Why Learn French The Reasons and Benefits of Language Learning

Why Learn French The Reasons and Benefits of Language Learning Why do People Still Study French? ChaptersFrench Words Used in Everyday EnglishThe Benefits of Learning FrenchHow Long Does it Take to Learn French?Is French hard to Learn?Some people think that learning a foreign language, in this day and age, is a needless waste of resources â€" time, money and brain power.With electronic translators that fit right in your pocket and pretty much everyone the world over speaking English anyway, what is the point of learning any foreign language, let alone French?That is an astute observation! Incorrect, but astute nevertheless.The French language has some of the most amusing expressions, such as j'ai un petit creux â€" an adorable way to say I am a bit hungry.Run that phrase through translator software, and you get I'm a little hollow, a near-literal translation that gives no indication of what the sentence actually means.Near-literal translation? It should be I have a little hollow; the mental image giving a clue to the meaning.Online translators try hard, but sometimes they miss t he mark entirely!The question is: how will you know that the app you're using is translating accurately if you have no knowledge of the French language, especially French slang?You can try this experiment for yourself, using a phrase in English. We did!Julie was gutted over losing her job. Gutted means in despair, of course.The translator spit out the French equivalent of: Julie was emptied over losing her job.Close in literal meaning, but in no way does that translation convey the figurative rending that Julie suffered at suddenly being unemployed.And, if you used that French translation of our very British expression in conversation with a native French speaker, you might be quizzed over your sentence's exact meaning.If you can't speak French, how will you explain what you had intended to say?Besides the inaccuracies of translation software â€" and their unintentional, sometimes comical results, here are five other great reasons to learn French that we will discuss in more depth   in this article:The French language is spoken by millions of people worldwide, on 5 continentsThere is a strong bond between English and French, in spite of English being a Germanic language.French is a beautiful, rhythmic tongue; full of nuance and quirky turns of phraseIt is considered a gateway romance language; easy to transition from French to Spanish, Italian and Portuguese; even RomanianThere are so many benefits to being bilingual!Let us now get to the meat of the matter â€" an idiom that translation apps render incomprehensible in French.Find classes taught by a reputable French tutor.Many words related to food and cooking come to us from the French language Source: Pixabay Credit: Photoshootingspink, or even bloody was, till recently, strictly a French affair.We call steaks cooked in that manner rare because it was so infrequent that anyone would eat beef that still bled!Back to your favourite pastimes, now: photography, cuisine, dancing, even visiting an art gallery. Ever y one of these words come to us from the French language, along with cinema and telly and a whole host of others.By some accounts, 40% of words in our dictionary have their roots in French. So many French words populate our common English vocabulary that an entire web page has been dedicated to them!French terms pop up just about everywhere: in botany, geology, technology and especially in the military; in fashion and in political terms that harken back to feudal times.Did you know our governing body, the Parliament, is a French word meaning discussion or negotiation?French phrases Commonly Used in EnglishYou needn't cast a wide net to find everyday phrases in French that we English speakers have appropriated and made our own.We'll bet you have at least heard of these, if not used them yourself:a la carte: when you order individual food items from a menu â€" the cardFollowing the same format, you may have a la mode: according to the current fashion or customJe ne sais quoi â€" used to express an intangible quality; literally I don't know whatMiss Markle has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes her absolutely right to marry a royal.Au courant: literally in the current; meaning awareI read the news every day to stay au courant of world affairsCarte blanche: liberal permission and resources to do as you wish, or as neededmy parents gave me carte blanche to redecorate my flat.French Idioms Used in EnglishAn idiom is a phrase whose collective words give no meaning of the sentiment or idea being expressed.Raining cats and dogs, for example, does not represent hapless puppies and kittens on a forceful downward trajectory, splattering everywhere. Thank goodness!Idioms generally have roots in the specific culture and language they originate in.The phrase lost in translation has never been more apt to describe theses concepts that crumble under the force of conversion to another tongue.Thus it comes as a surprise that we've borrowed more than a few such phrases from our French neighbours.These imports did not undergo interpretation; we've not just appended to our dictionary what the idioms in question represent, but the words used to represent them!Esprit de corps translates to the spirit of the body, but means morale.This phrase was born of military service, in which the soldiers shared a unified mentality of defense and protectionism for one's homeland and ideals.Since then, the usage of this colloquial phrase has expanded to include everything from office politics to solidarity with your mates.If you are as one with the majority, you can say that you have esprit de corps.Do you know this phrase, popularised in song, and even used in one episode of Coronation Street?We all know what voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir means.Its implication has been rendered genteel in English â€" even if spoken in French. But natives of that language interpret the verb coucher in more... graphic terms.One French idiom that has lost no meaning in translation, ev en though it is used today in its original language is Honi soit qui mal y pense.It means shame to he who thinks ill of it.So impactful was this sentiment that our own Most Noble Order of the Garter adopted it as its motto!In today's modern French vernacular, that phrase is: honni soit qui en pense du mal; changing the sentiment of shame to revilement.To end this segment of French words and phrases commonly used in English, here are a few that are routinely used in English speaking countries that, curiously enough, the French don't use â€" at least not in the way we do.Au naturel: a phrase we use to describe in the nude.The French use it to signal natural settings: a backstage interview (entretien au naturel), or to describe natural colours such as taupe or beige.En masse: how we describe everyone doing the same thing at the same time.For francophones, the word masse is only used to describe physical weight. The closer translation of the sentiment into Canadian French would be bunch .See what a lighthearted, amusing activity it can be to dissect French expressions? Let us now look at other benefits of learning the language of Molière.You would be surprised at the many benefits of learning French! Source: Pixabay Credit: LightstargodThe Benefits of Learning FrenchAs we ascertained at the beginning of this article, language learning in general can be very beneficial.What we've not expounded on is in what ways!For one, people who can speak a second language derive many cognitive benefits that can even help improve their quality of life as they get older.And, while upwardly mobile in the professional world, bilinguals stand to be hired faster and earn more than anyone who has not taken any language courses.Those points remain true whether you learn Chinese or take Spanish courses.But how can French learning benefit you? Why study French, specifically?Let us say you are such an upwardly mobile professional, eagerly anticipating your relocation to Luxembourg or Belg ium, to a lucrative position with a sister firm.Would you have been considered for that job if you spoke only English?What about your love of winter sports? You may want to ski or snowboard down Mont Blanc. Or, if you are a mountain climber, you may aspire to summit the highest peak in western Europe.It is true that you could get by with using English alone in those circumstances, but by embracing the French language, you are also embracing the culture and the people of the land you exercise your passion in.Did you know that French culture is inexorably