Raising Bilingual Kids Expert Tips from a Parent Who Has Been There

Raising Bilingual Kids Expert Tips from a Parent Who Has Been There Megan L. As you probably know, being bilingual has many amazing benefits, from increased brain health to higher salaries, and more! You may have also heard that for many people, learning languages is far easier in childhood than it will be in their adult years. If youre a parent, or about to become one, youre probably wondering how to raise a bilingual child. Have no fear, many other parents have embarked on this journey, and they are happy to share their discoveries with you. Even if you dont speak a second language yourself, you can still help your child grow up bilingual. So what do you need to know to raise a bilingual child? Adam Beck of Bilingual Monkeys has lots of experience and great advice for doing just that! Heres Adam My best advice for successfully raising a bilingual child, from birth, can be summed up in these three principles 1. The two “core conditions” for fostering active ability in the minority language are  exposure  and  need. The child must receive sufficient interactive exposure to the target language (there’s no “magic number,” but a good benchmark for most families seeking active ability would be roughly 25 hours a week), while also feeling an organic need to use that language. Your aim, for the first few formative years, is to “condition” your child to communicate with you in the minority language by the time he or she begins to speak. And you’ll raise the odds of achieving this if you proactively emphasize that language and “de-emphasize” the majority language. In other words, the more openly you use the majority language around the child, the more you may undermine his or her need to use the minority language with you. So, although I know it may not be realistic to avoid using the majority language entirely, I would be cautious about how freely you speak that language in front of the child, especially in those early years. 2. Generally speaking, the results of your bilingual quest will be in proportion to how high you make this a priority in your life. If your sense of priority is high, if you make this aim central to your daily lifestyle, then your approach will be more mindful and proactive. This will result in more persistent and effective efforts, and greater success over time. The reverse of this is also likely true: The lower your sense of priority, the less action you’ll take and the less progress you’ll make. As Gandhi once said (though I don’t think he was talking about raising bilingual kids): “Action expresses priorities.” 3. Flood your home with minority language resourcesâ€"particularly booksâ€"and read aloud to your children every single day, from birth and throughout childhood. A large home library and a daily read-aloud routine should be the bedrock of your daily efforts to promote the minority language. Again, when it comes to resources, emphasize the minority language and “de-emphasize” the majority language. Assuming the future will bring schooling in the majority language, it’s to your advantage to make the home far richer in minority language resources. At the same time, talk, talk, talk to your baby in the target language. The more input the child receives through books and speech, the more output he or she will eventually produce. Adam Beck is the founder of Bilingual Monkeys  and The Bilingual Zoo. For many more helpful tips from Adam, see My Best Tips for Raising Bilingual Kids. 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 David D.

Learn Music Theory Online

Learn Music Theory Online How Can You Take Music Theory Lessons on the Internet? ChaptersSites for When You Start Learning About Music TheoryOther Sites for Learning Music Theory“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” - Plato.Music has had a profound effect on human history. You'll agree that it's almost impossible to find somebody on this planet who doesn't like music and even harder to find someone who never listens to music!Humans just love music because there's music for every occasion. Whether you're happy or sad, you can always put a song on.But what about playing music? It turns out that we love that, too! There are so many people who play musical instruments or like to sing.It’s also well known that being able to play a musical instrument can make you happier and more creative. Learning to play an instrument and sing can make you more relaxed, too.As Louise Vertigo, a singing teacher and vocal workshop presenter, says “It’s excellent star ting the day by singing.”Some people are gifted with a perfect ear and have an innate singing ability. Others have to learn to sing either by attending a music school, by getting private music tutorials at home, or by taking online singing lessons.  Every private music tutor will say that learning music has to start by studying music theory.You can’t learn to play piano or become a jazz singer without studying music theory. Most musicians need to know how to read music for sight reading. In music, if you don't know the difference between the bass clef and the treble clef, you'll never play the right notes.In music, the pauses are as important as the notes you play. (Source: pixabay.com)Have you ever tried singing lessons? Even the most gifted self-taught musicians need to work, learn, practice and perfect their gifts.  There’s just one problem: Learning to sing with a private music tutor can be expensive!However, aspiring singers who don’t have the means can learn to read mu sic and music theory online at their own pace. That's why we’re going to look at the best sites offering music theory lessons for every level and all ages in this article. TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSites for When You Start Learning About Music TheoryLearning music from a young age can positively affect a child’s brain in the long term and it's been shown that neuroplasticity is greater in children who learn to read music or play the piano.  With that in mind (no pun intended), here are some great sites for teaching children about reading music.Your child could become a musical genius with music theory tutorials. (Source: pixabay.com)Music Learning CommunityThis is a website aimed at teaching children classical music theory in a fun and interesting way.There are plenty of games for younger learners to discover music theory while they have fun. It’s also a useful resource for teachers looking for something fun to do with their students.  