Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Tutoring

Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer TutoringI have been looking for the Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Tutoring. Now a good friend of mine is working at a day care center and is having trouble filling up all the positions they need. I have used them before and really enjoy their program and their little rascals. So what I want to do is find this guide so I can get my hands on it.Well, I am not too sure about the question mark. They are a little difficult to locate, but there are some that are out there. The Internet is a great place to find them if you have trouble finding them.The website address is AllynBB.com. Now some of these are sold for very cheap on Craigslist but I have had bad luck with them. They can be very frustrating to find as well.The site has all of the information that is on the Allyn website. It is very user friendly. You can search through the jobs by location and type in the zip code. That is a great feature.Another nice feature is that they have a search feature that w ill allow you to narrow down your search to just the job in your area. So, if you need a child care center in Seattle then just type in Seattle and it will only show job postings in Seattle. This is a great way to narrow your search.They also have a submission process. If you know the details of the job posting that you are submitting a link that you found on the Allyn website will send that along. So there is that.The website is simple and easy to use. So, if you are looking for a way to help out a friend then you may want to look into the Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Tutoring. It will take you less time than you think and it will be a lot of fun.

Top Places to Visit in Spain (+ 10 Faux Pas To Avoid There)

Top Places to Visit in Spain (+ 10 Faux Pas To Avoid There) Suzy S. Want to avoid looking like a tourist during your trip to  Spain? In this post, youll first learn about some of the top destinations in Spain then, tutor  Emmanuel M.  explains what  NOT to do while youre there! Spain is known as a beautiful, romantic, and overall wonderful place to visit. Tourists across  the world visit Spain to explore  the  local sights, food, and traditions. Youll find that the people of Spain  tend to be laid-back, good-natured, and cheerful and there are plenty of options for destinations, from hidden gems of Spain  to the more well-known tourist  attractions. The Top Places to Visit in Spain Located on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe, Spain is a popular travel destination. This beautiful nation is home to stunning coastlines, islands, mountains, and more. Here is a look into five of the top places to visit in Spain. Barcelona Barcelona is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and for good reason! The city has a little bit of everything, including unique architecture, exciting activities, and beautiful beaches. One of the most interesting areas to explore is Las Ramblas. This district in the old part of the city is open to pedestrians. In this lively area, youll find shops, restaurants, live performers, artists, and more. Another must see is La Sagrada Familia. This large cathedral is visited by  more than  2 million people each year. Although construction began in 1882, the building is still in progress and scheduled to be completed in about 20 years. Want to add a quick stop to this beautiful city to your travel itinerary? Check out these tips on how to see the best of Barcelona in two days from American Travel Blogger. Galicia Also known as the land of the 1000 rivers, Galicia is a picturesque area in northwestern Spain with plenty of old-world charm. This coastal region is home to some of the best beaches found in Spain, including 105 blue flag beaches. Highlights include San Francisco Beach and Praia das Rodas, which was at the top of The Guardians Top 10 Beaches in the World list. Delicious seafood caught fresh in the ocean is abundant here. One specialty is the percebes, or barnacles. This prized catch is caught by brave fishermen near the cliffs of Costa de Morte, which translates to mean Coast of Death. Andalucia If youre interested in learning more about Spains bullfighting history, Andalucia is one of the best places to visit in Spain. Since the 15th century, Andalucia has been an important location for bullfighting and rearing. It is home to Spains oldest surviving bullring, Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza. The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Sea is also located in Andalucia. Built in the 16th century, it is the third-largest church in the world, as well as the burial site of explorer Christopher Columbus. See Also: Important Spanish Travel Phrases (Video) Valencia Valencia is the place to visit in Spain if you are looking for delicious and diverse cuisine. Throughout history, the city of Valencia was invaded and inhabited many times by the Greeks, Romans, and Moors. Each of these cultures influenced the flavors used in cooking, leading to the diverse culinary choices found there today. In particular, Valencia is known as the birthplace of paella. This traditional dish is prepared over a wood fire in a large pan called a paellera. Typically, a paella will include Spanish rice, olive oil, saffron, tomatoes, and chicken. After youve had your fill of paella, visit the Mercado Central de Valencia for cured meats, locally made cheeses, and fresh fruits, including the iconic Valencia oranges. Madrid As the capital of Spain, Madrid is one of the most popular places to visit in Spain. It is home to Palacio Real, one of the most impressive palaces in all of Europe. Each of the nearly 3,000 rooms is luxuriously decorated and furnished with marble, stucco, and mahogany. Along the Gran Via, you will find beautiful, elaborate 20th-century architecture, including the Edificio Metropolis. Also located in Madrid is the Museo del Prado, which is considered one of the worlds greatest art museums. Now that you know the best places to visit in Spain, its time for that trip right? Not so fast! Before you visit, youll want to do a little bit of research so as to not totally look like a tourist. Just like with every country in the world, there are certain cultural faux pas (social “no-no’s”) that you should avoid if you plan on visiting Spain. Lets take a look at the dos and donts as  you assimilate  to some of Spains culture and customs: 1. Fashionably late is the norm â€" NEVER arrive on time! If you get invited somewhere (whether thats someones house, or a place for a party/get-together), keep in mind that everyone is expected to be late! If you show up on time, either youll be the only one there, or the hosts will still be getting ready. Bonus Tip: Carol from  Wandering Carol told us    When heading to Spain, dont make the mistake of trying to keep to the same schedule that you do at home. Dont get upset if the store is closed in the afternoon, or on Sunday. Dont assume dinner is going to be served before 10pm. Dont think you need to rush through lunch (though this is tough when you want to sightsee!) and above all, dont think you wont be dancing until dawn in Madrid. 2. Impatience is a sin (unless it’s during traffic). The people of Spain go about their day  with little  pressure and no rush. Its very common to see the locals  chatting with  clerks at a supermarket or with barbers at a hair salon. Things go at a very slow pace, so  if you show people youre annoyed or impatient, be prepared to face looks of disgust unless it’s during traffic, in which case people  prefer to move faster so that they can  enjoy the rest of their day! 3. Don’t modify ANY food â€" restaurant or homemade! For Spaniards, food means the world. Food is undoubtedly part of their culture, passion, and art. So to go anywhere and modify food thats given to you is like a huge slap in their face. To add a little something (like salt or pepper) to a dish thats served to you is like saying “You did this wrong let me show you how to make it better. 4. Don’t show your disgust or dislike of a food! Since food is so important to the locals of Spain,  if someone gives you a dish that you find appalling, youd better hide that disgust well; the locals might look at you as an uncultured individual who doesn’t appreciate good food. A good excuse is to pretend youre full or you couldn’t eat another bite despite it looking really good. Bonus Tip:  Ken Baldwin, founder of TotallySpain.com,  shared this extra tip with us We recommend reading up on the mealtimes in Spain,  which vary significantly with elsewhere in Europe and North America. When seated at a restaurant and ready to order, look around at the tables next to you for guidance. Keep an eye out for platters of food in the center of the tables that are called  â€˜raciones’. The Spanish love to share  and many menus are designed with this in mind. 5. Always put up a fight, but let them win when they offer to pay for dinner. The people of Spain are very generous and kindhearted, so don’t be surprised if they take you out and volunteer to pay for everything. However, they expect you to put up a fight to show youre being mindful, thoughtful, and respectful of their customs. Always remember to thank them and be appreciative. If you end up spending your own money on other things or on someone else, make sure you know how to be efficient and  save your travel money. 6. Be extremely complimentary of homemade food! Food, yet again, is an important aspect of Spains culture. When youre going over to a Spaniards  house and they offer to feed you, always remember to: a) accept the food and eat it (even if you’re full, always accept to eat at least a little bit), and  b) compliment whoever cooked the food profusely. Its also common  to spend the first few minutes of the meal  talking about  the deliciousness of the food. 7. Do not talk TOO good of other places. Everyone has pride for their hometown and where they come from that’s completely normal. However, when visiting Spain, do NOT spend more than a couple of minutes talking about how amazing your home  is, because they  may get  offended. To them, nothing is like Spain not to mention, they have love-hate relationships with several countries in the world. Be sure to  look at  a few Spanish travel blogs to see how fellow  tourists converse and interact with the locals. 8. Never bring up racist matters in Spain. Unfortunately, racism is alive and well in every  country. Theres no country out there where even a semblance racism isn’t felt. But when visiting Spain, NEVER bring up racist issues â€" remember, youre a guest, so you may not  know the history, current events, public opinions, or customs that all influence racism. Theyre well aware of the matters, but theyll  act very defensively because nobody likes speaking about their country’s problems with foreigners. 9. Don’t have a limp handshake or be awkward when hugging or double-cheek kissing. In Spain its customary to give a sturdy handshake to men and a double-cheek kiss to women (and sometimes men). If you give a weak handshake, its rude and considered an insult. Also, feeling awkward or uncomfortable when doing the double-cheek kiss makes you seem stuck-up and can  also be taken as an offense. 10. Don’t be too polite or well-mannered â€" Spain is casual and you should be too. People in Spain love the easy, calm life. Theyre very casual and would prefer it if you  are too  while visiting. If you portray yourself too seriously and well-behaved, locals might think you’re stuck-up, or perhaps they might  misinterpret your demeanor  as saying you’re better than them. Its smart  to learn a few Spanish phrases for traveling so you can use them in your casual encounters. As Ive said many times before, and will continue to say many times more: Spain is an amazing and beautiful place to visit!  As long as you remember not to commit  these faux pas, youll definitely enjoy yourself. Additional Resources to Check Out Before Your Trip Montserrat Mountain, Spain: a Downhill Trip via Wandering Carol 10 Best Places to Visit in Spain via Touropia 6 Hidden Gems of Spain to Add to Your Bucket List via TakeLessons 5 Travel Bloggers to Inspire Your Next Trip to Spain via TakeLessons My 10 Favorite Underrated Cities in Spain via Young Adventuress Post Author: Emmanuel M. Emmanuel M. teaches Spanish online. A California State University, Fullerton graduate and native Spanish speaker, he also teaches essay writing, study skills, and singing.  Learn more about Emmanuel here! Photos by Nathan Rupert, Jorge Rodriguez, Harshil Shah, Paco Rubio Ordás, vil.sandi 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

