10 Quick Guitar Exercises for the Busy Musician

10 Quick Guitar Exercises for the Busy Musician Suzy S. Theres one truth you have to face as a musician: learning to play any instrument takes time.   Playing the guitar, as one example, requires time to build up your calluses, learn the guitar chords and strings, and work up to the dexterity needed to play certain songs.   If you have small hands, you may need to take some extra time to stretch your fingers or focus on specific guitar chords that give you trouble.   And of course, finding that perfect beginner guitar will take time, since there are so many options and personal preferences to consider. You will have to commit some time to really mastering your instrument, but dont let that stop you from learning!   Even if you only have ten minutes to get away from work, school or other responsibilities, that ten minutes can help!   The trick is to practice with purpose. Weve discussed effective practice here before setting specific goals, slowing down and using a metronome, and improving your sight-reading skills, for example.   Heck, you can even practice without your guitar, when youre out and about. So even on your busiest days, set aside that practice time.   And as you sit down, consider these 10 quick guitar exercises perfect for those short practice sessions, as suggested over on Fretterverse.com: 1. Chord Inversions Take one string group and one chord quality (m7, Maj7#5, etc.) and play all of the inversions for that chord in as many keys as you can on that string group. 2. Position Scales Pick a scale and play it in all 12 keys but only in one position. 3. Sweep Picking Control Choose an arpeggio and slowly work on keeping your picking hand consistent throughout the sweep so all of the notes are even in tempo and dynamics. 4. Intervals Pick a scale and play it in 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, or whatever interval you choose. 5. Sing and Play Sing a melody out loud, and then try to reproduce it on the guitar. Great ear training! 6. String Skipping Choose a simple major scale. Play every other note one or two octaves higher, which forces you to skip strings and concentrate on fingering and accurate picking. 7. Intonation Play a scale very slowly, and concentrate on getting your finger to nudge up against each fret every time. Make sure your pick strokes are clearly articulated and full. 8. Name That Note â€" Without looking, place your finger on any note on the fingerboard. Then look at the note and see how quickly you can identify the note name. 9. Commercial Jam If you happen to have the TV on while you are waiting around, you will inevitably hear music in the commercials or the show. Try playing along with it; learn the melody or figure out the chord progression and play along with it. 10. Name That Key Choose a key and name all of the notes. You can also do this with scales, modes, and chords. What other exercises do you practice when you only have a few spare minutes?   Share your tips with the TakeLessons community head on over to our Facebook page and leave a comment! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. 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 You might also like 5 Common Mistakes of Beginner Guitarists Practice Makes Perfect, But Are You Doing it Right? How to Use a Metronome for Efficient Practice Photo by Lil Larkie.

