Tuesday, March 24, 2020

How Much Do Portuguese Lessons Cost

How Much Do Portuguese Lessons Cost Finding Portuguese Classes For The Best Price ChaptersHow Much Do Portuguese Lessons Cost On Superprof?Is There A Way To Reduce The Cost Of Portuguese Courses?Other Factors To Consider When Looking For Portuguese LessonsIf you would like to learn a new foreign language, there are often two barriers that frequently arise:Do you have the necessary time to study the language and improve your skills; andDo you have the money to afford to pay for a foreign language tutor?When it comes to the amount of time you have available to learn a second, third, or even fourth language, the good news is that you can usually make solid progress, even if you’re time-poor, just by committing to learning on a daily basis, even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Ideally, if you can spend longer on your language studies, then that’s even better.When it comes to the cost of a language tutor, there are a lot of different variables to take into account, such as your budget and what you’d like to get out of any tuition courses.Below we provide a brief o verview of what you could expect to pay for Portuguese lessons, along with some tips and tricks to get the costs of tuition down.Knowing how much you can afford to spend on Portuguese lessons is very important. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, JamesQube, Pixabay)The tutor has many years of experience in tuition and/or has a graduate or postgraduate qualification in Portuguese.Generally speaking, you can expect to pay between £15 and £25 per hour for a Portuguese tutor, based on a variety of factors, including those discussed above.Superprof has a wide network of language tutors, including Portuguese tutors, which means that you should be able to find a tutor willing to provide online or in-person Portuguese lessons at a price that suits both you and your budget.Having online-only Portuguese classes can be a way to save money. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Pixabay)Is There A Way To Reduce The Cost Of Portuguese Courses?If the average rates listed above make you shudder, then there are of course ways that you can try to reduce the average hourly cost of Portuguese lessons.For instance, you could try one or more of the following things:Have online-only classes;Consider taking group lessons if you want classes in-person; orLimit how long your lessons last.Let’s look at each approach in a little more detail below.Online-Only ClassesAs mentioned above, online classes tend to be cheaper overall than classes that involve you meeting someone in person. This can be down to a variety of factors, including reduced travel time or lower overheads in terms of hiring a space for lessons.If you live in a particularly expensive area, such as London, then it can really save you some cash to take up online language classes. In the capital, language courses can often be found at a premium, and one way to avoid the hefty price tag is to turn to online courses that are held via Skype or webcam. This way, you can still see and interact with your tutor, and you can also practice your Portuguese speaking and listening skills.Consider Group LessonsIf you really don’t want to have online-only Portuguese lessons, then there are other ways to cut down how much money you spend on language tuition.For instance, one way to cut down the cost of in-person courses is to simply attend a group class or workshop, rather than have one to one tuition. There are a few benefits to having group lessons as well. For example, you could get a group of friends to have the lessons with you if you are all interested in learning Portuguese, or equally, you’ll have a great chance to make new friends with the people that attend your Portuguese class!Additionally, group classes can be a great forum to ask each other questions about your language learning journeys and it can also be very helpful listening and speaking with a variety of different people in Portuguese.If you do decide to opt for group lessons, try to ensure that group sizes aren’t too large â€" you don’t really want to be sitting in a room with 30 other people vying for the teacher’s attention! Ideally, smaller class sizes are better, as that way the teacher has more time to spend with each student, and you’ll likely have more opportunity to ask the tutor any questions as you progress through the class.Superprof tutors are able to cater for both individual and group tuition, so it’s just a case of finding your ideal Portuguese tutor in Superprof’s database and setting up your first class!Limit How Long Your Lessons LastAnother way to reduce the cost of Portuguese lessons is to simply reduce how long you spend with your tutor. If your budget is particularly tight, then it may be worthwhile only having 45-minute sessions each week rather than the usual hour-long class.This way, you’ll be able to save some money, but will still have enough time to practice and develop core skills, such as reading, writing, listening, and speaking in Portuguese.Reducing how long your Portugue se classes are can be another way to save money. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, nattanan23, Pixabay)Other Factors To Consider When Looking For Portuguese LessonsWhile cost is extremely important when it comes to finding a new Portuguese tutor, there are some other factors that you need to bring into consideration to make sure you get the best return on your investment.A good tutor can teach you the basics and beyond of Portuguese much quicker and in a much more enjoyable way than a tutor who you don’t particularly engage well with, or who has a teaching style that is not compatible with your preferences.When it comes to pricing though, the main thing is to be realistic. If you’re set on having one to one tuition in a large city such as London, then you’ll have to accept that you’ll likely pay a premium for your Portuguese lessons compared to someone who lives in London but is prepared to attend group classes or have Skype lessons with their tutor.You should also think about your wi der goals when it comes to learning Portuguese, and whether you think your prospective tutor is best-placed to help you achieve them.For instance, have you considered whether you would rather learn Portuguese from a native speaker from Portugal, or would you rather learn Brazilian Portuguese from someone who lived in Brazil?Tutors, such as those on Superprof, often clarify whether they are experienced in teaching Brazilian Portuguese or European Portuguese, so it’s easy enough to find out which teachers would be the best fit for the type of Portuguese that you would like to learn.Whether you’d like to learn Portuguese to help you when you’re next travelling around Portugal or want to learn Brazilian Portuguese for work purposes, a great tutor can help you get there. Just make sure that, whichever tutor you select, you’re comfortable with their hourly rate and you have an idea of how long you’ll likely have lessons with them for.It’s not worth stretching your budget too t ight when learning a new language, especially when there are different approaches available that can help to keep the cost of lessons down.A good tutor should be able to teach you what you want to know without costing the earth. So whether you're a new learner and would like to expand your knowledge of Portuguese phrases, expressions or verbs, or you just want someone to communicate in Portuguese with and revise key aspects of grammar, a good Portuguese tutor should be able to improve your overall learning experience.

