What Is the Best Website For Learning English?

What Is the Best Website For Learning English?A website devoted to teaching English as a second language is an ideal place for learners to learn new language skills, as well as enhance their English. However, with so many new websites emerging everyday, finding the best one is not always easy. This article aims to help you choose the right website to aid you in improving your English skills.Start by reading testimonials and feedback about the website you are considering. If there are a lot of people saying they really enjoyed the website, you should definitely take it as a sign that the website might be able to help you achieve your goal. If you don't find any feedback, you can also ask other people on forums, blogs, or websites about the website. In order to get the right information, you should always be careful with your judgment.To know what is good about the website, you need to look into the content. One good thing about this website is that the language used for the lessons is the same as that which you already know. You can also ask the person who created the website to guide you in the process of learning the language. If the website has a little effort to teach you, then it's probably a good choice. On the other hand, if you're asking how to learn English fast, this might not be the right choice.The site also helps you interact with the website's creator. Do you want to talk about English? Let the website creator know that you have some thoughts about the website's language.Grammar is one of the most important aspects of learning English. So, it is recommended that you check if the website provides you with basic grammar lessons. It is also recommended that you visit the website frequently, even if the lessons are new to you. You can search for grammar tips or basic explanations at the website. Do this so that you will be able to maintain your grammar and pronunciation.Of course, there are no simple rules for finding the best website to help you learn English. However, you will find the website you are considering to be one of the best. To ensure that you get the most out of the website, you need to analyze its contents thoroughly.Finally, remember that to help you learn English fast, you should start to find your own website. You should also remember that this will not be all that helpful. Asking for help is only beneficial if you know the website well.

What is it Like to Attend The University of Vermont

What is it Like to Attend The University of Vermont The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Alex graduated from The University of Vermont in 2011 with a Bachelors degree in English. He is a San Francisco tutor specializing in Literature tutoring, Grammar Mechanics tutoring, AP English tutoring, and more. Check out his review of his undergraduate experience: 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? Alex: The campus setting is large and beautiful. A campus green with fountains and winding paths in the middle of campus sets the tone, with rustic buildings with modern interior for classes and living areas. The campus is very safe, with a University Police force on site separate from the Burlington Police Departments, as well as posts with blue lights on them stationed all over campus that have a button you can press if you feel unsafe. Burlington has a very efficient public transportation system which is free to you with your UVM ID. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Alex: While the university is large, I found that my professors and advisers were very willing to meet with me outside of class when I needed to. Almost all have listed office hours and are willing to bend those if a student is in need. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Alex: With the addition of the new Davis Student Center, there are all kinds of activities on campus for students to participate in. From the multiple charity events held in the Living/Learning Center to dances, poetry readings, and musical performances, you will not go hungry for social activities at UVM. Dorm life depends on where you are, but it is all safe and clean from what I experienced. It is a fairly typical dorm floor experience, save the Living and Learning center, which is interest-based suite living. 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? Alex: UVM is well known for its Medical Studies program, but I found the Social Sciences were superb as well. I studied English after a short stint as a Psychology major (the most popular major in the university). I chose it because I desperately wanted to be a writer, and while I will say that UVMs English department is heavily based on literature (as opposed to writing), the Writing classes I did take directly benefitted my writing overall and have a huge influence in what I do today. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Alex: I did not experience much Greek life, to be honest. I believe, at UVM, it is a fairly minor part of campus social life. The houses are off campus, and though they are certainly a part of the social fabric of UVM, they are hardly a dominating part. I think it is very easy in the dorm style living to make friends as a freshman. In the Living and Learning suites, it was both easier and harder, as you lived with a group of people with similar interests to you, which was great, but you had less reason to seek out more social events. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Alex: The Career Center found me my work-study job and was very helpful in looking around for jobs after school. They host many job fairs for students of a particular interest, so if youre willing to work at it, the Career Center is able to help. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Alex: The Bailey-Howe Library on campus can be crowded on the main floor, but there is almost always space on the second and third floors. The Library and Student Center are both massive buildings with multiple floors, so while some parts of them may seem overcrowded, there is always a place to go. 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? Alex: Burlington is one of the top 10 places to live in the country. From a gorgeous lake view (that can be seen from campus) to the cobblestone church street marketplace, Burlington is the epitome of a college town. Bars and restaurants galore, all within walking distance, and all the live music and art you can handle. Campus isnt far from downtown, so the student/city interaction is very high. Definitely check out the annual Art Hop that happens every fall, and Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Bands Soul Nights at Radio Bean! VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Alex: In my time at UVM, the student body was 12,000 kids a big change from my graduating class of 94 students that I left high school with. I did find, however, that UVM can be as big or as small as you want it to be. Introductory classes can be large, but as I got deeper into my major, I had many classes that were between 10-25 students, which is very reasonable. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Alex: I applied to be in the Living/Learning Photography suite, but it was full so they asked if I wanted to live in a different program. I said that I would. I was placed in the Ceramics program. I had never, ever done any ceramics at all! We had a weekly class, and I could choose whether or not I wanted to participate in it since I had been randomly placed, and I chose to do it. My roommate who I was placed with is now my best friend, I eventually became the Program Director of Ceramics and had my work shown in several galleries, and met my long-time college girlfriend in the program. Not too bad! Check out Alexs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Ballet Lessons Why Get a Private Ballet Tutor

Ballet Lessons Why Get a Private Ballet Tutor 5 Good Reasons to Get Private Ballet Classes Chapters1. Private Ballet Tutorials: A Way to Gain Confidence2. Ballet Private Tutorials are Great for those with Busy Schedules3. Private Lessons Are Great for those who Need to Learn Something Quickly4. Private Ballet Tutors Focus on You5. A Good Addition to Group Ballet ClassesDoes ballroom dancing, bachata, tap, jazz, Zumba, flamenco, contemporary dance, pilates or hip hop not do it for you?Is it ballet dancing that really gets your blood pumping?Are you a huge fan of Swan Lake or the Nutcracker?Whether you’ve never danced before and are looking to start or you're thinking about improving your level, why not get help from a private ballet tutor?Whether your tutor’s a freelancer or working for an agency, they should have experience when it comes to teaching. Don’t forget that a good dancer isn’t necessarily a good teacher.Still not convinced?If you're hoping to be the next George Balanchine (he founded the New York City Ballet and was dubbed the father of American ballet), you should know that becoming a ballet dancer can be very challenging for adults who've never trained before and a good dance teacher can make all the difference.Here are 5 good reasons for learning ballet with private tutorials. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors1. Private Ballet Tutorials: A Way to Gain ConfidenceRather than getting classical ballet lessons in a dance academy or school, why not try private ballet lessons?A lot of p eople are too nervous or self-conscious to start learning how to dance in a group class or attend a workshop at a dance studio.This is understandable. People get nervous when there are so many people around watching you try a ballet technique you’ve just learnt how to do. In private tutorials, there's just you and your instructor.Some boys are nervous about joining dance classes because it's mostly girls. (Source: Galina9237941221)AgeSome people are nervous about getting classes because of their age.It’s a common misconception that you can only start learning to do ballet when you’re very young (around 5 years old). That said, there are plenty of classes for children throughout the school year and workshops during the holidays.However, ballet can be done by anyone of any age and there are even adult ballet classes for those starting aged 20, 40, and 60. In fact, you can get private tutorials for all ages and regardless of your skill level.While older students will probably nev er join Joffrey Ballet or the Paris Opera, recreational ballet classes are a great way for students to learn how to dance, break a sweat, and improve their fitness. Just make sure you stretch before you go anywhere near the ballet barre!That said, some people can still feel too self-conscious to join the group classes for adults. In this case, starting to dance with a private tutor could be the way to go, especially in the first few sessions when your flexibility isn't what it use to be.While there