intertwined with its cuisine? You could hardly claim to be a foodie and not speak French!Being able to communicate with French people while abroad represents a tacit approval of everything that their language and culture represents.You could polish your conversation skills with French speaking people just about anywhere in the world, because the French language is spoken in over 30 countries!Would you like to learn more about the ben efits of learning French as your second language?A Gateway to Further Language StudiesAs your French lessons London progress, you realise that it is both exciting and engaging to acquire language skills.You may perceive an upcoming certification exam, perhaps the DELF, as a finish line that, once you cross it, would signify that you are done with French courses... and where would you go from there?The joy of learning is infectious and, once inoculated with it, you may never want to stop learning languages!That is another reason why studying French is such a great idea.Because French grammar is so similar to the grammar of other romance languages â€" many verbs even conjugate the same way!, it would not be such a great leap to learn Spanish, learn Italian; you could even learn Portuguese after mastering French!Speaking French can give you advantages over monolinguals in the workplace, help broaden your cultural awareness and even help you understand your native language and culture b etter.We can't think of a better reason than that last one to become a francophone!There is no mystical divination of how much time it will take for you to learn French Source: Pixabay Credit: darksouls1How Long Does it Take to Learn French?All fun and excitement aside, learning a second language is a serious undertaking that requires diligence, hard work, and time.Even though we English speakers regularly make use of French vocabulary and idioms - whether we know it or not, any serious language learner would know that studying French is a monumental undertaking that requires dedication and a serious time commitment.How much time does it take to learn French? How long can any French learner expect to stay at intermediate level?Let's go over some of  the reasons why learning French should be a years-long commitment.French Grammar versus English GrammarAs previously discussed, French is Romantic and English is Germanic.That does not mean that anyone with intimate knowledge of the Fren ch language and culture is a dashing heartthrob.Because these linguistic systems have their roots in different cultures, their vocabulary and grammar  bear only a few similarities.A most immediate way to spot a critical difference between the two language systems is with you.Not you specifically, but in using the pronoun you.In our mother tongue, that pronoun is representative of males, females, multiple people or a lone person; anyone you might address, formally or informally.French pronouns emphasise all of these distinctions. However, it is important to note that, when a mixed group is the subject or object of a sentence, the masculine gender is always used.Tu vas avec elles? â€" you will go with that group of females? versus Tu vas avec eux? - used to represent an all-male or mixed group.These differentiations can make conveying ideas a very precise process.Let us see how grammatical gender applies to articles with this sentence: the teacher gave us a homework assignment.In Engl ish, we have no idea if that teacher is male or female, but in French, le maître would represent a male teacher and la maitresse would be a woman who instructs.Even indefinite articles, a and an, are treated to such precision: un and une â€" male and female, respectively.What about the qualifier some; for uncountable nouns? Du is masculine; de la is feminine and des â€" the plural form, is for both.The best way to learn these divisions, of course, is to spend ample time in their study, and their associated rules.Grammar AgreementAs you may well imagine, if articles and pronouns must relate to the subjects' grammatical gender, so too must any adjectives and, where applicable, verb endings.Beginners in French classes all fume that mastering such agreements is one of the most difficult aspects of learning grammar in French.These aspects of French language study need not be antithetical to your motivation in learning this beautiful, complex tongue.Let us cite yet another import into En glish, this time from German, that neatly addresses that concern:Sprachgefühl loosely translates as the feel for the language.By invoking this phenomenon that every language learner  sooner or later experiences, you can be free of rote memorisation of grammar rules, and just let your heart soar with the rhythm and beauty of speaking French!Our best advice for learning French fast: don't be afraid to make mistakes.Just as you don't need to understand the workings of an internal combustion engine to know how to drive a car, so you don't need to ponder every single grammar rule before your utter your first sentence in French!By no means are we suggesting that you throw your French textbook out of the window; only that you will learn French faster if you don't stress over whether you should use le or la; un or une or de or des!Most people in French speaking countries will recognise and applaud your sincere efforts at learning their language, so there is no need to sweat small grammatic al or verb tense mistakes.Is French hard to Learn?The intricacies of learning French grammar aside, you might be surprised at how precise and straightforward the language is, for all of its flowery prose.If you assign the issue of gender agreement to your growing feel for the language, you may find that speaking French is not as complicated, or as daunting as it appeared in your beginner French classes.If you think that grammatical gender and agreement are complicated in French, you should try learning those rules as they apply to Arabic!Is French as hard to learn as you think?What about conjugating verbs in French?Native French speakers appreciate your efforts at learning French Source: Pixabay Credit: Alexis_AminokisFrench Verb TensesCompared to English, verb tenses in French tend to be more inclusive, expanding to nearly double the number of tenses in our language.All questions of mood aside â€" delving into them would make for a ponderous discussion!, we can attest to the fact t hat only about 6 of French's 23 verb tenses are routinely used.Unless you intend to prove your French language skills formally by sitting DELF level C2, most likely you will not often use more than eight of these more elevated constructs.However, we would point out that having so many ways to indicate when an action has occurred is yet more proof attesting to the precision of the French language.As with nouns, pronouns and articles, with certain verbs, agreement again rears its head: any compound verb construction involving être will make use of feminine form; for example: je suis allée is correct if a female went somewhere. The extra E is not applied if a male, or if a group of people are involved. Conjugating irregular verbs  can be a tricky affair, in any language. Fortunately, the list of such predicates is substantially shorter for French than our very long list!Besides, most of the French irregular verbs, such as pouvoir and avoir are used so often that you will soon incorpo rate their various forms into your spoken French with hardly a thought!Syllable Stress and ToneOne aspect of learning how to speak French is its rhythm; specifically the fact that there is no syllable stress required to give a word meaning, as in English.Because English is our native tongue, perhaps we give no thought to two-syllable nouns having a spoken stress on the first syllable, and two-syllable verbs requiring stress on the second syllable.Such a distinction gives our language a lot of double-meaning words.For example: IM-port represents goods that are brought into the country; im-PORT is the act of bringing goods in.Linguistic experts agree that, because of the syllable stress used to give English words meaning, our spoken language sounds choppy.By contrast, the French use no inflection to give meaning to their words. Instead, vocables are grouped into phonic units and delivered with a unique rhythm.As a French learner, you may need some time to get used to that distinctive phraseology.Autodidact Kató Lomb said: Language is the only thing worth knowing poorly.Obviously, no one would not start out a language learning adventure with the intent of gaining poor skills. Still, there is truth in that quote.Don't just take anyone's word for it; discover for yourself why learning French is a great endeavour!

