Why Take Singing Lessons

Why Take Singing Lessons The Best Reasons to Start Learning to Sing with a Voice Coach ChaptersLearn to Sing in KeyLearn to Sing in Order to Become a ProfessionalLearn to Sing for FunLearn to Sing in Order to Sing the Best Songs“Songs are made to make you dream.” - Pierre PerretWhen you think about it, it’s amazing what humans are capable of!  Our intelligence seemingly knows no bounds. We can create and solve maths problems, send people to other planets, create operas, and sing.While singing can be found in nature, especially with birds like the nightingale that will often treat us to a beautiful performance with their birdsong.  After all, singing is just putting sounds together. However, there’s a huge difference between noise and beautiful music performed by the world's greatest singing voice.Harmony is one of the main ways to turn noise into music.Wouldn’t you like to join those who’ve taken to the stage over mankind’s thousands of years of music?This is an art form which is fun to learn but can require incredible effort from those wishing to master it.As a general rule of thumb, you should have clearly-defined goals else you’ll struggle to make any progress with your singing! These goals don’t need to be hugely ambitious, you just need to know why you’re learning to sing. 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 tutorsLearn to Sing in KeyThere are so many films in which a group of unlikely singers end up being really good thanks to the help of an inspirational vocal coach or voi ce teacher.  Their first rehearsal together usually ends up being one of the funniest scenes in the film before they find their vocal range, learn to work together, and harmonise (even on those tricky high notes).While you’re not going to aspire to be like the singers at the beginning of the story, you can take inspiration from their vocal training and the idea that nobody starts out as a superstar when they first start singing.As annoying as singing out of key can be, it’s a problem that can be solved by working on vocal exercises, understanding pitch, and taking on board some important singing tips.Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do and my voice is hardly perfect. I’m just saying that it’s not impossible if you’re willing to put in the hours and work hard during your voice lessons.Learning to sing requires that you practice: there’s no huge secret to getting good at it. In order to make the most of your time spent practising, you sh ould enlist the help of quality private singing teachers who can give you singing lessons adapted to your needs and your strengths and weaknesses.In addition to helping you gain self-confidence, these classes can be used to improve your understanding of music theory as well as your physical fitness through proper technique, singing exercises, and breath control.In fact, singing is quite a physically-demanding activity: there are a lot of muscles involved in singing that need to be in good shape if you want your voice to sound its best: that's why, just like athletes, you always need to warm up. This is also probably why it's called vocal coaching or voice training!A lot of people struggle to sing in key because they’ve never heard themselves sing. A tutor can listen to where you’re going wrong and give you feedback to help you improve. You’ll also need to learn the different musical notes as well as reproducing them with a pleasing timbre.During singing lessons, you’ll proba bly work on your breathing, especially diaphragmatic breathing, an important part of becoming a professional singer.  You’ll need to find your voice and also be able to use it effectively to hit all the right notes.You’ll then have to learn to never hit the wrong notes. In order to do this, you’ll need to learn how to get over stage fright. After all, you’re no longer just singing in the shower or in the car.Finally, you'll learn how to be in complete control of your larynx and chest and can use this knowledge to sing to the best of your ability!Learn to Sing in Order to Become a ProfessionalAnyone who says that they’ve never dreamed of being a famous singer and taking to the stage in front of legions of adoring fans is a liar!  We see examples of famous people every day of our lives and it’s enough to make us dream about bigger and brighter futures.Traditionalists are probably more like to think of opera singers rather than pop stars like Justin Bieber.  If you’re one of them, you’ll need to work out whether you’re a bass, baritone, tenor, alto, mezzo-soprano, or soprano.Almost everyone wants to learn how to sing well. (Source: pixabay.com)Of course, most children in the UK are probably more interested in learning to sing in order to be on The Voice or the X Factor rather than performing in opera houses around the world.  The first thing they’ll need to do is to see whether or not they have the necessary skills and talent.If you want to learn to sing in key, you need to have a musical ear. If you can’t distinguish notes correctly, you’ll never be able to tell if you’re correctly reproducing them or not. Once you’ve got this down, you can start thinking about the auditions.  Unfortunately, when it comes to the quality of our voices, we’re not all created equal. Some people just have nicer voices than others.To get the most out of your voice, you should always warm up your instrument. You need to be ready to breathe with your diaph ragm and make sure that your throat is ready for what you're about to ask it to do. After all, since mistakes will happen when you least expect them, you should do everything you can to avoid them.If you want to become a singer like Luciano Pavarotti, Nathalie Dessay, Lara Fabian, Michel Sardou, or Teresa Berganza, you need to start on a high. You need to learn as much as you can about plenty of different styles of music like bel canto, soul, hip hop, rock ‘n’ roll, etc. in order to become a better singer.  You want a well-rounded musical education, after all.You should also consider working on public speaking to help you get over stage fright and to improve your elocution when singing.  This can also be useful in other parts of your life, too. You can learn more about public speaking from a speech language pathologist or you could consider taking acting classes.It’s also a good idea to visit a music school to get more information about available tutors and the steps you shoul d take to learn how to sing.Find singing lessons Manchester.Learn to Sing for FunLet’s get our heads out of the clouds!  Before we start dreaming about fame and fortune, we need to get our feet back on the ground and learn about the fundamentals.  At its most basic, singing is an enjoyable activity and the first person to benefit from it should be you!Singing is a great way to make yourself happy and can be an enjoyable activity on your own or as part of a group.  You can find a song for almost any situation in life from everyday annoyances to the human soul’s most profound emotions.For example, there are Christmas carols being sung everywhere at the end of the year and you don’t need to have the perfect voice to go out carolling.  Whether you love classical music or contemporary music, this is a great way to broaden your musical horizons.You should check YouTube for examples of all the different ways you can perform the songs. Piano tutorials might be worth considering just t o help you gain a better understanding of music theory even if you don’t want to become a piano virtuoso.If you’re learning for fun, you can learn at your own pace depending on when you have the time to practise. While it might seem weird, doing less work can sometimes lead to you making more progress.If you really want to enjoy singing, you should learn how to sing in key. It might be worthwhile taking a few singing lessons to do this.There are so many benefits to singing, after all: improved morale, stopping premature ageing, avoiding muscular tension, improved articulation, improved intelligence, etc. Why haven’t you already started learning how to sing?Looking for singing lessons London?Learn to Sing in Order to Sing the Best SongsWhen hanging out with friends, there’s nothing better than having a sing-along and there are so many examples of amazing musicians: Donizetti, Handel, Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, etc.  It would be fair to say that we’re nowhere near as good as th em.Not everyone has the gift of being able to put together a beautiful melody. For most amateur singers, you’re going to perform a song or a piece written by another artist.You need to have learnt how to sing in tune before you consider recording a professional album. (Source: pixabay.com)In the digital age, it’s never been easier to find a song, sheet music, or lyrics online. No matter who wrote it, you can find the best musical masterpieces thanks to the internet.It’s important that you remain as respectful as possible to the original source material that continues to play its role at the heart of the human race’s artistic continuity.Depending on how good a singer you are, you could try and tackle something as impressive as Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro or something more contemporary.It’s all up to you, after all. If you love to sing, you’ll learn much more quickly!Why not try singing lessons online?

