What Age is Best to Start Learning Guitar

What Age is Best to Start Learning Guitar Suzy S. Is there a best age for learning guitar? We asked guitar teacher Linda L., who has taught young children, teens, adults, and seniors for her take My opinion on the best age at which to start learning guitar has evolved over the years. I started teaching myself to play the guitar at the age of 14.  The book that I used to teach myself featured photos of a 7-year-old girl demonstrating how each chord was to be played. The author of the book told the readers that he had this young student of his demonstrate the fingerings so that no teen or adult learning from this book could think that their hands were too small to play a full-sized guitar. I was left with the impression that 7 is a good age at which to start learning to play the guitar. I have been teaching students of a wide range of ages to play the guitar for well over 25 years now. The youngest guitar student I ever had was 6, and, although he might have been old enough to learn to play the guitar, especially given that he was starting with a smaller, child-sized guitar, this particular child was not mature enough to follow my directions or stay focused long enough to learn. A few years ago, I had a mother tell me that her 5-year-old son was really interested in learning to play the guitar. Remembering my experience with the 6 year old, I told her that I thought her son was still a bit too young for guitar lessons. However, it occurred to me, sometime later, that instead of suggesting that her son wait a couple of years (or maybe start with piano in the meantime), I could have suggested that she get her son a ukulele to start with, as a smaller and easier to learn, but similar instrument. About a year after that, I volunteered for “Girl’s Rock Camp”, in Atlanta, and I discovered that some of the guitar instructors there taught the beginning guitarists to play with the guitar tuned to an open chord, so that all they had to do, for the purposes of the camp, was learn to strum! It was a brilliant, yet simple way to allow girls who had never picked up a guitar before to learn to play a song with a band, in just one week! These girls were ages 10 through 16, but this would work as a starting point with much younger children too. And then, just last night, I discovered some videos of a talented young banjo player, now age 14 and performing professionally on a regular basis, who started lessons at the age of 4! Some older adult students have asked me, “Am I too old to start learning to play the guitar (or banjo)?” My answer to that is, “You’re never too old to learn to play an instrument!” Playing the guitar (or other musical instrument) brings joy to people of all ages. I have taught beginners who were retirees in their 60s, and some of them have become great guitarists! Students who are really enthusiastic and persistent, and willing to spend the time practicing, can learn at any age. Now, when asked, “What is the best age to start learning to play the guitar?” I would say that there is no universal “best” age; it really depends on the individual child, teen, or adult. A child as young as 4, or an adult of any age can begin to learn, if they are really motivated and have a patient, creative, and devoted teacher! Looking back, I wish I had not simply told the mother of the 5 year old boy that he was too young to learn guitar. I just hadnt thought enough about all the ways there are to play the guitar (e.g., percussive guitar, slide guitar, open tunings), or alternatives, such as a ukulele, in terms of teaching young children to play. Also, the lack of hand and finger strength in a small child, that might cause a teacher to look for alternative ways of playing for the youngest beginners, might also be the case for adults with arthritis, in which case the same solutions would apply. A 4 year old child is not too young to learn guitar, an 84 year-old adult is not too old to begin, and I’m not too old to learn to be a better teacher! Linda L. teaches piano, guitar, songwriting, and more in Tucker, GA. She has more than  30 years of experience as a music teacher, for both private lessons and classes.  Learn more about Linda here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  Rochelle, just rochelle

Learn to Use Computers with IT Courses Online

Learn to Use Computers with IT Courses Online IT Courses: From Beginners’ Lessons to Computer Mastery ChaptersThe 10 Steps to Learning the A to Z of ITLearn the Basics with IT Training Courses with a TutorHow Can You Learn More about Computers for Free?How Can the Older Generation Learn about Computers?IT is a massive subject and it’s everywhere in the modern world. In addition to using computers, tablets, and smartphones, IT literacy and computer skills also play an important role in business and are becoming increasingly important as the years roll on.Whether you want to learn basic computer skills, perfect your typing and master word processing programmes like Microsoft Word, take computer classes on robotics and machine code, or just simply how to   browse the internet, you should find some of the answers in this article, Superprof's introduction to computers and how to learn how to use them... 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 suppo rt 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 tutorsThe 10 Steps to Learning the A to Z of ITYou don’t need to take programming classes or enrol on a computer literacy course to get the basics of IT down. With a few private IT tutorials either at home or over webcam, you’ll learn important personal computer basics  during IT courses such as:How to turn the computer on and off (this is pretty fundamental!)The main components (like the central processing unit) that make up a desktop computer (a laptop is usually too difficult to take apart)How to create a document using a word processor, spreadsheets, or a presentation using the Microsoft Office suiteHow to carry out basic IT maintenance tasksHow to make your own websiteInternet basics like surfing the web safelyBasic skills like how to connect an external hard drive and save your dataHow to plug in and install a printerWhile there are a lot of things to learn, you don’t need a degree in IT or to attend computer coding courses to learn how to do them.Photoshop allows you to edit photos to make them better. (Source: Matan Segev)Learning about computers and IT will not only improve your digital literacy, it'll teach you more about modern technology and digital cultures. Any beginner in a private computer class can learn:How to shop online safely and navigate the world wide webHow to use either an Apple or Android tablet (your tutor will explain more about each operating system)How to transfer photos from your digital camera to your computer and send them as an email (electronic mail) attachmentHow to scan a document and send it in an emailIf you take note of these computing tips, you’ll soon be able to use your machine without any help from anyone else.For those who are passionate about computers and would like to make them part of their career (as a web de veloper, algorithms specialist, web app developer, IT technician, etc.), you should consider getting IT tutorials either in person or online with an IT specialist.There are so many different fields to work in in IT:programmingcomputer graphicsoffice automationcyber protectionhackingsimulationsautomationintegrationgraphic designdevelopmentLearn the Basics with IT Training Courses with a TutorIf using computers is driving you mad, private tutorials are the way to go. A tutor could help you get over any difficulties you’re having with certain programmes and you could ask them questions about the things you struggle to do with your computer.Whether you need help using a search engine, installing peripherals, creating a local network, learning a programming language such as C or Visual Basic, using Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, or Excel more effectively, or learning the basics of photo editing or movie editing software, you’ll find the right IT instructor to help you on Superprof’s n etwork.To find the right tutor, every learner should make sure to read reviews left by their other students and make sure that they teach exactly what you’re looking to learn.  