are plenty of modern dance studios offering adult classes and workshops, you can learn much more quickly in class with just you and your tutor.A lot of conditioning and strengthening goes into learning ballet. If you just don't have the stamina you used to, it could help to have a private tutor there encouraging you. Our bodies age over time and things that were easy in our youth take a little more time as we get older. Find a tutor who focuses on teaching older students or those returnin g to dancing if this is the case.Shyness and Self-ConfidenceShyness can really hinder a dancer’s progress. Some people just don’t feel comfortable in large groups.If you are self-conscious, you’ll soon get over having to look at yourself in the mirror and dancing is a great way to start accepting yourself for who you are. If you don't quite feel comfortable in your leotard and pointe shoes yet, it can be easier learning in a relaxed environment with a tutor who's taught adult beginners before.Regardless of what you think of yourself, your tutor will accept you for who you are and help you express yourself through the art form.Being a Boy or a ManA lot of young boys are too scared to get ballet training or attend a ballet class because they’re scared what their peers may say about them.It’s a common misconception that dancing isn’t for them and this puts off many boys from even beginning ballet lessons.  Dance tutors won’t care if you’re a boy and many will be delight ed to finally have a student who is.2. Ballet Private Tutorials are Great for those with Busy SchedulesIt can be difficult for a lot of people to attend a dance class at the same time and same place every week.Choose a private tutor with a teaching style you enjoy. (Source: Marisa_Sias)Whether you work nights, evenings, weekends, or have family commitments, for example, there are plenty of reasons why students can’t work with a regular class schedule.Sometimes it’s not just the student’s schedule that will affect where and when lessons take place.  Even if there is a school of dance with drop-ins, some students have problems getting around because they don’t have a driving license or a car, or they live far from the city centre, for example.Can’t get to class? What about getting the tutor to come to you?If you have room, find a dance tutor who teaches their dance classes at their students' houses.While it’ll never replace a proper ballet studio, a tutor should be able to introduce you to the basics of ballet  such as the 5 feet positions with around 100ft ² (as long as you’re the only student). The last thing you want is to keep bumping into other people.It’s a good idea to invest in a large mirror so you can see yourself when you’re dancing and make sure you’re getting the choreography right. While your tutor will correct you, it helps to be able to see what you’re doing, too. A mirror can also be really useful when you’re practising on your own once your tutor has left. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors3. Private Lessons Are Great for those who Need to Learn Something QuicklyWhether it’s to help you pass an exam, prepare for a private event, or brush up on some skills, private tutorials are a great option.With a private tutor, you're the only student that matters. (Source: Vladislav83)A private tutor will help you with feedback by correcting mistakes and helping you learn more quickly. You can tell a tutor if you have any deadlines and they’ll be able to put together an intensive plan for you with that in mind.If you need to work on creating a routine, they could give you advice, help you put together your routine, and help pick you up when you feel like you’ve hit a roadblock.Private classes can also help you get ready for an audition dance company, compete for a national ballet scholarship at a conservatoire, or just practise for your next recital.It’s a good idea to consider teaching styles and ask your private tutor about their approaches to dance education.A private tutor is a pretty good option for those trying to become professional dancers, too. Whether you have a deadline or are just driven to learn a lot in a short space of time, private tutors can help you get to grips with the artistry, coordination, and discipline needed to become a good ballerina.4. Private Ballet Tutors Focus on YouIn a group class, you sometimes get the impression that you’re just another face in the crowd. While the teacher will try to make sure everyone’s not making any mistakes, it’s impossible for them to see every student’s mistake. This can be really important when it comes to the student’s posture, which can hinder their progress.A private tutor can also help you do your warm-ups, build muscle and tone up, and even do stretches. They can be completely devoted, encouraging, and nurturing. You're the only participant in their class.Fin d  adult dance classes near me  here.The lessons can also be personalised to the student and their needs.Need to work on your improvisation, become more flexible, broaden your musical repertoire, etc.?It’s your class! You can choose what you want to do or work on something in particular.Need an artistic director or choreographer to help you put together a routine?A good educator will also know how to adapt to your needs and help you.Taking private ballet tutorials means you can learn at your own pace without having to worry about exams at the end of the year or being compared to the other