How to Get a Tutor Time Surprise

How to Get a Tutor Time SurpriseHow to get a tutor time surprise Azora on the other hand had been going to the same college since sixth grade, and she thought she knew every part of that high school. Then, there were the whole dating thing, a conversation about school, and a text that read 'Hmmm...where would you like to meet up?' And Azora was actually just running her finger down the phone screen when something from another world slipped into the conversation and caught her eye. She could hardly believe it.Sometimes it's difficult for a girl who has had some high school experience. There is nothing worse than starting at college and then having to pass classes that are not your thing. Well, for someone like Azora, this couldn't be any worse. However, she wasn't upset. She was merely intrigued.However, how did this happen? Azora turned to the library and ran a search on the name Zeus. No luck, so she searched again, this time on Google. And the information was not only there but muc h more detailed was what she found.Azora also wondered how on earth Zeus had managed to get on this phone without her knowing. So, as Azora laid in bed that night, her fingers trailing over the keyboard, she started to realize how important this phone could be. This was not just a game, but a real game.After all, how much would it cost to have Zeus as a secret admirer? Would that be a good thing or a bad thing? Azora didn't know. But, she did know that it was a game that she needed to play. She needed to use it to her advantage.And she did. Azora finally gave Zeus what he really wanted. He was not only happy but very excited as well.Azora gave him a time-locked session that allowed her to call Zeus whenever she wanted to and use his cell phone with her own. She would send him texts for special events and buy him gifts. She even made him jealous by sending him a video that she created! And it was all Azora's own!

Should I Go To Brigham Young University

Should I Go To Brigham Young University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Rebekah is a Washington D.C. tutor specializing in ISEE prep tutoring, Essay Editing tutoring, Pre-Algebra tutoring, and more. She holds a Bachelors degree in Communications from Brigham Young University. Check out her review of her alma mater: 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? Rebekah: I attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. It is located in the heart of Provo which is a bigger town, but the university is what drives its economy. Getting around Provo is extremely easy for students. Students have to live within a mile radius of campus, so walking to school is always an option; however, the bus system is reliable and free for students. Many students survive without a bike or car at the school. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Rebekah: One thing I loved about attending BYU was the availability of the professors. They all have office hours and love meeting with students to help them with any questions or concerns. There are extremely large general classes with upwards of 1,000 students in them, so those professors might be more difficult to get in touch with; however, those classes have several teaching assistants who are available to help as well. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Rebekah: There are two different options for on-campus housing: housing with kitchens and housing without. The school is in the middle of rebuilding the kitchen dorms (Heritage Halls), so they are brand new buildings with more room and upgraded features. The other dorms were recently rebuilt or remodeled as well. Dorm life is awesome if you are a freshman. The majority of students living in the dorms are freshman who love life, stay up late, and enjoy their new college adventure. 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? Rebekah: BYUs Business School is highly ranked, especially its Accounting program. It also has a well-known and respected Engineering program. Although, you really cant go wrong with the major you choose. All of the majors are well-respected, and the school as a whole is well-known and highly favored in every field. I studied Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations. It was a great experience with hands-on, real-life application as well as fantastic support from all professors involved. As a general rule, each major has some sort of internship and/or capstone project which gives students a flavor of what life will be like after school. 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? Rebekah: Meeting people at BYU is extremely easy. As I mentioned previously, nearly all freshmen live in the dorms and dorms basically force you to meet people since you share common areas. Also, BYU is predominately attended by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which means most of the students attend church with each other. Through church and church activities, it makes meeting others even easier. Business Insider recently ranked BYU #1 for a university where students are both hot and smart, and as part of the description of the university, it stated everyone is very friendly, and it's not uncommon to strike up a conversation with a perfect stranger. BYU has a strict honor code which deters Greek life, so it definitely does not play a significant role in the social life there. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Rebekah: Students can set up an appointment with the Career Center at any time. It is well staffed and helpful for all students, even those who need guidance as to which career would best suit them. Every year, they have several career fairs bringing in companies from all over the country, including General Mills, various school districts, top accounting and consulting firms, as well as others. Basically, each college at the university has its own career fair at some point throughout the year. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Rebekah: BYU has one of the best libraries in the country. While I was at BYU, it was consistently ranked #1 in the nation. It has everything a student needs, including ample study areas, rooms, and computers. All dorms have lounges, but I imagine they can be noisy, so most students prefer to study at the library or in their bedrooms. There are also plenty of study areas in every building on campus. Students tend to find their study space they like to frequent. 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? Rebekah: Provo basically caters to BYU since it is the economic center of Provo. Provo is located at the base of the Wasatch mountains, so there is plenty of outdoor fun to be had: hiking, biking, camping, fishing, boating, etc. Students also often take advantage of the great variety of restaurants and shopping in the area. There is always something to do in Provo whether its attending an event on campus, a local party, or going out on the town. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Rebekah: There are close to 29,000 undergrad students who attend BYU. General classes tend to be huge, but some sections offered are on the smaller side. Regardless of the class size, the university staffs the class with adequate TA numbers and extra support so students can always reach some type of expert to help them with the subject matter. As students get into their major specific courses, class sizes greatly shrink. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Rebekah: I absolutely loved my experience at BYU and hope to send my own children there. I cant pinpoint one memorable experience because I had so many. Honestly, the majority of the professors I had were fantastic, well-spoken, and passionate about the subject matter. Professors literally moved me to tears because of their passion, and I loved that. It is a fantastic school in every aspect. Check out Rebekahs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What Is Your Opinion On......

