Do You Want to Teach English As a Second Language Overseas?

Do You Want to Teach English As a Second Language Overseas?Have you ever thought about teaching English as a second language abroad? If you have, and you are considering it because of your love for learning foreign languages, then it's time to consider online tutoring. This type of professional and casual mentoring allows you to develop and nurture your students' skills while doing it from the comfort of your own home.Tutoring overseas has never been easier than it is today with the availability of high speed Internet and the capability to receive high quality online English language training in English. While on a business trip abroad, you may be unaware of the need to develop the next generation of English language teachers. At home, you can make a difference in the lives of those who live far away by teaching them English.Not all people are qualified to teach English as a foreign language. The fact that there are already so many qualified teachers available overseas is evidence of just how effective online teaching programs can be. You can even earn money working from home, allowing you to return to your own country and bring the skills you've developed during your tutoring vacations back to your community.Being a professional English language tutor who is also based in your own country is also advantageous when it comes to an employee relationship. For instance, when you take on a foreign language teacher, you will have knowledge of how their students behave at school. Teachers in other countries can help their students with their own needs and concerns, but you will be aware of their habits, motivations, and limitations. You'll know exactly what to expect from the student and be able to respond accordingly.Language learning with English has become increasingly popular throughout the world, due in part to the many advancements in technology that make it possible to develop an interactive online environment. Online tutoring can improve the educational skills of the student and give them the experience of interacting with a native English speaker. They can practice reading, writing, and speaking with an English speaker.With the advancements in technology that exist today, individuals can study any language with the use of virtual tools. An interactive English language training program gives you the opportunity to use a large number of software applications on one computer. This makes it easy to teach many different languages and ensures that you are delivering high quality services to your students. It also gives you the flexibility to attend language learning classes in your own home.To top it all off, you can earn money from home, helping to provide a great deal of personal satisfaction, as well as financial benefits. While you may only work from your own computer for part of the day or even for several months, you can make a living. It takes just a little time to develop your own program and begin training your students.Tutoring over seas is not something that many people realize they can do. Using online English language training, you can make a significant difference in the lives of those who need to learn the English language, and you will even make money at the same time.

Is it safe to teach English in China Yes, of course!