While this site isn’t free, you can get a family subscription for as little as $7.95 per month (around £6).If you opt for a yearly subscription, you’ll only end up paying for the equivalent of 10 months.However, before you open your wallet, there are some free games and activities to try before you start paying your subscription. There’s also a free trial available if you’re still unsure.It’s a great way for kids to learn about the breve, semibreve, minim, crotchet, and quaver. This will also help them to sing better as they’ll better understand the written music in front of them.Living in South England, check out  singing lessons Brighton.Hello KidsThis is a site dedicated to children and learning. It includes fun music lessons for younger learners.  Furthermore, children can learn about the value of music notes as well as the names of the notes: DO, RÉ, MI, FA, SOL, LA, SI.We recommend that you sing the notes you see on the sheet music. This is a great way to practise music theory since it can train your ear and help you later on when you start improvising or creating your own music.Learning to read music is done by establishing the relationship between each of the seven notes and the corresponding names of them.MetronimoMetronimo is a site with a number of educational apps for learning music theory, learning to play the piano, and learning about musical instruments and classical composers.Your children won't sing perfect ly in the beginning. Give them some time. (Source: pixabay.com)While the site is aimed at children, it’s useful for any beginner regardless of their age.  You can download the music theory programmes for free, too.  They’ll help you to learn how to read musical notes in a range of different keys as well as the names of the different note: breve, semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver, etc.Check out singing lessons all over the UK.To learn keys, for example, the notes are represented by the ghosts from Pacman with four different levels of difficulty.  This can help you to remember the different notes while stimulating your visual memory before they’re eaten by Pacman!Are these music theory games too easy?  You can make things more difficult by singing the notes on the page or by playing them and testing your ear.Other Sites for Learning Music TheoryAre you bored of karaoke videos? Are karaoke apps just not cutting it? Would you like to start learning to sing seriously?Singing makes use of an instrument unlike any other, one that requires impeccable technique and a good knowledge of music theory.If you want to be able to sing, play the guitar, piano, violin, etc. you need to be able to read sheet music, understand the notes, chords, harmonies, and work on your voice to make sure you don’t hit any wrong notes.Do you dream of singing in a band? (Source: Thibault Trillet)Learning to read sheet music requires that you have a good understanding of music theory, can keep time, and reproduce the written music on your instrument of choice, including your voice. The sheet music tells you explicitly how to play the music.It’s almost impossible to become a singer or musician if you’ve never learnt anything about music theory or about the different scales: majors, minors, etc.Fortunately, thanks to the internet, there are plenty of resources on music theory.MusicTheory.netWhile music theory isn’t obligatory, it’s highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn an instrument or how to sing.Thus, the site MusicTheory.net is somewhere you should consider visiting.With plenty of different useful resources, the site also has accompanying apps if you’d like to take your lessons everywhere with you. Lessons include:The names of the notes and their position on a pianoIntervalsThe duration of notes (whole note, half note, quarter note, etc.)All manner of musical notationRanges of voices: soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass.How to read sheet music.How to read different keys.Finally, the main advantage of this site is the huge variety of different resources available and the crisp and clean presentation of the information on it.If you want to become a professional musician, you need to read sheet music like you'd read a book. (Source: pixabay.com)ToneSavvyThis site (which was formerly known as eMusicTheory) includes a plethora of music theory resources for both students and teachers.  It has tonnes of resources on music theory includ ing note names, interval identification, chord building, key signatures, etc.It also includes resources for those learning to play the piano or the guitar as well as exercises for training you ear. There’s a 30 day free trial if you’re not sure. Since the site focuses on teaching music theory, it’s a little pricey for individual students.The subscriptions are as follows:$19 per month (up to 25 students)$39 per month (up to 75 students)$59 per month (up to 150 students)One Minute Music LessonThis is one of the best resources for learning more about music theory. There are lessons on:Musical notationRhythm and TempoDifferent keysTraining your earMusic quizzesThe exercises on One Minute Music Lesson are perfect for absolute beginners wanting to start learning more about music theory and all the different notes, keys, etc.  As the name obviously suggests, these lessons are short. However, that doesn’t mean they’re limited.Music theory can help bring together all the methods an d techniques you've learnt in order to compose beautiful music. (Source: www.pexels.com)TeoríaThis site includes varied resources on music theory and tutorials.  You can’t start singing an opera like Pavarotti if the word “sharp” makes you think of knives rather than semitones.This site includes plenty of tutorials, exercises, and articles on music theory and how to better understand it. There are also plenty of tutorials on reading sheet music, the different elements of music notation, and lessons on elements of music theory such as:Beat and measuresTime signatureNote valueKey signaturesHarmonic functionsTransposing instrumentsGood luck! While music theory is sometimes a bit off-putting, in a few months, you’ll know everything you need to know in order to compose your own music.You should also check out the best tools for recording your voice.

