Organic Chemistry Tutors - Organic Chemistry Tutors With Organic Chemistry Knowledge

Organic Chemistry Tutors - Organic Chemistry Tutors With Organic Chemistry KnowledgeWhy would you want to have an organic chemistry tutor who is experienced in atomic structure and molecular mechanics? It is certainly not a luxury. Organic chemistry is essential for the education of your students.Students need the analytical components in order to make sense of the theories they are learning and in order to understand how all of the elements fit together. They also need to understand why and how compounds react to make the compounds that they are used for. An organic chemistry tutor with knowledge of atomic structure and molecular mechanics is essential to getting them through this critical phase of their education.Curriculum directors have a variety of ways they can go about acquiring this expertise. Some schools and teachers are able to pay professionals to come into their classrooms and teach in their own spare time.Other teachers have excellent science clubs where students can ta lk about their projects with other students who are also enrolled in their classes. Teachers can also work with these clubs to get someone to come into their classroom to help out.One of the most common ways of acquiring such an expert is by being around someone who has the necessary knowledge. You may know someone who has taken an Organic Chemistry course or two and been helpful as a student. Or, you may know someone who can offer you an organic chemistry tutor.However, it is important to choose an organic chemistry tutor who is experienced in teaching them how to take a basic course like this. You will want to ensure that they are willing to answer questions in advance if you are looking for assistance. If you are concerned about their ability to do so, ask for some references to check on.The primary reason for having an organic chemistry tutor is to help students understand the theories that they are learning. You may not be able to explain each topic in great detail, but having someone who can help is an invaluable benefit.As long as the organic chemistry tutor understands the basics of the theories they are teaching, it should not be too difficult to find one who is willing to work with you. Not every course is the same, however, so you may have to investigate further. Also, if you choose to work with a professional organic chemistry tutor, ensure that they are certified.

Easy Ways to Learn Urdu and English

Easy Ways to Learn Urdu and EnglishThere are many wonderful resources on the Internet which can help in your Urdu to English language learning. The primary benefit is the ability to communicate with an international audience. They can use your native language to help them understand you. They will be able to communicate with you on a more level and therefore the learning process can be more enjoyable.Learning Urdu from audio recordings is very convenient because you can listen to the recording several times until you get used to the rhythm and the pronunciation. This is a great way to learn a new language because you can practice your speaking skills with those of a native speaker. If you are reading from a book you will learn in your imagination what that word looks like, but when you are listening you can see the words as they are written.Learning English or any other language from tapes is not as efficient as using the online resources because it cannot replace you in a real life situation. When you are at home watching television or doing homework, it is impossible to participate in a conversation with someone who speaks the same language as you do. However, when you use a telephone to talk to a person it is possible. You can learn a new language by listening to what someone says.You can learn English by listening to someone who is talking. All the sounds make sense to you if you can hear them correctly. Most people don't realize how important it is to hear proper English pronunciations because it is the base for a good conversation. If you want to converse properly you have to learn your English pronunciations.Your accent can be described as your style of speaking. You have to use certain tones, intonation patterns to tell whether or not your words are being said correctly. When you speak in an accent your words will sound wrong. So the more you know about your accent the easier it will be to correct it.Another way to learn English quickly is by watching t elevision or listening to your favorite recording in English. This will give you a better idea of how a sentence is worded and the way the grammar works. A few simple rules can help you become familiar with English more quickly. Also, if you are attempting to learn a second language for the first time you will find it easier to accomplish the same task when you know the rules.Both of these methods allow you to listen to your recordings over again until you are able to hear the English words correctly. This method also helps you remember the words that you hear correctly. No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to learn something the first time unless you have done the work needed to perfect it. By listening to your tapes, you will have done the work necessary and in time you will be a pro at learning the words that you hear correctly.