Is it safe to teach English in China Yes, of course! China remains one of the most popular places to teach English abroad and plenty of teachers who’ve worked there can tell you what a great adventure teaching in China really is. Not to mention that it’s a top TEFL destination for saving money, which you can spend on whatever you want â€" like traveling the world! Unfortunately, teaching English in China seems to have gotten a bad rep lately, but don’t let that make you miss out on everything this top TEFL destination has to offer. If you’re dreaming of teaching English in China, but are worried about safety â€" don’t be! You just have to be smart and know how to go about it the right way. So even though Chinese political tensions have been making headlines lately â€" and there are stories out there about foreigners in China having bad experiences â€" it’s important to look at things in perspective. Chances are that you are only hearing about the negative stories because they’re more likely to make the news. On the flip side, positive stories just don’t get as much media attention and aren’t writtennearly as often online. In saying that, as with any teach abroad destination, it’s essential to do your research before you accept a teaching job in China. A little knowledge about local laws, customs and TEFL best practices will help you ensure that your overseas experience is a positive one. The most important thing to remember is to always be flexible and open to other cultures. To get you started, we’ve rounded up our top safety advice to keep in mind as an English teacher living in China. Let’s look at some tips at a glance and then dive in deeper. How can you ensure your safety while teaching English in China? Work at a reputable school. Have theproper work visa. Don’t teach on the side. Follow local laws (especially regarding drugs). Stay up to date on government advisories. Find a job at a reputable school in China. When doing your research about teaching English in China, one of the biggest fears you may have is the possibility of not being paid. That’s why it’s important to find credible schools and job opportunities from a trusted source like the Teach Away job board. As with anything: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. So trust your gut. And if anyone reaches out to you through social media (especially Facebook) regarding a job opportunity teaching in China, it could be a red flag that you shouldn’t ignore. It’s no secret that some teachers have had negative experiences with schools in China in the past. And that’s why applying to the Explore Program is such a great option. You can feel confident that the program’s recruitment experts will smoothly guide you through the application and visa process of finding a teaching job in China. But the best way to really ensure you secure a job with a trustworthy employer is by asking the right questions during your interview and reading your employment contract very carefully before signing it. What are some smart questions you should ask during an interview for a teaching job abroad in China (or really any other country for that matter)? Could I get in touch with a current teacher? (Most reputable schools will provide an email contact.) Could I see some photos or (ideally) a video of the accommodations? (This one only applies if housing is included in your contract, which is often the case.) Get a work visa for China in advance. One thing is for sure: you need to get the right visa before landing in China! You’ll need a work visa to teach in China. Any school that states otherwise, or suggests you travel to China before you have a valid work visa, should set off alarm bells ringing in your head. Despite the rumors you might find on online forums, it’s currently illegal to work in China with a tourist visa (officially known as the “L visa”) and doing so could leave you vulnerable to fines, deportation or even jail time. Any reputable school, which is the only kind of school you should work for, will only hire you if you’re eligible for a work visa (known as the “Z visa”). What do you need to get a Z visa to teach English in China? A bachelor’s degree (in any subject) Native English speaking proficiency A teaching qualification (usually a TEFL Certificate) OR 2 years of teaching experience The process for applying for a Z visa starts once you’ve been offered a job and your employer, who will sponsor your visa, will walk you through it. Don’t worry, the process is fairly straightforward, especially if you’re recruited through the Explore Program. Don’t teach English on the side in China. On the subject of work visas, once you have one, it’s your legal responsibility to stick to the employment terms you sign up to. For English teachers, this generally means working exclusively for the school that sponsored your visa and no one else. If you look around on forums, you’ll probably find plenty of posts from teachers who claim that they work for multiple employers and private clients anyway, but bear in mind this is something the Chinese authorities are increasingly keen to crack down on. So while it might be tempting to pick up private classes on the side, or even a few lessons with other schools, remember that doing so counts as working illegally and may lead to deportation or other legal troubles. Follow all local laws in China (especially regarding drugs). Living in China, you are sure to experience a few culture shocks, and you are equally sure to cause a few cultural shock waves yourself as you adapt to a new way of life. But, cultural don’ts aside, it’s important to be aware that some behavior you might consider a simple cultural preference could actually be illegal in your host country. That’s why it’s essential to properly educate yourself on China’s local laws and customs before you move there. For instance, drug use (including recreational and medicinal marijuana) is forbidden in China and carries extremely severe penalties, especially since the Chinese government’s crackdown on drugs. So if you want to steer clear of the Chinese legal system: DON’T DO DRUGS IN CHINA. I really can’t stress this enough. In fact, you shouldn’t even do any drugs shortly before landing in China because Chinese authorities have been known to do random drug tests on foreigners entering the country. Regardless of where or when the drugs were consumed, if you test positive, you can face severe penalties under Chinese law. And if you haven’t heard of the “Great Firewall of China” yet, let me fill you in: Don’t be surprised, when you open your Internet browser in China, that you won’t be able to access some of your favorite websites. Not only are international social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube permanently banned in China, but the country has now blocked a long list of US tech companies â€" including Google. Not to mention that there are plenty of other banned websites â€" most notably those that address politically sensitive issues, such as human rights and criticisms of the Chinese government. Many Chinese residents have been going around these online restrictions by using a virtual private network (VPN) to access blocked websites. However, I strongly discourage doing this now that Chinese authorities have recently started cracking down on this illegal practice and issuing fines for VPN use. While this might all sound a bit heavy, don’t let it scare you away. There are plenty of ways to stay connected with family and friends while teaching in China. Plus, you’ll make plenty of new connections while teaching abroad. Not to mention that there are plenty of fun and exciting offline things you can do while teaching in China! You can treat this as a (possibly once-in-a-lifetime) opportunity to ditch that tech addiction and replace your screen time with a rich social life and plenty of exciting experiences. China’s rich culture makes it a top destination for eating out, shopping, attending festivals, and visiting historical landmarks. It’s also a vast and beautiful country to explore during your days off. Don’t forget: one of the perks of being a teacher is having lots of vacation time, which means you’ll have plenty of free time to explore everything China has to offer. Plus, you’ll have the rest of Asia at your doorstep with exotic travel destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia only a shortcheap flight away. Stay up to date on government travel advisories for China. Local laws and international relations between countries can change frequently. Staying up to date on the latest information from your government is the best way to know what your rights and responsibilities are while you’re in China, as well as who to turn to for help should you need to. Letting your home government know that you’re living abroad is a simple way to make sure you’re protected while you live in China. Canadians, Kiwis, and Irish citizens can register their status with their government, while Americans can enroll with a local embassy and UK citizens can inform their local council. Many governments also provide specific up-to-date advisories for citizens who are traveling to or living in China: ???? Advice for Australian citizens ???? Advice for Canadian citizens ???? Advice for Irish citizens ???? Advice for New Zealand citizens ???? Advice for UK citizens ???? Advice for US citizens To sum up: be smart! With tens of thousands of native speakers working in China at any one time, it’s safe to say the vast majority of English teachers find living in China to be safe and enjoyable. So to recap, how can you make sure you have a positive experience teaching English in China? Choose an employer with a track record you can trust. Make sure your visa paperwork is all in order. Always respect the local laws and culture. Be flexible and open-minded. Bonus pro tip: bring some extra cash with you (min. $500 USD) to get you by until your first pay cheque arrives! Ready to take the leap and find a teaching job in China? Apply to theExplore Program or directly to one of the great schools featured on our job board. Not ready to move to China just yet? Teaching English online to Chinese students with companies like GoGoKidandVIPKid can be a great stepping stone! Still need to do a TEFL Certification? The University of Toronto OISE TEFL Certification is a perfect fit for anyone interested in teaching in China because it includes an optional Specialization in Teaching English to Mandarin Speakers.

