Learn To Speak English From Hindi

Learn To Speak English From HindiA good number of foreigners are still getting entangled into the activity of learning English from Hindi. Today, many international students are extremely keen to know what exactly they should do in order to get comfortable with the language and to be able to have a better command over it. Let us learn how to learn from Hindi.One needs to first know that English is one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world. Moreover, there are a lot of people who are more exposed to English than any other language because it is the world's standard language. At the same time, a big percentage of the people living in English speaking countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand and UK has no knowledge of the language whatsoever. So how can you try and learn the language through Hindi?The best way to learn the language is to start with a course that is as authentic as possible and really gives you the best of all the varieties of English. It is very crucia l that when you decide to take up an English course, you should look for something that can offer you a wide range of language methods and texts to help you in your quest to understand and learn the language. After all, English is a universal language and learning to speak it could be as difficult as learning a second language.The courses that are offered in the country that the student wants to study in should not only be English based but should also be teaching their students how to study with or without the book and how to manage their time efficiently. The course should also give a clear understanding of grammar rules and create a strategy to stay ahead of the competition.The next thing to consider is the amount of time and energy you can devote to studying on the Internet. Online classes should definitely be more than the free time available to you because when you are at your office or at home, you are not going to find the time to sit down and attend English lessons with som eone. Therefore, you need to make sure that you will be able to devote enough time to studying from your computer at your own pace.Online schools need to give their students the convenience of scheduling classes on any day of the week or even on weekends. This will ensure that you will be able to achieve the perfect balance between studying and working.Finally, a few essential things to consider if you want to learn English from Hindi include the quality of the English courses that you are taking. The best quality and the best format is to avail the tuition and preparation service that offer your local area English tutor.

Finding Percent Online Tutoring - Maths Tutors

Finding Percent Online Tutoring - Maths Tutors Percent means out of hundred. For example if we say Twenty one percent that meanstwenty one is divided by one hundred. We can say that the percentage is a fraction in which the denominator is one hundred. Any value which is too calculated is divided by one hundred to find the percentage. The fractions, decimal and the percentage are associated with each other. All these are interchangeable. The fraction can be changed into decimal and the decimal can be changed into the percentage. 21% = 21/100, 85% = 85/100, 63% = 63/100, 17% = 17/100 Multiplying percentage is associated to find the percentage. When any fraction or decimal is multiplied by one hundred we get the percentage. i.e (7/10)X 100 = 70%, (17/10) X 100 = 170%, (1/5) X 100 = 20% The decimal number can also be converted into percentage by multiplying it by one hundred and then removing the sign of the percentage. i.e 0.13 X 100 = 13%, 0.56 X 100 = 56%, 0.81X 100 = 81% When the cost of any item is doubled then two is multiplied by one hundred to get percentage and it is said the cost has been increased by two hundred percentages. When the cost of any item is reduced to half then half is multiplied by one hundred and it is said the cost has been decreased by fifty percent. i.e C.P = 46 S.P = 92 Profit in percentage = (92 46) X 100 /46 = 100%

The Beginners Guide to Arithmetic

The Beginners Guide to Arithmetic Everything You Need to Know About Learning Maths ChaptersWhat is Arithmetic?Finding the Best Arithmetic TutorResources Online for Arithmetic HelpCommon Arithmetic Questions and ExamplesWhether it’s basic elementary grade math or pre-algebra, many students in the UK struggle in arithmetic every year. While some teachers have turned to more creative approaches  in teaching elements in reading and maths courses, sometimes students and adults alike need a bit of extra support.Luckily, we've laid out a guide that can help you grasp everything to know about learning arithmetic. Starting with the history of the mathematics branch to how you can get online maths classes, get started on learning today!Having a maths tutor can help you solve math questions step by stepa x (b + c) = a x b + a x cThis law is extremely important in everything from polynomial functions to matrices and has many applications in the real world. Here’s an example of how this law can be used to simplify an algebraic expression.Take:4x + 3(x â€" 10)Using the distr ibutive law, we can see that in order to simplify this expression, we must distribute the 3 to get:4x + 3x â€" 30The next step again involves the distributive law. Looking above, we might know by habit that the next natural step would be to add 4x and 3x together to get 7x. However, the reason why we can do this in the first place lies with the distributive law.x(4+3) is another way of writing 4x + 3x before x is distributedNow, combining everything we’ve learned, the final answer gives us:7x â€" 30Learning maths should always be empowering and hopefully this guide has put you on the right track towards accomplishing your goals in the branch of arithmetic.