Algebra Equation Solver

Algebra Equation Solver Algebra equation is used to find the solution of algebraic equation. This tool is used to calculate the value of unknown variable by using the algebraic property, formulas and its rules. The complicated algebraic equation can be solved by this tool in a very less time. So this tool increases the speed of solving the equations. It can be explained and understood by taking the suitable problem and solving such to get the result. The similar relevant problems are shown below for the better understanding of the concepts of the algebraic equation. Example 1:- Find x if (x+24)/2=20 Solution :-First of all we will solve the equation by the use of cross multiplication. (x+24)/2=20 X+24=40 Now to solve this equation, we need to subtract 24 from both side of the equation, we will get, X+24-24=40-24 Therefore, X=16 is the required solution of the problem. Example2:- Find x if (x+3)/2=4/3 Solution 2:- First of all we will solve the equation by the use of cross multiplication, we will get (x+3)/2=4/3 3x + 9 =8 Now to solve this equation further that is finding the value of x , we need to subtract 9 from both side of the equation ,we will get. 3x+9 -9 =8 -9 Therefore, 3x = -1 Finally to get the value of unknown variable x, we need to divide the above equation by 3 both sides Therefore, 3x/3 = -1/3 So x = -1/3 In this problem, x = -1/3 is the solution of the equation (x+3)/2=4/3

