Social Studies Tutoring: Important Information About Social Studies Class

Social Studies Tutoring: Important Information About Social Studies ClassThere are many schools that offer social studies tutoring. This can make life a little more challenging if you are attending a high school that does not offer the class. Your only option then would be to find a school that offers this form of education.If you are attending a school that does not offer social studies, it might be wise to go to one that does. The lesson plan for this type of class is very different than other classes. You may not be able to take part in activities such as sports as a substitute for the class. This is because the lessons would be more difficult and require a high level of intelligence.High schools do not have social studies classes, but they do offer other forms of education. For example, art classes are usually taught as well. Most public high schools are required to teach these classes as well. The reason these classes are offered is so that students are able to receive a great e ducation.Sometimes, the school will have social studies classes that are open to the community. This is important because the school will want to get to know the people that are attending the school. There will be time allotted for you to ask questions or simply to discuss issues of social justice and income disparity. A good way to find out if this type of learning is available at your school is to ask the staff or the superintendent.When you are looking for social studies lessons that are being offered, there are a few things that you should consider. First, the lesson plan will be different than other classes. The lesson plan will be structured to allow for discussion of questions and even lectures. In addition, this is a class that will likely include lessons on social problems.Different areas of social problems can be studied through this type of curriculum. These include racism, sexism, violence, and environmental concerns. It will be important for you to look at all the topic s that are covered by the class and determine which ones will best interest you.The class will likely be a small class of only a few students. It will be easy for teachers to keep track of the students because there will be many volunteers. It will also be easier for the teacher to teach the class because there will be fewer students.When you are looking for social studies lesson plans for social studies tutoring, remember that the social problem area is important. These lesson plans should allow for discussion of these issues, so you will be able to learn about the social problems that exist today. When you attend a school that offers this type of program, you can be sure that you will be learning about an important part of society.

7 Great Theories About Language Learning by Brilliant Thinkers

7 Great Theories About Language Learning by Brilliant Thinkers 7 Great Theories About Language Learning by Brilliant Thinkers Language. Its all around us. Its vital for our everyday existence.And yet many of us find it challenging  to pick up a new one.The problem, we tell ourselves, is that were thinking too hard.The solution, we say, is to be more like those kids that we once were when we learned our first language.  Simply absorbing things  the way kids do without really thinking about the language  must surely be our best bet, we convince ourselves.But heres the thing. Were not kids anymore and we never will be again.Were not going to have the same opportunities as we did in our native language where we were in constant contact with mothers, fathers and siblings who corrected our every mistake (though a girlfriend or boyfriend might compensate). Nor do most of us want to spend 18 years of our lives studying a language just to achieve high school level fluency.We dont need to abandon the lessons weve taken from childhood language learning, but we must surely temper them with something else.  And that thi ng is theory.Theory, that most highly condensed form of thought based on principles and evidence, can help us as adults to excel in language learning in ways that would otherwise not be possible.Of course, learning about language learning theory in no way needs to occupy the bulk of your time. By devoting just a fraction of your time to theory right now, youll reap benefits far beyond getting in an extra 10  minutes of studying. So without further ado, lets start at the beginning. 7 Great Theories About Language Learning by Brilliant ThinkersTheories of language learning have been bandied about since about as far back as one would care to look. It may be  surprising to know that the problems that philosophers in Ancient Greece and 16th century France were concerned about are largely still relevant today.To get a quick rundown of early language learning theory, lets take a quick look at the ideas of three brilliant philosophers who youve probably already heard of.1. Platos ProblemT he writings of Plato stretch all the way back to the beginnings of Western philosophical thought, but Plato was already posing problems critical to modern linguistic discourse.In the nature versus nurture debate, Plato tended to side with nature, believing that  knowledge was  innate.This was his answer to what has become known as Platos Problem, or as Bertrand Russell summarizes it: How comes it that human beings, whose contacts with the world are brief and personal and limited, are nevertheless able to know as much as they do know? Being born with this knowledge from the get-go would naturally solve this little quandary and consequently he viewed language as innate.2.  Cartesian Linguistics, by DescartesCenturies later, the French philosopher Descartes took a crack at linguistic philosophy. In his opinion, language acquisition  was  a simple and easy process, barely worthy of his attention. Like Plato he believed in the innateness of language  because he thought it reflected the g eneral rationality of human beings.But rather than Descartes himself, it was the rationalist movement that he symbolized and that was thriving in the time period when he lived that was most important for linguistics. This Cartesian movement, according to Chomsky (who well get to later), noted the creativity involved in everyday language and presented the idea that there were  universal principles behind every language.3. Lockes  Tabula RasaMost people familiar with Lockes philosophy have heard of his concept of tabula rasa, or the blank slate.To state it briefly and in a simplified manner, this is the idea that all knowledge comes from outside ourselves through sensory experience rather than through innate knowledge that we have at birth. This naturally carried over to language theory with Locke rejecting the idea that there was an innate logic behind language.Obviously these theories dont touch too much on the practical, everyday level of language learning. Theyre far less detailed and more philosophical than the modern scientific theories were used to. But they have important implications. If Plato and the Cartesians are right, then the emphasis in language learning must lie on what we already know, using our innate abilities to