Everything You Need to Know About the Blues Scale on Guitar

Everything You Need to Know About the Blues Scale on Guitar Sign up successful What is the Blues Scale? In its simplest form, the blues scale is simply a pentatonic scale. That might sound complicated, so lets break down the theory. Look at a piano if you have one, or look up an image of piano keys. Take a look at the black keys on the piano. They naturally fall into the pentatonic scale pattern. If you want to hear the pentatonic scale in the easiest way, just play anything you want on the black keys only. The gaps between the groups of black keys show you something very important about the scale. Some of the notes are farther apart than others. This is because there are two types of “intervals” (or, spaces between notes) in the pentatonic scale. There are whole steps and minor thirds. The whole step is made up of two half-steps. This is also equal to two frets on the guitar. The minor third is made up of three half-steps, which is equal to three frets on the guitar. Whole steps and minor thirds are also referred to as “steps” and “skips.” Being aware of this pattern of steps and skips is the most important aspect of learning the blues scale. Practice with the Pentatonic Scale Let’s put the theory weve just learned into practice. The main resting or finishing note of a key is called the “root.”   As an example, we’ll look at the key of A minor. In the key of A minor you have the notes A C D E G. Those would be all natural notes (with no sharps or flats) and all white keys on a piano. In any key you make a pentatonic scale in, you start with the root and go up a minor third (three half steps), then a whole step, then another whole step, then one more minor third, then one last whole step. So in the key of A minor, the interval pattern from the root  is: (A) Skip (C) Step (D) Step (E) Skip (G) Step (A) The same interval pattern would apply to any key, so even if the notes change, the sound of the scale will be similar. In other words, the interval structure is what determines most of the mood of a scale. When you go to learn this on the guitar, the main thing you will learn to do is memorize “boxes” or patterns of whole steps and minor thirds that go across the strings. We will talk about these more in the next section, but realize that it is an incredibly important and fundamental exercise to master at least one pentatonic box that you can use for playing songs. Difference Between the Pentatonic Blues Scales The main difference between the blues scale and the pentatonic is the addition of one note. In the whole step between the third and fourth notes, you will play the note that falls between the third and fourth notes. For example, in A minor, you’ll add an Eb in between D and E. So the interval pattern for the blues scale in the key of A minor would look like: A (Skip) C (Whole Step) D (Half Step) Eb (Half Step) E (Skip) G (Whole Step) A The reason this extra note is present is because it has a special place in a lot of blues melodies. It’s important to mention that it’s not enough just to have the extra note in the scale. The way you use it to create the blues sound is to play it in blues licks. The best way to understand this is to learn the scale, and then play songs that use it so you can see the way it gets applied. Playing the notes of the blues scale in totally random ways does not produce a “bluesy” sound; only playing the scale in the way it shows up in the traditional canon of songs will get you to the right place as a blues guitar player. RELATED: 5 Easy Blues Guitar Licks The Blues Scales in Common Keys When you start out learning the blues scale on guitar, you will want to learn the scale in the most common keys that it’s played in. Let’s start with the E blues scale. E Blues Scale This scale is usually considered the easiest to start with because it uses open strings and gives your fingers more time to adjust to changes. Source: Total Guitar and Bass In tablature, it will look like this. Source: National Guitar Academy If you want to play in most of the keys of the blues though, you need to learn the scale in a position that doesn’t use any open strings A Blues Scale The thing that is so nice about the guitar is this: once you know this shape, all you have to do is move it around to the key you want to play in! Source: Online Guitar Books Here is what the A blues scale looks like in tablature.   Source: Online Guitar Books Here are charts and tabs for two more of the most common keys. Give them a try and see if you can transfer the shape just by finding the root/starting note on your thick E string. G Blues Scale Source: ThoughtCo. Source: Online Guitar Books C Blues Scale Source: Guitar Command Source: SimplifyingTheory.com Practicing the Blues Scale on Guitar Practice these scales in a way that inspires you. There are plenty of fun ways to master the blues scale on guitar, and you should choose the ones that inspire you the most. Remember: motivation comes from action! Here are a few ideas to get you started. Repeat the A minor blues scale from the lowest note to the highest note, and then back down until you can remember the notes in order without looking at a tab or diagram. Switch between reading the diagram and then trying to remember, to see where your memory has gaps. Play one note at a time in the scale, along with a metronome at 60 BPM. Try to remember the finger pattern while playing with your eyes closed. Open your eyes to look only if you get lost. Pick a random song and try to place the scale shape you learned on the root note. You can try different notes until you find the root by ear, or look up the key of the song and place the scale box on that root. Knowing the blues scale is like knowing the alphabet, and life is a lot better when you can spell! This scale gets used with specific licks and phrases that define the blues sound, and having a teacher to help you see the connection between the scale and the music can be very helpful. If you would like to find someone to help you take your blues skills a step further, look for a guitar teacher at TakeLessons. A local or online teacher will help you stay motivated as you progress, and give you more fun ways to practice all you’ve learned! Post Author: Jonathan B. Jonathan B. teaches blues guitar, bass, and more in State College, PA. Jonathan is a Temple University, Music Theory graduate and YouTube celebrity with thousands of subscribers.  Learn more about Jonathan here! Need Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

