6 Things for High School Seniors to Remember as Graduation Nears

6 Things for High School Seniors to Remember as Graduation Nears With graduation just a few weeks away, your mind may be quickly closing the high school chapter and moving onto your next endeavorbut dont let the door shut yet. With the little time you have left, you can still accomplish some important tasks. Remember certain things as high school graduation nears, such as to prepare for your graduation ceremony or to take AP exams. Looking to make the most of your time before high school ends? Keep reading to discover six things high school seniors should remember as graduation nears. 1. Remember to thank your teachers as graduation nears Before you leave high school, thank your teachersespecially those who have made an impact on you. You can thank them in person or give them a written thank you note. This gesture goes a long wayteachers appreciate knowing they have made a difference in a students life and education. You also never know when youll be in search of a recommendation letter down the road. 2. Tackle AP exams as graduation nears Even though AP tests take place toward the end of the school year, dont let preparation slip your mind. Make sure to: Create a list of your responsibilities and obligations in the coming weeks to see where best to fit in structured prep time Understand the process of sending your scores to your future school, to ensure they receive them on time and to prevent future stress. [RELATED: Top Tips for AP Exam Week] 3. As graduation nears, tie up any loose ends At the end of the year, you will have to send your high school transcript to your college or forward any other required paperwork to them. Sometimes, your high schools guidance counselor might handle these tasks, but its a good idea to double-check. This will ensure there is no last-minute scramble for your records right before starting college. If youre taking a gap year or have other plans outside of attending college, its still a good idea to identify what documents you can get copies of before graduation, so you have them on file in the future if your plans change. [RELATED: 3 Questions to Ask Your Guidance Counselor About College] 4. As graduation nears, spend time with your classmates Unfortunately, this might be the last time all of your high school friends will be in the same place at the same time. Stay after school a bit longer, and make an effort to see them on the weekends. Even lunchtime can be a great time to enjoy each others company and make memories. It can be easy to become flustered by the hectic atmosphere in the weeks leading up to graduation, so make sure to take time to enjoy the friendships you have made. 5. As graduation nears, prepare for your high school graduation ceremony Make sure that youre in the know for how the graduation ceremony will occur. Be aware of the time that you need to arrive, as well as the dress code and any other relevant policies. Make sure your family has tickets, if necessary, and knows any applicable procedures. If your school offers a rehearsal for graduation, be sure to attend so things run smoothly the day of the event. [RELATED: What I Wish I Knew When Graduating High School] 6. As graduation nears, enjoy the time you have left in high school Regardless of how your high school experience unfolded, enjoy these last few weeks. High school is unlike any other time in your life. Looking back, youll be thankful you took time to appreciate the experience. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