The Mesopotamian Civilisation

The Mesopotamian Civilisation What was Civilisation Like in Mesopotamia? ChaptersMesopotamia: Basic FactsReligion in MesopotamiaMyths and Legends of MesopotamiaMesopotamian CultureTechnological AdvancesThe Legacy of MesopotamiaQuick: scan your memory banks for any references to Mesopotamia: what do you come up with?Maybe you flashed on The Babylonian Marriage Market, painted by Edwin Long in 1875, or you remember thrilling to The Epic of Gilgamesh, a poem that originated in that region, which is often seen as the world’s oldest literary work.If you particularly enjoy films, you might have called up the Scorpion King franchise, starring The Rock and Michael Clark Duncan.There have been several works inspired by this ancient civilisation â€" paintings, operas, graphic novels and science fiction tales among them. But even taken together, they do not begin to encompass the magnitude of this ancient society.To truly understand life in Mesopotamia, the civilisation’s social structures, innovations and cultural advances, we have to travel back to a time wher e few written records remain.Piecing artefacts together, your Superprof now weaves a fabric of life in ancient Mesopotamia. MarkHistory Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JohnHistory Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarjotteHistory Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErinHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChantelleHistory Teacher 5.00 (2) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyHistory Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterHistory Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SerenaHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsMesopotamia: Basic Facts Mardin, an ancient city on the banks of the Tigris, was absorbed into the Assyrian Empire Image by Tuna Ölger from PixabayThe name comes from the Greek: ‘mesos’ meaning ‘middle’ and ‘potamos’, which translates to ‘river’, making the meaning ‘Land between the Rivers’.GeographyCradled within the Tigris-Euphrates river system, this was a rich, fertile land protected on the northeast side by the Zagros mountain range.A vast expanse of desert capped off the region’s north; travelling south, the land gets progressively wetter, dotted with marshes and mudflats.Seen on a contemporary map, the region referred to as Mesopotamia encompassed most of Iraq, Kuwait and parts of Syria, as well as southeastern Turkey.The major settlements â€" Babylon, Nineveh, Kalah and Arbela, as well as Assur (until Assyria broke away to form its own empire) all nestled on the east bank of the Tigris.This location afforded them plenty of water, whereas the cities to the west had to depend on the fickle Euphrates to deliver an inconstant supply of water.GovernmentMesopotamia was ruled by kings, emperors and series of rulers from the same family â€" dynasties.Of these, King Ur-Nammu left an amazing legacy: the world’s oldest complete legal code.When they happened, transfers of power were generally not peaceful; even within the dynasties, they were rather brutal. Invasions and takeovers, led by powerful men or families were generally how leadership was won.A prime example of such: the Sumerians, the oldest Mesopotamian civilisation (and one of the first in the world, along with Ancient Egyptians), were overtaken by the Akkadians.They were permitted to keep their culture and way of life; in fact, they swapped cultural elements, especially language, to the point that both societies were, at one time, bilingual.Eventually, the Sumerian language became completely subsumed. By 2,000BC, everyone throughout the empire spoke only Akkadian.Are you curious to know how closely the Mesopotamian civilisation resembles Ancient Egypt’s?Mesopotamia in Economic TermsIn the foothills of the Zagros mountains, it was relatively easy to farm but further south, agriculture was only possible with irrigation of dry lands and frequent drainage of wetter areas.After gaining control of water, harvests became bountiful â€" so much so that Akkadians could afford to engage in a bit of trade with their neighbours.As they did not employ slaves, they had to devise tools to make farming easier; the use of wooden plough blades permitted them to plant onions, turnips and barley.This area that millennia later was dubbed the Fertile Crescent is known as the cradle of civilisation.The ability to grow food allowed the people to settle, establish cities and form governments, and spurred them to intellectual discovery.Religion was exceedingly important to them for many reasons, one of them being that their temples functioned as banks.The earliest large-scale credit system was developed b y the Sumerians but it was the Babylonians who developed the first commercial banking system.Was there a rivalry between the two?Not necessarily. After the Akkadian Empire fell, the region split into two nations: Assyria occupied the north while the Babylonian Empire encompassed the south. Both countries spoke the same language and