What to Know About College-Level English

What to Know About College-Level English In college, theres typically a greater variety of English classes. Students should know that college-level English explores subjects both narrower and deeper than what they may have experienced in high school. If you are an aspiring English major, writer, or simply looking to improve your reading and writing skills, heres what you can anticipate about college-level English: 1. College-level English emphasizes critical thinking In college-level English courses, theres more of a focus on critical thinking, both in the way you read, annotate, and interpret texts, and in the way you write. In general, college-level English moves away from formulaic structures, like the five-paragraph essay, and asks you to consider the nuances and complexities of an argument. Youll likely have fewer exams and tests than you did in high school, and instead have more papers, essays, and research projectspossibly even presentations. Your final project could likely be a 10-15-page paper where you explore and develop an argument of your own choice, often backed with texts youve read from the course or outside research. [RELATED: Top 10 Essay Editing Tips] 2. Writing courses versus literature courses College-level English departments offer different kinds of English courses; the two most common categories are literature and writing. Literature courses will have you read published texts, and your writing will also center around these texts. You can often find courses on a variety of subjects, such as: poetry fiction nonfiction specific time periods or eras movements geographical regions Writing courses will focus more directly on improving your own writing (even though this is a byproduct of taking a literature course!), which can range from analytical writing all the way to creative writing. The former will help you develop your rhetorical skills and how you logically put together an argument, and the latter will often be in the form of workshops, where you can receive and give feedback on poems, stories, and so on. 3. College-level English provides options to carve your own path If you end up becoming an English major, sometimesdepending on your schoolyou can choose a specialization within the major, or you may just work toward a general English degree if the former isnt offered. Either way, you can likely carve your own path, taking courses that interest you in terms of movements, regions, and so on, which isnt always the case in other departments where a more formalized structure may be in place (it always depends on the school at hand, however). If youre not sure what courses to take, ask an English professor you trust, your academic advisor, or other peers in your program for recommendations. [RELATED: What I Wish I Knew Before My First College Class] 4. College-level English offers interdisciplinary studies A great benefit about college-level English is how it can tie in so seamlessly with other subjects and fields. Many English classes are cross-listed, perhaps with gender studies, cultural studies, philosophy, art, and more. Take advantage of these opportunities to explore a side interest, or look to see how your interests might intersect in a specific course. Taking these kinds of courses can help you learn about how you might want to use your English skills in the future, whether in a career or in further schooling. 5. Readings and conferences Many colleges and universities often bring in writers and authors throughout the year for readings, seminars, book studies, and lectures. These are great opportunities to meet with active, successful writers, to hear about their processes and their career journeys, to network, and to simply be inspired by work that is being put out in the world now. Keep a lookout for conferences as wellyour college English department is likely to host a graduate student English conference that youre welcome to attend, and it may cover a variety of topics that interest you. [RELATED: What to Know About College-Level Math] College-level English is a different beast from high school, one that will require more of your effort as a student, but it will also challenge you to become a better writer and thinker. Dont forget to visit your English professors during office hours, as they can help steer you in the right direction if you feel cloudy about your writing, projects, or future. 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.

