Songs to Practise Singing

Songs to Practise Singing The Best Music for Learning How to Sing ChaptersThe Best Songs to Practise SingingThe Most Popular HymnsThe Best Patriotic Songs for Learning How to SingChristmas Songs for Learning how to SingTo learn how to sing, you need to improve your vocal technique by using something that we all have, a voice. Singers use their vocal cords and breathing to produce pleasing sounds for a huge variety of different musical styles.To learn how to sing, they often need to attend singing lessons - private lessons or group lessons - with an experienced singing teacher. Nevertheless, you can still learn to sing on your own by practising without taking lessons.In this article, Superprof has a list of great songs you can use to exercise your voice, try new vocal techniques, and learn how to sing. We’ve got popular songs, hymns, Christmas songs, and even some patriotic songs.Whether you're learning to sing in pitch, establishing your vocal range, or just need some singing tips, here's a great selection of songs you can use in your voice lesso ns or just to improve your singing when you're practising on your own! TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Best Songs to Practise SingingThere are plenty of great modern and classic songs to help you to learn how to sing some songs are known by just about everyone. Here are some of the best songs for learning how to sing. There are plenty of great popular songs you can use to practise your singing. (Source: Pexels)Learning to sing is much easier when you love the song you're singing. You just need to find songs you like with the singing techniques you're working on in them. If you have a voice teacher, they can often find some good ones for you, but if you don't, here are a few great popular songs you can sing along to with or without a music teacher.Coldplay â€" Fix You: This song is a great one to sing along to if you want to get better at hitting a high note. There's a lot of switching between your chest voice and head voice. There are quite a few long vowels where you'll need to hold the notes or do a short run of notes.Christina Perri â€" A Thousand Years:  This is a great song if you want to learn how to sing. There's a good variation in rhythm between the choruses and verses and you won't need to use your head voice a lot as there isn't any call for falsetto.Sam Smith â€" Stay With Me: This one is quite fun vocally. This is another song where you need to sing high notes with your head voice and go back down to your chest voice. That said, there are some points in the song where Sam Smith doesn't make use of his head voice to hit some of the notes.The Most Popular HymnsWhether you’re religious or not, the music used in hymns is great for beginners as they’re often designed to be sung by those with little or no experience in singing. Here are some of the most popular hymns to get you started with singing. You'd be surprised at how good hymns are for learning how to sing. (Source: ddzphoto)Oh Happy DayOh Happy Day is a gospel arrangement that was created in 1967 by The Edwin Hawkins Singers who had success in the United States and around the world. Here are the lyrics:Oh happy day (oh happy day)Oh happy day (oh happy day)When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)He washed my sins away (oh happy day)Oh happy day (oh happy day)He taught me how to watch, fight and pray, fight and prayAnd live rejoicing every, every dayOh happy dayHe taught me howOh happy day (oh happy day)Oh happy day (oh happy day)Oh happy day (oh happy day)There’s a great version of this song in Sister Act.The Lord’s PrayerThe Lord’s Prayer is a religious hymn that takes the namesake prayer (also known as “Our Father...”) and adds music to it. The advantage is that any practising Christian will already know all the words. You can use it to pr actise your singing voice while adding a melody.The Best Patriotic Songs for Learning How to SingIf you’ve ever watched “Last Night of the Proms”, you’ll know that there’s plenty of great rousing patriotic music that you can sing along with.If you want to improve your voice, there are some great songs written about the UK that will have you trying to hit high notes, using vibrato, and working your diaphragm.Here are some of the most rousing patriotic songs for learning how to sing! Rousing patriotic songs are good for practising your singing. (Source: skeeze)Land of Hope and GloryThis British patriotic song was written by Edward Elgar with lyrics by A.C. Benson and is part of the Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1. King Edward had suggested to Elgar that the melody would make a great song.The most famous part is the chorus, which is as follows:Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free, How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee? Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set; God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet, God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.The song is at a reasonable tempo and requires a fairly narrow vocal range so it shouldn't pose too much of a challenge to aspiring singers.Rule BritanniaThis patriotic song is great for testing your singing ability. Whether you use it as a vocal warm-up or the core of a singing lesson, this can do wonders for your vocal training.God Save the QueenThe good thing about the national anthem of the UK is that it's quite slow and simple and almost anyone can sing it. Of course, great singers can turn it into something more than the kind of droning chorus is becomes in sporting events, but as a national anthem, it's meant to be sung by everyone so it's good that you don't need to be a professional singer to get it right.There are no runs, very few notes that are held for a long time, and it's one of the better songs to perform in a choir or a group since the more people singing it, the better it sounds.Christmas Songs for Learning how to SingIf there’s a time of the year when everyone wants to sing, it’s Christmas.What better way to learn how to sing than with Christmas songs and Christmas carols?Here are some of the best Christmas songs for learning how to sing. A jolly Christmas song is great for practising your singing during the holiday season. (Source: Pexels)Jingle BellsThe song “Jingle Bells” is one of the most popular Christmas carols and has versions all over the world. Here are the opening lyrics:Jingle bells, jingle bells,Jingle all the way.Oh! what fun it is to rideIn a one-horse open sleigh.Jingle bells, jingle bells,Jingle all the way.Oh! what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.Not only will this song help you learn how to sing but it may even bring back memories of Christmases gone. Furthermore, the whole family can sing along with you.O Christmas TreeO Christmas Tree is a Christmas carol that originated in Germany and is regularly heard during the holiday season. The joyful melody makes it an ideal song for practising singing over the Christmas period.Petit Papa NoëlPetit Papa Noël (literally Little Father Christmas) is a 1944 French song from Tino Rossi. While very popular in France, it’s a useful song for l earning how to sing.There are many famous artists who’ve covered it and even a few English-speaking artists that you may have heard of:Chantal GoyaDorothéeDalidaMireille MathieuClaude FrançoisMichèle TorrCéline DionRoch VoisineJosh GrobanMary J. BligeIf you’re looking to become a singer over the holiday period, these songs should be helpful.Now you have a few songs to get you started without any help from a singing teacher. To learn more, check out our other articles in this series. Once you’ve exhausted our list, you can always look for a private singing tutor on Superprof!If you're singing off-key, straining your voice in your singing exercises, or just struggling to sing high, getting voice training from a professional singer is probably the way to go!On Superprof, there are plenty of talented and experienced singing tutors who can help you. There are three main types of tutorials offered: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. Each type of tutor ial has its pros and cons so think carefully about which type would work best for you, your learning style, and your budget.