actively traded with one another.So this was a peaceful time in human history?Between power grabs and fighting for territory, one could hardly contend that these early civilisations were content to coexist.There would often be fighting between cities; those battles would sometimes be arbitrated by an official of a nearby neutral town. Thus, strategic alliances formed. Later, as the region was governed by a succession of emperors, they mostly fought against foreign powers.A prime example of such is Sargon the Great, humanity’s first emperor, who often led campaigns into neighbouring lands to appease his constant hunger for territory.In Mesopotamia, warri ng was a fact of life.What was life like in Aboriginal Australia? Madrasas such as this were built to further Islamic instruction Image by Tuna Ölger from PixabayReligion in MesopotamiaThe earliest colonies praised natural forces â€" wind, rain and sun, because they helped to sustain life. It was only later that those forces became personified and a religious hierarchy was established.Early on, the deities demonstrated a balance of power between males and females.For instance, An was the name given to the supreme god, their personification of the heavens. The goddess Ki represented the earth.The Sumerian word for ‘universe’ is an-ki, reflecting their two highest-ranked deities.Their cast of gods soon grew to represent every aspect of Sumerian life, from the god of water to the moon goddess.One their pantheon of gods was established to oversee daily life, Mesopotamians turned their minds to greater philosophical questions.‘Who am I?’ and ‘What is my purpose?’ - the answers were construed as having divine influence.As society evolved, so too did the people’s relationship with their gods; it became more personal and, as more believers worshipped in their own way, Mesopotamian religion became more fractured.That had the effect of weakening the overall bond to their pantheon of deities.When Cyrus the Great claimed Mesopotamian lands as a part of his Achaemenid Empire, the people more or less abandoned their religious beliefs in favour of the religion their conqueror brought: Syriac Christianity.Do you know the deities of the Incan Civilization?Omens played an important part in mythology; it was thought that the will of the gods could be divined if only one could interpret the clues they occasionally gave.As such, a treatise was compiled regarding signs from the gods: what it means should a being be born deformed, for example, or what destiny awaits a people whose city is perched on a hill.Immortality was a common theme in Mesopotamian mythology: Etana, a king with no heirs, liberated an eagle and flew on his back to the heavens. This was meant to serve as a cautionary tale, warning against dynasties.Adapa, who had vexed the gods and was summoned to them, was careful to not consume anything the gods offered him, thus staving off immortality.From these two examples, it would seem immortality was undesirable. On the other hand...Atrahasis had been warned by the gods that a great flood was imminent. He followed their advice and built a boat, in which he was able to withstand the water’s great power.Ishtar was the goddess of fertility and war. Her descent into the underworld and subsequent reemergence justified the seasonal change from winter to summer.Mesopotamian mythology is full of stories that have been ‘borrowed’ and incorporated into other societies’ belief systems. In fact, they resonate still today, having undergone revision to suit new religious beliefs.What beliefs did the Ancient Greeks hold as truth? As depicted in this Sumerian tablet, warring became a way of life Image by Mariusz Matuszewski from PixabayMesopotamian CultureEarly in forming the Mesopotamian civilization, males and females had equal social power, a facet of the social fabric that changed dramatically over time.Women held positions as high priestesses in Sumer. They could own property, benefit from education and engage in a trade.Later, as warring became a way of life, women lost much of their social power: they were denied the right to education or to a trade. Soon, the societal role of females was reduced to caring for the home and children.Subsequently, Mesopotamia’s patriarchal social structure influenced every aspect of life.What kind of life did they have? What kind of life did the Mayans have?A Life of Leisure?Assyrian kings especially enjoyed hunting and the rich played an early version of polo â€" men rode on other men’s shoulders, not horses. Boxing was also a popular sport; scenes of boxers and wres tlers frequently adorned artwork.Board games were quite popular then. In fact, what we know as backgammon originated in Mesopotamia. Oddly enough, Islam expressly forbids the game even though it was invented by their ancestors!For the particularly energetic, there was a game similar to rugby, played with a wooden ball.Besides these pastimes, singing and music were important cultural signatures.People would sing at home or in the marketplace; oftentimes, songs were composed specifically to entertain royalty.  