Friday, March 6, 2020

What Type of Summer Course is Right for Me

What Type of Summer Course is Right for Me The college summer term can offer many benefits, such as increased flexibility and course options that you might not otherwise have during the spring and fall semesters. While summer term varies from school to school, its key to understand what type of summer class is right for you, such as short vs. long sessions or in-person vs. online. Keep reading to identify the right type of summer class for you: The short vs. long(er) summer course During the fall and spring semesters, college classes typically run for the full duration of the semesterabout 15 weeks. During the summer term, however, schools offer courses in a variety of lengths. Harvard University, for example, has in-person classes with sessions that range from three to seven weeks. Its important to note that the length of the course will often influence the frequency of sessions. At Harvard University: The four-credit three-week class meets four days a week for three hours per day The four-credit seven-week class meets twice a week for three hours per day The eight-credit seven-week class meets five days a week for three to five hours per day. The frequency of course sessions can be a significant factor in what type of summer class is right for you. If you have other responsibilities, such as an internship, one style may fit your schedule perfectly, while another may not. While you may not always have control over the length of the summer course, its important to understand what it entails so you are fully prepared to tackle it. [RELATED: What to Know About College Summer Classes] The in-person vs. online summer course Another style to examine when choosing a summer class is in-person vs. online. Everyone learns differently, and its important to identify which learning modalities will work best for you during the summer term. For instance, if you have responsibilities this summer that will make an in-person class difficult or impossible to attend, online may be the best option for you. The University of Missouri markets its summer courses with the tagline, Take Mizzou with you this summer, illustrating the schools willingness to host summer learning that fits your schedule. The university offers two four-week sessions, as well as a self-paced class that you can complete on your own time in anywhere from six weeks to six months. Be honest with yourself about your summer schedule and your preferred learning style when selecting a summer course. If online courses haven't worked well for you in the past, you might prefer the in-person option. Alternately, if you think youll have trouble focusing in class for three hours a day several days a week, online could be the ideal fit. [RELATED: 4 Tips for Connecting with Your Online Instructor] The immersive field study summer course Summer courses can provide a unique opportunity to carry your learning across the globe. Some colleges offer immersive field courses that last anywhere from two to eight weeks, allowing students the opportunity to experience the subject firsthand in another country. Hampshire College, for example, provides students with a variety of short field courses that individuals can enroll in during the winter and summer terms. Whatever your interest may be, from filmmaking to perfecting a foreign language, a short-term summer field course allows you to take what you would typically learn in a classroom and experience it in the real world. The summer term may also offer unique classes that you may not find during other semesters. For instance, The University of Rhode Island offers summer field courses in marine biology. When creating your course schedule, inquire if any of your gen. ed. requirements can be substituted with a unique summer course. [RELATED: 5 Myths (and Realities) About Study Abroad] Summer courses can provide students with many benefits. When considering this option, its key to be honest with yourself about what you want to get out of your summer term and how to best make this a reality. 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.

