Benefitting From Private Tutorials

Benefitting From Private Tutorials How to Get the Most Out of Your Academic Support Tutorials ChaptersStruggling Students: Getting Private TutorialsWhere Can You Find Private Tutorials?How Can Struggling Students Get Free Academic Support Tutorials?“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” - Albert EinsteinIn the UK, nearly one in five pupils leave school without five GCSEs. Children can start struggling as early as primary school and if their problems aren’t addressed, they can finish compulsory schooling with no qualifications.To avoid this, you can always opt for academic support to help them.So how do you go about helping a struggling student through academic support?In this article, we'll be looking at private tutoring, where you can find academic support services and free tutoring resources. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5 .00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsStruggling Students: Getting Private TutorialsWhen you start looking for private tutorials, you’re going to have a lot of questions when it comes to finding the right tutor. Make sure that your request for tutorials is clear. (Source: Free-Photos)A private tutor isn’t just there to teach you or improve your grades. Private tutorials are so much more than that! They can be a source of inspiration and motivation, a way to improve your self-confidence through tailored academic support.While the main goal of tutoring is improving a student's academic performance, they're also there to assist students with things like test preparation, note-taking, and writing skills, all things which will ultimately lead to student success.With this in mind, it’s important to choose the right tutor and type of tutorials. Reviews from former students can help but that won’t be enough. These reviews will give you a general idea of their quality but they can’t replace talking to the tutor and finding out more about them.Make sure you ask the right questions before you ask for private academic support tutorials:What is your level? This is a simple question but it can def ine the type of tutor you need.What are you struggling with? What will you need help with?How do you learn best? The tutor will be able to help you to work this out but you can save some time if you know already.When can you schedule your private tutorials for?Would you prefer online tutorials or face-to-face tutorials?Would you prefer group tutorials or one-on-one tutorials?What is your budget? Do your research and find out what the rates are for private tutorials before you start thinking about how much you can spend.Do you need short-term or long-term academic support?If you’re a parent looking for academic support for your child, you can also ask them these questions. It’s important to understand why they’re struggling.Is it due to the quality of teaching at school? Do they like the subject? Are they disorganised or lack self-confidence? Do they like the idea of academic support?Keep in mind that you mightn’t be able to find a tutor who matches all your requirement. You need to prioritise certain requirements over others: their level, teaching approach, rates, schedule, etc.You can then start getting in touch with academic support tutors. The clearer your request, the greater your chance of getting a good response.The classes you’re looking for: homework help, catchup classes, physics, chemistry, maths, etc.The level: primary school, secondary school, GCSE, A Level, etc.The objective: passing exams, improving study skills, etc.The student’s difficulties.Your availability: afternoons, evenings, school holidays, etc.The type of tutorial you’re after: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, group tutorials, etc.The number of lessons needed: intensive courses, throughout a term, year-long, etc.Send your request to tutors who match your criteria and you’ll probably get a quick response.Find out more about the cost of private tutorials.Where Can You Find Private Tutorials?There are several ways to find a private tutor offering private academic support tutorials. There are plenty of platforms where you can find private tutorials. (Source: janeb13)You can look at classified ads sites where many tutors will post ads for their services. However, you won’t be able to see reviews from previous students.You can also look at classified ads and noticeboards in local businesses. You can get in touch with them and ask them about their private tutorials. Don't forget to check online classifieds sites like Gumtree and Craigslist.There are also online platforms that offer private tutors for all types of subjects. On these platforms, like Superprof, for example, allow you to search by location and subject. Some platforms charge you to contact the tutor whereas others charge a percentage of the tutor’s earnings.  On Superprof, many tutors offer the first hour for free so you can see if you get along and discuss their methodology, etc.There are also tutoring companies you can go to. Generally, their rates tend to be higher than self-employed private tuto rs.  You can find these types of organisations in most larger cities where they offer both one-on-one and group tutorials. Look at notice boards in local businesses. (Source: Pexels)Whether you're looking for writing tutors, peer tutoring (students tutoring students), individual tutoring, or online tutoring services, there are plenty of resources and services for tutoring students and finding tutors.Find out how often you should schedule private tutorials.How Can Struggling Students Get Free Academic Support Tutorials?If you’re on a budget or can’t afford private tutorials for your child, there are several free options. Don't hesitate to ask other parents about private tutorials. (Source: 6715269)Firstly, talk to the school and see what extra help they can provide. Some can offer extra lessons to your child or change things up to help them with their schooling. There may be teachers available to help them with their homework, for example.If this isn’t the case, you can always talk to other parents who might have the same concerns. You could work together helping groups of children with their homework during the week. This means you’d be helping your child and some of their friends the nights you’re free and the other parents can help your children the other days.Similarly, you can get in touch with the local council and see if there are free lessons or workshops to help children with their schooling. You’ve got nothing to lose!There are also charitable organisations that provide academic support. When it comes to learning difficulties, many charities can help. Have a look for associations an d charities that work with specific learning difficulties and the services they provide. Most have a presence in the UK’s largest cities.  Don’t hesitate to get in touch with associations or charities to see how they can help your child.You can also exchange favours for private tutorials. There are now sites and apps where you can work for an hour and in return, a private tutor will teach your child for an hour, for example.In some cases, your time becomes credits that can be exchanged for other services. You can earn hours providing services to other users and then redeem them against private tutorials. This means you can use your talents or skills and not have to open your wallet.There are also plenty of websites and resources you can access for free to help with academic support. There are sites to help pupils study certain subjects and a plethora of sites to help them with GCSEs and A Levels, for example, and you can help your child to learn and revise for free by following the free guides and downloading some learning materials.There are even tutors who have websites complete with free learning resources and materials. Now you can start helping your kids with their schooling!Students' academic success depends on the quality of supplemental instruction they get from their online or home tutoring. After all, the best tutors tailor their programmes to their students. For example, if they struggle with exams, they might need help with test-taking. Some may struggle to memorise or consolidate what they learn. In this case, test prep mightn't help them and they may need to work on academic skills, for example.No matter what subject you need help with or which skills you want to learn, you can find experienced and talented private tutors on Superprof. Regardless of the subject, there are three main types of private tutorial available: one-on-one tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. Each has its pros and cons and some types work better for certai n subjects than others.One-on-one private tutorials are between you and your tutor. Online tutorials are similar to private tutorials since they are between a single student and tutor but the tutor isn't physically in the room with you and is instead teaching you remotely via a webcam.  Finally, group tutorials are when several students are taught in a single class by a private tutor.Many of the tutors offer free tutoring for the first hour so try a few out and see which type of tutorial and which tutor is best for you.