There were also plenty of drinking songs sung; after all, the Mesopotamians regularly brewed beer and made wine.Frivolity aside, songs had a far more important role to play in Mesopotamian culture.There were renderings of specific events such as battles or coronations, and they were handed down through the generations, becoming, in effect, oral histories.Musical instruments such as the lute, drums and other percussion instruments must have made for lively entertainment, especial ly as the Mesopotamians had developed an early form of music notation.Besides entertaining royalty, these early musicians were called on to play at religious ceremonies, funerals and festivals.Mesopotamian FestivalsPredictably, many of this people’s rites revolved around natural phenomenon:Lunar cycles: waxing moons were thought to encourage agricultural abundance; waning moons were times of conservation, reflection on philosophical matters and a time to revere ancestors.Seasons: sowing and reaping; celebrating a bountiful harvest or, conversely if pickings had been sparse, to implore the gods to intervene ahead of the next growing seasonThe first full moon after the Spring Equinox: called the Akitu or ‘head of the year’ in AkkadianEquinoxes: the days of equal amounts of light and dark must be observed!Solstices: the longest days and nights deserved special considerationNaturally, the reigning monarch and local heroes would be regularly celebrated, with odes and epics composed in their honour; the aforementioned Epic of Gilgamesh is a fine example of such.The fact that these tales were written and still exist today suggest that they originated from a very intelligent, organised society.Discovering proof of those people’s ability to observe natural phenomena such as solstices and equinoxes leads archaeologists to conclude that those living in Mesopotamia were very clever indeed.Did their celestial observations bear any resemblance to those of the Aztec civilization? Cuneiform is one of the world's oldest writing systems Image by Mariusz Matuszewski from PixabayTechnological AdvancesWe’ve already hinted at how technologically advanced the Mesopotamians were: irrigating dry lands and draining swamps, building ploughs and increasingly sophisticated weaponry to fight their wars...Right now, what is furiously debated in academic halls is whether the screw pump was actually invented by Archimedes, as has been long-thought.Many now believe such a device was used to water the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which suggests the pump was invented some 350 years before he travelled to Egypt, making the device a Babylonian creation.Besides, a clay tablet with a description of how to cast a water screw in bronze, written in cuneiform by an Assyrian king, certainly lends credence to the new school of thought!Sumerian cuneiform is one of the earliest systems of writing, consisting of wedge-shaped marks in clay... another of Mesopotamia’s accomplishments.As the Mesopotamian civilisation endured for so long â€" by some accounts, more than seven millennia, they were instrumental in shaping the Bronze Ages, the Iron Age and Antiquity, meaning they were crucial to many of the innovations of that time.And, in case you were wondering, they invented the wheel!All of their innovation means that they left a substantial legacy.The Legacy of MesopotamiaPerhaps without knowing it, you use Mesopotamian math every day.Their numerical system, based on a value of 60, gave us the seconds, minutes and hours of our days. Ditto the number of degrees in a circle. We also got our 7-day week from them.While both Sumerian and Semitic languages were spoken in early Mesopotamia, cuneiform was invented for the Sumerian language only. This gave the world one of the earliest, complete writing systems.Thanks to this writing, today we understand and enjoy the culture and legends of a people long buried.Babylonian astronomers were adept at math, a faculty that permitted them to map the stars with stunning accuracy. Their ability to ‘predict’ eclipses and other celestial events helped priests plan for religious observances.Medicine: the Babylonians pioneered the concept of physical examinations, medical diagnosis and dispensing medicine by prescription.Logic and rationality featured heavily in medicine as in other aspects of life, including agriculture.Mesopotamia is called the cradle of civilization because it was there that the first societies took root and grew.Their knowledge and skill at planting and harvesting crops, directing water where it was needed and developing the skills needed to advance civil living â€" glass-making, textile weaving and water storage, made it possible for humankind to form nation-states, political systems, laws and religions.And, thanks to their skill at metalworking, more deadly weapons were designed, ensuring that warfare would continue to be a part of the human legacy.How do the Mesopotamian accomplishments com pare to those of other ancient civilisations?