dancers in your ballet class.5. A Good Addition to Group Ballet ClassesThe extra attention from your tutor can help you learn much more quickly. If you participate in a group class and leave feeling you could do more, private ballet tutorials could be the answer. Extra instruction could help you become the best dancer in your group class.Private dance tutorials are a great complement to regular d ance classes. (Source: lynnea)Private classes are great for extra tuition. It can take a lot of work from a student to go from a beginner’s level to an intermediate level. However, the help of a private tutor can make this task much easier.Is there something you need to work on missing from your school's syllabus or curriculum?You can enlist the help of a tutor to help.In addition to teaching you how to dance, a private tutor is also an expert in anatomy who can also help you to practise dancing safely without causing any injuries.You can also ask them about certain aspects of dancing if you have any questions. If you're training to become a professional dancer in a ballet company or applying to a dance school or ballet academy, a private tutor could help you master that pirouette or work on your ballet pointe technique.To find the perfect ballet tutor, make sure you shop around and get a free taster session. On Superprof, the first tutorial is often free. Just make sure they've g ot a passion for dancing, have studied the discipline, and have the necessary teaching skills before attending their tutorials!In short:If you think you’re too shy, old, big, or small, private ballet tutorials are a good option for anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable taking group classes.If you have a busy schedule or can’t make it to lessons, a private tutor can come to you and teach you from the comfort of your own home (provided you have the space).Are you getting married next summer and need to learn to dance for your first dance? Don’t panic! Private tutors can help you learn a routine. Applying to a ballet school and need an extra rehearsal? Let a tutor help you work on your performance piece.A private ballet tutor can focus exclusively on your since they don’t have any other students to worry about. They can also help you outside of regular group classes if there’s something you need to brush up on with structured lessons.Ready to get your ballet slippers and leot ard and give a tutor a call?Check out the tutors on Superprof!If you found this article helpful, check out our blog on the history of ballet!

Majoring in Music How to Nail Your Guitar Audition

Majoring in Music How to Nail Your Guitar Audition Megan L. Is a music major in your academic future? Guitar teacher  Brett M.  shares 10 things you need to know to have a great guitar audition at the music college of your choice If you’re a guitarist who’s planning to continue your music education at the college level, then this may  be one of the most important articles you could ever read. In fact, it’s something that I wish I could have  read, before auditioning and (luckily) getting accepted into Berklee College of Music over a dozen years  ago. Let’s meet someone His name is Dwayne, and like you (and me, back in the day) he is interested in majoring in music. Dwayne loves to play guitar, and he’s passionate about learning more. He’s a sophomore in  high school, and has played in a couple of bands off and on. Dwayne’s not a huge jazz guy, but he’s  thinking about trying out for the school jazz band, just to get the playing experience but he’s not too  sure he’d know what to play. Dwayne’s got above-average technique on the guitar and he knows he  wants to get faster, but that’s about as specific as he could say. He’s also got a feeling that there’s a lot  more to learn about scales, chords, etc. In fact, his overall knowledge of how everything fits together is  a bit sketchy. But he’s hungry to learn all there is to know, and is planning on attending music college for  guitar after graduation. Problem is, he’s not too sure what he’ll need to know to get in, and he’s a little  worried about it. Actually, hes a lot worried. Sound familiar? If so, then read on â€" you’re about to find out the 10 Guitar Strategies For a Successful  College Audition! 1. Have The Right Reasons If you’re really serious about wanting to attend college for guitar (and then making a go at a career in  music) you’d better be doing it for the right reasons. Here are two of the wrong reasons: I want to be famous. I want to make a lot of money. Those two things may in fact happen to you, and if they do, GREAT! But to have a sustainable, lifelong  relationship with music one that continues even when the going gets tough there’d better be more  behind your desire. For me, I simply couldn’t (and still can’t) not do music. The desire to create, to  challenge yourself, to deepen your character, and to share music with others is what will fuel a  successful and sustainable music career in college and after. Do it for the right reasons for long enough,  and getting rich and famous (while more importantly, being fulfilled) could actually happen. Here’s a wakeup call for you: Even if you go to music college and decide to major in performance (in  other words, in playing guitar) the majority of work that you do, especially for the first two years, will  not be on playing guitar. You must be willing and excited to spend a lot of time away from the guitar, learning about  