Getting Started Playing the Guitar if Youre Left-Handed

Getting Started Playing the Guitar if Youre Left-Handed How to Learn to Play the Guitar Left-Handed ChaptersHave a Good Look at Your Guitar!Being Left-Handed Isn't a Handicap on the GuitarThe Left-Handed GuitarAre There Guitars for Lefties?Is There Another Solution for Playing the Guitar as a Lefty?As you've likely noticed, we live in a world dominated by right-handed people and music is no exceptionâ€"most musicians are righties as well.So, how do you get along if you're left-handed? Can you learn how to play the guitar?What are the methods, the techniques, things to know?Are there left-handed artists and musicians who've succeeded in learning how to play the guitar?It's not fair but that's how it is, and you should be aware.But don't worry... Kurt Cobain, Paul McCartney, and Jimi Hendrix were all lefties. Despite that fact, they didn't have any problems during their first guitar lessons.There are lots of left-handed guitar virtuosos!Bear in mind that the principal methods are for righties, which includes tablatures, songbooks, and chord grids.Being a lefty is not a handicap for l earning to play the guitar, rather it's an opportunity to play differently and will never prevent you from advancing: it's all a question of motivation and choice. It won't stop you from learning how to play the guitar more quickly or from taking guitar lessons online.While righties don't have to ask themselves this question, a lefty must consider which type of guitar to play.Should this be a guitar designed for lefties, a guitar for righties, or even a reverse guitar?The decision will influence all of your training to come.

ACT English Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

ACT English Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace Online Tutoring for ACT English Available Now! Because the ACT is such an important part of a colleges consideration of an application, achieving a high score on the test is crucial for getting into the school you desire. Succeeding on a standardized test not only shows a mastery of advanced high school subject matter, it also demonstrates preparedness for the rigors of college-level courses. This makes preparing for the English section of the ACT a daunting task. When it comes to punctuation, grammar, sentence structure and rhetorical skills, Tutor Paces online tutors can give you the edge you need to score higher on your test. Most of our packages offer unlimited access to certify English tutors who have helped thousands of students prepare for the ACT. This unique service gives you the opportunity to be fully prepared for the exam. How Tutor Pace Helps you Excel? Our online ACT English tutoring service is specially designed to cover every type of question you will encounter on the test. After working with Tutor Pace, there will be no surprises on test day. We cover: Punctuation rules Proper grammar and usage Correct sentence structure Rhetorical strategy, organization, and style Each of our tutoring sessions is a personalized, one-on-one interaction between a tutor and a student. This allows students to get help that is tailored to their individualized needs. Unlike other services that lump students together into a group tutoring session or use generic materials not designed for online tutoring, Tutor Paces tutors draw from their personal expertise to prepare students for success. No matter how much assistance you need to be ready for the test, our online ACT English tutors are available 24/7 to help you earn the score you deserve.

