How to Gain Leadership Experience Before Your MBA Program

How to Gain Leadership Experience Before Your MBA Program When applying to business school, there are certain boxes you need to check off to demonstrate why you are an excellent candidate. Admissions committees are looking for transferrable skills and examples of using these skills that demonstrate your ability to succeed in the future. Your GPA, transcripts, and GRE or GMAT scores show that you can handle the work in the classroom. Your recommendations show that you can build the professional relationships you need in your career. And your essays show that you know what you want to achieve through an MBA program. But what about leadership? How can you gain leadership experience before your MBA program? If you havent accomplished something amazing, like conducting a symphony orchestra or directing a mission to Mars, it may seem impossible to write a great resume for your business school application. There are many measures you can take, but here are three simple ways to gain leadership experience before your MBA program. Launch a project at work Besides performing your best at work and earning a promotion, how can you show you are a leader at your company? One way is to propose a new revenue generator, either from future or existing clients. This initiative conveys to the management of your organization that you are a forward-thinking professional committed to increasing your companys success. Additionally, you could suggest an internal program, like pulling together the collective knowledge of your fellow team members to streamline staff recruitment, or implementing an employee development series to increase staff retention. Executing even a small venture at your place of business can show an admissions committees that you have the drive to succeed in an MBA program. Volunteer Your job is not the only place you can put your leadership skills into action. Participating in extracurricular activities can provide opportunities for you to manage and persuade other individuals. Coach in a youth basketball league. Chair a philanthropic committee for a cause that holds significance for you. Campaign for a seat on your citys council or, run someone elses campaign. Along with finding new ways to get involved with your community, take a look at how you have already made a contribution to those around you. Relate your previous leadership experience in college or in your current career to the future leadership goals you have for your MBA program. Did you hold positions in organizations during your undergraduate years? Do you currently work on the alumni board of your college or high school? Show how you would be similarly committed to your business school after graduation. Discuss your interest in the schools existing clubs or propose new projects you would like to launch. Your plans should be based specifically on your research of your target MBA program. Lead your own organization Instead of contributing to your community through an existing association, start your own. For instance, create a group on Meetup.com based on your interests. Start a professional organization, possibly with an MBA theme. Organize a regular trivia night that benefits a local charity. Its a great way to develop leadership skills and meet new people at the same time. You could also start your own business, likewise based on something you enjoy. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart, but its risks can be worth the reward. Whether youre consulting for executives, instructing graphic design classes, trading commodities, or selling homemade jam online, running your own company can teach you about areas of business you never considered before. It may also set you apart from other MBA applicants who only have experience as business employees, not as business owners. When looking for ways to demonstrate leadership on your MBA applications, focus not only on your title but also on your actions. What did you do in your position? How did you lead? And, its not only about you. How did you harness other peoples energy, skills, and talents to achieve your goals? All business schools, regardless of size, ranking, or location, are looking for students who are ready to become the leaders of tomorrow. Getting into business school is an obstacle you can overcome by selecting and showcasing personal development opportunities that match your interests and objectivesshow these schools how you will lead in your MBA program and in your future career.

