Ultimate Guide to Studying French Pronunciation Online

Ultimate Guide to Studying French Pronunciation Online Megan L. Ask any student their biggest struggle  in learning French and youre guaranteed to hear one thing pronunciation. Pronunciation is one of the hardest aspects of learning any foreign language. As babies, our minds are very receptive to learning how to identify and reproduce the numerous sounds contained in a language. This ability diminishes early in childhood, making it more challenging for second language learners to learn how to accurately pronounce sounds that are not present in their native tongue. Native English speakers studying French usually have a harder time learning to pronounce the nasal vowels and French r.  French presents the additional challenge that a words  pronunciation typically does not match its spelling. There are many silent letters in French, particularly those at the end of the word. A word that looks long on paper may only be a single syllable when pronounced. When  you are first starting to learn French, this makes it challenging to know exactly how to say a word that you see. This is made even more difficult by liaisons, where these normally  silent consonants are suddenly pronounced when followed by a word starting with a vowel. To easily improve your French pronunciation online, check out the online classes that are led by live French instructors at TakeLessons Live. Here is a quick overview of French pronunciation done by a live instructor in a group class. Keep reading for even more helpful online resources! Improving Your French Pronunciation Online Do not get discouraged although French pronunciation can seem almost impossible to a  beginner, it is a skill that can be mastered with time and effort. With practice, French pronunciation will become easier. All you need to do is devote at least a few minutes each day to practicing speaking in French and improving your pronunciation. Before long, you will be surprised at how natural and easy saying things in French feels. French Pronunciation Guides These French pronunciation guides are a great way to learn proper French pronunciation. They also make great resources to reference when you have a question or want to review later. The French Alphabet: Every French learner has to start somewhere. The alphabet is the perfect place to start. This will serve as the foundation for everything else you will learn during your time studying French. This infographic contains the sound made by each letter. Time to start practicing your ah, bay, say. International Phonetic Alphabet: One of the most useful things that any language learner should do, regardless of what language they are studying, is learning how to read the International Phonetic Alphabet (also known as the IPA). Originally developed by a group of French teachers in the late 1880s, the International Phonetic Alphabet was created so that anyone could sound out how a word should be pronounced, regardless of what language they speak. IPA is included in almost any dictionary. By learning how to read the IPA, when you look up unfamiliar French words in the dictionary, you will easily be able to determine exactly how they are pronounced. French Phonetic Transcription Converter: Wondering how to pronounce a word, phrase, or block of French text? Copy and paste it into this phonetic converter, and you will be able to see the IPA symbols for each word. French Pronunciation by FSL Homework Toolbox: This guide covers every letter of the French alphabet, as well as accented letters and digraphs (two letters that make a unique sound  when used together). The chart lists the equivalent English sound (or their closest approximation for sounds that are not present in English) and an English word that uses this sound. It also provides several French words that contain this sound as an example. Spell and Sound Pronunciation Guides: This website has created a wealth of pronunciation guides for French students to reference. These guides are quick and easy to use. There is at least one guide available for almost every letter of the French alphabet. Liaisons: This guide by About.com explains the rules concerning the French liaison. You will learn when you must use it and how it should sound when doing so. French Pronunciations You Wont Hear in School: Speakers of any language tend to shorten things when they are speaking without even realizing it. For example, a speaker of English may say doncha instead of clearly annunciating dont you. This guide explains some of these common shortcuts taken by French speakers. Learning these abbreviated forms will help you sound more like a native while also improving your listening comprehension. French Pronunciation Guide by Talk in French: This pronunciation guide provides explanations of almost every aspect concerning French pronunciation, including nasal vowels, accents, stress, and more. Videos are included throughout the guide to model and further expand upon the topics discussed. French Pronunciation  Audio These websites contain audio of words and sounds in French that you can listen to in order to hear the correct pronunciation and compare it to your own. Spell and Sound Audio Lounge: This compilation includes audio of native speakers demonstrating the correct pronunciations for the French alphabet, vowels, nasal vowels, consonants, semi-consonants, the French r, and more. If you are looking for a challenge, the site also has French tongue twisters. You might have to start out very slowly, but saying them again and again while gradually increasing your speed is an excellent technique for practicing pronunciation. French Phonetics: On this website, you will find a collection of French pronunciation  audios to listen to, as well as games and quizzes to test what you have learned. One unique feature of this website is that it can record your voice. This allows you to hear your own pronunciation alongside that of a native speakers. This direct comparison allows you to better judge your progress and make improvements. Phonetique: Although much of this website is in French, these audio examples are intended to help second language learners improve their pronunciation. It still should be pretty simple to navigate, even if you are new to the language. The site also includes games designed to help you practice what you have learned about the sounds and rhythm of French. French Audio Dictionary Whenever you encounter a word in French you do not know, it is important to look it up in the dictionary so you can learn what it means. By using an online French audio dictionary, you can also ensure that you will pronounce it correctly when you want to use it in your own conversations. Reverso: This online dictionary translates between English and French, as well as many other language pairs. Every entry includes definitions, translations, and example phrases and sentences, as well as audio clips of the pronunciation. Forvo: Forvo calls itself the pronunciation dictionary, with the tagline  All of the words in the world. Pronounced. The site currently