Literacy, Do We Need it Today

Literacy, Do We Need it Today Literacy defines the personal level of proficiency in a native language. In common sense it mainly involves good reading, writing and speaking skills. However, full language literacy also includes abilities for critical understanding and analysis of the written or printed text; accurate and intelligible speech and writing; capacity to take informed decisions and generate creative thoughts on the basis of information learned from text. The question of the importance of literacy is often discussed today. Numerous word processing programs may correct spelling and grammatical errors. World history provides many examples, when illiterate or people unable to read became famous and achieved success. Homer was supposedly blind but this didn’t hinder him from becoming the greatest ancient Greek epic poet and to write the Iliad and the Odyssey. William the Conqueror, the first Norman King of England, never spoke English and was illiterate but had a great influence on the evolution of the English language. Nowadays many politicians, athletes and other celebrities also cannot boast of having perfect skills in the language arts. So, why should people spend time learning boring rules and subtle points of a writing system? Let’s think, what are the benefits of being literate? First of all, literacy is the primary form of information transmission today. That is why being literate is one of the basic factors on the way to the best achievements in education and career, especially in intellectual and high-tech areas. Most of people in our time would struggle to learn if they were unable to read.  The lack of reading skills obstructs children and adults from reaching their full potential as it prevents them from accessing the fundamental sources of knowledge. Being a fluent reader gives many favorable opportunities. Literacy is needed to be able to state thoughts correctly, to put the ideas in words and to express them, to ask questions in a right way. In other words, literacy helps people to understand each other better. Besides, incorrect writing and speaking requires from readers and listeners additional efforts to interpret the meaning of the text. So being literate is also considered as a sign of politeness. Literacy saves time. The readers may easily understand what was said or written and there is no need to spend time on extra explanations of something that was misunderstood. Literacy indicates that a person strives to improve himself. Very few people are lucky enough to possess a native intuitive literacy. Others have to work hard to obtain it and these efforts deserve respect. It is always pleasant to communicate with a literate person and the correct speech may be a great support at an interview or can help to make a good impression on your girlfriends parents. At the same time mistakes in oral speech or writing may incur ridicule and mockery. The clue to literacy is development of reading skills, improvement of auditory perception and deep comprehension of text. The fundamental components of fluent reading and understanding include phonetics (the study of speech sounds), orthography (the spelling system), morphology (the study of the forms of words), grammar (the arrangement of words and phrases) and semantics (the word meaning). However, only extensive practice and study may create a platform for full language literacy. Literacy is one of the keys to knowledge and education; it develops humans’ minds and allows them to achieve their goals; it is an intangible sign that unites people via time and space by means of unbiased words. Sure, literacy by itself is not an earnest of success, other talents and skills are also needed for personal progress. But no doubt that literacy makes it easier to cope with many life challenges and contributes into cultivation of intelligence and culture of each person. Visit TutorZ.com to find a tutor in English, reading, writing, phonics, grammar, vocabulary, linguistics and literature. Literacy, Do We Need it Today Literacy defines the personal level of proficiency in a native language. In common sense it mainly involves good reading, writing and speaking skills. However, full language literacy also includes abilities for critical understanding and analysis of the written or printed text; accurate and intelligible speech and writing; capacity to take informed decisions and generate creative thoughts on the basis of information learned from text. The question of the importance of literacy is often discussed today. Numerous word processing programs may correct spelling and grammatical errors. World history provides many examples, when illiterate or people unable to read became famous and achieved success. Homer was supposedly blind but this didn’t hinder him from becoming the greatest ancient Greek epic poet and to write the Iliad and the Odyssey. William the Conqueror, the first Norman King of England, never spoke English and was illiterate but had a great influence on the evolution of the English language. Nowadays many politicians, athletes and other celebrities also cannot boast of having perfect skills in the language arts. So, why should people spend time learning boring rules and subtle points of a writing system? Let’s think, what are the benefits of being literate? First of all, literacy is the primary form of information transmission today. That is why being literate is one of the basic factors on the way to the best achievements in education and career, especially in intellectual and high-tech areas. Most of people in our time would struggle to learn if they were unable to read.  The lack of reading skills obstructs children and adults from reaching their full potential as it prevents them from accessing the fundamental sources of knowledge. Being a fluent reader gives many favorable opportunities. Literacy is needed to be able to state thoughts correctly, to put the ideas in words and to express them, to ask questions in a right way. In other words, literacy helps people to understand each other better. Besides, incorrect writing and speaking requires from readers and listeners additional efforts to interpret the meaning of the text. So being literate is also considered as a sign of politeness. Literacy saves time. The readers may easily understand what was said or written and there is no need to spend time on extra explanations of something that was misunderstood. Literacy indicates that a person strives to improve himself. Very few people are lucky enough to possess a native intuitive literacy. Others have to work hard to obtain it and these efforts deserve respect. It is always pleasant to communicate with a literate person and the correct speech may be a great support at an interview or can help to make a good impression on your girlfriends parents. At the same time mistakes in oral speech or writing may incur ridicule and mockery. The clue to literacy is development of reading skills, improvement of auditory perception and deep comprehension of text. The fundamental components of fluent reading and understanding include phonetics (the study of speech sounds), orthography (the spelling system), morphology (the study of the forms of words), grammar (the arrangement of words and phrases) and semantics (the word meaning). However, only extensive practice and study may create a platform for full language literacy. Literacy is one of the keys to knowledge and education; it develops humans’ minds and allows them to achieve their goals; it is an intangible sign that unites people via time and space by means of unbiased words. Sure, literacy by itself is not an earnest of success, other talents and skills are also needed for personal progress. But no doubt that literacy makes it easier to cope with many life challenges and contributes into cultivation of intelligence and culture of each person. Visit TutorZ.com to find a tutor in English, reading, writing, phonics, grammar, vocabulary, linguistics and literature.