Buying a Violin What to Consider

Buying a Violin What to Consider What Should You Ask Yourself Before you Buy a Violin? ChaptersWhat Are the Different Types of Violin?Violin Tuning: Where to BeginWhat is the Cost of Violins?Caring for Your ViolinStradivarius ViolinsWhether you’re completely new to music lessons or you’re simply looking to fully commit to your musical education by purchasing a violin of your very own, the process of looking for a suitable violin can quickly become complicated.When it comes to choosing a violin to suit you as a player, music teachers can be incredibly helpful in providing advice around violin makers, suppliers in your local area and the prices you can expect to pay for a range of violins.However, heading in the right direction can be difficult if you haven’t yet met with your violin instructor but you’re looking to buy an instrument before your first lesson.Getting to grips with the world of violins can help you feel a bit more confident on your visits to music shops.Having a good idea about the things to consider when looking for your ideal violin will give you a far better chance of a successful purchase.Whether you want to know more about the various types of violin, the history of string instruments, violin sizes, playing the violin, how to tune and look after your violin or the pricing for different types of violin, this article will guide you through the wonderful world of the smallest member of the string family!Given that most violin lessons for beginners are taught to youngsters, naturally their first instruments are of a smaller size than those played by adults.Hiring or buying a violin of the correct size is absolutely essential for any violinist as playing a violin of the wrong size can lead to discomfort and even hinder progress â€" so don’t be tempted to buy a larger violin for a young musician to grow into!Whether you're renting or buying, the student should be able to comfortably hold the scroll of a violin in the palm of their left hand for the instrument to be a good fit.So, what other types of violin are out there?The electric violin is a popular choice for those who perform regularly in front of large crowds, as their make-up enables their sound to be amplified and played through electronic sound systems.Electric violins are the same size and have the same number of strings are acoustic violins, so switching between the two is not difficult for violinists.Another alternative to the acoustic violin is the electro-acoustic type (also known as semi-electric or acoustic-electric).Electro-acoustic violins are all about flexibility, as they provide the player with the sound of an acoustic violin whilst giving them the option to transmit this sound through an amplifier.Most violinists are happy to keep playing their acoustic instruments, while more advanced players and those who are working towards a career on-stage tend to opt for more advanced violins.Violin Tuning: Where to BeginFor those who are encountering stringed instruments for the very first time, tuning up can be daunting.How to tune a violi n properly?  How do I know when each string is in-tune? What happens if I snap a string?Violins have four strings which are tuned in perfect fifths.This means that the pitch of each string is from lowest to highest is the fifth note of the scale of the one before it. So, the strings are tuned to the notes G, D, A and E (where G is the lowest note and E is the highest).So, what is the correct way to tune a violin?The way you tune a violin will depend on how out-of-tune it is in the first place.For example, if your violin has just had new strings put on it and you’re tuning them for the first time, use the tuning pegs (located beyond the fingerboard).Turning the tuning pegs tightens and loosens the strings. It’s important to remember to be gentle with your violin’s strings â€" even if they are horrendously out-of-tune!Turn each peg slowly as you pluck the string to listen to the pitch. Once it has reached the right pitch, move onto the next string.The other way to tune-up is to use the fine-tuners which are located on the violin tailpiece.Learning to tune a violin properly is important to ensure quality sound. Source: PixabayIt is recommended that you use the fine tuners (rather than the tuning pegs) as much as possible to prevent string breakages.Your violin teacher will be able to show you how to properly tune your violin, however, there are also plenty of online tutorials to help you too. TomViolin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StacyViolin Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtieViolin Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BenedictViolin Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaisiiaViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AmyViolin Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuísViolin Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoViolin Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is the Cost of Violins?When the time comes for you to begin your search for a violin of your own, you’ll notice that the asking prices of violins can vary a lot depending on the make and model of the violin, as well as the level of player each violin is intended for.So, if you’re a beginner looking to purchase your very first violin, how much money should you be prepared to part with?There are many ways to find out which are the best student violins for beginners, such as approaching violin specialists at your local music shop or looking for advice online.As a general rule, you should expect to pay £50- £100 for your very first good violin outfit, however, if you’re looking for a musical instrument which will suit you in the long run, it can be worth investing up to £300 in a good-quality violin which is suitable for both beginner and intermediate players.For instance, most