come to an understanding of the particularities of a specific language. If Locke is right, then we must focus our attention on sensory input, gaining as much external input as possible.In the practical, everyday world, all of this can easily be done with FluentU. FluentU takes real-world videos with familiar formatsâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language lessons.4. Skinners Theory of BehaviorismIn the middle of the 20th century, B.F. Skinner took Lockes ideas of sensory input and ran with them.According to behaviorism, a radical variant of which was put forward by Skinner,  all behavior is no more than a response to external stimuli and theres no innate programming wi thin a human being to learn a language at birth.What differentiates Skinner from those who came before him is the level of detail he went into when connecting behaviorism and language learning. In his concept of what he called operant conditioning, language learning grew out of a process of reinforcement and punishment whereby individuals are conditioned into saying the right thing. For instance, if youre hungry and youre able to say Mommy, Im hungry, you may be rewarded with food and your behavior will thereby be reinforced since you got what you wanted.To put it another way, Skinner described a mechanism for language learning that hadnt existed before on the  tabula rasa side of the language acquisition debate. What this means for us as language learners, should his theory be even partially true, is that a process of conditioning must be achieved for us to succeed. When we say the right thing, we must be rewarded. When we say something incorrectly, that too must be made clear. In other words, we need feedback to succeed as language learners.5. Chomskys Universal GrammarAround the same time as Skinner there came  another linguistic powerhouse who would leave a lasting impression on the field of linguistics. Namely, Noam Chomsky.The theory that Chomsky proposed would be called Universal Grammar and it would assert nearly the exact opposite of what Skinner had offered in his theory. Where Skinner saw all learning coming from external stimuli, Chomsky saw an innate device for language acquisition. What Skinner understood to be conditioning according to particular events Chomsky, understood to be the result of the  universal elements that structure all languages.In fact, one of Chomskys major bones to pick with Skinners theory had to do with Platos problem, as described above. After all, if Skinner is right, how is it that children can learn a language so quickly, creating and understanding sentences they have never heard before?Universal Grammar has been around for roughly a half a century by now, so its hardly the last word on the subject. It has also received plenty of criticism. One critique that particularly concerns us is that it may have little to do with learning a second language,  even if its how we learn a first language. There are certainly theories about applying this concept to organize syllabi  for language learning, but this seems unnecessarily  complex for the average, independent learner.In short, while Chomskys theory may be still be important in the linguistics field as part of an ongoing discussion, it offers little help for learning a second language other than to provide you with the confidence that the grammar for all languages is already inside your head. You just need to fill in the particulars.Over the past half century or so, a slew of other language learning theories have cropped up to try to deal with the perceived flaws in Chomskys theory and to fill in the cracks for more specific areas of language learning ( i.e. areas of particular interest to us).Next up  are two theories that, while not the philosophical bombshells like the ones listed above, arguably  have more of a practical edge.6. Schumanns Acculturation ModelJohn Schumanns Acculturation Model describes the process by which immigrants pick up a new language while being completely immersed in that language.This theory doesnt deal with the process of language learning as we normally think of it (such as how we acquire grammar or listening skills), but rather focuses on social and psychological aspects that influence our success.For instance, an immigrant is more likely to acquire their new target language if their language and the target language are socially equal, if the group of immigrants is small and not cohesive and if there is a higher degree of similarity between the immigrants culture and that of their new area of residence.The obvious takeaway is that language learning is not an abstract subject like physics that can be l earned out of a book regardless of the world around you. There are sociological factors at play, and the more we do to connect with the culture on the other end of our second language, the faster and easier it will be for us to learn that language.7. Krashens Monitor ModelStephen Krashens Monitor Model in fact consists of several distinct hypotheses which make up what is probably the most cited theory  in second language acquisition.  Theres so much to take away from Krashens theory that Ill just let you peruse the link given for details and give a rundown of the highlights here.Language acquisition is subconscious and results from informal, natural communication.Language learning is conscious and driven by error correction (more formal).Grammar structures are acquired in a predictable order.Language acquisition occurs with comprehensible input (i.e. hearing or reading things that are just slightly above our current language level).A monitor is anything that corrects your language p erformance and pressures one to communicate correctly and not just convey meaning (such as a language teacher who corrects you when you make a grammatical mistake).It should be noted that this is just Krashens theory. While this theory is quite popular, there has been criticism and direct contradiction of certain parts of it (particularly his idea about the predictable order of grammar structures). Still, its useful to get ideas for language learning.This theory suggests that we should both strive to increase our second language inputs (like by watching video clips on FluentU and going through books for reading) and make sure we receive proper error correction in one form or another.As this selection of important theories should make clear, the subset of linguistics which deals with language learning is both wide and deep.Some of it is highly theoretical and complex and is most relevant to scholars of the field. Other parts are extremely zoomed in and tell us highly specific details about how to learn a language.Regardless, its all connected.By understanding more bits and pieces of it all, youll gradually begin to understand yourself and your own language learning process better than ever before. And One More ThingHeres another credible theory: Learning languages with fun videos can make the journey to fluency faster and more enjoyable.FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view defi nitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or Google Play store.

What Does It Mean When You Read the Percent Yield Of A Chemical?

