What Will I Learn From Cooking Classes

What Will I Learn From Cooking Classes What To Expect From Cooking Lessons ChaptersCookery School HighlightsSome Key Skills You Can Expect To Learn GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCookery School HighlightsIf you are set to begin a 12-week spell at cooking school, then you can almost certainly expect to learn a great deal of information about all things related to cooking. From vegetable prep to trimming meats, from gutting fish to making pastry art, you’ll gain an incredible number of kitchen skills  fr om your cooking tutor.Reading RecipesHowever, one very important thing that you will learn to do during an extensive course is how to read recipes. It may sound simple, but the art of dissecting recipes is actually a very skilful activity and requires a great understanding of gathering ingredients and taking instruction.Knife SkillsKnives don't come with instructions, but if you have ever seen a professional chef using them to perfection during a demonstration, it will make you think that perhaps they should come with instructions on how to cut things like they do! Your cooking tutor will guide you through the technique.Learning how to use knives of all sizes, from a paring knife to a ridged bread knife, is something that you can expect your tutor to teach you during any basic cooking class focused on the fundamental aspects of novice cooking techniques. In addition, your instructor might show you how to safely sharpen your equipment.Food HygieneAlong with learning about cooking met hods, recipes and food types, you will also learn how to treat food during the preparation process. Food hygiene is incredibly important in the kitchen, and the Food Standards Agency (FSA), a government organisation, ensures the safety of food preparation zones in all commercial kitchens by setting out strict hygiene rules.Some of the basics that you will cover are using different chopping boards and knives for cooking poultry, fish, red meats, other meats and of course vegetables. In fact, in some kitchens, you will find colour-coded cutting boards according to the type of food you are working with.With the FSA's fabulous visual ratings decorating the windows of many cafes and restaurants, you can check how clean an establishment's kitchen is by seeing what it has been rated by experts on a scale of 1 to 5.Find the available cooking classes near me here.The Food Standards Agency issues ratings to let customers know how hygienic kitchens are. Photo credit: jeffdjevdet on VisualHuntL imit Your ExpectationsDespite the fact that you are paying for lessons, you simply cannot expect to learn everything at once.With this in mind, don't prepare yourself to come out of a week-long course a fully-qualified, state of the art chef who can walk into any restaurant kitchen. Any successful chef will tell you that expertise develops over a very long period of tough experience under the supervision of a well-trained chef.You have to work from scratch to become a good cook so make sure that you set realistic expectations of the outcomes your cooking classes London.While you may not have the time or funds to invest in a full-blown culinary school term, you can still expect to learn many of the above skills in shorter courses, but in a slightly less intensive method. It may not be clear while you are learning, but you will still take away a great deal of knowledge on kitchen processes, how best to use tools in the kitchen and, more importantly, confidence to go about your cooking without barriers.Find out more about the cost of cooking lessons.Some Key Skills You Can Expect To LearnHow To Chop An OnionOnions are the fundamental ingredient in so many dishes: from fine Italian cuisine to a roast dinner gravy, almost every dish could easily incorporate an onion, or its smaller sibling, the shallot, to pack it full of flavour. But what is the correct way to cut an onion?When following a recipe from your cookbook, it is important to note whether your onion should be diced or sliced, as this will affect how much flavour is released during the cooking process and also the texture of the dish. And now for the cutting... have you ever seen chefs cutting onions at super-fast speed?When you slow it down, you will notice that, when dicing, the chef cuts the ends off of the onion, halves it and then cuts into each half with parallel slices, yet leaving about 5mm of the opposite edge in tact. Then, they rotate the half onion 90 degrees and cut in parallel slices the oppo site way to achieve small pieces, without the onion falling apart in their hands.There is a technique to chopping an onion like a professional. Photo credit: austinevan on Visualhunt.comIf you try this pro method while you home cook, be sure to use a cutting board and a suitable knife. If you are a bit of a calamity in the kitchen, then do ensure you wear closed toe shoes too!Everyone has their own method, but your instructor might also advise you on how to prevent your eyes from stinging when you cut into the onion. Whether it is cutting it whilst it is immersed in water or sucking on a teaspoon to keep your eyes tear-free, they will have a suggestion or two to try!How To Boil Or Poach An EggBoiling an egg - sounds simple, right? But there is an actual science to getting the consistency just right.If you want a nice runny yolk, this can be destroyed in the matter of seconds, turning the overcooked egg to a sticky mess. Obviously, your tutor will explain that the length of time you boil the egg for will directly impact how runny or hard your egg becomes. One of the main things to remember is that you should start with your eggs at room temperature.For soft-boiled eggs, you will need to lower the egg into a pan of boiling water and leave for three to five minutes. For hard-boiled eggs, place the egg in a pan of cold water and bring it up to boil with the egg immersed, cooking for a further seven to ten minutes after it has reached boiling point.A great tip is to put your egg in cold water when you remove it from the heat so it doesn't continue to cook.How To Make An OmeletteSticking with eggs, a great addition to your cooking repertoire is knowing how to make a basic omelette.Omelettes are great for a light lunch or dinner option, and are good for using up leftovers like peppers, ham, mushroom and more - you can create a real cocktail of flavours with just a few simple ingredients!An alpine speciality is omelette made with potatoes and Reblechon cheese, so if y ou are a ski fanatic, you might have tasted some seriously delicious omelettes whilst on the slopes.An omelette is a quick and easy way to provide a light lunch or dinner and use up leftovers. Photo on Visual huntIf you have watched chefs compete on Saturday Kitchen to make an omelette in record time, then please don't follow their lead! This is just a game designed to allow professionals a bit of friendly competition and is purely for entertainment value.The correct way to make an omelette is to beat your eggs (two eggs are sufficient for an omelette for one), and to pour the into a hot pan, greased  with a knob of butter. Scatter over your fillings, like your cheese and your chosen vegetables, and then fold it over if you so wish.How To Make GravyIf you are used to stirring some Ahh Bisto granules in with boiling water to create a gravy, then you and your palate are in luck! Elementary cooking courses will often