles to instituting an effective extensive listening plan. Firstly, the things you listen to should be enjoyable. If theyre not, you wont be listening to them for long.Secondly, the things you listen to should be as diverse as possible. You should have newscasts that you can  listen to in the car, movies ready to watch at night, podcasts loaded and ready to go for your coffee break, limitless numbers of songs to make your exercise routine more educational.The more effort you put in to squeezing listening practice out of every available moment, the sooner you can stop worrying about missing important pieces of what your foreign friends are saying to you.4.  Use Visuals for Extra ImpactMovies have never been more popular. Movie festivals have sprung up across the world, many even in small towns. And with that proliferation of film it has become easier than ever to access foreign films.Which is good, because movies are an irreplaceable language learning tool.The visual nature of film serves to support our listening  comprehension and even our vocab recall ability of new words we learned during the film. In other words, you learn more by watching a movie than you w ould have if you just heard an audio clip.Whats more, movies provide significant motivation to language learners. Many people want to learn a new language entirely because of foreign films theyve seen.If your language-learning plans incorporate things that are pleasurable and that you dont feel like you have to force yourself to do, youre much more likely to succeed in the long run. Consequently, a broad selection of movies and TV shows in your target language consumed on a regular basis makes for an excellent listening diet.To ensure you get the most out of your movie viewing time, try to get your hands on the transcript of the movie you would like to watch. Simply Scripts has movie scripts in a variety of languages so its always a good place to start. After that, there are a couple of different ways you can go.First, you could simply read the transcripts, or certain sections of it, and look up any of the vocab you dont know.Then when youre watching the movie and the new words come up, youll be able to recognize and associate them with whatever is happening in the scene youre watching.Another, perhaps more challenging option, is to print out the script, shuffle the pages and then try to put it in the correct order after youve watched the movie.For those of you watching from the computer, there is also the option of pausing the movie when you hear a word you dont understand, taking a screen still that has a clear association to the new word and then using that as a study cue later.Sites like Memrise allow you to upload images for each vocab word youre studying, so it would be easy to incorporate this into a regular spaced repetition study program.5.  Dont Forget to ReadWhile reading and listening may both be receptive language skills, most people might assume their connection ends there.Surprise! Theyre  as closely connected as any sitcom family you can think of. In the conclusion of one group of researchers, reading can actually be more effective for improvin g listening skills than listening itself!Of course, if youre a beginner, youre still going to need lots of listening practice to really get those new sounds and the intonation hammered down, but never fall prey to the belief that each language skill is tightly compartmentalized and should be studied in isolation.Reading, especially extensive reading, is imbued with so many benefitsâ€"perhaps most importantly with increased vocabularyâ€"that it would be criminal to ignore practice with printed texts, even if your goal is nothing more than to talk to other people.So do a little reading. Have some fun with foreign movie nights. Slip foreign language music into your running playlist. Play the news slow and fast, slow and fast until you get the hang of it.A little tinkering here and there to learn how to improve listening skills in a foreign language, and youll have nothing to fear when it comes to listening. And One More ThingIf youre digging these techniques, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.

4 Tips for Success on the ACT Exam this Fall

4 Tips for Success on the ACT Exam this Fall 4 Tips From an Irvine Test Prep Tutor for Success on the ACT Exam this Fall High school students still have an opportunity to take the ACT in December. This is becoming a more popular test each year, and students should prepare for it thoroughly so they can reach their college admissions goals. Each student learns differently, and so their preparations will be individualized. However, there are some tried and true test prep techniques that help students overcome obstacles as they work towards getting an excellent score. In addition to reviewing academics, many students will need to overcome stress in order to conquer this exam score high on the ACT exam this fall with the help of one of our experienced Irvine test prep tutors. 1.   Math formulas and practice The math formulas needed for the ACT are not overly comprehensive; however, many students may not have used them for some time. Its so easy for students to forget formulas they dont use on a regular basis so they should brush up before taking the exam. Additionally, most people will agree that practice makes perfect when it comes to calculations. As a result, students should be practicing long before their testing date. Practice does not mean sitting down a couple of days before the exam and studying for several hours at a time. In fact, this type of intensive study can be a detriment. Rather, students should start several weeks ahead of time and break up their study time into smaller increments so their minds can rest in between (READ: 5 Awesome SAT Apps). 2. Reading comprehension As always, reading comprehension is essential for a test such as the ACT. Students will need to be able to determine which information in a passage or question is non-essential-so they can ignore it- and which information is crucial. Reading comprehension skills are not just important during the reading passages but can be used to determine what the question is asking for or what the author is trying to say. The best way for students to have excellent reading comprehension skills is to read on a regular basis. However, if a particular student does not enjoy reading in their free time, they can certainly still hone these skills by focusing on the passages in a practice test with their tutor or study group. 