The Best Online Singing Contests to Show Off Your Skills

The Best Online Singing Contests to Show Off Your Skills Suzy S. Updated post: Check out our updated article with must-read tips for singing competitions, plus online singing contests to enter! Read it here. Cant make it out to the next American Idol or The Voice audition? Thats alright! You can still show off your vocal skills and compete for recognition in one of the many online singing contests put on across the country. Below are several worth checking out! The Hal Leonard Vocal Competition:  The only vocal competition for all of North America aimed at young singers ages 23 and under, this is one of the first legitimate online singing competitions created. There is no entry fee, making it accessible to all qualified North American singers. Video auditions are all submitted through YouTube. Prizes include cash and gift certificates. The Lyndon Woodside Oratorio-Solo Competition:  For the under-30 crowd, this international solo competition focuses exclusively on oratorio singing (lengthy musical pieces that tell a story and are typically religious in nature). Initial entries and rounds are online, however finals are held at Carnegie Hall in New York City with substantial cash prizes are awarded. Singist:  For those 18 and up,  Singist  offers monthly online singing competitions. You can audition to be entered in the monthly contest for free, or sign up for a “Performer Plan” at $4 per month and enter yourself. Video submissions must be original, featuring any song or genre you choose, and not posted on any other site (such as YouTube). Registered  Singist  users vote on a monthly winner, and social media sharing is encouraged. Small cash prizes in the $5-25 range are awarded to monthly winners. MacroDazzle:  MacroDazzle  accepts  a cappella, karaoke, sing-along, and even self-accompanied singing from contestants of all ages. Competitors over 18 are eligible for cash prizes, and minors are eligible for gift certificates and non-monetary prizes. A $16 entry fee is required for cash contests. Tips for Entering an Online Singing Contest When entering an online singing contest, keep in mind that the devil is in the details. Pay strict attention to application deadlines, application requirements, submission formats (tapes, CDs, YouTube videos, etc.), required music genres, and rules to avoid being disqualified or forced to wait until the next competition. Also, be aware you may need all or many of the following items to complete you submission: proof of age (birth certificate or passport), application fee, photo, biographical material, letter of recommendation from your voice instructor, and parent permission forms for minors. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask your singing instructor for help! Preparing for Your Online Singing Contest While singing in the shower is a great start, your most essential prep tool for an online singing contest is a great voice teacher. A skilled voice teacher can aid your performance in many ways, teaching you about proper breathing, improving your tone quality and vocal range, and more. Don’t have a singing instructor? It’s never too late. Find one in your area today and you’re sure to see your abilities rise exponentially! Ready to put in a ringing performance? Court the judges with your singing talents in an online singing contest today! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by U.S. Army

Online Volume of Pyramid Tutors

Online Volume of Pyramid Tutors A pyramid is a 3-dimensional geometric figure consisting of a base and triangles placed on the particular base of the pyramid. The line joining the center of the base to the vertex of the pyramid (the top-most point is known as the apex or the vertex) is called the height of the pyramid. Volume of a pyramid gives us the amount of space contained inside the given pyramid and volume of any pyramid is one-third times the product of the area of the base and the height of the pyramid. Example 1: Calculate the volume of a square pyramid whose base length is 5.5m and the height is 12m? Given base length of the pyramid, b = 5.5m Height of the pyramid, h = 12m Volume of the pyramid, V = 1/3 * Area of the base * height Area of the square base = b2 = (5.5m)2 = 30.25m2 Volume of the square pyramid, V = 1/3 * 30.25m 2 * 12m = 121m3 Therefore, volume of the given square pyramid, V = 121m3 Example 2:Calculate the volume of a triangular pyramid whose triangular base length is 3.5m, height of the base triangle is 6m and the height of the pyramid is 10m. Given base length of the pyramid, b= 3.5m Height of the base triangle, h= 6m Height of the pyramid, H= 10m Volume of the pyramid, V= 1/3* Area of the base* Height of pyramid Area of the triangular base= 1/2* b* h = 1/2* 3.5m* 6m= 10.5m2 Volume of the triangular pyramid, V= 1/3* 10.5m 2 * 10m= 35m3 Therefore, volume of the given triangular pyramid, V= 35m3

