An Introduction To Economic Theories

An Introduction To Economic Theories What Is Economics? ChaptersFundamental Concepts in EconomicsWhat is Macroeconomics?What is Microeconomics?International EconomicsEconomics is a broad area, with a lot of concepts and ideas that can be difficult at first to come to terms with. Below we introduce common theoretical concepts and areas in economics that you may see during your economics studies.Money, which underlines economic transactions;Productivity, which can be used as an empirical  measuring tool to see how economies are performing, for better or worse; andTechnology, which has influenced consumer behaviour and the amount of information available about goods or services, and has spurred economic progress, with the Industrial Revolution being one famous example.If you find that you need help mastering some of these core terms and concepts in economics, then you could look for some outside help in the form of an economics tutor. Superprof has a variety of economics tutors, who can provide one on one economics tuition, as well as tuitio n in groups or online, in order to help improve your skills in economic analysis.Money is a core economics concept. (Source: CC BY-SA 3.0, Nick Youngson, Alpha Stock Images)What is Macroeconomics?Macroeconomics is considered to be one of two major areas within economics, alongside microeconomics.Macroeconomics is considered to be the study of an economy in the whole and as such advocates a “top-down” approach to economic study.The history of modern macroeconomics can be traced back to John Maynard Keynes, a British economist who was hugely influential during the early 20th century with his theories, including the idea of “boom” and “bust” economies.Although people, both at the time and in later years, argued against Keynes’ ideas, for example, the Austrian-British economist Friedrich August von Hayek, Keynes has remained a popular figure in the world of economics, and his ideas have been developed into new schools of thought, including the post-Keynesian school.Keynes had many ideas and theories, but one of the most enduring theories is that the economy is influenced largely by aggregate demand. As a result, Keynes was a strong advocate of government spending, particularly in times of economic downturn, in order to help stimulate the economy and promote economic growth.Although Keynes is considered the modern founder of macroeconomic thought, there’s a lot more to learn about macroeconomics besides Keynes.Crucially, macroeconomics studies key areas that influence the economy in the aggregate, including:Employment or unemployment levels in a country, or globally;Market failures and their consequences;Fiscal policies in place around the world; andThe rate of inflation.For this reason, macroeconomics can also play a crucial role when it comes to formulating a framework for economic policy. Indeed, economists that work for government bodies may find themselves examining macroeconomic factors within the country in order to understand and evaluate wh ich economic policies would be most beneficial to the country, and economy, as a whole.Economic policies that are likely to have been impacted by macroeconomic analysis include:The rate of corporation tax in effect for current and future years;Measures that are designed to improve employment rates  and employment stability across the country; andInflation measures and policies in place.While macroeconomics has a huge role to play in the study of economics, any economics student also needs to understand the field of microeconomics, and how it interacts with macroeconomics, to have a fuller picture of what the study of economics entails.Tax  is a feature within macroeconomics and can be one of the crucial economic topics in this area. (Source: CC0 1.0, 3dman_eu, Pixabay)What is Microeconomics?While macroeconomics looks at the performance of the economy in aggregate, microeconomics looks at the economy from a “bottom-up” perspective.One of the crucial figures behind the study of mi croeconomics is Alfred Marshall, who was a prominent economist during the 19th century.The area of microeconomics remains a hugely significant area in the study of economics. Economists that specialise in this area will look at topics as diverse as:Influences on supply and demand;Fluctuations in employment levels; andProduction and manufacturing efficiency.However, that’s not to say that there aren’t other areas within the field of economics that are seeing increased attention. In particular, another school of thought, known as behavioural economics, including behavioural finance, is gaining increased focus, as it sets out to challenge traditional economic schools of thought.In particular, behavioural economics appears to contradict one of the key tenants of classical theory and neoclassical economics. Namely, behavioural economists argue that man does not inherently make economically rational decisions. This contradicts the views of classical and neoclassical economists, who te nd to create economic models on the basis that human beings do make rational decisions.Although these areas are fascinating to study, areas such as microeconomics and macroeconomics will likely remain highly relevant in economics courses over the coming years, so it’s imperative that any economics students are comfortable with microeconomics as a field.If you’re currently studying economics, but find yourself struggling with key macroeconomic or microeconomic topics and theories then you may benefit from hiring an economics tutor to help you improve on areas where you need some extra focus or more explanation.Economics tutors can provide you with extra questions and examples that supplement your work in class while providing you with the motivation you need to help boost your academic performance. Superprof, for instance, has a range of economics tutors that are happy to answer any questions you have on macro- or microeconomic topics, whether those questions are in relation to t axation, monetary policy, or laissez-faire economics.Behavioural economics is an economic theory that argues that individuals don't always make rational economic decisions. (Source: CC0 1.0, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Pixabay)International EconomicsInternational economics may not be as well studied as macroeconomics and microeconomics, but it is a highly relevant, and popular, area of economic study in its own right, with its own share of economic problems to solve.Like many areas of economics, international economics is in some respects an interdisciplinary area of study, as international relations is at the forefront of the study of international economics.For instance, if a nation opts for punitive economic sanctions or trade policies towards a particular country, then the result of such policies would be a likely increase in international political tensions in the long run. Conversely, favourable trade policies may help bolster or sustain existing international relations.Students that specialise in international economics and/or international relations can enjoy a range of career opportunities when they graduate from university. For instance, graduates in international economics could look for a role at:An international organisation, such as the WTO;A newspaper as a financial journalist;A governmental body, examining economic policy or analysing an economic model.If you’d like to learn more about international economics, you can always reach out to a tutor at Superprof. Superprof has tutors that specialise in a number of subjects, including politics and economics, so there will be a tutor on hand to answer any questions you may have.Equally, if you do enlist the help of a tutor, then you can help ensure that you improve your understanding of economic theories as much as possible. Whether you would like to learn more about classical economics, the business cycle, or the core principles behind free-market capitalism, an economics tutor can help answer your questions and leave you more confident in your economics studies.If you enter your postcode on the Superprof website, then you can be matched with tutors in your local area, as well as tutors that would be happy to provide tutoring services online. This gives you the flexibility to choose how you would like your tuition delivered, and how often.