English Conversation Classes with TED Creativity, Music and Language

English Conversation Classes with TED Creativity, Music and Language Two things I have always been fascinated with are music and language. Ive been writing in some form or another since I was young, studied English at university, and worked as a journalist before teaching. I have also played guitar for about 15 years now, and particularly enjoy improvising music on the guitar with other musicians.In this TED video, Charles Limb, a brain surgeon and musician, talks about scientifically looking at creative genius, by looking at the brains of improvising musicians with scanners, while they are creating.Its a fascinating video, bringing up questions about the relationship between music and language, among other things. It will certainly be a fun and interesting English class! This video can be watched with Spanish, Portuguese and Korean subtitles.Why you should be interested in Charles Limb (from TED.com):Charles Limb has two titles on his official website: Associate Professor, Otolaryngology, Head Neck Surgery, and Faculty, Peabody Conservatory of Music . He combines his two passions to study the way the brain creates and perceives music. Hes a hearing specialist and surgeon at Johns Hopkins who performs cochlear implantations on patients who have lost their hearing. And he plays sax, piano and bass.In search of a better understanding of how the mind perceives complex auditory stimuli such as music, hes been working with Allen Braun to look at the brains of improvising musicians and study what parts of the brain are involved in the kind of deep creativity that happens when a musician is really in the groove.Read more from Dr. Limb on the TED Blog If you think about it from a kind of abstract philosophical level, it’s unusual that acoustic vibrations in the air can make you feel deep emotion, something that can affect your life.Charles Limb in Urbanite Baltimore magazineWatch the video below, and then see if you can answer the questions afterward: What is Charles joke about creativity and surgery?What makes Keith Jarretts concerts unusual?What does off the top of his head mean?Use five adjectives to describe Keith Jarretts music.What question did Charles ask himself about the music?What is the difference between magic and magical?How does the FMRI scanner measure brain activity?What happens in the brain when someone is improvising music?What was the hardest thing for jazz musician Mike Pope about playing music inside the scanner?What was the second experiment with the jazz musicians?What did the second jazz experiment show?What does Charles compare music to?Use 5 adjectives to describe Charles rapping.Will he ever rap again?What happens when rappers improvise?What question does Charles hope to answer some day?Want to take an English Conversation class?English Classes | Cursos Inglés | Aulas Inglês

Tips for Teens Changing your Study Mindset

Tips for Teens Changing your Study Mindset Youve got a big test coming up at the end of the week, and youre dreading it. You know you should start studying now so that youll be well prepared, but whenever you think about studying your mind gets flooded with negative thoughts: Theres so much material to study for this test, where will I even start? What if I cant find my notes? What if my notes arent good enough and they dont make any sense to me now? What if I put all of this time into studying and then fail the test anyway? All of these thoughts can quickly send you into avoidance mode. Before you know it, its the evening before the test and you havent studied at all. Our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all dependent on each other. If we want to change the way we behave or act, and the way we feel about the things that we have to do, then we can start by changing the way that we think. So, if you want to develop study habits that will allow you to put your best foot forward, then challenge the negative thoughts that might be getting in your way. There are common negative thought patterns that everyone experiences sometimes. These thoughts are more likely to come up when were faced with something that makes us nervous, stressed, or overwhelmed like studying for a big exam! All or Nothing Thoughts. With these types of thoughts, youre either great at something or terrible at something. You need to do things perfectly, or not at all. When it comes to studying, this kind of thinking can cause you to set an impossibly high standard for yourself. If you think that you need to study perfectly and get a top score on the exam, then youll quickly become overwhelmed and anxious when you think about all of the work you need to do. On top of that, the possibility of failure seems very high since anything less than a perfect grade will be a disappointment. All or Nothing Reframe: Remind yourself that you wont get a top score on every test, and that is okay. No single test is going to make or break your final grade. If you study and prepare for the test then youll have worked hard in order to do your personal best. Turning Small Problems into Catastrophes (Catastrophizing). When people catastrophize they take one small incident and allow it to grow larger and larger in their mind until its been built up to be a complete disaster. For example, if you get one bad grade on a math quiz, you think that this just proves that youre terrible at math. Youll probably fail every quiz and test for the rest of this year. This will show up on your college applications and now there is no way youll ever get into your first-choice school! Catastrophizing Reframe: Remind yourself that this is just one small problem, and that you dont know what it means for the future. Youre not a fortune teller! Try to put the problem out of your mind. Learn from any mistakes that were made, and start fresh today. Should Thoughts. When you have a long list of rigid rules about things you should do in order to study effectively, you set yourself up for guilt and regret when youre not able to follow through. This is especially true when youre lists of shoulds is impossibly long, impossibly challenging, or simply not a good fit for your personality or study style. So, if you thought that you should have started studying on Monday, but you didnt start until Thursday, then youll feel very guilty and defeated before you even sit down to study. Should Reframe: Try not to think about what you should have done and instead think about where you are at right now. Make a plan based on the amount of time that you have available and do your best right now. Then, when youre getting ready to study for another test in the future, think about the lists of rigid shoulds that you have in your mind. Ask yourself: Are they are realistic? Are they a good fit for you? Are they helping you move forward or just making you feel guilty and holding you back? Talk to a teacher or tutor about finding new strategies that will work for you. Challenging these three common negative thought patterns will go a long way in helping you change your study mindset. Youll feel less stressed when its time to start studying, and youll tackle your study plan more effectively. Youll shift from avoidance mode to action mode, and before you know it youll be well on your way to achieving your best on that test! Youve got this!! 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.