Working Out Your Level as a Guitarist

Working Out Your Level as a Guitarist Are You a Beginner, Intermediate, or an Advanced Guitarist? How do You Work Out Your Level? ChaptersBeginnerIntermediateWhat Is an Advanced Guitarist?“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” - Victor HugoIt's thought that around a fifth of musicians play the guitar.  However, it's difficult to determine how well each of them can play guitar since it's very difficult to quantify guitar technique.No matter how well a given guitarist plays, there are always techniques they can improve or new techniques that they can learn. In this article, we're going to attempts to give you a general guide to follow in order to gauge your level on the guitar.If you haven't had the opportunity to have your level gauged by a tutor or a teacher because you're teaching yourself rather than taking guitar lessons, you just need to follow our guide. 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 tutorsBeginnerAnyone who learns how to play the guitar will have to start as a beginner. However, there's a huge difference between a beginner who's never picked up a guitar and somebody who's been playing for a few weeks. You'll be surprised at how much you learn how to play guitar after a month of practising or working with a guitar teacher.The first time you pick up a guitar, it's going to be tricky. (Source: Couleur)To help you work out what level you have on the guitar, be it the acoustic guitar, jazz guitar, or the electric guitar, here are some of the different types of beginners.Absolute BeginnerBefore y ou start taking the online guitar classes, private guitar tutorials, or teaching yourself how to play the guitar, you'll have to start as an absolute beginner.You'll have never touched a guitar in your life, you won't know how to hold a plectrum, tune a guitar, or even coordinate your left and right hands. Online guitar lessons mightn't be ideal when you've never taken a single guitar lesson in your life.You may remain at this level for a long time depending on your musical capabilities.  Some people remain absolute beginners for just a couple of weeks, especially if they have experience playing other musical instruments.  It all depends on how much effort you put in.Of course, that's not all.  Everybody's different when it comes to music. Some may already know how to read music or have a great ear for different notes. Others may require more time.As an absolute beginner, you learn how to make notes on the guitar, how to position your hands, and the right posture to adopt when you'r e playing. You'll notice very quickly just how much playing the guitar hurts your fingers when you first start playing.Don't worry, though, you'll get used to it. Even Steve Vai and Jimi Hendrix would have gone through this stage.BeginnerOnce you are no longer an absolute beginner who's never touched a guitar in their life, you'll have reached the stage of beginner.You'll have taken a few online classes, private tutorials, regular classes either in a group for on your own, or have spent some time teaching yourself. You'll be aware of some of the basic guitar techniques and know a few basic chords.You'll be able to play a few simple songs along to some music. While your timing mightn't be perfect and you still play a few wrong notes, you're getting there!You'll be aware of what you've got to do and where you need to go in order to master playing your instrument. You'll also know that you've got a long way to go.Play for a few friends and get feedback from them. (Source: Free-Photos)S easoned BeginnerThis is one of the more difficult levels to be at…This is when a lot of players start to plateau. When you first learn to play guitar, you'll make a lot of progress in a short amount of time, start strumming some basic chords, and learn to find notes on the neck.  This progression tends to make a guitar player overestimate their own abilities.The seasoned beginner isn't necessarily capable of any advanced techniques but they can play what they know quite well. They're able to play in time to music and have mastered all the basic chords.They'll be able to expand their repertoire by playing almost any basic song requested of them. They'll still be taking beginner guitar lessons and working on their rhythm, playing certain notes, and learning guitar basics.They may be able to even play and sing at the same time. At this point, you might even say they're good at the guitar. But they're not without fault.As a seasoned beginner, inconsistency is their biggest flaw.  