The Process of Learning English As a Second Language - What Are Your Options?

The Process of Learning English As a Second Language - What Are Your Options?There are many things to consider when looking at the process of learning English as a second language. First, you will need to understand the vocabulary used in the sentences that you will read and write. Second, you will need to be able to think of various vocabulary words in different contexts, as well as in the right context.You will also need to learn other aspects of learning English. You will learn how to correctly pronounce words, the correct accent, and various grammar rules. This will make your reading, writing, and speaking in English easier. The process of learning English as a second language is a lot like the process of learning any other language.How to correctly pronounce words can be a bit difficult. In some cases, you may need to look up words online. In addition, you will learn some simple commands that you can use to sound out unfamiliar words. While many people prefer to have someone els e pronouncing their words, you will find that the stress is usually on the first syllable and not the last.There are also some things that you can do to improve your reading comprehension. The best way to start is by reviewing all of the text that you read before you start reading it again. This will help you know what the subject is, what the ending is, and what the topic is. You will also learn which words you should be paying attention to when reading.There are many tools available for the process of learning English as a second language. Some of them are internet based, while others are native English translations. Internet based tools take some of the mystery out of English and allow you to work on your comprehension at your own pace. While a native English translation will only allow you to focus on vocabulary and grammar. It will give you a very basic introduction to the English language, and some idea of the structure and words used in different situations.These are helpful to newbie learners, and are less expensive than having a teacher to come to your house to teach you. Some programs are specifically designed for young learners, such as infants, or learning second languages at an accelerated pace. You can find programs that offer second language immersion, where you go through the steps of each conversation all over again. You will learn some vocabulary and have the option of reading and writing English. Some programs will allow you to choose your conversations, while others will have plenty of practice conversations and even make conversation with native speakers of English.So you can see that learning English as a second language does not have to be hard. When you follow the proper steps, you will get the education that you need and be able to communicate better with others. So don't let it take a long time for you to master the basics. You can start learning at any age, and it will be a lot easier than trying to learn one language at a time.

9 Language Immersion Programs Perfect for Busy Adults

9 Language Immersion Programs Perfect for Busy Adults 9 Language Immersion Programs Perfect for Busy Adults Remember all the fun you had at summer camp?Well, now you can relive that while reaching fluency in a foreign language.If you thought that language immersion programs were for kids and college students, youre living in the past.  Now there are immersion programs available for all ages.The outdated common wisdom holds that adults are mostly useless at languages, but nowadays its safe to say thats just not true. Under the right conditions, not only can you  learn a language like your younger self, but you  can also attain native-like brain processing of your  new language.And what are these right conditions?The right conditions involve  immersing yourself in a foreign language.While modern technology and pedagogy are giving us fantastic new tools every year, one thing remains certain: Immersion works.And immersion works every bit as well for adults. Adults and children are both clearly capable of learning new languages to high levels of fluency, but one big thing separates us from our childhood selves: Our cumbersome, super-structured, always-demanding adult lives.But today, hardworking adults are among those who stand to reap the most benefits of learning a second language.In a job market thats globalizing all around us, added language skills can make you not only an asset to your  company, but also a better participant in your own community. Fitting Language Immersion into Your Adult Life: Its Not as Hard as You ThoughtA  gap year before or after university  is a great time  to take a language immersion trip, but mid-career or between careers can work just as well for many.On the list of things that get in the way of adult language learning, a career is usually number one. But it doesnt have to be.Nowadays, foreign language training is registering on corporate agendas.  In some parts of the world, companies even fund in-house or independent language training as part of employee professional development.If your employer hasnt jumped on the language learning ba ndwagon yet, maybe theyre following the trend of  flexible and even unlimited vacation policies  thats spreading across tech startups and other innovative businesses. Under many of these arrangements, three months off for a language immersion program thatll make you even more of a company asset can be an easy sell to your boss.And, if all else fails, its not really so drastic or bohemian to quit your job and go learn a language these days. In the era of career-hopping, what better reason is there to end job number three than to spend a year at home or abroad learning a language that makes you a competitive candidate for job number four?Even if you dont see a practical opening in your adult life for a language immersion program now, dont be surprised if you see it come next year. You might find that a newer and more disruptive program will extend you the chance to immerse yourself in a language. Take any opportunities that come your way!Before we get into some immersion programs you can consider, lets first look at a couple of alternate options you can use for immersion if youre lacking the time or the funds right now.Creating an Online Immersion EnvironmentIn the digital age, immersion exists in  spectrum.Sure, youre more thoroughly immersed while navigating the chaotic Tokyo metro, but you can still immerse yourself in Japanese at home. For those times before, after, between and even during traditional immersion programs, technological tools can help make sure you keep your target language on your mind.One way to create a home immersion environment is with your favorite language learning apps and immersion software programs. You can use these digitally-enhanced approaches  to add some extra practice during your immersion trip, or to fill your every waking hour with the language you want to hear without even leaving your home.FluentU does just that. With carefully selected video content in languages from around the world, FluentU online language immersion is o ne of the most effective programs for starting on your language before starting an immersion program, continuing to learn after one or to add a dose of digital practice wherever you are, no matter what language youre working on.Language Immersion by Working AbroadAs we mentioned before, employers are more and more willing to foot the bill for your language learning, but the opportunities for work immersion abroad go much further.If youre already working for a multinational company with offices overseas, explore your options for transfers and see if those options include free or subsidized language immersion courses on the ground.If youre not too committed to your current job, then the world really is your oyster and the immersion opportunities are endless. Sites like Idealist and Overseasjobs.com offer listings of jobs overseas; if youre lucky, bigger employers may include language training programs in your employment package, but if youre not, youre still living abroad, one of the best ways of  getting the total authentic immersion experience.For those focused on building their professional profile  abroad, skills-intensive  volunteer trips can do just that while giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in  a language. Many of the projects on sites like Workaway and HelpX are more  like informal internships than traditional volunteer projects, including roles in everything from marketing and business development to construction and community development, and their terms are often flexible. Twenty hours a week in exchange for room and board still leaves you a lot of time for language exchanges and chatting up strangers during the off hours.9 Language Immersion Programs Perfect for Busy AdultsThe constantly increasing demand for language skills and multilingual people means more options and, over time, more affordability, leaving the modern adult language learner with an overwhelming number of options.Depending on your goals and constraints, you can choos e from both domestic and foreign immersion programs, and within these traditional categories theres  a slew of traditional and non-traditional programs available.Heres a sample of nine highly recommended ones. This will  give you an idea of what the world of adult language immersion looks like and where your next language learning trip might take you.Concordia Language VillagesConcordia Language Villages is a language immersion program in Bemidji, Minnesota focused on building globally minded communities through language  and cultural immersion trips.Concordias adult immersion programs are all designed for adults, whether youre looking for professional advancement or personal enrichment, including  courses designed specifically for educators and companies. The villages are offered year-round in nine different languages, perfect for the busy adult to squeeze into a hectic work and family schedule.Lingua Service WorldwideLingua Services language immersion programs are, as the companys name suggests, available all over the world. This agency works with schools and programs worldwide  in a variety of languages, offering maximum flexibility for even the choosiest learners among us.The agency primarily works with programs that are designed for maximal language learning in minimal time, which will be appealing especially to business professionals looking for a quick jump-start or brush-up on a language before heading back to the office.Lingua Service offers courses for adults, professionals and programs for seniors and older adults.The Dallas International School Adult Summer Immersion ProgramThis Texas K-12 private school has a knack for educating todays youth for a global tomorrow, but their summer immersion school is designed with adults in mind.The program offers 3-6 weeks immersed in French, Spanish or Chinese in which attendees spend half-days immersed in formal instruction, supervised language labs and conversation practice.And its perfect for families. The ad ult program is run concurrently with youth immersion programs, creating a unique opportunity for the whole family to learn a language together without booking a single international flight.Road ScholarA newer name in language immersion, Road Scholar has drawn headlines for its success in particular with older adult learners. On the Road Scholar website you can browse and book various immersion experiences that fit when, where and how you want to learn your language.Road Scholar describes its typical customers as solo travelers or couples who are passionate lifelong learners, usually over the age of 50, which may be part of why their all-inclusive model works so well. With lodging, meals, transportation, expert lectures and field trips included in the price tag, all youve got to worry about is speaking and listening.Berlitz Total ImmersionIf youre more of an independent learner or you cant get out of town any time soon, private immersion classes under Berlitzs Total Immersion program might work for you.Berlitz is one of the largest companies offering private language classes in the US and the world at large, and its Total Immersion program pairs you one-on-one with a language coach for about 40 hours a week. Its personalized, conversation-driven and available in a variety of languages in 36 locations across the US and even more abroad.FLSAS: Foreign Language Study Abroad ServiceFLSAS is an organization that arranges foreign immersion programs and homestays for adults, teachers and professors.FLSAS brings a couple of benefits to the table that other organizations miss out on, like its specific programs developed for different groups of language learners, such as its programs for solo female travelers, family immersion trips  and executive language immersion for business professionals. Add these custom courses to its emphasis on  less commonly taught languages and youve got an organization thats filling in a lot of the holes left by others in the industry.Anders LanguagesAlongside the global giants in language immersion programs, you have providers like Anders Languages, a smaller company offering four languages in the US and three more locations abroad.Anders caters to, as they put it, a more mature public. The average age of their clients is 45, and about half of their customers are from the US and Canada, making for culturally diverse experiences that adult professionals might not otherwise have.Anders prides itself on offering a personal touch. Promising personal attention from the companys owners in developing your language immersion program, Anders offers an experience that many may find warmer and more intimate than those offered by other immersion companies.Age is just a number.It often says a lot about what your professional, personal and family life looks like, but as far as your ability to learn a language is concerned, its got nothing useful to say.Now more than ever, adult language learners are in a position to reap the benefit s, both personally and economically, of their linguistic efforts, and one of the most efficient ways to put in that effort is through immersion.With growing flexibility in the workplace and growing necessity in the world, well only see more and more adults taking the time to immerse themselves in a language.Whether youre setting out to find the perfect Spanish immersion course,  take a language learning trip to Germany  or tide yourself over with an online oasis of French immersion, take a look at the programs weve listed here and bookmark them, because the future is looking more multilingual for folks of all ages. And One More ThingIf you just cant wait to begin language immersion at home right now, FluentU is here to help. 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 a nd 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 interactive 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 quiz 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.

Apple Awards For The Best Tutors

Apple Awards For The Best Tutors FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Port Hueneme, California, May 3rd, 2018  TutorZ LLC, a leading nation-wide tutoring market place, announced today the Apple Awards for its most distinguished tutors. Only those tutors who distinguished themselves through professionalism, creditable knowledge and a motivating teaching style are recognized with an Apple Award. The term Apple Award connects TutorZ with a tradition in the teaching field. In Europe and the colonial United States students would put apples on their teachers desk as a form of payment or recognition. Piggybacking on this idea TutorZ has created 3 ?types of Apple Awards: the Green, Red and Gold Apple. The first type the Green Apple award is given to those tutors who have created and activated a complete profile, and responded quickly and professionally to their student request. Out of the 40,000+ TutorZ tutors only 474 tutors carry the Green Apple Award. Listing our awards by increased value the Red Apple award comes next. If a tutor has been consistently buying or declining your tutoring jobs, communicating effectively with students and have been hired by students or their parents on numerous occasions then take home the Red Apple award. At the time of writing, there are 109 Red Apple awarded tutors. Finally, the Gold Apple award is bestowed upon only the most distinguished tutors. As of May 3rd, 2018, TutorZ has only 12 such decorated tutors. The Apple Awards have become possible through our new signal-based ranking algorithm says Dirk Wagner, founder of TutorZ LLC. This algorithm employs 28 signals to carefully assess a tutors behavior. Quick and professional responses to a students request along with positive feedback from the student will make a a tutor rise in our ranks. For more information about ranking and awards check out our page Ranking and Apple Awards. About TutorZ TutorZ.com operates a marketplace for students and parents to find qualified private and online tutors. Since its inception in 2006 TutorZ has successfully matched 250,000 students with its over 40,000 tutors nationwide. Contact Info For additional information on Tutorz.com contact marketing director May Kacharava. May Kacharava may@tutorz.com 805-288-7338 Port Hueneme, CA 93041 www.tutorz.com

The Value of Unpaid Internships

The Value of Unpaid Internships Photo by energepic.com from Pexels Students who had completed an unpaid internship (37%) were hired at almost the same rate for those who had not completed any internship at all (35%). On the other side of the spectrum, students who had any instance of a paid internship were found to be more likely (63%) to secure employment. This study also showed that students with unpaid internships were more likely to take lower-paying jobs than those with no internship experience whatsoever ($35,721 and $37,087, respectively) while students with paid internships rocketed past their peers with an average $51,930 salary. So then, the question becomes: what is the value of an unpaid internship? Is there any? Is there a point in doing an unpaid internship anymore? The short answer to these questions is yes. There is still value in unpaid internships. But the value of these experiences is not necessarily financially basedâ€"you will have to look deeper beneath the surface than that. An alternative study, conducted by Crain, a career consultant for the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia, showed that unpaid internships did provide students with benefits outside of financial gain. Finalizing A Career Path Something that an unpaid internship experience can help provide a college student with is a confirmation or rejection of their intended career paths. It is all very good and well to decide what you want to be once you graduate, and yet when you get there, find you do not like or enjoy the job at all. After all, how could you know? You had never experienced the industry or job before in a professional setting. Maybe you wanted to be a doctor, but you never knew until got into medical school that being around blood makes you faint. By getting to test out a job or industry in a lower pressure setting like an unpaid internship, you get to make sure that you really do like the industry you want to go in and that you like the kind of work you can do. It would be awful to go through four years of classes only to find yourself stuck in a career you do not enjoy for the rest of your life. Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels Career Goals An unpaid internship also helps you set career goals as well as attain them. Maybe you know what field you want to go into, but you do not really know what you want to do in that field. Or maybe you have a job in mind, but you are not quite sure what a person with that kind of job actually does. Or perhaps you are not sure what feasible and attainable goals are to set for the career you want and by trying it out with an unpaid internship, you will be better able to pace out what the job will really be like once you graduate and begin to work. The benefit of this is that you will make fewer mistakes and be less likely to mess up once you start the job because you have already smoothed all the kinks out and know what to expect of both you and the job. Networking An unpaid internship also allows a college student to make connections with professionals in their field who can vouch for their work and give them recommendations after they graduate and begin entering the workforce. Often, without these unpaid internships, students would not be able to make these kinds of connections to get the support they need later in order to be hired. An unpaid internship will also allow a student to make connections with other interns and have a network of peers in place to lean on and pull from in times of need.

Help on Algebra 2 - Some Tips That May Help

Help on Algebra 2 - Some Tips That May HelpIf you're looking for some help on algebra 2, here's a list of tips and suggestions that may be useful. Hopefully they will make your algebra challenge a little bit easier.Just think about it. What is the most common thing that students struggle with? The inversion table!In fact, most of us have been there! You're sitting in the back of the class, not really sure what's going on, and a few moments later, you realize that you've gotten way too excited by one problem and the next step you take could really mess things up.It's a good idea to pick a subject which is more fun than math, or at least doesn't require you to do tons of work, in order to get a more effective way of learning. We all know that we get very excited about mathematics, and this can result in a lot of trouble in the future.But if you want to learn, then make sure that you go through the right kind of learning process. For example, instead of just sticking to the same problem s over again, you need to try to get familiar with a number of different kinds of problems so that you can start solving them more easily.You may also find that you have a much harder time trying to solve a particular problem if you already know the steps to solve it. This is called cross-trainings, and is something that a lot of top mathematicians do as part of their preparation for exams.So, just remember that algebra is not easy and that there are many areas where you need to work on your skills. It can take a lot of practice and dedication, but you'll be glad that you did. Of course, a couple of days for study and one day for test preparation will keep your preparation tips coming in handy.

A Guide to Become an Organic Chemistry Tutor

A Guide to Become an Organic Chemistry TutorIn order to become an organic chemistry tutor, one must be an expert in the subject and have relevant academic credentials. Once one is through with the process of getting accredited in the subject, one can now have the opportunity to work as an organic chemistry tutor in schools.The industry that has emerged as the best bet for one to land a job as an organic chemistry tutor is that of the online learning environment. The available knowledge acquired through the web means that one can make use of it for the benefit of students. This job allows one to do a job that is flexible to meet the needs of people who are not well-equipped. A good number of people prefer working as organic chemistry tutor in schools as this is a field where one can learn as much as one wants to.In terms of making money through online learning, there are certain advantages as well as disadvantages which make it hard for the average person to start with the right foot. For starters, it takes time to start with the right course of study as it is a demanding subject. One should be able to determine whether he can dedicate the time and energy to start with the right material or not.If one does not have enough time to take up the courses, he may want to consider looking into an alternative where he can actually start earning money while working. The organic chemistry teaching job is an ideal option where one can earn as a self-employed individual. With such opportunities available, one is not restricted by the availability of time.Like in all jobs involving having to deal with individuals, it is important to be able to relate to the students as they come to you. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to get to know them as well as their personalities so that you can best convey your ideas. The more one can comprehend them, the more comfortable one will feel about giving the lectures. As well as the lecture, one has to be able to explain why the ma terials are required to be taught.Before you decide to take up the organic chemistry tutor job, it is also important to make sure that you have the basic knowledge on how the material is explained to the students. One should also check out how good the teaching methods are as well as the amount of time that the material will be covered. When it comes to teaching online, one is limited by the time and space available. One will need to find other methods to do the job.One cannot always be present in all the study sessions as he may be called away from home. Therefore, one needs to make sure that he can stay updated about the activities. The best option for all these would be to join a forum related to the subject.

How to Boost Your Chemistry Homework and Chapter 4 Tutor

How to Boost Your Chemistry Homework and Chapter 4 TutorIn order to boost your chemistry homework and chapter 4 tutor, you need to be sure that you are taking the right approach. If you are on a fixed budget, then a textbook may not be worth it. You may be able to find a free resource that gives an overview of the necessary chapters, but if you do not know what you are looking for in a chemistry textbook, you will be less likely to use the resource. For this reason, I have tried to share my favorite ones for those of you who are on a very tight budget.The first is the Annotated Chemicals. This book is good for chemistry courses that require a lot of reading and very little writing. For example, you will want to read a single chapter of this book and go over the chemical properties and test in your chemistry class. This book does contain a great amount of information and the entire set is only a hundred pages long.The second chemistry books that I recommend are the Analogous Chemical Equivalents. This book has almost every compound that you will need for your chemistry course. It has the chemical properties and the reaction that it takes. For example, you can learn how to use Chlorine by taking the following test in the book. It is a two step process with the Chlorine molecule being placed into an oxidizing atmosphere and it being reduced.The second one is the Exam Prep A. This is a very easy chemistry book that has everything that you need to know in chemistry.The third book that I am recommending is the Chemistry Open Book which has been proven to provide the student with the maximum learning experience. This book can be purchased in either paperback or hard cover, and it is full of facts and definitions. All you have to do is have to be aware of how to use these facts to come up with your answers.In conclusion, these are three great chemistry books for your homework help. The Analogous Chemical Equivalents is a little more expensive than some of the other boo ks that I have mentioned but it provides so much more value than many of the free resources that are available. The Annotated Chemicals is less expensive and has a good amount of information but lacks some of the test analysis that is found in the other books.If you want to get the most out of your chemistry tutors, I would recommend trying to find a book that contains all of the correct test sections for every section of chemistry, including your assignment. It is also a good idea to choose a book that will provide you with unlimited access to the section that you are studying and that allows you to edit and rewrite portions of the book as you please.

Studying in Spain

Studying in Spain The Guide to Studying in a Spanish-speaking Country ChaptersWhat Are the Administrative Steps to Studying in Spain?Heading to Spain Thanks to ErasmusWhich Spanish University Should You Choose?Some Essential Information for Studying in Spain“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” - Aldous HuxleyAccording to the European Commission, 27% of Erasmus students met their current partner during their time abroad.Do you think you’ll find the one in Spain?Only time will tell. Before we get ahead of ourselves, you should find out more about choosing a university and embarking on an exchange programme.Fortunately for you, Superprof has put together this guide for your time at a Spanish university.If you want to study abroad in Spain as an undergraduate, postgraduate, an international student for an academic year, or on an intensive language and culture programme, here's how to go abroad, enrol on a programme, and improve your Spanish language skills. TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Disco ver all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Are the Administrative Steps to Studying in Spain?After your A Levels, you could study directly at a Spanish university. As it stands, members of the EU don’t need a visa to study in Spain and have a better choice when it comes to scholarships than those trying to get their education abroad and aren't from one of these countries.If you want to get an Erasmus grant, you'll need to be motivated. (Source: Free-Photos)That doesn’t mean there a ren’t procedures you need to follow. There are certain requirements for living in Spain:Enrollment in a Spanish university.Sufficient resourcesHealth insuranceStep 1: Get Your Credencial de AccesoTo enrol in a Spanish university, you’ll need to get your “credencial de acceso”. This is a confirmation of your A-Level results in the UK. You need to do this at the UNED and it costs €105.If you’ve already graduated from a UK university, you could continue via Erasmus+ by asking for the equivalent of your qualifications directly from the Spanish Ministry of Education.Step 2: Register with the Local AuthoritiesIf you’re staying for less than 3 months, you don’t need to do anything. Otherwise, you’ll need to register at the town hall or the police.A confirmation will be sent immediately, allowing you to stay in the country. You don’t need to renew this but it is a good idea to keep it on you at all times. You may be asked for it and not having it can be subject to a fine .Registration costs €11.Step 3: Get Your NIE (Foreigner Identification Number)Once you’ve got your confirmation, you can get your NIE which will allow you to open a bank account, get travel cards, phone contracts, internet, contract water or electricity, etc.Heading to Spain Thanks to ErasmusSpain is one of the most popular countries for students on Erasmus. The exchange programme allows anyone from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Croatia, or Turkey, to study or do an internship in another country in the European Union.A lot of UK universities have partnerships with Spanish universities meaning that you're spoilt for choice when it comes to where you can study. (Source: 12019)For Erasmus+, there are more steps and you’ll probably need to spend at least a year putting your application together to ensure that you’ll be accepted.Step 1: Attend the Erasmus Meeting at Your UniversityWhen you get to university, you should find out about any Erasmus meetings you should be attending. If you're thinking “why study abroad?”, an advisor can help you find more about international education, spending a summer abroad, or getting international experience.It doesn't matter whether you study humanities or sciences, you can study your main subject while getting language courses alongside your studies and these language courses can give you academic credit towards your degree.There may be several to ensure that a student’s application is correct.Step 2: Head to the International OfficeIf there aren’t any meetings planned, you should head to the international office at your university.You should be able to find out about applying, partner universities, how many places are available, etc.  You’ll require several documents:A cover letter in English and sometimes in SpanishAn application for an Erasmus scholarshipA letter of recommendation from teachersA transcript of your resultsStep 3: Writing Your Cover LetterThe most important s tep is your cover letter.  Remember that the main goals of the Erasmus programme are to:Study in a universityParticipate in practical training to develop personal skills and linguistic skills in a Spanish businessKeep this in mind when you’re writing your cover letter. Your cover letter for Erasmus should follow the same structure as a cover letter for a job. It needs to be concise (1 page), including an introduction, your background, your arguments, and a conclusion.You may have several arguments and you might want to express your willingness to learn the Spanish language, to study in a different environment, find out more about the working world abroad, or to live in Spain. You may also want to mention that you want to gain practical skills to help your career prospects. Don’t hesitate to mention that you want to learn more about Spanish culture and the rest of the world.Step 4: Send the Documents and Scholarship RequestNow all you have to do is send your application off and w ait for the reply. Don’t hesitate to regularly check up on how it’s doing.Which Spanish University Should You Choose?For studying abroad, you need to choose whether or not you want to study at a university, engineering school, or art school.It's not always a holiday but you can enjoy a lot of the major aspects of Spanish life. (Source: MarciMarc105)Three of the top 500 universities are Spanish.  That said, popularity shouldn’t be your only criterion.Step 1: Choose the City in SpainBefore you choose your university in Spain, you should think about which Spanish city or town you’d like to live in. If you’re going to spend at least a semester somewhere, you should probably pick somewhere that you’ll enjoy going to. You might want somewhere close to the sea or a student town.  There are plenty of cities in Spain and there are a number of criteria to consider:The cost of accommodationThe quality of lifeCultural dynamismThe cost of livingThe quality of university infrastructur eThe most popular cities include Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona, while the most popular university is the University of Granada.Step 2: Choose Your UniversityTo choose your university, you can pick from popular universities or prestigious universities. The 10 Spanish universities found in the 2018 rankings for the top 500 universities in the world include:University of BarcelonaUniversidad Complutense - MadridUniversity Pompeu Fabra BarcelonaUniversity of GranadaAutonomous University of BarcelonaAutonomous University of MadridThe University of the Basque CountryPolytechnic University of ValenciaUniversity of SantiagoUniversity of ValenciaHowever, the better the university, the more competition there’ll be for places. Make sure your application is good and your grades are even better.Not all of these universities are among the most popular. University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, the University of the Basque Country, and the University of Santiago aren’t the most requested. On the oth er hand, the University of Seville and the University of Salamanca are.Step 3: Visit Your Future HomeThe best way to choose where you want to live and study is by going there to visit.  You’ll be able to get a better idea of whether or not the place is right for you.Some Essential Information for Studying in SpainSpending time in Spain means that you’ll have to adapt to another country and its customs.Spanish food doesn't take much getting used to! (Source: EstudioWebDoce)You may need to do a language level test in order to attend a university. In Spain, Spanish is spoken, even in universities. It’s unlikely that you’ll find classes in English. International students often choose Spain because of the Mediterranean lifestyle and the cheap cost of living. While the minimum wage is a little over €800, this is appropriate to the cost of living.In Spain, you don’t need to be that formal with your teachers at university and you can probably call them by their first name. Simil arly, classes are quite informal and discussion and debate are often encouraged.In Spain, you’ll also need to get used to the food. Each region has its own specialities but one thing that most places will have is tapas. Spanish cuisine is very rich.A siesta may be recommended, especially when some students are just heading to clubs at two in the morning and classes start before nine!There’s also the tuition fees to consider. That said, you can't really put a price on how much you'll learn through cross-cultural immersion. Also, there are study abroad scholarships and the opportunity to intern abroad.Ready to start thinking about studying in Spain?

5 Guitar Tips for Accompanying a Vocalist

5 Guitar Tips for Accompanying a Vocalist Sign up successful I’m an up-and-coming guitarist who’s auditioned for the local jazz quartet. They call me in to play along with the other members in a live setting and I’m given a lead sheet with chords. I read over the sheet and look for tempo markings, key changes, and form. Once I’ve done that and begin playing I remember my place in the ensemble. This is paramount to being a great sideman. You are providing a rhythm and chord structure to a song. It’s imperative to do so without blaring out your part and playing too loudly for the melody to be heard. Finding the pocket, or the main beat of the groove, will allow the soloists greater freedom and give the group a tight, focused sound. My next step as a sideman comes when I visit an open mic and there’s a vocalist who doesn’t have someone to play her song. I know the tune and volunteer to play for her. As I start into the song I am deliberate with my rhythm changes and tempo of the tune. While I’m backing her up I remember to play quieter than the vocals. That means my chords and picking shouldn’t overshadow the vocals. This may mean turning your electric down or strumming lighter on an acoustic guitar. Your job as a sideman is to complement the vocals by providing steady rhythm and musical dynamics with your playing that reflect what the singer is crooning. I remember watching others back up voice majors in college and sometimes the singers were timid and afraid to sing out. It didn’t help when they had a guitarist beside them playing louder than them with their head buried in the chart, oblivious to the singer’s plight. That leads to the next point  know the form of the tune. Be prepared to play the intro and make notes of what lyrics come in when you are playing the different sections of the song. The vocal cues will help you provide the best back up for the song and ensure you don’t get lost along the way. Remember that singers are human, too, and knowing the form of the song is helpful should they forget a verse or jump to a chorus earlier than you anticipate. You’ll be able to get to that part quicker with a chart and the knowledge of the song’s form. That brings me to the most important tip  listen to the singer! I know it seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many times I’ve seen groups where the singer is laying into a vocal and the guitarist is chugging away on loud chords or playing a screaming solo over the vocals. By not working together with the vocalist you can ruin their instrument, their voice, by making them sing harder than necessary to compensate for your overly loud amp and playing style. This is not something you want to be known for, so remember:  if you can’t hear the vocals, you’re too loud. The last key is to be prepared for anything. Bring a capo along. Sometimes a key won’t work for a singer and capoing up will allow them to sing their song without you relearning the chords. Sometimes words are forgotten and they sing the song differently than you’ve learned. They may come in too early or too late on a phrase. Your part in all of this is to be flexible and make them sound great regardless of what happens along the way. By putting the singer/band first, the song ends up being the main attraction and with any luck you’ll earn the respect of the singer, other musicians, and the crowd. When you play your part and listen to the other parts around you, the music sounds best. So rock on, it’s time to shine but remember the guitar tips stated above: Know your place in the ensemble If you can’t hear the vocals you’re too loud Know the form of the tune Listen to the singer Be prepared Be flexible and make those around you sound great Applying these common sense guitar tips to your sideman work will afford you more chances to accompany singers and other instrumentalists. Get out to your local open mic or audition for a band. Respond to the Craigslist ad from a vocalist looking for someone to back them up. These opportunities will help you develop the skill set to be a great sideman and ultimately a better musician. Christopher teaches mandolin, violin, music performance, and guitar lessons in Mount Pleasant, SC, as well as online via Skype and Google Helpouts. He has over ten years of experience in teaching in classrooms and studios, and his  lessons focus on providing the budding musician with the tools to become a proficient player.  Learn more about Christopher 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 Damien Mathieu