How Learning Maths A-Level Can Benefit You

How Learning Maths A-Level Can Benefit You What Can Studying Maths Do For Me? ChaptersHow Much Emphasis Is Placed On Maths In Education?The Role Of Maths In Furthering EducationWhat Can A Company Learn About Me From My Maths Grade?When Not Studying Maths Isn't An OptionMaths As A Numerical LanguageThe Prerequisites For MathematiciansSo, Why Study Towards A Maths Qualification? MyriamMaths Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £200/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KamalMaths Teacher 5.00 (9) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PetarMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GowsikaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ConorMaths Teacher 4.75 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Much Emphasis Is Placed On Maths In Education?As you probably already know, in Englan d, there are three main subjects that schools, colleges and employers all want to hear about: English, Maths and Science. But why is it that these subjects are so important to them and take priority over others as the means of assessing your competencies in academia?You don’t, of course, have to get top marks in all of these areas in order to get a good job, because ultimately a bank or accountancy firm will be looking primarily for your skillset in Maths. However, you must still display a certain level of academic ability in the other two areas if you want more opportunities in life.English, Maths and Science are currently taught to pupils as young as 5, with some nurseries and pre-schools even introducing numeracy and literacy to toddlers. It is at this age that the mind is like a sponge so, with any luck, you will already have a reasonable understanding and practice of the skills required of you as you head into your A Level Maths and beyond.Numeracy skills are introduced from a very early age, with some schools insisting on a certain ability before accepting a pupil. Photo by various brennemans on VisualHunt / CC BY-SAThere may come a time when creativity is valued as much as English, Maths and Science are in this world but, as it stands, the majority of colleges, universities and recruiters are more concerned with these so-called core educational subjects than how talented you are as an artist, how competent you may be as a musician or how unique or inventive your ideas are.If Maths is all you have ever really known and all you've ever wanted to do, then studying towards yet another qualification in the subject area will feel as comforting as going home.If Maths simply comes naturally to you, then you could be off to a very good start in life!The Role Of Maths In Furthering EducationYou might have experienced, for instance, entry exams to get a place in your chosen secondary school. You may even have been asked to come in for an interview by your prosp ective sixth form college, during which they will no doubt discuss your level of education, including areas which you are doing well in and ones which you have clearly struggled with.Even primary schools sometimes check that pupils are achieving a high enough level in these core areas before accepting them, especially private schools with strong reputations to uphold.Bear in mind that your all-round grades are more likely to be scrutinised in detail if you are looking to take the International Baccalaureate, which requires you to take English, Maths and a Science as higher or standard level subjects.These individual areas, along with three additional subjects (usually Arts, Business Studies and Humanities subjects) are marked out of 7, and candidates must receive a minimum of 24 points to pass the course. This means that you must do relatively well in all subjects, achieving on average a 4 in each.What Can A Company Learn About Me From My Maths Grade?Furthermore, if you haven’t al ready got a part-time job, you may not yet have completed an application form.You’ll soon see that, on any professional application form for any type of role, you will be asked to confirm your qualifications to date, with a particular focus on the three aforementioned subjects. This is so that establishments can get a feel for your overall academic competencies, which reflect a number of key skills in business.The reason for this is that your grade in English showcases just how well you can communicate, especially in writing, while the Sciences display your ability to think logically and rationally.Similarly, Maths shows recruiters that you are able to take logical steps to problem-solving and, of course, that you have at the very least basic numeracy skills. You would be surprised how many people in the workplace struggle if they can’t add up, multiply or use fractions and ratios.So, for those who always thought that businesses asking to see your grades was just a way for them to tick professional boxes, this may well be correct but there is an alterior motive too.Although each company might take a different view on what is seen as acceptable, most recruiters are generally looking for signs of your ability to apply yourself to the demands of their role.If you consider that your grades are, as yet, the only real evidence of your ability to cope with pressure and the other implications