all aspects of music. If you don’t enjoy this part, you won’t last. Examples of all the fun stuff that comes with learning about music include:  ear training, text  book music theory, music analysis, conducting, music history, arranging, and solfeggio (sight singing). You need to crave knowledge about all of these things, or don’t even bother. Sound harsh? Not if you’ve  got what it takes! If hearing this actually gets you excited to be in an environment like that, then music  college is probably a good fit for you. It definitely was for me. 2. Know Your Audience For a contemporary music college, the application process usually involves sending an audition tape of  music “from the standard repertoire”. In my case, not really knowing what this meant at the time (and  being a metal guy!) I chose to play an intro to a Testament song by Alex Skolnick, who’s a pretty rippin’  player. I figured that if a song was from a CD I had, then it must be “from the standard repertoire”. I  pulled it off alright, but in hindsight it was kind of a dumb idea to choose a song like that. You see, while Berklee and many other music schools certainly embrace many kinds of music, they are  historically jazz institutions. So, what they’re often really looking for are pieces that demonstrate your  ability to improvise a bit, play chord solos, interpret melodies, etc. In other words, start learning to play jazz music from “the  standard repertoire” (out of a big book of songs called “The Real Book”).   Even though my audition  turned out okay, if I had to do it again, I would have been smarter to choose some  performance pieces designed to achieve a specific goal in this case, impressing the instructors at a  â€œjazz school” and not just choosing music that I thought was impressive. 3. Listen Start to immerse yourself in music daily, and not just the styles that are your current favorites (I’m still a  metal guy!). Listen especially to classical music from all time periods, as well as jazz. You will absolutely  pick up and absorb some important musical concepts simply through osmosis. Check out Jamey Aebersold’s extensive library of CDs for jazz students, great learning tools even if you don’t understand  what he’s talking about yet. They’re mostly for putting on and listening to while you’re doing other stuff,  and getting used to the sounds of jazz harmony and soloing. And, if you listen to Bach or Beethoven  every day, you will reap rewards a’plenty! 4. Watch I dont just mean to watch random videos on YouTube! I’m talking about getting your hands on some good guitar instructional videos, preferably some  no-nonsense ones from the late 80s or early 90s, put out by the companies REH or Alfred. Be sure to check some out some killer guitarists who are way over your head, like Scott Henderson, Al DiMeola, Allan Holdsworth,  Greg Howe, and  Frank Gambale. Don’t fret if you can’t understand anything they’re talking about (a  lot of these guys play great, but couldn’t teach their way out of a paper bag)! What’s important is to start getting an idea about what skills are out there that you don’t know about yet. These types of videos will  help you figure out where your weak points are and the areas of knowledge or technical ability that you  need the most work on. They can be equally inspirational and frustrating! 5. Know Your Notes Knowing notes is more than simply  reading them on the page. Its about actually finding and understanding them with the guitar. One of the biggest  problems that plagues most guitar players is not having all of the notes on the neck memorized. Everything  that you do, especially at the college level, has to do with notes. So does it make sense to not know  where they are on the guitar? Of course not. It’s absolutely essential knowledge for a serious player. 6. Scale Knowledge Memorizing scales on the guitar is of immense importance. There are six “families” of scales (including  all of their modes) that you must know to play contemporary music: Major Melodic Minor Harmonic Minor Diminished Whole Tone Pentatonic Knowing the fingerings and shapes on the neck is an important first  step. But the actual ability to build them in your head in any key, to know the sound, and to start them from  anywhere on the neck is vital  for reading, improvisation, and writing. It’s a big task, but  one that every aspiring college guitar student needs to tackle. 7. Chord Knowledge Understanding how to build chords, from triads to extended harmony chords like E7susb9 and other  weird ones, is an absolutely essential skill to master before attending college for guitar. Analysis of chord  progressions is a necessary skill for really understanding how songs work and how they’re structured. Chord and scale relationships also help you understand how to play or improvise over daunting chord  progressions (like Dm7b5 â€"G7alt â€"CmMaj7) and actually sound like you know what you’re doing! This  will give you an edge over your competition when applying or auditioning for music school not to  mention an increase in confidence. 8. Arpeggios Arpeggios are the same as chords, but played one note at a time. They help you unlock the potential of  chords as a resource for soloing, and it’s important to be able to build and play them all over the neck, including everything from  the standard major and minors, to the  7th arpeggios and all of the extended harmony arpeggios  (9ths, 11ths, etc.). 