The Places to See the Best Sculpture Collections.

The Places to See the Best Sculpture Collections. Museums, Sculpture Parks, and Galleries: The Best Spots to See Sculpture. ChaptersRome: A City as Art MuseumNational Museum of Anthropology, Mexico: Sculptures from the Other Side of the Atlantic.The British Museum: The Monumental Home of the World’s Treasures.The Louvre: Paris’s Home of Western Art.Musée Rodin: Dedicated to the Father of Modern Sculpture.Florence: Birthplace of the Italian RenaissanceKröller-Müller Museum: The Netherlands’ Best Sculpture Park.National Archaeological Museum, Athens: Where Greek Sculpture Started.New York: A City of Incredible Museums.Xi’an: The Biggest Sculpture Collection in the World.Indian Museum, Kolkata: India’s Best Sculpture Collection.It’s all good having seen your artworks online. It’s great having read in books about sculptors, painters, and artists. Yes, good for you if you’ve watched a TV show about the masterpieces of the art world.But, really, we all know it’s not the same as seeing them in the flesh. Or rather in the white marble, terracotta, ceramics or whatever. This is particularly tr ue of sculpture as an art form â€" out of all the visual arts.Sculptors work in three dimensions â€" not just two. The principles of sculptural design have nothing to do with a flat page. To appreciate the work of a sculptor to the full you must see it in reality. The different perspectives, the size, the materiality of the work demands this.So, the question becomes, where can you go and see all of these famous sculptures that are talked about all over the place? What art center or museum of art holds all of this famous stuff?It’s a great question â€" and the answer may be a little frustrating. Because the real answer is all over the world!But, to narrow it down a little, it depends on what you want to see. Because if it is prehistoric stuff you are after, you’ll need to head somewhere different to the place you’d go if you fancied some baroque. Just as if you wanted to see the modern forms of sculpture â€" kinetic sculpture, snow sculpture, site specific work, glass sculpture , abstract sculpture, or an assemblage â€" you wouldn’t really want to go to a place focusing on the Paleolithic.There are many different types of sculpture, and you need to decide which one you prefer!Here we list some of the best sculpture museums in the world, and it will be up to you to decide which one tickles your fancy.We hope you enjoy it! 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 tutors 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 al l 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 reading 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 tutorsRome: A City as Art MuseumRome, really, is a very special place. Not only does it hold some of the most beautiful churches, cathedrals, and museums in the world, but it is, in itself, a museum. Just walking down the street you are going to see things more beautiful than anything you’ve ever seen in your life.There’s only one reason for that. Rome was, of course, the capital of the Roman Empire. It became then the seat of the Catholic Church. And then it became the capital city of one of the richest countries on the planet. So, of course there is plenty of stuff there to see.So, go there for Roman art and Roman sculpture. Go there to see works by Bernini and Leonardo da Vinci â€" and other works by those in the High Renaissance and afterwards. Go to see colossal pieces of public art and architectural sculpture.And read our article about the world famous sculptures!Vatican Museum: Not Just Religious, but Full of Art History too.And don’t forget, some of the most amazing carving, reliefs, Roman statues, and ancient art are to be found in the Vatican.There’s also an excellent collection of modern art, a sarcophagus or two, and paintings by all the famous people you know. Don’t forget the Sistine Chapel of Michelangelo too.Nati onal Museum of Anthropology, Mexico: Sculptures from the Other Side of the Atlantic.In this series on sculpture, we’ve mainly focused on the art of sculpture in the western canon. Yet, obviously, there is so much more to the medium than that produced these little civilizations in Europe.Whilst we’ve been fixated on the Hellenistic and the Romanesque, the Brancusi and Picasso, the Greek and Roman and modernism, there’s been a lot more going on about the world. Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology is one place that proves this â€" and it shows, really, how limited our view has been.The NMA showcases art, sculpture, and artefacts from pre-Columbian times in Mexico â€" depicting deities, animals, and all sorts of other things.The British Museum: The Monumental Home of the World’s Treasures.Due to the ‘controversial’ (to put it mildly) history of the British Empire, London has become home to historical treasures from across the world. It is, in fact, one of the largest museums in the world â€" with over eight million objects.From colossal granite sculptures from Ancient Egypt to one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, from the Parthenon Marbles to Spartan bronze sculpture, from amazing varieties of figurative sculpture to contemporary art.For the arts world, this is a hugely important place. In very few places in the world will you be able to find all these things in one place. And it's got work by some of history's greatest sculptors. For sculpture artists from across the centuries, the British Museum is your best bet.The Louvre: Paris’s Home of Western Art.If there is a museum in the world that competes with the British Museum for vastness and value of its collection, it’s the Louvre, in Paris.Whilst all of the works after 1850 are now in the Musée D’Orsay (which you should visit too whilst you’re in town), the Louvre houses all sorts of exquisite work from antiquity to the eighteenth century.So, check out some of the most famous work from Ancient Greece and Mesopotamia. And then walk along the hall and see work from Michelangelo and Antonio Canova. It's a treasure trove for those interested in the history of sculpture.It’s a privilege to be in this place â€" so appreciate it.Find out the different art classes on Superprof.Musée Rodin: Dedicated to the Father of Modern Sculpture.The history of modern and contemporary sculpture can really be traced back to one man, Auguste Rodin, who transformed, in th e late nineteenth century, the way that people made sculpture.The Musée Rodin, another sculpture museum in Paris, holds the largest collection of his work, including great pieces such as The Thinker, The Kiss, and The Gates of Hell. As the museum hosts many of Rodin’s drawings too, one can follow the principles of design, the reconstructions, and thought that went into this great artist’s work. The chief of modernist sculpture 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 tutors 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 fr ee!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 reading 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 tutorsFlorence: Birthplace of the Italian RenaissanceItalians are pretty lucky, honestly. Thanks to the fact that it was in Italy that grew the majority of the artistic developments up until the nineteenth century, the country is full of a lot of cool stuff.After Rome, Florence is another a city that may as well have a wall built around it and be called a museum itself.Head towards Piazza della Signora (you just have to follow the crowds) and you’ll find Cellini’s famous Perseus, and you’ll find Michelangelo’s David in town too.Check out the Galleria dell’Accademia and the Uffizi Museum for concentrated doses of art. Walk around the Uffizi and you’ll see statues of the all the biggest names of the Renaissance.Learn everything about sculpture.Kröller-Müller Museum: The Netherlands’ Best Sculpture Park.Holland’s Kröller-Müller Museum is a sprawling landscape of sculptures, winding paths, forests, and cycling tourists. In itself, without the sculpture, it is a gorgeous place to be.It was set up back in the thirties as a home for the founder’s mammoth collection of Van Gogh paintings â€" and today it has the second-largest collect of the Dutch painter’s work in the world.Yet, we’re talking about sculpture â€" and you’ll need to go into the garden for that. Here, you’ll find work by Rodin, Henry Moore, Jean Dubuffet, and more.National Archaeological Museum, Athens: Where Greek Sculpture Started.Ancient Greece is a by-word for artistic and cultural excellence and innovation â€" and it’s no surprise then that contemporary Athen s holds a remarkable selection of fascinating artefacts, statues, masks, jewellery, and sculptures.The museum runs from the prehistoric section to late antiquity and holds plenty of ancient Greek sculpture (and Roman replicas!).The Mask of Agamemnon is particularly cool.New York: A City of Incredible Museums.New York, to state the obvious, is New York. And, given that it is still the centre of the world, it has probably the best collection of art museums and galleries in the world too.Check out the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Museum â€" the latter of which is like a sculpture in itself. Across the three museums you’ll find work by Constantic Brancusi, Alberto Giacometti, Henry Moore, Rodin, and Bernini.And, of course, one the city’s most famous landmarks is the Statue of Liberty â€" one of the most recognised pieces of sculpture on the planet. From body sculpture to wire sculpture, New York has everythingXi’an: The Biggest Sculpture Collection in the World.If you like your sculpture to take your breath away with sheer scale, jump on a flight to Xi’an, China.Here, you’ll find the largest collection of terracotta sculptures in the world. You’ve probably heard of them: the Terracotta Warriors.These were made to defend an ancient emperor in the afterlife, and they were buried with him. This Qin Shi Huang had a retinue of over eight thousand terracotta warriors after death.It’s quite an impressive sight.Indian Museum, Kolkata: India’s Best Sculpture Collection.The largest and oldest museum in India is Kolkata’s Indian Museum. It covers everything from art and archaeology to zoology and botany.It has an amazing collection of sculpture from across India â€" from Buddhist sculpture to Hindu deities.