How Italian Cuisine can Enthuse you to Learn Italian

How Italian Cuisine can Enthuse you to Learn Italian The Role of Gastronomy in Teaching the World the Italian Language ChaptersIs Pasta Even Italian?How Italian Food Conquered the WorldItalian Terminology and Recipes Used in EnglishItalian language lessons at school, online Italian courses and one to one Italian tuition are just some of the ways people study Italian as a foreign language.The Italian language is known around the world for its beauty, but why not deviate a bit from the beaten track and focus more on Italian culture for a while?Learning a new language doesn’t just have to be about reciting greetings, the Italian alphabet and doing countless listening comprehension and Italian grammar exercises â€" watch some Italian films, enjoy the literature of Italy, and, of course, try some Italian cuisine!As a learner of Italian as a second language, the way you learn to speak the language as you move from basic Italian to conversational Italian language skills and eventually becoming fluent in speaking Italian, is completely up to you.Starting with Italian conversation as a basis can be a good s tart if you're looking for some cultural immersion to learn more about Italy and its fascinating past whilst you pick up new words along the way.Italian culture is one of the richest and most active in the world, so let’s dive in!Starting with the world-famous cuisine of Italy, which is probably the reason why you already know a few Italian words and phrases. DanielaItalian Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuciaItalian Teacher 5.00 (4) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarilùItalian Teacher 5.00 (8) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarcoItalian Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GiusyItalian Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EnricoItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FedericaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsIs Pasta Even It alian?‘Should we eat at an Italian restaurant?’‘Do you fancy a pizza?’Here are two phrases which are asked across the UK and the rest of the world â€" it’s fair to say Italian cuisine has conquered the world.For a lot of cuisines on every continent, Italian food often sets a convivial and colourful mood for a meal.Pizza is often shared between friends at informal gatherings and times of celebration, and its nature makes for a cheerful atmosphere.Food brings people together - especially pizza! ¦ source: Pixabay - Engin_AkyurtThis is maybe the reason why Italian gastronomy has become a part of our eating habits over time, especially when we’re looking for a sociable meal.For many of us (students in particular), pasta is a go-to base for a lot of dishes.This inexpensive yet nourishing foodstuff can be served with different meats and sauces, meaning pasta is the queen of the food kingdom!For many people from all parts of the world, pasta is one of the great symbols of Itali an cuisine, however, it seems that this amazing food may not actually be from the Italian peninsula.There is a legend that holds Marco Polo responsible for importing pasta into Italy in the 13th century following his travels to China!So, are the Chinese the true inventors of this recipe?Unfortunately for our friends in the Far-East, the answer is no.This is just an urban myth that has managed to stay in the collective memory of the Italian people.There is, in fact, evidence to suggest that the Greeks and Romans were the first creators of pasta, as they cooked lasagne-sized ribbons which resembled the noodles we know today.And if that doesn’t quite cut it for you, there is a tomb in Rome which is dated at 300 B.C. and represents a pasta roller and cutter.Italian cuisine is heavily inspired by Roman dishes, although not completely.Find a tutor through Italian lessons London or a city near you to answer all your questions about pasta dishes - in Italian, of course!How Italian Food Co nquered the WorldIf we had to choose the 4 great cuisines of the world, there would certainly be some debate.The reason it may cause some argument is that taste is a subjective matter. Some people prefer spicy food, whereas others like lighter or sweet flavours.Still, in terms of ‘adoption’, there is no doubt that Italian, French, Chinese and Japanese cuisines are among the most widespread in the world today with restaurants on every continent. Italy, France, China and Japan are 4 countries that have made food an art in its own right.And let’s not forget Middle-Eastern, Spanish and even American cuisine to a lesser degree.Among all of these countries, it still seems that Italia is at the forefront of the cooking world as the most widely enjoyed.All you have to do is think of the amount of pasta, pizza and even cheese that is eaten every day.This may seem like a bit of an assumption but in January 2015, France TV Info broadcast a report precisely about the tasty food that comes from Italy.And here’s the crazy part:almost 14 billion pasta dishes are consumed and eaten every year worldwide. 14 billion!The French media also claims that the famous pasta carbonara, that many of us strive to cook with cream instead of eggs cleverly mixed with pasta, is probably the most regularly cooked recipe in the world.Italian Terminology and Recipes Used in EnglishWhen it comes to discussing gastronomy as well as music, cinema and art history, Italian as a romance language has become adopted across the globe â€" and sometimes we don’t even realise we’re using Italian words!By listening to music and learning basic music theory, you’ll be using Italian words to describe what’s going on. These may include forte, piano, crescendo, adagio, allegro, meno mosso, the list goes on.You may not even realise it, but you might also be familiar with Italian painters such as Raphaël, Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.You’ve probably also tried some traditional I talian recipes which are known all over the world, such as lasagne, cannelloni, and gelato.Even though recipes have been borrowed and adapted, Italian cuisine certainly hasn't lost its essence ¦ source: Pixabay - greekfood-tamystikaYour knowledge of Italian culture, vocabulary and expressions often goes a lot further than this.Italian may not be your native language, but you could have already mastered some aspects before you even have your first lesson!PizzaAlong with pasta, pizza dishes are also a strong symbol of Italy and its language and culture.Trying it at a restaurant with your friends, ordering it from the takeaway when you don’t want to cook or maybe even having a slice before a sporting event, ‘pizza’ is one of the most commonly-used Italian words in the world.The basic recipe has its origins in the Italian city of Naples in the south of the country.Today, there are all kinds of pizza with varying sizes and toppings, but the original dimensions of the base were 35 cm in diameter with a depth of 2 cm for the crust.CarpaccioLet’s have a look at something a bit lighter.When we think of preparing or ordering a carpaccio, one immediately thinks of something fresh where we can savour for the delicacy of each slice we eat with a little olive oil and ‘parmigiano’.Carpaccio has spread around the world as more and more people make it a part of their diets. Today, carpaccio represents thinly-sliced meat served on a plate.MozzarellaDespite the worldly successes of gorgonzola and parmesan, mozzarella is a real best-seller when it comes to Italian cheeses.Tomato and mozzarella is a match made in heaven in terms of taste and freshness, which explains the reason why it is such a popular pizza topping.Mozzarella and tomatoes: a classic combination ¦ source: Pixabay - RitaEFor those who regularly eat this kind of cheese without knowing much about it, it may interest you to know that it is made from buffalo milk.Veal MilaneseThis is yet another typical I talian dish.Veal alla Milanese is made from breaded veal escalopes which are covered with parmesan cheese and browned in a frying pan.This recipe has been adopted and adapted by many people around the world and the ‘alla Milanese’ part of its name is now used to describe any dish cooked in this way with parmesan.RisottoLike veal Milanese, pizza and pasta, risotto is a perfectly Italian dish which is used by many as a basis for their own recipes.The rice is fried in oil or butter before being cooked in a broth.After this, you can add whatever you like to the recipe! This could include mushrooms, meat, fish, cheese or veg.LasagneIf you’ve ever taken a trip to Italy, you must have sampled some of the local lasagne.Lasagne, just like pizza and pasta, always appears on the menus of Italian restaurants as a highly-popular and incredibly symbolic export of Italy.Today, you can easily find all kinds of lasagne such as beef, chicken, salmon and vegetable lasagne.Learning to speak Itali an isn’t just about mastering the Italian verbs in all of their tenses and learning how to perfect your Italian pronunciation â€" achieving proficiency in Italian is also about the culture, which includes its wonderful cuisine.Of course, engaging in Italian culture and occasionally learning a bit of Italian vocabulary and reciting grammar rules won’t be enough to reach fluency in your Italian speaking.The best way to learn Italian is by taking a pro-active approach to your learning by looking for online Italian course, taking an Italian language course at a local language school, looking for private Italian tutoring, signing up for an Italian classes near me in the evenings, studying Italian at university or even looking for free Italian lessons are all things that will keep your language active and equip you with the language skills you need to fluently communicate in Italian.Did you know that speaking Italian is a real asset in the fashion industry?