Here are some of the qualities you should look for in a private IT tutor:The ability to turn IT jargon into everyday language so novices can understand it.Patience and teaching skills.A passion for teaching and transferring knowledge.A drive for familiarising their students with different IT tools.A willingness to use new technologies to open up new methods of communication.In terms of resources, you should ask that your tutor to provide you with summaries, a handout, or notes for you to look over between your sessions so you can ask them pertinent questions the next time you see them.If you’re learning how to programme, it might be worthwhile printing out important lines of code and functions that you’ll need to study.If you're scared of navigating the internet, you don’t understand what cookies are doing on your computer, or you don’t feel comfortable buying online (which is often the case with senior citizens who are regularly targeted by hackers in order to get their bank details), why not consider getting a specialised IT tutor to help you grab the mouse by the horns?If you can't make it to computer classes, you can also take online computer courses via Skype!During your tutorials, you should ask your tutor to teach you how to shop online. (Source: Photo Mix)If you find the right tutor, your private tutorials won’t cost you an arm and a leg!How Can You Learn More about Computers for Free?Can you get free computer tutorials for beginners? Is it possible to learn a programming language or web development without spending a single penny? Yes to both!Firstly, you should check around on your social networks to see if you know anyone who could help you with these kinds of things. If you're new to computer technology, you'll probably have to ask someone to help you with the so cial networking.Ask one of your “friends” (real or virtual) in a private message. It won’t help sending out a request to everyone as you’ll end up wasting your time going through useless comments and responses.If you can sew, dance, speak a foreign language, or provide personal fitness advice, you could consider doing a like-for-like exchange where they teach you about computers and you teach them another skill in return.If this option doesn’t work for you, why not think about the many associations and organisations that exist to help people learn how to use computers and avoid digital exclusion?There are often beginners’ computer classes teaching people about what computers are, what they do, how to use an office suite, and how to browse the internet. However, be careful! You probably won’t learn how to code HTML or Python in these kinds of classes!  This type of specialised knowledge is usually taught by IT experts in schools and educational establishments (or by exp erienced private tutors).I really learned a lot from my computer courses with my Superprof tutor!If you're going to learn to code, you should get familiar with your keyboard. (Source: pixabay.com)Don’t forget that there also associations offering IT classes in order to alleviate the effects of digital exclusion.To learn more about computers, there’s few places better than the internet. This resource is home to literally thousands of articles and tutorials on a wide range of different topics relating to IT.  By searching things like “IT training”, “computer science”, “programming languages”, or “learn to code” on Google or YouTube, you’ll come across thousands of sites and videos.However, they’re not all free and you usually have to pay for the better resources. These are great if you want to learn to use programmes like:PhotoshopAfter EffectsLightroomIllustratorBlenderExcel, Word, and PowerPoint.How Can the Older Generation Learn about Computers?How can you r educe the generational gap between the baby boomers and millennials who grew up with computers and have their eyes glued to their smartphones every second of every day?With computers, of course!An entire generation is starting to retire and there’s never been a better time to learn about computers.Thanks to increasing life expectancy in most European countries, retirement is a huge opportunity to take up new hobbies and learn new skills.  You can use computers to check your bank, book holidays, speak to grandchildren over Skype, or just mess about on a talent while waiting for the kettle to boil.Some members of the older generation remain reluctant to take IT tutorials and learn more about computers in general because they can’t really see the benefits immediately.When it comes to IT tutorials, the older generation are probably the best students. (Source:  pixabay.com)Superprof has some advice for tutors who’d like to teach senior citizens how to use computers and become more independent as a result.Be patient and persistent with your students! You’ll sometimes have to explain something several times in several different ways.Give real-life examples of how computers and technology can be used to help them. Programmes like Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Photoshop need be taught using a hands-on approach rather than just explaining them. You need to think of exercises that highlight the utility of these programmes rather than just telling them what they do.If you are teaching web design, consider leaving your student on WordPress or another CMS to play around with so they can discover for themselves what they can do.If you’re helping them with installation or maintenance, you should show them the inside of their computer and how to install a hard disk or RAM. There’s a good chance they’ll find this quite interesting and learn more quickly as a result.As you’ve probably understand, IT and computer training is useful for everyone, regardless of their age. Whether they’re working, retired, young, or old, everyone all over the country can benefit from a better knowledge of computers.  There are plenty of great IT lessons and tutorials for those who know where to find them.You can learn by paying for private tutorials, as a skills exchange, learning with lessons provided by organisations, or different websites providing lessons. By doing a little digging, you’re bound to find the right solution for learning how to use computers more effectively.Find out more about tutorials on cyber security in your everyday life.

