A Guide to the History of France

A Guide to the History of France Fascinating Facts About France and Its History ChaptersImportant Moments in French HistoryThe French RevolutionImportant Figures Throughout French HistoryFamous French Military Victories and DefeatsBritain vs France: A Love-Hate RelationshipFrance has played a major part in the history of many countries throughout the world â€" but what about the history of France itself?As a relatively large territory in Western Europe, France has endured a lot over the centuries.From the Roman conquest of Gaul in ancient times to the World Wars during the 20th century, modern France is built on a unique history of invasion and revolution, where royalty was once seen as divine and where five republics have been declared since its abolition.Its rocky past is what makes the historical study of France so interesting.However, not only is France famous for its violent past, but also for its people. Some of the most influential people to have ever lived have come from France.Everyone has heard the name ‘Napoleon’ before, but who was he? Why exactl y does France not have a King or Queen? And what was France’s position during the Second World War?This guide to the history of a country which seems to have been at the forefront of many domestic and international battles will tell you all you need to know.So, whether you’re interested in learning more about French military history, the French Revolution, prominent French figures throughout history or Anglo-French relations, this article can enlighten you! AnnieFrench Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolineFrench Teacher 5.00 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriFrench Teacher 5.00 (9) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarianneFrench Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThibautFrench Teacher 5.00 (3) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickFrench Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DéborahFrench Teacher 5.00 (10) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamyFrench Teacher 5.00 (2) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsImportant Moments in French HistoryEvery country has its key moments that define its history â€" and France is no exception.Whether it be child monarchs or era-defining wars, the country we know as France today is the result of centuries of fascinating history.Here are just a few of some of the most important events in French history: ·                 Signing of the Treaty of VerdunThe Treaty of Verdun was the document signed in the year 843 AD which laid the foundations for today’s European country borders by dividing the Carolingian Empire into three territories.The Carolingian Empire, which stretched across much of Western Europe, was established and ruled over by Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne from 800 AD until his death in 814 AD. He was succeeded by his eldest legitimate son, Louis the Pious.Emperor Louis the Pious meticulously planned his sons’ inheritance of the empire, however, dis agreements between Louis’ sons and their half-brother about the allocations and war broke out.In the end, the kingdom was separated into East Francia, Central Francia and West Francia, which later became the Kingdom of France. ·                 Louis XIV Centralises Power in FranceAugust of 1661 saw King Louis XIV shockingly proclaim himself as absolute ruler of the French monarchy following the death of his chief minister, Cardinal Mazarin.Louis XIV centralised power in France by holding his court at the Palace of Versailles (which was also his home) as well as the place where the French parliament was held. In addition to the Palace’s use as a place of politics and the centre of royal life, it was also used as a party venue for King Louis to host guests.The Palace of Versailles was transformed to be the centre of Louis XIV's court ¦ source: Pixabay - denisflorentHolding such a variety of events in one place meant that The Sun King (as he came to be known) was able to unite ro yal and political life while keeping the unruly nobles in check. ·                 The French RevolutionThe French revolution is responsible for many of the characteristics of modern-day France.The revolution began with the storming of the Bastille in 1789 by members of the Third Estate (the name for commoners at that time). The Bastille was targeted because of what it represented: the monarchy and its power.The anger towards the monarchy and King Louis XVI, in particular, came from the unfair taxation of the Third Estate whilst the nobility and clergy were exempt. At a time of economic downturn, the Third Estate saw fit to take matters into their own hands and formed the National Assembly.The National Assembly declared itself sovereign of France, meaning that it has control over the government and even the King.Maximilien Robespierre became the leader of the National Assembly and decided that anyone who was opposed to the revolution was guilty of treason and should be sentenced to death by guillotine.Among the fatalities of the revolution were King Louis XVI and his wife Marie-Antoinette. ·                 World War II and Vichy FranceThe Second World War was a tumultuous time for Europe â€" and France was caught in the crossfire.In 1940, an armistice was signed by France and Germany which divided France in two. The Northern and Western regions of France were to be occupied by German forces, while the remaining area was known as the Free Zone.Since Paris, the capital of the country, was occupied, the French State had to find another centre for political life in the unoccupied Free Zone. They chose the town of Vichy.Marshal Phillippe Pétain was declared leader of Vichy France, and he went on to establish a regime based on conservative and authoritarian standards similar to those of Nazi Germany.This led to a dismantling of the progressive movements of Paris and even the national motto of France, Liberté, égalité, fraternité (liberty, equality fraternity), replacing it instead with Travail, famille, patrie (work, family, homeland).Eventually, Marshal Pétain agreed to collaborate with Germany. However, this was met with a strong resistance movement.The Vichy regime came to an end with the liberation of France by the Allies in 1944.The French RevolutionLet’s have a look at the French revolution in more detail.How did it begin? And how has it left its mark on France?As we know, the French Revolution of 1789 came about because of the dissatisfaction of the people with the distribution of wealth and power in France.In terms of standard of living and physical health, the 1700s were a significantly more comfortable period for French citizens of all backgrounds than previously. The result of this was a growth in population and economic prosperity. However, this success was somewhat short-lived as France entered a period of instability towards the end of the century.Debts from the numerous wars of the 18th century put the rulers of France in a difficult position.In a bid to put his country’s financial issues to bed, King Louis XVI sought the help of a team of advisors. Unfortunately for King Louis, their advice that a reformation of the tax system was needed was not what he wanted to hear.'Liberté, égalité, fraternité' has been the motto of the republic since the revolution ¦ source: Pixabay - falcoAfter subsequently giving his advisors the boot, King Louis appointed Charles de Calonne, who attempted to tax the aristocracy for the first time. Unsurprisingly, the nobility was less than thrilled at this prospect and refused to comply with Calonne’s demands, driving France towards an inevitable financial crisis.An unsettled aristocracy, a bitter bourgeoisie and the fed-up peasants in a country on the brink of bankruptcy made for an ideal climate for revolution.In 1789, King Louis XVI made a final bid for resolution of France’s financial issues by bringing together the Estates-General. The Estates-General was an assembly in which all of the three sectors of the French population were represented.Unfortunately for King Louis, this meeting at Versailles did not go as planned, and a disagreement on the way in which a final decision would be reached ended in the departure of the Third Estate (who represented the commoners) from the Estates-General. Following this, the Third Estate formed the National Assembly and declared themselves sovereign rulers of the country.As the National Assembly grew in popularity, they also grew in power, and so the appetite for revolution also increased significantly.Members of the National Assembly took the Tennis Court Oath in June of 1789, when they swore that they would not disassemble until an agreement for the new constitution for France has been reached.Revolution was in the air and the people of France had united for a common cause. This was not good news for King Louis, who began gathering troops to defend his regime whilst yielding to some of the pressu res of the National Assembly.The public outrage at the monarchy and those favoured by it led to riots and acts of vandalism across the country. The most notable of these was the storming of the Bastille, a Parisian fortress which represented the power of the monarchy in France which was attacked by members of the Third Estate who sought to commandeer the arms held within the prison. Further afield in the countryside, peasants attacked their landlords’ residences and freed themselves from their unfair contracts.Eventually, the debt owed by the country was paid off by the nationalisation of the land owned by the Church. This gave many commoners and farmers the opportunity to buy land and own their own properties.As the country’s financial issues took a back seat, the problems caused by them developed.There was now a divide in the National Assembly â€" should the monarchy stay or go?From this rift emerged two main groups in the National Assembly: the Girondins (in favour of keeping the monarchy) and the Jacobins (pro-abolition).Following more civil unrest and nationalistic wars with neighbouring countries, the National Assembly was replaced by the National Convention, who declared France to be a republic after abolishing the monarchy.The National Convention sentenced Louis XVI to death by guillotine in January 1793, and his wife, Marie-Antoinette, was executed in October of the same year.However, the execution of the royal family did not mark the end of the revolution.The leader of the Jacobins, Maximilien Robespierre, sentenced over 15,000 people to the same fate of King Louis and his wife in fear of a counter-revolution. This was known as the Reign of Terror.Once the French economy has become more stable and the threat of attack had disappeared, Robespierre himself was executed since the continuation of his killing spree was no longer justifiable.The French Revolution came to an end with Napoleon Bonaparte’s defeat of the newest attempt to rule France and his self-declaration as ruler of the new republic. AnnieFrench Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolineFrench Teacher 5.00 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriFrench Teacher 5.00 (9) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarianneFrench Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThibautFrench Teacher 5.00 (3) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickFrench Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DéborahFrench Teacher 5.00 (10) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamyFrench Teacher 5.00 (2) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsImportant Figures Throughout French HistoryFrance has its fair share of famous people â€" so what are the stories behind the famous names? ·                 Joan of Arc (1412-1431)Joan of Arc was born in 1412, during the Hundred Years War, which she later brought to an end at just 18 years of age when she led to French army to victory. This war, which was being fought between England and France, had started over which country had the heir to the French throne.Joan of Arc is perhaps most famous for her piety, which led her to her victory as well as to her death.Joan claimed to see St Michael and St Catherine in a series of visions when she was told that she was to be the saviour of her country. Her first mission from the divine was to seek an audience with the heir to the French throne, Charles, in which she would discuss the expulsion of the English which would result in Charles’ taking of the throne as King.Joan of Arc was made a saint by the Catholic Church in 1920 ¦ source: Pixabay - rsteve254Following a series of battles led by Joan alongside Charles, France regained power over land seized by the English, and in July 1429, Charles was crowned Charles VII.However, this was not the end of the conflict, and when Joan of Arc was taken hostage by the English-supporting Burgundians, who then sold her to the English.Still unconvinced of the truth in Joan’s religious experiences, Charles VII made no attempt to free her, and Joan of Arc was taken to court where she was charged with heresy and witchcraftâ€" offences for which she was later burnt at the stake at age 19. ·                 Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)While the French Revolution was in full swing, a young Napoleon Bonaparte was swiftly rising through the ranks of the French military and eventually declared himself emperor of France in 1804, following his victory in a coup d’état five years earlier.Napoleon is most famous for his goal to expand the French empire and the wars he fought against various European countries in an attempt to achieve this.During these wars, known as the Napoleonic wars, Napoleon experienced victory as well as defeat in battle. The most famous of these battles is the Battle of Waterloo, in which Napoleon was defeated by the combined force of the British and Prussian military â€" a defeat which forced him to let go of the French crown.Following his defeat at Waterloo and his abdication, Napoleon was exiled to St Helena, a British territory where he later died. ·                 Marie Curie (1867-1934)Originally from Poland, Marie Curie was a naturalised French citizen whose feats in the world of science, specifically in the study of radioactive substances, made her one of the most famous French women in history.Along with her husband Pierre, Marie Curie is credited with the discovery of radioactivity itself, as well as the discovery of the elements polonium and radium.Her research and discoveries in radioactivity, a term coined by Curie herself, led Marie Curie to not only be the first female winner of the Nobel Prize, but also to be the first person to be awarded the prize twice.However, Curie’s work in physics and chemistry didn’t stop with this prestigious recognition.When the Great War broke out in 1914, Marie Curie worked to promote the use of portable X-Ra y machines at the site of conflict so that injured soldiers could get the treatment they needed as quickly as possible.Curie’s life is believed to have been shortened by her prolonged exposure to radioactive substances during her years of research. She died at the age of 66 from aplastic anaemia.Famous French Military Victories and DefeatsFrance’s position in the middle of Europe has meant that it has been the site of many European conflicts. Not only this, but the French also have a reputation for starting conflicts of their own.Whichever war  you study, the French seem to play a major role, and there are several battles which always crop up when talking about military history â€" so, what was France’s role in these battles? And what led to their victory or defeat?Here are some of the most famous French conflicts. ·                 Battle of Hastings1066 is a very famous date for Brits, as it marks the year in which England was invaded and its crown taken from King Harold by William of Normandy.It seemed that William’s attack could not have come at a worse time for King Harold, who had just returned from another battle in which he had successfully defended his crown against Harald Hardrada of Norway.Once the battle had commenced, the English troops reportedly stood their ground while William’s army attacked. The tactic of King Harold’s troops eventually deterred the Normans, and upon hearing that their leader, William, had been killed, the Norman army began to flee.In a shocking act of bravery and protest, William of Normandy rode in front of his troops and removed his helmet, declaring the rumours to be untrue and that he would conquer.The Norman troops, with their new-found confidence, successfully attacked the English for a second and third time.Following the death of King Harold and a number of high-ranking military officers, the English army fled, and William of Normandy became William the Conqueror. ·                 Battle of AgincourtThe B attle of Agincourt was fought in the North of France between the English and the French in 1415, during the 100 Years War. It resulted in the defeat of the French.The victory of the English and Welsh troops was a particularly significant one, given the fact that the French had more men on their side.The Battle of Agincourt is famous for the use of the English longbow ¦ source: Pixabay - PollyDotThe English and Welsh troops were led by King Henry V, who claimed to be the heir to the French throne. On the other side, the French troops were led by Charles d’Albret, the Constable of France at the time. ·                 Second Battle of YpresThe Second Battle of Ypres, which took place in the midst of the First World War, in 1915, was fought between the Allies (which included countries of the British Empire, France and Belgium) and Germany. The battle resulted in an allied victory, of which France was a part.The Second Battle of Ypres lasted for nearly a month and was made up of a se ries of smaller battles.Located close to the Belgian-French border, the Flemish town of Ypres was a sought-after strategic asset, and control over it was the reason why battle broke out.The attack tactics used in this battle by the German Troops are what makes it so famous. The Second Battle of Ypres was the first battle in which toxic gas was used as a weapon.Chlorine gas was selected by Germany for its high toxicity which caused many men to lose their lives at Ypres when they inhaled it. The gas was released from cylinders which had been placed along the border of an area held by French troops. Those who were not killed by the gas immediately fled the scene in panic.Remarkably, this gas did not secure a victory for Germany, and the defence of the territory by Anglo-Canadian troops meant that the allies triumphed.Britain vs France: A Love-Hate RelationshipWhen you live on the British Isles, it’s not uncommon to hear jokes about the French and their frogs-legs, baguettes and tende ncy to strike â€" but are there any good reasons for the opinion of the French held by Brits?By looking at the two countries’ military history alone, it’s plain to see that Britain and France have has their fair share of conflicts in the past, however, their working together as allies in recent history, as well as their shared interests of imperialism makes for a complex relationship between the two nations.Signs of disagreements-gone-by can still be seen in the political discourse of today between the UK and France, with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, insisting that the UK must pay for a post-Brexit deal. In the wake of Brexit, the French opinion of the Brits seems to carry more weight than previously.To learn more about the language spoken in France, look out for 'french classes london' on the Internet!

Interactive Whiteboards for Drawing

Interactive Whiteboards for Drawing A Guide to Creating Whiteboard Art ChaptersWhat is an Interactive Whiteboard?Artists Choose the Top Four IWBsPhone Drawing ToolsA picture is worth a thousand words.This well-known idiom is the basis, indeed the very philosophy that drives today's online whiteboards.These interactive communications tools have become indispensable in today's world of telecommuting, global strategy meetings, and other collaborative work initiatives.The digital world, with all of these new tools and applications, is not restricted solely to business.These days, more and more visual artists are making use of white boards and other apps to create, share and publish their art.Some painters even collaborate on works and post on art forums, so that novice artists can learn from them.Isn't it about time we jump on that bandwagon?Let us discover together the many features offered to artists on whiteboard websites.Whiteboards traditionally featured in business meetings Source: Pixabay Credit: SSPhow to create online art.All of this utility's feat ures are straightforward and easy to use.To collaborate, you simply need to toggle the green button; to save your work, you need only click on export board.The downside to AWWapp is that you must subscribe (and pay) in order to access all of its features.In spite of that, AWWapp is one of the most used online virtual arrays, with more than 200 000 subscribers.FlockdrawUnlike the previously reviewed app, Flock Draw is a free site where you can invite an unlimited number of pencil artists and portrait artists to work together on the same piece.Have you ever wondered what a digital pencil sketch would look like?Are you enamoured with colored pencils?Are you an expert at reproducing manga, or are you just learning how to draw?At Flock draw, you only need a login to start improving your drawing skills  - without needing to buy any drawing pencils or paper.As soon as you establish your account, you too can produce one point perspective art, still lifes... anything from the basics to a ros e with intricate shading.This site permits you to create your own online gallery and study other artists' drawing techniques.You can even export your work into a blog or other website.PixiClipUnlike the other IWBs we've uncovered, this platform does not allow real-time collaboration with other users.However, it is an excellent tool for preparing presentations and other visual media.If you are doing any type of line drawing or dimensional work, such as a graph or a scaled drawing, this application would be ideal.While fairly limited in options for drawing, this site offers a bonus: voice and video recording.Pixiclip is an excellent way to make art videos.You only need to draw your realistic drawing, and then narrate your design before you post it.In this manner, you could sponsor your own drawing course!These virtual drawing and painting sites are not meant to compete with Photoshop or more advanced drawing software.If you think of them as complementary, maybe an additional outlet fo r your creativity, you could get a lot of use out of them.Learn how to use your phone to create art on the go Source: Pixabay Credit: FunkyFocusPhone Drawing ToolsToday's smartphones and tablets are responsive; a necessary quality for the ink drawing and art instruction sites we've just reviewed.Wouldn't it make good sense if these web based, endless drawing paper generators were available on the go?Flockdraw, for one, offers a mobile app for download.A quick search would yield other apps that might just be interesting to download and draw stick figures on.Here is what we found...Groupboard Collaborative WhiteboardThis is a MacOS  application that will turn your Ipad or tablet into an interactive, portable art studio.Just as with any other picture you want to examine closely on your Iphone, you can zoom in when drawing animals or a human face by spreading your two fingers across the screen.Once magnified, you can easily and realistically contour a jaw line or draw an eye.And, thanks to its built-in stylus, your tactile tablet will become a graphic design board.Lensoo CreateThis app for Android and Mac has all of these digital drawing tools: colored pencil, graphite pencil, eraser...But Lensoo has a great feature not found on other apps: step by step instructions.Here is how it works: first you draw your doodle. Each contour line is saved as it is drawn.As you play back the video, you can see your simple drawing create itself, stroke by stroke.Clearly, technology has improved business productivity and teamwork.Why shouldn't digital tools also be used to draw a rose or for drawing people?Anyone taking drawing lessons can draw on a tablet, or draw a rose for immediate display, all at virtually no cost â€" just by using the phone you already possess.Anyone who teaches art drawing may well be called pioneers of this new medium for exposing   novices to the world of digital art.We could go on and on about the wonders of rendering art in this digital age, but we woul dn't want to keep you from your virtual canvas.Therefore we close this article now, with our best wishes for your life drawing and shading techniques.

Where to Learn Frances Official Language Online

Where to Learn Frances Official Language Online Where Can You Find The Best French Teachers Online? ChaptersDetermining ParticularsTake French Lessons with a Teacher on ItalkiLearn to Speak French Online with LingodaTake French Classes ElsewhereEngage a French Tutor OnlineHaven't you heard? French conversation is all the rage these days, and people everywhere are asking how to learn!From language learning apps for your Iphone or IPad to streaming French video, everyone has the chance to learn this most melodious language.And you're tempted... so tempted to jump on that bandwagon, if only to diversify your knowledge base and broaden your cultural horizons!However, not everyone is keen on the idea of letting a machine do the teaching, even if those language programmes are human-driven.Among other reasons, that is because some automated language learning sites' content is written by native speakers of the language, not necessarily anyone with professional knowledge of the best way to learn a language.While these applications have merit and can help you learn French, nobody would blame you for insisting that a human, someone qualified to teach French, who has a measure of experience, should help you roadmap your journey to fluency in French.How can you find such a person, when the Internet is lousy with chatbots and automated programmes?Let Superprof help you winnow your search results, to select the optimal French teacher for your needs.Do you want your child to take a language course online? Source: Pixabay Credit: E. ChapmanThe greatest benefit to online lessons is that you can learn anywhere! Source: Pixabay Credit: Coyot AnnieFrench Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolineFrench Teacher 5.00 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriFrench Teacher 5.00 (9) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarianneFrench Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThibautFrench Teacher 5.00 (3) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickFrench Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Dis cover all our tutors DéborahFrench Teacher 5.00 (10) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamyFrench Teacher 5.00 (2) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLearn to Speak French Online with LingodaThis learning experience differs from the previously discussed one in that it offers one on one lessons or group classes, similar in principle to a MOOC â€" massive open online course.Learning French through that method involves several people online at the same time, learning from the same teacher and interacting, at least on a limited basis, during instruction time.As with all other language learning utilities, you would first declare your level of French speaking â€" beginner, intermediate or advanced, and be grouped with students who are at approximately the same level as you.These group sessions are generally one hour long, with one teacher instructing no more than five students at a time.By contrast, the one to one sessions involve you and your tutor, interacting via Skype. Should you be preparing for your A Levels in French, you may want such individualised focus to learn language and verb tenses.What we really like about this method of immersion into French is that your progress is officially tracked and marked according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language, or CEFRL, which provides definite guidelines for accomplishment in mastery of languages.You should be aware that Lingoda is a tuition based programme: you would pay a per month subscription up front, whether you are available for studying that day or not.All of your learning materials will be provided, and available for download outside of your meeting time, so that you might carry around your vocabulary list or flip through flashcards during your noon break at work.Lingoda does not sponsor a learning community or a language exchange program, but if you opt for the group lessons, you may invite your classmates to contact you outside of lessons for practice with pr onunciation, or simply to practice speaking French.Take French Classes ElsewhereAlthough individualised focus is given to every aspect of your French learning experience, the two opportunities listed above are still generalised, at least to an extent. You may want more personalised French classes, such as those offered by Learn 4 Good.This approach to teaching the French language involves you creating a profile and stating your goals.You would submit this personal summary to the bank of teachers, who would then contact you to offer their services.Here again, all of the teachers are certified, each one a native speaker, and they all have experience in teaching French for beginners and at intermediate level.Whether your personal focus is on French pronunciation or listening comprehension, you will find any number of French teachers available to you.In spite of the obvious success of this programme and its noble aim, perhaps you would not like to have teachers bidding for your favour, or not having any input on what the best way to learn French might be.For instance, your newly hired teacher may insist on grammar lessons, perhaps at the expense of learning French vocabulary.Or worse: s/he might instruct you to learn vocabulary on your own, reserving lesson times for exam preparation!Every learner has different ideas on the best language skills to acquire, based on his/her personal situation.Still, wouldn't it be worth it to defer to a qualified teacher to plan your French courses London? Throughout the UK and online, native French teachers are holding classes on French language and culture endorsed by the Alliance Française.If you do not have an Alliance close to your home, why not check to see if their online Basic French curriculum, or indeed if any of their language courses would suit?One guarantee we can make: learning French words and phrases with these professionals is sure to deepen your proficiency in your second language.You may elect to learn French ex pressions with a private tutor online Source: Pixabay Credit: Mohammad_HassanEngage a French Tutor OnlineBesides all of the ways to take a French course online, you could engage a personal tutor to learn all of those French phrases you so want to understand.Gumtree, Free ads, and adverts in your local paper no doubt promote certified teachers who are looking for students of beginner French all the way to advanced French learners to work with.The downside to those is that you have no feedback to the quality of instruction or reliability of the instructor.Bonjour, Superprof!Superprof tutors, on the other hand, must prove their credentials before becoming certified to operate from this platform, and you would see feedback from any former students avec aise â€" prominently displayed.From teachers' profiles you may find whether French is his/her native language, or if s/he, like you, has spent years on the path of foreign language learning and, most importantly, whether s/he will help yo u learn French online.Perhaps the best aspect of a Superprof tutor is that you may end up learning how to speak French with a Parisian, actually living in Paris!Most Superprof tutors give their first hour of lessons for free, so that you can see if s/he is truly the introduction to French culture that you have been looking for.Learning new language is a challenging proposition, but with the right online French teacher, becoming fluent need no longer be just a dream!Click here to learn about the best online translators.

Should I Go To Boston College

Should I Go To Boston College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Casille is a Denver tutor specializing in SAT prep tutoring, History tutoring, Geometry tutoring, and more. She graduated from Boston College in 2011 with a Bachelors degree in Environmental Geosciences. Check out her review of her alma mater: 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? Casille: The campus has traditional architecture and is located in the suburbs of Boston on a hillside. The campus has its own bus system, which gets you around the campus and can bring you to nearby hotspots. The T (the Boston metro system) is located right next to campus, giving you easy access to the city. The campus is very safe and the neighborhood surrounding the campus is quiet. There is no need for a bike or a car. VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Casille: The class sizes tend to be smaller outside of entry-level lecture classes. The professors have office hours and make themselves readily available to students. Academic advisers can be easily reached by scheduling an appointment or attending office hours. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Casille: The dorms are all well-kept and make a great place to live. The majority of students live on-campus all four years, though some juniors and seniors do live off-campus. The meal plan is all-inclusive, and the campus has a wide range of dining options from traditional cafeteria-style food to several different healthy options. The dorms and student organizations organize weekly social activities for interested students. 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? Casille: The business school and the humanities are the best represented on campus. I studied Environmental Geoscience, because of my interest in environmental conservation. My particular area of study was somewhat under-represented. 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? Casille: Meeting friends as a freshman was fairly easy. The Resident Assistants threw events to allow you to meet all the people on your floor. There is no Greek system. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Casille: The Career Center is very helpful for the most represented majors. There are many recruiters for students leaving the business school. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Casille: There are extensive study areas on campus, from dorm study rooms, which are usually empty or at least quiet, to several different libraries. The study areas in the libraries are quiet and beautiful with several of the libraries located in traditional gothic-style buildings. 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? Casille: The neighborhood around the town is quiet, but a short bus ride away is a local hangout area that includes several restaurants and a convenience store. There are several weekend on-campus options, but it is always an option to enter the city and explore Boston. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Casille: The school is a medium-to-small school. The student body is fairly small compared to other colleges, and the class sizes tend to be smaller. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Casille: One of my favorite classes was the western cultural traditions seminar I took in my sophomore year. We read A Man For All Seasons, and the following discussions were invigorating, interesting, and fun. The class was particularly great because it was not a subject I tended to be interested in before the class, but the class broadened my horizons and provided me with new interests. Check out Casilles tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Max W Spanish, Politics and History tutor in London

Max W Spanish, Politics and History tutor in London This week we would like to introduce Max W, an enthusiastic History tutor who speaks fluent Spanish and also teaches Politics. He is a relaxed and thorough personal tutor who likes to use humour and stories to teach so that his students enjoy his lessons. So let’s find out a little more about him… Max, why do you love tutoring? It gives me the chance to pass on knowledge in a way that I would have appreciated it being passed on to me. I also want to make a difference to people’s lives and to improve their educational potential. Who inspired you in education? I had a fantastic Politics tutor at university. She was the only one who challenged me to better myself and to put more effort into the learning process. She was an inspiration while I was at university. What else do you get up to besides tutoring? I am a postgraduate Law student so I spend quite a lot of time studying. I also run half-marathons and really like cooking! Photo from  www.motherearthnews.com  CC-by   If you had a superpower what would it be? I would love to be a telekinetic â€" to have the ability to move things with my mind. Think Magneto from X-Men but with everything and not just metals! What advice would you give to a parent on how to find a tutor? I would say that it really depends on the child and what suits them. Parents need to check that the tutor’s personal style or strength suits their child. It’s best to find someone who will not be too chummy with the student and will focus on the learning experience. Want to meet Max? Please view his short video below: Subjects taught by Max: History - A-Level, GCSE, Common Entrance, 11+, AS Politics - A-Level, AS Spanish - A-Level, GCSE, Common Entrance, AS If your child needs some help with Spanish or other Humanities subjects then please click here to visit Max’s profile page and book a lesson. Second photograph from  www.motherearthnews.com  CC-by

How to Choose a College Major

How to Choose a College Major Theres nothing wrong with teens going to college without a set-in-stone career game plan, but one thing is certain: students who put thought into possible majors are more likely to minimize wasted time and make a smart decision. Parents, as your teens move through high school toward college, Huntington offers a few tips to get them to think about their future career path and pick the best major for them: Talk about interests. Many teens freeze up looking at a list of college majors. Instead, try talking about things your teen enjoys doing. For athletically inclined students, playing sports might come to mind first, but maybe those students would enjoy career endeavors in which they get to work in teams. Some teens are great with children, or love taking care of people or animals. Encourage your teen to think broadly about interests and how those might translate into other aptitudes. Assess academic strengths. Pull out the report card and use it as a springboard for potential career paths. Some teens might resist this exercise, but its important to point out the many pathways for each academic strength. Take math as an example. Math is obviously key for careers like computer science and engineering, but math is also used in fields like actuarial science, architecture, geospatial surveying, ecology, robotics, meteorology and economics. For teens who excel in math, there are many excellent career options that might not be immediately obvious. List other strengths, too. Its smart to assess other areas of strength that fall outside the confines of the report card. Some teens are great with people and comfortable speaking and presenting their ideas. Others are adventurous and curious. Some love analyzing multifaceted issues, while some are skilled at listening to friends and their fellow students. Know what doesnt appeal. Just as it is useful to have a handle on ones favorite subjects and strengths, teens should also think about what subjects they dislike and why. Similarly, teens must consider their work preferences, such as whether they like working alone or in groups, being a group leader on projects or behind the scenes, solving complex or more straightforward problems, and working with numbers or people. Research jobs, career paths, education requirements, and more. Taking the above steps will definitely help teens start brainstorming and narrowing down their options. Once theyve come up with a couple (or several) possibilities, the next to-do is research. Armed with a list of their interests and academic and other strengths, teens can start exploring possible jobs that fit their interests/strengths profile, education requirements for those jobs, earning potential, and how the job market looks for those fields. O*NET and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook are good resources. Get some firsthand perspective. Once your teen starts zeroing in on a few possible majors, its a good idea to talk to people who can offer useful insight. Those might be current college students in the major your teen is considering, recent graduates who are now working, or professionals further along in their careers. Later on, your teen might consider job shadowing, mentorships and internships. Making these kinds of connections now is definitely worthwhile. As teens grapple with what to major in at college, parents should encourage them to take the decision seriously. That means putting in sincere effort and taking the time for introspection. College is a major investment, after all. Teens should use those four years to set themselves up for success as they begin their professional journeys.

The World Without Sex (And Other Ideas)

The World Without Sex (And Other Ideas) Courtesy Flickr.com and chloe delong. Hey thanks! Then again, whatever doesnt kill you only makes you stranger, so Im going to suppress my fear of public ridicule and write about the absurd and occasionally pathetic ideas I get for blog topics. I have no explanation for the blog ideas that follow. Title: Things I Wish Were Food Pitch: After a witty and sarcastic intro about how theres not enough variety of foodstuff in the world, Id write a list of things I wish were food. The number one thing? A juicy rainbow. Id love to grab that arc and turn its frown upside down, chomping into it like I would a slice of watermelon, the bombardment of flavors gushing my buds with the mixed nectar of all those colors. Why it fails: That last sentence. Title: Mock Interview with Knucklehead James Olmsted Pitch: After summarizing the events that transpired last Thursday, Id write a completely fictional interview between me and the knucklehead that caused them. Id try to relay that hes just a regular guy with a short fuse. For example, he eats at Dennys just like us, but he goes bananas when they forget to put bananas on top of his banana waffles. Id write all this knowing that Olmsted, an attorney, probably doesnt eat at Dennys. Why it fails: Oh shoot, I already wrote that one. Title: The World Without Sex Pitch: This is a weird one (like all of them), but imagine for a moment what the world would be like without sex. I think it was Freud who said sex influences everything we do. Everything. So what would we do without it? The blog would focus on the things that would cease to exist, such as fashion, bars, obviously the porn industry, and Kinkos. Why it fails: Actually I think I just successfully pitched it to myself. Title: Pitch: Thats not a typo. The title is                       . Nothingness, unknown as dark energy, zero in the denominator. It would be the first article of its kind. I envision headlines being written about my headline-less blog: Revolutionary Journo Doesnt Write What Youre Reading and other catchy titles of a similar nature. Why it fails: The body of the text would also be nothingness because what better symmetry is there for an empty title than a body-less blog? The problem is WordPress wont let me hit the Publish button unless I write  something. Im sick of technology stifling my creativity. Title: A Water Molecules Journey Pitch: A first-person narrative from the perspective of a water molecule. I would share its neat journey from body of water to cloud to mountaintop to flowing river. This would be educational and weird as the word shtick. Why it fails: Its educational and weird as (a word very similar to shtick). Please comment with your favorite of these gems. If a fair amount of people comment, Ill fully write the blog that receives the most votes.

5 online resources for Combined Science tutors

5 online resources for Combined Science tutors Combined Science, otherwise known as Double Award Science, was first brought onto the curriculum in the 1990s as a modern and integrated way to teach the Physics, Biology and Chemistry. It is now very popular with schools as it represents a timetable-friendly way to get all pupils studying Science. There are lots of resources online that can be accessed by Combined Science tutors. Here is First Tutors' pick of the bunch to help budding scientists achieve exam success. 1. Teaching Ideas offers stacks of teaching resources for Science tutors with young pupils in need of variety. From SAT Science guides through to optical illusion games, you'll find a plethora of resources on this site. http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/science/contents.htm 2. The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) was established on 1st April 1994 and is a non-departmental public body reporting to the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. http://www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/microsites/general_science/news/index.asp 3. GCSEScience.net does exactly what it says. Bringing together science revision games, exams and worksheets, it also hosts links to science-related news stories via YouTube to provide real-life case studies to bring the subject to life. http://www.gcsescience.net/ 4. The Association for Science Education has a website which is a must-visit for students of the subject at any level. Pupils aged 5-19 are catered for with a host of quizzes and learning resources. http://www.schoolscience.co.uk/ 5. First Tutors can recommend several resources to help Combined Science tutors guide their students. https://www.firsttutors.com/uk/resources.php