Finding the Right IT Tutor for Your Computer Courses

Finding the Right IT Tutor for Your Computer Courses How to Find a Computer Science Tutor for IT Courses ChaptersFind a Private IT Tutor OnlineIT Tutorials Online: Find Your Tutor on YouTubeIT Courses: Find IT Tutors on Superprof with a Few Clicks!Why Take IT Courses on Your Own via a MOOC?Are you resistant to change and in need of a serious update to your IT knowledge?Do you need to learn how to browse the internet or simply use your computer?Looking for training in cryptography?Whether you learn IT through webcam tutorials or with a private tutor, you’ll learn a lot.Are you already an IT technician and want to learn a new skill, some programming languages, study algorithms, or learn more about IT networks?Taking private tutorials with an experienced programmer on Superprof can help you achieve all this.Why not try out some MOOCs? What’s that?You’ll know the answers to all these questions by the end of this article! CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutor s OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic rea ding Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFind a Private IT Tutor OnlineThanks to the internet and modern digital technologies, there are plenty of ways to learn basic computer skills on the web.  In fact, there are literally thousands of computer classes online and some quality instruction.However, as the adage goes, in a lot of cases, “you get what you pay for”. When you pay for a private tutor, you can expect a level of professionalism as well as someone who has the necessary knowledge and skills to teach you.Superprof’s got some tips and advice for anyone who wants to take IT courses on office suites (like Microsoft Office and Apache's Open Office), installing IT hardware, developing apps, learning about computer hardware, or learning more about coding.You can search for tutors anywhere in the country and then get in touch with them and organise personalised classes. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced user, you'll find tutors specialising in almost anything. You can learn computer and IT skills and more about topics such as:IT TroubleshootingComputer literacy for seniors, using the mouse and keyboard, turning the computer off and on.Internet basics for beginners, how to navigate a web site, opening and closing tabs, etc.Maintenance tasks.Workforce trainingOffice suites, Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, giving a presentation in PowerPoint, how to create a spreadsheet in Excel.Check for the best programming courses to upgrade your coding skill.There are so many people online offering tech support that it can be difficult to choose someone to fix your computer. (Source: stock.tookapic.com)Always be careful when contacting tutors directly without a third party. You should agree upfront about how you’re going to pay them  and make sure that you can find trustw orthy reviews of them.The best tutors will have plenty of stellar reviews and former students who’ll vouch for them. The tutor’s price should reflect their qualifications, experience, and teaching style. You can expect to pay more if the tutor comes to you and they might suggest a central meeting point if you’re both quite a distance from one another.If you're new to computers, you should make sure you have the right equipment for your IT tutorials.IT Tutorials Online: Find Your Tutor on YouTubeWhile there are plenty of IT tutorials available, you’ll have to separate the wheat from the chaff in order to get the most out of these platforms.You can use the number of views to indicate how popular the tutorials are. A video with thousands of views will probably be more useful than a video with a handful (especially if both have been on the site for a number of years). You can also quickly check the “likes” of the video and the comments to see if others found the video useful .On YouTube, you can find tonnes of videos on computer basics like:The basics like using a mouse and keyboard, typing, using your operating system, and turning your computer off and on.Using the Microsoft Office suite, word processing in Microsoft Word, creating a spreadsheet in Excel, using PowerPoint to give presentations, etc.Fundamental maintenance tasks like emptying the recylcle bin, organising your desktop,Digital literacy for senior citizens, computer training for the elderly, etc.Basic skills like browsing the internet, searching on Google, opening and closing tabs.Making and editing videos using Adobe Premier.There are videos that have been watched literally thousands of times.There are videos on learning how to use HTML and CSS for making and editing websites. While the quality of these videos can vary wildly, there are a lot of diamonds in the rough. There are specialists in HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, MySQL, SEO, WordPress, and Prestashop so you’re bound to find what you need.Learning to code can be useful for making programmes, apps, and websites. (Source: negativespace.co)Whether you’re making your own website or are looking to make your own online business, there’s definitely a video tutorial that will help you.Before you head to YouTube, make sure you have the right equipment to get the most out of your classes:A computer with enough memory to play the videos without any problems.A high-speed internet connection (such as a fibre