What Does It Mean When You Read the Percent Yield Of A Chemical?The percent yield of a chemical is the number of grams of that chemical produced from one gram of the element it is based on. The basis for converting a chemical into its equivalent weight can be any thing that can hold an equation with another chemical. For example, if you take a cup of soda and mix it with water, you will end up with a pound of soda with the same amount of water that you had originally.In some ways, you can use the percent yield as a simple shorthand for the mass-to-weight ratio of a chemical. All that really matters is the percentage of the chemical. If a substance is labeled a percent yield, it is an easy way to determine how much of a particular element that substance is made up of.Now, if you want to know what elements are found in a specific chemical, you have to look at the percent yield as well. If it is a pound of calcium chloride, and it is written on the label, you know the percent is 1.2. Th is can be done through the help of a mass calculator and how it can be used in the equation. You can then convert it into the equivalent weight of calcium chloride.However, if you want to know the equivalent weight of all the grams of calcium chloride, you can easily do this by using the decimal system. Calcium chloride, or CaCl2, has four atoms of each element found in the periodic table. If the number of atoms of the elements on the periodic table is higher than the number of atoms of the other elements, you can be assured that there is a lot more of the element you are looking for.If you look at the percentage yields of the elements in the periodic table, you will find that they are all listed in the natural equivalent form. Each element has a number assigned to it, and it is based on the weight of the element in the periodic table. The more commonly used formulas will list the elements in the same order as the natural equivalents are found in the periodic table.As we have seen, the percent yield of a chemical will give you the weight of a certain element, but it will not tell you what the element is. In most cases, the molecular formula of the element will tell you that information. Sometimes the molecular formula will include the symbol for the element, or the number of times that the element has been used in chemistry. It is wise to check with your chemistry professor before you read the list.Whether you are interested in the mass-to-weight ratio, or the percent yield, you should learn how to convert the two terms. Knowing this information is useful for both your education and your own professional and financial success.

4 Steps to Getting Your Chemistry Certification in Less Than Two Weeks

4 Steps to Getting Your Chemistry Certification in Less Than Two WeeksSo you have decided to take on the challenge of taking on a Chapter 7 Assessment Chemistry. Yes, I know you do not want to pay thousands of dollars to a chemical engineering degree program but I have some great news for you. You can quickly and easily gain your chemistry certification by working a few hours a week in the lab. In this article, you will discover the four steps you need to take if you are serious about getting your chemistry certification.Get yourself prepared for your chemistry exam by taking a few basic classes online or at your local community college. This is the very first step. Read the guidelines in your state and make sure that you are able to understand them and that you know the necessary textbooks. Take a few extra math and reading courses. A couple of math courses can really help.Now, how do you get your hands on some classroom time in the lab? You can start by looking at your options in t erms of specialized schools. Make sure that they are approved by the National Board for Certifying Agencies (NBCA). You will need a special type of permit or license to work in a school.Testing often includes working under the guidance of an experienced lab instructor. That means that you will need to find a certified and licensed laboratory instructor who can work with you during your preparation. It is also important to find a supervisor who is well-trained in the proper techniques of Chapter 7 assessment. You must be sure that the person working with you understands what you need to do as well as the expectations of a successful examination.The final step is to get those assignments out to the lab. Prepare yourself by reading up on any part of Chapter 7 Assessment Chemistry that you don't understand. This is a very complex subject that needs to be well-prepared.Take the test questions to the lab and don't worry about being correct. In fact, it is a good idea to actually check you r answer sheet against the class discussion, the textbook, and the lab manual. It is only after you finish answering the test questions that you should stop looking at your answer sheet. When you stop checking your answer sheet, the test writer will no longer be checking it!As soon as you take the test results, check to see whether you passed or failed. At that point, you will have a certificate showing that you have taken the exam and met the requirements. Congratulations!

Where Can I Learn to Make Patterns

Where Can I Learn to Make Patterns Find a Pattern-Making Course Near You ChaptersPattern Making Courses at Your Local UniversityLearn Pattern Making at Your Local Sewing ShopThe Best Books for Learning Pattern MakingLearn Pattern Making OnlineDon’t Forget Superprof!These days, more people than ever are turning away from shops that offer deep discounts on clothing not meant to last more than one season; perhaps we are becoming more conscious of the rampant materialism that plagues the world today, or we just want a better value for our money.Or maybe it’s beginning to dawn on us that, slowly, we’re losing our fine motor skills â€" the capacity for precise movement of our hands as we execute detailed work.Not that we’re being alarmist or anything…We live in great times! More technology than we need in such a connected world; one where all we need to do is tap out a few letters on our phones and, presto! we’re talking with someone on the other side of the world!Or in the next room, as is more often the case.Studies show that all that texting and typing is costing us our manual dexterity. Again, no sounding of alarms going on here, but we might want to do something about keeping our fingers nimble; ready for detailed work.It’s time to face facts: technology is a central part of our lives; indeed a recent report revealed that teenagers suffer from anxiety if they are deprived of their phone.So, short of fostering an