Is There Tutoring In Itasca Illinois For Free?

Is There Tutoring In Itasca Illinois For Free?Tutoring in Itasca Illinois can be very interesting. The state of Illinois is known for its business opportunities, great schools, beautiful scenery and so many other perks that come with living in the state.Most people believe that tutoring is a very noble profession that demands a lot of passion and effort to become a professional. However, this could not be further from the truth. Tutoring in Itasca Illinois is an easy way to earn a decent income, especially if you want to keep your day job.Tutoring in Itasca Illinois is easy to learn as long as you have the proper background to guide you. No matter how old you are, just remember that whatever you're going to tutor is the person's son or daughter. That is why it is crucial that you make sure that you have the necessary amount of patience, knowledge and the right attitude when you start your career as a tutor.To become a tutor in Itasca Illinois, you will need to enroll yourself into th e tutoring institute of your choice. Before enrolling yourself into one, you should already have some basic knowledge about tutoring and that will also help you greatly in getting into the right institute. Make sure that you make your preparations carefully as tutoring can turn out to be quite stressful for students. You need to make sure that you have made all the right decisions.When you're enrolled into a tutoring institute, it's very important that you make certain that you have the proper materials to teach students. This will ensure that you are ready to help students at any point of time. If you don't have the required papers and software, you will find it hard to cope up with the difficult situation of teaching students and you will surely end up failing your student.Itasca has a lot of private schools and colleges that are proud to offer free tuition to their students. However, if you want to make the most out of this opportunity, you will need to pay a certain fee each mon th in order to stay enrolled in the college or school. The tuition fees are very cheap compared to the other colleges in the area. What's more, you will receive everything you need for free when you enroll in the college.Just make sure that you have passed the required examinations and have a high school diploma. You must also prove that you have the ability to instruct your students and that you have plenty of patience to handle all the students in the class. If you feel that you are ready to take on this challenge, then the tutoring services in Itasca Illinois are worth looking into.

What Are The Main Principles Of Pilates

What Are The Main Principles Of Pilates The 6 Pilates Principles ChaptersWhat Is Pilates?The History Of Pilates TrainingThe Benefits Of The Pilates Exercise ProgramWhat You Need To Get Started With Your Pilates WorkoutThe Principles Of The Pilates MethodEach of the Pilates classes that you attend; you will notice the Pilates instructor following a particular routine. Reminders to bring your awareness and concentration to better posture, improving flexibility, proper breathing and the focus on the mind-body connection.Pilates is a super exercise for your body, as superfoods are for your diet. There are just some things that make sense and give specific results and benefits. Pilate’s exercises are one of them, focused on strengthening and conditioning a balanced body with core strength, body awareness and coordination in your range of motion.This uniformity within Pilates is down to the guiding principles which coordinate how Pilates is taught and the outcomes for each class. These principles of Pilates are what give the workout such a robust feel ing when practising. Even if you change the Pilates class, you will still find that you gain the same quality of lesson. This is one of the reasons that Pilates continues to grow as one of the most popular forms of exercise even today. you want it to be thick enough to protect you from the floor and with a good resistant surface that will prevent you from slipping and sliding while doing your workout.If you have limited flexibility, it can be beneficial to buy a fitness band which can help to support you gently to complete the postures.If you are prone to having aches and pains having a cushion with you in practice can support while you complete variations of the exercises.The Principles Of The Pilates MethodPilates is built upon a foundation of structured principles, which is what gives it such a great robust reputation. As the exercise program that is overflowing with benefits, it is these principles which guide all practitioners through the postures and help them to secure consis tent results. No matter what their goals or reasons for practising Pilates. They will always be pleasantly surprised that they always get more than they wished for.The guiding principles of Pilates were created by Joseph Pilates in the first half of the twentieth century. He was a qualified fitness professional and had studied Eastern and Western fitness concepts. He then brought together the best of his findings along with his own ideas and experience, to create what it is that we know as Pilates today.Although these principles may appear to be a little abstract, when they are applied to your practice they ensure that you receive the maximum benefits possible from your practice.Google  yoga London  now.Pilates is a full body workout and exercise system that focuses on key core areas to create and promote wellness within the body and mind. Photo Source: Unsplash6 Pilate’s PrinciplesAlignment And PrecisionWhile practising Pilates, you will be continuously reminded and aware of the necessity for proper posture and precise placement of your body. To help you achieve this principle, Pilates is often done at a very slow pace. This supports you to get the position correct and also allows you to become more aware of your body. You will be able to connect the movements of your spine, pelvis and head in perfect alignment. While this principle has a focus on the physical, it also has benefits of improving your concentration and your connection to your mind.BreathingYour practice will be full of deep breathing exercises to help transport oxygen around your body which provided your muscle with the energy needed to maximise your practice. Proper breathing while you practice Pilates is essential to clean the body of stress and toxins and replace it with fresh, clean oxygen. Adding the breath to your practice will make your connection to your practice stronger and lower any stress that you may be feeling which may distract you from being aware in the class.ConcentrationIf you hope to master your alignment and postures, you must concentrate and remain present in your practice. While being precise, you must be aware of what it is you are doing and using this focus aim to stay connected with your movements. When you are fully aware of your Pilates workouts, you will increase your body awareness and gain mental strength.CentringThe powerhouse also known as the core is the central area from which all movements are taken. With this being the centre of the body it is the origin of power behind all postures. Developing your centre has many benefits including having better abs, a flatter stomach, even achieving a six pack is possible should that be what you desire. As you look within you, bring calm to your practice and power to your core.ControlThis principle is fundamental in your practice; this is the heart of awareness and mindfulness as brought into your practice. The method that Pilates uses to provide this full body workout says that you must be aware of what each part of your body is doing and you should be in control of what you want them to do next. No movement is accidental or lazily placed. This allows the correct form and gives you access to the maximum benefits of Pilates.FlowThe flow that runs through your Pilates practice is gentle, calming and full of a slow grace and precise movement. All of the postures are tied together by a strong fluid movement that makes conscious body awareness appear elegant and full of vitality. This principle is the string that ties all of the postures together and is the vibration that lifts the veil of basic movement and adds the essence of continuity and fluidity into your practice. It is within this beautiful of motion that the mind-body connection is strengthened and reconnected.I hope when you take your next Pilates class or attend your first class that you bare these principles in mind and integrate them into your active practice. This integration of the principles into the workout will guarantee that you will receive the maximum benefits the Pilates can provide.