The Future Of Technology In Education

The Future Of Technology In Education The U.S. Department of Education released its New Education Technology Plan May 5th, 2010, noting its strong intentions to implement more technological advances in k-12 classrooms, according to an article in District Administration. The suggested plan includes heavy use of mobile devices, increasing digital usage and content, and social networking for more communication. It is still unsure exactly how schools will use these measures to foster education. The uses will vary from school-to-school. Cell phones could be used to download homework and class notes. Public schools are likely to upgrade their equipment using better technology. Digital chalkboards could replace traditional chalkboards, allowing students and teachers to access the Internet straight from the classroom. Also, teachers will be able to save class notes on their computers and bring them up on the digital chalkboard. Students and teachers can easily erase and write on these boards. These digital chalkboards will make education more organized and appealing to students. Also, teachers and administrators might plan to bring the classroom to where the students are by opening up discussion boards on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and other social media outlets. This could boost engagement of students, as they are digital natives still being taught by largely non-digital methods. Many administrators at the K-12 levels believe that there is not enough government funding to implement many of these measures. District Administration reported that president Barack Obama is planning to cut the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program, which has been providing funding for classroom technology since 1994. Obama is planning to combine this program with the Effective Teaching and Learning for a Complete Education program. This program includes funding for technology; however, that is not its main purpose. Some administrators and other education experts believe that this could increase the funding for technological programs in schools. However, others believe that many public schools wont get the appropriate funding necessary for the New Education Technology plan that was proposed May 5th, 2010. Administrators and politicians will remain in debates over funding for education technology. However, there are likely to be enhancements in classroom technology that will help students learn in grades K-12 and be more interesting to students.