contains audio recorded by native French speakers from around the world for over 100,000 French words and phrases. If you create a free account, you can add words to the list that you would like to hear pronounced and download mp3s of existing recordings.You can also return the favor by recording pronunciations for people trying to learn your native language. About.com French Audio Dictionary: About.com has compiled an audio dictionary featuring 2,500 of the most common French words you will encounter. AudioFrench.com: AudioFrench.com allows you to learn new vocabulary and pronunciation simultaneously. You will find French vocabulary lists here that are focused on a specific topic, as well as word videos that show the words on the screen while playing the audio recorded by native speakers. The site also contains verb tables that demonstrate conjugations for regular and irregular verbs. Lawless French: Lawless French has many wonderful French-learning lessons and resources, including  pronunciation guides. Hear audio for each letter, common letter combinations, accents and more. French Listening Practice When  you are learning how to pronounce French words, practicing saying the words aloud is only one piece of the puzzle. Listening practice helps train your ear to recognize the sounds of the French language. By learning what the words should sound like, you can apply this to your pronunciation by attempting to mimic how the native speakers say them. RhinoSpike: At RhinoSpike, you can upload any French text that you would like to hear read aloud. You could input an article, story, or even something that you have written in French. Your request will be sent to a native speaker, who will make the recording and send it back to you as  an mp3  file. Although the service is free, there may be a queue. You can bump yourself up on the list by helping others on the site by recording readings of texts in your native language. Lyrics Training: If you love music, then you will love Lyrics Training. Watch a French music video while typing the lyrics in the box below. The site instantly checks your work. If you fall behind, the music will pause to allow you to catch up. If you have trouble understanding something, there is a button that allows you to rewind and listen to the current section again. You can choose how hard you want the game to be whether you only want to fill in the blanks for a few words or think you can do it all by yourself. This is also a great way to discover French music and immerse yourself in the culture. Duolingo: This free app quickly became extremely popular when it was first released a few years back. Although the game provides you with a variety of exercises during each lesson, some of these questions will ask you to listen to a sentence in French and type what you hear. There is a button that allows you to play the audio slower, if necessary. The app automatically grades your submission for accuracy and spelling before allow to move in the game. News in Slow French: This weekly podcast covers top news stories from around the world, as well as a brief segment at the end covering grammar, vocabulary, or an idiomatic expression used in the episode. One of the biggest advantages to this podcast is that, as the title suggests, the speakers speak at a slower pace than usual. This makes it easier for beginners to follow along and allows advanced students the opportunity to hear the words said slowly and clearly. Transcripts are also available for the episodes. Coffee Break French: Designed to be enjoyed during a coffee break or any other time you have a few minutes to practice your French, Coffee Break French is a series of brief, 10 to 15 minute podcasts that are fun and interesting. These lessons cover everything you need to know about the French language, including vocabulary, grammar, culture, and of course, pronunciation. The shows four seasons start at bonjour and gradually build to cover topics for advanced learners, so there is something here for everyone. The episodes are available for free, but you can download a set of transcripts and worksheets to accompany them if you wish. FrenchPod101: This podcast uses both audio and video lessons to help you improve your pronunciation, expand your vocabulary, and discover the French culture. Lessons range from beginner to advanced. Every podcast is labeled according to its difficulty level so that you can find material that is perfectly suited for your needs and abilities. You can find even more video content on the FrenchPod101 YouTube channel. In addition to using these resources, working  with a language tutor is one of the best ways to quickly improve your French pronunciation. Because they will be working with you one-on-one, they can provide you with instant feedback on your pronunciation to correct any minor errors before they turn into bad habits. Your tutor will also be able to address any questions about French pronunciation that you have and offer pointers to help you pronounce the many beautiful sounds of the French language. Do you know any other great resources for studying French pronunciation online? Share them with us and our community of language learners in the comments below! 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 Ray_from_LA

What is it Like to Attend Stony Brook University

What is it Like to Attend Stony Brook University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Tiffany is a senior at Stony Brook University studying Spanish Language Literature. She is a New York City tutor who specializes in SAT prep tutoriing, Literature tutoring, Essay Editing tutoring, and more. See what she had to say about her school: 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? Tiffany: The Stony Brook campus is very large and has a cosmopolitan, mature, and city-like feel to it. The student body is extremely diverse, which I love. It seems like almost every country and language in the world is represented here. I feel very safe on campus, and Security is easily contacted and always available. I commute from home via car. In fact, half of the student body also commutes. On campus, there are always buses running that bring students from one area on campus to another (since its so vast). And the buses run late, which is convenient. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisors, and teaching assistants? Tiffany: My professors have always made themselves very available to me, but the Spanish department at Stony Brook is rather small. Ive heard from my pre-med friends that their Biology professors and such can be hard to contact. But the advising office is open all day long, and you can make appointments with them almost anytime. Some classes have teaching assistants, while others do not. Here, there are lots of tutoring options and a writing center, both in English and for the foreign languages. I tutor at the Spanish Writing Center. I can say that I never felt totally in the dark when I didnt understand a topic. There is always someone there to help; you just have to reach out and be heard. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Tiffany: Im a commuter, so I cant comment on the dorm life here. There are many, many dining options though Wendys, Mexican, Asian, and lots more. Even off campus, dining options are close by and plentiful. Stony Brook University is located right near the LIRR train station, so commuting and traveling is easy. There are also lots of clubs and organizations to join. Im involved in a few of them, including Sigma Beta Honor Society, which conducts community service events on the island. I transferred from a private school my sophomore year, and I honestly love it here. There are so many opportunities and ways to keep busy. 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? Tiffany: Stony Brook is renowned for its Premedical, Dental, Computer Science, and other Science programs. I chose to study Spanish because its what Im best at, and I find it to be unbelievably useful in everyday life. Im glad I chose Spanish as my major. Its not a common major here, but for that very reason, I was able to get a lot of individual care and one-on-one mentoring. I know all my professors on a first-name basis, which is awesome. 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? Tiffany: I found it very easy to meet new people, even as a sophomore, but Im a social creature. Joining clubs and going to campus events is a great way to get out there. Or you can just start talking to people, which is what I do. Ive made a few friends just by being friendly while sitting on the benches outside. To be honest, whether or not you meet people totally depends on your behavior. Potential friends are everywhere. You just have to get over being shy if you want to enjoy your college experience. And while parties are always fun, you generally wont meet people who have the same academic interests/passions as you at those sorts of events, so be well-rounded and maybe go to cultural events, too! Im happy to say that Greek life does not play a significant role in the social atmosphere of Stony Brook University. Actually, one of the reasons that I left my first school, a small private college in PA, was because I chose not to go Greek and felt like an outcast as a result of that choice. Thats so not the case at Stony. Here, there are people of every sort imaginable. There really is no excuse not to find a friend just like you. Jocks, nerds, exchange students, etc. were all here! VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Tiffany: Our Career Center is awesome. Theyre currently helping me search for teaching jobs in the states and abroad. Theyre very professional, too. I know there are many opportunities for internships here. Stony has an online program called Zebra Net where you can post your resume, and employers can seek you out electronically. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Tiffany: It totally depends on the time of day. Some study areas are always packed, which is why I choose to go to the less-known ones or walk a few flights up the stairs to find a quiet space. There are plenty of places to hide out in; you just have to know which are the hot spots and which arent. Stony Brook has a lot of computers for student use, though. 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? Tiffany: Stony Brook, NY itself is not a big, hopping town. There are little strips with restaurants, bars, and other establishments, but I would say that most students travel elsewhere for real fun or stay on campus. Once again, its a different experience for me as a commuter. But since the train station is so close to campus (and it actually is located right on the outskirts of campus), traveling is made easy. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Tiffany: The student body here is absolutely huge, yet Im always running into people I know on campus. Some of my classes were large (like Anthropology 200+ students), while some were very small (less than 20 students). It depends on the type of class it is. Math and Science classes (Bio, Physics, Calculus, etc.) are generally much larger here. But I feel like the classes get smaller the farther along you get in your degree track i.e., the more specialized the classes are. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Tiffany: My favorite class of all time was Spanish 393 Introduction to Spanish linguistics. The professor was Jose Elias-Ulloa, an incredible man. This class made me realize that I want to return to Stony Brook for graduate school, and that my calling in life is linguistics. He and I are still in touch. Ive had a few bad experiences here, but they are truly insignificant in comparison with all the good ones. I love Stony Brook. I wouldnt trade my time here for anything. My advice to new and prospective college students is this: get to know your professors on a personal level, build and maintain good relationships, and be friendly and kind to people. Youre going to need references someday. And if you have a 4.0 GPA, but nobody can speak about you as a person, youre going to face some serious problems in the professional world. Check out Tiffanys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Learn Hindi How To Speak Hindi Fluently

Learn Hindi How To Speak Hindi Fluently Getting Fluent in Hindi ChaptersA Guide to the Hindi AlphabetHow To Learn Hindi PronunciationImprove Your Hindi Conversation With These TricksLearning Hindi with Hindi FilmsHave you decided to discover the language and culture of India and learn Hindi?Hindi is an Indian language of the Indo-Aryan family spoken in the northern part of the country. It is spoken by over 500 million people worldwide and is one of the main languages in India. Many (though not all!) Indians who might have Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada, Tamil, Bengali or Marathi as their native tongue speak Hindi as a second language.But it’s one thing to learn grammar and set phrases, and another to learn to speak like a native speaker. Here are a few suggestions to help you improve your conversational Hindi. GiusyHindi Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnchalHindi Teacher 5.00 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NehaHindi Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AkshayaHindi Teac her £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuhaniHindi Teacher 5.00 (4) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MedhaHindi Teacher 5.00 (2) £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PriyankaHindi Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SaurabhHindi Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsA Guide to the Hindi AlphabetThe Hindi script is called Devanagari and was first used to write Sanskrit.It is a little different from our alphabet, in that each consonant is actually a syllable: its phonetic value consists of a consonant sound + a.To write consonant sound + other vowel sound, you must modify the consonant using diacritic signs.Vowels also exist as independent signs, but these are only used if a vowel stands on its own or at the beginning of a word.In other words, when learning