Sunday, March 22, 2020

How to Sing the National Anthem 9 Videos You Can Learn From

How to Sing the National Anthem 9 Videos You Can Learn From Sign up successful Some of them have been successful at it, and some havent. And to tell the truth, its one of the toughest songs to sing. Its wordy in its fast-moving rhythmic patterns, it requires a big range of both pitches and dynamics, and the longest-held note in the song is also the highest note. Lets take a look at some of the best Star-Spangled Banner performances as well as some not-so-great   and where each singer went wrong and right. Then,  well look at ways you can nail it yourself as you learn how to sing the national anthem! Whitney Houston Considered by many to be one of the best  Star-Spangled Banner  performances, Houstons soaring rendition (performed in 1991) is pretty exciting. Shes impeccably in tune, gives us plenty of her signature vibrato, and she lets the beauty of the words and melody shine through without distractingly excessive runs. Houston also isnt afraid to use a softer dynamic level to emphasize the meaning of certain phrases; it makes the audience listen harder, too. The legendary singer does have some facial tension that couldve been alleviated with a little self-massage. Renée Fleming Grammy-award winning opera superstar, Renée Fleming, is using all of her good training and technique here to sing a the national anthem in a  free and precise way. Her diction is great, too. But her best decision was to choose a key low enough to be comfortable enough for her to sing a dramatic high note on Oer the land of the free. Mike Eli This lead singer of the Eli Young Band, a popular country band, simply skips two lines of the song, and starts over. The bottom line? Mistakes happen. Performers blank. But what a professional does when they forget the  lyrics or another embarrassing mistake is to go on without making it completely obvious. Unfortunately, the singer here is also barely in tune and seems rushed throughout. Josh Groban Groban uses a broad range of vocal dynamics here to makes an otherwise lackluster rendition sound decent. Im not sure if he has facial tension, or if hes trying to convey emotion. Either way, he should just relax and allow spontaneous feelings to happen in the moment, instead of choreographing his face. Mariah Carey Shes known for being the best-selling female singer of all time (well-known for her five-octave vocal range) but you can hear a lot of breathiness and vocal swelling in Careys voice here (listen for the tiny moments where her voice suddenly isnt there). Toward the end of the song, when she sings, Oer the land of the free, and goes up into her signature whistle register, it seems out of place, almost as if she did it just to remind everyone that shes Mariah Carey. Christina Aguilera Aquilera is singing a cappella (and as far as I can see, she doesnt have an ear monitor). This makes it pretty tough for anyone to sing the national anthem in tune, but she does. Her higher notes seem secure and solid, albeit tight. Taylor Swift This 2008 performance of Taylor Swift isnt exactly fantastic. Theres virtually no power behind the voice and the higher notes are strained. What is fantastic, however, is that Swift doesnt aim to sound like anyone but herself, and thats important. Jennifer Hudson I consider this the gold standard of national anthem performances. Hudson doesnt start too low, and therefore breathy, as a lot of singers do. Her high notes are powerful and free, without any noticeable tension, throughout the entire song. Her vibrato is pleasant-sounding and at her command. And theres plenty of sincere drama, but she remains in control. Roseanne Barr Dont. Just dont. So, What Have We Learned? Tips for Singing the National Anthem As you learn how to sing the national anthem, keep these tips in mind: Get your physical energy up. Jumping jacks work great! Start low in your range, but not so low that youre breathy. Think about what the words mean to you. Dont just yell! Use different dynamics to your advantage. Sing a dramatic high note only if you have an emotional or lyrical reason (and its super solid!). Be yourself and dont imitate. [Editors Note: For a hilarious account of what its really like to sing the Star-Spangled Banner in front of a crowd, we love this post  by Chelsea Dyreng!] I believe that the most important keys to singing  the national anthem well are  to know your own voices capabilities and limits, and sing in your own style; its also important to match at least some of the drama behind the song. That means knowing the history behind it and keeping a high energy level up throughout the entire song. But there should be a balance. Dont let the need for a dramatic performance compromise strong and solid technique. Oh, and make sure that you know the words. Post Author:  Heather L. Heather L. teaches singing, piano, and more in St. Augustine, FL, as well as online. She attended Westminster Choir College and has performed with the New York and Royal Philharmonics, the New Jersey and Virginia Symphonies, the American Boy Choir, and the internationally renowned opera star Andrea Bocelli. Learn more about Heather here! Photo by Nathan Rupert 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

Friday, March 6, 2020

Make the Most of Your German Lessons

Make the Most of Your German Lessons Learning German: How to Speak German Fast with a Private german Tutor ChaptersPay Attention and Be Rigorous During German LessonsAsk Your German Tutor QuestionsAsk for a Summary After Each German CourseLearn German DailyPractise German Outside of ClassHaving private tutorials is great if you want to speak German. However, you need to make sure you're getting the most out of every single one or you'll just end up wasting your money!Have you decided it’s time to work on your German with a tutor because you can’t study the language in Germany or do a language stay?  Do you feel you can’t go it alone and none of your new German phrases are sticking in?You’ve probably decided to get tuition in German online and make the most of in-home private tutorials.The German language (and German words!) can seem complicated at first.  However, with the right German speaking tutor adapting their German course to you, you’ll soon be quickly progressing. Make the most out of every tutorial by speaking German as much as you can!Regular practice and the right app roach will help you love German. Here’s our advice for making the most out of learning German.Paying attention is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to language learning.William James, who’s considered to be the father of modern cognitive psychology said that attention was the educational faculty par excellence.More recently, studies have proven that 80% of learning takes place during a class or tutorial.Did you decide to take private intensive German tutorials as part of your professional training or as academic support as you get ready for an exam?Find German classes near me on Superprof here.If you want to get the most out of your German tutorials, you have to focus. (Source: Hosein Ashrafosadat)If you’re the kind of person who struggles to sit still when you're supposed to be studying German vocabulary, think about changing your lifestyle.Imagine you’re studying for the most important exams of your life. Make sure you eat healthily, sleep at least 8 hours a night, and exercise.Your physical abilities and mental abilities are inextricably linked: take care of one and you take care of the other! A healthy body leads to a healthy mind.Why not do a few breathing exercises before your tutor arrives? You could always practice a bit of basic German pronunciation before your lesson begins to get you in the right frame of mind.  Techniques like these can help you to concentrate better and improve your comprehension.You should also turn off your mobile, your laptop, and your TV, and make sure you’re in a distraction-free environment.All these ingredients are key to having a perfect tutorial. This will help you focus on what you and your tutor are saying.You need to focus when it comes to learning German grammar.  Take care of your exercise books and add a bit of colour: this’ll make you more willing to open them when it’s time to study your second languageAttention to detail pays dividends when it comes to improving your pronunci ation.  You’ll quickly see the progress you’re making.Paying more attention and being more rigorous will help you improve your German language skills as well as showing your tutor that you’re serious.Your tutor will dedicate more of their time and effort when they see how enthusiastic you are about learning.Ask Your German Tutor QuestionsWhile no tutor’s all-knowing, they often are an invaluable resource of knowledge when it comes to knowing how to speak German and the grammar.Once you’ve found your ideal German tutor, make sure to ask them questions. There’s no such thing as a stupid question. These questions can help you to get the most out of your german lessons london,  or wherever you are based.Are you unsure about a certain German word? Not sure about German conjugations? Ask them!Do you not understand the German exercise you’ve been asked to do?  Ask them!You need to constantly focus on your objectives if you want to learn German quickly and effectively.  For a tutorial to be effective, they need to interactive.  You play a part in that.Participation is one of building blocks of effective education when it comes to foreign languages.  Make the most of your German tutorials and learn more German speaking countries. After all, you can’t learn a language properly without learning about culture and history of the places where the language is spoken.Whether your tutor is a native German speaker or just bilingual, you can bet they know a thing or two about places where German's spoken. Their goal is to transfer their knowledge to you.Why not have a conversation in German about everyday life in Germany, the customs, the history, and the culture?Your tutor decided to provide tutorials because they love teaching, keep that in mind!Your German tutor can keep you up to date with your progress.A lot of tutors will offer this without being asked but if they don’t, ask for a summary of your progress after each private tutorial.This summary can inclu de the key vocabulary that you’ve learnt, the grammar covered, the exercises you did, and how you did in terms of speaking.It can also include points that you should study and things to do before your next lesson.Regular reports can be really useful when it comes to evaluating your progress in terms of academic coaching.Lastly, you’ll see how much progress you’ve made. After every hour of tutorials, you’ll know exactly what you learnt and what you need to work on.It’s a great way to keep you motivated! As it's a long-term and gradual process, you often don’t realise how much progress you’re making when you learn a foreign language.Having someone else evaluate your progress can really help.  Especially when that person is your German tutor and they exactly what they're on about.However, if you’re learning German elsewhere, you can still always ask them for an update on your progress.  This will make you want to learn more and make your learning even more effective.Dis cover how much German lessons should be with a private tutor.Learn German DailyIf you’re a student, you’ll hear this all the time: You have to study regularly in order to learn. This is even more true when it comes to learning languages.However, if you’re working and have decided to take German tutorials to improve your international career prospects, it may be so long since the last time you revised that you've forgotten how to do it.In both cases, and even if you’re just learning German for fun, you should still go back over your lessons!80% of what we learn takes place during a lesson.  What about the remaining 20%?Make the most of your German lessons. (Source: startupstockphotos.com)That depends on the extra work you do outside of class.  Going back over your tutorials regularly can help you learn more.Don’t hesitate to put together revision sheets to help you organise your studies.  You should also do German exercises in order to review grammar, conjugations, and voca bulary.  Practice makes perfect.When you first start a new sport, the first training session is always one of the most difficult and you're  always hurting a bit for a few days afterwards.  Bit by bit, you get into a rhythm and your body gets used to it.Your brain works in the same way!  You won’t see the benefits on the very first day.  However, with regular practice, you’ll start to notice things going in and your German language abilities will become increasingly refined.Practise German Outside of ClassTo make the most of your German classes, practising regularly outside of class is a must.  There are several ways to do this. You just need to choose the method that works best for you.If you’re lucky enough to know German people or those bilingual in German, don’t hesitate to tell them you’d like to speak in German with them.You can also look to cultural centres like the Goethe Institut to meet Germans.Having conversations is a great way to improve both your speaking and listening skills as well as learning new words.Speak German as much as you can outside of your tutorials. (Source: Stephanie)Are you planning a trip anywhere?  There are six countries in Europe where German is an official language. You can even spend time in a German language school taking lessons during your holidays.  It's a great way to practice German intensively!The Internet can also be used to help: head to the many sites with free resources for learning German!  There are plenty of websites with German lessons and interactive activities to help you practice German.Don’t hesitate to learn every day: watch German films and read books or articles.  The more you hear German, the more you’ll understand!Every time you practise German you’ll benefit more from your private tutorials and your German tutor is sure to notice your progression. All they can do is give you the tutorials. It’s up to you to put them into practice!They can even offer a language level test.  Private t utorials are a team effort, after all!

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Should I Go To University of Massachusetts

Should I Go To University of Massachusetts The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Joseph is a New York City tutor specializing in a variety of foreign languages including German tutoring, Latin tutoring, and Spanish tutoring. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2011 with a B.M. in Music Performance. Check out his review of his school: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Joseph: I attended UMass Amherst from 2007-2011 and still have the fondest memories of the school. From the moment I walked onto the campus for the first time, I felt right at home and knew that it was the place where I should be. UMass is situated in Western Massachusetts in an area that is not too far from Boston or New York, but still far enough from both that the hustle of the city seems like a distant world. With 25,000 students, though, UMass feels like a town of its own, situated in the middle of rural Massachusetts. While I had a car when I was there, the public transportation system is more than adequate, and serves not only the campus of the UMass area but the whole Pioneer Valley area. You could reasonably take a bus from UMass to Springfield, Northampton, or any other area you desired to go to in the area. As far as safety goes, UMass is perfectly safe, with police stationed on weekend nights, and more importantly, a general air of positivity and no tolerance for violence that makes attempts at theft, assault, etc. very rare. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Joseph: The professors at UMass truly love what they do. Even in my general education classes with 400 students, I never had to wait long to get a response from my professors about questions from the class, exams, finals etc. Even more available were the TAs who ran study sessions for their sections, and in some classes, even did Friday labs where we would go over the information presented in class in a smaller setting to make sure every person comprehended the information and had all the tools possible to succeed in the class. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Joseph: Dorm life was actually the best thing that I took away from UMass. I met my best friends there, and even now, 6 years later, I live with 2 of my fellow dorm-mates in New York. I will press the fact that I praise UMass so much, not because everything about it is perfect, but because it has endless choices. If you look, you will find a dormitory that fits you perfectly. Are you social and love being around people? You can live in the residence areas of Central or Southwest (where there are plenty of dorms) and socialize. If youre more studious, you can live in Orchard Hill. If youre an introvert, you can live in Sylvan, away from the campus traffic. Dining options are also endless, with 4 huge dining commons on the campus and award-winning dining. There is still many a night when I wish I could swipe my card into the dining services and eat to my hearts desire. As far as opportunities with other students go, if you have a pulse, you will make friends. With 25,000 kids, you are bound to find someone with similar interests with whom you will make a true bond of friendship. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Joseph: The majors that are best represented and supported at UMass would have to be any of the majors that fall under the Isenberg School of Business. As one of the foremost business schools in the country, it was definitely a main priority for the UMass administration to both publicize and fund. I myself was a Music major, which was not particularly highly-funded by the university, but it gave just adequate funding (common universally for Music) that allowed us to take part in trips around the USA, as well as new lockers, etc. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Joseph: As already stated, if you have a pulse, you will make friends. Between your dorms, new classes, the plethora of social events at the beginning of the year sponsored by the campus, etc., theres no way youre going to be eating alone after the first day. Greek life has a small but present role in the campus social life. 5% of the undergraduate population is in a fraternity or sorority, and many of them are geared toward community service. As the UMass website says Fraternities and sororities are about friendships, scholarship, community service, philanthropy, brotherhood, sisterhood and leadership. I think this sums up the role that Greek life plays on the campus of UMass. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Joseph: The Career Center at UMass has career fair after career fair, with each day carved out for a specific major. Many of my friends started paid internships through UMass that have progressed into paid full-time jobs. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Joseph: UMass has plenty of quiet areas to study, the foremost one being the library. Being the 2nd tallest library in the world, there is plenty of space for you to study, both in peace on any of the floors, or with a friend on one of the slightly louder floors toward the bottom. The student union center is a little too active to study in, but the dorm lounges are spacious, available 24/7, and extremely comfortable. If one of those locations doesnt suit you, you could always find a secluded area outside near the lake or on Orchard Hill. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Joseph: Amherst is one of the most fun towns Ive ever been to in my life. It is full of amazing restaurants, clubs, bars, etc. Students go there not only every weekend, but more often every night, since its only a 5-minute walk away from the center of campus. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Joseph: The student body is pretty big, and I realize that might not be good for everyone. With 25,000 students, there certainly are many people walking around, but I would like to stress that it never felt frenetic or crowded. In the general education classes, the number of students was larger; it could be anywhere from 40 to 400 students. In the classes more geared to my major, there were probably anywhere from 12-40 students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Joseph: The most memorable professor I had was definitely Professor Anthony Tuck, the Classics teacher. He was the coolest guy; I really loved going to his class. I remember one time, he brought his son into class (a newborn baby) and one of the girls said that he was cute. He let the girl hold the baby. It was entertaining and reinforced my belief that Professor Tuck was the most awesome man ever. Check out Josephs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Sum of Squares

Sum of Squares There are two types of sum of squares formulas, where one of them is the sum of squares of two numbers and the other is the sum of squares of n given values. The formula for sum of squares of two numbers a and b is given as a2 + b2 = (a + b)2 2ab. The formula for the sum of squares of n values such as (12 + 22 + 32 + 42 + + n2) = [n (n+1) (2n + 1)]/ 6. According to the given situation, either of the formulas is used for solving. Example 1: Find the value of the sum of the squares of 1 and 4 written as, 12 + 42. According to the sum of the squares formula, a2 + b2 = (a + b)2 2ab. Given 12 + 42, which implies a = 1 and b = 4. Therefore according to the sum of the squares formula, we get: 12 + 42 = (1 + 4)2 2*1*4 This gives: 12 + 42 = (5)2 8 == 12 + 42 = 25 8 = 17. Hence the value of 12 + 42 = 17. Example 2: Find the value of the sum of squares from 1 to 5. Sum of the squares from 1 to 5 can be written as: 12+ 22+ 32+ 42+ 52. Sum of squares of numbers from 1 to n written as: (12+ 22+32+ + n2) = [n (n+1) (2n + 1)]/ 6 Here n= 5. So, 12+ 22+ 32+ 42+ 52 = [5 (5 + 1) (10 + 1)]/ 6. This gives: (5* 6* 11)/ 6= 330/6 = 55. Therefore the sum of squares from 1 to 5 is 55.

10 Most Famous Economists of All Time and Others Whove Made Their Mark

10 Most Famous Economists of All Time and Others Whove Made Their Mark The Most Influential Economists You Should Know About ChaptersFamous British EconomistsUS Economists ListsTop Economists InternationallyResearch Famous Economists That Most Appeal to YouAlthough when you think about the great minds of our age, we often turn our thoughts to thinkers, leaders or even politicians. However, when it comes to shaping our understanding of the world today, and why we act the way we do, we may be better served by looking to the great economists of our time for answers.Economics sneaks into almost every part of our daily lives, as we are often directly or indirectly influenced by things such as:the state of our local economythe strength of the global economy; andlocal and international economic policyAs a result, it's worth investing some time to find out more about the thinkers that shaped our understanding of economics as we know it today. What's more, it's often the case that such figures are part of a school or university curriculum, so the more familiar you can be with their ideas, the better position you'll be in to perform well in your studies.With that in mind, we outline below the 10 most influential economists of all time, and why you should know about them.comparative advantage; andthe labour theory of value.His most famous work is The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, which was released in 1817.John Maynard Keynes (1883 â€" 1946)Keynesian economics had a huge role to play in the field of macroeconomics.Not only are Keynes' theories still taught in schools today, but they have spawned their own offshoots, with economists such as the late Michal Kalecki having acted as proponents for the post-Keynesian school of economic thought.In short, Keynes argued against laissez-faire, believing instead that governments should intervene in order to:stabilise the booms and busts of economic activity;decrease unemployment; andprevent an economic recession.Equally revolutionary for his time, Keynes suggested that demand, and not supply, was the most important force driving the econo my, which went against common belief at the time.Keynes is one of the most influential economists ever to have lived. (Source: CC BY-SA 4.0, Edwardx, Wikimedia Commons)Amelia Fletcher (1966 - )If Keynes was revolutionary in the world of economics, Dame Amelia Fletcher has completely obfuscated the lines that define traditional economists.Not just because she is one of the rare females that have made a name for themselves in the field of economics, either!She earned her Doctorate in Economics from Nuffield College at the tender age of 27. Eight years later, she was appointed to the Office of Fair Trading in the position of Chief Economist.For those not in the know, that office is our country’s economic regulator.In October 2016, she was appointed to direct the Competition and Markets Authority, a government entity that ensures strong business competition (and works to prevent unfair business tactics).For all of her noteworthy accomplishments, far from the stereotypical image of an economist is Dame Amelia...You might take a break from your own economics studies to catch her in concert, singing and playing her guitar with Canterary Wires.Arthur Cecil Pigou (1877 â€" 1959)Everyone knows all about John Keynes but many overlook his patron when contemplating the world’s most influential economists.Arthur Pigou was educated at Harrow School and, later, at King’s College as a history scholar where he won several awards, among them the Chancellor’s Gold Medal, for a poem he wrote.He came to economics in a roundabout way: through philosophical and ethical studies. However, once introduced to the subject, he found himself adept at the subject, especially with the legendary Alfred Marshall as his teacher.He later succeeded Marshall, having been elected to the post of Professor of Political Economy. Soon after earning that post, he funded Keynes’ work on probability theory.The two men would later have very different perspectives on their relationship, with Pigou averring that Keynes’ theory had substantial merit. That latter’s views over his benefactor, however, were mainly disparaging.Pigou’s most enduring legacy in the field of economics remains the concept of externality, essential to modern welfare economics and environmental economics.If you are enroled in the School of Economics at Cambridge, you should give thanks to Arthur C. Pigou.Starting in 1901, as he lectured in Economics there, he formulated a course syllabus that every Economics student followed for the next 30 years. It influences economics teaching at that school still today!W. Arthur Lewis (1915 â€" 1991)Mr Lewis earned his PhD at the London School of Economics under the tutelage of Sir Arnold Plant, electing to remain on staff for eight years after earning his doctorate.He then went on to lecture at the University of Manchester, where he formulated some of his most influential economic ideas about wages and capital in developing countries.While at Manchester, he pub lished a paper which introduced the Lewis Model â€" also known as the dual sector model.He got plenty of experience in analysing the movement of money in Ghana, which had just won its independence (in 1957). As their first appointed economic advisor, he was instrumental in formulating that new country’s first 5-year economic plan.His research into development economics earned him the Nobel Memorial Prize in 1979, which he shared with Theodore Schultz.Beatrice Webb (1858 â€" 1943)Martha Beatrice Webb was remarkable in that she was never formally educated but still had strong ideas about education in general and the impact of cooperation on a society.A dedicated socialist, she refined her ideas whilst working first as a rent collector â€" a position she took over from her older sister, and in helping her cousin Charles Booth survey the slums of London.His study of the poor in the capital city is reflected in the massive oeuvre Life and Labour of the People in London, a shocking repo rt which eventually led to government initiatives against poverty.Meanwhile, Beatrice, having never spent time in a classroom herself, used part of an endowment she and her husband received to found the London School of Economics and Political Science.If you think it unusual that she would elect such a subject to dedicate a school to, consider how much time, energy and effort she put into improving people’s lives.She made numerous contributions to the cooperative movement economic theory, even publishing several theses on the topic.She and her husband were firm advocates of the central planning concept; it was she who coined the term collective bargaining to describe disparate entities meeting in the middle and agreeing on aspects of labour such as wages and working conditions.US Economists ListsAlthough there have been many prominent British economists over the years, there have been equally great economic minds within the U.S. as well as overseas.Irving Fisher was one of the mos t famous economists of his generation. (Source: Library of Congress, Prints Photographs Division LC-USZ62-101512, Wikimedia Commons)Irving Fisher (1867 â€" 1947)Fisher was one of the most prominent economists of the early 20th century, and arguably was one of the first celebrity economists.Fisher greatly contributed to the foundations of monetarism and is perhaps best known for his two works The Debt-Deflation Theory of Great Depressions and The Theory of Interest.Although his contributions to the field of economics are significant, he famously suffered a setback in 1929, when he declared that “stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau” when in fact, days later, Wall Street crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression.Milton Friedman (1912 â€" 2006)Often painted as a counter figure to Keynes, Milton Friedman was the figure behind the Chicago School of Economics. Following in Adam Smith’s footsteps, Friedman argued in favour of the free mar kets  and is best known for his promotion of free-market capitalism.Contrary to Keynesian theory, Friedman argued for:less government intervention;the steady increase of the supply of money within growing economies; andfloating exchange rates, among other itemsHis work was widely recognised and he is often credited as one of the major economic thinkers of the 20th century alongside Keynes. In 1976, Friedman received the Nobel Prize in Economics.Joseph Stiglitz (1943-)A professor at Columbia University, Joseph Stiglitz is part of the new Keynesian economic school. His contributions to the field of economics are significant, having acted as the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President at the World Bank, and also serving on the Council of Economic Advisers during Bill Clinton’s presidency.A recipient of the John Bates Clark Medal in 1979, the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2001, and a shared recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, Stiglitz is widely-recognised for his contributions to macroeconomic theory as well as education and has published a wide range of books worldwide.He is known for his criticisms of laissez-faire economists, as well as institutions such as the International Monetary Fund.Alan Greenspan (1926 - )One target of Mr Stiglitz's ire exactly because of his laissez-faire attitude toward economics, Mr Greenspan is infamous for the series of economic earthquakes that rocked America and the world during his tenure as chairman of the Federal Reserve â€" America’s central bank.He is another influential economist who did not always have his feet firmly planted on that career path; initially, he studied music at Julliard, playing the sax and the clarinet.Maybe economics was in his blood... his father was a market analyst and stockbroker. Or perhaps it was his friendship with John Kemeny that spurred his love of numbers.Whatever the reason, Greenspan enroled in the Stern School of Business where he soon earned his Masters in Economics, later transf erring to New York University to earn his doctorate.A long-time member of industry think-tank The Conference Board, he was a natural choice for appointment to the Federal Reserve.Under his tenure, several economic crises shook the US (and the globe) in rapid succession.Two months after taking office, Black Monday, the global stock market crash (1987) started in Hong Kong and rippled across the world.The Dot.Com bubble (1995-2000) is largely thought to have been caused by his consistent raising of interest rates.In 2001, various corporate scandals (and the 9/11 event) caused the Fed to lower interest rates to 1%, permitting outrageous loans and speculation.The sub-prime mortgage crisis is often attributed to Greenspan’s policies while chairman of the Fed.The global economic downturn (2008) is attributed to his laissez-faire style of economics.After leaving the Fed in 2006, Mr Greenspan accepted an honorary position at the Exchequer.Elinor Ostrom (1933 â€" 2012)A political economist , Ms Ostrom was discouraged from attending college by her mother, who could see no point in her daughter’s further education.She nevertheless went on to study political science at UCLA, finishing her Bachelor’s in three years thanks to her taking extra classes during summer sessions.She went on to earn her PhD but, as was common at the time, could not find work to pay for her schooling because most employers assumed she wanted secretarial work or a position as a teacher.Limited by gender policies in both her education and career, she was declined for a study programme in Economics and opted to work towards a doctorate in political science.A resource arrangement that works in practice also works in theory â€" Lee Ann Fennel, describing Ostrom's LawThis adage was born of her work in managing natural resources to prevent ecosystem collapse.It had been previously assumed that resources such as water and land, needed by everyone in the community, would soon become depleted through ho arding, mismanagement or overuse.However, Ms Ostrom’s research revealed that community members work to preserve and renew their resources, thus disproving long-held ideas of how a collective would manage and sustain their ecology.In 2009, she was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize for her work in economic governance. To this day, she is the only woman to have won Nobel recognition in the field of economics.Top Economists InternationallyThe greatest economic minds of our time have emerged from all corners of the globe, and we outline below some of the most important economic thinkers below.Karl Marx is one of the most famous economists ever to have lived. (Source: Public Domain,John Jabez Edwin Mayal, Wikimedia Commons)Karl Marx (1818 â€" 1883)Although Marx is better known today as a revolutionary who extolled the benefits of communism, Marx has, for better or worse, had an undeniable impact on the economic thought and principles followed by many countries across the world today.Born in Trier, Germany, Marx was considered as much a philosopher as an economist. He is most famous for The Communist Manifesto, which he wrote alongside Friedrich Engels. In the work, Marx and Engels explain the nature of Marxism and their understanding of how a capitalist system came into being. Ultimately, they argued that a capitalist society was unsustainable and that eventually it would be replaced by a socialist society.Friedrich Hayek (1899 â€" 1992)An Austrian-born economist, Friedrich August von Hayek was a prominent economist during the Great Depression, and perhaps most well-known for his opposing views to Keynes. This clash of views is often cited in works about Keynes and Hayek and this clash has been brought to the popular imagination. For example,  there are even YouTube rap battles outlining the two economists’ differing positions.A believer in the power of the free markets, Hayek argued that prices in an economy should be free to change, as this communicates how wel l an economy is performing.Hayek, like many of the names on this list, was also highly recognised in academic circles. During his life he received:the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1974;the Companion of Honour in 1984; andthe Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991.Amartya Sen (1933-)Amartya Sen is an Indian economist, who has worked internationally, highlighting ethical considerations behind his  economic thinking. Sen has contributed greatly to welfare economics, arguing for instance that famines arise due to a lack of income, not food. Sen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1998.My London Economics tutor told me all about this most venerable economist!Daniel Kahneman (1934-)Kahneman, an Israeli-American phycologist, has been notable in his work within the relatively new field of behavioural economics.Although former schools of economic thought, including Keynesianism and monetarism, focused more on the science or mathematics behind economic trends, behavioural economics is m uch more concerned with how humans behave irrationally at times, and how this impacts our economic systems. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002.Ernst Fehr (1956 - )Nominated the most influential economist in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (2016), this behavioural economist, along with his brother, is making substantial strides in the relatively new field of neuroeconomics.Besides teaching microeconomics and experimental economic research at the University of Zurich, his research into human cooperation and sociality has garnered growing interest in academic circles â€" both anthropologic and economic!He has won numerous awards and prizes for his work and has been granted honorary membership in economic societies worldwide.Hernando de Soto Polar (1941 - )Known for his work in the informal economy, Mr de Soto was instrumental in bringing about Peruvian reforms in land rights and entrepreneurship.He contends that any nation not informed of all of its economic activity cannot have a strong market economy.Specifically, he was referring to the microentrepreneurs who have no deed of title to their land, house or enterprise, making it difficult for them to obtain credit or seek legal redress should their business suffer from an outside entity.Such conditions result in parallel economies: one that is taxed and regulated while the other goes unrecorded.The ‘informal’ economy is largely driven by unresponsive, unfair and cumbersome bureaucracy; the very conditions that Mr. de Soto’s efforts continuously work to reform â€" not just in his native land but globally.Most recently, he attended a summit hosted by Sir Richard Branson.The topic was blockchain: how it could replace traditional methods of recordkeeping, insofar as recording (and thus making official) the land rights of indigenous peoples all over the world.Already the project is coming to fruition: Georgia is using blockchain technology to title land to families who have worked it for genera tions.It is generally indigenous people who have work their land for generations who suffer under the informal economy Source: Pixabay Credit: Free-PhotosResearch Famous Economists That Most Appeal to YouAlthough prevailing economic theories understandably move with the times, we still owe much to economists such as:Keynes;Milton;Hayek; andAdam Smith.Although their views differ as to whether economies should be laissez-faire  or should involve government intervention, these thinkers have all shaped the world of economics and economic theory that we have today. As a result, there's so much that their theories and ideas can teach us about our local economy, as well as the global economy more broadly.Due to their importance, it’s unsurprising that you learn about many, if not all, of the above figures during your economics studies at school and university. As such, taking some time outside of class to study these economists' theories in more detail is a great way to stay ahead in you r studies, and it will give you a lot of reference material to draw from when you're sitting an exam question or have to complete an essay.However, if you’re ever looking to learn more about a particular economic thinker or school of economic thought, you can always hire an economics tutor to help teach you more about these great minds, or choose to learn economics online.Superprof has a range of tutors to provide you with A Level Economics help. They are very familiar with the above economists and they would be happy to help you improve in your studies.Learn about the financial crisis of 2008 here.Discover more about economic modelling here.

Why Learn Japanese In Order to Learn About the Country

Why Learn Japanese In Order to Learn About the Country Taking Japanese Classes to Learn About the Country ChaptersYour Japanese Lessons Will Teach You About One of the Most Interesting Cultures in the WorldJapanese Courses Can Show You Manga and Japanese CinemaPlaying Hundreds of Video GamesUnderstanding Religion and Japanese SpiritualityOther Reasons Why You Should Learn JapaneseDid you know that the Japanese writing system can trace its origins all the way back to Chinese Buddhist monks in the 4th century?Learning a foreign language is never easy.If you find that learning Spanish, French, or German is difficult, studying a complicated syntactic language such as Japanese is even more challenging!However, you should remember that the Japanese language is not just a language;  it is a passport to all of Japanese culture! There are subsequently many reasons to learn Japanese.Since your childhood, Japanese culture has been all around you, probably without you even really noticing it.Japan's international influence has seeped into your sub-conscience via cartoons, cinema, sports, and gastron omy, but to name a few.You might already be aware of the influence that Japanese culture has on our lives, and because of this you have decided to enrol on to a Japanese language course:in high school,via private lessons at home,in a language school,or in university, with a BA in Japanese Language and Literature.Or maybe you like Japan because it's part of the Far East, an exotic destination which makes you feel like you are in another world!Learning the Japanese language allows you to not only get closer to one of the world's most unique cultures, it could also help you to teach Japanese in your country, or even work and live in the land of the rising sun.Superprof will now list the aspects of Japanese culture you will better understand by becoming a Japanese speaker.With all these reasons in mind, how could you not want to learn Japanese?

10 Ways to Finish an Email in English ?? - Learn English with Harry

10 Ways to Finish an Email in English ?? - Learn English with Harry Welcome back to my English grammar lessons. This is Harry. So what have I got for you today? Well, Ive got some ways to finish an email in English.I have to admit, this is not the most exciting thing Ive ever done, but these are really practical suggestions for you. Its amazing how many times people ask me: How do I start and how do I end an email in English?So were going to focus today on the end of the email.Its not the same as a letter because in most cases, letters are quite formal. But when were using email, even if were using them to the boss or somebody a little bit more important than ourselves then its always informal.   10 Ways to Finish an Email in English Some of it is the same as we use them letters, but sometimes its different and sometimes people dont sign off on their emails at all.So the first one is just the word REGARDS.So youve finished whatever youre saying and then you just put regards, Harry. So its just a very, very simple way.Usually that means that you know the person reasonably well.Number two is a little bit similar to number one. Here were using the expression BEST REGARDS or KIND REGARDS.Now, this is very similar to the letter format, but again, its about people that you know, and it might be somebody on a personal level rather than on a business email.Best regards, HarryKind regards, DadBest regards, MumWere just giving the person our best wishes for whatever we have happened to tell them. So I say its very, very informal but you dont like to sign off too formally. So you want to give something less formal but not too informal. So best regards or kind regards.Number three on my list is ALL THE BEST.So here, its real ly for somebody who is not so close to you, but youd like to be kind. You like to be polite, okay? So youd use this sort of expression all the best. So it means all the best for the future. All the best for your business. All the best in your adventure, whatever it might be. Just all the best. Meaning your best wishes, youre giving it all to the person that youre writing to.So all the best Harry and sign off and press that button and off the email goes, okay.And here we are with number four and number four is BEST WISHES. Now here again, this is impersonal in some ways. You dont know the person so well that definitely not a close friend, that definitely not a member of your family, but theres somebody that you, you wish again to be polite so best wishes Harry.So it could be to members of your team in the office. It could be something, somebody thats is supplying you with some particular service.  Or indeed, it could be somebody that you are dealing with in a business and theyre no l onger going to be your account manager or theyre no longer going to be the main contact in that business.  So you write them a nice note to say:Oh, its been great working for you over the last few years. I really wish you the very best for your future career. Best wishes. 10 Ways to Finish an Email in English Don't keep this to yourself, tell the world Okay, were halfway there. So this is number five and number five is THANKS or indeed MANY THANKS.So this is usually a signature you would use over a series of a number of emails that youve been writing back and forth to somebody playing a little bit of ping pong.So youve asked them a question, theyve given you some information, youve asked them for something else, theyve given you some

How Can AJ Help Me After College

How Can AJ Help Me After College AJ Tutoring may be best known for its work with high school students, but that’s certainly not the extent of our competency! We work with students of all ages, and some of our most exciting work is done with clients looking to further their education beyond the undergraduate level.We work with many students who are looking to obtain degrees in law, business, medicine, or an academic subject. Admission to these programs is driven by some of the most challenging (yet coachable!) exams out there, and AJ Tutoring is unique in its level of experience and expertise in these tests.Please find a link to our graduate school entrance exam tutoring page here, or read on to find a breakdown of our approach to the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.If you’d like to discuss your specific needs and how AJ Tutoring can help, please contact us!GRE/GMATThe most common kind of work AJ Tutoring does beyond the undergraduate level is preparation for the GRE, the most common entrance exam for MA and PhD progra ms. There are three major portions of the test Math, Verbal, and Essays.  The math often causes students particular stress because of it’s infamous ‘quantitative comparisons’ section, which many students have no experience with; fortunately, that’s also the section we’ve found most dramatically impacted by having a solid strategy and a little practice! We have taken the strongest parts of our SAT program: breaking the test into question types, working on specific strategies for each question type, reviewing the most common content, and combining tutoring time with homework and practice tests?and applied them to the GRE. Our GRE program is fully customizable; we generally meet students for 10 sessions, but can do more or fewer and still get great results! Most students come to use needing to review a few math concepts, especially the quantitative comparisons, as well as to get some guidance on a good approach to the verbal sections. We also have found great success with t he essays, helping students work on brainstorming strong ideas quickly, organizing them in a logical fashion, and turning them into powerful thesis statements, all in limited time! The GMAT is a similar test specifically designed for entering MBA programs. However, more and more business schools are accepting the GRE as well as the GMAT, and our experience has been that the GRE is generally more coachable and easier to achieve score improvements on, so we generally suggest that students who are ready to do tutoring focus on the GRE unless their schools require the GMAT. LSAT The LSAT is the test taken by prospective law school candidates to gain admission to law school. Although it is considered by many to be a very challenging exam, it is highly coachable. Preparation typically consists of 10 tutoring sessions, with the first 6 sessions consisting of learning and honing strategies for attacking all sections of the test (logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehe nsion). The remaining 4 sessions are spent reviewing practice tests taken as homework. All practice tests and other materials are included in the cost of tutoring. As with all test preparation at AJ, our LSAT curriculum is customized for each students needs, and those who have already completed some preparation can choose how many sessions they would like to have and what sections to focus on in those sessions.MCATThe MCAT is taken by applicants to MD and DO programs, and a students score on the MCAT represents an important portion of their application.  The MCAT is an often-feared assessment due to its depth and breadth: it covers several years of college-level science curricula, and reading comprehension and analytical skills.  Since students start their MCAT preparation from a wide variety of backgrounds, we first help students create a customized approach for independent content review. Throughout the preparation, we hold students accountable for their content review and an swer necessary questions about key concepts.  The focus of most tutoring sessions, however, is on the best practice materials available?those from AAMC, the writers of the MCAT. By diving into detailed analyses of these question packs and full-length practice tests, our students make good strides in understanding difficult material and using solid test-taking techniques.  Unlike most MCAT tutoring services, AJ Tutoring supports each student with a single MCAT expert. This allows the tutor to gain a thorough understanding of a students thought processes, and help them efficiently and effectively on all portions of the exam. We recommend 12-16 tutoring sessions spread over 3-5 months to complete a full prep for the MCAT.  However, we understand that not all students schedules or needs fit a single package, and were happy to make adjustments to the number and focus of sessions on an individual basis.Career AdvancementAJ Tutoring also has experience in helping our clients prepare for difficult interviews, especially interviews that involve quantitative calculations or estimation, working through case studies, or other performance based interviews. We are also always adding to the list of professional exams we can assist with! If we have the qualified staff, we will work with clients to create prep plans that help them maximize their chances of getting the job or promotion they are looking for!