violin shops sell brands of student violin such as Windsor and Antoni, which are reputable yet affordable and inexpensive options with a heightened level of playability to suit any beginner violinist.As you progress in your musical career, you may want to invest in a high-specification instrument which will help you to produce a richer tone and to showcase your technical skills.Stentor and Forenza are among some of the violin makers which develop violins for intermediate players.But remember, don’t just make decisions based on brand names.Remember that within every brand are various models of violin which are developed with the needs of specific types of student in mind, so make sure that you do your research on specific models before you make a final decision!Caring for Your ViolinLearning how to play the violin involves much more than learning how to play the right notes in the right places.As a musician, it’s your responsibility to take care of the instrument that you play to ensure that it is in the best possible condition when you play it.Proper maintenance of yo ur violin will ensure that it produces a high-quality sound as well as reducing the risk of damage.For violinists, good maintenance means taking steps to care for your instrument on both a regular and long-term basis.So, how do you take care of a violin?Most of your violin maintenance takes place after you’ve finished playing your violin.Once you’ve finished practicing your pieces or rehearsing with your orchestra, you should wipe down your violin with a dry cloth. Doing this will remove any dust or residue which may build up and affect the violin’s overall tone if not removed.Keeping your violin in a case will protect it from damage ¦ source: Pixabay - LaPorteAnother essential care tip concerns the violin bow. Violin bows are made of horsehair and, like the violin itself, they are quite delicate and therefore require a level of care.Just as you tighten the bow hair before playing your violin, you should also loosen it before putting the violin and bow away in a violin case.V iolin cases also play a mian role in looking after your violin, as they provide a tailor-made cushion for the instrument. Violins should always be stored in a hard case when not being used - and remember to remove your violin shoulder rest and practice mute before you put your violin away!Cleaning the dust off your violin, keeping it in a case and loosening the horsehair on the bow are just two things you can do to care for your instrument on a daily basis â€" but what about in the longer term?Changing a violin’s strings is must for any violinist. It is recommended that players change their strings once every 12 months (less-experienced violinists should visit an expert at a violin shop who can lend a hand before they learn to do it themselves).With time, violin strings can become worn as the rosin builds up on them. This can eventually affect the violin’s sound and put the strings at risk of breaking, so re-stringing is an essential part of keeping string instruments sounding b right.Stradivarius ViolinsOne of the famous names that constantly crops up in discussions about violins is ‘Stradivarius’.But what makes Stradivarius violins so special? And can you still buy them today?Stradivarius string instruments get their name from their makers, the family of Antonio Stradivari, an Italian family who crafted violins, violas, and cellos during the 1600s and 1700s.Though only around 600 of the original Stradivarius violins still exist, many manufacturers have attempted to copy the classic Stradivarius design in tribute to the famous makers.Most original handmade Stradivarius instruments are owned privately or by museums, and if you’re looking to buy a  strad  of your own, you’ll need to have at least £2 million in your back pocket!Nevertheless, the Stradivari legacy is an important part of the rich and interesting history of stringed instruments which lives on in the violin crafting of today.You can look around for violin lessons london if you wish to l earn more and are based in the capital.

What is it Like to Attend West Chester University

What is it Like to Attend West Chester University Brenda earned her bachelor's degree in English from West Chester University. She specializes in public speaking tutoring, computer science tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at West Chester University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Brenda: West Chester University is situated in a suburban area, surrounded by neighborhoods where students can find off-campus housing within walking and biking distance. Theres also housing offered on campus. There are buses that provide transportation between the main campus and the south campus, which is about a mile away. I have never personally felt unsafe on campus. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Brenda: The professors and advisers tend to be available when needed. Each professor is required to hold office hours and will often make appointments if asked. They also use school emails frequently. None of my classes had teaching assistants, so I cant speak to that. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Brenda: The facilities are nice, offering large rooms or suites. Each floor has a common area in its center with some form of entertainment. Rooms include beds, drawers, and desks with either one closet and one wardrobe or two closets. Each floor has two RAs who monitor the students and organize social events. Each floor also has a laundry room with free laundry. Aramark is the food company that staffs the dining facilities on campus. The food options offered are typically good. Additionally, many students enjoy the food trucks that sit on Church Street in the middle of campus. Many other restaurants are within walking or delivery distance of campus as well. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Brenda: West Chester is mainly known for its music education program, as well as its accounting program. However, its known as a utility school that boasts many different well-supported programs. Personally, I studied English, with minors in physics, French, and computer science. From what Ive seen, each of the departments in which I completed a minor were supported and taught their fields well. 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? Brenda: I joined a co-ed fraternity, but it was a band fraternity. I went into freshman year having spent the summer making friends while rehearsing with band. How helpful are the Career Centerand other student support services? Brenda: Many companies did recruit on campus, but they were not in my area of study. The Career Center reviewed my resume, but didnt provide new information when it came to the actual job search. How are the various study areas, such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Brenda: They all boast chairs and tables, with school computers from which to print assignments. In the dorms, study areas were sometimes used more for socializing than for actual study, but the library was always quiet. Describe the surrounding town. Brenda: The immediate surrounding area was mostly neighborhoods. One street in particular, Walnut Avenue, has houses that are almost entirely rented by students. Many restaurants and small shops sit in the downtown area, making it a draw for all students during the day. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Brenda: West Chester hosts about 15,000 students each year, a number that is growing. It never felt overcrowded, though, and classes were often capped at 30 to 40 students, which ensured some student-teacher interaction. Throughout my whole college career, I only attended one course held in an auditorium. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Brenda: In general, my English courses were a delight. Each class was discussion-based. The research seminars, which acted as capstone courses for the English degree, each concentrated on a different subject relevant to our society and encouraged us to view our world critically and intelligently. Check out Brendas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Upcoming Changes in the SAT

Upcoming Changes in the SAT Note: A more updated account of the SAT changes can be found here. You may have your grievances with the SAT, just as university professors may have theirs. Nearly everyone has a suggestion or two for the College Board when it comes to their infamous test. The College Board evidently listened to someone (perhaps even you), as they have recently announced several major revisions to the SAT that should take effect in 2016. It should be noted that the current SAT format will not change. There will still be Writing, Mathematics, and Critical Reading sections. However, the College Board hopes to make the test content more relevant to the material that students learn in their high school classes and closer to the material that theyll need to understand in order to do well in college. Thus, the College Board also intends to make the test more practical. [RELATED: What is an Average SAT Score?] There are some very specific modifications that could affect your SAT preparation but first, its critical to understand the rationale behind these changes. The SAT is designed to be the great equalizer in college admissions and to accurately predict students success in higher education. However, the College Board President, David Coleman, recently acknowledged that the SAT isnt doing the best it can to achieve these goals. Some experts say that high school grades are still a better predictor of future academic success than SAT scores. The proposed changes to the SAT are intended to bridge this gap and make SAT scores a more accurate measure of how well students will perform at the college level. Critical Reading Perhaps one of the largest problems with the current version of the SAT is the seemingly arbitrary vocabulary words that are used on the test. The College Board has heard this feedback, so students might not have to memorize these arcane terms anymore. According to the proposed changes, these words will be replaced with vocabulary that youd be far more likely to actually use in college and in everyday life. If you plan to take the test in 2016, ensure you locate and understand this new set of vocabulary words. [RELATED: What Does SAT Stand For?] Mathematics The SAT Mathematics changes are not as significant as the Critical Reading modifications. However, the College Board is attempting to recognize and pinpoint the equations and types of thinking that truly matter in college courses. Coleman specifically mentioned that proportional reasoning, linear equations, and linear functions are some of the question types that determine if students can succeed at the college level. Coleman also noted that pupils should be able to do more than just pick the correct answer. He suggested that they should be able to explain their mathematical reasoning as well. This strongly indicates that future SAT tests may have more of these question types and less of the multiple-choice format. Writing In addition to multiple-choice questions devoted to mechanics, the infamous essay is also found in this section. It is the essay that may undergo the largest revision on the new SAT. Right now, its designed to measure how well you can articulate an argument and string together cohesive thoughts but it doesnt take off many points for inaccurate statements staging as facts. So, it essentially allows students to fabricate facts to better support an argument. Coleman is planning to change this and to require students to solely use factual evidence to support arguments in their essays. [RELATED: How is the New SAT Scored?]