the Hindi alphabet, you not only have to learn the Hindi letter for the consonant and vowel sounds but also how each consonant is modified depending on the vowel f ollowing it.To further complicate matters, frequent consonant combinations are often slightly modified and written as one letter, so-called ligatures.All this makes learning Hindi vocabulary all the more challenging!Learning the Devanagari script will help you get around in India. Photo credit: Nick Kenrick.. on Visual HuntWriting Hindi in transliterationThere is a way to write Hindi with the Latin alphabet, called transliteration. Unfortunately, it is not normed, so that different teachers and even native speakers of Hindi will write the same words slightly differently in the Latin alphabet, depending on what system they are using.For example, some write long vowels by doubling them, others by adding an “h” at the end and still others by putting a dash above the letter.Thus, the long “a” can be transcribed variously as:aaahaThis is why it is better to write your vocabulary flashcards in Devanagari. That way you can practice writing the Hindi alphabet while at the same time always being certain of what sound you are writing down!Remember, though: if you are learning Urdu (the version of Hindustani spoken in Pakistan), you will need to learn the Nasta’liq script, a Persian calligraphy writing based on Arabic.Don’t forget to learn how to write the Hindi numbers, too!How To Learn Hindi PronunciationLearning a new language means not only learning grammar and vocabulary but also being understood. This means that you need to pronounce Hindi common words properly. No-one expects you to have a perfect accent, but the better you can approximate the correct way to pronounce Hindi words, the better you will be able to communicate.After all, you have had to deal with tourists sometimes who are trying to speak English - the easier you can understand them, the better you can help them.Learn to pronounce the Hindi words for colours properly! Photo credit: Marco Bellucci on VisualHuntSo how can you improve your Hindi pronunciation?You can listen to native speakers say the words and phrases you are learning to hear how they are pronounced. Many an online Hindi dictionary has a feature that lets you hear the words spoken, or you can watch films or listen to a Hindi podcast or watch a Hindi video.Then, try and pronounce the word yourself - but record yourself (on your phone, laptop, wherever…)Listen to your recording, then to the original again. Find out where you are sloppy, or what sounds you have trouble making.Record again and see if you have made any improvement.Beginners can work on individual sounds first, then move one to individual words, then Hindi phrases.Remember, pronunciation is not just about sounds, but about rhythm, too. Listen to people speaking Hindi and hear which syllable they emphasise in a word and which words in a sentence.Also, listen to tone - Hindi speakers tend not to lower their voices at the end of a sentence like the English. Watch out for other differences in intonation within the Hindi Language.Improve Your Hi ndi Conversation With These TricksYou know the Hindi alphabet by heart and can pronounce it perfectly - but you freeze up whenever you have to have a conversation in Hindi? Here are some ways you can improve your Hindi and learn to speak Hindi fluently.Learning Hindi will help you communicate with a lot of people in India - though perhaps not the snake. Photo on VisualHuntSpeak with native Hindi speakersWhen learning Hindi, the best way to practice conversations is - to have them. And the ideal way to improve your language skills is to talk with someone who:is a native speakercan correct you when you make mistakesThere are two ways you can do this:Find a language partner for a language exchange: he or she will teach you Hindi in exchange for practising their EnglishLanguage tutors who can speak to you in Hindi as well as help you learn new words and expressions, teach you Hindi verb tenses and how to recognise masculine and feminine nouns.You can also learn Hindi online through Skyp e - for example, a language partner or tutor actually living in India!Learn Hindi with language immersionEven better than simply talking with someone from India is to go to India yourself. While staying there, you can interact with native Hindi speakers on a daily basis and in a variety of situations. You will constantly have to call on the vocabulary you learned in your language course in Hindi and be confronted with new words. If you stay more than just a few weeks in a country, you can become fairly fluent in any foreign language - including Hindi.There are several ways you can immerse yourself in India to learn a new language:Take an immersion holiday. They are generally at least a tad longer than your usual two-week holiday, might include language courses and try to get you out and talking, or at least listening. You will be exposed to a lot  of Indian culture - for example, you might go see a play or a Bollywood movie.Become an au-pair. As an au-pair in a foreign land, you wil l be expected to work for a guest family. In return, they provide food and board and some time off to take language classes.Learn Hindi and find out what this girl's headband means! Photo credit: sandeepachetan.com on VisualhuntLearning Hindi with Hindi FilmsIf you can't make it to India, you can still practise your Hindi listening skills with the best Bollywood has to offer.Careful - not every Indian movie is in Hindi! Here are a few to get you started.A Hindi romance with Guide (1965)Based on the novel by R.K. Narayan, Vijay Anand’s Guide is the tale of a Raju (Dev Anand), a tour guide who falls in love with Rosie (played by Waheeda Rehman) the wife of an archaeologist. She was a dancer who was forced to give up her career when she married and is unhappy. Raju convinces her to leave her husband and take up dancing again, but her rise to fame does neither of them good…Learn a new language with the Hindi action film Sholay (1975)This classic film (”Embers” in English) follow s two criminals, Veeru (Dharmendra) and Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) who are hired by a police officer (Sanjeev Kumar) to help him capture the renowned dacoit (a bandit chief) Gabbar Singh (played by Amjad Khan). Despite negative reviews on opening, this film was an audience favourite and has made it to the British Film Institute’s top 10 list of the best Indian films. It’s of a type called a dacoit western - using many of the tropes and storytelling methods of classical Western films juxtaposed onto the Indian dacoit bandits.Acquire proficiency in Hindi with the Hindi drama Dangal (2016)This sports film loosely based on a true story documents the path of two sisters whose father, a former wrestler (Aamir Khan), decides to train them for the women’s wrestling team in the hopes of finally winning an international title for India.A great sports film and an interesting social commentary.Enjoy all the advantages of a native speaker AND a grammar coach with a Hindi tutor!

