Advantage Tutoring Westchester - Affordable and High Quality Services

Advantage Tutoring Westchester - Affordable and High Quality ServicesThe Advantage Tutoring Westchester is one of the companies that you need to look out for when it comes to good tutoring services. As the name suggests, this company is dedicated to providing very competitive and high quality tutoring services. It also boasts to offer top-quality services to its students.In order to provide services at a competitive rate, Advantage Tutoring Westchester uses only certified teachers for tutoring. The way these teachers are selected is by a special committee which includes people who are experienced in teaching, such as college lecturers. These teachers are even held responsible for teaching the relevant subjects. This is to ensure that students get the best and most suitable lessons.Apart from these, Advantage Tutoring Westchester also has people on its board who are directly involved in tutoring. These people are able to guide the students according to their ability level. They also t ake the student's feedback while assessing the student's aptitude. These people are also not restricted to just a job in tutoring but they are responsible for taking a better interest of the students.The main target of Advantage Tutoring Westchester is to make sure that students are provided with good and challenging tutoring. They are able to do this through their exceptional levels of performance. The school has nine different classrooms where students can study. The classes are taught by professional teachers who have passed the mandatory teacher examination.They are also used to give students with the facilities of convenient online tools that allow them to access their information while on campus. The entire course and the classroom teaching are actually done online and students can do this at any time without missing a lesson.Apart from the online session, students can also opt for an individual tutoring session at anytime. The advantages of doing this include the fact that th e sessions are one-on-one and the teacher can easily take your attention and motivate you in your lessons.Advantage Tutoring Westchester offers flexible sessions for both a private individual and a school session. The service is offered to all its students with the exception of those who are self-taught.

How to Create an SAT Prep Plan

How to Create an SAT Prep Plan If youve recently signed up for the SAT, youre probably beginning to think about preparation. While students often allot different amounts of time for this process, it is important to have a plan in place thats right for you. For some students, this means a year of preparation; for others, a few months. No matter which category you find yourself in, it is important that you develop a plan that will maximize your time and your score. The first step of preparation is simply to know how youre going to approach your study sessions. Create an SAT prep plan with these tips: Establish a timeline Before you can effectively plan your study time, you need to know exactly how much of it is available. If youve got a year until the test, youll study differently than if youre taking the test in two months. Know your test date and time frame. Youll also need to know how long you can study per week, day, etc. Plan for study sessions of varying length, but be honest with yourself about the amount of time you can actually contribute to SAT studying when taking into account your other ongoing commitments, such as extracurriculars, homework, a part-time job, etc. During this timeframe, youll also want to set some personal goals for the SAT. If you plan to study as a group with others, establish some group goals as well. Explore the test Its hard to study for a test you arent familiar with, so take this opportunity to open up the test and explore. Figure out the logistics (time requirements, tools youre allowed to have, etc.) and learn how the test is portioned out. Also note new changes to the SATs format, such as the elimination of the guessing penalty. Next, youll want to look at the actual questions. Begin by taking a quick sample of questions from different areas can you answer them? Eventually, youll want to take a practice test to identify areas of weakness. Focus your efforts After youve taken a practice SAT, you should be able to identify areas of possible weakness. Youll be able to see where you score well too, which tells you where to focus less of your efforts. Take a practice test a few times to make sure your results are accurate and consistent then, start studying. By now, youll know where you need more work, so begin there. Plan to focus the majority of your time in areas where you scored lower so you can improve your results. However, dont forget about the areas you do well in! These high scores can help boost your overall results, and you dont want to be rusty come test time. Consider using a prep book to guide your study experience as well for instance, you could directly review lessons on the reading section if you want to refine your skills there, or take a look at some math tips to refresh your mind on that area. Review test questions After youve taken a practice test, it can be helpful to meet with an SAT tutor to review the questions you got wrong and areas you continue to struggle with. A tutor can help clarify why you may be answering these incorrectly and shed light on the spots that are tripping you up. After going through the questions that provided trouble, take more practice tests until youre confident you have a better understanding of them. If studying with a group, it can be helpful to show up with a few sample questions that youve come up with this will diversify the questions youre exploring and broaden your knowledge base. Compare your scores It will be important that you track your progress as you continue to prep for the SAT. A great way to do this is not only by taking the practice tests, but by monitoring your scores each time as well. Are you consistent in subject areas of strength and weakness? Are your scores getting better? Knowing this will allow you to make adjustments to your SAT prep plan as needed. If your scores arent improving, youll need to allot more time to a certain subject area or change the way youre approaching it. A change in routine can make a world of difference. Approach the test with confidence Confident students tend to do better on tests, and this is especially true for long exams like the SAT. If you approach the test with confidence, your score could show it! To build yourself up, come prepared. By following an SAT prep plan, youll approach the exam with the knowledge and skills necessary to get the score you hope for. You may also want to practice driving to the test site and even take a practice test there if youre able these small gestures can make you feel at ease when the actual day comes, resulting in a test score that reflects all of your hard work. 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.