of a professional surrounding, it is easy to see why they are so valuable to both you and the interested party.On a side note, many recruiting companies happily admit that a candidate who displays a lower set of grades yet worked part-time and served as a class captain throughout their studies very easily becomes a more attractive candidate, as it shows that they can juggle responsibilities reasonably well.We are not implying that you should take on more than you can handle, because your education is at this time the biggest focus of your life, however it won't harm you to st art to consider how certain responsibilities can enhance your portfolio in the future.Maybe you didn't take A level Maths at school but now wish to benefit from Maths as an adult. Find out how to resit your A Level Maths later in life here. MyriamMaths Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £200/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KamalMaths Teacher 5.00 (9) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PetarMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GowsikaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ConorMaths Teacher 4.75 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhen Not Studying Maths Isn't An OptionFinally, if you are applying to study a technical subject at college, then your Maths GCSE will almost certain ly be a deciding factor in whether you can proceed on this route. Budding mathematicians will in no uncertain terms have to prove that they are cut out for the challenging next level of this area of study.Furthermore, if your ambition is to fulfil a role directly linked to numbers and therefore Maths, then you may not have a choice in the matter!If this is the case, then you really do not need to worry about whether or not you are choosing the right subject path, instead you should be looking to the future and what the subject can do for you beyond your education.Maths As A Numerical LanguageMaths is like a universal technical language, so any achievements you have in the subject will be recognised in other countries. While there may not be equivalent qualifications in all parts of the world, you can rest assured that your level of mathematic understanding will stay up there no matter where you are studying or working.It is quite fascinating to think that Maths is the only language that is exactly the same for all humans, regardless of nationality, culture, religion or gender, isn’t it?Maths is a universal language. Photo by llamnudds on Visual Hunt / CC BY-SAAs an example, while students in France might use a slightly different method to work out the answer to a division than those in the UK, they will still arrive at the same answer because there is no other possible answer. Just like Pi is always going to be roughly 3.14 no matter what your coordinates are!The Prerequisites For MathematiciansWhen it comes to Maths A Level, there are actually no pre-learning requirements. Your acceptance on a course will usually be left down to the discretion of your chosen college, who will assess your suitability for their course based on a number of internally determined factors.For example, if you are applying to study at a technical college whose primary aim is to mould scientific or mathematic pupils, then they may be more picky about who can study at their establis hment.Similarly, schools who feature high up in the league table won’t allow you to pick a subject that you’re unlikely to succeed in, as this will reflect badly on them. You can, however, assume that if you have a relatively good GCSE maths grade, you I’ll probably have no problem enrolling on a Maths A Level.On the other hand, if you didn’t do very well in your GCSE Maths exams but are still keen to pursue Maths going forward, you might need to consider re-taking your exam to bring you up to the level required of you as you begin your A Level specification.So, Why Study Towards A Maths Qualification?In addition to all of the above, by studying Maths, you can develop a range of skills that are sought after by employers and that will also help you throughout your day to day life. For example, Maths encourages logical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving.Without these properties deep-rooted into your senses and responses, you would not be able to get by in our modern and complex Western society.What’s more, with the world very quickly turning towards technical solutions and automation, we are constantly interacting with machines and devices. These interactions and functions require us to have a basic understanding of logic, analytics as well as other technical or mathematical skills if we are to move forward with our lives with ease, embracing newfound technologies.Maths as a subject is vital to those seeking a career as a bookkeeper or accountant.To add to that, Maths is a key area of study for those seeking a career in the Finance, Engineering and Information Technology industries. Just some jobs that are directly related to a Maths qualification are Chartered Accountant, Investment Analyst, Systems Developer and Secondary School Teacher of Maths.Find out where to find A level Maths past papers with our blog, here. And search for maths tutors near me on our Superprof platform.

