Why Pentatonic Scales Are Essential for All Guitarists

Why Pentatonic Scales Are Essential for All Guitarists Megan L. Want to learn scales on guitar but not sure where to start? Guitar teacher  Joey I.  explains why pentatonic is the way to go The title of this article says it all: Why pentaonic scales are  essential for guitarists. Learning these scales is an absolute necessity. Now is it really necessary to know pentatonic scales to be able to play the guitar? No! A lot of guitarists go their whole career learning riffs, songs, and making up licks based off of the knowledge that they have while enjoying every minute of it. However, a lot of these guitarists know in the back of their mind that they should learn their scales. If you have been a guitarist for a little while, you have probably heard about it from other guitarists, musicians, teachers, and Internet articles that you should know your scales. And most guitarists have the desire to learn scales, but become overwhelmed because of how many scales there are to learn, and let’s be frank: there are a lot to learn and when you learn them, they are not easy to immediately apply to your playing. Well, I’m here to tell you that the pentatonic scale is the easiest and most useful scale to learn. The pentatonic scale can be used in almost every single song. Even if the song you are playing to uses a scale other than the pentatonic, you can play pentatonic over it and it will sound amazing. The pentatonic scale gets more miles per gallon than any other scale, and the fuel is recyclable. You can just keep using it and using it, and it never gets old. It is truly the bread and butter of guitar soloing, and song writing. Most songs that you love that sound “complicated” are actually using pentatonic guitar scales. Let’s look at what makes the pentatonic scale so easy: To start, the pentatonic scale has fewer notes than other scales.   The word pentatonic literally translates to 5 tones. Pent, meaning five. And tonic, meaning tone. “Our brains are inherently wired to know the pentatonic scale,” says famous musician Bobby McFerrin.   Check out this Ted Talk video where Bobby uses the audience to show how we all naturally know the pentatonic scale: Finally, you can play this scale over virtually every song, so this makes practicing a lot easier. Now, here are a few tips when practicing this scale: Practice slowly. When youre ready, try out these pentatonic scale exercises for guitarists. Make sure each note rings out and sounds good. The benefits of learning the pentatonic guitar scales: Learning the scale shapes allows you to improvise over virtually any song or backing track. Once you unlock this ability, practicing becomes easier and far more enjoyable. Not sure what we mean? Watch the video below. The pentatonic scale is the foundation for almost every other scale there is. Learning this foundation will set you up to easily play the other scales. Especially the blues scale, natural minor scale, harmonic minor scale, and the melodic minor scale. It will increase your confidence in playing dramatically. No more feelings of being overwhelmed by scales or the guitar. Your skill level will increase two fold because of this. Finally, it will allow you to seamlessly improvise with other musicians in a real live setting. Your friends will be thoroughly impressed and your confidence will soar. Once you have become comfortable with the pentatonic scales, try applying them by improvising over a backing track or your favorite song. Change the speed and rhythm, but most importantly, HAVE FUN! For a visual reminder of the G Major pentatonic scale, see the infographic below. Do you have any more questions about how the pentatonic scales work, or how to play them? Leave a comment and let us know. Joey I. teaches guitar, bass guitar, and drum lessons in Aurora, CO. He studied music production and recording arts at Berklee School of Music and he has been teaching music lessons for seven years. Learn more about Joey! 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 Dan Cox