Russian Geopolitics

Russian Geopolitics The Strategies That Define Russian Geopolitics ChaptersThe Politics of Imperial RussiaRussia During the Cold War and BeyondTearing Down the WallRussian Geopolitics TodayTo a certain demographic â€" those aged enough to have experienced Cold War tensions, Russia is never thought of without a sense of unease.Stories of the gulag and the KGB; the GRU and NKVD â€" names of agencies upon which many stories of intrigue are built, generally send shivers down the spines of those exposed to such tales.And with good reason! Narratives detailing such experiences paint a terrible assault on humanity for all to see.But do they accurately describe the Russia of today? That is a difficult call to make.Recent tales of social unrest in Russia clash with the Kremlin’s unforeseen diplomatic outreach in the Middle East and Latin America.Hosting the World Cup last year and the Winter Olympics four years before were designed to show that Russia intends to become a front-and-centre player on the world stage.Such ambitions contrast vividly with the Ru ssian annexation of Crimea, which took place at the very time that world unity was on display in Sochi, during the Winter Olympics.One might find it difficult to divine Russian machinations and motivations, especially when constantly assailed with its positive and negative political aspects; often at the same time.To understand them, we have to dive deep into the history of Mother Russia, review past diplomacy and calculate the rationale that drives the politics of the one individual leading that vast country.Essentially, his series of political missteps, at home and abroad, brought the Russian Empire to its end.In this brief history, we see that Russia, vast in her land holdings and full of people, nevertheless was never really powerful in her own right. Much of her might was illusory.Discover the subtle might of Asian geopolitics...Following the Cold War initiation, barriers between east and west were hastily erected Image by Hans Harbig from PixabayRussia During the Cold War and BeyondAfter the Tsar was deposed, a provisional ‘Peoples Government’ was established, which was quickly overthrown by Vladimir Lenin.Quickly, under his leadership, various government agents set about establishing a barrier between Russia and western European powers by unifying with countries that we know today as Belarus, Latvia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and others.During the Second World War, any territories to the west that were overtaken by Russia’s army became satellite states, further serving as a buffer between powers.Later, during the division of Europe into capitalist versus communist... there is just no nice way of saying it: the Soviet Union engaged in a land-grab.Seizing control of half of Berlin, as well as the territory that called itself the German Democratic Republic is what caused the political and military tension between the Soviet Union and the U.S.Those two powers, formerly allies but now bitter foes, with their respective allies, circled each other war ily in a decades-long dance we know as the Cold War.Significant elements of that era include:The ‘Long Telegram’, a magazine article by an American diplomat in Russia, advocating for containment to avert the spread of communismThe Truman Doctrine: the American foreign policy to counter Soviet geopolitical expansionThe Warsaw Pact: a collective defence treaty ratified by the Soviet Union and seven satellite states in the East BlocCOMECON: an economic assistance organisation designed to support the East Bloc and communist regimes throughout the worldThe Iron Curtain: a figurative (and later, literal) line of demarcation dividing Europe.‘The West’, meaning western Europe and the United States, were treated only to sparse reports of torture and imprisonment, authoritarian rule and mass killings in the Soviet Union.In the rare occasions that eyewitness accounts were made possible, either through news broadcasts or through networks of spies, the impression of power â€" through the police or the military, was strong.And with the defection of athletes and artists, we were treated to first-hand accounts of what life was like... but what was really going on behind that Curtain?What was the extent of communist reach in Latin America?Tearing Down the WallIt is important to understand that, although economics is considered separate from geopolitics, a regime’s economy plays a role in the extent it can engage in world affairs.Once sequestered from global affairs, it was all the Soviet Union could do to manage their internal affairs.As the region’s economy stagnated for so long, no expansive military dreams could