Monday, March 23, 2020

Online Square Pyramid Surface Area Tutors

Online Square Pyramid Surface Area Tutors A Square pyramid is a pyramid which has a square base and the remaining faces of the pyramid are 4 triangles. All the 4 triangles of a pyramid meet at a single point known as the apex or the vertex of the pyramid and a square pyramid has a common square base for all the triangles. The surface area of a pyramid can be calculated by finding the area of each single face and then later adding up the areas of all the faces together. Example 1: What is the surface area of a square pyramid which has a base length of 4m and a slant height of 7m? Given: base length, b= 4m Slant height of the pyramid, s = 7m Since it is a square pyramid, the base of the pyramid is a square. Surface area of a square pyramid = b2 + 2* b* s This gives: Surface area of the square pyramid, SA= (4)2 + (2 * 4 * 7) = 16+ 56= 72m2 Therefore, the surface area of the given square pyramid is 72m2 Example 2:What is the surface area of a square pyramid which has a base length of 6m and a slant height of 10m? Given: base length, b= 6m Slant height of the pyramid, s = 10m Since it is a square pyramid, the base of the pyramid is a square. Surface area of a square pyramid = b2 + 2* b* s This gives: Surface area of the square pyramid, SA= (6)2 + (2 * 6 * 10) = 36+ 120= 156m2 Therefore, the surface area of the given square pyramid is 156m2

Friday, March 6, 2020

What is Contemporary Dance

What is Contemporary Dance About Contemporary Dance ChaptersHistory: Where Did Contemporary Dance Come From?Techniques And Principles Of Contemporary DanceFamous Contemporary DancersContemporary Dance Classes Near MeWhat Do You Wear When Starting Contemporary Dance Classes?Contemporary dance is a genre of new dance that emerged during the middle of the 20th century. It has taken elements from various other styles of dance (classical ballet, urban dance, country line dancing, folk dancing, ...) and brought them up to date. Not to be confused with Modern dance, Contemporary dance master classes are similar in terms of style and technique but from a slightly different perspective.Prospective new students should also note that Contemporary dancing is not a form of freestyle showcase dancing; precise placement and technical movements are combined to create strong and controlled legs, feet, arms, torso and hip work. So if you thought this dance program suited you because you could just go in the door and let yourself go, doing what the musi c tells you to do, you were wrong! That said, the broad and expressive nature of dance moves in Contemporary dance does mean that you can be more liberal and inventive with your dance choreography.If you watch renowned reality talent shows like Britain's Got Talent, you will no doubt have noticed a rise in popularity in dance acts, many of whom perform Contemporary dances to modern music. If you take the time to listen to their stories, it will be revealed that they show huge amounts of commitment to their art form, spending hours of their day rehearsing and perfecting each and every move in their lyrical dance, no matter how free and uplifting their performance looks on the day.Contemporary dancers can be solo artists however many choose to perform alongside others and become a resident member of a dance act partnership or group, as it offers more opportunities to impress their audience with lifts and other tricks which rely on other bodies.Contemporary dances will often be perform ed in groups so as to have even greater opportunities to express using lifts and shapes. Photo credit: hernanpba on Visual Huntskills and abilities along with their previous level of training and its relevance. Contemporary dancers will, therefore, have undergone a lengthy selection path before being chosen as a member of a particular dance academy.Music plays a very important role in any Contemporary dance demonstration (as the dance is choreographed to relate to it and its message), as do costumes and outfits which are like supporting acts because they can influence the appearance of dancers' movements and thus make the show appear even more innovative.In Contemporary dancing, costumes are carefully chosen or designed because of the way they create shape and movement during a routine. Photo credit: The Whisperer of the Shadows on Visual hunt / CC BY-NDWhen it comes to technique, Contemporary dancers use specific modern dancing techniques, along with some traditional elements and a number of non-dance related practices too (for instance, the posture and movements in mime, yoga and Pilates are often drawn on as well as performance attributes like improvisation, the Graham technique, the Humphrey-Weidman technique, the Alexander technique and the Horton technique).Many successful Contemporary dancers have gone on to open up dance training schools and academies to spread their passion for the genre and help to turn upcoming stars into dynamic professional dancers. 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!Di scover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFamous Contemporary DancersJust like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were masters of the Ballroom and tap dance floors, Contemporary dance has its own collection of megastars who have found fame internationally in the twentieth century or afterwards.Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) is a great example of one of these strong female figures in Contemporary dance. One of the most recognised dancers in the history of Contemporary dance, Duncan threw out the rule book when it came to classical dance and stood out in her modern approach and innovation to create a new unique style. She was greatly influenced by Greek culture and admired their natural movements and expression from within. Today, she is known as the 'mother of modern dance' and has taught many a beginner to dream big.Martha Graham (1894-1991) is another important figure in this dancing discipline, A dancer, a choreographer and a teacher of modern C ontemporary dance, she created movements based on emotions, using contracting and releasing with sharp and angular movements to portray a feeling. The Martha Graham Dance Academy (also known as the Martha Graham Academy of Dance) is still operating in America today, one of the oldest dance schools of the country.There were and are, of course, many more dancers who influenced and continue to develop the Contemporary dance tradition, with just some of these contributors being: Martha Clarke, Virginia Tanner, Travis Wall, Dada Masilo, Terence Lewis, Sang Jijia and Tadashi Endo, Dominique Bagouet,  Neerav Bavlecha,  Jérôme Bel,  Sérgio Benvindo Júnior,  Charlie Bruce and  Claude Brumachon.Contemporary Dance Classes Near MeAcross the country are many dance studios specialising in the art of dance, with Contemporary dance being one of the branches that offer lessons in. However, London is one of the best places to learn how to dance in this modern way in the United Kingdom. If you are based in the capital, then all you need to do is run a quick Internet search for 'dance classes near me' to find some of the top schools of dance in your area. However, to save you time, we've picked out a few for you below.London Contemporary Dance School, based in Kings Cross, is one of the most popular and highly-rated dance schools of its type, not only in the capital. It is referred to by Google as a 4.2/5.0 star establishment and forms a parts of  the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. Not a dance studio that encourages drop ins, this top dance college offers higher level dance education, qualifying graduates in the art of dance. Students work on the theory of art, the history of dance and on developing artistic performances.Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance is also a highly-rated dance academy on Google which, as its name suggests, offers dance tuition in all aspects of ballet, from classical ballet to contemporary ballet, along with other Contemporary dance st yles. The Twickenham-based school of dance offers inspirational and life-transforming tuition for students who wish to become a professional dancer or performer and pursue a career in the Contemporary dance world.However, if it is evening group workshops you are after or private dance lessons you are looking for, then you may be interested to know that many dance clubs or gymnastics centres offer Contemporary dancing classes in their studios, payable weekly or in a block semester by semester. So, you can learn to dance the principal steps and sequences of a Contemporary dance under the instruction of an experienced educator.What Do You Wear When Starting Contemporary Dance Classes?As we've discovered, the costumes worn during Contemporary performance ensembles can be just as important as the music you dance to. Costumes accentuate movements and motions and can be used to enhance certain postures and positions or to create emotion (i.e. soft flowing chiffon-style fabrics will be more romantic than tight-fitting clothing).During rehearsals, Contemporary dancers tend to wear a leotard and tights or leggings. Photo credit: quinn.anya on Visualhunt.comBut if you are more concerned with what to wear on your first day at a your contemporary dance classes near me than telling a story or emphasising a line, then you might like to know that, in the studio for rehearsals, outfits vary from dancer to dancer. Many new students will wear a leotard with leggings or spandex shorts over the top, whilst others will wear yoga pants and a tank top or training bra (for women). You usually have the choice to go barefoot or wear some dancing shoes like jazz shoes or ballet shoes. It is not recommended to wear socks or shoes with no grip as you could cause yourself an injury on the smooth studio floor.If in any doubt, contact your dance instructor or the leader of the dance workshop you are enrolled on as many studios will have their own set of rules for guidance or at least be able to offer a recommendation.If you found this article helpful, why not check out our blog on salsa?Look at dance classes glasgow.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

