Effective Tutor Management Tools

Effective Tutor Management ToolsThe use of effective tutoring strategies to support your teaching and learning activities, will often require a team effort. In the current educational environment, time is a precious commodity for educators and students alike. The cost of quality instruction and learning materials makes the challenge much more difficult.These are the types of information that you may find in Effective Tutor Management Tools: Teacher Supplements and Context-Specific Tutoring. If you are struggling with having time, this book offers a solution.The author, John R. Schubert, states, 'It is important to give teachers the right tools for improving student's education.' What better way to accomplish this goal than to provide them with the most effective teaching strategies to enhance their teaching and learning performance. This book will give teachers a better understanding of effective tutoring and effective teacher management strategies.As an individual teacher, it is you r job to make sure that your teaching and learning can benefit the students in your classroom. Without sufficient time and resources, this can be very difficult. With the author's help, you will be able to find out how to maximize your students' ability to learn, and increase the percentage of high school graduates who receive a high school diploma or GED.The Effective Tutoring Techniques will help you expand your horizons with innovative methods of instruction. It will also be a guide for you to change the structure of your class so that your students are learning something new every day. Effective Tutor Management Tools is full of instructional strategies that will show you how to add teaching activities, special learning activities, and study time for every student. These plans include a full-scale solution, as well as step-by-step instructions that will make life easier for you.Effective Tutor Management Techniques and TeacherSupplements will serve as a reference guide to guide you through the process of making changes in your classroom. In this guide, you will get resources on what to do as a teacher to make the most of your classroom time. You will also get a variety of strategies that will help you identify and implement change for your students and the environment in which they live. All these strategies, plus other helpful information, will make life easier for you as a teacher.The author recommends using 'business-like' motivation techniques when you are trying to motivate your students. For example, you may want to involve the students in your decision-making process. Using motivational techniques will help to create a sense of purpose in the students, and that will drive them to learn more and achieve more.This Effective Tutor Management Tools will allow you to use effective techniques and strategies to improve the learning and development in your classroom. All that is required is a clear, concise, and concise step-by-step approach. After you have used the solutions that you find in Effective Tutor Management Tools, you will be ready to offer exceptional education to students today.

Top 12 Christmas Movies to Watch with the Kids

Top 12 Christmas Movies to Watch with the Kids Weve put together a list of some of our favorite family Christmas movies to get you inspired for some post-turkey sofa time. From comedies to stories about the true meaning of Christmas, theres plenty to keep you and little ones of all ages occupied. Pause the holiday rush for these great Christmas movies for the whole family: Arthur Christmas Santa delivers gifts to every child in the world in one evening with the help of an army of elves coordinated by his son, Steve. But when one child is missed out, its up to Arthur, Santas youngest son, to deliver a present to the forgotten kid before Christmas morning dawns. Merry Madagascar Kids who loved Madagascar simply cant resist this short TV Christmas special, which stars their favorite characters in a festive new adventure. Anyone else should enjoy the films positive messages and quirky humor. Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire When Homer receives no holiday bonus, he hopes to make extra money by becoming a Mall Santa, in an attempt to bring the family a happy holiday. The Flight Before Christmas This Christmas cartoon features a young reindeer who is scared of heights. To overcome his fear, he takes flying lessons from a flying squirrel before heading to the North pole to save Santa and his reindeer. A great Christmas film to watch with younger kids. A Charlie Brown Christmas The perfect Christmas cartoon for any Snoopy fan. A Charlie Brown Christmas is ideal for even tiny tots. Love Actually Made up of nine intertwined stories, Love Actually has a brilliant cast including Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson, Andrew Lincoln, Martine McCutcheon, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson the list is long and distinguished. Elf Viewers cant get enough of funnyman Will Ferrells antics as a human raised as an obstreperous elf who finally meets his real-life dad. The Santa Clause When a man inadvertantly kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place. Home Alone Left at home accidentally while his family heads off on a Christmas vacation in Paris, Kevin played by Macaulay Culkin is left to defend his home against two bumbling burglars played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern who are taking advantage of the fact that so many families are out of town. Its a Wonderful Life The holiday classic to define all holiday classics, Its a Wonderful Life is one of a handful of films worth an annual viewing. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas Nearly 50 years old, this one of our top kids Christmas movies is still a unique animated classic. Dont be surprised if the kids are singing Youre a Mean One, Mr. Grinch until New Years. Miracle on 34th Street Macy’s hires gentle Kris Kringle to be its department store St. Nick, but his stellar commitment to the job (as well as insistence on being the genuine article) has all the kids in awe and sets off a media firestorm that ends up in a court of law. Its a classic that continues to appeal to kids generation after generation. What Christmas movies are you looking forward to watching this holiday season? Please let us know in the comments below! At this magical time of the year  take a look at our list of can’t-miss holiday activities for the whole family  to  make the most of your Christmas.

