Start Vocal Training to Become a Star

Start Vocal Training to Become a Star Start Singing Lessons to Become an Artist ChaptersDo You Dream of Singing in front of a Huge Audience?The Special Case of Opera SingersThe World of MusicalsImprove Your Musical Knowledge with SingingGain Inspiration from Songs from Other Musical StylesHow Can You Learn How to Sing?“I would rather be remembered by a song than by a victory” -  Alexander Smith, Dreamthorp (1863)In recent years, there have been so many TV shows dedicated to finding talent, especially amongst those who have a good singing voice and vocal range.Shows like The X Factor and The Voice are without a doubt two of the biggest singing shows in the UK: especially when you look at the viewing figures they get.It’s quite common that you’ll also find plenty of young people on the playground who want to learn to sing. However, given how risky becoming a singer can be, a lot of people tend to give up on this dream in order to look for safer and more stable jobs.Are you wondering why beginners give up on their dreams of singing so quickly?Usually, it’ s because they lack the talent, the drive, or just don’t put in enough effort in their voice lessons when they're supposed to be learning to sing. This is often the first reason why those who once dreamt of becoming a singer never do.  Of course, you need to be able to sing in key, too!How do you become a famous singer? (Source: Thibault Trillet)Nobody’s born a star, you have to become one!   Singing can work wonders for your mental well-being, but by going professional, you may run the risk of viewing it as a source of worry - so be careful out there! TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free! Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDo You Dream of Singing in front of a Huge Audience?From Justin Bieber to Jeff Buckley, there are so many different famous singers that inspire people to get into singing.For years, people have been inspired by famous people and tried to emulate their favourite singers in order to become one themselves.Generally speaking, the older stars tend to make way for the younger generations of singers. In the past, a mentor would teach their apprentice everything they needed to know and they’d inevitably be replaced by them.However, singing isn’t your typical apprenticeship. You’ll have to dedicate your life to your vocal exercises and your vocal training if you want to become a star. It isn’t something you can do on the side.Your stage presence as a singer is also really important. (Source: Saurav Sen)You have to want t o sing and you have to be willing to put in the work and never give up. You have to remain motivated and be able to deal with the inevitable hurdles that you’ll have to overcome.This is something that’s almost impossible to do on your own. You’re bound to fail at least a few times.  It’s a good idea to start by singing in a choir or group so that you can learn from your peers.Even if you love certain kinds of music, you should try singing all different types of genres: hip hop, soul, folk, pop, rock, etc. You’ll find that you can learn a lot from musical styles that you’ve never even listened to.The Special Case of Opera SingersNowadays, you’re more likely to hear a pop singer than an opera singer.  Despite years of training, opera singers barely see as much limelight as their pop counterparts.However, when it comes to vocal coaching and vocal technique, singing lessons are particularly useful for anyone who’s dreaming of recording an opera album.Mastering a baroque piece for a tenor or a soprano suggests that you’re in complete control of your breathing, adept in classical singing, have perfect pitch, and many other singing techniques that would help you broaden your artistic repertoire.In addition to opening doors to a completely different career where your timbre and tessitura are your greatest qualities, opera singing is also a great way to discover how to sing complex vocal techniques with an instrumental accompaniment (especially in the case of Wagner).An alto, for example, will also have to master their elocution in both English and foreign languages while taking care to correctly warm up their voice and manage stress.  Baritone singers will be expected to sing while accompanied by an orchestra. These skills have also been employed by more contemporary artists in recent years. TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Nic olaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe World of MusicalsMusicals have become hugely popular in recent years and sort of sit as a halfway point between opera and contemporary concerts.  Musicals are seemingly far more popular than plays and operas and include enjoyable melodies, memorable tunes, and a huge variety of different roles and musical styles.Musicals are a great way to get into music! (Source: pixabay.com)You can work on your singing by learning a few songs from the musicals and you’ll soon be making great progress. As a result, there's plenty of voice training, singing exerc ises, and singing tips for those wanting to audition for a musical online.While you’ll obviously need a good voice to sing musicals, there are also plenty of characters who aren’t traditionally singers but rather comedians. There are plenty of people who’ve become famous like this.Improve Your Musical Knowledge with SingingWhile we don’t often think about it, there aren't many famous musicians who haven’t mastered the art of singing.Whether you play the violin, organ, cello, etc., every musician should have a musical ear and be able to sing a given note. It's impossible to find singing success if you're tone deaf!  