Can I teach English abroad for the summer

Can I teach English abroad for the summer Remember how awesome summer was when you were a kid? Freed from the everyday grind of school, months of complete freedom lay before you. Every day was a chance to do something new, to have an adventure, to make new friends and create memories that would last a lifetime. If you’re like most of us, the magic of summer dimmed somewhat as you got older. If you’re in college or university, summer is probably not so much a time to do amazing things after a long and sometimes tedious school year as it is a time to get an even more tedious summer job in order to pay for more school. If you’re in the workforce, well, maybe the only sign it even is summer is that the view from your office window when you look up from your computer screen is now sunshine instead of snow, which you enjoy for a few seconds before looking back at your computer screen again. What happened? Do summers as adults have to be like this? Can summer once again be a time for adventures and new life experiences? Well, yes it can, which is why you should consider teaching English abroad for the summer. Imagine being in a new place, experiencing a new culture and having daily adventures and new experiences just like you used to as a kid! First things first, we’re not going to lie to you. Most English schools abroad are looking to hire teachers for at least an entire school year. This means that the options for teaching English abroad for just the summer are a little bit more limited than if you were willing or able to make a long-term commitment. The Teach Away job board is a great source of info regarding more long-term English teaching jobs. But if you’re just looking to teach during your own school’s summer break, or take a summer sabbatical from work, it can still be done, and here are some ideas how. Option 1: Teach English at a summer camp What better way to remember how awesome childhood summers were than by spending your summer as a camp counselor at an English language summer camp? English language summer camps are particularly popular in Europe, and are similar to the summer camps of your youth with games and outdoor activities. These are great opportunities for university students on summer break as a degree is usually not required (though a TEFL certificate would be a plus). Instead, the primary prerequisites are the ability to speak English (well, duh!), a youthful personality and the ability to lead recreational activities and games. Some English language instruction may be required, but at the end of the day it is a camp, not a school, so having fun (in English) is the name of the game. Many of the camps will require the counselors to live on site and conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times, so free time might be minimal, but hey, you are living at a summer camp! As a plus, room and board will usually be provided, meaning you can save most of the money you earn for books (or, who are we kidding, beer) for the fall semester. Check out Camp Europe for upcoming positions. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. Option 2: Teach English online for the summer We’re currently looking for university graduates from Canada and the United States to teach English to Chinese students online from the comfort of their own home. However, nobody says where your own home has to be! Home may be where the heart is, but for the purposes of teaching English online, home can be anywhere with a reliable internet connection. Becoming an online English teacher could mean spending the summer, well, wherever you want! It could be as easy as throwing a dart at a map and grabbing your laptop. Be warned however, that teaching hours are geared toward the convenience of the students in China, so depending on where you choose to set up shop and what timezone it is in, you may be working some odd hours. Read this: This calculator shows how much you can earn teaching English online (Hint: It’s a lot!) Option 3: Teach English in a homestay abroad Another option when it comes to summer teaching jobs abroad is to stay with a family, receiving room and board in exchange for tutoring them or their children. This is a great chance for a complete cultural immersion, and you might be able to also get some lessons in the local language as part of the exchange. Social media or local classified websites (think Craigslist or the local equivalent) are a great way to find and negotiate these exchanges yourself (often with the help of Google Translate, because after all, if they spoke English, they wouldn’t need you!) Another good site for homestay English teaching opportunities is Greenheart Travel. Option 4: Apply for volunteer English teaching opportunities Okay, so you’re not going to be getting paid for these, but let’s be honest, that university summer job probably isn’t paying you that much either and you can’t put a price on helping to make the world a better place. There are plenty of opportunities to teach English abroad as a volunteer. Often this will be in a more economically disadvantaged region of the world and will involve teaching English to people who would not otherwise have the chance to learn it. This will result not only in a much different experience for you, in a more off-the-beaten-path destination, but could be life changing for your students, as knowing English could open up a myriad of opportunities for them they might not otherwise have had. A simple Google search will bring up plenty of volunteer positions in all corners of the world, because there is never a shortage of people needing a little help. Perhaps the only thing better than having an adventure is changing someone else’s life while doing so. Check out Go Overseas for the latest volunteer teaching opportunities. Whatever option you decide, it would be best to start sorting it out well before summer arrives. Positions might fill up quickly, there will be plane tickets to be bought and maybe even visas to be obtained. And if teaching English abroad for a summer turns out to be more fun than you expected, why not make it a year round thing? Teach Away is always a great resource regarding more long term teaching opportunities throughout the world. After all, the adventure shouldn’t stop just because summer does. ? Read this: How to find a short-term job teaching English abroad