4 Essential Classic Rock Guitar Solos That Will Make You a Better Player

4 Essential Classic Rock Guitar Solos That Will Make You a Better Player Megan L. Learning to play other peoples guitar solos is a great way to begin learning to write your own! Guitar teacher  Nils B.  shares his tips to learning four classic rock solos so you can develop your technique An essential part of every musicians development is to imitate those who have already mastered their instrument.  After settling on a song, give it a couple of close listens (preferably on headphones or a decent stereo), pick up a good transcription, then learn the rhythm parts, while analyzing the chord progressions and any distinctive rhythmical features. Then start learning the solo, phrase by phrase, while determining the relationship of each note with the chord thats being played, as well as the key of the song.  Also try listening carefully to the guitar tones, and be conservative with the amount of gain or overdrive when trying to copy these. Among other drawbacks, too much overdrive tends to hide your mistakes. Once you are able to play along with the original (or a backing track if you can find one), try recording yourself, and pay close attention to the details, such as timing, and bending accuracy.  And as a final step, once youre fairly comfortable, try to improvise using the same concepts, simply start by making small variations to the original solo.  And of course, if you havent already, seek out an experienced instructor who can give you essential feedback about how to play guitar solos like these listed below and keep you from making fundamental mistakes. Four Guitar Solos You Should Study The Eagles Hotel California This is my personal favorite of the four. Since the progression doesnt stay in the same key, you are forced to take a more chord based approach.  And although there are still plenty of great B minor blues licks to be found, there is also a healthy dose of major pentatonics, played using fairly tricky compound bending techniques commonly used by country guitarists. On top of this, the F#7 chord adds a darker flavor, which is nicely addressed in the solo with some harmonic minor licks.  Last but not least, theres the harmonized arpeggio outro, which is great to expand your fretboard knowledge, so be sure to learn both parts!  In terms of guitar tone, its a pretty straight forward approach. Most guitars played into a somewhat overdriven amp will sound great. Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven Jimmy Page was heavily influenced by American blues and rock and roll guitarists, which can be heard in the many great blues licks demonstrated here.  Be sure to pay close attention to the dynamic build up, his vibrato, and timing.  Page was known for using Gibson Les Pauls, SG doublenecks, and Fender Telecasters into either big Marshall stacks or low wattage combo amplifiers, so any tube overdriven lead sound will do. Try to add some delay to help with the sustain. Guns Roses Sweet Child O Mine First off, it should be noted that this was originally recorded with the guitar tuned down a half step (Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb). Even though it is in the key of Eb minor technically, it feels like E because of the tuning. This guitar solo actually consists of two shorter solos and a long outro. The slower, more melodic middle solos in Eb minor are a great opportunity to venture out of the familiar box at the 12th fret, and explore the area around the 7th.  The outro solo is a series of well executed pentatonic blues ideas via a tricky harmonic minor lick in the buildup- all while using a wah pedal. On the recording, Slash used a custom built Les Paul copy into a modified 70s Marshall amplifier, but any dual humbucker equipped guitar into a Marshall-esque sounding amp will work.  Try using the neck pickup for the melodic parts, and switch to the bridge pickup for the more aggressive sounding climax, together with the wah wah. Pink Floyd Comfortably Numb This solo is a great way to develop your sustain and vibrato because of the slower tempo, which really works well with David Gilmours melodic lead playing.  Although his playing is largely pentatonic based there are some tasteful notes from the minor scale thrown in, together with some great bends and tremolo arm tricks.  David Gilmour is known for using fairly elaborate setups, but the essentials to get his sound for this song would be a Stratocaster-style guitar with a tremolo into a relatively saturated/compressed fuzz or distortion pedal (he often used an Electro Harmonix Big Muff), into a clean amp via some delay. There are obviously plenty of other solos out there which would make good examples, but it is essential that they consist of memorable and coherent phrases.  Some other suggestions would include Ozzy Osbournes No More Tears, Thin Lizzys Dancing in the Moonlight, Jimi Hendrixs All Along the Watchtower, Deep Purples Highway Star, and Lynyrd Skynyrds Free Bird. Learning how to play guitar solos can be tricky, so whichever solo you choose, be sure to learn it inside-out (any capable guitar teacher should be able to assist you), and be open to critique from the people around you. Most importantly, use your ears and dont simply rely on effects to make sure it sounds its best! Good luck! Nils B. teaches guitar,  ear training, and  music theory  in Los Angeles, CA. He attended various schools for his training, including the  Musicians Institute in Hollywood. Nils has been teaching students since 2002.  Learn more about Nils here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Rick McQuinlan

