A Reading Recovery Technique For A Child

A Reading Recovery Technique For A ChildFor a child who has problems with reading, a reading recovery tutor is the best option for getting the right help. Children who have problems with reading have a way of showing the teacher how they feel, in a more clear and understandable manner. Reading recovery techniques are mainly used to improve a child's reading skills.A reading recovery technique that a child uses to overcome their reading problem should be based on a child's personality. The most effective techniques used by a reading recovery tutor are: reading aloud, reading on a screen, reading short stories and comprehension exercises. These techniques should be used after the child has solved the problem.One of the best ways of improving a child's reading is to talk to him or her while they are reading. This will help the child understand what you are saying and will help him or her put things into perspective. It is also important to get the child involved in reading activities.Re ading and writing to help the child learn to read and write well. The second stage of reading recovery for children is taking note of sentences, paragraphs and whole passages and recognizing the structure of a sentence or paragraph. A child who has trouble with reading will only read and remember from a single word or letter.Another technique to improve a child's reading ability is comprehension exercises. Children need to solve problems in order to test themselves, which is why a reading recovery tutor is useful.The skills that reading students develop can be developed by the child by himself or herself. A child may not be able to use the reading concepts he or she has learned by reading aloud, but that does not mean that the child is not able to practice reading.Reading is the best way to improve your child's cognitive abilities. It is important that the child has an active role in learning, which is why a reading tutor is so important. Reading recovery training is one of the best ways to teach a child how to read.

A Day in the Life at Sarah Lawrence College

A Day in the Life at Sarah Lawrence College Joseph earned his bachelors degree in liberal arts from Sarah Lawrence College. He specializes in elementary math tutoring, English tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below he shares his experience at Sarah Lawrence College: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Joseph: The campus of Sarah Lawrence is very suburban; its only about a mile from one end to the other. The small town of Bronxville is a short walk and is very quaint, with lots of family-owned shops. You can even hop on a train and be at Grand Central Station in the heart of New York City within an hour. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Joseph:Teachers and advisers are very available. Most professors have an open-door policy; if theyre in their office, unless theyre with another student, youll be able to talk to them. Most also give out their cell phone numbers if you need to reach them. No teaching assistants were present at SLC, so the professors were very attentive to students. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Joseph:The dorms range from mediocre to fantastic; it all depends on your number in the dorm lottery. Most freshmen get stuck in a lackluster building, but some get lucky. The dining options are very limited, with only one main cafeteria and a pub that served burgers and sandwiches. The cafeteria, while tasty, was far too repetitive in its menu. Socialization was fantastic; I always felt free to be myself. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Joseph:The arts are the most prominent majors featured at Sarah Lawrence. Theater is the biggest department, but there are also a lot of film students and a handful of visual artists. I studied film and comedy. SLC did a great job of supporting my interests. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Joseph:It was very easy to meet people. I met a lot of people at freshman orientation, and settled into my core group of friends about three or four weeks into the school year. There was no Greek Life at SLC. How helpful arethe Career Centerand other student support services? Joseph:Most of the student services were great, but the Career Center wasnt as supportive as I would have liked. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Joseph:The campus had very few study areas, which was troublesome at times. The library was great, but the student union area was often closed and unavailable for study space. There was only one dorm lounge, and it was often crowded. Describe the surrounding town. Joseph:There are a lot of small shops and a handful of restaurants nearby. Students often either went into New York City or stayed on campus. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Joseph:The student body is only about 1,500 students. Classes were kept small, which was amazing. Seminars (which made up about 90 percent of my classes) were capped at 16 students and lectures were capped at 35. My freshman year, a friend of mine took a class where he was the only student who signed up, and they still held it; it was just him and the professor. I loved the small class sizes that the school offered. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Joseph:Sophomore year I took a web series class, where we worked with another class to write and produce a web series. I was in the writing and production class, and there was an acting class that worked with us. One day, we were filming a scene in a tiny basementit was just the two actors, a few film students, and the film professor. It was a great hands-on learning experience and further enhanced how great the learning opportunities were in smaller groups. Check out Josephs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What Are the Different Types of Drums

What Are the Different Types of Drums Do You Know of All These Types of Drums? ChaptersAfrican DrumsDrums in AsiaThe Drums of OceanaEuropean DrummingLatin Percussion and the Caribbean DrumsNo matter where in the world they originate, any musical instrument that gets beat is considered a percussion instrument, but not every percussion instrument is a drum.To put that in perspective: the Latin word percussio means to beat or to strike â€" in a musical sense, not with an implication of violence.That Latin word is the root of the term percussion and it covers anything that is struck to make a sound.Some musical instruments, such as the piano and the dulcimer use hammers to beat the strings, which produce the sounds. Yet they are not considered percussion.In fact, the piano defies standard classification: most accurately, it should be considered as a beaten-string instrument!Other instruments in the percussion section of any orchestra or band, such as chimes and maracas, are agitated rather than struck by the player â€" although one can beat a single maraca into one ’s palm.Rain sticks do not get beat at all; the percussionist simply inverts the stick to generate its sound!In compiling this list of drums, your Superprof considered the overwhelming variety of percussive instruments from around the world and puzzled at how to best present them to you.by their official Hornbostel-Sachs designation?those classifications include idiophones, membranophones, and electrophonesby their basic classification: acoustic, electric, and world?by their region of origin: Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe among them?by their function: orchestra, band, marching, military...?by their configuration/size: standard, fusion, electronic, two-headed, single-headed?By their shape: cylindrical, goblet, hourglass, bowl, box?By how they’re played â€" by hand, with a mallet, with sticks, or by striking them against something?And should we include cymbals in our assessment? They are, after all, essential to a drum kit and make a welcome addition to any orchestra.Besi des, they are some of the oldest musical instruments in the world!One thing we can say for sure: you don’t need us to break down a common drum kit â€" the kick drum, the tom-toms, the snare drum...Let’s go visit the four corners of the world to find all of the traditional, ceremonial and improvisational drums we can!in the bass range.The nankasa is  played with sticks rather than beaten with hands like the other drums and it makes a high-pitched sound. You might think of this drum as the snare’s counterpart â€" minus the snares, of course.The drum most resembling the traditional, ceremonial ngoma is called engalabi. It is taller and more narrow than the other drums in the set. Furthermore, as opposed to the other drums, it has only one head, made of lizard skin and fastened with wooden pegs.All of the other drum heads are made of cowhide on top and bottom. These skins are laced together by means of an intricate weave.The engalabi has the highest pitch of any drums the set may comprise of. As you might have figured, it is a special honour to play this drum!Other African percussion instruments include the marimba and the mbira, both of which must be regularly tuned.Needless to say, drumming is a vital part of Bantu culture. Drum music, often accompanied by ritual dances are used to reinforce social cohesion, aid in healing and help reduce stress and tension.Have you ever heard of a drum circle? Have you ever participated in one?African tribes are not the only proponents of drumming to manage stress and help healing.According to the Resiliency Project, drumming has a therapeutic effect on our physical, mental, emotional and psychological well-being. It has been shown to help lower blood pressure as well as to boost immunity and in  managing chronic pain.They should know! This non-profit foundation was established by the Thunder God himself, Rick Allen.If you are any kind of music aficionado, you surely know this drummer for Def Leppard lost his left arm in a car accident. Rather than terminate his tenure, his bandmates aided his recovery by allowing him time to adapt to using an intricate pedal system so that his left foot plays the drums and cymbals his missing left arm would normally strike.Back to African drums, now...Of particular note in the African drum lineup is the talking drum: a two-headed, hourglass-shaped instrument with strings joining the top and bottom heads.Look for  online drum lessons.When played correctly, the percussionist would seat the drum under his arm and squeeze the strings while beating the head, causing the tone and pitch to change, mimicking human speech.This drum type was generally used for communication more so than for making music, at least as we understand music making.Naturally, each region, language, country and tribe identifies their drums by names unique to their language, and one might find similar drums on one side of the continent as the other. The aforementioned djembe is a prime example of su ch.Furthermore, considering that Africa is the cradle of humankind, it is both reasonable and logical to postulate that, as humans migrated throughout the world, they took their drums with them.That is why we see similar drums in Asia, South America and even in the Caribbean!Find out how much you can expect to pay for your drum set...A tabla: male and female drums with coated heads, seated on cushions Source: Wikipedia Credit: LestatDrums in AsiaNow we go from individual tribes in Africa to civilization in China, where drums came into their own.Did you know that the art of playing the drums is more than 7 thousand years old?During the latter part of the Stone Age, people living in China were looking for new ways to use alligator skins.They stretched such a membrane over a hollow, cylindrical device and, presto! The Chinese drum was born.From China, those instruments travelled all over Asia: to Japan, the Philippines, India and the Middle East.They also made their way into Australia and southern Europe; that will be our next stop!Although gongs and cymbals are far more prominent in Asian percussion, there is nevertheless a fine selection of drums found in China: from the small bangu used in Beijing opera to the dagu â€" a large, wooden drum played with sticks.The Chinese even have their own hourglass-shaped drum, called the jiegu!Drums in IndiaThe Indian culture, also very prolific in their drumming â€" both for religious and secular reasons, boasts a long list of membranophones too.The tumbaknaer is a goblet-shaped drum played while reciting devotionals, while the tabla consists of a pair of barrel-shaped, single-headed drums, with one a bit bigger than the other. They are played not with drumsticks but with fingers and the palms of the hands.In fact, the tabla is a fascinating pair of drums; let's talk more about them!The mridangam, the oldest of all percussion instruments, is a double-headed drum made from a single piece of wood. Generally barrel-shaped, it does bulge on one side. Played horizontally, its right ‘face’ is smaller than its left face â€" what we would call the drum head.  The two faces are secured to the drum by an intricate system of braids and leather straps.Prior to playing, the artist will sometimes apply a mixture of flour and water to the left face to achieve a lower tone. This coating is wiped off after the session, naturally!The Pakhawaj is the Northern Indian counterpart to the mrindangam. It too is barrel-shaped and has two heads but there is one critical difference between the two: this drum has tuning blocks between the straps and the shell. The drummer would slide these blocks up or down in order to tune the drum.This type of drum was mainly used to accompany dhammar and druphad singers but it is now rarely used.The tabla, India’s most widely-played drum, is said to have originated from the mridangam and the pakhawaj. Tablas are actually a pair of drums.Rather interesting that this drum has a male and f emale side.  The drum designated male is on the left side and renders bass tones. The female drum yields a treble tone.The Dayan, as the female drum is called, consists of a slim, wooden shell. The male drum shell is rounded and made of metal. Both drums have heads made of skin that are fastened to leather hoops which, in turn, are secured to the drum body with leather straps.Addtionally, the female drum has blocks of wood trapped between the leather braces and the drum body. One tunes the drum by adjusting the positions of these wooden blocks... just as with the pakhawaj!One more unique feature of the tabla drums: they usually rest on a small pad, one for each drum. These round cushions have the dual effect of insulating the instruments so that their vibrations don't transmit to the ground and it keeps them in place.The Nepalese Madal is a hand drum that resembles the small, cylindrical drum that women play while dancing, in China!The madal is the national instrument of Nepal and t he backbone of that country’s folk music repertoire.  It too is barrel-shaped with one end wider than the other and with the narrower end designated female.The heads are made of a double layer of goatskin. The centre of each head is then coated with a mixture of flour, iron filings and egg which is seared on, giving the drum a distinctly... metallic tone; almost like a bell.Note: a similar coating features on the head of the Indian female Dayan drum; it is made of flour, water and iron filings â€" no eggs involved.The Madal drum is played sitting down; an extra leather strap is incorporated into its design to secure the instrument to the player’s knees.Many cultures and societies use goblet drums in their rituals; this is a prime indicator that drums migrated out of Africa when humankind did! The darbuka is a prime example of such. This goblet-shaped drum found in the Middle East as well as Northern Africa and in eastern Europe. It is known by other names in different regions: d umbeg, tarabaki, toumperliki among them.And, of course, the most famous goblet drum of all, the djembe!  The musical heritage and culture of Asia is so rich and varied, we hope you'll chance to play at least some of these few shining examples of drums from that region before moving on to discover your own drumming style!Discover also the best drum kits for your style of drumming...China's massive war drums take energy and force to play! Source: Pixabay Credit: David Ansettdrumming takes pride of place as a cultural more. Drums are an integral part of religious rites as well as popular entertainment.In New Guinea as well as surrounding islands, also throughout eastern Micronesia, drums tend to be hand-held instruments. They could be shaped like an hourglass â€" like the Chinese jiegu, or tubular.A unique feature of drums in some parts of New Guinea is their handle. Intricately carved to resemble mythical figures or animals, they are an integral part of the drum’s appearance and fun ction but do not contribute to its sound.These drums are not played with both hands. Instead, the drummer holds his instrument by this carved handle with one hand while striking it with the other.In this region and in almost every society, drumming is the purview of males.In those that don't emphasise drumming as a masculine pursuit, women are trained to be competent (and competitive!) drummers. In bygone eras, there is evidence that drumming was exclusively a feminine activity.In eastern Polynesia, a region that includes our Pitcairn Islands, drums are not hand-held but quite tall, upright instruments. They are placed on the ground rather than on any kind of stand and, depending on the height of the drum, the drummer may sit or stand in order to play it.Unlike in other societies, drums in this area were mainly used for religious purposes and, unlike the handled drums of New Guinea â€" which belong to individuals and are passed down through families, these drums belong to the tribe. One more interesting characteristic of drums throughout most of Oceana: that they are seldom beat with anything but the players’ hands; any type of implements such as sticks or mallets almost never feature.Drums of the Maori and AborigineYou might think that, because drums are an integral part of so many cultures in Oceana, the Maori of New Zealand and the indigenous people of Australia would also make drums a vital part of their culture and communications systems.On the contrary, the Maori did not adopt drumming as it is commonly known (or the use of stringed instruments) until the arrival of European explorers, when they gave up their instruments wholesale in favour of the imports.However, they did have instruments that are struck, primarily gongs, used to signal war or other official decrees. One such instrument, the tumutumu, is made of stone, bone or wood, is tapped with some type of striker.Likewise in Australia, where the three main musical instruments are the didjeridu (or didgeridoo), the bullroarer and the gumleaf, all of which are wind instruments.Not a percussion implement in sight... or, shall we say: in audible range?European DrummingNow we start finding drum names that we are familiar with!In the 14th century, the snare drum was created. We find concrete evidence of drum sticks â€" as they are shaped today, around that same time. The timpani, a type of kettle drum, came along shortly after the snare but did not gain popularity until about 200 years later.The bass drum might have overshadowed the timpani because it was created around the same time.Perhaps because it was more portable and less likely than the tom tom to drop tune, the bass drum was preferred for use in military bands.About 400 years after the establishment of the bass drum, the bongos made their appearance onto the European music stage.By the 1800s, more explorers were venturing out â€" to Cuba, to Africa, and imported those drums into Europe’s music scene.A few decades after that, in the early 1900s, drummers could purchase entire drum kits: kick drum and snare, along with their toms and, of course, the cymbals.In 1976, German Karl Bartos, drummer for the band Kraftwerk, pioneered the electric drums.The timeline of drumming in Europe leads us to where drumming and drum sets are today!We may add that Ringo Starr is responsible for the essential drum kit we’re so familiar with these days: a kick drum, one hanging tom, one-floor tom and a snare drum; complemented by hi-hats, a crash cymbal and a ride cymbal!And how could we end this section on European drumming without mentioning the bodhran, an open-ended frame drum from Ireland?Find out what else you need to know before buying your first drum set...Leon Mobley plays his modified cajon. Source: Wikipedia Credit: GluckstadtLatin Percussion and the Caribbean DrumsNo drum review would be complete without the exotic sounds from Latin America!The Conga is a single-headed drum native to Cuba but found whereve r Latin rhythms are played.It is usually paired with a smaller drum tuned to a different pitch. Beaten by hand, it has a surprisingly wide range of sounds, depending on where and how it is struck.The timbale is similar to the conga, played on raised stands. Both of these drums are tunable.The box drum, or cajon, originated in Peru, the creation of west African slaves held there more than 300 years ago.They could not find any satisfactory materials to make their drums, so they fashioned them out of the materials they had at hand.This drum is remarkable in that... it is a box. There are no drum heads; one simply beats the front face or sides â€" generally made of plywood, to obtain different tones.You may find cajon players in a jazz ensemble or tapping out a hot rumba beat!The cajon is unique in that it serves as its own throne: the player sits atop the box, leans backwards at a slight angle and strikes the box’s face.Traditionally, the cajon player would use his hands; these days, a broader range of sound is achieved by beating it with sticks or mallets, or combed with brushes â€" as you would a jazz snare.Another interesting fact of this hand percussion marvel is its association with Ireland’s bodhran: in a folk music pinch, this box drum fits the bill nicely!Thus we’ve come full circle: from the djembe drum through the standard drum set that you might already own, with a nod to talking drums and paying respects to cymbals.These drums' history could be no more diverse, fascinating and colourful, could it?Neither could drumming lessons be! Instead of searching online for drum lessons near me, let Superprof take you further into your drum education.Don't you need a complete guide to drum kit maintenance?

Why Learn Modern Standard Arabic

Why Learn Modern Standard Arabic What’s the best way to learn Modern Standard Arabic? ChaptersWhat is Modern Standard Arabic?What are the main differences between Modern Standard Arabic and spoken Arabic dialects?Where can you learn classical Arabic in the US?Why are we talking about Modern Standard Arabic without learning to read or write it?What books should you buy to learn classical Arabic?Good books for learning Modern Standard ArabicWhich countries speak Modern Standard Arabic?Right now you can’t even say ‘My name is’ in Arabic, but you’re determined and willing to do the work. However, people keep speaking to you about the differences between Modern Standard Arabic and spoken dialects.So what’s the difference between the two? And what exactly is Modern Standard Arabic?When you learn Arabic, you’ll also learn about the rich history of the language, stretching back over millennia, which is deeply entwined with Islam and the Quran.So for those who are trying to work out the best way to tackle the Arabic language, here are a few tips and tricks to help you in learning Modern Standard Arabic.Arabic dictionary (iTunes) works as an offline and online dictionary to help you translate new words and phrasesMondly (iTunes) - declared the app of 2017 by Facebook, this language learning app offers Arabic as well as 33 other languages, and uses high tech voice recognition software to practice interactive conversations. The app will also take you through Arabic vocabulary and conjugations. HalimaArabic Teacher £13/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KotaibaArabic Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SoledadArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NancyArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaouesArabic Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DinaArabic Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AbrarArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UsamaArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsW hy are we talking about Modern Standard Arabic without learning to read or write it?Modern Standard Arabic is actually normally a second language in Arabic countries.The topic is rarely spoken about in language learning materials, but generates lots of interest in linguistic forums…Out of 355 million Arabic speakers, in countries where Arabic is an official language, it is estimated that only a few million speak classical Arabic. (If it still isn’t clear, classical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, and literary Arabic are all used more or less interchangeably.)Literary Arabic is the preserve of the elite and is rarely used in daily life. Classical Arabic is the language of authors and philosophers like:Abou el Kacem Chebbi,Naguib Mahfouz (who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1988)Or even Averroès.Arabic is also an official language at several international organizations, including:The United NationsAfrica UnionOrganization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)Frequently considered on e of the hardest languages to learn in the world â€" alongside Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and Japanese â€" classical Arabic can be difficult for outsiders to access if they aren’t from an Arab or North African country.The effects of migration on Arabic speakersIn student forums you’ll often see messages from 2nd or 3rd generation immigrant students who’ve learned one of the spoken Arabic dialects from their parents, but don’t know how to read or write classical Arabic.They struggle with the Arabic script and the differences in grammar and conjugations.Other blocks on mastering classical Arabic might be lower levels of learning among their parents, a focus on integration over preserving the culture of their country of origin, or a lack of exposure to the TV shows and newspapers where Modern Standard Arabic are used.What books should you buy to learn classical Arabic?In addition to classes in Modern Standard Arabic you can sign up for at mosques or local language schools, te xtbooks can also help you learn the language!There are many different books available to help you learn Arabic, and it’s best to choose carefully as they aren’t all easy to use or appropriate for beginners.Before you start madly filling up an amazon.com shopping cart in your enthusiasm for the language of the Quran and pre-Islamic poetry, it’s good to make a plan for how you’re going to learn Arabic.First of all, each of the 28 Arabic letters should be learned, with a focus on syntax, lexis, and pronunciation.Next, Arabic students should keep in mind that there’s a clear distinction between Arabic dialects and written Arabic. The ‘darjia’ Arabic spoken in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia is quite different from the Modern Standard Arabic that you can read in the newspapers or hear on TV!The best Arabic-English dictionaries to learn classical ArabicThere’s been an explosion of interest in learning Arabic in recent years, and the language’s sudden popularity hasn’t al ways been met with the most well researched resources. There have been all kinds of sloppy translations for different words and vocabulary.In order to make sure you have the best tools possible as you study Arabic, it’s best to stick to well-researched dictionaries.What book or dictionary should you use to learn classical Arabic?Basic DictionariesAll the normal publishers for language learning have dictionaries â€" depending on your preference you could choose Merriam Webster, Oxford Arabic, or Collier.Word ReferenceA long term favorite of language learners the world over, Word Reference is the default online dictionary for any language they offer. Available online or via an app, their English-Arabic dictionary includes various words and phrases. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can pose a question in the forums and you can also help other learners by finding the right Arabic-English translation and contributing answers to their questions.You should know though t hat Word Reference only provides Arabic words in Arabic script, without any transliteration, so you’ll need to be comfortable reading and sounding out Arabic before Word Reference can be of much help.DK Arabic-English Visual Picture DictionaryKing of the picture dictionaries, DK’s English-Arabic offering is a great starter book for children as they learn their first words in Arabic and begin to make sense of the language. If you’re a bit older, but find picture dictionaries helpful, a good alternative is the Oxford Picture dictionary for teens and adults. It’s worth noting that this dictionary is meant for Arabic speakers learning English, but the premise is still the same.Good books for learning Modern Standard ArabicThe Arabic Alphabet â€" how to read and write itThis classic book for Arabic learners by Nicholas Awde will walk you through how to write Arabic script and write the letters, stroke by stroke. It also explains the pronunciation of each as you go, and is a nice, basic, and uncomplicated introduction to written Arabic.Living Language ArabicThis isn’t so much a book as a complete multimedia pack with course books, a guide to writing the script, and several CDs which will walk you through Arabic vocabulary, dialogues, and audio exercises. You’ll also get access to the online portal which provides interactive language games, flashcards, and other activities. The pack can be a bit more expensive, but you can usually find it at a good discount.Arabic Stories for Language LearnersThis book of short stories also comes with a CD, and aims to give Arabic students a taste for the language’s rich cultural and literary history. Before each of the 66 short stories, new vocabulary and grammar are presented. The CD lets you work on your listening skills, at the same time as understanding the Arabic storytelling style.Complete Arabic, by Frances AltorferPart of the Teach Yourself series, this book walks you through the Arabic language, from complete beginner to intermediate level. It uses realistic conversations to slowly introduce vocabulary and grammar. It also gives you culture notes, to bring the people who use the language to life as you learn. Finally, CDs are no longer included with the book, but you can download all the Arabic recordings from the website.Arabic for dummiesThis successful series of books doesn’t really need any introduction. Their book is basically an Arabic for beginners book designed for people just starting to learn the language. It covers:VocabularyBasic GrammarAnd phonetic transcriptions to help you learn at your own pace.Easy to use, and very practical, you can find Arabic for Dummies online and in bookstores at a very reasonable price. It also comes with a CD-ROM full of real life conversations and people talking about their daily lives in Modern Standard Arabic.Which countries speak Modern Standard Arabic?Even though Modern Standard Arabic might be the official working language of many governme nts, you’ll often find that bureaucrats are still speaking local Arabic dialects amongst themselves.On one hand it’s an incredibly diverse and constantly evolving language, but some forms of spoken Arabic (or ???????, al-?arabiyah) are also on the decline.All of the many different local dialects are based on the same form of classical written Arabic. A common question among Arab-speakers themselves is who speaks the closest form of Arabic to Modern Standard Arabic?Because almost no Arabic speakers ever speak Modern Standard Arabic as their mother tongue.It’s a constant source of squabbles, disagreements, and teasing, but in a more serious vein there’s an earnest attempt to decide which country uses the most authentic version of spoken Arabic.But just from the name ‘the most eloquent Arabic language’ you can tell that Modern Standard Arabic has a certain prestige from its history and associations with the classical Arabic of the Quran.It’s written exactly the same in ev ery Arabic speaking country, and bit like the standardization of Mandarin Chinese. Classical Arabic is the version of Arabic that is taught in religious and public schools as well as language classes.You will see it in newspapers, books, academic articles, and in government administration in Arabic countries.Modern Standard Arabic also serves as the intermediary language between many Arab countries. The spoken dialects aren’t too dissimilar, and the written form is the same in every country, so modern Arabic is often considered as more of an umbrella over many versions of the same language.Most linguists would say that the further East you go across North Africa, the closer the spoken Arabic dialects become to written classical Arabic, although they remain a bit different.In the countries where Arabic and its spoken dialects are the most common language, the first language of many citizens is fairly close to Modern Standard Arabic. In addition to Egypt, this also holds true in oth er countries like:SyriaIraqLibyaJordanSaudi ArabiaYemenKuwaitQatarOmanBahrainThe United Arab EmiratesThe reasons for learning Arabic so what are you waiting for! Use the information that has been discussed to get you started