Can You Spot an American Listening Exercise

Can You Spot an American Listening Exercise I found this video today on YouTube in which people from around the world are asked if they can spot Americans that is, if they can  know someone is from the United States by stereotyping the way they look, act, dress, etc.As a American, I find their answers to be pretty funny all around. I think a lot of people around the world have a strong idea of what an American should look like, and how they should act, based on what theyve learned from media. When I travel, people tend to think Im from a different country, and are surprised to found out Im from the U.S.Personally, I think that people from my country tend to be very different. Its a big country with a lot of people, and youll find that  there are so many different factors age, ethnicity, location, class, geography that its almost to say what an American is.Watch the video below, then see if you can answer a few listening questions.Answer the questions in comments and well respond.1. What are 5  ways they identify Americans?2 . Do you think any of these stereotypes are true?3. Have you ever seen somebody and known they were American?4. Can you identify people from other countries?5. What are some stereotypes of people from your home country?6. What is the guy at 2:18 talking about?

Tutoring In Schools One-to-One Tuition

Tutoring In Schools One-to-One Tuition Even experienced tutors can struggle when starting to deliver sessions in schools. Tutoring in-school means being particularly mindful of how your sessions fit into a student’s school life and tailoring your approach accordingly. This sounds easy enough in theory, but what does it mean in practice?   This week, we’re looking at one-to-one tutoring. Across the Foundation team, we’ve seen more than our fair share of this in dozens of schools across the country, which means we’ve seen how things most often go wrong - and how the best tutors get it right. We’ve compiled a list of the five things tutors should definitely be doing when they work one-to-one in schools. Staying positive about maths lessons After a few weeks with a new student, it’s common to hear that they love attending the sessions. ‘You explain things so well,’ they’ll say, ‘everything seems so easy when you go through it.’ You swell with pride and give a gracious acceptance speech â€" humbly acknowledging an adoring crowd as you accept your Tutor of the Decade award. Then, inevitably…   ‘You’re so much better than Mr Clarke. He goes through everything too fast and can’t even explain it well. I don’t understand him. He’s a rubbish teacher â€" I much prefer coming here. Can I come here for every lesson?’ And you’re back in the room with a thud, standing at a very important crossroads.   Tutors should be prepared for this possibility â€" mindful not to let the student develop an unhealthy dependence on sessions and always ready with the right words should they hear any negativity towards teaching staff. The purpose of your sessions is as much to improve your student’s attitude towards their regular lessons as it is to improve their subject knowledge in its own right.   Connecting sessions to classwork   It’s all too easy for progress made in tutoring sessions to stay in tutoring sessions. Consistently, evidence shows that tutoring interventions are more effective when they’re meaningfully connected to students’ regular lessons â€" allowing them to feel the benefit of the additional work when they’re back in the classroom. This is particularly important to remember for tutors in schools, where students can feel particularly disorientated by contrasting approaches to a subject. They might be told in their lesson to use one approach for a certain problem, only to have that contradicted in their tutoring session. What to do? Who to trust? Maybe their tutor wants to cover a different topic altogether â€" something they’ve not come across yet that won’t be covered in lessons for a few weeks. Will they feel that progress back in the classroom? Tutors working in schools should be building a relationship with the teaching staff of the relevant department. It’s important to know what was covered in your student’s last lesson and what will be covered in their next. If it’s a tricky topic, what method is the teacher using? If you’re not familiar with it, take some time to get used to it before the session. Ensuring your approach connects meaningfully with classwork will drastically improve the impact of the sessions in both the short and the long term. Personalising topics The great power of one-to-one tuition is the personalisation of content. When working with just one student at a time, every topic can be approached with that student’s experience and personal difficulties in mind. This is the mechanism that makes one-to-one sessions so impactful, with students able to make meaningful progress much quicker than they might be used to. When working in schools, the particular topics, resources or methods to be covered might come from teaching staff. Whilst this is a really important aspect of in-school tuition, it shouldn’t cause tutors to forget to personalise teaching for each student. Take the time to get to know your tutees â€" what are their hobbies? What subjects do they like best? Which of the fundamentals of this subject have they never felt comfortable with? Start every session with a warm-up to see how they’re feeling today and ground every task in something that connects to your student. Balancing ‘friendly’ with ‘focus’ One of the things we get asked about the most during training sessions is how to tread the fine line between a fun atmosphere and a focused lesson. For inexperienced tutors, it’s all too easy to take a ‘matey’ approach in early sessions that leads to behavioural issues after a few sessions. Or, by contrast, to overthink the thing and come off too stern in the first hour and put their student off. Here’s what we recommend. Remember that you have an obligation to be warm, kind, friendly and supportive. Don’t try to take a stern or disciplinary approach â€" it’s just not what you’re there to do. However, your student knows the rules and so should you. If you encourage rule-breaking in your sessions (think lateness, bad language, etc.) it’s no longer clear where the line is, which can lead to small losses of control down the line.   