How to Learn a Language by Watching Movies with Your 7 Favorite Websites

How to Learn a Language by Watching Movies with Your 7 Favorite Websites How to Learn a Language by Watching Movies with Your 7 Favorite Websites They give you a break from reality.They take you on exciting adventures.They show that true love can overcome any barriers.But can they really help you learn a language?Learning a language with movies is undoubtedly one of the most fun ways to study.However, it can get a bad rap from students whove fallen victim to mistakes.Dont blame the movies! With the right approach, movies can be powerful language learning tools  that infuse your education with a wonderfully fun way to learn.Some of your favorite resources for watching movies can become your go-to sources for a wealth of language learning material.Heres what you need to know for how to learn a language with movies one resource at a time! Why You Have to Be Careful When Using Movies to Learn LanguagesWhen watching movies in your target language, it can be easy to lean on subtitles. Dont get us wrongâ€"subtitles can be an awesome learning tool. However, if youre using English subtitles, you may accidentally focus on them instead of listening to your target language.Its an easy trap to fall into. After all, youre more comfortable with your native language, so its only natural that you lean on it whenever possible.To avoid falling into this habit, you can consciously focus on only glancing at the subtitles when you dont understand something. You can also use resources that dont offer subtitles or allow you to turn off the subtitles, thereby preventing the temptation to glance down for an easy crutch.If youre learning a language with movies, you could fail to develop well-rounded skills. Thats because movies focus primarily on listening practice. If you manage to find a source that provides subtitles in your target language, you could also get some reading practice.However, movies are sorely lacking in speaking and writing practice. Because of this, you may need to supplement with other resources or use innovative ways to work speaking and writing into your learning routine.Finally, you may get overwhelmed wa tching a movie in your target language. Movies can be pretty long. If you havent done a lot of listening practice in your target language, diving right in with a movie could be overwhelming and make you feel like you dont understand the language at all. Selecting your movie and resource carefully can allow you to find something more level-appropriate that isnt quite so daunting.How to Learn a Language by Watching Movies with Your 7 Favorite WebsitesNetflixNetflix is one of the most popular movie resources out there. Luckily, your subscription also grants you access to tons of foreign language movies. Simply search the name of your target language and movies to find options.Top OptionsArabic Sand StormChinese Us and ThemEnglish OkjaFrench I Am Not an Easy ManGerman Rock My HeartItalian The RuthlessJapanese BleachKorean High SocietyPortuguese The KillerRussian DovlatovSpanish RomaWho Its Best forLearners who already have a Netflix subscription.  If you already have a Netfli x subscription, you may as well turn it into a language learning expense! Plus, using your subscription for language learning can really maximize the value you get out of Netflix.Students looking for flexible subtitling options.  Netflix offers English subtitles for all foreign-language movies. However, it also allows you to remove subtitles, making it a more flexible option than some and allowing you to select which subtitling option is best for you.Students who have a difficult time finding material in their target language.  Netflix offers a greater variety of languages than most movie resources, so if youre struggling to find movies in your target language, Netflix could be a great solution.Whats Unique About ItSubtitling is flexible.  Not all resources allow you to turn subtitles on and off, which makes Netflix stand out as an exceptional option.Netflix offers a huge array of languages.  Many movie resources offer only very common languages or focus on specific regions. Netflix , on the other hand, includes movies from all over the world.How to Get the Most out of ItWant even more flexible subtitling options? Try to find Netflix Originals.  Netflix subtitles are flexible to begin with, but Netflix Originals tend to offer even more options. Thats because Netflix Originals generally offer captions in the language of the movie, too. That means you can watch a movie in Chinese while reading along in Chinese.If you want an easy transition towards greater proficiency, you could also start with English subtitles, rewatch with subtitles in your target language, then rewatch without subtitles.Connect with other language students to discuss what youre watching on Netflix.  If you meet someone online or know someone in person whos studying the same language as you, you could work in speaking or writing practice by communicating about what youre watching in your target language on Netflix. And because Netflix is so widely used, it can be an excellent resource for movi e clubs.FluentUIf you love videos but want additional support, FluentU is a terrific tool.FluentU uses real-world videos, like movie trailers, clips, news, commercials and more, and turns them into powerful learning experiences.Each video is captioned, so you can easily access any words definition, example sentences and an associated image. Want to see a word in a different context? FluentU can also show you other videos on the site that use that word.Plus, because FluentU is flexible, it can work for students of all proficiency levels.Top OptionsMovie trailersShort filmsClips from animated moviesWho Its Best forAll levels of language learners.  FluentU can accommodate any level of language learner. Videos and lessons are organized into six levels: beginner 1 and 2, intermediate 1 and 2 and advanced 1 and 2. You choose what you watch and how often you study. Meanwhile, FluentUs algorithm tracks your learning to present you with level-appropriate questions that build on what you alre ady know.Learners who want to start small. FluentUs subtitles, activities, flashcards and quizzes for each video are extremely detailed, so the software only provides short clips, not full-length films. This makes it easier to get as much as possible out of just a couple minutes of material. Maybe you dont have the time to watch a movie. Or maybe the idea is so overwhelming that you dont know where to start. If thats the case, FluentUs bite-sized clips could be just what you need!Learners with limited time available.  