What is a Rectangular Prism

What is a Rectangular Prism What is a Rectangular Prism? In geometry, a rectangular prism is a solid object which has identical bases with flat faces, and same cross-section throughout its length. A rectangular prism is a solid box-shaped 3-dimensional object whose faces are all rectangles. A rectangular prism has a total 6 flat faces and all angles are at right angles as shown in the figure below. A rectangular prism consists of 2 rectangular bases and 4 rectangular sides. The bases are congruent and parallel to each other. Since every prism is a polyhedron (solid with flat faces), hence it does not consist of any curved sides. The same is applied to a rectangular prism and hence it is also a polyhedron with no curved sides. A rectangular prism has 8 vertices, 6 faces and 12 edges as shown in the figure below. We can find plenty of examples of rectangular prisms in the world, including the very room we are sitting in. Some of the examples are skyscraper buildings, a room, a box etc. Diagonal of a Rectangular Prism: The diagonal of a rectangular prism is the line drawn to connect the opposite vertices. Finding the diagonal length is very useful in various calculations. We can calculate the diagonal of a rectangular prism if we know the measurements of the prisms length, width and the height. Let the length be = l, width = w, and height = h. Then the diagonal of a rectangular prism, d = (l2 + w2 + h2). Example: How much is the diagonal length of a rectangular prism whose length is 7m, width is 4m and height is 3m? Given that length l = 7m, width w = 4m and height, h = 3m. Diagonal of a rectangular prism, d = (l2 + w2 + h2). Hence applying the above formula, we get: d = (72 + 42 + 32). This gives us d = (49 + 16 + 9) = 74. Now, 74 can be approximated to its decimal value as 8.6m. Hence 8.6m is the diagonal length of the given rectangular prism! Lateral Area of a Rectangular Prism: Lateral Area of a rectangular prism is the area of the faces of the prism, excluding its bases. This implies that we actually consider the area of only 4 faces of the prism and do not calculate the area of the 2 bases of the prism. This only gives us the lateral area of the rectangular prism. We can find the lateral area of the rectangular prism using the formula as shown below: Lateral Area of a Rectangular Prism = Perimeter of the Base * Height L = P * h Since we are finding lateral area of a rectangular prism, hence the perimeter of the base is nothing but the perimeter of the base rectangle. We know that the perimeter of a rectangle is the sum of all its sides. This gives us that the Perimeter of a rectangle, P = 2l + 2w (where l = length and w = width) of the rectangular prism. Hence the Lateral Area of a Rectangular prism can now also be written as: Lateral Area of a Rectangular Prism = Perimeter of the Base * Height L = P * h L = (2l + 2w) * h Or L = 2lh + 2wh (l = length, w = width, h = height) Example: Calculate the lateral area of a rectangular prism if given that the length is 7m, width is 4m, and height is 3m. Given that length l = 7m, width w = 4m and height, h = 3m. Lateral area of the rectangular prism, L = Perimeter of the base * Height L = 2lh + 2wh == L = (2* 7* 3) + (2* 4 * 3) == L = 42 + 24 = 66 Hence, the Lateral Area, L = 22m * 3m = 66m2 or 66 square meters. Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism: Surface area of a rectangular prism is the surface area of all the faces of the prism. Since surface area includes the area of all the 6 faces of the prism, hence this is also known as the Total Surface Area of a rectangular prism. In order to calculate the surface area of a rectangular prism, we use the formula as shown below: Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism = Lateral Area + (2 * Area of the Base) S = L + (2 * B) Since the Lateral area is 2lh + 2wh, we can plug-in its formula in the place of L. Now, the area of the base is nothing but the area of the base rectangle. Area of a rectangle = length * width. Therefore, the area of the base, B = l * w Hence the Surface Area of a Rectangular prism can now also be written as: Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism = Lateral Area + (2 * Area of the Base) S = L + (2 * B) (Since L = 2lh + 2wh and B = l*w) S = 2lh + 2wh + 2lw (l = length, w = width, h = height) Example: Calculate the surface area of a rectangular prism if given that the length is 6m, width is 3m and height is 5m. Given that length l = 6m, width w = 3m and height, h = 5m. Surface Area of the rectangular prism, S = 2lh + 2wh + 2lw Hence, S = (2* 6* 5) + (2* 3* 5) + (2 * 6 * 3) == S = 60 + 30 + 36 = 126m2 Volume of a rectangular prism: Volume of a rectangular prism can be defined as the space available inside the prism. To understand this, we can take an example of a room. The space available within the room tells us about its volume. Similarly the space available within a rectangular prism gives us its volume. In order to find the Volume of a rectangular prism, we can use the below formula: Given the length = l, width = w and height = h Volume of a rectangular prism, V = length * width * height V = l * w * h Example: Calculate the volume of a rectangular prism if given that the length is 6m, width is 3m and height is 5m. Given that length l = 6m, width w = 3m and height, h = 5m. Volume of the rectangular prism, V = l * w * h Hence, Volume, V = 6m * 3m * 5m = 90m2 A rectangular prism, also known as a cuboid is a prism consisting of rectangles as its surfaces. It is a 3-dimensional geometric shape just like any other prism, since it consists of length, width and height. A rectangular prism has its bases as rectangles and hence its name. The total surface area of a rectangular prism is the sum of the areas of all the surfaces and the volume of a rectangular prism is the measure of space contained inside the prism. Example 1: Calculate the volume of the rectangular prism whose length is 4m, width is 1.5m and height is 3m. Given the length of the rectangular prim, l = 4m Width of the rectangular prism, w = 1.5m Height of the rectangular prism, h = 3m Volume of a rectangular prism, V = (length) * (width) * (height) Hence, volume of the rectangular prism, V = 4m * 1.5m * 3m = 18m3 Therefore, the volume of the given rectangular prism = 18m3 Example 2: Calculate the surface area of a rectangular prism given its length as 4m, width as 1.5m and height as 3m. Given the length of the rectangular prim, l= 4m Width of the rectangular prism, w= 1.5m Height of the rectangular prism, h= 3m Total Surface area of the rectangular prism, A = 2lw + 2lh + 2wh Hence Area, A = (2* 4* 1.5) + (2* 4* 3) + (2* 1.5* 3) Area, A= 12+ 24+ 9= 45 Hence, Surface area of the rectangular prism, A = 45m2