What Is Your Opinion On...... Giving Your Opinion In English Giving Your Opinion In EnglishGiving your opinion in English and any language is important. You can give an opinion on the taste of a sandwich, the color of someones hair or why you think that a person should be the next president of your country.One of the most controversial environmental topics recently has been about poaching. Poaching is when people illegally hunt or catch animals such as rhinos and elephants. This is often done because the animal has something valuable that can be sold for lots of money, like  ivory. Can you think of any other animals that are poached? Why? Let us know by writing in the  comment section so we can see how many different animals are poached around the world.Poaching can be a topic that people have very strong opinions about, which is why we are going to use it as an example for todays class. The video below will tell you a story about the African elephant, so go ahead and watch it.Listening for Opinions In EnglishThat was a difficult video to watc h. Here are some questions about the video. Can you answer the questions or fill in the blank? As always, write your comments below, and well respond!Elephants are one of the most ___________ creatures on this planet.and they are highly ___________, social beings.What is the largest land animal in your country? Can you tell us anything about this animal? Is it social or unsocial? What does it eat? Does this animal have any problems with humans, such as poaching?African elephants have been here for a million  and a half years, and now human intervention is literally changing the face of this incredible creature. In this sentence, what do you think the narrator means when she says that elephant faces have been changed by humans? Write your ideas below so we can see your interesting thoughts.Dr. Tammie Matson said that elephants are a keystone species, meaning they play a very important role in the natural environment. Can you name the two actions that elephants do in the wild that can  change the natural environment?Their ivory tusks are basically just large ____________, but for centuries theyve been used in _______, ornaments, jewelry, even _________ keys.Why do you think that the price of ivory is so high? Do you think a higher price will stop poaching or make more poaching happen?Forms Of Giving Your Opinion In EnglishNow that we have listened to the video, here are  the various ways to give, ask and summarize your opinion: Lets try and put these into practice.  Im going to ask you for your opinion on a topic. Can you write your opinion in the comment section below? Try to use an expression to state your opinion, and summarize using another one of the expressions from the table above.What do you think about poaching endangered animals such as elephants?Practice Giving Your Opinion In EnglishNow lets look at some current news topics. Below there are 3 pictures from current news events. First, think about what the picture could be about with the help of a clu e in the parenthesis  ( ), then write your opinion in the comment section below, using the expressions we looked at earlier.(United Airlines Passenger)2.(North Korean Missile)3.(Easter)Great work! Now we can make our opinion even more interesting by adding how much you agree or disagree with someone/something. Below you can see another table with expressions to show you how to reinforce your opinion.Can you think of something that you strongly agree with and something you strongly disagree with? Wed love to hear  your opinions!Now you can show people your opinions in English, which will allow you to engage in conversation about a variety of topics. We hope you enjoyed todays blog post. If you are interested in taking English classes with native English speakers, sign up today to book a trial class!

English Vocabulary for Halloween ?? - Learn English with Harry ??

English Vocabulary for Halloween ?? - Learn English with Harry ?? Autumn is here (where I am living certainly) and is commonly seen as the stepping stone (route, how to get to another place) from Summer to Winter and of course Christmas and the New  Year.When we think of Autumn our thoughts turn to Halloween and when we think of Halloween we  dream about costumes, dressing up (putting on different clothes) family games such as bobbing the  apple (explained below) and of course the tradition of trick or treating (children dressing in  costumes and calling on the neighbours offering to do a trick, tell a story or a joke in exchange for a  treat candy or sweets).   This festival (annual event of celebration) is probably the second biggest  festival after Christmas. Huge amounts of money are spent on costumes and wigs and spooky (scary) masks. The history of Halloween stretches back many centuries and is a pagan festival. The tradition originally comes from Ireland. Today in Christian world November the 1st is  known as All Saints Day (All Hallows). In pagan times it was believed  to be a time when the souls of dead people returned to earth and the day before or All Hallows Eve (now shortened to Halloween) was a night of celebration before Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) which  is a Celtic /Gaelic word. Even today in Irish Gaelic language November is still called Samhain.Pumpkins or turnips were used as lanterns (lights). The turnip or pumpkin was hollowed out and a  candle placed inside to ward off (scare away) evil spirits. Known today as Jack OLanterns they are  sold in their millions and carved out by families all over the northern hemisphere.The religious aspects are now largely ignored but the celebration continues to grow. Houses, streets  and shops are decorated with anything connected with the dark world of witches, e vil spirits and  skeletons. English Vocabulary for Halloween - Halloween Games Bobbing the apple: A family game where apples are placed in a basin (shallow bucket) with water.  The apples float in the water and you take it in turns (one after another) to try and pick up an apple  in the water with your teeth. You cannot use your hands. It is not easy and lots of water is splashed  around accompanied by much laughter.A ring in a cake: An ancient tradition was for single girls to try and find a husband. There were lots  of old superstitions concerning this practice. Elderly relatives baked a cake (a barmbrack Gaelic  cake) and buried (hid) a ring in the cake. The superstition was that whoever got the slice or piece of  cake containing the ring would get married before the next Halloween. Sometimes other items like  coins would be added which would possibly signify wealth coming to whoever got the coin. English Vocabulary for Halloween - Learn English Words stepping stone  route, how to get to another placeto dress up to put on different clothesspooky scarylantern light, light sourcebasin shallow bucketto take turns to do something one after anotherto bury to hide

A-Level History Revision

A-Level History Revision Revising for history A-level takes time and effort, as you need to know facts and then be able to turn these into persuasive arguments in your essays. Having facts, without the analysis won't get you a high-grade, neither will having the arguments, without crucial evidence to back your discussions up. For this reason, you need to spend time going through your syllabus, working with past papers, writing practice essays and talking through your arguments with a teacher, history tutor or your peers to ensure you are ready for the exam. Thankfully there are many techniques that will help you to revise the subject matter and ensure the information fall into place. Write a timeline of events History is a timeline, so creating one is key for revision. Put together a chronology of important events, and places, with the causes and consequences of the events. This is a great way to revise what you have learnt about a particular topic and refresh your arguments. For instance, create a timeline of the events behind the origins of World War Two focus on events but also how it affected different people, countries and classes. Watch YouTube videos This can be extremely helpful in helping you to recall specific events or understand how policies affected people. Look for credible sources and re-enactments to help you determine what happened and why. For instance, if you are studying World War Two events like the evacuation of Dunkirk, or Churchill becoming Prime Minister. Create short biographies of key figures There's no getting away from the fact that with history you need do need to know the details. That's people, times, dates, policies etc. Writing short summaries, and biographies on cards can help you to remember this crucial information. Pinning these cards on a board and showing how they relate to each other can then also help with your analysis. Use cards to write short summaries of your arguments Examiners are also looking for what you think, and want to know your arguments and interpretation of key events. It's this information that needs to be on revision cards so you can accurately bring all your knowledge together. Read them daily to refresh your mind. Write essay plans This is a technique most students forget about but one that can help you with history revision. Spend time making a series of essay plans on the key areas you have discussed in class or with your tutor. Each plan should have four key points you can make with facts and analysis.This is a great way to revise not only key information but also how you will show the examiner you know and understand your subject. Work with a history tutor Working with a history tutor will help you with all of the above points and with your arguments and revision technique. This can help if you feel the syllabus hasn't yet, fallen into place or if you feel your revision scope is too wide. For more help with revision look at our blog posts on How to deal with exam stress and the Habits of Successful Students. https://www.firsttutors.com/uk/subject/history/a-level/

Adults vs. Kids Can Adults Learn a Second Language

Adults vs. Kids Can Adults Learn a Second Language Children are like sponges.They  can  absorb foreign  languages  so quickly.How many of you have heard this before?Society is flooded with messages telling you who is and who isnt good at learning a language.And if you asked any random person walking down the street who the champion of language learners are, they would probably  say children.This seems like such an obvious truth that its hardly ever challenged.Clearly everyone can speak their native language fluently,  which they learned as a child, but loads of people have trouble getting a grasp on a second language (or third if they grew up bilingual).So it must be that children are the  perfect language learners, and all adults can hope for is to achieve some fraction of their  success, right?Wrongâ€"theres a fatal flaw in this logic. Children live very different lives from adults and their reasons for learning a language  are often just as disparate. In fact, there are many reasons to believe that the popular opinion about how po orly adults learn languages is fundamentally flawed.From the lack of physical evidence for the superiority of language learning in children, a new system of beliefs is beginning to sprout through the cracks of the old, oversimplified model of age and language learning.But where did these beliefs come from in the first place? The Critical Period Hypothesis and Popular BeliefThe Critical Period Hypothesis is the academic name for what most of us have come to believe about adults and language learning. Its basic outline is that theres a fixed period of time in which you can really learn a language and learn it well. After that good luck. Maybe you can aspire to be like Luigi Risotto, the Italian chef from The Simpsons who speaks fractured though understandable English, but dont get any hopes of sounding like a native.This critical period is supposed to run from when youre born to sometime during adolescence, when youre around 15 years  old.  In other words, this is the scientific bas is of  our poor opinion of  adult language learners.But the question everyone wants to know is: Is it true? The answer: Maybe. Theres quite a bit of debate over the topic, and it would be hard to say that anything is settled. But many researchers have come out against the theory, some denying that a critical period exists at all.Take David Singleton for example, a professor of linguistics at Trinity College Dublin. In his papers he regularly criticizes those who side with the Critical Period Hypothesis and  in one of them  he reviews the relevant literature on the biology of the brain only to conclude that theres nothing solid about the science of a critical period. Thats right. No one has landed any fatal evidence that this period exists in our brains at all.So take a breath and let go of all your age-related anxieties.But surely adults and children arent the same, you might say. Well of course not.Whats the Difference Between Kids and Adults Anyways?I think we can all makes some s tabs at the general differences between adults and kids in how they learn. Ive seen very few  toddlers sitting at a desk diligently reading a grammar textbook for hours at a time, though Im sure theres probably one somewhere.But beyond the obvious differences, such as adults being more willing and able to learn in a formal learning environment, there are some hen children learn new things about language, they use the same part of their brain that they use for motor control. Adults, on the other hand, make use of the part of their brain in charge of higher cognitive functionsâ€"the part of the brain that develops later.Ah hah! you say. So there are differences between their brains!  But remember this simple means that  how  we use our brain  changes as we age. It doesnt mean that how  well we can learn things also changes.How else do adults differ? Well, they have  a ton of knowledge already. And that can be both a bad thing and a good thing. Sometimes  the sounds and words weve lear ned when we were little make it much harder to pick apart the words from other languages because were trying to force them into the mold of our first language.But sometimes its the exact opposite. If youre a good reader in your native language, those skills usually translate into good reading skills in a foreign language. Sometimes even the sounds in your native language can  give you a leg up in foreign language pronunciation, as this study on Korean speakers learning English has shown.So Whos Better at Learning a Second  Language: Kids or Adults?Even if the theres no critical period to learn a language, theres still the question of who can learn faster. We can break this down into several categories for ease of digestion.PronunciationAs adults or young adults,  pronunciation is our weak point. Most sources tend to agree that while it is possible in rare cases for adults to gain a completely native accent in a new foreign language, it just doesnt happen that often. Kids are more ad ept at learning and using the sounds of a language.But for most adults, this doesnt really matter. Its more important to be understood than to sound like a perfect native.  After all, isnt that why youre learning a foreign language in the first placeâ€"to communicate with others?And on that score theres a long track record of people who can communicate quite well in a second language learned later in life. Plus,  if you really want to speak like a native, go for it! Its still possible that you could be one of those few adults who really nails the pronunciation in their second language.Grammar and vocabularyIn grammar and vocab, adults and adolescents actually significantly outperform very young children in the short-term. In the long-term, young children will eventually overtake the older age groups, but only if theyre exposed to the foreign language enough.In fact, if a young child is being taught in a formal setting, he or she may never catch up to the  adult at all. You heard tha t right.  Sometimes adults really can outperform children when it comes to foreign language.Reading and complex thoughtI said it before, but Ill say it again: If youre a good reader in your native language, youll probably be a good reader in a foreign language. Thats because adults are good at taking knowledge they already have and applying  it to  very similar new knowledge that theyre trying to acquire. Why reinvent the wheel when you can just make a few adjustments?And in fact, reading and anything dealing with complex thought is  where adults really shine. The critical period in no way applies here, and in fact the oppose could be said: The older the better.  5 Reasons  Adults Can Definitely Learn a Second LanguageIf youve read this far and still find yourself worrying about how well you can learn a language, then lay back, relax and read on to let go of the last of your worries.1. Age is only one factor.We like to worry about age because it seems like theres an obviously better position to be in: being a child. But since this is something beyond our control, we should instead  focus on the myriad of other factors that affect our learning.For example, factors like motivation, personality, the learning environment and learning strategies are all things we can control which have a huge impact on your success as a language learner.2. Children arent as strong as they seem.Everyone loves to heap praise on children. Whether its a mom or dad doting on their own kid or a child that gets random affection from strangers just for being cute, children tend to get a pass for things that adults would never get away with.The same is true for language. Children may sound like great speakers, but usually we have low expectations for them.  Kids  tend to speak in simple sentences using only  very basic vocab. This is perfect for a child that doesnt yet have a need for complex language, but it also means that kids are not really the language superstars we take them to be.3. Even full-grown adults can reach near-native level.This was mentioned earlier, but some adults  do  learn a second  language and sound like a native. If your goal is to move to Mexico, buy a farm in a backwater village and blend in with the natives, dont let anyone dissuade you.With enough practice under your belt and a can-do attitude, in time youll be able to boast about your perfect Mayan grammar.4. Language learning has health benefits.Forget about your ineradicable foreign accent. All that work you spend  learning a new language will keep your brain healthy for years to come. What does a little imperfection in speech matter when your entire clarity of thought is guaranteed to stay sharp well into old age?5. Language learning is about connecting.What is language for? Communicating to other people, of course. Perfection doesnt need to be our endpoint. In fact, we can just as easily choose an entirely different goal, like making friends in a foreign language.Language exchanges or  individual language partners are an excellent way to expand your social circle. Most people will be quite happy if you can speak just well enough to  hold up your end of the conversation.These are just a handful of the most obvious reasons to not pay attention to age. With so many great possibilities available through learning a foreign language, why should you let a social myth about age and language learning hold you back?There are lots of things people miss about being a kid, but being able to learn a new language doesnt have to be one of them. And One More ThingIf youre excited to learn a language as an adult, 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 Screen.FluentU has interactive c aptions 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.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn 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.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.