FluentU doesnt require a huge time commitment. You can choose to watch for just a couple minutes a day or watch for hours on end if the mood strikes you. Because you can break your learning down into small, convenient chunks, FluentU is a great tool for students who want to learn with videos without having to set aside hours at a time.Students who want extra learning support.  If youre not fully comfortable listening in your target language, FluentU can provide you wit h the extra learning support you need to get there. Youll have definitions and example sentences at the tips of your fingers, so you can enjoy the benefits of authentic listening with the support of great learning material.Anyone who wants to maximize the learning impact of the activity.  Learning with movies can be great, but if you want to really learn vocabulary, you may need to keep word lists, refer to dictionaries and then study. FluentU can increase the learning impact of watching videos without creating so much extra work. If you dont know a word, you can get a translation instantly. Want to study it more? Just add it to your vocabulary list!Whats Unique About ItFluentU is very flexible.  With FluentU, you call the shots. You choose what you watch, how much time you spend, how quickly you progress, etc. And flexibility is key for anyone trying to fit language lessons into their busy schedule!It offers interactive activities.  In addition to video content, FluentU offers quiz zes that fuse videos, images and example sentences into interactive activities and flashcards that put your knowledge to the test.It can grow with you.  FluentUs algorithm tracks your learning, so FluentU grows with you as your skills progress.How to Get the Most out of ItTry all the features.  FluentU offers more than just great video content. You can also find audio lessons, playlists and flashcard sets. Try out all of FluentUs features to see which work best for your unique needs and preferences.Use FluentU often.  Because you can use FluentU for just a few minutes at a time, its a terrific tool to use often. You can stagger your learning throughout the day rather than studying in one long session. Plus, studying more frequently can keep the language fresh in your brain and prevent backsliding of skills.Use FluentU whenever and wherever its convenient.  Use FluentU online, download the iOS app or use the Android app. Using Fluentu whenever and wherever its convenient can help you use it more often and get more out of it.HuluHulu is another streaming service where language students can find some international content. It isnt quite the fount of international content that Netflix is, but it does offer up some strong options.Top OptionsChinese Shaolin Soccer  French 4 Lovers  Korean The Good, the Bad, the WeirdSpanish The Orphanage  Who Its Best forStudents who already have a Hulu subscription.  Hulu doesnt provide as much international content as some other options, so it might not be worth pursuing a Hulu subscription solely for foreign language content. Therefore, its a good option for anyone who already has a Hulu account. Hey, why not get a little more out of it by improving your language skills?Korean language students.  While Hulu doesnt have tons of foreign content, it does have a decent amount of Korean films, so Korean language students might just love Hulu. Not only does it offer some Korean movies, but you can also find a number of Korean TV sh ows.Whats Unique About ItIts international content is largely Asian.  Unlike Netflix, Hulus international content has a clearer regional focus, and that focus is on Asia. Specifically, Hulu offers a good deal of Korean content.Offerings change often.  Hulus content seems to change pretty frequently, so if you dont find something to watch now, you might in a few days!How to Get the Most out of ItIf you find something you want to watch, watch it as soon as possible.  Because Hulu seems to change content often, if you spot a movie in your target language you really want to watch, try to do it as soon as possible. It would be tragic for it to disappear before you get a chance to learn from it!Try to find scripts in your target language.  Hulu offers English subtitles, but youre unlikely to find as many movies subtitled in your target language as you can on Netflix. Because of this, finding movie scripts in your target language can be a helpful tool to allow you to read along as you watc h. To find movie scripts, try searching the name of the movie and script in your target language.AmazonAmazon has a unique mixture of movies you can stream and movies you can purchase on DVD.Amazon is a particularly good resource for finding familiar movies dubbed in a variety of languages. When purchasing international DVDs, just be sure to check the region to make sure theyre compatible with your DVD player.Having trouble finding movies in your target language on Amazon? Search for your favorite movie on DVD, then scroll down to Product Details. Here, youll find a list of languages you can watch the movie in.Top OptionsChinese Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Mandarin Chinese Edition)French The Little MermaidGerman The Boss Baby  Japanese Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix  Portuguese Trolls  Russian Aladdin  Spanish The Secret Life of Pets  Who Its Best forStudents looking to learn through childrens movies.  Amazon is one of the best resources for finding chi ldrens movies in foreign languages. Because of this, Amazon is a good resource for beginning students or anyone else who would rather enjoy a fun film for kids.Students who are more comfortable watching a familiar movie.  Because Amazon also offers a lot of dubbed movies, its a great place to find movies in your target language that you may already be familiar with in English. Watching a movie you already know in English can help you overcome the language barrier and enjoy the movie in your target language without worrying that you wont be able to follow.Whats Unique About ItYou can purchase DVDs.  Most movie resources focus on streaming, so if youre looking for DVDs, Amazon may be your best option.You can stream some international movies for free with your Amazon Prime subscription.  