entire generation of anxious, fretting young adults, we need to find other ways to engage their fingers. Maybe something artistic and exacting…Maybe learning how to make sewing patterns would fit the bill! It’s not as far off the mark as it sounds, you know.Recently, there has been a renewed interest in sewing one’s own clothes; maybe you too have been bitten by that particular bug. And what teen doesn’t have an interest in expressing him/herself through their fashion choices?In fact, maybe you’d like to take a pattern-making class alongside your teenagers, or with some friends.Whoever goes with you, y our Superprof has made ready an entire list of places and ways you can learn how to make patterns and even how to sew.Needles ready? Here we go!continuing education courses.A great reason to check your local university to learn how to make a sewing pattern is that, most often, their instructors have extensive experience both in their subject matter and in teaching it.Another point in favour of taking classes at your local uni is that they will certainly have the resources and materials available for you to get plenty of practice.Several universities around the UK offer sewing courses in making clothes patterns. Some of the courses we found actually expand beyond making a sewing pattern for clothes; they also teach how to make bag patterns, doll patterns and patterns to make purses.In short, rather than teach a single skill â€" how to make clothing patterns, they teach pattern drafting in general.University of the Arts London offers no fewer than 63 short courses related to pattern-m aking you may choose from.You may select their Patternmaking Level I or other Level I courses on their syllabus, or get more adventurous by opting for their Experimental and Explorative Approaches to Patternmaking.Naturally, if they offer Level I courses, they also offer more advanced courses… Such a shirt dress is not as easy to design as it looks! Image by Shutterbug75 from PixabayWe really found their Draping Womenswear Design course particularly intriguing.Did you know that draping is a way to make patterns? Not like a wrap dress or a wrap skirt, and not quite like a kimono â€" which does involve draping oneself in layers of silk… we mean draping muslin on a dress form to make a pattern.You can read all about it in our article on patternmaking… Now, back to the wonderful courses at UAL.They make a distinction between pattern cutting for men’s- and womenswear; they also have courses for those who wish to learn more about the latest tools of the garment industry such as digital pattern cutters and how to use the Gerber Accumark pattern cutter.UAL is not the only college in the country offering such courses. We’ve found similar offerings at Herefordshire University, Glasgow School of Art and many other art colleges around the country.What could it hurt to ask your local school if they have such courses?Learn Pattern Making at Your Local Sewing ShopIf you were looking for places to buy dress patterns or ideas for sewing projects, you might turn to your local sewing shop. Once there, would you be surprised to find that they may also offer sewing tutorials?And, if they offer you a sewing tutorial, might they also offer lessons in pattern-making?The best part about taking lessons in pattern making at your independently-owned notions store is that they will have all of the tools you need to draw and cut out patterns. Such tools include:pens and pencilsstraightedges and French curves (to draw armholes and necklines)notcherstracing wheelsawlsmeasuring tapetailors’ chalkstraight pins and black twill tapescissorsBesides all of these necessary items, they will most likely have sewing tables to work on and, surely you could find an attractive bolt of fabric somewhere in that store!Besides making a slope â€" a template for patterns, you may learn how to incorporate darts and pleats into your pattern, include a seam allowance and learn how to grade your patterns, meaning how to size them properly.It would not be fair for us to say that every sewing shop owner is willing to give lessons but then again, maybe s/he has never thought of giving lessons in pattern making.As soon as you ask, it may become their new idea… You may learn how to create a wrap dress pattern, a shirt pattern or a skirt pattern from a book Image by PourquoiPas from Pixabay Discover the pattern and sewing techniques that allow you to revitalise your clothing! Image by JamesDeMers from PixabayLearn Pattern Making OnlineIt is true: you can learn just about anything online, from a second language to patterns sewing.We’re not just talking YouTube - even though there, too, you can find sewing channels. We mean  entire online courses â€" some free and some for a fee.Among free courses are How to Copy Garments that you Love, Pattern Grading and How to Draft and Sew your own Workout Wear.With more than 35 years in the fashion industry, Suzy Furrer is a big name in sewing circles.She now hosts several online classes in patternmaking   such as making a bodice sloper, a pants sloper (‘pants’ is used in the American sense, meaning trousers, not undergarments), a skirt sloper and how to go from a sketch to a usable pattern.She also hosts classes in pattern grading and plus-size pattern fitting.Not only can you learn to sew with Suzy, you can learn everything y ou need to know about pattern-making so that you can express your individual style through the clothes you design and make for yourself.Don’t Forget Superprof!Did we save the best for last? Maybe…After you’ve read all of the books and watched all of the video tutorials, after you’ve been to the shops to buy all of the sewing supplies you need, perhaps you need a bit more hands-on guidance; maybe a sewing tutor to come to your home.Whether you’re adjusting a Simplicity pattern or designing a tunic dress on your own, it could never hurt to have an experienced set of hands and eyes help you along.Superprof has pattern-making tutors from around the world online, waiting for you to share your vision with them so that they can help you make it a reality.The best part of having such an international community of pattern makers to choose from is that you may find yourself inspired to include elements from other cultures into your designs â€" maybe make a flared skirt for your next night out?Or they could help you design costume patterns for your next fancy dress event…your Superprof is always here for you, whether you want to design comfortable loungewear or learn how to design vintage sewing patterns.Don’t stop now! Discover the steps necessary for making your own dress pattern...