What are the High School English Courses

What are the High School English Courses Throughout your high school career, you are expected to fulfill a variety of English course requirements. Some may help you satisfy requirements at the college level, some will assist you in exploring creative writing, and some may simply help you develop the necessary skills to write successfully in the workplace. Like science courses and math courses, English coursework is typically divided up throughout your high school years. While every school and every students schedule are different, lets take a look at a basic guideline Freshman Language Arts During your ninth grade year, you will likely take a class referred to as Language Arts. The scope of this class is typically broad, designed to introduce young learners to the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills that will be necessary later in life. This course (and courses like these) will allow you to practice your writing skills in a variety of essays, explore a range of literary genres, and examine texts at a fairly granular level. Youll look at plot, voice, tone, characters, and so on. Sophomore Language Arts In a sophomore Language Arts class, you can expect to build upon the skills you learned in ninth grade. Youll likely focus a little more on the process of revision, employing practices like outlining and writing drafts as you develop your writing. You may also delve a little deeper into the texts youre reading, which will span even more literary genres. Expect to analyze theme, symbolism, imagery, etc. American Literature Your junior year of English coursework may focus on American Literature, though youll continue to build upon the reading and writing skills you focused on during your freshman and sophomore years as well. In terms of writing, expect to begin researching and incorporating outside sources into your essays. Youll be using context in your exploration of American Literature, too historical context, point of view, time period, and more. British/World Literature During your senior year of high school, you may broaden the scope of the work youre looking at to include British or even world literature. While you may have mostly focused on works of fiction before, you might now explore more nonfiction and poetry. The works you read will probably increase in complexity. As a writer, youll be expected to provide more in-depth analysis, so make sure youre familiar with a plethora of literary devices. You might also write research papers and other presentations that require more of a thought-out timeline to complete, which is an excellent time to practice your time and project management skills. Honors and AP Classes Many high schools will offer Honors or AP versions of the aforementioned classes, which will adhere to a similar (but more complex) format. Youll become more familiar with the why of writing, exploring why authors make the stylistic choices they do. Honors classes are typically offered during freshman and sophomore years, while AP classes (AP English Language and Composition and AP English Literature and Composition) typically occur during junior and senior years. Electives Elective English classes can vary widely by school, but most high schools offer at least one or two. You might expect to find classes that focus on a particular writer (Shakespeare is a popular one) or a certain genre. You may also find creative writing classes offered, which will involve both reading and writing, though theyll go more in-depth than generic Language Arts classes. Never underestimate the value of strong reading and writing skills. Reading well will help you excel in other subjects, follow directions, and gain an advanced understanding of everything you study. Writing well will allow you to communicate more effectively, understand the motivations of other writers, and present yourself appropriately as a professional later in life. If youre interested in writing, certainly explore your elective options. If youre less reading/writing inclined, find something else that does get you excited about these skills, or consider seeking reading tutoring or writing tutoring. Your future self will thank you! Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

7 Reasons Introverts Are Good at Writing Which Is Good for Their Career - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 7 Reasons Introverts Are Good at Writing Which Is Good for Their Career - Introvert Whisperer 7 Reasons Introverts Are Good at Writing Which Is Good for Their Career It’s a well-established fact that writing is good for a person’s career. From communicating through email to being able to market and present yourself well, writing is essential. There’s no end of benefits that come from writing, especially now that social media posts are now such an important part of modern business. What many people don’t realize is that introverts are naturally inclined towards writing, not solely because it gives you a lot of time to spend alone and reflect. 1.            