Friday, March 6, 2020

Muay Thai Clubs in Manchester

Muay Thai Clubs in Manchester Manchester’s Many Muay Thai Clubs ChaptersWhat Muay Thai Is and Isn’tMuay Thai TechniquesMuay Thai clubs in and Around Greater ManchesterManchester is known for many things: scientific and technical innovation â€" it was there that the first stored-program computer was developed. The Manchester music scene gave the world so much music; the Madchester Vibe is very real and still alive today.Manchester does football â€" Man UTD and Man City are two of the most decorated football clubs in the country. We have rugby and rowing, swimming and cycling… you might say that Mancunians love all aspects of sport and fitness.Perhaps that is why there are so many great clubs in and around Greater Manchester where you could practise Muay Thai.Are you a Muay Thai fighter? Perhaps you could point us to the gym you have allegiance with.Do you want to learn more about Muay Thai â€" its history and practices, its traditions and its place in the world of combat sports? This article is for you.Superprof has visited Muay Thai clubs all across the city and into the countryside to give you a rundown on the best places and Muay Thai masters around, condensing them all into an easy-to-digest article.That way, you will be informed of what the Art of Eight Limbs is, how it is practised and what it can do for you. AndreyBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KostiaBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LeeBoxing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SajBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KaranBoxing Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThomasBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HaileyBoxing Teacher 4.50 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Muay Thai Is and Isn’tMuay Thai is the traditional combat sport of Thailand. It differs slightly from kickboxing in that fighters use eight strik ing points while kickboxers use only four: punching and kicking.That is why Muay Thai is called the Art of Eight Limbs. Fighters will only use their fists to strike in boxing matches but Muay Thai boxers use their elbows, knees and feet as well Image by WikiImages from PixabayIn Muay Thai fighting, you will use your fists and feet, certainly, but also your elbows and knees to land blows on your opponents.Also, contrary to traditional boxing which doesn’t permit clinches, as a Muay Thai fighter, you will learn how clinching as well as grappling can be used to your advantage in the ring.Muay Thai is a martial art like Taekwondo and karate but does not employ a belt system or any other visible symbols to denote a fighter’s rank.Also, whereas other martial arts including judo call for practitioners to wear a gi â€" the pyjama-like garb whose shirt is held closed by its knotted belt, Muay Thai boxers wear only shorts. Of course, female fighters wear a tank top or maybe even just a sports bra.Yes, women fight, even in mixed martial arts!Just like many martial arts, Muay Thai is a great way to learn disc ipline and focus but it goes further by demanding that its practitioners be in the best physical condition possible.So, while Jiu-Jitsu and other martial arts training may teach you a series of katas â€" training exercises to condition you for that particular discipline, Muay Thai goes further, to condition your entire self, mind and body.It is indeed a combat sport but, paradoxically, the idea is to deflect and prevent injury through strategy and sheer toughness â€" an aspect of the sport that astounded a group of newcomers at the Muay Thai gym we visited in Cardiff…Let’s now take a look at some of the moves you’ll learn in Muay Thai training. In kick boxing as in Muay Thai, offensive kicks are made with the shins while defensive ones are made with your feet Image by Christopher Chiu from PixabayMuay Thai TechniquesMuay Thai fighting techniques are classified into two major groups: major and minor. Kicks and punches fall in the latter category and elbow and knee strikes are considered major.In Thailand, where this style of fighting is the national sport, it is common to exchange blows; a sort of tit-for-tat arrangement but, elsewhere in the world where this sport has a strong following, this type of fighting is less common.At the Muay Thai club near me, they actually discourage learning the sport just to fight!Still, no matter where you learn the art of Muay Thai fighting, the moves remain the same and the techniques for delivering blows still use the whole body. For instance, you would rotate your hips to deliver a kick.Each move has its own Thai name; there are no fewer than seven types of punches (Chok, in Thai) permitt ed. You are surely familiar with some of them: jab, cross, hook and uppercut.Other types of punches, such as the spinning backfist and the Superman punch evoke power just by being so named.While the names for elbow strikes sound mundane, they are some of the most dangerous strikes