optic connection, where available)A quality headset or headphones so that you can listen to the videos in public spaces or coworking offices, etc.Think about getting yourself a notepad or book if you’re not used to working with word processors or taking notes digitally.IT Courses: Find IT Tutors on Superprof with a Few Clicks!With computing tutors up and down the country (not to mention all the tutors around the world offering tutorials via webcam), no matter what you want to learn to do, you'll be able to find an instructor to help you. There’s a huge variety of specialists offering courses in a range of different domains:How a computer worksArchitectureRepairing computersWeb developmentCryptographyLearning how to use certain programmes (Excel, Word, Illustrator, InDesign, MySQL, etc.)Java ProgrammingRemember to check that your tutor is also a quality teacher by checking the comments and reviews left by their current and former students and see what kind of resources they use and the teaching methods they employ.Don’t forget that there are plenty of tutors providing tutorials over webcam if you have a hectic schedule and struggle to find an hour for your lessons.The price of private tutorials can vary wildly. While some of the cheapest tutorials only cost around £10 per hour, they can go up to £50 per hour for tutorials covering programming in Python, for example.There are a lot of tutors in London. However, they tend to cost more than tutors elsewhere in the computer. (Source: neg ativespace.co)IT tutorials (in London, at least) cost £24 per hour on average but are cheaper in other parts of the country, ( £18 per hour in Edinburgh and Cardiff and £19 per hour in Manchester, for example). There are also tutors offering programming courses in languages such as C++, Python, Java, Scilab, Fortran, Mathlab, as well as algorithms used to develop apps.Why Take IT Courses on Your Own via a MOOC?MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course) are distance learning courses that can have plenty of students enrolled on them via an online digital platform with computer courses often provided by a university professor.The famous American university MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Boston provides free classes on their YouTube channel with plenty of videos filmed in their lecture halls covering a series of different scientific subjects.MIT OpenCourseWare (1.2 million subscribers) has also put plenty of video courses online covering maths, physics, and IT.Their 53-minute lecture “Introduction to Computer Science and Programming” has been watched over 3 million times on YouTube.Watching these videos by MIT and learning more about physics, maths, and IT from some of the world’s best professors is pretty great, isn’t it?Keep in mind that MIT isn’t the only university offering these types of courses, either.There are plenty of free courses on these MOOCs from tonnes of Ivy League universities as well as other universities around the world. There are literally hundreds of hours of video tutorials available as well as the platforms themselves which you can use to talk to professors and other students. Of course, these courses are 100% online, meaning that as long as you have an internet connection, you can learn.The geek shall inherit the earth. (Source: Clem Onojeghuo)When it comes to MOOCs, there are a few that stand out. Udacity, which was founded in 2012, now has over 1 million users and a number of free courses.You can learn about web devel opment, data analysis, working with iOS or Android app development, machine learning, and plenty of other fields in computer science. With how popular big data is at the minute, it might be worthwhile having a look at their courses on data analysis. That said, there are so many courses, you could even consider supplementing private tutorials with some of these courses.Coursera is another important MOOC and was founded by a couple of computer science lecturers at Stanford University in 2012. It currently has over 24 million users and around 2,000 courses.As you can imagine, thanks to its background in computer science, there’s no lack of courses for budding IT professionals. Some of their most popular courses include technical support, data science in python, machine learning, algorithms, programming languages, and data science.The last platform we’d like to look at isn’t actually a MOOC but is rather useful for anyone wanting to code. Codeacademy is an educational platform tha t was set up in 2011 and now has 25 million users learning programming and coding.The platform is a series of lessons, tutorials, and interactive elements to allow you to learn coding and then try out what you’ve learnt.If you want to get started and learn more about computers, you should consider getting private tutorials, which are arguably the most cost-effective way to learn since you’ll have a dedicated educator working for you.For in-home IT tutorials, there are plenty resources on the internet that can help you find an IT expert and experienced educator. For a personalised approach, then you should consider heading over to Superprof and checking out the tutors, their reviews, and finding the best tutor for you.As an added bonus, there are a number of tutors who offer free computer tutoring for the first hour so you can work out your goals, get to know your potential tutor, and see what your level is.