4 Things Study Abroad Students dont Expect to find in US

4 Things Study Abroad Students dont Expect to find in US 4 Things Study Abroad Students dont Expect to find in America Thousands of students from all over the world come to the US to study each year. Some will come for a few weeks over the summer, some will come for a full year, and some will be in the US for their entire college experience. Regardless of the amount of time spent in the US, international students often find there are a few things they didnt expect, some positive and some negative. Students who are considering US study should consider the following realities so their adjustment period can go smoothly. 1. Transportation Students who come from other countries may be using public transportation on a daily basis. Many countries have excellent public transportation that is both efficient and clean; however, the US isn’t one of them. With the exception of cities such as New York and Seattle, most study abroad students will find that the US is pretty much a motor vehicle country. This can be a big issue because purchasing a car for a short time is incredibly expensive. Students who don’t have a car are often left with the option of simply walking or asking for rides from other people. This cuts down the amount of time they have to explore the country when not in the classroom (READ: 7 Reasons to Study Abroad in the UK). Tip: If students must rely on public transportation, they should think about going to an urban environment where buses and trains may be available or where they can simply get places by foot. Alternatively, students can arrange for transportation to and from school and then take a long weekend using a short term rental car with some friends. However, its important to remember that, in the United States, a person must be 25 years old to rent a car and hold a US drivers license or an international drivers license. 2. Meeting locals Meeting locals is something that nearly every study abroad student is excited about. Why would somebody go to a different country if they didnt want to meet different types of people? However, some study abroad students here in the US will find that locals are rushing around trying to get their studies done and may already have several friends that they brought from high school. Additionally, locals meet college friends in the first couple weeks of their freshman year while study abroad students generally arrive in their sophomore or junior year, meaning that social groups have already been informed. Additionally, that cool restaurant or coffee shop may be thought of as ‘too touristy’ for local students to enjoy. Many of these issues can make socializing with US students a challenge (READ: 6 Tips for Studying Abroad in Paris). Tip: Study abroad students in the US can ask local students to take them to a place where only locals go. That way not only are the local students having fun at a place they enjoy, but the study abroad student gets an idea of day to day life in the US. 3. Meeting people from home (but not the US) Most international students come to the US expecting to meet American students; this is not always the case. In ESL classes, for example, its very common for the majority of students to be from the same country or the same region because the teacher specializes in English language learners from that particular culture or first language. Students who wish to meet Americans will have to venture outside the classroom environment to make local friends. Tip: Enjoy the comfort of people from your home country. Students who are studying abroad for a summer or a year generally get home sick. Knowing people from the same country can actually help prevent this and allows students to explore the US together. 4. You will see the entire United States of America The reality of the US is that it’s geographically vast. This is wonderful because people who live here can visit different subcultures, climates, and have different experiences without renewing their passport. However, for study abroad students this means that they probably won’t get a chance to see the entire US while theyre here (CLICK: Ten Tips on Making the Most our of Your Study Abroad). Tip: Pick a region and enjoy it. Students who are coming to study on the West Coast are advised to enjoy the West, learn about the local culture, and see the East Coast on another visit. Bottom line? Regardless of which state or school international students choose to study at, there are plenty of wonderful things to see in our large and diverse country. Study abroad students will have to be a little more outgoing than they originally thought in order to make friends. They will also have to consider our transportation issues and how much traveling they will do while theyre here. The most important thing is to take home a positive experience, good memories, and new friends. 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 post about. 