5 Easy Guitar Songs to Play at Weddings

5 Easy Guitar Songs to Play at Weddings Suzy S. Accompanying vocalists or playing solo guitar at big events like weddings is a great way to share your talents (and even earn some extra cash!). Get a head start on your side business by mastering these five easy guitar songs, as compiled by  Greeley, CO teacher  Andy W. At some point in your guitar playing life, it’s likely that you’ll get the chance of playing at a family member or friend’s wedding. When that happens, do you accept the challenge or run away thinking that you can’t do it? Well, I bet that you can do it! This article lists several songs and some suggestions that will guarantee a memorable performance. If you’re a beginner who is starting to learn these songs, I would suggest playing the melody by itself first. Then, play the chords without the melody. For the performance, you can have a singer or an instrumentalist play the melody as you accompany them. Or once you get the melody and chords down, you can eventually combine the two, to play fuller sounding chord/melody arrangements with just solo guitar. Now, here are the five easy guitar songs to play at weddings: 1. Here Comes the Bride If you’re playing at a wedding, there are good chances that you’ll be asked to play “Here Comes the Bride.” The video below shows how to play a beautiful and easy chord/melody version of it. Also, towards the end of the clip, it goes over how to play “The Wedding March.” This is another traditional wedding song that is great to know. 2. Ho Hey You can always count on Ho Hey to please an audience, and this song is very easy to learn to play. Here’s a great demonstration of how to play this classic love song. The video below does a great job of breaking it down in a very easy-to-understand way. 3. Ave Maria This is an instantly recognizable classic that has been made famous by many artists and was originally written by Franz Schubert. The video below first shows how to play the melody and then shows how to play the chords. Once you have learned the two parts separately, try playing both at the same time to make your own chord/melody arrangement. This is challenging and takes time, but its well worth the effort! 4. Make You Feel My Love This is a favorite wedding song from the last decade or so. Adele, Billy Joel, and Garth Brooks are some of the many artists to have made commercially successful recordings of this, but it was actually written by Bob Dylan in 1997. The clip below shows how to play an easy finger-style version of the chords. After you get the chords down, learn the melody by ear or by using tabs. Then, try playing the chords and melody at the same time to make your own chord/melody arrangement. 5. My Cherie Amour This has been a wedding favorite since it was recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1969. It’s a soul classic that is sure to receive a warm reception. The video below shows how to play only the chords. Once you learn the chords, learn the melody separately. Then, try combining the chords and melody to play your own chord/melody arrangement. I hope that this list has given you some confidence to say yes to playing at weddings. These five easy guitar songs can be played easily and are sure to win over an audience! Andy W. teaches guitar, singing, piano, and more in Greeley, CO. He  specializes in jazz, and has played guitar for 12 years. Learn more about Andy here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  Daquella manera

Take Piano Lessons

Take Piano Lessons Getting Started with Private Piano Tutorials ChaptersHow Much do Piano Lessons Cost?Which Private Piano Tutor Should You Choose?What Will Your First Piano Tutorial Be Like?Where Can You Find Private Piano Tutors?“Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it.” - Tom LehrerIt’s very hard to find somebody who doesn’t like music at all. Playing the piano is a relaxing and stimulating activity for many people. You just need to learn the piano before you can really start enjoying it and playing a few classical piano tunes.So how can you get started with private piano lessons and learning the piano?Here’s our guide for beginners on getting started with playing piano. LouisPiano Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlisonPiano Teacher £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BarbaraPiano Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chi yuenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomPiano Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutor s ErenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtiePiano Teacher £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Much do Piano Lessons Cost?Private piano lessons at home are a great alternative to piano lessons in a conservatoire or a music school. A lot of people choose this option so that they can enjoy all the benefits of a private tutor or a piano teacher such as personalised advice and tailored weekly lessons.There are several criteria that will affect the price of a piano tutorial. (Source: PublicDomainPictures)However, before you start with beginner piano lessons, you should find out more about the different organisations and teachers available and find out exactly how much private piano tutorials cost.You can find out more either via the internet or by having a look around your neighbourhood for people teaching piano. You might have some friends who know some private p iano tutors who’d be able to give you some piano lessons that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.To really understand the price of a piano lesson, you need to understand exactly what you’re paying for.Private piano tutors are often self-employed. Basically, they need to charge a rate that they can live on and use to pay for all their outgoings. It’s therefore difficult for any piano tutor to charge less than a certain amount.The cost of piano lessons also includes the time a tutor spends organising their piano tutorial before they actually teach it. This preparation and planning need to also be paid for.You need to keep in mind that you’re also paying the tutor’s knowledge, skills, and experience. The more experienced the tutor, the higher you’ll be expected to pay.When it comes to private tutorials, it’s important to remember that some tutors charge fees based on how they have to travel to get to your lessons. Additionally, rates tend to vary by location.Generally spea king, an hour of piano tuition will cost somewhere between £20 and £50.However, you can reduce these costs by getting group classes and making the most of the taster sessions that many tutors offer free-of-charge.Which