The Importance Of Private Tutoring for Educational Support

The Importance Of Private Tutoring for Educational Support The Pros And Cons Of Private Tuition For School Help Chapters6 Signs To Spot A Child in Need of Extra School SupportThe Pros And Cons Of Home TutoringIt is never easy to find out that your child is struggling to do well in their education; It can be challenging to know how to solve the situation to help them to achieve their best. Thankfully there are many options available which can help with improving the qualifications of struggling students. Using these solutions can guide your child, from not achieving the required grades, to creating their own successful outcomes.Private tuition can be a great solution to have a tailored and engaging educational experience. Tutors near me are available on a flexible schedule and can also work outside of the school year, which means you can make the most of the summer to catch up or prepare for the coming term.A private tutor can help with your child’s development all the way from preschool and kindergarten right up to primary school and through to university. Tutors can integrate with homeschoo ling or give 1 to 1 support in private education or an independent school, they can also provide support to mainstream students who attend private school or public school at secondary school, college or university level.Personal tutors can specialise in a wide variety of subjects to cater to a growing interest in a wide range of subjects. Academic subjects like Maths, chemistry, physics, English, geography or humanities to name a few. Also, tutors can successfully support you with test prep and exam preparation like GCSE exams, enrollment or entrance exams.Of course, tutors also work with learner lead interests and hobbies, personal and professional improvement tutors might help with cooking classes or public speaking, language tutors support learners to speak their desired languages such as an ESL English tutor, French tutor or Arabic tutor. Even extracurricular activities can be tutored like playing football. The options are really endless.Private tuition is one of the many and mo st flexible options available to your child when they are struggling. A good quality tutor will be your child’s personal guide to help them circumnavigate the difficulties that they are struggling with and locate their strength. The tutor will create an individualized curriculum and work hard to make sure that syllabus topics are understandable to your child. When you find your tutor they will be dedicated to supporting your child in achieving their very best.How to support your child to help them to achieve their best. Photo Source: UnsplashIt is good to bear in mind that online tutoring can be substantially cheaper than one to one tutoring. Online tutoring also has many of the same benefits as face to face tutoring so if you are thinking “I need help to pay for my child’s tutoring”. Then this could be a good compromise.There are also a lot of other alternatives available to you and your child. If you have serious financial need and still want you, child, to have some extra help. You can get in touch with your local council, local church and your child’s school. Make some enquires to see if you might be eligible to qualify for some help or if anyone has any advice about tutoring for a more reasonable cost.You can also contact the citizens advice bureaux hotline you might find that there is a new government grant for financial aid or a bursary that you could apply for. Although it is expensive, it could be the best investment that you can make for your struggling child. We would like to strongly advise you against using credit cards or getting in debt that you cannot afford to pay back.Children Must Make A Dedicated ContributionYour child must be willing to actually put in the time and effort to reap the rewards of success. A tutor is not there to give the answers, they are there to guide and support your child to become the best they can be.Find out what your learner has to do to derive the most benefit from their tutoring experience...You can decid e where you would like to meet. Photo Source: UnsplashFree Time SuffersWhen a child is struggling with their education, it can be very tempting to fill all of their spare time with solutions to get them back on track. But children also need time to de-stress, blow of some steam and just be kids. A full-time education plus a part-time tutoring program can leave the child with much less time to be able to enjoy their childhood. It is essential to try to maintain some balance and give the child time to relax as well. The child preference may be to keep going in an aim to achieve the best and make you proud but there must be a happy and progressive middle ground.Having a private home tutor has many benefits, its importance for a struggling child and as a mechanism to support and guide them towards a better outcome is very clear. A student’s private tuition can be the difference between success and failure for many children.Even school teachers are signing up for tutoring jobs part tim e which means that private school tuition could now become available for your child at school.You had better sign up fast as it appears that the secret is out. Tutoring both online and offline have become hugely popular with adults and children alike. With more people enrolling on courses to learn new things, get help to understand things they are struggling with and just to enjoy education. Only one question remains, what will you choose to learn?Now read this complete guide to personal tutoring...

Atoms Basics! Learn Protons, Electrons And Neutrons

Atoms Basics! Learn Protons, Electrons And Neutrons 0SHARESShare Atoms are building blocks. If you want to build molecules, you will need atoms of different elements. Each element is a slightly different from the other. Why do we need to learn about the elements? How do they relate to our lives? You may have many questions in your mind. In a classroom session it is not feasible for a tutor to answer all your questions. At times you may even hesitate to open up and convey your doubts. You look for a dependable platform to resolve your queries. TutorPace, an online tutoring website offers highly experienced chemistry experts to meet all your queries. They will use interesting diagrams to explain that ‘Atoms’ are the general term used to describe pieces of matter. You may only find about 40 elements inside of your body; but you are made up of billions and billions of atoms. Understanding hydrogen (H) atoms, oxygen (O) atoms, and a bunch of others get very easily. The online chemistry tutors are available 24/7 and you can attain session anytime as per your convenience. These experts provide online chemistry help to give you a clear idea of the subject. The atoms may have different masses; they are all built with the same parts. Electrons, protons, and neutrons make the Universe the way it is, but understanding these concepts without proper guidance may be difficult. If you depend only on reading a book, you will find a cluster of words on a page. If you have exam in school and looking for someone to guide you; you can simply sign up in our website and choose a chemistry expert as per your requirement. The online chemistry test preparation sessions will help you to understand the subject well and achieve your expected grade. If you want to have a proper understanding of the subject, start with the online tutoring websites. Get answers to all your doubts and enjoy the subject. Happy Learning! [starbox id=admin]