Find a Maths Tutor in Manchester for Maths Revision

Find a Maths Tutor in Manchester for Maths Revision Get Help with Maths Lessons in Manchester with Dedicated Maths Tutors ChaptersKumon MathsLearn Maths with Manchester City CouncilMaths Tutors at SuperprofLearn Maths with Learndirect ManchesterMaths Tuition at The Manchester CollegeLearning Maths at Trafford Collegein2work.comDo you struggle with maths? Do you find it impossible? It's now time to stop worrying and subscribe to maths courses in Edinburgh!If you put the work in and receive the right support, there is no doubt that  you will succeed in maths.  Sitting through your maths lessons without having a clue to what’s going on is rather tiring, we’ve all been there at some point in our lives and it makes us feel low and hopeless. Whether it was during year 6 or your GCSE maths class.  You sit through your lessons worrying, thinking you're going to fail and will be the last in the class and it's no walk in the park.  Whether you’re about to sit your maths GCSE or are an adult looking to learn maths to increase your job opportunities, have a read of this article because you’ll find a maths tutor that is right for you in Manchester!Superprof is by far the best tutoring website for maths tuition. (Source: www.superprof.co.uk)We offer a free UK service that helps maths tutors Cardiff and tutees find each other via a secure and easy-to-use online tuition platform. You can either take maths lessons locally, face to face, or online, around the UK or the world!Superprof has tutors offering tuition in more than 1000 subjects, including maths!  Whether you're a beginner in maths or are more advanced, Superprof is the right place for you as our tutors will tailor their classes to your Maths needs and requirements!Glasgow.

An Introduction to Academic Support

An Introduction to Academic Support What Is After-School Academic Support? ChaptersWhat Is the Academic Support Market in the UK Like?Why Is the Academic Support Market Growing?The Big Names in the Academic Support MarketWhen the National Education System Fails, What Is an Effective Solution?While the private tutorial market is booming, that doesn’t mean that every single actor is enjoying the benefits.  Furthermore, there are a lot of factors to take into account when it comes to academic support for children.The most important things to think of are:How can we deal with an education system that’s failing so many young students?Can every teacher provide quality tuition to large classes year on year?How is the state educating students and helping them make their way into the labour market?We’ve got a lot of questions to answer.In this article, we're going to look at the academic support market in the UK, the reasons behind its growth, the largest companies operating in the market, and how private tutoring can help students who are being failed by the education system in this country. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Is the Academic Support Market in the UK Like?There are a lot of organisations, groups, and companies in the academic support market.Superprof brings together tutors and students from all over the world. (Source: TheAndrasBarta)Since there’s everything from charitable organisations offering support to e-learning platforms, let’s have a look at what they do.Specialised OrganisationsThese organisations make up a significant part of the market.  There are two ways for tutoring to work: Either the family hires a private tutor directly and acts as their employer or they contact a company that provides them with a tutor and the family acts as a customer.There are tutoring groups, businesses, self-employed tutors, and public education groups offering help to struggling students.  Usually, students will find a tutor through a company.  Most of the time, companies will find tutors for the customer and offer them private tutorials at their home or homework help in a specific place, like a library, for example. Some even offer online tutoring services.  In this case, the family entrusts the company with the administration and finding the right tutors.You should know that there are also charitable organisations offering tutoring  services, too.  These are useful for families with limited budgets who otherwise wouldn’t be able to pay for private tutorials.Finally, you can also find plenty of tutors who are working for themselves.Platforms Connecting Tutors to StudentsThere are platforms that help students find tutors and vice versa. With more and more tutors deciding to work for themselves, these types of platforms have become more important.Sites such as Superprof were created for this very reason.  In just a few clicks, you can find academic support for a multitude of different subjects including:Maths (algebra, calculus, trigonometry, etc.)Foreign languages such as French, Italian, German, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, etc.Science including physics, chemistry, biology, etc.EnglishOne on one refresher classesExam or test prepEtc.The goal is to help students to easily find a tutor near them who can help them with a subject they’re struggling with, for example.Undeclared WorkThere are still tutors around who are working cash-in-hand and not declaring their earnings.  