The Cost of Travelling in Russia

The Cost of Travelling in Russia How Much Does it Cost to Travel Around Russia? ChaptersValue Of The RubleWays To Spend When In RussiaSpending in Russia: An OverviewRussian Accommodation, the Most Expensive Part of Your BudgetEating During Your Time in RussiaHow Much Should You Budget for Leisure Activities in Russia?A Sample Budget for Travelling Around RussiaTips On How To Reduce Expenditure Costs In Russia“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” - UnknownThe Russian Federation is far more popular with tourists than it was 20 years ago just after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, which marked the end of the USSR as a country. You can now visit pretty much all of Russia’s nature and cities. According to the Travel Tourism Report 2017, tourism in Russia added 860 billion rubles to the country’s GDP, a figure that had been growing since 2000.Tourism brings in money because tourists are spending.So have you got your money ready to spend in Russia? Have you considered how you will manage your spending? Have you already set a budget?In this article, we're going to look at budgeting for a trip to Russia, how much accommodation will cost you, the cost of food, and planning activities so that you can be prepared in advance for your expenditure.how many Rubles you get for your money right? To put it into perspective for you, XE Currency Converter indicates that, on 23rd May 2019, 1 Great British Pound (GBP) = 82.09 Russian Rubles. This means that if you take £500 of spending money with you then you will be walking around with 41,051.75 Rubles on your person! It all sounds pretty good until you come to the realisation that a hamburger at a fast food store is costing you five hundred Rubles...If you thought you were good at spending then in Russia you will feel like you are really good!Ways To Spend When In RussiaNowadays, there are so many different ways to spend when you're abroad, so tourists don't have to rely on exchanging currency and then guarding their wallets for the duration of the ir trip. If you are going away for two or more weeks, what are you supposed to do with all of your spending money? Are you expected to trust all of the hotel staff and leave notes in your room or do you take the cash out with you and risk being pick-pocketed? Of course, there is the option to use a safe at some hotels or you can now use e-money which makes everything a whole safer and much more convenient too. Let's explore the options.CashIf you take foreign currency with you, it may be straightforward but what happens at the end of the trip when you discover that you either didn't take enough cash, meaning that you have to withdraw cash or pay to spend on your credit card, or that you took too much and will probably lose out when you try to reconvert it back. Either that or you'll spend more than you really need to be by trying to get rid of all your loose change!Another thing to consider when getting currency converted is to check the best deals around as, believe it or not, you will do much better from some places than others.Credit/Debit cardIf you take your credit or debit card abroad, you can spend as much or as little as you want but watch out for foreign usage charges, withdrawal fees and, of course, cards getting blocked by your bank (even if you've informed them of your travel plans a lot of the time!).Prepaid cardA prepaid card is a somewhat new tool but it's very handy as you can load cash onto it and spend it in shops or withdraw from an ATM with no charges applicable and, what's more, they only let you spend what's on the card. This is only useful though if you have physical funds to load on in advance, rather than using credit to pay off at a later date.Spending in Russia: An OverviewPrices of general living have risen rapidly in Russia in recent years, and St. Petersburg is now on par with, if not slightly more expensive than, most major European cities when it comes to grocery shopping, eating out, nightlife, entertainment, and sightseeing.Sa ying that, the cost of entering museums and attending cultural events is generally lower than elsewhere in Europe, but some popular venues still operate a dual price system which means that foreigners pay more than a Russian citizen would. Unfortunately, this cannot be avoided at certain landmarks, like the Mariinsky Theatre.With the bad, comes a few good surprises, however. Public transport in big cities like St Petersburg is on the whole quite cheap, and even taxis are quite reasonable.If you plan to drink most nights when in Russia, you'll be pleased to hear that Vodka is inexpensive when compared to other spirits and, if you smoke, then you may notice that cigarettes are more affordable than at home.In terms of travel and accommodation, so long as you plan your trip well then you get away with spending very little for the duration of your trip! See our advice and tips below on booking these all important aspects of your holiday. LavaRussian Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson fre e!Discover all our tutors LarisaRussian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors InaRussian Teacher 4.88 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IrynaRussian Teacher 5.00 (8) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvgeniaRussian Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnastassiaRussian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NikolaRussian Teacher 5.00 (4) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MargaritaRussian Teacher 5.00 (3) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsRussian Accommodation, the Most Expensive Part of Your BudgetWhile you can budget for your trip away quite simply, if you want to avoid any unpleasant surprises, you should budget for what we’ll call “fixed costs” before you travel to Russia. When we say “fixed costs”, we’re referring to something you’ll have to pay for regardless of what you’re doing, and accommodation is part of this. When considering your acco mmodation in Russia, you should consider:The type of accommodationThe location of the accommodationThe services providedThe comfortYouth hostels will generally be cheaper than hotels. (Source: Hans)These criteria can easily double the price of accommodation. Even if you choose between full or half board.  