It’s Less Intimidating than Speaking For many introverts, being the center of attention is a total nightmare. You may find public speaking a bit of a nightmare, and you may not enjoy talking on the phone and dealing with unpredictable issues. Writing, however, gives an introvert a safe and quiet space where they can deal with everyone, and they can do so over email. This means that you can put your foot down on certain points, showcase how knowledgeable you are, and prove that you’re a great employee, without the panic that comes from speaking up in public. You can use Language Tool to check the work is well done, and you can also find some great advice on Paper Fellows regarding how to write for business. 2.           You Appear Credible If you’re introverted, you may seem quiet and some people will incorrectly assume that you potentially don’t speak up because you’re not sure of yourself. Writing helps you show that this is not the case at all, and it can give you a platform to showcase your knowledge. Being grammatically perfect also makes you look more credible and professional, and you can check on your work with Easy Word Count grammar checker or even from reviewing a grammar guide such as Quick Books. 3.           You Have Time to Reflect We all know that we should think before we speak, but by writing, an introvert can make sure that they have thoughtfully produced every piece of work, that it’s fact-checked and in line with company policy, there are no accidental mistakes. If you need to be authoritative, you can use referencing tools like Cite It In or have an editor at Write my essay test your work. 4.           You’re Aware of Your Surroundings An introvert won’t lose their cool and respond to someone too casually, or make it clear that they’re annoyed with a customer. They’ll always be aware they’re at work, and will maintain a professional attitude. If you want to be sure that you’re writing properly for business, you can use Custom essay. Introverts are less distracted by office chatter, and don’t get as bored and distracted when they’re working alone as some extroverts. 5.           Introverts Enjoy Some Alone Time Jobs that require a lot of writing are ideal for introverts as you have a lot of time to sit alone and work quietly. While a lot of people are wary of office politics, introverts are also happy to stay away from the gossip by the water cooler too, and instead, will happily read a guide like Grammar Presentation and thoroughly check their work. 6.           Introverts Are Good Listeners There’s no doubt that introverts provide awesome customer service because they will really listen to the customer and do what they can to respond properly. Plus, a lot of introverts are actually fairly creative, and so not only can they provide good answers, they can also often come up with creative solutions to problems when given a chance. Having the freedom to write responses or plans or new ideas can really exhibit just how much an introvert has absorbed since they started working somewhere. Through paying attention, and taking in everything that’s gone on around you, you actually probably have a much better idea of how things work, and how to produce certain tasks and assignments. 7.           Introverts Often Enjoy Writing While some people may enjoy art or public presenting, a lot of introverts actually enjoy sitting at a keyboard and writing. This is great, as it means they can enjoy their job, and happy staff consistently perform better. You may still want to use sources such as Essay service as a grammar resource to make sure writing is perfect. Any introverts at work should be aware of exactly how their writing skills can help advance their career, and should also know that writing is a great way to appear more professional and competent at work. Author’s bio: Gloria Kopp is a digital marketer and an e-learning consultant from Manville city. Now she works as a content manager at Assignment writing  service. Besides, she is a regular contributor to such websites as  Engadget, Academized, Huffingtonpost etc. Read her latest post  here. Go to top CAREER ACCELERATION Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

6 Beautiful Songs for Piano and Voice

6 Beautiful Songs for Piano and Voice Suzy S. Sometimes, its good to take your singing practice back to the basics, and just sing with a small ensemble. Most satisfying of all is working only with a good pianist the level of detail just you and one other musician can achieve when working on material for piano and voice is very valuable to your development as a singer, no matter what stage youre at. If youre stuck for ideas of what to work on, the following six songs one religious, two modern pop classics, one German-language lied, one jazz standard, and one music theater number may give you some ideas. They wont all be suitable for your voice type, nor will they all be suitable for your current level of ability, but these six songs for piano and voice can give you an idea of which composers or artists to start your search with. Schubert Ave Maria Perhaps the most beautiful and appropriate setting of the Latin text for this combination, Ave Maria is the perfect addition to any singers repertoire of songs for piano and voice. Suitable for singers at an intermediate level and up, it demands great purity of line, good breath