It’s hugely important that tutors declare their earnings to HMRC and pay the appropriate taxes and National Insurance contributions.Crime doesn't pay. (Source: Free-Photos)Additionally, if you don’t, there are penalties such as:FinesImprisonmentPaying unpaid taxThere are plenty of benefits to operating as a sole trader. Such as not going to prison...Why Is the Academic Support Market Growing?Education is a quick way to combat unemployment and most parents know this. This is why the academic support market continues to grow.Parents want to help their children get the best possible grades and exam results at every stage of their education. From SATs, GCSEs, A Levels, and their degree.There are two main tendencies when it comes to private tutorials:The demand for academic support grows around the start of a new academic year.There’s also a spike in demand around March.The offering is also changing.  Students in primary school, secondary school, college, sixth form, and university can easily find academic resources for learning.There are plenty of websites helping students get over academic difficulties. This allows them to get over problems in maths or foreign languages from the comfort of their own home. We’re starting to see the dem ocratisation of the market.Previously, families were forced to work with massive home tutoring companies (which often charged a fortune) if they wanted to find a private tutor. Nowadays, you can find private tutors in just a few clicks.Thus, you can find tutors to help with:Catching upUnderstanding why students are failingRefresher classesHomework helpAchieving high gradesAdditionally, you can find them for competitive rates.The Big Names in the Academic Support MarketGeneral Organisations You Should KnowFor the most part, academic support companies offer a huge variety of different courses and levels.There are some really big academic support companies. (Source: Pexels)A lot of students get in touch with these companies and groups to find:Maths tutorials, Spanish tutorials, philosophy tutorials, etc.Academic coachingHelp with applying to universitiesTutorials for study skillsWhether it’s during the summer holidays or during the school term, these types of companies can help stude nts find tutors and take care of the administration.Specific GroupsBig tutoring companies offer a variety of solutions depending on what students need to learn.  There are a few companies that may come to mind and some offer video tutorials and courses for professionals, for example.Certain companies focus on learning languages and organising trips abroad for students. This is a very popular type of tuition.  Other platforms help students studying A Levels.In some cases, students are encouraged to work with different tutors in order to match up their learning style with the right pedagogy. These organisations tend to provide academic guidance for students as well, helping them choose the right university courses to apply to, etc.SuperprofIn addition to the big players who’ve been around forever, there are also plenty of newer groups when it comes to one on one tutoring, academic tutoring, and bespoke instruction.Superprof is the largest community of tutors online (1 million as of 2016).  Tutors can create an account and profile explaining what type of tuition they offer and we help the students find the online tutor or home tutor that meets their needs.When the National Education System Fails, What Is an Effective Solution?There are some worrying statistics when it comes to education and pupils falling behind.Children can learn more effectively with private tutors. (Source: rawpixel)Apparently, one in eight secondary schools in the UK is failing. This means 12.5% of schools aren’t up to scratch!  This is made more alarming when you think that this basically accounts for over 300,000 students in England alone!There are huge inequalities when it comes to education.  A-level pass rates were at their lowest for eight years. Of course, it seems that every year there’s a whole heap of controversy surrounding pass rates. If too many students pass, the exams are too easy, if too many fail, then the students or the schools are to blame.That said, there are studen ts who genuinely struggle at school, especially when there are problems at home such as a divorce or bereavement or when students have special educational needs.These problems are compounded when you have overworked teachers trying to teach larger and larger groups of students.  There are a few ways to address these issues. Similarly, there are definitely teachers in schools going above and beyond to help.However, they can’t do everything and even the best teachers may fall short when the education system fails them.  We can now use digital resources to bring together students and educators.In a few years, all this work will bear fruit.Now you know a bit more about the academic support market and how it can help you achieve academic success. Whether you're looking for an English tutor, chemistry tutor, or even writing tutors, you're bound to be able to find the right person.Are you a tutor or a student looking for an educator?Don’t hesitate to look for academic support classes o r tutorials. There are a lot of benefits.  If you're interested in teaching or becoming a tutor, then you could start looking for tutoring jobs. More and more people are choosing to be tutored privately and the best tutors will have no problem finding students.You can create your profile on Superprof and start offering one on tutorials, tutorials over webcam, or group tutorials. Generally speaking, the latter costs the most per hour (for the student) and the latter costs less per student but can earn the tutor much more.