This means that while they're quite good at playing the guitar and they have a decent level, they'll still make mistakes. It doesn't matter whether you play the guitar for five, 10, or 15 years, it won't guarantee that you'll exceed the level of a seasoned beginner.If you constantly play basic songs and chord progressions, you’ll always remain a seasoned a beginner. You need to be aware of your level and start looking to challenge yourself with more advanced techniques and more difficult songs.IntermediateNot everyone makes it to the intermediate stage. You aren’t guaranteed to reach this stage just by practising for a few years. It depends on how you practice during this time. Your guitar instructor won't always be there to help you learn guitar or to teach you new techniques.If you attend a weekly guitar class but don't touch your guitar for the rest of the week, you'll remain a beginner much longer than somebody who practises a little bit every day.Playing guitar in a band could help your guitar playing. (Source: Free-Photos)Lower IntermediateThe lower intermediate follows the seasoned beginner. You're starting to explore the entire neck of the guitar. You familiar with the different notes and a bit of music theory.  You play the songs you know well and you're familiar with concepts such as harmony.Your playing is more varied than that of a beginner and you integrate more complicated chords into your repertoire, which is broader than that of a beginner. You can comfortably sing whilst you play the guitar and you're even capable of basic solos and improvisation.Bit by bit, your ear is developing and you can play without needing to concentrate too hard. Playing the guitar is becoming more natural to you.However, you're still aware of everything that you still need to learn and you're not resting on your laurels. You keep working on your technique and have your sights set on  achieving a higher level of playing.Maybe composing and improvising will help you rea ch that level.Upper IntermediateAt this point, you're far from being a beginner. You'll have a great understanding of several guitar techniques, know your way around the neck, and have a good ear for music.You'll be able to harmonise in real time and reproduce most of what you hear on the guitar without needing sheet music of guitar tablature.Additionally, your timing will be far tighter than that of the beginner.Since you'll have a good understanding of music theory for guitarists and a number of scales, you'll be able to improvise and compose your own music with greater ease. Playing the guitar become second nature to you and you won't need to think too much about it when you do it.You'll have a solid technique which will make playing most songs quite simple. Additionally, you'll also be able to relax while you're playing and improvise.At this point, you probably want to join a band and start making and performing your own music to crowds.This is the point where a lot of guitarist s may stagnate.  When you reach this level of playing, you may still have never taken a single music theory lesson in your life. Now might be the ideal time to do just that. Otherwise, you run the risk of remaining an intermediate guitarist for the rest of your life.If you have been taking group classes for private tutorials, you can always ask your teacher about more advanced music theory or even moving to a new class. You may have reached the stage where your level is beyond that of what's being taught.Check out our tips for guitarists.What Is an Advanced Guitarist?Moving beyond an intermediate level is complicated.A lot of guitarists will never become as good as the greats. (Source: 691806)Your technique needs to be flawless, timing impeccable, and you need to have a sound knowledge and music theory and be able to apply it to your playing.You'll be able to use all the different techniques you've learnt throughout your years of studying how to play the guitar at any given time.You r improvisation is fluid and you can easily reproduce almost any music you hear. You can also play almost whatever you want, whenever you want, all without making any mistakes. You're playing will be so natural that you'll barely have to think about what you're doing.By this stage, you'll probably have a lot of experience performing on stage either as a soloist or part of a group.It'll all seem quite easy, even in front of the crown. Nobody can deny that you're a great guitarist.It's taken years of practice to get to this point. To get a such an advanced level, you've had to remain motivated, regularly practise, and almost constantly work on your guitar playing.That said, the journey isn't over. Anyone who's reached this level won't probably rest on their laurels. There's always something you can improve or integrate into your playing to become a better guitarist or a better musician.However, keep in mind that it's not your level that really counts.  It's the music that counts and h ow we share it and enjoy it.A simple riff can make an absolute tune. Look at how songs like Seven Nation Army and Smells Like Teen Spirit are relatively simple to play but were also huge successes.Music can be simple and effective.Isn't the main thing to just enjoy music and share it?