What Photography Equipment Do You Need To Get Started

What Photography Equipment Do You Need To Get Started The Best Camera Equipment For Beginners ChaptersWhat Are The Best Cameras For Photography?Here Are Is Short List Of Some Of My Personal Favourites.Photography: How To Choose A Camera Lens?What Are The Different Photography Accessories?How Expensive Is It To Learn Photography?When you are first starting out, it can seem like there is so much to do just to get started on the path of following your hobby or passion. Photography equipment is no different, there are such a plethora of devices, gadgets and accessories that it can be hard to know where the necessity starts and the unnecessary want begins.Pocket Wizards, Quadcopter drones, hot shoe, external flash kit, E mounts, Prime lens, back up cameras, ring flashes, chargers, tripods, reflectors, straps, camera bags, wireless triggers, studio lighting kits and that is not even to mention the editing, print or image protection implications.If that all sounds like gobbledygook to you, then I am happy to say that to start in photography the only kit you are going to need, is you rself and a camera suitable to capture your vision. But even as simple as this sounds it can get pretty complicated.Let’s take a look at some of the critical components needed to start out in photography.Cameras do not take amazing photos, people do. Photo Source: UnsplashSony RX100 III â€" 20.9 MP Sensor, continuous shooting, fast lens and pop up viewfinder.Mirrorless CamerasMirrorless cameras are like DSLRs but without the mirror hence the name. Being mirrorless makes them as light as a point and shoot but with almost all of the punch of a Digital SLR. It also has an interchangeable lens, real-time electronic viewfinders and is full of manual and auto features. They are much more expensive than a point and shoot camera. Great for the enthusiast and professionalGood Examples:Sony A7 IIâ€" 24.3 MP sensor, Fast autofocus, build in image stabilization, it is small and light.Fuji X-T1 - 16.3 MP sensor, continuous shooting, tiltable LCD and water and dust resistant.DSLRsDigital DLSRs are like mirrorless cameras except they have more lens options, longer battery life, slightly bigger sensors and generally a faster focus. They are big, bulky and heavy but give excellent results. Especially if you like action photography DSLRs will be the perfect companion. They are well suited to the professional photographerGood Examples:Nikon d7100 â€" 24.1 MP sensor, Full HD video and continuous shootingNikon d800 â€" With a 36.3 MP Sensor, it’s one of the highest resolution DSLRsCanon Eos 7d mark ii â€" 20.2 MP sensor, high-quality photos and videoNikon d750 â€" 24.3MP sensor, shoots 6.5 frames per secondCanon Eos 5d mark iii â€" 22.3 MP sensor, and dual image processorThe most important thing that you need as a photographer is your camera and a stack of memory cards. Photo Source: UnsplashExample of a wide angle lensNikon 35mm NIKKOR lensMacro PhotographyA macro lens gives you access to photographing subject close up. Depending on the lens you can photograph in great detail the fur on the back of a honey bee, the legs of an ant or the pollen of a flower. This is the ultimate ultra close lens that lets you capture what the eye usually cannot see clearly. There are many types of lenses, and the type you choose depends on how close you want to be to your subject. These lenses are incredibly sharp so make sure you have a steady hand while shooting. The focal length is roughly 50mm - 160mmExample of a Macro lensCanon 100mm Macro lensTelephoto LensesA telephoto lens is a lens that you would have seen the paparazzi use or the lens you often see on safari. They are usually big, noticeable and heavy, but you don’t need to be anywhere near your subject so you can take fantastic pictures from far away. Great for Street views, sporting events, landscapes and wildlife shots. They have a focal length of 135mm - 300mm + and you will need a steady hand or a tripod to use it effectively.Example of a Telephoto lensNikon 200mm - 500mm lensHow does this equipment help me to capture a better photograph? If it doesn’t then you probably don’t need it. Photo Source: UnsplashWhat Are The Different Photography Accessories?The most important thing that you need as a photographer is your camera (camera+Lens) and a stack of memory cards. Once you have these, you have everything it takes to be a great photographer. But sometimes other things are needed based on your requirements.Such as if you want to be a studio photographer then studio lighting and flash accessories will be required. If you're going to photograph different kinds of environments, prime lenses will be essential to help you get the best out of your image. If you're going to take long exposures then a Tripod, monopod, and Gorillapod will be your best friend. Or maybe you just need the simple camera carrying bag or camera strap to keep your camera safe.There are thousands of photography accessories out there, but before you start looking for something, the primary thing to ask yourself is how does this help me to capture the best photograph? If it doesn’t then you probably don’t need it.How Expensive Is It To Learn Photography?My formula for a great photographer isHave the vision to see a great photograph 40%Having the skill to capture that image 40%Having the right equipment to capture that image 20%As a beginner with a camera all you need now is the knowledge to learn how to best capture your subject. Being a great photographer doesn't take lots of experience, but it does take having these 3 things come together to capture a moment in time.You can study in a variety of ways, and the cost would change from free to expensive depending on your choice.Self-study using lots of practice, library books and online resources (free)Working as an apprentice to a Professional Photographer (Free to Moderate)A photography course or workshop taught by a tutor, either one to one or in a group environment. (Very moderate to expensive)A professional qualification like a degree (Expensive)Prices are very subjective in photography and depend on your level, who you chose to teach you and where you choose to be taught. For example, a degree in London can cost almost twice the cost of a degree in northern England. Taking online photography courses.  will be cheaper than taking face to face photography courses. If you are a beginner, you will pay more than an enthusiast who just needs a refresher. The most important thing is to set your budget and search for the solution that suits your circumstances.If you are just starting out you might be tempted to buy the most expensive and best quality photography equipment with all of the bells and whistles. But if you speak to any seasoned professional photographer, they would probably tell you that this is a rookie mistake.Buying everything outright you may find that you never use half of the stuff. Photography can be expensive but it doesn’t need to be, so if you want to get started but appreciate saving your pennie s it would be best to invest your money and time in the most essential items. Leaving the rest for when the need arises, building your kit slowly.Remember photography isn’t about if you have the coolest kit. When a person looks at your photograph, they don’t think about if you had the latest pocket wizard or tripod. All of that falls away into the background because the primary focus is always going to be the quality and composition of your photograph. If it doesn't make your photo better then you probably don’t need it.