cover how to create tasty gravies and sauces to accompany your food. Real, homemade gravy tastes so much better than the powdered stuff.Your class leader will probably have their own secret trick to making a silky smooth gravy, but for a textured gravy you should aim to cook your meat, vegetables and an onion (for taste) all in one pan and add the liquid so it gets all of the combined flavours. You'll then have to sieve it into a smaller saucepan.If you can't or don't want to put everything in the one pan, then you can reserve the cooking juices and water and then add to the separate saucepan.How To Cook The Perfect SteakBrowning your meat  to seal in the flavour is a technique that a professional will recommend. When it comes to making the perfect steak, though, you don't want to risk over-cooking it, even for a few seconds.For a really tasty steak, make sure that you pick a nice cut of meat. Fillet steak is often the least chewy, and is perfect for a date night menu paired with some wine. Tenderloin is also a good choice, meanwhile if you are buyin g beef for a stew or casserole, you can opt for a cheaper cut like braising beef.The best and easiest way to cook a steak is to pan fry it. Make sure you take your meat out of the fridge and let it come down to room temperature before placing it in a pan. Then, professionals usually add pepper and salt before placing it in a sizzling pan of oil or butter (apparently, you should never salt your beef too early as the salt gets into the flesh and dries it out).For a medium-rare steak, cook each side for two-three minutes and then leave it to rest for several minutes before serving. If you serve up your meat on the plate before it has had a chance to rest, you will wind up with an unappetising pool of blood on your dish.

Should I Go To Dartmouth College

Should I Go To Dartmouth College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Rebecca is a Phoenix tutor specializing in several subjects such as SAT prep tutoring, ACT prep tutoring, Calculus tutoring, and History tutoring. She graduated from Dartmouth College in 2012 with a Bachelors degree in English. See what she had to say about her alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Rebecca: Dartmouth is famously rural. As a college situated in the middle of a forest, you dont get a lot of crimeits definitely not a big deal to walk home by yourself at night. In fact, students often leave their laptops completely unattended in the library while they go and get food or go to the gym. Because its such a small school, everyone pretty much knows each other, so there isnt really an inclination to steal. Also, because Dartmouth is so small, you can easily walk from your dorm to your classes. You dont need a car or bike on campus, although it is nice to have one when you want to get off campus. There is also a bus system that connects the school to the surrounding towns. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Rebecca: The great thing about Dartmouth is that everyone, from professors, to advisors, to TAs, are very accessible. They are always willing to sit down with a student and discuss anything from a topic presented in class to their favorite place to eat in town. Its common for professors to take their students out to lunchIve even had dinners in my professors homes! If you want to reach out and talk to any of these people, they would be more than happy to talk. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Rebecca: Dartmouth, uniquely, has most of its students living on campus all four years. There is dorm housing for everyone, although there is the option to live off campus (a little farther away). It has newly renovated many of its dorms, but there are a couple where you still get the old-school Ivy-League feel with brick walls, fireplaces (unusable unfortunately), and dark wood panelling. Dining options are spread around campus, with 3 main cafeterias, and 2 cafes in the library. One of the cafeterias is an impressive all-you-can-eat buffet. Every week, there is a different type of food featured at one of the stations; Ive had Korean, Ethiopian, Chinese, and Japanese food there. Another cafeteria caters towards vegetarians, providing vegan and vegetarian food in addition to non-vegetarian options. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Rebecca: I think that every single program at Dartmouth is amazing. Every single one of the professors is not only dedicated to their work, but a giant in his or her field. I once took a Government class that had to have the final pushed up because my professor was needed in Libya since he was one of the leading experts in the international relations field. I was an English major and took many government and science courses. English was something that I always wanted to study and Dartmouth did an incredible job with supporting my interests. I was able to study abroad at the University of Glasgow for a term, participate in a number of small seminar classes of around 10 people where we critiqued each others work, and found that every single one of the professors I talked to was genuinely interested in what I had to say. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Rebecca: As a freshman, everyone is new and willing to meet people, so it is very easy to make friends. Clubs, associations, and sports teams pay special attention to freshmen so they feel welcomed and, often, freshmen take leadership roles. Greek life plays a very significant role in campus life. Because there is not a college town to socialize in, the main social space is in the Greek houses. However, Dartmouth does not have the stereotypical Greek life. Everyone is allowed into the parties and everyone is encouraged to rush. With around 65% of the campus being affiliated (that doesnt include freshmen, since they arent allowed to rush), the Greek houses are really more like social clubs than anything else. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Rebecca: I did not use the Career Center much until the very end of my time at Dartmouth when I started applying to law school. Many people started using it much earlier because so many big companies recruit on campus through the Career Center. However, since that was not my path, I found it quite late. I am so glad that I was able to utilize it as a resource, however, because the advisors helped me write my resume, looked over my personal statement, and held open houses for law schools so the students could learn more about each particular school. Even now, I contact the law advisor in the Career Center with questions, and she is more than willing to help connect me with an alumnus or other advisor who might be able to help me. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Rebecca: As in any institution, the library is crowded in waves. At the beginning of the term, it is nearly empty, and by the end, people are literally sleeping there. There were times when I couldnt find a spot to study in at the library, but that just meant that I would study somewhere else, such as in one of the classroom buildings or in the study rooms in the dorms. I never had a situation where everywhere was so crowded that I literally could not find a place to study. In the spring, many people like to study on the Green, which is the big grassy space in the middle of the campus. I dont think there was really anything better than that! VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Rebecca: Most students stay very near campus because Hanover is a very small town. Apart from a couple of restaurants, clothing stores, and cafes, the college town is pretty limited. However, being situated in the middle of nature makes Dartmouth a beautiful place to get in touch with nature. Ive been camping at the log cabins that the school owns, Ive gone kayaking and swimming in the Connecticut River, Ive run in the woods, and hiked the famous mountains in Vermont. Even if youre not an outdoorsy type (I certainly wasnt before Dartmouth), there are plenty of clubs to join. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Rebecca: The student body consists of about 4,000 undergraduatesroughly 1,000 students per class. This meant that my classes were generally small and I was able to get a lot of individual attention. My largest class was a Chemistry lecture with 80 students in it. My smallest was a poetry seminar with 8 students. In general, the classes have an average of around 25 students. I loved the small classes because this meant I was able to get close with many of my professors, which was great when I needed letters of recommendation later on! VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Rebecca: My most memorable experience with a professor happened outside of class. In my senior year, I fell very ill so I had to withdraw from my classes one term and had to be hospitalized in the nearby Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. While I was in the hospital, I received an outpouring of support not only from my friends, but from my professors! They sent me personalized cards, spoke with me on the phone, and followed up long after I had been discharged. Even professors that I had a couple of years back checked up on me. I was incredibly moved by how much they cared, and it cemented in my mind that the professors at Dartmouth are not only the smartest people I would ever meet but also the kindest. Check out Rebeccas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Logo Design Where To Start

Logo Design Where To Start How to Create Your Own Logo ChaptersWhat Does a Logo Do? Characteristics of a Successful LogoHow Do I Create a Logo?What Software Should I Use to Create a Logo?  Quiz: How Well Do You Know Your Famous Logos?Designers and graphic artists are always being asked to create logos for their clients. This task might seem simple at first glance, but it’s actually a long and rigorous process. Designing a logo is very different from other types of art.Creative without strategy is called 'art.' Creative with strategy is called 'advertising.' - Jef L. Richards â€" professor of American advertisingDo you want to learn to draw a logo but don’t know where to start?Discover all the necessary steps in the creative process and mistakes to avoid so that you can design a logo which will stand out and make a difference.A logo design shouldn’t just be attractive â€" it must also have a meaning and be memorable and recognisable to everyone. The graphic design of a professional logo leaves nothing up to chance! FernandoDrawing T eacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidDrawing Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenDrawing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Julia janeDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvelinaDrawing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Does a Logo Do?Logos are indispensable! After all, a logo is the visual or corporate identity, the branding of a company. It is an image that connects the company to its target audienceWithout saying much at all, this little picture, the company logo, allows the consumer to identify not only the company name, but also its product and culture.A good logo needs to convey a message, and this forms the basis of all visual communication.The colours of the logo will usually follow a scheme which will branch across all communication platforms and media related to the company, such as business cards, letterheads, flyers, websites, and brochures.So to put it simply, a company’s logo is a crucial and integral part of all of its marketing and communications. It allows the general public to identify a company and its characteristics at a glance, and lets them build the ink with the company’s values as well.Logos have an important impact on the public â€" so much so that there is even a board game which is entirely dedicated to them! Children are often really good at this game, which is proof that images have a real impact and can remain in the collective unconscious at a very young age.Characteristics of a Successful LogoA logo must be simple, easily memorable and adaptable to different formats. Photo on VisualHunt.comDesigning a logo shouldn’t be left up to chance â€" it should consciously meet several essential criteria to perform its purpose.Before you get started with creating your image to represent your company, it is important to keep in mind your company objectives and values when you make your initial sketches.A logo must be uniqueThe is obviously your starting point. The logo must be your own creation, something truly original. If it looks like another logo, it will confuse its audience and you might even be accused of plagiarism. So yes, you’ve got to show some originality when creating a logo â€" a bit like designing a tattoo!A logo must be timelessWatch out for fashion trends that will pass quickly. A logo must be designed to last and be throughout time. Even though it can be modified if necessary as the business evolves, it must retain its graphic identity â€" which is why it needs such careful consideration in its conception.A logo must be simpleA logo must be easily remembered, as it’s only meant to be seen very quickly. The idea is to identify the company at just a glance. If a logo is too complicated with too many levels of reading or detail, it will not fulfil its function.A logo must be legible in black and whiteBecause the logo of a company is not always reproduced in full colour, it’s important that it remains legible even in black and white or duotone. Be careful with gradients and shades of colours that may make the logo unusable in black and white.A logo must catch the eyeA logo should not go unnoticed - it needs to catch the eye and draw us in. This is one of the biggest challenges when creating a logo. Finding the colours and the graphics that will have an impact on the public is a central part of the thought process.A logo must adapt to all mediaA logo must remain visible and readable regardless of the medium it’s integrated in. Have you ever noticed small logos printed at the bottom of posters? Some stand out and are easily identifiable, whereas others become almost non-existence. Experimen t with different media to make sure your logo works flexibly.You could also follow our guide to drawing anime and manga if that's more your style. FernandoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidDrawing Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenDrawing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Julia janeDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvelinaDrawing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Do I Create a Logo?Before launching straight into the creative phase, you’ll need to have a serious think about the main elements that will characterise the logo.The creation and reflection stages are essential to the design