A Guide to American English

A Guide to American English How to Speak American English ChaptersThe Origins of American EnglishThe Specificities of American EnglishThe Differences Between American English and British EnglishResources for Learning American English“Americans who travel abroad for the first time are often shocked to discover that despite all the progress that has been made in the past 30 years, many foreign people still speak in foreign languages.”Ah, America! One of the biggest countries in the world and where the English language reigns supreme. All 50 states have different ways of speaking English. However, there is a lot of common ground in the way people speak across the country.We need to stop thinking that the only way to speak English in the United States is how they speak in TV shows, Hollywood Blockbusters, and in fashion magazines.85% of films shown around the world are American. These figures definitely thrust America into the limelight.Who hasn’t heard of Star Wars, Sex and the City, or the New York Times?All of these use the American En glish that we’re going to have a look at. In this article, we're going to have a look at where American English came from, what makes American English different to other varieties of English, and how you can learn to speak American English. JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Origins of American English“There is not a liberal America and a conservative America â€" there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America â€" there's the United States of America.” - Barack ObamaIn the grand scheme of things, the United States of America is a relatively young country. Its language is also rather young.American English, much like America, has changed a lot over the years. (Source: Free-Photos)English was first spoken in America during the 17th century. However, at this time in history, there were plenty of speakers of other languages on the continent who spoke French, Spanish, Dutch, Welsh, Irish, and the indigenous languages, of course!Over time, English evolved and started playing an important role on the continent. The phonology, vocabulary, and grammar of American English diverged from its British roots over time.It wasn’t until after the colonisation of the Americas that American English really diverged from that of British English.  There were d ifferences in pronunciation and vocabulary, just as you’d find in Australian, Scottish, and Irish English. In fact, no matter where you go in the world, there’ll be a different version of English.So are you ready to find out exactly what American English is and how to learn it?Check out more about the Australian accent.You’ll have the answers to your questions soon enough!The Specificities of American EnglishDo the terms “’sup” or “y’all” mean anything to you?These are typically American terms! The first is the contraction of “What’s up?” and the other means “You all”. There’s your first example of how American English differs from the other variants of English.English dialects are different everywhere and the American English is no exception. (Source: jarmoluk)The English spoken in the United States of America is often considered a simpler version of English.Why?This is usually because most people are already quite familiar with it having heard it on T V and in films.  Without even noticing, most people already have a pretty good understanding of American English. Similarly, you can probably get by in New York with the basics. After having heard it so much throughout your life, American English is pretty much already your second language!Check out the best  English lessons online.You also need to know the grammar, which is also simpler than other forms of English. Obviously, you still need to follow the grammatical rules, but they’re usually simpler in American English.The same is true for the accent. Since you’ll have heard it so often, it’s much easier to understand the American English accent over a regional British dialect or Scottish English. That should clear a few things up!So while American English started as various British dialects, it has since diverged from roots. A common example is the letter “r”, which is almost always pronounced in American English, unlike in English dialects which tend to drop the “r† when it follows a vowel.There are also new terms that America gave the English language both inside the United States and around the world. All of these terms, from various domains, originated in the US:TeenagerCaucusCompact carBelittleWaterfrontGet the hang ofAnd many more!As you’ll have understood, it’s quite difficult to talk about what makes American English special without comparing it to other English dialects, especially British English. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do!Would you like to learn English online? Check the best  ESOL courses.The Differences Between American English and British EnglishAs we said before, American English originated as British English and a mix of various English dialects from around the United Kingdom. However, over the course of the centuries, American English became its own dialect and grew up with American culture.While American English and British English are the same language, there are a lot of differences. (Source: Free-Pho tos)Since most people all over the world learn to speak English in school, English classes are becoming increasingly specialised, to the point where students are watching in English (without subtitles in some cases) by the time they’re leaving school.The main difference you’ll notice between the UK and the US is how words are spelt. In fact, American English changed the spelling of quite a few words in the English language.This is the quickest and easiest way to tell whether you’re reading British English or American English. However, the vocabulary is also another way to work out which country the language is from. Since language is inherently related to culture, and there are a number of differences between British and American culture, it’s hardly surprising that there’s also a linguistic difference between the two countries.In the United States of America, they often use the past simple for describing events that happened not too long ago. In England, on the other hand , they tend to use the present perfect.  For example, an American would say “I went to store” whereas someone from England would say “I’ve been to the shop”. The difference may be slight, but you can see that there are even alterations to the simplest sentences.Even the verb “get” is different. In America, “get-got-gotten” is the preferred conjugations for the present and past while in the UK, they use “get-got-got”. After a few exercises, you’ll get the hang of it.Once again, practice makes perfect and you can get plenty of practice by immersing yourself in American culture. There are plenty of useful resources for learning American English, helping you to think in American English, and working on your pronunciation.Would you like to know more about Irish English?Which sites can you use to learn English online?Resources for Learning American English“England and America are two countries separated by the same language.”The United States of America is a co nstantly-changing country whose culture is constantly making its way to other countries. From Beyoncé to the Statue of Liberty via Ernest Hemingway, everyone knows something about American culture.The American linguistic landscape is as fascinating as the physical one. (Source: skeeze)Whether you use audio resources, audiovisual resources, or literary resources, they can be hugely useful in helping you to understand American English, American culture, and immerse yourself in both.Watching American films with the subtitles on is a great way to learn American English. Everyone watches them, after all.What about American TV shows?There’s surely one you like! Whether it’s Forrest Gump, Breaking Bad, or the Walking Dead, films and TV shows are much better in their mother tongue and a great way to learn about language and culture.Books are another source of inspiration. If you want to improve your American English vocabulary, there’s not much better than a book. Immersing yourself in a new world, a certain point of view, and a new country is more than possible with the help of a book.This is your chance to learn from the greats like William Faulkner, Jack Kerouac, and Toni Morrison. In addition to helping you gain new perspectives, these resources will also help you in your new language.Of course, you can improve your English vocabulary from any type of media. Radio stations, TV channels, and the press are all freely accessible and useful tools for learning not just general American English, but specific vocabulary like business English.Watching CNN, listening to online radio stations, or flicking through The Wall Street Journal are all useful ways to improve your knowledge of the language, country, and culture.This is a language that continues to evolve and change. If you need to find a tutor to help you, look no further than Superprof!