Stay on Track with Your Career Goals Create an Accountability Team - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Stay on Track with Your Career Goals Create an Accountability Team - Introvert Whisperer Stay on Track with Your Career Goals: Create an Accountability Team One big problem we all have when it comes to pursuing our goals is losing focus or momentum. You see it the most with people trying to lose weight. They get all excited in a flurry of planning and preparation, only to poop out a month later. The same thing happens to us for almost all of our undertakings unless the amount of time between launch and finish is seriously short, like a month or two. Very few career goals can be achieved on such a short time frame; so how can you avoid this familiar trap? First, it’s important to understand the mechanism of change in us humans. Unfortunately, the loss-of-momentum scenario I painted occurs about 60-70% of the time, according to important researchers and doctors like Dr. James Prochaska. Even in the face of death induced by poor lifestyle choices, that statistic holds true. It’s very hard to make changes without the appropriate mechanisms in place The good news is, those mechanisms can be simple enough to put into place. The primary mechanism you must establish is accountability. Accountability is one of those things that come built-in at work. You get an assignment and a list of people, like your boss and peers, who expect you to get it done. BAM! Accountability. Sure, you’d like to think you’re mature and professional enough you don’t need someone lurking over your shoulder to make you do things. But that’s only partially true. You may not need someone to over-manage you, but like most of us, you do need to know that someone will be expecting you to produce something. That’s why it’s tough to do things on your own. You have only yourself to be accountable to and, quite frankly, we’re all kind of pushovers. We can rationalize why doing something else right now is fine to do rather than working on something that will support our career goals. Next thing you know, you’ve done that enough times you don’t even think about your action plan until it’s too late or past due. Here’s how to build the right kind of accountability: Identify Your Support Structure It may be enough to have simply one person in your corner to help you, but more than likely it will be a team, each person having different roles. Your boss is the first and most likely person to engage in your career plan and to help keep you accountable. In addition, consider securing a mentor in your workplace. You may also want to have a career coach who will not only follow up with you, but tap into your deepest vision of what you want for yourself. Identify Regular Follow-Up Schedule in advance the specific day and time you will follow up with each person on your accountability team. It doesn’t have to be all in the same week; you can stagger your follow-up time. The key to this step is that it is on both your schedule and the other person’s. You both know what this time is to be used for, and that makes it tougher to push out or reschedule. With busy schedules the way they are, if you wait until the last minute to get time with another person, you may still be waiting. Establish Accountability “Rules” When you identify your team, you need to lay out the kind of behavior you want from them. You should discuss such things as missing your deadlines or failing to work on something you had committed to do. Obviously, nothing critical will happen as a result of you missing something, but you don’t want the situation so loose that it’s meaningless. As a coach, when I see someone miss something a time or two, I ask them tough questions like, “What are you avoiding?” or “How can you make this as important as these other things you’ve done?” You don’t want your team to take you out in the parking lot and beat you up, but you also want them to be appropriately tough if they have to keep you going. Talk about all of this up front. Celebrate Your Milestones We tend to do significant things and then just blow them off with very little attention. Use your accountability team to take a few minutes to bask in the glow of a well-deserved accomplishment. You can master your career success by developing your goals and setting up the right structures to help you achieve them. You don’t have to and shouldn’t try to “white knuckle” your way to the finish line. In your career, just like in sports, you can have a team to help you win. (Like this thought? Tweet it!) Who’s on your support team? Who might you like to add? Share your experience in the comments! Image: Flickr Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

