Monday, March 23, 2020

Poetry Devices And Techniques

Poetry Devices And Techniques There Are Many Poetic Techniques To Use To Your Advantage ChaptersWhat Techniques Are Used In A Poem?What Are Poetic Devices?Poetry Techniques And EffectsPoetry Terminology: A Poet's GlossaryUsing Key Poetry Terms In ComparisonsThe world of poetry can be complex, confusing, and overwhelming for some, but it can also bring great insight, raw emotion, and rich imagery to readers.One of the ways that poetry can really shine is through the use of poetic techniques and devices. Together, the use of such techniques can help one poem to stand out from another, and really draw the reader into the rich imagery of the poem and help them to understand the true meaning of that poem.As a result, any aspiring poet should read a lot of poetry and try to become versed with as many poetic devices as possible, and know when to use each device to their advantage.This article outlines what impact poetic technique can achieve and also highlights some of the most common poetic and literary devices a poet may encounter. Following this, we will consider how, as a student, you may approach analysing poetry (whether your own or others).Poetic devices can really enrich the imagery of a poem. (Image: CC0 1.0, UzbekIL, Pixabay)The overall rhythm  and rhyme scheme of the poem;What imagery the poem conjures; toWhat meaning a reader should take from your poem.Whether you decide to use rhyme, personification, or a particular mood or setting for your poem, poetic devices can help make your poem come alive, and can even help inform how you structure your poem.For example, you could decide to structure your poem with stanzas, although there’s no obligation to if you would rather not. A stanza helps to divide a poem by grouping together two or more lines together that usually have a similar metrical form or rhyme, although they don’t have to share this feature. Just as paragraphs are used in literature to group ideas together, stanzas perform a similar function in the world of poetry.Look up for online poetry course on Superprof.Another question that many poets ask themselves today is whether or not it’s worth incorporating rhyme, iambic pentameter, or rhyming words into a poem. Although older poems may rhyme more frequently than newer, more contemporary poems, ultimately the choice of whether to use rhyme depends on your own preferences towards rhyme as a poet and whether rhyme would work well as a poetic device in the poem you’re writing.If you do decide to incorporate rhyme into your poem to improve the rhythm of the poem, then you could look to use a poetic technique such as rhyming couplets. A rhyming couplet features two lines of equal length that rhyme. Shakespeare’s sonnets often featured rhyming couplets, if you’re looking for good examples to learn from.Ultimately, the decision of which poetic techniques are best to use is very personal, and will likely change on a poem by poem basis. With that in mind, some common poetic devices have been defined and highlighted below to give you some inspiration on which poe tic devices and literary terms to include in your next piece of work.poetry devices and poetic techniques are essential in an engaging poem. (Image: CC BY 2.0, Pete O'Shea, Flickr)What Are Poetic Devices?Poetic devices are used throughout various types and styles of poems  to increase that poem’s effect on the reader or listener and to help make the poem more memorable overall.As a result, poetic devices can really enhance a poetic work, regardless of the type of poem written, including:Sonnets;Limericks;Narrative poems;Haikus; andFree verse poems.As a result, poetic devices can really be the best friend of any poet, including established poets and poets who are just starting out. So learning them should be among an aspiring poet’s top priorities when they’re just starting to write.Some of the most common poetic devices are highlighted below, although there others out there.Find the best poetry courses around.Effects that enrich the imagery of a poemSimile â€" a simile compare s two things that are not alike, using “as” or “like” to signal the comparison.Example: “That was as clear as mud.”Metaphor â€" a metaphor, like a simile, seeks to compare two things that are not alike, however, a metaphor does not feature the use of “as” or “like”. There are many different types of metaphor, including extended metaphors, implied metaphors, and mixed metaphors, among others.Example: “You’re the apple of my eye.”Find the best poetry classes Glasgow on here.Effects that enrich the sound of a poemAlliteration - the repetition of consonants at the beginning of words that follow, or closely follow, each other.Example: “She sells seashells by the sea-shore.”Assonance â€" the repetition of vowels within words close to each other, although each word starts with a different consonant.Example: “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.” (My Fair Lady)Onomatopoeia â€" words that imitate how the thing being described sounds.Example: “The b uzzing bee.”Note that some poetic devices are also used as wider literary devices, for example in works of fiction, but these devices can be just as effective when used within a poem.If you’d like to learn more about poetic or literary devices or understand their purpose and effect further, then you may want to reach out to a tutor for some extra direction when it comes to informing your studies. Superprof, for example, has a number of English tutors available who would be happy to give you some further insight into the most effective poetic devices out there, and which ones may complement your writing style.Rhyming can help impact how a poem sounds. (Image: CC0 1.0, geralt, Pixabay)Imagery;Similes; orAnother poetic technique that you think would fit well in the poem.Of course, if you’re ever struggling to come up with ideas of what literary techniques to use, or would like another person to take a look over your poems to provide their own feedback and suggestions on where to improve, then you could look to hire an English tutor with experience within the area of poetry.Sites such as Superprof have a range of English tutors, who can be available for one on one, group tutoring, remote learning, or workshop sessions. So if you’d like to learn more about poetic techniques and how they could help your poems shine that bit more, then reach out to an experienced tutor today for help and see how it could benefit you.It's just a case of entering in your postcode to find local tutors in your area that are willing to help. With one to one lessons and group workshops available, there's sure to be a tuition format that works for you. Even if you'd prefer to have tuition lessons remotely, there are also remote tutors out there!Poetry Terminology: A Poet's GlossaryWith thanks to Writer's Digest, we are able to provide you with a few dozen poetry terms that all poets will need to know about, whether just starting out or new to analysing poetry. Take a look at these b rief definitions of some of the most common terminology found in poetry analysis!Alliteration. Close repetition of consonant sounds, especially initial consonant sounds.Anapest. Foot consisting of 2 unstressed syllables followed by a stress.Assonance. Close repetition of vowel sounds.Blank verse. Unrhymed iambic pentameter.Caesura. A deliberate rhetorical, grammatical, or rhythmic pause, break, cut, turn, division, or pivot in poetry.Chapbook. A small book of about 24-50 pages.Consonance. Close repetition of consonant soundsâ€"anywhere within the words.Couplet. Stanza of 2 lines; often, a pair of rhymed lines.Dactyl. Foot consisting of a stress followed by 2 unstressed syllables.Decasyllable. Line consisting of 10 syllables.Enjambment. Continuation of sense and rhythmic movement from one line to the next; also called a “run-on” line.Envoi. A brief ending (usually to a ballade or sestina) no more than 4 lines long; summary.Epigraph. A short verse, note, or quotation that appears at the beginning of a poem or section; usually presents an idea or theme on which the poem elaborates, or contributes background information not reflected in the poem itself.Foot. Unit of measure in a metrical line of poetry.Galleys. First typeset version of a poem, magazine, and/or book/chapbook.Hendecasyllable. Line consisting of 11 syllables.Hexameter. Line consisting of 6 metrical feet.Honorarium. A token payment for published work.Iamb. Foot consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stress.Line. Basic unit of a poem; measured in feet if metrical.Meter. The rhythmic measure of a line.Octave. Stanza of 8 lines.Octosyllable. Line consisting of 8 syllables.Pentameter. Line consisting of 5 metrical feet. For instance, iambic pentameter equals 10 syllables (5 unstressed, 5 stressed).Quatrain. Stanza of 4 lines.Quintain. Stanza of 5 lines.Refrain. A repeated line within a poem, similar to the chorus of a song.Rhyme. Words that sound alike, especially words that end in the sam e sound.Rhythm. The beat and movement of language (rise and fall, repetition and variation, change of pitch, mix of syllables, melody of words).Septet. Stanza of 7 lines.Sestet. Stanza of 6 lines.Spondee. Foot consisting of 2 stressed syllables.Stanza. Group of lines making up a single unit; like a paragraph in prose.Strophe. Often used to mean “stanza”; also a stanza of irregular line lengths.Tercet. Stanza or poem of 3 lines.Tetrameter. Line consisting of 4 metrical feet.Trochee. Foot consisting of a stress followed by an unstressed syllable.Using Key Poetry Terms In ComparisonsWhether an English Literature student, or someone who is passionate about learning from existing poetry to make their own lyrical writing the best it can be, then comparing poems is usually a great way to learn a lot about a poem, its theme, a style, and an era.During GCSE and A Level exams, for instance, candidates are asked to compare two pieces written by different poets but dealing with similar subj ects or themes. Though they may be written 100 years apart, or more in some cases, the act of comparing the two and considering the different