Learning Math in the Real World

Learning Math in the Real WorldI have a question that has been bothering me for a while and it is: what does college algebra help in real life? What will be the implications of this when students graduate and then move on to careers or other opportunities?If you are going to the real world with your degree and career goals, you will certainly be entering into a whole new academic environment. You will be dealing with different educational and professional settings, both at school and out. You will be doing what will be expected of you, both in school and in the real world.Mathematics is no exception. There are many teachers that will insist that the subject be taught in algebra. Although this is not an 'essential' subject for many of us, I would suggest that if a student was getting tired of being taught by rote memorization in mathematics, they would benefit from learning something other than just memorizing the answer of a multiplication problem or the answer to a different method of determining the area of a parallelogram.The other thing that will be important to realize is that just because a student will be doing more than just algebra in school does not mean that they will not need some type of mathematics in the real world. Even people who are highly intelligent often get their mathematical education outside of school. An understanding of calculus is important to a construction worker and someone who is trying to operate machinery such as an engine.As I said earlier, just because you are going to the real world, does not mean that you cannot learn something new. Even if you will be teaching yourself in school, you will need some type of supplemental mathematics in the real world. In fact, the more advanced mathematics you have, the more you will need outside tutoring to keep up with your peers.Just think of how much a person can do if they were being taught by their mother. If you have been educated by your mother, you will need a tutor to keep up with y our schoolwork and your career opportunities. This will include calculus, trigonometry, statistics, algebra, and perhaps calculus, as well. While at college, there will be some type of algebra course that will be required to take to keep up with your current courses and prepare you for the real world.If you want to know what math can do for you in the real world, start looking for that knowledge in school. If there is not a mathematics course, find one that does not require it in order to keep up with your studies. It is the right thing to do and if it helps you in your career or in your education, then do it.

A Day in the Life at Stony Brook University

A Day in the Life at Stony Brook University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Nicholas is a New York City tutor and 2014 graduate of Stony Brook University. He holds a Bachelors degree in Physics and tutors several subjects, including Elementary Math tutoring, Geometry tutoring, and Physics tutoring. Check out what Nicholas had to say about his time at Stony Brook University: 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? Nicholas: I went to Stony Brook University starting in August 2010. The campus is somewhat far out on Long Island, so we were surrounded by a sleepy small town and the occasional vineyard. The transportation options, however, were top notch! The university had an entire bus system dedicated to transporting students around the vast campus, as well as support from Suffolk County transportation services. There was even a LIRR station right on campus for quick trips to nearly anywhere in Long Island or back to New York City. Even with all this transportation, you could make it around campus by foot if you wished. That is what I did when I attended Stony Brook University. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Nicholas:I found myself ensconced in a wonderful, loving community when I was a student at Stony Brook University. Professors were always quick to respond via email if I had an urgent homework question. Academic advisers assisted me at several points along the way, helping me to obtain a research internship that resulted in a published paper! Teaching assistants taught excellently during recitation. I could not have asked for a more dedicated faculty. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Nicholas:This is a complicated question! The dorm life at Stony Brook University is extremely varied, and it depends almost entirely on which quad you live in. I can only speak about the quad I lived in during my four-year stay there. Tabler Quad was the name of the area, and the rooming situation was fantastic. An extremely tight-knit community existed in my building, and I felt like I was really part of something special while I was there. The dining options on campus were plentiful, and the dining hall hours were never an issue but the pricing was. The dining halls were a bit on the expensive side! Overall, the socialization aspect on campus depended almost entirely on who you knew. Some students went home every weekend, and it was difficult to make friends if you were rooming with only these students. 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? Nicholas:On any given day at Stony Brook University, if you go up to a student and ask their major, they will likely tell you either Biology, or that they are pre-med. This major and field is represented extremely well on campus, as it is what the university is best known for. I majored in Physics while I was at the school, and the university did an amazing job of making sure that the program was absolutely top notch. Physics has always been a passion of mine, so studying it at school was natural for me. The Physics faculty and staff at Stony Brook University made sure each and every student was on the right track to graduate on time. I cannot speak for the more humanities-oriented majors, but the impression I got was that they were a bit harder up for cash and representation within the university. 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? Nicholas:As a freshman, making friends at the university was truly not that difficult. As long as you went out at night to either campus events or private events there were people willing to talk to you and engage in lively conversation. Greek life at Stony Brook University was present, but it was weirdly divided based on which half of the campus you lived on. Those of us in Tabler Quad did not experience Greek life nearly as much as those students in H Quad, the quad across campus. It did play a significant role during Homecoming and during sporting events, which was nice. It got the students pumped up to support the home team! VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Nicholas:I went to the Career Center on multiple occasions, both for academic advice and for career advice. And it was exceedingly useful. All emails and correspondence were answered nearly immediately, and there was always an adviser ready to speak with you should you need help or emergency assistance. There was also a lot of Career Center notoriety around campus the university made sure every student knew where the Career Center was and what they could do to help you. As for company recruiting, the job fair at Stony Brook University was always a big deal. After going to both the fall and spring fairs for three years, I can assure any prospective students that reputable companies make it a habit to visit the university. Capital One, Geico, Google, and Microsoft are just a few of the big names that made an appearance every year without fail. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Nicholas:There are study areas virtually everywhere at Stony Brook University, and I never had a hard time finding one to lounge in while studying or just for some peace and quiet. I can honestly say that lounge and study areas were always quite busy during the week, but never over-crowded. The only exception to this was during finals week, when seats were a bit hard to come by. Each study area was spacious and had access to reliable internet. It was a nice perk to living on campus! 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? Nicholas:Stony Brook University is located in the town of Stony Brook, which is a part of Suffolk County. Suffolk County is sparsely populated if you compare it to either the neighboring Nassau County or New York City, so sometimes life outside campus could be truly boring. However, for those students who did choose to go out, the nearby town of Port Jefferson was a favorite destination. There were bars, open malls, great views of the bay, and amazing restaurants to visit should a student be so inclined. Most students went to Port Jefferson a few times a semester; the campus is so large that staying put was the option of choice most of the time. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Nicholas:The student body at Stony Brook is very large I have heard estimates as high as 20,000 students but roughly half of these are commuters who do not spend time on campus outside of the class week. Although class size is largely dependent on major, I found they were often small enough for the professor to remain focused on the lesson at hand. Certain classes, however, are extremely large. I have heard these can be a bit of a hassle, especially when help is needed from a professor or teaching assistant. Overall, I would say I personally was pleased by the class sizes. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Nicholas:The one moment from class that I always remember is an incident that happened in my Advanced Physics lab course. My lab partner and I were doing an experiment on x-rays, and the machine we were given was not working properly. This was extremely frustrating after all, if the machine did not function, the entire project would need to be aborted, and the time constraints on starting a new experiment would make our report prone to error and incompletion. After a final exasperated sigh, I consulted my professor for help. He came over, looked at the machine briefly, tapped the side, and then punched the top with great force. Suddenly, the machine came to life and began working perfectly! It was really quite comical, and I felt like I was in some kind of goofy cartoon. Nevertheless, I was definitely relieved to begin working! Check out Nicholass tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Opportunities for Volunteer Musicians

Opportunities for Volunteer Musicians Suzy S. You’ve been practicing and taking music lessons for a while. Are you looking for your next musical challenge? Playing with other musicians is one of the quickest ways to improve, and with National Volunteer Week coming up (April 21-27, 2013), why not make a impact in your community by volunteering your talents? Here are some ideas to get you started Volunteer at events and galas Non-profit or community events always need entertainment! Often these events are for great causes, and its also an awesome way to get your name out there, network, and find new fans! If youre already part of a group or band, try reaching out to specific organizations and expressing your interest in helping out. Better yet, why not organize your own benefit concert? Volunteer with specific organizations There are tons of organizations and non-profits that deal specifically with the music industry and music education. The San Diego Music Foundation, for example, coordinates several events throughout the year that require volunteer help. Their Guitars for Schools program provides Taylor guitars for San Diego-area elementary and middle schools for use in classroom and after-school music activities. Musicians on Call is another amazing program that sends volunteer musicians to hospitals and other healthcare facilities to share the power of music.  Its branches are located in New York, Nashville, Philadelphia, Miami, DC, and Los Angeles. Not in one of those major cities? Not to worry. VolunteerMatch.org is an awesome resource for finding organizations in your area that are looking for help! Volunteer directly at hospitals or nursing homes Music is used as a therapeutic tool in many hospitals and nursing homes across the country. Try contacting your local hospital to see if theyre accepting volunteer musicians. Opportunities at hospitals can range from performing to actually teaching music to patients. If youre considering music therapy as a career path, try looking into internship positions, also! Volunteer at festivals and concerts Even if you dont play an instrument, music fans can get involved with the community by volunteering at music festivals and concerts. If youre interested in music promotions or event planning, you can learn a lot about this important part of the music industry, as well as connect with other music lovers! Church groups Music is a huge part of many different religions, incorporated into worship services, religious ceremonies, and of course, weddings and funerals. Check with your congregation to see if there are opportunities to perform and help out. Piano and guitar are perhaps the most popular instruments found here, but solo opportunities exist for practically any musician, depending on your communitys style. Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Mark Brannan

Connect to a Real Live Tutor and Enjoy Live One-on-one Assistance

Connect to a Real Live Tutor and Enjoy Live One-on-one Assistance 0SHARESShare Online Tutoring dont feed students the answers to homework problems. Instead, they guide them how to solve problems on their own. They have a panel of experienced teachers who help students to understand conceptsnot just remember them. The teaching style followed is friendly and encouraging. The online lessons are planned to meet standards for all subject areas. The curriculum of the math tutorials are continuously updated. The main objective is to present different math topics in a step-by-step fashion, in order to help students to get a better understanding of the topic in question. TutorPace is your one-stop for entire math solutions. Math is a fairly vast subject, including algebra, statistics, and geometry, calculus, trigonometry and word math problems. Interactive math worksheets make concepts clear and easy to understand. Students and parents can browse around to find what they exactly necessitate. Internet learning allows students to take breaks. When you are attending a session for a long duration or completing a big assignment under the supervision of a live tutor; you can enjoy breaks as and when required. To avoid burnout you can stand up, walk around, or relax for a few minutes… this will keep you focused on the sessions. Students learn to time management. It is easy for students to watch TV or play with friends, and still finish the set assignment. This is a 24/7 service and students thus can enjoy sessions anytime from anywhere. [starbox id=admin]

French Grammar Rules Your Guide to Verb Tenses

French Grammar Rules Your Guide to Verb Tenses Suzy S. French verbs throwing you for a loop? French tutor  Carol Beth L.  breaks down the differences between the most common verb tenses youll study in French class French verbs can be a difficult aspect of  learning French for many students â€" but it doesnt have to be. If you can mentally organize what kinds of verbs are out there and when to use them, learning French grammar will be much easier to do. Here are the most common tenses studied in typical French grammar classes: Check out our Ultimate French Verb Guide to learn more! 1) Le Présent (The Present Tense) This tense grammatically corresponds to the English simple present, e.g. “I do,” “he goes,” “we eat.” In English, this tense is used to talk about states of being and regular, repeated actions that are in or include the present time. Le present in French often plays this role, but it also plays a role similar to the present perfect in English Jy vais for “I am going (there)” or Je mange maintenant for “I am eating now.” 2) Le Passé Composé (The Past Tense) This tense usually corresponds to the simple past in English.  It describes one-time events and actions, or things for which a definite time or time period can be defined. Je suis allé(e) au parc.   I went to the park. Jai fait mes devoirs hier soir.   I did my homework last night. 3) Limparfait (The Imperfect Tense) The imperfect tense is also in the past, but unlike the passé composé, it describes events that happened repeatedly or over a long period of time. Jallais au parc tous les jours.  I went/used to go to the park every day. Elles étudiaient a luniversité pendant quatre ans.   They studied at the university for four years. Do not use limparfait in reference to an action to which you attach any description or reference to a specific time, such as an hour, year, month, week, or other time reference like yesterday, today, or tomorrow. 4) Le futur  (The Future Tense) This tense corresponds fairly well to the English future tense, formed with the modal “will” plus the verbal root. It describes events that have not yet taken place but are expected to occur. Jirai en France la semaine prochaine.   I will go to France next week. On mangera ensemble.   We will eat together. 5) Le conditionnel  (The Conditional Tense) The conditionnel  describes actions or events whose occurrence depends (or would have depended) on something else. The “if” is key here. If there is no condition (provided by the “if” clause), there is no conditional in the other half of the sentence, either. You may see the conditional tense use in the present (e.g. I would do something if something were different) or the past (e.g. I would have done this same something in the past if something were different). The other part of the sentence usually uses limparfait. Present Conditional: Je viendrais a la plage si mes amies voulaient venir.  I would go to the beach if my friends wanted to come. Je mangerais la pomme si elle était mure.  I would eat the apple if it were ripe. Past Conditional: Je serais venu(e) a la plage si mes amies auraient voulu venir.  I would have gone to the beach if my friends had wanted to come. Jaurais mangé la pomme si elle avait ete mure.  I would have eaten the apple it if had been ripe. 6) Le subjonctif (The Subjunctive Tense) This is notoriously one of the most difficult tenses for native English-speakers to learn. We do technically have the subjunctive in English, but we dont use it much. Le subjonctif is used at times when the topic at hand is clouded or influenced by emotion. If you see the word qu introducing the sentences dependent clause, that is a signal that you likely need to use le subjonctif. Je souhaite quil vienne avec moi. I wish him to come with me. Nous voulons que vous partiez. We want you to leave. On aimerait quils attendent. We would like them to wait. Be careful not to assume that que always implies le subjonctif, however. If the topic at hand is of definite certainty, le subjonctif is not called for. For example: Cest vrai quon est allé en France cet été.   It is true that we went to France this summer. 7) Le passé simple (The Simple Past or Preterite) Le passé simple is a literary past tense in French. It used to be found more often in common speech, but for about the last century or so, it has more frequently been used in fiction. In modern times, some writers have begun to prefer more colloquial verb tenses found in everyday spoken language. Unless you plan to write fiction in French, recognition is more important. If you can recognize the passé simple of the most irregular French verbs (which are also the most common), then you will likely also be able to recognize other regular verbs based on their roots. Les étudiants parlèrent de leurs idées philosophiques.  The students spoke of their philosophical ideas. Elle vit son frère lapprocher.   She saw her brother approaching. These are the primary verb tenses you will encounter in your study of French  grammar. You may see what appear to be combinations or re-combinations of these tenses as part of the pluparfait (past of the past), passé antérieur (literary pluparfait), or Frenchs other complex tenses. French grammar also has a unique grouping of verbs called reflexive verbs that require special attention, especially when it comes to gender agreement. Mastering the seven tenses above, however, will greatly increase your proficiency and provide you with verbal functionality in the French language. For more help studying French grammar, working with a private tutor is the best way to get targeted, specific instruction and achieve your language goals. Tutors are available to work with you online via Skype or in-person depending on locations and availability. Search for your French tutor now! Carol Beth L. teaches  French lessons in San Francisco, CA. She has her Masters in French language education from the Sorbonne University in Paris and has been teaching since 2009.  Learn more about Carol Beth 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 Photo by Arslan

English Expressions about Friendship English Lesson via Skype

English Expressions about Friendship English Lesson via Skype Where would we be without friends? Friendship is very important for everybody. Today, lets have a look at some English expressions about friendship. These expressions will help intermediate English students to talk about friendship in English correctly. English Expressions about Friendship TO MAKE FRIENDS EASILYWhen someone has a pleasant personality and is quite easy going and everyone wants to be his/her friend. They are said to make friends easily.Example: Declan was looking forward to going to University. He did not mind leaving home. In a few weeks he would be having a good time. He found it easy to make friends wherever he went.TO HIT IT OFFWhen two people really like each other from almost the first minute they meet we can say they hit it off immediately or they really hit it off.Example: John was introduced to Kevin at the party. They had a lot in common and agreed to meet for a beer the next week. Within a short period of time they were very good friends. They hit it off  from the first time they met.STRANGE BEDFELLOWSIn the previous expression to hit it off we referred to two people who get along immediately as  soon as they met each other.However,  we sometimes can not see the reason why two people such  as these would be friends at all. We do not see anythi ng in common or anything that we feel would  make them become so friendly.In this situation we say they are strange bedfellows. What have they got in common?GET ALONG WITH or GET ON WITHAnother way to describe when someone has no difficulty making friends with other people.Example: Sally is a really nice girl. She is always helping others. She is easy to get along with (or easy to get on with). Everyone likes her. English Expressions about Friendship CLICKEDAn informal word used to describe how two people became friends very quickly.ex. They clicked the moment they met. So Barry and Yvonne were celebrating their 10th  Wedding Anniversary. They had been together for 12 years. They liked each other the first moment they met. Neither of them could explain it really they  just clicked!HAVE YOUR BACK or LOOK OUT FOR YOUThese are English expressions about friendship that used by really good friends.It means they are there to support each other through good and bad. When you are going through a tough time it is good to know that you have a friend who will protect you. Someone who has your back.ex. David and Tom had been friends since their school days together. They did everything together. They played on the same team, went out at weekends. They were quite protective of each other. They promised to look out for  each other (protect) no matter what took place. I will always have your back Tom said to David, Likewisereplied David.Friends is the very common word used to described those closest to us who are not family members. We can also use several other words that have the same meaning:BUDDY American EnglishMATE (plural MATES)  British EnglishPALSCHUMSOther English expressions about firendship include  best friends or close friends.We can also be childhood friends (a long time) or school friends.When we have these sort of friendships the adjectives we can use to describe the friendship in English include:inseparable   always togetheror a noun to describe such a relationship is:a bromance a relatively new English word which is a combination of Brother and Romance.Scroll down for English Idioms and about Friendship + infographic English Idioms and Expressions about Friendship A SHOULDER TO CRY ONWhen there is a serious crisis in our lives and we really need a friend to help and listen to us we  often look for a shoulder to cry on.  Someone friendly and helpful who will listen to our woes  (problems).Example: Joanna had just lost her mother (her mother died suddenly) and now she had learnt that her father needed immediate surgery. She called Kate, she could always rely on Kate to give her a shoulder to cry on when she needed it.TWO PEAS IN A PODHave you ever taken peas out of their pods when they are growing in your garden?The peas are identical. It is very difficult to see any difference.When two friends are very close, like the same things, do the same things people will say:Example: Oh look at those two. Always together always doing the same thing they are like two peas in a pod.JOINED AT THE HIPSimilar in meaning to like two peas in a pod.Joined at the hip refers to two friends who are always seen together. They are always hanging out together (in each others company). They are inseparable.Example: Those two are joined at the hip. Where ever one is the other is sure to be close by.THROUGH THICK AND THINWhen a friend has shared all our ups and downs  (positives and negatives)  with us and we have  shared all of his/hers we can genuinely say we have been through everything together. We have  been through thick and thin. We have seen the positives and the negatives. True friendship.  Example: Antonio and Jaime had been friends since they were children. They went to the same school. They studied at the same university and had shared many other life experiences. They had been through thick and thin together.A friend in need is a friend indeed! English Idioms about Friendship - Infographic Enjoyed this infographic? Here’s what you can do next:Share on reddit

Tips for Requesting High School Recommendation Letters

Tips for Requesting High School Recommendation Letters At some point in your teens life, its likely that he will need to request a letter of recommendation. Many top-tier colleges and universities require or strongly encourage applicants to submit such letters. Or, your teen might need one for a scholarship, internship or pre-college program application. These letters can seriously bolster your teen as a candidate, so its important to take them seriously. Huntington offers a few essential guidelines for requesting recommendation letters: Build relationships. Before teens even get to the point where they need letters of recommendation, they should work on cultivating good relationships with teachers and superiors. That means being engaged in class, being a good classmate or teammate, and giving all endeavors, from school to extracurricular activities to part-time jobs, their very best effort. Ask the right person/people. Its imperative that students request letters from appropriate teachers/mentors. They should ask individuals who know them well enough to speak to their academic performance, character and willingness to persevere in the face of adversity. High school students should avoid asking for recommendation letters from the teacher who doesnt know them very well or the guidance counselor theyve only visited once during high school. Also, its important to pay attention to the guidelines offered by the college (or scholarship or other organization), as the committee reviewing applications might want the writer to focus on certain traits, such as the students communication or critical thinking skills. Give some background. Many teachers/coaches/mentors are willing to write recommendation letters, but students shouldnt assume those people know everything about them. They have lots of other students, after all. When requesting the letter, students should provide a resume if they have one (or a list of their accomplishments and activities) and a little background that the teacher might not know, such as their career plans or personal background. Allow plenty of time. Teachers and other recommenders are busy people and will likely receive requests from other students too. They need time to think about and write every letter requested of them. Giving notice is a good idea, and the earlier the better. Students might even consider making a soft request via email to confirm the teacher/other individual is willing before following up with a more formal request after they agree to the task (with all of the aforementioned details). Again, students should make sure the teacher has the application deadline (and recommendation letter, if different). Share any specific guidelines. Students can make things easier on the teacher/counselor/other individual that they ask by providing a rundown of the guidelines of the letter of recommendation. They should also include the application deadline and the website where the letter should be submitted or the address where the letter should be mailed. Be appreciative. Last and certainly not least, high school students should write thank-you notes or emails to the people who write letters of recommendation for them. Doing so shows their professionalism and appreciation and can help strengthen those relationships for the future. Theres an art to requesting recommendation letters. Encourage your teen to take this seriously, as arming those individuals from which they request letters with all the right information will result in a well-written letter that articulates your teens best assets.