American Education Lacking

American Education Lacking Experts are saying that foreign students are surpassing American students by scoring much higher on many achievement tests, according to The New York Times. Many foreign students are at least a year ahead of their American peers academically. Currently, about 70% of American students graduate from high school, which is lower than most other developed foreign countries. Only Spain, Mexico, New Zealand and Turkey lag behind the United States in K-12 educational achievement. The New York Times reported that Americas education system has been on the decline since the years after WWII. Many experts attribute these causes to varying factors. Some believe that the public schools are not the problem; rather the problem is the lack of motivation in students. Some believe that it is a cultural problem, in which education is undervalued for young children. Experts believe that middle school and high school students are too focused on constantly being entertained. This distracts from school work because students are frequently disinterested and apathetic about school. Other experts believe that the lack of a centralized, federal system of education is the problem. Most other countries have centralized education that is operated, controlled and run by its system of government. In contrast, American schools are administered and operated by the states and local districts. Some believe that America needs more federal standards and regulation for the education system to improve. Experts believe these are the roots of the problem, and a fresh attitude is necessary for education. The workforce feels the ripple effect of these cultural and administrative problems. Colleges are inheriting more-distracted, less-motivated students, which decreases the number of qualified workers for future jobs. This can even lead to more jobs being outsourced to foreign countries. Many believe that improving Americas education system could boost its economy. Some say that increasing students literacy rates and other academic measures by one school year could create long term value of over 40 trillion dollars. South Korea has the highest high school graduation rate at 96%, and some believe that is one of the main reasons why that countrys economic value has grown. Other experts point to Finlands education system, which retains and recruits great teachers, as a model to emulate.

How to Draw Anime and Manga Characters

How to Draw Anime and Manga Characters How to Draw Manga and Anime Characters ChaptersThe Different Styles of Manga and AnimeThe Different Types of CharacterTools for Drawing Manga CharactersHow to Draw Anime Anatomy and PosesHow To Draw Heads in Manga and AnimeEmotion in an Anime CartoonResources on How to Draw Anime and MangaThese days, many young artists find their way to art through comics and animated series. And the popularity of manga and anime has been steadily growing over the past twenty years.But what, you may ask, is anime/manga and what is the difference between the two?Both are different styles of drawing that come from Japan. They are to Japanese art what Franco-Belgian or American comics are to European art. Manga is the written form, similar to comic books. They are read from the right cover to the left - for us Europeans, “back to front” - and are often in greyscale, though some more elaborate albums are beautifully coloured. Anime designates an animated series drawn in the same style as manga comics. Many modern children’s animated ser ies are in the anime style - even Marvel comics!If you’re not certain what anime is, here are some well-known anime series and movies you might recognise:Pokémon, starring the yellow-and-black creature with the lightning tail, PikachuDragon Ball ZNarutoYugi-OhHowl’s Moving CastleGhost in the Shell (originally a manga and now a live-action film as well)Princess MononokeHere we will look at how to draw anime characters. This is a very basic tutorial - we won’t be touching on inking or colouring at all.here.The Different Types of CharacterAn interesting aspect of manga drawing techniques is that - at least in shojo and shonen - you can always tell the hero from the villain. Not from what they are wearing, but from the way they are drawn. When you learn how to draw manga characters, it’s important to know what side your figures are on.Male and female heroesTypically, heroes have large eyes. This is particularly exaggerated in the shojo and shonen style, where eyes can eat up al most half the face (we will be looking at eyes particularly). Even in josei and seinen, where the eyes are usually (though not always) more realistically drawn, a hero’s eyes will be rounder and more open than a villain’s.Heroes and heroines often have unusual hair. Manga hair can range from an unusual colour (pink, blue, orange…) to an extraordinary hairdo. (A standing joke is how to spot the main character in anime - it’s the one with the blue hair.) Again, this is more common in shojo, with shonen coming a close second, but more adult styles will generally find a way to make the hero or heroine’s hair more interesting than anyone else’s.An unusual aspect of manga girls are the pop-up boobs. While some are generously proportioned from the outset, other anime girls seem to have perfectly normal breasts - until they undress.In fantasy settings, elves always have overly long pointed ears that droop slightly.Bad boys, anti-heroes and villainsBad girls and villains will hav e closed eyes. Not that they keep their eyes closed, but all the lines in the eyes meet and the eyes are generally more narrow and pointed at the edges. A femme fatale will often have rounder eyes, but the eyelashes will be more emphasised and, again, the edges of the eyes will meet.This character might be an anti-hero or a villain - but he's definitely not the idealistic high.school student type of character. Photo credit: Troileh on Visual huntVillains often have interesting hair but in more elegant hairstyles. Bad boys often have long hair that falls into their eyes. If a villain has a similar hairstyle to the hero, it will be more squarely drawn, with fewer curves.Cute sidekicksNo, Disney doesn’t have the monopoly on sidekicks. From Pikachu in Pokemon to the pig Hawk in Seven Deadly Sins, cute talking animals are common in anime. However, they are mostly absent from adult mangas - or take the form of huge battle-tanks.Tools for Drawing Manga CharactersThere is no reason to pre fer paper over digital when drawing anime or manga. You can get prepared paper storyboards or templates for Photoshop or CorelDraw. If you are drawing digitally, make sure you have a good tablet - a higher-end Wacom, for example, though you don’t have to go for their professional line if you are just starting out.As a beginner, you will need:Paper.Pencil. It’s better to go for softer pencils that are easy to erase.Eraser. A kneadable eraser is best; try an electric eraser if you tend to make heavy lines.That’s it. As you advance, you will want to invest in good ink (Japan or India), brushes or ink pens, and Copic markers (Copic markers let you shade well, and give more of a Manga look than a coloured pencil). If you are digital, a good series of greyscale tools (such as Ben-Day dot brushes)  can be useful if you want to draw traditional manga comic books.Traditional manga comics are generally printed in greyscale. Photo credit: kenleewrites on Visualhuntlower arm is slightly l onger than the upper arm. The length from groin to knee is about the same as from knee to ankle.The female body in mangas has little to do with reality. Waists tend to be exaggerated, legs are endless, and we have mentioned the pop-up boob effect above.PosesThere are two ways to improve in drawing poses:Get really good at perspective, so you can draw the basic shapes in the right perspective from the outset.Use pictures. However, since manga poses are often quite unusual and exaggerated, it is hard to find just the right resource.Anime poses are often quite dramatic. There is are certain conventions for conveying certain emotions. Photo credit: wotupset_080803 on Visual huntPractice fluid movements by sketching stick figures in various poses - just lines with circles at the joints.A good way to practice the right perspective and foreshortening is copying panels from well-known mangas. As you progress, you will start using the right foreshortening on your own anime drawings automatic ally.How To Draw Heads in Manga and AnimeDrawing faces is an important part of learning how to draw anime. It is the most expressive part of the figure and in some styles also the largest.The shape of the headFor the basics of how to draw a manga face, we will only be looking at a front view. You will need to work with perspective to draw the face in other poses.First, draw a circle. Some people like to get the actual shape in right away, others prefer to set their markings first. The final shape will be slightly flattened on top and with a pointed chin for Shojo and Shonen; for a more realistic style of drawing anime see below.Then add a vertical line to divide the face into two halves. (If your character is shown looking to the side, the line will no longer be in the middle.) If you are drawing in the more adult style, extend the line a little beyond the bottom of the circle - this will be your chin line.Add a horizontal line to divide the face into equal top and bottom halves. Th is is where the top of the eyes go.About halfway between this line and the chin, draw another line: this is the bottom of the nose.The bottom of the eye will be nearer or further away from the nose line depending on the style of anime character you are drawing.Finally, the mouth line is about a third of the way between the nose line and the chin.This face is titled slightly away from the viewer. Print out the picture and draw  the proportion lines to see how they work in perspective. Photo credit: wotupset_080803 on VisualhuntAnime characters have rounded cheeks and pointed chins; more adult characters have longer faces, but rarely with a square jaw unless he’s a bad boy or a villain.How to draw manga eyesThough eyes are the most characteristic and expressive part of a manga head, they come in different types. Shojo and shonen have rounder eyes that are generally left open at the sides, or only closed on the outside.Other styles have eyes that are more oval, with a marked slope on either the inside (usually for a manga girl) or the outside (a manga boy). This said, the eyes are still generally bigger than in Western animation and comics.Villains and bad-boy secondary characters have narrow eyes that can be closed at the sides and smaller pupils.Girls have longer lashes; how many are shown depends on the type of anime girl:Innocent schoolgirl types will have a full set, drawn individually.Innocent women without the little girl vibe will have individual lashes mostly on the outside.Femmes Fatales will mostly have lashes on the outside, drawn with darker lines to appear fuller.Pupils tend to be large and are often used to express emotion, expanding to show joy and contracting to show fear.In manga the nose and mouth are very small. Manga eyes are large and usually only closed at the outer corners, if at all. Here the light reflections are further down because the eyes are shaded to express mystery. Photo credit: wotupset_080803 on Visual HuntOne thing that sets manga eyes apart is the light reflections - oval white areas within the eye. There are generally  two:One in the pupilOne in the irisThe one in the iris is almost always set along the top eyelid. The one in the pupil generally as well, but it can wander downwards slightly.Here you can see how light reflections are used in anime eyes (three of them, here). THe sparkles around the characters can also appear in the eyes themselves. Photo credit: CéROM on VisualhuntWhen learning how to draw anime eyes, it’s important to know how to work with additional light reflections to express emotion or a specific type of character:Villains might only have an iris reflection, or else a very small pupil reflection, giving their eyes a flat, cold look.Young girls in love will have up to six, not all of which need to be oval - stars are very popular for certain types of stories. More reflections make the eyes appear more innocent and “star-struck”.Adding reflections in certain patterns can hel p add emotion to anime eyes. Try and observe what your favourite manga artists do and integrate that knowledge when you practise how to draw eyes.The nose and mouthManga noses and mouths are fairly minimalistic.The nose is a single line between the eyes and a tilted oval where the bottom of the nose is. In profile, they can be rather pointed - stronger for men, while women have small button noses. Western characters in manga and anime often have bulbous noses.The mouth at rest is also a single line. Be careful not to make the mouth too wide - it should not extend further than the inside corners of the eyes.When surprised or angry, anime mouths more than triple in size. Photo credit: wotupset_080803 on Visualhunt.comThis is at rest, or showing sedate emotions, such as a small smile, a sad mouth or a grim mouth. For excessive emotions - the mouth can end up taking up most of the face if a character is yelling or crying.More and more 3D drawing technologies are used to transform 2D man ga into anime.Japanese manga and animes are also a great sources of inspiration to design cool logos.Manga hairWhen drawing manga, don’t forget to give the hair some personality. Manga and anime hair flows, bounces, fans out in the wind, stands up on end… It is an expression of the character’s personality and current emotions.Even when drawing realistic manga, when it comes to hairstyles, think big.Even when drawing short hair, try to use flowing lines; make zig-zag lines long rather than short.In short, manga hair is big even when it isn’t.When drawing shonen, shojo or chibi styles, think even bigger.This manga girl has a fairly normal hairstyle - yet it still conveys a lot of movement and character. Don't hesitate to imagine a breeze to showcase your character's brilliant hair! Photo credit: mangamissou on Visual HuntHair can simply be an exaggerated version of actual hairstyles, or it can be Yugi-Oh’s amazing lightning-bolt type hair. It can literally be any colour. Hav e fun with it!Many people use  mangas as a source of inspiration for designing cool tattoos.Emotion in an Anime CartoonThere are certain conventions for showing emotions in anime, and certain set facial expressions for a manga face. For example, fear is generally depicted by contracting the pupil, joyful expressions include closed eyes with the eyelids arched upwards and fists pressed just under the chin. Watch your favourite anime and manga to learn the conventions for specific expressions.There are certain conventions on how to express emotions in manga and anime. Closed eyes are associated with happy emotions, especially with girls. Photo credit: wotupset_080803 on Visual HuntResources on How to Draw Anime and MangaThis article cannot be more than a simple introduction on how to draw manga and anime. For some more tutorials, check out these websites:This one has the bare basics to get you started.Anime Outline has a series of tutorials on how to draw anime, some of them quite spe cific (such as how to draw anime glasses). It focuses mostly on the more youthful styles.Painter Artist has some helpful tips on how to draw manga.This iTune app called Manga University is fine for learning the basics, though you should look elsewhere if you want to progress, for example in the books by Tadashi Ozawa on “How to Draw Anime and Game Characters” or the 23 volumes of “How to Draw Manga” from the Society for the Study of Manga Techniques.Want to know more about drawing anime and manga? Why not take some manga drawing classes with one of our Superprof tutors?Find drawing lessons london.

Attractions in the Vatican

Attractions in the Vatican What Is There to Do in the Capital of the Catholic Church? The Top Sites in the Vatican ChaptersSaint Peter's SquareSaint Peter’s BasilicaThe Sistine ChapelThe Twelve Vatican MuseumsThe Vatican Gardens“I'd love to go and visit the Mosque in Mecca again, just for the sheer beauty of it, not for God - much the way a non-Catholic might go to Vatican City because of the beauty of the buildings and the artifacts.” - Ayaan Hirsi AliIf you visit Rome, you’ve got to visit the Vatican, the world’s smallest country. Whether you’re Christian or not, the Vatican is worth a visit, especially if you enjoy history or art.It’s effectively an open-air museum sitting atop 20 centuries of history and it’s hardly surprising that the Vatican is visited by between 5 and 6 million tourists every year.With a population of only 799, the Vatican City State is an enclave within Rome and covers just 44 hectares. It’s the world’s most visited sovereign state in terms of the visitors-to-inhabitants ratio.As the head of the Catholic Church, the Vatican is regularly visited for the beautiful architecture and extensive art collection dating back to the Antiquity.In this article, we’ll look at the monuments you have to visit when you’re there. DanielaItalian Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuciaItalian Teacher 5.00 (4) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarilùItalian Teacher 5.00 (8) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarcoItalian Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GiusyItalian Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EnricoItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FedericaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSaint Peter's SquareThis Baroque-style square is located in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Saint Peter's Square and Basilica are probably the first things you'll see as you approach the Vatican City. (Source: martieda)This is probably one of the most regularly visited parts of the Vatican and you’ll regularly see large crowds of pilgrims and tourists waiting to get a glimpse of the pope.The Square was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1656 at the behest of Pope Alexander VII.  It was built between 1658 and 1667. The goal was to make the most of the space in front of the basilica so that it could welcome as many people as possible to see the pope.  Bernini designed the square in a Baroque style with a colonnade reaching out like to arms in an elliptical shape as if embracing the crowd.Nowadays, visitors arrive from the Via de la Conciliazone, complete with a statue by Michaelangelo, and a view of the basilica and the Episcopal Palace.  It’s hard to miss the huge obelisk in the middle of Saint Peter's Square. This is an Egyptian obelisk that was erected in the 19th cen tury BCE and brought to Rome in 37CE at the beginning of the Roman Empire.  It was originally part of the Circus of Nero. It’s been at the centre of Saint Peter's Square since 10 September 1586.Find out more about visiting the Vatican.Saint Peter’s BasilicaYou can’t miss Saint Peter’s Basilica when you visit the Vatican. It was built between 1506 and 1626 in a Baroque and Renaissance style.  This is the largest Catholic building in the world and it overlooks Saint Peter's Square and the banks of the Tiber.The basilica is one of the most visited monuments in the world, one of the finest buildings of its time, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It welcomes 150,000 people each Sunday for the Angelus Blessing and is also the burial site of Saint Peter.  Similarly, several popes are buried here. Whether you’re Christian or not, it’s hard not to be impressed by this ornate church.  Furthermore, it’s free to visit! However, you can wait up to an hour just to get in.Before you leave the monument, you might want to visit the dome, which costs €5 to visit using the stairs and €7 using the lift. Again, you’ll need to wait in a queue for between 30 and 60 minutes, but it’ll be worth it for the view of the centre of Rome, Roman ruins, and the rest of the Vatican. DanielaItalian Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuciaItalian Teacher 5.00 (4) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarilùItalian Teacher 5.00 (8) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarcoItalian Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GiusyItalian Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EnricoItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FedericaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Sistine ChapelVisiting the Vatican and not visiting the Sistine Chapel would be a shame. It’d be like visiting Rome and not seeing the Colosseum or Roman Forum. Of course, there’s almost always a queue, unless you get up early to visit the chapel when it opens. The Sistine Chapel is famous for its painted ceilings courtesy of the Renaissance painter Michelangelo. (Source: waldomiguez)You might want to consider getting the OMNIA Vatican and Rome Card which allows you to visit many of the sites without having to wait in the long queues.Built between 1477 and 1483, the Sistine Chapel is one of the rooms in the Apostolic Palace. Since the 15th century, this has been the place where the cardinals meet to elect the new pope. It’s the largest chapel in the Vatican and is famous for its ornate arch decorated with frescoes painted by Michaelangelo between 1508 and 1512.On the back wall, there’s Michaelangelo’s The Last Judgment, which was unveiled on 1 November 1541. There are paintings by Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, and Pintericchio. A victim of its success, it attracts between 10,000 and 20,000 visitors a day, making it particularly difficult to preserve the murals since the carbon dioxide produced damages the art.In addition to The Last Judgment, there’s also the north and south walls that depict the lives of Jesus and Moses, including the Punishment of the Sons of Corah (Boticelli), Temptations of Christ (Boticelli), Baptism of Christ (Perugino), and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.The Twelve Vatican MuseumsThe museum complex is another great reason to visit the Vatican. The Vatican Museum contains 12 museums that house sacred and profane art from the Antiquity, Egyptian, Etruscan, and Roman eras to the modern-day. The Vatican City is home to several museums and collections. (Source: DEZALB)The popes were among the largest collectors of art in Europe. During the time of the Papal States (752-1870), over 1,000 years of art was collected.You can get queue-jump tickets to visit the Vatican and avoid the crowds during the high season.  The museums attract up to 6 million tourists each year, making it the fourth most popular museum in the world and the most popular museum in Italy.The museum came about when Pope Julius II (1443-1513) installed the Apollo Belvedere and Laocoon in the Cortile del Belvedere.The complex includes the following museums:The PinacothecaThe collection of modern religious artThe Pio Clementino MuseumThe Ethnological MuseumThe Gregorian Egyptian MuseumThe Gregorian Etruscan MuseumThe Gregorian Profane MuseumThe Christian MuseumThe Vatican Apostolic LibraryThe Carriage PavilionThe Chiaramonti MuseumThe Philatelic and Numismatic OfficeThe Sistine ChapelThe Pauline ChapelThe Nicc oline ChapelThe museums are home to five galleries that you shouldn’t miss: the Lapidary Gallery, the Braccio Nuovo, the Gallery of the Candelabra, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Vatican Gallery of Maps.  The museums are closed on Sundays.The Vatican GardensTo the west of Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, there are the Vatican Gardens, an unmissable part of any visit to the Vatican. Covering 23 hectares, the Vatican Gardens cover half of the country. (Source: Frank_P_AJJ74)The gardens were created back in the Middle Ages where there were orchards and vineyards to the north of the Apostolic Palace. In 1279, Pope Nicholas III decided to change his residence to the Vatican. He installed a meadow, a garden, and an internal vegetable garden. The gardens were filled with shrubs, pine, and cedar from Lebanon.  The 23-hectare space perched on the Vatican Hill and included a 3-hectare woods.  The gardens offered a green space to the complex of Medieval monuments and statues. You can now see:The Square GardenCasina Pio IVThe Eagle FountainThe Lourdes GrottoThe monument to the assassination attempt of John Paul IIThe Vatican Radio BuildingThe nearby Vatican Train Station allows you to take the train to the Italian coast to the Castel Gandolfo, the property of the Holy See outside of the Vatican.Visiting the Vatican Gardens is a way to see three distinct styles of gardens: Italian, English, and French.  You can either go as part of a guided tour with someone from the gardens, a private guide, or an open-top bus tour with an audio guide.It’d be a pity to miss all of this, wouldn’t it?Find out more about planning a trip to the Vatican.Before you go to the Vatican, consider learning some Italian. While Latin is also the official language of the Vatican, you'll get much farther with Italian. There are plenty of talented Italian tutors on Superprof who can help you with this.With three different types of tutorial available, face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials, each with their pros and cons, you need to carefully choose which one is right for you and your learning objectives.Face-to-face tutorials take place with just you and the tutor. Since this involves a lot of extra work for the tutor outside of the tutorials, you'll pay a premium for these types of tutorials. However, with the tutor's undivided attention, these tutorials are also the most cost-effective tuition you can get.Online tutorials come with a lot of the same benefits as face-to-face tutorials but your tutor won't be there in the room with you. While this works fine for academic subjects, these types of tutorials aren't always as effective for hands-on subjects. With fewer travel expenses, though, your tutor can charge less for the tutorials.Finally, group tutorials involve several students and one tutor. You won't get as much one-on-one time with your tutor but you won't pay as much per hour as the cost tutor's time is shared amongst all the students in the tutorial.

Bridging the Gap From Amateur to Professional Musician

Bridging the Gap From Amateur to Professional Musician Suzy S. Dreaming big? Keep it up! The road to becoming a professional musician is usually full of ups, downs, victories and frustrations and its up to you to stay focused. Whats the key? Here, Oakland teacher Arrica R. shares her strategy for success I’ve often been asked how I transitioned into being a professional musician, how I was able to license songs as well as open doors that helped me begin to make a living off of music. Being a musician is not a straight and narrow path though and Ive struggled with the answer to that question that is, until I reflected upon the best advice I was given: be prepared, as you never know from where the opportunities will be. Most opportunities I’ve had came from friends, friends of friends, or someone who came to a show after finding my music or seeing a favorable review online. You may never know when to expect it, but what you can work toward is preparing yourself for when it does. First and foremost, being a professional musician involves working on your craft. Educating yourself, bettering yourself and practicing regularly are at the top of the list. You must be as good as you can possibly be at any given moment. Youll always be learning and growing as an artist, but you must put in the time and effort for this to occur. Second, explore new avenues and spread your wings. The more you understand about music the better. If you are a great bass player and an average singer, continue working on your bass skills but you might want to work towards becoming a better singer as well. A bass player who also sings harmonies is invaluable. If you are a phenomenal singer but understand little to nothing about songwriting or you don’t play an instrument, it might be a good idea to learn. Even if you dont think you’ll ever be a great songwriter or instrumentalist, a basic understanding will allow you to contribute when working with others and also make you a better performer. Lastly, always have a product. A businessman won’t leave home without a business card and an actor can’t get by without a headshot. If you don’t have a huge budget that affords you time in a professional studio with expensive gear, find a way to record yourself even if you’re only recording demos at home. One of the most important steps I took was learning how to record quality demos of my songs and then having a product to help me get to the next level. I grew as a performer, and my songwriting improved dramatically once I learned basic pro-tools and could experiment with songs. In short, the best advice I can offer is to prepare yourself for everything you’ve ever hoped for in regards to a music career. The more prepared you are, the more opportunities will be yours for the taking. Never forget that you play music because you love it, but also don’t forget it’s a craft that you must work at diligently if you hope to turn your love of music into a career path. Join the TakeLessons community and receive exclusive updates, expert advice, tips and more!  Sign up for email updates here! Arrica R. teaches singing, music performance, music recording, and songwriting lessons to students of all ages in Oakland, CA. She joined the TakeLessons team in July 2012, with over 25 years of experience studying music.   Her music has also been featured and licensed by Starbucks, NBC, the CW Network, NikeWomen.com and MTV. Sign up for lessons with Arrica, or search for a teacher near you today! Photo by rocketjim45.

What is it Like to Attend Loyola University Chicago

What is it Like to Attend Loyola University Chicago The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Julie is a Chicago tutor and 2010 graduate of Loyola University Chicago. She holds degrees in both History and Secondary Education. Julie specializes ingeneral History tutoring, European History tutoring, Government tutoring, and World History tutoring. See what she had to say about Loyola: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Julie: Loyola is located on two campuses. The main campus is in Rogers Park and the downtown campus is located near Michigan Avenue. The main campus gives students the feel for what it is like to be on a college campus in an urban setting and the downtown campus gives students the chance to be in the heart of one of the largest cities in the United States. Loyola offers shuttle transportation between the two campuses on weekdays and since it is located in an urban environment, there are many ways to get around the city. The el or buses are only walks away from each of the campuses. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Julie: Loyola has the advantage of being a relatively large university, but still has classes and professors who understand the importance of individualized attention. The class sizes are smaller and professors are readily available during office hours, before and after class, as well as through email. Academic advisors are highly regarded at Loyola because they truly understand each of the programs. Students are not left wondering what classes need to be taken each semester because the advisors create individual plans for each student. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Julie: Loyola dorm life is one that centers on community. Freshman dorms encourage socialization and the RAs help plan activities. For upperclassmen, the dorms are converted apartment buildings, which give students the chance to still have campus housing, but explore what it is like to be in an apartment setting. Dining options are always available to all students and are easily accessible at both campuses. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Julie: Loyola offers a variety of majors and programs for all interests. Many students study biology and pre-med because of the opportunities for the medical school after graduation. I studied History and Secondary Education. The History Department is ranked 6th in the nation and the professors encourage students to explore topics that interest them in history. The School of Education provided me valuable experience in an urban setting that I still use in my teaching today. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Julie: It is very easy to meet people and make friends at Loyola. All freshmen attend an orientation the summer going into their freshman year. This gives students an opportunity to meet their classmates and explore the campus. There are many organizations on campus that help students become involved and living on campus helps create that sense of community. Greek life does not play a significant role in campus life, but there are organizations to join if students are interested. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Julie: The Career Center offers many services to students throughout the year. There are rsum building sessions and opportunities to attend job fairs. Each college has their own job fairs throughout the year as well. There are also a variety of student support services, such as tutoring, to help students academically. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Julie: Loyola has a variety of study areas throughout campus. Besides the lounges in the dorms, there is an Information Commons, which is part of the library, and there are study rooms for groups, as well as individual areas for quiet studying. The library at the downtown campus also has ample study space that students can use in-between classes and on the weekends. There is always a space at one of these for students to use and they are open late. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Julie: Since Loyola is located in the city of Chicago, there are constantly things to do both on and off the campus. Loyola encourages students to become involved with local organizations, but also provides on-campus events too. Loyola has a strong dedication to service so many organizations, such as local soup kitchens, schools, and libraries that like to have students volunteer with them. The chance to be in a city setting is a wonderful opportunity to explore the culture of Chicago. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Julie: There are roughly 15,000 students at Loyola. It is a nice size because it is in the middle. You still have the chance to get to know your classmates, but it is not an overwhelming size where you can become lost. The classes are average size where the professors know who you are and you can still receive attention. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Julie: One of my most memorable classes at Loyola was a history class I took for the Honors in History program. The entire class was dedicated to writing a research paper that you presented to the history department. This was an amazing opportunity for me because the paper was my own work and then I was able to prove my thesis to the faculty. This encouraged me to be confident and proud of my work. Check out Julies tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Quem fala inglês ganha mais

Quem fala inglês ganha mais Isso parece óbvio, mas merece ser quantificado. Uma recente pesquisa da Catho mediu o quanto faz a diferença de dominar o inglês, idioma internacional do mundo dos negócios.Os rendimentos variam de acordo com a posição. A exemplo, um presidente corporativo que fala com fluência o inglês ganha em média 4,6 vezes mais que um colega sem domínio na língua. Em níveis mais subalterno a média de diferença nos vencimentos é de 50% a mais.Uma das causas do “apagão de mão-de-obra“ no Brasil é a falta de competência linguística. Não existe um país tão grande quanto o Brasil onde, no dia a dia, se fala uma única língua. Esse monolinguismo deixa a economia brasileira vulnerável, perdendo competitividade e oportunidade no mercado internacional. A conseqüência é que quem possui total conforto em expressar em inglês é promovido, contratado, assume posições mais bem pagas.Recentemente visitei a trabalho uma empresa multinacional de logística. Fiquei espantado. As instalações são faraônicas e o pessoal bem-educado, líderes e envolvidos no mundo dos negócios. Todavia, para uma empresa que lida com exportação e importação com clientes em todo mundo, a hesitação em falar inglês é enervante.Conversei com vários analistas e executivos e quase todos me segredaram a falta de autoconfiança de expressar-se em inglês. Alguns possuíam um vocabulário até vasto, mas pecavam na pronúncia. Vários me disseram que usam sites de tradução para ler e mandar e-mails. Um técnico de TI aprendeu inglês de jogar online, apesar da boa pronúncia e gramática praticamente ignorava o vocabulário focal do inglês para negócios.Um simpático executivo me contou sua trajetória. Seu currículo não era tão impressionante, se formou em uma faculdade não lá muito conhecida e não fez MBA, em compensação falava inglês com ginga que parecia um falante nativo. Atribui sua ascensão na empresa à fluência da língua e entendimento cultural adq uirido em viagens pelo mundo. Ainda estava em um cargo júnior quando começaram a chamá-lo para intermediar negociações com executivos japoneses. Em pouco tempo seus superiores viram que seria melhor promovê-lo e dar autonomia de negociação, pois usar um intérprete não transmitia tanta confiança para seus interlocutores.Conhecer bem o inglês dá retornos como maior compensação salarial, reconhecimento, ajuda no crescimento interno, aumentam chances de networking.

Barings Supports Elementary Students with Donation - Heart Math Tutoring

Barings Supports Elementary Students with Donation - Heart Math Tutoring Barings Supports Elementary Students with Donation Barings Supports Elementary Students with Donation January 23, 2018 We are excited to announce a generous donation to Heart Math Tutoring from Barings! In addition to their partnership through volunteer engagement, Barings is now helping Heart reach more schools next year through financial support! At each Heart school, 50-80 students will receive one-on-one tutoring from late September to early May. “We are very pleased to support Heart Math Tutoring, and believe strongly in the organization’s mission of providing elementary school students with tools to help them excel academically,” said Tom Finke, Barings’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Barings employees have been volunteering as Heart tutors since 2015, with 16 active tutors today. Read the fullPress Releasehere.

Morning Mix Harvey, Uber, football season and a Black Lives Matter controversy

Morning Mix Harvey, Uber, football season and a Black Lives Matter controversy Massive flooding continues in the Houston area. (Image: Screenshot YouTube/Sky) Harvey continues to devastate Texas: Some reports put the death toll at 30, over 51 inches of rain has fallen, flooding is widespread and thousands are homeless. Its only expected to get worse. Heres a photo gallery. Heres how you can help the victims. North Korea launched a missile over Japan on Tuesday morning, causing alarm and panic on the island of Hokkaido. Its another provocative move that will further raise tensions in the region. And the North Korean government said they will go after Guam next. President Trump said all options are on the table. Uber has a new CEO and he says hes scared.   Dara Khosrowshahi is taking over a company which has been dealing with all kinds of problems. But, it cant be all that bad, Khosrowshahis salary could be as high as $200 million. THE FIRST FULL WEEKEND OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS UPON US Once again, all eyes are on Nick Sabans Alabama Crimson Tide (Image: Screenshot YouTube/ESPN) While there have been a few games already, the college football season gets into full swing starting Thursday night when title-hopefuls Ohio State take on Indiana. The big matchup of the weekend is a clash between No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Florida State. Other key games include Florida vs. Michigan, Brigham Young vs. LSU, Texas AM at UCLA, Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia and Maryland at Texas. Heres a look at the 25 action from Bleacher Report. Is it a big football weekend on your campus? A NEW COLLEGE COURSE FOCUSING ON BLACK LIVES MATTER DRAWS CRITICISM San Francisco March 2016 protest against police violence. (Image:By Pax Ahimsa Gethen via Wikimedia Commons)Beginning in October, San Diego State University is planning to offer a course called Black Minds Matter: A Focus on Black Boys and Men in Education, which will focus in part on events inspired by the  Black Lives Matter movement. CBS News (via the Associated Press) reports: Craig DeLuz, a gun rights advocate with the Sacramento-based Firearms Policy Coalition, said a public university should not be offering a course that includes speakers from a movement whose members have been accused of inciting violence. The biggest concern is they are offering a course based on the  Black Lives Matter movement which has promoted violence  and segregation and has really little to do with education, let alone presenting a positive image of education, DeLuz said. SDSU joins a handful of schools â€" including New York University, University of Washington and the University of Miami â€" in offering classes that focus on the Black Lives Matter movement. AND FINALLY, WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DEVELOP A ROMANTIC INTEREST IN YOUR ROOMMATE? (Image: Pexels) Victoria Roberston from the University of Illinois  has five pieces of advice if you (or someone you know) finds themselves in this situation. Heres a preview: Just because you’re feeling a certain way does not mean that they are feeling the same. This is a difficult situation where you’ll want to ensure feelings are reciprocated before making any grand gestures. You can either ask them point blank about their feelings or simply ask some pointed questions to assess the situation a little better. The way that you approach this subject with your roommate largely depends on the nature of your relationship, so determine what the best course of action is for you and act accordingly. Just make sure that whichever method you’re using, you’re considering their feelings in addition to your own. Read all five steps to take right here. And if you read all the way down, awesome. Youre ready to get over this hump day have a great one.