How is Vinyasa Yoga Practised

How is Vinyasa Yoga Practised What Is Vinyasa Yoga? ChaptersThe Origins of Vinyasa YogaThe Specificities of Vinyasa YogaThe Effects of Vinyasa Yoga“A photographer gets people to pose for him. A yoga instructor gets people to pose for themselves.” - T. GuillemetsOf all the different sporting activities popping up in the UK, yoga is becoming one of the most popular.  Lots of yoga classes are springing up in towns up and down the country and letting go and achieving mindfulness have never been more popular.There are multiple types of yoga practice available, such as ashtanga yoga,hatha yoga or Bikram yoga (or hot yoga) some more interesting than others that correspond to different levels, abilities, or expectations of what a yoga session should entail. Amongst these different styles of yoga, we find Vinyasa yoga, which is becoming more and more popular.But what exactly is this style of yoga with its breathing exercises and muscular reinforcement?You’ll find the answers to these questions and more throughout this article. CarleyYoga Teacher 5.00 (5) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GenYoga Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JulieYoga Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LynnYoga Teacher 4.89 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AliceYoga Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LauraYoga Teacher 5.00 (6) £70/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UndramYoga Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LottieYoga Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Origins of Vinyasa YogaWhat’s better than mastering a discipline that we want to practise or that we find really interesting?Nothing, let me tell you. The origins and foundations of the practice are really important because they can help any aspiring yogi understand exactly what to expect.Whether you're a beginner or an expert, yoga classes are for everyone. (Source: shushipu)There’s Bikram yoga, traditional yoga, prenatal yoga, yoga for kids, dynamic y oga, to name a few, and some types of yoga are very specialised and only familiar to those who actually practise it. This is probably the case with Vinyasa yoga as it’s not the first type of yoga that most people think of.So what exactly is “Vinyasa”?It’s pretty simple, actually. It’s two words that have come together to form a new word. The first term, Nyasa, means “to place”. The second term is also a Sanskrit term and it means “in a specific way”. So basically, rather than saying “to place in a specific way”, you can say “Vinyasa” and it represents what we’re doing.Since we don’t often use terms such as pranayama, Ashtanga, or Kundalini every day in the West, it can be useful to understand what they mean as it can help us better understand what to expect during a yoga session. Thus, “to place in a specific way” implies that this type of yoga will include muscular strengthening or maybe even mindfulness. Let’s have a look.Vinyasa yoga originated from Ashtanga yoga, which is why it’s often also called “Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga”. The success of Vinyasa yoga is probably down to how effective the sequences of poses (asana) are and how each one can be so different from the previous one.Vinyasa yoga was born in India on the grounds of the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute. It was created by Pattabhi Jois and introduced to the West during the 1960s.After its immediate success, especially in the United States of America, this yoga technique started to be modified and changed over the course of the years and adopted the name “Vinyasa Flow Yoga” owing to the essential philosophy of calm fluid movement and an emphasis on the flow between the different yoga poses.Vinyasa yoga started gaining traction in Europe in the 1980s. It’s a simple way to strengthen muscles, meditate, do breathing exercises, and enjoy the other benefits of yoga in a style that is constantly growing in the United States and around the world.Whether you do it in a class or on your own, Vinyasa yoga comes with many benefits. (Source: janeb13)Vinyasa yoga just goes to show that any yoga discipline can spring up and gain success as long as it still respects the core principles of traditional yoga.But what is it that makes Vinyasa yoga different from traditional yoga?You’re about to find out!The Specificities of Vinyasa YogaSynchronisation is at the heart of Vinyasa yoga.Synchronisation is all well and good, but what exactly are we supposed to be synchronising?You don’t need to go on a yoga retreat to understand it. Vinyasa yoga classes and workshops will quickly show you what we mean: it’s the synchronisation of your movements as you breathe, to put it simply!While not exactly essential for Vinyasa yoga, a mat can be very useful. (Source: pixelcreatures)In fact, the difference between a painful pose (or posture) and an easy pose is often whether or not you’re correctly controlling your breathing. Controlling your breathing and u sing the right breathing techniques can help you to move metaphorical mountains when it comes to yoga.Thus, each movement has a different breathing technique allowing us to progress. It can allow us to hold a position with less effort and without twisting or tensing, manage stress, and also be aware of the here and now.So are you interested in learning to do yoga?The basic idea is to let your breathing guide your movement in such a way so that it is the guiding force behind our actions, controls the rhythm, and allows us to move more fluidly as ballet dancers. Additionally, it can help us eliminate toxins and put together harmonious sequences of asanas.After just a few exercises, you’ll see that Vinyasa yoga is both a meditative practice and a sporting activity that can help build and tone muscle. You can actually relax and tone at the same time. But first, you should be aware of the effects of Vinyasa yoga and the postures you’re going to adapt.The Effects of Vinyasa YogaIt goe s without saying that yoga is often used to manage stress while working out. Vinyasa yoga is no exception as it works almost every muscle in your body and helps you become more flexible all while working on your mind and spirit at the same time.Vinyasa yoga can help you re-centre in a clear and effective way. (Source: jesslef)Whether you’re in a gym or sports hall or not, the principles of yoga are the same, even when you’re doing Vinyasa yoga. If you take a free Vinyasa yoga tutorial, for example, you’ll soon realise what the effects and benefits of this type of yoga are. You can’t argue with getting healthier while also managing stress.In order to tone muscle and improve your balance, you’re going to chain together several yoga poses. Some are more difficult than others and you have to hold that position. By practising regularly, you’ll soon be able to hold these poses without too much difficulty.You don’t need to throw in the towel if you mess up. By controlling you r breathing, you’ll soon be able to make these poses much easier to achieve as it's your breathing that will guide you and facilitate your movements. In fact, if you let your breathing guide you, it’ll also help you with mindfulness meditation.We can’t forget that breathing is the key to improving your wellbeing. A better knowledge of yourself while breathing is a great way to anchor yourself in reality.This anchor can help you focus and concentrate, something which you’ll work on throughout your Vinyasa yoga sessions as you move from pose to pose. There’s nothing better than yoga to help you focus and concentrate and achieve personal your goals, for example!This is why Vinyasa yoga, with its breathing exercises, fluid movement, and harmony between body and mind, is so popular. It allows you to gain physical fitness while managing stress, improving your concentration, and improving your mental and spiritual wellbeing. Ready to grab your yoga mat and try a sun salutation?If you're not sold on this type of yoga class, don't forget that there's also Ashtanga yoga (power yoga), Bikram yoga (hot yoga), and Hatha yoga, to name a few, all of which can be practised by beginners and generally include a sequence of poses and pranayama breathing techniques.If you're not quite ready to attend a group class, don't forget that you can find a private yoga teacher on sites like Superprof. Additionally, many of the tutors on Superprof offer the first hour of tutoring for free so you can try out the different yoga styles and see which one's right for you. Almost every yoga style includes gentle and challenging yoga postures as well as controlling your breath.There are also a lot of places offering yoga for beginners. Even if you think you've got no flexibility, you can join other aspiring yogis and get the energy flowing out of your chakras. Even if you don't believe in the spirituality of the yogic practice and its restorative properties, you can't deny the physical benefits of all breaking a sweat while doing a yoga routine, especially if you're doing Bikram yoga, which takes place in a heated yoga studio.If you have any concerns about starting yoga, make sure you consult your doctor first!Once you've gotten your clean bill of health, you can start looking for yoga classes near me...