Private Piano Tutor Should You Choose?Before you start looking for private tutors, you should be aware that there are plenty of different types of tutors and one that may work for somebody may not work for another.There's a private piano tutor for every type of student. (Source: allegralchaple0)Some tutors are better for teaching music theory whereas some might specialise in tablature.So how do you choose the ideal piano tutor?You need to start by asking yourself important questions about why you want to learn piano. Maybe you want to become a musician, play at a friend’s party, become a music teacher, or another reason altogether. You’ll need to find a tutor that meets your expectations.Some tutors taught themselves to play the piano, which might work for certa in piano students. Whatever your reasons, you should ask yourself:How quickly do I want to learn to play the piano?What type of music would I like to play?Why do I want to learn to play the piano?Once you’ve worked out the answers, you can have a look online at the different private tutors offering piano tuition and work out which one will work the best for you.A lot of the tutors on Superprof offer free tuition for the first hour. This is often to work out what the student will need in terms of tuition and allows the tutor and the student to see if they get along.Sometimes students realise that a certain style of teaching just doesn’t work for them.That’s why you need to discuss this with a potential tutor so you’ll know exactly whether or not their tutorials will work for you. You can then hire them for a few months or even a year.What Will Your First Piano Tutorial Be Like?Whether you’re doing a piano tutorial in your house, free piano lessons online, private lessons, l essons in a conservatoire or piano school, music teaching often follows a particular structure (musical training, reading piano music, musical culture, arpeggios, etc.).During your first piano tutorial, you'll get to know your tutor rather than play the piano. (Source: nightowl)The same will happen for other instruments (drum lessons, violin lessons, guitar lessons, saxophone lessons, singing lessons, clarinet lessons, cello lessons, flute lessons, etc.).Once you’ve chosen your piano tutor, it’s time to organise your first piano lessons near me. You and your tutor should agree upon a schedule that works for both of you. Your first piano lesson might take some time and you shouldn’t be stressing about your schedule during it.To find out exactly what to expect during your piano lessons, you should ask your private piano tutor during the first lesson.The first hour of tuition is also an ideal time to get to know them. You can talk about the type of music you both like and the tut or’s experience. Maybe they play piano in a group or know how to play other instruments (electric guitar, bass, saxophone, harmonica, accordion, flute, etc.).  They might even teach other instruments that you’re interested in.It’s also worthwhile talking about things other than music. Perhaps you have other hobbies in common aside from music. This can often make the difference when choosing a piano tutor.After getting to know them, your tutor will probably try to gauge your level so that they know where to start from. Learning piano can take a lot of time and the tutor will also want to know whether or not you’ve got the right motivation for your piano playing.You can also talk about your own expectations. Whether you’re playing for fun, surprising a friend, joining a band, starting a career as a pianist, each musician will have their reasons for learning to play the piano. Your music tutor will have to adapt according to them.They’ll establish a programme, goals, and a schedule to achieve these goals. This will help motivate you.Your first lesson will probably finish with a few piano exercises to get you started with playing the piano. They’ll probably give you some exercises to work on before your next tutorial.Where Can You Find Private Piano Tutors?There are plenty of different ways to find piano tutors. Whether online or offline, it’s very simple nowadays finding the perfect tutor.An old brother or sister might teach you a thing or two about the piano, too. (Source: NeiFo)You can start by having a look at the classifieds in small businesses (butcher’s, baker’s, florist’s, etc.). There are also notice boards in bigger businesses and in shopping centres.You can get in touch with a tutor and discuss your expectations over the phone. You can even put up your own notice explaining that you’re looking for a music teacher or piano tutor and say what you want to learn (music theory so you can read music, music history, etc.).Think about ta lking to your friends and family, too. It’s often the case that somebody you know will know just the piano tutor for the job. Perhaps one of your friends know how to play the piano and would be happy to help you progress and become a pianist.It’s also very simple to get in touch with private piano tutors via the internet. Social networks are really useful for this. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., are really useful for finding piano tutors and quickly getting in touch with them.There are also platforms like Superprof which are dedicated to helping students find the ideal private tutor. You can look at the tutor's experience and profile and decide whether or not they’re right for you.When you get in touch with a private tutor, think about what you’ll ask them about like their rates, what they teach, their experience as a musician or a tutor, etc.  The more honest you are with your tutor and yourself, the easier you’ll find finding the ideal piano tutor.Also look for a tu tor who’ll be able to patiently teach you how to play piano on any instrument with a keyboard (grand piano, upright piano, synthesisers, digital pianos, keyboards, etc.).Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced piano player, you just need to find the right one for you. With a private tutor, beginners than design their own piano course with bespoke piano instruction, telling their tutor what they want to focus on. If you want to focus on jazz piano chords, sight reading and reading music, ear training, or improvisation, just tell your tutor and they can focus on a particular skill.Whether you want to improve your rhythm or fingering, master a certain chord, become a composer, or are interested in learning how to read sheet music, you can find a piano instructor to teach you in person or provide online piano tutorials on Superprof.Have fun becoming the next Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, or Schubert!