Tutoring Jobs in Hartford CT

Tutoring Jobs in Hartford CTTutoring jobs in Hartford Connecticut provide tutors with the best work and education environment. The tutoring jobs in Hartford, CT has been around for over a hundred years and is the sole employer of many skilled tutors.Tutoring jobs in Hartford, CT are very well known throughout the United States and have been the foremost employer of many qualified individuals. With the tutoring jobs in Hartford, CT has been around for a hundred years, it is not surprising that many talented tutors have worked for this company. Tutors in Hartford Connecticut, that have been working for this company have studied at one of the finest colleges in the world and are very experienced with the English language. They also have had excellent writing and critical reading skills and are also very good communicators.In fact, one of the reasons that the tutoring companies have been so successful is because the people at Hartford, CT have created an atmosphere that promotes creativi ty and quality education. They believe that a strong education and a solid working background are required to do well in their field and encourage the young people in the community to become proficient at whatever subject they choose.Tutoring jobs in Hartford, CT pay very well and do not have the usual daily demands and pressures of a conventional job. You can start with one lesson per week for two months and earn a handsome living. There are some benefits as well. This tutoring jobs in Hartford, CT offers excellent health insurance and other benefits that can be taken care of by their staff.Tutors that are hired by this company have had proper training and on average have been working in this company for ten years. The tutoring jobs in Hartford, CT employ trained and competent tutors who provide tutoring for both adult and child as well as disability. It is also possible to find jobs byemploying the services of online tutoring and English as a second language tutoring companies.Tut oring jobs in Hartford, CT offer an excellent working and educational environment. The tutoring jobs in Hartford, CT encourage interaction between the tutor and the student and find the best ways to promote English language and cultural knowledge. The tutoring jobs in Hartford, CT have created a perfect environment for young people to gain their qualification and move on to higher level studies and earn more earnings. It is an environment where you do not feel as if you are being placed in the lap of authority but feel as if you are doing well by the standards set by the company.There are many tutoring jobs in Hartford, CT available in the region and the number of tutors is constantly increasing as people from different areas of the country, New York, California, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, California, and even out West to come and learn more about English language. You can find tutoring jobs in Hartford, CT at the official website of this company.

Finding the Perfect Tutor Jobs Online

Finding the Perfect Tutor Jobs OnlineFinding the perfect tutor jobs online can be a challenge, and it is not easy to locate just one that is right for you. But that is not to say that you will get nowhere and nothing can happen to you. There are many different types of tutoring jobs online and finding the right one can be difficult.First, let's examine the job description for the most common type of tutor jobs online, which is career counseling. These jobs provide guidance to people that are in the workforce that need career coaching. The best job descriptions for these types of tutoring jobs are found on job sites that allow for a personal recommendation.Most of these career counseling jobs come with a health policy, which is standard practice when it comes to health insurance, which is offered by most employer-sponsored health plans. These sites do not advertise which job you should apply for, but they provide guidelines and examples of careers that may be right for you. Once you h ave chosen a health care provider to work with, it is important to find the right skills to teach people. Good tutors must have a thorough understanding of what works and what does not.Career counseling tutors are often required to become certified and go through an internship before being hired. Some people believe that this is a requirement for all tutors, but if you do not want to pursue this path, then it is not necessary. If you decide to pursue this type of career, it is helpful to attend seminars, training, and continuing education classes. The skills that will help you find the best career counselor jobs are knowledge of the health care industry, a great deal of patience, and a clear understanding of what your responsibilities are in order to succeed.Teaching jobs can be really challenging, and they often need teachers that are very resourceful. To be successful at teaching, you will need to be able to use both the written and oral communication skills to teach students. Whe n you teach, you will often need to plan lessons and prepare resources that will help students learn. This can require a great deal of time and hard work on your part. While there are some jobs that involve teaching, these are usually short-term projects or programs where you are not paid very much, and you may even have to accept that you are not getting paid.One of the more difficult types of tutoring jobs to locate is a job where you are the educator or the teacher. This kind of work is very demanding and it requires that you to teach students about every aspect of life. You are expected to teach about everything from how to cook and how to use a kitchen knife, to what types of things are against the law and how to prevent them from happening. It can be very difficult to give a one on one lesson, especially when students do not have a lot of time to study. You may need to make use of professional programs or techniques to help you teach effectively, and also to help you to get th e point across.There are a variety of career tutoring and teaching jobs that you can do, and you will need to find the ones that match your skill level and suit your needs. You must determine what it is that you are looking for, and how you can best find it. A quick internet search should help you narrow down your search and locate the best job for you.