The question you need to ask yourself is “Am I going to Russia for a comfortable experience or am I on a strict budget?”If you’re going to Russia to relax, you might want a hotel with a spa, like the Azimut Hotel Olympic Moscow or the Hotel Kosmos, for example. Generally speaking, hotels are about half as expensive as they are in the UK and will cost even less if you’re in cities other than Moscow such as Saint Petersburg or Kazan.There are plenty of great hotels where you’ll get far more for your money than you would here in the UK.To save money, you can even look at getting an Airbnb or a dacha (a Russian country house). If you’re travelling in a group, this is a grea t way to split the cost of your accommodation. A lot of Russian flats and houses include multiple rooms so you won’t have any trouble finding something for 4, 5, or 6 people. Make sure that you check whether or not fees are included when you make your reservations.If you’re on a really strict budget, you can always check out youth hostels. With some places costing just a couple of quid for the night, you’ll be hard-pressed to find cheaper places to stay. There are 200 in Moscow and dozens in other cities around Russia.Be careful about certain hostels that are away from the centre of cities as these are sometimes unregulated illegal establishments.  You should also be wary of prices displayed in pounds as they’ll fluctuate according to the exchange rate.Eating During Your Time in RussiaYou can eat really well in Russia for very little. However, you’re going to have to step outside your comfort zone and go through restaurant menus in Russian.You can enjoy Russian cuisine on a budget. (Source: quinntheislander)Why?Well, you could always spend your time in Russia eating fast food like McDonald’s or Dunkin’ Donuts. It’d be a shame to be in a country and eat stuff that you can get anywhere in the world.It’s probably a better idea to go to proper restaurants than to eat street food. There’s no service charge like you get in Italy and you’re free to leave a tip or not, unlike in the United States where it’s pretty much obligatory.That said, there are Russian chains as well if you want to eat on a budget:Teremok, a fast food place that does traditional Russian dishes.Lepim y Varim, specialists in pelmenis.Pelmenya, another place that does pelmenis.Varenychna N °1, for reasonably-priced specialities.There are tonnes of different Russian specialities, but you should definitely try the following:Borscht, a type of soup.Beef stroganoff, a classic.Pelmini and vareniki, types of dumplings.Shashlik, a type of meat skewers.Pierogi, another type of dumpl ing.Sirniki, desserts that are somewhere between pancakes and doughnuts.Vodka.There are pelmenis for all tastes.So how much does this cost?For around £1.50 you can get a pierogi and a pelmeni and a beer for around £4. You don’t need a lot of to get food in Russia. On the other hand, you’ll end up paying up to three or four times the cost if you end up going to a chic restaurant.You’ll be looking at around £20 per person if you want to eat in a decent restaurant. Things can go up to £30 per head if you go somewhere really nice.How Much Should You Budget for Leisure Activities in Russia?There are plenty of things to do in Russia. It is the biggest country in the world, after all! There are thousands of activities in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and hundreds in Kazan according to TripAdvisor.If you want to see the ballet, you're going to have to budget for it. (Source: skeeze)Of course, not everything you can do in Russia is free. This depends on what you’ll do. There’s no l imit to what you can do in Russia. Other than your budget, that is...Think about getting tourist cards such as the Moscow Pass: This will cost you around £50 for 40 museums, 3 excursions, for 3 days.Choose 2 or 3 activities that you will definitely do like the State Hermitage Museum or the Kremlin, for example.Set a spending limit for other activities like visiting an Orthodox Russian monastery, a trip across a tundra in a 4x4, or a boat trip.If you’re travelling around Russia, you should budget for every activity you want to do. The problem is that there’s so much you can do. For example, you could go to Saint Petersburg, get on a boat to Finland, and end up spending nearly £100.You can also get a dog sledge for around £50 or a snowmobile for £60. A guided trip to the State Hermitage Museum will cost around £40 (even though it’s definitely worth it). Other than the cost of accessing the beaches at the Black Sea, walking around won’t cost you anything.If you want to do special activities in Russia, you’re going to have to get your wallet ready. Whether you’re travelling on your own or with your family, you’re also going to need to take differing tastes into account. Children mightn’t appreciate national parks, for example.Let’s not forget the souvenirs and knick-knacks you can buy in Russia. There are figurines, Russian army insignia, etc. You could easily spend between £50 and £75 per person.Find out more about the best things to see in Russia.A Sample Budget for Travelling Around RussiaWe’ve mentioned accommodation, food, and leisure, the main expenses you’ll have whenever you travel anywhere. However, there are also other expenses you need to consider:Administrative costsFeesTransport costsInsuranceTransport can cost you around £1 per trip or £20 for a travel card for a week in Moscow, for example. You might want insurance that covers repatriation in the event of death, etc. Shop around for different insurance policies.Dependi ng on how you travel will affect your budget. (Source: jackmac34)This can quickly add up to £300 to your costs in addition to accommodation, food, and leisure.  There are also certain obligatory costs:Russian visas for touristsFlights to and from RussiaAgain, this can cost around £300.When you complete your visa application, you'll need to have already booked your accommodation before contacting the Russian embassy or consulate. If you're going on a tour, such as the Trans-Siberian Railway or a cruise, you'll need confirmation from the tour operator.Generally speaking, you won’t need to go to a travel agency to get your trip to Russia organised. You can save around a quarter of the price doing it yourself.There are different visas so make sure you get the right one, especially if you plan on stopping in neighbouring countries like China, Mongolia, Ukraine, or Belarus, before your departure. Make sure you check when your passport is valid until. The same is true if you’re going to the Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia) or Baltic States (Lithuania, Estonia, Lativa) when you’re getting your visa for Russia.Tips On How To Reduce Expenditure Costs In RussiaNow that you know how much roughly everything costs