What Tools do You Need to Teach a Dance Class

What Tools do You Need to Teach a Dance Class What Do You Need to Teach a Private Dance Tutorial? ChaptersDigital Resources for Preparing a Dance TutorialResources to Use During Your Dance Tutorials“I would believe only in a God that knows how to dance.” - Friedrich NietzscheWould you like to share your passion for dancing?Why not become a private dance tutor?With Superprof, any dancer can put together a private tutor profile in just a few clicks, regardless of whether or not you’ve had any formal dance training.However, a lot of new tutors are unaware of what it takes to plan their first lesson and have no idea what dance equipment they’ll need to use to do so.Whether you want to teach ballroom, jazz, tap dance, or pole fitness, Superprof is here to help with the best tools for preparing a private dance tutorial.Find dance classes near me.Learn to dance: tap lessons, freestyle lessons, country dance lessons, hip hop dance lessons, ballet lessons, breakdancing lessons, Irish dancing lessons, belly dancing lessons.Dance plug: contemporary dance lessons, hip hop dance lesso ns, jazz lessons, modern jazz lessons, funk lessons, zumba, pilates, stretching, etc.Dance class: modern jazz dance lessons, ballet lessons, Puerto Rican salsa and Cuban salsa lessons, Latin dance lessons, ballroom lessons, rock ‘n’ roll dancing lessons.iDance: Argentine tango lessons, jazz lessons, the lindy hop, the Charleston, tap lessons, African dance lessons, etc.Some dancing websites have lessons for all levels and ages: beginners, intermediate, advanced, lessons for children, teens, and adults, etc. No matter what you’re looking for, you should be able to find resources.Dance Applications for Planning LessonsApps, which can be accessed at home or at a dance academy, are helping plenty of private dance instructors to plan their lessons.Many apps are available for free on both Android and iOS and have plenty of different exercises for dancers of all levels. Tutors can also use them to revise certain techniques and get inspiration for exercises during their lessons and tu torials.If you used to work in a conservatoire or dance academy, these apps are great for studying a few techniques that you mightn’t have taught for years as well as seeing new ways to teach them!Here are some of the bes apps for preparing private dance tutorials:Learn to Dance: Kizomba, Bachata, Indian dance, Flamenco, salsa, etc.Groove Studio: Hip hop dance, RnB dance, K-pop dance, etc.Waltz: Ballroom dance, lessons to prepare a couple’s first dance at a wedding, etc.Dancy: Salsa, rumba, samba, breakdancing, hip hop, etc.Yes Dance: Tango, Zumba, ballroom dancing, swing, etc.Quick Steps Dance: Rumba, cha cha, waltz, bachata, salsa, etc.All dance students love dancing along to a popular song so that they can learn more about the tutor’s favourite styles. Free apps are ideal for practising the most popular songs for each style of dance and encouraging your students to learn them, too!Online Dance Video LibrariesThere’s nothing better for brushing up on your teaching techniqu es than videos on dancing!Depending on the goal of your tutorials, you may have to change the resources you use. (Source: ktphotography)There are hundreds of specialised video websites with intensive dance courses or weekly video classes. Professional dancers can study certain techniques such as how to improvise, revise music theory, or learn more about the history of dance.For example, if you want to teach a group class or a taster class, you should check out some of the choreography online, which explains step-by-step how to teach an enjoyable lesson and routine.If you want to be a good teacher, you need to make sure that your lessons are fun and engaging:Here’s a short list of some of the best YouTubers around:1Million Dance StudioMatt SteffaninaKyle HanagamiWilldaBeast AdamsTricia MirandaBrian FreedmanKinjaz DojoTim MilgramYanis MarshallKeone and MariOur advice: Create a special YouTube playlist to practise along to before you teach your first dance tutorials. You can also sha re the playlist with your student before their lesson so they can prepare for it.Find salsa classes near me.Resources to Use During Your Dance TutorialsTo become a good choreographer and teach groups, couples, or individuals about a certain style of dancing, the tutor needs to have the right gear.This will vary depending on the style being taught: for example, if you’re learning tap dancing, you’re going to need tap shoes.Here’s some of the most important stuff you’ll need as a private dance tutor.Renting a Dance StudioBefore you start offering dance tutorials, you need to find an appropriate place to teach.This isn’t necessarily a resource but it is something that you have to have, isn’t it?Some dance instructors may already have their own space and therefore not need to pass these costs onto the tutor. However, other tutors may have to pay to rent a dance studio (which will be reflected in their rates).Certain styles may not even require a dedicated room or studio. (So urce: StockSnap)To rent a dance studio, you should check the following places:Dance academiesLeisure centresPrivate businesses offering rooms to rentEstate agents also have commercial properties available to rent and buyThe prices for these rooms will vary depending on the size of the room and where it is. While the tutors usually take care of this, the student generally is the one who pays for it (either directly or through their tutor). Make sure you mention how much your student has to pay for the room when you create your Superprof profile!Make sure to check that the flooring is appropriate for the type of dance you expect to do. Dance studios obviously have flooring for all dance styles and it's very unlikely that you'll slip (you don't want to injure yourself or your student!).Dance flooring comes in a variety of different types. Typically, a sprung hardwood (usually oak parquet) flooring is preferred. However, since hardwood can be quite expensive, a lot of studios include a marley floor, which is made of vinyl. If you're familiar with gymnastics, you're probably familiar with some of the different types of floor and the floor tiles.You'll