The Guide to Visiting Venice

The Guide to Visiting Venice How To Prepare for a Trip to Venice ChaptersWhen and For How Long Should You Visit Venice?The Different Neighbourhoods of VeniceWhere to Stay in Venice?Top Things to do in Venice“In the glare of the day there is little poetry about Venice, but under the charitable moon her stained palaces are white again…” - Mark TwainWhen you go to Venice, you have to plan your trip according to how long you’ll be there for, the sites and monuments you want to visit, and the time of the year you’ll be there. Whether you’re there for 3 days or a week, which neighbourhood you’re staying in, and the weather can all affect your trip.Over 20 million tourists visit Venice each year and the numbers visiting the city have increased 5% each year in recent decades.Thus, the number of tourists visiting Venice doubles every 14 years. While the city centre attracts 30,000 tourists a day, an estimated 80,000 people visit daily during the summer.Despite all this, do you still have your heart set on Venice?Here’s our mini guide to vis iting the city. 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 tutorsWhen and For How Long Should You Visit Venice?Most travellers don’t stay anywhere near a week in Venice. Visiting Venice in the summer is nothing like visiting it in the winter. Plan accordingly! (Source: Free-Photos)Of the 25 million visitors to the city each year, 12 million of them only spend a single day there.More and more tourists are opting for free tours of the city, which does nothing for the local government’s coffers.Despite all this tourism, the city only received around £3 in taxes per tourist.Venice is the most powerful and influential city in the former Republic of Venice of which it was the capital for over 1,000 years between 697 and 1797.Most of the city and the Venetian Lagoon are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the amount of cultural and historical heritage is incredible.There are plenty of reasons to visit Venice throughout the year:Carnival of VeniceThe canals and streets in the centre of VeniceGondola ridesThe restaurantsVisiting the islands Giudecca, Murano, Burano, Torcello, and the Lido.The San Marco neighbourhood (Saint Mark’s Square, Saint Mark’s Basil ica, the Palace of the Doge).The magnificent Venetian architecture and art.In addition to all these things, there are also incredible monuments and attractions to see: the Bridge of Sighs, the museums (Museum of Glass, Natural History Museum), the Rialto Bridge, Teatro la Fenice, Gallerie dell’Accademia, and the Cannaregio, San Marco, Castello, Dorsoduro, and Santa Croce neighbourhoods.So when are you going to Venice?Venice is home to a warm and humid continental climate. Temperatures can often exceed 35 °C, it gets muggy, and there are often violent storms. Similarly, during the high season, prices go up.If you want to visit in autumn, the weather’s much more agreeable: it’s regularly sunny and it remains warm until the beginning of October.Then it starts to get grey and rainy. In winter, it can get really cold and even snow. However, this is a great time to visit because there are much fewer tourists. Of course, not during carnival.The best time is to visit during spring (be tween May and June) and autumn. You need at least between 3 days and a week to see everything Venice has to offer.This will give you enough time to visit the different monuments, neighbourhoods, the Venetian Lagoon, and the Grand Canal.Find out more about how long you should spend in Venice.The Different Neighbourhoods of VeniceSo in the city of the canals and bridges, where can you stay? If you're sick of tourists, head to Venice's other islands. (Source: Alois_Wonaschuetz)There are six neighbourhoods in Venice:San MarcoDorsoduroSan PoloCannaregioCastelloGiudeccaSan Marco is the most popular neighbourhood as it’s home to the most historic monuments. It’s also the political, economic, and religious centre of the Republic of Venice.If you’re not a fan of historic relics, you’ve seen it all, or you want to avoid the crowds, you might want to head to the Dorsoduro neighbourhood.  This is the artistic and bohemian side of town, with plenty of bars, restaurants, trattorias, osterias, and places to drink Aperol Spritz.  It’s far more relaxed than San Marco.If you cross the Rialto Bridge, you’ll end up in San Polo, the city’s oldest neighbourhood.On the other side, there’s the Cannaregio region.  This is the area where the Jewish population were forced to live from 1516 until 1797 when the city came under Napoleonic occupation.  This is the least regularly vi sited neighbourhood in Venice, making it rather relaxing.In the southeast of Venice, there’s Castello, home to the Santi Giovanni e Paolo Basilica, the city’s biggest church.The Napoleonic Gardens provide a welcome green space and home for the Biennale di Venezia, a music, dance, architecture, and cinema festival.That’s not all: Venice is an archipelago consisting of 121 islands.The taxi boat (the Vaporetto) is a great way to get to the other islands like Burano, home to San Martino Church, the Venice Lace Museum, and the fish market, Murano, home to the Glass Museum, and Torcello.  The Lido is home to beaches on the Adriatic Sea where you can bathe in warm water.Are the neighbourhoods in Venice too busy?You can always go to Mestre on the mainland. This is also a good place to get accommodation.Find out more about the different parts of Venice.Where to Stay in Venice?Got your boarding card and ready for a trip to Venice?  Where are you going to stay in Venice? If you want accommodation in the best parts of Venice, you're going to have to pay for it. (Source: martaposemuckel)Venice can be quite expensive. Especially considering that the city is home to 261,905 inhabitants but welcomes nearly 30 million tourists looking for accommodation.Your budget will determine which neighbourhood you’ll stay in and whether you’ll get a hotel room or private accommodation.  You can look for hotels and holiday flats near Saint Mark’s Square if you have the budget. You can also look for somewhere a few minutes from a gondola ride or a Vaporetto stop. In any case, we recommend booking ahead of time to get the best offers.For short stays, you have a few options:AirbnbHomeAwayBooking.comOn HomeAway, you can get accommodation for anywhere between £100 and £3,000 per night in the centre of Venice.  By booking on Airbnb you can find accommodation for between £60 and £100 per night in the historic centre and between £40 and £60 per night in Mestre. The latter is cheaper but you’ll need to use public transport.Keep in mind that the cost of renting will depend on the type of accommodation you get, the neighbourhood, and the season.Find out more about accommodation in Venice.Top Things to do in VeniceLet’s have a closer look at exactly what you can do in Venice. There’s something to do for all types of travellers. The Rialto Bridge is one of Venice's most famous sights. (Source: huebistar)What can you do when visiting Venice?Here are a few things worth seeing and doing:Saint Mark’s SquareSaint Mark’s BasilicaThe Doge's PalaceThe Grand Canal, VeniceCarnival of VeniceCannaregio, Europe’s first Jewish ghettoBasilica of Santa Maria Della SaluteThe Venetian BridgesThe islands in the Venetian LagoonA gondola rideThe city’s museumsMost of these monuments are a testament to Venice’s power in Europe and date back to as early as the 13th and 14th centuries. The San Marco neighbourhood should be top of everyone’s list. Of course, it’ll depend on what you want to see.Saint Mark’s Square is without a doubt the most visited part of the city. However, you might want to avoid it if you don’t like crowds.For tourist attractions, you might want to get queue-jumps!On the square, you can find Saint Mark’s Basilica, Saint Mark’s Campanile, and the Doge’s Palace, the official residence of th e Doges of the Republic of Venice.  The museum is now home to works from famous Venetian painters like Titien, Bellini, Veronese, and Tintoretto.While a gondola ride may seem a little cliché, romantics will appreciate it and you can admire the city’s 435 bridges.  The most famous bridges include the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs, which connects the interrogation rooms of the Doge’s Palace.  Sadly, the Bridge of Sighs is famous for being the place where prisoners caught their last glimpses of freedom before being imprisoned for life.What can you do during your holidays in Venice?If you want to avoid the crowds, you can always stay on one of the lagoon’s islands. Venice is a great place for out-of-the-ordinary holidays despite all the tourists.Torcello, for example, is one of the quieter of Venice’s 121 islands.In terms of museums, you can find the Naval History Museum, the Gallerie dell’Accademia, home to renaissance art, and the Peggy Guggenheim, home to modern ar t.You’ll come home with plenty of great holiday snaps!