Online Dr Math Tutors

Online Dr Math Tutors We know Dr Math is learning programme in math. Its made for children who are in the age group of 5 to 12 years or grades of 1 to 6. We know number of children benefited with the Dr.math method. In learning centers, they are also using Dr. Math methods to teach the students easily. Example1: check whether 85 or 5 8 is correct? Solution:Here we are checking with two numbers. We need to know, how to show which one is the bigger one and which one is the smaller one In math we can use the symbols and By dr.math method we can say easily In less than or greater the corner side number is the least number. It means Small number big number Big number Small number From these we can say 8 5 is the right answer. Example2: Check whether - 6 - 3 or -3 -6 is correct? Solution:Here we are checking with two numbers. We need to know, how to show which one is the bigger one and which one is the smaller one In math we can use the symbols and By dr.math method we can say easily In less than or greater than symbols the corner side number is the least number. It means Small number big number Big number Small number In negative numbers, the least quantity numbers is the bigger one. From these we can say -3 -6 is the right answer.

The Miracle of Math Online Tutors

The Miracle of Math Online Tutors 0SHARESShare A math online tutor is like a life jacket for students who are about to sink in a sea of mathematics. Millions of school students have perished in this mysterious sea. This sea helps some to navigate successfully to the heights of calculus and trigonometry while it bars others to more commonplace lands like History, English and Social Sciences. Imagine the surprise of Archimedes, Euclid or Pythagoras if they were given these modern tools of learning. We would have been sitting on Mars by now sailing to and fro on ships powered by the carbon dioxide we breathe out. This is why we should treat a math online tutor with the wonder that he or she deserves. The tools that are required for teaching by a math online tutor would have been considered miraculous even twenty years ago. Wireless Internet, laptops, headphones, microphones and web cameras are gadgets only dreamt of half a century back. We should thank our stars for our advantages and determine to do better in Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Trigonometry and Statistics using a math online tutor for finishing our homework and getting better grades. [starbox id=admin]