also need to consider investing in dance floor tape that's easy to remove and won't leave marks, especially if the dance floor isn't yours!If you can't find anywhere with appropriate flooring or would like to teach all your lessons at your students' homes, you can invest in a portable dance floor, a type of floor installation made of tiles that can be taken to any room with enough space. These portable dance floors are often modular interlocking tiles that can be made into floors of varying sizes.If you're teaching ballet, you'll need to find studios with a ballet barre or find a portable ballet barre that you can take to studios with you. Ballet barres, as you can imagine, are pretty essential.It's also quite useful to look for rooms that have mats, bars, and mirrors to assist you and your students when you warm up a nd so that student can see their posture when exercising.If you're a dance teacher who grew up studying ballet, you probably know where the best ballet studio in your area is. If not, don't worry, you can probably get some recommendations from another ballet dancer.Pole dancing tutors will obviously need to find a room with a mounted or freestanding dancing pole. Like everything else, dancing poles can vary wildly in price depending the type and quality you invest in. Unless you have a large van or can keep the pole at the studio, you should look at dance studios with poles.Offer Extra Exercises to Do between TutorialsTo quickly go from an intermediate to advanced level, the student needs to do more than just attend their private dance tutorials. In fact, the tutor should give them exercises to do between their tutorials and daily practice.The tutor could suggest the following to their students:Dancing guidesOnline dancing guidesDancing video librariesDancing theory lessonsDancing s tudy sheetsFree dancing applicationsOnline dancing exercises, etc.Did you know that on Superprof, there are plenty of tutors providing private dance tutorials on webcam?If you choose to give online dance tutorials, you’ll probably need a lot of digital resources to help your student progress. Additionally, you’ll also need digital equipment, too: a computer, a quality webcam, a good microphone, etc.The Sports Equipment to Use During a Dance TutorialAs you can imagine, both the tutor and the student will need the appropriate sporting equipment for a dance tutorial. While the tutor doesn’t need to provide their student with all the gear, if they do, they can increase their rates and offer a more professional service.There are plenty of resources for learning about different styles of dance. (Source: AdinaVoicu)Depending on the style being taught and whether you're a beginner or an expert, the tutor might need get their hands on:MusicTops and leotardsShoes (pointe shoes for balle t)Tights or shortsDancing shoesHoldallsToe protectorsGymnastics equipmentKnee padsLeggingsJumpsuitsGlovesSports bras, etc.Of course, it's not a contest to see who has the best equipment, you still have to focus on the quality of your lessons.Learn to dance with Superprof:Dance classes near me in LondonDance classes GlasgowPole dancing classes in LondonFind out more about:pricing for dance classescredentials for dance teachersteaching ballet in the UK

Where to Find a Personal Trainer in Birmingham

Where to Find a Personal Trainer in Birmingham Find a Personal Trainer in Birmingham ChaptersThe Best Gyms to Find a Physical Fitness ProfessionalLow-Cost Gyms in BirminghamFinding a Personal Trainer OnlineWhere to Find Outdoor WorkoutsThis second-largest city in the UK is known for, among other things, its high profile in sports.Considering we are discussing getting fit, that is an excellent quality to be renown for!However, just like the rest of the country, Brummies are feeling a bit sluggish of late. Could it be because of our city's fabulous food culture?Or is that simply that, in our push to get ahead, we're working too much, relaxing too little and generally neglecting our health in favour of going with the trends: on the computer or social media?Arguably the most important British innovation of the industrialised age, the steam engine, was invented in Birmingham.Have we lost our steam since then?Let Superprof tell you how you can find a personal trainer to rediscover your health and wellness, along with energy reserves you might never have known you have!stat e of the art facility.You might start by consulting with one of their staff who specialises in nutrition. Analysing and modifying your diet  should be the first step toward a fitter, healthier you!Afterwards, you may discuss your fitness goals with one of their physiology experts.This worthy would conduct a fitness assessment, determine where your strengths and weaknesses are, and help you establish your fitness goals.And then, you would have your choice of courses for getting fit:participate in any of their 150 classes, from cycling to Pilates, including yogaswim your way to a toned body in their poolplay a heated court game, such as squash or handball; even basketball!Engage in strength trainingAttend a workshop; fitness and nutrition being just one topic discussed.Each of these fitness activities is overseen, if not led by a fitness trainer. Still, you could go further: engage in resistance training under the watchful guidance of your personal fitness trainer.What is remarkable a bout this gym is that they embrace a pay and go system.While still perfectly entitled to buy a membership in any programme they currently have openings for, you may elect to avail yourself to all of their facilities, exercise programs and personal training sessions on a per-visit basis.Annual membership fees hover around £330, depending on the category you select â€" swim, court games, etc.Pay and go generally runs £240 for sixty classes, with a year expiry.What if you were hoping for a less costly, more one on one approach to your personal training?If you are based in Scotland you can find personal trainers here.Low-Cost Gyms in BirminghamIf you, like so many others seeking coaching, are reluctant to commit your wallet to fitness before your body is fully on board with the idea, you might want to find accredited facilities where contracts