the sport allows.How would you like to confront a spinning elbow â€" a move that involves stepping diagonally into your opponent’s range and pivoting so that your elbow will gain momentum from the rotation of your body?Mid-air elbow strikes are equally devastating. To execute this move, you would approach your opponent, leaping up as you get close and bringing your elbow down on the crown of his head or on his shoulder. OUCH!Anyone who has seen a martial arts film knows what a roundhouse kick and a straight kick looks like but a diagonal kick, a half-shin/half-knee kick might be harder to imagine, as would be an axe heel kick.Kicking (Te, in Thai) is done more with the shin than with the foot because foo t bones are more delicate than the shin bone; besides, shins can be toughened up â€" you will likely be tasked to kick the heavy bag with your shin as a part of your training.Kicking is different than a foot thrust (Thip, in Thai). These foot jabs are considered defensive manoeuvres used to block attacks and to maintain distance; there are five such moves:reverse foot thrust (Thip klap lang)sideways foot thrust (Thip khang)straight foot thrust (Thip trong)jumping foot thrust (Kradot thip)slapping foot thrust (Thip top)They are essentially used to push your opponent back, executed with the sole of the foot â€" either the ball or the heel rather than the toe or the side.We visited a Muay Thai gym in London where they were learning the slapping foot thrust; it is an exercise in balance and strength!Finally, the knees.Like the elbows they are particularly devastating blows; for instance, the curving knee strike mimics the roundhouse move of the kick, adding momentum to the blow, but the point of contact is the knee. The side of the ribcage is the usual target for this type of knee strike (Ti khao, in Thai).Obviously, you would have to be in peak physical condition to deliver and be on the receiving end of such strikes; that is why Muay Thai training is so rigorous and why these fighters are in the best possible physical shape.Still, studying Muay Thai doesn’t mean that you have to be a fighter, Muay Thai gyms in Glasgow offer classes for people to get in shape; no fighting involved â€" although there may be sparring…By now you must be wondering where all of these Muay Thai gyms are located; we get to that now. You should wear Muay Thai shorts to have the freedom of movement needed to kick properly Image by Claudio_Scott from PixabayMuay Thai clubs in and Around Greater ManchesterThere are, in fact, so many Muay Thai clubs to choose from in this area that it was difficult to settle on which ones to highlight.If you live or work in the Northern Quarter area, your best bet would be Master A Muay Thai.Founded by Thai Master Sitiwatjana, this gym is smaller than the more glitzy facilities that offer a range of training such as Boxfit or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but it is nevertheless well-equipped and offers classes to people of all ages and abilities.If you are a student, you can afford a monthly membership for only £40 per month; for adults who aren’t students, the monthly fee is £10 more and children may participate for the low price of £25 per month.Staying in the northern quarter, in the Piccadilly area, you’ll find Cobra of Siam, a mid-sized gym outfitted exclusively for Muay Thai: padd ed floors, RDX bags and Thai pads. They also have a floor ring for sparring.You can buy a year’s membership to this gym for £45 and each lesson will cost £6 or you may opt to pay for monthly lessons for a fee of £30 for members; non-members will be charged £45 per month.They do offer private training sessions for £30 per hour but Superprof Muay Thai coaches charge far less…If you’re not sure whether Thai boxing is for you, you might venture into SBG Gym.This is an MMA gym that offers kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and, of course, mixed martial arts classes. This facility’s main selling points are that is it easy to get to (also in the Piccadilly area) and it is well-equipped.We like that they are serious about combat sports and that they offer a trial session at no cost. So, while you enjoy membership at the Cobra of Siam, nothing says you can’t get some sparring in at SBG.We met a Muay Thai fighter in Belfast who liked going to other clubs to see how she measured up against opponents she’d never fought before…If you happen to be in Stockport, consider yourself in luck: you have ready access to All Power Gym. It is an extremely well-equipped facility that maintains high training standards.While their focus is MMA, they nevertheless run several Muay Thai classes throughout the week for beginners, intermediate and advanced fighters. Their monthly membership prices vary, depending on whether you are a student and on your age â€" kids’ classes cost less than adult ones do.Did we leave off your gym? Why not tell us about it in the comments section below before checking out the Muay Thai clubs in Birmingham…