How to Practice Spanish When Youre Pressed for Time

How to Practice Spanish When You’re Pressed for Time Maile Proctor Think youre too busy to practice Spanish? With these time-management tips from language teacher Lauren P., youll be able to study Spanish even when youre short on time Learning Spanish can seem difficult when you’re pressed for time. No matter how busy you are, however, you can find 15 minutes a day to practice. These tips will help you budget your time so you can fit Spanish practice into your busy schedule. Set Up a Routine The only way to commit to anything is to make it part of your daily routine. You dont think about cooking, showering, or working ahead of time because these things are already part of your daily routine. Set your alarm a few minutes early, or decide when and how you can make good use of your time. Reduce the time you spend online, watching television, or chatting with friends. When youre relaxing at home watching TV, watch  the Spanish Channel instead. If you subscribe to certain premium channels, you can even watch some of your favorite movies in Spanish. Since you already know the plot, youll find yourself translating scenes and picking up new words and phrases. Stop convincing yourself that you dont have time; schedule Spanish practice as a non-negotiable part of your day. Learn Spanish Like a Native Speaker The best way to learn a language is the same way as the native speakers. As a child, you learned  vocabulary, verb conjugations, and grammar rules by listening to fluent speakers. Eventually, you became confident enough to start speaking yourself. The complexity of your vocabulary and sentence structure grew gradually over time. The same process works when youre learning Spanish. While most schools and Spanish learning programs promote memorization of study guides, its actually more effective and efficient to practice Spanish through real-life conversations. You can do this by making up realistic sentences and questions, or recording real-life sentences throughout your day. Translate these sentences to Spanish and say them out loud. You can also use any study guide or Spanish website to review related Spanish nouns, or learn to conjugate Spanish verbs. Then, make up realistic sentences with these words. Since you want to avoid incorrect translations, its essential to meet with a private tutor who can ensure you translate sentences correctly. Learn Spanish on the Go If you really dont have time to sit down and practice Spanish, you can practice on the go. How much time do you spend walking, driving, sitting on the train, or waiting in line? While walking or commuting, tune into one of hundreds of Spanish radio stations or podcasts, like SpanishPod101. By simply listening to native Spanish speakers, youll learn pace, accent, and pronunciation, while picking up common words and phrases. If you take the train or bus to school or work, read the Spanish version of your favorite books. Since you know the basic plot, youll be able to translate certain words and phrases. Download an App You probably spend idle time texting friends or using mobile apps. Make the most of your time and download  Duolingo or another language learning app. You will feel like youre playing a game as you progress through increasingly difficult levels of Spanish. Any time youre waiting around or on the go, you can be productive with Spanish apps, books, podcasts and websites. You will be amazed how much Spanish you can learn even when youre away from home. By practicing like a native Speaker and incorporating Spanish into your day, you can make Spanish practice part of your routine. Now you just need to hold yourself accountable. Ready to get started? Find a Spanish  tutor in your area here!   Lauren tutors various subjects in New York, NY. She has her  Masters Degree in Education (with a concentration in students with learning disabilities), and is a certified NYC Special Education teacher. Learn more about Lauren 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 Petr Dosek