4 Ways to Put Your Spanish into Action in Your Community

4 Ways to Put Your Spanish into Action in Your Community Suzy S. Want to take your Spanish beyond the books and classroom? Here, Honolulu tutor Jinan B.  offers some ideas to volunteer in Spanish and other ways to share your skills with your community Spanish has special significance in the United States, as it is widely spoken by people from a variety of Hispanic and Hispanic-American cultures. One of the great things about learning Spanish is that you can practice the language and improve your fluency while actively in your community. The following are suggestions for ways to put your Spanish into action to mutually benefit you and other individuals in your community. 1. Volunteer in Spanish Volunteering is an exceptional way to achieve greater fluency in Spanish, because youre practicing your speaking and comprehension skills while helping others at the same time. There is a great need for bilingual English-Spanish speakers to help non-English-speaking native Spanish speakers with navigating a variety of situations in which English is needed. You can also seek out volunteer opportunities working with disadvantaged children, some of whom may be native Spanish speakers or bilingual English-Spanish speakers. A good resource for finding opportunities to volunteer in Spanish is your local government office or public library. 2. Connect with Fellow Spanish Language Learners Another way to participate more deeply in your local community while speaking Spanish is to meet others interested in improving their language skills. This could take the form of a Spanish language meetup group to get additional practice in the language outside of your lessons. You could also use online forums, such as Craigslist, to find an exchange partner to practice with (for example, an exchange in which you converse with your partner in English part of the time and in Spanish the rest of the time). This is mutually beneficial in helping each of you improve your speaking abilities, and you may make a new friend in the process. In any case, you will gain a deeper understanding of the culture and language through this person. 3. Strike Up a Conversation with a Native Speaker An easy way to incorporate Spanish into your daily routine in a community-oriented way is to make Spanish-speaking connections. Depending on the community you live in, this may be as simple as striking up a friendly conversation with Spanish speakers in a business you frequent. Spanish speakers are usually quite friendly and delighted that you are learning their language. Making friends who speak Spanish can allow for many exceptional interactions, in which you participate in cultural exchange and have fun at the same time! 4. Host an Exchange Student or Traveler If you would like an immersion experience and are unable to travel, how about hosting an exchange student or traveler? In exchange for free or low-cost housing, your visitor can verse you in the intricacies of Spanish as you share some of the wonderful things about your culture and location. It is an excellent way to reinforce what you learn in your Spanish class or tutoring  sessions and will make a difference in someone else’s travel and cultural experiences. These suggestions are just scratching the surface of the possibilities available to you for putting your Spanish into action in your community. The rewards are plentiful, for you and for those with whom you interact. As your Spanish improves, you may find even greater meaning in your engagement with the Spanish language. Jinan B. tutors in Honolulu, HI. She is currently an  Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, teaching various courses including  Community Nutrition, Concepts in Nutrition Education, and Advanced Child and Adolescent Nutrition.  Learn more about Jinan here!   Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Rebecca Demes