Writing a Thank You Note After an Interview

Writing a Thank You Note After an Interview There is one little mistake many students make that can sometimes hurt the final impression they make after an admissions interview. What is that tiny mistake? Not sending a thank-you note. It is extremely ironic how often this happens. The task of writing a thank-you note is so simple, so quick to do and so overlooked. You may feel like this idea is pointless. You had a lengthy interview with this admissions officer and genuinely thanked them in person with a firm handshake and bright smile. Wouldnt it be a little repetitive to thank them again? No. The answer is no. Remember, these admissions staffers are getting tons of applicants and are going through several interviews. It can be a bit overwhelming and you can easily get lost in the crowd or forgotten. Therefore, it would only make sense to ensure you do not go missing from their radar and remind them that you do exist. With a thank-you note, you are not only reminding them that youre around, you are showing that you are still enthusiastic about attending this school and want to show how much you really want to be a part of it. After all, universities want to accept people who actually want to be on that campus, not just any campus. Most of all, you can take this opportunity to show the admissions officer how much you particularly enjoyed meeting them and what you learned from the interview. Show that you are taking a legitimate interest in what this school is all about. All of this shows you were actually paying attention in the interview and engaging in conversation rather than just reciting rehearsed answers about your credentials. Also, you can smoothly sneak in a quick reiteration of what makes you a great applicant. Although this note doesnt take too much time or thought overall, you still must pay close attention to how you phrase everything and how lengthy it gets. Dont bother this person with basically another personal statement keep the note very brief. And make sure you do not come off as trying too hard or as an applicant sending a generalized thanks. To sum it up: thank the interviewer for their time, express your enjoyment of the interview and eagerness about attending the school, and leave them with your hopes that youll be moving forward. Tailor each of those points as personally as you can and you will have a note of perfection that will keep you ahead in the races.

The 3 Biggest Mistakes Youre Making in Your Voice Lessons

The 3 Biggest Mistakes Youre Making in Your Voice Lessons Sign up successful Not Letting Go OK, so forget the famous Disney song for a second (even though I know its now stuck in your head). The best voice lessons happen only when youre ready and willing to be open, raw, unpolished (at times), and free. And when we voice teachers use the word free, we dont always just mean free of physical tension. We might also mean free in terms of artistic expression. As the brilliant voice teacher Julie Zarukin once told me,  Music is not the song. Music is the singing. We have to let go of both our physical and mental tensions if were to make progress in our learning journeys. Being Afraid A lot of times, what were afraid of in our voice lessons is letting go (see mistake number two above). But just as often, were afraid of not hitting that high note, cracking on that big leap, having too much vibrato, and believe it or not, I think that some students are afraid of singing too loudly, or too well. In some ways, I feel like getting a voice lesson is like getting a physicians exam. You know that you need the diagnosis and treatment, but its not always easy to share so much with a person that you may not know very well yet. And yet, a voice teacher can only find your challenges and help you learn how to get better at singing if youre not afraid to allow them to be found. Making the Most of Your Singing Lessons If you really want to get better at singing and improve your skills, youll need to make the most of your time both in your lessons and during practice! Whether you want to sing cover songs, work on specific techniques, get help picking a song for an audition, or just have some fun exploring your voice, your teacher is there to help you reach your goals and keep you on track. He or she will also teach you the basics, such as: breathing exercises for singers, how your posture affects your singing, and how to care for your voice. Now, if you find yourself making the mistakes listed above in your voice lessons, then it sounds like you may be having a tough time trusting your voice teacher. Try your best to be open and talk openly about your concerns. But just like a physicians patient, a voice student has the right to get a second opinion if you feel frustrated or stuck. The best voice teachers will actually encourage you to get one. Take a break and try a new voice teacher for a couple of months. Sometimes, a new set of ears and a fresh perspective can change the way you look at voice lessons and help you make progress as you work to figure out how to get better at singing. The most important element is finding a voice teacher that you can trust (hint: start your search for a voice teacher with TakeLessons, if you dont have one yet!). To Recap: Heather L. teaches singing, piano, acting, and more in St. Augustine, FL, as well as through online lessons. She is  a graduate of the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and has performed with the New York and Royal Philharmonics, the New Jersey and Virginia Symphonies, the American Boy Choir, and the internationally renowned opera star Andrea Bocelli. Learn more about Heather here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