While Prime Videos doesnt offer tons of international movies, you can definitely find a handful of good options. And if you already have a Prime subscription, watching these movies will give you more b ang for your buck.How to Get the Most out of ItWatch dubbed movies right after watching the English version.  Watching the English version first gives you a clear idea of the plot and meaning. When you watch in your target language, having this familiarity will make it easy to focus exclusively on the language itself.Memorize songs from Disney movies.  Disney movies are incredibly catchy, and you can use that to your advantage! Memorizing songs from Disney movies in your target language can help you remember vocabulary and grammar rules. Plus, your friends will be super impressed if you start belting Ill Make a Man out of You in Chinese!AsianCrushAsianCrush is a streaming service that focuses exclusively on Asian movies and TV.Top OptionsChinese Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?  Japanese Creamy Mami  Korean Two Faces of My GirlfriendWho Its Best forStudents learning Asian languages.  Because the focus is squarely on Asian languages, AsianCrush is perfect for anyone learning Chine se, Japanese, Korean or other Asian languages.Students with specific taste in movies.  AsianCrush offers a lot of filters to help you find the perfect movie to fit your learning goals and mood. You can filter by country, genre and theme, making it easier to find something to fit your tastes.Whats Unique About ItAsianCrush makes it easy to filter by country.  A lot of movie options dont make it easy to find international options, but with AsianCrush, its super easy. Just filter by country. If you select a country where your target language is widely spoken, youll probably find a number of options.However, note that the China region includes largely movies from Hong Kong, which are generally in Cantonese. If youre looking for movies in Mandarin, perusing options from Taiwan is more likely to yield results.You can watch movies for free.  Sure, AsianCrush has premium options. However, it also offers lots of free material supported by ads. This makes AsianCrush a good choice for learners looking to save money.How to Get the Most out of ItTry not to lean on the subtitles.  Movies have English subtitles, and you cant turn them off. So if youre looking for language practice, youll have to make a point not to simply read along in English.Dont be afraid to watch a TV series instead of a movie.  AsianCrush offers a lot of TV series that are just as riveting as movies. Plus, because they often offer several hours of content, you may end up binge watching (and therefore, binge learning).VikiViki is another streaming service that focuses on Asian content. You can find plenty of great movies and TV shows out of China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and more.Top OptionsChinese Sweet SixteenJapanese By Chance  Korean On Your Wedding Day  Who Its Best forStudents learning Asian languages.  Like AsianCrush, Viki focuses exclusively on Asian languages, so its a great option for students studying these languages.Learners looking for a wider array of subtitling options.  Viki offers subti tles in more languages than most resources, so if youre more comfortable reading subtitles in a language other than English, you might be able to find options here.Whats Unique About ItYou can filter by subtitle options.  If you have a specific subtitle scheme in mind, Vikis filtering option can help you narrow down your search.Theres a wider array of subtitling options.  Viki offers more subtitle options than other sources, so you can find movies subtitled in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and a huge array of other languages, giving learners more options. This is especially useful if English isnt your first language!How to Get the Most out of ItRead reviews ahead of time.  Viki includes reviews of the movies, so its easy read reviews before you watch a movie. While some reviews may contain spoilers, they can also help you understand the film better before you attempt to watch it.Connect with other fans.  Viki offers a community feature with a discussions forum, so you can find ot her passionate movie fans to connect with. Who know, you might even be able to find a great language exchange partner!YouTubeYouTube features user-uploaded videos, but you can also find plenty of movies on the site.Some of them are uploaded by fans, so they may come and go due to copyright restrictions. However, you can sometimes find some great material just by searching movie in your target language.Top OptionsFrench Les Profs  (Teachers)  Spanish Viaje De Chicas (Girls Trip)  Who Its Best forStudents who arent too picky.  If you have specific ideas about genre, theme or subtitling, watching movies on YouTube may not be for you. However, if you want to experiment and see whats out there, its a great choice!Anyone looking for a free option.  You can watch movies on YouTube for free, so its a strong resource for anyone looking to save money or wanting to try learning with movies before they put any money into it.Whats Unique About ItOptions vary in difficulty level.  You may find movies appropriate for complete beginners, like kids movies or subtitled films. You may find movies for advanced speakers, and youll probably find tons of options between those two levels.You never know what youll find.  Not knowing what to expect can be an exciting adventure and test of your skills. Because you might not have subtitles, a movie description or even a title, youll need to use your language skills to figure out whats going on.How to Get the Most out of ItEngage with other viewers in the comments section.  One huge benefit of YouTube is that it features a comments section, which is often quite active. For language learners, this can provide both reading and writing practice. Consider making your own movie review videos.  Youll already be using YouTube for language learning, so why not take it to the next level? Post reviews of the movies you watch in your target language to work some speaking practice into your learning routine.Watching films can be one of the most fu n ways to improve your skillsâ€"the trick is knowing how to learn a language by watching movies.With the right strategies, these resources can be powerful and enjoyable language learning tools.