are not a prerequisite to working out.Enter PureGym: with 9 facilities scattered in and around Birmingham, you're sure to find one close to hom e or work!Even if you are a shift worker hoping for a workout at 3 AM, this gym may be just the ticket. They are open 24 hours per day!However, if you are looking for one to one assistance from a online personal trainer, or even if you want to Zumba your way to weight loss, you may have to tone up to a more traditional schedule.Their site lists a comprehensive calendar of classes that you may partake of, which includes the name of the fitness instructor who leads it.Among others, you could select from aerobics and toning, how to succeed at weight loss, firming up specific muscle groups such as abs and glutes; you could even join their fitness Bootcamp!Boxing, circuit training, high-intensity workouts: nothing is off the table here!And they even have ladies only classes!If testimonials are anything to go by, PureGym's kit gets the highest rating for the most equipment, followed closely by diversity in training.Personal trainers get high marks as well, for their friendliness, personal ized service and their knowledge of corrective exercise and group exercise.Their most popular membership package runs £10.99 per month, which gives you access to multiple facilities.You could just try them out first. A day pass is only £5.99You may find your perfect fitness specialist online! Source: Pixabay Credit: FirmbeeFinding a Personal Trainer OnlineYou may have no time to run to the gym every day; or perhaps no inclination to. After all, not everyone likes to sweat in public, but we still hold that most everyone has a yearning for fitness and wellness.Considering how much our Council invests in health and fitness initiatives, we can all agree that our body weight and quality of life is of prime concern to them!What alternatives does one have, should public facilities and buying memberships not figure in one's top-rated means of getting fit?Before you go on to say that one could simply start jogging or riding a bike, let us firmly dissuade you from engaging in this or any ty pe of high impact sport without at least one consultation with someone qualified to assess your current physical state.According to some reports, the UK tops the list for the sheer number of  sports injuries in western Europe.Hence it only makes sense to talk with a professional before you lace up your trainers or wriggle into your Sweaty Bettys.You might find your perfect personal trainer online in Glasgow, or an online group fitness instructor in Leeds!Body Transformation: Local and OnlineWhile technically a fitness centre, complete with free weights and kettlebells, rowing machines and medicine balls, this facility is fundamentally a playground for personal fitness trainers to work with their clients.They offer three distinct packages: basic, accelerated, and online. Guess which one is more cost-effective?Their online personal training programme is tailored to the body-conscious individual who has a fair idea of what shape s/he is in, and needs to know how to reach peak fitness w ithin a short time.If you are motivated â€" don't need anyone to drive you to your fitness goals; or even if you do need a bit of motivation, perhaps you could do with twice-weekly phone calls from your personal trainer.Included in their online course is a bespoke nutrition plan and a general outline for training.The best part of this type of workout programme is that it puts you squarely in the driver's seat, making every decision regarding your body sculpting, toning and shaping.It also invests you with the flexibility to set your own work out schedule, as well as your diet!You could have it this hands-off type of guidance for 12 weeks, at a rate of £20 per week.What if you want a more hands-on personal training program?Perhaps join a fitness class? Search online for 'fitness classes near me' now!Superprof Trainers Await YouIf you've been holding out for a certified personal trainer who would come to your home for functional training, or meet you at a public gym for group fitness sessions, any of Superprof's more than 2,000 tutors could do the job!Senior fitness: Check! Postnatal workouts: Check!Superprof fitness specialists can help you design fitness programs to build endurance, improve cardiovascular health, gain muscle mass and burn fat.It all comes down to what you are looking for in a fitness program; a topic your Superprof trainer would be sure to broach directly, upon meeting you for the first time.All of that talking and planning for improving your fitnessmightt cost a thing: most Superprof fitness experts offer their first hour free, exactly for that purpose!You may find a coach for as low as £20, and you can rest assured that each Superprof trainer has full credentials to work with you in-home, at your favourite gym, or even in the great outdoors!We Britons do love our out of doors activity! Doesn't it make good sense to get our fitness on outside, whenever possible?Find a personal trainer in Belfast or Cardiff with Superprof.Outdoor gyms are a fun and easy way to refresh your lifestyle! Source: Pixabay Credit: FramekingsWhere to Find Outdoor WorkoutsBirmingham boasts 571 parks within its green belt, more than any European city.Surely one could find somewhere to get athletic, or just practice fitness training within those green spaces!The answer to that exclamation would be Selly Park.Located just next to Mary's Hospice, this vast expanse of green fairly begs the outdoor fitness enthusiast to discover what it has to offer!Why not see if Manchester has such a one, or maybe you'd like to investigate outdoor exercising facilities in London?This outdoor gym features:leg press machineschest press machinespull down machinesCrossFit machinesrowerstreadmillsThese installations even have fitness trainers whose videos you can download and work out to!It costs nothing to join this outdoor gym or participate in group training â€" which, understandably only takes place when the weather is nice.As we are approaching summer, wouldn't it be a great idea to engage in an exercise program?Perhaps personal training outdoors? Search online for 'personal trainers near me' now!