p rocess. Photo on Visualhunt.comOnce you’ve done this, you’ll need to draft out some versions of your logo and compare them to see how these elements work best.The reflection phase of designing a logoThere are some important specifications when approaching logo elements. A logo can be hardly or quite detailed, depending on your design, but it’s important to look at the essential features of the business to help you in this decision.It is also useful to have a look at the competition in your field or market so that you can make your logo stand out among the rest.The most important points to remember when creating a new visual identity are:Choosing a colour schemeEach colour has a meaning, and so the choice of colour is often used to represent the activity of the company or the sector in which it operates (green is commonly used for ecology and nature, for example). Colour is also a great way to catch the eye and convey a message.Integrating the company name in the logoThis is a choice that needs to be made, as it’s completely up to the designer’s own taste. Some brands are able to transmit their identity in their logo without having to mention the name of the brand, like Apple’s iconic apple, for example.Deciding whether or not to add text to the logoIn many cases, multiple versions of a logo are created, with or without a baseline, according to their use. In some circumstances, a logo might require some additional text, whereas in others just the image will suffice. In all cases, the images must be coherent and the company identifiable.The format and direction of the logoYou need to think about the length and height of the image, and whether it will be round or square in shape, for example.The font used for text Try to use original typography if possible, to make the logo as unique as possible. A well-chosen font will transmit essential information about the company clearly to its audience.In businesses, brainstorming is a commonly used method of as king the right questions, determining ideas and making the first steps towards development, and it’s just as good a method when drawing too. You can try different ideas the main image   - as a comic book figure, an abstract design, or even just letters.To find inspiration it’s also important to do some research and look into the world of graphic design.First sketches of a logoWhen we talk about the first sketches, it’s because the creation phase begins with just a pencil and a free hand. You’ll start placing your different elements together and rework them in several sketches until you find what works.When it comes to creating a logo, remember that the first idea you draw will probably not be the final product.Why? Simply because the first idea is often too conditioned, and doesn’t have enough originality. Once you’ve experimented a bit, your logo will become more unique and original.The first ideas that come to your mind are the same as most people’s. In other words, it’s important to move away from these ideas and refine them in order for your own graphic design to be distinctive.It’s not an easy task conveying one or more messages in just a single image. Every detail counts. And that’s what makes a logo powerful. Colour, typography, format, text, negative space â€" each element must serve a purpose and build a message to reflect the company.Graphic design is all about elements working in harmony, including shape, proportion and symmetry â€" a bit like drawing a face or a hand.Some logos are directly inspired by the Fibonacci sequence - the famous golden ratio, or the divine proportion. This is the case for logos such as Apple, BP, Pepsi and National Geographic, for example.During the creation phase, it is important to take a step back. Leave your work to one side and come back to it later with a fresh eye. The project will mature naturally and new ideas will emerge.Every graphic designer has their own methods to find inspiration. Photo o n VisualhuntFinalising your logoA logo only becomes a logo when all the elements mentioned above come together in an overall harmony.Graphic designers know this well having studied various forms and experimenting with different models â€" graphic design can’t be improvised.The attention to detail from a professional perspective will certainly be different to that of a typical person, but if the harmony of a logo isn’t perfect then it won’t attract the attention of a typical person, which is what a logo should do.  Whether you use a creative agency, a graphic studio or a freelance graphic designer to create your logo, one thing is for sure: a professional will be able to explain their creation and justify their choices.In all cases, a logo must be submitted to several people before being validated. Everyone will have a different perception, which will help you make any necessary adjustments and finalise the perfect logo.Why not try your hand at drawing a 3D logo for your compa ny?What Software Should I Use to Create a Logo?  Logo design is a creative endeavour that can’t be rushed or improvised. For this reason, many people like to use software to help them create the perfect logo.You can easily find online logo design sites that let you easily create a logo in just a few clicks. For sites like this you don’t need any specific knowledge of graphics, or even how to use a logo generator, as it’s all so simple to navigate.Is this really the right solution?  A company’s logo is made to withstand time and to make a lasting impression. That’s why it’s so critical to create a professional and high-quality logo which will stand out and catch people’s attention. It’s not enough to just browse image libraries and add a name!When creating a logo, it’s also crucial to make sure that it can work in all possible formats in order to be applicable to different media too. Creatives tend to use Adobe Illustrator, a vector graphics software specifically fo r creating logos, icons, drawings and typography.If you’re looking for a free graphic design software, Gimp is perfect for your needs.Photoshop is an image editing software that works with a grid and pixilation system that doesn’t quite offer the same possibilities as specific graphic design software does. Vector drawing software can reduce and enlarge images in high definition without losing quality.Quiz: How Well Do You Know Your Famous Logos?To finish up, let’s do a little test and see if you can find the hidden messages in some examples of famous logos that we all see on a daily basis.Logos transmit all sorts of messages, but some of them are hidden - even in the ones we think we know! Photo by Superprof.Toblerone: a bear hides in the mountain, in reference to the emblem of Bern, the Swiss city where the chocolate is made.The Tour de France: do you see the stylised cyclist? It’s in the letters O, U, and R and the front wheel of the bike is the orange circle.FedEx: an arr ow is hidden between the E and the X, in the negative space of the logo.Carrefour  : Here again we can see that the C for Carrefour appears in the negative space of the logo.Continental: The C and the O form a wheel in black and white.PMU  : You can see the horse at the front of the logo, but can you see the punter brandishing his ticket? Look a bit closer at the green shape in the white horse.And now it’s up to you to find your inspiration and get started!Some drawing classes might help you to get your creative juices flowing. Find a drawing class london.