Learning Arabic whilst Traveling through the Arab World

Learning Arabic whilst Traveling through the Arab World Discover Arabic Speaking Countries All Over the World ChaptersWhy Learn Arabic?Which Arabic Language Should You Learn?What Region Should You Learn Arabic In?The Arabic language is spoken by nearly 300 million people around the world.It is an official language in 26 countries, and also one of the six official languages used in the United Nations.The Arabic language  is used in trade, culture, science and international trade.Learning Arabic has become indispensable in order to understand the world today, as well as enriching your knowledge, developing your business abroad, or opening yourself to new cultures. HalimaArabic Teacher £13/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KotaibaArabic Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SoledadArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NancyArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaouesArabic Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DinaArabic Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AbrarArabic Teac her £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UsamaArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Learn Arabic?In all respects, learning Arabic and the Arabic culture comes with many benefits, and as you will see when choosing a country in which to learn it, this could allow you to learn its inner workings.We are not just talking about how a map of the Arab world can help you learn Arabic. We mean have you ever thought about taking an academic year off to go and learn Arabic abroad?What country is best to learn Arabic?Opening up to a culture we know nothing about is a fantastic experience.From a Teaching StandpointAs is the case with English, French, Spanish and German, Arabic is now one of the languages officially taught in education systems across the world.Whatever your level, whether you are in primary school or high school, there are programs available to you in order to learn Arabic.Different exams and diplomas are available for you to partake in Arabic language learning.Hit the school bench again and learn some Arabic!The same applies if you'd like to attend the world's best universities, as the vast majority of them now offer courses in the Arabic language.From a Cultural StandpointThe Arabic language is still considered one of the best means of transmitting literary, philosophical and scientific knowledge: the legacy of the great civilizations during the Middle Ages as well as Greco-Latin thought have all been a part of Arab  history.Arabic offers an opening onto the Eastern world both geographically and historically (the birth of Islam, its empires, etc.)For Arabic-speaking families, learning Arabic is always culturally relevant. It's also an educational asset and increasing proficiency will mean you can talk to your Arabic-speaking family.From an Economic StandpointThe Arab world benefits from a strategic geographical location in the world, at the meeting point between the 3 continents of Europe, Asia and Africa.Many A rab countries have a strong economic position, especially with their oil and gas assets. They are often the first producers and exporters of these raw materials.Which Arabic Language Should You Learn?Before choosing the country in which to learn Arabic, you should know that there are 2 types of Arabic: classical or literary Arabic and dialectal Arabic.Classical Arabic is common to all Arab countries, be it Jordan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, or Tunisia, etc.It is the main language for writing, the one found in media and speeches.Dialectal Arabic is used orally: each dialect corresponds to a different country, and is widely used for non-formal exchanges and in everyday life.What's more, the Arabic alphabet is completely different to the Latin one so you will need to get your head around this firstTake your time in doing this as this will be the foundation for everything you study later in Arabic. There are plenty of of apps to help you, or you could familiarize yourself by d ownloading an Arabic keyboard to write in Arabic.So, Which Arabic Should You Learn?If your interest lies in learning the dialect of a particular country, the safest option is modern standard Arabic, a classic version of the language. It is used in most of the Middle East.Its major use is for public communication and literature, press, and media.If Quran Arabic interests you more, then literary Arabic is for you.This Arabic can help you understand Islam.It is said that it is the Arabic of the Holy Qur'an, the language found in all religious Arabic books.Finally, if you plan to live in an Arab country or work in the Arab world, dialectical Arabic is the solution.It should be noted that there are 5 families of Arabic dialects which are divided according to countries, regions, cities and sometimes religions: Gulf Arabic, Levant Arabic, Mesopotamian Arabic, North-African Arabic and Egyptian Arabic.What Region Should You Learn Arabic In?Do you really have to go abroad in order to learn Ar abic? What countries are the most effective in learning the language?U.S.AIf you are seeking to learn a foreign language, the United States of America has no shortage of great colleges or universities