The Chinese Languages at a Glance

The Chinese Languages at a Glance How can you Recognise the Different Types of Chinese? ChaptersThe Top Reasons for Learning Different Variants of Chinese!CantoneseLearning Wu and Travelling to ShanghaiMin Chinese“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” - Nelson MandelaIf there’s a language that makes you want to travel, makes you want to dream, and is pretty complicated, it’s Chinese. With Mandarin Chinese’s writing and tonal pronunciation, it can seem pretty complicated to master. However, Chinese itself actually includes several different languages, dialects, and regional variants which make learning “Chinese” even more difficult.Chinese is spoken by around 1.3 billion people by 7 main groups of people. From Chinese as it’s spoken in Shanghai to Mandarin, which most students will learn when they study Chinese, you need to be aware of the different languages that make up Chinese and what’s special about each of them.So what are the different languages that make up Chinese?In this article, we’re going to have a look at a few of them! NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Top Reasons for Learning Different Variants of Chinese!Learning a foreign language is often a good idea, especially if you opt for a language as common as Chinese. As you’ve understood, there’s no such thing as Chinese in the singular. There are different languages and dialects that are spoken across China in different regions around the country.In f act, Chinese is a group of Sino Tibetan languages. The most common is Chinese Mandarin, a standardised version of spoken and written Chinese which is based on the Beijing dialect. Mandarin is also known as Putonghua. While learning Mandarin is also really rewarding, there's more to learning to speak Chinese than just that. Of course, Mandarin is taught in most Chinese lessons.Travelling through China is arguably the best way to discover them and you’ll soon see why people in certain regions don’t understand one another. In fact, a number of different Chinese people speak languages that are completely different from one another. You'll soon see that everyday phrases are different, each syllable sounds unique, and the way people communicate can make having a conservation almost impossible if you don't speak the local language.Of course, many Chinese people are taught the Mandarin language as it's the official language of China and many people have a good level of proficiency in it . However, you can't assume that everyone in China is a native speaker of the language.In fact, learning all the different varieties of Chinese would be quite the challenge, especially given you’ll have to learn all about the different characters as well as the language and culture specific to each region, too. Being able to make yourself understood wherever you are, be it Shanghai, Hong Kong, or Taiwan, is a useful skill to have!Furthermore, being familiar with the various dialects and languages around China will help you better understand the history and culture of the country as well as help you better understand your own language. Of course, not every single Chinese language is easy to learn even to a basic or intermediate level since you need to spend a lot of time understanding the fundamentals of each, learning the characters, practising the phonemes, and studying the culture of where it’s spoken.  Learning the different languages and dialects will certainly help you more as you travel around China. There’s nothing better than immersing yourself in the local culture to learn more about it and its language.Additionally, learning the specifics of certain Chinese languages and dialects will be a major benefit depending on where you travel to. Knowing these different languages will help you distinguish them better, too. This might be massive in an interview, for example! While no language or dialect is inherently more interesting than another, we won’t be able to get through all of them in just one article so we’ve had to pick a few select ones.Cantonese“Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own.” - Johann Wolfgang von GoetheWhat do you know about the Cantonese language?Chinese is actually a group of languages rather than one language. (Source: tillahrens)Most people actually know very little about Cantonese. Cantonese is actually one of the top three languages spoken in China and is often compared to Mandarin. The origins of Cantonese are very interesting.Spoken in the south of the country (mainly in the Canton region), Cantonese is also the main language of Hong Kong, which looks over to Mainland China. Cantonese is generally more fluid than Mandarin Chinese.Those who defend Cantonese will mention that Mandarin was only really created 100 years ago while Cantonese is over 1,000 years old. This basically means you can’t talk about Chinese history without talking about Cantonese.There are Chinese tones and vocabulary unique to Cantonese. For example, simplified Chinese characters are different from those in Cantonese, which also have different versions in Hong Kong.  Furthermore, Cantonese grammar is much deeper and richer than that of Mandarin Chinese, making the language very interesting to learn. It also makes it more challenging to learn Chinese.Furthermore, since it plays an interesting role in Chinese culture, why not learn it instead of Mandarin Chinese as spoken in Mainland China?In fact, in addition to making yourself understood in Hong Kong, speaking Cantonese will also make your conversations with Cantonese speakers more interesting than they would be if you spoke to them in Mandarin.However, Cantonese isn’t the only language native to China and nor is it the only language to learn if you want to learn more about Chinese culture. There are other regions with other languages, regional variants, and dialects, such as Wu, which is spoken in Shanghai.Cantonese is the main language of Hong Kong rather than Mandarin. (Source: skeeze)Learning Wu and Travelling to ShanghaiAs we’ve said, there are different languages in different parts of China. Shanghai is no exception to the rule, where they speak a variant of Wu Chinese, a language spoken by between 7 and 8% of the Chinese population. Learning Wu Chinese to travel to Shanghai would probably be a good idea if you really want to learn more about the local culture of this city.Wu Chinese probably isn’t the firs t language that gets mentioned when people talk about Chinese. While little probably comes to mind when somebody says Wu, there are a number of good reasons to learn about this language:You can learn more about Chinese culture.You can better understand certain populations of China.You can discover more about the places where Wu is spoken, such as Shanghai.You can learn to speak a language that is spoken by very few people in the West.It will help you develop transferable foreign language skills that will come in useful for other language courses.And much more!The bustling megalopolis of Shanghai, whose name means “on the sea”, is the biggest city in China and one of the biggest cities in the world. While the official language of Mandarin is often spoken, they also speak Wu Chinese here. It’s used in informal conversations all over the city.The writing is one of the most complicated aspects of learning Chinese languages. (Source: PublicDomainPictures)Learning Wu Chinese would b e a great way to get to know the locals of Shanghai better. It’s a language worth discovering. There are so many interesting facets to the language that you’ll enjoy learning about as you learn it.There are around 14 million speakers of the language. Wu is the second largest language in the People's Republic of China, after Mandarin and before Cantonese, and is the world’s biggest non-official language. You could even look for private Wu tutorials!Are you looking for Mandarin classes London? What you really need is a Superprof Mandarin tutor!Min ChineseThere’s another language in China as interesting as Wu Chinese, that’s spoken in the southeast of the country, Min Chinese. This type of Chinese is mainly spoken in the Fujian Province by around 70 million people. It’s a pretty big deal!There are different languages all over China. (Source: jplenio)So what exactly is Min Chinese?Fujian is where Min is mainly spoken, in the southeast of mainland China, near Taiwan. At aroun d 110BC, following the defeat of the Minyue Kingdom, Chinese peoples moved into the region. There are different varieties of Min Chinese which are generally classified according to the regions where they are spoken:Min Bei is spoken around Naping, in the Fujian Province.Min Dong is present in the Fuzhou region, the capital of Fujian Province.Min Nan is the largest of the dialects and is spoken in a number of different places in Guangdong and Taiwan.Min Zhong is the variety spoken in the Sanming prefecture.Pu-Xian Min is spoken in Putian and Xianyou County.Min Chinese actually uses the same characters as Mandarin Chinese for a number of terms. This can make it easier to learn via private tutorials if you’ve already decided to learn Mandarin Chinese. In fact, a tutor is a great option for learning languages like Min Chinese as well as learning more about the accompanying culture.As you’ve probably understood, Chinese isn’t just one language and nor is it just one type of food, b ut rather a series of languages, a multitude of different cultures, and impossible to classify as just one civilisation.So are you ready to learn more about them?Language learning is incredibly rewarding, especially if you choose to speak, read, and write a new language like Cantonese, Shanghainese, or Min.