15 Great Reasons to Take Singing Lessons

15 Great Reasons to Take Singing Lessons Why Hire a Voice Coach for Learning to Sing Chapters1. Learn to Sing Covers of Your Favourite Songs2. Make a Career of Singing3. Learn to Sing and Appear on TV4. Learn to Harmonise with Other Singers5. Cure Your Tone-Deafness with Vocal Training6. Learn to Develop Your Own Vocal Style7. Find Love Through Song8. Sing and Play the Guitar9. Sing and Play the Piano10. Learn to Sing to Help with Language Learning11. Learn to Sing to Improve Your Public Speaking12. Improve Your Physical and Mental Health by Learning to Sing13. Learn to Sing and Explore the History of Music14. Discover New Musical Genres by Taking Singing Lessons15. Get Voice Coaching to Increase Your Chances of Being Accepted at a ConservatoireWith a large number of global singing successes including The Beatles, Oasis, Shirley Bassey, Adele, and Emeli Sandé, it is clear that the UK is an incredibly musical nation.However, for a nation of music lovers, too many of us are overcome with embarrassment when it comes to the idea of singing in public.Taking singing lesso ns with a teacher who can adapt lessons to your personal needs and goals is an effective way of gaining confidence as a performer and improving tone quality.If you’re yet to be completely sold on the idea of singing lessons, here are fifteen reasons to convince you to take a leap of faith! TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors1. Learn to Sing Covers of Your Favourite SongsWhether it’s in the car or while taking a shower, none of us seem to have a problem with singing our favourite songs in private.It could sometimes even be considered a shame that the songs we know by heart are never performed even though singing them fills us with joy.This is where voice training comes in. Singing teachers are experts at instilling confidence in their students whilst developing their vocal skills so that they can fulfil their singing potential.Once you have learnt about warming up, breath control and how to use your diaphragm, you will be better-equipped to record and perform your favourite songs with confidence.Overcoming your stage fright is all part of the process of learning to sing, and as a seasoned professional, your voice coach will help you feel comfortable as a soloist.2. Make a Career of SingingMeeting the big stars of the moment, appearing on TV, signing autographs, living a life of luxury… becoming a famous singer appeals to many of us at some point in our lives!Where could voice training take you? ¦ sou rce: Pixabay - StockSnapThe world of singing offers a multitude of career opportunities. You could make your way in the world as a:Professional musician (solo or with a group)Voice coach at a prestigious arts schoolSchool music teacherPrivate singing teacherMusic researcherSongwriter or composerThe skills you acquire in your singing lessons, such as a knowledge of music theory and performance skills, will equip you for a career in music.3. Learn to Sing and Appear on TVFrom Leona Lewis to James Arthur, the world of music is full of stars who began their singing careers on TV talent shows.You don’t need to win one of these competitions for a successful music career â€" just one appearance on The Voice could get you spotted and help you advance as an artist.So, if you like the idea of being in the public eye, why not sign up for some auditions on programmes such as The X Factor, The Voice and Britain’s Got Talent?4. Learn to Harmonise with Other SingersKnowing how to harmonise is essential if you want to sing most types of music, including classical, opera, choral and pop.Harmonies are made from breaking down chords and using them to create cadences, which are what give songs their musicality.During your sessions with your singing teacher, you will learn about finding harmonies within arrangements and using them to make a piece richer overall.5. Cure Your Tone-Deafness with Vocal TrainingSigning lessons could relieve your loved ones from the agony of listening to you massacre perfectly good songs.The good news is that, despite what most people believe, anyone can learn to sing well, even if they have no natural singing ability!Be tone deaf no more! ¦ source: Pixabay - PexelsThe inability to reproduce melodies accurately usually stems from a lack of strength in the part of the body which contribute to the voice. Provided you choose the right singing teacher for your needs, with enough encouragement and regular practice of vocal warm ups and breathing exercis es, your body will get used to singing and you will start to find it easier to carry a melody â€" so, learning to sing is far from impossible!6. Learn to Develop Your Own Vocal StyleEvery voice is different, and this is why it is almost impossible to produce covers of songs which are identical to the original versions.Many singers enjoy getting creative and finding a way to make an existing song ‘their own’ by applying their own musical style to the