A Beginners Guide to Animal Photography

A Beginners Guide to Animal Photography A Guide to Starting Wildlife Photography for Aspiring Animal Photographers ChaptersQuestions to Ask Prior to Becoming an Animal PhotographerWhat Does it Take to master Animals Photography?The 7 Golden Rules  to Perfect Photography of AnimalsWildlife Photography: a Tantalising Pinnacle to Aspire toBest Animal PhotographersShooting in a photography studio is vastly different than capturing images in nature.A good photographer should be capable of both, and should have learned both of these types of photography while undergoing schooling.Still: even after the best online photography courses, one should choose a specialty.If you are an animal lover, why not dedicate your career to taking pictures of them?Superprof has compiled this handy guide for you to follow in snapping quality, professional shots of our furry, scaly, and feathered friends.And then, there are other functions every professional photographer must undertake: retouching and editing photos, delivering the finished product and collecting payments...All of this can take away from one's time behind the lens!Furthermore, as a future animal photographer, you should take under advisement:Do you have the patience to work with such unpredictable subjects?Do you have the necessary equipment and props?Do you have the necessary photography skills to work with animals?Are you convinced that animal photography will satisfy both your desire to work with animals and your pocketbook?In all of your fervor to launch  yourself into such a niche, you should nevertheless account for the fact that your clientèle would be but a small slice of everyone seeking professional photographs.Unlike wedding photography, photojournalism or general portraiture â€" areas of photography that could be quite lucrative, the animal photographer accepts that his client base would be substantially smaller.It might be harder to earn enough to make a decent living as an animal photographer.That's not to say that you couldn't make out well, photographing animals of all stripes. It just means that you should target yo ur business toward those clients whose business is animals.Your client base could include: pet stores and veterinarian offices; travel agencies that promote wildlife tours, magazines that feature nature photography, and those clients who keep portraits of their pets.One last nugget to chew on: have you drafted a business plan?How much do you need/want to earn each month? How much time do you wish to spend working? How many photoshoots do you need to complete to meet your living and working expenses?How much should you charge?Photographing an animal who generally remains still, like an iguana or a python, should command less than photographing an active Labrador puppy or a sullen tabby cat, don't you think?How can you make a stubborn kitty pose properly? Source: Pixabay Credit: Walter_KowalschekWhat Does it Take to master Animals Photography?There are no requirements or special diplomas needed to promote one's services as a professional photographer in the UK.However, we do aver that billing yourself as a professional photographer is much more credible if you have attained a Level 3  certificate or a BA Honors diploma from an accredited photography school.The most important thing to remember: no matter if you are a freelancer or full-time professional (of any type of business), you must register with HMRC, and pay any taxes levied on you.With that out of the way, let us look at what type of animal photography you could specialise in.PortraitureIndeed, there is a substantial market for snapping portraits of beloved pets.You may invite clients into your studio for a photography session, complete with backdrops and props, or you could travel to their home, to capture your subject in his familiar setting.There are advantages and drawbacks to both.Should your client opt for studio photography, you would already have your DSLR set up, studio lighting in place, and issues of composition settled.The chore would then be getting cooperation out of your subject. And then, after the shoot, removing any lingering fur.Should your client request digital photography in their home, you would have to transport your DSLR camera (or your Nikon), along with your filters, lenses, tripod, lighting, props and, if you are using a digital camera, perhaps a laptop.You would have to adapt your lighting techniques to the environment: is the room overly bright? Or, conversely: unnaturally dark?Would you be capturing the animal in action? Maybe chasing a ball or jumping through a hoop?What if you are photographing fish, in a pond or aquarium?Your skill at macro photography could be called upon to shoot a pet tarantula in a terrarium.All of these variables will demand different aperture and exposure settings, and perhaps your whole bag of tricks.The upside to working in your clients' homes is that your studio remains pristine!Professional photography of animals is full of curves and twists.One of its most entrancing features is that you never quite know what to expect, from one photo shoot to the next!Find out about some of the best photography courses near me here.Commercial PhotographyThe aforementioned travel agencies, pet stores and wildlife magazines all fall under this heading.Most likely, if you are a commercial photographer of animals, you would pack your photographic gear to capture your subjects in situ.This task could be made easier by stowing a complete kit, already arranged and ready to place in the boot of your car.These different modes of photography require their own measure of skill and creativity.That last might well be challenged within the framework of customer requirements!Night PhotographyLet's say a nature magazine has contracted you to capture nightlife in the wild: a colony of feral cats that terrorise a neighbourhood, or some recently spotted red foxes, for example.You would have to learn how to lense them, set your shutter speed and remain innocuous enough that they do not become spooked, run away and hide.Of course, wor kflow of night photography becomes much easier if your local zoo contracts you to build a brochure of their newly-opened nocturnal animals wing.Imaging unpredictable, unsociable animals, in the wild or otherwise, is a challenge perhaps only an advanced photographer would relish undertaking.And, speaking of the zoo...That is a great location to apply the basics of animal photography, and expand your skills set!Find good photography courses here.The zoo is a great place to hone your skill in night photography Source: Pixabay Credit: Alexa_fotos it gives you something to actively strive for.Become InvisibleEspecially when photographing animals in their natural habitat, one must become a master of camouflage!Even during studio photography of pets, photographers must minimise the stress on the animal in order to successfully photograph it.Expertise in wildlife photography does not come cheap or easy. Many a photographer has tales of animal attacks, when plying their camera in the wild!Co nversely, the animal in question could just be curious, which would afford you delightful close-ups of twitching noses and enlarged eyes!Overwhelmingly, those who know how to photograph animals in the wild know to not disturb them, or attempt to isolate them from their environment.While it would be easy to lure your subject with food in order to get that perfect shot, animal photographers on assignment generally do their best to blend in, snapping the animal in its habitat.The only time isolating an animal would be