Musicians Protect Your Most Valuable Asset

Musicians Protect Your Most Valuable Asset Suzy S. Great news music festival season is just around the corner! With SXSW kicking off today, and spring officially on its way (dont forget Daylight Saving Time on Sunday!), music lovers have a lot to look forward to in the next several months. Do you remember the first concert you ever attended?   Theres nothing quite like the thrill of being surrounded by hundreds of fans like yourself, and hearing your favorite band live on stage.   Now imagine that for three or four days straight. And with so many great festivals to choose from, fans all around the U.S. can join in on the fun. So take your pick will you be drinking in the music, art, fashion and films at SXSW? Fending off the April showers at Coachella, or breaking out your cowboy boots for Stagecoach? Throwing up your umbrella for Seattles Sasquatch in May? Whatever makes your toe tap, music festivals are the ultimate experience as a music fan. That being said, its also important to protect your most valuable asset: your ears. As a musician, your ears are important to your craft and your career, so it makes sense to take care of them.   Earplugs may not be the coolest, but you may be thanking yourself in forty years when you still can recognize perfect pitch!   And its important for everyone: not only as a fan in the audience, but when youre performing on stage whether youre in a heavy metal band or a classical orchestra.   Studies have shown that most musicians, after years of exposure, have at least one sign of hearing loss. Read on for a few ideas to consider when it comes to protecting your hearing, as originally published over at Livestrong.com: 1. Earplugs for Musicians Earplugs are a great way to reduce noise and protect against hearing damage. For the musician, though, it gets a bit complicated. If they just needed to block noise, a wad of toilet paper would do. But, the musician needs to reduce noise and still hear the quality of the music. Luckily, theres an earplug for that. Special musicians earplugs reduce the noise but retain the richness of the music. They do this by using unique filters that lower the overall sound level, but still capture the full range of musical notes. Musicians earplugs can be bought in standard, one-size-fits-all models or can be custom made by an audiologist. 2. Drummers Headphones Drummers are a special breed. With unstoppable rhythm, theyre constantly tapping on this or whacking on that. But a drummers ears are also taking a beating. Even in practice. So, a little prevention is in order. Practice headphones can reduce the noise level of drums by over 20 decibels. These headphones are made of a hard outer shell and a soft inner cushion, and they cover the entire ear. While no self-respecting drummer would be caught dead with these on stage, theyre the perfect answer for practice sessions. 3. Musical Mutes You dont have to be a rocker to ruin your hearing. Even classical musicians are at risk, with violins and violas being two of the worst offenders. Violin and viola players usually have hearing loss in their left ears, because they hold the instrument next to that side of their head while they play. But theres help. Devices known as mutes help deaden the vibrations and soften the sounds. These devices usually fit over the bridge of the instrument and are made of metal, rubber or wood. Thoughts, questions or comments?   What other topics would you like to see included in the future?   Let us know by leaving a comment on our Facebook page! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. Photo by Upshaw Imagery.

Why Do Kids with ADHD Struggle with Transitions

Why Do Kids with ADHD Struggle with Transitions For many kids with ADHD the most difficult times of the day are those that happen when they are transitioning from one activity to another. At school, it may be when they are ending an academic period and getting ready to head to art class or to lunch. Or it may be during more subtle transitions, like when they are moving from circle time on the rug to classwork at their desk. At home, challenging transitions come up when a child needs to settle down for homework time after playing video games, or when they need to transition into their bedtime routine. Transitions are so much a part of our daily lives that they arent something we spend much time thinking about. In general, we tend to assume that transitioning between activities is something that is easy for kids, and it should go smoothly most of the time. In reality, transitioning between activities is anything but simple, especially for kids with ADHD. Why? Transitions tap into several cognitive skills simultaneously and these happen to be the very cognitive skills (or executive functioning skills) that are areas of weakness for kids with ADHD. Lets look at the different steps required for successful transitions and the cognitive skills associated with each step. Stopping an activity. Before a child can transition to a new activity they first need to stop the activity theyre doing already. This may seem simple enough, especially if the activity isnt particularly enjoyable. However, for kids with ADHD stopping or inhibiting an ongoing behavior can be very challenging. This is because the same cognitive skills that are used to put on the breaks and stop an impulsive behavior like calling out in class or grabbing something they want out of their friends hands, are the very same skills that they need to use when abruptly stopping an activity. Putting on the breaks more difficult at certain times than at others. Its particularly challenging when a child with ADHD is hyper-focused on an activity, when the activity is something thats particularly rewarding (like screen time), or when the upcoming activity is something they would prefer to avoid (like a writing assignment or bedtime). Starting a new activity. After a child with ADHD has successfully stopped his or her previous activity, he or she is now faced with the task of initiating a new one. This can be something fairly simple, like lining up by the classroom door, or something more complicated, like starting homework. Either way, it requires the child to tap into his or her cognitive skills related to initiating a new activity. For many kids with ADHD particularly those with the inattentive subtype - initiating a new activity can be overwhelming and exhausting. Not surprisingly, the less rewarding the new activity, the harder it is for a kid with ADHD to muster up the mental resources needed to get started on the new task. Following multi-step instructions (quickly). Starting a new activity often involves following multiple steps in a specific order. If the transition isnt routine, these steps can be a lot for a