How to Excel in College While Employed in 11 Easy Steps

How to Excel in College While Employed in 11 Easy Steps ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Are you working and taking college classes at the same time? If so, you probably already know how challenging it can be. But don’t worry. Even with limited time, you can succeed at both school and work. In the next few minutes, you’re going to learn 11 easy steps to follow to help you draw the best out of yourself in both settings. Since you’re a busy student, I’m sure you don’t have any time to waste. So, let’s get started! Have a conversation with your boss. This first step might be the hardest for you depending on your relationship with your boss. Whatever the case may be, I can assure you that it’s important. Why? Picture this scenario. You’re at work watching the clock as the final minutes of your shift wind down. You have a test the next day. Your plan is to rush home, bang out a few hours of studying, then get a good night's sleep. Just as you’re about to leave, you run into your boss. He or she tells you that someone on the next shift called off and asks you to stay late to fill in. What do you do? It can be uncomfortable when you know you need to study, but don’t want to disappoint your boss. The best solution is to sit down and have a conversation about this as early as possible. Let your boss know that you’re taking classes. Tell him or her when you’re available to work, and when you’re not. Be polite, but assertive. Having a successful talk with your boss will ensure that you’re both on the same page about when you can reasonably work. The trick is to pick a time when your boss isn’t too busy to sit down with you for a few minutes. Set goals. Success always starts in one placeâ€"goal setting. Time management is no exception. Clarifying what you want to achieve will help you make vital decisions about how to spend your limited time. There are many ways to set goals. The method I most recommend to students is the SMART method. Researchers at the University of Western Florida did a studyon student achievement outcomes with and without using SMART goals. In 2010, they gave students in their business classes a team project and didn’t require them to use SMART goals. A year later they assigned their classes the same project. This time they required students to set SMART goals. They found that the students who used SMART goals completed the project faster, did a better job, and reported feeling more satisfied with their work. Goals should be SMARTâ€"specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. When you’re done reading this, set aside at least a few minutes to think about your goals. Whenever you must pick between multiple ways to spend your time, ask which choice will bring you closer to achieving your goals, then get started! It is usually a good idea to get into the habit of settingbudget goals while you're in college as well. OneClass has created a free and uncomplicated step-by-step college budget template to help you create and meet goals for every month, semester, and year. Be strategic with your vacation/personal days. If possible, request days off from work during midterms, finals, and other busy points in your semester. Yesâ€"kitesurfing in Maui (if that’s what you’re into) would be more fun than studying on your vacation days. But you’ll never have to worry about running out of time, pulling an all-nighter, and going into your test feeling (and looking) like a zombie. By giving yourself more time to study, you can expect to score higher and have less stress. Plan and anticipate setbacks. Napoleon Bonaparteâ€"the infamous 19th century Emperor of the Frenchâ€"once said “A leader has the right to be beaten, but never the right to be surprised.” Now, even if you don’t serve in a leadership position (club president, etc.), I would argue you’re a leader anywayâ€"every day you must lead yourself closer to your goals. Therefore, you can’t let yourself get blindsided by your workload. Planning is one of the best habits you can form for success. Brian Tracyâ€"New York Times Best-Selling author of the time management classic Eat That Frogâ€"says that “every minute spent in planning saves as many as ten minutes in execution (source).” This rule predicts that just 6 minutes of planning at the start of your day can save you an hour. To take it to the next level, you must also learn to anticipate challenges before they occur. A great start is to mark when all exams, quizzes, and major assignments are due on your calendar. Do you see any cases in which you have multiple deadlines in the same week? Not spotting busy weeks like these in advance so you can plan accordingly can result in massive pile-ups. The trick is to first spot these weeks ahead of time and start your work early. Anticipating challenges is also valuable to do nightly. A simple and effective method you can start using right away is calledmental rehearsal. Mental rehearsal is a form of visualization in which you imagine yourself performing well at any undertaking you choose. How do we know this is effective? Dr. Biasiotto led a studyon visualization at the University of Chicago. The researchers divided basketball players into three groups: a group that practiced shooting free throws, a group that visualized themselves making free throws, and a group that neither practiced or visualized themselves making free throws. After 30 days, the group who only visualized themselves making free throws showed almost the same amount of improvement as the group who had practiced them! Every night, a great habit to form is to take 5 minutes to stop and review your goals for the next day. Plan, then sit back and ask what could go wrong. Visualize yourself going through the day accomplishing everything you need to. See yourself overcoming any obstacles that arise. Noâ€"this doesn’t guarantee everything will run smoothly. But the potential returns far exceed the minimal time investment. Determine how much time you need. Figuring out how much time you need to study per week is crucial, so you can plan your study schedule around your work schedule. This can seem a little daunting at first if you’ve never done it before. Here’s a great rule of thumb: for every 1 hour of class time, plan to study for at least 2 hours outside of class. In other words, determine how many hours of class you have each week, and multiply this number by 2. This gives you an approximation of how many hours per week to block off for studying. Now, keep in mindâ€"this is only a rule of thumb. As your semester progresses, you might find that you don’t need this much time to study, or that you need more time. While it’s tough to get your estimate exactly right, establishing a baseline is still beneficial. Use it as a starting point, then adjust from there. Make a to-do list and prioritize. If you don’t already make a daily to-do list, you owe it to yourself to start now. Keeping track of your objectives somewhere outside of your head frees up brain power for more important tasks. After all, I’m sure as a college student you have enough stuff to cram into your head already. Why try to juggle more than you have to? If you go down your list and think carefully about each item, I’m sure you’ll find that not everything is equally important. On an ideal day, you’ll finish everything on your list. But most swamped students know that ideal days rarely happen. So, if you can’t finish everything on a given day, at least make sure to finish the most important tasks. A great way to prioritize is to review your to-do list and ask yourself these 3 questions: What’s due next? What’s worth the most points? What do I least want to do today? Answering the first two questions will help you focus on what will