Most importantly, keep your promises. If you say something’s going to happen it has to happen. Good, bad or indifferent, if you’ve made a promise you have to keep it. As long as you tread that line, your students will know that (although you’re friendly) you’re to be taken seriously â€" and at the end of the day what you say goes! Keeping records and feeding back It’s really important to discuss student progress with teaching staff. They’ll want to know how students are getting on in sessions and you should always be prepared to have that conversation. By talking to teachers, you might be able to pick up some information about what your students have been struggling with in lessons or whether they’re showing signs of improvement in class. All of this means taking detailed notes of what happens in sessions. Not only so you have a record of what topics you’ve covered (trust me, you’ll forget!) but so that you can come back to little mistakes in later sessions to reinforce learning. Your notes will be an invaluable basis for planning sessions, sharing progress with teachers and giving meaningful, responsive feedback to students. Word to the wise: never take your session notes off-site â€" that’s not the kind of thing you want to leave on the bus! If you’re interested in tutoring in-schools, contact the foundation at foundation@tutorfair.com, check your profile for volunteering opportunities or browse our website to find out what’s on.

A Simple Guide to Applying for Scholarships

A Simple Guide to Applying for Scholarships Image via Pexels What’s the Difference Between Scholarships and Grants?   For any student looking for financial assistance in college, scholarships and grants are often lumped together as “free money that you don’t have to pay back.” While this is true for both, it is important to know the difference between the two. Grants are a type of financial aid typically disbursed by the government, such as the Pell Grant (for low-income undergraduate students), states Shayla of Unigo. To determine your eligibility for these grants, be sure fill out the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Scholarships, on the other hand, are another form of financial aid usually given out by individuals, non-profit organizations, religious groups, ethnic/historical organizations, and corporations. Breaking Down the Misconceptions Unfortunately, there is a great deal of misinformation when it comes to scholarships, which can not only turn students away from applying, but it can also make funding their education even harder in the long run. Fear not, you are not alone in your thoughts! Last October, I wrote an article on the myths of scholarships, ranging from who gets scholarships to what it takes to get a scholarship. While talking about applying for scholarships, I feel it is important to include some of the (almost) universal misconceptions many hold about scholarships to help you gain that confidence back and demonstrate that anyone can get a scholarship. Scholarships are only awarded to those with the best grades: It is unfortunate that while in high school and college we are convinced that only the best students get scholarships, and if you have mediocre grades, you’re out of luck. While this is perhaps the greatest and most circulated scholarship myth out there, it is completely untrue! There are many scholarships that do not even consider your grades. These do consider, however, GPA which most of the time is a minimum of a 2.5 instead of a 4.0, leaving more room for students to apply and obtain scholarships, according to Scholarships.com. Additionally, Mark Kantrowitz of FastWeb.com affirms this by stating, “Less than 10% of private scholarships are based on academic performance.” So if you don’t have straight As and a 4.0 don’t worry, there are scholarships out there for you! Scholarships have to be well written, by the best writers: Yep, again not true! While of course, it does not hurt to write well on your scholarship essays, you do not have to be some sort of Hemmingway to get a scholarship. Most scholarships are concerned with the content of your essay rather than how well it is written (i.e. grammar mistakes, spelling mistakes, etc.) Scholarships.com notes that, “Whether you follow the instructions and address the essay question is often more crucial to your success than how eloquently you write.” Scholarships are really only for high school students: Though this seems silly, believe it or not, this is a popular myth that many students believe! Due to the fact that scholarships are heavily encouraged during high school and not so much in college, many students believe that once they are in college, they are left with either taking out loans, working, or receiving help from their parents to fund their education. Sites like Unigo.com and CollegeScholarships.org offer a bunch of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students. To my friends in college, there is still plenty out there for you! Most scholarships are for minority students: While there are many scholarships out there exclusively for students of a specific race or ethnicity, that does not mean that they all are nor does it mean that you do not have a chance at being rewarded a scholarship for this reason. In fact, according to Kantrowitz, white students win more than their fair share of scholarships, with white students having a 14.4% chance of winning scholarships in comparison to 11.2% of minority students. Why is this? Kantrowitz points to many reasons, such as geography and varied interests and values. Applying for scholarships is too competitive: This myth is rooted in some truth only in that if you are applying for a scholarship that does not have extensive criteria (i.e. you fill out contact information and your school), there is the chance that you are applying with hundreds of thousands of other students. Scholarships