What Are The Best Violin Movies

What Are The Best Violin Movies How is the Violin Represented in Cinema? ChaptersMusic and Cinema: Two Unifying ThemesViolin Movies: The Violin TeacherViolin Movies: Plum ChickenFeature Film on the Violin: The SoloistViolin Filmography: The ConcertViolin Movies: The ViolinMovies on the Violin: The MelodyViolin Cinema: The Red ViolinMusic drives out hate in those who are without love. She gives peace to those who are without rest, she comforts those who cry - Pablo CasalsIt's a fact, and it's even become a popular quote, music soothes  the soul. Indeed, between the clarinet, cello, chamber orchestra, sonata, or Bernstein... there are so many instruments, songs and musicians who help us drift away into our pleasant memories or happy thoughts.According to Cadenceinfo, only 3% of people do not like music, which means that 97% do. A very high percentage, which has become one of the main pastimes and interests of the population. Evidenced by the creation and existence of awards for the best original music in a film or television series.It is, therefore, natural that cinema has embraced songs, and thematic background music, to enhance their films and audience's emotions, sometimes even making music their main topic. This is particularly the case for the violin, which we're about to see, as it has helped to create many beautiful films, like a cinematic symphony!books on the violin.Violin Filmography: The ConcertA concert, a musical instrument, an audience, we don't need anything more to make a film about the violin! (Source: Pixabay)Released in 2009, The Concert is a film brought to life by Mélanie Laurent, through the prism of the Bolshoi orchestra, which leads the narrative thread of the film. The Concert is a story of travel, from the Soviet Union to France, from music to emotions, embodied by a large group of actors.A movie-going experience makes sense in all ways here as it is precisely all our senses that are called into action in this movie. Indeed, throughout history, we can distinguish beautiful music in all its glory, including t he instruments that interests us today: the violin, played passionately and with great talent. It's undeniable, when music is the centrepiece of a film, it often makes a great cinematic experience!Violin Movies: The ViolinIn 2007, The Violin was released, a Mexican film (or rather, drama), staged against a backdrop of political turmoir. The main characters of this film, a father and his son, lead a double life, between being guerrillas trying to overthrow their government to musicians  playing  music on their small farm.Many events, fit in-line with the sometimes cruel reality of life, however,  music remains the pivot, the pillar, and, once again, a great accessory giving weight to beautiful values, good feelings, and moments of grace in the film. A must-see even more so if you are interested in Mexico!Movies on the Violin: The MelodyReleased in 2017, this film, directed by Rachid Hami and including Kad Merad and Samir Guesmi, takes for its main character (who could it be?) the vio lin!  The Melody is a fictional story of a violinist who is a little disillusioned with life, who finds himself one day as a music teacher (of the violin, to be precisely) facing a difficult class of 12 yr old students.However, a very shy child stands out, and discovers a passion, even a real talent, for the violin, who then carries everyone along with him, including the teacher, evoking his memories of music and harmony.The Melody is proof that the violin can be enough to hold a film together from the beginning to the end, with, as a bonus, emotions, and events worthy of a real violin novel. A very captivating film about the power of music, its unifying force, and its universal character, which unites people together, despite the negative things that can happen and the tensions that can arise between humans.Violin Cinema: The Red ViolinThe Red Violin is a film which was released in 1998, tells us the story of Nicolo Bussotti, a violin maker  who, despite the death of his wife and s on, decides to finish the violin he was in the midst of creating. Following this, this same violin will travel around the world, and we follow its journey.This is the proof that music, which has a  universal quality, can travel through time and space and knows no bounds. To crown it all off, this film received the Oscar for the best musical score!Through this selection of films centred around the violin, we begin to see that this incredible instrument, beyond being beautiful, can be a universal force, bringing to the human culture something more sensitive, harmonious, and unifying, of which we are all in need!