French Holidays Celebrating La Fête des Rois

French Holidays Celebrating La Fête des Rois Sign up successful In France, more people probably still remember that according to the Christian calendar, the Christmas season doesnt officially end until after Epiphany, also known as Twelfth Night or the Feast of the Kings (La Fête des Rois), on January 6th. Why? Well, because many French still celebrate it in one way or another. For those who are practicing Catholics, church may still be an important part of the Epiphany celebration. It recognizes the day when the baby Jesus was visited by wise men bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, becoming some of the first to anticipate the influence the then newborn would later have. Though Biblical accounts dont give an exact number and describe them as magi (as opposed to kings), these wise men have traditionally been represented as a royal threesome by the names of Balthazar, Melchior, and Gaspar or Casper. Galette des Rois The most notable French tradition to spread beyond religious or practicing Christians is the galette des rois, a flaky cake with sweet almond or fruit-based filling. A fève, usually a small plastic trinket or a bean, is hidden inside the cake, which is often sold with a crown. The cake is divided by the number of guests, plus sometimes one extra poor mans part for the first person to arrive at the door. The one who finds the fève is crowned king or queen for a day. Those living in France can find a galette des rois at any typical French boulangerie during this season. If you are living in the US and want to experience this tradition for yourself, it is more difficult but not impossible to find une galette. Especially in larger cities, there is often a bakery that has discovered and decided to capitalize on the local population of French-speakers and Francophiles. If you cannot find one locally, consider ordering online. Cuisin  for example, delivers galettes seasonally anywhere in the US and Canada. Galette des Rois Recipe If you like cooking French food, why not try your hand at preparing your own kings cake or galette des rois? We like this recipe from French Today: Ingredients: 1/4 cup almond paste 1/4 cup sugar 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened Pinch of salt 2 eggs 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 2 Tablespoons flour 1 package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed according to package directions 1 dried bean (lima or kidney beans work well) 2 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar Preparation: Preheat oven to 450 °F. Buttered large baking sheet (not dark metal). 1. In a food processor, purée the almond paste, sugar, butter and pinch of salt until smooth. 2. Add 1 egg, vanilla and almond extracts and purée until incorporated. 3. Add the flour and pulse to mix it in. 4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one sheet of the puff pastry into an 11-1/2 inch square. 5. Invert an 11-inch pie plate onto the square and cut out a round shape by tracing the outline of the pie plate with the tip of a paring knife. 6. Brush the flour from both sides of the round and place it on the buttered baking sheet. Put in the refrigerator to chill. 7. Repeat the procedure with the second square of puff pastry, but leave it on the floured work surface. 8. Beat the remaining egg and brush some of it on top of the second round. Score decoratively all over the top using the tip of a paring knife and make several small slits all the way through the pastry to create steam vents. 9. Remove the first sheet from the refrigerator and brush some of the egg in a 1-inch border around the edge. Mound the almond cream in the center, spreading slightly. 10. Bury the bean in the almond cream. Place the scored round on top and press the edges together. 11. Bake the galette in the lower third of the oven for 13 to 15 minutes, until puffed and golden. Remove from oven and dust with the confectioners’ sugar. 12. Place oven rack in the upper third of the oven and return galette to cook for an additional 12 to 15 minutes or until the edge is a deep golden brown. Transfer to a rack to cool slightly. Serving Instructions: Serve the galette warm. Make sure everybody knows about the bean so no one breaks a tooth! Are there any special French holidays that you celebrate? Share them with us in the comments below! Post Author:  Carol Beth L. 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