What to Know About the SAT Literature Subject Test

What to Know About the SAT Literature Subject Test Studying for SAT Subject Tests can occasionally seem quite daunting. However, if youve been a diligent high school student, youve already started your test prepespecially for the SAT Subject Test in Literature. The SAT Literature Subject Test reflects what you learn in your high school English classes. Need more information? Keep reading to find out what to know about the SAT Literature Subject Test. SAT Literature Subject Test basics You will have 60 minutes to complete around 60 multiple-choice questions. American and English literature comprise 90-100% of the selections on the exam, while the remaining 0-10% includes works from other parts of the world. In terms of chronology, the following is the test breakdown: The Renaissance and 17th century make up 30% of the exam. The 18th and 19th centuries make up 30% of the test. The 20th century makes up 40% of the exam. Poetry and prose passages both comprise 40-50% of the passages found on the test, while other formats are 0-10% of the exam. [RELATED: How to Succeed on SAT Subject Tests] Tip #1: Review literary terminology before the SAT Literature Subject Test Youve probably encountered these terms every year since middle school, but its worth it to take the time to really understand each concept, and to have an example of each one. These terms can include tone, stanza, irony, image, and more. Youll be asked to recognize these in the text selections, so practice being on the lookout for them as you read. Come up with a code for yourself to quickly identify them upon looking back (perhaps a star indicates a metaphor or simile). Since this is a reading-heavy test, any time-saving technique can be useful. Tip #2: Use practice tests to prepare for the SAT Literature Subject Test SAT Literature practice tests are your new best friend. Before setting out to practice, determine what you want to focus on. Are you struggling with time? Set a goal time, and work on finishing before the end. Are you always getting stuck on theme? Focus on identifying the thematic concepts as you read to make answering the questions at the end a little bit easier. Strategic studying will help you learn more efficiently and effectively. [RELATED: Should I Take SAT Subject Tests?] Tip #3: Know what to look for in the SAT Literature Subject Test readings On the exam, you will be given six to eight sets of questions, which are each based on a different text. A hint: keep an eye out for the date given at the end of each piece. While you wont be asked about the historical background surrounding that literary text, it might help you understand the world and the time it came from. Notice what the form of the piece iswhat is its structure, genre, and organization? While youre reading, take note of word choice. Are there any words that pop out to you? Perhaps underlining them could be helpful later. Additionally, observe the meanings and connotations of words in the text. You will also want to discern what the narrative voice is. Pinpoint who is talking, and how they feel about what theyre talking about. Be as specific as you can! Lastly, pay attention to characterization. How are the characters described in the text? Keeping all of these ideas in mind while reading will make the multiple-choice questions go much faster and smoother. In the end, constantly reading is the best way to do well on this test. By engaging that muscle, you learn how to read faster and grasp the material better. Try to read a variety of textsnovels, poetry, and plays are all great ways to enrich your mind and do well on the exam. While reading, get in the mode of asking yourself questions so that youre actively engaging with the text. Do you know whos talking? What is the theme and how is the author trying to comment upon that? These questions will help you get closer to that 800 score on the SAT Literature Subject Test. 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.