How to Get Best Homework help From Online Tutors

How to Get Best Homework help From Online Tutors Every now and then we face various hurdles in our life being a parent. Being a parent is not at all an easy job and it can be easily said as it is the toughest job. Every single aspect of a child has to be taken care of. Parents have to be on duty all round the clock. Without the help of a parent, a child can never succeed. The main problem for today is that the child is not able to get the attention that is required from their parents and the main problem for that is most of the parents are working parents and cannot allot much time for their child.Now, being a parent you do not have to think about how to get best homework help sites as TutorPace is there for assistance. The result for such less time duration is that the child is not able to grasp the best things in life. They lack something important in lives. The education part is affected the most. The parents are not able to give proper timing that makes the child suffer a lot. School can help them but the problem is schools are unable to deliver the best services to those students who are weak and shy. Those students who are outspoken can be benefited with school teaching. After school, it is the private tutors that can provide help to these students. Private tutors are many and parents try to search a good private tutor who will help their child in all the problems. As every subject is important so the need of good teacher is also important. A good teacher can help a child to come out of all the adversities related with the subject. But with the growing competition in the market, it becomes a problem for all to search for a good teacher who can cope up with the problems related with the child regarding the subject. An efficient teacher can be a way to rescue from these problems. So, now when technology have upgraded itself so much then being working parent you do not have to think so much. Internet can help you to get any kind of help with ease and perfection. The help that internet can provide you for education is that it can provide you the online tutoring help. Online homework  help is a way through which a child can come in direct contact with the teacher and can get immense help that is not possible for any private tutor to provide. Online tutoring is a new and the best way that can help the students with various types of help and assistance. Today with the rise of internet, you can easily come across various types of help that is not imagined in case of any private tutoring. The working parents can take a sign of relief after they have enrolled their child’s name in any of these online tutoring institutes. There are some of the best online  homework  help sites that help a student with various types of help and assistance and this should be known to you so that you can easily get the grip of what is online tutoring and how it works.  The entire process can be known to you once you have learnt about some of the basic features that will help you to know online tutoring more. Efficient teachers- the online tutoring institutes bring to you the best teachers at your click. The institutes have a very tough interview process. When you have a tough interview process then the outcome of it is always the best and the most capable one wins the race. Here also the same thing happens. Good availability of teachers is only possible through the help of a fair way of interview through the correct panel. No time limitation- private tutors may have a time limitation factor in which the teacher can help the student within the time limitation period and till he or she runs a single class. After that the teacher is not liable to teach or clear any doubt. But online tutoring institute do not have any kind of such problem. The teachers are available all round the clock and thus it is beneficial for a student as well. The student can clear of their doubts whenever they want and wherever they want. It can help them to grow up with the subject. One-on-one service- the facility of one-on-one service is something like having assistance when you have no other help. A single teacher is appointed for an individual student who is not able to get into the skin of the subject. The subject may be tough or the student may be weak in it, but whatever be the problem, the teacher is available all round the clock for assistance. This brings in a kind of self-respect in a student as well as they know that they can get help anytime of the day. Fair charges- the online tutoring institutes have a bar for every price they charges in respect of the service they provide. The charges are under control and can be easily afforded by the students and their middle class family with ease. the charges are organized keeping in mind the status of a middle class house that wants to help their child with the best facility but are unable due to high charges. Thus, there are so many ways through which online tutoring can help a child and their parents. It is just that you have to take help from them with ease. Among the list of many institutes be wise while choosing for the one. The best one should be chosen so that you get the best help from them. The list includes a name and that is TutorPace. It is an online tutoring institute that is gaining lot of popularity with the passage of time. It has some great features and affordable prices.

GCSE Biology Revision Where to Find Past Papers Exam Boards

GCSE Biology Revision Where to Find Past Papers Exam Boards GCSE Biology Past Papers Exam Board Information ChaptersExam Boards Offering A GCSE Biology SpecificationWhy Do Courses Undergo Changes?GCSE Biology Revision: Past PapersHistorically, Biology made up one third of a Science qualification at GCSE level, along with Chemistry and Physics. These subjects were usually taken as part of a Double or Triple Science award, which would lead to the equivalent of two or three GCSEs respectively.Now, however, students tend to study one main or 'core' Science, which they tackle academically, along with an additional Science which has a vocational focus. They are then graded individually for each, which actually makes it easier to get a good grade in your preferred scientific subject.You can find out all you need to know about Biology revision by clicking here.In addition to this change, Biology (as well as the other Sciences) has undergone some changes as a result of the qualifications reform led by the U.K. government. The main amendment is the marking scheme, which now offers pupils grades from 9-1 instead of A*-G.To find out more about the content you will cover on the newly-reformed GCSE Biology course, including a list of the topics that make up the syllabus and how the exams are structured, take a look at the other posts in our GCSE Biology series.However, if you wish to find out more specifics about the different Biology specifications on offer at this level, then keep reading to discover which exam boards offer Biology at GCSE level and how their past papers can help to put you in a great position ahead of the exams.Doing past papers is especially useful if you are new to formulating exam-style responses. By using past papers properly, you can work on improving your technique and growing in confidence. However, it is no good simply reading past paper questions or just jotting down answers haphazardly.You must train yourself to cope with the pressure of exams so make sure that you put yourself under the same conditions as you would in a real exam. If you are not sure what to expect from an examination centre, ask your teacher to provide you with some details. Below are more tips on how to benefit from past papers in your subject.How To Use Past Papers To Your AdvantageYour teacher may organise a mock exam for you, or set a classroom task which simulates an exam. Either way, the key is to stay focused and to take away the maximum from this very valuable experience. Since you may not have sat in an exam hall before, you should know that there are many rules in place to ensure that every student has a fair assessment.Pupils must arrive on time, and can only take a small number of items (including refreshments, stationery and, at times, books) into the hall with them. But, most importantly, there is strictly no talking, passing notes or any other form of communication allowed. This can be quite hard to get used to but it really is very important to respect the conditions set out by assessor.So, if you are practicing at home using past papers, don't shy away from doing them properly. Ask your family not to disturb you for the duration of the trial exam (if you consult your exam board's website, you can find out exactly how long your exam will be, although this should be clear enough on the paper you have downloaded and printed out too).Be sure to get yourself in the zone beforehand - make sure you have used your revision cards, read through your textbooks and classroom notes, have been to the toilet and only have the essentials with you like a bottle of water and some stationery.Most importantly, make sure you have switched your mobile phone off so that you are not distracted. Also, to avoid any temptation to look at your phone display during the course of the task, don't use it as your stopwatch. Look for a timer or alarm clock around the house or even ask a parent or guardian to come and alert you when your time is up.Don't let yourself get tempted into checking your mobile phone during a practice test. Photo credit: perzons eo via Visualhunt / CC BYExam-taking is not all about what you know and how well you cope under pressure though. A very important aspect of being assessed is the way you write your responses. Consulting past papers can enhance your ability to respond well and gain extra marks by teaching you what it is the examiner is looking for.Familiarise yourself with the types of questions that are commonly set and ask yourself what it is they are trying to get out of you. Furthermore, find out what can add or lose you points in the exam, as mastering this technique could be the difference in you getting one grade or another when the results are published.You can do all of this by checking out the mark scheme and examiners' notes, two very important documents that should not be ignored if you are serious about doing well in Biology.To discover GCSE or a level biology tutors in your area, visit Superprof.