The positive impact of online tutoring on personality

The positive impact of online tutoring on personality 0SHARESShare Most group activities involve speed, accuracy and observation as key factors for victory.   Whether it’s a sports activity, dancing, music, or any other form of recreation, a child can excel if he wishes.   A child needs to be taught that whether you come first or second, as long as you do better than you did last time, you have won.       Online tutoring, through its teaching methodology automatically helps the child develop and hone these essential talents through the usual sessions.   And success leads to greater self esteem. A child wants to learn things that would make him or her more presentable.   Tutors give a feedback not only on the subjects being taught, but also on the likes and dislikes of the child.   The student’s general attitude towards neatness and the aesthetic sense can be gauged during online tutoring sessions.   For example, if the child is inherently untidy, an outdoor game like football, rugby, etc would be best because the game is of importance here, not the cleanliness during play.   The child does not have to worry about strict rules on tidy habits or a dress code.   Whereas learning art, drawing, literature, poetry, etc is best for a child who is fussy about cleanliness.   Either way there is no room for criticism. People skills are also taught in a subtle manner through online tutoring sessions while teaching a subject itself without requiring separate time.   This is taught through essays, fables, stories and other forms of online reading materials.   As the child’s skills develop, meeting new people, mingling with peers and planning new activities with others are not daunting anymore.   This has a direct impact on the overall health of the child.   Outdoor sports, dancing, yoga, swimming, jogging, walking, cycling etc. are all activities that will achieve that desired goal.   Laughter, togetherness, sharing, helping, caring, listening, etc are skills that a child learns as a matter of course in life’s day to day interaction with others. [starbox id=admin]

The Different Types of Cooking Classes

The Different Types of Cooking Classes Learn to Cook like a Professional Chef ChaptersCooking Lessons from Famous ChefsLearn to Cook like a Professional ChefLearning to Cook for VegetariansBaking and Pastry Classes for those with a Sweet ToothTake Your Taste Buds on a World TourThe Advantages of Learning to Cook with Private TutorsThere are plenty of ways to learn to cook.  Whether you want to cook lamb, scallops, or something vegetarian, you can easily learn how to.There are plenty of specialised cooking classes for those wanting to learn to bake or learn a particular international style of cooking.  Gluten-free cooking is also becoming increasingly popular.Whether you're a bit of a nightmare in the kitchen or just need to refine your cooking techniques, there are plenty of interesting options available to you.Since you can find almost any type of cooking class, you just have to choose which one you want to attend. GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tuto rs HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCooking Lessons from Famous ChefsWhat's better than attending a cooking school run by a famous chef where you can learn how to prepare their signature dishes?You can get lessons that are taught (or at least endorsed) by a celebrity chef. (Source: spinheike)A number of famous chefs have their own cooking schools and cooking lessons. Of course, these lessons are rarely taught by the chefs themselves (they have restaurants and TV shows keeping them busy). However, you will get a demonstration on preparing the recipes from an experienced culinary instructor or chef.A lot of these lessons are offered as experience days offered by companies such as Virgin Experience Days and Red Letter Days. Of course, this means that these courses are better as an enjoyable hands on gourmet experience than attending a culinary school and taking a course in the art of cookery.  That's not to say that they wouldn't make a great gift for someone who likes cooking homemade food from scratch and could do with a little more help than their cookbook can offer them.If you run an office, these kinds of experiences can also make for entertaining team building days out.Learn to Cook like a Professional ChefLooking for one of the best cooking courses in the country?If you're beyond basic cooking and are looking at a career in cooking, there are culinary schools, universities, and colleges around the country offering chef training. Here are some of the best options for those that aspire to be the very best when it comes to cooking, catering, or managing restaurants.Le Cordon Bleu LondonThis is a culinary arts, wine and management school that was founded in 1931 and focuses on French cooking techniques. Cuisine, pâtisserie, boulangerie, and gastronomy and nutrition are the main specialisations taught.The longer courses (such as the Grand Diplôme) run for an academic year (9 months) and cost upwards of £30,000. On this course, you can learn all about the art of cooking, specialist techniques, and the cooking methods used by the world's best chefs. You'll be expected to handle seafood, veal (amongst other meats), and alcohol. Unfortunately, if you have allergies or dietary requirements, this mightn't be the course for you.Le Cordon Bleu also offers courses on various techniques, summer cooking courses, wine tasting, and cake decorating. These courses are between two hours and three weeks longs. These options are better for those who want to get better at preparing pastry and baking or gain some fundamental knife skills (in the kitc hen, of course!).Find other cooking classes London here on Superprof, or search 'cooking classes near me'.Royal Academy of Culinary ArtsSince 1980, the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts promotes best practises, better culinary knowledge, and quality ingredients. The only course they offer themselves is a Master's degree in Culinary Arts. This is a highly selective course and only for those with at least 10 years of experience as a chef, pastry chef, or in restaurant management and service. Three of these years need to be at a senior level!There are also apprenticeships offered by the academy.  