impact your grades the most. The third question is crucial because the tasks we procrastinate on the most are often also the most beneficial. Utilize time windows. What if I told you there was a time management strategy you could use to gain back more than a full day’s worth of time over the next 3 months? What if I told you that this is true, and that it barely requires any extra work on your part? If you’re at least somewhat skeptical, I can’t say I blame you. Let me explain. Right now, ask yourself if you could make just an extra 20 minutes a day to study. If you were to do this 6 days a week for the next 3 months, all the extra 20-minute sessions would add up to over 24 hours of study time. I encourage you to do the math for yourself if you’re still not convinced. These short time periods that open throughout the day are time windows.While you probably won’t get much done in any single 15 - 30-minute time window, they add up. This is especially important to understand when you’re working and taking classes, because blocking off a few hours of uninterrupted study time can be a challenge. Here are some great times to try to squeeze in an extra 15 - 30 minutes of studying: First thing in the morning Before bed After a meal Between classes During a break at work When you get to class early While riding public transportation Never underestimate the power of how studying in short intervals adds up over time! Study incrementally. Trying to cram in all your studying right before a test is like leaving your house for an appointment at the last minute. If you hit all the green lights, find a parking spot right away, then sprint in, you just might make it on time. But just because this works every now and then doesn’t mean it’s a strategy to rely on. When you cram, you’re gambling with your grades and causing unnecessary stress. As a working college student, you can’t count on having a whole afternoon or evening free to cram. You’re going to have to break your studying up into smaller pieces. Try to review daily whether you have a test coming up or notâ€"at least a little bit. Best-selling author, blogger, and Georgetown professor Cal Newport wrote an article on how to conquer crammingin which he talks about what he calls the Same Day Rule. The Same Day Rule is simply this: “For every medium to large size assignment, do some work toward its completion the same day that it’s assigned.” This is an excellent rule to adopt for college students with jobs. Maximize your focus. When you’re working, your study time is already limited. You can’t afford to blow the time you do have by getting distracted. One major source of distraction is technology. Don’t get me wrongâ€" I love social media and web surfing as much as the next person. But when the pedal hits the floor and your to-do gets insane, it’s time to unplug from everything unrelated to what’s at hand. Author, programmer, and entrepreneur Scott H. Young said this in his article 20 Tips to Survive When You’ve Overloaded Your Schedule: “In an overload, connectivity becomes less important than productivity, so turn off anything that distracts you from work.” Fortunately, there are several free tools that can help you out. There’s an extension for the Chrome web browser called StayFocusedthat lets you temporarily block access to distracting websites. For Firefox users, Leechblockdoes virtually the same thing. Another awesome tool is the OFFTIMEapp for iPhone and Android. OFFTIME lets you block calls, texts, notifications, and other apps so you can focus on your school work. Another trick for improving your focus fast is what I call tally tracking. Here’s how it works. First, bring an index card or sticky note with you to your next study session. Set a timer for however long you plan to study before you take a break. Then while you study, mark a tally down on the sticky note/index card every time your mind wanders, or you get distracted. After the timer goes off, count your tallies and mark down the total. That’s your score for the session. Don’t worry about what your score is. You just want to figure out where you’re at so that you can track your improvement over time. In future study sessions, your goal is to get a lower score, meaning you got distracted fewer times. It’s not an exact science, but it’s effective. By continually challenging yourself to do better, you’ll get a lot more done. Limit your social life as needed. Let me start by saying thisâ€"my best memories from undergrad come from times I spent with close friends. I highly encourage you to spend as much time as you can with friends in college. However, it’s wise to temporarilylimit your social life when you have a test or major assignment coming up. This is a great rule of thumb for all college studentsâ€"but it’s especially vital for those with jobs. Unfortunately, when you’re working and taking classes, you’re going to have less free time than many of your peers. It’s inevitable that sometimes you’ll be studying while they’re doing something fun. I experienced this a lot myself, so believe me when I say I know how frustrating it is. No one wants to miss out on a good time or feel like they’re out of the loop. But if you want to achieve your goals badly enough, you’ll see that sometimes you must make the short-term sacrifice. Track your progress. Working and taking classes can be exhausting. Some days after a demanding shift, the last thing in the world you’ll feel like doing is hitting the books. How do you stay motivated when you don’t feel like doing anything or find yourself in a slump? One of the best things you can do is to keep track of your accomplishments day-to-day. Often, we get so busy in the shuffle of life that we fail to give ourselves enough credit for our achievements. By tracking your progress towards your goals, you’ll feel more motivated to keep going when the going gets tough. Comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld told Gina Trapaniâ€"founder of Lifehacker.comâ€"in a conversation on productivitythat he tracks his work using a big wall calendar with every day on one page. Seinfeld marks a red X on his calendar for each day that he works on his craft. After a few days in a row, a streak starts to form. Seinfeld says, “Your only job next is to not break the chain.” Whether you try this method out or not, the takeaway here that finding your own way to track your accomplishments has big rewards. By doing this, you’ll keep yourself focused and motivated, and will never lose your momentum. What’s Next? Congratulations for taking a step towards getting better at time management by reading this article! Keep pushing yourself at everything you do. Give both your studies and your work 100% even when you don’t feel like it. Before long, you’ll adapt. Now that you’ve read these 11 steps, what did you learn that you can put into action? About the Author Parker Smith is the founder of Test Prep Champions--a website that provides test taking, study skills, and time management advice to students at all levels to help them reach their academic goals. This is done through an online archive of research-based articles, videos, books, courses, and more. Smith is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and is now a student at the University of Pennsylvania. Test Prep Champions is currently offering a freeone week-long email course on time management. Each day for 7 days, you’ll receive a quick but high-impact lesson on a key time management success skill. You’ll have the option to check in with the founder of Test Prep Champions, Parker, after every lesson to ensure you’re making progress. If you're interested in learning more, here’s the link to register for the free email course: https://www.testprepchampions.com/time-management-email-course. Thank you!