control, and a moderate level of vocal flexibility. When working on this song, concentrate on evenness of tone, and experiment with dynamic contrast. Adele Someone Like You British sensation Adele supplies a variety of modern classics for the female singer. This breakthrough hit requires considerable vocal control, however, and a solid technique. Make sure that you arent changing the shape or sound of the vowel as you change pitch on it, and practice exercises of arpeggios through the fifth on ah and ooh vowels before you sing this song to help you master this. The Fray How to Save a Life Lyrics-driven pop songs for piano and voice are an excellent addition to your vocal repertoire, as they make you pay close attention to text, and how to color it. For this song in particular, the vocal line itself isnt that difficult, and a beginner to intermediate singer should be able to master it quite quickly. However, bland and colorless words can be a problem for a beginner singer, so rather than preparing for this song with vocal exercises, practice speaking the text aloud, and pay special attention to your diction. Schubert An die Musik We make no apologies for including a second Schubert song in this list of songs for piano and voice; the undisputed king of song repertoire, Schuberts beautiful An die Musik is an ideal first foreign-language song for a beginner singer, as it covers many of the singing basics that you will cover in your first few lessons, including sustaining a lyric line, mastering vocal leaps, and managing dynamic contrasts. George Gershwin The Man I Love Gershwins great jazz and big band standard is the ideal starting point for a female singer at an intermediate stage of vocal development to learn how to develop flexibility within a rhythmic pulse, and how to improvise around an existing written vocal line. Classical singers have been experimenting with similar vocal embellishments called cadenzas for hundreds of years, and its a great way to add some excitement to your singing. Lerner Loewe On the Street Where You Live (My Fair Lady) Sung by the hapless Freddy Eynsford-Hill, this is a perfect addition to the music theater and concert repertoire of a young male singer. Ideal for learning purity of vowels, it will also help for work with high notes and working toward a big climax at the end of the song. Aim for breathless, enthusiastic innocence and dont be afraid to use your full voice. For every song you discover by a composer that you like, try to find at least one more, as this is an excellent way to build repertoire and to explore music that you might not already know. Finally, although exploring repertoire can be fun on your own, make sure that youre also working with a good teacher, who can help you find songs that are appropriate for your specific development and abilities. Have fun! Want more song recommendations?  Check out our list 400+ songs to sing here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of prescreened teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for safe, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by Thorsten Krienke

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert JoAnne Goldberg

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert JoAnne Goldberg Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. JoAnne Goldberg is the former Assistant Director of Admissions at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as well as a former admissions officer with InGenius Prep. While at Stanford GSB, she read and evaluated thousands of MBA applications over five years, earning the title of reader warrior along the way. She received her MBA from Stanford as well. How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and complete the application for anMBAprogram? Joanne: Ideally, your MBA application process should begin about 15 months before you plan to start the program. The schools publish their application requirements in mid-summer, and at that point you can take a look at the essay prompts for the programs that interest you. Writing your essays will consume the most time and energy so keep those prompts on a back-burner in your brain, with your responses percolating before you start your first drafts. As ideas hit you, make a note of them. Most of the schools send admissions representatives traveling around the world in the summer; make sure you sign up for school mailing lists so you can receive event notifications. Seek out students or alums of your target programs so you can ask them about their experiences. Of course, you will need to prepare for the GMAT or GRE, plus the TOEFL if you are an international student from a non-English-speaking country. And you will want to consider whom to ask for letters for recommendation, or LOR as we call them. The admissions process has lots of moving parts, each of which demands your attention. Much introspection and self-examination will occur, but if you give the process the attention it deserves, you will be in the right frame of mind to start your MBA program with clear expectations and a sense of direction. What would you say is the single most important thing to focus on for this kind of application? Joanne: Be your