A Guide to Cambridge English Exams

A Guide to Cambridge English Exams How to Choose the right  Cambridge English Certificate? ChaptersCambridge English Language Assessment:Key English Test (KET)Preliminary English Test (PET)First Certificate in English (FCE)Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)Business Language Testing Service (BULATS)International English Language Testing System (IELTS)ETS English ExamsIt’s almost impossible to get a job without knowing the English language nowadays.  In an increasingly globalised economy, English has become world's de facto second language.  This means that you’ll need to learn English or at least improve your English!However, you can’t just say your English is good on your CV, you have to prove it!  Don’t worry, though! There are plenty of certificates that can tell a learner what their level is. Unfortunately, with so many, it can be difficult to decide which one you need.Superprof is here to help. Throughout this article we’ll be looking at the different options available to you to test your English. JulianESOL (Engl ish) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCambridge English Language Assessment:The University of Cambridge needs no introduction. It’s without a doubt one of the most famous educational institutions in the world.Cambridge English Language Assessment was launched a long time ago in order to provide English language certificates and now there are almost 2,700 examinati on centres around the world! They run a variety of tests for those learning English which, depending on your level, can thoroughly test a whole variety of language skills including your English grammar, vocabulary, listening skills, speaking skills, and your reading and writing.  While most of these exams focus on general English, the more advanced levels do require that you learn some specialised vocabulary.Key English Test (KET)The KET is also sometimes called “Cambridge English Key”.In terms of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), where A1 is the lowest level and C2 the highest, the KET is considered A2 (a level higher than A2).Verify your level in English with a Cambridge Exam. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)If you pass the KET exam, it means you have an elementary level of English. The kind of level you should at least have when you leave school including a basic understanding of common verbs, English vocabulary, basic phrases, and simple spelling.Th ousands of people sit the KET exam every year. It comes in three parts:Reading. 56 questions in 1 hour and 10 minutes. This part accounts for 50% of the final grade and establishes that the candidate can understand basic written information.Listening. 25 questions in 30 minutes. This part accounts for 25% of the final grade and establishes that the candidate can understand a person speaking slowly in the language.Speaking. Candidates working in pairs have a conversation and answer simple questions. This part accounts for 25% of the final grade and lasts between 8 and 10 minutes.Take English courses online.Preliminary English Test (PET)The PET (or “Cambridge English Preliminary”) is very similar to the KET exam with a few differences. This is exam is equivalent to B1, a level above A2.This indicates that a candidate has mastered “everyday English”.Most multinational corporations require that their staff have at least this level of English and like all Cambridge exams, past pa pers can be downloaded.In addition to having more complicated questions, the papers are set up as follows:Reading (35 questions) and writing (7 questions). This part lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes and accounts for 50% of the final grade.Listening (25 questions). This part lasts 36 minutes and accounts for 25% of the final grade.Speaking. This part lasts 10-12 minutes. Candidates work as a pair.First Certificate in English (FCE)Let’s go up another level to the First Certificate!  The FCE is a B2-level exam and is also known as “Cambridge English First”.A good result indicates that the candidate is comfortable with spoken English and has fairly advanced writing skills. This is the exam that can separate the candidates with the best English skills when it comes to a number of different jobs.A number of top multinational companies will expect candidates to have at least this level of English.The test is divided into four parts:Reading and Use of English (52 questions). This part last s 1 hour and 15 minutes.Writing. This part lasts 1 hour and 20 minutes.Listening (30 questions). This part lasts 40 minutes.Speaking. This part lasts 14 minutes and candidates work as a pair.Check out the best English lessons near you. JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCertificate in Advanced English (CAE)Let’s climb even higher to a C1-level E nglish exam.The Cambridge Advanced English exam is firmly rooted in bilingual territory. This is for anyone who'd like to study English in order to gain fluency and have the ability to comfortably boast about it in their second language.Over 4,000 different businesses and governmental organisations recognise this level as the bare minimum. You will have to learn English at this level for certain student visas in Australia and the UK.Cambridge University, one of the most highly regarded universities in the world. (Source: StockSnap)In 2015, a new version of the exam was implemented:Reading and Use of English (56 questions). This part lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes.Writing. This part lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes.Listening (30 questions). This part lasts 40 minutes.Speaking. This part lasts 15 minutes and candidates work as a pair.Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)Do you speak English just like the locals? Then the Cambridge Proficiency Exam this is the exam for you!This is the to p of the CEFR, the C2. This exam will test all your language abilities and open the door to almost any company looking for bilingual candidates.The test lasts four hours and follows the same structure as the CAE. However, it is obviously for difficult than the C1 exam.Business Language Testing Service (BULATS)Let’s have a look at multilingual business.The BULATS went live in January 2017 and was designed in conjunction with the Alliance Française, Goethe-Institut, and the University of Salamanca to provide a more business-orientated exam.Your reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills are tested over the course of two hours.This is a multilingual test with either French, Spanish, or German.International English Language Testing System (IELTS)The IELTS is the most successful and common English test in the world with over 2.7 million candidates a year. There are 9,000 organisations across 140 countries that recognise its validity including the Council of Europe!This includes the British Council and the IDP. It costs £160.There’s no pass or fail in this exam. Every candidate is scored somewhere on a scale between 2.5 and 9. Depending on your score, you'll be given a CEFR above the A2 level.This is the only test that is recognised by various immigration services in English-speaking countries.ETS English ExamsLet’s head across the Atlantic...The Educational Testing Service was founded in 1947 by Princeton University and for 70 years has been providing English language testing in a variety of fields. The tests can have a literary, academic, practical, or professional focus.Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)The TOEFL, created in 1964, is particularly popular amongst young candidates.It’s basically key to university studies in English-speaking countries and  costs around £100 to take.Just like the IELTS, there isn’t a pass or fail, just an overall score that equates to the various levels.There's nothing better than interactive language tu torials for learning English. (Source: UIC)The test is multiple choice and there were three different versions:PBT (paper) scored out of 677 points.CBT (computer) scored out of 300 points (later replaced by the iBT: see below).iBT (internet) scored out of 120.The test is broken down into 4 parts:Reading: 1 hour.Listening: 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.Speaking: 20 minutes.Writing: 20 minutes.You can also choose not to sit one of these parts (if you’d like to spend less) or choose to sit the TOEFL Speaking Academic Test (TAST).  The TOEFL is recognised around the world and is valid for two years.Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)This is another of the ETS’ exams. Unlike the TOEFL, which is aimed at students, the TOEIC is aimed squarely at those in business.Launched in 1979, the results are out of 990 points and arranged into colour grades: gold, blue, green, brown, and orange.This is a multiple-choice test that includes Listening and Reading parts:Listening (10 0 questions). This part lasts 45 minutes.Reading (100 questions). This part lasts 1 hour 15 minutes.The supplementary Speaking and Writing paper includes 20 minutes of speaking and an hour of writing.The TOEIC Official Learning and Preparation Course is available to those preparing for the exam while the TOEIC Bridge is available for those just starting out.Nationally-Recognised Exams for Proficiency in EnglishThere are also number of English language exams around the world you could consider taking. However, these may be limited to the country you take them in.These are not advised for those wanting to use English to work around the world or in English-speaking countries. However, if you're thinking about teaching English in your country and they're a requirement, you don’t really have a choice, do you?Learn English online on Superprof.You can learn English for free online. (Source: Unsplash)Unless absolutely necessary, I wouldn't recommend sitting one of these exams over one of the many internationally-recognised versions for which there'll often be English classes and language courses designed for students sitting them available.Whatever you do, make sure you think long and hard about the best English exam for you.We’ve given you all the information we think you need to get started.  Now the rest is up to you.Learn what you need to take the GMAT exam for business school.