Close to, Next to and Near - Whats the difference

Close to, Next to and Near - Whats the difference Prepositions are considered to be one of the most confusing and difficult to master parts of any language (at least for the languages that have them), and English is no exception.Three prepositions that our students frequently have difficulty with are close to, next to, and near.At first these prepositions would appear to have about the same meaning. All of them relate to proximity.Close to vs Next to:The difference between these is very subtle. Recently a student told us that she was next to a grocery store when something happened, but she had also mentioned that she was in her car, driving away from the store.A native English speaker would would have used close to in this case. Why?Next to, while it does mean that your are close to or near something, additionally means to be in a position immediately to the side of something. Look at the photo below.Close to can have the same meaning as next to, so you could say that the brown buildings in the photo above are next to each other, bu t you cannot say that the cars in the foreground are next to them.They are close to the buildings, because they are not side by side.As far as near and close to, these two words have the same meaning. The big difference is that you cannot use the preposition to with near. This is a common mistake made by English learners.Below are some more examples to help illustrate the differences between these words.I live next to my work.   By saying this, you mean that your office is to one side or the other of your house.I live close to my work. This means you live by your work. Maybe on one side or the other, maybe just a two minute walk around the corner.I live near my work. Same meaning as the close to sentence above, but without the preposition to needed.Questions or comments? Let us know.Want to continue learning? Check out our guides to English idioms and English phrasal verbs. Inquirer Thank you for this lesson! Very useful ?? newuser thanks a lot!!! Gregory This means you live b y your work : by is another way to talk about something close, right ? You should add it to this lesson just saying ?? LOIEnglish Gregoryyes. by can be used in a similar manner. In my opinion it is more related to next to The grocery store is by the post office. It seems to mean the same side of the street. In normal spoken English we could change the meaning by adding near or close. Both of these sound more natural to me. The grocery store is nearby the post office. OR. The grocery store is close by the post office. Thanks, for adding this to the lesson! BL I am confused with ur examples: I live close to my work and I live next to my work. Can you explain it again in a clearer way. Fagner Oliveira Good! Thank you! Hussain Alzaki Near to is more common in British English while near without to is more common in American English. So, for international English users the to is optional. Nisrine Douma Actually, the first time ever I have heard near ‘to’ which I believe is incor rect is with Indians from India. They use near to quite normally even though I believe it is incorrect. We can say close but not near to. Thank you. Kate Smith Im a native speaker and use/hear near to all the time. Its definitely acceptable in some dialects.