Using Different Image Formats

Using Different Image Formats How Can You Convert an Image? ChaptersThe Different Image FormatsWhat Different Formats DoChanging the Format of an Image in Microsoft WindowsChanging the Format on a MacConverting Photos Using Image Editing SoftwareConverting an Image with Online Tools“Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.” - Don McCullinWhether you’re resizing a photo, adding filters for social media, etc., there are plenty of things you can do to improve a photo.If you want to share them, you’ll need to make sure they’re in the right format. You just need to look at sites like Giphy or 9gag to see just how popular images and gifs can be.The success of these sites also shows that every format has its place in the world. Thus, depending on the size of the image, you can convert images into jpg, gif, png, etc.So how do you do it? Don’t panic, here’s how! AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 ( 2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Different Image FormatsRetouching photos isn’t just about resizing, uploading, changing the number of pixels. You’ll need to choose the right format according to what you want to do with your photos.Different file formats have different uses. (Source: Free-Photos)A jpg or pdf won’t be dealt with in the same way in a photo editing programme. Not every format is used in the same way.  A file format, be it an image, audio, or video file, defines what you can do with it. There are plenty of things you can do with photos:PrintSend by emailDownloadTransfer using Google Drive or WeTransferAdd into a text documentUpload them onlinePost them on social mediaAnd many others!Every image is firstly a certain file format before its pixels or bytes. Whether it’s a png or bitmap, the file format defines how devices interact with the photo.  Converting an image might seem tricky at first, but it will help you do more with your photos.So how do you convert images and why?We’ve got the answers for you here!Don't forget to transfer the photos to your computer first!What Different Formats DoWhen it comes to image formats, you should know what they do. Here are a few of the common image file formats and a comparison of file sizes:Tiff file (uncompressed): 901kJpeg (high quality): 319kJpeg (medium quality): 188kJpeg (web quality): 105kJpeg (low quality/high compression): 50kPng (lossle ss compression): 741kGif (Graphic Interchange Format) (lossless compression, 256 colours): 286kThere's also the bitmap image file format, raw files, vector images, and project file types for programmes like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Indesign, etc, you'll recognise these from their file extension.To make your photos more accessible, you might want to change the format. (Source: trinhkien91)Raw files include all the information digital cameras capture and can be useful when working in Adobe Lightroom. However, they're not a great (or necessarily useful) image format for sharing. You'll probably want to export the raw image as a jpeg image, for example.Now that you know a bit more about the file types, you’ll know what each programme prefers. Each extension dictates the type of photo or image you’ve got.Look up fo the best photography courses on here.There’s nothing worse than using a .pdf without knowing whether you can transform it into a .gif, change its resolution, or work on it in Lightroom!In short, knowing your way around the different file formats will help a lot. Additionally, while vector graphics can scale infinitely, but a vector image will probably have huge file sizes. The image quality is also different depending on the file type, so consider what you need the file for.Files too big?Consider resizing the image. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsChangi ng the Format of an Image in Microsoft WindowsOn a PC, converting images can be done quite simply. So while you can compress a folder, crop your holiday snaps, rotate a picture, you can also convert jpeg images into pdf files.On Windows, most conversions are done in the same way and in just a few clicks, you can reduce the file size in order to send a family photo in an email, for example.On Windows, it’s quite simple:Select the image you want.Right-click and select “Edit”.Click on the File menu.Click “Save as...” and choose the format you want.That’s it!Happy with the new format?Join the best photography courses in the UK on Superprof.Changing the Format on a MacOn Mac, you can also convert images and it’s just as simple as on a PC. Without any loss in quality, you’ll find your favourite snap under a new format in no time at all. To do this:Choose the photo you want.Select “Export the selected images”.Click on “Options” and you can choose from six different formats.Click on alt ? and you’ll see not six, but 18 different formats to choose from.Choose the format you’re after and you’re good to go!Whatever camera you're using, it's easy to convert image files. (Source: pixel2013)Who would have thought it could be that simple?Of course, that isn’t everything you need to know about retouching photos.Learn more about using blur to get the most out of your photos.Converting Photos Using Image Editing SoftwareLarge image files or big batches of images can increase download times for emails or even mean that you can’t send them. Choosing the right format can help rectify this problem. You can use photo editing software to change the file type.With GIMPGIMP is a great example of a versatile photo editing programme as you can alter photos and images in a number of ways. You can work with pdfs and jpegs in just a few clicks. You won’t need to change the size or anything like that, you can just convert them directly.Drag your photo into the workspace and click on “File” and then “Open”. GIMP, much like some other photo editing software, can only treat one image at a