poetic techniques and devices used can help to unlock and discover so much more than simply reading them separately.Identifying where poems are similar or where they differ can help the reader to better appreciate each one individually, understanding how and why the poets have approached the subject in different manners.When looking at two poems alongside each other, you may wish to consider:ThemeAttitudeFormStructureLanguageRhythmRhymeIf you aren't sure where to start (because not all poetry pairings will have obvious similarities and differences), then BBC Bitesize recommends using some of the following questions to trigger discussion points:Who is the speaker in each poem? How are the speaker's views similar or different? Does one poem present a more positive view than the other? Do they focus on the same aspect of the overall theme? Is the re a stronger point of view in one poem compared to the other? Do they concentrate on one aspect of a theme or explore different areas? What about the tone or mood of each poem - are they similar?In addition, some prompts to think about when considering context include:historical contextslocationssocial and cultural contextsliterary contextsreaders’ contextsbiographical contextsUsing Poetry Terms In Analysis - ExtractsIf you are an A Level student looking for some examples of how to incorporate your newly acquired poetry terms into your analysis during an exam, then do visit your exam board's website where you can find exemplar student responses to read through and learn from.For example, on the AQA website, you can find the following extract from a band 5 pupil responding to a question about the topic: Love through the ages.Below is the response, but you can view this and read the examiner's comments by visiting the site here.Paper 1, Section C Compare how the authors of two text s you have studied present barriers to love.Band 5 response Barriers to love can take many forms: parental disapproval of a suitor on the grounds of class, race or religion; physical distance which puts stress on a relationship; emotional turmoil which results in us irrationally pushing away those closest to us, to name but a few. For the writers of The Awakening, 'Talking in Bed' and 'One Flesh', however, the barriers to love occur within marriage, a place where ironically we might expect barriers to love to be removed, and mainly because of the expectations society places on those who are married.Written almost seventy years apart, both The Awakening and the two post-1900 poems show how society's expectations of duty within marriage, more especially in 1899 in The Awakening perhaps but still relevant by the time the poems were written in the early 1960s, can result in disconnection within the marriage shown through a breakdown in communication.The Awakening might be seen as an exa mple of New Woman fiction which challenged the Victorian ideal of the dutiful wife and mother. Chopin tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a wife and mother who feels unfulfilled by her conventional domestic role and determines to overcome the barrier of society's expectations of her in order to be with Robert, a young man who she falls in love with.Chopin structures the novel in order to show the stages of Edna's rebellion against social expectation. At the very beginning, Chopin includes the image of a caged songbird, a common symbol for a domestic Victorian woman, who speaks 'a language which nobody understood' and whose noise leads Edna's husband to 'an exclamation of disgust.' Here Chopin foreshadows the breakdown of communication which occurs because Edna fails to speak the language of a devoted wife. Mr Pontellier regards Edna 'as one who looks at a valuable piece of property' (in Louisiana at that time women were regarded as their husband's legal property). It is Mr Pontellie r's absolute certainty of his wife's obligation to him, a trait of the Creole husband, that means he 'is never jealous' and so ironically allows Edna to spend time in Robert's company, which leads to Edna 'beginning to realise her position in the universe.' Edna's rebellion includes renewing her interest in painting and learning to swim 'as if some power of significant import had been given her to control the working of her body and her soul.' Afterwards, Edna shows open defiance of her husband's wishes when she refuses to join him in bed where 'another time…she would, through habit, have yielded to his desire… unthinkingly.'Chopin uses setting to help show the stages of Edna's attempt to break down the barrier presented by social convention. Her initial rebellion (above) takes place away from her marital home at Grand Isle. The morning following her defiance of her husband, Edna's invitation to Robert to sail across to Cheniere Caminada with her made her feel 'as if she were be ing borne away from some anchorage which had held her fast, whose chains…had snapped the night before…leaving her free to drift whithersoever she chose to set her sails.' In this new setting, Robert and Edna grow closer and she realises that she has changed: 'she was seeing with different eyes and making the acquaintance of new conditions in herself.' Instead of a return to dutiful domesticity back in New Orleans, Chopin heightens Edna's ongoing rebellion against a backdrop of 'the cut glass, the silver, the heavy damask which…were the envy of many women whose husbands were less generous than Mr Pontellier.' Edna discards the trappings of her domestic role by refusing to stay at home on Tuesdays, her reception day, and by changing 'her gown for a comfortable and commodious wrapper.' Finally, Edna moves out of the marital home while her husband is away 'without even waiting for an answer…regarding his opinions or wishes on the matter' and begins an affair with a womaniser, Al cee Arobin.In spite of these attempts to break down the barrier of social convention which Edna believes is preventing her and Robert from being together, Chopin shows how Edna's rebellion does not produce a neat solution. When she throws off her wedding ring and tries to crush it, her 'boot heel did not make an indenture, not a mark upon the little glittering circlet' and her new home is described as 'the pigeon house', a return to the effective symbol of the caged bird. It is, however, Robert's decision to conform to social expectation and so end the relationship which means Edna is unable to overcome this barrier except through suicide. As she swims out to sea at the end, Edna realises that Robert 'would never understand' her and Chopin cleverly changes the metaphor of the seabird from 'winging its flight away' to now 'with a broken wing…circling disabled down, down to the water.'Although poetry cannot use setting to show the attempt to break down a barrier to love over time in the same detail as Chopin does, both 'Talking in Bed' and 'One Flesh' choose the marital bed as an 'emblem' of social convention and, through it, are able to show how expectations have led to disconnection within both couples. Larkin's use of 'ought' in the opening line shows both the expectation that married couples communicate easily in this setting but also a hint that this communication has broken down. (This links to Edna's refusal to join her husband in bed discussed earlier.) The second stanza starts with 'yet' which confirms that this marriage is not living up to expectation as in this bed 'time passes silently'. Larkin plays on the word 'lying' which seems at first to relate to lying in bed but which might suggest that instead of 'two people being honest', dishonesty is a barrier to this couple's love. Interestingly, Edna does not need to lie to her husband because he takes her honesty for granted. The same difficulty of communication within the marriage, shown through the imagery of the parrot in The Awakening, is shown by Larkin's use of half-rhyme in stanzas 1-3 and through the ambiguous meaning in the final two lines: 'words at once true and kind/or not untrue and not unkind.' These lines do not mean the same as each other and help to leave the reader with a sense of disconnection in this relationship.In 'One Flesh', Jennings discusses how the passion has gone out of her parents' marriage so that they are 'lying apart now, each in a separate bed.' Just as Edna's loneliness within her marriage makes her remember her girlish infatuations, the poet's mother lies in her bed 'dreaming of childhood/All men elsewhere.' The disconnection between the poet's parents is shown in the contrast between him being in 'light' and her lying in 'shadows', and in the fact that 'they hardly ever touch/Or if they do, it is like a confession.' This religious imagery could link to their marriage vows as in the title 'One Flesh', and so again to social expectation. Unlik e in The Awakening or 'Talking in Bed', however, there is a sense that there was 'a former passion' and Jennings uses a contrast between that 'fire' which 'has now grown cold' to show how this separation is a barrier to the physical intimacy expected of marriage. Where Chopin and Larkin offer no hope of overcoming barriers to love, Jennings uses a steady rhyme to suggest an ongoing bond between her parents. Although they are 'strangely apart' she believes they are also 'strangely close together' and her question 'Do they know they're old?' might suggest her parents should accept that the nature of their marriage will change over time.Both in The Awakening and in 'Talking in Bed' and 'One Flesh', barriers to love exist for the married characters. In The Awakening, Edna is fighting pre-1900 society's expectations of her as a wife to be free to love Robert. In the post-1900 poetry, both poems were written in the early 1960s when divorce was unusual and many couples stayed together unha ppily; these couples are failing to meet society's expectations of marriage through a lack of honesty or physical intimacy. All three writers use setting successfully to convey social expectation and each show how a difficulty of communication is a barrier to love, Chopin through imagery, Larkin through half-rhyme and ambiguous language, and Jennings through contrast.

Friday, March 6, 2020

South American Food

South American Food Everything You Need to Know About South American Cuisine ChaptersWho is South American and What do They Eat?Regional Diversity in Food on the South American ContinentSouth American Dishes and Their Influence Around the WorldThe Best Recipe Ideas, From Peruvian Ceviche to Argentinian ChimichurriDo you know what language is spoken in Paraguay? Or perhaps what a Churrasco is? While you may have thought you knew many cultural distinctions of the South American continent, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about South America and their famous recipes.Whether you're visiting South American cities or simply want to know about the region, learning through cuisine is great 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 ou r 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 tutorsWho is South American and What do They Eat?When you think about the Americas and American cuisine, what comes to mind? What many might consider to be American food, like the classic hot dog, cheesy macaroni and sweet apple pie, isn’t actually representative of American countries. American recipes and American food extends to cover way more than the gastronomy found in the north. In fact, examining what exactly the South American continent is and what South American foods are can give you insight into one of the oldest and diverse cuisines on the planet.In general, when people refer to South America today, they refer to thirteen countries whose geographical bulk is, for the majority, located in the southern hemisphere. These South American countri es include nations like Paraguay, Uruguay Suriname and the Islas Malvinas (also known as the Falkland Islands) â€" each with their own deliciously diverse food culture.However, the our current system of classifying continents hasn’t always been in place. The seven continent model wasn’t actually proposed until the 1950s, and is based more on shared culture than the science of tectonic plates. The way we have structured the South American continent highlights both the cultural and societal similarities and differences of the countries that make it up.While South American food draws up images of Amerindians, or indigenous people, and ancient agricultural goods such as lima beans, maize, passion fruit and the black bean â€" much of the traditional dishes that we know and love today have been engendered by the various historical evolutions of the region.From the fish stew and clam chowder recipes of the coast to the tenderloin and vegetable comfort food of inland cities, the South A merican diet has been forever transformed by three main forces. While this is not a definitive guide to the origins of the food of the region, the basic powers that have influenced South American cooking are: creole, or criollo, culture, immigration and the colonization of European groups such as the Spaniards, Dutch and French.Whether you’re drinking a caipirinha in Rio de Janeiro, or eating Venezuelan tamales, or hallacas, in Caracas, the amount of food options in South America will be enough to make your reconsider “Columbian” or “pre-Columbian” narratives of South American history.Get information about cooking courses London.Regional Diversity in Food on the South American ContinentFrom Tierra Del Fuego to Peru, South American countries aren’t just unique in the 448 languages they speak, but also in the recipes that they share. The reason why so many countries share similar recipes have to do with their shared history of agriculture, immigration and colonization. One of the clearest examples of this can be seen through the plantain. Whether you’re in Bolivia or snacking on some Argentine chivitos, you’re bound to find a dish involving plantain around every corner. From being a common street food to a prized comfort food, the plantain can be found fried, boiled, sautéed and more.While many consider this variant of the banana to be a quintessential South American food, the origins of the plantain can actually be found in the slave trade. Plantains originally made it onto the African continent by way of Madagascar, whose shores had been reached with Southeast Asian traders. What quickly became widespread in West and Central Africa was then used as provisions on slave ships crossing the Atlantic. Today, they’re made into crisps called tostones in Venezuela, and patacon pisado in Ecuadorian and Columbian slang. In the Bolivian kitchen, they’re mashed and fried with cheese in a dish called masaco de platano. Using condensed milk, they can al so be made into a sweetened desert.Another example of the wide variation between the same dishes in South American countries can be seen through a drink called pisco. A brandy that is traditional both in Chilean and Peruvian cuisine, the origins of Pisco is said to have begun with Spanish settlers. Now a common cocktail on the South American continent, found even in Uruguayan bars or small cities in Bolivia, it is prepared differently in both Peru and Chile.Arepas are another great instance of the variations in South American cuisine, found from the Andean mountains to the coasts of French Guiana. A fried, cornmeal dough patty, this recipe can be made either sweet or savoury depending on your cravings. Originating from the ancient civilizations of South America, it is today most predominant in Colombia and Venezuela.From chorizo and churros to hominy and raisins, the diversity seen in South American food is a product of a range of the historical, economic and political events in the last decades.Plantains have become important to South American food cultureSouth American Dishes and Their Influence Around the WorldNow that you’ve gotten a grasp of what you’re likely to find in South American restaurants and kitchens, it’ll be helpful to understand how South American cuisine holds similarities to many different countries around the world. Looking towards Latin American cuisine, one special recipe that has been adopted in both Central American countries and the Caribbean is the Empanada. Empanadas are baked, stuffed dough pastries whose filling and preparation varies depending on what city or kitchen you’re in.Common in Argentine, Chilean, Paraguayan, Bolivian and Peruvian cuisine, empanadas have become a staple dish in countries like Belize and Honduras. In Honduras, however, these empanadas are known as pastelitos and are actually made sweet. Ceviche is another dish that has been adapted throughout Latin America. Finding its roots in Peru, this dish is, in its essence, as seafood salad. Prepared using fresh fish, citrus and herbs â€" the large variation in recipes is caused mostly because of the differing availability in sea creatures. In Mexico, for example, ceviche is not only commonly made up of octopus, but it is also served on top of a crisp-like tortilla known as a tostada.Looking on the global scale, many Asian countries share many of the same food rites and recipes as the South American continent. Recalling plantains, countries like India and Indonesia use the delicious fruit to make savoury crisps or sweet desserts. With regards to empanadas and ceviche, the Philippines have their own version of both dishes. While South American food has influenced many of the global plates we love today, Filipino ceviche and empanadas have actually both developed independent of the continent.Considering ingredients alone, many of the agricultural goods that South America produces and utilizes in their most common dishes are equally as im portant to countries in Africa and Polynesia. One of the major examples of this can be seen through the cassava, also known as yuca or manioc. Prepared in both sweet and salty dishes, cassava has become a staple ingredient in many traditional recipes these regions.The Best Recipe Ideas, From Peruvian Ceviche to Argentinian ChimichurriWhether you’re backpacking through a sparsely populated natural park or are visiting one of the many metropolitan areas of South America, it’s always helpful to know how some of the locals make their favourite dishes. If you’re also looking to spice up your weekly lunch routine, trying any one of these recipes will be sure to satisfy your taste buds.A specialty of Rio, you can try feijoada everywhere in BrazilFeijoadaFeijoada is a bean stew made of black beans and meat. Especially loved in Rio de Janeiro, the Northern regions of Brazil actually tend to toss in some vegetables to the recipe, such as kale and okra. If you’re looking for something hearty that isn’t just your typical beans and rice, feijoada might be the way to go. Here are some of the principle ingredients:Black beansChorizoBaconOnionRed pepperTomatoWhile the dish takes a relatively small time to prepare, the bulk of the time will actually be spent cooking the stew. One helpful tip if you’re working with uncooked beans is to start soaking them the day before in order to shorten the cooking time.ChimichurriChimichurri sauce is an Argentinian specialty that is typically served as a condiment. Whether you use it to mix in your salads, dip potatoes in or serve on top of meat dishes, chimichurri will be sure to taste great with just about anything. The main ingredients don’t tend to vary much and include:ShallotsChili peppersGarlicWine vinegarParsleyHerbsThe kinds of herbs that you add to the dish will depend on the kinds of flavours you want to use to compliment whatever dish or appetizers you will be eating. For example, while some recipes call for oregano , you can also add mint or fresh cilantro. While the eating habits and recipes of the continent are extremely important, what they drink is equally as appetizing. If you’re interested in a unique drink to try, you can either buy or attempt to make your own chicha, a grain based drink.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

What is it Like to Attend Oklahoma State University

What is it Like to Attend Oklahoma State University Courtney earned her bachelors degree in English from Oklahoma State University. She specializes in English tutoring,test prep tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Oklahoma State University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Courtney: I attended Oklahoma State University and the campus was quite large, but all of the buildings were within walking distance of each other without having to cross any major streets. They provided a bus system to transport students around the town and the campus. The college is located in a small city, so it had a bit of a suburban vibe, but also a little rural because its in Oklahoma. I felt very safe on campus; there were lights and emergency phone boxes all over. People were always out and about because the campus is beautiful. I felt fine walking home alone at night, but I always made sure to be aware of all my surroundings. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Courtney: My specific academic adviser made himself incredibly available to all students, opening his doors during lunch and almost all hours of the school day. Everyone felt comfortable coming to him with any problem they might have had. I would say the other advisers are pretty available as well and most everyone is very welcoming. Most of the professors are available, although with most of them you must make an appointment to see them. Some of them adopt the same attitude as my adviser, and leave their rooms open. Professors in college tend to feel less approachable than teachers in high school just because they expect more, they dont tolerate misbehavior, and youre in an environment of higher learning. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Courtney: The dorms were great and had many options. I stayed in the suite dorms with three other roommates the first two years of college, although you are only required to stay on campus the first year. The school offered plenty of dining options, sometimes in the dorms themselves, and also a variety of great options in the student union. Socializing with other students is easy because the campus is beautiful, so everyone is outside when its nice. The school offers plenty of events, clubs, and programs in which you can meet tons of new students in the exact same boat as you. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Courtney: My college offers one of the best veterinary programs in the United States. Because its in Oklahoma, the agricultural college is obviously very well supported and encouraged. I studied English and I very much loved the English department, even the building itself and the professors that taught within it. I would say the university does a pretty good job of supporting all other interests. 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? Courtney: At first, it seems hard to get out and meet new people, but then you remember that everyone is in the same position as you are. I met most of my friends in my dorm and in some of my freshman classes, such as freshman orientation. I would encourage new students to try out a few different campus-sponsored events if they feel its hard to meet new people, and I would especially encourage them to reach out to other students in class, perhaps suggesting a study group. Greek life plays a pretty significant role, but I would say the social life is equally rich for the Greek student and the non-Greek student. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Courtney: My school hosts many job fairs and career-related events and they also allow you to continue using their career-finding services even after youve graduated. Working with your college can really help once you graduate. They offer resume-building services, internships, and plenty of college-enriching programs, such as studying abroad. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Courtney: The library and student union are very large. Our student union is considered one of the biggest and best in the nation after its recent renovation. Our school is well funded and has a couple of donors who are constantly renovating and improving the campus. Its not overcrowded at all and definitely easily accessable. Describe the surrounding town. Courtney: The campus is located in a smaller town, so oftentimes the more fun events and activities are involved with the campus or the immediate surrounding area of the campus. The downtown area is literally right next to the campus, so all of the festivities tend to stay close to the actual college or the middle of the town. It doesnt take long to get anywhere in that town. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Courtney: The student body is quite large, with about 25,000 students. In the first year or two, and sometimes in the later years of undergrad, you will generally come across larger lecture-style classes, as everyone is trying to take their general education classes. Once you take classes that are more specific to your field of study, the class size will shrink and you will go through your specific program with the same general group of people. I got fairly close with the people who were in my English/education program. Overall, I was pleased with the class sizes. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Courtney: I had one professor who made a huge impact on me. She was a teacher for the upper-level English courses, like my literary criticism class. She taught me things that I probably shouldve been taught before I went to college but never was. She pushed me to be better with my writing, told me how to get there, and then made sure to acknowledge the progress that had been made. She was young, very tough, taught an incredibly difficult class, and held very high expectations for everyone. If you were willing to participate and contribute in a meaningful way, she would welcome it enthusiastically. If you did participate, she would remember you for all the classes you took with her and really made sure these students felt recognized and encouraged. Check out Courtneys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Benefits of Reading

The Benefits of Reading Why is Reading Important to our Daily lives? Chapters1. Educational Benefits of Reading Books2. It Teaches You About The World3. It Is Like Multiple English Lessons Rolled Into One4. It Helps You To Become A More Focused Reader5. It Encourages You To Be A Critic6. Health Benefits of Reading7. It Can Impact On Your Readiness To Take Risks8. It Reduces Stress And Negativity9. It Brings Peace And Tranquility To The Soul10. It Is A Source Of EntertainmentIf you do not currently make a habit of reading regularly, you could be missing out on some very important benefits. Here are ten examples of how reading a chapter a day can be good for your mind, body and soul. 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/h1s t 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!Discover 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 tutors1. Educational Benefits of Reading BooksReading widely is a great way  of acquiring knowledge. This is why, during any course that you embark on, be it an academic or vocational one, you will ultimately have to read to further your knowledge of the subject. For instance, historians will read ancient artefacts to discover details about their field of study while a trainee car mechanic will read manuals to find out how the parts of different automobiles work.Granted, some people may be born with a more academically attuned mind but have you ever noticed that smart people are usually portrayed in films or TV programmes as the ones with a book in their hand? This goes to show that society sees a link between reading books and being intelligent.  â€˜Skilled’ readers are those who can focus all of their attention onto the subject given in front of them and who can absorb all of the fine details hidden between the lines. If you find this a challenge and don't feel like you are taking information in as you are reading, you may need to work on your reading skills to ensure you are getting the most out of the process.Follow these tips to hone your reading skills!A skilled reader may benefit from having  a photographic memory and thus be able to recall information as it appeared on the page, although this is unfortunately not something that can be taught.Regardless of how good or bad your memory is and how hard or easy you find it to sit down and read, training your brain to be more attentive by doing mental exercises and practicing your reading skills can go a long way in helping you to learn more through reading.2. It Teaches You About The WorldIn addition to providing you with information about a given field, reading can also teach you about the world: through reading you can learn about current affairs, discover pieces of history, grasp human values and learn about different ways of expressing yourself.Take reading a newspaper every morning, for examp le. Most national papers including The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail and The Daily Express offer a wide range of articles across multiple sections. For instance, on a given day you could find out who won a football game the day before, learn about a crisis on the other side of the globe and discover which cities were voted as the best places to live in the UK.Moreover, much of our world's history has been documented in books therefore reading some of these accounts from the past can help you to learn about how our lives have been shaped by historical events.Reading literature is a good way to form an idea of society at the time the story was written!  Check out more about English tuition.Reading can teach you about historical events that you otherwise might not get the opportunity to learn about. Photo credit: The British Library via Visual hunt3. It Is Like Multiple English Lessons Rolled Into OneYet another educational advantage to reading on a regular basis is the way t hat we naturally pick up new vocabulary from passages of texts and equally familiarise ourselves with up to date language trends. A student of English will explore the ways that the English language has evolved from Old English to the language we use to communicate with today, while also discovering facts about life through the centuries.Reading does not have to be limited to books of classic English Literature though, there is an abyss of different texts available to us, even more so now that online publishing is so popular, as well as the ongoing development of social media and blogs. As such, we can take multiple lessons from one single activity.Try reading poetry for a different linguistic flavour! And find all the help for English you need here.Educating yourself through reading might be achieved as a result of picking up a printed book yet it may also come about from reading a blog by a genuine poster on the Internet. Either way, the more exposure you have to a broad range of texts, the wider your own word bank will become and the more knowledge you will acquire along the way.4. It Helps You To Become A More Focused ReaderModern distractions like television, emails and social media mean that we have much lower levels of productivity  than ever before and as such spend our time flitting from one obstruction to another without really benefitting from any of the tasks.Reading helps you to focus all of your attention on one story or account  (or even giving your undivided attention to a particular person, if you are writing a personal letter) and allows you to absorb all of the fine details presented to you. This not only means you will be a better interpreter of information, you could also become more skilled in the art of reading others’ emotions on a social level and thus boost relationships.Focused readers are fast readers, possessed of agile minds! 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!Discover 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 tutors5. It Encourages You To Be A CriticRemaining on the subject of developing skills, reading helps you to enhance your analytical skills and improves your ability to think critically. These skills, along with your newfound attention to detail, all impact on the ease at which you can interpret texts on a higher level.This means that, with more reading, you might find yourself understanding advanced texts far easier, and coming up with relevant counter-arguments or queries to facts that you might not otherwise have thought of  before. By consequence, you will be better at communicating yourself, both in writing and speech.Why not pass these valuable skills on to your young readers?Being a critic of texts al so enables you to develop your own taste and preferences when it comes to reading different styles of writing.6. Health Benefits of ReadingReading is not all about gaining new skills, however. Scientists have proven that staying mentally stimulated through tasks like reading and writing can slow down the progress of, or even eliminate, mental disorders linked to old age such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Just like any muscle in your body, your brain needs to stay active to remain powerful. This also applies to your memory â€" the more you read, the better your abI lity to retain information in the long run.Since older generations are not naturally drawn to the digital advancements of literature in the same way that our younger peers are, they are somewhat limited to reading texts available in hard or paper back, as well as reading hand-written notes or printed stories in newspapers. That said, there is enough information readily available for this group of people even without digit al content  so they have plenty of opportunities to engage with a variety of texts and to allow their creativity to run wild.Discover a place to get a good GCSE English tutor.7. It Can Impact On Your Readiness To Take RisksWhether or not this is a pro or a con is debatable, but scientists have made links between high IQs and doing things that are somewhat out of character, sometimes described as ‘stupid’, even.Although there is only an indirect correlation between reading lots and being one of these people who acts spontaneously, seeing as we have already established that regular readers are often brighter people and that brighter people in turn have higher IQs, then we can conclude that there is a high chance that this theory could be true! Who knew that reading could be so influential on your willingness to let your hair down?Research shows that raising your IQ through reading more could impact on your approach to taking risks. Photo via Visualhunt.com8. It Reduces Stress And NegativityIn addition to the mental health benefits, reading can keep your stress levels down by enabling you to transport yourself away from everyday life and leave any troubles behind you, at least for the duration of the activity. Finding a source of escape can additionally benefit you in the long run as it helps you to be rational and put things into perspective.Help others reduce their stress: teach someone to read!9. It Brings Peace And Tranquility To The SoulAlthough some might find reading to be a boring or even a treacherous task, once mastered it can bring so much satisfaction. Reading is particularly good at calming ones’ nerves, which is why so many people read before bed to help put them into a peaceful slumber.Reading to get a dose of tranquility does not have to be limited to nighttime though, anyone can read when they have a spare moment to help them to switch off from their surroundings and to find a calm and joyous place â€" whether that be by placing themselves in the story or by simply taking themselves out of the equation completely.10. It Is A Source Of EntertainmentLast but not least, reading is a brilliant source of entertainment  that is often free or comes at a very minimal cost.When you consider how long you spend reading a fiction novel, for example, and how much pleasure you get from the experience, it is astonishing that most paperbacks cost less than £8.00. That is more than half the price of an average cinema ticket, which only seeks to entertain for 2-3 hours (and which you can't keep to benefit from again).Buying a fiction novel is cheaper than a cinema ticket. Photo via VisualhuntAs previously mentioned, literature is advancing at a significant pace with many books nowbeing published in digital form for free, with the intention of raising awareness of authors and their style of work.As such, we are privy to some fantastic pieces of writing covering a broad range of subjects to keep us entertained at pretty much any time w e wish. So, instead of watching a funny YouTube video during your lunch break, why not open up your Kindle, flick through the pages of a book or even find some invigorating short stories to keep yourself amused or distract you temporarily from your responsibilities.

Top 10 Mobile App For College Students In 2017

Top 10 Mobile App For College Students In 2017 People use mobile apps for anything and everything today! From financial transactions to playing games, mobile apps rule the roost today. Thus it should come as no wonder that there are mobile apps for educational purposes too. Educational apps cater to toddlers and even research scholars today. The most popularly sought after ones though are the ones designed for college students. With umpteen apps out there, it is important to pick the right ones that can help you improve your grades. Read on to learn about the top 10 mobile apps for college students in 2015 and why online tutors recommend them highly. Nothing beats Dropbox mobile apps when it comes to storage The most important thing that a student should learn first while studying is to stay organized. Dropbox is excellent for storing and organizing data and helps students collate their data in one place. Whether it is documents, videos, presentations or photos, everything can be stored on it and what’s more, new users get to enjoy 2 GB free storage! Referring friends brings in an additional 50 MB of storage and this immediately appeals to students and it is usable on a wide variety of devices. Beat your math blues with Mathway mobile app Almost every student experiences trouble with math especially at the college level wherein it is important to cross check answers and verify them. With Mathway students get to do just that! This is why online math tutors recommend that students use this app to verify and cross check their answers. Learning on the Go with GoConqr mobile app Students can literally learn on the go with the GoConqr app and discover an extraordinary 1.5 learning resources from across the globe to do so! Master English with Dictionary.com mobile app Learning the proper usage of words, their meanings and other forms is very important to have a good command over English and Dictionary.com is the ultimate guide that lets you do so! Learning complex new words and acing that English paper isn’t a distant dream anywhere with this popular app. This app comes highly recommended by every online English tutor! Get better at organization with Pocket Pocket is quite unfamiliar to most students and yet is one of the most useful apps when it comes to organizing information and study material. Students can bookmark content online (articles, videos, etc.) and look them up later. Sty fit with MyFitnessPal It is very important to stay fit and healthy to be able to use one’s mental acuity to its fullest. MyFitnessPal is a popular app amongst college goers for health and fitness and helps them keep track of their dietary habits and also nutrition requirements. Intake of calories and their usage can also be mapped on a day to day basis to learn as to whether the targets for the day have been met and so on. Assuage your food cravings with Allrecipies Dinner Spinner This is perhaps an unexpected one on the list and yet students do need to eat everyday! For those staying alone and away from home, a tasty meal is no longer a distant dream! Whipping up a cool and tasty dinner is very much possible with Allrecipies app and the craze for it is catching up amongst students pretty fast! Explore the world with TripAdvisor Staying away from home due to studies? Explore the lay of the land near your college and learn the local culture, popular customs and places of interest there. With TripAdvisor, you can even get an idea on popular local restaurants, the culture of the place and interesting customs and traditions. Why stay in your rooms when you can explore the world? Manage your income with Mint Of course you are on a limited budget if you are in college, everyone else is! Learning to plan your expenses and manage them becomes imperative and you can do so with Mint. This app helps you link various bank accounts and helps you track your spending and even set up reminders for your bills! Enjoy a pleasurable reading experience with Kindle There is a reason why Kindle is this popular! The reading experience that it offers is unparalleled and the in-built dictionary that it has is ultimate! Just highlight and look up the words that you understand instead of searching it elsewhere. Summary The college experience isn’t without its trials and tribulations. While it has its share of fun, it is important that students do well in their courses and the above mentioned apps help them manage their life in all its aspects from eating right, exercising, managing budgets to studying. Some of the apps mentioned above come highly recommended from popular tutors such as experts in English assignment help online and experts providing homework help in other subjects as well.

Clichés to Avoid

Clichés to Avoid Second language speakers of English demonstrate an impressive familiarity with English when they use clichés in their speaking. Using common expressions shows people that you have been exposed to a lot of English in your life and suggests that you have achieved an intermediate level of proficiency. Nevertheless, advanced second language writers and first language writers who use clichés seem unimaginative and dull. But what is a cliché anyway? What is a cliché? A cliché is a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. It was once a lively and inventive phrase, but after it caught on it quickly became overused and tiresome. What is the origin of the word cliché? The word cliché means to clicked together. It comes to us from before the year 1825 from the typesetting trade. Instead of having to set every letter separately, typesetters would keep frequently-occurring words and phrases in handy reusable blocks to speed up the job of typesetting a page. A reusable block of letters What is wrong with writing in clichés? When people write in clichés, we wonder if they have chosen to express the idea that way or if that is the only way they know how to express the idea at all. Instead of being a sign of easy familiarity with English, we get the sense that the writer has never thought carefully about alternative phrasings. Worse still is when the writer gets the cliché wrong and comes out with an eggcorn like doggy-dog world. Thats really annoying. Here is a list of clichés to avoid 2.0 -gate does not suffer fools gladly a cautionary tale a chip off the old block a clean slate a crisis waiting to happen a dark and stormy night a diamond in the rough a far cry a favorite Washington parlor game a fine kettle of fish a good soul a kind soul a land of contradictions a loose cannon a mass of contradictions a matter of time a modest proposal a pain in the butt a pain in the neck a penny saved is a penny earned A portrait emerges a ragtag army a ragtag militia a tale of two a tough row to hoe a waste of time a word to the wise ace in the hole ace up his sleeve add insult to injury afraid of his own shadow against all odds air your dirty laundry all fun and games all in a days work all is fair in love and war all is well that ends well all talk all thumbs all your eggs in one basket alls fair in love and war alls well that ends well almighty dollar American as apple pie an arm and a leg an axe to grind An object lesson And heres the kicker and they all lived happily eve r after another day another dollar armed to the teeth as a nation as a society as brave as a lion as clever as a fox as luck would have it as meek as a lamb as old as the hills as old as the hills: as old as time as the crow flies At a crossroads at first blush at first glance at my wits end At the end of the day at the speed of light avoid it like the plague avoid like the plague babe in the woods back against the wall back in the saddle back to square one back to the drawing board bad to the bone badge of honor bald faced liar ballpark figure banging your head against a brick wall baptism by fire bark is worse than her bite barking up the wrong tree bat out of hell be all and end all Be that as it may beat a dead horse beat around the bush bee in her bonnet beggars cant be choosers begs the question behind the eight ball bend over backwards benefit of the doubt bent out of shape best thing since sliced bread bet your bottom dollar better half better late than never better mousetra p better safe than sorry between a rock and a hard place between the devil and the deep blue sea beyond the pale bide your time big as life big cheese big fish in a small pond big man on campus bigger they are the harder they fall bird in the hand birds eye view birds and the bees birds of a feather flock together bit the hand that feeds you bite the bullet bite the dust bitten off more than he can chew black as coal black as pitch black as the ace of spades blast from the past bleeding heart blessing in disguise blind ambition blind as a bat blind leading the blind blood is thicker than water blood sweat and tears blow off steam blow your own horn blushing bride boils down to bone to pick bored stiff bored to tears bottomless pit boys will be boys brave as a lion bright and early brings home the bacon broad across the beam broken record Broken system bull by the horns bull in a china shop burn the midnight oil burning question burning the candle at both ends Burst onto the national political scene burst your bubble bury the hatchet busy as a bee but at the end of the day But first But reality is more complicated but you cant hide by hook or by crook Byzantine rules call a spade a spade Call it luck called onto the carpet calm before the storm can of worms cant cut the mustard cant hold a candle to case of mistaken identity cat got your tongue caught in the crossfire caught red-handed caught with her pants down caught with his pants down caught with their pants down Cautiously optimistic Charm offensive Chattering classes checkered past chip on her shoulder chip on his shoulder Chock full chomping at the bit Christmas came early for cleanliness is next to godliness clear as a bell clear as mud close to the vest Closely watched cock and bull story cold shoulder come hell or high water Commentariat Contrary to popular belief Cooler heads prevailed cost a kings ransom count your blessings crack of dawn crash course creature comforts Creature of Washington critics are quick to point out Critics say cross that bridge when you come to it cry her eyes out cry like a baby cry me a river crystal clear Cue the curiosity killed the cat cut and dried cut through the red tape cut to the chase cute as a bugs ear cute as a button cute as a puppy cuts to the quick Cycle of violence dark before the dawn day out day dead as a doornail Depending on whom you ask devil is in the details dime a dozen divide and conquer Dizzying array dog and pony show dog days dog eat dog dog tired Don the mantle of dont burn your bridges dont count your chickens before theyre hatched Dont get me wrong dont look a gift horse in the mouth dont rock the boat dont step on anyones toes dont take any wooden nickels done that been Double down down and out down at the heels down in the dumps down on her luck down on his luck down on their luck down the hatch down to earth draw the line dressed to kill dressed to the nines drives me up the wall dull as dishwater dyed in the wool eagl e eye ear to the ground early bird catches the worm earn her keep earn his keep earn their keep easier said than done easy as 1-2-3 easy as pie eat your heart out eat your words eleventh hour enough to piss off the Pope even the playing field every cloud has a silver lining every dog has its day every fiber of my being everything but the kitchen sink eye for an eye Eye-popping eyes in the back of her head Face-saving compromise facts of life fair weather friend fall by the wayside fall head over heals fall head over heels Fallen on hard times fan the flames feast or famine feather in his cap feather your nest Feeding frenzy feeding the frenzy Fevered speculation few and far between fifteen minutes of fame filthy vermin fine kettle of fish fish out of water fishing for a compliment fit as a fiddle fit the bill fit to be tied flat as a pancake flip your lid flog a dead horse fly by night fly the coop follow your heart For all intents and purposes for all intents and purposes for the b irds for what its worth force of nature force to be reckoned with forgive and forget fox in the henhouse free and easy free as a bird fresh as a daisy frightened to death full steam ahead fun in the sun Game-changer garbage out garbage Gestalt get a kick out of get a leg up get down and dirty get her back up get his back up get the lead out get their backs up get to the bottom of get your feet wet gets my goat gilding the lily give and take Gladwellian go against the grain go for broke go him one better go the extra mile go with the flow goes to Washington goes without saying Going forward good as gold good deed for the day good things come to those who wait good time was had by all greek to me green thumb green-eyed monster grist for the mill Grizzled veteran Growing body of evidence growing like a weed gut wrenching pain hair of the dog half a dozen of another hand to mouth hand-wringing happy as a clam hasnt a clue haste makes waste Hastily convened have a nice day have high hope s have the last laugh havent got a row to hoe head honcho hear a pin drop heard it through the grapevine hearts content heart-stopping fear hem and haw high and dry high and mighty high as a kite hit paydirt hold your head up high hold your horses hold your own hold your tongue honest as the day is long Hope filled the air horse of a different color hot under the collar Hot-button issue Hotly contested How did we get here? How I learned to stop worrying and love the I beg to differ i love you more than life itself icing on the cake Iconic If history is any guide if only the walls could talk if only walls could talk If past is prologue if the shoe fits if the shoe were on the other foot If you will. Ignominious end ill-advised in a jam in a jiffy In a nutshell in a nutshell in a pigs eye in a pinch in a word in her element in his element in hot water in over her head in over his head In the digital age In the final analysis in the gutter in the nick of time in the thick of it In the wake of in their element in this day and age in your dreams Increasingly Inflection point Intoned is all the rage is heating up is no exception is no panacea is no silver bullet is not alone it aint over till the fat lady sings It couple it goes without saying it takes all kinds it takes one to know one its a small world its only a matter of time ivory tower Jack of all trades jockey for position jog your memory Johnny-come-lately joined at the hip judge a book by its cover jump down your throat jump in with both feet jump on the bandwagon jump the gun jump to conclusions just the ticket justice is blind Keen observer keep a stiff upper lip keep an eye on keep it simple keep the home fires burning keep up with the Joneses keep your chin up keep your fingers crossed kick his lights out kick the bucket kick up your heels kick your feet up kid in a candy store kill two birds with one stone kiss of death knock his block off knock it out of the park knock on wood knock your socks off kno w him from Adam know the ropes know the score knuckle down knuckle sandwich knuckle under labor of love land on your feet lap of luxury last but not least last hurrah Last-ditch effort last-ditch effort lasted an eternity laughter is the best medicine law of the jungle law of the land lay down the law leaps and bounds Less than you think let sleeping dogs lie let the cat out of the bag let the good times roll let your hair down lets talk turkey letter perfect lick your wounds lies like a rug lifes a bitch lifes a grind light at the end of the tunnel lighter than a feather lighter than air like clockwork like father like son like taking candy from a baby like theres no tomorrow lions share Little-noticed live and learn live and let live long and short of it long lost love look before you leap look down your nose look what the cat dragged in looks like death warmed over loose cannon lose your head lose your temper lost track of time loud as a horn lounge lizard Love it or hate it love d and lost low hanging fruit low man on the totem pole luck of the draw luck of the Irish Machiavellian make hay while the sun shines make lemonade make money hand over fist make my day make no mistake make the best of a bad situation make the best of it make your blood boil man of few words mans best friend Manicured lawns mark my words missed the boat on that one moment in the sun moment of glory moment of truth money to burn more often than not more power to you more than one way to skin a cat More than you think movers and shakers much ballyhooed naked as a jaybird naked truth Naysayers neat as a pin Needless to say needless to say neither here nor there never look back never say never nip and tuck nip it in the bud no action no gain no glory no guts no love lost no pain no skin off my back no stone unturned no time like the present no use crying over spilled milk Nondescript office building nose to the grindstone not a hope in hell not a minutes peace Not as much as you think n ot in my backyard not playing with a full deck Not so fast Not so much not the end of the world not unsurprising not written in stone nothing to sneeze at nothing ventured nothing gained now were cooking off the top of my head off the wagon off the wall offers a rare window Official Washington Oft-cited old hat older and wiser older than dirt older than Methuselah on a roll on cloud nine on her high horse on his high horse on pins and needles on steroids on the bandwagon on the money on the nose on the rocks on the spot on the tip of my tongue on the wagon on their high horse On thin ice on thin ice once bitten one bad apple one born every minute one brick short one foot in the grave one in a million one red cent only game in town only half the battle only time will tell open a can of worms open the flood gates opens a rare window opportunity doesnt knock twice opposites attract Or so it seems Orwellian out of mind out of pocket out of sight out of the frying pan into the fire out o f the woods out on a limb Outside the box over a barrel over the hump pain and suffering Palpable sense of relief panic button par for the course Paradigm shift part and parcel Partisans on both sides party pooper pass the buck patience is a virtue pay through the nose penny pincher Perfect storm perfect storm pig in a poke pile it on pillar of the community pin your hopes on pitter patter of little feet Pity the poor plain as day plain as the nose on your face play by the rules play your cards right playing the field playing with fire pleased as punch Plenty of blame to go around plenty of fish in the sea Point of no return Political football Political theater poor as a church mouse Poster child pot calling the kettle black power couple Predawn raid pull a fast one pull your punches pulling your leg Punditocracy pundits say pure as the driven snow put one over on you put the cart before the horse put the pedal to the metal put your best foot forward put your foot down quick as a bu nny quick as a lick quick as a wink quick as lightning quiet as a dormouse rags to riches raining buckets raining cats and dogs Raise the specter of Raised questions Raises more questions than answers rank and file read between the lines reap what you sow red as a beet red herring reinvent the wheel Remains to be seen Resists easy categorization Resists easy classification rich and famous rings a bell ripped me off rise and shine Rise of the 24-hour news cycle road to hell is paved with good intentions rob Peter to pay Paul roll over in the grave Rorschach test Rose from obscurity rub the wrong way running in circles rushed for time salt of the earth scared out of her wits scared out of his wits scared out of my wits scared out of ones wits scared out of their wits scared stiff scared to death Scarred by war sealed with a kiss Searing indictment seasoned veteran second to none see eye to eye See what I did there? seen the light seismic shifts seize the day sent a shiver down my spin e set the record straight set your teeth on edge sharp as a tack Shifting dynamics Shines a spotlight on shoot for the moon shoot the breeze shot in the dark shoulder to the wheel Shrouded in secrecy shuttered the factory sick as a dog Sigh of relief sigh of relief Since time immemorial sink or swim skating on thin ice Skittish donors slept like a log slinging mud slippery as an eel slow as molasses in January smooth as a babys bottom snug as a bug in a rug some background sow wild oats spare the rod Sparked debate speak of the devil spilled the beans spinning your wheels spitting image of spoil the child spoke with relish spring to life squeaky wheel gets the grease stands out like a sore thumb start from scratch stick in the mud still waters run deep Stinging rebuke stitch in time stop and smell the roses Strange bedfellows straw that broke the camels back strong as an ox stubborn as a mule stuff that dreams are made of stuffed shirt Suffice it to say sweating blood sweating bulle ts system is broken table the talks take a load off take one for the team take the bait take the bull by the horns take the plunge take the tiger by the tail takes one to know one takes two to tango Tapped Tectonic shifts Tenuous at best that and a quarter will get you a cup of coffee The argument goes The devil is in the details the more the merrier The new face of The new normal The Other The powers that be The proverbial the quiet before the storm the real deal the real McCoy the red carpet treatment the same old story The situation is fluid The social fabric The talk of the town The thinking goes the time of my life the tough get going the very fabric of our the wool over her eyes the wool over his eyes the wool over their eyes the writing on the wall There I said it there is no accounting for taste they all lived happily ever after thick as a brick thick as thieves think outside of the box think outside the box third times the charm this day and age this hurts me worse than it hurts you This is not your fathers this point in time three sheets to the wind three strikes against throw in the towel tie one on tighter than a drum Tightly knit time and time again time heals all wounds time is of the essence time will tell Time will tell if tip of the iceberg Tipping point to each his own to the best of my knowledge toe the line tongue-in-cheek Tongues wagging too good to be true too hot to handle too numerous to mention Took to Twitter touch with a ten foot pole tough as nails Trading barbs trials and tribulations tried and true trip down memory lane truth is more complicated Turned a blind eye twice shy twist of fate Twitterati two cents worth two peas in a pod ugly as sin Ultimately under her thumb under his thumb under the counter under the gun under the same roof Underscores Unlikely reformer Unlikely revolutionary Unsung hero until the cows come home unvarnished truth up his sleeve up the creek up to his ears in trouble uphill battle upon deeper reflection upper crust upset the applecart Usher in an era of V for victory vain attempt vain effort vanquish the enemy vested interest Victim of her own success Victim of his own success Wait for it waiting for the other shoe to drop wakeup call War of words War-torn warm welcome watch your ps and qs watch your tongue watching the clock water under the bridge we love to hate were not laughing at you were laughing with you weak as a kitten weather the storm weed them out week of Sundays Well-heeled lobbyists went belly up wet behind the ears What a difference a day makes What a difference a month makes What a difference a week makes What a difference a year makes what goes around comes around what you see is what you get when it rains it pours when push comes to shove when the cats away when the going gets tough when you have lemons white as a sheet White-shoe law firm whole ball of wax whole hog whole nine yards Wide-ranging interview wild goose chase will wonders never cease wisdom of the a ges Withering criticism without a care in the world Woefully inadequate wolf at the door words fail me work like a dog world weary worst nightmare wrong side of the bed yanking your chain yappy as a dog years young you are what you eat You guessed it you only live once youre the boss young and foolish young and vibrant Zeitgeist Please follow and like us:

Happiness, Fears, Loves Talking About Existential Questions With Help From Gillian Anderson

Happiness, Fears, Loves Talking About Existential Questions With Help From Gillian Anderson When were you happiest? What is your greatest fear?In English we call these existential questions or questions about the meaning of life. They are  issues we all  ponder (think about)  at some point.Let’s see some interesting responses to  some existential questions with Gillian Anderson, better known as Scully from the X-Files, in an interview published in the UK’s Guardian newspaper in March, 2011. Afterwards lets answer some questions together.When were you happiest? In the womb.What is your greatest fear? Insanity.What is your earliest memory? One year old in Puerto Rico, my feet in the sand, wearing only a nappy, and cradling eggs in the crook of my  arm.Which living person do you most admire, and why? Obama, because against all odds, hes getting the job done with grace and integrity.What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Sabotage.What is the trait you most deplore in others? Bullying.What was your most embarrassing moment? Thinking I was doing Victoria Beckham a fa vor by putting her shirt collar down. It never occurred to me she might want it that way. Needless to say my charitable act did not go down too well.What is your most treasured possession? My children â€" Piper, Oscar and Felix. Obviously I do not possess them, but saying anything else would seem plain wrong.What makes you unhappy? Me.What do you most dislike about your appearance? Its length.If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you  choose? The Amazon.Who would play you in the film of  your life? Johnny Depp.What is your guiltiest pleasure? Not exercising.To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why? My high school geography teacher, for putting gum on her chair and ruining her favourite skirt.Have you ever said I love you and not meant it? Yes.What is the worst job youve done? Pilot of The X-Files.How do you relax? Beating myself into submission.What is the closest youve come to  death? A bull elephant in Kenya moving towards our car as we tried to do a  three-point turn in a dead end.What keeps you awake at night? My two-year-old.What is the most important lesson life has taught you? That Im not in charge.QuestionsWhat impression do you have of Gillian from her answers?Can you tell what kind of a child she was from her answers?Are you surprised by any of her responses?What is her self-image like? Do you think it is mostly positive or negative?At what point in your life were you happiest?Do you ponder  life’s existential questions regularly or do you try not to think about them?What do you do when you feel a little down or sad? Do you watch movies or read a book to feel better?Did you find this blog helpful? Please share it on Facebook and Twitter.

Upcoming Interviews for Abu Dhabi Vocational Schools

Upcoming Interviews for Abu Dhabi Vocational Schools Teach Away is hiring for positions with Abu Dhabi vocational schools! Teachers who qualify will earn a lucrative tax-free salary in the UAE, one of the world's wealthiest countries. Positions are available forMathematics andEnglishTeachers. Jobs in Abu Dhabi Vocational Schools Teachers should have 3 years of experience and a Bachelor's degree in the field they plan to teach. Please visit the job postings for full details: Mathematics teacher English teacher Job Benefits Tax-free salaryof11,000-13,000 AED/month (approximately $3,000-3,500 USD) Subsidized accommodation Return airfare provided for the teacher + 1 dependent Family medical insurance provided Tuition allowance for dependents Summer vacation + national holidays Interviews Interviews will take place inChicago (March 17-20)andNew York (March 22-24). Teachers must be able to attend an in-person interview in order to be eligible. Apply Teachers with 3 years of experience and a Bachelor's degree in their subject area canapply online. If you have already applied with Teach Away and would like to be considered for these positions, please email kathryn (at) teachaway-dot-com directly.