Skype English TV Comparatives and Superlatives

Skype English TV Comparatives and Superlatives Hello! This is our first video recording of our Skype English Classes. In this video you will see Frank using comparatives in English. He is comparing his daughter to his son. Watch the video below, then read the notes to learn more about comparatives and superlatives in English. In English we use comparatives by adding an ER at the end of an adjective or adding the word MORE in front of the adjective. How do you know when to add ER or when to use MORE? Easy, for short adjectives (fat, thin, tall, rich, smart) we add ER. For long adjectives (intelligent, extroverted, beautiful, stupid) we put MORE in front of the adjective.We use than as our connecting word.Some common comparative mistakes:using BOTH more and er: Frank says, “My daughter is more taller than my son.” Incorrect. Correct, “My daughter is taller than my son.”using that instead of than. “My daughter is 3 years older that my son.” Incorrect. Correct, “My daughter is 3 years older than my son.using THE with co mparatives. Frank says, “The Peru is better than Chile.” Incorrect. Peru is better than Chile. We don’t use The with formal nouns unless it is part of the name: The United States, The Dominican Republic, The European Union.using the superlative rather than the comparative, “Peru has the best food than Chile.” Incorrect. “Peru has better food than Chile. Remember we use the comparaitives with ER or MORE when we are comparing 2 things, people, or places. We use the superlative when we are comparing 3-999,999,999,999 things, people, or places.If you have any more questions or would like to take a class on comparatives and superlatives please contact us.