3. Unwind and refocus Many test-takers make silly mistakes on the exam, ones they would have gotten right if they have been relaxed, simply because theyre overly stressed. Students might be worried about their college admissions options, or they may be overwhelmed with other assignments. Students should talk to their classroom teacher in advance of their exam date to see what other major assignments might be due that week. During the week of the ACT exam, students will want to focus primarily on this task alone. This can be a major time management issue, especially if students are in AP courses or filling out college applications. Advanced preparation is this one of the best ways for students to maintain a low-stress level and focus their tension on this exam but they should also make rest and relaxation a priority during this time. 4. Setting expectations Fear of the unknown can also cause undue stress for students preparing for the ACT. Test-takers wonder what score they might get and how it will play into their college dreams. One way to deal with this particular type of stress is to set an expectation in advance. Students will be able to figure out what a reasonable score will be for them by taking a practice exam before the test date. Most students are a little bit more nervous on the actual day of the exam and are not allowed to take the same amount of breaks as when they are working on a practice exam in the comfort of their home. Its important for students to remember this and set a goal for a range of scores they expect to achieve. If a student is not happy with their initial practice test, they can work with a tutor or study group to determine which areas they need to work on and how best to go about it. Many students improve significantly after just working on some basic test prep skills such as the process of elimination an d pacing. Its never too early or too late to book your private Irvine test prep tutor from TutorNerds. Call us today for more information. 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.

Teaching Organic Chemistry in a Tired World

Teaching Organic Chemistry in a Tired WorldThere are a lot of advantages to using a chemical chemistry tutor when you decide to take your course in this branch of study. One of the biggest reasons is that they are not likely to be like all the other teachers you've seen in lectures and research papers. You want to be taught by someone who will have a passion for the subject as well as a particular approach to teaching it.Teachers of different subjects who don't have this affinity tend to deliver really bad lessons, not just because they aren't passionate about the subject but because they may have been trained to teach different subjects. Chemists don't need to worry about this because they are taught in the course that they already have a love for the subject. Here are some tips for teaching organic chemistry which are tried and tested when it comes to being a good organic chemistry tutor.First of all, it's essential that you can be trusted. You shouldn't be telling students secrets . However, it's also important that they know that you won't divulge this information unless they ask for it. Always make them feel like you have confidence in them and they should feel that they can ask any questions.Next, if you're going to be the chemistry tutor at a university or college, then make sure that you look the part. Make sure that you will appear professional, show up on time, and get yourself into the study room on time.If you have a set schedule, make sure that you set your own schedule and don't let the students dictate the time that you study. Another thing to consider is if you have a preferred time to study so that you can go ahead and study during this time rather than studying during other times.Don't let your sleeping habits keep you up late at night. Use a personal alarm clock, or let your tutor set the alarm so that you know that you have time to study and to do your homework.To sum up, when it comes to the organic chemistry tutor, you want to be confident that they are a person who really loves the subject. They have to have a thorough knowledge of it and make sure that they never forget anything that you teach them. Good luck!

Importance of Physical Chemistry Examples in the Training of a Chemical Engineer

Importance of Physical Chemistry Examples in the Training of a Chemical EngineerOne of the new areas that are being developed to support the US government as a means of training new employees that have already been trained has been the use of a course that includes physical chemistry examples. This can be helpful for those that are new to work in the Chemical or Metals industry as well as for those that are already employed and want to upgrade their skills.As you can imagine, these examples are important to employers, because they often see their applications areas being tested on the job to determine the right chemical for a particular job. It is very important to find a way to be sure that a candidate is familiar with the proper procedures. This is also important to ensure that the employer is working with a candidate that has the proper knowledge to perform the job.Another reason why you will need to include physical chemistry examples in your training is the many situations that may arise from common chemical classes. Many of the classes are short in duration and therefore become an instant assessment of someone's skill level. If there is something that may happen that requires an immediate assessment, then this can often take advantage of the fact that there are some physical chemistry examples included in the training.The main way that a program contains examples is by having the 'chapters' of each lesson. In many cases, it is only a chapter of a module that is included, but in some cases it is a full lesson that will be required. In either case, this can make a great deal of difference to the ability of the training to deliver all of the material to the intended trainee.In order to be sure that the physical chemistry examples that are included in the training are handled properly, the instructors will use them as a means of proofing their students. You may find that some of the information given by the instructors is what you find out later in the traini ng itself. It can be useful to have some in place for these scenarios, asthis is not a case where you would want a complete lack of information.In addition to the examples that are included, many of the instructors will have access to some practical examples of how a system works. This is important to ensure that the students are properly trained in the first place. The instructors are going to take time to provide examples for each section of the training to make sure that the students are providing the information they need for the purposes of the training.As you can see, there are several benefits that can be gained from the inclusion of physical chemistry examples in a chemical course. When you are trying to figure out what training courses to consider, it is important to make sure that the options you have are going to help you. Because you will be getting the most benefit from the training, it is important to ensure that you are getting the best possible training.

What To Do In Berlin Must-See Monuments

What To Do In Berlin Must-See Monuments A Guide to Berlin Facts and Attractions ChaptersBrandenburg GateThe Berlin Building: the ReichstagEast Side GalleryMemorial to the Murdered Jews of EuropeThe Berliner DomThe GendarmenmarktThe Schloss CharlottenburgThe Berlin Olympic StadiumThe Oldest Building in Berlin: NikolaikircheWhat To Do in Berlin: the View From the FernsehturmHistorical Point in Berlin: the Checkpoint CharlieOutside of Berlin: the Sanssouci PalaceBonus Round: Other Interesting Places to Visit While in BerlinFrom the Grimm brothers to the Federal Republic of Germany, modern day Berlin has been the centre of German history both in the past and present. Home to some of the most famous composers, powerful German companies, and a very famous jelly doughnut â€" Berlin is the third most visited city in Europe.From learning more about German people, German states, and German reunification â€" visiting the most famous monuments in Berlin can give you an insight into the rich and complex past of Deutsches history! SönkeGerman Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st less on free!Discover all our tutors ClaudiaGerman Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SefaGerman Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HilaryGerman Teacher 5.00 (16) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LisaGerman Teacher 5.00 (8) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChrisGerman Teacher 5.00 (19) £39/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors WendyGerman Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HowardGerman Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsBrandenburg GateThe Brandenburg Gate, known as Brandenburger tor in German, has become an important symbol for German national pride. If you're looking to stay near this famous attraction, there are many strategic locations to choose from.This wasn’t always the case, however. Built-in 1788 to 1791, the gate was first a symbol of power under the German empire. From 1871 to 1918, only the Kaiser was authorized to pass under the central arch.In 1945, Berlin was divided in two. After the war, the gate was located in East Berlin. However, after the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, actually found itself in the middle of a “no man’s land” guarded by soldiers of the German Democratic Republic, or GDR. Established in 1949, after the split of East and West Germany, the GDR was commonly called East Germany.Largely left alone after the fall of the Berlin wall, it was first renovated in 2002, after which it became the symbol for the German state.The Berlin wall is a must-see while in the cityThe Berlin Building: the ReichstagThe Reichstag palace, when looking at a map of Germany, is located close to the Grandenburg gate. Today it houses the Bundestag â€" the Federal diet or, as it’s more commonly known, the German parliament.Although the word Reichstag can be traced back to the Holy Roman Empire, the building itself â€" once a symbol of the German reich â€" was forever marked by the Nazi regime in Germany. In February of 1933, after the building was set on fire, Hitler launched a campaign of terror. After being Berlin was taken in 1945, the red army hung its banner off the roof of the Reichstag.During the existence of the Berlin wall, the palace found itself in West or Western Germany, where the two coexisted side by side. Originally housing the Reichstag of the Weimar Republic, forever marked by that of Nazi Germany, it is now largely a symbol of the reunification of Germany.Find German classes London right here.East Side GalleryA visit to the capital of Germany is never complete without a tour of the remainders of the Berlin wall. After learning about the Treaty of Versailles, the Kingdom of Prussia, and about Northern Germany â€" no experience will drive home German culture more than visiting the last piece of the Berlin wall. Located in the Friedrichshain, or Friedrichs, district, the open air, street art gallery houses 1.3 kilometres of the Berlin wall. Now, the wall is filled with messages from and to the people of Berlin city and Germany.Memorial to the Murdered Jews of EuropeAlso known as the Holocaust Memorial, the memorial is dedicated to the memory of the Jewish population murdered in Europe. One of the most visited and important monuments in Berlin, it is largely a homage to the Jewish people who experienced “shoah” â€" the Hebrew word for annihilation.Inaugurated in 2005, the memorial is made of 2,711 concrete slabs that form an enduring reminder of the consequences of nazi Germany, the iron curtain and oppressive systems of government. The memorial in the German capital is only one of many you can find throughout Germany in cities such as Hamburg, and throughout the world, like the Bermen Jewish Heritage Museum in the United States.Find a German language course anywhere in the UK.The Berliner DomLocated on Museum Island in Berlin, the Berlin Cathedral is actually not a cathedral but a church. Known as the Berliner Dom in German, it is a protestan t church that was built from 1894 to 1905. It is about 40 meters smaller than the Cologne Cathedral.The GendarmenmarktOriginally built in 1688, the building is the site of the Berlin concert haul and German and French churches. While many of its components were destroyed during the Second World War, it has since been totally restored and has become an important marker for people living in Germany.During the winter, it is the site of what is considered as one of the best Christmas markets by the population of Germany. SönkeGerman Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClaudiaGerman Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SefaGerman Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HilaryGerman Teacher 5.00 (16) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LisaGerman Teacher 5.00 (8) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChrisGerman Teacher 5.00 (19) £39/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors WendyGerman Teacher 5.0 0 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HowardGerman Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Schloss CharlottenburgOtherwise known as the Charlottenburg Palace, the palace is the largest in Berlin and embodies the best of Baroque and Rococo architecture of the time in Germany. Now, it serves as an ideal place for tourists to lounge and enjoy lakes and gardens in the centre of Berlin.The Berlin Olympic StadiumThis Olympic Stadium, like many others around the world, have been as much a part of historical events as any monument. In 1931, Berlin was assigned the role of hosting the 1936 Olympics. This was considered a win for the Nazis, who used the sport ceremony as an opportunity to spread propaganda. The stadium was built to house 86,000 to 110,000 people.Later, the stadium was used again to host the Football World Cup in 1974. While most of us weren’t born yet or are too young to remember this, a more recent even will probably jog your memory : this stadium was also the site of the famous Zidane, Materazzi situation in 2006.The stadium today is mostly used for championship games for the athletic world and is home to the football club Hertha Berlin. In a city where the cost of living isn't too high, this is a popular destination for many Berliner.Berlin, the largest city in Germany, naturally has many tourist spotsThe Oldest Building in Berlin: NikolaikircheOriginally constructed in 1230, the Saint Nicholas church is the oldest building in the city of Berlin. Located in the heart of the Nikolaiviertel quarter, also known as the medieval quarter, the church was damaged during the Second World War.Renovated in 1977, the church today is an exhibition hall for concerts thanks to its beautiful and unique acoustics.What To Do in Berlin: the View From the FernsehturmWhile it may sound odd, one of the best views of a city can always be seen through telecommunication towers. The Fernsehturm is no exception â€" built in 1965, the t elevision tower was originally owned by the German Democratic Republic, otherwise known as East Germany. While the intention of this tower was to be a symbol for communist power, it is, today, more a part of Berlin’s famous skyline than anything else.Standing at 368 meters, it is actually the tallest structure in Germany. Since 1969, the Fernsehturm has been welcoming the public for an incredible view of the city. Today, you can also enjoy the tower by visiting its rotating restaurant located at about 200 meters above the ground.Historical Point in Berlin: the Checkpoint CharlieThe control point C, often called Charlie after the phonetic alphabet established by NATO, was a post on the frontier of East and West Berlin that actually allowed for crossing between the wall. It was situated at the frontier between the American and Soviet quarters.During the Cold War, it was often one of the points of tension between the two powers. In October of 1961, a dispute over the free movement of Germany’s citizens caused a stalemate between tanks on both sides, which remained pointed at each other for three straight days.Today Checkpoint Charlie has become a favourite tourist visit for history buffs, where you can take some photos of the replicas of uniformed officers. It is also a great place to shop for historical souvenirs of Berlin.Outside of Berlin: the Sanssouci PalaceLocated in Potsdam, which is a 26-kilometre ride away from the capital, the palace was built in typical Rococo style between 1745 and 1747. It was the palace of the Prussian king Frederic II, otherwise known as Frederick the Great.Sanssouci, contrary to many other monuments both in Berlin and throughout Germany, was actually prized and respected by the communist regime. It featured on the 5 mark notes for East Germany, known as DDM. In fact, it was the GDR that requested it be classified by the UNESCO as a world heritage site, something that because reality in 1990.The Fernsehturm, one of the most ico nic viewpoints in the cityBonus Round: Other Interesting Places to Visit While in BerlinIf you’re looking for some more interesting sites to see while in Berlin, there are two more historical sites that are a must-see for people wanting to learn more about the city’s history.A visit to the Gesunbrunnen metro stop will allow you to visit the underground of Berlin. Most notably, you will find an older bunker that used to house the citizens of the city in case of airstrike attacks. A quick spoiler alert: the bunker wasn’t actually efficiently built and, had a bomb actually dropped in the area, everyone within would have perished.Another great place to drop by on your stay in Berlin is the Stasi prison. While it is a bit far from the centre, it’s definitely worth a visit. While this was the site where Soviet interrogations took place, it was also a place of torture. The famous prison offers tours in German, French and English.

Learn and play the guitar in Chicago!

Learn and play the guitar in Chicago! Where to go to learn the guitar in Chicago ChaptersPrivate guitar lessons in ChicagoChicago music conservatoriesMusic schools in ChicagoCultural and community centers for learning music in ChicagoAs one of the capitals of art and culture in the American Midwest, Chicago is a fantastic place to  learn to play the  guitar!Not sure what do to with your Gibson les Paul or Fender Stratocaster sitting in your house collecting dust? If you live in or close to Chicago and have always wanted learn how to play the guitar, improve your guitar playing, or discover a new style of music, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to music schools, conservatories and private instructors for learning your favorite 6-string instrument.And don’t forget about the incredible choices for attending gigs and concerts in a range of venues and genres â€" Chicago is a thriving hub for local and touring international musicians!Filled with classic theaters dating back to the early 1900s and new underground venues that draw on the city’s rich live music tradition, Chicago is a great city for music lovers. Why not listen to some Indie Rock at Empty Bottle, country rock in Hideout, jazz at Green Mill or even classical music by the Chicago Symphony??The grandiose Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall. Photo: Visual HuntWant to learn the difference between frets and tabs, perfect those chord progressions, or learn to riff like Chuck Berry? Guitar classes are accessible to all levels, whether you’re an absolute beginner or a professional guitarist hoping to perfect your playing. They are also ideal for learning how to improvise on the guitar or strumming methods, for example.Guitar instructors are passionate professionals who work according to a training method with the aim of providing the highest quality of instruction. But you must be careful when choosing your music teacher, as really anyone can profess to be an accredited teaching musician, regardless of training or background.So we strongly recommend that you meet your prospecti ve instructor’s other students, discover his or her learning method, ask whether he or she specializes in acoustic guitar or electric guitar, and listen to him or her play in order to form your own opinion. Don’t hesitate to lead a little inquiry to discover if your instructor has won any awards or given concerts, and learn about his or her music career.We recommend that a private instructor has a conservatory education as well as teacher training and performance experience: the ability to teach guitar does not “teach” itself, it requires a lot of effort and numerous personal qualities. Remember that all of these factors will determine the various price of your private lessons.Next, you’ll need to meet your potential guitar instructor:  training on an instrument like the guitar is also a question of feeling and chemistry between instructor and student. In fact, we recommend that you meet several guitar instructors to compare their methods and vision of teaching.Don't settl e on just any guitar instructor, find one who is perfectly suited to you! Photo: Visual HuntThe city of Chicago is teeming with talented individuals who offer guitar and solfège instruction, who will teach you how to improve, learn to play a chord or arpeggio, develop a certain technique and discover another music style (blues, rock, classic, flamenco, reggae, funk, pop, country, etc.) Why not go to your local music shop or consult the ads in your library or community center to get some contact details?One option could be the  Chicago School of Music  (900 N Franklin St., #604, Chicago, IL / 312-416-0622), which offers high-quality private guitar lessons (as well as piano, voice, violin and others) for adults and children of all leves, as well as training for music teachers.Or better still, find yourself a Superprof!Chicago music conservatoriesAnd for those interested in specializing in guitar for your higher education, there are a range of options available. If you  desire a highe r level of guitar playing with a disciplined methodology, the conservatory is the ideal place. In addition to music instruction, most conservatories also propose a dance and performance arts curriculum.It can be difficult and competitive to get accepted into these institutions, but that shouldn’t stop you from dreaming and applying yourself! In addition to the playing requirements, you should do your research in advance to know what you’ll need in order to apply (all the necessary documents and deadlines).They are portals into an artistic universe and professional playing; by enrolling in a conservatory, you’ll develop and hone your ability to interpret and play music while becoming an artist in your own right.Begin your search by looking into the highly reputed Chicago College of Performing Arts (Roosevelt University) and the DePaul School of Music. Next you might also check out the music departments in any of Chicago’s many colleges and universities.Music rounds out our ed ucation. Photo: Visual HuntMusic schools in ChicagoThe city of Chicago proposes a multitude of possibilities so that everyone can express him or herself in all possible ways via the arts and culture.On that note, guitar instruction is incredibly accessible in and around Chicago. Numerous music schools flourish in the city, so that, no matter where you live, you’ll be able to easily access one of them. Read on to find the perfect place to teach you the difference between a major chord, power chord and an open chord!Whatever type of instruction you choose, remember that practice makes perfect! Photo: Visual HuntHere’s a nice sampling of high-quality music schools in Chicago:The Hyde Park School of Music (608-207-6316) provides quality music lessons for guitar, piano, voice, songwriting, home recording and music production for children and adults, from beginner to advanced. Serving Chicago’s South Side, it teaches all musical styles including rock, folk, RB, hip-hop, metal, jazz, country, pop, blues, funk, gospel, classical and electronic music.The Merit School of Music (38 S Peoria St., Chicago, IL 60607 / 312-786-9428) offers early childhood classes, instrumental classes and private lessons. They also have a ground-breaking tuition free conservatory and summer camp. Students also have the opportunity to perform in several groups such as jazz , Latin inspired string and chamber music ensembles. Guitar features predominantly across its range of instruction options.Bucktown Music (1890 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647 / 773-904-7426) offers a rich and wide range of music education options via programs for children, adults and schools. This includes both private and group lessons for all instruments, levels and ages.The Chicago Academy of Music Conservatory (5655 S University Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 / 312-380-1644) offers private lessons, as well as early childhood programs, and the possibility to play in ensembles and orchestras (improv jazz, Latin music and new music orchestras) for both children and adults. Its unique curriculum and pedagogy allows accomplished professional musicians to share their talents with beginner and advanced students in the genres of jazz, classical, Latin, blues, world art music, and contemporary.The Music Institute of Chicago (several locations / 847-905-1500) is a community music school dedicated to transforming lives through music education, striving to lead everyone in its community toward a lifelong engagement with music. It offers group music classes, opportunities to play with others in small music ensembles, master classes with visiting artists, and even consultation with creative arts therapists! Instruction is available for classical guitar, lute, jazz/folk guitar, banjo and electric bass for all ages!Cultural and community centers for learning music in ChicagoAre you looking for a different guitar class experience in Chicago? Want to learn to tune your guitar and perfect your guitar chords outs ide of a conservatory or music school?Fortunately, there are numerous Chicago associations that promote the arts and culture.Here are a few great places to learn to tell the difference between a fretboard and guitar neck, among other things!The People’s Music School (931 W. Eastwood Ave., Chicago, IL 60640 / 773-784-7032) offers high-quality and tuition-free music education. You read that right, for no price at all, you can have access to intensive music instruction and performance opportunities!Chicago Center for Music Education (1148 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60642 / 312-738-2646): offers Early Childhood, General Music, Instrumental Music and Music Therapy programs, as well as summer camp. This fantastic place offers guitar training for kids in various musical styles, including classical, jazz, blues, tock, and Latin/Mariachi. Special focus is given to tone production and posture, hand position, and use of body, for students of all levels, from beginners to advanced, 4 years and up. This might be the perfect place for you to learn bar chords, tablatures, fingerpicking and ear training?Two other interesting centers to check out: Chicago West Community Music Center and Gary Comer Youth Center!Remember that key to any music education â€" guitar included â€" is what you do outside of the classroom. Practicing is the only way you’ll improve your guitar playing. Furthermore, make sure to listen to as much music as you can to become acquainted with the trends and talents in contemporary and historic music.When it comes to Chicago’s live music venues, perhaps no place  has been mythologized quite as much as  Metro (3730 North Clark St.). Just north of the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field ballpark, the stage of Metro has been graced by the likes of Bob Dylan, James Brown, Prince and Nirvana.If only you could have been in the audience at Chicago's Metro when Bob Dylan performed! Photo: Visual HuntOne of two clubs in Chicago owned by the Schuba brothers, Schubas (3159 North Southport Ave.) hosts cutting-edge talent in an intimate setting. Since its doors opened in 1989, it’s helped introduce some of today’s biggest talents to the world, like the Dave Matthews Band. (Their other venue is the famous Lincoln Hall).In the city’s emerging South Loop neighborhood, blues venue Buddy Guy’s Legends (700 South Wabash Avenue) was founded by none other than ultimate blues legend himself Buddy Guy in 1989 (the name does give it away). Every January he holds a 16-night residency and has welcomed famous guitarists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Lou Rawls, David Bowie and BB King over the years.You’ve got all the information you need: you have no excuse to not learn to play the guitar in Chicago!So get out your new guitar, metronome and capo and… ready, set… guitar! You’ll be playing lead guitar or solos like Stevie Ray in no time.

What is it Like to Attend Drexel University

What is it Like to Attend Drexel University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Ashley is a Washington D.C. tutor specializing in several subjects including AP Calculus tutoring, Algebra tutoring, Biology tutoring, and more. She attended Drexel University and holds a Bachelors degree in Mathematics and Economics. Check out her review of 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? Ashley: At Drexel, the campus setting is extremely urban. The dorms and classes are right in the heart of center city Philadelphia. There are buses all over, but most students walk or ride a bike. A car is definitely not a necessity. Despite the urban nature of the campus, Drexel is extremely safe with a large police force, and even walking assistants at night! VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Ashley: By far, Drexel has one of the best outreach programs between students and professors. Many professors (especially in the Math department which I was a part of) were tutors on campus in addition to their office hours. Drexel purposely has very small upper-level classes without a TA so that the professor-student connection is really strong. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Ashley: Dorm life is really nice. All honors students live together in one brand new skyscraper, which makes it easy to really get to know your classmates. Most of the dorms are suite style meaning four to six people living together with two showers and one bathroom instead of the typical single living area dorm style. I really liked the fact that I had my own bathroom, living room, and kitchen area! All the dorms are on the northern edge of campus, between one to five blocks from class. The honors dorm has food on the first floor, as well as a few other buildings, one which also has a small grocery store. There is one dining hall down by class, but there are also many places to eat in and around campus. As far as socialization goes, there is literally something for everyone. The CAB (Campus Activities Board) allows anyone to start an organization with at least five people. There are plenty of campus-sponsored and local festivals, concerts, and sporting events with lots to do! 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? Ashley: Business and Physical Therapy, as well as the five-year B.S./M.S programs, are very popular. Drexel also has a very strong focus in Applied Engineering and Mathematics. I studied Mathematics and could not have asked for a better program. Even through the most difficult classes, the professors and academic advisors were always available for support and tutoring. One of the main reasons I attended Drexel was the 25-student limit math class, and the math teaching style. It was truly unlike any other. The co-op program was also an amazing experience, which allowed me to attend school for six months followed by six months of a paid, real world, entry-level position. If you attend college to prepare you for a career, you cannot find a better program. 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? Ashley: Making friends was not difficult, between the entry-level class that all freshmen have to take and the campus environment. The Freshman Initiation class really allows you to become familiar with your residence, your school, and the Philadelphia/Center City area very quickly. Greek life plays a minor role compared to many of the other programs, with about 25% of students participating in Greek life. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Ashley: The Career Center at Drexel is unlike any other. The co-op program requires students to work for at least six months full-time with large national companies in their field prior to graduation. To prepare for this opportunity, all students have to take a course prior to working, and after they return, they evaluate the job(s), their personal career path, how to handle yourself in the workplace, resume writing, and much more. Drexel hosts the best co-op program in the country, and therefore hosts more reputable companies than almost any institution in the United States. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Ashley: Most dorm lounges are very nice with flatscreens, quiet rooms, and study areas. The honors dorms even have special additional resources, like tutoring areas and libraries. Although the library can be crowded during midterms or finals, there are many other locations on campus to study. 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? Ashley: Philadelphia is a vibrant and wonderful town with as much culture as anyone could ever need. It is very similar to the environment of New York City, except less busy and more fun! Campus is very close to center city, and most students travel there via the subway or by walking. Within a few miles, you can visit the famous Rocky Balboa stairs and the art museum, a world class performance hall, the Eagles Stadium, and some of the best ice cream I have ever had on South Street. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Ashley: The student body is rather large, but only about one-half to three-fourths of the students are on campus at any given time due to the co-op program. I absolutely loved the class sizes, especially for my major. Math and Finance classes can be extremely difficult, and with a small class size, it really fuels a much better learning environment. I learned more educationally and intra personally in my first semester of college than I had through most of my high school career. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Ashley:My most memorable experience would definitely be with my pre-career co-op class. Between daily resume and interview practice and pre-job training, I was more prepared than I would have ever imagined for my first round of interviews. I ended up being awarded the Best Interviewer for 2011, and had the opportunity to interview and earn positions with some of the best financial companies in the world. Along with interview skills, we utilized personality and career profiling to help find which career paths would work best. To further direct students, career panelists from all over the world were brought in so that you could gain worldly connections and hear from the real life perspective of someone in your field. From this class, I was able to find what career path truly fit best with my personality and my aspirations. This led to a wonderful co-op with one of the worlds largest financial management companies, and future career options well before graduation. I could never have bee n more prepared to enter the workforce, which is truly the reason you attend college to begin with. If you are serious about education and a career, Drexel is the university to attend. Check out Ashleys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Why Pentatonic Scales Are Essential for All Guitarists

Why Pentatonic Scales Are Essential for All Guitarists Megan L. Want to learn scales on guitar but not sure where to start? Guitar teacher  Joey I.  explains why pentatonic is the way to go The title of this article says it all: Why pentaonic scales are  essential for guitarists. Learning these scales is an absolute necessity. Now is it really necessary to know pentatonic scales to be able to play the guitar? No! A lot of guitarists go their whole career learning riffs, songs, and making up licks based off of the knowledge that they have while enjoying every minute of it. However, a lot of these guitarists know in the back of their mind that they should learn their scales. If you have been a guitarist for a little while, you have probably heard about it from other guitarists, musicians, teachers, and Internet articles that you should know your scales. And most guitarists have the desire to learn scales, but become overwhelmed because of how many scales there are to learn, and let’s be frank: there are a lot to learn and when you learn them, they are not easy to immediately apply to your playing. Well, I’m here to tell you that the pentatonic scale is the easiest and most useful scale to learn. The pentatonic scale can be used in almost every single song. Even if the song you are playing to uses a scale other than the pentatonic, you can play pentatonic over it and it will sound amazing. The pentatonic scale gets more miles per gallon than any other scale, and the fuel is recyclable. You can just keep using it and using it, and it never gets old. It is truly the bread and butter of guitar soloing, and song writing. Most songs that you love that sound “complicated” are actually using pentatonic guitar scales. Let’s look at what makes the pentatonic scale so easy: To start, the pentatonic scale has fewer notes than other scales.   The word pentatonic literally translates to 5 tones. Pent, meaning five. And tonic, meaning tone. “Our brains are inherently wired to know the pentatonic scale,” says famous musician Bobby McFerrin.   Check out this Ted Talk video where Bobby uses the audience to show how we all naturally know the pentatonic scale: Finally, you can play this scale over virtually every song, so this makes practicing a lot easier. Now, here are a few tips when practicing this scale: Practice slowly. When youre ready, try out these pentatonic scale exercises for guitarists. Make sure each note rings out and sounds good. The benefits of learning the pentatonic guitar scales: Learning the scale shapes allows you to improvise over virtually any song or backing track. Once you unlock this ability, practicing becomes easier and far more enjoyable. Not sure what we mean? Watch the video below. The pentatonic scale is the foundation for almost every other scale there is. Learning this foundation will set you up to easily play the other scales. Especially the blues scale, natural minor scale, harmonic minor scale, and the melodic minor scale. It will increase your confidence in playing dramatically. No more feelings of being overwhelmed by scales or the guitar. Your skill level will increase two fold because of this. Finally, it will allow you to seamlessly improvise with other musicians in a real live setting. Your friends will be thoroughly impressed and your confidence will soar. Once you have become comfortable with the pentatonic scales, try applying them by improvising over a backing track or your favorite song. Change the speed and rhythm, but most importantly, HAVE FUN! For a visual reminder of the G Major pentatonic scale, see the infographic below. Do you have any more questions about how the pentatonic scales work, or how to play them? Leave a comment and let us know. Joey I. teaches guitar, bass guitar, and drum lessons in Aurora, CO. He studied music production and recording arts at Berklee School of Music and he has been teaching music lessons for seven years. Learn more about Joey! 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 Dan Cox