Why Study Spanish at School

Why Study Spanish at School Reasons to Learn Spanish at School ChaptersWhy Learn Spanish as Soon as you Can?Studying an International Language like SpanishLearn Spanish at School Because it isn't too Dissimilar to EnglishThe Benefits of Learning Spanish: An Increasingly Important LanguageTake Spanish Classes at School to Quickly Become BilingualStudy Spanish to Hang Out with Your FriendsWhen you go to school, you'll probably be given the option to choose from one of several foreign languages.  Though it may seem trivial at first, this could be one of the most important choices you make.It’s also a choice you don’t get much time to make. Are you thinking of taking Spanish like most people do?  It’s a good choice! There are many benefits of learning Spanish, and it is a language that is spoken in many places around the world.In fact, current estimates suggest that there are around 440 million native Spanish speakers in the world, with 20 different countries having Spanish as an official language.The number of Spanish speakers is expected to increase over the next few decades, not just in terms of those who speak it as their mother tongue, but also in terms of those who learn it as a second language.Given the number of speakers of Spanish that there are in the world, the language holds a global importance. This means that there are plenty of reasons to learn Spanish, and learning it from a young age at school could set you ahead of the rest. TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Learn Spanish as Soon as you Can?The earlier you start, the easier learning Spanish will be. Your overall proficiency will be better than everyone else's in your age category as you get older, and you pronunciation and fluency will both improve considerably.In fact, efficiently mobilising your language skills can boost your career prospects  further down the line. But this is a process that should start at school. Even if you don't have Spanish lessons directly with at school, studying on your own for a small amount of time every week will still put you above the rest when you get to university and beyond.You'd be surprised how many friends you can make in your Spanish classes at school. (Source: pixabay.com)The earlier you pick up the Spanish language, the better your advantage will be over your classmates later on at school, or even at university. You’ll have a head start when it comes to vocabulary (words and phrases) as well as Spanish grammar, conjugations ( verbs and tenses), speaking, the Spanish alphabet, and even some aspects of translation.If you decide to take some Spanish courses outside of school, either at a Spanish language school, or with a Spanish teacher, then your tutor should give you plenty of time to learn each new concept. Tutors can adjust their classes to you, focus on the things that you want or need to learn, and go at your own pace. You don’t need to rush! You have a number of years before you go to university, so you don't need to worry about that just yet.By starting earlier in life with your Spanish education, you can get to grips with the basics which will put you in a great position to learn business Spanish, for example, later on in life.Studying an International Language like SpanishDid you know that Spanish is one of the most important languages in the world? The history of Spanish has made it widespread  today, particularly through Spanish colonisation over the centuries which led to the language being spoken in a large number of different places. In fact, in its heyday, the Spanish empire was one of the biggest in the world and covered much of the west of what is now the United States, Mexico, the majority of South America, and parts of western Africa and Asia.So where is Spanish spoken? By simply taking your language learning to a conversational level, you could undertake a Spanish immersion experience in countries such as:ArgentinaCosta RicaPanamaColombiaMexicoCubaChilePeruDominican RepublicNicaraguaGuatemalaHondurasEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEcuadorThere are so many places you can go to learn the language of Miguel de Cervantes. Each one has a slightly different take on the language and culture, meaning that the Spanish speaking world is a place that will constantly offer you something different if you want to move abroad, or if you simply want an immersion experience in the Spanish language.Spanish is spoken far beyond the borders of Spain. (Source: pixabay.com)Let’s not f orget about Europe where you can find Spanish-speaking communities across the whole continent.Furthermore, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world in terms of the number of native speakers. Chinese is first, which means that there are actually more native Spanish speakers than there are English native speakers.Spanish is one of the most popular languages in the world today. It is used as an official language in a number of international organisations including the United Nations and the European Union.  It’s also one of the top 3 languages for international communication and business alongside the English and French languages.If you are still wondering why you should learn Spanish, then you only need to look at the proportion of the world that the language will open up for you, not just in terms of travelling, but in terms of job opportunities, to see that it is a language that is definitely worthy of your time and commitment. TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1 st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLearn Spanish at School Because it isn't too Dissimilar to EnglishA huge amount of English vocabulary has the sames roots as Spanish vocabulary. Of course, these words have changed over time but since half of English vocabulary is either directly from Latin or indirectly (via French), learning Spanish might be easier than languages like Russian or Chinese.  