Unmissable Russian TV Shows

Unmissable Russian TV Shows The Russian TV Series that You Have to See ChaptersMasha and the Bear, the Classic Russian CartoonInterns, the Russian Equivalent of HouseKitchen, Delicious Russian ComedyDostoevsky, Historic Russian MiniseriesFizruk, an Unmissable Russian SitcomNasha Russia, Little RussiaThe Americans, an American Series about Relations with Russia“Women are like cRussian dolls. Each time you think you’ve found the right one, you discover another.” - Russian Dolls (2005).If you’re ready to immerse yourself in the best Russian culture, don’t expect remakes of High School Musical when you’re watching Russian television. It’s nothing like western cinema, for one, the humour is far from similar. You need to know that Russian cinema is very dynamic, but TV not so much. There was only one new series in 2019 against 15 new films.You can discover the best Russian TV shows on Netflix and other streaming services, too.In this article, we're going to look at some of the Russian TV shows with the best ratings, comedies that everybody will love. While these shows mightn't be starring your favourite actors or have the production value of primetime American TV shows produced by ABC, NBC, or CBS, this is some of the best TV shows from the other side of the Iron Curtain. LavaRussian Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!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 tutorsMasha and the Bear, the Classic Russian CartoonIt’s true that at first glance, you’ll think this show is just for kids. However, for anyone wantin g to learn how to speak Russian, Masha and the Bear is a great place to start. Each episode follows a typical aspect of Russian life, from celebrating the Russian Orthodox New Year or going back to school.Check for a Russian language course London here.Masha and the Bear is one of Russia's most popular exports. (Source: Yevhen1971)Masha is a young girl who loves messing about and making the most of life and she also knows how to do tonnes of thing. Her bear friend protects her although he’s as wild as Masha. You could sort of think of this show as a Russian “Dora the Explorer”. Get ready to fall in love with the different characters!With 75 episodes across 3 seasons, there’s plenty of content to sink your teeth into and practise your Russian. It’s also a useful source of everyday Russian expressions that anyone can watch.There’s also the English version, but that won’t help your language skills!Learn more about Russian music.Interns, the Russian Equivalent of HouseIn t he world of TV series, doctors are almost always respected figures. This isn’t the case in the Russian series “Interns” (???????). The main character, Andrey Yevgenyevich Bykov, played by the Russian Orthodox priest Ivan Ivanovich Okhlobystin (he’s suspended his priestly duties temporarily), is the cynical head of a therapy department whose character will remind English-speaking viewers of either Dr. House from House or Dr Cox from Scrubs.He is constantly plagued by his interns' ineptitude.  It should be noted that in Russian, the word refers to a medical intern and not just any type of intern.The sitcom was produced by NTV-Kino and covers the daily lives of medical interns preparing for their futures in medicine. These novices struggle with both their professional and personal lives. Between romantic relationships and squabbling at work, this far-fetched series is worth a watch.The pilot first aired on March 31, 2010, and this comedic show ran for 4 seasons before it came t o an end.While this series is quite goofy at time, it does push the envelope as it breaks many Russian taboos about the medical practice. This is nothing like Grey’s Anatomy, which tells the stories of medical interns as they grow, but rather focuses on the funny aspects of the characters’ lives, like in Scrubs. While you probably won't be familiar with a single cast member, it's still a treat for anyone who likes comedy series.Kitchen, Delicious Russian ComedyThe series Kitchen or ????? in Russian is a comedy show and also one of the best series on Russian TV. With a likeable cast, there’s a reason it’s the “comedy of the year”.Russians also like a workplace comedy. (Source: Pexels)In Russian, the term ????? means both kitchen and cuisine.This show covers the story of a Russian chef working in his French restaurant in Moscow. The twist comes when a young chef looking to conquer the world of cooking comes from his rural hometown to work in the restaurant. Let’s just sa y that not everything goes to plan...This is an easy-to-watch TV series. The actions on screen are enough to make you laugh and you won’t need to be a master of Russian to get what’s going on. There are also six seasons to get stuck into. LavaRussian Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!