Watercolour Painting Tutorials and Resources

Watercolour Painting Tutorials and Resources How to Find Resources and Tutorials to Guide Your Watercolour Painting ChaptersThe Best Books to Learn Watercolour PaintingLearn Painting from TelevisionOther Online Offerings to Learn How to PaintIt’s never easy, learning something new.If one decides to take a class to learn watercolour painting, there is the usual stress of competition â€" is everyone else better at it than I am? The usual sizing up tinged by a bit of social anxiety, the approval-seeking...And then, there’s the small matter of timing: what if you don’t have time for any classes?For these reasons and more, many people intent on personal growth, those who hold firmly to the idea that learning new skills is an art form of itself have gotten into the habit of rooting out resources â€" online, at the library and through other like-minded people.That’s probably how you ran across this article!As it turns out, Superprof has dedicated itself to your pursuit of knowledge by providing tutors and informative articles on how to do/learn/master/achieve... in this case, how to paint with wa tercolours.We now look at the best resources available to you in print and on television; in video format and online. FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaPainting Teacher 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePainting Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Best Books to Learn Watercolour Painting Don't discount books as a means of learning about watercolor paint! Image by Myriam Zilles from PixabayBooks have long been our go-to source for new knowledge.There is a good reason for that: they are a source of information that we can return to again and again. They provide us with an arc of understanding â€" from the inception of the subject in question to its current state.Sometimes books draw on the past and then progress through to the present and project the future; other times they function as an instruction manual; the perfect ‘how-to’, complete with margins for you to make notes in.Because watercolour painting relies so much on traditional techniques (as opposed to relying on digital art creation tools), it is important to master every step of the processes involved in painting with watercolours.You can learn everything about watercolour painting from books, beginning with colour theory to mixing paints in the proper ratios to attain a specific shade or tone.These are j ust a few of the best books for learning how to paint with watercolours.The Watercolour Course You’ve Always WantedWhile some might believe that oil painting and acrylic painting are the more rigorous media, mastering watercolours is actually more difficult than either of those two.That is why this talented watercolor artist/author has put this book together; it is a standout among ‘how to’ tomes because it touches equally on theory and on practice.Among other aspects of the art, you will learn to interpret lines and shapes, work from photographs or a live model, and fundamental techniques often used in watercolour painting, such as the dry brush method, the wet-on-wet method and more.Leslie Frontz has been painting for more than 40 years. In this book, she brings her considerable experience to bear on different theories and practices of painting with watercolours.It is available at your favourite bookseller or on Amazon for just over £20.Watercolor SchoolUnlike van Gogh, not everyone has a deep, instinctual feel for painting.For most of us, going from vision to conceptualising to completion is a journey fraught with equal parts of frustration and elation. In such cases, it is really helpful to have a way of balancing those two extremes.Hazel Harrison, author and painter, firmly believes in planning: from laying out the necessary paints and supplies to initial sketching, and on to finished work.What’s so great about this tome is that is consists of both theory and practice. Hazel packs the book full of exercises for you to do; they fairly demand that you learn proper watercolor techniques before you can move ahead.But don’t worry; the tone this text takes is patient and supportive. Before you know it, you too will plan your work from start to finish in such a way that executing it will happen as if by magic.This book is a bit dated but is still one of the best on the market (it is also available on Amazon for about £14).Everyday WatercolorIf you kn ow absolutely nothing about painting, even if you don’t know oil paints from acrylics â€" let alone water colors from gouache, this is the book for you.Jenna Rainey takes you by the hand in this well-assembled manual which is divided into five different segments. Each one covers a specific area of painting: lighting, forms, complex shapes such as the human figure...Towards the end, everything gets neatly connected through a series of exercises. You’ll be amazed to find yourself no longer struggling to paint credible-looking flowers; indeed, you’ll be onto landscape painting before you know it.Ms Rainey is one of the freshest voices in watercolour. Not only does she write books but she teaches painting techniques in her native California city and hosts a tutorial channel on YouTube for those who want to learn to paint.Other great books to learn watercolours from include:Modern Watercolor by Kristen van LeuvenTen Minute Watercolor by Hazel Soan (yes, the one that presents on the telly!)Watercolor 365: Daily Tips, Tricks and Techniques by Leslie RedheadWorld of Watercolor by Jean HainesThe Tao of Watercolor by Jean CarbonettiMastering Watercolors: a Practical Guide by Joe CartwrightWe would love to review them all but we still have to tell you about other resources available to aspiring painters. You should have quality watercolor paper to render the perfect landscape painting Image by Ulrike Mai from PixabayLearn Painting from TelevisionOccasionally, a local television station will host a series of shows in which an artist demonstrates how to paint; the BBC did such a show a couple of years ago.Although such a show may be on locally, none are currently available nationally but several online television channels are dedicated to helping you learn how to paint.Watercolour.tv is a prime example of this type of offering.Artist Matthew Palmer has organised his web page to make it easy for the absolute beginner at watercolor painting to find their way around: simply click on the ‘absolute beginner’ tab and enjoy the collection of videos meant especially for you.You may also choose to mark your calendar for his real-time workshops and painting demonstrations or paint along with him as he instructs on how to perfectly depict a mountain sunset or a winter landscape.Winter landsca pes can be especially tricky because of all of the white involved â€" what a great opportunity to practise using masking fluid!The best part of these on-demand video lessons is that you can pause them, rewind and rewatch as needed, something you can’t necessarily do with an ordinary broadcast from the telly.Another great channel is SAA, formerly ‘the Painting and Drawing Channel’; their video-on-demand page lists more than 500 step-by-step instructional videos by member artists.Whether you’re having trouble mixing the perfect blend of colours to achieve that burnt sienna for your autumn landscape or simply cannot get the hang of painting flowers, the artists at SAA will have you covered.Both of these television sites charge a monthly membership fee but you may check them out for 30 days at no cost.  For those serious about learning how to paint with watercolours, that would be a hard-to-beat offer!Other Online Offerings to Learn How to PaintNot surprisingly, online televisio n channels are not the only way you enter the world of watercolour painting.Besides viewing some artists’ Instagram pages and marvelling over their skills, you could listen in as watercolour painters discuss their favourite painting technique, join in discussions on select forums and boards and benefit from video tutorials.Among the wealth of such we found are:PodcastsI Like Your Work: conversations with artists, gallery owners and curatorsColin Bradley Art Cast: a father-and-son team of watercolour artists answer your questionsSketching Stuff: watercolour artist Charlie O’Shields hosts a podcast and runs a message boardThe Left-Brain Artist: if you aspire to one day make your living as an artist, this podcast is the one to listen to!You might find it odd to listen to podcasts when watercolour painting is obviously a visual art.Think about this: all of the time you spend behind the wheel of your car, longing to hold a brush, you could be getting in touch with your inner artist.Y ou can even listen to podcasts as you paint. If you have no time for classes, you can learn painting with watercolor with online resources Image by Orna Wachman from PixabayBlogsQuite a few ‘how-to’ websites and art supplies sites have blogs attached; you might know of them if you’ve done any Internet searches for speciality supplies.Other pages are by independent artists. The ones we liked the most are:The Susan Branch blog takes a fireside chat tone: recalling what drew her to expressing herself through watercolor painting and how every stroke of her paintbrush is a tribute to another famous artist.The Scratchmade Journal likes to infuse tutorials with homey anecdotes and encouragement.Doodlewash is the companion-blog to the Sketching Stuff podcast mentioned above. If you’re unsure about which art supplies you might consider or are looking for inspiration for your next work, this would be a place to look.Naturally, there are more. You only need to ask your favourite search engine for them.YouTubeAgain, we return to th e idea that painting is primarily a visual art. Now, we add the fact that humans are primarily visual learners and come to the conclusion that videos would be a great way to learn how to use watercolour paint.What a torrent of information there is for you, there!We found channels hosted by artists from Italy, Canada, Australia and Japan and the UK. A substantial number of them have millions of subscribers; others have uploaded so many videos that they’ve organised them into playlists so you can follow them in sequence.Some videos are hour-long, professionally edited tutorials and others are mere minutes, detailing a single technique: a lone artist sitting in front of their camera for your benefit.Some of the names you’ve read in this article also have YouTube Channels and, as a bonus, they feature other artists’ channels for you to peruse, in effect forming an online community of watercolor paintings and painters.So, if you have no time for classes and an overwhelming desire t o work with watercolor paints, you now have a few resources to call on.