offering very interesting programs that include the Arabic language. Additionally, you could start early with an Arabic language class in middle school or high school, or take tutoring lessons after school if your school does not offer the language. It's up to you, but there are an array of choices!In the UK, you could take Arabic lessons London or other big cities!You could learn Arabic in San Francisco for example!Numerous associations--whether they be public or institutional--offer classes in Arabic all over the USA, including one-on-one tutoring, which is very effective in order to learn Arabic.For example, here you will find the best places to learn Arabic at the college level.For those of you in New York City, you could take an Arabic class at the high school level in the United Nations International School or at the Friends Seminary.For those of you in Boston, why not try the Boston Language Institute or the Islamic Civilizations degree at Boston University for some quality teaching.Don't hesitate to contact the various academies for more information.You can also learn Arabic online! As well as lessons and resources, you will find lots of tips for learning Arabic on the internet too.For those who want to travel, to discover a new country and immerse themselves in the culture and daily life of a particular population, many countries offer Arabic language teaching.Here is Superprof's selection.TunisiaThe 3 Cs Training Center is a mango school located in Sfax where the  Arabic language is taught in combination with Tunisian culture.The school offers Arabic classes for adults as well as intensive personalized training for professional purposes.Each course is broken into small groups or individual classes to facilitate the progress of each learner.United Arab E miratesIqraa Language Center: located in the heart of Dubai, this is surely one of the most popular language schools in the country.The school specializes in teaching Arabic to foreign students.Each class has a maximum of 14 students and all teachers have Arabic as their mother tongue.Arabic Language Center (ALC for short) has been teaching Arabic for 33 years.The teaching method is simple and logical in order to make the experience interesting, effective, and playful.Each class contains a maximum of 12 students to optimize teaching and to ensure interaction between the students and teacher.JordanLocated in Amman, this school is extremely popular in Jordan and is renowned for the quality of its Arabic courses.It specializes in teaching foreign students.Ali Baba International Center is also located in the heart of Amman. This international center wants to promote Arabic as the first foreign language offered to students from all over the world.The Center is accredited by the Jordanian Ministry of Education as well as by Brookhaven College in the US.EgyptArabeya Arabic Language Institute: This center was created in 2003 and aims to offer intensive Arabic courses for all levels, whether for modern Arabic or modern Egyptian Arabic.The classes are formed of small groups so that each student receives the maximum  attention possible in order to progress.In these optimal conditions, students participate in the reading, writing, and learning of the Arabic language and the Arab culture.Ahlan Arabic Center is an institute offering many activities in order to practice everyday Arabic.Would you like to learn Arabic amidst an Arabic community? Don't wait any longer!There are 3 centers of this type in Egypt, namely in Alexandria's historic center, as well as in Cairo's Old Islamic town and in Luxor's city center near the souk.With trips outside the city, frequent visits to historical sites and markets (souks), the student will quickly progress in his oral practice of Arabic. The faculty is made up of professionals with a lot of experience in teaching Arabic to foreigners.Each course lasts between 2 and 3 hours, so you will be able to advance quickly towards Arabic fluency!MoroccoThe Cultural Center for Languages and Training (CCLT) is located in the heart of Rabat and is a very popular language school specializing in teaching Arabic to foreigners.Moroccan Center for Arabic Studies (MCAS) is also located in Rabat. This center offers courses for all foreign students. The groups separate into small classes (maximum 8 students per session).All teachers have Arabic as their first language and will be ready to help with any vocabulary, culture, or grammatical questions!TurkeyIstanbul Business Center (IBC) is known for the quality of its teaching and friendly atmosphere. IBC offers Arabic courses to students who are taking the language as part of their studies and would like to do an exchange program in Turkey. You will have no problem learning new Arabic word s and doing some reading and writing here!Meet other students who are abroad to learn Arabic like you!Their professional teachers are highly qualified and experienced, and are particularly attentive to the progress of each foreign language student.There is a wide variety of language courses, between the 25-hour a week intensive courses and Arabic courses in 6 different levels. They also offer one-on-one private tutoring.IsraelThe Lirom Israel Language Center in Tel Aviv offers a language immersion program with very high quality Arabic courses.

GMAT Interviews Improving on GMAT Quant

GMAT Interviews Improving on GMAT Quant GMAT MBA Admissions Blog We conducted a phone interview with Holly, who worked with one of our most senior GMAT tutors, Jim, to improve her quantitative score on the GMAT. --- Return to Main Interviews Page The Student: Holly A young professional working long hours, Holly was looking to break the 700 barrier on her GMAT, with a particular focus on improving her GMAT Quant score. After doing a significant amount of research on GMAT tutors in Chicago, she settled on MyGuru due to the quality of our tutors and our boutique, customized feel (her words). The Tutor: Jim Jim has undergraduate degrees in Philosophy and Physics from Cornell University and a PhD in Physics from the University of Chicago. He's been a physics and math tutor in Chicago for over 15 years, and regularly does ACT, SAT, GRE, and GMAT test prep as well. His specialty is Quant, but he helps students with all sections of these tests. Results Not only did Holly break the 700 barrier, she scored a 760 - an excellent score that sets her up well for admission into the top MBA programs in the U.S. Listen to the Interview

Let LOI Be Your One-Stop Shop For English Idioms

Let LOI Be Your One-Stop Shop For English Idioms For learners of the English  language,  understanding and using English idioms is a never-ending process.  It might feel like your progress moves at a snails pace.  Maybe you have spent  time  learning  dozens of common English idioms and youve been using them successfully.  Thats great!  But what about when you encounter an English idiom for the first time?  This can be tricky because idioms are expressions without a literal meaning.  One of our talented instructors at LOI, Peter, created this interesting and helpful  post that shines a light on a new way to understand  English idioms:https://www.skypeenglishclasses.com/idiomatic-expressions/About English Idioms:Today well be putting some of Peters helpful advice into practice.  If you are reading this post, you obviously have a strong appetite for learning, so, lets get started!Fill in the blanks with  the idiomatic expressions used in this video.  Then, match the expression to a definition listed.  As Peter states in his post, its important to listen for the context, paying attention to facial expression.  Its also helpful to listen for expressions people say commonly, and try to use those more often.  Todays lesson will help you do just that.  We are always  over the moon when we see your responses and get to help by correcting and giving explanations.  So, write your responses in the comments section.  Or, if youd like to spend quality time practicing with a native speaker, schedule a class!Listening Section and Exercise:To see how lithium is pulled from the earth, I went to visit the operations of the ______ ______, SQM.Hes a cheerful engineer who has _____ _____  working in The Great Void.Over millions of years, minerals from the mountains _____ into  the ground.From there, its __ __ ___ ___  to __ ___ _____  and evaporate away the water, _______  the minerals and salt ______.  This is __________ _____.You guys must be excited that Teslas are selling well and that everybodys _______ ____  e lectric cars now.Chile may have the largest lithium deposits in the world, but its starting to ____ ______  countries like Australia and China when it comes to production.In China its a ___-____ ____  with the mining and battery production happening together.This is a ____  Chilean companies have been unwilling to  ____.The feds have put strict quotas on lithium production, and theyve also been trying to act tough and ____ ____  after some politicos were accused of taking bribes from the mines.Environmentalists arent  ____ ____ of the mines either.But there are some  __ ___ ___ _____.Alejandro  ___ _ _____.These odd marvels ____  the modern world  __.Matching and Gap Fill:Next, use the context to match your answers to the following meanings:a.  disappear/go awayb.  batteryc.  starting to liked.  make things in our lives work welle.  people  who really like somethingf.  dominating the respective fieldg.  done something for yearsh. sucki.  has a correct ideaj.  positive aspects of a j obk.  do something risky with hope of successl. prevent embarrassment, shame or judgement of othersm. do its jobn.  place to buy everything at onceo.  become less successfulp.  the suns responsibilityHopefully by this point in the lesson, your relationship with idioms is getting warmer.  Several of these expressions  can also be categorized according to Peters grouping method:Expressions about life: roadExpressions about time:  moneyExpressions about knowledge: foodExpressions about relationships: temperatureExpressions about economics: gardeningExpressions about opinions: buildingExpressions about truth: archaeologyExpressions about intelligence: lightExpressions about opinions: geographyGrouping idioms in this way makes them easier to understand and put into context.  So now the next part of the lesson is to look at each of the following idiomatic expressions and place them into one of the categories above.example: spent years: time/moneygetting into:  _______/________fall behin d: _______/________leave behind: _______/________take a leap (of faith):  _______/________has a point (of view): _______/________make the world run: _______/________Find the English Idioms:Finally, you might have noticed that there are 7  idioms written throughout this post.  Find each idiom and place it in the correct category.  Then, for an extra challenge, write what you think the meaning is according to the category and context of the sentence!  Dont forget to write your responses in the comments section.If you still dont feel like these idioms are crystal clear, were happy to answer your questions in the comments section below, but were even happier to speak with you in a one-on-one lesson, so schedule a class today!

The Ultimate Guide to Learning Slavic Languages Tips, Tricks and Important Stats

The Ultimate Guide to Learning Slavic Languages Tips, Tricks and Important Stats The Ultimate Guide to Learning Slavic Languages: Tips, Tricks and Important Stats Countries across Central and Eastern Europe have a lot in common.And were not just talking about an overwhelming fondness for pickled and fermented foods.In fact, the Slavic language unites countries across the region under a banner of beautiful and unique sounds.There are many  languages spoken in Europe, but chances are that when you think about learning Slavic languages, you first consider  learning Russian  because its one of the most common languages.And thats great! Well talk more about Russian in this post. But  there are many more options than you might realizeâ€"including opportunities to double up on some interesting related languages.There are many  advantages of learning a foreign language, and its important  consider which language to learn. Well get you started in your Slavic studies.  Heres everything you need to know to find out which Slavic language interests you most and start learning your Slavic language of choice! History of the Slavic LanguagesSlavic languages are a group of related languages that emerged among the Slavs, an ethnic group whose origins are little known.According to Ancient History Encyclopedia, the first noted records of the Slavs appeared in the sixth century. However, the group itself likely had far older origins.The Slavic language is thought to stem from Proto-Slavic, which itself stems from Proto-Indo-European.According to The Origins of the Slavs: A Linguists View,  the initial split from Proto-Indo-European occurred around 3000 BC. From that point, Indo-European languages continued to evolve into separate distinct languages, including Proto-Slavic, the root language of all Slavic languages spoken today.The Indo-European family is huge, so Slavic languages have a lot of brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and even a few uncles whove been pushed to the edge of the family tree for their wild antics.Other branches of the Indo-European language family include Celtic, Germanic, Romance, Baltic and Indo-Iranian languages. T o give you a sense of how big this family is, those branches include everything from Bengali to Persian to Greek to English to Swedish.While the Slavic languages are quite different from their relatives in many ways, this interconnectedness does make for some convenient learning shortcuts, as well explore more specifically later in this post.Where Slavic Speakers AreEncyclopedia Britannica reports that there are an estimated 315 million speakers of Slavic languages.Slavic languages are spoken in Central Europe, the Balkans, most of Eastern Europe and large chunks of Northern Asia. There are also pockets of speakers of Slavic languages distributed in communities around the world.Resources for Learning Slavic LanguagesBefore we explore the ins and outs of some exciting and popular Slavic languages, lets get familiar with the diverse resources you can use for focused study.Transparent LanguageSlavic languages offered:  Belarusian, Bulgarian, Czech, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Slovak a nd Ukrainian. It also offers Serbo-Croatian as several separate languages: Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.Transparent Language offers language learning software to take your Slavic skills to the next level.Since Transparent Language offers a flexible learning path, its adaptable to beginning or experienced students. You can follow Transparent Languages designed learning path or start where you like.The wide array of activities offered in Transparent Languages programs helps you build speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Transparent Language even uses voice-enabled technology to help you perfect your pronunciation.FluentUSlavic languages offered: Russian.Later in this post youll notice a theme among Slavic languages: grammar pitfalls, unfamiliar alphabets, tricky pronunciationsOne of the fastest, most effective ways to minimize those difficulties is to dive head-first into the language. By surrounding yourself with the sounds of native speakers, youll naturally start to un derstand the mechanics of the language without painful memorization drills.FluentU is designed to make this type of immersive learning experience both entertaining and effective. Youll get real-world Russian videos (like movie trailers, music videos, inspiring talks and more).With FluentU, youll learn real Russianâ€"the same way that real people speak it. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps t rack of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Since the videos are organized by level, youll always have something fun but productive to watch.MYLANGUAGESSlavic languages offered: Belarusian, Bulgarian, Czech, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Slovene and Ukrainian. It also offers Serbo-Croatian as Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin and Serbian.Since MYLANGUAGES is free, its a great choice for anyone looking to dabble in learning a new Slavic language.For a free resource, the options are remarkable. Lessons are available to teach you all the basics of the language, including the alphabet, grammar rules and key vocabulary. There are also additional resources, like reading excerpts, dictionaries and language learning games.Since MYLANGUAGES does not offer audio pronunciation of vocabulary, however, you might want to pair it with additional resources to optimize your learning.Learn101Slavic la nguages offered:  Belarusian, Bulgarian, Czech, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Slovene and Ukrainian. It also offers Serbo-Croatian as well as Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.Learn101 is another free option with everything a beginning student could hope for.Learn101 offers alphabet lessons, basic grammar lessons, common vocabulary/phrases and even a test to check your learning. Plus, vocabulary lists also feature audio to help you nail down your listening and pronunciation.ilanguagesSlavic languages offered:  Belarusian, Bulgarian, Czech, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Slovene and Ukrainian. It also offers Serbo-Croatian as Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.Since you can never have too many free learning resources, heres another one!If youre looking for basic grammar lessons, vocabulary and common phrases, ilanguages has your back. Plus, these lessons also contain audio.Flashcards are available to help reinforce your learning, and ilanguages offers a quiz to see how much youve learned. Another unique feature of ilanguages is that it has a special section that focuses on the most common words.Live LinguaSlavic languages offered:  Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Polish, Russian (four different categories based on region) and Ukrainian. It also offers Serbo-Croatian and Serbian.While Live Lingua might be most known for its Skype lessons, it also offers a ton of free learning materials.What precisely is available varies by language, but common offerings include structured language courses, often containing both an e-book and audio.Most of these courses target beginning-level students, teaching the alphabet, fundamental grammar rules and basic vocabulary.The Ultimate Guide to Learning Slavic Languages: Tips, Tricks and Important StatsThe following list contains the most common Slavic languages alive today. This list is broken down into increasingly narrow family groups.Its important to note that the narrower the family group, the more similar the languages will be. In many cases, languages that are closely related may even be mutually intelligible, meaning speakers of one language can understand the other to some degree.For instance, Macedonian and Bulgarian are both members of the Eastern group of the South Slavic branch, so theyre closely related. Since Serbo-Croatian and Slovene are in the Western group of the same South Slavic branch, theyre slightly more distantly related. Still more distantly related would be Russian, since its from a completely different branch of the Slavic language.So why does all this matter? For language learners, its important to consider because it can help you learn multiple languages simultaneously.  Pairing similar languages  is a convenient way to learn more than one at once, and the more similar the languages are, the easier itll be to learn them simultaneously.Here are some common Slavic languages you might consider learning.West Slavic LanguagesAs the name would suggest, the West Slavic language f amily contains some of the westernmost Slavic languages.Lechitic FamilyPolish:While Polish isnt the only member of the Lechitic group, its certainly the most well known. Ethnologue estimates that there are over 37 million speakers of Polish within Poland and over 3 million more speakers spread across the world.Language learners might be especially interested in Polish because its one of the most widely spoken Slavic languages, but it still uses the Latin alphabet. That means its  a little less daunting for English speakers than other popular Slavic languages like Russian and Ukrainian, which require learning a whole new alphabet.There are, however, still many tricky aspects of the Polish language, including challenging pronunciations and a case system. But if youre already looking to learn a Slavic language, these things probably do not intimidate you!Czech-Slovak FamilyCzech:According the Ethnologue, Czech is spoken by over 10 million people in the Czech Republic and nearly 3 milli on more around the world.Czech is a popular choice with language learners because it uses the Latin alphabet and the Czech Republic is particularly popular with tourists. But, like other Slavic languages, if youre not careful, you could fall victim to tricky pronunciations and the dreaded case system.While Czech and Slovak vary in a number of ways, they do have enough mutual intelligibility to allow you to understand a fair amount of one by learning the other. Learning the two languages simultaneously should also be convenient.Slovak:According to Ethnologue, Slovak is spoken by over 4.7 million people in Slovakia and more than 2 million more people around the world.While it does have a case system and some tricky pronunciations, language learners will appreciate that Slovak uses the Latin alphabet and is so closely related to Czech.South Slavic LanguagesSouth Slavic languages are grouped in the southeastern corner of Europe, primarily in the Balkans.Western FamilySlovene:According t o Ethnologue, Slovene is spoken by over 1.9 million people in Slovenia and nearly 200,000 more around the world.Also called Slovenian, Slovene is one of the newer Slavic languages, having been formed in the 1700s from a range of dialect groups. Its still one of the most diverse Slavic languages, with a wide array of different dialects.While theyre technically related, Slovene is not particularly mutually intelligible with Serbo-Croatian (covered below), except for a few dialects along the Slovenian border. Theres also some similarity between Slovene and West Slavic languages, though again, there isnt a lot of mutual intelligibility.Slovene uses the case system, has some difficult pronunciations and features some other tricky grammar rules.For instance, while most European languages have singular and plural nouns, Slovene also features dual grammatical number to express when there are two of something. Additionally, the Huffington Post notes that the huge array of dialects can make i t difficult for speakers of Slovene to understand one another.For language learners, though, Slovene still has its appeal. It uses the Latin alphabet and the languages uniqueness sets it apart.Serbo-Croatian:Serbo-Croatian (sometimes abbreviated BCS) is a macro-language made up of Serbian, Montenegrin, Croatian and Bosnian, though Serbian and Montenegrin are often grouped together. While there are a few minor differences, these similar languages are mutually intelligible and the division between them is largely political.According to Ethnologue, Serbo-Croatian is spoken by over 15 million people. Bosnian is spoken by over 1.1 million people in Bosnia and nearly 400,000 more around the world. Croatian is spoken by about 4.2 million people in Croatia and about 2.3 million more around the world. Serbian/Montenegrin is spoken by about 6.3 million people in Serbia and Montenegro and another 2.1 million around the world.Montenegro split from Serbia  in the 2000s, so this language is still developing standards.One of the most notable differences between these languages is alphabet use. Serbian uses both the Cyrillic and Latin alphabets. Bosnian technically uses both alphabets, but it mostly uses the Latin alphabet. Croatian uses the Latin alphabet. As the Montenegrin language develops, theres a preference for the Latin alphabet.Language learners might face standard Slavic language challenges here, like the case system. However, language learners also benefit from being able to choose whether they prefer to use the Latin or Cyrillic alphabet. Its very rare to be able to have options like this when learning a language!Additionally, the region is popular with tourists, so some students might want to learn Serbo-Croatian to prepare for travels.Eastern FamilyMacedonian:According to Ethnologue, Macedonian is spoken by over 1.3 million people in Macedonia and over 2 million more around the world.Macedonian and Bulgarian (covered below) are mutually intelligible. In fact, Ma cedonian has so much in common with Bulgarian that some Bulgarians actually consider it a dialect rather than a distinct language.Macedonian has some of the same difficult pronunciations and uses Cyrillic; these aspects might challenge learners. However, unlike most other Slavic languages, Macedonian does not use a case system or infinitive forms of verbs, making it uniquely appealing to language learners.Bulgarian:According to Ethnologue, there are over 7 million Bulgarian speakers in Bulgaria and 1 million more around the world.Anyone wanting to learn Bulgarian will face some challenges, such as the use of the old Proto-Slavic verb system, in which verbs can also express whether theres evidence. For instance, certain conjugations can indicate if something is unlikely or being retold.While the verb conjugations are expressive, they can also be tricky. Additionally, Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic alphabet.But language learners rejoice! Like Macedonian, Bulgarian does not use a case sys tem or infinitive verbs.East Slavic LanguagesBelarusian:According to Ethnologue, Belarusian is spoken by over 2.2 million people in Belarus and another 300,000 around the world. However, this number may look confusing given that Belarus is home to over 9 million people. So why do so few Belarusians speak Belarusian?Thats because most Belarusians actually speak Russian. In fact, the CIA World Factbook estimates that about 70 percent of the population speaks Russian.Luckily, Belarusian is fairly mutually intelligible with Russian (and Ukrainian, for that matter), so the challenge of communicating in this country is less daunting than it may seem. Its also partially mutually intelligible with Polish.Belarusian uses Cyrillic and its grammar is quite similar to Russian. Due to the overlap between Belarusian, Russian and Ukrainian, language learners might like learning all three together.Ukrainian:Despite historic attempts to suppress the Ukrainian language, Ukrainian remains one of the m ost widely spoken Slavic languages.  Ethnologue estimates that Ukrainian is spoken by 32.6 million people in Ukraine and over 2 million more people around the world.Ukrainian is most mutually intelligible with Belarusian but also has some mutual intelligibility with Russian. Polish has also heavily influenced the Ukrainian language, so theres also some mutual intelligibility between these languages. At the very least, youll notice some overlapping vocabulary.The Ukrainian language uses Cyrillic. Ukrainian learners will face challenges similar to those posed by other Slavic languages: a case system, tricky grammar rules and some difficult pronunciations. However, language learners should still consider learning Ukrainian because its widely spoken and many people consider it exceptionally beautiful.Russian:According to Ethnologue, Russian is spoken by 138 million people in Russia and a total of nearly 268 million people worldwide. Russian is widely spoken throughout North Asia, Centra l Asia and Eastern Europe. In Europe, more people speak Russian as a native language than any other language.Learning Russian isnt without its challenges. After all, it uses the Cyrillic alphabet, employs a case system and features long and often tricky words.However, there are still plenty of reasons to learn Russian.Students flock to the Russian language because its the most widely spoken Slavic language by leaps and bounds. Additionally, anyone interested in literature should consider learning Russian, because Russian literature is some of the most acclaimed in the world.When it comes to Slavic languages, Russian is just the tip of the iceberg! Mix and match your favorite Slavic languages for a fun and well-rounded learning experience.

When to Hire a Tutor A Few Common Misconceptions

When to Hire a Tutor A Few Common Misconceptions When to Hire a Private San Diego Tutor? A Few Common Misconceptions When to Hire a Private San Diego Tutor? A Few Common Misconceptions This article will explain some of the optimal times to look into private San Diego tutoring for yourself or your student.   There are many common and conflicting misconceptions about when during a class or school year a student who needs additional help should start tutoring.   Some parents subscribe to the method of hiring a tutor right before major tests to improve studying and improve their child’s grade.   Some believe that after a certain amount of time into a class or semester that it is too late and that a tutor would have little to no benefit.   Others believe nearly the opposite â€" that a tutor should only be used later in the class after the student has thoroughly proven that they cannot attain success in the class on their own. These ideas stem from greater misunderstandings of how tutoring should work (and how it does work if hiring from an experienced and reputable source). You can see a tutor more than just before a big test First, tutoring is not exclusively a band-aid that can be slapped on right before a test to cram information and get an ‘A’.   A good tutor will be able to correct poor study habits, identify important information, and execute an effective study plan with a student.   However, this studying needs to be continued, and if there is a significant gap between what the student has learned and what the teacher expects the student to know, then that gap will only continue to widen without more intervention.   Students do usually find some success with this style of scheduling, but most would find much more with a more consistent tutoring pattern (READ: Tips from a San Diego Tutor: Keeping in Touch After Graduation). A tutor can help even towards the end of your class Second, a large part of a tutor’s job is in diagnosing problems and prescribing solutions.   A tutor needs to decipher why the student is not reaching his or her goals and use their experience to help remedy the issue.   In many cases, these problems can be alleviated or fixed entirely in days or weeks, rather than months.   Whether it’s helping you find which fundamentals to memorize for your final, having an experienced pair of eyes look over your last paper, or an effective teacher helping you understand those boring lectures for the first time all semester, a tutor may be the solution you need to find more success even at the end of a class.   Unless all of your assignments are turned in and your tests completed, it is never too late to consider outside help. It is never too early to be proactive in your education Third, students are experienced in the subjects, classes, and tests that they teach.   As such, they often know what skills and prerequisite knowledge are important beforehand.   They also know what will be emphasized, what the common problems are, and how the courses or tests are usually structured.   With this knowledge, a tutor can help teach and prepare a student even before they’ve had their first class.   You do not need to wait until you or your student is failing before you hire a tutor.   Students with experienced tutors who begin their tutoring early can expect to have a much better understanding of the material, a routine schedule for developing studying and work habits, and the tools necessary to be successful in the class and any progressive classes following it. Do not believe these common misconceptions about tutoring.   A tutor’s job is to help students achieve the most success in their education goals.   They are experienced and know how to accomplish this task.   An experienced professional can help you â€" it isn’t too late, it isn’t too early, and there doesn’t have to be a test the next day. Book your experienced San Diego tutor today! Michael C. is currently a private math, science, and standardized test tutor with TutorNerds in Irvine and Anaheim. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.