Once you see some of these words, you’ll recognise them without having to think too much.Therefore, by picking up Spanish at school, you could excel in a subject that could also give you some great skills to use later on in life. After all, who doesn't want to get the best grades possible whilst at school? Spanish is one of those subjects that could offer you that opportunity.Of course, while usually easier than less similar languages, Spanish is no walk in the park.While the words may look similar, there are a number of things about Spanish that might trip you up. Let’s not forget the false friends, either.This is another reason to learn Spanish from a young age. By doing so, you will give yourself a better chance to overcome certain difficulties such as irregular verbs, direct object pronouns, and the subjunctive, but to name a few.A Spanish course at school will either teach you these things, or set you up perfectly to learn them further down the line.So while certain aspects of Spanish can be difficult, the language is a good choice for a lot of English speakers. And this is especially true of a younger learner where it is widely recognised to be easier to learn a foreign language.The Benefits of Learning Spanish: An Increasingly Important LanguageSpanish-speaking countries do business with the whole world. They account for 6 of the world's top 50 economies, with Mexico being seen as one of the economies that will grow most rapidly in the near future.Knowing Spanish can take you to a lot of fascinating places! (Source: pixabay.com)If you’re thinking about working in business or tourism, speaking Spanish will also look great on your CV. As we said before, speaking Spanish will be really useful in a lot of different situations. Being a native English speaker is the cherry on top.If you want to stand out when applying to jobs, it’d be a good idea to start learning Spanish as soon as you can. Start thinking about your future by choosing a language that’s becoming increasingly important and make sure you listen to your Sp anish tutor! Mastering grammar, conjugations, vocabulary, and expressions can be harder than it looks.Obviously you can start learning Spanish at university. But if you start studying Spanish at school, you will have the upper hand when it comes to applying for graduate jobs as your level of Spanish will be higher than other people competing for the same jobs.This is especially true if you want to work in a Spanish-speaking country, as your level will need to be a lot nearer to complete fluency, which is not something that you are likely to achieve over the course of just studying at university.Take Spanish Classes at School to Quickly Become BilingualA number of Spanish speaking countries have seen their fair share of dark days over the last 100 years. The Spaniards had to deal with the rule of Franco between 1939 and 1975, the Argentinians had the Dirty War between 1974 and 1983, and the Colombians have only recently signed a peace deal to end their 50 year civil war.Such events h ave led to a widespread diaspora of native Spanish speakers across the world. You might even have Spanish or Latin American ancestry in your family, and by learning Spanish you could be reconnecting with the language and culture of your grandparents or great-grandparents.After all, the path to becoming bilingual isn't just about studying grammar, verb conjugations, and vocabulary. You also need to learn the cultural context in which these things are set. You cannot learn a language effectively, without simultaneously paying homage to the history and culture of that particular language.But by studying the history and culture of the Spanish language, you will have a lot better understanding of how it works, which will lead you closer to the end goal of becoming bilingual.As a young learner, if you take classes with a native Spanish speaker, they can impart their cultural and historical knowledge to you during your Spanish classes. This will be invaluable to you if you want to speak Sp anish fluently.Study Spanish to Hang Out with Your FriendsOne last reason to study Spanish whilst at school: Your friends probably will, too.If you’re still not decided about studying Spanish, this argument should tip the scales. Learning Spanish could be what keeps two children united who have been friends since they were very young, but have subsequently gone to different schools. They will both have this common experience which they can relate to, even as other things around them are changing as they make new friends.If you study Spanish as part of an exchange program, you could spend time in beautiful cities like Barcelona and make new friends. (Source: pixabay.com)What's more, studying Spanish at school allows you to partake in exchange programmes with schools all around the world (depending on the school that you go to). Not only will taking part in such an experience be great fun and allow you to experience a new country and culture, but you will also be paired with someone who has similar interests to you.This could be a chance to make a new friend, and someone who might turn out to be a friend for life. At the end of the day, who wouldn't want a friend in Madrid, Buenos Aires, or Bogotá who you can go and meet and stay with as and when you want?Of course, the best reason to take Spanish lessons near me is because you love the language. Whether you want to learn Spanish, French, German, or whatever, go for it! You don’t need any more reasons than that.That said, we think you’ve got enough reasons to choose Spanish. Whether it’s your first foreign language or your second... Don’t miss your chance to start learning it. This means you’ll have a lot of time to master the language and travel to a Spanish-speaking country and become bilingual.There are advantages to each Spanish learning method, but one thing that they all have in common is that you will benefit from them more if you start with them from an early age. So don't hesitate, start le arning Spanish at school today!