50+ Fun and Interesting Facts About Italy

50+ Fun and Interesting Facts About Italy Brooke Neuman There are so many fun, interesting facts about Italy that its hard to compile just one short list. Whether youre planning your next vacation to Italy or youre just curious about this fascinating culture, learning everything you can about the country will make you even more impressed with all Italy has to offer. Here, weve compiled the top 50 most interesting facts about Italy that we think youll enjoy. Fun Interesting Facts About Italy Interesting Facts About Italy: History Italy is the fifth most visited country in the world, welcoming some 46 million foreign visitors annually. Its also the fifth most populous country in Europe. Vatican City in Rome is the smallest country in the world and is led by the Pope himself. Another interesting fact about Italy, the capital city of Rome is almost 3,000 years old. The colors of the Italian flaggreen, white, and redhave special meaning. Green represents hope, white represents faith, and red signals charity. Italy boasts the eighth largest economy in the world. Interesting Facts About Italy: Language Many musical terms are written in Italian because early composers from the Renaissance era were Italian. Of all the Romance languages, Italian is the closest to Latin. From Venetian to Sicilian, there are dozens of Italian dialects used throughout the country. There are only 21 letters in the standard Italian alphabet. The Italian alphabet doesnt have the letters J, K, W, X or Y. Interesting Facts About Italy: Superstitions Don’t be surprised if your hotel in Italy doesn’t have a 17th floor. Italians believe that this number is unlucky because when the Roman numeral for 17 (XVII) is rearranged is looks like VIXI, which means “I have lived,” a symbol that’s associated with death. Italians believe that the  corincello charm,  which resembles a chili pepper or a small horn, will protect them from the evil eye. According to Italians, placing a hat on a bed is bad luck. Traditionally, when priests  visited the dying to give them their last rights, they  would remove their hat and put it on the bed. If a cat is crossing the street, don’t be the first one to cross it’s path. It’s believed that black cats are a symbol of witchcraft and the devil. Dont give someone your best wishes. Instead, say In bocca al lupo” or into the wolfs mouth, as this means good luck. Italians believe that if someone brushes over a single person’s feet with a broom that he or she will never get married. Interesting Facts About Italy: Geography Europe’s three active volcanoes, Etna, Stromboli, and Vesuvius are all located in Italy. Italy has more earthquakes than any other European country. There is bronze statue of Jesus Christ submerged in the Mediterranean Sea off San Fruttuoso. The island of Poveglia is said to be so haunted that public access is prohibited. Almost four-fifths of Italy is either mountainous or hilly. Interesting Facts About Italy: Arts Sciences Italy is home to the world’s oldest university, the University of Bologna founded in 1088. Some of the most well-known artists and authorsincluding Dante, Da Vinci, and Michelangeloare from Italy. Italy has more masterpieces per square mile than any other country in the world. Ballet originated in Italy during the 15th century and it was  Catherine de Medici who introduced it to France later on. Many of the most influential scientists and mathematicians were born Italy, including Galileo Galilei and  Alessandro Volta. Interesting Facts About Italy: Law In the city of Turin, dog owners must walk their pooch at least three times a day or risk being fined. Woof. Unless you want to pay a hefty fine, don’t eat or drink while sitting on church steps or within a church courtyard. In 2012, the town of Falciano del Massico in Campania made it illegal for residents to die because the town’s cemetery is full. On the beaches of Eraclea on the Venetian Lido, it’s illegal to make sandcastles or any other kind of sand structure. Fun Facts About Italy: Culture La famiglia is very much a part of the Italian culture. In fact, it’s common for single children to live at home until their 30s. According to Italian culture, you must respect your elders.  Always stand when an elder person enters the room. Fashion is also important in Italy. After all, some of the world’s most sought after designers, such as Armani, Versace, and Prada, hail from Italy. Italians are known for communicating with hand gestures and facial expressions. Theyre also known for being late! First impressions are important to Italians, so be sure  to demonstrate respect and politeness toward othersespecially  in a business setting. Fun Facts About Italy: Food Wine Unsurprisingly, Italy is the world’s largest exporter of wine. However, it’s the second largest producer of wine after France. On average, Italians eat half a pound of bread a day. What’s more, estimated pasta consumption is 70 pounds per person annually. Bread is not meant to be an appetizer. Rather, Italians use  it  to wipe the remaining sauce off their  plate. When dining in Italy, don’t ask for salad dressing or other condiments. Olive oil is the only acceptable “condiment” in Italy. From Cappelletti to Cavatelli, there are over 140 types of pastas. Some of these pastas are only native to specific regions. Check out this interesting fact about Italy: Italians consume over 45 bottles of wine per year, per capita. Fun Facts About Italy: Inventions In 1948, Roy Jacuzzi invented the jacuzzi using specialized water pumps to help his son who was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. You can thank Bartolomeo Cristofori for developing the very first piano in 1698. Other musical instruments invented in Italy include the violin, the guitar, and the organ. In 1896, the first ice cream cone was created by an Italian immigrant who settled in New York City. No wonder why Italians love caffeine, the espresso machine is an Italian invention built by  Angelo Moriondo in 1884. Pretzels were actually first made in Italian in 610 by an Italian monk who gave them to children who learned their prayers. Fun Facts About Italy: Sports Italy has hosted the Olympics three times in 1956, 1960, and 2006. Italy has won the World Cup four times, the most Word Cup wins second to Brazil. Believe it or not, volleyball is a very popular sport in Italy. In fact, the Italian Volleyball League is one of the most well-respected and talented leagues in the world. Italy is host to one of the three most famous bike rides in Europe,  â€œGiro d’Italia” (Tour of Italy). Hopefully, these  fun and interesting facts about Italy have inspired you to finally take that trip to Italy youve always dreamed of. But before you jet off to Italy, make sure you take some Italian lessons so you can speak to the locals and learn even more fun facts about Italy firsthand. 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