Summer at AJ Test Prep Tutoring

Summer at AJ Test Prep Tutoring Whether you are a rising 8th grader looking ahead to a fall or winter ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT; or you are a rising junior looking ahead to a first go-around at the PSAT, SAT, and ACT, the summer is an excellent time to get a head start on test prep. At AJ Tutoring, we’ve worked with thousands of students in the summer to instill key test-taking strategies, cover crucial content areas, and review proctored practice exams. These days, students are super busy during the school year with school, sports, and other extracurriculars, so summer studying can be a nice way to hone in on exam prep without the pressures of the academic year. With that in mind, please read on to learn more about how we can help this summer.What are the options for summer test prep at AJ?As a team of professional tutors who specialize in 1-on-1 tutoring, we do a lot of such customized prep over the summer. You can learn more about our approach to middle school, high school or college admissions tests here. We also o ffer small group classes for the SAT.Keep in mind, we’re also highly knowledgeable about tough classes like algebra, US History, and chemistry, and summer is a great time to dive into these curricula to review, enrich, or get ahead. You can learn more about our academic tutoring here.Read on for a more in-depth breakdown of our primary summer test prep plans!How can we help prepare students for the ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT?We want every student who is taking an ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT and is perhaps new to standardized tests to feel confident and capable on test day. By introducing important test-taking skills that will help students throughout their academic career, we strive to set students up for long-term success.Not sure which exam your student should take? Click here for a short quiz to identify the right fit.Generally, students aim to complete ten 1-hour sessions over the summer and also take two or three full-length proctored exams in preparation for a middle or high school entranc e exam. If you plan to schedule an exam for late fall or early winter, it can still be wise to start preparing in the summer and continue into the fall or simply do a few refresher sessions as the exam approaches.If you’d like to discuss your student’s options and put together a customized plan, give us a call.How does SAT or ACT tutoring fit into your summer schedule?The SAT and ACT are rites of passage for American high schoolers. At AJ, we don’t believe these exams have to be stressful and mysterious. Our professional tutors know the tests back and forth and delight in working with students to familiarize them with the exams and build confidence.For context, we estimate that a student’s chances for admission to a college depend on high school courses and grades (60%), SAT and SAT subject test scores (30%), and essays, recommendations, and extracurricular activities (10%). Because grades are a multi-year effort, the exams offer a great opportunity to showcase your skills o n a shorter timeline.How does SAT or ACT tutoring fit into your summer schedule?If you choose to prepare for the SAT or ACT with an AJ tutor (and we hope you do!), you can expect to complete ten 1.5-hour sessions leading up to the August 24 SAT test date or September 14 ACT test date . If you start tutoring after school is out, this generally means meeting about once per week throughout June, July and August. We also ask our SAT or ACT prep students to complete at least 3 full-length practice SATs or ACTs, preferably proctored at our office on Saturday mornings. You can find our complete schedule of proctored practice SATs and ACTs on our website.If you’ve a rising senior who has already worked with us for SAT or ACT prep, we can usually shorten your prep for a retake. Students will often complete four 1.5-hour sessions in preparation for retaking an exam. You should also plan on taking 2 full-length practice tests on the weekends. During the retake prep, your tutor will focus mor e closely on your areas of difficulty from the last exam and work on fine-tuning your approach to the test.In general, we think that the late summer exams are great moves by The College Board and ACT to give students more options. Most rising seniors should at least consider taking the SAT in August and/or ACT in September.What about the PSAT?The PSAT is a practice run for the SAT which students take in their junior year and often in their sophomore year. The PSAT gives students a baseline for SAT scores and qualifies the top percentage of test-takers for the National Merit Scholarship.While the vast majority of students won’t qualify for the National Merit Scholarship, it can still be valuable to prepare for the PSAT. Because it is so similar to the SAT, preparing for the PSAT can give students a great head start on SAT preparation and an indication of where they can improve.You can learn about timelines and options for PSAT prep here. Most students who prepare for the PSAT over the summer go on to do preparation for the SAT and/or ACT in the spring of their junior year.Because each student has a different starting point, learning style, and summer schedule, we’ll help you find the right match for a tutor and for a test prep plan. Give us a call and speak with one of our directors today!