9. Sight Reading and Rhythm Reading What’s the best way to get a guitar player to turn down? Put sheet music in front of him! It’s a joke, but  completely true. Reading music (and especially rhythm) is one of the biggest blind spots for most guitar  players, and it will be a major handicap for you if you’re thinking about continuing your education at the  college level. So why hide from your fear? Tackle it head on! I find that rhythm really  intimidates many of my guitar students. It can look like a foreign language with all those beams and squiggles and dots. But it’s really not that bad when you have the proper guidance. After that, reading the pitches on the  music staff isn’t that hard at all, it just takes some practice. Being a strong reader is very impressive to  the people you’ll be auditioning for, so it pays to spend the time getting good at it. 10. Technical Ability and Speed Believe it or not, when it comes to getting into a music college for guitar, your raw technical ability and  speed aren’t as important as some of the other areas that we’ve mentioned. You don’t have to be a  shred master but why not go for it anyway! It can’t hurt. Playing fast is a goal for many guitarists, and  increasing your technical skill will add to your confidence and ability to impress at the college level. So, is your guitar teacher preparing you for all this stuff? If not, show them the door! For many students, finding a top-quality guitar teacher is one of the first steps on the road to majoring in music. Remember,  there’s a lot of competition to fill those limited spaces in the school that you want to get into. Here’s the  good news though: If you’ve got a good work ethic, a passion for learning about all aspects of music and  the guitar, and a great teacher with experience in all of this, then getting into the music college of your  dreams is a thoroughly achievable goal. Good luck â€" and keep practicing! Post Author:  Brett M. Brett is a guitar book author, metal recording artist, and video game composer. He has over a dozen years of private instruction experience, and is the creator of the popular free audio course Unleash Your Speed: How to Shred on Guitar. Learn more about Brett 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

A Day in the Life at the University of Florida

A Day in the Life at the University of Florida Mae earned her bachelors degree in Forest Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida. She specializes in science tutoring, study skills tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at the University of Florida: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Mae: The University of Florida (or UF) is located at the heart of Gainesville, FL. It is home to 50,000+ students. The campus is as safe as a college campus can be. There are emergency phones located across campus, as well as emergency transportation if you find yourself out after dark and dont feel safe walking home. The bus system in Gainesville is adequate, and is free to UF students, faculty, and staff. There are plenty of bike lanes and racks if that is your preference. Just make sure to purchase a good lock. Parking is expensive, and spaces are hard to find unless you arrive on campus before 8:00 a.m. My advice is to only use this as an emergency option. How available are the professors, academic advisors, and teaching assistants? Mae: The availability of professors, advisors, and teaching assistants varies by major and college. Some colleges (like the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, or the College of Business) have a centralized advising office. This means that groups of advisors work with all the students in all majors in the college. Many of the departments within these colleges assign a faculty member to advise students in their majors. Other colleges (like the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) assign advisors to each department, which means each advisor only advises students within a couple majors. This allows the advisor to become much more specialized in their knowledge about the majors, courses, career options, and internships. My undergraduate degree was in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. I could not have been happier with my advisor and faculty. I never had a problem getting the assistance I needed. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Mae: I never lived in the dorms, so I cannot comment on them. I do know they offered plenty of programs throughout the year for students. There are plenty of dining options across campus. Some are recognizable fast food restaurants, and some are unique to UF. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Mae: UF is such a large institution that almost any major you could want is available. UF is the largest land grant institution in the state of Florida, which means they offer a large number of environmental and agricultural majors. My bachelors degree is in forest management. I chose that major because I love the outdoors and wanted a job that allowed me to work outside. The school and college that house my major are amazing. There were a ton of scholarship options at the school and college level, faculty teach a vast majority of the upper-division courses, there is an advisor in each department, and some of the faculty hire undergraduate students as research assistants (which looks really awesome on a resume). I cannot say enough good things about my experience in my major. 