time.At this time, you can also crop the photo, change its size while keeping the ratios, rename the file, etc. This is the joy of photo editing, after all!Let’s get back to the topic at hand! To convert an image in your workspace, you just need to click on “File” and “Export As”. A window will open and you’ll have the opportunity to choose the format you want for your images.With OfficeWhen using the Office Suite, you can also change the format of images. To change the format, you just need to click on “File” then “Save As”. Get into the habit of saving regularly anyway!From there, you’ll be presented with a plethora of different formats to work with. You can do the same in Word.There’s a decent amount of file types, isn’t there?Converting an Image with Online ToolsThere’s a good number of online tools you can use t o convert an image. There’s Conv2pdf, Convertimage, Image Online Convert, resizeit, Image Resizer, Snap Converter, Graphic Converter, and many more to choose from.If you want to share a snap, you might need to convert it. (Source: laura6)In most instances, you’ll have to:Access the photos through the site.Choose the photo you want to convert.Click on the format you want to convert the image to.Wait while the file is converted and downloaded onto your computer.So while there are a lot of different file types available, you should know how to convert between them. In just a few clicks, you can be working with pdfs, jpgs, gifs, etc. Give it a go!If you want to learn more about photography or photo editing, you could always get private tuition from one of the tutors on Superprof. There are three main types of tutorial available on the site: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and the best one for you really depends on your situation.Face-to-face tutorials are the most personal and have you and your tutor working together for the whole session. Of course, this bespoke service comes at a cost, making it the most costly type of tutorial available. However, it's also the most cost-effective as every minute of the tutor's time is spent helping you.Online tutorials are similar to face-to-face tutorials with the main difference being that the tutor isn't physically in the room with you. Thanks to services like Skype, a tutor can teach you remotely using a webcam and an internet connection. Since the tutor isn't in the room with you, this can make hands-on skills a little trickier. However, without travel costs, the tutor can charge their student less per hour.Finally, there are group tutorials. In these types of tutorials, there are several students and just one tutor. With all the students sharing the cost of the tutor's time, these tutorials are usually the cheapest per person per hour but each st udent won't get the bespoke tutoring or one-on-one time that they would in the other types of tutorials.

Angels Airwaves Exclusive The Best Guitar Accessories

Angels Airwaves Exclusive The Best Guitar Accessories Suzy S. A few weeks ago, we featured an exclusive interview with Angels and Airwaves guitarist David Kennedy. If youre aiming for that AVA sound, we sat down with David again to find out exactly what gear he uses with the band. Read on to check out his recommendations for the best guitar and best guitar accessories Best Guitar There are two basic guitar styles to consider. The Epiphone Les Paul covers one side of guitar playing, and the Fender Stratocaster covers the other. The Les Paul is very clean, warm, and heavier-sounding, so that’s good if you’re playing a lot of power chords. The Strat is a more bright and vibrant sound, like U2 for example. So it just depends on the sound you’re going after. Best Guitar Strings I use Ernie Balls heavy gauge strings I’ve used those my whole life. I like the heavier strings because I have big hands, and the heavier the strings are, the more rigid they are. I’m definitely not a delicate player, so I need the heavier strings. But if youre a lighter player, they make a light version too. Best Amp I use a Fender Twin Reverb, those are really nice. The Vox AC30 is another good one. Theyre compact, but you can also grow with them you can use it in your apartment, or mic em up when youre on stage playing. Best Guitar Pedals for Effects We use a digital delay pedal, which allows you to create different repetitions it just repeats the note you play. The rest of our sound comes from the amp, though, which has two channels, clean and dirty. Best Guitar Pick Guitar picks can be really subjective you really have to experiment and play around with what works for you. I use Tortex in a medium weight. They also have a heavy weight and a light weight, for more delicate playing. For me, I cant feel the strings with the lighter picks. Most guitar accessories are subjective like this, so just keep that in mind! Best Tuner I have a Vox tuner, and we use a rackmount in the studio.  Tuners are pretty self-explanatory, so theres not really a best brand or type, but its really important to have. As a beginner, when youre not as knowledgeable, you dont even realize youre playing out of tune until youre jamming with other people and youll notice it then. Tuning your guitar correctly can make a huge difference, and it makes everything so much more fun when it sounds right! Readers, what are you favorite guitar accessories or brands? Leave a comment below and let us know!   Suzy S., TakeLessons staff member and blogger 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 interestedbystandr

A Day in the Life at University of Notre Dame