Getting Ready to Teach Abroad

Getting Ready to Teach Abroad Steps for Getting Ready to Teach Abroad ChaptersMoving Abroad: An Interesting Option for TeachersStep One: Creating Your Application for a Given PositionStep Two: Accepting a Position Outside of the UKStep Three: The Administrative Steps“Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.” - Dalai Lama XIVThis is an important quote that underlines the incredible work that teachers do every day. It also succinctly explains just how rewarding teaching can be. Recent figures show that the number of teachers and the UK is at its lowest since 2013.Have you ever considered taking your teaching abroad? Which countries can you go to? What kind of teachers can go? Who do you need to speak to about moving abroad?In this article, we’re going to have a look at a few answers to this question. Teaching overseas can be a rewarding career choice.However, before you move to Thailand, South Korea, Spain, or Vietnam, for example, you should think about the different teaching jobs and the steps you'll need to take in order to get them and see the world. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Disco ver all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsMoving Abroad: An Interesting Option for TeachersWhile a lot of teachers may have considered moving abroad, leaving your life in the UK behind isn't always as easy as it seems.So exactly how can you do it?Many teachers moving abroad will probably want to retain all the benefits they have from working in the UK as a teacher.In a British school abroad, you still might feel homesick. (Source: rawpixel)As a teacher in a foreign country, you may not enjoy all the benefits you have as a teacher in the UK. However, in some cases, you enjoy even more benefits.That said, there are a nu mber of different options teachers have or working abroad:In a British school abroadIn a private establishment or local schoolingIn an overseas territoryAlso in terms of your stay:Short termLong-termIn some cases, you may even move abroad, back to the UK, and then back to the same foreign country or a different one. There's nothing stopping you from getting jobs overseas and travelling around the world.However, if you move between several countries in a short space of time, it's unlikely that you'll gain the status of a permanent resident and enjoy all the benefits that come with the status. Similarly, a recruiter may be hesitant to hire someone to teach a TEFL course if they constantly travel abroad, go back home, or then move onto somewhere else.Of course, if you're a certified ESL teacher (either with a CELTA or a TEFL qualification, for example) with a lot of experience, it'll be hard for your potential employer to reject your application.There are also a number of steps you hav e to take in order to enjoy these kinds of statuses and all were different benefits that come with them. In fact, teaching abroad is sometimes a compromise between escaping the British educational system while also losing any benefits that come with being a part of it.When it comes to applying to jobs in other countries, the application processes can be very different from what you're used to in the UK.For example, in some educational systems, you can't apply directly to the school where you want to work and are instead sent to schools where teachers are needed.While this might be an interesting prospect for more adventurous teachers, it's not ideal for those who have their hearts set on a particular place for establishments.  Thus, some teachers have absolutely no say in where they teach.Step One: Creating Your Application for a Given PositionThere are two main ways to do this:Apply to job offersApply directly to establishments you’d be interested in working for.Before you get a job abroad, you'll have to apply to one. (Source: StartupStockPhotos)In both cases, you'll be expected to prove your qualifications and your experience with copies of said qualifications and references from previous or current employers. If you want to become a teacher abroad, it can help to already be a teacher in the UK. Having language qualifications can also be very useful.The teacher looking to work abroad should make sure that they prepare their application well in advance and not at the very last moment.Candidates will have to follow the application procedure, which can vary wildly depending on where you are applying to. For example, applying to state schools in certain countries has a stringent application procedure that requires almost two years of training and tests. Additionally, you will need to prove your experience and your qualifications.You should know that the PGCE is rarely accepted outside of the UK, except in British schools.Generally speaking, you will see job a dverts appear before the summer holidays as schools and educational establishments look for teachers for the upcoming year. That said, there are also positions advertised at short notice.  These are usually when a teacher falls ill or goes on maternity leave.The application will usually include:A covering letter and your CV.A number of documents such as a copy of your degree certificates or any other teaching qualifications, your language qualifications, copies of your passport or ID, for example.While we live in the digital age, many institutions and establishments still required paper copies of applications.A lot of those teaching overseas choose to teach English. This is because teaching English is something you can do without a PGCE. When it comes to teaching English abroad as a foreign language (commonly known as TEFL), being a native English speaker is sometimes the only qualification you need.However, a language school with such low requirements probably won't be very good. A good school will probably require a TEFL certification or that their teachers be qualified teachers in the UK.When it comes to these types of jobs abroad, be them in Asia, Africa, Europe, or the Americas, the more requirements the school has for the teacher, the better the teaching jobs tend to be.Once you've sent your application, what's next? What should you do?Step Two: Accepting a Position Outside of the UKIn most cases, you will know well in advance of your start date whether or not your application has been successful. There are two possible outcomes:They reject your applicationOr you will be called to an interview or given the job.Depending on where you're going, there'll be different administrative steps to follow. (Source: 12019)It's very likely that during your application your language level will be tested. While this isn't very common if you teach English as a foreign language because you're expected to always teach in English, it's a fairly common part of the recruitme nt process for teaching opportunities in regions and countries where there are very few English speakers.Following the interview procedure, establishments usually select candidates. In some cases, candidates will be shortlisted before being chosen, which can make the application and selection process take more time. Unsuccessful candidates are usually informed that they have not been chosen.As we said, teachers are usually chosen before the start of the new school year. Usually, foreign teachers are told well enough in advance to prepare their move to their new country.Since this step is usually the hardest, you'll have to put a lot of effort into preparing your application.  Keep in mind that even really good applications are sometimes rejected. You mightn't always get your first choice.If your application is accepted, it'll be time to move on to the third step, the administration.Step Three: The Administrative StepsIn terms of administration, you'll be expected to provide a lot of documents and, in some cases, official translations of said documents when you apply to different  teaching positions. Then, you'll have to start preparing for your life abroad by are looking for accommodation and getting a visa, if necessary.If you're not sure of about where you're going, your new job, the work you have to do, or anything else about living abroad, there are plenty of places where you can get help and information on how to teach abroad.Don't forget to make a list of all the things you have to do before moving abroad. (Source: Free-Photos)One of the advantages of working abroad is the possibility of joining interesting and multicultural teams. As with everything, there'll be paperwork.While English teaching is the most common path teachers take, you could always teach other subjects in an international school. Admittedly, it's easier to find a teaching job abroad if you're an English teacher willing to teach TEFL courses but it's not the only route when it comes to international teaching.If you speak a second language, there are plenty of ways to earn money as a private tutor. You could teach English to students privately to bolster your earnings while you find a job or enjoy a gap year in a country that you're fascinated by.The only real downside to working for yourself is that you'll have no employer to sponsor a work visa for you if it's required. If you do an internship or work as a language assistant in a foreign classroom, you often are given visas and helped with the paperwork to enter the country legally.Universities are often recruiting native English speakers to teach as language assistants as well. Since these programmes are designed for foreign students, getting the paperwork done tends to be a little easier. However, these programmes are usually for a single academic year and you'll have to find other work once your placement is over.Whether you're teaching in a state school, a religious school, a private school, or an independent academy, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to teaching abroad. You can discover a different type of educational system while learning about new cultures and languages at the same time. If teaching in the UK is getting you down, teaching abroad could be the ideal solution.