Reading, Writing Spelling Made Fun

Reading, Writing Spelling Made Fun Help for English for Kids: Conquer Reading, Writing and Spelling Learn English Fast ChaptersActivities to Build Spelling SkillsHelping Your Child Learn English ReadingHow to Cultivate a Love of WritingHumans learn to communicate within days of arriving into this world.A newborn arching his back is a sign that he wants to be picked up.Not surprisingly, communications experts and early education advocates recommend teaching basic sign language to babies as young as three months old.Science has proven that toddlers who know how to communicate effectively have fewer temper tantrums and are more receptive to new ideas.Besides, signing boosts baby's cognitive abilities.Beyond establishing a method of early communication, teaching English language skills is a bit more complex.Let's take a look at what aspects of English your child, now enrolled in school, is striving to learn.You can get an overview of Key Stage learning in this handy guide!Childhood favorite 'I Spy' can be used to teach spelling skills Source: Pixabay Credit: Free-Photoscheck here.Learn what will be taugh t and tested at each Key Stage! Get some help for English lessons for kids with a private English tutor.Cultivate a love of reading with these fun activities Source: Pixabay Credit: TrivistarHelping Your Child Learn English Reading“Mommy, what does that say?” asked five-year old Benjamin, pointing to a large yellow sign on a lorry.“ Large Goods, Sweetheart.” replied his mother.We certainly cannot fault this young learner's mum for being attentive, but we have to point out that she missed a ready-made teaching opportunity.What letters do you recognise? She could have asked.Or maybe: what sound does the letter L make?Young children seldom ask idle questions.On the contrary; their sometimes merciless interrogation is driven by a desire to know and understand their environment.This is your chance to capitalise on their natural curiosity by providing bite-sized nuggets of education, especially meant to gain proficiency in English skills like reading, writing and spelling.Working closely with your child's English teacher, you can discover activities and games that do not feel like learning reinforcement at all.Non native English parents, listen up! This is also your chance to gain fluency in your spoken English!More English tutor here.Repetitive ReadingChoose a few stories that resonate with your child; ones s/he has declared a preference for.Hopefully, those stories have lines that repeat, such as in The Three Little Pigs.Let me in! Let me in! / Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin!This type of line works wonders with young learners, especially if you add 'sound effects'.While you read, point to each word with your finger as you speak it, and pronounce each word clearly.Soon, you will find that your child will say select lines with you. When s/he does, stop saying it and let him/her have all the fun!If s/he is a reluctant participant, prompting should give encouragement: “What does the wolf say?” for example.This activity helps your child establish a correlation between the written and spoken word, and gives early exposure to word recognition.For more advanced learners, you can select words within the text for him/her to read, such as 'let' or 'hair'.Or you could ask: “Do you know this word?” while pointing to random words in the text.Do you know where to find the best resources to help your child master the English language?Word Scavenger HuntUsing sticky notes, paste a series of words around your child's room â€" or throughout the house.Once you have a sufficient number of words posted to make the activity interesting, challenge your child to find words:that start with a certain letterthat describe a specific category â€" clothing, food, maybe the contents of his room.That are names of colorsthat describe family relationships â€" mother, father, sister, brother and so onIf your learner is at beginner level of reading, you might shadow him/her to help sound out unknown words.If your child is learning English as a foreign la nguage, you may try writing the words in your native language underneath the English word, at least for the first few rounds.For more advanced readers, the more specific categories would be suitable to practise reading.This game would be fun for birthday parties and playgroup get-togethers, too!The Internet is full of ideas to enhance reading ability, should you be looking for more of such activities.Before we explore ways to cultivate a love of writing, let us talk a minute about learning disabilities.Statistics show that more than a quarter of a million school-aged children in the UK are learning with some sort of disability.Not being fluent in English is not considered a disability under these guidelines.Unfortunately, it is generally only the most obvious of disabilities that are quickly recognised.Others, such as dyslexia, are more difficult to spot in younger learners.If you have concerns about your child's progress in reading, writing or spelling, or putting phrases together, be sure to talk with those who teach English to your child.Early testing leads to quicker intervention.Taking steps to work around learning disabilities will keep your student from being afraid to learn English mechanics.Knowing what to expect helps, too! Read all about Key Stage learning and exams in this guide!Share your love of writing with yhour child through unconventional means Source: Pixabay Credit: StockSnapHow to Cultivate a Love of WritingWriting for younger learners is a slow process because it takes time to develop the precision and control needed to shape individual letters.Still, there is fun to be had in learning how to write the English language with the youngest students.Making Bold StrokesPrepare an area in your home or garden where you won't mind a bit of a mess, and a surface to write on.Using easy-to-clean compounds such as: water-based paints, or even condiments such as mustard and red