With Online Physics Tutor - Grasp Concepts At Once

With Online Physics Tutor - Grasp Concepts At Once 0SHARESShare Physics is a Science subject which many students shun in view of its latent difficulty and use of Math knowledge. When you understand the relevance of Physics to our society and its applications in our day today life, you really understand the importance of the subject and try to focus your attention on it with a positive note. All Physics concepts reflect the activities of life one way or the other.  Tutor Pace provides excellent online tutoring services with its Online Physics Tutor to make your learning interesting, interactive and knowledgeable. Why Online Physics Tutor is relevant to the society? In our day today life, in almost all technological innovations, right from latest mobile phones to good old wet grinders, you have the application of Physics in various forms. Without the theories of Sound, Light and Speed as expounded by Physicians, the comfortable life we live today is unimaginable. Physics helps us explore the territories of Nature with an adventurous spirit and pick out its best features for our utility. How to learn Physics? Physics learning is considered as a mind-blowing exercise, since it deals with aspects that expect very keen concentration and intellectual analysis on our part. That is why the subject is viewed as dry and as a possession of those who are serious minded in their learning. Actually, Physics can be learn with interest, once you get into its true spirit through innovative learning methods, hands on experience and practical approaches. It depends upon the person who teaches you the subject. Online tutoring is the most desirable kind of tutoring for Physics for the reason that it brings forth methods that are interactive and thus make you learn even the difficult topics with ease and fun. Tutor Pace is one such tutoring site with a panel of Online Physics Tutor who help you learn Physics in its depth with easy to understand methods. [starbox id=admin]

Understanding English Spoken in India

Understanding English Spoken in India Its an interesting time for English, and languages in general. English is the most spoken language in the world. Although there are more native speakers of both Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, there are enough people speaking English as a second language to put us as the most spoken language.In fact, it is believed that English will soon become the first language spoken by more non-native speakers than native speakers. What does it mean for the future of a language when native speakers no longer dominate it? For one thing, I think we will have to accept, like it or not, that English will have many more dialects.One place where English is widely spoken as a second language is India. It is, when non-native speakers are counted, the second largest population of English speakers. But frankly, even native English speakers can have difficulties understanding an English speaker from India.Lately many of my students, especially those that work in IT, have been asking me what they can do to und erstand English speakers from India better. Trying to help my students, I came across this podcast, Indicast.Indicast produces interesting podcasts and videos in English, but mostly with speakers from India. Its a great way to practice your English listening skills and your ability to understand English speakers from India. I hope it helps!

Help Your Child Work On A Group Project - TutorNerds

Help Your Child Work On A Group Project - TutorNerds 4 ways to help your child work on a group project Kids of all ages will need to work as part of a group at some point in their education. These projects are valuable because they help students learn how to cooperate, compromise, and achieve success while working with other students they dont know. This skill helps students get along with each other and share ideas at their current level, but it also helps prepare them for a future in any career field where they will need to work with others. Unfortunately, many students dread the group project experience because they dont like working with certain classmates or they dont know how to get everything done in a way that allows everybody to contribute equally. There are some things kids can do to make their group project experience a positive one our private Costa Mesa academic tutors are here to help your kids succeed. 1. Organize ahead of time Group projects are significantly easier if students get together to organize what each student will do and make sure they have enough time to finish before the due date. It can be a challenge to get each student together in person so it might be a good idea for each member of the group to spend a little bit of time together at lunch or right after school so they can figure out how theyre going to complete the project. Students should make sure to bring any research materials they need to the group session as well as their laptop, tablet or paper pencil so they can take notes while they study. 2. Utilize digital technology One of the biggest complaints about group projects is that its nearly impossible to get every member of the group together at the same time in the same place. Each student has a different after-school schedule and may or may not be available at a specific time. If this is the case, students should utilize everything that digital technology has to offer these days. They can meet online using any number of communication apps and talk to each other in real time. Students can also share notes or research ideas with each other in a digital environment, so they dont have to wait until their next study group meeting to share materials (READ: 4 Ways to Help Elementary-Age Kids With Their Homework). 3. Try to be fair to everyone Its also important to make an effort to be fair to everyone when it comes to assigning different tasks. No one individual student should be doing all the work; it is a group project after all. However, it often seems like one or two members of the group get stuck with more responsibility, so its important to break up tasks evenly but also give every member of the group enough time to complete their part of the project. Every student has a different schedule, different learning styles, and different after-school responsibilities so some will need more time than others to complete their assignment. 4. Focus on each students strengths and weaknesses Its also a great idea for students to focus on their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to doing well on a group project. For example, if one student has excellent handwriting and is good at taking notes they can write down all the important things that happened during the session. If another student is great at speed-reading, they might do a lot of the initial research to present ideas to the group. Each student will have something they need to improve about their study habits that they can focus on as an individual, but group projects are about learning how to work together, share ideas, and get along with students who arent in their immediate social circle. In addition to these tips, help your child succeed on a group project with the help of a private Costa Mesa tutor from TutorNerds. Get a free Costa Mesa tutoring session when you refer a friend to TutorNerds. Contact us today for more information. 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.

Logic Behind the italki Language Challenge (and how to ensure your success!).