A Guide to Italys Islands

A Guide to Italys Islands What’s There to See and Do in Sicily, Sardinia, and Capri? ChaptersItaly: Why Visit Sardinia?Visiting the Island of CapriOur Advice for Visiting SicilyWhich Are the Most Beautiful Beaches on the Italian Islands?“I love places that have an incredible history. I love the Italian way of life. I love the food. I love the people. I love the attitudes of Italians.” - Elton JohnWhile Italy’s main cities like Rome, Naples, and Florence attract thousands of tourists, Italy’s islands are also hugely popular. In the last 10 years, tourism in Sicily and Sardinia has increased by 20%. This is hardly surprising given the beautiful beaches and landscapes.Italy is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Ionian Sea, Adriatic Sea, and the Ligurian Sea.How well do you know Italy’s main islands? Are you organising a trip there? How are you going to get there? What should you see first?Let’s have a quick look at the main Italian islands. DanielaItalian Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuciaItalian Teacher 5.00 (4) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarilùItalian Teacher 5.00 (8) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarcoItalian Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GiusyItalian Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EnricoItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FedericaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsItaly: Why Visit Sardinia?One of the main reasons tourists head to Sardinia is because it’s filled to the brim with treasures including 7 of Italy’s 55 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Speaking of heritage, Sardinia has a strong identity, particularly due to its various festivals. The five most popular include:Sartiglia, in the town of Oristano, is an event with a medieval vibe, acrobatics, and horse riding.Sant’Efisio, in Cagliari, celebrates the patron saint of the Island. Sagra del Redentore, in Nuoro, is organised in honour of Chris the Redeemer at the end of August each year.Carnaval de Tempio Pausania, which takes place each year on Shrove Tuesday.The Carnaval de Mamoiada takes place in January and is famous for the costumes with black masks. Sardinia is home to both natural and manmade beauty. (Source: Simon)In addition to festivals, what else is there to do in Sardinia?Once you’ve done your trip around Sardinia, you’ll probably have built up an appetite. Here are some essential local dishes:Prawns in Vernaccia Wine.Chiusòni, a type of gnocchi made from durum wheat semolina.Panada, a bread soup starter with lamb.Cordula, goat or lamb intestines with peas and olives.Amaretti, for dessert, which are almond-based macaroons.In 2017, a record 14 million tourists visited Sardinia.Due to its size, Sardinia is a perfect destination to travel around for 10 to 15 days. Keep in mind that the Cagliari will be your first point of call since that’s where the airport is. There are direct flights from London and Manchester.In general, you might want to focus on either the north or the south of the island to give you time to relax. You need to work out that suits your needs.Visiting the Island of CapriCapri is famous for its beaut y and being the island of lovers. You’ll find romantic hotels like Punta Tragara and Luxury Villa Excelsior Parco. The Villa Tenerezza is also a good choice for those wanting to discover Capri and a good base. Capri has some spectacular views. (Source: babusz)Capri has a good climate year-round and with all its seaside destinations, it’s seen tourism increase by 25% in just 5 years.How can you visit this unmissable destination? You should know that going to Capri requires a bit of organisation. There’s no international airport and the closest airport is in Naples, which has regular flights from the UK. Once you’re in Naples, look for the following ferry companies:CaremarSNAVNLG - Navigazione Libera del GolfoAlilauroAalicostCapitan MorganCheck out DirectFerries to find out more about timetables and prices.Once you get there, after 3 to 5 hours of travelling, you’ll be ready to discover the island of Capri.One of the other unmissable sites on the island is Anacapri, a town in the northwest. You can get there on the blue line and it’s just 15-20 by foot from the Blue Grotto. Anacapri is also popular for its charming ambience and its beautiful little Baroque church. It’s the perfec t place to be by the sea.If you want some fresh air, head to the top of Monte Solaro, at an elevation of 589m, which is also the highest point in Capri. There are some incredible views for you to