Math Homework Help from Tutor Pace- One of the Most Hunted Hang Outs

Math Homework Help from Tutor Pace- One of the Most Hunted Hang Outs Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Homework is a tug of war for 90% of the students testing their patience to great degrees, forcing them to give up the subject as such. Science, English, Mathit is endless making you shrivel within with fear and panic. There too, problem solving in Mathematical areas are daunting ones and excruciating with their formula, equations, symbols and what not? As the great saying goes,” where     there is a will, there is a way”. You need not feel frustrated with all overwhelming problems in Algebra, Calculus and Trigonometry. Rather, make a way out by searching for the viable options available to you and choose the best that makes your best bet. You could Approach your school teacher who would explain well what he wants from you and the purpose behind all those problems assigned to you. He could very well divulge the steps and formula through which you could arrive at answers but the sad part of it is you miss the time on which you could meet him and get his consultations. Or, you could write out your queries in forums which would be answered by the subject experts, where too, your hurry bury schedule and last minute doubts in homework would not fetch the desired results and there you are to lose your grades by the passage of time with a wait for answers from the forums Online search for solvers also is a fine idea-still you lack a human hand there to tell you where you go wrong Private tutoring with a fall back on private tutors is considered as a waste of time in the present scenario now when  online methods rule the roost Well, by the time you would have understood the fact that it is only online tutoring help for your subject struggles in all areas of Algebra, Geometry and Statistics that could ascertain your foolproof learning and excellent outcomes in subject concepts and problem solving. Online Homework Help in Math- the only panacea for your crucial moments Online help for all your algebraic equations, Geometry concepts, Calculus problems and Statistics analysis is the right hang out for you in the sense It is time saving and convenient for you to work from anywhere, amidst any activity, any time It helps you pluck out your blemishes at the root and seek suitable remedial measures through a resourceful hand You gain the support of subject experts who do the needful to eradicate your anxieties and instill confidence  in you  You have  white board support where you could draw, do problems, insert equations, share your files and docs and seek step by step explanations from the tutor  You could verify your answers as well Tutor Pace is the most sought out tutoring center which renders timely help for all your problems with the personalized approach of its expert subject specialists. Gain massive support from our tutors in an online backdrop where all your learning struggles in mathematical areas would be blown to the wind through the proper advice of our tutors. Math Homework Help with expert tutors of Tutor Pace is the excellent source for redeeming your missing learning aspects in the subject and for showcasing improved scores in it.