A Guide to the Best Internet Browsers

A Guide to the Best Internet Browsers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer: Which Top Internet Browsers Will You Choose? ChaptersWhat Is A Web Browser?Top Internet BrowsersCompatibility Table For Mobile BrowsersHow To Choose the Best Web browser?A List of Deceased Web Browsers“Whoever masters the Internet, masters the world…” - Christophe BonnefontAlphonse de Lamartine wrote two centuries ago: “A single being is missing, and the whole world seems empty.” Yet at the beginning of this third millennium, isolation is rather the lot of the student, worker or holiday-maker lacking a Wi-Fi connection!For fans of poetry - or indeed, anyone searching for anything - surfing the Internet for relevant websites is a must for staying in touch and finding out the basics of using a computer.But here is the rub: a screen and a microprocessor are not enough to access a url. And so we propose to enter the world of bowsers 2.0 and gain a better understanding of them so you can choose which browser is best adapted to your needs.several installed on your computer and change whenever you want.Problems with cookies, a virus or recurring bugs can be good reasons for wanting to switch browsers. And, though some insist that having two different browsers leads to domestic problems, it is practical to have another browser on hand if a site doesn’t load properly on the one you are using.Though there are still some independent email providers (such as Thunderbird), more and more people are turning to gmail (by Google) or other high-speed webmail providers. The same is true for IMs (Instant Messaging services): MSN is not the only one available anymore.Unlike most other software programmes, Internet browsers are free - with a few rare and endangered exceptions.The most common operating systems in use today are Windows, Mac Os, Linux/Ubuntu, iOS and Android. Each has its own particularities, which is why most have their own browsers. This is what we will be looking at now.Learn ;ore about the Internet by following online computer courses.Top Internet BrowsersWith its microprocessor and user-friendly interface for use as a true digital office, the computer is still the king of digital. Today as for the last few decades, three main operating systems share the market. Here they are, by order of importance:Windows, Bill Gates’ successful multinational, with its Windows 93, 95, 98, 2000, Xp, Vista, 7, 8, 9 and 10… This computing giant soon won over the hearts of firms and gamers.Mac OS, Apple’s hyper-secure creation while Steve Jobs was still with us, from Classic to X, from 0.0 to 10.12.6. The apple with a bite taken out of it always had its exclusive markets such as graphic design and printing, but every passing year it gains on Nr. 1 thanks to innovative designs and marketing as innovative as the solutions it proposes.Linux or Ubuntu (GNU), on the rise because of its open-source accessibility (it’s free) is very popular with IT technicians and free-access gurus. It first appeared in 2004 and has been perfected over time.Within this very select little club you will find a great number of Internet browsers. The 5 most common browser softwares (by market percentage), used by those looking for the best browser there is:Google Chrome unites as of July 2017 more than half the internet users on the planet. Google Chrome owes its existence to Chromium, an open-source project, and has the advantage of working just as well with Windows, Mac and Linux.Almost 1 in 5 Internet users praise Safari, juggling between Mac and Windows and using Webkit.Internet Explorer (replaced by Edge in 2015) still attracts about one person in ten - yet it’s still lost ground from the time it was pre-installed on every Windows machine.Mozilla Firefox satisfies about 7% of users. Like Chrome, it is polyvalent and runs on all systems (we strongly recommend it.)With Opera, we are suddenly falling into an elite club with only 2% of users. This is somewhat surprising considering its multiplatform character which runs even on rare and little-known operating systems, and with a certain success on mobile devices (see nr. 4 below).Chrome is one of the younger browser generation but is already one of the most popular out there. Photo credit: Daniel Bowen on VisualHuntWeb BrowserFirmCompatible SystemsDate of CreationInstallation linkGoogle Chrome/ChromiumGoogleAndroid, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux2008https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/index.htmlSafariAppleiOS, Mac et Windows (from XP up)2003https://support.apple.com/en_GB/downloadsFirefoxMozillaWindows, iOS (since 2015)2002https://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/new/EdgeMicrosoftWindows 10, Xbox One2015https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/microsoft-edgeInternet ExplorerMicrosoftWindows (support ended 2015)1994https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/internet-explorer.aspxOperaOpera SoftwareiOS, Android, Nintendo DS1994http://www.opera.comUC BrowserUCWebiOS, Android, Windows Phone, RT, S60, CE, Bada, J2ME, BREW, MTK2004https://uc-browser.en.softonic.com/LynxLynx-devhttp://www.avantbrowser.com/default.aspx?uil=e n1992http://www.vordweb.co.uk/standards/download_lynx.htmAvant BrowserAvant ForceWindows (2000, XP, Vista and 7)2004http://www.avantbrowser.com/default.aspx?uil=enMaxthon Cloud BrowseMaxthon International LimitedWindows, Linux, OS X2006http://de.maxthon.com/In addition, we should also mention various alternative browsers such as Seamonkey, Rockmelt, Camino (native to Mac OS X) and Dolphin Browser HD.How To Choose the Best Web browser?Your average user mostly wants to use the Internet to consult or create web content. However, the question of which browser is the best is largely subjective. With the help of this table, you will be able to best choose and install a version that will run smoothly and be compatible with your system.After that, you will need to make up your own mind. Different browsers will work better depending on your RAM, what kind of computer security you have (firewall or antivirus - there are good free antiviruses out there like Avast), what kind of pop-up blocker plug-in you want to use.You can look at statistics where those who habitually surf the Internet express their preferences; but there is no easy solution, especially since everyone surfs differently: watching lecture videos on YouTube, listening to Internet radio, visiting insecure sites, posting on programming forums, getting a computer science degree in an online degree program….Mozilla Firefox's fiery fox has a well-known logo inspired by nature - and is a good all-round browser for Mac or Windows.Depending on what smartphone or tablet you have, the system bugs won’t all be the same. For example, Opera Mini has the advantage of limiting the temporary files in your cache.There are some reflexes you should train to avoid inconvenience - have only one default browser, uninstall any malware or spyware (if you suddenly have a different startup page or homepage, that’s an important clue), avoid clicking on advertisements (even consider using something like Adblock), regularly empt y your browser cache and delete your browser history, get a better antivirus, don’t install unnecessary plug-ins, be wary of supposed “new functions”, set up your advanced settings, install a new browser or re-install the old one if it becomes unusually slow or crashes regularly.BrowserAdvantagesDisadvantagesGoogle ChromeFast, secure and with a minimalistic interfaceYou personal data remains in the hands of GoogleFirefoxSecure and well-structured. A model browser with an IDM model interface perfect for managing your downloads.Less add-ons and extensions than ChromeSafariSimple and without unnecessary functions. The traditional browser for Apple hardware.Not that fast.OperaOpera’s list of VPN tools.Recurring problems with JavaScript.Internet ExplorerThe fastest browser out there…… but with horrible security; also problems with a lot of HTML and XHTML normsWhile Internet Explorer is fast, it often has trouble interpreting the common web programming languages html and xhtml and the layout language css, displaying websites in an odd fashion. Photo credit: atzu on Visual huntA List of Deceased Web BrowsersOut of nostalgia for old web apps considered the “fastest browser in the world”, out of curiosity or because you want to develop your own open-source software by taking inspiration from the source code of the best applications of the past, it might be interesting to cite some of the defunct software that have served us well (you might learn about some of them during your computing courses):Netscape Navigator (abandoned in 2008) was created by Mosaic developer Marc Andreessen: until it was overtaken by Internet Explorer in 2000, the most used browser worldwide NCSA Mosaic an old-timer dating to 1992, born under Window then used by Macintosh, and without which there would be no urls.NetPositive - or “Net+” - is the first-born for BeOS systems -if that doesn’t make you feel old.Either way, don’t forget to monitor your add-ons and protect your private life. This is particularly important if you are using Google rather than an alternative search engine such as DuckDuckGo, as your data is gathered to tailor ads to your tastes depending on where you surf!A good free browser should also offer good parental control, run smoothly no matter how many tabs you have open, and offer the possibility of sychonising a new version with the old.Still have questions? Check out our beginner computer courses!Click here for A Guide To Web Security Computer Safety.