A Quick Way to Improve Your Next Vocal Performance

A Quick Way to Improve Your Next Vocal Performance Suzy S. The music world took a hit Saturday afternoon after the tragic news about Whitney Houston was announced.   You can argue about the talent (or lack thereof) of current Top 40 artists for days, but it when it comes to a powerhouse voice like Whitneys, its hard to deny the impact she had on the music industry. She was truly one of a kind, and she inspired and will continue to inspire many singers and artists.   And while you may or may not have Whitneys amazing vocal range, taking a moment to evaluate your own range is one important lesson we can learn from her.   What if you cant quite hit a certain note?   Well, the beauty of being a singer is the ability to adjust a song as needed, without the complicated process of transposing the notes on paper.   Since a songs key plays directly into the energy of the song, as well as your ability to sing it well, it may make or break your next performance! Here are a few questions to ask when choosing a key to sing in: What are the lowest and highest notes in the song? Determine the song’s range.   Make sure to fit the song within that range.   If the song’s range is larger than your range, you might be able to change the melody a bit to rein in the notes that are outside your range. Make sure that when you sing the lowest note, you aren’t pushing at all.   And make sure that you don’t have to strain to sing the highest note. When you think you’ve picked the right key, make sure to try at least one whole step up and down in each direction, to be sure. What is the songs genre? Sultry jazz with a small combo?   You can probably afford to place the song nearly as low as you can comfortably sing it, if you want to, because you don’t need much volume.   Pop?   If you are singing a Christina Aguilera cover, you might want to go high.   Rock?   Put it wherever you can sing the loudest â€" unless you are part of that rare rock band that actually plays at a medium volume. What will the performance volume likely be? This depends partly on the genre, but also on the musicians themselves, as well as the sound engineer, room acoustics and other factors.   But if it’s loud rock music, you might as well forget your lower half octave or so (unless it’s very strong), because your lower notes may not be powerful enough to be heard at all in a loud setting, and you don’t want to push on them! On the other hand, if the performance volume is extremely low â€" such as in an intimate restaurant â€" you may not want to choose songs that take you up into a higher range if you have any trouble controlling your volume, or if you sound at all strident, in that range. Do you need to mask any technical challenges? Sing the song in the key you think you want to sing it in.   Does it present any technical challenges for you, such as flipping back and forth over a break you haven’t yet smoothed out completely?   Does it tempt you to get caught in a forced chest voice, or sing in a weak range?   If so, you can either: (1) Use this key and this song as a great exercise for addressing these technical challenges, or (2) change the key to avoid the problem. It all comes down to this:   How do you sound? The single best thing you can do is record yourself singing in each key you’re considering, and see how you sound.   As a vocalist, you should record and listen to yourself as often as possible.   You have the only instrument in the band which you hear completely differently than everyone else, because of resonance in your head.   You need to hear yourself as the rest of the world hears you, not as you hear your voice bouncing around in your cranium. Singers what other tips can you share for aspiring performers?   Leave a comment below! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. You might also like Singers: Do You Make These 4 Common Errors? Improve Your Voice with One Simple Trick Your Cheat Sheet for Hitting the High Notes Photo by Asterio Tecson.