4 Ways to Find Application Essay Writing Inspiration

4 Ways to Find Application Essay Writing Inspiration The following is a guest post written by Anna Carapellotti of Admissionado, a premier college admissions consulting company focused on helping students get into their dream schools. Summer is almost over, and though you probably had good intentions, maybe youre not as far along on your college essays as you had hoped. Chances are, youre not alone. Its easy to spend days, or weeks even, staring at the blank page (i.e. computer screen). With just a few weeks of summer vacation left (for some of you, anyway!), we decided to put together a few tips to help you find application writing inspiration before the school year ramps up. Lookinside! (Yourself, that is) The most important element of a winning college application essay is that it reflects the person writing it that would be you; not your parents, or your friends, or anyone else for that matter. Your Common App essay, which is a version of the personal statement, should feature some pretty deep introspection that allows the admissions committee to get inside your head in a sense. They want to understand what you value, how you approach a problem, what makes you tick, and so on. In order to help others get to know you through a story of just 650 words, you have to think deeply about how you want to present yourself. And to get that you-ness onto the page, youre going to have to take a look inside. It may sound cheesy, but its really the only way! So forget about what other people have written, or what you think the admissions committee is looking for, and focus on presenting a truly genuine picture of you. [RELATED: 3 Steps to Edit Your Essay] Read sample essays from reliable sources Warning: proceed with caution. We are not suggesting that you plagiarize, or that you even write about what some other successful applicant wrote about. But before you sit down to write your college essays, you may find yourself wonderingwhat does a good one even look like? Considering how much weight colleges and universities place on the essays these days, it is pretty surprising that there arent classes dedicated to this at high schools across the U.S. So, in order to get a taste of what schools are looking for, buy a book or peruse the Internet and see what has worked for other students in the past. In particular, note the variety and how personal most successful essays are. You might find yourself thinking, I want to meet this person! And thats exactly what each admissions officer should think when reading your essay. The idea of this exercise is not to steal a topic or adopt the specific writing style of another. Rather, you should notice that there are no boundaries. You could seriously write about anything, as long as it helps the reader get to know you. Read past entries from your own journal, blog, or photo album So, now that weve established that you need to write about you...where do you begin? Oftentimes, student might complain, There is nothing interesting about me! But this simply isnt true! Besides, chances are you and many of your peers have had similar experiences from the shelter of high school. Thus, its not so important what you have done; its the lens through which you see things that were interested in uncovering. This is your chance to bring an interesting, cool, new perspective to the table. In order to do some brainstorming on your past ideas and experiences, take a walk down memory lane by reading through an old journal or some past blog entries. Maybe even flip (or click?) through some old photo albums. Then, make note of whatever topics or former experiences you come across that you feel excited to write about. Perhaps that summer you spent traveling, an athletic event you won, or a recent performance that was meaningful to you. Once you have a nice list of memories, narrow it down to situations where you recall experiencing some sort of personal growth that is significant to who you are today. And voila! You now have several possible essay topics. Discover what makes a good story Now that you have a compelling topic (or two) to write about, how do you begin turning that experience into compelling prose? First, youll need to learn the art of storytelling. Luckily, this is a fun art to explore. You could start by reading, and reading a lot. Novels, short stories whatever you can get your hands on. Maybe watch your favorite movies as well and consider what about them makes you love the characters so much. A good story draws the reader in and has a clear beginning, middle, and end. The main character (you, in this case) usually grows and develops throughout. Once again, its important to remember that there is no one correct answer here; theres no right way to write your story. But whatever you write, it should be coherent, personal, and insightful. After youve taken some tips from the experts, its time to sit down and hammer out a draft of your own inner heros journey. Happy writing! The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Top 10 YouTube Channels for Learning Italian

Top 10 YouTube Channels for Learning Italian Mac You can learn to speak Italian  without even picking up a pen. Watching videos is a great way to learn a language; you can hear a variety of voices,  listen to correct pronunciation, and decide when and where you want to learn.  In this article, Italian teacher  Liz T.  takes you through 10 of her favorite YouTube channels for learning Italian With the advent of the internet,  learning a language today is easier than ever before.  Advances in computer technology, social media platforms, and smartphone apps have given you everything you need to educate yourself   and  its all available at your fingertips! YouTube is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways you can learn a new language. Instead of searching through hundreds  of channels on YouTube, we thought a  quick guide for the top 10 YouTube channels to learn Italian would help you out! Lets take a look at the channels, which are in no particular order. 1) The Travel Linguist This channel teaches basic vocabulary and phrases  for  multiple languages, and Italian is no exception! In Italian 101, you can see as many as twenty different videos with “How To” survival vocabulary, common words and phrases, greetings, directions, dining, shopping, and safety lessons. Each of the lessons are tiered into different learning levels; for example, youre able to advance from Greetings Level One to Greetings Level Two, and so on. Check out this example video on Dining Level One: 2) Learn Italian, Live from Italy On this channel, Italian native Marco Nisida helps viewers prepare for their next journey to Italy! Marco shares some of his unique tips and tricks for learning Italian, which derive from his own rich cultural experiences. His channel includes videos with three different learning levels, as well as technical videos that help you conjugate verbs. Check out this example video of Lesson 1: 3) Italian Pod 101 This channel will help you  become more confident when speaking Italian in public. Its also great at showcasing the  appropriate uses of being polite and informal in social settings. There are over 100 videos, and if you view just one of these, youll learn a whole new topic or subject, including “Summer Vacation Words, Holidays, and Vacation Plans. Check out this example video on 25 Must-Know Italian Adjectives: 4) Italy Made Easy Italian teacher Manu uses his unique humor in some funny Italian videos made for beginners! His videos include “How to Survive in Italy Without Being Fluent,” “How to Roll R’s Like an Italian,” and “Speak Italian Like an Italiano. He also offers webinars and more advanced levels of Italian for  a cost beyond his YouTube channel. Check out this example video on Vowel Pronunciation: 5) Learn Italian with Lucrezia This channel features Italian native Lucrezia coming up with very creative conversations, stories, and scenarios to help you get the most out of your Italian learning  experience. She has many videos ranging for beginners, such as A Day in the Life videos, videos on verbs, and videos on food and recipes. Learning Italian through cooking is a great way to simultaneously indulge in the language and the culture. Check out this example video on Italian Vocabulary Family:   6) One World Italiano On this channel, youll learn Italian with Veronica and the rest of her team in Cagliari, the heart of the island Sardinia. They built an  actual school for tourists and newcomers to Italy, which is where they share these teachings on their YouTube channel. She uses visuals, costumes, and on-location settings to make her Italian-learning videos more interesting and fun to  watch! Check out this example video on Lesson 1: 7) Verbademy Having trouble with those Italian verbs? Verbademy breaks down how to use Italian verbs effectively whether youre using regular, irregular, possessives, or adjectives.  This channel has lessons on describing peoples appearances, how to talk about the weather, and Italian travel phrases for beginners. Check out this example video on Lesson 1 Greetings: 8) Dino Lingo This one is for the kids! Dino Lingo has videos to help kids understand and learn Italian through animations and childrens voices. This channel is all about wanting your kid to learn Italian in a fun, relatable, and nurturing way.  Once they watch one lesson, they may not be able to stop! Check out this example video on one of Dino Lingos learning games: 9) Dolce Vita This channel is a go-to guide  on how to interact with Italians and their culture. The channels funny hosts, Luca and Marina,  show you how to deal with Italian traditions in a light and humorous way, which is a very good approach to take! You’ll start feeling more like an Italian the minute  you watch their videos. Check out this example video on Useful Common Expressions: 10) Italian with Melissa La Studentessa Matta On this channel, Italian student  Melissa Muldoon has a lot of fun describing current Italian trends and expressions used in Italy. Her videos, such as “How to Buy a Train Ticket From an Automated Machine in Italy, Going Show Shopping, and Finding a Homestay in Florence,” will help you experience and feel more comfortable with the Italian culture on your next visit to Italy. Check out this example video on 11 Questions About Learning Italian: Conclusion I highly recommend each and every one of these YouTube channels for learning and improving your Italian skills. While I encourage you to check out all of these Italian language channels and more on YouTube, I also encourage you to continue with your private lessons, or start with a private instructor on TakeLessons!  While YouTube can be very helpful for getting you started, its hard to advance your Italian skills without  that one on one attention from a live tutor. I hope this article is a great starting point for your Italian learning endeavors! Happy learning! Did any of these YouTube channels help you learn Italian? Know any others? Comment below with your thoughts! Post Author:  Liz T. Liz T. teaches Italian, singing, acting, and music lessons in Brooklyn, NY, as well as online.  She is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music with a B.M in Vocal performance and currently performs/teaches all styles of music including Musical Theater, Classical, Jazz, Rock, Pop, RB, and Country. Learn more about Liz here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Free Grammar Practice Activities