child with ADHD to process - especially if the instructions are presented verbally and very quickly. Why? Most kids with ADHD have weaknesses in either working memory (the ability to hold information in your short- term memory, and then manipulate this information in your mind) or processing speed (the ability to process information quickly). Some kids with ADHD have weaknesses in both areas. As a result, they may not have fully processed the necessary instructions making it nearly impossible for them to transition successfully. Managing a chaotic environment. Transition points are often the most chaotic times of the day. Imagine 25 kids shuffling papers, chatting with their neighbors, racing to their cubbies, grabbing all their things and lining up at the door for lunch. Now imagine trying to block out this noise while you struggle to stop your activity and follow a sequence of steps that youve only half-processed. When you look at from this perspective its easier to see why kids with ADHD literally get lost in the shuffle and struggle to follow through. Coping flexibly with changes in a routine. Not all transitions are planned. Things come up at school and at home that require kids to be flexible and adjust to a new routine on the fly. For kids with ADHD who struggle with cognitive flexibility, quickly wrapping their head around even small changes can be a big challenge. Managing frustration and emotions. Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, dealing with transitions requires managing emotions and dealing frustration. Kids may feel upset because they dont want to stop the fun activity that theyve been doing. Or they may feel frustrated because they didnt have enough time to finish everything theyd hoped to accomplish. They may feel overwhelmed by all of the noise and activity in the room or feel a sense of dread about the upcoming activity. Regulating emotions and tolerating frustration are areas of weakness for most kids with ADHD. Compared to other kids their same age, its not uncommon for kids with ADHD to have emotion regulation skills that are about 2 years behind. This means that at times of transition, the expectations placed on a childs emotional capacity may exceed their actual ability level. Understanding the underlying challenges that make it difficult for kids with ADHD to navigate transitions throughout the day is the first step in ultimately making transitions easier for the child (as well as their parents and teachers). In my next post Ill provide concrete steps you can take to provide the support a child with ADHD needs to transition between activities successfully. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Piano in the Water Using Modal Verbs to Talk About Strange Events in English

Piano in the Water Using Modal Verbs to Talk About Strange Events in English Last week a grand piano was found  in the middle of Biscayne Bay, Florida, United States. Let’s watch a report on the occurrence and answer some questions about the strange event.At what  exact location  did wildlife officials say the piano was found in the bay?Why does the report say the piano was strategically placed on the highest spot on the bays sandstrip?What are the two main theories about where the piano came from?At what point will the authorities move the piano?What is your theory about where the piano came from?I think the piano was there as the result ofan accident?an emergency?a joke?an experiment?a drunken (alcohol-fueled) episode?an attention-seeking person or group?What would you do if you found a piano near your house? The mysterious piano of Biscayne Bay.When we talk about the possibility of strange events we generally use modal verbs like might, should, could, would. These give us more information about the other verbs in our statements.Here are some examples:I w ould try and find out who owned the piano?I might leave it there for someone else to figure out what to do with it?I could take a photo of it and post it on Facebook.I should return it but I would probably take it home and keep it.Did you find this blog helpful? Feel free to share it on Facebook and Twitter.

8 interview mistakes that can cost you great candidates

8 interview mistakes that can cost you great candidates Probably the most challenging part of the hiring process, and the area most susceptible to error is the interview itself. We all want to hire the best, but we don’t always get the best to accept our offers. At Teach Away, we empower countless teaching candidates and hiring schools to connect, both digitally and in person, every day. Although we mostly see smoothly-run interviews, we do also have a punch list of interviewer mistakes that we’ve seen too often to ignore. If you’re not careful, these interview mistakes will give the wrong impression and lead to great candidates losing interest in working at your school. So, here are our top interviewer mistakes, and our tips to help you avoid them, so you don’t have to see your best candidate for the job walk away. 1) Arriving unprepared. Preparation is key. An unorganized interview is a big red flag to any teaching candidate. Read their resume beforehand. If you’re trying to skim a resume for the first time during the interview, that will be painfully obvious to your interviewee. Candidates can see right through an interviewer who has not taken the time to review their resume, which gives the impression that you do not take the recruitment process seriously. Instead, carefully review their work experience, skills and educational background in advance. This will help you formulate relevant interview questions and to conduct a more thorough interview. The more time you spend looking into the applicant’s qualifications and background, the better the interview will be, and the easier it will be to determine if they are the right fit for your school. 2) Leaving candidates waiting. Be prompt - respecting the candidates time, sets a tone of mutual respect. Schedule interviews and stick to that planned time. Even if it’s just a pre-screen phone interview, call on time and don’t make candidates wait. When a school head cancels an interview or doesn't show up at the agreed time, especially if the candidate has got up in the middle of the night to accommodate a conflicting time zone, the candidate will perceive this as rude and disrespectful, and assume you’re not really interested in hiring them to work at your school. 3) Acting distracted. Stay focused - they’re bringing their “A” game, and expect you to bring yours too. From start to finish, you need to be 100% focused on the candidate. Being distracted during the interview with unrelated subjects, not paying close attention to responses, interjecting with unrelated comments, avoiding eye contact, glancing at your mobile phone for emails or texts, will leave your candidate feeling disrespected. A disengaged interviewer not only interrupts a candidate’s train of thought, throwing a potentially great answer off-kilter - they will also negatively affect a candidate’s perception of a school and likely cause them to pull out of the process. 