Forty Years of Helping Students

Forty Years of Helping Students Huntington Learning Center is celebrating its 40th year of helping students unlock their academic potential. Since its founding in 1977 by Dr. Raymond and Mrs. Eileen Huntington, the company has helped millions of students of all ages and abilities learn the skills they need to excel in school, improve their study habits and build self-confidence. As schools across the country struggle to keep up with the demands of an increasingly complex global economy, Huntingtons commitment to our childrens educational success has become more important than ever. A 2015 Program for International Student Assessment study showed that 15-year-old students in the U.S. ranked just 24th out of 72 educational systems in average reading literacy, and only 40th in math literacy. Additional studies show the U.S. lagging behind in other critical areas as well: 17th out of 40 in overall educational performance and 6th out of 49 in fourth grade reading. This academic gap has created a tremendous need for specialized skills-based tutoring and test prep. Huntington works exclusively with certified tutors to deliver individualized instruction across a wide range of academic areas to students from kindergarten through high school. To help ensure consistent results, the company has designed a proprietary 4-step approach that includes a comprehensive evaluation, personalized learning plan, individual tutoring and regular communication with families and schools. The results have been profound. On average, Huntington students increase two or more grade levels in reading and math over a three-month period. Average SAT scores increase 192 points after a two-and-a-half month program, while ACT scores increase an average of four points. When Eileen and I started this company four decades ago, our hope was to help children who were struggling to keep up in school and give them the one-to-one supplemental instruction they needed to boost their confidence and their grades, says Dr. Huntington. Today, we are simply astonished by the results weve seen. The companys success is grounded in its mission, which is to give every student the best education possible. Huntington is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools as well as the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and is one of the nations first approved supplemental education services providers under No Child Left Behind. Eileen Huntington, co-founder and CEO, adds, While weve received numerous awards and accolades over the past 40 years, our greatest joy is knowing we have helped millions of students gain the skills, confidence and motivation they need to succeed. This commitment to their students has led to tremendous demand and expansion. In 1985, the company began franchising outside of New Jersey and Philadelphia, growing to 148 franchised centers by 2000. Today, it operates nearly 300 centers in 38 states from coast to coast. We have so much to celebrate, says Dr. Huntington. To have reached 40 years in business is something that makes us incredibly proud knowing that we have changed so many students and parents lives. Despite this enormous growth, Huntington remains a family owned and operated company. Dr. Raymond and Mrs. Eileen Huntington are proud to welcome the next generation into the business to continue the mission. We look forward to the next forty-plus years of changing students' lives across America, adds their daughter, Anne Huntington, who is actively involved in all aspects of the business as head of partnerships and development. About Huntington Learning Center Huntington Learning Center is the premier national tutoring and test prep provider for the K-12 market with locations in 38 states. It was founded in 1977 with the mission to give every student the best education possible, which is what still drives every business decision to this day. The company prides itself on personalized attention and proven results with individualized programs taught by certified teachers at accredited centers. Areas of instruction include phonics, reading, writing, vocabulary, math, science, study skills, executive functioning skills, ACT, SAT, PSAT, high school entrance exams, and state and other standardized exams. To learn more about Huntington Learning Center and stay updated on scheduled events and activities for its 40th anniversary, visit huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities, visit huntingtonfranchise.com. 2017 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Afinal, você literalmente pode dizer literally apenas para dar ênfase