Five Powerful, Free Resources for Improving Performance in School

Five Powerful, Free Resources for Improving Performance in School Improving Academic Performance In the past few years, I’ve read a lot of articles and visited many web-sites to learn more about what drives academic performance and to identify mutually beneficial partnerships. I have chosen one web-site, one “app,” one blog, one online course, and one podcast. I believe any given student should at least be familiar with many of the ideas covered by each of these resources. As such, parents, high school, college, and graduate students, as professionals of any age, could benefit from spending time exploring each resource below. #1. Web-site: www.mindsetworks.com â€" a web-site about a powerful but simple idea; your intelligence is like a muscle that grows with use. It’s not a fixed trait that you inherit. I list this resource first because if your goal is to improve performance at school or on standardized tests, becoming familiar with the “growth vs. fixed” mindset concept is critical. Many people assume that IQ = Intelligence and that you are given a certain amount of each when you are born. By working hard, you can reach your “potential,” but can’t go any farther than that. The implication of this line of thinking is that, if you are finding a class extremely difficult, it may just be that you “aren’t wired” to be able to excel in that particular subject area. For example, you just “aren’t a math person.” However, there is another mindset called “growth.” In this mindset, you naturally assume, or train yourself to believe, that intelligence is something you build, not a trait you inherit. When you challenge yourself and struggle to understand something new, you’ll slowly become smarter or more intelligent over time as you build new connections in your brain. Now, the extent to which measured IQ can change significantly over time is debatable. But, a Stanford Psychologist named Carl Dweck developed, tested, and has designed practical applications around the insight that people who believe in the growth mindset are, basically, correct, and those with the “fixed” mindset are wrong. So much of what we accomplish in school, at work, in athletics, and in life is based on skills that we build with practice, and a growth mindset encourages us to keep trying, practicing, and building these skills. Dweck also wrote a book called Mindset: The New Psychology of Success By visiting www.mindsetworks.com you’ll be able to explore the fixed vs. growth mindset science and read case studies that show students who simply adopt the growth mindset perform far better in school without additional training or instruction, and much more. #2. Blog: http://danielcoyle.com â€" a blog built around the idea that deliberate practice is the key to getting really, really good at anything If you adopt a growth mindset, you believe that you can build your intelligence and your skills over time. By simply making it more likely that you’ll work hard and try to improve, you are far more likely to improve and perform better. But, Daniel Coyle’s blog and his book, the Talent Code, reveal the science behind specific strategies for practicing and studying more effectively that lead to more rapid improvement. It reveals how to build skills. The book and his blog cover many different topics and domains, but academics is certainly one of them. #3. Online course - Learning How to Learn: Powerful Mental Tools to Help You Master Tough Subjects â€" an online course that teaches you how to become a more effective learner through a mixture of neuroscience, psychology, and education theory, as well as practical advice about how to apply the theory. If you are already in high school or college and taking a full course load, it might seem crazy for me to suggest that you take an additional course in your spare time. However, having taken the course myself, I can tell you that if you did invest the time in the course, you’d likely pick up a few study techniques that will improve your ability to master tough material so much that ultimately, the time you’d save in the rest of your education would far outweigh the time you spend taking the course now. What types of things are covered in the course? Here are some examples: the two fundamental “modes” of learning your brain uses, how to “chunk” information to better understand it, creating frequent “mini tests” to improve your ability to learn new material, how to deal with procrastination, memorization tips, counterintuitive test taking strategies, and more. The author of the course, Dr. Barbara Oakley, also wrote a book about learning strategies if you prefer that to taking the course. #4. Podcast: http://thepsychologypodcast.com â€" a podcast by Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman where he will “give you insights into the mind, brain, behavior and creativity.” I think it’s rare to find a podcast that finds a way to cover highly academic and intellectual material in accessible, entertaining way. As the description suggests, Dr. Kaufman covers a variety of topics that are relevant to learning how to enjoy your academic life and perform better in school. #5. Smarphone app: https://evernote.com/ - a note-taking app that lets you “capture, nurture, and share your ideas across any device.” One of the keys to a successful academic and professional life is organization and prioritization. For example, in my view, the key to being a successful entrepreneur is learning how to manage your time and effectively prioritize across competing obligations and activities. Effectively capturing your thoughts and designing a system of notes on key projects and key “to-dos” is critical for me, and indeed for any student as well. Having my information and ideas captured and organized electronically is made possible through the system I have designed in Evernote. I can create notes, put them in folders, and organize by topic according to due dates and importance. Designing your own organization system for getting things done is very important. I designed my system after reading Getting Things Done by David Allen. Interestingly, science suggests that when it comes to taking notes on academic material, you’ll typically retain more by using pen and paper. Evernote allows you to type notes directly via computer or smartphone application, but also to upload images or videos and categories them as notes. These uploaded files can be tagged and are often searchable. So, sometimes I’ll take handwritten notes, snap a picture, and upload to Evernote to incorporate into my overall system. I hope you find some time to explore these resources. You won’t be disappointed.