best and most authentic self. If you try to second-guess what adcoms want to read or model your essay on one you find online, your application will not be as effective. Experienced adcoms have seen the same canned stories 1,000 times, but this is the first time theyve met you. What doMBAadmissionsofficers look for most in the essayquestions? Joanne: In addition to the aforementioned authenticity, admissions officers want to see you answer the questions that have been asked. And make sure to start off fresh with each school. Youll notice when you read the essay prompts that schools all phrase their questions a little differently. If you try to modify your Harvard essay for a Yale application, your patchwork will be obvious to adcoms, who will ask themselves if this applicant cant be bothered to write an essay that responds to our prompt, why should we offer admission? What are the biggest mistakes one can make on this application? Joanne: In addition to the problems mentioned already, there are two big mistakes Ive seen a few times. First, the applicant has obtained a little too much assistance from a friend and submits an essay with change bars or parenthetical comments that are visible to any reader. Second, a letter of recommendation that has been written by someone who doesnt really know the applicant. What aspects of theMBAadmissionsprocess make it most different from undergraduateadmissionsprocess? Joanne: The process isnt so different, but its on an elevated level compared to undergrad. The MBA essays require you to take a deep and hard look at yourself, whereas for undergrad admissions, you can often get by with a decently written personal statement. And your LOR will have to convey more substance than great student! My high school senior acquaintances are applying to around 15-20 undergrad institutions. Thats viable for undergrad. I would not recommend applying to more than eight MBA programs because of the effort required to complete each application. Is there anything that automatically disqualifies an applicant from being considered for anMBAprogram (i.e. low GPA, lack of particular work experience, etc.)? Joanne: Lying or cheating in any way, violating the schools code of ethics, and yes, this includes writing your own recommendation letter. What kind of work experiences should be highlighted in theMBAapplication? Joanne: Tasks and achievements that you can quantify. Experiences that illustrate your taking charge, overcoming challenges, or playing a leadership role. Schools are trying to gauge your impact in your current job (or undergrad pursuits and internships, if you are still in college). If youve been working for more than a couple of years, they like to see that your responsibilities have continued to grow. What advice do you have regarding GMAT prep? Joanne: Theres no one-size-fits-all, so be honest with yourself about your own learning and review style. Some people can borrow a GMAT prep book from the library and work with it every night for a couple of weeks before the test. Other people need to sign up for a class or private tutor and get the extra motivation an instructor or a coach provides. As with everything else in MBA admissions, give yourself plenty of time. Ill review my old math notes the night before the test is unlikely to prove a winning strategy. Is it absolutely necessary to have work experience prior to starting anMBAdegree? Joanne: Absolutely not. Stanford has always been open to new graduates. Harvard and Yale offer special programs for undergraduates who apply. And other schools welcome applicants without extensive post-graduate work experience. There are quite a few programs, however, that remain adamant about requiring at least a couple of years of experience. So although recent graduates have options, if you have at least two post-graduate years of experience, the whole MBA universe is open to you. Without that experience, your choices are more limited. What are the characteristics of a greatMBAprogram? Joanne: From an academic and a career perspective, there are dozens of great MBA programs. I would cite the following as an incomplete list of characteristics: Everyone involved in the program, from the admissions officers to the behind-the-scenes administrators to professors, wants to help you learn and achieve your personal and professional goals. Students are enthusiastically engagedin class discussions, in study groups, in student organizations. Whether youre attending a student gathering or visiting a classroom, you can feel the energy and excitement. The curriculum is a mix of required courses and electives, carefully designed to give you the breadth of knowledge that you expect from an MBA and the freedom to dive deeply into the areas that interest you. Professors insist that they have the best job on the planet, and praise their students intellectual curiosity, persistence, and willingness to push themselves to the max. Students and alums tell you how much they love their school, and how they cannot imagine enjoying a greater level of satisfaction, better preparation, or a superior experience anywhere else. Check out InGenius Prep for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.