Even the conductor, who’s expected to be able to lead the whole orchestra, should have the necessary skills to produce a given note with their voice.Learn more about practicing different musical styles.To a lesser extent, dancers should also have some kind of theoretical understanding of music given that they’re going to have to move their body in time to it .  Then there’s the musical stars who do it all with just a microphone.Learning an instrument like the piano can really help your singing. (Source: stock.tookapic.com)Not only do they usually know how to play a musical instrument (or several in some cases) or sing while dancing incredibly (take Michael Jackson, for instance), they often write their own music, too.  Writing a song is a hugely impressive feat and is nowhere near as easy as some make it look.Bach’s Mass, Mozart’s Requiem, Mendelssohn, Monteverdi, Fauré, Schubert, Gounod, Berlioz, Handel, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Brahms, Poulenc, Puccini and Bellini, the list goes on and on. Each of these composers are famous for their profound understanding of each instrument and the human voice.  The world of music extends farther than you would first think.  There are sound and light technicians, stage designers, agents (who are artists in their own special ways), and many other people who can make a musical performance come togeth er on the stage.On the other hand, a singer who masters other aspects of music (you could get a piano tutor, for example), composition, and the performing arts has a huge advantage when it comes to putting on a show over someone who’s only studied how to sing.Gain Inspiration from Songs from Other Musical StylesThere are so many different art forms that have inspired music and vice versa. For example, you could consider poetry to be literature with a musical edge.Literature has inspired music, too. There are plenty of novels and stories that eventually were turned into operas or songs, for example.Music has also inspired painters and sculptors. The surrealist painters of the inter-war period would paint while listening to famous singers.  Nowadays, there are very few creatives who don’t work while listening to music.How Can You Learn How to Sing?Patience is definitely a virtue for anyone who’d like to become a star. After all, nobody really becomes famous overnight.A music sch ool is one of the first places you should visit if you want to learn how to sing. Additionally, there are also places that specialise in just singing. If you’re really serious, you should also consider looking at universities where you can find qualified singing teachers.If you’d like personalised classes, you should consider enlisting the help of a private voice coach who can come to your house for your lessons.You'll have to practise, practice, and practise if you want to get over stage fright. (Source: Thibault Trillet)When it comes to finding the perfect voice, self-confidence can be key. After all, it’s impossible to sing well when you’re nervous.It’s very difficult to ad lib musical education. If you want to become a singing sensation rather than on the dole, you’re definitely going to have to consider working with a good music teacher.  If the student’s going to become the master, they’re going to need a good master, after all.Additionally, you should also mak e sure that you remain active and exercise regularly in order to ensure that you’re in complete control of your breathing as it’s imperative when it comes to singing well.You should also look to nurture your own style so that when you do become famous, you’ll stand out rather than just being a forgettable face in a crowd of similar singers.You should also be careful. Whether you have a long or a short career, there will always be people trying to swindle you, false friends, hangers-on, and dodgy agents trying to use your talent and hard work for their own personal gain!However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The first thing you need to do is start practising! If you want your voice to get better and be able to hit those high notes, you're going to need to be taught by a singing teacher and learn how to sing in tune.You'll also need to do some ear training (for learning how to differentiate good notes) and warm up exercises and work on breathing with your diaphragm. Are yo u interested in improving your posture? You should probably look for a voice coach on Superprof. Don't forget you can also find a teacher who provides singing lessons online, too.Find singing lessons near mesinging lessons LondonSinging lessons ManchesterSinging lessons online

Everything You Need to Know to Learn Chinese

Everything You Need to Know to Learn Chinese Get to Grips with the Complex Linguistic History of China and Learning Mandarin Chapters What Languages Do the Chinese Speak? The History of Languages in China Which Variant of Chinese Should I Learn? The Influence of Chinese in Asia Focus on Mandarin Chinese What’s Pinyin? Tones in Chinese1.3 billion inhabitants and one sixth of the world’s population. 8 urban areas with over 10 million inhabitants and around 30 with over 2 million. 10 million kilometres squared...China is the third largest country in the world, one of the world’s biggest economic powers, and one of the UN Security Council’s five permanent members.  It’s also the world’s largest exporter, home to the world’s largest army, and second in terms of military spending.  These are the kinds of figures that should grab the attention of students and businessmen, alike!Over the course of this article, you’re going to find out everything you need to know about learning Chinese and why you should consider moving to China! NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors What Languages Do the Chinese Speak?Perhaps you’re itching to put that you can read, write, and speak Chinese on your CV.Mandarin is the most widely spoken variety of Chinese. (Source: Sindhu Wijaya)But did you know that there are 81 different languages spoken in China?Which should you choose?Mandarin?Cantonese?Wu?Let Superprof point you in the right direction.  