The Importance of Vowels

The Importance of Vowels Suzy S. If youve been taking singing lessons for a while, youve probably practiced several silly warm-up exercises. You know, the ones where youre making funny faces and sounds, saying nonsensical phrases, and so on. All of these exercises have one common goal: to prepare the voice and help you learn to keep your mouth and throat open. Read on as Seal Beach instructor Carl B. explains why vowels are important for this very reason A few years ago I coined a phrase that clarifies the importance of focusing on the vowels while singing.   It is: “A song is a series of songs called vowels.” Each vowel should be perfectly formed, sung as beautifully as if it were a song unto itself, and sustained as long as the song allows, regardless of genre. The international singing vowels are ah, eh, ee, oh and oo.   These are the vowels sung in Italian, and also in Hawaiian.   I have read arguments that there are actually 7 vowels in Italian, and I leave that discussion to others for now.   Other languages also have additional vowels, for example in English we also have uh, ih and aa. The reason that we focus on vowels while singing is that vowels are the most open and also the most beautiful sounds we can make with our voice.   Because vowels are the most open sounds, the audience hears them best, and so hears the beauty of your sound, your personality, and the emotion in your song. Rather than use the term “resonance area,” I use a more descriptive term, “echo chamber,” because the throat is the echo chamber we use to enhance the sound of our voice.   As mentioned in my previous article, we create an echo chamber in our throat by implementing the beginning of a yawn.   In doing this, each perfectly-formed vowel creates its own particular echo chamber areas.   If a vowel is not perfectly formed, we lose some of that vowel’s particular echo chamber areas, and thus reduce the beauty of the sound and the emotion. Many singers do not realize how well their vowels are or are not being formed.   Even very good singers can lose focus on their vowels and think they are forming perfect vowels when they are not.   The reason most people say “That’s not me!” the first time you hear yourself on an answering machine or other recording is that we dont hear ourselves primarily through our ears, as others hear us.   Instead, we hear ourselves primarily through the vibration of our jaw bone.   The only way to truly hear yourself as others hear you is to listen to yourself in a recording. When you begin taking perfect vowel formation seriously, youll be surprised at the improved sound of your recordings, and also of your audience’s more emotional response to you and your singing. Carl B. teaches singing and speaking voice lessons to students of all ages in Seal Beach, CA. Carl  teaches singing in English, Italian, Spanish, German, in all styles including pop, jazz, classical, country western. He joined the TakeLessons team in August 2012. Visit TakeLessons to search for a vocal teacher near you! Photo by michael_swan.

How to Set the Right Goals for Learning Guitar

How to Set the Right Goals for Learning Guitar Suzy S. Learning the guitar is a great goal in itself but youll need to get more specific if you want to truly make some progress! Read on as Hillsboro, OR guitar teacher Geoff A. walks you through the goal-setting process For Beginners The first goal is getting the fingers of the fretting hand to cooperate in forming chords. I begin with E, A, G, C, B7, and D chords. Practice ten to fifteen minutes twice a day and understand: your fingers will hurt a few weeks until calluses form, depending on how much you practice. The second goal is learning to string chords together with smooth transitions, in time to a beat. This takes practice and time. Practicing with a metronome is essential for beginner. Set the metronome to around 54 beats per minute and strum once per beat, four beats per chord, then switch to the next chord. At first there will be beat clicks between chord changes â€" but always play in time with the metronome. The “game” is to remove clicks between chords one by one, until there are no clicks between changes. You should also give yourself permission to not do well at first. Allow yourself the time necessary to understanding what you are learning. Your progress may be slower than others, but try not to compare yourself too much. I have worked with students who learned quickly, then struggled with improving. Others have struggled at first, then made amazing progress afterward. For Intermediate Players It is important to discover what you lack. You might know you struggle with things, like good time-keeping and chord knowledge. And you know nothing about other things. You need improved chord knowledge â€" not just learning new chords, but learning how chords are put together, which requires knowing your scales. Limitations in chord knowledge undermines long-term enjoyment, so brush up on your theory. For Advanced Players At this stage, musicians often need a reality check. Many believe they are more “advanced” than they are. Once you accept this truth, then you are ready to do the necessary work to improve. This generally includes similar things to intermediate players’ needs, which is to find where the holes in your knowledge lie. Once determined, a plan must be created to overcome obstacles and meet challenges to make the strides toward advanced abilities. Bottom Line This article covers a very limited view of goal-setting for each level, based on my 25 years of teaching experience. At the end of the day, it is about embracing life-long learning and growing in your pursuit of musical excellence, whether for fun or for career aspirations. You have to be open to the unknown, the “undiscovered country,” with a good teacher giving you the guidance you need. The right teacher will help you down that road, as long as you understand the journey may be longer, and more difficult, than you imagined. As they say, the journey isn’t exciting if it doesn’t scare you a little. The reward is that playing music will deliver dividends far beyond the technical knowledge you learn. And that is a journey worth taking! Geoff A. teaches songwriting, music theory, bass guitar, and guitar lessons in Hillsboro, OR. His specialties include rock, blues, Americana, pop, alternative, folk, finger style, bluegrass, worship CCM, gospel, and jazz styles. Geoff joined the TakeLessons team in February 2013. Learn more about Geoff  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 Eryne Donahue