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 tutorsDostoevsky, Historic Russian MiniseriesThe miniseries Dostoevsky (???????????) is a scripted drama that covers the life of the historical f igure himself over the course of 8 hour-long episodes. Yevgeny Vitalevich Mironov plays the nationalist and tsarist character.The show covers the life of Fyodor Dostoevsky in the 1950s in Russia as the emblematic writer is on the tipping point and the moments in his life that inspired him to create “The Brothers Karamazov”.It’s a good series if you like biopics. While it’s quite a short series with just 8 episodes and you won’t really into every aspect of the writer’s life, it does offer a good look into Russia at the time.Discover the most famous Russian figures and celebrities.Fizruk, an Unmissable Russian SitcomFizruk is considered to be one of the most popular series for Russian teenagers and has a good mix of situation comedy and non-sequitur comedy. The show has been said to “bring all of Russia together each episode”. You’ve got to give it a go!Check here for Russian lessons you can take on Superprof.There are plenty of shows for younger viewers, too. (Sourc e: mojzagrebinfo)In Fizruk, a gangster is trying to get close to his former boss. To do this, he’s become a PE teacher in a secondary school. While the plot is pretty predictable in some episodes, in others you’ll never see what’s coming.This series is Russian through and through. This is also a really accessible series. It’s funny and original and everyone (Russian or otherwise), will enjoy it.Nasha Russia, Little RussiaIf you want a good laugh or learn about Russian life, there are few shows better than Nasha Russia (???? Russia), which means “Our Russia”. Despite the patriotic title, comedy is at the heart of this show, which was based on Little Britain.It might be worth watching this series with English subtitles at first as there are a lot of subtleties. There were 96 episodes made between 2006 and 2011 that covered various aspects of life in Russia. They covered society (communism, socialism, relations with the Caucuses), the economy (the value of the Ruble), inter national relations (foreign policy, etc.), culture, sports, etc.Even the Russian president is the butt of jokes! In fact, there are recurring jokes that target Georgia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, too.While you’ll need a good level of Russian to enjoy it, it’s well worth watching, especially if you want to learn more about Russian culture.Discover the best radio stations in Russia.The Americans, an American Series about Relations with RussiaThis American TV show has been popular since coming out in 2013. There are no heroes or murderers in this show, just a couple of KGB agents deep undercover in the US in the 1980s. The show takes place in the heat of the Cold War and lasted for six seasons.There are also lots of shows about Russian. (Source: 3dman_eu)Right from the first episode, the tone is set.Are you ready to learn more about Soviet and American espionage?This is one of the best recent American series.From Saint Petersburg to Siberia, you can travel around Russian culture thanks t o these series. Of course, these aren’t the only Russian series about!Since Russian culture is a world apart from our own, you won't find comedies like Seinfeld or Everybody Loves Raymond or anything you'd find on American television shows.  Of course, there's always a new show to discover and you can always watch Russian comedians, Russian dubs of other shows like the Simpsons, for example.Did you know that there's a Russian version of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia?If you're interested in learning how to speak Russian, you should consider getting the help of a private tutor. Unfortunately, Russian isn't widely taught in British schools. However, thanks to private tutors, anyone in the UK can learn Russian.With Superprof, there are three main types of tutorials on offer: one on one private tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. One on one tutorials cost the most but also offer the best service. Online tutorials are cheaper since the tutor has fewer expenses. Finally , group tutorials are the cheapest as the cost is divided between the students but you can't expect the bespoke service you'll get in private tutorials.If you speak Russian, it's very easy to set up a profile and start offering private tutorials on the platform. Many tutors offer the first hour of tutoring for free to entice potential students to their lessons.