Dealing with Back-to-School Anxiety

Dealing with Back-to-School Anxiety Everyone feels anxious on the first day of school. Even kids who love school and look forward to the first day feel some butterflies in their stomach as they wonder what their new teacher and classmates will be like. For kids with ADHD who have struggled with school in the past and whose relationships with classmates have often been challenging, the back to school jitters that they experience are often more intense than most. Even if they dont talk about feeling nervous, the anxiety will still be there and may show up in other ways like uncharacteristic irritability, difficulty sleeping, and complaints about stomachs and headaches. As a parent it can be hard to know how to help your child cope with his or her anxiety. In addition to strategies that help with everyday anxiety, like taking deep breaths or distracting yourself from anxious thoughts, there are a few important things you can do to help your child cope leading up to the first day of school. Help your child know what to expect. Anxiety often stems from not knowing what to expect when were doing something new for the first time. While you cant predict everything that will happen on the first day of school, there are things you can do to make the day feel more familiar and predictable for your child. Visit the school ahead of time and walk with your child to his or her new classroom. Allow your child to have some fun playing on the play structure or shooting hoops on the basketball court. Talk to your child about his or her new teacher. Share some of the good things that youve heard from other parents and kids. If its possible, have your child meet the new teacher ahead of time or create an opportunity for him or her to talk to a former student who enjoyed having that teacher in the past. Make sure your child is introduced to at least one classmate before the first day of school. If youre new to the area, talk to neighbors or someone at your childs new school to get tips on reaching out to some of your childs peers ahead of time. Create a back-to-school morning routine and start practicing in the week leading up to the start of school https://huntingtonhelps.com/resources/adhd-blog/back-to-school-routines-for-kids-with-adhd. Encourage your child to share their feelings. Some of our greatest fears can lose their power when we share them out loud. Not all kids are eager to talk about their anxiety, so some gentle encouragement may be needed. Ask your child questions about how he or she is feeling. Avoid emotionally loaded questions like, Are you nervous about starting school this year? Instead, ask neutral questions that allow your child to set the tone of the conversation. For example, What do you think the first day of school will be like this year? If he or she doesnt respond to your direct questions, avoid pushing your child to talk. Instead, be on the lookout for times when your child casually mentions how they are feeling about the upcoming school year. Use those moments as an opportunity to listen and respond with empathy and encouragement. Empathize when he or she expresses feelings of anxiety, or when he or she shuts down and seems walled off. Let your child know that you understand that it can be hard to go back to school, and that he or she might wish that summer could go on forever. Normalize his or her feelings by sharing some of your own personal experiences with back to school jitters. Create space to focus on the positives. Anxiety causes us to naturally focus on the negative aspects of a situation. Remind your child about the things he or she enjoyed at school last year even if he or she says that recess and art class were schools only two redeeming qualities! Its important for your child to have something to genuinely look forward to when he or she heads through the school doors on the first day. Help your child feel in control of some aspects of his or her day. When kids return to school they have very little control over how their day will go. They are more or less told what to do and when to do it from the moment they wake up in the morning until school ends for the day. You can help you child feel more in control by allowing him or her to make choices and decisions about small things that will impact his or her day. Here are a few ways that you can build in some choices: Allow your child to pick out the snack that will be included in his or her lunch. Ask your child if he or she would like to get to school early to play on the play structure for a few minutes, or if he or she would prefer to arrive right on time and head straight into the classroom. Let them pick out his or her first day of school outfit. Ask if he or she would like to choose the radio station in the car. If you walk your child to school, ask if he or she would like to choose the route that you take. Engage in conversations about choices that your child will be able to make throughout the school year. For example, he or she may be able to choose a musical instrument to play, a sports team to join, or sign up for a special afterschool activity. As a parent you cant take away all of your childs back-to-school anxiety. In fact, some anxiety is normal for everyone in the family at this time of year. But you can help your child cope with his or her anxiety by helping him or her feel more in control, creating space for him or her to share his or her feelings, and helping him or her know what to expect on the first day back at school. 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.