like these are definitely competitive because of the amount of time and the content it requires to fill out the form. However, not all scholarships are this competitive, instead, consider more value/interest/location-specific scholarship applications when searching. According to Jessica Zdunek of U.S. News, considering local scholarships may be your best bet when applying. She one reason being, “Your Zip code, city or county could mean youre eligible for awards most people cant apply for. And the more specific these programs get â€"  for example, requiring a certain GPA, extracurricular involvement, or volunteer hours  â€"  the better your chances of winning, g iven you meet the criteria listed.” Infographic by Alicia Geigel Applying for Scholarships How to Prepare: Before beginning your search into the complex world of scholarships, there are a few things to do to prepare yourself. Know What Scholarship Committees Look For: Usually, scholarship committees don’t zero in on one specific trait that a student has, rather they typically look for students who are well rounded, with a mix of good grades, involvement in extracurricular activities, engagement in service opportunities, etc.     Take Advantage of Volunteer Opportunities: This tip coincidentally ties into the previous one in that it involves one of the traits scholarship committees look for, which is engagement in volunteer/service opportunities! Volunteering is a big bonus on any kind of scholarship application you may send in, so if you see an opportunity perhaps at a local homeless shelter, hospital, or charitable event, go for it! Seek Guidance from Counselors: I don’t think I’m wrong when I say that a large portion of us don’t like to seek the help of others, whether it be out of pride or shyness, but when it comes to applying for scholarships, you should take advantage of teachers, counselors and parents to help you with any troublesome part of the application. Collect Relevant Information: Don’t make yourself overwhelmed during every scholarship application by having to search around for important dates or re-type every academic achievement you’ve had. Instead, prior to applying for the scholarships, Michael Gardon of the Simple Dollar suggests  gathering together all information you think you’ll need for an application, such as grades, activities, accomplishments, etc. Navigating Your Search:  This is a stressful and perhaps most overwhelming part of applying for scholarships, but these few tips can help you find the best scholarships for you, where to find them, and how to go about looking. Start Early: Scholarship applications aren’t usually something that you can pop out in a few minutes, they take a bit of time to thoroughly fill out each section carefully. Because of this, it is important to apply for scholarships as early as you can to allow yourself enough time to write a successful application and get it sent out before its deadline. Focus on Quantity: This step is simple, but overlooked! Apply for as many scholarships as you can and focus on quantity over quality. There’s no limit on the number of scholarships you can apply for- $100 here and $300 there can go a long way! Search Frequently: Don’t give up searching for scholarships right away if you can’t find anything. Sources are constantly updating their sites to show the most recent scholarship openings with their deadlines, so keep searching frequently and the perfect one will come your way, I promise! Use the Free Sources: Free sources include but are not limited to high school and college counselors, online scholarship sites, federal aid and state grant agencies, etc. Take advantage of these sources, they won’t cost you a dime! Where to Look University Scholarships: Look no further than your favorite, preferred universities for scholarships that could be perfect for you! According to Cathie Ericson of Forbes, “Schools award two main types of  financial aid: need-based (dependent on your family household income) and merit-based (offered because of your achievements, whether academic, athletic or artistic, to name a few).” Distinguish what kind of aid you are seeking and research the types of awards your prospective school gives out according to the type of aid you need. Local Scholarships: Local scholarships are great ways to find financial aid as well. Some groups that support students and award scholarships include high school groups, civic groups, community foundations, local businesses, and state programs. National Scholarships: National scholarships are the ones you are probably most familiar with, meaning ones that are open to students across the country. Look for national scholarships on websites like Scholarships.com, Unigo.com, CollegeBoard.com, and CollegeNet.com How to Secure a Scholarship Work on Your Essay: I stated earlier that you don’t have to be a Hemmingway to get a decent scholarship, which is true. However, that does not mean that you shouldn’t try and make a polished, interesting essay to capture the eyes of those who are awarding scholarships. Seek the advice of a counselor, peers, parents, or teachers to help you refine ideas, improve on your writing style, and check for spelling and grammatical errors. Don’t Let Your Grades Slip: A lot of students like to let senioritis take over glide their senior year because they think that their grades won’t matter in terms of applying for scholarships or getting into college. That’s totally false! While your grades from your first three years of high school are looked at heavily, your senior grades aren’t ignored. So keep on pushing through school and do the best you can, it won’t go unnoticed! Image via Pexels Are you convinced you can win a scholarship, yet? Regardless of when you apply or how many scholarships you apply for, it is never too late to begin to apply and reap the rewards that you deserve. So take some time out of your day to evaluate what your interests are, verify whether you are a minority, discover what your local town offers, etc., to fuel your search for scholarships! And remember, there is some kind of scholarship out there for you!

