20 Fun Songs to Sing at Your Next Karaoke Night (with Links!)

20 Fun Songs to Sing at Your Next Karaoke Night (with Links!) Sign up successful Practically every song by these guys is bound to be a hit, which can make it hard to choose! Stand out from the crowd (everyones heard Hey, Jude enough) with Twist and Shout, or a more dramatic song like Youve Got to Hide Your Love Away. 2. Elvis Presley â€" “Heartbreak Hotel” Breaking out your best Elvis impersonation is another great way to please the crowd! Classics like Heartbreak Hotel as well as Jailhouse Rock should get everyone singing along. 3. The Supremes â€" “Baby Love” Change up the beat of the night with the Supremes! This catchy tune works for a soloist or group. For more drama, try Aint No Mountain High Enough. 4. Billy Joel â€" “Piano Man” This is one of those songs that makes the room pause and listen and when you let yourself get into it, theyre sure to be singing with you on the last chorus. When they request that you do another Billy Joel song, whip out “Just the Way You Are”. 5. Janis Joplin â€" “Piece of My Heart” Take a deep breath and sing from your diaphragm for this one Piece of My Heart is a great song for baring your soul. For more deep, emotional amazing work by Joplin, try Me and Bobby McGee. 6. Melissa Etheridge â€" “Angels Would Fall” This slightly eerie anthem of admiration is a beautiful way to show off a lyric tenor or contralto range. Add some versatility by trying Etheridges other major hit “I’m the Only One”, or her version of Whats Going On. 7. Joan Jett â€" “Bad Reputation” Everyone loves rock and roll! No, seriously, everyone loves I Love Rock n Roll. Enjoy the punkier side of Jetts legacy with Bad Reputation, or slow it down with “Crimson and Clover”. 8. Alanis Morissette â€" “Hand in My Pocket” This optimistic alt-rock poem is a great mid-range piece, with complex lyrics (hey, thats why theres a screen) but an easy melody. If you like relationship songs, consider “Head Over Feet” (or, to vent about a very different relationship, try You Oughta Know). 9. Indigo Girls â€" “Galileo” The Indigo Girls are ideal for any female vocalists (or a female with a male singing down the octave) to show off those duet skills! The beautiful, contemplative Galileo is a spunky folk rock piece, or you could also try their slightly less ephemeral “Closer to Fine”. 10. Sublime â€" “What I Got This is one of those fun songs to sing that everyone requests by the bonfire in the middle of summer. This smooth, universally-lovable anthem of modern rock will give the whole bar a moment at peace together, as everyone agrees that lovin is, indeed, what theyve got. For another classic Sublime song, practice some Santeria. 11. Van Halen â€" “Jump” Come on and jump! This fun song is one of Van Halens best-known classics. You could also run with “Runnin’ With the Devil”, or be a little goofy with “Panama”. 12. Red Hot Chili Peppers â€" “Californication” Show off your funky taste with this somber song. Alternatively, work on your stage presence and sense of rhythm, without having to worry about melody, with the mostly spoken “Give It Away”. 13. Bon Jovi â€" “It’s My Life” Bon Jovi is one of the most requested artists for karaoke and covers, but people tend to stick with the same songs. Shake up the evening with Its My Life or “You Give Love a Bad Name”. 14. Pat Benatar â€" “Heartbreaker” Your rendition of this hot 80s hit will leave the crowd wanting more! Alternatively, you can tell them to “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”. 15. ABBA â€" “Dancing Queen” Take a chance on disco! Dancing Queen is another fun song to sing as a duet, and will definitely get the audience jamming. For a faster tempo and a bit less of a challenge, try “Mamma Mia”. 16. Kansas â€" “Carry On, Wayward Son” Therell be peace when you are done but in the meantime, therell be beautiful harmonies! This song is awesome for showing off your clean 80s rock vocals, or for gathering a group of friends to show off multiple parts together. Another great Kansas jam to try is “Dust in the Wind”. 17. Styx â€" “Come Sail Away” Bring the audience aboard that starship with your beautiful vocals! Come Sail Away is great for any vocalist, since its a great melody to alter by one octave. If this song is too familiar to you, be a little more of a Renegade and whip out Blue Collar Man (Long Nights), or celebrate that these are The Best of Times. 18. Queen â€" “Somebody to Love” The audience has probably been told We Will Rock You, but have they really been rocked? If Somebody to Love is a little too gospel for you, be sure your fans still know that “We Are the Champions”. 19. Village People â€" “YMCA” When your friends are clamoring for a group song together, this is the best go-to. If someone already did YMCA a few rounds earlier, try Macho Man! Its easy to find fun songs to sing in groups, like Don’t Stop Believin’, The Final Countdown, or Flashdance. 20. The Monkees â€" “I’m A Believer” Youre too busy singin to put anybody down! Whip out this sweet tune, or other cheerful love songs of the 60s, like Brown-Eyed Girl”. Remember to enjoy yourself, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Want to take your vocal skills even further? Consider signing up for  private lessons to sharpen up your talent, and soon youll be too much of a star for the bar! Want even more song ideas?  Check out our list 400+ songs to sing 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 Jess Cadorette

What are Waves

What are Waves Everything You Never Asked about the Science of Waves. ChaptersWhat are the Properties of Waves?Transverse Waves and Longitudinal Waves.The Science of Reflection and Refraction.What are Sound and Ultrasound?Without waves there would be nothing. No heat, no light, no sound. Not even any movement. Not a single thing.Because waves aren’t just some abstract scientific concept â€" or something that you only see on the surface of the ocean. They are literally everywhere at all times.Waves, quite simply, are disturbances or variations in a medium that allow the transfer of energy. Without waves, energy cannot do anything. And without energy, waves wouldn’t be able to create a disturbance or displacement â€" and so wouldn’t be at all.These things that we call waves, therefore, are a defining feature of our universe. And they help to explain a lot of the phenomena of physics â€" from light, which is a type of electromagnetic wave, to sound, which is one of many mechanical waves. But radio waves, x-rays, heat â€" not to mention ocean waves, the movement of a rope, and the vibration of a guitar string â€" are all the results of the same.So, don’t be one of those people that thinks waves are irrelevant to your life â€" or that science is ‘boring’. Because, without these things, we’d be nothing.  Here, instead, is a guide to the most important aspects of waves and their behaviour â€" from their physical properties to some of the technologies in which they are used.Get a physics and maths tutor s1 for your kids. Sea waves work on the same principles as sound.Electromagnetic waves are, on the other hand, self-propagating. These are able to travel through a vacuum because the medium that they are disturbing or displacing is not strictly matter. Their disturbances are actually to the electromagnetic field which they themselves create.For more, check out our article on the properties of waves. What is a wave? (image from edraw)Transverse Waves and Longitudinal Waves.We mentioned above the difference between transverse waves and longitudinal waves. Whilst the latter displaces its medium parallel to the direction of energy’s travel, in the former the displacement is perpendicular to this movement.This makes these things work in slightly different ways â€" and makes their terminology slightly different too.In transverse waves, we talk about peaks and troughs on a wave diagram â€" these being the moments of greatest displacement in the wave or furthest parts of the wave from its rest position. Through variations in the pressure between particles as the energy moves through them, they move outwards from the rest position and back in again.However, in longitudinal waves, all of the movement is parallel and the variations in pressure occur in the direction of the energy’s travel. Rather than peaks and troughs, then, we have compressions (areas of high pressure) and rarefactio ns (areas of low pressure).Examples of Transverse and Longitudinal Waves.It’s worth remembering some of the more ‘famous’ examples of transverse and longitudinal waves â€" as these help you to remember the differences between them.Transverse.So, what are examples of transverse waves? The vibrations on a guitar string are transverse waves, as are those that you might make as you wobble one end of a skipping rope.Light waves are also transverse â€" along with their associated waves like radio waves and all the waves of electromagnetism.Longitudinal.Longitudinal waves are those you might see if you were to stretch a slinky across a table and shunt one end of it. You’d be able to see the compressions and rarefactions in the coils of the slinky.Sound waves too are longitudinal, by the way â€" and they can travel through liquids, gases, and solids.Find out more in our article on transverse and longitudinal waves.The Science of Reflection and Refraction.We’ve discussed the nature and types of wave. However, let’s take a closer look at their behaviour.One of the most interesting aspects of waves is what happens when they encounter different media on their travels. What happens to an airborne wave when it hits a liquid? Or what happens when it hits a solid? Or even, what happens if a wave in a solid hits a different solid of a different density?There are actually plenty of options for waves in this situation. And the actual answer brings in lots and lots of different variables â€" from the wave’s wavelength and amplitude to the nature of the interface between the two media, from the wave’s angle of incidence to the chemical makeup of the different media.What Happens when a Wave Meets an Interface?An interface is one of the most important moments in a wave’s busy little life. Because here it has a number of options - of which we'll discuss here only one.It can be reflected. In reflection, the wave bounces off the interface and returns into the medium f rom which it came. This is due to the wave having a different frequency to the vibration of the electrons on the surface of the new medium.However, this can either result in specular reflection or diffuse reflection. In the former, you would get a mirror-like effect, as the waves all reflect in the same direction. If the reflection is diffuse, however, you rather get a situation like looking at a wall. You don’t see a conventional reflection of an image, yet the light has nonetheless bounced off