Tips for Travelling to Brazil

Tips for Travelling to Brazil Our Advice for Spending Time in Brazil ChaptersWhat Should You Visit in Brazil?When Is the Ideal Time to Travel to Brazil?How Much Does it Cost to Travel to Brazil?Where Can You Stay During Your Time in Brazil?“There are moments in South America, in Brazil, where you look out, and there are literally thirty, forty thousand people jumping up and down at the same time.” - Mike McCreadySince Brazil is 35 times the size of the UK, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to places to go to. Brazil leads South America in terms of tourism with 6.6 million visitors each year.A lot of Europeans visit Brazil. Visiting Brazil isn’t like going to Spain or Portugal so here’s our advice for visiting Brazil, the attractions you should see, and where you should stay.In this article, we'll be covering what you should visit in Brazil, the ideal time to visit the country, the cost of travelling there, and where you can stay when you go. IrineuPortuguese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GabrielaPortuguese Teache r 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouisePortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £27/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RodrigoPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BlancaPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolinaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (6) £11/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Should You Visit in Brazil?With over 2,000 attractions listed and recommended on Tripadvisor, you’re not going to run out of things to do across Brazil. Since Brazil has a long coastline and covers a large area, there’s a lot of variety in terms of what you can visit.Christ the Redeemer is one of Brazil's most popular monuments. (Source: fabiowanderley)When it comes to the largest cities like Brasilia, the capital, and Rio de Janeiro, you can visit things like: Santuario Don Bosco de BrasiliaBrasilia Botanic GardensCathedral of BrasíliaBrasilia Digital TV TowerTemple of Good WillPlanalto PalaceBanco Central do Brasil MuseumChrist the RedeemerThe Frédéric Chopin StatueBoulevard OlímpicoEscadaria SelarónSao Salvador ParkObelisco da Avenida Rio BrancoCais do ValongoIgreja Sao JosePraça Quinze de NovembroSão Paulo Museum of ArtSão Paulo CathedralIbirapuera ParkParque TrianonLatin America MemorialMirante Do Arvrao viewpoint in Rio de JaneiroMirante Do Caete, also in RioThe Amazon RainforestIguazu FallsDid you know that while Rio de Janeiro isn’t Brazil’s capital, it was for 200 years?To make the most of the monuments in Brazil, make sure you check the opening times of these monuments and how much they cost to visit. Generally speaking, large families can enjoy discounts and children won’t have to pay very much to visit tourist attractions.Brazil is also a great country for surfers.How could we do an article on Brazil and everythin g you have to visit without mentioning Copacabana?With its beautiful beaches, it’s the ideal place for relaxing holidays with a caipirinha in hand.For party animals, we recommend heading to the beach resorts like Belem, Ipanema, Guanabara, or Canoa Quebrada. There are no better places to party than in Brazil.Of course, there are other places to visit like Recife, Minas, Salvador de Bahia, Manaus, Ilha Grande, Noronha, or Olinda.When Is the Ideal Time to Travel to Brazil?To make the most of a trip to Brazil, you have to go at the right time. The same dates aren’t recommended for every destination so you need to think about where you’re going and where.You shouldn’t go to Brasilia at the same time as you would Porto Alegre. Rainy seasons, cold temperatures, not much going on, etc. Depending on the time of year, some towns can completely change. If you want to do touristy things, you might want to visit in the low season when it’s quieter, but if you’re looking for high tem peratures, then you’ll want to visit during the high season.There are plenty of events, including Carnaval, in Brazil.(Source: 489327)There are plenty of different types of tourists who head to Brazil:Surfers and diversHistory or architecture loversParty animalsCultural touristsWhen should you travel to Brazil?It depends on where you’re going as Brazil has various different climates:An equatorial climate in the northeastA monsoon climate in the AmazonA savannah climate in the southeastA semi-arid climate in the centreA humid sub-tropical climate in the southeast, tooA temperate climate in the southTo make the most of the climate, it’s recommended that you go during the winter, which is from June to August or September in the southern hemisphere.If you want to enjoy the local events in Brazil, you should check the calendar. Here are a few of Brazil's most popular events that you won’t want to miss:Carnival in the big cities in February or March.Carnival in Natal, June-July.Ga y Pride, Sao Paulo, June.Winter Festival in Ouro Preto, July.Gramado Film Festival, August.Independence Day of Brazil, 7 September.Blumenau Beer Festival, October.São Paulo International Film Festival.Salvador Summer Fest, December.So when are you going to go?How Much Does it Cost to Travel to Brazil?When it comes to travelling to Latin America and Brazil, in particular, you have to think about how much you’re going to spend.Unfortunately, travelling to Brazil isn't free. (Source: DariuszSankowski)There are certain obligatory costs:Transport costs including your tickets to BrazilFood and drinkTravel insuranceAccommodationPreparation costs before you go.The Brazilian Real is the currency used: 1 Real Ëœ £0.22The advantage is that the cost of living in Brazil is much cheaper than in the UK. This means you should have a good amount of money for visiting various attractions. This is also good because Brazil has plenty of things to visit like Copacabana, Ipanema, Ilha Grande national park, or the Iguaçu falls.Your budget will depend on where you’re going, too. For example:If you’re visiting Recife, you might want to budget for diving, etc.Large cities like Brasilia are home to colonial Brazilian architectural and UNESCO world heritage sites to visit.Natural wonders like the Iguaçu falls are perfect for enjoying Brazilian nature.According to Budget Your Trip, you should expect to pay around £400 per week in Brazil.Don’t hesitate to do your research and budget accordingly.Where Can You Stay During Your Time in Brazil?Accommodation is one of the first things you need to ask yourself about when planning your trip.So where can you stay?For example, if you are heading to Brazil with your family, your accommodation will be different to a trip with your partner or going on a road trip. Here are the main types of accommodation available in Brazil:Traditional HotelsPousadas or Luxury HotelsHoliday ApartmentsUnusual AccommodationYouth HostelsYou could even visit the Amazon! (Source: rosinakaiser)There are thousands of places to stay in Brazil.  In terms of hotels, there are different types:Local modern hotelsCharming little hotelsLarge hotel chainsBudget hotelsThe average cost per night is around £40.  Try to book ahead, especially during the busy period.However, if you want to try something different and stay somewhere out of the ordinary, you could always try:Seaside wooden cabinsFurnished holiday homesSeasonal rentsHoliday villagesHoliday residencesCampsites and bungalowsIf you’re on a tight budget, focus on youth hotels. For as little as a few quid per night, they’re great if you want to stay close to the sea or a city centre. Of course, if you want peace and quiet, you probably don't want to be sharing a dormitory with a dozen other backpackers.So when are you going to Brazil?  Would you like to learn some Portuguese before you go?You can always get a bit of help from one of the many talented tutors on Superprof. There are three m ain types of tutorial available on the site: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. There are pros and cons to each and the best one for you really depends on your situation.Face-to-face tutorials are the most personal and have you and your tutor working together for the whole session. Of course, this bespoke service comes at a cost, making it the most costly type of tutorial available. If shyness has been getting in the way of your language learning, this is probably the best option. Additionally, the tutor can tailor each lesson to exactly what you need to learn or what you've been struggling with.Online tutorials are similar to face-to-face tutorials with the main difference being that the tutor isn't physically in the room with you and you're more likely to find native Portuguese speakers as you can broaden your search to anywhere in the world!Finally, there are group tutorials. In these types of tutorials, there are several students and just one tutor. W ith all the students sharing the cost of the tutor's time, these tutorials are usually the cheapest per person per hour but each student won't get the bespoke tutoring or one-on-one time that they would in the other types of tutorials. However, you will get plenty of opportunities to practise your language skills with the other students in the class.

Osmotic Pressure Definition Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace

Osmotic Pressure Definition Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace The movement of particles from the region of higher concentration to the region of lower concentration through a semipermeable membrane is called osmosis. Osmotic pressure is equal to external pressure which must be applied to stop entry of water into an osmotically active solution through a semipermeable membrane. Osmotic pressure is also defined as the maximum pressure which is produced in osmotically active solution when the same is separated from pure water by a semipermeable membrane. Osmotic pressure is dependent upon the concentration of solutes. It is higher in case of xerophytes as compared to mesophytes while mesophytes have higher osmotic pressure than hydrophytes. The value of osmotic pressure is equal to osmotic potential but with a positive sign. Measurement of osmotic pressure: It is done with the help of instrument called osmometer .Example-Pfeffers osmometer, Berkeley and Hartleys osmometer. In Pfeffers osmometer, a pressure develops due to entry of water into a vessel having osmotically active solution. The pressure is measured with the help of manometer. The value is not accurate because it involves dilution of solution. In Berkeley and Hartleys osmometer, pressure is applied to prevent entry of water into a solution. The value of pressure which is just sufficient to prevent entry or exit of water in the apparatus is equal to osmotic pressure of the solution. Thistle funnel experiment can be modified to measure osmotic pressure. Thistle funnel is fitted with a piston to which pressure can be applied .The pressure that keeps the level of solution unchanged is equal to osmotic pressure of solution contained in thistle funnel. The pressure required to stop the movement of water completely is called osmotic pressure.