be entertained, let alone could any large-scale lending be done to any other country, such as China or North Korea.Soviet regions embellishing reports of grain output certainly did not help matters, and America’s grain embargo, in retaliation for the USSR meddling in Afghanistan brought them no benefit either.On paper, everything looked great but the r eality was that the people of the Soviet Union were hungry, frustrated and tired of being bound to a regime that no longer served them.A series of revolts ultimately brought the end to this painful time in Russian history.However, this period reveals why Russia has such an interest in Afghanistan; you can learn more about it in our geopolitics in the Middle East article.Today, the Russian president walks a fine line between being personable and being authoritarian Image by klimkin from PixabayRussian Geopolitics TodayTo truly understand how Russia operates on the world stage, we need only to look toward history.In spite of her reputation as a mighty world power, Russia, historically and today, has merely cultivated and projected the illusion of power... and apparently engages in bluster to maintain that image.While it is true that her space programme initially led the world, even those efforts could not be sustained in the long term.What really hurt Russia is the loss of those ‘bu ffer lands’ - the countries that separate her from the rest of Europe.What really did damage to Russia’s hopes for a strategic alliance with them was when they and the Balkan states became NATO members â€" essentially pledging themselves against Russia.The lone exception was Ukraine... we’ll go a bit deeper into that situation in a mo.Painfully aware of how quickly the political tide can turn in Europe as well as with their ally, the United States, Russia knows that she is strategically vulnerable at this point.Even worse: in the event of a crisis, not many nations would leap to help defend her.Finally, the global lack of trust in Russia, of her motivations, actions and goals, leaves her diplomats and president constantly working to regain ground.That is why we see Mr Putin reach out beyond his country’s nearest neighbours for diplomatic opportunities, overlooking former ally China and bypassing Europe altogether.He is using soft power to build long-distance relations in Afr ica, the Middle East and in Latin America.Are you curious about how geopolitics play out in Africa?Still, the Russian political machine does nothing to dissuade global powers that Russia is still to be feared and that her reach is long. In fact, they encourage it, notably during two brazen poisonings of former Soviet agents on British soil!Most political analysts suspect that Mr Putin likes for the world to believe that he has influence over the United States and that the American president is working on his behalf.The likelihood of that being true is minimal but, in continuing to portray Russia in as sinister a tone as possible, that country’s leader expends virtually no resources and loses little diplomatic goodwill, all while maintaining an image of power.The proof of this analysis lies in the Ukraine.That country’s 2004 presidential election results were met with widespread demonstrations and accusations of corruption and fraud: voters contended that the election was rigged in favour of the Russian-backed candidate.Outrage over the alleged duplicity fanned the flames of public revolt and the outcry caused the election results to be scrapped and a new one held.This time, the election was deemed impartial by a combined body of national and international observers.The Orange Revolution played out on the world stage, forcing a high-profile reckoning between historical foes, Russia and the U.S. It took ten years for the situation to play itself out.That democracy-friendly Ukrainian president served a six-year term, after which the Russian-friendly candidate took office. Four years later, in 2014, he was ousted in a bloody clash.Sensing that Western allies had a foothold in Ukraine, one of the last bastions of Russian security, Russia promptly annexed Crimea â€" both as a show of force and to reestablish some buffer between themselves and western powers.In spite of fierce sabre-rattling, neither side was willing to engage. Tensions were diffused through a no n-aggression pact, leaving the Ukraine with democratic support from western countries but no military reinforcements.Having taken Crimea as their security buffer, that was a deal the Russians could live with.Can’t get enough of geopolitics? Discover how geopolitics play out all over the world.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Tutor Best Practices Credentials Folder