Is it Possible to Sing Well Without Taking Lessons

Is it Possible to Sing Well Without Taking Lessons Suzy S. If youre wondering how to sing well without lessons, youll want to check out this guest post. Here, Washington, DC voice teacher  Jacqueline E.  shares her thoughts Is it possible to sing well without taking voice lessons? In a nutshell, my answer to this is a firm “no.” So, what does it look like for someone who genuinely wants to learn how to sing well, but can’t take lessons, for whatever reason, and just commits to self-teaching through various methods? The different opportunities to learn how to sing well, then, are observing famous singers in each  genre on YouTube or in concerts, listening to recordings, and reading books/articles on vocal pedagogy. While all of these can be great tools, I’d like to address the problems associated with self-teaching in singing. Understanding Your Voice First, when a student watches a good singer, there are so many things about that singer’s body to observe: the jaw, mouth, lips, cheeks, neck/throat, chest, shoulders, abdominal area, etc. But the voice is not an instrument that you can see. The vocal cords and the other parts of the internal vocal mechanism demand an experienced, knowledgeable teacher who can give you immediate feedback based on what he or she hears about the sound you produce in relation to what physical sensations you experience when you sing. Developing Your Unique Sound If you learn how to sing by imitating what you hear, no matter how good your ears are, you will most likely end up sounding like the singers you listen to â€" not yourself. Furthermore, because of the structure of our skeletons and heads, we cannot hear ourselves the way others hear us, which is again another reason to have another set of ears assess your singing. A good voice teacher will bring out YOUR authentic voice, which is beautifully unrepeatable. Correcting Bad Vocal Habits Books on vocal pedagogy can certainly be helpful if you want to go in depth about the vocal mechanism. Listening to good singers is a great habit to get in to. But then, how will you know if you are picking up the correct vocal habits? What if you ingrain bad vocal habits over a long period of time? If you have never had lessons at all, you cannot know by yourself if something you watch or hear a singer do is going to be the right way to sing for YOU or if the way that “famous singer” is singing is actually the healthiest way to sing. (One should not equate “fame” with “sings in the healthiest way.”) Developing Correct Vocal Habits By all means, I do support the use of YouTube and vocal pedagogy books to help you discover the truth on what healthy singing is (and by contrast, what unhealthy singing is), but ultimately, it cannot be the only route you take. If you gather and synthesize all of this information by yourself, you will direct yourself toward developing bad habits because a live person did not give you feedback. Neither a book nor the Internet can teach you how to identify certain physical sensations while singing (because singing is more about feeling and less about listening), how to develop strong, healthy technical habits, and how to help you get rid of bad ones. A good teacher can. When you do find a good teacher, my advice is to make sure that person is an accomplished singer who knows not only how to sing, but also how to teach about the vocal mechanism. Being accomplished means having had a lot of professional performing experience (not paying to perform) and if that teacher is old enough, even having students who have had a lot of success. Knowing how to teach means showing you they have a deep understanding of how the vocal mechanism works and can give you a clear cognitive and physical understanding of your instrument. Vocal technique is inherited from a teacher and develops over long-term study. In short, if youre wondering how to sing well without lessons, consider this advice. If you truly want to be a good singer with healthy habits, I highly recommend working with a singing teacher  â€" and not just any teacher, but one with good ears and who meets your individual needs!  Jacqueline E. teaches singing, music performance, and music theory in Washington, DC. She is a  classically trained lyric-coloratura soprano, currently working on her Bachelor of Music degree in General-Choral Music Education from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC in May 2015.  Learn more about Jacqueline here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Berklee Valencia Campus

GMAT Question of the Day #311 - Data Sufficiency

GMAT Question of the Day #311 - Data Sufficiency GMAT MBA Admissions Blog For today's GMAT Question of the Day, we have an AD/BCE Value Question, relating to question #311 from the Official Guide for GMAT Review, 2017. See below for a clear, step-by-step example and explanation. We need to find: Obviously, we need information about Guy’s gross income and his deductions. Because you’ve already scanned the clues (right?), you know that this is a CE question â€" clue (1) only mentions gross income, and clue (2) only mentions deductions. So, eliminate A, D, and B AD/BCE (1) and (2) Let’s try some examples, and let’s use multiples of $100 to keep calculations simple: Note that I only changed the deductions and I didn’t actually calculate the percent change for each example. It’s plain to see that they are not equal. The correct answer is E. Takeaways: Be on the lookout for CE problems (see 246 and 255 for examples of easy CE problems). Don’t create more examples than you need. In this case we only changed the deductions. Use multiples of $100 in percent problems that don’t include actual value Don’t calculate unless you have to! John is a Senior MyGuru GMAT tutor based in Chicago, but is also the founder of Owl Test Prep . We encourage you to check out their web-site and YouTube channel.