when in Russia, wouldn't you now like to know how you could slash these prices even more? Below are a few tips on how to save a bit of pocket money, especially when visiting some of the larger cities.File your visa yourself The process isn't all that complicated so to save on agency fees (which can often double the price), submit your own visa application at a cost of around £120. Book your plane tickets in advance We are well aware that nobody leaves it until the last minute to book plane tickets unless they know they can get a good deal, but there are many price variations according to how far ahead you book. When travelling as far as Russia you probably won't want to leave it until a week before you are due to travel, so take our advice and book your flight s around 3 months in advance. This is close enough to give you time to plan the rest of your trip and also far away enough to get you the best possible prices on air fees. If you still want to save more, you have the option of making a flight with stops.Book your hotel through Russian websites The Russians have hotel comparison sites just like us, with one of the best being the Russian Ostrovok reservation platform which will no doubt save you more money than if you were browsing the UK version of Booking.com. Also, to save even further, you might find Airbnb properties going cheaper, especially if you are a large group of friends or a big family travelling together.Use the metro wherever possible The metro is the cheapest way to get around the city (except by foot, of course) and they have a great system whereby you buy a voucher with 20 trips loaded on it (which you can share with your friends). Taxis aren't too expensive as we've discovered but if you use them regularly for short trips then you will rack up money.Buy a tourist card to cut down the costs of visiting tourist attractions As we've mentioned, some sites charge tourists way above the price that is asked of local citizens, so to avoid paying loads visiting some of the most popular attractions then why not buy a tourist card (in Moscow this is called the Moscow Citypass and in St Petersburg it is the Petersburg Card, for example) which could, but may not always, make your day trips a little cheaper. If you are a student with a valid student card, you may find that this gets you a few reductions too.Purchase a Russian SIM card If you intend to travel around Russia for a while, then your best bet to keep call costs down is to buy a Russian pay as you go SIM card. There is also a prepaid SIM available which, for £5, gives you a certain number of free minutes and Internet usage for a fraction of what you would pay if using your English phone.So have you got your budget ready for Russia?Whether you're visiting the Golden Ring, Siberia, Yekaterinburg, Vladivostok, St Petersburg, Irkutsk, or Moscow, the world's largest country has no shortage of things to do and see!

Flamenco Guitar

Flamenco Guitar All About the Flamenco Guitar ChaptersThis Guitar’s HistoryDifferent Types of Flamenco GuitarsTechnical Aspects of the Flamenco GuitarHow to Play Flamenco GuitarFlamenco Guitarists of RenownLearn to Play the Flamenco GuitarIf you have ever been a spectator to a flamenco dance â€" fiery and snappy, with precise movements neatly hemming in the passion it evokes, you might have thought that the guitar is merely a backdrop to the swirling skirts, clacking castanets and floating fans.The Spanish art form known as Flamenco is composed of three parts: guitarra, canta i baile or guitar, song and dance. It is the traditional expression of longing and love; a physical expression of romantic desire.Curiously enough, in the early days of this art form, it consisted only of dancing and toque de palmas â€" hand-clapping. The guitar was a later addition; today, all flamencos are danced to the sound of a guitar (and other instruments).How did this instrument’s crisp, clean sound come to accompany the sharp pivots and finger- snapping that mark a true flamenco dance? How did it become an audio representation of sensuality and ardour?Your Superprof delves into the history of ancient southern Spanish tribes to answer those questions and others.There was substantial persecution of the latter three peoples which led to a fusion of laments that mark flamenco cantos still today. Flamenco dancers dramatic moves are done in counterpoint to a nylon string guitar Image by Ben Kerckx from PixabayAt this time, the guitar had still not made its appearance on the flamenco scene; the dances were sometimes accompanied by traditional Andalusian instruments such as the violin and the tambourine.It wasn’t until the late 19th century that flamenco â€" and its guitar went mainstream.Seville saw the opening of its first ‘singing cafe’ or cafe cantante that featured a pair of singers, a troupe of dancers and a couple of guitarists.Adding guitar music to the mix was a novel concept that went over… not so well. The cafes were not well-frequented at the outset and the guitarists were really only bit players but it was the guitar’s role that changed these cafes’ fortunes.Because much of flamenco’s guitar music was improvised, those guitar players had to not only keep up with the singers but intuit their phrasing to anticipate when the next flurry of notes would be most effective.Good guitarists were much in demand and, soon, the guitar became an active part of the show. In fact, guitarists proved their virtuosity through rapid-fire riffing and even playing with their guitar held above their head.The undisputed first name in flamenco guitar is Ramon Montoya, uncle of famed Spanish guitarist Carlos Montoya. Ramon started out as a cafe guitarist and is today considered to be the founder of the modern-style flamenco guitar solo.Thanks to him, the guitar became the third pillar of the art known as flamenco.Different Types of Flamenco GuitarsTypical flamenco guitarists were not wealthy; their financial condition dictated that they buy the cheapest instruments, generally made of cypress and, in comparison with the standard classical guitar, poorly made and with a minimum of materials.The absence of quality materials came to distinguish the flamenco guitar; until its surge in popularity, a luthier would make no distinction between the smaller, flimsi er instruments and their sturdier counterparts.Also discover the delicious history behind today’s rock guitars… PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsTechnical Aspects of the Flamenco GuitarA flamenco guitar is typically smaller and lighter than its classical counterpart. It calls for