Logic Behind the italki Language Challenge (and how to ensure your success!). The October Language Challenge is just about to start. This time, we are asking our learners to take 6 hours of language classes in the space of two weeks. As opposed to the longer, higher-commitment challenges we have conducted before. We are terming this a sprint to help you jump start your language learning habits. In the same way that its difficult to stay with a gym membership, stick to a diet, or live up to ones New Years commitments, it can be difficult to study a language after that initial excitement of learning wears off, and consistent work needs to be done. What is the logic behind the challenge?   The model behind the language challenges for  italki is to encourage planning behavior that gives our learners a sense of traction. As an example, we looked at some innovative gyms and work-out oriented apps which charge a  user  more for skipping  a workout  (unlike traditional gyms with long-term commitments who are interested in user failure). We adopted a similar model, where the up-front cost of the challenge encourages a student to stick to their commitment. The purchases from the users who do not complete the challenge subsidize the rewards for those that do. (Of course, we would love for everyone to complete the challenge, and in the past few years the completion percentage has been climbing higher with each language challenge event). Whats m0re, the idea of getting a prize and the sunk cost back for completing the challenge is another good motivator to put in the extra effort.  Ultimately, having a reward at the end of the challenge works better to create a perspective shift in a learner: once the going gets tough, the competitive spirit and desire for the reward is a much better motivator than the feeling of Oh well, I guess Ive lost my ITC. Why is this challenge so short?   We are always experimenting with a better motivate to improve the language-learning process. In the same way that long-term gym commitments actually work to discourage the user, a longer challenge may seem difficult and daunting. This sprint format is designed to encourage forward planning in the short-term, and get our learners to try the optimal model for using italki (users who schedule on average 3 hours with a teacher per week tend to stick to the learning process longer, and get better faster). 2 hours per week is not quite enough, and 4 can be overwhelming and discouraging in and of itself. By making this a simple 6 hours/2 weeks challenge, we are hoping to let our challengers see the benefit of the optimal model, and give them the opportunity to feel how quickly they can improve using this format. Whats the secret to successfully finishing the challenge? The most important piece of finishing the challenge is  following a plan. That means the best way to schedule your sessions is all at once, in one go, to create a roadmap of your classes for yourself. In this sprint format challenge, it is a lot easier to plan out all the classes and make teaching requests ahead of time. If you want to avoid the crunch-time rush or stress of finding teachers, plan all 6 of your lessons distributed evenly over the duration of the challenge. First of all, you will have a lot more control over when and with whom you will be having your sessions. Secondly, making a commitment to a teacher will help you prioritize language learning, and give you the best possible chance to derive the greatest learning benefit from the sessions. There are still a few days left to register, and enrollment into the language challenge is open after the start date. Dont wait, get your language learning momentum rolling here: References: http://mashable.com/2014/01/23/fitmob-startup-gym/ http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/01/24/gym_pact_bases_fees_on_members_ability_to_stick_to_their_workout_schedule/ Logic Behind the italki Language Challenge (and how to ensure your success!). The October Language Challenge is just about to start. This time, we are asking our learners to take 6 hours of language classes in the space of two weeks. As opposed to the longer, higher-commitment challenges we have conducted before. We are terming this a sprint to help you jump start your language learning habits. In the same way that its difficult to stay with a gym membership, stick to a diet, or live up to ones New Years commitments, it can be difficult to study a language after that initial excitement of learning wears off, and consistent work needs to be done. What is the logic behind the challenge?   The model behind the language challenges for  italki is to encourage planning behavior that gives our learners a sense of traction. As an example, we looked at some innovative gyms and work-out oriented apps which charge a  user  more for skipping  a workout  (unlike traditional gyms with long-term commitments who are interested in user failure). We adopted a similar model, where the up-front cost of the challenge encourages a student to stick to their commitment. The purchases from the users who do not complete the challenge subsidize the rewards for those that do. (Of course, we would love for everyone to complete the challenge, and in the past few years the completion percentage has been climbing higher with each language challenge event). Whats m0re, the idea of getting a prize and the sunk cost back for completing the challenge is another good motivator to put in the extra effort.  Ultimately, having a reward at the end of the challenge works better to create a perspective shift in a learner: once the going gets tough, the competitive spirit and desire for the reward is a much better motivator than the feeling of Oh well, I guess Ive lost my ITC. Why is this challenge so short?   We are always experimenting with a better motivate to improve the language-learning process. In the same way that long-term gym commitments actually work to discourage the user, a longer challenge may seem difficult and daunting. This sprint format is designed to encourage forward planning in the short-term, and get our learners to try the optimal model for using italki (users who schedule on average 3 hours with a teacher per week tend to stick to the learning process longer, and get better faster). 2 hours per week is not quite enough, and 4 can be overwhelming and discouraging in and of itself. By making this a simple 6 hours/2 weeks challenge, we are hoping to let our challengers see the benefit of the optimal model, and give them the opportunity to feel how quickly they can improve using this format. Whats the secret to successfully finishing the challenge? The most important piece of finishing the challenge is  following a plan. That means the best way to schedule your sessions is all at once, in one go, to create a roadmap of your classes for yourself. In this sprint format challenge, it is a lot easier to plan out all the classes and make teaching requests ahead of time. If you want to avoid the crunch-time rush or stress of finding teachers, plan all 6 of your lessons distributed evenly over the duration of the challenge. First of all, you will have a lot more control over when and with whom you will be having your sessions. Secondly, making a commitment to a teacher will help you prioritize language learning, and give you the best possible chance to derive the greatest learning benefit from the sessions. There are still a few days left to register, and enrollment into the language challenge is open after the start date. Dont wait, get your language learning momentum rolling here: References: http://mashable.com/2014/01/23/fitmob-startup-gym/ http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/01/24/gym_pact_bases_fees_on_members_ability_to_stick_to_their_workout_schedule/