Paralegal Glossary

Paralegal Glossary Do you love justice? You you want to help the little guy get some justice in an unfair world? Paralegal Technology could be the field of study for you. Here is a glossary of legal terms every paralegal needs to know in English. Blogtrepreneur [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)] accusedThe defendant or defendants appearing on a criminal charge. actA proceeding designed to have a legal effect. An act by an individual aimed at altering, terminating, or otherwise affecting a legal right. affidavitA written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court. allegationA claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof. appearance lawIn law, appearance is the coming into court of either of the parties to a lawsuit, and/or the formal act by which a defendant submits himself to the jurisdiction of the court. appellate courtA court having jurisdiction to review decisions of a trial-level or other lower court. appellantA person who applies to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court. argumentA reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong. assaultMake a physical attack on. attorneyOne who is legally appointed to transact business on another’s behalf; especially : lawyer. authorityLegal permission granted to a person to perform a specified act. bail bondBond provided by an insurance company through a bail bondsman acting as agent for the company. bailSecurity given for the release of a prisoner on bail. bailiffAn officer, similar to a sheriff’s deputy, employed to execute writs and processes, make arrests, keep order in the court. barristerA lawyer entitled to practice in the higher courts of the United Kingdom. burden of proofThe obligation to prove one’s assertion. burglarA person who commits burglary; housebreaker. caseA suit or action in law or equity. child support paymentMoney that one spouse must give to another spouse (or legal guardian) every month to help care for the children. Civil Code of QuebecThe civil code in force in the Province of Quebec, Canada, which came into effect on January 1, 1994. claimTo demand by virtue of a right. clauseA particular and separate article, stipulation, or proviso in a treaty, bill, or contract. clerkA person employed in an office or bank to keep records and accounts and to undertake other routine administrative duties. common goodThe advantage or benefit of all people in society or in a group. common lawThe part of english law that is derived from custom and judicial precedent rather than statutes. Often contrasted with statutory law. compensatory allowanceTo make amends to someone. complainantA plaintiff in certain lawsuits. condemnTo express an unfavorable or adverse judgment on. constitutional lawThe body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. contractA formal agreement between two or more parties. corporationA company or group of people authorized to act as a single entity (legally a person) and recognized as such in law. courtA court is a place where legal matters are decided by a judge and jury or by a magistrate. court of appealsA court to which appeals are taken in a federal circuit or a state. court orderA direction issued by a court or a judge requiring a person to do or not do something. courthouseA public building in which courts of law are held. criminal recordA history of being convicted for crime. custodyThe act of keeping safe or guarding; the right of guardianship of a minor. damagesA sum of money claimed or awarded in compensation for a loss or an injury. debtSomething that is owned or that one is bound to pay to or perform for another. debtorA person or commercial enterprise that owes a financial obligation. default judgementA judgment entered in favor of the plaintiff when the defendant defaults (fails to appear in court). defendantAn individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law. denunciationA charge or accusation of crime made by an individual before a public prosecutor or tribunal. dismissTo bid or allow a person to go. dismissal, firingThe act of being dismissed, fired from a job. distensionThe act of distending or the state of being distended. docketA calendar of the cases awaiting action in a court. doctrineA belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group. due processFair treatment through the normal judicial system, esp. As a citizen’s entitlement. dwellingA shelter (as a house) in which people live. enactTo represent or perform in or as if in a play; to act out. evidenceMatter produced before a court of law in an attempt to prove or disprove a point in issue, such as the statements of witnesses, documents, material objects, etc. expert witnessA person who is permitted to testify at a trial because of special knowledge or proficiency in a particular field that is relevant to the case. expungeErase or remove completely (something unwanted or unpleasant). family lawAn area of the law that deals with family-related matters and domestic relations, including: marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships; adoption and surrogacy, etc. felonyA serious crime, usually punishable by at least one year in prison. fiduciaryInvolving trust, esp. With regard to the relationship between a trustee and a beneficiary. formal noticeNotification or warning of something, esp. To allow preparations to be made. fraudWrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. grand juryA jury, normally of twenty-three jurors, selected to examine the validity of an accusation before trial. grievanceA real or imagined wrong or other cause for complaint or protest, such as unfair treatment. guiltyCulpable of or responsible for a specified wrongdoing. habeas corpusA writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, esp. To secure the person’s release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention. half-way houseA place where persons are aided in readjusting to society following a period of imprisonment, hospitalization, etc. hearingAn opportunity to state one’s case. inadmissibleNot admissible or allowable. incarcerationThe state of being confined in prison; imprisonment. indictTo make a formal accusation or indictment against (a party) by the findings of a jury, especially a grand jury. injunctionAn authoritative warning or order. inmatePersons confined in prison, jails, and other correctional facilities that house those convicted of crimes. interlocutory judgementA judgment that determines a preliminary or side issue in the case, but does not finally decide the case. judgeA public official with authority to hear cases in a court of law and pronounce judgment upon them. jurisprudenceThe theory or philosophy of law. jurisprudentialRelating to the science or philosophy of law or a system of laws. juristAn expert in or writer on law. justiceJust behavior or treatment. labor lawLabour law mediates the relationship between workers, employers, trade unions and the government. Collective labour law relates to the tripartite relationship between employee, employer