As we said, there are 81 different languages in China. 49 of them share their name with the people that speak them.Han is spoken by the Han.Z huang by the Zhuang.Buyei and Dai by the... you get the idea!The 32 remaining languages aren’t named for ethnic groups.  For example, there are 90,000 Tibetans who speak rGyalrong rather than “Tibetan”.Generally speaking, there are more minority languages and dialects in Southern China while there’s a greater degree of similarity between the dialects spoken in the North.Let’s have a look at the 3 main languages of China.Mandarin ChineseIt’s the most spoken language in China.  Mandarin Chinese or ???/??? putonghuà (“common speech”) is spoken by around 955 million people.Mandarin Chinese has been the official language of the People’s Republic of China since 1956 and is generally the language you’ll learn if you study “Chinese”. If you want to go to China, this is the language you should learn since most of China can speak standard Mandarin Chinese.You should also know that it's spoken in Taiwan and Singapore.CantoneseCantonese is spoken by over 71 million peop le. The language is spoken in Hong Kong, Macao, and a number of regions in Southeast Asia. There are some that say that the language is too simplistic in comparison to Mandarin Chinese and some Chinese people even consider it an ugly language.  However, Cantonese is the second most spoken language in China in terms of native speakers.  In Hong Kong, choosing to speak Cantonese or Mandarin can be a huge political statement.WuThere are 77 million people who speak Wu, a language spoken predominantly in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. This is where things might get a little confusing. For some Chinese people, Wu is the country’s second language, not Cantonese!Why is this? Even though the language is made up of various languages and dialects, just like Mandarin Chinese, it’s considered more prestigious than Cantonese.  Unfortunately, “Wu” is not accepted in Scrabble! If it was, it would be worth 5 points... The History of Languages in ChinaChinese belongs to the Sino-Tibetan lan guage family. This group includes 10 Sinitic languages (with around 1.35 billion speakers) and 330 Tibeto-Burman languages (with around 70 million speaks).Mandarin Chinese, much like a unified Chinese identity, has been promoted across the nation by the Chinese government. (Source:  Zhang Kaiyv)The Chinese writing system, along with Sumerian and Egyptian writing systems, is one of the world’s oldest. This is often referred to as “Old Chinese” or “Archaic Chinese”.  The writing system was logographic which means that the characters represent words or phrases rather than sounds. This can make it as hard to read as hieroglyphics for those not familiar with it. Those who spoke the language in the North are more closely related to Mandarin Chinese while in the Southeast, there are a number of different dialects and languages including Cantonese (Yue), Min (Fujian, Taiwan), Wu (Shanghai).Mandarin ChineseMandarin’s most famous time was probably in 1956 when it became the standa rdised official language of the People’s Republic of China.  The reform modified 2,300 complex ideograms in order to make them easier to learn for both the Chinese and foreign speakers.  This language originated from the different dialects spoken in the North with the one from the capital, Beijing, being its main source of inspiration.As a symbol of China’s economic growth, the language has become an important part of business and is the most spoken language in the world.CantoneseThe word “Cantonese” comes from “Canton”, the Western word for Guangzhou, the capital of the Guangdong province, which is considered to be the home of the language itself.  While some see it as a less prestigious Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese has strong roots in the region and has made it difficult for any other language to usurp it.It’s also spoken in a number of other places such as:Malaysia (750,000 speakers)Vietnam (500,000 speakers)And North America, where there are 180,000 speakers of the language in the city of San Francisco alone.The words “wok”, “dim sum”, and “mahjong” are all of Cantonese origin. Which Variant of Chinese Should I Learn?When it comes to business, speaking Mandarin Chinese would be hugely beneficial and with around 20% of the world’s population speaking it, there are literally thousands and thousands of jobs that require it.As the world’s 2nd biggest economic power, China is Europe’s second most popular trading partner, just after the United States, and accounts for around 160 billion Euros in trade.  Hopefully this makes your decision much easier.This is one of the main reasons that more and more students are signing up to take Chinese classes and it’s currently estimated that around 30 million people are currently learning Mandarin.  It should also be noted that there are plenty of international employers looking for skilled employees who know how to read, write, and speak Mandarin Chinese.In terms of demand, Cantonese is jus t after Mandarin Chinese. The language spoken in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia is currently also very popular among young students from the West. In fact, as trade with Hong Kong increases, more and more employers are looking for employees from the West who can speak their language. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors The Influence of Chinese in AsiaThere are plenty of Asian countries far and wide that are influenced by China.60% of Japanese vocabulary is of Chinese origi n. (Source: Manuel Joseph)JapanThe influence of the Chinese language on Japan can be seen quite clearly.  In fact, 60% of modern Japanese vocabulary is of Chinese origin.The presence of a Chinese army in the Land of the Rising Sun had a profound effect on the country’s linguistic landscape. You can find a number of Chinese characters being used in Japanese. These Chinese characters, known as Kanji in Japanese, are used alongside Japan’s two other writing systems: Hiragana and Katakana.However, the Japanese government likes to downplay China’s effect on the country as they believe China is still trying to exert their influence on them.KoreaAs early as the 5th century BCE, the Chinese Empire was seen as a model civilisation by the Koreans and a number of Chinese influences can still be seen to this day.  Culturally speaking, the Middle Kingdom influenced the Koreans in the following ways:Agriculture: through the different technologies of the time for cultivating rice and barley. Law: the drafting of the first civil code and the adoption of an administrative model.Just like in Japanese, Chinese characters also found their way into Korean and it’s thought that between 60% and 70% of Korean’s vocabulary is made up of Sino-Korean words.VietnamWhen speaking about the relationship between China and Vietnam, you have to be careful as it’s quite difficult to find trustworthy information on the subject.In terms of linguistics, we know that Chinese and Vietnamese belong to two different language families.  However, there are phonetic similarities between the two languages!  In fact, while there are also certain grammatical similarities between Mandarin Chinese in some cases, the phonetic similarities between Cantonese and Vietnamese are even greater.While the language is more similar to ancient Chinese, there is a clear Cantonese influence on Vietnamese due to the historical relationship between the two regions.SingaporeOf all the ethnic groups in Singapore, th e Chinese population is the biggest.  The country's comprised of four main linguistic groups: one for each of the country’s official languages. Mandarin Chinese is the language spoken by most of the Chinese-speaking inhabitants.While there’s a tendency for Mandarin households to also speak English, we can confirm that Mandarin makes up part of the city-state’s multilingual landscape Focus on Mandarin ChineseMandarin Chinese is spoken by 955 million people. With so many speakers, it’s worth focusing on this variant of Chinese.Mandarin Chinese is spoken by 955 million people! (Source: Dom J)What are the main things about Mandarin Chinese?Firstly, Mandarin is a tonal language. This means that the pronunciation can completely change the meaning of certain words even if they’re written completely the same.There are 4 tones in Mandarin:The first tone is the high-level tone.The second tone is the rising tone.The third tone is dipping tone.The fourth tone is the falling tone.Gramm atical rules:The determiner always comes first regardless of whether it’s part of a sentence (adverb before the ver), a subordinate clause, or a noun consisting of several sinographs.Negatives are made by putting a grammatical element before the verb. The character ? bù is used in the present of future before all verbs except ? you (to have) which is preceded by the character ? méi.When referring to a discouraged or forbidden action, the negation is expressed using the character or ? bié or biè before the verb.Of course, if you’re going to learn Mandarin Chinese, you’ll need to know how to count, too!One: ? or yi, pronounced [yi]Two: ? or èr, pronounced [ar]Three: ? or san, pronounced [sahn]Four: ? or sì, pronounced [seu]Five: ? or wu, pronounced [wou]Finally, as you probably know, both Japanese and Chinese follow a strict set of rules when it comes to being polite.If you want to mingle with the Chinese, you’ll need to learn how to say:Hello = nihao, pronounced [ni hao ]What’s your name? = nín guì xìng, pronounced [nin gouay shing]Yes = shì, pronounced [shu]No = bú shì, pronounced [bou chi]Thank you = xiè xiè, pronounced [chi chi]If you know the basics of Mandarin Chinese, you’ll be able to progress quickly and settle in China. What’s Pinyin?As you probably know, China has been looking beyond its own borders in recent years. This can be very clearly seen in Pinyin, the system for transcribing the Chinese language in the Latin Alphabet.Invented by Zhou Yougouang, it wouldn’t be until 1982 that the International Organization for Standardization in the People’s Republic of China recognised it as the official system for the romanisation of Mandarin Chinese.In addition to being a huge step towards the west, this system has also helped improve the literacy of the Chinese population (which is at 95% according to UNICEF).The Chinese can now also benefit from 25 of the letters in the Latin Alphabet. V is not included. You’ll also see th at Pinyin includes 5 tones. Tones in ChineseYou may have learnt during your studies of foreign languages that the English language is not tonal. Despite how well some speakers of our language can sing, tone barely plays a role in English.However, the use of tone in Mandarin Chinese is really important as well as being the stuff of nightmares for those trying to learn the language.There are actually 5 tones in Chinese:The first tone is high and level.The second tone is a high and rising.The third tone is much like a wave: a mid-range tone that falls then rises.The fourth tone starts high and then descends.The fifth is the neutral tone.Are you looking for a private tutor to help you with your Chinese?  Mandarin classes London? Search for a private tutor on Superprof.