Practicing Singing Outside of Your Singing Lessons

Practicing Singing Outside of Your Singing Lessons How to Prepare for Upcoming Singing Classes with a Voice Coach ChaptersPreparing Pieces for Your Voice CoachMobile Apps for Singing PracticeYouTube: A Music Student’s Best FriendUsing Books in Your Singing PracticeHaving a beautiful singing voice is a dream shared by many, but this can become a reality with the help of a vocal coach!A lot of aspiring singers often believe that their age or singing ability stands in their way of improving their tone quality and extending their vocal range.However, contrary to popular belief, anyone can learn to sing well, as Emmanuelle Ayrton explains:Singing is a natural act. In actual fact, most of us sing a little every day. People can practice their singing at any age. Unfortunately, some believe that they are completely incapable of singing. This affirmation is untrue in 99% of cases.This is why many budding singers choose to take private singing lessons.There is a wide range of benefits to taking private singing lessons. As a fun and affordable way to develop your musical ear and learn about performing, i n-home singing lessons provide a regular and personalised method of teaching which is ideal for those looking to overcome their stage fright and blossom as a musician.Hiring a singing teacher is a personal investment. This is why, after carefully choosing their ideal singing teacher, students are expected to maintain a certain level of motivation and seriousness when it comes to their voice training â€" this means doing plenty of practice outside of singing lessons without your voice coach.Here is Superprof’s guide to ‘revising’ what you have been taught in each singing lesson effectively! 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 Ti emSinging 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 tutorsPreparing Pieces for Your Voice CoachIf you’re an aspiring singer, you will probably see your voice teacher for one to two hours per week.Of course, being led in your musical development by a professional will always be the most effective way to make progress, however, in order to make the most of your coach’s expertise, you’ll need to do a good amount of practice by yourself.Practice makes perfect! ¦ source: Pixabay - alisaappsThe first and most important piece of advice applies to musicians. Learning to play a musical instrument (such as the piano or the guitar) is particularly useful for practicing on your own as a singer. This is because students can accompany themselves and learn about placing their voice within a given rhythm and at a certain pitch.Furthermore, having a good understanding of music theory and being able to read music is indispensable for those who wish to attend auditions and take ABRSM exams.For those who don’t play any musical instruments, it is still possible to rehearse songs before your voice lessons. Instead of focussing on the relationship between your voice and your instrument, you can work on learning the lyrics and melody of a piece either on your own or with a backing track from the internet.During your first session with your vocal coach, the teacher will identify your singing ability as well as the timbre of your voice and your vocal range.There are six distinct registers when it comes to classifying singing voices:Soprano: High-pitched female voicesMezzo-soprano: Mid-range female voicesAlto: Lower female voicesTenor: High-pitched male voicesBaritone: Mid-range male voicesBass: Low male voicesStudents should, therefore, choose pieces that are suitable for their vocal range when building their repertoire â€" coaches will usually help them with this process.There are also websites which suggest songs and pieces suitable for each of the vocal registers.Training your voice requires daily practice. 90 minutes of lesson time per week is not enough to fulfil your singing potential, which is why it is advised that students spend around 30 minutes per day practicing their pieces and singing exercises.If you feel that 30 minutes of practice will tire your voice out, break it into two 15-minute sessions instead.Find your voice coach London.Working on pieces in the time between your session with help you make faster progress and get more out of your money!Mobile Apps for Singing PracticeWherever you may be, at home or on holiday, the digital age has opened up a world of possibilities for using technology to practice your vocal skills!The educational software that is available not only helps you to improve your singing skills, but also to develop your musical ear and your awareness of your breathing techn iques whilst having fun!Smartphones can do just about anything - they can even help with your singing! ¦ source: Pixabay - JESHOOTSIf you feel lost when it comes to your vocal warm ups, these applications are ideal!Certain apps aim to help users with their vocal range, whereas others focus on teaching users to recognise musical notes using relative pitch â€" which is useful for those preparing for music exams.Here are just a few apps that you may find useful as a vocalist:Sing! By SmuleAvailable on: iOS and AndroidPrice: FreeSuperprof’s favourite feature: Duet with the song’s original artistSing! is an app aimed at casual singers and aspiring recording artists alike. Marketed as a ‘recording studio in your pocket’, this app lets you record yourself singing alone and with others â€" including your favourite artists! And once you’re finished your recording, you can add audio effects to your song.The Voice: Sing and ConnectAvailable on: iOS and AndroidPrice: FreeSuperprof’ s favourite feature: Create and edit your own music videosBased on the BBC’s talent show, The Voice, this app is similar in style to Sing! By Smule, however, it also offers social networking opportunities for its users. The Voice: sing and Connect also allows its users to auto-tune their audio recordings and use filters and visual effects in their video recording to create effective music videos of their performances.Singing Vocal Warm Ups â€" Singer’s FriendAvailable on: iOSPrice: £3.99Superprof’s favourite feature: Choose from a wide range of scales â€" perfect for exam and aural test preparation!This app is loved by amateur singers and professional vocal coaches alike. Singer’s Friend helps singers to warm up their voices by taking them through scales according to their vocal range without the need for a piano.For example, if an alto singer wanted to warm up with a harmonic minor scale, all they would have to do would be to select ‘Minor (Harmonic)’ under ‘Set Scal e’, then ‘Alto’ under ‘Set Range’ â€" then the app would play the scales for them to follow!VoxtrainAvailable on: iOSPrice: FreeSuperprof’s favourite feature: Content has been optimised for singers of varying abilitiesVoxtrain is made for everyone, regardless of whether you’re a complete singing newbie or a seasoned professional. The app is a 6-week programme for training singers by teaching them about warming up correctly, breath control techniques and increasing the user’s natural resonance.According to the app’s description, the curriculum was originally designed for a prestigious art and music school, but by using it for just 20 minutes per day, you too can receive expert vocal training!YouTube: A Music Student’s Best FriendLots of 21st-century musicians have learnt to play their instrument through online singing lessons and video tutorials.Platforms such as YouTube and Dailymotion are full of singing teachers who share videos on improving your vocal skills a nd developing as a musician.Whether you’re an aspiring opera singer, or you would just like to get started on some musical ear training, these videos are a great way to learn new singing techniques and breathing exercises to support you in your learning and help you on your way to singing success!Where will your passion for singing take you? ¦ source: Pixabay - StockSnapThe musical community on YouTube is ever-growing. Some leaders in the discipline of singing include:Felicia RicciEric ArceneauxKen Tamplin Vocal AcademyNew York Vocal CoachingUsing Books in Your Singing PracticeLearning to sing through a manual may not seem like a viable option for many, however, there are useful materials out there!The best material you will find will likely be those accredited by music examination boards such as ABRSM.When it comes to singing, these will help you with:Your posture and singing technique with the help of illustrationsYour musical memory, as many textbooks come with backing CDsYour muscle memory, as you learn scales and arpeggiosLearning from books will make you focus on the more theoretical side to singing â€" perfect for those looking to go into composing or learning a musical instrument.The authors of such manuals are usually highly-qualified professional musicians with a wealth of teaching experience â€" which makes them perfect candidates for making information accessible to learners of all abilities.These teaching books help students to extend their vocal range by getting used to using their head voice as well as their chest voice to produce a richer tone and reach higher pitches.Whether you’re learning to sing for fun, or you’d like a confidence boost before joining a choir, using this kind of material in your singing practice is usually advised by singing teachers, especially if you’re preparing for a singing exam.So, if you want to broaden your musical knowledge and gain confidence as a performer, always remember: practice makes perfect!Find ou t more about the pricing of singing tuition.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

College Preparation for High School Students

College Preparation for High School Students While your teen certainly deserves a mental break from the hectic pace of school, holiday break is an ideal opportunity to focus on the things he or she needs to do in preparation for college. The quiet of holiday break is a good time for teens to make sure they are on top of all of their college to-dos, says Eileen Huntington, co-founder of Huntington Learning Center. There is a lot for juniors and seniors to think about this time of year, and now is a perfect opportunity for students to review it all. Huntington offers the following reminders for parents and teens: Consider retaking the ACT or SAT If your junior wasnt satisfied with his or her ACT or SAT scores, he or she must register for the upcoming test in the winter or early spring. Many SAT Subject Tests are also offered in January if your student recently finished a course that corresponds to such a test, he or she should consider taking the January test while the subject matter is fresh in his or her mind. Remember that the next opportunity is not until spring. Sign up for test prep. A post-holiday exam preparation course may be just what your teen needs to raise his or her ACT or SAT score and achieve his or her goals. If your teen wants a boost, consider Huntingtons individualized Premier, 32-hour, 14-hour SAT or ACT prep courses, which will help him or her target weaker exam areas. Brainstorm essay topics. Its not too early for juniors to begin thinking about the application essay. While he or she may not be ready to write it, now is an ideal time for your teen to reflect on this important component of the application package and start a list of the life experiences that have shaped him or her. Double check all application deadlines. With many colleges regular application deadlines as early as January 1 for incoming freshmen, your teen should be sure he or she has everything necessary to send off college applications on time. Check each colleges website carefully. Does your teen have all paperwork ready to go? Has he or she completed all requirements (including SAT Subject Test scores, essays and recommendation letters)? Rest up for a great finish to the year. With summer vacation around the corner, some teens struggle to stay focused and on task leading up to the end of the school year. While holiday break is a good time to catch up on college to-dos, its also a chance for your teen to recharge so that come January, he or she is ready to take on the spring semesterperhaps his or her final semester of high schoolwith energy and enthusiasm. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help atwww.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visitwww.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2018 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

English for Air Travel in the United States

English for Air Travel in the United States Teauna and I are spending the holidays with my parents, sisters and brother in Southern Illinois, near St. Louis. We flew from Montana, and during the trip, I couldnt help but remember my last plane trip, when I returned from Buenos Aires to the United States a year ago.A plane on the runway in Minnesota.I remember the confusion it caused when we were going through the airport and someone asked us a question we werent prepared for in Spanish. Today someone in airport security asked my wife a question that I couldnt quite hear, and I immediately thought there was a translation problem.Of course, we were in the United States, and the unexpected question was why her ticket didnt say that we had an infant child with us. Mine did, and we quickly fixed the situation and continued to our plane.Afterward, I thought about the steps we had to go through to travel by plane in the United States.Arrival at the AirportWhen you first arrive at an airport in the U.S. youll have to check in. Check in has changed quite a bit over the years. These days, youll likely be checked in by a computer terminal at the airport entrance. The easiest way to check in is to put the credit card you used to buy the tickets into the machine.After that, the computer will find your name and ask a series of questions about your flight. Usually the questions are available in several languages, so this part should be easy. When youre finished with this process you should have your tickets in hand, and your luggage should be with the airline.SecurityThis is perhaps the most stressful part of flying in the United States. Youll want to have your identification in hand, along with your plane tickets. The first thing youll do (probably after waiting in a long line) is show your ID and your tickets to a security worker, who will inspect them.After that, youll move on to the scanning area. Here, youll have to remove your coat and shoes and put them in bins (grey plastic boxes) so they can be scanned. Your ca rry on bags (the bags you take with you on the plane) will also have to go through the scanner. If you have a laptop, youll have to take it out of its bag and put it into a separate bin. Then youll have to go through a scanner yourself.Most of the time after you and your bags have gone through the scanning process, youll be ready to go wait for your plane. But sometimes you may be randomly selected for additional inspection. If this happens, you may be asked to step aside, please.Step aside is a phrasal verb meaning for you to move out of the main line. Airport security workers may then give you an additional inspection in which they pat you down (patting your body with their hands to see if there is something hidden on you body). They may also want to wipe your hands, clothes and baggage with a special material that will reveal if you have handled a bomb recently. I dont know what happens to you if you dont pass this test.They may also ask you to open your bags so that they can mor e closely inspect the objects in them. The simplest way to get to this process is to listen carefully to the security workers, and do as they ask. They have a stressful job, and the best thing to do is stay relaxed and help them do their job.When youre finally through this part, you can go to the boarding area, where youll wait until its time to board the plane. Listen carefully for the airline workers to call your seating section to board the plane, or just watch the gate area and join everyone else when they line up.

Tips From an Irvine Test Prep Tutor Fall SAT Checklist

Tips From an Irvine Test Prep Tutor Fall SAT Checklist Tips From an Irvine Test Prep Tutor: Fall SAT Checklist (List) Tips From an Irvine Test Prep Tutor: Fall SAT Checklist (List) Students taking the SAT this fall are in a unique position because they’re one of the last groups of people to take the current SAT. It’s very important to pay close attention to test prep guidelines because otherwise students will be in a position where they might need to retrain their brain for the Redesigned SAT in 2016. There are tons of things that college prep students can do to get their SAT prep underway as soon as possible have you booked your Irvine test prep tutor? 1. Study Vocab Like Crazy Students taking the current SAT exam will still have to study vocab like there’s no tomorrow. There are a couple of ways students can work on their vocab skills to succeed: vocab memorization and vocab within the reading comprehension passages. The straight forward vocab section requires students to memorize hundreds of words, which is nearly impossible. As a result, they are encouraged to learn as many words as they can but also learn test prep techniques from their SAT tutor. In addition to pure vocab, students will need to study the vocab in context as it’s written in the reading comprehension sections. Test prep students should go through their practice test book and underline any new word they see, look them up in the dictionary, and understand whether or not it’s a positive or negative word and what its emotional meaning is (READ: 5 Awesome SAT Apps). 2. Math Formulas Although students can learn lots of helpful test prep techniques from their tutor, they will also need to memorize and learn math formulas from all of their classes at school. The best way to understand which formulas are used most frequently is to work out of the Official College Board test prep book. Students should work with their tutor or test prep teacher to determine different patterns and discover which formulas are used the most as well as how to eliminate answer choices that simply don’t make sense. The current SAT will often have some partial answer choices so it’s important for students to make sure they can recognize these trick answers and avoid choosing them (READ: Ask a Nerd! Are the SAT and ACT Similar?). 3. Get Your Down Time One of the things students struggle with most on the current SAT is the ability to finish within the short, generally 25 minutes, amount of time allotted. When first practicing, students shouldn’t worry too much about the time because they need to master concepts and test prep techniques first. However, once they have mastered a good score, they need to work on their time. Even if a student answers every question correctly, they won’t receive a high score on the real test they leave several questions unanswered. There are many different ways students can get their time down and they’re encouraged to work with an expert who can determine their individual needs. 4. The Dreaded Long Passage Students are bored or terrified when it comes to the long passages. The current SAT offers passages from time periods past and in a context that today’s students often don’t understand. There are a couple of ways students can approach the long passages, either by learning how to pick out important information in the passages and then answering the questions or, looking at the questions first and then attempting to pick out import information in the passage as they go along. Students are encouraged to work with their test prep tutor to determine which strategy works best for them as an individual. The long passages are often an arduous task to get through, but they can either win or lose students a great deal of points on the current SAT. Preparing to take the SAT this fall? Score higher with the help of a private Irvine testprep tutor from TutorNerds! Book your tutor today. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@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 write.

Why I Teach Art...

Why I Teach Art... “Diamonds are created under pressure.”One of my teachers told me this on a day when I was having a particularly hard time finishing an art project at school. I asked her why she said it, and she explained that even in the most difficult moments in our lives, we have the ability to generate sparkling brilliance….like a diamond. A new-found sense of possibility came into my spirit and I was able to create a beautiful sculpture out of the clay that I thought would forever remain a blob on the table!Children have an amazing ability to discover deep feelings and inspiration through creating art. Art allows us all to capture our imaginations and then interpret what we see in our minds eye through clay, paint, photography, tissue paper, mosaics or whatever we can get our hands on and heads around.I believe in teaching Art as if it is not simply the facility of learning how to manipulate a material or a achieving a skill or technique. I teach art as if it is a life lesson, a history le sson and journey to the core of the human soul.Art is a reflection of the human experience, therefore I teach the social and cultural context of an art-form first. Why was this particular art-form important? How did it function within a culture? History? What effect did it have on people?Then we go about learning materials, texture, technique and exploring the creative process….always asking questions and nurturing critical thinking skills along the way.Then we start laying out the piece, using math and geometry to plan how we will display or install the piece when it is finished….discussing what we have learned and what the final piece means to us individually and as a group.I teach children that there is a beginning, middle and end to the process of creating. I teach them to think about how it will be presented, who will the audience be that receives it, and how might people interpret the piece when they see it?In that essence, I tell my students that there are no mistakes in Art, because Art is honest communication. Just like our feelings, every artistic moment is a chance to express what we feel, how strongly we feel, and make a choice about how we will interpret the ways we feel.Being able to take children on such a personal journey is both a great responsibility and tremendous joy. The Arts have the abilty to open our minds, heal our hearts and make the World a more interesting place.That is why I teach ART……

?? Why you Should Hire an English Tutor for your Child

?? Why you Should Hire an English Tutor for your Child Why you Should Hire an English Tutor for your Child Thinking about hiring an English tutor for your child, but not sure whether it’s worth it? Well, hopefully this article will help.Class sizes are growing, and teaching resources are diminishing. As a result, more and more kids are falling behind. With subjects like English, which aren’t as prioritised by the Government, this is even more common.Many parents are now turning to private tutors to help their child with English. Tutors offer a fair number of benefits…1) To Develop Key SkillsEnglish is an important subject. A good grasp of English can help with communication, comprehension, and even learning across all the other subjects. For that reason, it’s vital that your child learns English to their full potential. If your child never fully grasped the key skills associated with English (reading, grammar, spelling, etc.) then chances are they’re struggling in class.A private tutor will be able to track back to those core skills and help your child grasp them once and for al l. The knock-on effect of this is massive. Your child will now be able to approach English lessons with more confidence in their abilities, and their grades will improve.2) There’s No EmbarrassmentReading and writing are such natural skills that they’re often taken for granted. If your child isn’t particularly competent in these areas, they can end up feeling a little embarrassed.A lack of reading skills, for example, may mean your child doesn’t understand what a textbook is saying, or will struggle to read aloud to their classmates. The embarrassment your child will feel often means they don’t admit where they’re falling short.The one-to-one nature of private English tutoring provides your child with a safe space for them to admit where they need help.Your child’s tutor can then support them through it, and help them develop their skills accordingly.3) Receive Actual FeedbackA lot of English is marked relatively subjectively. While there is a marking scheme, it’s no t always clear to your child where they went wrong.Teachers simply don’t have the time to explain the marking to everyone, and so your child will often end up even more confused.A tutor, however, focuses on your individual child. This means they can show them exactly where they went wrong, and explain how to improve their mark next time round.4) Improved Focus and ConcentrationClassrooms can be distracting places. There’s the constant threat of distracting classmates, dips in energy, and something more interesting going on outside the window.Even the best teachers will struggle to identify every pupil that isn’t concentrating, and so it can often mean that your child isn’t fully focused on learning.When your child is in a one-on-one situation, however, they aren’t able to be distracted. The tutor will notice right away, and get them back on track.Most tutoring also happens from the comfort of your own home, and so your child will be more relaxed and willing to focus for a while.5) Make English FunEnglish is a fascinating subject, and many people fall in love with it. Unfortunately, kids don’t always feel the same way.Part of this is due to having a standardised syllabus, which tries to cater for each and every child. As a result, English lessons aren’t as engaging for your child as they could be.A tutor will understand how your child prefers to learn, and will make English lessons fun. This will help your child’s development.As your child makes progress, they’ll enjoy English even more, and they’ll even start enjoying learning it at school.Find an English TutorA good English tutor can help turn your child from a reluctant reader to a wannabe writer. They can help your child grasp one of the most vital subjects they’ll ever learn.Hiring an English tutor probably won’t work out as expensive as you think. There’s a breakdown of how much you can expect to pay here.If you want a more personalised quote, fill in the form below and we’ll g et in touch with your 3 best matches!