5 Quirkiest College Startups for College Students 2013

5 Quirkiest College Startups for College Students 2013 Courtesy of Flickr.com Whats better than beer? Free beer. According to founder of DoDrinks, BreAnna Fisher, free beer is better than beer.  DoDrinks lets users to gift alcoholic or nonalcoholic  beverages  over the Internet.  The idea has been tested in three local restaurants in  Minneapolis  and St. Paul, Minnesota, and signed a deal with Heineken to pilot test its products. This 28-year-old Iraq War veteran and University of St. Thomas  student has been selected as one of four finalists for the Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards.  According to an interview with Upstart, Fisher said the drink gifting data from DoDrinks is a potentially powerful marketing tool for beverage brands. Condam College of New Jersey in Ewing Township The last Quirkiest College Startups idea is  CondAm (Condom Ambulance). Every weekend night from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., Kyle McCabe,  a sophomore at College of New Jersey, wears the business helmet with a flashing  siren  on his head  and starts work as an emergency contraceptive service  deliverer.  Although limited to a specific college campus, the Youtube advertisement for this startup has reached over 10,000 views and its Facebook page over 400 likes.  Students confidentiality is guaranteed and they  can choose different types and flavors of condoms, including vegan condoms.

What Tutors For Children At Home Can Do For The Whole Family

What Tutors For Children At Home Can Do For The Whole FamilyThere are many benefits that a person can get from hiring a tutor for their children to learn at home. Tutors help children with learning as well as children with some of the main hurdles of learning.Tutoring also helps children overcome some of the problems that they face with communication and social skills. One advantage of having tutoring is that the tutor will be able to help with everything that needs to be taught, such as words, grammar, writing and speaking. All of these are important for a child to succeed in school.Teachers should be able to learn how to teach in a very different level of children. However, it is sometimes hard to have a teacher that is well versed in all the areas of teaching that are required for a certain grade level. A tutor for students at home helps them to build on the lessons that they would otherwise have had a hard time with. This is a great way to learn and is a great way to help out in a teacher's job.It is also more fun for the child when the tutor is their friend. This way, both the child and the tutor get to develop a friendship as well as learn how to communicate with each other. It also increases the child's confidence and self-esteem and boosts their self-confidence as well.Online schools provide tutors for children at home. While there are other tutoring services in the local area, it is cheaper and better to pay for tutoring at home as it is more convenient. Online schools also offer their services free for students.Tutoring services allow parents to keep track of what their child is doing at home. This will keep parents informed about what their child is doing at home as well as any mistakes that they have made that would have been avoided. This is a very helpful tool for a parent as it allows them to keep up with what their child is doing in the house.As mentioned above, there are other services that are available but the one mentioned above is more bene ficial for the whole family. While it may cost more for the individual parent, it is often cheaper for the whole family as well. All in all, it is important to find a good tutor for children at home.

How to Find Algebra Help for Students

How to Find Algebra Help for StudentsDue to the availability of so many Algebra Help Resources online, you should make sure that you are doing all you can to keep up with your studies in a timely manner. By using the right resources in these modern times, it is possible to learn the subject on your own time and pace.One thing that is almost never mentioned is that there are new methods to be found out as well, and some of these methods involve a different way of thinking about the problem. For example, instead of relying on a single method for all problems, you should think about how you will be solving it, and then start to search for a different method for each problem. This will result in the possibility of learning other topics that were not addressed by the course you have chosen.Algebra Help for You Learning Online is only one of the many ways to get the answers you need, or for those times when you're busy with school work and just cannot get anything done. Other than that, th ere are several other ways you can use to find more information. You can find books, magazines, and even online content that can give you much needed help when it comes to the subject. Or, you can also find a course that you can take or one that you can join to get more help on the subject.In addition to that, there are lots of resources to find if you want to ask someone for help, such as books, online resources, and even videos on the subject. All of these are great ways to get help, but if you are trying to get answers fast, you can benefit from books, DVDs, or online content that is designed to teach you the subject at your own pace.You don't need to have your head in textbooks to learn Algebra, but what you do need is knowledge of the subject. The tools available on the internet or in the library are not always the best methods to use to get the help you need. What you need is something that helps you work at your own pace, while teaching you new concepts.As long as you do all you can to set aside time every day to study and learn, you will be fine. The internet can help you with studying as well, but if you are looking for help in that area, then you can spend your time searching the internet for Algebra Help.This article is for students who are still figuring out how to go about with Algebra. If you need help right away, then there are other resources available online.

French Grammar Rules Passé Composé for Regular Verbs

French Grammar Rules Passé Composé for Regular Verbs Megan L. Ready to try your hand at speaking about past events in French? Tutor  Carol Beth L.  shares the grammar youll need to know So perhaps you know now how to conjugate French verbs in the present tense. You can talk about things that are happening now. But what about what happened yesterday, last week, or last year? The basic past tense in French, also known as the passé composé, is used to talk about events in the past. It is aptly named because it is composed (composé) of two parts: the auxiliary verb (le verbe auxiliaire), and the past participle (le participe passé). 1) The auxiliary verb is usually the verb “avoir” (to have) conjugated in the present tense: J ai Tu as Il / elle / on a Nous avons Vous avez Ils / Elles ont The exception to this is reflexive verbs and verbs of motion, such as aller, venir, revenir, monter, descendre, etc. These verbs, in order, mean to go, to come, to come back, to go up or to enter, and to go down or exit. These verbs use the present tense of the verb être. (Learn the present tense conjugation of this verb, along with other irregular verbs) The past participle of verbs using the auxiliary verb être also vary depending on whether the subject is singular, plural, masculine, or feminine. For simplicitys sake, well stick to regular, non-reflexive verbs here, and avoid verbs of motion. 2) Like the present tense for most verbs, the past participle is formed in a regular fashion for regular verbs. For -er verbs, take off the -er ending and add é: aimer (to like) ? aimé compter (to count) ? compté For -ir verbs, take off the -ir ending and add i: finir (to finish) ? fini choisir (to choose) ? choisi For -re verbs, take off the -re ending and add u: rendre (to give back) ? rendu perdre (to lose) ? perdu Put the two parts together and you have the complete past tense of the verb: Jai fini ? I finished. Il a perdu ? He lost. On a gagné ? We won. (Note: This is a common chant for a winning team and its fans at sports events like soccer games. Note also: “on” literally translates to “one [person]” or “a person,” but is used here to imply “we.”) Avid French students might notice that the sentences above literally translate to “I have finished,” “He has lost,” and “We have won” respectively. In English, this verbal form would be interpreted as present perfect tense, not past tense. The sentences above are translated into English as they are on the list above because the passé composé in French does not correspond to our present perfect tense. Its meaning corresponds most closely to our simple past tense. In fact, strictly speaking, there is no present perfect tense in French grammar; they are merely conjugated in a similar fashion. Try putting together the past tense in the context of the following sentences by transforming the verb in parenthesis into the past tense. All verbs here conjugate in the past tense as regular -er, -ir, or -re verbs. Most will use the auxiliary verb avoir, but look out for verbs of motion or direction that might take the verb être. If in doubt, look at the list of motion verbs above. 1) Je (J) ________________ (compter) jusquà cent. (I counted up to a hundred.) 2) Nous ________________ (perdre) nos devoirs. (We lost our homework.) 3) Ils ________________ (choisir) la feutre bleue. (They chose the blue marker.) 4) Vous ________________ (finir) vos devoirs. (You have finished your homework.) 5) Elle ________________ (nager) mille metres. (She swam a thousand meters.) 6) Tu ________________ (marcher) deux kilometres. (You walked two kilometers.) So how do you think you did? Here are a the answers: 1) ai compté 2) avons perdu 3) ont choisi 4) avez fini 5) a nagé 6) as marché Hope you did well! If not, keep practicing French verbs and checking yourself. If you did well, congratulations and  keep practicing your French. Youll be a natural in no time!  For more help studying French grammar, try taking lessons with a private tutor. Tutors are available for lessons in person or online via Skype. Find your French tutor today! Carol Beth L. teaches  French lessons in San Francisco, CA. She has her Masters in French language education from the Sorbonne University in Paris and has been teaching since 2009.  Learn more about Carol Beth 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  eefeewahfah

7 Ways to Use Movable Guitar Scales to Write Solos and Riffs

7 Ways to Use Movable Guitar Scales to Write Solos and Riffs Sign up successful Start by targeting the notes that are the basis of the key the song is in. For instance, if you’re playing in the key of G Major, playing the G Major scale in different positions on the neck is fun, so you target the note G in different spots on the neck. It is like connecting the dots. Now move the scale up a whole step to the fifth position on the neck but still target the note G. This is a good idea as it frees you up to improvise. Step 2. Move the Basic Scale Patterns Close your eyes and visualize the neck of the guitar and play freely. When you find a pattern you like, move it up a whole step. The reason this works is because there is only two notes difference between G Major and A Major. You will very quickly see that this is both fun and exciting as it opens up new possibilities in your playing to express yourself. If you hit a wrong note simply remove it from your solo or riff idea or slide into the next note using the “wrong note” as a grace note or passing note. Listen carefully for what sounds good. Step 3. Give The Notes Numbers We give each note of the scale a number. For instance in C Major C is 1, D, is 2, E is 3, and so on. Now it is time to begin by playing with the idea of assigning number patterns to each scale and moving the order of the notes around. For instance you might start by playing 1, 3, 5, 2, 1. Then mix it up. Your ears will tell you what works. Step 4. Make Your Guitar Sing Many of my friends and students ask me: how do you make the guitar sing? I like to sing or hum a melody out loud first and then find those notes on the neck of the guitar. It is also useful to go to the piano and find the notes in the scale of G Major or whatever key the song is in. Then sing the melody by picking the notes out on the piano and then transfer it to your guitar! This not only makes your solo more interesting but it helps you improve your ear and song arranging skills at the same time. Step 5 : Riff This Way What is a riff? A riff is a short idea played on the electric guitar that locks in with the beat. Joe Perry of Aerosmith successfully uses riffs to make songs really appeal to his fans. Listen to “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith and you will hear how Joe’s riff makes the song great and propels it forward. A great riff can even double as a hook” that keeps us coming back to the song again. The rule is learn your favorite riff from a song you love to play along to. Take your time and play it correctly even if it takes several days or weeks to master it. Step 6 : Hammer on and Pull Off Use techniques like sliding into a note, hammer ons, and pull offs to increase your tempo with grace and ease. Have your guitar teacher show you how to do this if you are not familiar with the technical aspect of playing hammer ons and pull offs. You don’t have to get it all in one day. Be adventurous and take chances. If you are not on stage it doesn’t matter if you hit a wrong note as this is part of the learning process and good ear training. Next time you have a great idea record it into your iPhone. It may be a million seller and bring joy to everyone in the world. Step 7: Rap to The Beat If all else fails do this: Rap to the beat. Choose some grunting noises or three or four of your favorite words and rap to a drum beat loop on your laptop. Now transfer your rap/grunt sounds to the guitar using any notes you like in first position on the neck. You are now a successful Riffmaster! Opening up to new ideas and new ways makes you a successful learner and guitarist all in one. Never underestimate your ability to learn something new and add it to your list of cool things to do on guitar. James W. teaches guitar, singing, and acting  lessons in Jacksonville, FL. He specializes in teaching pop, rock, and modern country guitar styles. James has been teaching for 10 years and joined the TakeLessons Team in 2010.  Learn more about James  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  ManOnPHI

How to Make Less Noise When You Play Guitar.

How to Make Less Noise When You Play Guitar. Helping Your Child to Learn Guitar - Quietly. ChaptersThe Musical Advantages of SoundproofingHow Do I Limit the Noise from Low Notes?Reducing Noise from Mid-range NotesSoundproof  Your Room to Reduce the High NotesInsulate Your Windows to Protect Your Neighbors From Nuisance NoisePrivate Guitar Lessons: Avoid the Noise by Furnishing your RoomFinally, Electric Guitar Players: Headphones!The good news is, your child has listened to your advice and finally decided to  embark on  their new musical career. Now the next step is guitar lessons.The good news is that they’re practicing the guitar regularly in their room. But the bad news it that they're subjecting you, as well as all the neighbors, to all of their wrong notes. Listening to them strum, fret wrong notes, twang up and down the fretboard, practice raucous guitar chords, power chords, and barre chords, and attempt to play guitar solos - all of this can be fairly excruciating, even for the most loving parents.  Even your own favorite songs can become hellish to listen to wh en your child has been massacring the chord progressions, the rhythm guitar, or even just the basic chords over and over again. Sometimes, it can feel like your kid's ambition to be a guitar player might not be worth the pain. Cancel the guitar lesson! might be a frequent thought. Or, if only they were so enthusiastic about music theory!Electric and acoustic guitars can both play a wide range of notes, which can be really low and cause vibrations, or really high and resonate throughout the neighborhood. Having someone in your house learn guitar can be a nightmare for your neighbors - particularly if your kid is learning how to play guitar with an amplifier. But even if they are not, hearing the same arpeggio or major scale being played a hundred times, even on a classical guitar, can be too much.To protect yourself from lots of noise (not to mention potential complaints from your neighbors) it’s essential to take a few extra steps. Begin by reassuring your kid that their new guita r passion is great. But take some steps for them to play their pentatonic scale, their fingerstyle, and all their guitar tricks in private - and save yourself a trip to the ear doctor.Today at Superprof we’re explaining how you can limit all the sounds from  your child taking  private guitar lessons at home. 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 tutorsThe Musical Advantages of SoundproofingBefore we consider all of the annoyance that music could ca use for your parents, brothers, sisters, and neighbors, let’s start by considering the noise from the student’s point of view.Why would it matter to the musician?Here we’re speaking directly to the budding guitarists - you too, inside your bedroom or your practice space, could benefit from a bit of insulation.A pair of headphones can be a good solution: only the guitar player can hear the instrument!Why?Essentially, your sound will be better with a bit of soundproofing around you. By insulating your walls and ceiling, you’ll start to get a much better quality of sound as the sound waves move better through the room.You’ll also be able to hear your notes more precisely. You'll be able to get a better accuracy in your blues guitar or jazz guitar, in your guitar tabs, and in more complex styles such as fingerpicking. Accuracy is the key to guitar practice - and the best guitar players are the accurate ones (apart from, say, Hendrix, obviously).For any musician, this is a defi nite advantage as you’ll be able to hear your playing more clearly. It’s especially helpful if you’re playing guitar, where the notes tend to be higher, or when you are picking out the individual notes in a guitar chord.Once you’ve bought your first guitar, soundproofing is a good option to consider to help you improve faster. You can play songs to your heart's content, and practice your rock guitar or lead guitar without anyone noticing your mistakes.It’ll be really good for you to take some guitar lessons and then be able to practice your scales, arpeggios, and chord shapes in a room that has been properly soundproofed. Once your fingers have learned to slide along the strings, your ear will learn to hear all of the notes. But it’s better when you’re hearing them properly.How Do I Limit the Noise from Low Notes?If you’ve ever found yourself next to an amp vibrating with bass notes, you can understand your neighbor’s suffering when you’re playing low notes on yo ur guitar when practising for your bass guitar lessons.As you know, low notes often cause some major vibrations which are often the source of complaints about noise pollution.  If you haven’t installed your soundproofing properly or if you don’t have any, those vibrations won’t just be annoying your family.  Even you may end up annoyed, and it may make it difficult to identify the quality of the sound you’re getting in return.The best advice to counteract the vibrations from your bass notes is to use plywood, about half a foot (at maximum) from your wall. Between the wall and the plywood, we’d recommend adding wool, which will help stop vibrations and kill the sound.Unfortunately, if you take guitar lessons at home, you’ve probably never had the chance to play guitar in a proper auditorium. Your room may already be a little small, so use the technique below to try and considerably reduce the amount of space you’re using.If you want to practice your beginner guitar tabl ature playing in a small room and limit your noise, an easy solution is to make a sound-shield around the room. Once again, we’d recommend using thin panels of plywood, and some wool to go behind the panel. Place your panels up high where the ceiling meets the walls.This way, your space at the floor level will stay the same, even if you lose a bit of height in some places.If the noise remains a problem, you can repeat the method in all four corners of the room.Reducing Noise from Mid-range NotesWhen you take guitar lessons for beginners or join a guitar course, one of the most common solutions to reduce the noise are egg cartons. It’s really easy and might seem a bit strange, but it definitely works.To reduce your mid range notes, egg cartons are perfect.Of course, you’ll have to eat quite a few eggs in order to paper over your whole ceiling, but the quality/price ratio is still really good.With your egg cartons on the ceiling, you’ll reduce the noise from your guitar as you move onto higher notes.  In any case, the cartons will help break the sound waves, and reduce the overall volume of your playing.You also get great results if you’re playing and singing at the same time. 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 tutorsSoundproof  Your Room to Reduce the High NotesIf you’re taking guitar lessons, you’re obviously also concerned by the noise from the high notes. It’s true for an acoustic guitar, but even more so for an electric one! This one ain't so much about the chord progression practice, but the improvisation and the Clapton solos.To stop the high notes and avoid bothering your family, the combination of plywood and wool that you put on your walls will also be really useful. But that isn’t all!It can be a bit much when someone is playing the guitar endlessly...You can also protect your floor by using porous materials. To do so, there are two popular options - you could fully carpet the floor, which has the advantage of covering the whole floor. Or you could just put down a thick carpet.Insulate Your Windows to Protect Your Neighbors From Nuisance NoiseAs you progress in your guitar lessons, you will gain confidence with your new instrument.Joy will quickly take the place of the frustration you felt when you were first starting out and your playing will soon be up to scratch!  But as you play more and more, you risk annoying your neighbors, and so it might be a good idea to also do so me work to your windows. Honestly, your neighbours don't need to hear you practice your major chord, your chromatic exercises, or your exercises with a metronome. And, blimey, they don't need to hear you tune a guitar either.There are several options for the budding musician.Insulating your windows can keep the sound in when your child is playing the guitar.For a start you could insulate your hinges. For about $15 you can pick up a resin that will harden and cut back on nuisance noises by up to 10 decibels.There’s also another option, although it is a lot more expensive - super insulated windows. You can find these from specialist window producers, and they insulate from both heat and sound. They’re made up of a special ‘low viscosity’ glass, a small air pocket, and then soundproofed glass on the inside. This double glazing is made up of two thin pieces of glass, about 4mm thick, separated by sound dampening material that’s 1 or 2mm thick.There’s also a third option for your windows, and one that's somewhat more affordable - keep the window that is already in the room and just add a second one. Buy a basic window pane, and install it about half a foot from the other window.In this case, it’s important to be quite careful with the placement of the window - you can’t just install it any which way. If you aren’t careful, the noises will continue and your home-made double glazing won’t make any difference!Private Guitar Lessons: Avoid the Noise by Furnishing your RoomTake a minute to think about the different soundproofing techniques that we’ve discussed in this article.  Will they suffice?Will your upstairs and downstairs neighbors, your parents, and your siblings be safe from noise?  Not really. There’s one thing left to do now that you know how to play the guitar.What we’re trying to say here, is that even with your soundproofing efforts, some noise is still likely to escape your room or music studio if they are only lightly furnished.  It’s especially important if you’re playing the guitar frequently.The sound waves will continue right through the walls and ceilings, which will still be passing on some slight vibrations.  Therefore, it is important to finish your work by placing furniture in the four corners of the room to help break the sound waves.Finally, Electric Guitar Players: Headphones!One of the great things about being an electric guitar player these days is that the amp technology is a bit more sophisticated. You don't have to turn it up to eleven to get the desired effect.Indeed, you can just plug some headphones into the headphone jack! This cuts out sound for everyone, apart from the person playing the guitar!Whilst this is not a solution that should be used all the time - because it can damage your kid's ears - when you need a break it can be handy. Then they can practice their guitar music and guitar songs, strum their open chords, practice their guitar solo skills and broader guitar skills i n peace!And if you have any questions, one of the advantages of having a guitar teacher is that they can give you advice!Noise and their problems always have a solution. And a bit of extra work is easily balanced by the advantages of guitar lessons for children.