Cities You Have to Visit in Spain

Cities You Have to Visit in Spain The Top 12 Cities in Spain ChaptersMadridBarcelonaSevilleCordobaSamalancaValenciaGironaToledoLas PalmasPalma de MallorcaGranadaMalaga“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” - Lao TzuMost people would love to go on a big trip.Why not visit the Iberian peninsula?From the Mediterranean coast to the Portuguese border, plenty of tourists are spoilt for choice when it comes to destinations in Spain.  Whether you do a pilgrimage to Santiago de la Compostela or just fancy travelling to Spain to learn Spanish, here are the most beautiful cities in the country and where you should go when you visit Spain. TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsMadridIn the heart of the country, Madrid is the centre of Spain. As a capital city, it’s full of big streets and traffic jams. Fortunately for you, it’s also home to beautiful parks like El Retiro Park.There are plenty of places to enjoy the sun in Madrid. (Source: Donations_are_appreciated)You can also discover great museums like the Prado, where you can see works from Dalì, Goya, and Velasquez, as well as the Reina Sofia museum where you can see Picasso’s Guernica.Like most other countries in the world, the capital of Spain is top of the list of places to visit in the country.BarcelonaIf you head to Barcelona in the height of summer, you’ll probably find more tourists than locals. For the most part, visiting Barcelona outside of summer is a good way to avoid crowds and sweltering heat. While Barcelona is next to the sea and has a beach, it’s still very hot in the summer. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying the city streets, the Sagrada Familia, and Catalan art.With Barcelona being in the heart of Catalonia, there's a lot to differentiate it from the other cities in Spain. For one, both Catalan and Spanish are spoken in the region so get used to seeing words you didn't come across in your Spanish lessons. Secondly, the Catalan region has its own culture, history, art, and identity, giving you something new to discover if you think you've seen everything Spain has to offer.SevilleSeville is certainly one of the first cities people think of when talking about Spain. As the capital of the region of Andalusia, this is one of the most beautiful cities with its Moorish architecture such as the Royal Alcazar.After visiting the Plaza de España, head over to the archaeological site Italica or the María Luisa Park. What better way to enjoy the s unshine in the south of Spain.Finally, there’s nothing better than spending the evening in a tapas bar or watching a flamenco show. If there was a single city that could represent what most people think of when they think of Spain, Seville would be it.CordobaCordoba is another city in Andalusia that had a tumultuous history. It was an important city in the Roman Empire before becoming an Islamic city in the Middle Ages. You can see its history represented by its most famous building, the Mezquita, which was built in 784.  There are also Byzantine influences in this building.  The interesting thing about this building is that it was originally a mosque before becoming a Cathedral.If you're heading to visit the Mezquita, you should definitely make your way via the Calleja de las Flores, arguably the most famous street in all of Cordoba.You'll love the architecture in Cordoba. (Source: campunet)With the Plaza de la Corredera, Viana Palace, Plaza de la Tendillas, you won’t be bored walking around Cordoba. This is a beautiful city that really deserves more attention than it often gets.SamalancaIn the heart of Spain, Salamanca is a treasure trove of architectural delights. Its sandstone buildings make the city look like its made of gold and resulted in the city being nicknamed The Golden City. These buildings are particularly impressive when viewed either during sunrise or sunset.Spending a few days or weeks in Salamanca is a great way to get the most out of this city’s student vibe. You’ll find one of the country’s oldest universities here. Both Spanish and international students spend their evenings having a drink at the Plaza Mayor. Salamanca is listed as a world heritage site and is an unmissable destination in Spain. TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Tea cher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsValenciaIf you love paella, you’ll love Valencia. In fact, you’ll find the best paella in all of Spain here as that's where the dish was originally created. Of course, paella isn’t the only reason to go to Valencia, though.The City of Arts and Sciences is a fine example of modern architecture. (Source: papagnoc)The city is famous for the City of Arts and Sciences. The city is also home to a mix of small streets, modern western architecture, and the Mercado Central where you can find local produce.Similarly, the city is famous the Fallas festival, when local artisans craft magnificent floats before burning them at the e nd of the festival. Only the floats that are deemed worthy of Fallas Museum are spared from the flames.Make sure you include a visit to the City of Arts and Sciences in your travel budget.GironaGirona isn’t Spain’s most famous city but its historic charm makes it one of Spain’s most beautiful. This town has plenty of great places to walk around.You should definitely see the “Tapestry of Creation” in the cathedral at the top of 90 steps. You can also enjoy the view from here. The city is most famous for its historic ruins that line the streets. Roman city walls, Gothic churches, the blend of eras makes walking around Girona like travelling through time.ToledoAs a town that was home to Jews, Muslims, and Christians, Toledo has earned its name as The City of Three Cultures. This mix of cultures also means that you can visit synagogues, cathedrals, churches, mosques, and also Roman buildings. It’s the difference between all these things that makes Toledo so fascinating to vi sit.With so many architectural and artistic wonders, you really have to spend several days in Toledo. Tourists visiting Madrid often take some time out to make their way to Toledo and they're rarely disappointed.Find out more about accommodation in Spain.Las PalmasDon’t forget that the Canary Islands are also part of Spain. In the Atlantic Ocean, these islands are a popular destination for foreign tourists. Las Palmas is arguably one of the most beautiful cities. It’s famous for being a destination visited by Christopher Columbus as he set off on his journey to India. We recommend that you visit the Casa de Colón, a museum dedicated to the man.Just like any other big city, though, Las Palmas is sometimes too busy to enjoy. Try to visit outside of the busy periods to really make the most of the city and its beaches.Palma de MallorcaPalma de Mallorca, on the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, is not just a city for parties and nightclubs. While these are all very popular, there is another way to enjoy the city if you head out of the centre. The old town (Casco Antigo) has its quiet spots where you can find charming small streets by the sea.Don't forget to visit the Spanish islands, too! (Source: Walkerssk)Don’t forget to visit the breathtaking Gothic Santa Maria Cathedral while you're there, too!GranadaMedieval cities always draw in crowds of people looking to learn more about the age of knights. Both adults and children can enjoy Granada. This Andalusian city is home to plenty of monuments including the world-famous Alhambra. The Albaicín neighbourhood is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.You can see Granada’s Arab and Catholic history in its streets. As you walk around the city, you can enjoy Medieval, Renaissance, and Western architecture. Granada is also a great place to attend exhibitions, festivals, and concerts, too.Find out more about Spain's best monuments.MalagaMalaga is a popular destination for foreign tourists and Spaniar ds looking to enjoy the sun all year long. However, the beautiful Spanish beaches aren’t the only reason to visit the city.In Malaga itself, you can also enjoy museums, especially those dedicated to Picasso since he was born in the city. While the coastline around Malaga has been welcoming tourists from all over the world, the city itself is also starting to become a popular destination for tourists looking to see an authentic Spanish side to the Costa del Sol.The combination of typical beach getaways and cultural tourism make Malaga an ideal place to spend excellent vacations!That said, there are also plenty of beautiful villages in every corner of Spain, too. Whether you're in the Basque Country, Catalonia, Andalucia, or in Ibiza, there are plenty of places to visit.Before you go to Spain, you might want to learn some Spanish (or Catalan). Just do a quick search for Spanish tutors on Superprof and you'll find the right teacher for you in no time!