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? Mae: I did not attend UF as a freshman, but I was an academic advisor there for eight years. I do know that there is a huge Greek community. There is also a one-credit freshman course that gives students an opportunity to get to know each other in small groups. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Mae: Career centers vary by the college. UF holds career and internship fairs every year. My college held a career fair every year as well. The faculty and staff within my school worked to maintain relationships with potential employers. The school regularly hosted companies to conduct interviews for varying positions. How are the various study areas, such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Mae: UF is located in the center of Gainesville, and there is not much room for expansion on the main campus. With 50,000+ students, you can imagine it gets a little crowded. That said, there are multiple, large libraries and campus life buildings. Around lunch time, all of the cafeterias are very busy, and at the end of the semester, it can be hard to find an open table at a library. Describe the surrounding town. Mae: I loved living in Gainesville. There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of campus, and there is plenty to do on campus. Gainesville is located in the center of the state, and is about two hours from all the major cities except Miami. I loved the outdoor life. Alachua County is home to the largest concentration of large natural springs in the world, perfect for canoeing and swimming. There are beautiful state parks, and you are only about seven hours from the mountains of northern Georgia. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Mae: As I mentioned before, UF is home to 50,000+ students. Lower-division undergraduate courses can be huge (a couple hundred students), but there are smaller courses available. As an upper-division student, the classes are generally smaller. I was extremely pleased with my class size, but my major was one of the smaller ones on campus. If you like small, intimate courses, choose your major carefully. Academic advisors can help with this. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Mae: I really loved the vast majority of my upper-division courses. The only one I didnt like focused entirely on computers, and I really dont enjoy computers (but that wasnt the professors fault). My favorite classes were the labs. We spent hours outdoors trekking through the forests and swamps. I will always be grateful for professors who took the time to give us hands-on experience instead of just explaining everything in the classroom. Check out Maes tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What You Need To Know About Business Coaching

What You Need To Know About Business Coaching What is Business Coaching? ChaptersWhy Should You Get a Business Coach? How Does It Work?How Do You Pick a Coach? How Should Your Coach Help You?Business coaching is a process used to take a business from where it is now to where the business owner wants it to be. A business coach will assist and guide the business owner in growing their business by helping them clarify the vision of their business and how it fits in with their personal goals. Fitting the business vision in with the business owner’s personal goals is a step that is often missed by most business coaches, who often only focus on the business goals. In so doing, they are omitting the goals of the business owner altogether.A great business owner seeks to understand why reaching business growth goals is important to them personally, and the impact it will have on their life. After all, the business owner ultimately determines the speed and passion in which the goal is met (if ever), and if it is not linked to the business owner’s personal dream s, goals and plans for themselves, there is no burning reason why getting to that business goal  is critical.If you're an entrepreneur you could benefit from a business coach (Source: Free-Photos)4. To receive guidanceA business coach will challenge your thinking, goals  and how much you’re actually willing to work to achieve these goals. A coach also has unique insight that can broaden your business awareness.Ultimately a coach gives you gives you guidance on how to get from where you are to where you want to be. Once you do get there, they leave you to it; their job is done! The value of coaching resides in the mental tools the 'coachee' learns that help them navigate toward success both inside and outside of the business world.Business coaching is based on a relationship between you and your coach Photo Source: UnsplashHow Does It Work?Business coaching can take your business from where it is now to where you want it to be.After clarifying where a business owner would like to t ake their business, business coaching will help strategise and prioritise what goals and strategies are needed to help progress the business closer to its goal. A business coach will meet with the business owner regularly, either weekly or monthly, to keep them on track to the commitments made during the last coaching session.A critical component of business coaching is accountability. You will never see a football coach run laps of the field for their team. The very same fact is true of a business coach. A business coach is not a consultant. They will not do the work for you in your business. They