Tutor Best Practices Credentials Folder Here at Tutorfair, we like to spread good ideas. One thing that might not be obvious to those starting out their tutoring journey is the importance of having a folder to keep all of your credentials papers in. When you go to your first lesson with a new client, it’s best to have the following documents to show them, in a presentable format. Identification (copy of passport) Educational Certificates (Degrees, A Levels etc.) DBS Certificate (formerly CRB check) We recommend having these in a display folder such as the one below. The one that Hannah is modelling costs a little over £4 from Rymans, and is something that the best tutors on our site are using already. It will demonstrate professionalism to the client, keep you more organised, and give additional reassurance to the customer, especially if they haven’t asked to see it. DISCLAIMER: Tutorfair is giving this recommendation independently, and earns no commission on sales of Ryman folders… yet…

SAT Tips That Will Ensure You Are Fully Prepared For Test Day

SAT Tips That Will Ensure You Are Fully Prepared For Test Day Get Ready for the SAT: Five Simple Tips Preparing for the SAT is more than just practice questions and memorizing vocabulary words. Proper SAT practice should follow an SAT study guide that is focused on comprehensive preparation that helps ensure students are ready for exam day. Using past performance data, applying current skills and knowledge, and understanding SAT testing conditions will maximize your potential and help propel you toward your academic future.This SAT study guide is focused on maximizing available test prep resources and helping you to improve your understanding of various concepts prior to test day. You'll quickly understand how preparing wisely now will pay off when you feel confident about your preparation and are pleased with your performance.Prepare your mind AND bodyPreparing your mind for the SAT without also taking care of your physical needs is not ideal. Your brain can only work as hard as your body allows. During the entire SAT preparation you should also focus on proper nutrition, getting pl enty of sleep, and finding time for physical activity. If you expect your brain to be in great shape for the SAT exam you also need to carefully prepare your body for the big day.Don't cram Cramming rarely works. Trying to prepare for a high stakes test in a small window of time will likely only leave you frustrated, confused, and overwhelmed. The best means of preparation is to carefully plan your studying to ensure you have plenty of time to cover all assessed subject areas. It is imperative that you take practice exams and these should be taken under testing conditions. Doing this will improve both your overall knowledge and test taking skills. Set aside specific blocks of time each week that are dedicated to SAT prep and ensure you meet a minimum amount of study time each week.Increase your academic vocabularyPossessing a wide range of academic vocabulary is an essential part of doing your best on the SAT. Not only will increasing your vocabulary help with vocabulary test sectio ns, it will also boost your understanding of reading passages, refine the content of your written essays, and increase your chances of correctly answering a wide variety of test questions. If you are looking for additional ways to improve your academic vocabulary, the professionals with Huntington Learning Centers can help! Part of the SAT tutoring sessions available through the learning centers focuses on increasing relevant academic vocabulary. Source content for the essay portionThe prompts used on the SAT utilize general topics accessible to all exam candidates. Because the writing time is limited on testing day it is vital to source evidence and content before you begin the test. Take the time to gather scholarly examples that could be used to answer a variety of prompts such as novels or literary characters, current news stories, global or national issues, and historical events. Sourcing and studying this content ahead of time will allow you to focus on writing a thoughtful es say instead of racking your brain for applicable content.Practice under testing conditionsPreparing for the SAT exam is all about understanding what is expected of you on test day. Don't leave anything to chance. While you are studying it is important to spend time adhering to the actual testing conditions you'll encounter on exam day. Turn off your cell phone, ensure your calculator is an approved model, use only questions released by the SAT and the College Board, and take at least one practice exam while following the specific testing conditions and time guidelines.If you are feeling overwhelmed by preparing for the SAT exam consider contacting the professionals at Huntington Learning Centers. The highly skilled tutors are specifically trained to help students prepare for the SAT while focusing on the areas of the exam that provide the most opportunity for growth. Each individual tutoring session will be carefully designed to meet your individual needs and will help you in your p ursuit to achieve the highest score possible.