Dealing with Fear - How to Interrupt and Redirect Your Mind - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Dealing with Fear - How to Interrupt and Redirect Your Mind - Introvert Whisperer Dealing with Fear How to Interrupt and Redirect Your Mind SELF-PROMOTION Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective.  But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will?  If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

GRE Guide Single Question Passages

GRE Guide Single Question Passages GRE/MAT Graduate School Blog Perhaps the most overwhelming thing about the GRE is the test itself, as a whole. This article from HappySchools outlines the content and general format of the exam. The terrain covered by even the most conservative subsections can feel constantly in flux â€" and when most questions are asked only a single time on the test, prepping on a smaller scale often feels futile. But further compartmentalization actually breaks the test into fully digestible pieces, and when we look at the species of questions that exist in a micro-sense, we can see better when certain skills are being evaluated more than others. Noticing these differences is key to succeeding on the test, as going without often leads us to throw all of our skills at each question, a process that is draining and overwhelming. By noting the differences and curating our approach in a more fine-tuned way, we can save energy for later in the test, and have a better sense of question-consciousness, where we as test takers are resp onding to the questions as they are being asked, and not as we fear them to be. A couple years ago, I took this approach with a client to study the differences that crop up when we cut up and separate multiple official practice exams (and official here is key, as most test prep companies write their own material based on content areas and not question style). We focused on the Reading Comprehension questions in the Verbal section, and I intend to write 3 following blog posts laying out the differences we discovered through this process, beginning with single-question passages. By “single-question,” I’m referring to all of the questions that only require you to respond to an individual question; the other three varieties, naturally, are 2-question, 3-question, and 4-question passages, the last of which can be particularly nasty. But points are equivalent across the board, and you will see more single-question passages than 4-question ones, so we’re starting at the beginning. Take the following problem: This question is about the standard length and style for single-question passages, which are, the vast majority of the time, concerned with the logic of the passage. The question asked will also almost always be similar to “Which of the following, if true, most strengthens or weakens the argument?” In this case, the question will ask us about weakening the argument, but we need first to understand what that even means. For more information about the style of GRE Reading Comprehension questions, see this article from GREEdge. On the GRE, the term argument always refers to the logic as it produces the conclusion. So for our purposes, we can focus on the part of the passage that says “therefore” or some variation. Here, that part is that “the Maya must have used stone tools.” This conclusion is fundamentally the thing we are trying to weaken as we analyze the argument, but lets look closer at the pathway there. The Maya made carvings. The carvings would need hard stone or metal tools. Alright, let’s stop here for a sec. Neither of those things is untrue â€" in fact, we can’t take anything they say as untrue. A common mistake in students is that they assume what would weaken the argument is an alternative fact (like what if they had lasers?!?). But it’s clear here that if we start at two options (stone or metal) and conclude that stone is the answer, what we need most to weaken the argument is an alternate source of metal. Iron-ore deposits existed, but the Maya never figured out how to use them. We know they used copper and gold, but these aren’t hard enough. THEREFORE, they must have used stone. This could be a totally correct argument; I mean if there really was no other source of metal, we’d have to agree. But since our project is to weaken the argument, that’s the thing we need to produce. We’re going to look at the answers in a second, but before we do, I want to offer some cautionary advice â€" the test writes questions in ways to slow you down. It is not your friend, and it wants you to spend more than a handful of minutes on each question â€" this ensures you’ll take the test again in a few months. They aren’t incentivized to make it easy for you, and one of their best tricks is providing you with answers that are convoluted and messy so that you have to read them several times. So when I show you the answers, glide on past them to my analysis of them, and use that as a frame for breaking it down. Remember, our goal is to weaken the argument that concludes that stone must have been used, and that a framework for thinking about that is that we want an extra source of metal. As we read from the bottom up, lets look at these answers. The final answer