A Day in the Life at University of Southern California

A Day in the Life at University of Southern California The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Chris graduated from University of Southern California in 2010 with a Bachelors degree in Theatre. He is an Atlanta tutor specializing in Algebra tutoring, Spanish tutoring, Grammar Mechanics tutoring, and more. See what he had to say about his undergraduate experience: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Chris: USC is three miles from downtown Los Angeles, so its about as urban as schools get. The neighborhood in the few blocks around campus is not great, but isnt as bad as it was 20 years ago, and the school is constantly working on improving the area. LA has an extensive public bus system, but only a few subway and rail lines. The campus itself is very small. Everyone walks or bikes. For the most part, the students live within a few blocks of campus, so they walk or bike to and from school as well. There is a bus system that connects the satellite campuses. A great transportation service is Campus Cruiser, which are cars run by the university that you can call for a ride at night. If youre going to or coming from the library, or just from house to house and dont want to venture into the sometimes-imposing urban night, Campus Cruiser will give you a free lift. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Chris: I studied in the Theatre department, which is very small and based on interaction, so I was always able to get ahold of my teachers. My academic advisor, Leon, was extremely helpful, available, and open. In the few classes with TAs that I had, they were usually reachable by email. I never tried to set up a meeting, so I cant testify to how that goes. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Chris: Dorms are at the corners of campus. I lived in Birnkrant, which is right near both Leavy and Doheny Libraries and Everybodys Kitchen dining hall. Parkside is the international dorm (though it also serves native students). Flour Tower is mostly made up of athletes, as its near the athletic facilities. Webb Tower has apartment-style dorms.Off campus are some university-run apartments, usually occupied by upperclassmen. The school only guarantees housing through sophomore year, so many upperclassmen find private housing nearby.There are a couple of different dining plans, which mix meals at the dining halls and dining dollars, which can be used there or at the fast-food style establishments on campus. The plans balance the two types differently.The two main dining halls are Everybodys Kitchen (EVK) and Parkside. Parkside tends to be better and more diverse, but is on the opposite side of campus from about 70% of the dorms. Below the Flour and Webb Tower dorms are a few take-out s tyle places. The centerpiece of campus is the Ronald Tutor Student Center, which Im told has food, but I graduated the year before it opened, so Im not sure about it. Definitely, my favorite place is Ground Zero. Its a student-managed coffee shop and performance venue that makes the absolute best milkshakes in the world. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Chris: I was in the Bachelor of Arts program in the School of Theatre (now called the School of Dramatic Arts). I do Theatre because I love it. (And, clearly, for the embarrassingly large stacks of money it will make me.) The university did a pretty decent job supporting us, as far as Arts support goes. The SoT management was not particularly great. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Chris: USC does have a pretty active Greek scene, located on The Row on 28th Street. I wasnt in that scene, so I cant tell you much about it. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Chris: I never visited the Career Center, because a career in the Arts has such an unconventional, circuitous path that I never felt the need to. There were job and recruitment fairs on campus with some regularity, though I never paid them much mind. I expect that the best companies in the world come to USC, given our high national ranking, our location in a world business hub, and our large graduate and undergraduate student body. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Chris: Leavy Library and Doheny Library are the main general-use libraries on campus, and both are huge and deep. Theres always room to read and there are large computer labs, as well as conference rooms available for reservation.Dorm lounges vary by building. Birnkrant had a fishbowl on each floor, but it was pretty small.The student center got torn down pretty early in my schooling, and the new one wasnt completed until after I graduated. From what Ive seen of it, though, its massive and beautiful. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Chris: Los Angeles has to be the most diverse city in the world. Theres no question in my mind. If it exists in America, you can find it in LA. The range of food, cultural attractions, and even natural settings is unrivaled. Were 10 miles to the beach, two hours to Joshua Tree, a few hours from mountain skiing all while being in the middle of a metro area of 14 million. We have Chinatown, Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Little Armenia, Little Ethiopia, Little Thailand, West Hollywood Los Angeles has everything. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Chris: When I was there, USC had about 15,000 undergrads and 15,000 grad students. A large part of the grad students were on satellite campuses (the medical school is not on the main campus, for example), but it never felt crowded. The School of Theatre had pretty small classes, since most of it is participatory. My general education classes tended to be large lectures, maybe 150-200 students, but never more than that, and most or all of them had TA-led discussion sections that were usually 20-25 students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Chris: Advanced Movement for the Actor with David Bridel in the spring of my sophomore year. He used the class to teach us clowning, which is the most freeing, joyful thing I have ever done. We learned that mistakes are not only inevitable and permissible, but can be beautiful as well. We learned that ones natural, authentic impulse is vital and vivid and moving. We learned that the truth about ourselves, in this moment, with these people, in this place above all else, is the most important thing to an actor. That class didnt just make me a better actor, it made be a better person. Check out Chris tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Tips for Teens with ADHD Procrastination Busters