Inspiring a Love of Math in Your Children

Inspiring a Love of Math in Your Children Inspiring a Love of Math in Your Children “When am I ever going to use math?” Have you ever heard these words from your children?  Struggling  students or even  children  with minimal math anxiety can become frustrated with complex math problems and quickly give in  to the notion that they will never use math in real life situations.   While some kids may fuss about math and daily practice, it’s important that they know that math is all around us.  In fact, math is so ingrained in our daily life, that sometimes  we use  math without even realizing it.  From telling time to calculating a tip to shopping at the grocery store, we are constantly faced with math problems to solve.     Add to that the fact that math plays a pivotal role in getting into college, no matter the desired career path. Performing well on standardized tests helps  students gain admission to their  university of choice and allows  them the most opportunities for career development.   Do you ever struggle communicating  the importance of a strong foundation in math to your children?  Use the infographic below  to help your children tap into a greater appreciation of math.     (View Full Sized Image)     Helping children realize that math plays an important role in our daily lives may be the first step to alleviating their math  anxiety and inspiring a love of learning. Being good at math can open many doors later in life.  Find more great math tips here. You might also be interested in: Fear of math word problems? Why developing reading ability may be the solution to help your child. This Young Kumon Student Learned To Love New Challenges in Math Common Core and School Math The Perception of Math: Venus vs. Mars Inspiring a Love of Math in Your Children Inspiring a Love of Math in Your Children “When am I ever going to use math?” Have you ever heard these words from your children?  Struggling  students or even  children  with minimal math anxiety can become frustrated with complex math problems and quickly give in  to the notion that they will never use math in real life situations.   While some kids may fuss about math and daily practice, it’s important that they know that math is all around us.  In fact, math is so ingrained in our daily life, that sometimes  we use  math without even realizing it.  From telling time to calculating a tip to shopping at the grocery store, we are constantly faced with math problems to solve.     Add to that the fact that math plays a pivotal role in getting into college, no matter the desired career path. Performing well on standardized tests helps  students gain admission to their  university of choice and allows  them the most opportunities for career development.   Do you ever struggle communicating  the importance of a strong foundation in math to your children?  Use the infographic below  to help your children tap into a greater appreciation of math.     (View Full Sized Image)     Helping children realize that math plays an important role in our daily lives may be the first step to alleviating their math  anxiety and inspiring a love of learning. Being good at math can open many doors later in life.  Find more great math tips here. You might also be interested in: Fear of math word problems? Why developing reading ability may be the solution to help your child. This Young Kumon Student Learned To Love New Challenges in Math Common Core and School Math The Perception of Math: Venus vs. Mars