primarily discusses how archaeologists disagree about stone tools. This is of no concern to us, as our primary concern revolves around finding additional sources of metal. This answer can be marked irrelevant. The penultimate answer choice discusses the smelting technique â€" which, if it could be applied to Iron, would provide us with a new source of metal. However, they say it could NOT be so used, and thus this answer strengthens the argument. This is a difficult choice primarily because it’s an example of the test masking a wrong answer with right clothing, and these are especially tricky to watch out for. Answer C discusses the hardness of the stone, and once we recognize that fact we know immediately that whatever effect it might have on the argument, it is not for us. We care about metal, single-mindedly. Answer B provides an example of artifacts that have been found, but reiterates that these would have been too soft. No luck, once more. But Answer A refers to a meteorite that, even in the hypothetical, would provide a source of metal that the passage failed to address, and so produces the possibility of weakening the argument. The struggles that I see most students facing in problems like this is first, substituting facts they imagine about the passage for the logic the passage presents to us; second, forgetting the hole in logic they are looking to exploit as a result of the length and difficulty of the answer choices; and third, misreading the answer choices (as Answer D tries to provoke). To fight these, remember that the passage only speaks in facts until its conclusion, which is simply poorly drawn, not wrong as such. Also, maintain your focus on this hole â€" if you can say “new source of metal” don’t substitute it for something you read that’s different without double and triple checking. Third, read carefully, and always keep at the forefront of your mind that the test is messing with your attention span and actively, constantly trying to throw you off your game. To look at another question like this, check out the one below: This technically doesn’t ask to strengthen or weaken, but notice how attentive the question is to the passage’s logic. “Which of the following, if true” remains our hallmark, but the thing we’re looking to do is draw a conclusion about the facts presented to us, so we are in a slightly different capacity. But if we break down the passage into its basic sequence of facts, it looks a lot easier to think through. No job goes to an outside applicant if an internal applicant who is qualified applies. [In pure logic terms this means â€" If internal applicant applies and is qualified, they get the job.] Numerous employees have been qualified for any given positions. Some of those positions go to outside hires. At this point we almost have the answer in front of us, and we haven’t even looked at the answers, because the passage lays out its own logic for us. Many are qualified, but some jobs go to outsiders could only suggest that some who are qualified have not applied (which would be easy to imagine for entry-level positions). Answer A most exactly looks like this variation, as it discusses the lack of applications from current employees. But let’s check out the other answers. Answer B suggests a lack of notification to current employees. This is wrong in the first place because the opening sentence refers to advertisement and this answer would depend on the statement in the passage being false. But it fails, also, to address the problem of “application” and so can be discarded before even realizing all that. Answer C is little more than a possible fact, which might be true (given that employees + outside hires = more employees), and its truth can easily distract us from the focus on the passage’s logic. But it might also not be true; if the turnover is consistent the employee count might stay pretty low. Answer D references the non-qualification of certain hires â€" this is a great example of the kind of alternative-fact that students often fall for. These kinds of answers distract us by their power to transform the conclusion without being within the logical realm of the question. The problem, remember, is the non-application of certain current employees, not the qualifications of those who are hired, which the passage implies strongly actually possess those qualifications. Answer E might also be true, but bears no relevance to our logical conundrum and should similarly be discarded. These single-question passages will appear 3-4 times on your Verbal section, and as a result will come in a variety of logical flavors, even though they hew closely to the same format. It’s worth familiarizing yourself with them and their question styles and answer choices the same way you would prep your knowledge of triangles for the math section. Your job in reading comprehension is not just the flimsy concept of “comprehension” â€" it can be compartmentalized in similar ways to the math section and gradually, studiously conquered. Stay tuned for future installments! And enjoy these similar questions below. About the Author Ben is one of MyGuru's most experienced and qualified GRE/test prep tutors. For more information on him and others like him, click here.