4) Rushing the interview. You may think you have hit your 10,000 hour rule and can assess a candidate in two minutes. Keep in mind 90% of drivers overestimate how good they are at driving - the same holds true for interviewing. Not only can a candidate turn an interview around, it is easy to forget that this interview is bigger than the two of you in the room. The interview is a critical marketing opportunity for you to showcase your school to a member of the very valuable job-seeker market. Do your school a favor, and stick to your scheduled time - sell your school, even if you know you’re not hiring them.. When you decide to bring in a candidate for an interview, be prepared to take your time. That’s the only way to evaluate them effectively and make an informed decision on the right teacher for your school. A brief interview that doesn't give the candidate the opportunity to really sell themselves, especially if a candidate has traveled to attend an in-person interview, is one of the biggest hiring mistakes we see time and time again at Teach Away. Imagine you’re a candidate excited about the opportunity to interview at this great school overseas. You spend hours researching, thinking of questions and recalling past classroom experiences and lesson plan examples that would be relevant to the open position. Then, after you’ve thoroughly prepared and are ready to excel, all you get is 15 minutes of the interviewer’s time. I’m sure we can all appreciate how unfulfilling and aggravating that would be. So don’t overlap interviews or schedule them too close together. Show respect and take the time to properly evaluate each candidate. They prepared for you, so you owe the same consideration in return. And allocate plenty of time for them to ask questions at the end. An interview is as much an opportunity for candidates to size up potential hiring schools as it is for schools to audition prospective teachers. 5) Not asking the right questions. You’re an educational leader in your school, you likely have a strong opinion on assessments. Take a page from your own playbook and standardize a candidate assessment rubric. This will allow for easier side-by-side comparisons on those tough calls. Also, clear rubrics can mitigate the impact of dangerous halo effects. Make sure to craft questions before the interview that will help you correctly determine a teacher’s experience, qualifications, pedagogical knowledge and cultural fit. Predictable, redundant, rhetorical or overly-complicated questions can frustrate or confuse the candidate. Instead, actively listen to candidate’s responses, and use open-ended questions that ask the what, how and why. This not only gets candidates talking; it will also help you get the information you need to make the right hiring decision for your school. Don’t forget to ask questions that will help you glean candidate’s level of cultural awareness, as well their motivations for moving to the country where your school is located, either. Sidenote: throughout the entire interview, be aware of talking too much, instead of listening. A good rule of thumb - if you’re talking more than half the time, you’re talking too much! 6) Not being upfront. Setting a realistic expectation of the challenges faced by educators in your school and community will pay dividends. It’s not enough to get them through the door - you need them to stay and contribute. Yes, it’s true that in order to recruit and convince your candidate to join your school you have to “sell” them on the job and your school but you don’t need to overstate it. Fill them in on the benefits that a position at your school offers, but don’t embellish and make promises you can’t keep. 7) Being intimidating. Leave the boiler room interview tactics to the movies. When it comes to interviewing candidates, a few friendly gestures go a long way. Remember that the best international teachers will have access to a wealth of employment options so your school should strive to present itself as a welcoming, supportive place to work. A job interview is one of the most nerve-racking experiences a person can go through. Stressed-out candidates can have a hard time putting their best foot forward during the interview, and if you don’t know what a candidate is capable of, it becomes challenging to make the most educated hiring decision for your school. Barraging them with questions is the quickest way to shut your candidate down rather than opening them up. Instead, try to keep the whole interview process as friendly and conversational as possible. Keep your own body language open, and remember to make eye contact with the candidate. If there are any challenging questions you need to ask, it’s best to save those for the end of the interview, when the candidate will likely feel more at ease. 8) Failing to follow up. The international teacher labor market is getting more competitive every day. Teachers have options and need to make commitments. If it's not with you, it will be with another school. When you aren’t transparent about your process (or, even worse, lack a clear one), you’re opening the window for great teaching candidates to move onto other job opportunities, even if initially you were their top school of choice. At the end of an interview, ask each candidate if they’re still interested in the position and take the time to fully inform them of your selection process going forward. Let them know when they can expect feedback and be sure to follow up with them in a timely fashion. And while they’re waiting to hear back on next steps in the hiring process, offer to connect your shortlisted candidates with a teacher currently working at the school. Interviews are your best opportunity to get to know a candidate and determine if they’re the right fit for the job. But finding and hiring the right teachers is tough. So don’t make it even harder by driving great candidates away with these all-too-common interviewing mistakes. Don’t forget, great educators will always have options, and interviews are a two-way street. A positive interview experience can convince a talented teacher to join your team, but a negative experience is sure to tarnish your school’s reputation. We hope you found this helpful and we wish you the very best of luck with your candidate search this school year! This article originally appeared in the New Year 2018 edition of AAIE Connector, the bi-monthly newsletter of the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE).