Thursday, April 2, 2020

Algebra Help With Word Problems

Algebra Help With Word ProblemsAlgebra help with word problems is a very common issue that college students face. Algebra is a complex subject that requires math skills as well as a logical mind. Students who go through an algebra class will also need to be able to learn and apply multiple vocabulary words.If your algebra class is starting soon, it is important to have a good grasp of words before the start of the semester. You can start practicing your skills by solving word problems. Use a random word list, which is made up of all the words that are on the word list for your college algebra class. Use the word list to help determine what you can use in your problems.There are many problems that you can solve, but you will want to be sure to find problems that are easy for you to complete. Solving the problems with word problems will help you learn how to solve the problem word by word.An example of a word problem that is commonly solved by students is the Latin problem. In this pro blem, you have to write out all the words in the word list that begin with each letter of the alphabet. When you are done with this, you will have to use the Latin root word in your solution.If you are looking for the common problems that students face, then these algebra problems are a good start. Common problems include sorting, placing the numbers in a certain order, and even calculating a number using ratios. Many students choose to do algebra problems that are specifically designed for your college algebra class.If you are looking for algebra help with word problems that are different than what you see in college classes, then you can find those too. There are many word problem websites that have some basic math problems that you can try. These are good practice problems to use to help build your math skills.There are many word problems on the internet, so check them out. Learning how to solve algebra problems with word problems will help you improve your overall math skills.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

My Experience at Cornell University

My Experience at Cornell University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Meghan received her Bachelors degree in English from Cornell University in 2013. She is a Boston tutor specializing in Writing tutoring, SAT prep tutoring,ACT prep tutoring, AP English tutoriing, and many other subjects. Check out her review of her school: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Meghan:Cornell is located in the Finger Lakes region of New York, and it is a fairly rural campus. It is approximately four hours from New York City, and the closest metropolitan area, Syracuse, is a little more than an hour away. However, Ithaca itself is a rich little city. It boasts more restaurants per capita than most large cities, and it has numerous concerts, cultural festivals, and events. The buses in Ithaca will take you anywhere you need to go on or off campus, and bus passes are free for freshmen. Many upperclassmen have cars. The campus is quite large, so a bike is certainly a nice addition, but everything is within walking distance if you invest in a good pair of shoes and a very warm winter coat! I always felt incredibly safe in Ithaca. I spent a lot of time running by myself and never felt uneasy. The campus is covered in Blue Light emergency phones in case of any incident, and, generally, the city of Ithaca is filled with friendly peoplecollege students and localswh o would help out a stranger at the drop of a hat. The area surrounding Cornell is quite residential and fairly quiet. VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Meghan:I was consistently impressed with the willingness of my professors to devote extra time and energy to helping me succeed. My academic advisers were not always the most helpful, and I ended up finding much more comfort in talking with my class professors when I needed advice. Professors are almost always on email, and, in my experience, have been very willing to look at drafts of papers, offer study tips, and help with general college questions, like selecting courses for a new semester or deciding on a major or minor. It was amazing to me how much my professors cared about me, as well as how interested they were in my academic work throughout my undergraduate career. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Meghan:Dorm life at Cornell is pretty spectacular. All the freshmen live together on north campus in a wide variety of dorms. There is an all-girls dorm, a dorm with mostly singles, a dorm with mostly suites, and dorms featuring more classic doubles. There are two dining halls within walking distance of all of the freshman dorms, and the food is greatI still miss it! You can always find a good array of healthy options, as well as vegetarian/vegan meals and cultural foods. Plus, Cornell makes its own ice cream, which all the dining halls carry. The dining halls are not limited to serving meals, and they actually offer lots of opportunities for social activities, ranging from movie nights to video game competitions to fitness classes. Each dorm also has its own weekly events that offer an opportunity to get to know people beyond your floormates. I cannot say enough about living with all the other freshmen your first year; it really helps you make friends and start to feel at home! VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Meghan:I studied English and minored in Music, and found a lot of support for both programs. The English major is very flexible, and I had a lot of freedom in choosing courses that were interesting to me. I chose to complete an honors track in the subject, which allowed me to take some graduate courses and challenge myself at a higher level by writing an honors thesis. I always found support from both my professors and the Academic Dean during these endeavors. Currently, Cornell is building a new humanities building, and I love to see such an assertion of the continued investment in liberal arts disciplines. For a big research university that is understandably focused heavily on engineering and science, Cornell really does a great job continuing to build their humanities programs. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Meghan:Because of the north campus living center, I found it fairly easy to make friends despite being a somewhat shy freshman! I also recommend joining several student clubs and activities as soon as you get on campus. There are so many to choose from, and each offers a great group of supportive people with similar interests who will more than likely become your friends. Cornell is very community-oriented, and there are plenty of ways to make the huge campus seem a little smaller through clubs, activities, and organizations. Despite its large size, by senior year, I never walked anywhere on campus without seeing someone I knew. Greek life is very popular at Cornell, but it does not define the social scene of the campus. A third of Cornellians rush, and most of my friends who did found it fun and rewarding. Outside of social fraternities and sororities, there are also professional and service groups that many students find engaging. I chose not to rush, but I did sing in the Cornell University Chorus and an all-female a cappella group, After Eight. I was also a member of the Concert Commission and played on an intramural soccer team. All of these activities allowed me to meet a huge number of people and really enjoy my time outside of class. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Meghan:Cornell is incredibly helpful regarding career services. They host a huge number of workshops on interviewing and resume building, and they even offer one-on-one services for mock interviews or cover letter writing. Several times a year, companies come to campus for various job fairs or graduate school fairs, and there are always many reputable companies at these events. Oftentimes, companies specifically send Cornell alumni to represent them at such fairs, which provides a really helpful low-stress way to connect and have a conversation with a representative for a company in which you might be interested. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Meghan:With more libraries than you can count on your fingers, Cornell always has room to study. One of the libraries is open 24 hours, all year round, and each dorm has designated study spaces and lounges. There are also coffee shops and open spaces all over campus that are available for group work and individual study. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Meghan:I expected Ithaca to be a little bit boring sometimes, being such a small town in rural New York, but I can truthfully say that there was never a time in four years when I felt bored there. Cornell itself is a huge campus featuring giant plantations for running, hiking, or enjoying the scenery, as well as frequent sporting events, exhibitions, and musical or dance events. Beyond Cornell, though, the town of Ithaca is a special place that students should definitely take advantage of. There are several fun museums, an incredible farmers market on the weekends, and really great, interesting restaurants to try. (An all-vegetarian restaurant? Thai cuisine? Tapas? It is all there!) Cornell has its own little town known as Collegetown, which features the incredible sandwich shop, Collegetown Bagels, as well as many bars and restaurants. Students often do stay close to campus, but the center of Ithaca offers more places to eat, shop, and learn, and buses make it easy to get there. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Meghan:Cornell is bigit is about 14,000 undergraduates, so campus is always bustling. However, within that giant number, students are divided into seven different colleges. This allows you to get that small school feel of having a designated quad and buildings that are generally close to each other, while enjoying the benefits of a large institution, such as having thousands of courses to choose from each semester. As an English major, my major courses were always fairly small, ranging from six to thirty or so students, but I did take courses in science and math that were larger lectures of a couple hundred students. These large classes featured once a week discussion sections that divided the class into groups of 15-20, which offered a space to ask questions and work through problems without having to raise your hand in a giant lecture. I loved going to a big schoolthere are so many opportunities for research experiences, plus lots of extracurricular activities to choose from. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Meghan: My junior year I chose to pursue an honors track within my English major, which required writing a thesisa multi-chapter scholarly paper that would take up much of my time and focus throughout the coming year. My favorite professor had already committed to advising another students project, but made me a few recommendations. I emailed Professor Wong based on these recommendations, and, after I explained my project to her, she agreed to be my advisor. I had never taken a class with her, and she knew nothing of my work, but once she agreed to advise me, Professor Wong worked tirelessly to make sure my project was absolutely the best it could be. She pushed and challenged me, offering me difficult reading and making me question my own assumptions about what made good scholarly writing. We met once a week and, though she scheduled the meetings to last an hour, would often go much longer as we worked through the specific issues at hand. She always made sure I left with a huge to d o list and never let me settle for a sub-par chapter, or even a sub-par paragraph. In the end, I worked so hard to produce a paper I was truly proud of, and I earned Summa Cum Laude on my project. It is an understatement to say that Professor Wong helpedin truth, I could not have created such a strong paper without her. She pushed me beyond doing good work into doing my best work, and I learned from her to never settle for less than that. I learned the value of devoting myself entirely to a singular project, as well as to working through the times when it seemed I could not figure out where to go next (or the times when I just really wanted to go to bed). She encouraged me to set my own deadlines and stick to them. I learned a lot more than how to write an honors thesis from her, and I am so grateful. The reason this story stands out to me is not only because she was a great adviser, but because she was a great adviser when she did not know me at all. She agreed to devote hours of her time over the course of an entire year to helping me pursue the academic project I had chosen, even without a personal connection or an experience in a class. She took me on and believed in me on the sole information that I had a goal and I wanted to make it happen, and any professor willing to do that, especially for an undergraduate, is a truly special addition to a university. Check out Meghans tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Friday, March 6, 2020