Free Grammar Practice Activities Online quizzes Here are some links to free online grammar practice activities to help you or your students get additional grammar help eliminating grammar errors. Online activities provide instant feedback, which helps learners know what they are doing right and what they need to improve. These activities are best done on a computer rather than on the small touchscreen on a phone or tablet. They are organized under headings. I have more, and I will post more links when I have time. In the meantime, share them far and wide if you find them useful. However, if you want to check your own grammar for common errors, you can learn more about the Virtual Writing Tutor Grammar Checker or go directly to the home page and start checking your writing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word choice errors. If you want an offline activity for the classroom, I have a free error correction card game that you might like. Online quizzes Adjectives These online activities help learners master comparative adjectives. ESL learners often need help with this grammar point. You can link directly to this list of activities by putting #adjectives at the end of the URL of this page. Comparative Adjectives Matching ActivityComparative Adjectives Fill in the Blanks #1Comparative Adjectives Fill in the Blanks #2Comparative Adjectives Fill in the Blanks #3Comparative Adjectives Fill in the Blanks #4 Adverb grammar exercises Adverb word order can be a challenge for some. English puts adverbs of frequency (always, sometimes, never, etc.) before action verbs but after the verb to be. These online adverb practice activities provide opportunities to notice adverbs in context, and then find and correct adverb errors. You can link directly to this list of free activities by putting #adverbs at the end of the URL of this page. English Adverbs Find Adverb Errors Correct Adverb Errors Articles ESL students sometimes find English articles difficult. Some languages dont use articles, so missing articles can be a problem. Other languages like French use the definite article before unrestricted abstract nounssomething you cant do in English. Another common error for many language learners is using a/an with an uncountable noun. The practice activities below can help with these types of error. You can link directly to this list of free online error-find and error-correction activities by putting #articles at the end of the URL of this page. Abstract Noun with Article Errors Error FindAbstract Noun with Article Errors Error CorrectionUncountable Nouns with Indefinite Articles Error FindUncountable Nouns with Indefinite Articles Error Correction Capitalization practice activities With the rise of messaging apps on phones, capitalization can be a mystery for ESL students. You can link directly to this list of free activities by putting #capitalization at the end of the URL of this page. Capitalization Rules Error FindCapitalization Rules Error Correction Cegep program name practice activities These activities will be of special interest to college students doing a field-related English course in Quebec, Canada, who need to know how to refer to their programs in English. College teachers can send the students directly to this list of free grammar practice activities using this link: #program-names. Cegep Program Names Match #1Cegep Program Names Match #2Cegep Program Names Match #3Cegep Program Names Match# 4Cegep Program Names Match #5Cegep Program Names Review Quiz Comma error correction exercises Commas are confusing, and so students make many comma errors. Some languages like French and Bulgarian permit joining two sentences with a comma. In English, joining two sentences with a comma but without a coordinating conjunction is called a comma-splice error. Some students mistakenly believe that since we use a comma in quoted speech, we should use a comma with reported speech, too. Below is a list of free grammar practice activities to help learners develop the revision strategies needed to eliminate common errors related to commas. To link to it directly, use the URL of this page with #comma-errors at the end. Find comma splice errors Correct comma splice errorsMissing comma before introductory phrase error correction exerciseComma error find.Comma error correction practice. Conditional practice activities The simplest definition of conditionals is that conditional sentences are complex sentences with if. Of course, you can make conditional sentences with unless and even use subject-verb inversion instead (If I had known Had I known). Instead of laboring over low-frequency examples of conditional sentences, I figure the best way to get students to learn conditionals is to show them how conditional sentence grammar is used in in the wild, for example in learning English through music videos. Below is a list of conditional practice activities that combine YouTube videos with fill-in-the-blank quizzes. You can link to this list of activities by putting #conditionals at the end of the URL to this page. Share if you care. Beyonce vocabulary matching activitySecond Conditionals: Beyonce If I were a BoyBeyonce Parody: If I were a GirlColdplay: What ifJason Derulo: What ifThe MaineIf I only had a brainConditional grammar quiz Contractions online practice activities English is full of contractions. Although we are often told to avoid them in academic English, conversational English requires them. If you cant contract and understand contractions, youl have difficulty communicating with most people most of the time. Share this list on free online grammar practice activities by appending the hashtag #contractions to the end of the URL of this page. Contractions Match 1Contractions Match 2Contractions Match 3Contractions Match 4Contractions Match 5Contractions Match 6Contractions Match 7Contractions Match 8Contractions Match 9Contractions match 10Contractions QUIZ Family Vocabulary Practice Learning the vocabulary used to discuss family members and relations takes time, so it is helpful to have free online grammar practice activities to help learners master them quickly. You can link to this list using the hashtag #family at the end of the URL of this page. Talking about family part 1Talking about family part 2 Talking about family part 3Talking about family part 4Talking about family part 5Talking about family part 6Talking about family part 7Talking about family part 8Talking about family part 9Talking about family part 10 Intensifiers Intensifiers like really and very can be tricky for some. However, there is a simple rule that can help: use very to intensify adjectives, and use really with adjectives, adverbs, and verbs. You can link to this short list of intensifier practice activities directly by adding #intensifiers to the end of the URL of this page. Intensifiers Error FindIntensifiers: Error Correction Listening online practice activities You can find more music videos for learning English in the conditionals