it.Find out more about reflection in our article on reflection and refraction. What is reflection all about then?What are Sound and Ultrasound?We hear sounds all the time all around us. Pour a glass of water and there is sound or take a step and there is sound again.Sound is also something that is produced by waves. Or, better, it is a type of wave that we recognise to be sound.What we call sound is a whole series of vibrations that are the result of energy that is propagating through material. Sound waves are longitudinal waves that propagate from an original disturbance â€" and they come in all different frequencies, wavelengths, and amplitudes that are responsible for their pitch, volume, and tone.The greater the amplitude the louder the sound â€" whilst the higher the frequency the higher the pitch.What is the Difference between Sound Waves and Ultrasound?Yet, there are frequencies of sound that we cannot hear at all. Those types of waves we call ultrasound â€" which is actually the vast majority of sound waves.Dogs can hear some of the frequencies we call ultrasound â€" but this only points to the fact that there is no real difference between the two.Find out more about ultrasound and sound in our article.

Spanish Lessons Leeds

Spanish Lessons Leeds Mapping Spanish Classes in Leeds ChaptersFinding Spanish Lessons in LeedsWhat to Look for When Arranging for Spanish ClassesLearn Spanish with a Spanish TutorRain and drizzle fall from a gunmetal sky. It’s cold and wet in Leeds this time of year; some wonder if the sun will ever shine again.If we told you the sun is shining in Madrid right now, would you pack your bags with a swiftness? After all, there are 14 different ways to get to Spain from Leeds; some of them take only a few hours!Eagerly you search the attic; where did you put those suitcases?Wait; not so fast! How will you communicate once you get there?Granted, English is the lingua franca of these modern times but that doesn’t mean that everyone understands even a modicum of English.No, it would be much better if you learned a bit of Spanish before setting out.Besides, learning a second language has proven health and cognitive benefits, so why wouldn’t you study the language of Cervantes?And then, by the time you return home from your vacaciones en e l sol â€" holiday in the sun, you may have already decided to continue your Spanish language studies.You so enjoy the mellifluous tones of spoken Spanish...Say no more!Superprof is on task to find you the very best Spanish courses in and around Leeds, suitable for A-Level candidates and younger, adventurers looking for new horizons to explore or desperados craving type of sunshine that can only be found near the equator.For the wealth of Spanish courses available to Loiners, one might say nothing could be easier than finding Spanish classes!In fact, if you are enrolled at the University of Leeds, you may already be working toward fluency through their Spanish language program. Take note, A-Level candidates: this may be the course for you!What if you’re not headed to university or there already but still want to learn how to speak Spanish?Leeds City College would be the place for you. There, you could find a range of lessons, from beginner Spanish to intermediate level lessons.What ’s so great about these courses is that they intertwine language and culture so that you get a deeper understanding of the language, its roots and the people who speak Spanish.The downside is that they are not necessarily suitable for children younger than, say 14 years old.If you are planning for your entire family to study Spanish together, we may have to direct you elsewhere...We’ll discuss those options in our next segment.Suppose you are in a real hurry to grasp the fundamentals of Spanish vocabulary and grammar ahead of your holiday. You could sign up for intensive language training with Cactus.Established 20 years ago in the UK, the Cactus learning network has expanded to include language tutors and training schools all over the world!You would think that such a facility would have a hefty price list but you might be surprised to know that Spanish courses are their lowest-priced!So reputable is Cactus that their client list reads like a Who’s Who of the business world: Tripadvisor, Siemens, Eurostar... You?They don’t just teach Business Spanish or Medical Spanish for people going abroad for work, either. Indeed, Cactus does private as well as corporate language training, either one to one or in small groups.See? That’s the perfect solution for your family to learn together!Are you curious about how families learn Spanish in Birmingham?We would be remiss if we failed to mention you could learn Spanish at the Instituto Cervantes.The Cervantes Institute is dedicated to teaching the languages of Spain as well as the diffusion of Spanish culture in different Spanish speaking countries.Languages of Spain? Plural?  That is a salient point, Dear Learner.Not only is there more than one type of Spanish spoken in Spain and all of its outposts, such as Majorca, but the Spanish spoken in Chile is vastly different than what you would hear in Argentina or Mexico.We’ll discuss that in our next segment; for now, let us talk about the Spanish courses on offer at this wonderful Institut.Their courses are set up to mirror the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, with A1 representing absolute beginners, B2 being high-intermediate and C1 being fluent.Their language classes, taught by native speakers, are meant to be progressive; as you move from basic Spanish to the next level, you would build your vocabulary and grammar foundation that will support any future learning.The best part about learning Spanish at Instituto Cervantes is that your learning will be well-rounded.Instead of following a language learning guidebook â€" first greetings, then directions and then colours and numbers and so on, you will be immersed into the very culture of Spain, both through your curriculum and participation in cultural activities the institute regularly hosts.They even offer preparation for Spanish language exams and online tutoring!  There’s that word again... tutoring: we’re getting there; promise!What if you need Spanish classes i n Manchester?If you intend to explore the works of Gaudi in Barcelona, you'd better learn to speak Catalan! Source: Wikipedia Credit: BaikonourWhat to Look for When Arranging for Spanish ClassesTo our knowledge, Instituto Cervantes is the only language training school in the UK that specifies which type of Spanish they teach.As we mentioned before, this is a very important point to consider when arranging Spanish lessons.If you were learning Spanish to travel or relocate to Spain, the language you learn should depend on the region you intend to frequent.Whether you are a potential holidaymaker or a prospective international student in any of Spain’s fabulous universities, at some point you will surely have a conversation with native speakers.Castilian Spanish is not the same as Catalan and both of these are wholly different languages than Mexican or the Spanish they speak in anywhere in South America â€" should any of those countries be your desired destination.For this reason, yo u should make sure your Spanish teacher or tutor will instruct you on the language that will suit your goals.Spanish teachers in London are especially mindful of which type of Spanish they teach...Learn Spanish with a Spanish TutorFinally, we get to what we’ve been alluding to all along: engaging a private tutor to teach you Spanish!There are many advantages to working with a tutor; the main one being is that your Spanish learning is tailored specifically to your language learning needs.Do you wish for more emphasis on conversational Spanish or do you think equal time should be spent on reading and writing? Whatever your learning goals are, a home tutor will work hard to help you reach them.That contrasts with classroom learning which tends to be more of a set curriculum; where your learning is guided by the professional leading the class.A further benefit is that tutors often work with small groups of learners, so if you and your family or you and a group of friends wish to learn together, your tutor would happily oblige!You should, of course, discuss such matters in your initial consultation. It wouldn’t do to arrange for private lessons and then show up for class with a group of people!Obviously, when we think ‘tutor’, the first answer is Superprof.Leeds is home to more than 45 Superprof tutors, any of which would work with you in your home, their home or online.Mostly, they are native speakers of Spanish, with a few bilingual Spanish speakers thrown in.Ana has taught at private academies and secondary schools; she also teaches adults and young childrenMadeleine is a language virtuoso whose focus is teaching conversational Spanish; she has earned high praise as a Spanish teacher!Franco-Antonio is doing his postgrad work at the University of Leeds. He has a wealth of experience tutoring his native Spanish to school-aged children and adultsEsther teaches Spanish to students as young as three; she also works with students preparing for exams and adults .All of these tutors and others have a proven track record of teaching success and the credentials to affirm their ability to teach Spanish.Perhaps more enticingly, the average rate for a Superprof Spanish tutor in Leeds is £18 per hour and they all offer their first hour of lessons at no cost!How much does a Spanish tutor in Glasgow or Edinburgh charge?Exploring wildlife in Costa Rica would call for a different Spanish altogether! Source: Pixabay Credit: Fintan O'BrienFind out the best places to take Spanish lessons in Belfast and Cardiff here.One couldn’t say the same for Spanish tutors on the Italki platform... although to be fair, Italki tutors post a discounted rate for their introductory sessions.Italki is a tutoring marketplace where you first create your learning profile, after which you would peruse tutor profiles to select a possible match.Through their built-in scheduling utility, you would then select your meeting time and, logging in to Skype, your sessions begin!Eve rything happens online; learning as well as payment. No chance of an Italki tutor materialising on your doorstep.The same holds true with Live Lingua, whose tutors do permit no charge for their first lesson.However, unlike Italki, Live Lingua tutors do not set their own rates, so you have a more even price range to budget for.Furthermore, if you pay in advance for a block of lessons, you will be treated to a discounted per-lesson rate!Are you feeling a sunny Spanish getaway coming on?Lessons first! Your Spanish teacher will be delighted to help you make the most of your holiday by making sure you learn Spanish quickly and well.But s/he probably won’t help you pack.

What is it Like to Attend University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

What is it Like to Attend University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences, as well. Kisha graduated from University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in 2006 with a Bachelors degree in English. She is now a Houston tutor specializing in Writing tutoring, Essay Editing tutoring, Reading tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Check out her review of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff: 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? Kisha: The campus setting at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is very urban; however, it is a safe environment. There are buses, but they are very limited. You may need a car if you do not live on campus or in the surrounding neighborhood. VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Kisha: The professors were very available, especially in my departmentEnglish. I do not remember a lot of teaching assistants, but I do remember quite a few student-led organizations for each major that helped freshmen and upperclassmen on campus. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Kisha: I lived off-campus, so I do not know much about the dorm life, but there were plenty of opportunities to socialize with classmates on campus once I arrived. There were dances and balls on campus, as well as a theatre where we could watch students perform. 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? Kisha: Although the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a liberal arts university, agriculture plays an important role at this campus, as well. I studied English because I enjoy literature and rhetoric. The university is one of the oldest historically black schools in the nation, so the university supports students in any area of study as much as possible. 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? Kisha: Because Pine Bluff is a small city, it was not hard to meet others on campus and to get to know them throughout the city, as well. Yes, Greek life was an exciting part of the campus social life. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Kisha: The Career Center was extremely helpful. I was a part of the Youth Motivational Task Force that our career services department created for students on campus. Each spring semester, employers would come to our campus for an entire week to speak to students, network, and review resumes. As an upperclassman, I had the opportunity to escort employers around campus to speak to students about life after college. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Kisha: Although I always chose to study at home, each one of the above study areas were available, easily accessible, and spacious if I needed to utilize any one of them. 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? Kisha: Pine Bluff, Arkansas is a small retirement town, and the towns surrounding Pine Bluff were equally small, if not smaller. Most of us chose to go to Little Rock to enjoy the nightlife or to connect with other college students. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Kisha: I was generally pleased with my class sizes. The ratio was normally 1:15 sometimes maybe 1:20. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Kisha: There were a lot of memorable professors. They were supportive in their efforts to teach us to think creatively. My African Studies professor always encouraged us to be creative and proactive, and he supported and assisted us with the first English club on campus. We would host poetry nights and have talent shows, as well. Through this club, I learned a lot about teamwork and getting involved in the community. Check out Kishas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Definition of Accounting - Online Tutoring

Definition of Accounting - Online Tutoring Accounting is the process where business normally records its financial transactions and presents them to internal and external clients or customers. All transactions are recorded on a company balance sheet by using the following basic accounting formula: Assets= Liabilities + Owners Equity Assets: Assets are those that company has value. Assets can be divided in to two categories: fixed assets and current assets. Fixed assets include building, furniture, fixtures and long term assets whereas current assets include cash, bills receivables and short term securities. These current assets normally used to pay for current liabilities. Liabilities: Liabilities can also be divided in to two categories: Current and non-current liabilities. Current liabilities include bills payable, short term notes. A non-current liability includes long term debt,and bank loans. These liabilities should equal to the current and non-current assets in the accounting equation, leaving the remaining balance in the owners equity accounts. Owners Equity: Owners equity is considered the startup money that owner has invested in the business. Money that is invested from external source is called shareholders equity and is included in the owners equity. Any money that business earns as a profit is considered retained earnings and if reinvested in the business is also included in owners equity.

Difference between Older and Elder - English Lesson via Skype

Difference between Older and Elder - English Lesson via Skype I explain the difference between older and elder in this short video lesson. As always, with plenty of examples.  Scroll down to read the transcript of this lesson. Difference between Older and Elder - Transcript Hi there my name is Harry. Welcome to English in a minute and we bring this to you by englishlessonviaskype.com.Today were going to talk about the adjective OLD and its comparative and superlative uses OLD OLDER and OLDEST.Other  three forms:My old cat. My older dog.The  oldest animal.When were talking about things or people we can use OLD OLDER OLDEST.For example:The old man. The older  woman. The oldest person I know.So it  doesnt matter whether it is an animal  or a person old older oldest.The other  format is OLD ELDER ELDEST.But we can  only use elder and eldest when were  referring to immediate family.For  example:My elder brother is a doctor.My  eldest sister is a nurse.So here were  talking about immediate family members, brothers and sisters so we can use old elder and  eldest.Of course, we can use old older  and oldest. But when were talking about immediate family, we can only use elder and  eldest.Okay.So another rule that I would like to bring to your  attention is that when were using elder  we can only use it when its followed by  a noun.My elder sister.My eldest  brother.But if I say My brother is older than me   that is correctbut I cant say  My brother is elder than me because in  this situation elder is not followed  immediately by a noun.Okay.   So there are the  rules concerning the adjectives old,  older, oldest or old, elder and eldest.So  remember to subscribe to my channel and as always join us on www.englishlessonviaskype.comand really important  announcement is that weve just launched  a Grammar course and a grammar lesson and I was very special offer for you at  $9.99  and you can get the link here below. Difference between Older and Elder - Image to share Don't keep this to yourself, tell the world:

Seven reasons why smart software is becoming a must have for tutors

Seven reasons why smart software is becoming a ‘must have’ for tutors The one-to-one model of private tutoring has worked well for years, and as we all know, the tutor ‘industry’ is booming. The secret’s out: tutors play a vital role in driving their students’ success. But is it ever possible to offer the ‘perfect’ service? There’s almost an unlimited amount of preparation you could do, and a sea of resources out there that you could wade through. Worst of all, when it gets to Easter, it’s almost impossible to balance workload and quality… if you've ever planned a session on the tube on the way to your tutee’s house, you’re definitely not alone!! At Create a Test, we had previously built assessment software targeted at maths teachers in secondary schools. This software lets a teacher create very targeted, professional assessment papers in minutes, tracks each student’s performance, and lets users create tailored assessments for students in seconds. We’ve had a lot of early success, and are endorsed by the Manchester Grammar School and Mossbourne Community Academy, amongst others. But the really interesting thing was this: several of our users were also tutors, and they kept telling us how useful Create a Test was for their tutoring. So we asked ourselves: why shouldn't tutors get access to software like this? How would software like this help tutors (aka, you!)? We've had several tutors adopt Create a Test already, and the friendly folk at Tutorfair have also given us plenty of their time. Here are seven of the biggest benefits people get from using software like ours, which provide good food for thought: Incredibly easy to build between-session and in-session question papers, targeted any way you want: This is at the core of what we do. Create a Test contains a bank of 1000’s of questions searchable by difficulty level and subject sub-topic. Even better, you can regenerate questions to refresh the numbers used, meaning you can have an endless supply of questions. Great brainstorming tool: Unsure if your tutee really ‘gets’ what you’ve run through on averages… but know they love cricket and want to make things engaging? Simply scroll through our highly filterable bank of questions in seconds, grab bits you like, then change a boring looking data series into a question on batting averages!   Be “exam-board-proof”: All our questions can be filtered by exam board and are maintained to the latest curriculum. You can be sure you don’t get that awkward and deflating moment when your tutee can’t answer a question that they’ve never been taught how to do. One-click personalised tests: Picture the scene â€" there’s a minute of the session left, you’ve got to shoot across town to your next tutee then the mum comes in and asks if you could set homework. Create a Test really comes into its own here â€" we can track every score every student gets on every question, and have built one-click functionality that can, for example, generate a test based on the last 20 questions that your tutee answered incorrectly. It’s ready by the time you’ve finished answering “No problem” to the mum! Professional look and feel boosts your standing with your tutee and their parents: Each paper is professionally assembled with an exam-style front cover, and formula sheets can be included. Best of all, you can tailor the paper name â€" tutees love seeing their name on the front page! Access anywhere, no need to update: Access Create a Test from any web browser â€" if your tutee has access to a computer, no need to bring anything with you or rely on them having textbooks. Also, all of your students’ scores and papers are saved remotely, so you have no need to worry about archiving and losing your work or tutees’ scores. Best of all, updates will be ready for you as soon as you log on â€" no need to download anything! Track and show your student’s progress: Create a Test tracks every student’s performance and lets you see, for every sub-topic of the syllabus, their strengths and weakness. We’re also developing some pretty cool charting output, which you’ll have access to as soon as it’s released. Pretty soon, you’ll be able to use our analytics to show as many charts, line graphs and tables as are needed to pacify those super-keen parents! When you get used to these benefits, it’s hard to go back. But here’s the really interesting question â€" as other tutors start using software like this as a part of their daily routine, can you really afford not to? ---- Create a Test provide software for Maths tutors with students at the KS3/GCSE level, across all UK syllabuses and the iGCSE. While a license normally costs £250 per annum for schools and £150 per annum for tutors, we’re really happy to say that Tutorfair Maths tutors get a 20% discount: a full-year, unlimited use license costs £120. What’s more, for every Tutorfair purchase, £15 will go to the Tutorfair foundation. Not bad for something that saves you time and keeps you ahead of the game! Visit www.createatest.co.uk and use discount code “tutorfair”. Contact me at phil.craig@createatest.co.uk, and follow us on Twitter (@createatest) for free assessment papers and more!

The 5 Best Polyglot E-books for Anyone Who Dreams of Becoming Multilingual

The 5 Best Polyglot E-books for Anyone Who Dreams of Becoming Multilingual The 5 Best Polyglot E-books for Anyone Who Dreams of Becoming Multilingual Technology  has made it possible to go beyond lugging heavy textbooks around.No need to stuff those  100  must-read books into your poor, tired backpack.Convenient, right?Well, e-books are way more than  just convenientâ€"theyve proven themselves to be great tools for learning a foreign language.First, you get quantity. With  e-books, you can tote several  great language learning books around at once and interact with diverse multimedia content.  Oh, and all of this valuable digital content is cheaper than whats in print.You also get  quality.  Some e-books out there are absolutely ideal for learning a foreign language.In my years as an English and ESL teacher, I realized that a surprising amount of students had never heard of books that  teach language learning strategies  (and not just languages themselves). Too many  students go straight for  the workbooks and language DVDs, skipping over the foundational approaches that are actually essential to  learning any language successfull y.The 5 Best Polyglot E-books for Anyone Who Dreams of Becoming MultilingualConsider these e-books life hacks for learning a new language. Whether it’s your first or  your third language  that youre studying, youve got to recognize that  training your brain to think a certain way  helps immensely when youre taking on such a big project.You need to get yourself in the language learning zone. What should you expect? What problems may crop up? What are the best learning  methods for you?  All these questions and many, many more are explored in the following books.Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget ItCheck availability: Ama zon’s Kindle and  Barnes Noble’s Nook“Fluent Forever” is the lengthiest book on this list at a whopping 336 pages, but this in-depth guide is well worth the time it takes to read. At 36 years old, the book’s author, Gabriel Wyner, speaks six languagesâ€"all self-taught. In this book, Wyner introduces the strategies he’s ma stered through learning languages on his own.The overall focus is to help you formulate a  faster way of acquiring a new language, which Wyner does by showing you how to divide and conquer all the aspects of learning a language. For example, flashcards  are a common learning strategyâ€"but what’s the most efficient way to make and use flashcards for studying? Youll find out here.The book also stresses memory tactics, since the idea of remembering all the grammar and vocabulary that makes one fluent in a language can easily seem overwhelming.“Fluent Forever” starts with pronunciation and moves on to repetition techniques and exercises, which are based on the spaced repetition learning system  (SRS). Youll learn tricks that will help you associate sounds and spelling with images. Youll really get into the right frame of mind for  thinking in a language, rather than thinking first in your native language and then translating into your target language.Wyner makes a big promises: W ith his methodologies, you can learn 100 words in a month (that’s more than three words a day!) and this is all laid out for you from the get-go in a chapter on setting your vocabulary goals.Outside of learning strategies, the book also includes a useful FAQ section about language learning, such as how quickly one can realistically expect to become fluent in a language (spoiler: it depends) and what kind of books and resources youll need to move ahead (think workbooks and language groups).One of the greatest things about this guide is that the writing has a humorous and relatable edge. Wyner begins the book with an anecdote about how he had joined the fencing team in high school to get out of gym class. After that,  you feel like you really know and can trust the guyâ€"and youll need to trust him to let his great methods get to work on your brain.In addition to Amazon, this book is available on VitalSource, a place where you can rent or buy e-books and access them on the Bookshelf app (for Kindle, iPad, Android and Chromebook). Their World Languages section is quite robust, so its an excellent resource for dedicated language learners to check out.31 Steps to Learn a New LanguageCheck availability: Amazon’s KindleThe whole title of the book is actually “31 Steps to Learn a New Language: Fun, Fast Easy Steps Learn Any New Foreign Language You Want,” and fast it is: In just 44 pages, this motivating book proves to be a great tool for those who want to learn a language for the first time.Author Philip Veng is like a lesser-known version of do-it-quick, do-it-smart Tim Ferriss (author of “The Four Hour Work Week”), writing about quick routes to accomplishments that are seemingly impossible to the everyday person.“31 Steps” will help you tackle things like setting goals, making a study schedule and determining your learning style. It lists some great resources for everyday learning (like listening to foreign radio stations and reading childrens boo ks) that you may not have thought of.Each chapter is quite shortâ€"averaging a page and a halfâ€"which makes it very digestible for those not looking to read a huge, in-depth book.The True Polyglot Guide: How to Learn Any Foreign Language Fast and for FreeCheck availability:  Amazon’s KindleThis 24-page guide is chock full of language learning methods and secrets that are ideal for those who want to add a second (or third!) language to their arsenal but arent sure how to start.Author Ryan Lair clearly understands the unique challenges of learning multiple languages (like mixing up vocabulary for similar languages). If you’re not sure what language you want to tackle yet, this book offers tips that will help you determine what the easiest language for you to study might be based on your learning style.The book covers the stages of language learning, like spelling, pronunciation and vocabulary, and outlines learning strategies unique to each of them.Lair doesnt leave out the motiv ational factor thats so crucial to the serious commitment of language learning, either. His book promotes the many, many benefits of being multilingual, issuing encouraging claims such as improved mental alertness and increased personal confidence.Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language From Anywhere in the WorldCheck availability:  Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes Noble’s NookSome scientific studies have shown that the ability to learn a foreign language dips significantly after the age of 30, and this 256-page book does a pretty good job of disproving that theory.Yes, the book’s title certainly sounds like a big promiseâ€"but with dedicated effort many language learners have found this book to be true to its word.If you need proof, consider this:  Author Benny Lewis was named a 2013 “Traveler of the Year” by National Geographic Traveler magazine, and is a self-taught polyglot who speaks over 10 languages (he knew just one of them in 2003). Fo r that reason, this e-book offers the advantages of someone who has actually accomplished learning numerous languages at a relatively older  age.The book is divided into two parts: The first goes over how to begin learning a foreign language, and the second part covers how to move into the intermediate and advanced levels.The beginner section doesnt scare you away with the more technical aspects of language learning. Instead, it hones in on what you need to learn for your particular situation (are you a tourist or are you moving there for a job?) and gets you talking as a soon as possible. The second section stresses grammar mastery and immersion through multimedia, which Lewis believes are better saved for when youre more comfortable with your new tongue.Like “The True Polygot,” Lewiss e-book also does a good job of pep-talking you through learning a foreign language and debunks common myths, which makes this a great resource for true beginners.Learn World CalligraphyCheck avai lability:  Amazon’s Kindle  and  Barnes Noble’s NookThis is the best e-book Ive found for taking foreign language learning way beyond speakingâ€"where the emphasis so often liesâ€"and moving  it into writing, a key part of learning a language that doesnt share the same alphabet as your native tongue. It’s also a sure way to impress others, if nothing elseâ€"you can learn to write lesser-known scripts like Celtic, Ethiopian and Mongolian. You’ll also find Greek, Russian, Chinese and Arabic, among others.This beautifully laid out full-color book, which consists of 192 pages of gorgeous calligraphy and step-by-step instructions, is perfect for those who learn visually and by doing.In addition to teaching you how to write in a foreign language, it also provides a history of each language that brings a new appreciation to why scripts have ended up looking the way they do.Since e-books can be limiting when it comes to writing, one extra plus to this book is that you can print out free practice sheets on the author’s site.Theres something for everyone in these e-books, so shop aroundâ€"read some previews and ratings, and get a feel for what will work best for you!Jane K. Callahan is a former teacher turned writer who has traveled to over 30 countries across six continents. She has lived in Ireland, Thailand, Italy, Hawaii and New York City. You can follower her on Twitter at @JaneKCall.And One More ThingIf youre digging these polyglot strategies, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with inter active transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or Google Play store.