What is Facebook all About

What is Facebook all About What is Facebook and What Does it Do? ChaptersFacebook: A HistoryWhat is Facebook For?How To Create a Facebook AccountHow To Use Facebook“You are what you share.”- C.W. LeadbeaterIf, in everyday life, we regularly wear different masks (our work face, our going-out face, our friends face…) this is even more true for social media.We are in complete control over what we share with out contacts, or the World Wide Web. We can re-invent ourselves completely. So: are you ready to put on a new mask and join the most widely-used social network: Facebook?exchange messages, create and join groups, make professional sites… The goal behind a social network it to link people together. Facebook lets its users enter personal data such as relationship status, where they studied and their interests.Find and take programming courses here.Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook as a way to link university students together by showing their interests and activities. Photo credit: deneyterrio on Visual huntWhy use Facebook?There are a lot of reasons you could want to use Facebook:To stay in touch with friends and familyTo   contact childhood friends or friends you have lost touch withTo express yourself and share your passions through your Facebook page and profileTo stay informed about important events in the lives of your contacts through your Wall: births, weddings, holidays…To exchange private news with your friends via Messenger, the Facebook chatboxTo read news articles that interest you by following or “liking” the pages of the news channel you are interested inTo reach out with your company, run ads and communicate information to your clients and prospective clients through a company Facebook page To find help when you encounter a problem by using Facebook groups such as Wanted CommunityTo buy, sell or exchange things through buy/sell groupsThe uses of social media are plenty!How To Create a Facebook AccountAs it evolves, Facebook has added new functions but also aimed to simplify account creation to attr act more Internet users to the site and keep them coming back.Creating a Facebook account on the computerCreating your own Facebook account doesn’t require any particular IT skills; there is no need to enrol in coding courses to create your account.It is relatively easy if you follow these simple steps:Go to a your search engine of choice (Google, Yahoo, Ecosia…) and enter “facebook” in the search bar, then click on the link that comes up ORType “www.facebook.com” in your url barWhen you first go onto the facebook website, this is the page you should be getting. Screenshot FockeA page like the one above will appear. It is divided into two: on the top right, you will find a button called “login” for when you already have an account; on the bottom right a registration form will appear. Note that registering is free and will stay that way: Facebook is financed though ads.Enter your first and last name; they will appear on your Facebook profile and in the Facebook search engine in the order you entered them. So remember, first name, then last name, don’t reverse them - people looking for you are more likely to enter your name in that order. If you had rather use a pseudonym, this is the time to enter it. It is possible to change your name every 60 days.Then enter either your cell phone number or your email address: choose a phone number or e-mail address that you check on regularly in case you forget your password and need to have it sent to you. You will also be informed if someone has hacked your account. If you decide to use your email address, a new box will appear asking you to confirm it.You will then need to choose a password for Facebook. It has to be at least 6 characters long and include letters and punctuation. For better security, choose a complicated password and avoid things like your birthday or any information a stranger could easily access by surfing the Internet (the name of your dog, your husband’s birthday…)Enter your date of birth. Facebook is closed to those under 13 years of age. Then enter your sex.Click on the button “Create account”.You will be asked to confirm your account through a message in your mailbox. Follow the link and click on the button “Confirm account”Creating a Facebook account on a smartphone or tablet is similar to what is described here. Just go to the AppleStore or Playstore to download the app.Check out different computer courses online.How to find friends on FacebookOnce you have confirmed your Facebook account, you have opened a window onto a new world. You can invite people to become your friends. Your Facebook account is linked to your e-mail address, so the first time you log in, the social network will propose friends to you from your address book who are already on Facebook. You can then “add” them as friends (or not). You can also skip this step by clicking “next” on the bottom right.How To Use FacebookOnce you have finished creating your account, you will be prompted to flesh out your profile page.Creating your profile pageSo what information should you give on your Facebook profile? Add a profile picture or image: chose a recent one so that people who know you recognise you and can accept your friend request. You can also add a header image, of your family, a nice landscape from your last holidays…On the top right, you can also modify your profile: you will be asked to write a bio describing yourself in a few words, to chose a featured image (some of your favourite pictures that will help people get to know you better) and you can modify your “about” page. In the “about” page, you can enter:Where you studied and where you work: workplace, competences, university, schoolPlaces you’ve lived: birthplace, current residence…General information: your email is not displayed on your profile, but you can choose to make it visible along with your telephone number, address, website (we would recommend posting these only if y ou are creating a business page); religion, political opinions…Family and relationship: your relationship status and members of your familyDetails about youImportant life experiences (your birthday is generally entered by default)Some other information can be noted, such as sports, music, films, TV programmes, books - your profile is a true ID card; it’s up to you to decide what you want to share with your friends or potential clients.Once you've