and union. landlordOne that owns and rents land, buildings, or dwelling units. lawThe system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and may enforce by the imposition of penalties. law enforcement agencyA group of people responsible for insuring obedience of legal rules. lawsuitA case in a court of law involving a claim, complaint, etc. lawsuitA proceeding in a court of law brought by one party against another, esp. A civil action. lawyerA person who practices or studies law; an attorney or a counselor. legal actLaw is a term which does not have a universally accepted definition, but one definition is that law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior. legal aidFree legal advice or representation for a person who cannot afford it. legal researchLegal research is “the process of identifying and retrieving information necessary to support legal decision-making. lethalCapable of causing death. limitationA certain period of time, legally defined, within which an action, claim, etc., must be commenced. litigantA person engaged in a lawsuit. litigatingTo make the subject of a lawsuit, contest at law. litigationThe act or process of litigating. loiteringRemaining in an area for no obvious reason. manslaughterThe unlawful killing of a human being without express or implied malice. mediationIntervention in a dispute in order to resolve it; arbitration. mistrialAn invalid trial, caused by fundamental error. When a mistrial is declared, the trial must start again with the selection of a new jury. monographA detailed written study of a single specialized subject or an aspect of it. notaryA person authorized to perform certain legal formalities, esp. To draw up or certify contracts, deeds, and other documents for use in other jurisdictions. notaryA public officer or other person authorized to authenticate contracts, acknowledge deeds, take affidavits, protest bills of exchange, take deposition. notificationThe action of notifying someone or something. oathA solemn, formal declaration or promise to fulfill a pledge, often calling on god, a god, or a sacred object as witness. offenseA breach of a law or rule; an illegal act. overruleTo disallow the action or arguments of, especially by virtue of higher authority: the defense attorney’s objection was overruled by the judge. panelTo select or impanel (a jury). penalOf, relating to, constituting, or prescribing punishment. petty theftA criminal act in which property belonging to another is taken without that persons consent. plaintiffA person who brings a case against another in a court of law. pleaAn earnest request; an appeal: spoke out in a plea for greater tolerance. pleadingA formal statement of the cause of an action or defense. pledgeA solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something. police headquartersThe administrative police center. prejudiceHarm or injury that results or may result from some action or judgment. probationThe release of an offender from detention, subject to a period of good behavior under supervision. proofSomething that induces certainty or establishes validity. prosecuteTo hold a trial against a person who is accused of a crime to see if that person is guilty. prosecutorA person, esp. A public official, who institutes legal proceedings against someone. proxyThe agency, function, r power of a person authorized to act as the deputy or substitute for another. Quebec BarThe provincial law society for lawyers in Quebec, Canada. It was founded May 30, 1849, as the Bar of Lower Canada. reasonable doubtBeyond reasonable doubt is the standard of evidence required to validate a criminal conviction in most adversarial legal systems. recourseThe act of resorting to a person, course of action, etc., in difficulty or danger. recourse to legal actionAn action that can be taken by an individual or a corporation to attempt to remedy a legal difficulty. recover damagesTo succeed in a lawsuit. To obtain from waste. To make a recovery. recusalThe disqualification of a judge or jury by reason of prejudice or conflict of interest; a judge can be recused by objections of either party or judges can disqualify themselves. relinquishmentTo renounce or surrender. remandTo send back, remit or consign again. requestAn act of asking politely or formally for something. requestThe act or an instance of requesting, esp. In the form of a written statement; petition or solicitation. respondentA defendant in a lawsuit, especially one in an appeals or divorce case. revokePut an end to the validity or operation of (a decree, decision, or promise). seizingThe act of a person or thing that seizes. seizureThe act or an instance of seizing. sentenceThe punishment assigned to a defendant found guilty by a court, or fixed by law for a particular offense. subpoenaA writ ordering a person to attend a court. subrogationThe substitution of one person in the place of another with reference to a lawful claim, demand, or right. subscriptionA sum of money given or pledged as contribution, payment, investment. successionThe act or an instance of one person or thing following another. summonsA summons is an official order to appear in court. superior courtA court with general jurisdiction over other courts; a higher court. suretyMoney or something valuable which you give to someone to show that you will do what you have promised. sustainTo keep in existence; maintain. testimonyA solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official. appellantA person who applies to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court. thiefOne that steals especially stealthily or secretly. trialA formal examination of evidence before a judge, and typically before a jury, in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings. trustFirm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. trusteeAn individual person or member of a board given control or powers of administration of property in trust with a legal obligation to administer it solely for the purposes specified. upholdTo maintain or affirm against opposition. venueThe locality where a crime is committed or a cause of action occurs. verdictA decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case or an inquest. VINVehicle identification number. waiverAn intentional relinquishment of some right, interest, or the like. wantedTo be hunted or sought in order to apprehend. warningTo give notice to beforehand especially of danger or evil. warrantA commission or document giving authority to do something. weaponSomething (as a club, kknife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy. witnessA person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, take place. witness standA stand or an enclosure from which a witness gives evidence in a court. writsA formal order under seal, issued in the name of sovereign, government, court, or other competent authority, enjoining the officer or other person to whom it is issued or addressed to do or refrain from some specified act. young offenderA criminal from 12 to 17 years of age. Please follow and like us:

Shadowing Magic An Amazing Language Learning Technique

Shadowing Magic An Amazing Language Learning Technique Shadowing Magic: An Amazing Language Learning Technique Weve heard that if you talk to a man in his language, it goes to his heart.But what if he cant understand a word youre saying?Its easy to ignore pronunciation in language learning, especially when youre learning by yourself.And it can seem pretty daunting the more you look at it, what with all the little rules of sounds and spelling there are.But did you know theres a way to improve pronunciation without traditional study at all? And better yet, to improve every aspect of your language abilities at the same time?Enter shadowing. By simply repeating after long stretches of audio as you hear it, you become better at the language.Perhaps it sounds too good to be true.But once you hear from the people that popularized this method, your thoughts might change Shadowing Magic: An Amazing Language Learning TechniqueFeel the Flow: Understanding the Importance of PronunciationTo understand how shadowing works, lets first think for a moment about what pronunciation is and what it involves. Lo oking at it in a new way might be helpful for your learning perspective.Consider this: Every single language has words and sounds that blend together when spoken naturally.If youre a native English speaker and you read that last sentence aloud in a normal voice, youll probably join single language, blend together and spoken naturally into single words, with no pause between them.Not to mention, youll probably say words n sounds instead of words and sounds.When we speak a language, we create little shortcuts or blends like this constantly.And its one of the hallmarks of non-native speech to avoid doing this, in the effort to speak clearly or correctly.Youd go crazy trying to learn rules like When [d] follows [n] word-finally it manifests as a lengthening of the [n] sound, except when the next word…You could read this stuff for days on end and it wouldnt do half as much for your language skills as shadowing.Finding Your Shadow: Your First Steps to a New VoicePut simply, shadowing is repeating aloud what you hear, word for word, with as little delay as possible.This method might have been around for decades, but it was given its name in the early 2000s by Prof. Alexander Arguelles, a distinguished and extremely dedicated linguist and polyglot. He has his own description of the method on his website.How to Start Shadowing: Practice in Your Native Language FirstTo ease yourself into the method, try it with a recording of yourself in English or your native language.Read a text aloud, slightly slower than normal, for two or three minutes. Then play back the recording and try to repeat after it. You dont want to wait for a sentence or even a word to end before repeating itâ€"your repetitions should be as close to simultaneous with the recording as possible.This will get you accustomed to the slightly unusual feeling of speaking and listening at the same time. Now youre ready to try it with a foreign language.How to Find the Right Materials for Your Target LanguageSt art out with simple dialogues meant for learners. You want to find something a little bit slower than normal, but not too slow or itll start getting unnatural.Prof. Arguelles really liked using Assimil courses for this, though many of their products are only available for French speakers. Really, any textbook or learning dialogue will do as long as its at least a couple of sentences of connected text.Single sentences or groups of phrases are too short. By the same principle, dialogues broken up by English audio translations are also no good.Youll also want audio with a transcript so that you can check what youre hearing. When youre more advanced, you wont necessarily need a transcript, but its invaluable at the early stages.FluentU videos work well for shadowing because theyre short, they come with downloadable transcripts and you can load them up right on your phone. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language lessons.How to Use the Right Materials in the Right WayListening.  Listen to the dialogue with headphones or earbuds a couple of times without reading any transcript or speaking aloud. Feel the sounds and the words in your mind, even if you dont have a clue what they actually mean.Speaking.  Start speaking along with or just after the recording. Mumble along if you cant keep up. Dont stress about accuracy at all. Even people who have done this for years constantly flub words when they start out with a new recording. The important thing is to get your voice going.Using the transcript.  Now have a look at the transcript or translation to clear up points about what youre hearing and what youre saying. And then keep going. Eventually, youll get used to the idiosyncrasies of your target language as its spoken, and your speech will become more and more natural over time.Prof. Arguelles recommends doing your shadowing exercises outside, walking with good posture and r epeating in a loud voice. (He also suggests doing variations of shadowing that involve reading the transcription and translation of the recording as you shadow.)The main idea here is that you want to do what it takes to keep your mind fully focused on the material, so you cant drift off or get distracted. However, many people simply shadow at their desks and get many of the same benefits.How to Know When to StopDifferent people use this exercise for different amounts of time, but a good stopping point is when you can follow the recording at about the same speed and you fully understand what youre saying.Some people take this significantly further and end up repeating the same audio courses so many times that they can write the whole thing from memory.Stopping point of course here means a point when it makes sense to move on to a new recording. If you can, stick to recordings by a speaker whose voice sounds really nice to you. Hearing and repeating it so much, especially at the begin ner and intermediate stages of learning, will slowly shape your own voice toward that ideal.Integrating Shadowing into Your Learning RoutineShadowing has benefits beyond just pronunciation. You eventually assimilate the vocabulary and structures used in your text in a very natural way, and when you speak later you can call on those to really boost your fluency.You also develop muscle memory and are able to have common phrases or collocations roll off your tongue automatically. When you remember vocabulary later on, its very likely that the words will appear in your mind in their natural context.These are both good reasons to make shadowing part of your regular language learning routine. One easy way to do this is to use it as a warm-up. Its a fantastic warm-up exercise for thinking in the target language. If you happen to be taking regular language classes, shadow for a couple of minutes outside before the class starts. Youll be significantly more alert and ready to speak.Becoming b etter at pronunciation and speaking fluency is also directly tied to listeningâ€"and wouldnt you know it, listening impacts reading as well.The better your mental model of the language, the easier its going to be for you to decode a stream of native speech into chunks of meaning. Shadowing improves that mental model simply through the sheer amount of listening that you work through, so stick with it!Join the Chorus: An Alternate Take on ShadowingAnother extremely smart person, Dr. Olle Kjellin, developed a variant on shadowing that deserves a mention here.Chorusing is his word for shadowing a tiny amount of textâ€"just a few seconds at mostâ€"over and over.Dr. Kjellin, a speech therapist and accent coach, says that students who use his method are able to lose their foreign accents entirely, even in a language like Swedish with very difficult pronunciation.The idea is that you have this tiny fragment of native speech looping continuously in your headphones  and as you concentrate on it over and over you cant help but repeat.Its an intense activity, particularly because he recommends repeating the same sentence aloud for whole minutes at a time, but it really does work.Theres a connection that gets formed between your ears and mouth, and as you repeat more and more you can actually hear your voice shaping toward the native model, much like with tuning an instrument.Language learning is such a multi-faceted process that there are as many ways to learn as there are languages themselves.Some of the most effective techniques are the simplest in terms of execution.Theres nothing earth-shattering about the shadowing technique, but it stimulates so much of a language learners brain that it becomes a very effective use of time.Like any techniqueâ€"or studying at all, reallyâ€"it may not seem to have an effect the first time you do it.Language learning is about regular practice. The consistency is often more important than the specific exercise you do.Give shadowing a tr y for a couple of days, and it just might be the key to a new study routine.