enjoy after a few hours of walking. If you like a challenge, you might want to consider some of these hiking routes in Capri:Via Krupp, which takes you through the Gardens of Augustus.The Arco Naturale route, which offers a view over the Sorrente peninsula.The Migliera Path, a quiet and beautiful route.There are also several beaches, which we’ll talk about later...Now, let’s have a look at the Island of Sicily, Italy's largest island.Our Advice for Visiting SicilySicily is the largest Italian island and is famous for its beauty and everything you can do there. It's located just off the coast of southern Italy in the Mediterranean Sea. Mount Etna is an active volcano. (Source: 6657176)When you head to Sicily, you should know what to expect once you get there. You should know a little about the climate and weather:You could spend the whole year in Sicily walking and sunbathing.The sunny periods are between April and October.In July and August, the temperature can rise to 34 degrees.Generally, it’s recommended that you visit Sicily between April and June or September and October to avoid tourists.Whether you’re in the north or the south of the island, there are a few towns that you have to visit. These include:Palermo, the capital of Sicily.Cefalù, famous for its beach, cathedral (duomo), and nightlife.Tinari, a Greco-Roman town full of heart, soul, and olive fields.Taormina, home to colourful architecture.Etna, home to the active volcano.Catania, a rich university town and the second-largest in Sicily.Let’s not forget the specialities of Sicily, which are famous all over the world. You can enjoy pasta with au bergines by the sea on one of the many famous beaches in Sicily:Mondello, near Palermo.Favignana, in the south of the island.Scala dei Turchi, by white cliffs.Stromboli, home to unique Sicilian nature.While we’re talking about beaches, here are some of the best across Italy’s main islands.Which Are the Most Beautiful Beaches on the Italian Islands?In Italy, and on its islands, in particular, there are plenty of watersports and activities you can do if you don’t feel like just lying on your beach towel: jet skiing, boat trips, or hiking. Italy is a popular seaside destination. Of its 5,175km of coastline, 96.1% is public beaches. The beaches on the islands are some of the best in Italy. (Source: hirisflower)Of course, there are also private beaches.  A beach’s charm isn’t always whether or not the water is clear. In some cases, it’s its accessibility. There are also coves and grottoes where you can bathe instead of beaches. Some of the best beaches are:Conigli Beach or “Rabbit Beach” in Sicily.Chiaia di Luna on Ponza.Fetovia Beach on the Island of Elba.Cala Rossa Beach on the Island of Favignana.There are hundreds of Italian islands. Some, like Sardinia, Sicily, and Capri, are famous for their charm, natural wonders, and beautiful beaches.This is especially true of San Vito lo Capo in Sicily. This is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Italy. The Marina Piccola Beach in Capri is also very famous. If you want more nature, Berchida Beach in Sardinia is perfect.Finally, here are three unique and private beaches for those who’d prefer some peace and quiet.Da Gioa, Capri, not far from the Lido del Faro.Pelosa, Sardinia, a natural tropical beach.Phi Beach, Arzachena, a little slice of paradise that’s famous for its sunsets.So are you ready to visit the Italian islands?Before you go to Italy or its islands, you might want to learn some Italian. Fortunately for you, there are many talented tutors on Superprof who can help you. In terms of private Italian tutorials, there are three main types: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.Face-to-face tutorials involve just the student and their tutor and are tailored to the former. Your tutor can work with your strengths and weaknesses and put together a programme for you. These tutorials tend to be the most costly but they're also the most cost-effective.Online tutorials are similar but you're not in the same place as your tutor. Thanks to the internet, webcams, and video conferencing, you can learn a language online. Online tutors tend to charge less than face-to-face tutors because they have fewer outgoi ngs and expenses and can schedule more tutorials each week.Finally, group tutorials include groups of students learning together. If you and a group of friends, such as your travel companions, want to learn some Italian before you go, you can get group tutorials. With each student sharing the cost of the tutor's time, this type of tutorials tends to work out cheaper per person per hour.

Tips to Write a Resume for Your Grad School Application

Tips to Write a Resume for Your Grad School Application As you prepare to apply to grad school, you may find yourself constructing a number of resumes. As you lookto get into the grad school of your dreams, an updated resume is a mustand there are plenty of tips to help you make your resume unique, provide all the necessary information, and present the best version of yourself. While a resume for a grad school application may look a little like a resume used for other purposes, its different in many ways. As you begin to put together a stellar resume to hopefully secure you a spot at your top institution, keep these tips in mind. CV or resume? It is important to determine the specific requirements and goals of your program as you attempt to determine whether a resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) is the most effective choice. For most programs, a CV, which emphasizes academic background, teaching/research experience, awards, publications, and honors, is the better choice. A CV is longer, more detailed, and differently tailored than a resume, so youll likely have to create a new document. [RELATED: What is the Grad School Application Process?] How will you format your grad school resume or CV? A CV or resume can take liberties with format, so think about the order in which youd like to present your accomplishments. This will vary based upon the program to which you are applying and the specific skill sets and experience you have. You can customize your CV as needed for different applications, but youll almost always include the following: contact information education publications professional presentations honors and awards teaching experience research skills/experience relevant work experience references If you dont have adequate information to fill in each of these sections, remember that it is okay to omit them as necessary. In fact, it may make your application stronger if you focus on highlighting your true achievements and avoid filler content. Be a thoughtfuleditor to your resume or CV Often, it can feel like you need to fill all of the space on a page to offer a competitive CV or resume. That isnt the caserelevant career or research experience will do more for your application than the first part-time job you ever had. Stick to the information that positively contributes to your application and cut the extras. You should almost never include activities or experiences from high school, as it can weaken your overall document and make you seem desperate to fill spacethere are exceptions, however. Perhaps one of those activities was particularly relevant to your goals nowyou may have taken an impressive leadership position at the time that helped build your current portfolio, or you may still be helping that organization as part of its alumni committee. If youve still got some time before submitting your application, work to gain experiences that will fill any gaps now. Even a new volunteer experience or research position has a place on a CV or resume, and it is never too late to begin! Ensure your resume or CV is concise While you might expand upon your experience in an essay, a resume or CV should be short. You want to present as much information as you can in a limited space. Instead of writing complete sentences, focus on clarity. For example, if you helped ESL students learn idioms as an English tutor, you might write Taught ESL students in your CV. Consider also adding specific numbers when possiblei.e. you might add to that, Taught 3-4 ESL students per month. This helps demonstrate exactly how much and how often you contributed in your various tasks, rather than just giving a generic statement that could be inferred many ways. Below are a few more examples of how to quantify and enhance your listed achievements: Achievement How to Quantify it Wrote articles for XYZ publication Wrote 3 weekly articles for XYZ publication Tutored students Tutored 5 students per month in math and science Managed budgets Managed monthly budgets of $___ [RELATED: The Importance of Writing Skills] Because youve got to convey more information with less space, word choice will be important. Use strong verbs that give an accurate sense of the work you did. Youll also want to be consistent in your tone and tense, so pay attention to language as you work through your resume or CV. Think about how content is consumed More and more, we take in content that is fast and easy to digest. Theres a lot of material out there, and weve only got so much time. As you prepare your resume or CV for grad school applications, keep this in mind. Youve got a few seconds to catch the attention of someone, so make it count. Use bullet points and white space to your advantage. The bottom line about grad school resumes / CVs A strong resume or CV provides an excellent building block for future applications and jobs, so your time is well spent. By keeping your material concise, relevant, and well organized, youre more than likely to make a lasting impression on grad schools. Best of all, youll have the foundation of a great resume to use later on. Good luck! 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.

Volunteer Spotlight Mrs. Alothman, Winterfield parent and HEART volunteer - Heart Math Tutoring

Volunteer Spotlight â€" Mrs. Alothman, Winterfield parent and HEART volunteer - Heart Math Tutoring Volunteer Spotlight â€" Mrs. Alothman, Winterfield parent and HEART volunteer Volunteer Spotlight â€" Mrs. Alothman, Winterfield parent and HEART volunteer November 28, 2013 A mother of four, Mrs. Alothman has spent many hours working as a tutor at home. Now, with three of the four happily in school at Winterfield, Mrs. Alothman has time to help her children’s classmates on Monday afternoons through HEART Tutoring. “This is my first tutoring experience with HEART, and I am very pleased to volunteer with them. I enjoy the curriculum; it’s not complicated! You don’t need any extra help to teach the lessons, and if you do, the coordinator is always there. She is awesome.” Having recently seen her own children working hard to build their math skills, Mrs. Alothman appreciates the curriculum’s hands-on approach. “The program helps students understand what is happening with the math and why you do it that way, instead of just following the memorized process. And it’s taught in a fun and easy way.” It can be difficult to find an effective way to make a difference at your children’s school, but Mrs. Alothman likes how HEART is organized and helpful to the teachers. “I only wish they had more volunteers to serve more students,” she says.

Postcards for Pen Pals - Free Download

Postcards for Pen Pals - Free Download Postcards are great. The colourful picture on the front can surprise, inform, and inspire. The stamp on the back can form part of a collection. There is just enough room to write a few well-chosen sentences. Messages are short and focused. The beginnings and endings are formulaic. Good Pedagogy Indeed, the skills you learn from postcard writing are applicable to other forms of personal correspondence. For example, you always start with dear and end with love, as with a personal email or a letter. (Do people still write letters?) Without a doubt, postcard writing is a great activity for beginner English language learners. Correspondence writing projects with multiple pen pals provide an excellent opportunity for a repeated exchange of meaningful messages with a focus on target structures. In other words, postcard writing for second language learners allows teachers to get students to engage in communicative writing, repeatedly writing meaningful messages on everyday topics that students find motivating. Apart from being a joy to send and receive, a postcard exchange is clearly a pedagogically sound way to practice English. Online or Offline? For online postcard writing, use the Virtual Writing Tutors online pen pal exchange system. It allows teachers to create a virtual postcard exchange project between classes. You can even get students to exchange messages with students taught by another teacher on the other side of the world. But sometimes, offline is better. But postcards cost money. As you know, the ones at gift shops can be expensive. If you cant afford the fancy gift shop versions, you can always make your own. Using MS Word, make a table with four squares. Then, fill the table with photos. Use scissors to trim off the edges and cut up the sheet into four postcards. But designing postcards takes time. Downloading these VWT postcards is a lot faster. They are ready in a jiffy. Enjoy! Download VWT-postcardsDownload Postcards with grammar lessonsPostcards that promote the Virtual Writing TutorPostcards that promote the Virtual Writing TutorPostcards with grammar questionsPostcard backs with a space to write a message, the address, and affix a stamp Download VWT-postcardsDownload A sturdier alternative to plain paper is to buy blank perforated card stock and run them through your colour printer. I have ordered the Avery brand of blank postcards myself. And I can attest to that they were both affordable and well-suited for international exchange writing tasks. They are perforated to separate easily into four cards. Excellent! Online alternative Even faster that printing postcards is to use the pen pal exchange system on the VirtualWritingTutor.com grammar checker website. I created it to automate error correction and target structure detection while students exchanged meaningful messages. As such, online pen pal exchanges seem to me an ideal method of focusing on Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills. In other words, online pen pal writing is great way to incorporate writing tasks in ESL without having to resort to the quasi-academic 5-paragraph persuasive essay every time. (Sometimes, essay writing is absolutely appropriate. When it is, I can suggest a 9-step approach to writing essays that may help with essay writing.) Learn more about the VWTs Pen Pal Exchange If you are not ready to do a pen pal exchange, thats okay. Perhaps you are looking for other ways to boost the effectiveness of your language teaching. If so, check out my 10 mind-blowing research findings to supercharge your teaching. Please follow and like us:

Families Say Private Tuition Definitely Helps Improve Exam Grades

Families Say Private Tuition Definitely Helps Improve Exam Grades New research has shown that private tuition does seem to improve grades at GCSE and A-Level. The survey, conducted by First Tutors, asked families with children taking exams this year whether they felt private tuition had improved their estimated grades. Results showed that private tuition increased results by an average of one grade, e.g. from D to C, enough to make a potentially crucial difference to university choices. At both GCSE and A-Level, the biggest potential for grade improvement was shown to be at the lower end of the grade scale (grades U - D), where students improved an average of two grades. Starting early appears to matter, particularly to GCSE candidates where those receiving private tuition for between three and six months lifted their results by an average of one and a half grades, versus just under one grade for those receiving tuition for less than three months. But surprisingly, there was little correlation between hourly fees charged by tutors and grade impact. The average cost of tuition for GCSE and A-level among students surveyed was 22 per hour, with most families choosing one hour per week of private tutoring. Asked whether they felt the grade improvement could be attributed to private tuition, 80% of the 150 families surveyed said they believed tutoring had definitely improved their results. Additionally, 95% of families said they would recommend First Tutors as a way of finding a tutor. Commercial director, Anita Moss, commented, We are delighted to produce preliminary research into the extent to which private tuition improves exam results. However, it is also important to note that whilst getting the grade matters to our clients, improving understanding of a subject ranked almost equally as a key motivating factor in finding a tutor. First Tutors has over 10,000 tutors registered on the website, and tens of thousands of families use the service to locate local tutors every year. This preliminary survey indicates that there is deeper research potential for educationalists and First Tutors hopes this will encourage academic collaboration to explore the data further.

6 Reasons Reading Fantasy Novels are Important for Young Students

6 Reasons Reading Fantasy Novels are Important for Young Students Tips From an Orange County English Tutor: Why Fantasy Novels are Important for Young Students Tips From an Orange County English Tutor: Why Fantasy Novels are Important for Young Students Today’s young student has a ton of choices when it comes to entertainment and many ways to explore their creative minds through fantasy and fiction. They can play countless video and computer games and explore a very visual and interactive world through these options. Unfortunately, many young learners are putting down fantasy novels and are starting to view reading as only a skill to scan for information or pass an exam. Although these skills are essential to success in the current academic climate, kids are missing out on the skills they develop when they read about dragons, unicorns, talking dolphins, and planets from far away. When young learners (of their choosing) read a fantasy novel, they can expand their imagination to encompass much more than what is right in front of them and develop creativity. Additionally, creative thinkers are often about to brainstorm for solutions to complicated problems as they get older, which is an invaluable skill did you know we have private Orange County Reading Tutors? 1 Imagination Although non-fiction and informative reading are an important skill, kids who read fantasy novels on a regular basis are more likely to express and explore their imagination, which is an essential element to childhood. Kids who become engulfed in the wonderful world of their imagination are generally happier and more willing to learn about new things in the future. 2 Problem Solving When young learners use and develop their imagination, they become aware of the fact that there is more than one way to solve a problem. This will become an essential skill as they progress through elementary, middle, and high school. There will be so many academic and practical problems to solve and a fully refined imagination will be most helpful (READ: Five Tips for Success in English Class). 3 Making reading fun So many kids are entirely bored by the idea of reading because it can seem like a chore. If the only time young students read is in school, they will likely not pick up books for fun. However, when kids discover all of the interesting and exciting adventures found in fantasy novels, they tend to view reading as an enjoyable and recreational activity they can participate in both in and out of the classroom. 4 Limiting electronics Although electronics can keep kids busy and provide a good amount of educational activities these days, many children become more and more drawn to electronics and start to prefer that activity over reading or outside play. When young learners are encouraged to delve into a fantasy world found in a book (as opposed to a video game) they get to explore new worlds while improving reading comprehension at the same time. 5 Character analysis Many older students are struggling to analyze properly a character, which is an important skill for high school classes and college preparation. Non-fiction characters can be analyzed, but children often look up basic biographical information and move on. Alternately, when kids are trying to figure out the motivations and actions of a made-up character, they only have the book itself to help them understand what’s going on. Character analysis in a fantasy novel can help with essential skills for the future (AP Literature!). 6. General reading comprehension When kids become engrossed in a world of intrigue found within the pages of fiction stories, they improve their reading comprehension in general. This is especially true if they get to choose their own book or character series they enjoy. Reading comprehension is one of the two core subjects and something that can be improved through practice (READ: Tips From an Irvine English Tutor: The Value of Writing a Rough Draft). In short Regardless of the reasons that a particular student will benefit from reading about fantasy and fiction, it’s a great way to increase learning and reading comprehension in general. Today’s avid young readers can easily develop into tomorrow’s A students and find creative solutions to life’s complicated issues as they reach adulthood. Have your children score and test higher in English with the help of a private Orange County English tutor! Call us today for details. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.