sauce, you can guide your early learner to form letters with exaggerated b rush strokes.Better yet, permit finger painting.Once your little scholar demonstrates sufficient control â€" by writing progressively smaller, you can graduate to writing on paper, with a pencil.Nothing Beats TraditionWith this tip we pay tribute to generations of parents who have hoisted their child onto their lap and guided tiny, pencil-clutching hands to form letters. Their method of training future writers was way ahead of its time.Muscle memory learning involves building neural pathways so that repetitive movements no longer require conscious thought.There is nothing wrong with this tried-and-true method of helping your child improve writing skills.A note of caution: if your child demonstrates as either left-handed or right-handed, this teaching technique would work best if you are inclined to use the same dominant hand.Pick a WordThis ongoing activity involves your child's favorite books.From each page, ask him/her to choose the best words and copy them onto a posterboard, or into a notebook if s/he is a bit more advanced.Conversely, you could write words your English learner doesn't know.You can then have a discussion about what the words mean, why s/he chose them and what other words are related to them.Spelling practice ties in with this activity, as you can spell the word while s/he writes it.Once you have a sizable collection of words, gathered over several days, you should encourage him/her to arrange the words into a story of his/her own.See this page for further ideas on writing practice.All of these activities, targeted to developing specific English language skills, all have one central figure: you.You are the language teacher your child will follow from the outset of his/her English speaking.

How to Improve Your GMAT Quant Score [Part 1]

How to Improve Your GMAT Quant Score [Part 1] GMAT MBA Admissions Blog While I’d describe myself as above average at math, when I was preparing for the GMAT, I realized two things: I hadn’t taken a pure “math class” in a long time and... I’ve never been good at mental math. Context: My Math Background and GMAT Quant Score First, a little context on my background â€" which I think many GMAT test takers might relate to. In high school, I was in the advanced math classes, including Calculus. I took the ACT a few times, and if I can remember that far back, my ACT-Math score was above the 90th percentile every time â€" sometimes much higher. In college, I majored in Finance, which required a lot of math. After college, I became a business strategy consultant, and built lots of extremely advanced financial valuation models, and gained tons of valuable experience debating arcane and complex valuation principles â€" which again, involve a lot of math. All in all, if you’d asked me whether I was “good at math” I would have said yes. But, I hadn’t really taken a pure math class in over 6 years. Also, for whatever reason, doing relatively simple math quickly in front of colleagues, or even figuring out a tip at a restaurant in front of friends, always made me nervous. I struggled with mental math. And sure enough, my GMAT math score was lower than I was hoping for. I ended up scoring very well on verbal, but in only the 75th percentile on Quant. I ultimately was able to get into Kellogg, which is at least one data point that violates the 80/80 rule (i.e., a rule of thumb many people believe in, which suggests that top MBA programs want to see both Quant and Verbal scores above the 80th percentile). So, based on this experience, this post offers a two part strategy for improving your GMAT quant score: Focus on Building Understanding of Key GMAT Quant Concepts â€" In this post, I’ll urge you to clearly identify and be realistic about the difficult math concepts you don’t fully remember or understand, and use your GMAT prep time learning or re-learning these concepts, not just doing practicing problems. Improve Your Mental Math Skills â€" In my next post, I’ll address the importance of mental math on the GMAT and provide some easy-to-implement ideas and tips for improving your mental math skills. The ideas in these posts come from both my reflections on how I could have improved my own personal GMAT score and many discussions with expert GMAT tutors as I’ve built MyGuru over the past several years. Idea #1 - Focus on Really Understanding Difficult (and sometimes new) Concepts The GMAT tests math concepts and skills you may not have been exposed to for a while: Algebra, Geometry, Trig, Statistics, world problems, etc. For example, I took Calculus in high school, effectively testing out of all but a few math classes in college. So, I hadn’t taken that much pure math in a while, even though my job was very quantitative. It’s obviously critical to review all of these math areas (i.e., you’ll need to know the rules of exponents and all about angles of triangles on the GMAT), as well as become comfortable with data sufficiency and integrated reasoning question types. So, there’s just a general point to be made about reviewing all of the relevant concepts, re-familiarizing and refreshing yourself. However, there were a few concepts which, although I would sometimes muddle through and answer questions correctly, deep down I could have told myself I didn’t fully understand. When you get a problem wrong, it’s natural to review the correct answer, and use the explanation provided as a way to learn how to do the problem. However, this sometimes leads to a superficial level understanding of any given concept. With the right set up, you might start to get a good portion of that question type correct moving forward, but on test day you may not fare so well if the question is worded differently, etc. For example, I always had trouble with the GMAT questions that involved counting the ways that a group could be organized. I went through my entire GMAT prep process without really nailing those concepts, or even knowing the official name for the concepts that those questions tested. But, I did a bunch of practice problems, and had convinced myself that I was good to go when/if questions of that nature were asked. Years later, I asked one of MyGuru’s most senior GMAT tutors to write a few GMAT blog posts for us, and he chose a topic called - Combinatorics. He chose this topic because, as he says in the post, “This is an introductory post on combinatorics - the art of counting. Combinatorics is one of the most difficult