4 Things Study Abroad Students dont Expect to find in US 4 Things Study Abroad Students dont Expect to find in America Thousands of students from all over the world come to the US to study each year. Some will come for a few weeks over the summer, some will come for a full year, and some will be in the US for their entire college experience. Regardless of the amount of time spent in the US, international students often find there are a few things they didnt expect, some positive and some negative. Students who are considering US study should consider the following realities so their adjustment period can go smoothly. 1. Transportation Students who come from other countries may be using public transportation on a daily basis. Many countries have excellent public transportation that is both efficient and clean; however, the US isn’t one of them. With the exception of cities such as New York and Seattle, most study abroad students will find that the US is pretty much a motor vehicle country. This can be a big issue because purchasing a car for a short time is incredibly expensive. Students who don’t have a car are often left with the option of simply walking or asking for rides from other people. This cuts down the amount of time they have to explore the country when not in the classroom (READ: 7 Reasons to Study Abroad in the UK). Tip: If students must rely on public transportation, they should think about going to an urban environment where buses and trains may be available or where they can simply get places by foot. Alternatively, students can arrange for transportation to and from school and then take a long weekend using a short term rental car with some friends. However, its important to remember that, in the United States, a person must be 25 years old to rent a car and hold a US drivers license or an international drivers license. 2. Meeting locals Meeting locals is something that nearly every study abroad student is excited about. Why would somebody go to a different country if they didnt want to meet different types of people? However, some study abroad students here in the US will find that locals are rushing around trying to get their studies done and may already have several friends that they brought from high school. Additionally, locals meet college friends in the first couple weeks of their freshman year while study abroad students generally arrive in their sophomore or junior year, meaning that social groups have already been informed. Additionally, that cool restaurant or coffee shop may be thought of as ‘too touristy’ for local students to enjoy. Many of these issues can make socializing with US students a challenge (READ: 6 Tips for Studying Abroad in Paris). Tip: Study abroad students in the US can ask local students to take them to a place where only locals go. That way not only are the local students having fun at a place they enjoy, but the study abroad student gets an idea of day to day life in the US. 3. Meeting people from home (but not the US) Most international students come to the US expecting to meet American students; this is not always the case. In ESL classes, for example, its very common for the majority of students to be from the same country or the same region because the teacher specializes in English language learners from that particular culture or first language. Students who wish to meet Americans will have to venture outside the classroom environment to make local friends. Tip: Enjoy the comfort of people from your home country. Students who are studying abroad for a summer or a year generally get home sick. Knowing people from the same country can actually help prevent this and allows students to explore the US together. 4. You will see the entire United States of America The reality of the US is that it’s geographically vast. This is wonderful because people who live here can visit different subcultures, climates, and have different experiences without renewing their passport. However, for study abroad students this means that they probably won’t get a chance to see the entire US while theyre here (CLICK: Ten Tips on Making the Most our of Your Study Abroad). Tip: Pick a region and enjoy it. Students who are coming to study on the West Coast are advised to enjoy the West, learn about the local culture, and see the East Coast on another visit. Bottom line? Regardless of which state or school international students choose to study at, there are plenty of wonderful things to see in our large and diverse country. Study abroad students will have to be a little more outgoing than they originally thought in order to make friends. They will also have to consider our transportation issues and how much traveling they will do while theyre here. The most important thing is to take home a positive experience, good memories, and new friends. 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 post about.