nylon strings rather than steel, which helps deliver the clean, crisp sound of flamenco with less sustain than the classical instrument.You are more likely to find tuning pegs on a flamenco guitar rather than geared tuning found on other types of guitar. These pegs closely resemble a lute or violin’s tuning pegs.Let’s take a closer look at particulars of the flamenco guitar: what it’s made of and how it’s made, how to tune it and how to get the most out of playing it. Contrary to the classic acoustic guitar, flamenco guitars are smaller in shape Image by Pexels from PixabayConstructionTraditionally, the flamenco guitar was made entirely of cypress which made it a lighter instrument with a punchier sound. Today, the guitar’s body may be made of sycamore, rosewood or cypress for the backs and sides, and spruce for the top.The tops of these guitars are much thinner than classical guitar tops and there are fewer internal braces â€" two more reasons for its brighter sound.Because flamenco music demands rapid action, the strings are usually closer to the frets and the fingerboard itself tends to be a bit narrower than on other guitars.A critical distinction between a flamenco guitar and its classical cousin is the golpeador or tap-plate.A flamenco guitarist will often tap the face of his guitar with his fingernails while playing; these percussive beats are integral to flamenco technique. However, repeated forceful tapping could soon ruin the top of th e guitar; that is why this plate is essential.How to Tune a Flamenco GuitarAs you would tune any other guitar, you must have something to tune your flamenco guitar to. As for chords, your tuning should revolve around Major D.Start by strumming your sixth string; it should be one step below the conventional-sounding E. if you’re using a piano to tune your guitar, the D you want is five steps below middle C.The fifth string should remain the same: the A directly below middle C. Your fourth string should also remain as the D, one step above middle C.Now, things get tricky: your third string will drop to F# from G â€" three whole steps above middle C on the piano.Your second string should be pitched to B (a major seventh above the piano’s middle C) and the highest string will be tuned to E â€" one octave and one major above your piano’s middle C.Naturally, you will check your tuning and made adjustments as necessary; other than that, you are ready to play flamenco guitar!How to Pl ay Flamenco GuitarFlamenco guitar calls for the strings to be plied in the space between the soundhole and the bridge rather than directly over the soundhole, as so many other styles of guitar are played.The skilled flamenco guitarist will incorporate both tonal and modal harmonies in his playing, the net result being clean, crisp sound.Besides plucking the strings â€" tirando, players often ‘walk’ their fingers, meaning they use their index and middle fingers to rapidly play alternate notes. This technique is called picado.A third distinctive technique of flamenco guitar playing is called rasgueado. It is an exaggerated strum with the wrist flicking outward on the downstroke, presumably to reflect the dancers’ dramatic moves.And, of course, no guitarist could call himself a flamenco guitarist if s/he didn’t incorporate the golpe, the finger tapping on the face of the guitar.Besides these basics of flamenco guitar playing, there aretoque airoso: lively, rhythmic style of pla ying; yields a brilliant soundtoque gitano: deep and expressive, includes many countertempostoque pastueño: slow, peacefultoque virtuoso: demonstrating an exceptional techniqueas opposed to toque corto, meaning ‘basic technique’toque sobrio: pure playing, no showing offYou’ll note the use of the word ‘toque’ earlier in this article meant clapping of hands; in general terms it translates to ‘touch’, meaning that each of these techniques shows a different touch.Join the discussion: how does the jazz guitar differ from the Flamenco guitar? Paco de Lucia is a master guitar player who specialises in flamenco guitar Source: Wikipedia Credit: Cornel PutanFlamenco Guitarists of RenownNow that you know a bit about flamenco guitar, you will surely want to look to the masters to see how playing is done.To that end, we recommend Paco de Lucia. He is often credited with bringing improvisation to an already improvised style of playing. If you can, try to catch him playing Entre dos Aguas; you will clearly see him playing between the soundhole and the bridge of his guitar.Tomatito, son of legendary guitarist Niño Miguel has many flamenco feats under his belt; he also plays in jazz combos and can rip off a mean tango.Manolo Sanlúcar started playing flamenco guitar as a child and has made his mark on the genre; his Tauromagia is emblematic of old-style flamenco canto.Vincente Amigo, a student of Sanlúcar is equally prolific in his playing; he represents a younger generation of flamenco guitarists who maintain that their art is me ant for the wider public.If you only listen to one guitarist on this list, it should be Pepe Habichuela.Growing up in Granada, he would often repair to the caves of Sacromonte with this guitar, refining his sound until it was unique in the flamenco world. Today, he is known as a flamenco master; one of Spain’s finest guitarists.Do you have a favourite flamenco guitarist? Won’t you let us know in the comments section below? While you’re at it, please give us your vote for your fav metal guitar players...Learn to Play the Flamenco GuitarIf you are reading this article, you must have some interest in playing flamenco guitar. Are you already a guitarist or are you contemplating taking up this most sensuous of instruments?If so, you will surely want to take guitar lessons, maybe at your nearby music school.If you have no guitar master near you, perhaps you might consider online guitar lessons; you might even find an app to teach you how to play and guide you into tuning your guitar .Don’t forget your Superprof!Superprof has hundreds of guitar tutors scattered all over the UK; surely there is one near you?The advantage to learning how to play the guitar with a Superprof tutor, besides the low price and the first lessons at no cost (usually), is the fact that you can specify that you want to learn how to play flamenco guitar.You won’t have boring and repetitive lessons that emphasise basic chord structures and you’ll likely be spared Stairway to Heaven and House of the Rising Sun â€" two standards that many guitar teachers like to impart.Your turn to chime in: of all the types of guitar, which is your favourite? Why?