Afinal, você literalmente pode dizer literally apenas para dar ênfase Gualberto107 / FreeDigitalPhotos.netExistem termos que, mesmo para falantes nativos, podem causar muita confusão. Um destes termos é a palavra literally, que se traduz para literalmente. Não é raro encontrar pessoas que usem a palavra literally quando o correto seria dizer metaphorically  ou adicionar outra palavra para dar ênfase. Por exemplo: I have literally received thousands of letters. A não ser que eu efetivamente tenha recebido milhares de cartas, a palavra literally estaria sendo mal empregada, dado que, literalmente, eu não recebi milhares de cartas.Esta é um discussão recorrente, tanto que em várias séries como How I Met Your Mother, por exemplo, existem dicussões sobre o uso impróprio da palavra. No entanto, hoje, encontrei um artigo que pode mudar o rumo dessas conversas. De acordo com a notícia, o Oxford English Dictionary adicionou um novo significado para a palavra literally, fazendo com que seja correto, em ambiente informal, usar essa palavra para dar ênfase a uma ideia. Portanto, se em uma conversa com amigos eu disser: I have literally received thousands of letters, não vou estar a cometer nenhum erro crasso. Contudo, se for em um ambiente formal, é preferível não usar esta construção. Vale referir que essa alteração foi feita há dois anos, mas, por algum motivo, as pessoas só deram conta da alteração agora.Para dizer a verdade, embora muitas pessoas tenham ficado completamente estarrecidas com a adição dessa explicação, que permite que a palavra literally  seja usada como um auxiliar para o exagero no discurso, o Telegraph apontou o fato de que esse uso não é nada de novo, não é apenas uma modinha que o dicionário resolveu acolher. Segundo Fiona McPherson, editora sênior do Oxford English Dictionary, até Mark Twain usava a palavra como uma alegoria para o exagero. McPherson comentou também que o seu trabalho é retratar a língua como ela é falada, por isso, se houve essa alteração no dicionário é porque as pessoas usam a palavra dessa forma e o dicionário tem de acompanhar a evolução da linguagem.Veja a explicação sobre o uso da palavra literally:In its standard use,  literally  means ‘in a literal sense, as opposed to a nonliteral or exaggerated sense’:  I told him I never wanted to see him again, but I didn’t expect him to take it  literally. In recent years, an extended use of  literally(and also  literal) has become very common, where  literally  (or  literal) is used deliberately in nonliteral contexts, for added effect:  they bought the car and  literally  ran it into the ground. This use can lead to unintentional humorous effects (we were  literally  killing ourselves laughing) and is not acceptable in formal English.