The 30 Best Online Language Courses for Any Budget or Level

The 30 Best Online Language Courses for Any Budget or Level 30 of the Best Online Language Courses If you’re reading this, you’ve probably just recently decided to throw caution to the wind and learn a foreign language, traumatic high school Spanish finals be damned.Or maybe you’re in the midst of learning a new language online, and your mission has been a fruitless journey of online translators and trying to navigate your Facebook timeline in Yiddish. Oy vey.Either way, congratulations! You’ve just stumbled upon the most epic list of online language courses.You no longer need to slam your face QWERTY-style out of frustration, begging the polyglot gods to give you some kind of direction for your linguistic quest. These courses will give you a roadmap to language learning success.If you’re wondering what distinguishes an online course from the plethora of other resources online, it’s that a course contains lessons, modules, or quizzessome kind of structure that newbies (and language learning vets!) need to help them weave other language learning tools  into context.Fort unately, we’ve compiled a list of web-based courses that serve different language-learning needs. Whether you’re on a shoestring budget or need a course that satiates your podcast addiction, there’s something that fits your style below. 30 of the Best Online Language Courses1. Babbel ($6.95 - $12.95/month)Babbel is perfect for fans of Duolingo who want to learn Spanish  or Norwegian (Babbel currently has 14 languages as compared to Duolingo’s nine). For $12.95 a month you get a fun, game-like structure that is accessible on your smartphone, and access to a learner’s community that can help make your adventure a little more social.2.  LingQ (Free - $39/month)LingQ is a web-based language-learning system founded by YouTube polyglot sensation, Steve Kaufmann. Like LiveMocha, there is a community aspect to the interface that rewards you for helping your peers. LingQ also has a massive database of lessons which are composed of text documents accompanied by audio.With a Premiu m plan and points on this site, youll have access to their apps, vocabulary features, one-on-one English conversations, group conversations, writing corrections and a huge variety of learning activities and quizzes.3. FluentU ($20 $30 month after free trial)FluentUs unique platform focuses on language immersion, which is something language learners of all levels need. FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks, and turns them into learning lessons.It lets you learn using fun videos and real-world context. Did you ever want to sing along to Let It Go in German, or watch a crash course in world geography in Japanese? FluentU makes this entertaining approach personal by integrating  new words  into its learn mode, which uses interactive games to teach  vocabulary and  track your progress. I bet you never knew learning could be so fun  and yet feel so effective!Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of content available o n FluentU:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.4.  Duolingo (Free)Duolingo is perhaps one of the more  well-known  options on this list. Designed more like a game than a course, Duolingo is a fun way to squeeze in language learning on your lunch breaks or whenever you would otherwise be playing Candy Crush. Duolingo focuses on making language learning intuitive. Did we mention you can connect with friends and family through Facebook? You are forewarnedâ€"things can get strangely competitive with distant cousins and passive-aggressive co-workers.5. ELanguageSchool (Free)Another free resource with lessons in 15 languages, ELanguageSchool is also ideal for learners who like to focus on written instruction. Without a doubt the best features of ELanguageSchool are its long lists of commonly used nouns and verbs, and the sites surprising lack of ads.6. Fluent in 3 Months ($97)This is polyglot super-star Benny Lewis’s brainchild. As someone who has learned seven languages and has been traveling the globe for over a decade, he has tons of tricks and resources to help you hack your way through language learning. A premium subscript ion to his site works best for those who want to learn how to become  lifelong language learners  rather than learn a specific language.7.  Foreign Services Institute (Free)Some awesome individuals have dedicated their time to creating an online collection of public domain language courses that were created by the United States’s Foreign Service Institute. You’ll find that most of these courses are broken up into audio clips that revolve around short conversations, so it’s best for those who are looking for some on-the-go material that challenges their listening skills. Its great for beginners!8. Headstart2 from Defense Language Institute (Free)Designed for military personnel before deployment, Headstart2 is another good resource  for beginners. Every  language has two units made up of ten modules each, which you can access online or on your iPod. Its worth noting that the second unit focuses on mission-specific tasks, which could be great for those who want to watch war films in their target language.9. Hello-Hello World (Free $29.99/year) This is an iPad app for learners on the go. Known for its crowd-sourced information, Hello-Hello World always has a professional on staff to make comments and corrections to  your sentences. Its a great option for those who want to review words and phrases on a tight deadline before a business trip or big test.10. Internet Polyglot (Free)An indispensable resource for language learners, Internet Polyglot also contains a feature that most other online courses don’t: the ability to translate lessons to and from any language they have available. Do you want to learn French through Spanish? No problemo, mon ami.11.  italki (Price varies)Want to mix your target language and social media? italki is the Facebook of language learning. Explained as a language teaching marketplace by co-founder Kevin Chen, this incredible 2.0 website has a massive listing of language tutors from all over the world. There are also plenty of fr ee services, and you can connect with users who may want to engage in a free language exchange via Skype. There is no set pedagogical standard for italki, but you can find the teacher, learning style and lessons that work for you and your wallet.12. Language Pod 101 ($549/2-year subscription)The Pod Series is a network of websites with names like Spanishpod101.com, etc. Youll find programs for the following languages:SpanishFrenchGermanChineseRussianand more!They have free and paid subscription models with tons of material available, ranging from different types of lessons (generally revolving around themes), podcasts, and a fun flashcard feature that uses  vocabulary words from the media present on their sites.13. Language Trainers Online ($28 $38/hour)This is the right option for you if you like having a tutor but also want to be able to review your lesson later, because all courses are recorded. These courses are customized to the student, and their instructors are known to be h ighly qualified professionals.14. LearnaLanguage.com (Free)LearnaLanguage.com is another website filled with free language courses, but with a twist: Some of the lessons are delightfully weird. Learning Spanish? Why not play around with the Burrito Builder, or brush up on your Japanese love phrases?15.  