This is the option for very serious chefs.Tante Marie Culinary AcademyYou can find this culinary school in Woking (20 minutes from central London). The Cordon Bleu Diploma is the best qualification they offer and they've been teaching students how to prepare the finest cuisine since the programme sarted in 1954. This course will cost you between £17,950 and £21,850.If you're looking for somethi ng less serious and just want someone to teach you how to make a tasty homemade dish, there are also cooking classes with professional chefs where you can you improve your cooking skills.  There are also lessons for kids and teens learning how to cook.University of West LondonThe University of West London offers a variety of different culinary degrees and diplomas such as the BSc (Hons) in Culinary Arts Management, MA in Food Business Management, Diploma in Chefs Apprenticeship, and Certificate in General Patisserie and Confectionary.While this university offers a broader range of levels for those wanting to cook professionally, there aren't many options for amateur chefs. Those who just want to improve their cooking with a hands on demonstration (like a cooking class) should consider other options.Westminster Kingsway CollegeThis is the college Jamie Oliver attended to get his NVQ and Professional Chef Diploma. Selin Kiazim, Antony Worrall Thompson, Sophie Wright, and Ainsley Harri ott also attended this college.Their Professional Chef Diploma is the UK's first professional cooking qualification. There are three main options for students to focus on when they reach their third year of study: cuisine, patisserie and confectionary, or restaurant management.In addition to the focused pathways available in the third year, students get instruction in butchery and fishmongery, practical cuisine, pâtisserie and bakery, health, safety, and food hygiene, etc.While all of these options are in and around London, you can learn to cook no matter where you live. GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!D iscover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLearning to Cook for VegetariansVegetarianism is becoming increasingly popular and this can be seen in terms of the cooking classes available.So how can you cook without using meat?There are plenty of chefs using vegetables, grains, soy, and wheat gluten to make delicious recipes.If you have dietary requirements or are a vegetarian, private tutorials are a great option for you. (Source: explorerbob)You can find plenty of vegetarian recipes on cooking blogs and animal rights websites.  This type of cooking sites are often also useful for those looking for new flavours or those with dietary requirements.  Even if you're not a vegetarian, you'll soon see that vegetarian cooking can be really tasty.Baking and Pastry Classes for those with a Sweet ToothWhether you want something to do on rainy days or impress your guests on special occasions, learning to bake is a great idea and is really popular amongst home cooks at the moment (you can thank The Great British Bake Off for the resurgence).While there are plenty of recipes, it can be difficult for amateur bakers to learn certain techniques online. This often results in burnt butter, poorly whipped egg whites and hard chocolate fondants.In a baking or pastry class, you could learn to make wonderful macarons. (Source: pixel2013)On Superprof, you can also learn how to make original birthday cakes, Asian pastries, and New York cheesecake with the help of skilled cooking tutors.Take Your Taste Buds on a World TourIn an increasingly globalised world, we have greater access to world cuisine.Do you dream of making Thai food?Would you like to master Italian cuisine?Fancy some Chinese cooking?You can take a cooking class in almost every style of food. Most cooking teachers and tutors focus on a particular style of cooking. In fact, it's probably bette r to opt for a teacher with a focus as you probably don't want a Jack of all trades.There are several options for those who want to learn how to cook foreign food. There are plenty of places where you can learn how to cook.Whether you want to cook Italian food, Thai food, Chinese food, or any other type of food, you’ll be able to find a specialist offering classes. Of course, the bigger your city, the more options you’ll tend to have.If you want to make a lentil curry or chicken tandoori, then you should probably look for a tutor specialising in Indian cuisine. It's even better if you can find a chef or tutor who's originally from India if you want authentic tuition.Whether you love sweet or savoury dishes, traditional or modern, you’re bound to find a cooking class that whets your appetite.The Advantages of Learning to Cook with Private TutorsWhen you learn with a private tutor, they can adapt every session to your needs. Before you start working with your tutor, sit down wit h them and talk about what you want to get out of your tutorials. Good tutors will put together a learning plan that focuses on you.Additionally, if you have any dietary requirements, allergies, or are vegetarian or vegan, a tutor can make sure that the recipes you're making meet your needs.Tutors are also flexible. If you lead a busy life, a tutor can work around your schedule.Find out all about the history of cooking.Which are the most prestigious cooking classes in UK?Here are the top 10 cooking classes around the world.