section above. Alternatively, here is a more complete list of online activities for learning English through music videos. Listening Activity: Tracy Chapman Fast CarListening Activity: Tracy Chapman PromiseListening Activity: Enrique Iglesias Little Girl Modal Auxiliaries in Online Quizzes Free grammar practice activities like the ones listed below can help Modal UsesModal for SportsModal for JobsModal Comic #1Modal Comic #2Modal Comic #3Modal Comic #4Modal Comic #5Modal Comic #6Modal Error Correction #1Modal Error Correction #2Modal Error Correction #3Modal Error Correction #4Modal Error Correction #5Modal Error Correction #6Modal Error Correction #7Modal Error Correction #8Modal Error Review QuizModals: 5 Meanings of Can Match #1Modals: 5 Meanings of Can Match #2Modals: Pocoyo ListeningModals: Probability Matching ExerciseModals: French Translation Matching Exercise #1Modals: French Translation Matching Exercise #2Modals: French Translation Matching Exercise #3Modals: French Translation Matching Exercise #3Modals: Herman Fill-in-the-blank #1Modals: Herman Fill-in-the-blank #2Modals: Herman Fill-in-the-blank #3Modals: Herman Fill-in-the-blank #4Modals: Herman Fill-in-the-blank #5Modals: Herman Fill-in-the-blank #6Modals: Herman Fill-in-the-blank #7Modals: Herman Fill-in-the-blank #8Modals: Herman Fill-in-the-blank #9Modals: Probabili ty Matching ExerciseModals: Polite Requests and Offers Fill the Blanks 1Modals: Polite Requests and Offers Fill the Blanks 2Modals: Polite Requests and Offers Fill the Blanks 3Modals: Polite Requests and Offers Fill the Blanks 4Modals: Polite Requests and Offers Fill the Blanks 5Modals: Polite Requests and Offers Fill the Blanks 6Modals: Polite Requests and Offers Fill the Blanks 7Modals: Polite Requests and Offers Fill the Blanks 8Modals: Polite Requests and Offers Fill the Blanks 9 Negation practice activities The most common error that native speakers and second language learners make with negative verb forms is to use a double negative to intensify the negative polarity. For other types of errors people make with negative forms, see the list of negation error examples here. You can link directly to this list with the hashtag #negation after the URL of this page. Negation: Double Negative Errors Error FindNegation: Double Negative Errors Error CorrectionPast Tense Negative QuizMatch Affirmative to Negative Verb FormsMatch Negative Verb Forms to Affirmative Verb Forms Past Perfect grammar practice The Past Perfect tense is useful for describe the past before the past. Why is is the Past Perfect called perfect? in this case, perfect means finished. So in other words, the Past Perfect describes an event that was finished at a time in the past. Beach Closed at Cap St. Jacques Past Progressive practice activities The Past Progressive is very useful for describing an ongoing event in the past. Past Progressive Beach Vacation QuizPast Progressive Lost Key Quiz Pen Pals The Virtual Writing Tutor grammar checker comes with a teacher-moderated pen-pal exchange system. Below is a list of practice activities that you can use to learn about pen pals, and the vocabulary used to discuss pen pal exchanges. You can link directly to this list using the hashtag #pen-pals appended to the URL of this page. Lifelong pen pals numbers with fill-in-the-blanksLifelong pen pals numbers with dropdownLifelong pen pals French-English vocabulary matchLifelong pen pals introductionLifelong pen pals phone interviewLifelong pen pals early yearsCanadian and Ethiopian pen pals dropdownCanadian and Ethiopian pen pals quiz Plurals Irregular Plurals: Irregular Error FindPlurals: Irregular Error Correction Possessive Pronouns Possessive Pronoun: Its Error FindPossessive Pronoun: Its Error Correction Prepositions Prepositions: For or Since Gap FillPrepositions: In, On, At, To Gap Fill with Dropdown Present Perfect Foror SincewithfamilyFor or sincePresent Perfect versus the Simple Past Present Perfect used when talking about pranks Present Perfect versus Present Perfect Progressive Pronouns Indefinite Pronouns: Anybody, Everybody, NobodyObject Pronouns: Whom Error FindObject Pronouns: Whom Error Correct Punctuation Comma Rules Error FindComma Rules Error Correction Punctuation: Direct Speech Error FindPunctuation: Direct Speech Error Correction Try the drag and drop practice activities below Question Formation Information Question Word Order (drag and drop grammar)Information Questions Word Order (drag and drop #1)Information Questions Word Order (drag and drop #2)Information Questions Word Order (drag and drop #3)Information Questions Word Order (drag and drop #4)Information Questions Word Order (drag and drop #5)Information Questions Word Order (drag and drop #6)Information Questions Word Order (drag and drop #7)Information Questions Word Order (drag and drop #8)Information Questions Word Order (drag and drop #9)Question Formation Virtual Medical History Interview Quoted Speech Punctuation Errors Practice Finding Quoted Speech Punctuation Errors.Practice Correcting Quoted Speech Punctuation Errors. Reading Activities The Main Ideas in the Science of Absenteeism (9 activities) Simple Future The Future Error FindThe Future Error Find Simple Past The Divine Beauty ContestBob Marley(You will have to allow the Flash video its safe!) Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Find #1Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Correction #1Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Find #2Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Correction #2Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Find #3Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Correction #3Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Find #4Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Correction #4Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Find #5Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Correction #5Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Find #6Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Correction #6Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Find #6Past Tense Verbs: Irregular Error Correction #7 Simple Present Free Grammar Practice Activities Review the Present Simple Conjugations of Be, Have, and DoStory: Greg at the Supermarket Slang I prefer that students avoid using the F-word. Nevertheless, it is part of the language, and therefore if you want to master English, you should familiarize yourself with the entire languageas much as is practical The F-Word Verb Agreement Errors If you need grammar help because of verb agreement errors in your writing, these online activities and online quizzes should help. This is such a common error that I have created a dozen activities for you to use or share. Jump directly to this list using the hashtag #verb-agreement at the end of the URL of this page. Verb agreement error find #1.Verb agreement error correction practice #1.Verb agreement error find #2.Verb agreement error correction practice #2.Verb agreement error find #3.Verb agreement error correction practice #3.Verb agreement error find #4.Verb agreement error correction practice #4.Choose Auxiliaries for the Present Progressive #1.Choose Auxiliaries for the Present Progressive #2.Choose Auxiliaries for the Present Progressive #3.Choose Auxiliaries for the Past Perfect. Word Choice Online Activities While not exactly a grammar problem, word choice errors can be included among the areas that students need help with. However, when you use many with an uncountable noun or much with a plural, you need grammar help. This list of online quizzes might help you or your students. Use the hashtag #word-choice at the end of the URL of this page to jump directly here. The Difference Between Affect and Effect Error FindThe Difference Between Affect and Effect Error CorrectionWord Choice: Much or Many Error FindWord Choice: Much or Many Error Correction Word Order If you are looking for the order of adjectives, look no further. If you are looking for comparative adjective error correction exercises, they are at the top of the page. Order of Adjectives ExerciseOrder of Adjectives RulesOrder of Adjectives Error Correction Exercise More to come Please follow and like us:

Four Online Study Tools that Keep You Focused

Four Online Study Tools that Keep You Focused When you have ADHD, keeping your mind focused and engaged while youre studying isnt always easy. An ADHD brain thrives on novelty, mental challenges, and exciting visuals three things that the act of memorizing rote information rarely provides. Fortunately there are a few dynamic online study tools that can make typical study strategies more engaging and effective. They allow you to move past the basics of rereading material or reviewing your notes by engaging your mind through active learning techniques that will take your study methods to the next level. Create Mind Maps with GoConqur When you are striving to hone in on important facts and draw connections among key concepts, one of the best things you can do is recreate your notes and handouts in a format that matches your own learning style. GoConqur helps you do just that. With GoConqur you can create mind maps that distill large complex concepts down into a few key points, draw connections among key facts and ideas, and use images and videos to bring your maps to life. GoConqur also maintains a database of mind maps created by other users. These can serve as inspiration and can help if you want to learn more about a topic or are missing details in your own notes. Just make sure you also create your own mind maps from scratch in order to get the most out of this powerful tool. www.goconqur.com Image Source: www.GoConqur.com Use an Online Mneumonic Generator A mneumonic device is a technique for remembering facts using a series of common words that are strung together in a memorable way. For example, a common mneumonic device for remembering the order of mathematical operations (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply, Divide, Add, Subtract) is Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. The first letter of each word in the sentence maps to the first letter of each of the mathematical operations. The trick is to come up with a sentence that is more memorable than the series of facts youre trying to memorize. An online mneumonic generator, like the one provided by Spacefem, can provide excellent inspiration when youre looking to create your own mneumonic devices quickly and easily. Create Flashcards and Test Your Knowledge There is a reason why flashcards have been around since what seems like the beginning of time they work! Flashcards are one of the most effective study methods available because they prompt you to actively recall information from memory based on only a few details displayed on the front of the card. This active learning process is far more effective at encoding information in your memory bank than more passive processes, like reviewing your notes or re-reading a book chapter. Flashcards also help you maximize your study time by helping you sort information you have already learned from fact you havent yet memorized. While flashcards are effective, historically they havent been the most exciting and engaging tool. Fortunately, online flashcard tools, like Quizlet, are more fun and more effective. Quizlet allows you to create your own online flashcards or choose from decks of cards that have already been created. You can add pictures and audio to your cards to make them more interesti ng, and you can track your progress as you memorize new information. If you really want to keep yourself focused and engaged, try one of Quizlets study games and compete against the clock or against other users. www.quizlet.com View Video Presentations Repetition is necessary when youre studying, but it can get boring! Using multimedia presentations to review a subject can help keep things interesting. If youre struggling to clearly understand a particular concept from your notes, watching the same information presented in a slightly different manner can help bring clarity. Unfortunately, combing through all of the videos available online to find those that are accurate and high quality can be tricky and time consuming. You also run the risk of getting distracted the minute you start looking at any videos on YouTube! To avoid these pitfalls, keep your search focused and productive by going to Hippocampus.org. Hippocampus has an extensive collection of online learning videos that cover just about any topic you might be studying, and the quality of the content is generally excellent. www.hippocampus.org Taking advantage of these online tools will help keep you focused and engaged next time youre studying. Youll be more prepared than ever for your big exam, and youll have the grades to prove it! ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

8tracks The Moodiest Music Site on the Web

8tracks The Moodiest Music Site on the Web Photo from theletter.co.uk Welcome to 8tracks. The self-proclaimed [h]andcrafted internet radio site, named the Best Website of 2011 by Time Magazine,  uses a tagging system for its user-created playlists. When you search for that summer + hipster mix, every playlist that has been tagged with those two words will come up. Each mix has at least 8 tracks to it, but can have many more than that, and will always have a wide variety of music on each.  On 8tracks, users can listen to or create mixes. It is great for sharing mixes with your friends, but also with perfect strangers. If youve created a study mix that works well for you, post it to 8tracks and let it help someone else in their study-stress!  Not in the  mood? Search for an artist or genre and let 8tracks work its magic. Though 8tracks doesnt always offer the perfect selection of music, because, of course, we all have different tastes from one another, its fairly spot on most of the time. My only complaints would be that  as a listener, you cannot skip more than 3 songs per mix in one hour before having to go to the next one and you cannot go back to a song after its played. Some of the mixtape art is a little risqué as well, so in a more professional setting, its hard to find mixes to listen to. Thankfully, there is a setting that you can put on called Safe Browse that will skip over tracks and playlists that are inappropriate. Other great features include the Youtube and iTunes buttons on the bottom of each mix. If youve found a new song that you really like, you can find where to buy it or listen to it again on using these links. Want to take 8tracks on the go? There are free Android  and iPhone  apps available, which have both had recent updates with great reviews. For those of you who are looking for more out of this site (mostly just DJs) there is 8tracks plus. This upgraded version of the site includes an ad-free site and several DJ-focused features that are to be released soon. The cost is $25 for a 6-month subscription and 14-free trial. I wouldnt say its worth it, because unlike  Pandora,  the ads are simply non-audio sidebars, so for a regular listener, the upgraded version does not offer much. Simply listen away with the free version! What moods do you use 8tracks for?

How to find the teach abroad job you didnt know existed (with job postings)

How to find the teach abroad job you didnt know existed (with job postings) From English teaching jobs in Korea to leadership positions in the Middle East, there are exciting employment opportunities for educators in countries all over the world. However, despite vacancies, we often see teachers missing their windows of opportunity. We see this not primarily because they undergo changes of heart or realize a lack of commitment, but because they don’t know just how vast the education world truly is. We often see teachers hone their sights on one particular city or country - or on teaching a specific subject or level - which limit their opportunities in out-of-the-box places and positions. Have you ever considered teaching abroad, but felt like you missed your chance because there were no jobs for you in the exact place or role you first wanted to teach in? If you answered yes to that question, you’re not alone. Central to landing a job teaching abroad is to allow yourself to be open to opportunities you may not have thought about before. Finding this flexibility will increase your chances of finding a position.This doesn’t mean you need to lower your standards and take a job you don’t want. It means you might be surprised by what you discover when considering new options and places. I’ve compiled a list of current job postings in countries that you may not have looked into in the past. There are also some positions we don’t come across that often… like Lifeguard/Swimming Coach or High School Drama and Chorus Teacher! Check out the list below for vacancies in Egypt, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, and Qatar. Egypt Dance Teachers - Esol Education, Egypt Music Teachers - Esol Education - Egypt Robotics Teacher - Esol Education - Egypt Social Studies Teachers - Esol Education - Egypt Spanish Teachers - Esol Education Egypt Counselors - Esol Education - Egypt Librarians - Esol Education - Egypt More Esol Education jobs in Egypt Kuwait High School Principal - American United School of Kuwait Lifeguard / Swimming Coach - American United School of Kuwait Kazakhstan English Teachers - Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools Biology Teachers - Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools Mathematics Teachers - Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools Chemistry Teachers - Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools Malaysia Elementary School English Language Learner Teacher - Raffles American School Performance Education/Co Curricular Coordinator - Raffles American School Middle School Generalist - Raffles American School More jobs in Malaysia Mexico High School Drama and Chorus Teacher - American International School Middle School Choir Teacher - American International School Elementary Special Education Teacher - Private International School More jobs in Mexico Qatar Autism Specialist Teacher- Prestigious International School Teachers for Special Needs - Ontario Center for Special Education Online Tutoring Our friends at Skooli have a great online tutoringplatform that allows professional teachers to teach in a digital classroom from anywhere in the world. Teachers can register as an online tutor with Skooli here!