GMAT Quant 101 Basic Facts Concepts to Remember

GMAT Quant 101 Basic Facts Concepts to Remember GMAT MBA Admissions Blog In our GMAT tutoring sessions, we constantly remind students that the GMAT is not a math test. Although there are some rules you need to know, doing well requires that you think in a structured yet flexible way and approach each question as a problem that needs to be solved strategically and creatively. Rote memorization of facts and formulas is not the answer. Building critical thinking skills is the path to a 700+ GMAT score. All that said, you will need to memorize some mathematics information before test day. This primer introduces some of those important facts. Set the right mental context for what you’ll need to memorize. It’s important to remember that you will not have a calculator on the GMAT; it will be necessary to memorize a few mathematical equations and rules. Many people feel most overwhelmed with the Quantitative material on the GMAT, but you won’t encounter anything beyond topics you learned in high school. All it takes to master this section is enough dedication to recall and then retain information that you’ve most likely already learned in the past, combined with enough practice in applying these concepts to seemingly very tricky problems using lots of critical thinking, problem solving, and process of elimination. Draw your shapes. There is a fair amount of geometry on the GMAT. You should be prepared to remember facts about various shapes. Draw the shapes when you can â€" visual cuesare easier for your brain to process and remember. Take triangles as an example. You have to remember many equations and rules for different types of triangles (Pythagorean theorem, interior and exterior angles, area, etc.). It can be helpful to list these and draw them as well. Actually draw a right triangle, label the sides (a, b, c) and fill in the fixed angle amounts. Go through the same process for angles, quadrilaterals, circles, angles, and uniform solids. Recall your high school algebra equations. You’ll need to know various math rules and formulas to perform well on the GMAT. Again, these should look familiar from the math classes you took in high school. For example, how many of the bullets below are familiar to you? Order of operations FOIL (first, outside, inside, last) when multiple two binomials (i.e., (a +b ) (c + d) exponent rules radical rules Slope of a line, or y = mx + b MBA Crystal Ball has a great article covering most of the algebra formulas you’ll need to master in the GMATquant section. Here are some other helpful GMAT quant issues to remember. Memorize the answer order for data sufficiency questions. The answers are the same for every question, so the GMAT doesn’t write them out for you. You’ll save lots of time if you’re able to memorize and quickly recall what A, B, C, D, and E represent: (A) statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question (B) statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question (C) both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient (D) each statement alone is sufficient (E) statements 1 and 2 together are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question In situations where all answer choices are numerical, it can be helpful to backsolve(plugging the answers into the question). Start with C, usually the median number, and use it in the equation. This is an easy way to eliminate answers quickly. QS Top MBA wrote a nice article summarizing most of what you need to understand to master GMAT data sufficiencyquestions. Use mental math as often as you can. If a question uses decimals, (3.2, 4.8, round up to whole numbers to make quick calculations in your head). If you are asked to multiply something by 20% or 30% or 40%, first multiply it by 10% (something most of us can do quickly), and then multiply the result by 2 or 3 or 4. Mental math is all about breaking something that seems complicated on its own into easier steps in your head. Time management is critical on the GMAT. Taking even an extra 30 seconds to manually work out a problem that can be completed using mental math wastes precious time. It also increases the possibility that you might make a calculation error. Mental math also has a way of improving your more general math skills. As explained in this article on mental mathby Shelley Gray, a math teacher, it forces you to understand instead of memorize as well as follow a logical thought process. Both of these factors will help you build your GMAT math skills more generally. Final Thoughts The GMAT tests your ability to think strategically. As in business more generally, you are asked to take what you know and apply it to a given situation to choose the best alternative.This article was intended to provide a high level overview of the math and quantitative reasoning related GMAT topics you’ll need to know to do that, but it’s critical to keep in mind that practicing actual GMAT problem under timed conditions and learning from your mistakes is what will lead to GMAT success. For more information on GMAT tutoring and our GMAT tutors, click here. For an introduction to available online options, visit our online GMAT page. Also, if you think you may be interested in one of our free GMAT skills webinars, where you'll be introduced to the online tutoring process, major GMAT concepts, and our Director of Online Tutoring will answer specific questions from attendees, click here for more information on how to sign up.

Palestinian Teacher Awarded $1M Prize

Palestinian Teacher Awarded $1M Prize A Palestinian teacher Hanan al-Hroub has been awarded the $1m Global Teacher Prize for her contribution at a star-studded ceremony in Dubai. The ceremony took place at the Global Education and Skills Forum. There were 10 finalists from the United States, UK,  Pakistan, Kenya, Palestine, Japan, Finland, Australia and India. They were invited on stage by a video message from physicist Stephen Hawking and congratulated by video messages from former US president Bill Clinton and US vice-president Joe Biden. The winner was announced by Pope Francis via video message. Prince William  sent a video message  saying  A good teacher holds the power to influence, inspire and shape a young person’s life for the better. Hanan al-Hroub  specialises in supporting children who have been traumatized by violence. She went into primary education after her children were left deeply traumatized by a shooting incident they witnessed on their way home from school. Al Hroub uses an approach with children that she developed herself  to  build  trusting, respectful and affectionate relationships and encourage children  to work together. I am proud to be a Palestinian female teacher standing on this stage. I accept this as a win for all teachers in general and Palestinian teachers in particular, Al Hroub said. The ceremony was attended by Hollywood movie stars, Salma Hayek and Matthew McConaughey as well as Indian movie stars Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Parineeti Chopra. Hanan al-Hroub  will receive  $1m and will be asked to serve as a global ambassador for the Varkey Foundation, non-profit organisation set up to improve the standards of education for underprivileged children throughout the world. TutorZ team wants to congratulate  Hanan al-Hroub and  thank  every teacher/tutor who works with us and helps children  to overcome their study  difficulties.  Each tutor on TutorZ provides a welcoming, safe environment which enables students to achieve high standards and make good academic progress. Thank you for your hard work!