lyrics and the melody.Some of the most famous singers started out at cover artists on YouTube, including Justin Bieber, Cody Simpson and Lana del Rey.Taking online singing lessons will help you identify the timbre of your voice and develop your own singing techniques which you can apply to your performances.7. Find Love Through SongHave you ever thought about serenading the love of your life with a romantic song?Finding a singing teacher will not only help you to improving your vocal ability, but it will also give you a good idea of the types of songs which suit your vocal style, so you can choose the perfect song to declare your love. TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors8. Sing and Play the GuitarTo improve your singing technique and make sure that your voice is warmed up properly, it is advised that you use a musical instrument to guide you.Playing your own accompaniment will give you the skills to lead a band ¦ source: Pixabay - Free-PhotosPlaying the gu itar is not only perfect for finding a certain pitch and keeping you in key, but also for playing the chords to a song as an accompaniment â€" so you can perform as a solo act.9. Sing and Play the PianoThe piano is the most common instrument used during music lessons.Everyone from singing teachers to opera soloists to conductors to comedians uses the piano in their work.Like learning any musical instrument, learning the piano will help you with your understanding of music theory as you learn to read a musical score.Playing the piano is beneficial in the same way as learning the guitar, and once you start singing as you play, you will discover the true benefits to learning to sing.10. Learn to Sing to Help with Language LearningIn his 2007 report on the learning of foreign languages, the French minister for education explained:The practice of singing promotes the acquisition of musicality of language. It helps in the identification of the sounds that make up language. Syllables and r hymes set the internal rhythm of phrases and help the child to repeat them.In some languages, such as Japanese, pitch indicates the meaning of a word, so having a good awareness of the musicality of language can make it easier to learn new languages.11. Learn to Sing to Improve Your Public SpeakingAre you all-too-familiar with the overwhelming feeling when your voice is trembling and you want the ground to swallow you up?Giving speeches in front of an audience is a fear-inducing experience for many people.The problem usually stems from a lack of self-confidence on the part of the speaker â€" something that singing lessons can help remedy!Overcome your fear of microphones and crowds and develop a stage presence ¦ source: Pixabay - FotocitizenIn addition to learning about using breathing techniques to stay calm, singing students will become more aware of how their voices work as they learn to sing in the three vocal registers:Chest voicePassagioHead voiceYour singing teacher will be able to help you with your posture, listening skills and diction so that you can feel confident singing as well as speaking to a crowd.12. Improve Your Physical and Mental Health by Learning to SingRegardless of whether you receive formal voice training, singing is a sure-fire way to lift your spirits.It may surprise you to know that singing offers a physical workout, too. Exercising and strengthening your voice by training your diaphragm requires a lot of energy.So, if you’re put off by the gym, simply exercise your voice!13. Learn to Sing and Explore the History of MusicIf your singing teacher has been professionally trained, they will not only be able to teach you how to sing, but they can also help you understand the ins and outs of the musical world.Whether you’re interested in singing pop music, classical pieces or you dream of performing in musical theater, your teacher will be able to help you broaden your knowledge of the evolution of music.14. Discover New Musical Genr es by Taking Singing LessonsOriginality is often the best way to capture people’s attention â€" and this especially applies to singing.Instead of focussing on pop or jazz, some singers make the decision to specialise in little-known musical styles.If you’re a curious person and you want to stand out from the crowd when it comes to talent shows and auditions, why not see how your voice sounds for a range of musical genres?You live outside the capital and want to find a private teacher: Superprof has loads of tutors offering singing lessons Manchester.15. Get Voice Coaching to Increase Your Chances of Being Accepted at a ConservatoireSinging can take you a long way!If you’re already a serious musician, and you’re looking to take your training to the next level by auditioning for a conservatoire, singing can help you make use of your natural abilities and give you an edge over the competition.Bear in mind that the voice is an instrument that you can add to your repertoire!Click here to find out about the cost of voice training.