20 English Idioms Related to Body Parts - Intermediate Level English

20 English Idioms Related to Body Parts - Intermediate Level English Today I thought we would learn some English idioms related to body parts and master those expressions that are used every day.Scroll down to watch a short video lesson about Break a Leg idiom meaning.Yesterday a student used an incorrect expression. I knew what he meant to say but it was not correct. He meant to say “she went on foot” (meaning she walked to a place) but instead he said “she went by her legs”. There is not much difference between your foot and your leg but it can make a big difference in whether people understand you or not. English Idioms Related to Body Parts Here are some other English idioms and expressions using parts of the body.SIT ON YOUR HANDSThis usually is used to describe how someone decides to do nothing or is not allowed to do anything.He wanted to contact the customer and explain what happened. His boss told him to sit on his hands  for a few days.TO LEND A HANDThe opposite meaning to sit on your hands! Here we use this when someone asks us for help or we offer help to others.The office was very busy and lots of people needed to be contacted. The manager offered to lend a hand  to get the work done more quickly.COST AN ARM AND A LEGWe use this phrase when we are surprises or staggered by the cost of something.He crashed his car on the way home. There was a lot of damage. It would cost him an arm and a leg  to get it repaired! English Idioms related to Body Parts - Infographic Enjoyed this infographic? Here’s what you can do next: English Idioms Related to Body Parts UP TO ONE’S NECKThis is used to represent a time when we have a lot to do or we are in a lot of trouble.I am up to my neck  in work this week could we possibly meet next week instead? He is  up to his neck  in bank debt as he borrowed a lot of money to buy that house.PAIN IN THE NECKA nuisance; an irritating, annoying person.I hope Mary doesnt bring her brother this time, he was a real pain in the neck the last time he was here.TO BE ALL FINGERS AND THUMBSto be very clumsyHe tried to put something in his pocket but couldnt manage because he was all fingers and thumbs.TO BE DOWN IN THE MOUTHto be depressedYoure looking down in the mouth today, Peter. Come on, cheer up! SKIN AND BONESto be very thinShe is all skin and bones, she needs to eat more.TO TURN A BLIND EYEnot to notice something deliberatelyShe saw them taking sweets from the shop but turned a blind eye.TO BITE ONES TONGUEto try really hard not to say what you really feelHe was solely responsible for this disaster, but I had to bite my tongue.TO GIVE SOMEONE A COLD SHOULDERto deliberately ignore someoneWhat have I done to her? She’s been giving me the cold shoulder all afternoon.TO HAVE ONES BACK TO THE WALLto be in a bad or dangerous situation from which there is no escapeHe  had his back to the wall, down 4 games to 5 and serving in the deciding set to stay in the match.  TO MAKE ONES BLOOD BOILwhen something makes someone very angryLittering makes my blood boil.TO HAVE A LUMP IN ONES THROATto feel very sad; to be on the verge of tearsI had a lump in my throat when I heard the news. Body Parts Idioms - Infographic Help others to find this. Share! A KNEES UPThis is very informal/slang and has a pleasant meaning. We use it to describe a good party or a sing-a-long with some friends when everyone lets their hair down and relaxes.We had a great knee’s up  over Christmas. Everyone was there and were in great spirits.CHANCE ONES ARMTry to do something although the chance of success may be slim, to take a risk, to try ones luck. This phrase first recorded in 1880s and back in the days it was mostly used as  a soldier’s term.Immediately after University I  chanced my arm  and opened up my first boutique.YOU SCRATCH MY BACK AND ILL SCRATCH YOURSYou offer to help someone on condition that this person will help you in return.Thanks for lending me your car, here are your keys. You scratch my back and Ill scratch yours, remember?GO BELLY UPWe usually use this phrase when were talking about a business or some project that was unsuccessful or went bankrupt.Some thought it was only a matter of time before the company  went belly up, but it somehow survived.THROW SOMEONE A BONETo praise someone or to reward someone in some way in order to make them feel good.In secondary school I had many teachers who threw me bone and let me pass a test.ALL EARSIf someone says Im all ears it means that they are ready and are very eager to listen to what you have to say.Sam was all ears when I began to talk about my holidays in Australia last year.There are many many more sayings and expressions in the English language which we will cover in the future. So if you have enjoyed this post and it helps you to learn more about English idioms then share it with a friend and check out our Skype English lessons prices. Break a Leg Meaning - Video Lesson And here is my video lesson about probably one of the strangest English idioms related to body parts BREAK A LEG. It is one of many cases when the real meaning of the idiom BREAK A LEG  is totally different from the individual words this idiom consists of. Watch my short video lesson and learn the history of BREAK A LEG  idiom and its real meaning.