16 Multifaceted Language Learning Apps for Any Modern Student

16 Multifaceted Language Learning Apps for Any Modern Student 16 Multifaceted Language Learning Apps for Any Modern Student With the ubiquity of smartphones and tablets, weve all started to embrace apps to make life more convenient.Some might say were developing a problem with app addiction.Weve got calendar apps for work, apps for finding music, apps for checking up on the news.By the way, do they have an app that can help with app addiction?Actually, its okay if they dont. As a language learner, you can put this addiction to good use.The world is full of apps to help you learn languages. If youve ever thought about learning a language, you can get yourself from raw beginner to seasoned old pro by using these strategically designed language apps. If you’re already invested in a language, all youre missing is a quick virtual trip to the app store.Why Apps and Languages Are a Perfect MatchApps are particularly wonderful because they never leave our sides. Even if you dont currently consider yourself an app addict, Im willing to wager you keep your smartphone nearby at all times, just in case theres a tex t message from mom, an emergency family call or important notifications from work.And, since youre trying to make language learning a daily habit, what better learning tool is there than one that can fit in your pocket? Textbooks and  websites are great and all, but let’s face it, they can’t go everywhere we do. You can always  bring that smartphone along, and you can always squeeze in a couple of minutes on your phone to practice your new language while enjoying coffee breaks, commuting or waiting in lines.Another big thing to consider is that apps these days are beautiful and extremely well designed. Theyre interactive, highly responsive and easy to navigate. They trigger the reward systems in your brain and give you real pleasure, much like a thrilling video game.Want to  take a break from flipping through your textbook or repeating that same deck of flashcards?  Apps give you loads of variety, color and fun, and their creators know how to keep you coming back for moreâ€"whic h is  super important when motivation is so key to learning a language to fluency.Apps can keep you and your study materials organized. Youll often be given a history tool to keep track of your favorite reading and listening material, and in apps for language learners you may find a feature to measure and record your progress through course materials.So, let’s talk apps! Here are some amazing ones we love to get you started.16 Multifaceted Language Learning Apps for Any Modern StudentApps with Language LessonsWhy lesson apps?Apps that deliver language  lessons are ideal tools for studying on the go.If youre studying with a classroom or private instructor, then you can use these as supplements to your course material. Since theyre all focused on attacking language topics from different angles and with different activities, they can provide fresh perspectives on the lessons youve been learning.  Or at least a little extra practice.If youre learning on your own (perhaps through media -based immersion), apps can provide you with the “glue” that helps your random knowledge stick together. They can get you started, help you develop a study routine, assess your progress, keep you motivated and keep studying stress-free.Best of all? Many of these apps are gamifiedâ€"meaning that theyve transformed language topics into games. Theyre tons of fun in and of themselves. You’ll get so caught up in the thrill of competition that youll forget you’re learning!FluentUiPhone |  AndroidFluentU currently offers language lessons in six languages (with more in development): English, Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish and German.Media-based immersion is promoted as one of the best ways to learn a language deeply and to the very highest level. That means getting tons of exposure to TV shows, movies, music, news, speeches and other things that native speakers typically watch. Theres only one problem: Learners who are new to this might find listening to and watching native medi a very intimidating.Learners can be turned off learning  before they even get started.That’s where FluentU comes in, as a unique website and app that lets you gently wade into native media.  FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.It not only gives  you access to diverse media, but it also gives you the tools to enjoy and understand this media, with the structure of a traditional course.  The interactive subtitles, vocabulary lists and tailor-made flashcard decks will help you learn actively while watching your favorite videos, giving you an extra boost in reading and listening practice.  Before you know it, you’ll be listening to foreign language radio and TV without any help at all.DuolingoiPhone |  AndroidDuolingo is super popular for good reason. It’s gamified learning at its best, complete with levels, points and a smooth, attractive interface that makes it i ncredibly easy to use.Its easy to get started and keep moving forward here. Just choose your language and work your way through the lesson “tree.” Using modified spaced repetition, Duolingo feeds you new vocab and grammar a little at a time. If you’ve been away for a while, Duolingo’s learning bars for each skill show you what you’ve probably forgotten.Duolingo has plenty of language optionsâ€"they offer 20 language programs as of the writing of this post, and theyve got seven more in development. Quality and depth depends on language choice, and it seems like they’re tweaking and updating things as they go. So, try out Duolingoâ€"particularly if you’re a beginner and you need some structure and easy levels to get you going!MindSnacksiPhoneMindSnacks is yet another gamified learning platform, but its been made to be  extra  cute. Let this be your linguistic happy place.The app is designed like a  video game rather than a traditional, points-based system of learning les sons. For example, one game in the Chinese version has you drawing characters with the correct stroke order as fast as you canâ€"in space!All of the games are similar between the seven