Tips for Teens with ADHD Procrastination Busters In my last post I talked about reasons why ADHD and procrastination often go hand-in-hand. ADHD tendencies like preferring instant rewards over long-term payoffs, difficulty with time management, feeling overwhelmed and not knowing where to start, low self-confidence, and being easily distracted all contribute to difficulties with procrastination. Take a minute to read thought my last post and see if any of these ADHD tendencies apply to you. Once you understand why you procrastinate youll be able to take some simple steps to stop the procrastination cycle. Start with one or two of the procrastination busters below that you think might be most helpful for you. With the right strategies for you and your ADHD youll be able to stopping putting off all of those things that you should be doing today! Start small. Combat feelings of being overwhelmed by starting assignments quickly and starting small. The number one thing that I have seen help teens (and adults) with ADHD who procrastinate is starting on a project, essay, or study plan shortly after it has been assigned. The longer you wait the harder it is to get started. Getting started can just mean spending as little as 5 or 10 minutes working - just enough to make a dent in the assignment or task. Getting started builds your confidence and makes the task much easier to begin again when youre ready to work for a longer stretch of time. Create checklists. Many assignments and study plans will seem overwhelming when you think about them as a whole. But, when you break them down into smaller parts theyll start to seem much more doable. Break each assignment or study plan down into a checklist of manageable steps, and cross items off your list as you complete them. Not sure how to break an assignment down into smaller pieces? Start by thinking about the very first thing you need to do. Maybe it is reading a chapter and taking notes. Then think about the next step - review the notes and identify an essay theme; and then the next step create an essay outline, etc. Before you know it youll have a full list. If youre still not sure how to break an assignment down, ask for help from a teacher or friend. You might need some guidance before youre ready to do it on your own. Feed the need for instant gratification. Assignments, projects, and tests will always come with delayed rewards. Keep yourself motivated by giving yourself rewards along the way. Rewards can be things you like to do or things you want to buy. If theres a show that you really like to watch or a videogame that you love to play, consider only allowing yourself to watch it or play it whenever you finish an assignment. Other times, keep it off limits. If there is something you would really like to buy, ask your parents if theyll help by contributing money toward the item every time you complete an assignment or study for a test in advance. Sometimes having someone else in charge of handing out your rewards can be helpful, especially if you think youll be tempted to reward yourself even when you havent really earned it. Avoid procrastination triggers. Whats the number one thing you do when you procrastinate? Are you on your phone? Playing a videogame? Hanging out with friends? Whatever it is, it will continue to trigger procrastination as long as its around when you should be working. In many ways procrastination is a habit, and triggers make all habits harder to break. So, put your phone in another room even if its only for 30 minutes, dont allow yourself to play the videogame until youve finished your work, or go to a quiet place away from friends until youve accomplished what you need to get done. If websites are your trigger and you need to use your computer to do your work, then consider using a temporary website blocking app that you control. Ill review my favorite apps in my next post. Get help when you need it. Reaching your full potential with ADHD means having to rely on other people to help you accomplish some of your goals. When it comes to long-term projects or subjects that are a struggle, ask for help if youre not making progress on your own. If you have been planning to start studying for the SATs for months but havent even looked at a single vocabulary word, then chances are youre going to need someone to help you create and stick with a study plan. If you feel like youre falling behind in a subject and this is making it harder than ever to finish assignments on time, then talk to your teacher or find a tutor. Everyone does better when they have someone to help them get started, stay on task, and catch up on material they may have missed or dont understand. With ADHD having someone to help is even more important, so dont go it alone. Sometimes something as simple as asking a friend to call and remind you to get to work can go a long way. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.