effective is when creating advertisement photos, or maybe a zoo brochure.Patience and ObservationMost wildlife photographers (and studio photographers) will tell you that patience is a requisite in photographing animals.Indeed, unless you have a motion-sensing camera, or a remote controlled one, you are likely to sit in the same spot, unmoving, for hours in order to capture your elusive subject.That means that, if you are shooting polar bears in the Arctic circle, you sho uld dress suitably!Equally important:  you must cultivate your powers of observation.Wild life, especially prey animals are masters of camouflage and have a highly refined sense of danger.It will be up to you to spot them, even if they are still partially concealed.Don't go Overboard in Hunting your SubjectIn the dead of winter and on the most dangerous terrain is where you would most likely encounter artful beasts, but it is not worth your life â€" or risking your equipment to photograph it.You should be conscious of your environment at all times, advise the experts.To avoid becoming prey or succumbing in an avalanche, it would be best to pursue that elusive money shot elsewhere, in more agreeable conditions.Adopt a Standard Focal Length of at Least 300mm.Having the camera at the ready allows you to counter any eventuality and not to panic should a subject make a surprise appearance, or do something extraordinary.You could say wildlife and animal photography is a constant intellect ual balancing act between attention to camera  settings and attention on your environment.Use the right lens in order to remain a safe distance from your more dangerous subjects! Source Pixabay Credit: Alexa_fotosWildlife Photography: a Tantalising Pinnacle to Aspire toIn spite of the fact that, in the UK, anyone with photography equipment could, in theory, bill themselves as a professional photographer, it is a profession that is difficult to succeed in.First, there is stiff competition: established pros already have studios, portfolios and reputations to boast.Some offer workshops and tutorials: have you attended any?You, perhaps a beginner in the world of digital SLR, have to make a name for yourself.And if you choose the relatively small niche of animal photography, you will be going up against some venerable names whose artistic renderings of wildlife have won awards!Despite a measure of fame, these advanced photographers do not count solely on their prowess behind the lens to generate income.Take, for example, Richard Peters.He is an award-winning photographer who travels relentlessly to some of the most beautiful places on earth, capturing stunning wildlife scenes.Even while on the road, he writes articles about wildlife photography for various magazines, and is often contracted to write content for websites.How he supplements his income, besides prize money, is his choice. You too will have to make choices, even as you take your art of wildlife photography to the next level.One way to gain exposure in the field of animal photography is to participate in contests designed to uncover and promote beginners in the art of photography.Richard Peters, although well established in the field, still enters competitions, making him one of the best-recognised photographers in the world!The more recognition you gain, the higher the fee you could command.However, you should be well aware that, before notoriety, contracts and all-expenses-paid trips, you will have to pay your dues.That means that travel, equipment, supplies and time are all on your tab.It is a bitter pill to swallow; perhaps even enough to discourage one from the rarefied air of animal photography.But it is the reality of the profession.In light of that truth, why not be realistic? Why not cultivate a subspecialty, such as street photography, or try your hand as a photojournalist?Have you thought of teaching a photography class or two?The trouble with freelancing as a photographer (or as a Photoshop editor) is that you don't have much room for risk, especially if a living wage is of primary concern.In light of that, you may keep your current job and chase photography as an avocation. Enter your best shots in competitions, build a name for yourself and see how far that goes.Once you have amassed a bit of recognition, then you could entertain ideas on how to live your passion!Best Animal PhotographersAndy Rouse has travelled the world, capturing unique moments of light and shadow in the life of animals.He is one of the most decorated photographers in the UK, having received more than twenty awards for his most stunning imagery of the animal world.He is also mad for aviation!He has published fifteen books, so if you just can't get enough of his artistry, you can always indulge yourself again and again amongst those pages.Andy's advice for advanced photography hopefuls: find/keep another line of work.The stock photo market is completely saturated. My advice is to do it as a hobby, so that you do it for fun and with no pressure.He also advocates learning the fundamentals through a good photography course, and attending as many photography workshops as possible, that discuss different subject matter.Not just how to use new technology such as Adobe Lightroom and digital post processing, but how to use natural light and photographing landscapes, for example.Will and Matt Burrard-Lucas are non-discriminatory wildlife photographers: they photograph birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects, young and old.They have a captivating collection of other scenes, too: landscapes, architecture, cultural events, plants, and places of historical significance.It is their desire to inspire people to celebrate and conserve the natural wonders of our planet.Their advice for the newly-turned-pro: don't be greedy. Only take snaps, and give back more than you take.Capturing quirky animals on film drives some photographers to the ends of the earth! Source: Pixabay Credit: OldiefanIn SummarySeth Godin said: If you aim to sell to the world, you will surely fail. The only option for success is to find something important to sell, to only a few people.Be sure of your choice! Your love of animal photography does not guarantee you a full page spread in any magazines, nor does it promise a fantastic income.Take photography lessons in a formal setting! Whether in basics of photography or specialising in animals and wildlife, you will be much more credible in set ting up your studio and soliciting clients.Joining a photography society is not a bad idea, either. Through other members, you can get tips from more established photographers and get your name out, possibly as an apprentice.Patience and powers of observation are a must in wildlife photography! Even if you are taking pictures of pets, remaining calm and the ability to wait for that perfect pose is an asset.Respect the environment: dress properly for the job; don't endanger yourself by becoming prey or freezing to death!Keep your passion alive! As with so many who have chased their dream, only to find it marred by practical concerns â€" the real-world aspects of running a business; in the end, it might be hard to remember why you got into animal photography in the first place.Please pardon the brutal honesty!This last, most important piece of advice:Few animal and wildlife photographers manage to make even a decent living off of their work.Please don't expect fame and fortune to come to you simply because you ply a camera and capture beasts at play.But, lucky you if your circumstances permit, that you get to chase your dream!Learn about studying photography at university.

Sewing Supplies for Learning How To Sew

Sewing Supplies for Learning How To Sew Learn to Sew with the Right Sewing Accessories ChaptersHow To Choose Your Sewing MachineA Guide to Beginner Sewing KitsHow To Find Cheap Sewing MaterialsMust-Have Sewing AccessoriesAs a beginner seamstress (or beginner tailor), getting all the accessories you need to learn how to sew requires money and method.  Making a “shopping list” to buy the necessary accessories for your sewing box is not easy when you have just taken your first sewing lesson.All the new information can be overwhelming, especially since you will need to optimise your haberdashery purchases if you want to save money. Whether for sewing, embroidery or mending, to make men’s or women’s clothing - all of these activities require different sewing accessories.Before learning to sew and taking sewing lessons, you will need to:Choose your sewing machineBuy the fabric your needChoose the right type of threadDraw or buy sewing patternsHave the right sewing supplies in you sewing box: a measuring tape, French curves, a small ruler, a square, a rotary cutter, s ewing scissors, safety pins, tailor’s chalk…Acquire all the necessary equipment for your new sewing machine (bobbins, sewing machine needles….)Some like to get a craft kit for their first project, as they have everything you need to finish the project: fabric, sewing pattern, cutting tools, assorted threads - everything you need to make learning how to sew as simple as possible.SilverCrest SNM 33Singer StarletHusqvarna Viking E10Singer Simple 3232Pfaff Smarter 160 SJanome Skyline S3Pfaff Expression 3.5Number of stitches3316204023120200Buttonhole stitchAutomatic, 4 steps4 step4 step1 step1 step7 steps16 stepsLength adjustmentyesyesyesyesnoyesyesWidth adjustmentyesnonoyesyesyesyesThreaderyesyesyesyesyesyesyesSpeed adjustmentnoyesnoyesyesyesyesPresser feet5454578Weight6 kg7.5kg6.3 kg7.5 kg6.3 kg10 kg10.6 kgPrice £80 £200-300 £140 £170 £200 £800-2,000 £1,400For a beginner, a fairly inexpensive sewing machine is enough to have fun and see if you want to continue sewing as a hobby.A Guide to Beginner Sewing KitsWhen starting out, finding the right beginner sewing project kit could be a good alternative to sewing classes and buying out your local haberdasher’s. As a beginner sewer, you know as much about sewing as you do about quantum physics or evolutionary biologist (unless, of course, they are a quantum physicist), but if you want to sew a dress or make your own purse rather than buy it, a beginner sewing kit might be just the thing.There are basic sewing supply kits that contain everything you need to start sewing and are optimised for all the basics: tacking, cutting, basting, small sewing craft projects, hemming, mending…Or you can try sewing craft kits. There are many reasons for deciding on a sewing kit:You don’t know how to sewYou only want to do one project (and why spend a lot on sewing supplies for one project?)You want to make a personalised gift without risking too muchThere are a lot of haberdasheries offering beginner sewing creative kits, such as:Sew and SewHobbycraftJohn LewisClothkitsThanks to various beginner sewing kits, children as young as 7 can learn to sew - just the right age to start sewing, when their neural plasticity is at its highest. Craft kits include felt monsters, stuffed animals, pencil cases, headbands…Craft kits offer chamring sewing projects for children as young as 7. Photo by Growing a Green Family on Visual huntRather than buying things in the supermarket, children will learn to make their own clothes and work their imagination. Even for adults, there are creative sewing kits exist for different levels of skill, from complete beginner to advanced - letting you progressively add more sewing skills without feeling discouraged.How To Find Cheap Sewing MaterialsThe most expensive thing about sewing is very probably the fabrics.  Every sewing shop and online haberdashery offer a wide selection of fabrics of all colours and sizes. But bolts of new fabric cost dear. So turn instead to thrift stor es and flea markets!Here are some tips for finding bargain fabrics:Measure your pattern before you go out to buy fabric so you know exactly how much you’ll need.Keep up-to-date on sales and bargains at your local haberdasher’s or favourite online fabric storeWait for summer or winter salesUpcycle your fabrics: gather up sheets and old clothes in fun prints from among friends and family, visit thrift stores and flea markets, etc.Browse the remnants tables at department stores to find imitation leather, silk, organic fabrics left over from larger bolts for bargain pricesRecycle your fabric scraps from other projects: use them for small craft projects or sew them together for crazy quilt fabrics.Look for fat quarter and scrap projects to save money on fabrics. Photo by sweetjessie on Visual HuntEverything depends on what you are trying to make.A nice bag with sequins, an evening gown, a blouse with little white buttons - it’s probably best to buy new fabrics to get exactly the lo ok you want. Fabric off the bolt is generally sold by the metre (or yard in some places). It comes in many variations: gabardine, linen, velvet, patchwork fabrics, polka-dots, japanese prints, imitation leather, wools, jersey, muslin…Here’s a little list of some online fabric shops:Cheap Fabrics offer just that, including a whole array of fabrics for under £2.50/m.Rijs Textiles have a wide selection for fabrics and prices, including fabrics for dance dresses, children’s prints and home dec fabrics.Fabric UK has pages dedicated to fabrics costing less than £ 2/m and less than £1 per metre.Croft Mill was Britain’s first mail order fabric shop. It stocks many bargain fabrics at under £10/mRemnant House is a jobber site that buys mill ends from fabric mills - excess production that the client ended up declining. For that special thrill, try out their bargain bundles , including the ever-exciting mystery bundles.Abakhan Fabrics has a large clearance section as well as a remna nts section for smaller lengths.White Tree Fabrics’ main attraction - apart from its huge selection - is a price slide to help define your search, with options at under £2/m!Patchfabrics specialise in patchwork, selling cotton prints by the half-metre - but for very affordable prices.The Fabric Godmother has, apart from a great selection that lets you search by print motif, a selection of designer fabrics used by designers such as Prada and Burberry. Be sure to look in regularly as these are mill ends and only available for a limited time.So now you have your sewing machine and your fabric - what else do you need to get started?Must-Have Sewing AccessoriesA sewing box is made up of many different sewing tools indispensable to any dressmaker or seamstress - a little like a plumber’s toolbox.For his sewing projects, a good tailor should have:Measuring toolsMarking toolsCutting toolsPinsSewing tools.A sewing machine, a bobbin of thread and a cut of fabric do not yet a purse make. You need marking accessories, tools for cutting and pinning, something for ripping seams when you make a mistake and some hand-sewing tools for basting and finishing.When learning how to sew, basic sewing accessories will make your life easier. Photo by Hegemony77 - 1/6th scale clothes on Visual huntLet’s start with the most basic of sewing supplies: the measuring tape, a fundamental tool for taking measurements and finding out the length of cloth you will need.Other useful measuring accessories are:A small ruler for small distances on a straight seamA quilting rule for tracing parallel lines (for gathers or smocking)A gauge for measuring small distances that stay the same (seam allowances, hems, the distance between buttonholes)To know exactly where to cut and sew, it’s important to mark your fabric. A marking pencil or pen and some dressmaker’s chalk are perfect for tracing a pattern on cotton or wool. A white pencil is best for dark fabrics; dressmaker’s chalk better for light ones. Pencils and pens are also better than chalk for precision markings. Once you have transferred your sewing pattern and marked your pleats and gathers, it’s time to cut out your piece. This is where tailor’s shears come in.Your scissors are going to be your new best friend for years to come. We recommend always using new scissors (buy new ones frequently or have them re-sharpened by a professional). Use your dressmaker’s scissors only to cut fabric - avoid using the same pair of scissors as garden shears, paper scissors or craft scissors as this dulls the blade.Pinking shears are used whenever the fabric unravels easily. Is this it? Well, no. Here are some other useful tools:Thread snippers and seam rippers to undo a wrongly-sewn seamSafety pins to pin two pieces of fabric together before cutting or sewingSewing needles and sewing machine needlesA thimble: ideal for pushing needles through dense fabrics without hurting your fingers or pricking your thumbTop and botto m thread bobbinsTrimmings: ribbons, bias tape, lace, piping…Fasteners: fabric buttons, wooden buttons, snaps, zips, hooks and eyes, velcro…If you are in the capital check some of the many sewing courses London.