Learn To Boost English Skills With Online English Tutor

Learn To Boost English Skills With Online English Tutor English is a global language which has world wide popularity for its multiple applications in different fields. It is a communication tool for business transactions, studying abroad, local communication and is regarded high as a mark of elegance in learned circles. Without English skills, one’s career prospects are at indeed low and prove to be limited. Learning English with academic standards is a tough job and needs concentration. In today’s complex learning atmosphere, mastering English skills without external support is an impossible matter. Many areas in English learning prove subtle as in the case of proper pronunciation, trendy writing style, proper grammar usage and perfect choice of vocabulary. Online tutors in English with their knowledge and experience in handling various aspects of English are the best help for students who find English difficult to learn. Why You Need To Focus On Your #English Skills For Success In Your Career And Life http://t.co/12FhIlOcaG pic.twitter.com/LN2gHMd1zl â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) September 20, 2015 Benefits of Online English Tutoring Online English tutors are subject experts who know the nuances and subtleties of English topics and lead one throughout the difficult phases in English learning with their expert knowledge. Further, they present the following benefits for students. Personalized treatment for students of different levels Customized solutions for the hiccups in English learning Standard patterns and examples of English speaking and writing Useful suggestion and tips for essay writing and spoken language Teaching grammar for flawless writings 24/7 availability with cost effective rates English homework help-the way to excel in English English assignments and homework can trigger doubts and lack of understanding for students if they lack in proficient reading habits and comprehension capabilities. Online tutors in English offer English homework help for putting down all the struggles of students with their samples, solutions and suggestion and thus enable students to do their best in English homework. Prose, poetry and fiction assignments with their intricate questions demand explanations and analysis which need a creative intelligence, imagination and high perspectives. Students who skip English classes might have missed lecture notes and thus find the topics difficult. Online tutors with their subject knowledge and exposure to tricky questions are able to beat out the tough and subtle questions in English literature and provide the best homework solutions for students. Why students need English assignment help for better scores? English essay writing and projects demands higher level of writing skills and may bring down the grades if he is unaware of the format of essays and the way to approach them. Online English assignment help is the right destination for attempting an essay in English with its typical guidelines. Likewise grammar questions and fiction assignments also need good knowledge in the subject areas to provide awesome write ups and this is possible through online English tutors with their expertise in language areas. @TutorPace Offers 10% Discount on Online #Assignment Help for Improved Grades http://t.co/P1NO7BttIg #backtoschool pic.twitter.com/vJs9iihJwUâ€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) September 10, 2015 Some intriguing topics in English learning: Grammar parts like subject-verb agreement Speech patterns Classical literature topics Principles of literary criticism with concepts of various authors Thus, learning English with the help of online tutors is the surest way to success with stunning scores and easy solutions.

Angle of Incidence

Angle of Incidence When a ray of light strikes a reflecting surface, then the angle of incidence is the angle formed when the light ray touches the reflecting surface. Angle of incidence is always taken as the measure between the light ray and the normal drawn to the reflecting surface. According to the Laws of reflection, this angle of incidence is equal to the angle of the reflection as well. Example 1: Light ray strikes a reflecting surface making an angle of 20 with the surface. Find the angle of incidence, the angle of reflection and sketch the path of the light ray. Angle of incidence is the angle formed by the light ray with respect to the perpendicular or normal drawn to the reflecting surface. Hence, angle of incidence = 90 - 20 = 70 According to the laws of reflection, angle of incidence = angle of reflection Hence, angle of reflection = 70 Example 2: A ray of light strikes a reflecting surface making an angle of 60 with the surface. Find the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection of the light ray. Given the angle of the light ray made with respect to the reflecting surface = 60 Angle of incidence is the angle formed by the light ray with respect to the normal drawn to the reflecting surface. Hence, angle of incidence = 90 - 60 = 30 According to the laws of reflection, angle of incidence = angle of reflection Hence, angle of reflection = 30

How Tension Affects Your Voice (And What to Do About It!)

How Tension Affects Your Voice (And What to Do About It!) Suzy S. As a beginner singer, its important to understand how unnecessary tension affects your tone and your breath support. Here, NY teacher  Nadia B.  shares what to keep in mind and how to combat that tension Singing is, in many ways, a very natural activity. We all have a voice, and it is meant to be used to communicate in speech and in music. However, when one delves more into the art of singing through voice lessons, practice, and performance, tension sometimes creeps in. It can seem uncontrollable and the source unidentifiable. The reasons for tension are many, but with the following tips you should be able to better identify how to sing without tension and enjoy a singing practice that is full of expression and requires much less effort. Understanding the Common Causes of Tension To combat tension, the first step is to understand some of the common causes for tension while singing. The most common ones I encounter are a mix of psychological and physical. Trying to be right and using too much effort are two of the biggest factors in tension. To identify whether these apply to you, notice as you’re singing if you’re always trying to fix something. Are you set on singing each passage perfectly, no matter what it takes? You might especially notice this in your singing lessons, when your teacher is observing you. While the intention is good, trying to sing something perfectly can lead to excess mental and physical tension. Using too much effort goes along with this idea. Although singing is a very natural activity, sometimes singers use too much effort in an attempt to sing loudly, more expressively, or faster. So, What Can You Do? Pay attention to your physical reaction and your thoughts as you approach a passage that calls for one of the above qualities. Do you notice an increase in tension, or of negative or panicky thoughts? If so, simply noticing these trends and taking steps to reduce your engagement with these unproductive methods can greatly reduce the amount of tension you’re using. Instead of placing your mental and physical energy in these methods, focus on staying open as you allow the expression to come up and out of you, connecting with the ground to sing louder, and using the breath as a means to propel a fast passage instead of muscular effort or unhelpful thoughts. What Else Causes Tension? Two additional mindsets that lead to excess tension are over-focusing and anxiousness. As you sing, are you overly focused on the voice and the vocal mechanism? While the vocal mechanism is undoubtedly important, singers can forget the rest of the body, which is an important part of resonance, power, and connection. If you are fixated on the vocal mechanism, try to bring your awareness to the whole torso, and then include the legs, arms, head, and feet as well. Similarly, feeling anxious or nervous while performing can create tension. To work with nerves while practicing or before a performance, give yourself a few breaths to notice what areas of your body are responding to the feelings of nerves, and see if you can mentally connect those areas to the whole of you. For example, while your neck might feel tight and tense, remembering that it is part of your whole spine and supported by all the buoyant connections within the spine and the ribcage can help you release the tension. Dont Let Tension Take Over! Whatever the cause of tension, it always has a physical manifestation that can be very uncomfortable and can interfere greatly with singing naturally and beautifully. As you become more in tune with how to sing without tension, use your awareness of your body to release tension in the following areas: The root of the tongue (it should be soft, not tight and hard) The jaw (release the muscles of the jaw to free the whole vocal mechanism, including the throat, the back of the neck, the head and mask and the tops of the shoulders) The soft palette (allowing it to rise up, or releasing any depression in the soft palette, can create more room for resonance) The throat (not tightening or constricting the throat allows the air to move easily) The mask (releasing any deadening in the sinuses, contraction in the eyes and forehead, and allowing the nose to be wide can create much more space for the sound) The intercostal muscles (in between the ribs; allowing these muscles to release allows the breath to move easily in and out without excess effort) The diaphragm and the back (the diaphragm’s connection to the ribs and back makes it essential for ease in singing, and the back is a wide and long swath of musculature that you can allow to expand to create more flexibility and freedom in your singing) The back line (think of this as a line that extends from your sacrum down through the buttocks and legs and into your heels; allowing it to lengthen into the ground ensures that you are not over-contracting the buttocks, legs, and ankles) With these tips, you can easily discover how to sing without tension! And in the process, you may also find even greater delight and enjoyment in exploring the craft of singing. Use these tips as a jumping off point for your own exploration of how your whole self â€" body, mind, and soul â€" acts as an open vessel for expressing everything a rich, meaningful voice has to offer. Nadia B. teaches flute and piano in New York, NY, as well as through online lessons. She  acted as principal flutist of the orchestra and wind ensemble at  California State University, Sacramento, and then went on to receive her degree in Music Performance from New York University.  Learn more about Nadia here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Armando G Alonso

How Much Vocab Do you Really Need to Know for the GRE

How Much Vocab Do you Really Need to Know for the GRE GRE/MAT Graduate School Blog Do you remember studying a ton of vocabulary for your SAT back in high school? Well, you probably took SAT right before the ETS reconfigured the whole thing and removed the vocabulary section. That’s right, nowadays high school students don’t have to memorize a giant list of vocabulary to succeed on the standardized tests that get them into universities. Such a pleasure is reserved entirely for grown adults who want to get into the grad school. Why does the GRE have Text Completion questions? Remember that the GRE is supposed to act as a totally level playing field, that gives test takers across the country an equal shot regardless of the schools they went to, the areas they majored in, or, frankly, the time they spent in the library during undergrad. One gauge of how prepared someone is to succeed in grad school is how strong her vocabulary is, especially since academia revolves so much around writing and publishing research. Therefore, a strong performance on the GRE’s Verbal Reasoning section doesn’t just communicate that you can analyze text well, but that you can hold your own with your soon-to-be peers. That’s right, you need a strong vocabulary for the GRE. Okay, so how many words do I have to learn? Some resources list around 350, and the lists you find in test prep books can range in scope from 900 to 4,500. The best rule of thumb is to push yourself to study a lot of words but to keep it manageable. Try to keep it under 1,000 to give yourself a reasonable goal. Any amount much higher than that can just end up being overwhelming and potentially discourage you from taking up an impactful study routine. Keep in mind that the average adult English speaker knows upwards of 40,000 words, so making sure you have a firm grasp of an extra 600 to 1,000 especially impressive ones really isn’t that huge of a task. The real secret is to study your GRE vocab daily, even on weekends. Make flashcards for a new 50 to 100 words each week and study for as many minutes a day as you need to in order to feel confident with that set of vocabulary before you add new words for your pile next week. You can find lists of vocab like this one from GreenLight Test Prepwith some quick Googling, and there are services like Memorang that provide pre-made flashcards for the GRE as well. Any time you see a word you don’t recognize on a practice test or in drills in a test book, jot it down and add it to next week’s pile. Lastly, make sure to keep reviewing the old vocabulary, since you are not just trying to retain these words for test day, but for grad school. What do I do if I see a word I don’t know on the test? This is an inevitable situation. Come to peace with the fact that you won’t know every single word on the GRE now to save yourself a minor freakout when you’re actually taking the exam. The best way to deal with Text Completion questions is to use process of elimination. Let’s take a look at one: Perhaps you are looking at the answer choices for the first blank and don’t know what “maladroitness” means. You can still make a confident decision about whether the other choices do or don’t work. Based on the context, we know we want a word that suggests nature sets an example to follow. We can eliminate quirkiness because that has nothing to do with an example to follow, and keep preeminence. Does “preeminence” work in that blank? It absolutely does. If you have to choose between a good answer and one you didn’t understand, choose the good one. If nothing good remains, choose the one you don’t understand. If it’s a toss up, choose the one you don’t understand since that may just be the best one after all. Don’t avoid an answer choice simply because you don’t know the vocab. About the Author Mike S. is one of our most experienced test prep tutors. For more information on our GRE prep packages, click here.

Tutorfairs Foundation On-Demand Review

Tutorfair's Foundation On-Demand Review As one of the Founders of Tutorfair, my mission has been to make tutoring fair for all.      Last  week the Foundation signed off the final report of our pilot study for Tutorfair On-Demand with Nesta, so I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the  learning we’ve seen from this pilot. Why did we start On-Demand? We created On-Demand for Nesta, the innovation foundation. They had noticed in 2016 that volunteering projects were making a real difference in education but were not reaching large  areas of the country.  We took up the challenge because we thought the solution might also fix an issue for the Tutorfair Foundation.   We had lots of tutors trying to volunteer  who we were unable to place  most in our projects with schools.  The On-Demand app would let  volunteers anywhere in the country answer questions whenever they wanted. What have we found? Fast forward to 2019 and we now have a real live service that works. Pupils from schools who sign-up can access a tutor for GCSE maths instantly on their phones.  They feel happy with the help they get and their teacher can see what they struggled with. Volunteers can help when and where they are able to, without needing to make complex commitments. The Foundation team can train the volunteers online and monitor for quality and safeguarding.   Now that hundreds of students and volunteers and 30 schools have used it we have loads of great feedback on how to make it all better. What’s most exciting is that we’re starting to find from our small sample of students in the pilot that students who used the app more frequently saw some grade improvement.   One of the most important things moving forward to more schools and more students will be proving this result to be statistically significant. What next? As we wrap up the pilot study we are really excited with the potential for On Demand.  We feel confident that it will  be shown make a real difference to grades when we can do a full proof of concept.   This would mean for our volunteers that they are making a measurable contribution to addressing educational inequality.  When we can prove that we make an impact, there is so much potential to extend to new students and subjects and for this to be a whole new way for teachers and tutors to work together. With thanks to... Before signing off I must thank Nesta and DCMS for setting a visionary challenge and supporting us on the way. Pete and Tas on the Foundation team have designed and run everything. Curvestone help us with development. 364 tutors volunteered to help. And thanks to everyone else in the Tutorfair extended family who has helped to make this idea into a reality.