Staying safe while teaching overseas

Staying safe while teaching overseas From speaking with Teach Away Placement Coordinators, we know that many teachers have concerns about safety when considering teaching overseas. This is totally understandable: moving overseas to a new country with an entirely unique set of cultural norms can be intimidating, especially when you’re moving alone and you’ve never visited the city before. One of the benefits of working with a teacher recruitment agency like Teach Away is that we do all the necessary due diligence to make sure teachers are headed to a reputable, safe, and supportive environment. In fact, most countries worldwide have lower crime rates than the US and violent crime is much less prevalent in the UAE, Kazakhstan, or China than in the US. Generally speaking, if you’re smart and observe local culture and norms, teaching abroad will be a safe and rewarding experience. But to start off on the right foot on your international teaching adventure, act responsibly and think smartâ€"start with our list of tips below. Do your research before you go It’s really important to know a thing or two about your new country. Knowledge is power, after all, so familiarize yourself with the country’s basic laws and customs before you leave. You’ll likely come across a lot of useful information. For example, many commonplace gestures in Western culture mean something totally different and even rude abroad. A thumbs up is one example of a rude gesture in the Middle East, South America, and West Africa. You’ll want to read up about what’s appropriate and what isn’t in each country. It’s also not a bad idea to read travel advisories from reputable government sources. Much of the material posted there is precautionary, but it’s best to have a full picture of the region you’re interested in. Dress appropriately Observing how the locals dress and following suit will serve you well, especially if the local dress is moderate. This will prevent any unwanted attention. Keep a low profile and minimize the Western attire you go out in as well. This means baseball hats, sweatpants, jeans, etc. Familiarize yourself with your neighborhood Get to know your neighborhood well and learn which areas are safe and which aren’t. Your school will likely have this type of orientation information for you. Because the school has its teachers’ best interests at heart, you won’t be asked to live in unsafe neighborhoods, but being aware of surroundings is still important. Many travel websites (like Wikitravel, for example), will share with you information about each neighborhood in a city and will give you tips on staying safe while abroad. Pay attention to your belongings As with anywhere you go, pickpockets target the unaware tourist, so do your best to avoid looking like one. Again, take care to minimize your profile by avoiding wearing flashy jewelry or watches. Remember that marketplaces, festivals, public transportation stations, and popular tourist sites are prime locations for petty theft. Keep copies of all your travel documents safe Store your documents and personal information (visas, passports, identification, etc) in a safe, secure place. If you're heading out around the city for the day, leave your passport and other important id at home. If you take smart steps and get into a good routine while teaching overseas, just as you do in your hometown, you should have no problems while you’re abroad!

March 17 is Saint Patrick`s Day

March 17 is Saint Patrick`s Day Every year on March 17, the Irish and the Irish-wannabes across the globe observe St. Patricks Day. What began as a religious feast day for the patron saint of Ireland has become an international festival celebrating Irish culture with parades, dancing, special foods and a whole lot of green. The historic figure St. Patrick was born in England circa 385 AD. St. Patrick was captured by pirates as a child and brought to Ireland. During his enslavement, he was called to Christianity and escaped his captors after six years. He returned to Ireland as a missionary, and in his teachings, combined Irish pagan beliefs with Christian sacrament, devising the Celtic Cross. He is annually honored on March 17. In Ireland St. Patricks day is somewhat of a national holiday. But also in our country this day plays a bigger and bigger role as an unofficial national holiday celebrating the Irish and Irish American culture. In Chatham County, Georgia, Patricks Day has already become an official holiday. Look out the window on to the street. Dont you see a lot of green today? Skyscrapers in Dallas, Texas are lit in green neon lights. The water fountain in front of the White House yard has been dyed green. What else can you see which has turned green today? At TutorZ office some men are wearing green sweaters while one women wears green shoes. The celebration of St. Patricks day has become a tradition at the TutorZ office commemorating this day with a St. Patricks day article in 2013. Happy St. Patricks Day!