A Day in the Life at University of Notre Dame The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Kate is a Los Angeles tutor and 2011 graduate of University of Notre Dame. She holds a Bachelors degree in English and Vocal Performance and tutors several subjects such as Essay Editing tutoring, GRE prep tutoring, and Reading tutoring. Check out what Kate had to say about her time at University of Notre Dame: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Kate: The University of Notre Dame has a very beautiful and idyllic college campus, with a great combination of old, ivy-covered Gothic buildings, and newer structures with fantastic amenities. There are very few roads that run right through the campus, so it is pedestrian- and bike-friendly. Campus is moderate in size. A bike is the most anyone would need to get from class to class, and that is only if the buildings are at opposite ends of the campus. Most students walk, although students who live off-campus may drive or bike. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Kate:For a highly-respected research university, the faculty have been incredibly accessible in my experience. In my Vocal Performance and English majors, I got to know the professors very well, and they were instrumental to my success. My friends who studied in the Colleges of Science, Engineering, and Business often had larger lecture classes, but professors and teaching assistants still went out of their way to answer questions and assist students. First year advisers can be helpful, but take the things that some of them say with a grain of salt. Reach out to your professors with questions on career advice and choosing a major since they work in the field, they can give you the best answers. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Kate:Dorm life is a huge factor at the University of Notre Dame, as well as a rather controversial topic. Some people love the current, traditional system, and others think it causes a lot of campus issues. Since the University of Notre Dame does not have any Greek life, dorms fill the void and become a source of identity for their students. This can be great if you click with the fellow freshmen who are assigned to your dorm, but if you do not, it can make your social life a little more difficult, since a lot of socialization is dorm-centric. All the dorms are single-sex, and some students feel that this leads to awkward gender relations. Campus can be a bit of a bubble, so socializing as underclassmen is often confined to dorm rooms and campus social spaces. If you are the type of person who thrives in an urban environment and who wants to constantly go places, this can be difficult, but you can make it happen. It also becomes a lot easier when you turn 21! The University of Notre Dame does have a huge variety of great student activities, so it is easy to get involved with just about anything you are interested in. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Kate:All the majors seem very well supported, but I do think the College of Arts and Letters, in which I studied English and Vocal Performance, needs to do a better job of focusing these two majors. Too often, I ended up signing up for English electives rather aimlessly, and I did not have a lot of opportunities to figure out what would be best given my career goals. I have heard this sentiment echoed from other College of Arts and Letters majors as well. All the colleges produce very successful people, but the other four develop much more of a career focus in their students. I do not see why the College of Arts and Letters cannot strive to do the same (though they do make you into an excellent thinker, reader, and writer). VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Kate:There is no Greek life on campus, but dorm activities fill that socialization role, and people have a lot of dorm pride. It is very easy to meet people, but surprisingly difficult to make friends outside of your dorm group, at least during your first few months. I would recommend making friends in your classes and activities as early as possible. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Kate:The Career Center is an incredibly valuable resource I just wish professors and advisers began encouraging students to take advantage of it before their senior year. The University of Notre Dames College of Business is always very highly ranked, so many companies recruit on campus. These include the Big Four of finance, Target, and others. Additionally, a huge amount of graduates do a year or two of service after graduation in Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Alliance for Catholic Education, and many others. We even have an entirely separate Service Fair after the Career Fair. Notre Dames Catholic identity plays a big part in this service ethic, and since I did two years of AmeriCorps after graduating, this path comes highly recommended. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Kate:The University of Notre Dame has so many fantastic study areas for people who prefer different noise levels, amounts of foot traffic, snack options, etc. Rest assured that there are tons of perfect places to study, no matter how you work. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Kate:I grew up in South Bend (where the university is located), and it is experiencing a great renaissance, with a lot of student-friendly restaurants, bars, cafes, and live music venues opening up downtown! There is a theater that gets traveling Broadway national tours, an art museum, a minor league baseball team, some great boutiques and stores, a few new breweries, and a lot more. Downtown is not really accessible from campus without a bike, car, or using public transportation, but the areas between campus and downtown have been improving recently. Students have a stereotype of staying on campus, but that has been gradually changing. I would encourage anyone who goes to the University of Notre Dame to break out of the campus bubble and patronize local businesses as much as possible! Students ride free on South Bends public bus system with a valid ID. For older students, South Bend has some pretty good college nightlife, with a good variety of dive bars, nice bars, and a club or tw o. There is also a nearby town called Mishawaka that has a mall and all the typical retail stores and chain restaurants that you would expect. Finally, there is a new area right by campus called Eddy Street Commons that has a good mix of stores, apartments, and restaurants and it is easily walkable. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Kate:The undergraduate student body numbers about 8,000. I had no issues with class size (although I was spoiled in the College of Arts and Letters). VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Kate:I enjoyed my townie status, having grown up in South Bend. My childhood neighbor down the street ended up being my favorite English professor and my honors thesis adviser. I also had the chance to sing a full opera role (the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro) as a senior, which is very unusual for an undergraduate Vocal Performance major. The University of Notre Dames small but talented music department gave me a lot of memorable performance opportunities. Check out Kates tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Motivation to Learn What Inspires It

The Motivation to Learn What Inspires It Improving Academic Performance Have you ever wondered what motivates students to learn something new, especially when the subject or material might be rather complex or difficult? What helps students stay focused, engaged, excited, and diligent? According to data gathered from various schools and grade levels, there are three major areas that impact a student’s likelihood to stay motivated and tackle complicated subject matter. Hands down, the number one thing that students claim makes a difference in their motivation is the investment and care from the teacher or tutor. This is especially essential when the material is more difficult than usual or likely to overwhelm certain students or create stress. When teachers have high expectations, this sends the message they believe that, though the material might be advanced or the assignment might be lengthy, they fully believe their students are capable of success. This also sends the message to students that the teacher cares about the content herself and finds it useful or interesting, and that she herself had to tackle such complex material at a certain point, which further inspires students to go forward with the learning process. (Shout out to all the fantastic teachers out there doing this!) A second factor in maintaining motivation is integrating subjects and linking the learning process to something relevant and relatable. EduTopia agrees that students learn best when subjects like math, science, and history, for example, are linked together and applied to one another, rather than taught in isolated fragments. They also stay motivated when they feel that what they are learning is not only engrossing but purposeful, when it applies or somehow connects to the world in which they inhabit. When I was in college, my algebra teacher always required us to study the mathematicians and scientists who developed our formulas and theorems. He then explained how certain theorems were at work right this very moment, for example the formulas used when Apple was creating the very first iPod! This made learning demanding equations more exciting and enriching. It gave us something to talk about. I certainly never looked at my devices the same. When students are asked to create projects that integrate across their curriculum and prove relevance to the culture of today, they are especially likely to put forth maximum effort and stay engaged with the class. A final factor in inspiring students, as encouraged by Annie Murphy of the website mindshift.com is to challenge them to “beat,” even in very minuscule ways, their personal best. This does not mean they have to actually do this in order to be successful! We all have ebbs and flows with our assessments while in school, but studies show that when a student has a benchmark and an opportunity to go beyond a previous accomplishment, they are more likely to put forth the necessary investment and care than if the grade or outcome didn’t matter at all. Good examples of this are scoring a bit higher on a test, developing a stronger thesis statement for a paper, explaining a scientific theorem more clearly and accurately, expanding upon a project in new and creative ways that maybe weren’t assigned, meeting with the teacher, fellow students, or family members to discuss the material and have a thoughtful discussion about what everyone is learning, or even taking better notes in class t o support a final assignment. When one feels motivated to go above and beyond their own previous achievements, they are likely to feel enthusiastic and determined, which makes for the best recipe of a student! Increasing and maintaining motivation and drive fall on both the teachers and the students, as well as families and communities, but when we can see ourselves as human beings who were made to learn and grow and thus cater to these areas that nurture learning and growth, we are unstoppable! In addition, I recommend you go hereto TeachHub for more resources on how to motivate students and create energy and enthusiasm in your classroom! Questions or comments? We would love to hear from you! About the Author Stephanie Ingraham is a former English teacher turned writer and tutorwith a BA in English from UCLA and a Masters in Education from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles. She is deeply passionate about education, psychology, child and adolescent development, literature, and writing. She believes the education world can benefit greatly from the meditation world - mindfulness and self-compassion are key! In her free time she loves reading and writing, music, baking, yoga, dance, animals, and exploring new cities. She currently lives in Chicago, Illinois.