5 Daily Habits Youll Be Thankful For

5 Daily Habits You’ll Be Thankful For With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, your everyday routine can become challenging to maintain. You likely have looming due dates for papers, projects, or workplace tasks that make it difficult to implement habits beneficial to your ongoing learning success. Keeping a reflection journal, updating your planner, and making time for your interests are just a few of the daily habits youll be grateful you made time for as 2019 draws to a close. Hoping to finish the year strong? Keep reading to learn five daily habits youll be thankful for this Thanksgivingand beyond. 1. Reading for pleasure As college students and adult learners, we seldom have time to read on our own outside of academic or workplace assignments. This holiday season, commit 20-30 minutes each day to reading for pleasure. This daily habit is an excellent practice that engages the brain, widens your worldview, and keeps you connected to your interests and other people around you. When searching for reading material, aside from books, consider referencing the following options: News articles Blogs or magazine articles related to your interests Audiobooks Its important to determine what time of day youre best able to set aside as focused reading time. This could be reading news pieces in the morning or listening to audiobooks on your commute to work or school. [RELATED: 5 Educational Podcasts Every College Student Should Be Listening To] 2. Keeping a reflection journal The way you keep a journal is up to you, but the idea is to incorporate informal writing into your daily routine. Writing helps you process things that have happened throughout the daya conversation you may have had with a professor, or how you feel you performed on an assignment, exam, or at work. You can use this space to plan out future goals and reflect on yourself as a learner. It can be as informal or structured as you want it to be. Additionally, this daily practice can also help you maintain and foster your writing skills. [RELATED: 3 Ways Students Can Benefit From Journaling] 3. Maintaining your planner Keeping an updated planner of all upcoming academic and personal commitments (like assignments) can help you stay on track throughout the semester. Unfortunately, its easy to let maintaining your planner fall to the wayside. Setting aside time each day to keep track of your responsibilities can help you stay focused and maintain a clear understanding of whats expected of you. 4. Setting aside time for your interests Setting aside time to incorporate personal interests into your daily life can help provide perspective in the doldrums of the semester, and it can remind you why youre in school in the first place. Reading is one way to do this, but you might also seek out a podcast or documentary related to your interest. You could also do something active outside, or find a group of people in your community who have similar interests. [RELATED: 6 Habits to Become A More Organized Student] 5. Practicing self-care Self-care is essential for staying on top of your work and staying healthy in general. Every day, incorporate some aspect of self-care into your daily routine. This looks different for everyone, but may include exercising, guided meditation, reading, or spending time with friends and family. In the busyness of the holiday season, its important to set aside time each day to incorporate tactics to help you destress. It can be easy to think of these habits as extra work on top of what you already have to do. Shift your mindset and think of these items as daily activities that will help you stay focused and successfully achieve your learning goals. 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.