language versions, but theyre tailored to the needs of each specific language. For example, the Chinese and Japanese versions focus on writing and recognizing characters as well as vocabulary. The cute graphics and addictive nature of these games totally make you feel like you’re playing a normal mobile video game instead of working with a learning tool.Keep in mind that MindSnacks seems to focus on vocabulary over grammar, and the vocab is probably of most interest to beginners who need to amass basic words and quickly. Still worth checking out for intermediate learnersâ€"plug up those holes in your vocabulary!BabbeliPhone | AndroidBabbel specializes in conventional lessons, most of which can be completed in 10 to 15 minutes. Sure, it’s not the 5-minute break Duolingo offers you, but the lessons here are a little more in-depth and are structured similarly to textbook exercises. For example, new words are grouped by topic.The app first introduces you to new vocabulary by having you match each word with  an image, and then it has you move on to matching words with their  translations.Babbel is perhaps less gamified than some of the other apps above (no points or competition), so it’s good if you’re used to conventional lessons and you thrive on that kind of structure, or if you’re indifferent to those video game features.If you choose to go with Babbel, you’re getting a basic course that’s structured more traditionally. It’s well-made and a great tool to add to the rest of your app arsenal should you find it to your liking! It also offers a good selection of popular foreign languages, including but not limited to: Spanish, French, German, Russian and English.MemriseiPhone |  AndroidMemrise grounds itself on the strategic use of spaced repetition, using a gamified system of seeds that you water gradually to  grow flowers over time. This ensures that you learned the content the course has presented you and dont neglect your linguistic flowers. If that isnt enough, you can win points and  compete with others.That being said, Memrise is actually a lot less game-like than Duolingo or MindSnacks. Many of the user-made courses are actually based on textbooks, and they include a lot of traditional info (verb forms, noun cases) presented in traditional ways.The user-made part  has tons of diverse, specific content and makes it so that, especially with popular languages, youre definitely going to find an ideal course to flesh out your knowledgeâ€"whether you want to learn advanced Russian verbs or Spanish proverbs!CourseraiPhone | AndroidCoursera is a website and app that provides access to university-style courses. Most of these are true Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), meaning theyre made especially for online learners, as opposed to recorded un iversity lectures. For an example, check out Chinese for Beginners, offered by Peking University.That being said, these courses, content-wise, are very similar to an IRL in-class experience. If you like that type of structure, sign up for a Coursera course! They’re offered by all kinds of accredited universities from around the world. Download the lectures and watch/listen to them on your commute or piecemeal whenever you have a few minutes.  Additional features, like teacher feedback, graded exams and certificates to prove you took the course, are available for a fee.Many courses are offered year-round, but others you’ll have to wait forâ€"and the catalog changes frequently. Click here and we'll whisk you away to see what they're offering right now!iTunes UiPhoneiTunes U offers whats probably the most traditional language learning experience that you can access online. These are online courses similar to Coursera. However, while many have been created for an online audience, ma ny are actual recorded lectures from real universities. A good example is this Japanese course offered by UC Berkeley.For you learners who truly want to replicate that university-level experience, youll want to supplement these courses with the recommended textbooks. Everyone else can just download the lectures and the texts and have at it!Apps for Foreign Language Reading MaterialWhy practice reading with apps?The short answer to the above question is that apps are more convenient than lugging around a bag of books and newspapers. You can keep a huge variety of reading material on hand for whenever you want to get in some reading practice.If you have a hard time getting yourself to sit down and read in your target language, even for a brief time, consider using your phone or device to your advantage. Surely you can set aside three minutes to check the news in your language, right? When you’re more confident and ambitious, you can sit down to choose from all the foreign language e -books available for free download.It’s just a great, easy way to get in as much reading time as possible. Apps are easier even than web browsing on your phone, because they’re often better designed and the info you want is right there when you open it.Regardless of whether you use apps or traditional, paper-and-ink tomes, you should be reading in your target language.  Dr. Stephen Krashen from the University of Southern California argues that reading native material helps you absorb grammar and  new vocabulary. So, get to it!  Start by trying  these apps to level up your reading skills.Kindle ReaderiPhone | AndroidA no-brainer, really.Download Kindle Reader  to your device, and you basically own a Kindle without having to buy one. E-books, especially for the Kindle, are the easiest way for those living outside of their L2 country to find books in the language, and this goes double if you live in the US.I’ve personally bought a number of Kindle books (mostly translations of po pular, English-language titles) from Amazon in Spanish, French and Portuguese. But the skys the limitâ€"theres a huge selection of titles in tons of world languages.Oh, and one more incredible tip for anyone who loves magic: You can shop on Pottermore  to find Harry Potter e-books in a variety of common languages at very reasonable prices, then have them sent directly to your Kindle-enabled device.BBC NewsiPhone | AndroidFor those not so into fiction or full-sized books, read the news! The BBC News app comes in a variety of languages, including Arabic and Hindi. Skim the articles for words you know or to sharpen your skills. Even better, set up notifications on your device. That means you get little snippets of reading practice all day long.You also can always search for language-specific news apps. Try El País (Spanish), Radio-Canada (French) or Deutsche Welle (German).FlipboardiPhone | AndroidFlipboard is a cool app that lets you skim popular articles and photos from around the i nternet according to preferences you set up yourself. So if you want to read about cooking, gaming or anything else that tickles you, this is how you find reading material on that topic in your target language.It’s also great for reading those catchy headlines! Simply set your device in your preferred language, and Flipboard will change for you.TwitteriPhone | AndroidTo use Twitter to learn languages, change the default language of your profile to your target language, then switch the default country for Trending on the left side of your feed.Now you can read trending tweets in your target language, and when you search something Twitter will default to your set language and location. This means you’ve now turned social media into a convenient place for reading practice. Youll get to read tweets, find magazine and newspaper articles and discover interesting blog posts, all of which are interesting to people speaking your target language.Follow people who are tweeting about things you love in your target language, and soon you won’t be able to scroll down your feed without learning a language lesson.Apps with AudioWhy  practice listening with apps?Listening is at the very root of speaking. Being able to understand people gives you more fodder for your own speech, and it improves your accent and overall fluency. You can’t talk like the native speakers unless you can understand them, right?The apps, like all the others, are strong in terms of  variety and convenience. No more will you have to listen to the same track over and over again ad nauseam. You’ll have podcasts, talk shows, new music and more to listen to after you try these audio tools out.iTunesWeve recommended a bunch of iTunes offerings, but its worth noting that iTunes itself is useful for finding movies and music.However, you can’t buy anything while the app is set to a country other than yours. So, one strategy for finding great recommendations is to first change your default country to a place that speaks your target language. This way, iTunes can recommend the music and movies that are popular there. Then go try to find them somewhere you can buy them!Thats just one way to go about thisâ€"but keep in mind that theres often lots of stuff available in your target languageâ€"even if your country is set as USA.Apple PodcastsiPhoneSo, this is essentially an extension of iTunes. To take the most advantage of your Podcasts app, use iTunes on your computer to find podcasts in your L2. Change your default country on the desktop app and the homepage will recommend podcasts that are popular in that country. Easy! Send em over to your device, and you’re set.You can also use communities like Language Learners’ Forum or How to Learn Any Language to get podcast suggestions for this platform.TuneIn RadioiPhone | AndroidTuneIn Radio gives you access to live-streaming radio stations from around the world. It’s pretty straightforward and an excellent resource. You can search for stations by location or by language. You might have to do a little trial and error to find a live link, but after that youll always have the soothing sounds of your target language in the background. You can find music stations, news and talk radio here.And one more hint: If youre interested in a language in a vastly different time zone, you might need a special trick. Try searching for the language in the search bar, or using the Talk Radio World Talk option (these menus are easier to find on the website) to find more stations. Some of these are based in the US!YouTubeiPhone | AndroidIt’s more than just a time-wasterâ€"YouTube can be an integral part of your language regimen. Set your location to a target language country, then scroll over to the trending tab to see what’s popular in that region.If youre into gaming, its easy to find Lets Play videos (videos of people talking through games they’re playing while they’re playing them) simply by searching “Let’s Playâ € followed by your target language in the language itself (Français, Español, ???). I’ve also searched for random words in my target language to find vloggersâ€"try “books,” “video games,” “comedy”â€"see what you dig up!SpotifyiPhone | AndroidSpotify  has been the best way for me to find new music in a target language. It’s super easyâ€"simply search for your target language (in English or not, it doesn’t matter) and you can find playlists others have put together. Sweet and simple. I’ve used this to find playlists in Japanese, Hebrew and even Latvian, so it’s not just the popular languages!You can practice tons of language skills with apps, whether they’re learning-specific apps or apps you’re leveraging to get at the target language.You carry worlds in your pocketâ€"never feel guilty about being addicted to your phone!

If You Want An Education, Go To The Library

If You Want An Education, Go To The Library If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want an education, go to the library. ~Frank Zappa (1940-1993) Frank (Vincent) Zappa was an American musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, and filmmaker. Scientists have honored Zappa by naming their discoveries after him. For instance,  Ferdinando Boero,  biologist from  Genova, named a Californian jellyfish Phialella zappai, noting that he had pleasure in naming this species after the modern music composer. Zappa loved libraries, but he hated formal education.  Being a student in the modern world  is challenging on many levels. If your child or someone you know is struggling in their education, you may be in need of an accomplished tutor.  TutorZ  provides extensive tutoring  services in writing, math, biology, music,  world languages and more.