To Kiss Or Not To Kiss (On The Cheek) A Guide To Business Meetings with British Clients

To Kiss Or Not To Kiss (On The Cheek) A Guide To Business Meetings with British Clients Whenever I speak with students who are preparing for their first meeting with a British client, or potential British client, it is amazing how often questions arise, not only about speaking English, but about etiquette and protocol. How should I act? What should I say? Should I kiss on the cheek?Here is an etiquette guide for a business meeting in Britain.1. Be on time. Punctuality is always appreciated in Britain. If you encounter some difficulty that you know will make you late for an appointment, it is advisable to ring and let the client know and to give them the opportunity to reschedule if necessary.2. Shake hands The British are known for being formal. It is known as their “stiff upper lip.” A handshake is more appropriate than a kiss on the cheek.3. Respect Personal Space Latin countries for example are known for their ‘close contact’ behavior such as touching arms or patting on the back. In Britain, it is better to maintain a respectable amount of personal space and apart from the initial handshake, refrain from close personal contact.4. Start With Some Small Talk While the British are formal in demeanor, a certain amount of ‘chat’ or informal communication is expected in meetings. This is called ‘breaking the ice’ and is appropriate at the start and maybe also at the end. For example, if you are visiting London, you can start by talking about the sights you have visited, the food you enjoyed, the itinerary of the rest of your trip etc. If the British person is visiting your city you can ask him/her about how they are enjoying themselves, their impressions of the city and make suggestions for sightseeing activities.5. Respect Boundaries While a certain amount of informal conversation is useful, try to limit it to yourself. Asking the client personal or private questions, especially about salary, is not considered appropriate.6. Respect Authority Remember that British society is hierarchical and that this applies also in business meeting s. Allow the most senior staff members speak or make their presentations first.7. Know When To Call Person By A First Name If the client is at the same level as you in the staff hierarchy (e.g. if you are both managers), it is appropriate that you call him or her by a first name. If the client is more senior in hierarchy than you, it is advisable to start by referring to him/her, as Mr. or Ms. It is likely that you will be told: “Please call me David….or Sarah.” At this point, you can switch to using their first name.8. Don’t Interrupt Although you probably have a million questions and things you want to say, it is advisable to wait until the client is finished speaking before you begin speaking.9. Don’t Ramble The British appreciate clear, precise and succinct communication in life as in business meetings. Don’t ramble, don’t go off the point and don’t try to fill time.10. Use Humor and Realise When It Is Used The  British are known for their ‘black’ humor, sarc asm and irony. This means that they might make a comment that is intended to make you laugh but this not might be obvious by their facial expression. It is a good idea to brush up on your irony before a business meeting in Britain!Did you find this blog helpful? Feel free to share it on Facebook and Twitter.

The 5 best mnemonics

The 5 best mnemonics Mnemonics are memory aids. They are sometimes a single sentence, sometimes entire paragraphs. An English tutor friend of mine told me that he invented a labyrinthine mental trail around Canterbury Cathedral, populated by characters which he then taught to his students to help them recall the order of the Canterbury Tales. My personal favourite was a woman having a bath in the font, with a frying pan - the Wife of Bath followed by the Friar's Tale. Here are my top five mnemonics - the classics, mostly tried and tested from years of overseeing exam revision classes. What other mnemonics have you used with students - and to what degree of success? 1. Physics - My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets: Take the first letter of each word, to get the first letter of the planets, in order. Of course now Pluto is no longer a planet this one is slightly outdated - but hard to beat! 2. Music - Every Good Boy Deserves Football+ FACE: A similar theory to the naming of the planets, the former is a single letter for each line of music on the sheet, the latter for the gaps between. 3. History - Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived: The fate of the six wives of Henry VIII in a nutshell. This one works by expansion - once you know the destiny of the six women - it becomes easier to remember who is who. 4. Biology - Kids Playing Carelessly On Freeways Get Squashed: Otherwise known as the scientific classification of the species: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. 5. Geography - Never Eat Shredded Wheat - Simple, but effective, this first letter mnemonic helps students to remember the cardinal points of the compass, in order.