A Student Review of Tufts University

A Student Review of Tufts University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Julia is a San Francisco-Bay Area tutor and 2011 graduate of Tufts University. She holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology and tutors several subjects, specializing inElementary Math tutoring, Psychology tutoring, and SAT prep tutoring. Check out what Julia had to say about her time at Tufts University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Julia: Tufts University is a very small campus, so it is possible to walk everywhere. You will be in great shape walking up and down the hills all day! You really only need a car if you are traveling off-campus for grocery shopping or other tasks. The T (or subway) is great if you want to go into Boston, and it is easy to catch it from Davis Square. Davis Square is about a 15-minute walk from campus, but there is also a shuttle that travels back and forth. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Julia: I had great experiences with my professors and my adviser. When I first started school, I was very stubborn about not wanting to ask for help. However, I soon realized that I was really only letting myself down. All of the professors that I went to for help were thrilled that I was showing initiative and interest in the topic, and they made themselves very available to me. Part of the reason I chose to go to a smaller school was to have relationships with faculty members, and I feel I was able to achieve this. I cannot say enough good things about my adviser! He was absolutely amazing. We developed a strong relationship, and I am still in contact with him today. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Julia: I really enjoyed dorm life! I only spent my freshman year in a dorm, as I went on to live in my sorority house and off-campus. The dorm rooms are pretty simple, but it is easy to decorate and personalize them. There are two dining halls on campus, one that is uphill and one that is downhill. Everyone has a preference about which they like better, but they are both great. Tufts University has pretty fantastic food, so avoid the Freshman 15! I loved my freshman year dorm because it was very centrally located. I was 100 feet from the dining hall, and all of my classes were a five-minute walk away. Tufts University always has a million things going on, so there are many socialization opportunities available! Just check Tuftslife.com. At the beginning of the school year, there are a lot of events planned just for freshmen, so you can make friends easily and quickly. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Julia: Tufts University has a great International Relations department and a very highly rated Child Development department. I minored in Child Development and majored in Psychology. I chose to study Psychology because I loved my introductory classes, and all of the professors that I had were great. Tufts University does not make you choose a major until the end of your sophomore year, and they encourage you to take classes in many different fields. They really support you in finding the right fit. I loved my department and my adviser, and I do not think I have met anyone who does not feel the same. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Julia: Tufts University does not have a large Greek life. There were three sororities while I was attending school (2007-2011) and about ten fraternities. There is absolutely no need to join Greek life to make friends, because there are tons of other clubs, groups, teams, etc. It was also easy to make friends in my dorm and in my classes. I did choose to join a sorority because I wanted to expand my social circle even more. Everyone in my sorority was involved in several different campus activities, so by joining the sorority, I also ended up involved in sports, clubs, and philanthropic activities. Tufts University also offers pre-orientation groups for freshmen, which I highly recommend! I did the wilderness pre-orientation group, which involves backpacking along the Appalachian Trail for about five days before school starts. This ensures that you already know a few people when you get to campus, which I greatly appreciated. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Julia: I cannot say that I used the Career Center very much, but I heard good things about it. There is a large job fair in the spring that attracts a lot of great companies. Everyone I know ended up with a job they were happy with after graduation, and many of my friends have gone on to medical school or law school. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Julia: I love Tisch Library at Tufts University. First, it is huge, so you never have to worry about finding somewhere to sit. It also has social areas where you can sit with friends, eat snacks, and talk. (There are quiet areas for when you really need to get down to business.) There are several smaller libraries on campus that friends of mine went to, but I was always happy with Tisch Library. There are also several cafes on and around campus that I went to when I got sick of the library. I did not spend a lot of time in my dorm lounge. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Julia: Tufts University is in a really great location. It has its own downtown area (Davis Square), but it is also very close to Cambridge and Boston. I probably went into Davis Square once or twice a week and into Cambridge or Boston once a month. Campus life is pretty fun, so leaving campus was not necessary. However, there were some fun bars and restaurants in Davis Square, as well as a movie theater/concert venue. When you wanted to go shopping or to an area bigger than Davis Square, Cambridge was a five-minute subway ride away, and downtown Boston was about 20 minutes away. I remember going to the aquarium in Boston, checking out Quincy Market and the North End, walking down Newbury Street, and visiting the Boston Commons. Overall, it was an amazing place to go to school. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Julia: Size was a big part of my attraction to Tufts University. I knew I wanted a school that was bigger than my high school, because I did not want to know everyone by the time I graduated. I wanted to constantly be meeting new people! However, I also did not want to be overwhelmed by the student body. I wanted to find a niche that I was comfortable with, and I did not want to get lost in the shuffle. Tufts University was the perfect size for that, with about 5,000 undergraduates. Introductory classes were always pretty large, but most of my classes by junior and senior year were under 20 people, some even under 10. It was great to have classes that small because they were much more personal. Professors actually knew your name and got to know you over the course of the semester. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Julia: During my sophomore year, I ended up in a class that was very difficult for me. For some reason, the information did not click. After the first test, I realized I was going to have to change my strategy if I was going to earn a passing grade. I began sitting in the front row, asking the professor lots of questions before and after class, and studying a lot. When our final exam was approaching, I hit the books, and I hit them hard. I went into the exam feeling really good but that did not last long. I left the test close to tears I was sure I had failed. I was waiting outside the classroom for a friend of mine to finish when the professor came out to check on me. When he asked how I thought the test had gone, I broke into tears. I still remember what my professor said to me at that moment: This test is just a small part of your grade. I have seen the effort you have put into this class, and I know how hard you have worked. I see you in the front row every class, and all of tha t will be reflected in your grade. Later that day, he emailed me to let me know that I had ended up with a B in the class. This moment sticks out in my mind because it was the first time I realized how much the professors really cared. He wanted me to do well almost as much as I wanted to do well! It also felt really good to know that my hard work was noticed and appreciated, even in a subject that was really difficult for me. That moment taught me to always put in the extra effort because you never know who is paying attention. Check out Julias tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Hamilton

Hamilton Hamilton: the Rapping, Singing, Musical Sensation ChaptersA Brief Synopsis of HamiltonProduction NotesOpening Night for HamiltonHamilton: Awards and RecognitionThe last few years had been intense. The man needed a holiday so he packed for tropical climes and grabbed a non-fiction book he’d been looking for a chance to read… anything that didn’t remind him of musical theatre!Unfortunately â€" or fortunately, depending on how you look at things, it only took a couple of chapters for Lin-Manuel Miranda to visualise the life and times of President Alexander Hamilton as a Broadway musical.Go ahead, read that again; we’ll wait. After all, it takes a while to internalise how the life and deeds of a long-dead American president could become a stage show, complete with contemporary dance and a racially integrated cast at the hands of a creative team.Welcome back!While you were digesting that bit of information, we did some checking. There have been many films made that involve presidents and even a couple of only partially fictionali sed biopics of presidents.Perhaps the lives and deeds of American presidents have never been seen remarkable â€" for the most part, anyway.Mr Miranda also did some checking. There has never been a Broadway musical about Alexander Hamilton; indeed, there had only ever been one play written, staged around 100 years ago and likely not performed since.Time for an update, don’t you think?If anyone could bring Hamilton’s story to light and give it the modern twist needed to make it appealing to today’s audiences, it would be Lin-Manuel Miranda.Let’s see how he did, shall we? TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsA Brief Synopsis of Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda plays founding father Alexander Hamilton Source: Wikipedia Credit: Steve JurvetsonThe scene opens on the island of Nevis, in the West Indies. We see an orphaned child scrabbling his existence in any way he can. He is quick-witted and clever, absorbing facts and knowledge like a sponge.In that sense, you might say that Alexander Hamilton is a lot like Oliver Twist…Soon, he leaves his island home behind, gaining passage to the fabulous city of New York, where he promptly falls in with a group whose lives will intertwine with his in the most fatalistic way.They are all competitors â€" against each other and, together, against the world; they are a collection of revolutionaries. Their fiery discourse and new-wave attitudes do not please the English King, whose representatives attempt to assert his authority across the colonies.You must remember that, until the Articles of Confederation were drafted, what became the United States was an English territory.Of all his fr enemies, Aaron Burr is, quite literally, the burr of his life.While Hamilton is assigned to be General George Washington’s right-hand man, Burr is given a battlefield commission (that Hamilton would rather have had for himself).Both men espouse similar political views but, when Burr can’t compete with or even promote himself ahead of Hamilton, he switches political parties to become his rival.Burr made that move out of jealousy; he wanted the same degree of political power that Hamilton had.When President Washington sides with Hamilton over whether to remain neutral in the War of the First Coalition, Burr joins forces with two other cabinet members to discredit Hamilton.Now fired by the newly-elected president Adams, Hamilton has much to fear â€" from Burr and his cronies and from the exposure of his extramarital affair.He thwarts Burr’s plan to discredit him by himself publishing details of his liaison with a woman who was not his wife.Now, reconciled with his wife, Hamilton supports the presidential candidate that Burr loathes. The latter challenges his erstwhile friend to a duel â€" an act that will change his life forever.That duel is the crux of the men’s relationship, on stage and in real life.Hamilton deliberately misses his target while Burr, with deadly intent, shoots to kill. His success ensures that he will be forever remembered as the man who killed the founder of the bank of the United States, Alexander Hamilton.Historical footnote: Mr Burr was never brought to trial for killing Mr Hamilton even though duelling was illegal at the time. However, as mentioned in the show, he did indeed suffer ignominy for the rest of his life, and he was exiled from politics.Do politics also play a role in the musical Cats? The Hamilton cast wearing award-winning costume design Source: Wikipedia Credit Peter SouzaProduction NotesFor all of Mr Miranda’s enthusiasm and energy, Hamilton did not go from concept to reality overnight.In fact, it was while on holiday from playing the role of Usnavi in another Tony Award-winning show he wrote called In the Heights that he conceived Hamilton. He continued on with that role even as he was writing his new hit show.His credits include the Spanish-language production of West Side Story while In the Heights was on hiatus. Clearly, the man keeps busy!He started working on Hamilton â€" then called The Hamilton Mixtape in 2009, performing what would be the first song of the show at The White House. Among his many other projects, it took another year for him to write the show’s second song, My Shot.By Summer of 2013, all of the songs from the proposed show’s first act were completed, as well as three songs for Act II. He performed them at the Vassar Reading Festiva l, accompanied on the piano by music director Alex Lacamoire.We can hardly fault Mr Miranda for taking so long to bring a new musical to the stage; clearly, he had his hands full of work â€" and, thankfully, his head full of music.Time for musical theater trivia: which American musical was never meant to be a musical comedy? Hint: it bears the same name as a city in the US…Opening Night for HamiltonHamilton’s off-Broadway debut, at The Public Theater, was in January 2015.Three members who performed at the Vassar Festival reprised their roles at the premiere. The show was choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, with Thomas Kail directing.Accolades and superlatives poured in! Critics loved it, audiences loved it… it had to move to a bigger stage.It premiered on Broadway, at the Richard Rogers Theatre in August that same year. Most of the actors from the off-Broadway production reprised their roles on the bigger stage, as well as much of the technical staff â€" lighting, sound and scenic design.Again, rave reviews. Again, fantastic yield at the box office â€" it became difficult to get tickets. It was time to take the show on the road.Hamilton opened on Broadway in Chicago in 2016, where hopeful patrons had to buy tickets as quickly as possible lest they miss out. There will be more information about ticket sales in a mo. The Chicago show is projected to run through 2020.Besides those two runs, there is a theatre company touring the US, performing the musical in select cities.Cameron Mackintosh is head of the West End production of Hamilton, with performances near-nightly at the Victoria Palace Theatre. London theatregoers also rate it the best musical.Did you know that Mr Mackintosh was instrumental in bringing Les Miserables to the stage in English-speaking countries? Multiple award-winner Hamilton is currently enjoying a run in London Source: Wikipedia Credit: No Swan So FineHamilton: Awards and RecognitionEarly previews of Hamilton had generated such a buzz that even before its Broadway debut, tickets had sold out. By September 2015, Hamilton was the second-highest-grossing show on Broadway after The Lion King.In fact, the show set and continues to hold the record for the number of tickets sold in a single weekend for a Broadway show.What makes this show a standout is that each character is given its own voice â€" not just in song or rap but by invoking different masters of musical theatre.Jesse Green, of New York magazine, writes: “I caught the verbal references to Rodgers and Hammerstein, Gilbert and Sullivan, Sondheim…”Indeed, Mr Miranda cleverly draws on the legends of musical theatre even as he drags it, kicking and screaming into a new era.It is perhaps a transition that needs to happen; after all, how many times will a theatre patro n want to get tickets to a revival of Mamma Mia or The Phantom of the Opera?And which musicals could do it better than Hamilton?Even before it debuted in a Broadway theatre, the show was collecting awards â€" for outstanding choreographer, for outstanding director, for the best actor, which Mr Miranda himself won.It swept the Lucille Lortel Awards and the Drama Desk Awards in virtually every category from Featured Actress through Best Choreography and onto Best Music and Lyrics.Once Hamilton became a Broadway production, it qualified for the Tony Award. It won a total of 11 Tony Awards for everything from Best Musical to Best Orchestrations.And, as though that weren’t enough, it went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and a Pulitzer Prize in the Drama category. And, just last year, it won a Kennedy Center Honor.How much praise can we heap on one person? Lin-Manuel Miranda had better get used to it.The show has already wowed audiences in Puerto Rico. It is set to open in Germany next year and in Australia the year after that. How much those audiences know about American founding fathers is debatable but, through Hamilton, they will certainly get an education!Who can think of a better way to learn about history than through the work of a playwright such as Mr Miranda?Can’t get enough musical theatre? Discover the stories behind other popular Broadway musicals...

15 Fabulous Songs for Male Jazz Singers (with audio!)

15 Fabulous Songs for Male Jazz Singers (with audio!) Suzy S. Guys, ready to explore the world of jazz? There are so many good jazz songs to sing and talented jazz singers to check out! Here are some  top picks from voice teacher  Molly R... For beginner vocal students (or ANY vocal student, for that matter!) nothing beats a jazz standard! Even the rocker guys I work with agree that mastering a classic can do  absolute wonders for improving your voice. Jazz songs are great for singers for so many reasons: phrasing, musicianship, improvisation, strengthening your middle range… sold yet? Then why not consider one of these 15  great songs for male jazz singers? There is a huge variety here: you’re bound to find a few that you’ll love to sing! 1) “Fly Me to the Moon” What a fun one! You can swing the rhythm like Frank Sinatra, or sing it “straight.” That’s why jazz is so great you’ve got choices! 2) “Hello, Dolly!” While I don’t suggest you try to  emulate Satchmo’s signature scratchy sound, this song is swinging! Fun fact: it became a #1 hit that booted the Beatles off the top of the charts in 1964. 3) “Embraceable You” A beautiful Gershwin standard! It’s sweet, slow-paced, and sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Here’s Nat King Cole singing it in his smooth style. 4) “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head?” This is another uptempo jazz song that is witty and just  sheer fun!  This is performed by the legendary Dean Martin. Although it’s often performed with a full  band, don’t let the big sound fool you. This is always a treat sung with just a piano, too! 5) “Misty” Numerous singers have made this heartfelt ballad their own and can you blame them? It’s easy to improvise and the lyrics are just lovely. Here it is performed by the gentleman who made it most popular, Johnny Mathis. 6) “All of Me” Again, Mr. Sinatra shows us how you can make choices in jazz. Here, he swings the rhythm. Although you also have the choice of singing it slower and more in the style of a ballad. Either way, this is always a solid choice! 7) “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” I  love this song because of the clever and memorable lyrics. In this video, Harry Connick, Jr. gives this classic song his cool flair. 8) “A Foggy Day in London Town” The Gershwins did such an amazing job of painting a picture of a place with their music. Here’s further proof of that with Michael Bublé’s version this wonderful number. 9) “I Won’t Dance” This sassy song by Jerome Kern is sometimes sung as a duet, but it’s also sung as a solo jazz piece. Legends such as Sinatra and Tony Bennett are among the many who have sung it, as well as movie star Fred Astaire, seen here. 10) “It Had to Be You” Does anyone have a jazzier tone than living legend Tony Bennett? Hes one of the greatest male jazz singers of all time just listen to how simply but effectively he delivers this uplifting classic! 11) “All the Way” This standard has one grand, sweeping melody. Its the  perfect tune to show off emotion as well as how well you can build a phrase. 12) “Stardust” This one was made for intimate jazz club settings! It’s especially beautiful with nothing more than simple piano accompaniment, as heard here with Harry Connick, Jr. 13) “The Girl From Ipanema” Like many of the jazz songs in this list, there have been countless versions of this piece. This was even a Top-40 hit in the 1960s! Many have given this a Latin feel, but note how Nat King Cole gives it a slightly more traditional sound. 14) “When Sunny Gets Blue” Smooth… cool… and yet very emotional at the same time. Ah, that’s why we love vocal jazz! Mel Torme, the “Velvet Fog” himself, sings this so beautifully, with impeccable phrasing and diction. 15) “New York State of Mind” Billy Joel was no doubt inspired from great songs of the past when he wrote and recorded this favorite new standard in the 1970s! Many of the greats have put their own stamp on his salute to the Big Apple. Wouldn’t this be a great number to either open or close a show with? So there you have it! Fifteen fantastic jazzy standards that are perfect for male jazz singers of all ages. (Ladies, check out my list of popular jazz songs for females here!) Of course, the best way to determine the perfect songs for you is by working with your voice teacher. He or she can easily help you find what is best for your vocal range and musical abilities.  If you don’t already have one, TakeLessons can help you find your perfect match for either online or in-person voice lessons. Happy singing! Post Author:  Molly R. Molly R. teaches online and in-person singing lessons in Hayward, CA. Her specialties include teaching beginner vocalists, shy singers, children, teens, lapsed singers, and older beginners. She joined TakeLessons in November 2013.  Learn more about Molly  here! Photo by  Eva Rinaldi 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

Science ACT Help Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

Science ACT Help Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace ACT test is taken by high school students to gain admissions in colleges and universities. ACT test consists of 4 main sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science reasoning. Science is one of the important sections in the ACT exam and students are given multiple choice questions on science related topics and they must select an answer from the given set of options. For this section, 35 minutes time is given and students should answer 40 questions in this time period. This clearly implies that each question gets less than a minute time of the student and hence they should work on the questions quickly. The topics included in this section are from physics, chemistry, biology and Earth/space sciences, however the questions are not based on difficult or higher level concepts. In order to get good scores in the science section of the ACT test, students should know science related topics learnt up till high school. The main purpose of ACT Science test is to examine a students reasoning and problem-solving skills in natural sciences. By studying for ACT science, students will be prepared to take up college level courses in their education and therefore, students must work on their analysis and reasoning skills to get good score in the test. The test contains science related information and questions are asked in various forms such as graphs, tables, research summaries etc. The main task for the students is to recognize and understand the given information and answer the questions based on its concept.

Business English Exams to Prove Your Business Language Skills

Business English Exams to Prove Your Business Language Skills Business English Exams that You May Want to Consider ChaptersWhy Take a Business English Exam?The Most Prestigious Business English Examinations in the WorldPreparing for Business English ExamsMaybe your English language proficiency is already quite high. Maybe your spoken English or your speaking and listening are excellent. Or maybe your writing skills are up to scratch. Either way, you may want to improve your English in a specific context, a niche in which you will be working, or a field in which your English proficiency isn’t quite so high.That field may well be your business English skills. Yes, you are okay when in easy conversational contexts, but maybe you struggle with your presentation skills, your negotiation skills, or your specialist vocabulary. This is a completely normal part of learning a foreign language, by the way; there is no reason why you would have picked up business English skills.But people like you may benefit from a business English course. Indeed, these courses were designed specifically for people like y ou â€" to develop your fluency in a particular field of language learning. Business English courses take place all over the UK â€" and the world too â€" and they can be crucial in landing you the job that you want to gain in the English-speaking world.That’s where business English examinations come in â€" the English language assessments that will certify you as a particular level of English speaker.It’s these exams that we are going to be talking about here. We’ll give you the information on the major business English qualifications â€" and run you through the best way to prepare for them. So, listen up! Get your post-its out and get learning JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Take a Business English Exam?Why bother with a business English exam, when you could feasibly just take a certificate in English language skills more generally? It’s a good question.Whereas the generic English language tests â€" such as the IELTS, the International Engl ish Language Testing System â€" examines you on your larger English competencies, the business English qualifications home in on the language relevant to the particular linguistic field: business â€" obviously.And whilst many employers will see your success in your IELTS and think very highly of it, actually, many others will want to see specific preparation for and commitment to the world of business. If it is business that you are intending to head into â€" and if you are sure about this â€" the business English qualifications will be the most effective marker of this commitment of yours.The majority of business English qualifications are internationally recognised. They are held in high repute. And they are very good at giving you the specific skills you need for the specific area into which you are heading. Whilst the IELTS exam can be a bit academic, this is not the case for the business English qualifications â€" and that may well be a good thing for you.Meanwhile, as we discu ssed in our article on business English vocabulary, the business world does use a specific language that many native speakers of English don’t necessarily understand. Businesspeople know this and you should too. Business English exams prepare you for this specific â€" and often exclusive â€" world.Let’s take a look at what these qualifications are.The Most Prestigious Business English Examinations in the WorldThere are a number of organisations that supply business English qualifications.The most famous of these is Cambridge Assessment, who helped to develop the IELTS test as well as the CELTA programme. They are generally a very highly respected organisation, with links to the British Council and to the English language educational bodies in respective English-speaking countries around the world. They also helped develop the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) â€" the familiar scale on which you will be graded.Others include Pearson in association with t he London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Their business English qualifications sit within their broader portfolio of technical business certificates. Given that they are developed by the very people who oversee business in the UK, they probably know what they are talking about.Let’s have a look at these qualifications in more detail - and you can find out everything you need to know about learning business English here!The Three Cambridge English Business ExamsCambridge English are potentially the most highly regarded provider of English language qualifications in the world. They tend to set the standard for all of the others.In terms of business English qualifications, there are pretty much to choose from. These are the suite of BEC qualifications, standing predictably for Business English Certificate, and Linguaskill, which used to be the BULATS qualification (Business Language Testing Service). The important element to know of the latter is that it can be taken online.The BE Cs come in three progressive parts. Welcome to the world of business English.Business Preliminary (BEC Preliminary)Business Preliminary is the first of the BEC qualifications, and this caters for people of B1 in the CEFR. Sitting and passing this exam will testify to the fact that you can talk about business subjects; write business emails and take telephone calls; and understand basic diagrams and charts.The exam itself lasts for about two hours and twenty minutes and comprises of three paper.Business Vantage (BEC Vantage)The BEC Vantage certificate is for people of B2 level. You’ll be able to read articles and reports from business publications and be able to engage in business meetings.Predictably, as the standard is somewhat higher, the exam will be a little more testing: it lasts for two hours, forty minutes and has four separate papers.Business Higher (BEC Higher)The BEC Higher is sold as ‘advanced’, and if you manage to crack this, there is no stopping you from becoming one of the most senior figures in yo ur business organisation.You’ll be confidently engaging in presentations and meetings, communicating fluently at senior levels, and grappling with more complex business concepts.This exam takes three hours. However, it is the one that business schools and most businesses accept around the world.LinguaskillOnce known as BULATS, Linguaskill is a test that employers and higher education institutions use to test your English language skills.The whole thing is computer-based and covers all of the language skills required â€" from listening and speaking to writing and reading. The test will be able to tell you whether you are anywhere from A1 to C1.The chances are you will sit this at a location chosen by your employer.The Five International Qualifications in Business English from Pearson and LCCIPearson is an academic publisher and provider of educational materials. LCCI, or the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is the organisation of the businesspeople in London. Together, they have come up with this English language qualification specifically designed for business.Whereas there are three BECs, there are five different English for Business qualifications. These progress primarily through levels, whilst there are variations on the examinations too, as you will see.English for Business (Preliminary Level)The preliminary qualification is aimed at people at A1 or A2 level; they can use English at a basic level.The qualification will help you understand short conversations on business topics and to read basic business charts and diagrams.The exam lasts just over two hours.English for Business (Level 1)From A2 to B1, the Level 1 qualification is that little bit more challenging. You’ll be participating in short conversations this time, not just understanding.English for Business (Level 2)English for Business Level 2 is for B1 and B2 level learners. You can actually sit this one online too.English for Business (Level 3)Level 3 takes you up to C1 â€" in which y ou will be much more confident in your English language skills. If you complete this, you can progress to the Diploma in Business English for International Managers.English for Business (Level 4)Finally, the Level 4 qualification is for fluent speakers of English. You will succeed in any business context with this qualification. Once you've passed your business English exams, there's nothing stopping you.Preparing for Business English ExamsHow do you prepare for these business English examinations? Just as you would with any qualification â€" but in the knowledge that you should be preparing for the test, not just learning English.These certificates are notorious for asking for quite unrealistic details from you. It’s not a case of understanding what is being said, as such, as you answering the question that you are being asked â€" in the way that they want you to answer it.Find a Private Business English TutorThe best way to navigate this complex field is to find an English tutor who can help you with the specificities for the exam. Experienced tutors, such as you will find on Superprof, know how to get students to pass.That might be exactly what you need.Keep Doing those Practice TestsAlongside your tutor, you need to become completely familiar with the exam paper that you will be sitting. This means doi ng practice test after practice test after practice test.We know it might become a little dull. But if you are sitting the exam, you may as well try and pass it!Check out where to find business English resources!