are there to keep you focused on the end result and remind you why it is important. They will motivate you to keep your commitments. They will act as a sounding board and when needed hold a mirror in front of you, highlighting your business and personal blind spots.How Do You Pick a Coach?Nowadays there are a lot of people out there calling themselves business coaches. Without any real pr ofessional accreditations or associations, it’s hard to know who to trust. Business coaching is not consulting, and it’s also not therapy - it’s right between the two. A good business coach is someone you can trust that has the acumen to be able to diagnose specific and systemic issues in your business, but who has the strength to wait for you to deliver on the solution instead of jumping in and doing it for you.Being a good listener is half the equation, but a coach can’t help you unless they understand what makes a good business good and a great business great.Being smart about business is of course expected of a coach, but  they can’t help you unless they care about people and really want to get to know you personally. Coaches should adhere to basic principles in order to bring out the best in you. Great coaches are patient - their job is to help you get clear on what needs to happen next, but they wait for you to take action. And of course, they hold your feet to the f ire on your goals. A great coach lives by one rule: that you already have the fundamental ingredient to transform your business - which is the ability to change your relationship to it.  Not just about their methodology or the quality of the training, but about their approach to business and life in general. It’s a deeply personal engagement and on some level, you’re buying who they are and why they do what they do.Business Coaching is a relationship. It’s a place where you go for guidance, support, and challenge so you can figure out what’s in the way of creating the business you want. It’s about asking you the right questions in the right moments from a place of real competence so that you become a better leader for the sake of your business, your employees and your bottom line. Great coaching helps you build a company culture based on ownership and accountability, and backs up the right ideas with real tools to put theory and tools into practice.How Should Your Coach He lp You?Here’s how you should evaluate every meeting with your coach, and the relationship overall:Do they meet you where you are? Are they comfortable being with what’s real at the moment - whether that’s to celebrate a success or really be there with you when something goes wrong?Do they know where they are? Do they have proven  experience that they use to ask the right questions for your specific business in the specific stage it’s in? Can they hold a long-term vision while they help you fix today’s problems? Do they notice patterns and trends in your  behaviour  or are they just reacting to today’s frustrations? You want wise counsel, not quick fixes.Do they make you more curious and hungry? Their way of thinking about things should be infectious, you should find yourself asking other people the kinds of questions they ask you.Do they understand what coaching is? Watch out for consultants in disguise and amateur therapists.Do they have the guts to make you mad? They s hould be willing to fire you if you don’t honour your commitment to yourself to show up, do the work and make changes.A great coach is a lot of things - but the best way to say it is that they’re not your best friend, they’re the business’ best friend - and that’s a partnership where everybody wins.Many great business success stories credit their results in part to having a great business coach. Whether you are just starting out or are already established but looking to go in a different direction, a business coach can really help you get there.  There are various other types of coaching, including:personal development coachingcreative coachinghealth coachingspiritual life coaching

USA Womens Team Wins World Cup - Listening Exercise

USA Womens Team Wins World Cup - Listening Exercise The U.S.  womens soccer team won the world cup last weekend, so this week we are presenting you with a listening exercise about the team, and would like to hear your opinions about women in soccer/football.When I lived in Argentina, womens soccer did not seem to be popular there,  but in many countries there arent any womens sports at all. As an athlete myself Im proud that the U.S. has embraced female athleticism and sports. What is it like for female athletes in your country? What do you think about the U.S. winning the world cup? Is our mens team next?Watch the videos below, then see if you can answer the questions in comments.Carli Lloyd: 1.  Describe where Carli Lloyd grew up. 2. Why does she want to stay in New Jersey? 3. How did she practice soccer? Who did she play with at her local field? 4. What moments does Carli like the best during a match?Hope Solo: 1. How old was Hope Solo when she wrote she wanted to be a soccer player? 2. Did she always want to be the goalie? 3. Did she love being goalie? 4. Which position does her mom consider the worst on the field?Now it is your turn to write something. Do women play soccer/football in your country? Why or why not? Do you think the US mens team is next? Also, here is a quiz highlighting some of the phrasal verbs that Hope and Carli use during their interviews.