An Exciting Look at Articles and Movie Making

An Exciting Look at Articles and Movie Making Articles (a/an and the) are tricky for English learners for several  reasons.  Maybe your language does not use articles, or maybe youre not used to having to change the article like with a vs an.  Today well review when and how to use articles, and when not to use them.  Well finish the lesson with a mind-blowing video and listening exercise.This helpful video explains  when to use a/an and no article:Use what you just learned to answer these questions.  Remember to write your responses in the comments section!Did you buy (a/an/no article) hat?It took me (a/an/no article) hour to walk to the store.(The/No article) education is very important to me.Now, learn how we use the in English:Lets review when to use each article or no article:Still confused?  Check out this post  by Paul, which gives a very thorough and helpful explanation of  articles.Now, its time for you to practice.  Below is a transcription from the video.  Before watching the short video, fill in the blanks with a, an, the or no article.  Then, check your answers as you watch.  Remember to always write your responses, questions or comments in the section provided, and well get back to you!In todays films, it is possible to create almost anything, but (1)__ work is definitely not that easy and includes many hours of (2)__ attention to small detail, lots of creativity, and (3)__ high level of skill.  This world is called VFX, and is built from many parts in (4)__ long pipeline that creates something amazing, and thats what you see on (5)__ big screen.  (6)__ last role in this long pipeline of visual effects is called digital compositing, which is (7)__ creative process of assembling filmed and rendered elements from multiple sources to create (8)__ final, lifelike illusion.  What is that, you ask?  Let me show you.  Its (9)__ profession that includes many skills such as rotoscoping, which separates (10)__ foreground from (11)__ background, and there are all kinds of techniques to acco mplish it.  In films it is common to use (12)__ blue or green screen to easily remove (13)__ background from behind (14)__ actors, and that is called keying.  By doing that, we can create (15)__ more realistic background behind (16)__ actor.  Tracking is another side of (17)__ story, and it is very important to know how to do well.  Theres 2D tracking and theres 3D tracking, which recreates (18)__ exact movement of (19)__ camera.  Another big part of this job is to remove objects, cables and trackers, paint them out, and insert something else instead.  And, of course, theres computer generated elements, or in short, CG compositing.  My friends always say VFX looks fake.The best way to improve your use of articles is through  a conversation with a native speaker.  Here at LOI we have experienced, professional English teachers  to help you practice.  Sign up for a class today!