parts of the GMAT because it is not part of the standard American high school curriculum. With many other troubling types of problems, such as rate questions, fraction / decimal / percent problems, etc., a bit of review and a lot of practice will do the trick, but, in general, to get a handle on combinatorics problems students have to learn something new.” Most of GMAT Quant topics were concepts I fundamentally understood well after some review, because I had previously learned them, but not this one. I fumbled through learning Combinatorics on my own. Here are four “hints” that you don’t truly understand any given topic on the GMAT: Obviously, if you get most of the questions of any given type wrong, that’s a strong signal. Even if you think the errors are silly, if you consistently miss one type of question, there’s a problem with your core understanding. You get some, or even most, of the questions of any given type right, but when the question is worded differently, you’ll mess up You’d have trouble explaining the concept to a friend You’d never been exposed to it before studying for the GMAT (e.g., Combinatorics for most people, Probability for some people, etc.) I also just think that most of us have an intuitive sense for when we only understanding something on a superficial level. You just need to be honest with yourself. The stress of taking the GMAT in real-time in a testing center will generally cause you to miss any relatively difficult question that tests a concept about which you aren’t very confident. Don’t say to yourself, as I did, that you’ll “figure it out on test day if I happen to get a question like this.” In our experience, here are the GMAT Quant concepts that many students struggle with, since they may never have learned the concepts in school. These can account for about 20% of the questions on the GMAT. Number theory â€" understanding primes, squares, etc. Combinatorics â€" the art of counting Probability â€" what is the chance x will happen given y and z? Rates â€" questions about movement, time, distance, etc. In my next post, I’ll address the importance of Mental Math and provide some tips and ideas for improving your mental math skills. Please visit our MyGuru tutoring page to request a GMAT tutor in your area! hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, '6baac2ae-05a3-4610-9d1f-265c8cbd809f', {});

International School Eerde

International School Eerde International School Eerde INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL EERDE International School Eerde is a private International School situated in the beautiful and idyllic setting of Eerde forest. We have students from age 4 to 18 and support them in small classes and are privileged to personalise their learning. With boarding students as well as day students, we have a diverse international group of students and teachers. Our boarding houses offer accommodation 7 days per week and we have a dedicated team to support these students. We need equally dedicated teachers to support the start of their life-long learning process by delivering the IGCSE and IB curriculum. The local area is truly rural Netherlands, with extensive walking and cycling routes surrounding nearby Ommen. We are situated approx. 1.5 hrs from Amsterdam by public transport. This school is truly a unique experience and as we approach the academic year of 2017/2018 we are looking forward to inviting new team members to join our family. CURRENT OPPORTUNITY We currently have a vacancy for a teacher of Chemistry and Biology to join our team. As an applicant you must be qualified with a minimum of 5 years experience. Applicants MUST be familiar with the IB and IGCSE curriculum. As we are a small International School, we may also require our teacher to offer support in other areas, such as CAS, or perhaps support other colleagues. This is a full time vacancy with face-to-face teaching time of circa 19hours. Our working hours are 8.15AM to 4.45 Monday to Thursday with a 3.00PM finish on a Friday. (1659hours per year) EU working permit is required. This position is initially for a fixed contract of one year to cover maternity leave, but may be extended. Start date for the role is 14th Aug 2017. BENEFITS Depending on qualifications and experience remuneration will be discussed

Al-Forsan International School

Al-Forsan International School Al-Forsan International School Al-Forsan is an International school for children aged 3 18. The school is dedicated to international education, while ensuring that students remain firmly rooted in their own language and culture. The language of instruction is English and the school follows the American curriculum based on Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Al-Forsan International School opened in September 2013 with Grades Pre-K to Grade2. The following year the schools witnessed the opening for grades 3 to 6 in both campuses (Boys and Girls). Grade 7 and 8 started this year and High School will follow as the students move up the school. Our vision Al-Forsan International Schools are leaders in international education preserving the local culture and identity to develop globally responsible citizens. Our Mission INSPIRES, CHALLENGES, EMPOWERS Al-Forsan International Schools inspire, challenge and empower students to realize their unique potential: academically, intellectually, socially, ethically, and internatio nally. Al-Forsan International Schools is an international school currently searching for approximately 25 Homeroom Teachers and Subject teacher Main Duties Include: Planning, preparing, and delivering lessons in line with CCSS curriculum Grading and report writing Assessing and reporting on student performance on a weekly basis Developing supplementary materials for core syllabi Attending staff meetings and/or workshops arranged by senior staff communicating well with parents/guardians and establish good school-family relationships The successful candidate must meet the following requirements Native English speakers Hold a BA in Education, BA in related subject or MA in Education Hold a PGCE or State Teaching License Have two years of relevant experience (preferable) Package: Salary starting from $30,000 based on experience and qualifications Furnished accommodation provided Free flights to home country, Iqama visa provided and visa cost reimbursed Medical insurance Transportation to and from work Holidays as per the Saudi Ministry of Education academic year and school calendar