What is it Like to Attend University of Maryland

What is it Like to Attend University of Maryland The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Gabby is a Washington D.C. tutor and 2011 graduate of the University of Maryland. She holds a Journalism degree and specializes inmany subjects such as Writing tutoring, Italian tutoring, and SAT prep tutoring. See what she had to say about her undergraduate experience: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or safe is the campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Gabby: The campus is beautiful and sprawling. UMD has a reliable shuttle system that goes to every corner of campus, although many students also walk or bike to class. The campus is generally safe, but its always a good idea to use the buddy system when walking around at night. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Gabby: The professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants are very accommodating to students needs. They all hold office hours and are often willing to schedule appointments outside of their posted hours. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Gabby: Dorm life is one of the best ways to get to know your fellow Terps. Most freshmen live in the high-rise buildings on campus, and many are grouped with other students in their majors. The rooms are nothing luxurious, but they are perfectly suited to house two students. The underclassmen dorms are located next to a dining hall, 24-hour snack shop, fitness center, and recreational spaces. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Gabby: Two of UMDs best known and highest ranked programs are Business and Engineering. I studied Journalism another nationally ranked program. During my junior year, the university completed construction of a new Journalism building that features state of the art production facilities and computer labs. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Gabby: Making friends as a freshman is easy thanks to a week of fun orientation activities. Resident advisers in the dorms are also great at organizing floor meetings to help students get to know their neighbors. Fraternities and sororities are popular, but its just as common to not participate in Greek life. VT: How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Gabby: UMD does of a fantastic job of offering career services to students. The Career Center offers free resume workshops and mock interviews. There are two major job fairs, one each semester, that attract employers ranging from the federal government to engineering firms. VT: How are the various study areas such as libraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Gabby: No matter where you live on campus, you will be close to at least one of UMDs eight libraries. There is always a quiet place to sit and study. For a more casual space, there is the Stamp Student Union which also has a variety of fast dining options. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between? To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Gabby: UMD is located in the heart of a college town. College Park has scores of student-friendly restaurants, many of which deliver and stay open late. Students also go into the town for bowling, ice-skating, or to catch a movie. There is not much in the way of shopping. Luckily, College Park is just a short Metro ride away from Washington, D.C. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Gabby: One of the best things about UMD is the combination of large school perks and small school feel. Nearly 27,000 undergraduate students attend UMD, which makes for a strong network of Terps fans. The university draws exciting speakers and performers, as well as prestigious faculty. But one should never feel lost in a crowd. Opportunities abound for finding your niche including extracurricular clubs and teams, specialized learning communities, and small class sizes. In my four years there, I had only two lectures with more than 50 students. Usually my class sizes were 20-25. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Gabby: One of my favorite classes was a survey of world religions. The class attracted students from a wide variety of backgrounds and majors. To break up the lectures, we would split into small groups for discussion. I met so many new people and broadened my viewpoint at the same time. Check out Gabbys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Kids Guitar Lessons How Often Should My Child Practice

Kids Guitar Lessons How Often Should My Child Practice Madalyn Danielson Odds are that if your child is taking guitar lessons, your child chose to play the instrument. Unlike stringed instruments, piano, and classical instruments, kids usually choose to start playing guitar. Kids guitar lessons are a great start, especially when they are geared to your child’s age, but the only way your child will really progress with the guitar is through regular practice. Practicing is a unique challenge when it is an instrument that a child chooses to play. People tend to take up the guitar imagining they are going to sound like a rock star in no time. It won’t take long for the disillusionment to settle in, and kids can be particularly susceptible to feeling discouraged by a lack of progress. Also, setting up a strict practice regiment can do as much harm as good. Your child wants to play for fun, so practicing needs to be regular and enjoyable. The Minimum Recommendation Your child should practice regularly, just like a student in band or orchestra. Students should average between two and three hours a week. The recommended time is 20 minutes a night, six days a week; however, this can be difficult to fit into your schedule. If it is not possible to work 20 minutes into a day, students can break it up, spending half an hour to 45 minutes each day of the weekend, then getting in 15 to 20 minutes on three week days. If there is additional time to spare during the weekends, your child will see better results by practicing closer to five hours a week. Having a day or two every week to get lost in the music and ignore the clock is one of the best ways to both inspire a budding musician and to think of practicing as a pleasant experience instead of a chore. During your childs guitar lessons, the focus will be on execution and technical aspects, so they might focus less on the music itself. The best time for your student to get lost in the music is when he or she is alone and practicing. Steady Practice vs. Practice in Bursts The thing to keep in mind is that practice is most effective when done regularly. While your child can get a lot done by practicing an hour both weekend days, if they don’t practice the other five days  a week, improvements will be slower to show. Like anything else, regular practice is always better than occasional long sessions. Staying Motivated to Practice There should be something about practice sessions that makes them fun for children. This is something to discuss after your kids guitar lessons. Their guitar teacher can recommend what would be most beneficial at each particular phase in the learning process. What you can do will depend in part on your own musical skills. If you are not musically inclined, set up time every week for a “concert” to give your child an audience. Make sure to praise your child’s progress. Point out the things you noticed that showed a better understanding of the guitar, even if it is as simple as playing steadier or not needing the sheet music. Encouraging words can give your child a reason to keep practicing. You can even invite friends and family over occasionally so your child has a real audience. If you play a musical instrument, join in with your child a couple of days a week. Have a duet session to make it feel more like a band since that was probably what inspired your kid to start playing. If you don’t play but are comfortable singing, you can sing while your child plays. Musical collaboration is something that can really inspire children to keep going with their instrument, because there is an amazing sense of accomplishment. Signing up your child for guitar lessons is a great first step. Your child will learn the basics and will be given music that is appropriate for his or her current skill level. Plus, a guitar teacher will offer encouragement and criticism to help your child improve. However, without practice, your child’s skills will remain nearly unchanged. Two to three hours a week is the minimum amount of practice needed to start really seeing results. The practice should span at least four days, but is best when done six days a week. Helping your child stay motivated to practice will go a long way to convincing your child to practice more often. 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  Douglas Pimentel

Why Focus on Leadership Skills - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Why Focus on Leadership Skills - Introvert Whisperer Why Focus on Leadership Skills? You may have noticed I have a focus on Leadership and I think many people think that means I only work with executives and managers.   I can understand the implication but there’s a bigger purpose for that focus which directly affects you â€" in a very big way. I focus on Leadership skills for two VERY important reasons: Exhibiting leadership skills is the fastest path to promotions â€" regardless of your position, level or career aspirations. Leadership is sorely needed in every group and is in seriously short supply. That’s why there are so many poor managers out there making life miserable for their subordinates. If you think about both of those goals it amounts to more pay, greater success and career satisfaction.   Who wouldn’t want those things?   We all do! Some people think getting a promotion is primarily a factor of time.   If you do your job long enough you will get more pay and a high position.   I won’t kid you; it is a factor as statistics reflect it even in businesses that have what they consider a meritocracy (pay for performance).   However, for those rare few people that demonstrate leadership skills, they accelerate the process of promotion. Why is promotion accelerated for people with leadership skills?   That type of person becomes a clear stand out in an ocean of “mediocre” co-workers.   In my 21 years managing at Intel and 9 years as a coach, I’ve observed that very little is different from one group to the next.   Very few people do anything to distinguish them from the others.   Most people perform the job and contribute little more than what I would call the “minimum” to get by.   Yes, most people want to think they are rock stars but rarely do anything to ensure they are. What I’ve said might sound negative or insulting but mostly it’s just a fact of life.   Its how “most people are most of the time”.   The good news is that with very little extra effort, you can be a standout rock star that managers dream of having in their midst.   You will make yourself easy to promote because you are doing things that are more than the bare minimum.   You are the dream employee and for that you will get richly rewarded. Hopefully, I’ve made my case.   Even if you have no aspirations of leading the charge, we all have times when we have to step up and be a leader.   Why not capitalize on leadership skills and give you paycheck and level a “lift”? Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.   Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Thinking About Pursuing a Career in Accounting and Switching Majors

Thinking About Pursuing a Career in Accounting and Switching Majors Pursuing a Career in Accounting Pursuing a Career in Accounting If you want to pursue a career in accounting, it is not a big deal that you must have special skills to manipulate accounting numbers. As a Certified Public Accountant, CPA or Chief Financial Officer, CFO, you will be responsible. They will review and analyze various aspects of financial information for any entity, public or private while financial information are analyzed for several purposes, including: Audit Tax Reporting Advisory Responsibilities for Pursuing a Career in Accounting As an Accountant (CPA) or Chief Financial Officer (CFO), you will be asked to prepare and provide financial reports. It is required to represent the companys board of directors about its overall health, financial strategy or to advise the board about potential mergers, acquisitions or any expansion plans that the company is considering. But in reality, it’s not about crunching the accounting numbers, the technology (accounting software’s) took over the manual book-keeping process. Even though with all the accounting software available to do the job for you, your presence will still be needed as a problem solver for company. Since you will be working very closely with top management or board of directors of the company. In order to become a certified public accountant, you will need to earn not only an additional credits hours. You also need credit hours in addition to your bachelor’s degree but also pass the four semester CPA exam. The average salary for a beginners working as CPA is about $45,500 and it’s around $40,900 if you are a tax accountant. But working as a financial officer/controller, one can earn average starting salary of $90,000, according to Glassdoor.com. More options available for pursuing career in accounting After passing the CPA exam, you have two choices, one is to start your career as CPA of your own firm. And secondly you can work as full time for big or small, public or private companies. Even in major economic crisis, the accounting jobs have a fewer cut than other types of jobs. The beauty of the accounting career is that you will gain a diverse interest which eventually will help you grow as you progresses in your accounting career. Lot of people think that accounting is not a lucrative field, but it’s a very stable field. It’s going to stay here even with the tough economic environment or the accounting software’s that do the job for you. Whether it is the new accounting law that just passed by US congress or it’s a new investment in the renewable energy companies. The accountant will be needed to solve the financial puzzles for the companies. You being a versatile accounting professionals can easily switch career to either finance. You can also start your own business if don’t like the accounting field. According to the latest survey 75% of those says that accounting degree is must in order to advance in their career. 65% respondent says that they will recommend that one should major in accounting in order to get a good start in their career. The most students pursued major in Accounting, Business and Finance. It’s a great idea if you start your career as an intern early when you are in either junior or senior class of high school. For Pursuing a Career in Accounting working at one of the 10 big accounting firms below can be helpful: Deloitte: Ranked number 1 accounting firm. Annual revenue approximately were in the range of $15,067 million and $20,057 million. Company headquarter is in New York City, NY and it employs approx. 35,000 people. PwC: Second in the top 10 accounting firms. The annual revenue ranges from $12,000 to $14,050 million. Companys headquarter is in New York City, NY and employs approx. 30,000 people. Ernst Young: Holds the third position in the top 10 accounting firms. Annual revenues ranges from $9,500 to $11,000 million. Also the companys headquarter is in New York City, NY and employs approx. 30,000 people. KPMG: Came on the 4th place in top 10 accounting firms. Annual revenue ranges from $6,200 to $7,000 million. The company headquartered in New York City, NY and it employs approx. 24,000 people. McGladrey: Hold the 5th position in the top 10 accounting Their annual revenue ranges from $1,350 million to $1,500 million. They are based in the state Illinois and currently employs approx. 7000 peoples. Grant Thornton: Placed on 6th position. Their annual revenue ranges from $1,250 million to $1,300 million. The company headquartered in Chicago, IL and employs approx. 4000 people. CBIZ/Mayer Hoffman McCan: Number 7th position in the top 10 accounting firms. Their annual revenue ranges from $785 million to $800 million. They headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and employs approx. 4100 people. BDO: Holds the 8th position in the top 10 accounting firms. Their annual revenue ranges from $620 to $700 million. Their head office is located in Chicago, IL and currently employs approx. 3000 people. Crowe Horwath: Positioned themselves on number 9th position. Their annual revenue ranges from $600 to $620 million. They are headquartered in Oak Brook Terrace, IL and currently employs approx. 3000 people. Clifton Larson Allen: On number 10th position. Their annual revenue ranges from $550 million to $600 million. They are based in the State of Milwaukee and currently employs approx. 4000 peoples. There are some accounting placement services also if you don’t live near the top 10 firms above. The top accounting placement services are: Robert Half Finance Accounting: Accounting employment and staffing agency. Their offices spread across Unites States. One can search for Robert half on google search engine and find their office near you. Accounting Principals and Staffing Services: Provides accounting employment and staffing services. They matched the right skills with right type of job. Kelly Services: Global company providing the job placement in accounting, finance and other industries. Accounting and Finance Staffing Services: Expert in matching the right skills with right type of accounting and finance jobs available. Kforce Staffing and Solution: Professional accounting placement services matching job seekers and employers in accounting, finance, and healthcare. The college students can start their career as an accounting tutor helping students in junior or senior high school. Several tutoring companies students can work part time as tutor. Tutor Pace is one of the best tutoring companies that offers a handsome hourly rate and one can work conveniently from home, library, or even café. If you preparing for CPA exam and you need assistance, you can connect with Tutor Pace Online Accounting Tutors anytime, anywhere. With so many doors open now a days to accounting and financial professionals, I recommend students, entry level professionals and hiring managers to do their homework to learn what certifications is best for them. Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save

The Guide to Drawing Mountains

The Guide to Drawing Mountains How to Draw Mountains ChaptersHow to Draw a Mountain: Pay AttentionWhat Techniques Should You Use to Draw a Mountain?Drawing a Mountain: The Steps to FollowFinding Models to DrawPractise Drawing“An artist must be a reactionary. He has to stand out against the tenor of the age and not go flopping along.” - Andre MauroisPainting, drawing, and art are both relaxing and creative pursuits. While there was a huge boom in colouring book sales, it quickly plummeted afterwards. That said, painting is becoming more popular.White backgrounds with pine trees, bears, and alpine lodges are popular amongst many artists.So why not learn how to draw them?With coloured pencils, oil paint, or graphite, you’ll soon know how to draw a snowy mountain top!Art supplies at the ready! In this article, we'll be looking at painting and drawing mountains. FernandoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidDrawing Teache r 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenDrawing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SabrinaDrawing Teacher 4.33 (3) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Julia janeDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvelinaDrawing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow to Draw a Mountain: Pay AttentionYou need to pay attention when drawing real things. Unlike creating something yourself, when you draw a mountain, you need to look at the details to ensure that you capture what makes it real. If you want to draw a mountain, you first need to pay attention to it. (Source: kimura2)Ideally, you want to be looking at some real mountains. It’s harder to get more realistic than the real thing. Of course, not everybody lives opposite or even near a mountain to have the time to sit down and think about them as they draw them.Furthermore, you can also get a feel for your surroundings. You want to capture the atmosphere and ambience when you draw a landscape. In some cases, you’ll need to take some artistic licence to convey the things you can’t see. In other words, you need to convey how the mountain makes you feel and what they're really like.To draw well, you need to be in a comfortable place with your sketch pad and pencils. You don’t want to lug all your art supplies up the side of a mountain, after all. A couple of pencils and some paper will do the trick.  You need to try and reproduce the shapes of the mountains and their proportions on paper.If you aren’t lucky e nough to live next to some beautiful mountains, you might want to find a photo of some online. You can also copy from somebody else’s work but just for practice. Using this work would be plagiarism.What Techniques Should You Use to Draw a Mountain?Graphite, watercolours, gouache, acrylic paint, oil paints, Indian ink, mixed media, etc., there are plenty of different materials and techniques to choose from to show off your drawing skills. It's a good idea to start with the technique that you're most comfortable with. (Source: aalmeidah)For those just getting started, we recommend you use a graphite pencil. This means that you’ll be able to correct any mistakes that you make when sketching.Of course, there are no rules when it comes to what you’d like to use to draw your mountains. On the other hand, it’s not very easy lugging oils and canvases up the side of a mountain either. Most people opt for watercolours when painting nature as you can get watercolour palettes from most art shops. You just need a few paintbrushes, your colours, and some water.Once you’ve finished your sketch, you can always add colour to it there or take it back with you and finish it at home. Don’t worry too much about your choice at first. FernandoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidDrawing Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st l esson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenDrawing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SabrinaDrawing Teacher 4.33 (3) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Julia janeDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvelinaDrawing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDrawing a Mountain: The Steps to FollowOnce you’re sitting comfortably in front of your mountain or photo, it’s time to start drawing. Make sure you practise drawing mountains. (Source: KeithJJ)Sketching the OutlineWhether you’re a beginner or experienced artist, you’ll want to start with a sketch. Some experts can skip this step but it’s always a good idea to plan out your drawing with a sketch where you can correct any mistakes quite easily.Start with the outline of the mountain on your sketch. Follow the contours and summits you see. For more realistic drawings, you need to pay particular attention to the proportions between the various mountains.In addition to drawing the outlines, you also need to separate the various mountains from one another.You need to be flexible when doing a sketch. Don’t hesitate to make several marks in the same place. You’ll choose the best one when it’s time to ink. Before then, let your hand go with the flow. You’ll soon start making quick and steady progress.Even if your drawing isn’t perfect, try to let go.Discover how to draw beaches.How to Draw ReliefOnce you’ve got the main contours drawn, it’s time to give your drawing some relief. You can also complete this step with a pencil. You always have your rubber if you make a mistake.As you’ll have noticed, mountains aren’t smooth. You can’t just draw a few triangles alongside each other for a mountain range.  To give your drawing more relief, you need to work on areas of light and shadow. Mountains tend to have deep crevasses. You need to darken these areas with your pencil either through crosshatching or shading. This will give your mountains more character.You can then add some vegetation to the sides of your mountains.Learn how to draw gardens and parks.Colouring Your DrawingYou can keep your drawing in black and white if you want, but colour can bring it to life.Like we explained before, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to adding colour to your art. Acrylics, pastels, markers, coloured pencils, etc., you can even colour your work digitally on a computer.You can colour your picture realistically, respecting the colours as they appear in real life, or you can colour to accentuate certain areas. You can work with light and shadows to add depth and relief to your images. You need to use colours and darker shades for deeper areas. Soon, your drawing will be finished.It’s quite complicated making specific marks when drawing a mountain. Some artists prefer to draw realistically whereas others prefer to draw to a feeling. Every artist has their style.After all, mountains drawn by young children are just as recognisable as mountains as those drawn by adults. Each artist has their techniques, style, and inspiration.  The most important thing is to enjoy yourself when you draw.Learn how to draw houses.Finding Models to DrawIf you don’t live near a mountain, you’ll have to find examples of mountains you can work from. What better resource than the internet for finding images from all over the world.You can start by searching for images on Google. Find a cop yright-free image and practise drawing.  Social networks are also great places to find mountain landscapes. There are plenty of users sharing photos of their holidays in the mountains in both summer and winter.This is particularly true on networks like Pinterest and Instagram. You can also find drawings and paintings shared by other artists that you can use as inspiration.There are plenty of examples of images done with charcoal, pastels, pens, inks, and paint on social networks.Practise DrawingThe best way to draw better mountains is by regularly drawing mountains. Any artist will tell you that you need to regularly work on your art. Your practice will help you to develop reflexes and drawing will become second nature to you.By copying or imagining mountains every day, you’ll start to see your work getting better. You can always ask a private tutor for help with drawing mountains. (Source: Fotocitizen)If you don’t want to teach yourself, you can always look for art teachers or tutors to teach you in a workshop, class, or private tutorial.There are also classes for drawing landscapes. A tour guide and art teacher can accompany you up a mountain and help you as you draw. In addition to showing you how to draw, they’ll also show you the best parts of the mountains to draw.Drawing and painting classes are also important for learning the techniques you’ll need and developing an understanding of light and shadow, proportion, still life, or life drawing.You’ll learn how to create drawings and colour them!If you'd like to take a drawing class, learn about figure drawing, painting techniques, basic drawing, ceramics, or art history, or sculpture, consider getting in touch with a private tutor on Superprof. You can get either face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, or group tutorials.Each come s with its pros and cons so take your time when deciding what's right for you, your learning style, and your budget. Face-to-face tutorials are more cost-effective but also more costly while group tutorials tend to be cheaper but you won't get as much one-on-one time with your tutor.Keep in mind that many of the tutors on Superprof also offer the first hour of tuition for free. You can use this time to get to know them, discuss what you want out of your tutorials, and agree upon the conditions of your private tutorials. Try out a few different tutors before you decide on the one that's perfect for you.

The Cost of Visiting Morocco

The Cost of Visiting Morocco How Much Does It Cost to Visit Morocco? ChaptersHow Much Does Transport Cost in Morocco?How Much Does Accommodation Cost in Morocco?How Much Do You Need to Budget for Attractions and Activities?How Much Does Food in Morocco Cost?A Sample Budget for a Week in Morocco“Travel the best way to be lost and found at the same time.” - Brenna SmithOver 9 million travellers visited Morocco in 2017, 12% more than in the previous year. A new record for the country! A trip to Morocco isn’t very expensive and it’s just a few hours from the UK by plane. However, cheap doesn’t mean free. You’ll still need to budget before you go there.In this article, we'll look at the cost of getting to Morocco, how much you'll pay getting around the country, and other things you'll need to budget for. HalimaArabic Teacher £13/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KotaibaArabic Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SoledadArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NancyArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaouesArabic Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DinaArabic Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AbrarArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UsamaArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Much Does Transport Cost in Morocco?Before you go to Morocco, try to establish a budget. Transport is a significant part of any budget. Before you can start bartering in the souks, you need to get there. (Source: DanielWanke)Getting to MoroccoFirstly, you’ll need to get to Morocco. There are several airports with direct flights from the UK. From London, there are direct flights to Essaouira, Rabat (the capital), Fez, Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, Casablanca.There are also direct flights to Morocco from other cities in the UK including Liverpool, Manchester, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, and Newcastle.In terms of rates, you can expect to pay between £30 and £250 for return flights depending on where you go, where you fly from, and when you travel. Generally, the later you leave it, the more you’ll pay.  You can compare the cost of flights on sites like Skyscanner.Check out our guide to visiting Morocco.Getting Around Morocco by BusIf you are staying in an all-inclusive hotel, you won’t need to worry too much about travelling around. If lying around isn’t for you, the bus network between the main cities and eve n a few secluded parts of the country is quite advanced.There are three main bus companies:CTMSupratoursSATASYou’ll need to pay around 5Dh for your bags (around 50p) with a surcharge if you have more than 10kg. Here are some example prices:Casablanca-Rabat: between 25 and 60Dh.Tangier-Fez: between 115 and 125Dh.Rabat-Marrakesh: between 135 and 190Dh.There are also buses to Meknes, Ouarzazate, or even Kasbah. Make sure you get to the bus station early in the morning if it’s warm because you won’t be the only one to opt for the bus.Taxis in MoroccoIn the city, you can cheaply travel by taxi as long as you know the rates. Insist that your driver puts the meter on. If they refuse, don’t ride. Official taxis have to respect the rates, with the meter generally starting at 2Dh (3Dh the evenings or from in front of your hotel) and between 4 and 8Dh per kilometre.Make sure you have small change so you can pay exactly what you owe! In the event of a conflict, take the taxi’s number and mention that you’ll get in touch with the Tourist Police. You’ll see that there’s no conflict.Would you like to learn Arabic before you go?Other Types of TransportTo save money, you might think about hitchhiking, which is quite common in Morocco. You need to be sensible and careful. Don’t do it on your own.It’s not recommended that you rent a car in Morocco, even though all the main companies are there. Insurance contracts are a little blurry and driving in Morocco is complicated.Need Arabic lessons London?How Much Does Accommodation Cost in Morocco?There are several types of accommodation for those travelling with their family, as a couple, or on their own. If you’re going on a honeymoon, for example, you’ll probably want something with all the trimmings in a hotel in Marrakesh.Other travellers may prefer youth hostels as they’re cheaper. Why not opt to stay in a riad in the Medina in Marrakech? (Source: kkortmulder)Hotels in MoroccoAs for accommodation, the cost of hotels varies according to location, rating, and season.  There are large hotel chains like Ibis and Sofitel but there are also independent hotels for all budgets, too.You can find a double hotel room for as little as £4 a night in Meknes. In Casablanca, rooms are available for around £50 a night and in Tangier, you can expect to pay around £40 a night.It’s not necessarily advantageous to opt for a youth hostel unless you’re in one of the larger cities like Rabat, Casablanca, or Marrakesh. There’s not a lot of them and, in some cases, you’ll pay as much as you would for a hotel.Airbnbs in MoroccoIf you’re looking to stay in Morocco, you can always look at Airbnb and get a private room with a Moroccan family. You can expect to pay between £30 and £70 a night for a private room.If you want to enjoy a Moroccan riad, you can expect to pay anywhe re between £30 and £250 depending on where you are.  There are more available in the north of Morocco than in the south so think about them if you’re planning on visiting a lot of Morocco.Find out the best time to visit Morocco. HalimaArabic Teacher £13/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KotaibaArabic Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SoledadArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NancyArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaouesArabic Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DinaArabic Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AbrarArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UsamaArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Much Do You Need to Budget for Attractions and Activities?Going to Morocco and not doing anything would be a shame! While certain activities like the souks and beaches are free, you’ll have to open your wallet for the other activities. While unmissable, trips to the desert on a camel aren't free! (Source: Wolfgang_Hasselmann)Any good trip to Morocco should include some time in the desert. Whether you go to the Merzouga dunes or the Sahara desert, you’ll have the choice of going on a camel or in a Jeep. Most tour operators offer trips lasting several days in the desert.You’ll be camping in the desert under the watchful eye of a local guide. This is another way to enjoy Moroccan culture and customs while enjoying a view straight out of 1,001 Nights.Most hotels can help you book your trip to the desert for around £50 for 2 days and a night in a tent.How Much Does Food in Morocco Cost?Morocco cuisine is very famous. It’s a blend of Berber, Arab, and Jewish cuisines with some African and Indian influences. With so much good food to eat, it's convenient that it's not very expensive! (Source: annazuc)You can have tagine, couscous, mechoui, briouats, as well as mint tea at the end of each meal. There are also local specialities that you’ll have to try.  For those with a sweet tooth, you’ll enjoy your time in Morocco. Pastries with almonds, honey, cinnamon, and orange blossom. In terms of cost, you can eat in a restaurant every day for every meal. Lunch will cost you between 20 and 50Dh (around £2 to £4).A Sample Budget for a Week in MoroccoNot everyone will be travelling on the same budget. That’s why we’ve put together three sample budgets: the backpacker budget, the average budget, and the premium budget.Backpacker BudgetNot including the flights, you can spend less than £300 for a week for two people in Morocco.  Here are the average prices for two people: £25 per night for accommodation £10 per day for food £4 per day for transportOpt for free activitiesThe budget will be s imilar for most Moroccan cities but you won’t be able to do trips to the desert or anything like that.The Average BudgetWith £700 for a week for two in Morocco, you can enjoy beaches or the souks in Marrakech. For two people, it’ll cost you: £55 per night for accommodation £25 per day for food £10 per day for transport £6 per day for activitiesYou could always do a camel trip, for example.The Premium BudgetThis is for those without almost no spending limit in Morocco. If you’ve saved up a bit, you can make the most out of almost everything Morocco has to offer. You can bring back argan oil and babouches for the whole family. For two people, you’ll spend over £1,000 for the week: £75 per night for accommodation £30 per day for food £20 per day for transport £20 per day for activitiesEnjoy everything Morocco has to offer.What are you going to do when you go to Morocco?Whether you visit the High Atlas Mountains, Chefchaouen, the Atlantic Coast, or the Mediterranean Sea, make sure you get the most out of your accommodation.Check out our tips for visiting Morocco.Before going to Morocco, you should consider learning some Arabic. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of talented Arabic tutors on Superprof. There are three main types of tutorials available: one-on-one tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.One-on-one tutorials are a bespoke service offered to you by your tutor. During the lessons, you'll have their undivided attention, making these the most cost-effective tutorials available. However, they also tend to be the most costly per hour as you're paying for personalised tuition and all the tutor's time both inside and outside of your classes.As long as you've got a webcam, mic, and decent internet connection, you can enjoy online tutorials. This is when your tutor teaches you remotely via a video call. Since the tutor has fewer overheads, this type of tutorial tends to be cheaper than one-on-one tutorials.Finally, online tutorials are wh en the tutor teaches a group of students. These may be students who already know one another or strangers. Either way, with several students footing the bill, these tutorials tend to be the cheapest option per student per hour of tuition.

Stressed about Finals Try Adding Pre-Exam Music to Your Study Plan

Stressed about Finals Try Adding Pre-Exam Music to Your Study Plan With final exams quickly approaching, now is the time to put together a rock-solid test-taking plan that will help you reach your full potential this year. All of the usual final exam advice still holds true: study hard, get a good nights sleep, eat a high protein breakfast, and keep your stress levels down by making time for exercise and time with friends. This year, consider also adding some inspiring pre-exam music to your finals plan to help take your exam performance to the next level. Music has many positive benefits including enhancing our mood, providing a distraction from negative thoughts, and even boosting feelings of self-empowerment all of which are directly related to academic performance. Research has shown that listening to calming music before an exam can reduce anxiety, and listening to upbeat and empowering music before a challenging task can improve your mood and your self-confidence. Elite athletes incorporate music into their pre-game routines in order to mentally prepare themselves for competition. In fact, theres some scientific evidence that shows that pre-game music does positively impact their performance. In a study of basketball players who were struggling at the free throw line, researchers found that listening to upbeat music before hitting the court improved the players free throw percentage. The players in the study told the researchers that listening to the music helped them control their mood and their negative thoughts about shooting . These same principles apply to academic performance! When it comes to picking your own pre-exam music, think about the emotional state you want to achieve and find songs that will stir up those emotions. If you tend to feel down and discouraged before an exam, look for music will inspire you to feel positive, energized, and hopeful, like gold medalist Michael Phelps who blasts Levels by Avicii to get himself pumped up before a big race. If you tend to feel nervous and anxious, look for music that is reassuring, like Olympic soccer player Megan Rapinoe, who shakes off her pregame nerves with Shake it Off by Florence + the Machine. If your self-confidence often wanes before a big test, look for empowering music. According to a study conducted at Northwestern University, songs with a heavy bass, like Queens We Will Rock You, have the power to increase confidence and make you feel more in control. When youre listening to music before an exam, use that time to give yourself an even greater mental boost by visualizing your best possible performance. Imagine yourself confidently tackling the test questions, and easily recalling answers from all of the material that you have studied. Remind yourself that youve worked hard to prepare for the exam and that all of your hard work and effort will pay off. Think back to a time when you aced an exam and how that made you feel. Imagine yourself feeling that same way when youve completed this final exam. Music can be a powerful tool for boosting your mood and self-confidence going into your final exams. Just as music has inspired elite athletes to perform at their peak under pressure, when paired with a smart study plan it can help inspire you to reach your full potential on your exams this year. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

U.S. Supreme Court Rules on Same-Sex Marriage

U.S. Supreme Court Rules on Same-Sex Marriage June 26, 2015 was a historic day in the United States, as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the constitution guarantees the right to same-sex marriage.Before today, 36 of our 50 states allowed gay marriage, which covered 70 percent of all Americans.This is probably the most quoted part of todays  decision,  â€œNo union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family,” he wrote. “In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.  It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage.  Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”Same-sex marriage has long been a cont roversial topic in the United States,  even President Obama, who spoke today praising the decision, was quoted in 2004 as saying, marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman.Below is a 2 minute segment from President Obamas speech today. Watch it and see if you can answer the questions below.Answer the questions in comments and we will respond.1. _ ___ __, theyve reaffirmed that all Americans are entitled to the equal protection of the law.2.  The statement above addresses the constitutional reasons for this decision. What does it mean?3. Why do you think he called our current system a patchwork system?4. What uncertainty does this remove for same-sex couples?5. How does Obama think this decision will affect marriage?6.  Do you think this change in U.S. law will have an effect in other countries?