entered all your data, your profile page should look something like this. The little boxed picture on the top left is your profile picture, the large horizontal one your header. Photo credit: Sean MacEntee on Visual huntAbout Facebook Public or Private ProfilesWho sees your Facebook posts? Note that for now, everything you have published is visible to your friends. This is the default setting when you create a Facebook account. To modify the audience for your post, simply click on the button marked “friends” and choose between:Publi c (everyone can see your posts, even people not on your friends list)FriendsFriends, except (you can hide your post from one or more people - for example, when planning a surprise birthday party)Friends and their friendsOnly me (if it’s just a memo for yourself)To go a step further and learn how to secure your Facebook account against misuse, check out this article.How to publish on FacebookSo you’ve created your account, set up your profile and already found some friends - now it’s time to post your first content!Go to your profile or start pageFind the posting interface boxTo post a text message, simply click inside the box and type your message.Updating your profile and posting content is very simple. Photo credit: Gustavo da Cunha Pimenta on VisualHunt.comYou can also:Add an image or a videoIndicate your geographical locationNote your mood or activity (cheerful, watching Daredevil, drinking a beer…)Tag friendsPost a GIF or a stickerAsk for recommendationsDo a surveyAnswe r questionsTag an eventTo tag someone in your post, you can simply use @+person’s username and the person in question will receive a message notifying him that he has been tagged. Tags also work on events.Hashtags do work in Facebook, though they aren’t as common as on Twitter or Instagram.If you post a link to an article, your feed will automatically show a picture taken from the article along with your comment on it.Now go off and discover all the possibilities behind a Facebook post! And I’m sure you will soon find out everything there is to know about the site’s functions.Are you interested in our Beginner’s Guide to Computers?Test your knowledge on the parts of a computer.Do you know The History of Computers?Find out What Computer Accessories You Should Get.Who Are the other Famous Programmers in The World?

Career Guidance for Teenagers

Career Guidance for Teenagers Parents often have ideas of what types of careers their children should consider once they approach college, but they are, of course, quite biased. Although adults have a lifetime of experience to draw from, they really only know their own career journey well. Parents intentions might be good when they suggest possible college majors and career paths, but its more important that they put their teens in the drivers seat and guide them from the sidelines. Understandably, parents want to compel their teens to get serious about their futures as early in high school as possible, but this can be overwhelming and counterproductive for students, says Eileen Huntington, CEO and Co-Founder of Huntington Learning Center. So, whats the best way to help teens explore the possibilities and discover the best career for them? Huntington offers these tips: Ask more than just, What do you want to do? Sure, some teens have known what they want to do from the time they were in third grade, but for those who havent discovered that yet, its fruitless and frustrating to be asked the question over and overthey simply dont know yet. Instead, parents should ask their teens about school and extracurricular experiences that make feel fulfilled and productive. Try questions like, What subjects are you best at? In school and life, when do you feel most successful? and Are there any jobs youve heard of that sound interesting to you? Springboard from the strengths. While teens might recognize that they are skilled at science and math, they might not understand what careers would suit their strengths. This is where a career assessment might be useful, and the school guidance counselor might have recommendationsor parents can search online for options like ACT Profile, a college and career planning platform that helps students identify majors and occupations that might fit their interests and abilities. The College Boards Big Future Major and Career Search tool is also a great resource for teens who know what theyre good at but arent sure what careers best highlight those assets. Encourage them to talk to real-world professionals. Sure, an internship in college is a great way to get hands-on experience in a field, but high school is a good time to figure out what career options appeal. Teens who are interested in medicine might spend time volunteering in a hospital or talking with a physician in private practice. Those convinced that acting is their calling can reach out to a local theater company and ask to talk to some of the people who work there about their experience. Parents can encourage their teens to check out job shadowing (and similar) opportunities through their guidance counseling offices, or proactively set up conversations and experiences on their own. Nudge them to get involved. Sports are an obvious extracurricular activity in high school, but teens should look beyond athletics for ways to get to know themselves. Many clubs and organizations lend members insights into different academic pursuits and careers. Look for clubs focused on math, science, entrepreneurship, journalism, foreign languages, debate, business, public speaking and art, to name a few possibilities. The hands-on nature of clubs fosters professional development while building responsibility and encouraging teens to think about their life purpose and future. Huntington reminds parents that most peoples careers are not a straight, narrow path. While parents want their teens to make the very most of the college investment, the real value in this process is that teens learn to assess their strengths and navigate their careers, she says. Its never too early to begin thinking about ones career plan, but life is a journey. Teens should explore opportunities, continually evaluate their strong suits, and keep an open mind as they move through their lives. About Huntington Huntington 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 succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2018 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.