Teach Yourself to Play Guitar Is it Really Possible

Teach Yourself to Play Guitar Is it Really Possible Suzy S. There are a lot of resources available to teach yourself to play guitar. Whether youve found an online cache of instructional videos, or a book for beginners at your local music store, there are many ways to become a self-taught guitar player. But how effective it is? Read on as we review two of the ways you can teach yourself to play guitar, and how far each can take you: Online Learning A quick Internet search will turn up tons of websites that boast claims of being able to help you learn guitar through video tutorials. These are good resources that allow you to quickly reference a specific topic. When youre trying to master a certain technique, or need to look up an obscure alternate fingering of a chord pattern quickly, you can usually find these without too much difficulty online.  You can also easily find printer-friendly charts for easy guitar chords. The downside? It can be all too easy to get stuck. When youre watching videos and repeating what you see, youre missing one critical thing feedback from a professional about your technique. That chord may sound right, but is your posture off? Is there a certain technique youre just not understanding no matter how many times you rewatch that video clip? Without a guitar teacher there to answer your questions on the spot, you may find yourself hitting a wall. Teach Yourself to Play Guitar Books Any brick-and-mortar music store will have a wide selection of books available for purchase.  These books are quite similar to the online learning  resources, in that there will be photos of each technique, and diagrams for chord fingering patterns as they are discussed in the lessons. The advantage of a book over online resources, of course, is that you dont need an Internet connection or a computer to teach yourself to play guitar. You can practice outside on a nice day, or in the car while on a family vacation. The downside to using a book to teach yourself to play guitar is that you wont have any of the technological advantages on your side. A book wont be able to play videos of the techniques, so you will have to rely on the photo and the description alone to help you understand the concept. And although most books will contain a chart of all the common guitar chords, with primary and alternate fingering patterns, nobody is there to check your technique or offer tips for getting the finger placement correct. How to Really Improve While it might seem exciting to teach yourself to play guitar, the truth is, its not the best method for learning. Sooner or later you will run into a situation where your resources, whether online or in print form, cant help you completely understand the technique. In the end, there really is no substitute for learning with a private guitar instructor. A private instructor will guide you through the basics of guitar, cater the lessons to your individual learning style and goals, and show you the best exercises to practice in between lessons as well. Most of all, they can provide an important source of motivation, holding you accountable and keeping things fresh. After all, even the most dedicated guitar players sometimes need an extra push! So keep on strumming and have fun! 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  tudor-rose

Calculus Made Easy

Calculus Made Easy Calculus made easy is an effective tool which helps in solving problems of calculus very easily. It basically involves differential calculus and integral calculus. It works as an input given and output generated function. Calculus made ease tool use step by step method to solve highly complicated problems. Step by Step procedure is explained in such a way that it actually removes the complicacy of the problem. The below mentioned two examples will help us in understanding the same in better way. Example 1:- Find the derivative of the x. x3 Solution 1:- Given function is x. x3 To find: - d/dx (x. x3) We know that, d/dx (xn) = nxn-1 Therefore, d/dx (x. x3) = x. d/dx x3+ x3d/dx (x) So d/dx (x. x3) = x. d/dx x3+ x3 d/dx (x) Therefore, d/dx (x. x3) = x. 3x2 + x3. (1) = 3x3+ x3 = 4x3 Hence d/dx (x. x3) = 4x3. This example shows the step by step method of differential calculus. Example 2:- Find the integration of x100 dx Solution 2:- Given function is x100. Here we have to find the integration of x100. Now we know that, xn. dx = xn+1/ n+1 + c, Here c is constant of integration Therefore, x100 dx = (x100+1/ 100+1) + c= x101/101+ c So the integration of x100 dx = x101/101+ c In this example c is constant of integration. In this example we have seen that the above example with detailed step by step method makes calculation very easy.

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation There are seemingly endless parts to your college application, but the comforting thing is that you have total control over them. You have the power to write a beautiful personal statement, to get the ACT score you need, to fill out every last blank of required information perfectly and neatly; its just the drive and discipline that is necessary to put that power to successful use. However, there is one area that pops up that you may feel you have far less control over, and that is the infamous letter of recommendation. This can certainly be nerve-wracking since its the one part of the application you cant write up on your own or study for to make it top-notch. You wont know what that person is saying or how well theyre saying it; youre just going to have to trust that it was great and turn it in. But thankfully, what you can do is control the way you go about asking for it. Obviously the first step would be to pick out the person you are going to ask. Most often, you will be going to a teacher for this letter, so you must identify what teachers you have the appropriate relationship with for this. This is one of the most crucial steps of the process because if you spend your time asking and counting on a teacher who you really dont have that strong of a relationship with, youre either going to get a no or a very generic letter that lacks a sincerely personal perspective. Since neither of those are options you desire or have the time for, its clearly best to just get your choice right the first time. To make this easier, lets go over the criteria for this esteemed teacher-student relationship. To start, this needs to be a teacher that easily remembers you by name. It is no secret that teachers have tons of different students throughout the years and although they may recognize your face and say hello when they pass you in the halls, they may not always directly remember who you are. A teacher who you are planning on asking for a letter of recommendation must not fall into that category. This teacher needs to be someone who when they see you, remembers your name and what kind of student you were in their classroom. Good teachers pay attention to their students and if you stand out to them for whatever reason, you will leave a lasting impression on them. It doesnt necessarily mean you will be on their mind forever, but their specific memories of you will immediately return when they see you. Hence, this is the kind of teacher you want writing this letter. Secondly, this teacher should ideally be someone who you worked with in some way outside of the scheduled class hour. This could mean a lot of things; you made consistent efforts to show up early in the morning to get help on the class material, you were part of a school organization they sponsored or coached, you consulted with them on your class schedule, etc. Whatever the specifics may be, it is pivotal that you had some sort of personal connection with them that made you more than just one of the kids in the many rows of desks. It just wouldnt make sense to ask a teacher for a recommendation letter if they never had a conversation with you that didnt involve you raising your hand amongst twenty other students. Finally, its probably obvious that this teacher likes you since youve made it this far in considering them as your letter writer but make sure you are really certain about that. Nine out of ten times, youre probably right and they do genuinely like you, but this is the kind of thing you would hate to overlook and have hurt you later. Never assume a teacher is crazy about you unless you are completely, utterly confident about it. Any doubts in your mind, no matter how tiny, should be well-evaluated before you make this decision. In regards to the process of actually asking for the letter, you should write a simple, polite, and informative note its the way you go about writing it that can make or break your chances of success, however. So, look at this as another opportunity to control a portion of your overall application. Put your best effort into this note as you have with all of the other areas. This note must begin with a very kind reminder of who you are, as well as a sincere interest in how the teacher is doing. Relate back to the reasons you know them outside of the classroom and touch base. This is an extra reminder of why you two have a good relationship and also a way to protect yourself from immediately diving into I need a favor. Next, when you actually ask them for the letter, it is incredibly important that you give a good amount of significant details about the school and program youre applying to, as well as what the admissions staff is looking for the letter writers to address, and of course, your deadlines. The more information you give right away, the better idea the teacher will have of whether or not they can do it and with you being considerate enough to give the information so promptly, they are very likely to agree to your request. Top off the note with an honest thank you and this inquiry of yours will be very hard to turn down. Lastly, give the teacher plenty of time. Nothing could hurt you more than sending this note only a week or two before you need the letter. Make sure you are asking well in advance so the teacher does not feel pressured or rushed. Most teachers, especially the ones you feel comfortable enough to go to for this type of thing, are happy to write these letters. So as long as you show them you are respectful, helpful, and deserving of one, you are sure to get one.

Welcome back to the 2015-16 school year!

Welcome back to the 2015-16 school year! To all of our students old and new: all of us at AJ Tutoring are so excited to be back for another school year! Now that school has been in session in the Bay Area for a few weeks, were looking forward to helping you with your academic coursework and tests this year.As always, AJ Tutoring offers academic tutoring in almost every academic subject. If that tough pre-calculus class is giving you trouble already, give us a call! Our academic tutoring students typically meet with their tutors once per week for a 1.5-hour session. During each session, we make sure that youre fully prepared for any upcoming tests, quizzes and essays, get you up to speed on the most challenging concepts in your class, and pre-teach upcoming material so youre never hearing anything from your teacher for the first time. Take a look around our website for more information on AJ Tutorings academic tutoring program!We also offer efficient, effective, high-quality test preparation for your upcoming standardized te sts, including the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and SAT subject tests. 2015-2016 is a challenging year for test-taking since the SAT is changing in March 2016, juniors need to make more decisions about which tests to take (current SAT? new SAT? the ACT?). Please reach out to us if you have questions about the ideal test-taking plan we would love to talk through your options for the upcoming school year!Best wishes from AJ Tutoring for a great start to the year!

Top 5 Online English Pronunciation Resources

Top 5 Online English Pronunciation Resources If youre not living in a country that speaks English, learning to properly pronounce English can be difficult. Like all languages, English contains some sounds that may not exist at all in your language. Not only will you have to learn to pronounce these sounds, but youll have to learn to hear them as well.Below are my 5 favorite online English pronunciation resources that will help you with anatomical demonstrations, audio and much more. We also recommend taking classes with our native English speaking teachers. Click here to register for a free trial class.5. The Poetry Foundation is one of my favorite things to show my students for general English learning, and for pronunciation practice. I like to use poems in my classes to help my students learn English pronunciation because great poems have a focus on the sound of the English language. But the Poetry Foundations website also offers free mp3s of many of the poems being read by the authors. Heres one of my favorites, by Robert Fr ost.4. ManyThings.org offers great practice using minimal pairs. This is a pair of words that are almost exactly the same, but differ by one sound. Studying them is a great way for students to learn to distinguish and pronounce sounds that my be difficult for them to separate in a new language. The site offers recordings of the minimal pairs, as well as tests students can take of their ability to distinguish the sounds.3. Rachels English channel on YouTube offers a great series of videos with detailed instructions on American English pronunciation, with explanations of how to move your mouth for particular sounds.2. Here is a great video on YouTube for learning the American English accent ??1. The University of Iowa has a very ambitious project on its website here that allows you to choose specific sounds from the English language, and watch videos of them demonstrated by animations that show what happens inside the mouth when the sounds are formed, video showing an English speakers mouth as she says the words, and audio. Its a great resource for very focused work on your English pronunciation.Thanks! Please let us know if you have any more great resources to add to the list. Mother Hi,let me suggest you a simple chrome extension which helps you while reading english web articles, it is calledHow Do You Sayjust highlighting a word you can hear the correct pronunciation, from my point of view it is perfect to improve pronunciation hope for you too!bye! Ext Heres a video-based pronunciation site to learn how to pronounce English words:http://www.embedplus.com/dictionary/how-to-pronounce-words-and-use-them.aspx LOIEnglish Seems like a very promising tool!