Tips For Reciting Poetry

Tips For Reciting Poetry Improving Poetry Performance And Recital ChaptersHow To Read A PoemReciting A PoemPerformance PoetryThere’s no way around it â€" poetry exercises can be tough to master. Whether you’re reading a poem to yourself or preparing to recite a poem in front of an audience, understanding a poem takes dedication, a wide knowledge of poetic devices, and an appreciation for imagery, rhythm, and sometimes rhymes.Below are some tips to help improve your poetry reading and speaking skills, although the list is by no means comprehensive. If you’re ever in search of more tips and tricks, why not reach out to a Superprof poetry tutor today to see how they can help you?There are a few tips that coming in handy when learning how to read poetry. (Image: CC0 1.0, George Hodan, Public Domain Pictures)What kind of poem is it? This may help identify what the poem's ultimate meaning could be (for example, sonnets are often about love); andWhere is the punctuation in the poem? Identifying where full-stops are can give an indication of how the poem should flow, and where different ideas are grouped within the work.Once you’ve completed the above, then dive in and read through the poem. Don’t be put off if you struggle with the poem on your first reading â€" reading poetry is a skill that needs to be developed, and not all poems have a clear meaning that is easy to decipher. On a first read, the most important thing is to familiarise yourself with the work, try to get a sense of the poem’s meaning if possible, and get a feel of how the poem flows.After your initial reading, keep going back through the poem and try to unlock the poem’s secrets gradually. Consider the poetic devices that have been used and what meaning and imagery they help to convey.Also think about the voice of the poem, and who the poem may have been written for, as this may give some further indication of the poem’s meaning. Context is also important in poetry â€" was the poem written at a particular point during the poet’s life, perhaps duri ng a time of great happiness or struggle? Or was a significant world event taking place at the time the poem was written?Finally, make sure to read the poem aloud â€" even if you only speak quietly to yourself at first. A poem’s true impact is often revealed when spoken, and it’s great practice for when the time comes to recite poetry in front of an audience.Confidence is key when reciting a poem. (Image: CC0 1.0, geralt, Pixabay)Reciting A PoemReciting a poem in front of an audience can seem like a daunting task â€" all eyes are on you to bring a poem to life, and understandably, you can feel a lot of pressure to put on a good performance.However, there are a few techniques you can employ to make sure you get the most out of your performance.Remember to breathe!It sounds like obvious advice, but having your breathing under control can really make a difference when reciting poetry. Often, in any form of public speaking, people are nervous and so speak faster than they usually do . This, understandably, doesn’t make for a good poetry recital, as you want people to hear you enunciate and convey the meaning of the poem’s words, as they were meant to be spoken aloud.Just try and take your time when reciting, and make sure to put emphasis on any natural brakes in the poem â€" for example, when a full stop appears.Be confidentAnother key pointer for any public speaking event is to project confidence while you’re speaking. Having good posture, minimal fidgeting, and speaking clearly and loudly enough for the room to hear you are all great ways to help engage the audience and leave them wanting to hear what you have to say.Know your poem inside outYour job during a recital is to project the essence of the poem to your audience. To do this, you’ll need to know your poem word for word, and ideally, have an indication of how the poet would have liked their work to be performed. Is the poem frantic, desperate, urgent, or calm, paced, and quiet? By reading and u nderstanding your poem, you’ll have a better chance of conveying its true meaning to the audience.Learn more by joining poetry courses London.Other useful tips for poetry recital include:If possible, find a poem that speaks to you. Having a poem you’re interested in will give you extra motivation to do the poem justice during a recital, whether that poem is by Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Wallace Stevens, Sylvia Plath, or another poet;Try to avoid speaking in a monotone way during your recital; andTry to minimise excessive gestures â€" the audience usually wants to hear your words, not actions.Crucially, remember that reciting poetry can be a daunting experience, but with practice and experience, it should get easier. Every poem is different as well, which means that every recital will take on its own characteristics. This makes poetry recital a really interesting art form and one that many enjoy.If you’d like to get any more tips on how to improve your poetry recitals, how to publish your poetry or want further advice about how best to read and interpret poems, you can also look at hiring an English tutor with a poetry background. Superprof, for example, has a range of tutors with experience in poetry tuition that would be happy to hear a run-through of an upcoming recital and provide feedback, or provide suggestions of which poems you might enjoy studying.Superprof tutors offer a range of tuition formats, from online poetry course  to a one to one session or group workshops, so it’s a case of searching for a tutor that’s right for you.Performance poetry is becoming more and more popular. (Image: CC0 1.0, Modman, Pixabay)Performance PoetryPerformance, also known as spoken word, poetry has, in one form or another, been around for hundreds of years, but recently it has seen a resurgence in popularity.Unlike traditional poetry recitals, where the speaker recites words of a written poetic work, performance poetry focuses on the spoken word and the art of performance.In this way, it harks back to the initial roots of poetry, where poets would rely on the spoken word to tell tales that could then be shared with others and passed down through word of mouth.If you’re looking at getting into performance poetry, or want to hone your craft, then there are plenty of avenues where you can get experience, including an increasing number of open mic nights that cater to performance poetry. Below are also some tips on how to get the most out of your performance.Try and be as authentic as you can be â€" performance poetry often, but not always, features an element of social or political critique. Whatever subject your poem is about, make sure it is one that speaks to you â€" your performance will be all the better for it;Keep an eye on the clock â€" it’s likely that your most effective pieces will be your shorter ones. Although no-one is suggesting you confine your works to thirty seconds, having a piece that’s under five minutes should give you enough time to perform effectively, while still retaining the interest of your audience; andThink about your performance â€" performance poetry, by its nature, has an element of drama in it. Although you shouldn’t try to turn your piece into a short dramatic sketch, think about the ways you could move or interact with the stage to bring your poem to life.Look up for great poetry courses on our platform.Of course, there are other tips out there that can help improve your performance. For example, watching other performance or slam poets is a great way to see how others practice their craft and could give you some inspiration for your next work.If you’d like to find out more about performance poetry, or poetry in general, then you can also speak to a Superprof tutor today to learn more about common poetic techniques and devices that help poems to shine. If you type in your postcode and the subject you’d like to learn more about, Superprof can match you with a range of tutors in your local area, as well as tutors that are happy to offer remote tutoring.

Conference call English vocabulary - Business English Common Phrases

Conference call English vocabulary - Business English Common Phrases Hi English Learning Students! I continue writing about business telephone conversation in English. Today lets look at conference call English vocabulary, specifically at common English phrases and words you might find useful when attending a conference call business meeting in English over the phone. Enjoyed this infographic? Here's what you can do next: How to Start a Conference Call The chairperson will usually start (kick off) the meeting with the following common expressions used in business English conversation:I would like to welcome everybody  here today.Thanks for attending.Could you all when speaking state your name clearly?Please indicate (say) which office/department you represent so that the minutes are recorded properly. How to Ask for Clarification in a Conference Call Hearing somebody and understanding them are two entirely different issues.You might hear them clearly but not understand what they are talking about or because of noise and connection issues you might simply not hear all of the points they are making.Here are some common English phrases you can use for clarification during your conference call:Could you speak more slowly please?Could you repeat that again or could you repeat that last bit please?Could you speak up please (a little louder)?Could you explain that again? Or Could you explain that in layman’s terms (non technicallanguage)?I didn’t get that I am sorry could you say it again? How to Interrupt a Formal Conference Call It is OK to interrupt a formal telephone conversation in English if you wish to ask a question. You can interrupt by using any of the following phrases:Sorry, would you mind if I asked a question?Just to clarify are you saying thatCould I interrupt you for a minute?Would you mind if I jumped in there please?Can I stop you for just one minute please?As you can see these are all usually polite statements so should not upset any one. However, sometimes in a heated (angry) exchange (discussion) the politeness may disappear. Useful Phrases - Conference Call English Vocabulary At some point in the call it may be your turn to make a presentation. Assuming you are well  prepared it should not be a problem.  However, if English is not your native tongue (language) then a  short clear presentation will help.Introduce yourself and tell them which department you represent.Start by telling them what are the key points you wish to coverAsk them to kindly hold questions until you are finished and that you will happily answer anyquestions then.Some useful English phrases to use in a business telephone conversation:I won’t keep you longI will keep this brief (short)Well, that is all I wanted to sayThat covers everything I had to sayNow, are there any questions?I am glad you asked thatThat is a really good questionLet me get back to you on that (I will give you a better answer later)Can you leave it with me? Ill find out and let you know.I think you might have misunderstood mePlease allow me to clarify it once more.When the conference call ends the chairperson will usually clarify some points and advise that minutes of the business meeting will be circulated later.  Action points will be identified and persons responsible to follow up will be notified.  The next meeting will take place: time and date to be agreed. Conference Call English Vocabulary

Use The Summer Wisely Build Academic Skills With These Simple Ideas

Use The Summer Wisely Build Academic Skills With These Simple Ideas Use Summer Vacation to Boost Your Child's Academic Skills! The upcoming school year is just around the corner and it isn't too late to discover ways that academic summer programs can help your child. The lazy days of summer are a perfect time for you to reflect on the past school year, your child's performance and behavior, and ways that you can help reduce frustration with both school and homework. If you believe that your child is struggling and needs help with academic skills there are certain questions you may be asking yourself, such as: What do teachers think of my child's schoolperformance? Perhaps teachers have told youthat your child is a class clown, a day dreamer, or acts out when theacademic material becomes too difficult. You may have had conversationswith teachers about retention, a study team evaluation, or additionalacademic interventions. Are there observable signs of struggle when my child iscompleting homework? Ifcompleting homework is an ongoing struggle for your child you may belocked in a constant cycle of frustration or refusal. Your child may beindicating the homework is too hard if it takes too long, completion is abattle, or there is constant refusal or avoidance. Does my child's schoolwork seem too hard? You may have noticed that your child isn't able to readthe textbook and classroom materials, gives up easily, receives gradesthat don't reflect effort, is disorganized and lacks strong studyhabits, or seems to struggle with time management. Each of these isan indicator that the academic content is too difficult. What impact are the academic struggles having on mychild's behavior? Whena child is struggling academically the frustration and lack ofunderstanding often manifests itself in behavior issues. If your child isangry, withdrawn, unruly, or disrespectful these may be signs that theacademic work is simply too difficult and frustration has set in. If you are concerned about your child the professionals at Huntington Learning Centers are available to help. We are committed to creating academic summer programs that help struggling learners better prepare for future learning. Don't let the next couple of months slip by when your child could be working side by side with a professional tutor who is committed to helping meet your child's needs.Our approach is unique and completely child-centered. We will work with you to boost academic skills and better prepare your child for the upcoming school year. Academic Evaluation Westart by determining your child's specific needs. We use a variety ofassessments based on your child's age, developmental ability, and yourspecific concerns. Your child's behavior and response to the assessmentsare also observed and measured. Data analysis Theresults from the academic evaluation are analyzed and your child'sstrengths and weaknesses are identified. These assessment results form thebaseline for your child's ongoing growth. Parent conference Oncewe have determined your child's areas of strength and weakness we meetwith you to fully develop a tutoring plan. This conference is focused onour observations, conclusions, and recommendations and the ways thatHuntington Learning Centers can help. It is an opportunity for you tolearn more about your child and to ask questions about how our tutoringapproach will help reduce frustration, increase academic understanding,and better prepare your child for future learning. Personalizedtutoring sessions Once the parent conference is complete and your child's specific learning plan is created, the real work begins. The tutoring sessions are focused on your child's specific needs and utilize instructional methods that arecentered on your child's areas of identified growth. Ongoing feedback Wepride ourselves on maintaining close contact with parents and work to keepyou updated and informed. Results from ongoing assessments, observationsfrom tutoring sessions, and changes to the learning plan are communicatedto you in a timely fashion. We will make sure you understand your child'ssuccesses and the areas of ongoing need. School communication Withyour permission we will be in contact with your child's school once thefall term begins. Our tutors will share information with your child'steachers and will shape tutoring sessions to meet the school's academiccurriculum. Are you concerned about your child's academic abilities? What difference could academic summer programs make in your child's learning?

The Ultimate Guide to Learning Slavic Languages Tips, Tricks and Important Stats

The Ultimate Guide to Learning Slavic Languages Tips, Tricks and Important Stats The Ultimate Guide to Learning Slavic Languages: Tips, Tricks and Important Stats Countries across Central and Eastern Europe have a lot in common.And were not just talking about an overwhelming fondness for pickled and fermented foods.In fact, the Slavic language unites countries across the region under a banner of beautiful and unique sounds.There are many  languages spoken in Europe, but chances are that when you think about learning Slavic languages, you first consider  learning Russian  because its one of the most common languages.And thats great! Well talk more about Russian in this post. But  there are many more options than you might realizeâ€"including opportunities to double up on some interesting related languages.There are many  advantages of learning a foreign language, and its important  consider which language to learn. Well get you started in your Slavic studies.  Heres everything you need to know to find out which Slavic language interests you most and start learning your Slavic language of choice! History of the Slavic LanguagesSlavic languages are a group of related languages that emerged among the Slavs, an ethnic group whose origins are little known.According to Ancient History Encyclopedia, the first noted records of the Slavs appeared in the sixth century. However, the group itself likely had far older origins.The Slavic language is thought to stem from Proto-Slavic, which itself stems from Proto-Indo-European.According to The Origins of the Slavs: A Linguists View,  the initial split from Proto-Indo-European occurred around 3000 BC. From that point, Indo-European languages continued to evolve into separate distinct languages, including Proto-Slavic, the root language of all Slavic languages spoken today.The Indo-European family is huge, so Slavic languages have a lot of brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and even a few uncles whove been pushed to the edge of the family tree for their wild antics.Other branches of the Indo-European language family include Celtic, Germanic, Romance, Baltic and Indo-Iranian languages. T o give you a sense of how big this family is, those branches include everything from Bengali to Persian to Greek to English to Swedish.While the Slavic languages are quite different from their relatives in many ways, this interconnectedness does make for some convenient learning shortcuts, as well explore more specifically later in this post.Where Slavic Speakers AreEncyclopedia Britannica reports that there are an estimated 315 million speakers of Slavic languages.Slavic languages are spoken in Central Europe, the Balkans, most of Eastern Europe and large chunks of Northern Asia. There are also pockets of speakers of Slavic languages distributed in communities around the world.Resources for Learning Slavic LanguagesBefore we explore the ins and outs of some exciting and popular Slavic languages, lets get familiar with the diverse resources you can use for focused study.Transparent LanguageSlavic languages offered:  Belarusian, Bulgarian, Czech, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Slovak a nd Ukrainian. It also offers Serbo-Croatian as several separate languages: Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.Transparent Language offers language learning software to take your Slavic skills to the next level.Since Transparent Language offers a flexible learning path, its adaptable to beginning or experienced students. You can follow Transparent Languages designed learning path or start where you like.The wide array of activities offered in Transparent Languages programs helps you build speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Transparent Language even uses voice-enabled technology to help you perfect your pronunciation.FluentUSlavic languages offered: Russian.Later in this post youll notice a theme among Slavic languages: grammar pitfalls, unfamiliar alphabets, tricky pronunciationsOne of the fastest, most effective ways to minimize those difficulties is to dive head-first into the language. By surrounding yourself with the sounds of native speakers, youll naturally start to un derstand the mechanics of the language without painful memorization drills.FluentU is designed to make this type of immersive learning experience both entertaining and effective. Youll get real-world Russian videos (like movie trailers, music videos, inspiring talks and more).With FluentU, youll learn real Russianâ€"the same way that real people speak it. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps t rack of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Since the videos are organized by level, youll always have something fun but productive to watch.MYLANGUAGESSlavic languages offered: Belarusian, Bulgarian, Czech, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Slovene and Ukrainian. It also offers Serbo-Croatian as Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin and Serbian.Since MYLANGUAGES is free, its a great choice for anyone looking to dabble in learning a new Slavic language.For a free resource, the options are remarkable. Lessons are available to teach you all the basics of the language, including the alphabet, grammar rules and key vocabulary. There are also additional resources, like reading excerpts, dictionaries and language learning games.Since MYLANGUAGES does not offer audio pronunciation of vocabulary, however, you might want to pair it with additional resources to optimize your learning.Learn101Slavic la nguages offered:  Belarusian, Bulgarian, Czech, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Slovene and Ukrainian. It also offers Serbo-Croatian as well as Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.Learn101 is another free option with everything a beginning student could hope for.Learn101 offers alphabet lessons, basic grammar lessons, common vocabulary/phrases and even a test to check your learning. Plus, vocabulary lists also feature audio to help you nail down your listening and pronunciation.ilanguagesSlavic languages offered:  Belarusian, Bulgarian, Czech, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Slovene and Ukrainian. It also offers Serbo-Croatian as Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.Since you can never have too many free learning resources, heres another one!If youre looking for basic grammar lessons, vocabulary and common phrases, ilanguages has your back. Plus, these lessons also contain audio.Flashcards are available to help reinforce your learning, and ilanguages offers a quiz to see how much youve learned. Another unique feature of ilanguages is that it has a special section that focuses on the most common words.Live LinguaSlavic languages offered:  Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Polish, Russian (four different categories based on region) and Ukrainian. It also offers Serbo-Croatian and Serbian.While Live Lingua might be most known for its Skype lessons, it also offers a ton of free learning materials.What precisely is available varies by language, but common offerings include structured language courses, often containing both an e-book and audio.Most of these courses target beginning-level students, teaching the alphabet, fundamental grammar rules and basic vocabulary.The Ultimate Guide to Learning Slavic Languages: Tips, Tricks and Important StatsThe following list contains the most common Slavic languages alive today. This list is broken down into increasingly narrow family groups.Its important to note that the narrower the family group, the more similar the languages will be. In many cases, languages that are closely related may even be mutually intelligible, meaning speakers of one language can understand the other to some degree.For instance, Macedonian and Bulgarian are both members of the Eastern group of the South Slavic branch, so theyre closely related. Since Serbo-Croatian and Slovene are in the Western group of the same South Slavic branch, theyre slightly more distantly related. Still more distantly related would be Russian, since its from a completely different branch of the Slavic language.So why does all this matter? For language learners, its important to consider because it can help you learn multiple languages simultaneously.  Pairing similar languages  is a convenient way to learn more than one at once, and the more similar the languages are, the easier itll be to learn them simultaneously.Here are some common Slavic languages you might consider learning.West Slavic LanguagesAs the name would suggest, the West Slavic language f amily contains some of the westernmost Slavic languages.Lechitic FamilyPolish:While Polish isnt the only member of the Lechitic group, its certainly the most well known. Ethnologue estimates that there are over 37 million speakers of Polish within Poland and over 3 million more speakers spread across the world.Language learners might be especially interested in Polish because its one of the most widely spoken Slavic languages, but it still uses the Latin alphabet. That means its  a little less daunting for English speakers than other popular Slavic languages like Russian and Ukrainian, which require learning a whole new alphabet.There are, however, still many tricky aspects of the Polish language, including challenging pronunciations and a case system. But if youre already looking to learn a Slavic language, these things probably do not intimidate you!Czech-Slovak FamilyCzech:According the Ethnologue, Czech is spoken by over 10 million people in the Czech Republic and nearly 3 milli on more around the world.Czech is a popular choice with language learners because it uses the Latin alphabet and the Czech Republic is particularly popular with tourists. But, like other Slavic languages, if youre not careful, you could fall victim to tricky pronunciations and the dreaded case system.While Czech and Slovak vary in a number of ways, they do have enough mutual intelligibility to allow you to understand a fair amount of one by learning the other. Learning the two languages simultaneously should also be convenient.Slovak:According to Ethnologue, Slovak is spoken by over 4.7 million people in Slovakia and more than 2 million more people around the world.While it does have a case system and some tricky pronunciations, language learners will appreciate that Slovak uses the Latin alphabet and is so closely related to Czech.South Slavic LanguagesSouth Slavic languages are grouped in the southeastern corner of Europe, primarily in the Balkans.Western FamilySlovene:According t o Ethnologue, Slovene is spoken by over 1.9 million people in Slovenia and nearly 200,000 more around the world.Also called Slovenian, Slovene is one of the newer Slavic languages, having been formed in the 1700s from a range of dialect groups. Its still one of the most diverse Slavic languages, with a wide array of different dialects.While theyre technically related, Slovene is not particularly mutually intelligible with Serbo-Croatian (covered below), except for a few dialects along the Slovenian border. Theres also some similarity between Slovene and West Slavic languages, though again, there isnt a lot of mutual intelligibility.Slovene uses the case system, has some difficult pronunciations and features some other tricky grammar rules.For instance, while most European languages have singular and plural nouns, Slovene also features dual grammatical number to express when there are two of something. Additionally, the Huffington Post notes that the huge array of dialects can make i t difficult for speakers of Slovene to understand one another.For language learners, though, Slovene still has its appeal. It uses the Latin alphabet and the languages uniqueness sets it apart.Serbo-Croatian:Serbo-Croatian (sometimes abbreviated BCS) is a macro-language made up of Serbian, Montenegrin, Croatian and Bosnian, though Serbian and Montenegrin are often grouped together. While there are a few minor differences, these similar languages are mutually intelligible and the division between them is largely political.According to Ethnologue, Serbo-Croatian is spoken by over 15 million people. Bosnian is spoken by over 1.1 million people in Bosnia and nearly 400,000 more around the world. Croatian is spoken by about 4.2 million people in Croatia and about 2.3 million more around the world. Serbian/Montenegrin is spoken by about 6.3 million people in Serbia and Montenegro and another 2.1 million around the world.Montenegro split from Serbia  in the 2000s, so this language is still developing standards.One of the most notable differences between these languages is alphabet use. Serbian uses both the Cyrillic and Latin alphabets. Bosnian technically uses both alphabets, but it mostly uses the Latin alphabet. Croatian uses the Latin alphabet. As the Montenegrin language develops, theres a preference for the Latin alphabet.Language learners might face standard Slavic language challenges here, like the case system. However, language learners also benefit from being able to choose whether they prefer to use the Latin or Cyrillic alphabet. Its very rare to be able to have options like this when learning a language!Additionally, the region is popular with tourists, so some students might want to learn Serbo-Croatian to prepare for travels.Eastern FamilyMacedonian:According to Ethnologue, Macedonian is spoken by over 1.3 million people in Macedonia and over 2 million more around the world.Macedonian and Bulgarian (covered below) are mutually intelligible. In fact, Ma cedonian has so much in common with Bulgarian that some Bulgarians actually consider it a dialect rather than a distinct language.Macedonian has some of the same difficult pronunciations and uses Cyrillic; these aspects might challenge learners. However, unlike most other Slavic languages, Macedonian does not use a case system or infinitive forms of verbs, making it uniquely appealing to language learners.Bulgarian:According to Ethnologue, there are over 7 million Bulgarian speakers in Bulgaria and 1 million more around the world.Anyone wanting to learn Bulgarian will face some challenges, such as the use of the old Proto-Slavic verb system, in which verbs can also express whether theres evidence. For instance, certain conjugations can indicate if something is unlikely or being retold.While the verb conjugations are expressive, they can also be tricky. Additionally, Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic alphabet.But language learners rejoice! Like Macedonian, Bulgarian does not use a case sys tem or infinitive verbs.East Slavic LanguagesBelarusian:According to Ethnologue, Belarusian is spoken by over 2.2 million people in Belarus and another 300,000 around the world. However, this number may look confusing given that Belarus is home to over 9 million people. So why do so few Belarusians speak Belarusian?Thats because most Belarusians actually speak Russian. In fact, the CIA World Factbook estimates that about 70 percent of the population speaks Russian.Luckily, Belarusian is fairly mutually intelligible with Russian (and Ukrainian, for that matter), so the challenge of communicating in this country is less daunting than it may seem. Its also partially mutually intelligible with Polish.Belarusian uses Cyrillic and its grammar is quite similar to Russian. Due to the overlap between Belarusian, Russian and Ukrainian, language learners might like learning all three together.Ukrainian:Despite historic attempts to suppress the Ukrainian language, Ukrainian remains one of the m ost widely spoken Slavic languages.  Ethnologue estimates that Ukrainian is spoken by 32.6 million people in Ukraine and over 2 million more people around the world.Ukrainian is most mutually intelligible with Belarusian but also has some mutual intelligibility with Russian. Polish has also heavily influenced the Ukrainian language, so theres also some mutual intelligibility between these languages. At the very least, youll notice some overlapping vocabulary.The Ukrainian language uses Cyrillic. Ukrainian learners will face challenges similar to those posed by other Slavic languages: a case system, tricky grammar rules and some difficult pronunciations. However, language learners should still consider learning Ukrainian because its widely spoken and many people consider it exceptionally beautiful.Russian:According to Ethnologue, Russian is spoken by 138 million people in Russia and a total of nearly 268 million people worldwide. Russian is widely spoken throughout North Asia, Centra l Asia and Eastern Europe. In Europe, more people speak Russian as a native language than any other language.Learning Russian isnt without its challenges. After all, it uses the Cyrillic alphabet, employs a case system and features long and often tricky words.However, there are still plenty of reasons to learn Russian.Students flock to the Russian language because its the most widely spoken Slavic language by leaps and bounds. Additionally, anyone interested in literature should consider learning Russian, because Russian literature is some of the most acclaimed in the world.When it comes to Slavic languages, Russian is just the tip of the iceberg! Mix and match your favorite Slavic languages for a fun and well-rounded learning experience.