What does a Bilingual Education Mean for Your Child

What does a Bilingual Education Mean for Your Child As the name suggests, a bilingual education refers to pedagogical instruction that is conducted in two languages. This style is in contrast to one class period of language learning per day. In the United States, the languages incorporated into bilingual instruction are generally English and Spanish, though some districts and private schools may offer other languages. This type of instruction can be extremely beneficial to the right student, but what does a bilingual education mean for your child? When learning about bilingual education, examine how various institutions practice this form of learning and understand the extent of the required workload. Are you intrigued by the prospect of a bilingual education for your student? Keep reading to discover what a bilingual education means for your child. What does a bilingual education entail? Various approaches to bilingual education are observed throughout the U.S. Some institutions may use both languages within the same school day, while others may devote entire school days to each language exclusively. In other cases, the foreign language may be reserved for specific subjects, while English is used to teach the remaining ones. Bilingual education is praised for the obvious benefit of student proficiency in two languages. Bilingualism can result in several advantages, such as improved job prospects, cultural understanding, and superior cognitive performance in various academic areas, as noted here. Bilingual education is recognized at both the state and federal levels, and colleges typically look approvingly upon applicants who have been taught in a dual language program. [RELATED: How Parents Can Help Students Setand AchieveAcademic Goals] How can you decide if a bilingual education is right for your child? Despite the many benefits of bilingual education, it may not be a good fit for all students. Some dual language programs involve heavier workloads and, therefore, may be considered to be more demanding and stressful. This can be problematic for some students, as an increased level of stress can negatively impact their studies. On the other hand, bilingual education is an appealing option for parents who want their children to maintain proficiency in another language. Parents who speak in a language other than English at home may worry that their children will lose knowledge of this language unless its used daily. In such a case, bilingual education can ensure children continue to practice and strengthen their language skills. Furthermore, bilingual education can serve to satisfy the needs of curious and high-performing students who seek an added challenge. [RELATED: How to Support Your Stressed Student] How can you learn more about bilingual education? Parents considering bilingual education as a mode of instruction for their children are encouraged to research it further. Schedule a meeting with school representatives to discuss the specifics of the districts approach to bilingual education. Since bilingual instruction varies so drastically from school to school, asking directly is the best way to ensure you have accurate information and can make an informed decision. Once youre informed on how your school of interest handles bilingual education, learn more about the educational process. Online, you can find free and legitimate academic research on bilingual education. However, use discretion when consulting online sources. Blogs may also be a helpful source for getting feedback from other parents and students who have experience with bilingual education. Blogs, like any other online source, should be screened and contemplated critically. [RELATED: 3 Ways to Effectively Communicate With Your Childs Teacher] Bilingual education can be a wonderful learning experience with positive effects in both the personal and academic realms. Since bilingual education may not be suitable for everyone, learn more about this opportunity before signing your child up. Discuss, research, and ask questions before making this important decision. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Learning Latin in School

Learning Latin in School Learn Classical Latin ChaptersWhy Choose Latin GCSE?Choosing Latin Courses for A-LevelsProgressing to Classical Latin Studies at UniversityOnce you leave primary school, you will have various choices to make: whether to go for a GCSE or A-Levels (or both) and what subjects to take for the exams.Though not all schools offer the opportunity to study it, Classical Latin is an option you might want to consider.Here is a Superprof guide to choosing Latin for your GCSE or A-Levels, how to pursue it on a university level and what difficulties await you when learning Latin. DéborahLatin Teacher 5.00 (12) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr. KarisLatin Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SimonaLatin Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArgiroLatin Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JennyLatin Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LucieLatin Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Daniela Latin Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SophieLatin Teacher 5.00 (6) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Choose Latin GCSE?Set yourself apart: choose Latin as a GCSE.In Year 9, you will have to choose your optional subjects for Year 10 and, ultimately, your GCSE.The Latin language has a reputation for being elitist, but don’t let that deter you: it offers a lot of advantages.Can anyone learn Latin?First of all, let’s do away with the myth that you have to be a top-level student to learn the language of the ancient Romans. On the contrary: Latin can help raise your grades in other subjects! The discipline you learn can be applied to other subjects, and some of the skills - such as logical thinking - needed to understand the grammar might help certain notions in subjects such as chemistry and physics finally click. Memorizing vocabulary will improve your memory in other areas.Benefits of a Latin language courseLearning a language such as Latin has numerous advantages:Better understand the etymology of English words. Though it is a dead language, this indo-european tongue has influenced not only the modern Romance languages such as French or Portuguese, but is also, through French and the language of science, at the root of many English words.Understand certain common phrases used in English, such as quid pro quo  or carpe diem.Understand and learn other languages more easily. Since the Romance languages all evolved from Latin, knowing the Latin word for, say, “flower” is flos (which becomes flores in certain cases), you can easily translate the French fleur, Italian fiore or Spanish flor.Improve your general culture. Rome produced many philosophers and poets who greatly influenced European culture. Classical authors such as Ovid and Horace were known to Shakespeare and Dickens while Roman mythology influenced everything from opera to the naming of the planets in our solar system during the birth of modern astro nomy.Learn discipline. Latin is a logical language, needing a certain methodical thinking to understand its grammar. This is a good skill for scientific subjects.As you can see, Latin is not only interesting in its own right but has a universal appeal. It was a scholarly language for a long time and still permeates a lot of aspects of modern life.Find a Latin teacher here.Latin is at the root of the Romance languages such as French or Italian. Photo credit: Internet Archive Book Images on VisualHunt.comDifficulties in Latin for BeginnersWhile you definitely don’t need to be a genius to learn Latin, progressing to Latin GCSE or even A-Level Latin is more difficult than the simple beginner Latin you might have learnt in your introductory class. Latin lessons soon progress beyond “Salve!” and simple subject-verb phrases, and if you haven’t grasped the basics, you will be lost.Fortunately, unlike Ancient Greek, the Latin alphabet more or less corresponds to our own - and though no scholar is quite certain how spoken Latin sounded exactly, we have a fair idea of its pronunciation. Instead, most problems will be found in Latin grammar. So let’s take a look at where the greatest difficulties lie.Latin syntaxA Latin sentence is not put together in quite the same way an English one is.Generally, word order in English varies little from sentence to sentence:Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct ObjectOnly occasionally can certain parts of speech be switched around for emphasis.In Latin, however, a language of orators, there are no rules about word order. So how do you know if a noun is subject or object?Syntax is the key to understanding Latin phrases and declensions are the key to Latin syntax. Photo credit: corno.fulgur75 on Visualhunt.comCase and declension in LatinJust like verbs are conjugated in different tenses, nouns are declined. That means that nouns are written slightly differently (usually the ending changes) depending on their function in the sentence.This, fortunately, means that you can understand the meaning of a sentence no matter what order the words are in, simply by looking at their case. Latin grammar rules have cases for both nouns and the adjectives attached to them:Nominative = subjectVocative = used when addressing someoneAccusative = direct objectDative = indirect or secondary objectGenitive = possessiveAblative = adverb or adverbial phraseIf you want to learn to speak Latin, you need to know the declensions in their singular and plural forms. In beginner Latin lessons, you will learn the first and second declensions (feminines in -a and masculines in -us), then progress to the more eclectic ones. But you need to memorize them if you want to eventually translate original Latin texts such as Caesar’s De Bello Gallico - which you will be doing in your last year GCSE and for your A-Levels, otherwise you will have no chance of ever deciphering Latin sentences.CaseSingularPluralNominativeRosaRosaeVocativeRosaRo saeAccusativeRosamRosasGenitiveRosaeRosarumDativeRosaeRosisAblativeRosaRosisBasic Latin vocabularyWhile you should think of getting a Latin dictionary, you need to have a good store of basic Latin words so you don’t need to look up every single one. The less you open a Latin-English dictionary when doing your homework or for a test, the more you will enjoy translations. That will keep you motivated for your A-level exams.So make flashcards with the vocabulary words from the lists you find in your textbooks and memorize them whenever you have a few spare minutes - in the privy while eating breakfast, on your way to school…Choosing Latin Courses for A-LevelsOpting for an A-Level in Latin will give you a unique selection when going on to university. You needn’t want to read Classical Studies to take Latin - while it’s not a requisite, it is very practical for a number of scientific fields, where the terms used are derived from the language of the Caesars - biology, for example. It is also practical when studying literature or philosophy, as many of the early Roman authors had a great influence on the history of scholarly writing.The A-Level Latin curriculum continues with grammatical lessons, of course, but you won’t be learning declensions any more. Instead, you will be introduced to the fine nuances of verb tenses (such as the subjunctive and the past participle) and various linguistic particularities of the language.For your A-Levels, you will also be studying Latin literature, translating many a Latin text, whether as a passage or in its entirety. This will range from poetry to ecclesiastical texts, from the Aeneid to the Parallel Lives, from Virgil to Cicero.You might also be asked to write an essay on certain aspects of Classical culture or events in Roman history.You will not just be taking language courses, but peeking into the mind of famous Roman authors and learning about Roman culture at its source. The Latin translation you will do will tea ch you to learn a foreign language in context and prepare you for studies at a university.Latin has been studied by generations of students for hundreds of years - but it is far from an elitist subject. Photo credit: Thomas Hawk on VisualHuntProgressing to Classical Latin Studies at UniversityWhile Latin can be useful for certain scientific subjects, it is generally not a prerequisite A-Level for being accepted into a veterinary school or a college-level physics course.Subjects likely to want to see a Latinum of some sort are generally in the humanities. Latin Studies or Classical Studies will not only want you to translate Latin texts but analyse them and investigate their literary and linguistic merit. These are studies for those truly in love with the Latin language.Some universities in England offering a degree in Latin Studies are:Royal Holloway University of LondonUniversity College LondonUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of NottinghamUniversity of ManchesterMedieval Studies w ill also require a good knowledge of Latin, as most administrative texts and even novels were written in Latin for the greater part of the Middle Ages. Only slowly did the local tongue come to be used for written documents. Even the Bible remained in Latin - in the so-called Vulgate version, a translation from the Greek and Hebrew.Anyone studying Classical Archaeology would also be well-advised to learn the lingua latina, as Latin phrases are often found on archaeological objects.Latin is also useful in other subjects such as archaeology. Photo credit: howsmyliving on VisualHunt.comWhen to Start Learning Latin with a Private TutorIdeally, you will be taught everything you need to know to understand a Latin text in school. But teachers have to follow their curriculum, and an explanation that seemed crystal clear in the classroom can turn out to be unexplainably muddy once you try to apply it. Your Latin textbook and dictionaries are often of no help, as they explain things the same w ay as your teacher in Latin classes.And yet you want to succeed. You love everything Roman, want to master the language to read Pliny in the original, or just want to pass your exams - whatever the reason, you are eager to learn, but simply cannot understand what your teacher is going on about.Never fear - Superprof is here! Superprof is the only tutoring platform to offer private coaches in a variety of different subjects, including Latin, but here you will be able to see all your tutor’s qualifications and many of them offer the first lesson for free.But why bother with a private tutor in Latin?A Latin tutor will be able to work with you on a much more personalised level. He or she will give you exercises to increase your understanding of grammar rules that give you difficulty. They can drill you in vocabulary to prepare quizzes and help you diagram sentences until you proficiency is such that you can translate a liturgical text in Latin without resorting to your dictionary for every second word.Here are some further advantages to private tutors for beginners or intermediate level Latinists:They can work to iron out your weaknesses and build upon your strengths.They can work at your pace rather than the curriculum.They can come when you have time rather than having to re-arrange your schedule around your Latin classes.They will motivate you when you are ready to chuck your grammar book at the wall and give up. They see the progress you make better than you do and will encourage you to keep on going.

Add and Subtract Polynomials

Add and Subtract Polynomials Definition: - An algebraic expression in which the variables involved have only non-negative integral powers is called a polynomial. Examples: - 5x^3 4x^2 + 6x -3 is a polynomial in one variable x. 9y^4 +6 y^3 + 10y^2 -8y +2/5 is a polynomial in one variable y. 3 +2x^2 -6x^2y +5xy^2 is a polynomial in two variable x and y. 5+ 8x^ (3/2) +4x^2 is an expression but not a polynomial, since it contains a term containing x^ (3/2), where 3/2 is not a non-negative integer. Note: - A polynomial containing one term only, consisting of a constant is called a constant polynomial. Example: - 3, -5, 7/8 etc. are all constant polynomial. In general, every real number is a constant polynomial. A polynomial consisting of one term, namely zero only is called a zero polynomial. Example1: - Add and subtract the following polynomials 2x^2 + 5x + 9 and 6x^2 + 8x + 3 Solution: - (2x^2 + 5x + 9) + (6x^2 + 8x + 3) = (2x^2 + 6x^2) + (5x+8x) + (9+3) = 8x^2 + 13x + 12 (2x^2 + 5x + 9) (6x^2 + 8x + 3) = 2x^2 + 5x + 9 - 6x^2 - 8x 3 = (2x^2 6x^2) + (5x 8x) + (9 3) = -4x^2 3x + 6 Example2: - Add and subtract the polynomials 2x + y 3 and 3x + 2y 8 Solution: - (2x + y 3) + (3x + 2y 8) = 2x+y 3+3x+2y8 = 5x+3y-11 (2x + y 3) - (3x + 2y 8) = 2x+y3-3x-2y+8 = -x-y+5

Summer Reading Adventure 2019

Summer Reading Adventure 2019 Summer break is a perfect time for children to establish or renew a reading habit, which is why the Huntington Learning Center is launching its annual summer reading program, Reading Adventure. Reading Adventure introduces children to high-interest reading material and gets them excited about reading. Running from May to August, the program is for students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Students choose books from Huntingtons pre-selected book lists, which offer a variety of high-interest choices by grade level and reading ability. Students then record what they read in their reading passport, sharing their opinions and observations about each book. Reading is an easy way for students to mitigate learning loss over summer break, Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center. The goal of Reading Adventure is to show children how fun and exciting reading can be, but the major benefit we see with children who participate in the program is that they retain their reading and literacy skills during the months they arent in school, she says. As with any skill that takes practice, students who read regularly become better at it, which makes it something theyre more likely to continue to do. Reading Adventure makes reading enjoyable and benefits children at the same time. Huntington shares that getting children to read over summer is easier than parents think. She offers a few tips on how to get their children reading during the break: Make an effort to find best fit books. What are your children into and excited about? Find books on those topics if your children seem uninspired when choosing their own reading material. Librarians are a great resource that can help you search genres and point children toward high-interest books. Read together. Sometimes, the best way to get children reading is to let them see you doing it too. Make family reading a relaxed nightly tradition. Set goals and establish small rewards. Theres nothing wrong with using a little bribery to motivate children to read more. An ice cream outing or sleepover with friends for every two books finished might be just the incentive a child needs. Find a nearby used bookstore. Wandering through any bookstore is stimulating and enjoyable, but theres something uniquely special about used bookstores. Take your children to one in your town and let them loose. The prices are low but the sense of discovery that accompanies every visit is high. Subscribe for newspaper delivery for the summer. These days, reading the newspaper to get your daily or weekly news is a novelty that many children might find fun. Reading the paper over coffee and orange juice could be a summer morning tradition with the early risers in your homeor save it for night time (with hot chocolate, of course). Read some blockbusters. Try choosing and reading a family book-turned-film together, then plan a movie night later this summer. There are lots of great options for children and teens out there, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, and The Lightning Thief, to name a few. To learn more about the Huntington Reading Adventure program, contact Huntington Learning Center at 1-800 CAN LEARN or visit www.huntingtonhelps.com. About Huntington Huntington 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 succeed. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.

italki Reviewed Free Language Exchange Plus a Tutor-Student Marketplace (also are tutors worth it)

italki Reviewed Free Language Exchange Plus a Tutor-Student Marketplace (also are tutors worth it) Andrew Tracey is the author of the Spanish Learning Blog How to Learn Spanish (using free online resources!). He recently wrote a review about italki and we enjoyed it so much that we wanted to share some of the insight that he gained. Reposted with permission. Heres a link to the original article iTalki Reviewed: Free Language Exchange Plus a Tutor-Student Marketplace (also: are tutors worth it?) I’ve talked about (here) how I think language exchanges are probably the single most valuable thing you can do to learn a language because that’s where you’re actually talking to â€" and being corrected by â€" a native speaker, that’s where the rubber meets the road. They’re considered an absolutely integral part of The Telenovela Method of Learning Spanish since I place such emphasis on using the Spanish you’ve just learned and I think the best possible way to do that is by trying to use it to communicate with a native speaker (because you’ll learn immediately whether you’re applying it correctly or not). Also, I know I’ve recommended italki before several times, usually stating that it was what I believed to be the best online language exchange site available (and that’s including even the language exchange sites that cost money, iTalki does not) and I still believe that. I’ve been meaning to write up a review of it for a long time now (couple years actually) but haven’t because I’ve dealing entirely with my book the last two years or so (either writing it or launching it or marketing it or…blah, something), so here it is. Not only am I going to cover the language exchange portion of the site (which is entirely free) but I’m also going to cover the tutor-student marketplace, so to speak, that’s the other part of the site (and where iTalki makes its money, if you were wondering). I’ve been using the language exchange system on iTalki for years now but only just today did I try out one of their tutors for the very first time. The Language Exchange System I should note beforehand that pretty much all language exchanges online now are conducted via Skype â€" if you don’t have it you need to get it. Not only does it allow you to speak to the person in real time like a phone call but, if both users have webcams (which I’ve found that the overwhelming majority of my language partners do, as do I), then you can actually see the person via a live video feed as they’re talking to you, thereby making it, in my opinion, just as good as an in-person meeting since you have all the same benefits: real-time speech as well as being able to see their facial expressions and body language as they’re speaking. italki has a system to help you find language exchange partners that’s essentially a social network combined with a really good search engine, located at italki.com/partners. Accounts with italki are, of course, free, and once you have one set up simply go to the above link (or hover over the “Community” tab on the far right in the top menu then select “Language Partners”) and you’ll be taken to the search page. Now, choose the language that you want your partner to speak (that you’re learning), the language you speak, any particular country you want them to be from (useful if you’re interested in learning a particular dialect), gender if you prefer, and even the specific city you want them to be from if you like (sometimes a large city has its own dialect and accent, e.g. Madrid and Bogotá). Once you find someone you’re interested in talking to you “Follow” them (by clicking the orange “Follow” button in the middle-right of their profile page) and include a brief introductory message letting them know you want to talk to them. Here’s the one I use in both Spanish and English for you (if they’re a native Spanish speaker I recommend sending them the Spanish version since you don’t know how good their English is) that I include in my book along with several more pages of scripts and topics you can use during your language exchange: “Hola [their name], Acabo de darme cuenta de que usted habla español y aprende inglés, y yo aprendo español y mi idioma nativo es el inglés. Así que pensé, si usted quisiera, que podríamos ayudarnos mutuamente por hablar alguna vez. Salud, [your name]” Which translates to: “Hi [Their Name], I just noticed that you speak Spanish and are learning English. I’m learning Spanish and my native language is English. So I thought, if you’d like, that we could help each other out by talking sometime. Cheers, [Your Name]” Now, once they respond you’ll just need to get them added as a contact in Skype and set up a time and date to talk. For you to add each other as contacts so you can talk one of you will need to send a request to the other to be added as a contact and then that person will need to accept it, so you can either send them your Skype username and wait for them to send you the contact addition request or they can send you their Skype username and then you can send them the contact addition request. Tutors The other half of iTalki’s site, the one that costs money to use, is the tutor-student marketplace system they have in place. This is just like the language exchange system except instead of finding just any old native speaker of the language you want to learn and talking with them, you pay for a professional language tutor to teach you the language in whatever way you want (most offer formal lessons and informal conversation sessions where they just talk to you and help correct your speech). Now, they break this down into two different areas: “Professional Lessons” and “Informal Tutoring” â€" I noticed that a lot of the people listed in one are also in the other, so the difference really isn’t so much who (who’s teaching) as how (how they’re teaching). Do you want formal, structured lessons or just some informal tutoring and help with whatever you feel like talking about that day? To find a tutor, just search for whatever language you want to learn, specifying whether you want them to be a native speaker or not (I don’t think this is necessary, especially not for beginning students), what other languages you require them to speak (e.g. English), where you want them to be from (useful if you’re interested in a particular dialect), and any price constraints. Note that you have to pay using their own proprietary currency, iTalki Credits aka “ITC”, which you have to buy. 10 ITC equals $1US, and you have to purchase them in units of 100 ITC at a time with a minimum purchase of 100 ITC ($10US). Then you can go through the results, look at their feedback (how many students they have and how many sessions they’ve done combined with their number-of-stars rating is what I mean), check their schedule and available courses to see if they suit you, then simply schedule a class. It will ask you to provide your Skype ID which, although not absolutely necessary, is something I’d highly recommend you get if you don’t have one already (this is how 98% of these online lessons and language exchanges are conducted: via Skype). My Experience with a Tutor… Was very good. My tutor was Vero and I highly recommend her (very reasonable rates, too!). I just wanted an informal session where we talked about whatever, in Spanish, and she helped me out and corrected me. This is precisely what I got and I thought she did an excellent job. She would tell me what the correct word to describe something was when I was looking for such a word and couldn’t think of it, she corrected my grammar and syntax, and she taught me a couple of interesting cultural bits of information about various Spanish-speaking countries that I didn’t know. She also had a good deal of material prepared ahead of time including a short film in Spanish she wanted me to watch and then recount to her in order to gauge my abilities, which are not as good as they were two years ago because I’ve been spending all this time working on that blasted book and not my Spanish (it’s been probably a year and a half since I’ve even talked to anyone in Spanish and yes, if you don’t use it you lose it). My problem, which I’ve known about for quite a while and this simply confirmed it, is not that I don’t know enough Spanish (words and how to use them, i.e. the correct grammar and syntax) but that I’m just too slow, I can’t understand native speakers speaking quickly even if I know all the Spanish that they’re using and would be able to understand it perfectly if it were written down in front of me and I had time to read it. This is what’s known as a listening comprehension problem and is simply the result of not having spoken or listen ed to much Spanish in a while, that’s all. I’ll be correcting this in the future as I’m able to devote more time to it and returning to writing on this blog, and I’ll be doing it with Vero’s help most likely, and here’s why… Here’s who should use a language tutor: anyone for whom the time saved is worth the money spent. That’s who. It’s simple, it really is, it’s just like any other language-learning product and I’ve said as much before: if you’ve got the money to spend on it and you think the time and effort it will save you is worth the price, then you should buy it and give it a shot. I have always made it very, very clear that you can learn Spanish (and most other fairly common languages) online, for free, and quite effectively in a reasonable amount of time. In fact, there’s never been a better time to do that than now due to the state of technology, especially the internet and what’s available for free on it. However, when you’re doing that â€" learning Spanish on your own using free resources â€" then the use of those resources, the system you put together with them in order to teach yourself Spanish, is entirely of your own design, you’re on your own. If you don’t know how to use all those resources, if you don’t know how to learn a language (you don’t if you’ve nev er done it before), believe me when I tell you that you’re going to have a heck of a time cobbling all these resources (free ones at least) together into a system that’s at least somewhat effective and efficient. Having a proper guide, in the form of either a competent person or a book (ahem) will save you enormous amounts of time and energy (and even money if you’re thinking about buying language-learning products and don’t know where to start in that regard). It might sound strange that I, someone who’s learned a language to a fairly high level of proficiency before, is going to get a tutor in that language! Well, here’s the thing: it’s not that I can’t do it myself, it’s the combination of my time becoming more and more valuable (because it’s becoming more constrained) coupled with the fact that I’ve got a bit more disposable income to work with. So if I let someone else do a good deal of the heavy lifting such as determining topics of conversation, picking material to work on, etc., plus the convenience of scheduling it whenever I want as well as not having to spend half my time helping them with their English, then it really makes it much easier on me and saves me a lot of time, time that’s worth what I paid to save it by hiring the tutor. It’s not that you can’t learn Spanish, or any other language, on your own: it’s that having a competent teacher, who’s learned several languages themselves and taught other people those languages, can save you significant amounts of time and effort, that’s all. It’s up to you to determine if it’s worth it. Cheers, Andrew