Are Narratives Superior to 5-Paragraph Persuasive Essays

Are Narratives Superior to 5-Paragraph Persuasive Essays 1. We need an alternative to the 5-paragraph persuasive essay Many teachers believe that the 5-paragraph persuasive essay is the only appropriate writing task for college-level students. Almost all of the college-level ESL textbooks published for the Quebec market include units on the so-called 5-paragraph persuasive essay, but units on narrative writing rarely appear.  This dearth is unfortunate since there are some very good reasons to switch to narrative writing. 1. We need an alternative to the 5-paragraph persuasive essay Why would anyone want an alternative to the 5-paragraph persuasive essay, you ask? For starters, over-reliance on this standard writing model does considerable harm to both students and teachers. When you ask teachers why they teach the 5-paragraph persuasive essay, they invariably tell you that it teaches students how to think and how to express themselves. However, there is evidence to suggest that, in fact, this standard writing model does exactly the oppositelimiting thinking, stunting expressiveness, and persuading no one of anything. Structure displaces meaning Rorschach (2004)  reports in a case-study of three college ESL students in a remedial writing course that pressure from the writing teacher to adhere strictly to a proscribed form interfered with the students development and organization of their ideas. One student had been taught in her ESL writing class to focus solely on the formal features of the model and ignore critical issues with content. As a result, her paragraphs remained a series of unconnected vignettes, bound together by a highly-formulaic thesis statement. Rather than to help the student organize and express her own ideas, the imposed structure suppressed personal expression and produced non-thinking conformity. A deskilling effect Another teacher phrased the problem this way: The five-paragraph essay is not an inherently incorrect form. However, it is destructive in that students are not ever allowed to discover if the form fits the meaning they seek to make”  (Duxbury, 2008). Since the form is always set in advance, meaning suffers. Part of the blame belongs to the thesis statement, by controlling what you are able to say and how you can say it. Berggren calls persuasive essay writing profoundly anti-intellectual in this respect because the students only question becomes, What can I say that I can support? (Berggren, 2008, p. 60). Students begin with an opinion and cast about in search of support for it, instead of looking at the evidence and formulating a position by induction. Moreover, the epistemology thesis statements reinforce is exactly the style of knowing we want learners to outgrow, namely that of absolute knowing in favour of contextual knowing. The absolute claims of the conventional thesis statement preclude nuanced thinking. Not only does this rhetorical straitjacket have a negative effect on students ability to think and express their meaning, excessive focus on this one rhetorical model to the exclusion to all others,  Moss (2002)  argues, has left students under-prepared for the range of critical thinking and writing tasks they will face at university. Concomitantly, Moss (2002) found that adopting a single, standard academic writing model has devalued teacher innovation and development, with school administrations claiming that in the context of a single, universal writing model, funding teacher training for writing instruction is no longer necessary. The 5-paragraph persuasive essay is having a deskilling effect on teachers, as well. Virtues Overstated E. L. Thorndike, the first educational psychologist The virtues of the 5-paragraph persuasive essay are almost always overstated. Many teachers will tell you that this type of essay promotes proper habits of mind, helping learners organize their ideas, no matter the subject. This is called the Doctrine of Formal Discipline and is based on the idea that learning to do one task can have a positive effect on a learners ability to do another unrelated task. In the early 1900s, the dominant view was that learning Latin and Geometry would have an improving effect on learners, so  E. L. Thorndike, the first educational psychologist, set out to test  whether learning one cognitive task would result in an improvement on a different task. It did not. The theory of general transfer has been abandoned in favour of theories of specific transfer (where learning one task will help you do a similar task in the future) or specific transfer of general principles (where learning to apply specific strategies to one situation can transfer to a new situation). Essay writing may provide an organizational model for arranging arguments into an essay form but it is very unlikely for it to cause a general improvement in thinking skills. Inauthentic task The persuasive essay is an inauthentic task since it is never used outside of instructional contexts. Horowitz (1986) in a survey of writing assignments across disciplines found that the persuasive essay does not resemble any of the actual writing tasks usually given by university professors. Defenders of the essay claim that persuasive essay writing is nevertheless an essential academic skill, without which advancement in academia is impossible. Proof of this is that the universities use persuasive essay writing tasks as entry tests. Therefore, the reasoning goes, teaching the persuasive essay in English will help students gain access to and succeed in English language universities. According to Statscan, 64% of the population in Quebec attends CEGEP. Only 38% go on to university. But from there, according to  Lamarre (2008), only 20% of francophone graduates attend English language university. That means that only 8% of all the francophones in all CEGEPs will go on to English University. Assuming that learning to write the persuasive essay is, as claimed, useful for students attending English universities, a class of 30 CEGEP ESL learners will receive instruction in a writing task which might be relevant for only about 2 students in the group. How relevant? is another question since a growing number of undergrads enter Business and Engineering programs where report writing and case studies (i.e., narratives) will be required of them. Of the English L2 speakers who do arrive at English language universities, irrespective of academic discipline, the biggest hurdle, according to the Vice-Provost of Concordia University, is their low English proficiency. It is for this reason that the  University Writing Test has been suspended at Concordia University for all undergraduate students in favour of preparatory ESL courses that focus on writing, listening, and speaking components of language training. To what extent, do academic writing tasks support listening and speaking skills? To answer this question, we should look at the corpus data. 2. Narratives and ultimate attainment Writing tasks that support oral skills should be a priority for ESL teachers since speaking is the most anxiety provoking form of communication. Anxiety has been shown to have a negative impact on willingness to communicate, which has a concomitant impact on frequency of communication, reducing contact with the target culture and ultimate attainment. Preparing learners for the demands of social situations should have the opposite effect, reducing task anxiety, increasing perceived competence and causing a direct positive effect on frequency of communication and commitment to integrate with the target language culture    (MacIntyre and Charos, 1996). One way to help learners with the demands of informal oral communication is to support the development of informal spoken registers through the use of narratives in ESL. Over-emphasizing formal registers reduces integrativeness College ESL courses tend to over-emphasize formal registers because of a concern that college-courses should be college-level and academic. This aspiration while noble in intent has unintended negative consequences for learners. One study (Segalowitz, 1976) found that non-fluent second language learners believe themselves to appear less intelligent, less self-confident, and less friendly during casual speech situations than formal speech situations. These same learners also evaluated their native speaker interlocutors less favourably in situations demanding casual speech than formal speech. The reason was that the language instruction these learners had been given had emphasized formal registers to the exclusion of informal registers, leaving them unprepared for situations involving informal social interaction. What these findings suggest is that an overemphasis on academic English will reduce learners’ motivation to integrate with the target language community. Since integrative motivation is needed to achieve moderate levels of second language proficiency (Dornyei, 1990), emphasizing casual registers in language learning classes should have a positive influence on ultimate attainment. Narratives encourage contact with the target culture Since narratives capture the closest approximation to the vernacular of unmonitored speech (Labov, 2010) and since speaking is the most anxiety-provoking form of communication (MacIntyre Gardner, 1991; McCrosky Richmond, 1982), it follows that switching from academic reading and writing tasks in the college classroom to narrative tasks should support the development of oral communication skills. It is very important that language teachers make efforts to reduce anxiety associated with speaking the second language because of the impact of anxiety on ultimate attainment. To explain, we know from research into anxiety and language learning that the anxiety speaking produces reduces willingness to communicate (Baker MacIntyre, 2000). We also know that reduced willingness to communicate has been shown reduce the frequency of communication (Hines Barraclough, 1995). Where contact is minimal or non-existent, there is less commitment to integrate with the target culture (Dornyei, 1990) and integrative motivation is needed to achieve moderate levels of second language proficiency (Dornyei, 1990). Supporting oral skills in non-fluent bilinguals through narratives should have an overall positive effect on ultimate attainment and help mitigate the negative effects of the current overemphasis on formal registers in second language instruction at the college level. Narratives support the development of register-appropriate oral communication Narrative writing instruction is more likely to prepare learners for informal social interaction for a number of linguistic reasons, also. Most importantly, it should be noted that academic and conversational registers involve a complementary frequency distribution of vocabulary and grammatical forms (Biber et al., 1999). However, because fictional narratives contain quoted speech, narratives contain many of the features of conversation English, making them particularly helpful in the development of the grammar and vocabulary needed in conversational registers. Some of the stark differences between academic English and conversational English are revealed in the corpus research given in Biber et al. (1999). Here are some examples of the differences between the registers with page numbers: Nouns Conversation has a lower density of information and therefore fewer nouns (Biber et al, 1999, p. 66). 