FCE Speaking Exam - 5 Tips for Success in Group Oral Exams

FCE Speaking Exam - 5 Tips for Success in Group Oral Exams FCE (First Certificate of English)  exams can be a challenge for students of English. How can you shine without appearing as though you are trying to dominate your partner?Here are 5 tips to help you out with the FCE speaking exam.1. Include Both ViewsWhen you are expressing a joint opinion don’t just talk about what you think, disregarding the views of your partner.   If you are representing both of your views make sure his/her opinion is included also.E.g. While we were discussing this issue, David made a very interesting point.David wants to add that….2. Use Correct PronounsIf you are expressing an idea shared by for both of you, use the pronoun we. Don’t take credit for his/her views by starting with I think.Contact us for 1-on-1 Online English Classes via Skype to help improve your FCE score3. Refer To Your Partner’s IdeasEven when you are asked an individual question on the group topic, it’s a good idea to make reference to the other person’s ideas.David made me con sider this topic in a new way when he said…..I like David’s idea that….  4. Take Interest in what your FCE Speaking Exam Partner SaysWhen your partner is talking in the FCE speaking exam it’s important to take interest in what he/she is saying. When he/she has finished talking you can comment:I agree/disagree with David when he says….5. Don’t InterruptIf there is a golden rule about oral exams it is not interrupting your partner while he/she is speaking. The examiner could penalize you for this.However, if you do have a partner who you feel is interrupting you during the FCE speaking exam, there are polite ways of getting your voice heard.These include:If I could cut across you there….I’d like to comment on what you just said, if that’s alright….Here is an example of a First Certificate group discussion topic. Practice it with a friend.FCE Speaking Exam Practice:Canadian:You are a Canadian man. You are having your first date with a Korean exchange student. You to ok her to a diner. Your hamburger and coke come to about 10 dollars so you take out 13 dollars. Your date ordered spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and a coke. That comes to 14.00 so you ask your date for 17.00. She should actually put in 17.50, but you want to seem like a nice guy, not a cheap guy. This should improve your chances of getting to kiss your date good night.When you ask her for the money, it seems to upset her. Use the 4 steps to solve this problem.1. Both people explain what they find unusual about the others behavior. 2. Each person realizes the others cultural perceptions. 3. Each person learns how the problem would be handled in the others culture. 4. Together, the two people develop conflict solutions.Korean:You are a Korean exchange student. You are on your first date in Canada. Youve just enjoyed a great dinner, but the meals in Canadian diners are too big and you couldnt finish. Your date helped you by eating one of your two large meatballs and one of your 3 pieces of garlic bread.Now hes asking you for 17.00 but you dont understand why he asked you out on a date and is unwilling to pay for your meal, especially on the first date. He should pay for the meal and you should buy coffee afterwards. Plus he wants you to pay for everything you ordered, even though he had one of your meatballs and one piece of garlic bread. Is he cheap or is there some cultural conflict at work here? Use the 4 steps to solve the problem.1. Both people explain what they find unusual about the others behavior. 2. Each person realizes the others cultural perceptions. 3. Each person learns how the problem would be handled in the others culture. 4. Together, the two people develop conflict solutions.Have any questions about speaking in the FCE exam? You can ask them in comments and well help.

6 ways to get ready for moving abroad

6 ways to get ready for moving abroad Are you about to move abroad and feeling a little overwhelmed? I’ve been in the same boat! Living and teaching overseas for the first time is an exciting but daunting experience. There are so many things to consider, so we’ve compiled a list of the Top 6 things to do before going overseas:1. Do your reading. Arriving in a new country, ready to explore and open to anything that might come your way, can be an amazing experience. You have no idea what adventures are waiting for you! Realistically, though, most people will want to prepare for their travels, especially if they are moving to a country for a year or more. Research by using travel books, online travel blogs, and maps to help you get ready to depart. You’ll want at least a basic familiarity with the country’s culture and services â€" not to mention, it’s a great way to get excited and put yourself in a travel mindset!2. Keep everyone in the loop.  Make sure you contact your bank to let them know you will be using yo ur cards in another country. If you are traveling overseas for an extended period of time, you’ll want to consider getting your mail re-directed, or changing to electronic copies to ensure you keep up-to-date with mail from home.3. Get your health check. Traveling can be physically demanding, so a visit to your doctor is a great idea to ensure that you’re in good health before setting off. If you’re moving abroad to teach, a health check is usually required before you can obtain a visa. You might also need to determine if your new destination requires any vaccinations prior to arrival. And if you need to travel with medication, you’ll need to check as to whether you can bring your medication into your destination country. Will you be able to purchase it there if needed? Embassy websites will usually have useful links where you can find out what’s permitted to bring, and what’s available in the country.4. Copy your documents. It’s always wise to make both printed and el ectronic copies of your essential documents. Have a list of essential travel documents to keep in your carry-on, and make sure to leave a copy with family members at home in case of emergency. · Your passport · Airline tickets · Emergency contact numbers · Travel itinerary · Birth Certificate · Driver’s Licence · Vaccination and Relevant Health Records · Marriage Licence (if applicable) Teachers should also make copies of professional documents: · Resume · Teaching certifications · Degrees · Reference letters. Even if your employment is already organized prior to your departure, you never know when copies of these documents might come in handy. Keep your important information at easy reach by emailing electronic copies to your account, or having them on a USB.5. Stay in touch. You’ll want to make sure that your loved ones can contact you while you are traveling abroad, and vice versa. Share your travel experiences with everyone, and keep in touch with what is happeni ng at home. You can set up a free Skype account, and encourage your friends and family to do the same.6. Enjoy! Enjoy the trip and be grateful for all experiences, even the ones you struggle with at the time. I can’t say it better than Eleanor Roosevelt: “The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”Bon Voyage!