Student Thoughts on Attending the University of Texas at Austin

Student Thoughts on Attending the University of Texas at Austin Stephanie earned her bachelors degree in biology and her master's degree in science education from the University of Texas at Austin. She specializes in genetics tutoring, test prep tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at the University of Texas at Austin: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Stephanie: The University of Texas at Austin is an urban setting with great transportation options. I spent the first two years living in a dorm on campus and loved the fact that I never needed to leave campus for anything unless I wanted to. I used the schools great bus system to get around and also had a bike. The campus is large, but not so large that you cant walk anywhere you need to go in 15 minutes. I felt safe on campus, for the most part, but took precautions when walking at night. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Stephanie:All of the professors posted office hours and usually had well attended tutorials. The academic advisors were very helpful whenever I went to them with questions. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Stephanie:Dorm life at UT Austin was such an amazing experience. While it does depend on who your roommates are, I was very lucky to meet some amazing people that I am still very good friends with. I had a meal card at Jester Cafeteria and found their food to be quite tasty. If I didnt like the main course, I would simply opt for the salad bar. There is a lot of opportunity for socialization at UT Austin if you seek it out. I was a part of the Longhorn Band and The Texas Rowing team and had excellent experiences. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Stephanie:I studied biology and completed my teaching certification with the UTeach program, which seemed to be very well supported. I chose to participate in the UTeach program because it offered me an opportunity to see if I enjoyed teaching before I had even graduated. It is also one of the premier teaching programs in the nation, and I feel it adequately prepared me for my career. 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? Stephanie:Making friends at UT Austin was very easy for me because I joined the Longhorn Band and lived on the wellness floor in Jester. There are so many groups to join, including Greek life. I encourage anyone going to UT Austin to find a group of like minded individuals to make it easier to find friends. How helpful arethe Career Center and other student support services? Stephanie:The Career Center was very useful in helping me choose my major. Although I have always enjoyed the study of biology, I was unsure what I wanted to do with it. I was able to do some career testing, and every single test I took suggested I become a teacher. The Career Center let me know about the UTeach program, and I was very glad that I found that program. How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Stephanie:There are many great places to study at UT Austin. I often studied in the study room in my dorm hall with other students from my floor. When I needed a quieter place, I would go to the PCL library, which was open 24 hours a day. On sunny days, we would study down on the lawn or at one of the many coffee shops surrounding the campus. Describe the surrounding town. Stephanie:Austin is a very unique town and one of the most exciting places to live in Texas. The university is just a few blocks from 6th Street, which has everything from live music venues to comedy shows. There is a great river in Austin that provides some excellent trails for hiking, biking, and running. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Stephanie:UT Austin is a very large school with over 50,000 students. I came from a very small town in Texas, but enjoyed the change of pace and the diversity offered by this new experience. The undergraduate classes were typically very large, with 100-500 people per lecture. The upper-level classes were usually a lot smaller, with 10-30 students. I never minded the large class size. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Stephanie:I took a class my senior year called Vertebrate Natural History. This was an upper-level class with only 25 students. Our professor was so knowledgeable and took us on several different weekend trips to learn about different classes of animals. We went snake hunting in Winnie, Texas which has the highest density of snakes per acre in the nation. We also went birding in Port Aransas and did a live mammal trap in South Texas. This was by far the best biology experience I had at UT Austin. Check out Stephanies tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Algebra Help- Step-By-Step Guidance by Our Experts

Algebra Help- Step-By-Step Guidance by Our Experts 0SHARESShare Math homework help is important even for the most hardworking students. Students need math tutors to meet their uncertainties and doubts. Sometimes you have an assignment for the next day or an exam the next morning.  You realize, that without a help of a professional tutor, you wont be able to handle hard problems. Complicated algebra can lead to some late nights. Online tutoring service helps you to get the best algebra help, and you enjoy the liberty to manage your own schedule. Proper  tutoring  is truly essential for every student. A classroom session does not allow a tutor to pay one-to-one attention. Students cannot comfortably convey their doubts and tutors too fail to identify their weaknesses. Tutoring Online  sessions offer one-on-one attention. Sharing of whiteboard and live chat sessions make Algebra problems easy and interesting. Students can easily present their doubts before the experts and get instant answers to all their problems.  From abstract algebra to advanced calculus our experts can help you in breaking down each problem so they are easy to understand. Our online algebra homework help can also get you ready to do well on exams and achieve your expected grades. Our specialists are available 24/7 for any assistance. Share all your problems with a subject â€" our online experts will be more than happy to guide you. Next time youll be able to do it yourself!  [starbox id=admin]

How to Volunteer with the Tutorfair Foundation

How to Volunteer with the Tutorfair Foundation Volunteering is the answer for so many people with an interest or experience in education. We’re all aware that there are young people out there who could use our help, and that spending some time working in schools can have a large impact and can be extremely rewarding. But where to start? What kind of opportunities are out there and how can you get involved? Whether you’re an experienced tutor looking to share your skills or a student considering a career in teaching, The Tutorfair Foundation might have something that’s just right for you. Who are we? The Tutorfair Foundation is the charitable wing of Tutorfair â€" an online marketplace for private tutoring. Funded by donations from paying clients of Tutorfair, we work with volunteers to provide support to students from a broad range of backgrounds that might not otherwise have access to the help. We hope that by improving access to quality tutoring, we can make a positive contribution to the fight against educational inequality â€" one student at a time. What are we up to? This year, we’ll be running in-school tutoring in London, home visits in Birmingham and online opportunities everywhere else. “In-school” programmes involve our volunteers tutoring students in schools where the student population is more than 50% pupil premium eligible. This might involve working in a classroom (supporting a qualified teacher) or engaging students one-to-one or in small groups outside of lessons. Where we think there will be good engagement, we’ll work with schools to set up an after school club for those students who are staying behind to get on top of their homework. “Online” volunteering takes place using our Tutorfair On-Demand service. This is a text-and-image based platform available for free to eligible schools, whose students can log in during homework hours to post questions and topics they’re struggling with. If you’re volunteering at that time, you’ll see the questions being posted and be able to connect instantly with the student to help them through their problem. We have in-school programmes underway already this year in London, with opportunities available for volunteers to tutor everything from GCSE Maths to BTEC Health Social Care. We’re also looking for volunteers to get involved in Birmingham, where we’re offering help to a number of students who have been suffering from bullying. Tutorfair On-Demand will launch at the end of October, so if you’re looking to start volunteering, there’s plenty of ways to get involved! What can you expect when you volunteer? Every volunteer’s experience will be different, but there are a few things you can expect when you decide to get involved. Minimum commitment of 10 hours: usually 1 hour a week for 10 weeks.  Tutors are welcome to complete their 10 hours and decide whether to continue later on! Training and free DBS check: this is dependent on the tutor's level of experience Support from our programme managers: depending on how long tutors are with us, we’ll also do observations; providing feedback and development opportunities throughout your placement. Want to get involved? Here's how to sign up! If you’re already a tutor with Tutorfair, all of our volunteering opportunities will appear on your profile in the “opportunities” section. If you’re not already a tutor with Tutorfair, you can register your interest here  and someone from the team will get in touch to discuss the opportunities with you. We currently have opportunities in London and Birmingham. For in-school opportunities, if you have lots of experience, we’ll be able to get you a DBS check and start you straight away. If you have less experience, we’ll invite you to one of our training sessions. Some of our placements are only available to volunteers with some tutoring experience, but we have lots of opportunities available for people with no experience looking for a way into education. If you’re applying to tutor online, we’ll train you online. This will allow you to volunteer much more flexibly â€" agreeing availability in advance for any time between 6 and 9pm on weekdays and 5 and 8pm on weekends. You can support students who need help from wherever you are â€" home, work or university. For any enquiries please email: foundation@tutorfair.com

Help Your Child Learn English with 10 Reading Tips

Help Your Child Learn English with 10 Reading Tips Reading is a great way to get your child interested in learning English as well as a fantastic  tool to supplement their English classes by teaching them vocabulary and grammar.Here are ten tips to get your child reading:1. Set a routine. Get children used to a specific time for reading, maybe after their bath or at bedtime. This will get them into the habit of reading.2. Make reading fun. You might want your children to be science whizzes when they are older and that’s great but it’s likely that at a young age books that are too grown will be boring to them and make them less likely to read. If they are interested in puppies and birthday cakes  allow  them to read books with these themes. You will find that this will make them more interested in book time.3. Let them pick out their own books. You will find that children will be particularly interested in reading if they have chosen the books themselves.4. Talk  to other mothers with children of the same age about what their chil dren are reading. You might get new ideas and even be able to swap books with them.5. Don’t promote reading to the extent that you become anti-television. Remember that television series like Angelina Ballerina (see our blog on books for preschool children) among many others are based on books. You might find that your child is more interested in a book if he or she is already familiar with the television series.6. Keep it short and sweet. For young learners it’s a good idea to keep reading time short, maybe between 20 and 30 minutes. This will keep the experience exciting and they will be less likely to become bored.7. Don’t force your child to read. There will be days when your child is simply not interested in reading or books and that’s fine. Leave it for another day.8. Don’t force a child to sit down while reading. Some children like to walk around or play while they are with their books or listening to a story. They still could be paying attention.9. Don’t associat e books with punishment. For example, if a child misbehaves you might be tempted to tell them to turn off the television and go to their rooms with a book. This could be a mistake if you are trying to encourage reading as it  could give the child negative associations with books.10. Sit  with them during their reading time. Children will be even more eager to read in English when they realize that it is an opportunity for them to spend quality time with you.Did you find this article helpful? Please share it on Facebook and Twitter. Also, feel free to contact us if you would like your children to have English classes with a native speaker. Hooptour2 Excellent post we need more READING in this world. I have bookmarked these 10 tips. best rated essay service I guess the most effective to help the children for reading is to inspire them to read different interesting but easy story books. Also that books should be chosen where there will be visual appearance of the narrated story. LO IEnglish Yes. I find that my friends that arent native speakers feel slightly timid about reading books to their children in English, however, it doesnt matter if your pronunciation isnt perfect. It introduces the idea that there is more than one language and that there are several words for one thing. This will allow them to be more accepting of learning a new language. If you have anyone that speaks English pretty well have them read the book to your children too.