60% of lexical words in academic prose are nouns (p. 65). Plural nouns are used 3-4 times more in academic prose than conversation (p. 291). Nominalization is much more common in academic prose than other registers, especially â€"tion and -ity (p. 322). Adjectives Adjectives are least common in conversation and most common in academic prose. The comparative form is used three times more often in academic prose than in conversation. Conversely, superlatives are more common in conversation than in academic prose (p. 65). Pronouns Conversation is marked by a high frequency of pronouns and a low frequency of nouns (p. 1042). Words like  everybody, everyone, everything, somebody, anybody, anyone, anything,  and  nobody  are common in conversation but rare in academic writing. Conversation uses pronouns in anaphoric expressions (to refer to an already established idea), whereas academic writing uses definite noun phrases in anaphoric expressions (p. 266). Preposition+which relativizers are only common in academic prose (p. 625). Determiners The determiner  that  is 11 times more common in conversation than in academic writing, where it is relatively rare.  This, used as a determiner, is more common in academic writing than in conversation, occurring 2500 versus 1500 times. The big exception is with the phrase  this one  which occurs 3000 times in the conversational corpus and not at all in the academic written corpus. Verbs Conversation has shorter clauses, and so verbs and adverbs are much more frequent in conversation and fiction (because it contains quoted speech) and much less frequent in academic prose (p. 65). Certain verbs are particularly common in conversation and particularly rare in academic prose:  try, buy, put, pay, bring, meet, play, run, eat, watch, pick, wear. Negation is most common in conversation and least common in academic prose (p. 159). Only in conversation is the progressive used to emphasize the reported message itself as in, “She was saying…” (p. 1120). Across all registers, 85% of verbs are tensed, while 15% of verbs are modal constructions (p. 456). Modals are most common in conversation and are about half as common in academic prose (p. 456). The progressive aspect is more common in conversation than in academic prose. The present perfect is about 30% more common in conversation than in academic prose (p. 461).  Have/has got is the most common present perfect verb in any register, occurring over 1000 times per million words in conversation, but less than 20 times per million words in academic prose (p. 465). Coordinators “But” is more frequent in conversation and fiction, and less frequent in academic prose. “And” is more frequent in academic and fiction than conversation and news. In conversation, “and” is used as a clause level connector. In academic prose, and is used as a phrase level connector (p. 81) . Contractions Verbs and not are contracted most frequently in conversation and fiction. Verbs are contracted less than 2.5% of the time in academic prose, and not is contracted 5% or less. (p. 1132). Adverbials The word  since  is used to introduce a reason in academic prose 95% of the time, but it is used to indicated a point in time in all other registers. The word  while  is used for concession in 80% of occurrences in academic prose, but it is used for time references 100% of occurrences in conversation. The word  though  is used primarily as a linking adverbial in conversation but as a subordinator in written registers. Clauses Expressions like  see if, wonder if, know if  and  ask if  are common in conversation and rare in academic prose.  Know whether  is 8 times more common in conversation than in academic writing.  Determine whether, the most common post predicate wh-clause in academic prose, occurs 20 times in academic writing and not at all in conversation. Technical Writing Some college teachers ask their ESL students to read and write technical reports, believing that the more challenging the text to read or write, the more students will learn about English. For these teachers, there is an unspoken assumption that conversational English can be acquired by implication. In fact, technical writing has certain features which cannot be generalized to everyday English. Trimble (1985) in his book on technical writing for second language teachers reports three key areas of difficulty for non-native students: descriptions, instructions, and literature reviews. He attributes much of the difficulty to grammatical elements found within them. Descriptions make unusually frequent use of passive and stative verbs. In instructions, the definite article is often left out (e.g.,  remove puncturing object from tire) or used on first mention in generalizing statements (e.g.,  The gas turbine fires continuously). In literature reviews, modals and modal passives are very common, and in certain instances, the modal should is used with the same force as must (Trimble, 1985, pp. 115-120). In all these cases, non-native learners who do not have full command of English will have difficulty learning these specialized uses of English and must learn not to generalize these specialized rules to everyday English. Summary With fewer verbs, fewer negatives, fewer modals, fewer contractions, fewer progressive forms, academic English is less suitable for supporting oral interactions than narrative writing. Furthermore, technical writing offers such an eccentric model of English grammar that learners will have difficulty generalizing its grammatical forms to any other communicative context. Finally, because of its effect on integrative motivation and ultimate attainment, ESL teachers should be very careful not to overemphasize formal registers in the instruction of non-fluent bilinguals. 3. Narratives promote the use of a wider range of grammatical structures The verb density of narratives should be of special interest to ESL teachers. Narratives are the principle way in which our species organizes its understanding of time (Abbott, 2008, p.3) and verb tense choice signals how events relate to each other in time. Since “narratives frequently contain irrealis clausesâ€"negatives, conditionals, futuresâ€"which refer to events that did not happen or might have happened or had not yet happened.” (Labov, 2010, Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Language Sciences), narratives are best suited to teach these linguistic features to second language learners. Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase It is important to note that narrative writing involves a default tense. As such, narratives create an obligatory context for eliciting and measuring mastery of past tenses.  Primarily, narratives employ the simple past (Smith, 2003; He, 2011), and “more complex tense selections involving a secondary tense are then used to relate some other time to the main storyline â€" as simultaneous with it (present), as a flashback (past), or as a flashforward (future).” (Matthiessen, 1995, p. 741).” Argument, on the other hand, does not have an obligatory tense. Take a look at this short excerpt from  The Case of the Hidden Staircase, a Nancy Drew novel for young adults.        The weary workers  had just finished  their job when the phone  rang. Nancy, being closest to the instrument,  answered  it. Hannah Gruen  was calling.      Nancy! What  happened? she  asked. Ive been waiting  over an hour for you to call me back. Whats  the matter? While there are three times as many Simple Past verbs than any other verb tense, this narrative is hardly limited to the Simple Past, containing examples of four other tenses.  In just 44 words, this short text contains verbs in the Past Perfect, Simple Past, Past Progressive, Present Perfect Progressive, and the Simple Present. Looking at corpus data on word frequency, we observe that this passage contains no  academic words  and two  conversational words  that are very rare in academic prose:  asked,  and    just.  The eight sentences are short with an average of only six words per sentence. ESL teachers will recognize that comprehension tasks involving narratives suggest an efficient way of getting learners to notice the tense and aspect system of English verbs in a meaningful way. Narrative writing should also offer an efficient way of eliciting a variety of verb tenses. How to structure a narrative to elicit and rehearse specific structures is the topic of another blog post. References Abbott, H. P. (2008). The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative. Baker, S. C., MacIntyre, P. D. (2000). The role of gender and immersion in communication and second language orientations.  Language Learning, (50), 311â€"341. Berggren, A. (2008). Do thesis statements short-circuit originality in students’ writing? In C. Eisner   M. Vicinus,  Originality, imitation, and plagiarism: Teaching writing in the digital  age. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press. Biber, D., S. Johansson, G. Leech, S. Conrad and E. Finegan (1999), Longman grammar of  spoken and written English. Harlow: Pearson Education. Dornyei, Z. (1990). Conceptualizing Motivation in Foreign-Language Learning.  Language Learning, 40(1), 45â€"78. Duxbury, A.R. (2008). The tyranny of the thesis statement. English Journal, 97(4), 16-18. Hines, S. C., Barraclough, R. A. (1995). Communicating in a foreign language: Its effects on perceived motivation, knowledge, and communication ability. Comrnunication Research Reports, (12), 241â€"247. MacIntyre, P. D., Charos, C. (1996).  Personality, attitudes, and affect as predictors of second language communication.  15, 3-26.  Journal of Language and Social Psychology, (15), 3â€"26. McCrosky, J. C., Richmond, V. P. (1982). Communication apprehension and shyness: Conceptual and operational distinctions. Central States Speech Journal, (33), 458â€"468. Moss, G. (2002). The five-paragraph theme.  The Quarterly,  24(3), 23-38. Retrieved from http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/download/nwp_file/467/The_Five-Paragraph_Theme.pdf Labov, W. 2008. Oral narratives of personal experience. http://www.ling.upenn.edu/~wlabov/. (13 December 2008.) Rorschach, E. (2004). The five-paragraph theme redux.The Quarterly,  26(1), 16-25. Retrieved from http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/download/nwp_file/970/Five-Paragraph_Theme.pdf Segalowitz, N. (1976). Communicative incompetence and the non-fluent bilingual. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 8(2), 121-131. Statistics Canada, (2008).  Youth in transition survey. Retrieved from Statistics Canada website: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-595-m/2008070/t/6000006-eng.htm Trimble, L. (1985).  English for science and technology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Please follow and like us:

What to Consider if You Plane on Going to Grad School

What to Consider if You Plane on Going to Grad School Ask a Nerd! Question: I am starting my last year of college. What should I consider if I want to go to graduate school in the near future? Brief: If you have taken on the arduous but rewarding task of applying to graduate school there are a few things that can help you along the way (like one of our Orange County grad school consultants) and, as an experienced student, there are more options afforded to you. Answer There are several options for potential grad students but the first thing you should think about is when you want to go to grad school. Many students are in fields that require them to have a MA/MS or even a PhD prior to entering their professional field; however most professions offer some sort of paid work prior to earning a graduate degree. If you are choosing to work for two years or so in order to gain professional working experience in your field then your application timeline is more relaxed. Alternately, if you want to go to graduate school straight away after you receive your undergraduate degree then there are a few things that you should start right now. Step 1 Take the GRE (or LSAT or MCAT) It is better to get this test out of the way before you get too far into the application process our Irvine GRE tutors are here to help. If you are also in your senior year of undergrad, this means that you will be spending a lot of time studying. Most likely, you won’t have taken a standardized test since the good old SAT or ACT, so I recommend getting a tutor to help you get started and buying a test prep book to help you get back in the mental grove of standardized exams. Step 2 Make a list of at least 5 schools that you wish to apply to Now that you are in your 20’s, moving across the country may not be ideal. If you already have a good job, you may want to look at local schools as well as schools that offer blended learning (both online and on campus options). Many highly reputable universities also offer 100% online programs for working adults, so that is another good option to look into. Look for programs that will get you closer to your professional goal. You will want to start working as soon as you can after grad school so it’s extremely important to pick your program and your school wisely (Ask a Nerd! How Many Colleges Should I Apply to?). Image via: effectivestudentmarketing.com You will also want to have a fabulous entrance essay. If you were an English composition or a creative writing major, then it’s no sweat. If not, look into an essay tutor for some guidance. Step 3 Consider your current lifestyle After the end of your senior year, you will no longer be a full time student in the traditional sense. Although anyone can go back to school at any point in their life or career, the 20’s bring on a new set of responsibilities. There are more bills to pay and more responsibilities, along with new privileges and freedoms. Think about what your lifestyle will be like for the next 5 years or so. Are you planning to work full time from 8-5 in a traditional office environment? Are you planning to take out a loan and pay it back later? Will you be living in your current city or are you willing to move to another state? Will you be working part time or from a home office, where your schedule is relatively flexible? Are you planning to start a family or add other social responsibilities into your life in the next few years? Additional ifs to consider If you are working a traditional office environment, a blended or online program might be the right option for you. If you are planning to take out a loan, you may want to be a full time student once again and get through your program in the minimum amount of time so that you can start working full time in your field right after graduation. If you want to stay in your current city, you should look at local universities or online programs from out of state schools. If you are working part time or from a home office, you may have the flexibility to choose any of the options that suit your needs. If you have a family or other social responsibilities, you may want to look into blended learning where you can completely focus in an on campus environment part of the time while still enjoying the convenience of a part time online educational program (READ: Best Libraries in South Orange County for Studying). Have a question for one of our nerds? Tweet it to us @TutorNerds. Give yourself the TutorNerds advantage by checking back often for the latest in our “Ask a Nerd” series. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at info@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about. Applying to grad school this year? Don’t go it alone. As grad school becomes harder and harder to get into, it’s crucial you take the admissions process seriously. Let our Orange County college admissions consultants get you into your dream university. Our experienced consultants have a 97% success rate!