Livemocha (Free $29/month)Livemocha is a massive language learning community that gives you instruction in 38 different languages. Many liken its structure to that of Rosetta Stone, but instead of relying on a program to assess you, be prepared for native speakers and other language enthusiasts to rate your linguistic chops.16.  Living Language ($150/year)Known for its comprehensive fusion of online learning, mobile apps and web conference style e-tutoring sessions, Living Language is well worth its steep access fee. Be prepared for very knowledgeable and professional teachers instructing you in small groups.17. Mango Languages ($20/month for individuals)Mango is known for its game- like design and its ability to have you speaking phrases within a few weeks. It’s much like Babbel and Duolingo, but it also has an added cultural component if you’re interested, and can be used for organizations and classrooms. The monthly subscription includes access to all 63 language courses.18. Memrise (Free)Memrise may not be a course in the traditional sense, but instead is a collection of user-generated courses in dozens of languages (including sign languages). Based on the spaced repetition technique, Memrise functions best as a resource for vocabulary retention. You can even create your own course to help you remember those specific terms that trip you up.19. MIT OpenCourseWare (Free)Would you like an MIT education? Wouldn’t we all? Thanks to MIT OpenCourseWare, you can download the syllabus and course material in the language class of your choice. Interested in a literature or culture class? No prob. Check out this guy’s TedX talk about giving himself an MIT educa tion through this program.20. My Language Exchange (Free)Do you ever get bored or lonely trying to learn a lesson by yourself? My Language Exchange is a great option for you social butterflies out there. On this site you complete lessons with language learning buddies from all over the world. Did we mention there are over a million members who speak upwards of 115 languages?21. MyLanguages.org (Free)MyLanguages.org has lessons in 95 languages and all for free! Here you can learn vocab, grammar and quick phrases, and even quiz yourself on your knowledge. The courses on this site are mostly written (though they do collect some audio and video material), making them perfect for intermediate learners who need to review and refine their grammatical skills.22. Niuolahiki Online Hawaiian Language Courses ($30/module)Did you ever think you could learn a Hawaiian language online? Modules are $30 each, and all you need is Mozilla Firefox, a Flash Player and an interest in Hawaiian languages.  â€˜A‘ole pilikia.23. Omniglot (Price varies)This is another curated list of courses in a number of languages, some free some not. Omniglot also contains mini-lessons on over 600 languages, detailing some of the histories and origins of archaic scripts like Ladino or Old Norse. Omniglot is also useful for lesser known languages like Xhosa, Igbo, and Ojibwe.24. Open Culture (Free)The self-proclaimed source of the best free cultural educational media on the web, Open Culture is another awesome website that collects free courses and resources for its users. Equipped with an engaging blog and links to over 1000 free courses, this resource is perfect for the culture snob in all of us. Its not exclusively dedicated to language courses, yet you can still find resources in over 40 languages.25. Oregon State eCampus ($271/Credit)Looking for college credit? Oregon State has a very well-known and accredited online campus that’s worth looking into. If you want travel around and be a cool e xpat while earning class credit, this is the virtual campus youve been looking for. You can even get a bachelor’s degree in German, completely online! No pants? No problem.26. Rocket Languages ($49.95 $149.85)Rocket Languages has a number of different account types that may appeal to you depending on your budget. Though it’s on the pricier end of the courses on this list, Rocket Languages is known for its incredibly vast amount of downloadable content. It’s also very well-structured, which is great for those of us who have no clue how or where to begin!Youll be able to take courses for the following languages:SpanishFrenchGermanJapaneseChineseand more!27. Rosetta Stone version 4 TOTAL ($249)You may still have Rosetta Stone stuck in your mind as that yellow box in the airport, but it has come a long way in recent years to integrate online language learning. Rosetta Stone includes online classes, games and mobile apps, hopping on board with a lot of recent language-learning tre nds. Recommended for long-term learners rather than quick phrase-building. Its available for many languages, including:SpanishFrenchGermanJapaneseChineseand more!28. Verbalplanet.net ($22/Lesson)Do you need a teacher to help you through your lessons? Verbalplanet.net has a large staff of native tutors to help you through the trials of learning a language online, and their useful analytic tools help you track your progress.29. Word2Word (Free)Word2Word is a massive online database of free courses in 119 languages. Whats unique about this site is that it also points you in the direction of language learning forums and more general polyglot guides and resources. Most importantly, Word2Word contains links to tools and resources from all over the web in less common languages like Frisian and Malay.30. World Wide Learn (Price Varies)World Wide Learn is another comprehensive list of accredited language courses online. There are courses in 18 different languages, as well as in translation, ESL, and TESL.  Theres also a live chat feature if you need help figuring out which course is best for you. World Wide Learn is especially good for those who want to travel as they go to school, or have busy work schedules that dont allow them to attend brick-and-mortar campuses.So there you have it, the online language course list to end all lists.  It may come as no surprise that native material  (video, podcasts, books, etc. in your target language) can far  surpass any course when used effectively.But several  of us benefit more when we balance or supplement those authentic materials with a course, so now you know where to look.  Choose  a course (or several) that appeals to you, and get started today!Carlo  Aaron is a writer, artist and language-learning enthusiast who lives on the internet. Shes been featured on xoJane, Skirt Collective and Feministing. Follow her on Twitter.