What You Need To Know About The Cambridge Analytica Controversy

What You Need To Know About The Cambridge Analytica Controversy via Pixabay Facebook maintains that they had no idea this was going on and that Cambridge paid them to collect data for academic purposes. However, what Cambridge Analytica did was analyze peoples’ Facebook pages to see what they liked in order to identify personality traits that were then combined with algorithms created to predict peoples’ political views. For example, if you liked something posted by Kim Kardashian West, researchers used that information to identify your personality traits, such as how extroverted you are, how conscientious and how open-minded you are. That data combined with information about other interests indicated on Facebook can be plugged into their algorithm in order to predict your political views so campaigns can target you with advertisements more effectively. Cambridge Analytica adapted this approach of personality modeling from studies done by researchers at Stanford University and the Psychometrics Center at the University of Cambridge. The studies relied on data collected by a Facebook app called myPersonality which was a quiz developed to assess a person’s openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. When respondents took the quiz, they authorized researchers to gain access to their profile data and information about their friend network. Researchers were then able to cross-reference the results of the quiz with the users’ likes on Facebook and build a model from the correlations. Once patterns were found, researchers could make accurate guesses about users personalities without the help of the quiz. How does this tie in with President Trump? President Trump recently named John Bolton as his third national security adviser. John Bolton has been heavily involved in politics throughout his career and ran a super PAC during the 2016 election. Super PACs are independent committees that raise money for political campaigns. They can raise unlimited amounts and are virtually unregulated since they are not directly affiliated with a party or person. According to Cambridge Analyticas company documents and employees, Boltons super PAC was one of their first customers. Cambridge Analytica was hired by Bolton to specifically develop psychological profiles of voters from data collected off of Facebook. While this was also going on, Robert Mercer was financially supporting Boltons super PAC and donated $5 million between April 2014 and September 2016. Why should you care? Whether you support President Trump or not, its important to be aware that his campaign hired a foreign firm to collect private information from Americans Facebook accounts. Cambridge Analytica was not authorized by Facebook or its users to collect the information it took and use it the way it was used. Legal investigations are going on currently in England as well as the United States to see if laws have been broken. It was reported that Cambridge Analytica board members did receive warnings from lawyers that it is illegal to employ foreigners in political campaigns. However, there might be a loophole since Cambridge Analytica does have ties with the Mercer family and Robert Mercers daughter, Rebekah is a board member. Whether it is determined if laws have been violated or not, what Trumps campaign and Cambridge Analytica did was unethical and unfair.

National Apprenticeship Week 2015

National Apprenticeship Week 2015 This week was National Apprenticeship week. One of the options open to students after the age of 16 is to train through an Apprenticeship scheme. In short, Apprenticeships are available across a range of sectors and at levels to suit all abilities. They aim to improve your skills, measure your capabilities and provide you with a nationally recognised qualification. This is a way of learning the skills necessary for various careers while earning at the same time. An Apprenticeship will often suit young people who do not want to go into full-time further or higher education, but still want to gain extra qualifications that are work related. There are more than 190 different occupations in which you can train through an Apprenticeship, from animal care to building trades, from administration to catering. For a level 2 apprenticeship you may need some GCSE subjects at grades A - C. For a level 3 programme (called an Advanced Apprenticeship) you will normally need five GCSEs, often including English, Science and Mathematics, or have already completed A-Level 2. To find an apprenticeship in your area head over to www.apprenticeships.gov.uk for more information.