Majoring in Music How to Nail Your Guitar Audition

Majoring in Music How to Nail Your Guitar Audition Megan L. Is a music major in your academic future? Guitar teacher  Brett M.  shares 10 things you need to know to have a great guitar audition at the music college of your choice If you’re a guitarist who’s planning to continue your music education at the college level, then this may  be one of the most important articles you could ever read. In fact, it’s something that I wish I could have  read, before auditioning and (luckily) getting accepted into Berklee College of Music over a dozen years  ago. Let’s meet someone His name is Dwayne, and like you (and me, back in the day) he is interested in majoring in music. Dwayne loves to play guitar, and he’s passionate about learning more. He’s a sophomore in  high school, and has played in a couple of bands off and on. Dwayne’s not a huge jazz guy, but he’s  thinking about trying out for the school jazz band, just to get the playing experience but he’s not too  sure he’d know what to play. Dwayne’s got above-average technique on the guitar and he knows he  wants to get faster, but that’s about as specific as he could say. He’s also got a feeling that there’s a lot  more to learn about scales, chords, etc. In fact, his overall knowledge of how everything fits together is  a bit sketchy. But he’s hungry to learn all there is to know, and is planning on attending music college for  guitar after graduation. Problem is, he’s not too sure what he’ll need to know to get in, and he’s a little  worried about it. Actually, hes a lot worried. Sound familiar? If so, then read on â€" you’re about to find out the 10 Guitar Strategies For a Successful  College Audition! 1. Have The Right Reasons If you’re really serious about wanting to attend college for guitar (and then making a go at a career in  music) you’d better be doing it for the right reasons. Here are two of the wrong reasons: I want to be famous. I want to make a lot of money. Those two things may in fact happen to you, and if they do, GREAT! But to have a sustainable, lifelong  relationship with music one that continues even when the going gets tough there’d better be more  behind your desire. For me, I simply couldn’t (and still can’t) not do music. The desire to create, to  challenge yourself, to deepen your character, and to share music with others is what will fuel a  successful and sustainable music career in college and after. Do it for the right reasons for long enough,  and getting rich and famous (while more importantly, being fulfilled) could actually happen. Here’s a wakeup call for you: Even if you go to music college and decide to major in performance (in  other words, in playing guitar) the majority of work that you do, especially for the first two years, will  not be on playing guitar. You must be willing and excited to spend a lot of time away from the guitar, learning about  all aspects of music. If you don’t enjoy this part, you won’t last. Examples of all the fun stuff that comes with learning about music include:  ear training, text  book music theory, music analysis, conducting, music history, arranging, and solfeggio (sight singing). You need to crave knowledge about all of these things, or don’t even bother. Sound harsh? Not if you’ve  got what it takes! If hearing this actually gets you excited to be in an environment like that, then music  college is probably a good fit for you. It definitely was for me. 2. Know Your Audience For a contemporary music college, the application process usually involves sending an audition tape of  music “from the standard repertoire”. In my case, not really knowing what this meant at the time (and  being a metal guy!) I chose to play an intro to a Testament song by Alex Skolnick, who’s a pretty rippin’  player. I figured that if a song was from a CD I had, then it must be “from the standard repertoire”. I  pulled it off alright, but in hindsight it was kind of a dumb idea to choose a song like that. You see, while Berklee and many other music schools certainly embrace many kinds of music, they are  historically jazz institutions. So, what they’re often really looking for are pieces that demonstrate your  ability to improvise a bit, play chord solos, interpret melodies, etc. In other words, start learning to play jazz music from “the  standard repertoire” (out of a big book of songs called “The Real Book”).   Even though my audition  turned out okay, if I had to do it again, I would have been smarter to choose some  performance pieces designed to achieve a specific goal in this case, impressing the instructors at a  â€œjazz school” and not just choosing music that I thought was impressive. 3. Listen Start to immerse yourself in music daily, and not just the styles that are your current favorites (I’m still a  metal guy!). Listen especially to classical music from all time periods, as well as jazz. You will absolutely  pick up and absorb some important musical concepts simply through osmosis. Check out Jamey Aebersold’s extensive library of CDs for jazz students, great learning tools even if you don’t understand  what he’s talking about yet. They’re mostly for putting on and listening to while you’re doing other stuff,  and getting used to the sounds of jazz harmony and soloing. And, if you listen to Bach or Beethoven  every day, you will reap rewards a’plenty! 4. Watch I dont just mean to watch random videos on YouTube! I’m talking about getting your hands on some good guitar instructional videos, preferably some  no-nonsense ones from the late 80s or early 90s, put out by the companies REH or Alfred. Be sure to check some out some killer guitarists who are way over your head, like Scott Henderson, Al DiMeola, Allan Holdsworth,  Greg Howe, and  Frank Gambale. Don’t fret if you can’t understand anything they’re talking about (a  lot of these guys play great, but couldn’t teach their way out of a paper bag)! What’s important is to start getting an idea about what skills are out there that you don’t know about yet. These types of videos will  help you figure out where your weak points are and the areas of knowledge or technical ability that you  need the most work on. They can be equally inspirational and frustrating! 5. Know Your Notes Knowing notes is more than simply  reading them on the page. Its about actually finding and understanding them with the guitar. One of the biggest  problems that plagues most guitar players is not having all of the notes on the neck memorized. Everything  that you do, especially at the college level, has to do with notes. So does it make sense to not know  where they are on the guitar? Of course not. It’s absolutely essential knowledge for a serious player. 6. Scale Knowledge Memorizing scales on the guitar is of immense importance. There are six “families” of scales (including  all of their modes) that you must know to play contemporary music: Major Melodic Minor Harmonic Minor Diminished Whole Tone Pentatonic Knowing the fingerings and shapes on the neck is an important first  step. But the actual ability to build them in your head in any key, to know the sound, and to start them from  anywhere on the neck is vital  for reading, improvisation, and writing. It’s a big task, but  one that every aspiring college guitar student needs to tackle. 7. Chord Knowledge Understanding how to build chords, from triads to extended harmony chords like E7susb9 and other  weird ones, is an absolutely essential skill to master before attending college for guitar. Analysis of chord  progressions is a necessary skill for really understanding how songs work and how they’re structured. Chord and scale relationships also help you understand how to play or improvise over daunting chord  progressions (like Dm7b5 â€"G7alt â€"CmMaj7) and actually sound like you know what you’re doing! This  will give you an edge over your competition when applying or auditioning for music school not to  mention an increase in confidence. 8. Arpeggios Arpeggios are the same as chords, but played one note at a time. They help you unlock the potential of  chords as a resource for soloing, and it’s important to be able to build and play them all over the neck, including everything from  the standard major and minors, to the  7th arpeggios and all of the extended harmony arpeggios  (9ths, 11ths, etc.). 9. Sight Reading and Rhythm Reading What’s the best way to get a guitar player to turn down? Put sheet music in front of him! It’s a joke, but  completely true. Reading music (and especially rhythm) is one of the biggest blind spots for most guitar  players, and it will be a major handicap for you if you’re thinking about continuing your education at the  college level. So why hide from your fear? Tackle it head on! I find that rhythm really  intimidates many of my guitar students. It can look like a foreign language with all those beams and squiggles and dots. But it’s really not that bad when you have the proper guidance. After that, reading the pitches on the  music staff isn’t that hard at all, it just takes some practice. Being a strong reader is very impressive to  the people you’ll be auditioning for, so it pays to spend the time getting good at it. 10. Technical Ability and Speed Believe it or not, when it comes to getting into a music college for guitar, your raw technical ability and  speed aren’t as important as some of the other areas that we’ve mentioned. You don’t have to be a  shred master but why not go for it anyway! It can’t hurt. Playing fast is a goal for many guitarists, and  increasing your technical skill will add to your confidence and ability to impress at the college level. So, is your guitar teacher preparing you for all this stuff? If not, show them the door! For many students, finding a top-quality guitar teacher is one of the first steps on the road to majoring in music. Remember,  there’s a lot of competition to fill those limited spaces in the school that you want to get into. Here’s the  good news though: If you’ve got a good work ethic, a passion for learning about all aspects of music and  the guitar, and a great teacher with experience in all of this, then getting into the music college of your  dreams is a thoroughly achievable goal. Good luck â€" and keep practicing! Post Author:  Brett M. Brett is a guitar book author, metal recording artist, and video game composer. He has over a dozen years of private instruction experience, and is the creator of the popular free audio course Unleash Your Speed: How to Shred on Guitar. Learn more about Brett here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher