Italian Food beyond Pizza and Pasta

Italian Food beyond Pizza and Pasta Learn More about Italian Cooking ChaptersThe Best Italian Antipasti (Starters)The Cheeses at the Heart of Italian CookingRisotto, Italian Cooking’s other StarGourmet Italian DessertsItalian Wines to Go with Typical Italian DishesLet’s be honest, when we think of Italian food, pizza and pasta (often pronounced with an Italian accent!) are the first things that come to mind. It goes with out saying that everyone is familiar with pasta like spaghetti, fusilli, penne, ravioli, and the multitude of pizzas available all over the world.They can be found on the menus in a lot of restaurants (even those that aren’t Italian!). The Mediterranean diet, which includes a lot of garlic, olive oil, and basil, is even popular amongst some of the pickiest eaters.Pizza, although certainly delicious, isn't all there is to Italian cuisine. (Source: Riedelmeier)Italian food is some of the most popular in the UK.  However, there’s so much more to Italian cooking than your traditional Neapolitan pizza and plates of pasta. Plus, the re are different styles of cooking all over Italy itself.In fact, there are so many other Italian dishes that you should try. In this article, Superprof’s going to look at some of the most popular Italian recipes that aren't pizza or pasta. GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Best Italian Antipasti (Starters)In Italy, antipasti is sacred! Think of it as halfway between tapas and starters. It can be quite tricky comparing an Ital ian meal to a British meal since it's not uncommon for an Italian meal to have 10 courses!You start with an aperitivo (usually an alcoholic drink) before moving onto an antipasto (the plural being antipasti). The Italian word antipasto literally means “before pasta”, meaning before the main course. Antipasti is eaten as a sort of starter after your glass of prosecco, for example, an Italian sparkling white wine.Bruschetta is a popular starter (antipasti) all over Italy. (Source: Moigram)If you want to learn more about Italian cuisine, antipasti is a great place to start (since they're basically starters)! These dishes often include flavours of the Mediterranean and can be quite simple to make:Arancini di riso, balls of rice fried with flour, eggs, and cheese.Aubergine rolls with ricotta or mozzarella, which can be eaten with vegetables, tomato sauce, or on their own.Cherry tomato and mozzarella bruschetta, ideally on ciabatta bread.Polenta or Parma ham.Mushrooms filled with goat cheese or pesto (an Italian sauce made from pine nuts and basil).Caponata crostini, toasted bread with capers, balsamic vinegar, aubergines, and olive oil.This isn’t far from everything when it comes to antipasti. You could serve carpaccio as a starter. The original carpaccio (raw beef) came from Harry's Bar in Venice in the north of Italy. The famous restaurant apparently created the dish during a power cut (since the food couldn't be cooked) or for the Countess  Amalia Nani Mocenigo after the restaurant's founder learnt that doctors had advised her to eat raw meat.There are several variations on the original recipe:Tuna carpaccioTomato and mozzarella carpaccio, perfect for vegetariansCourgette carpaccioAubergine carpaccioYou can even find chard carpaccio.If you’re serving carpaccio like they do in Italy, don’t forget to put some olive oil from the south of Italy, lemon juice, and fresh basil onto a cold plate.The Cheeses at the Heart of Italian CookingYou can’t talk about Italian food without talking about the many Italian cheeses that are an essential part of many different Italian recipes. Cheese can also be served as its own course after your two main courses (primo piatto and secondo piatto), known as the  formaggi e frutta  (cheese and fruit) course.Check for cooking classes near me here.Italians know how to make cheese. Do you know how to cook with it? (Source: Zalazaksunca)While there are plenty of other countries that make good cheeses, Italy does alright, too. A good variety of Italian cheeses are put to good use in Italian recipes:Buffalo mozzarella, or mozzarella di bufala if you’re getting the really good stuff, goes great with salads and carpaccio.Ricotta, a fresh cheese that can be used in cakes, quiches, and even lasagna.Pecorino, the sheep cheese from Sardinia, which is great with vegetables.Parmesan (parmigiano reggiano) which while often eaten with pizza and pasta, is also great with plenty of other Italian dishes.Scarmoza, a del icious smoked cheese which is great for cold winter nights.Provolone, a cheese from the south of Italy which is great with stuffed chicken.Burrata, a type of creamy mozzarella which can be eaten on its own with a bit of olive oil.More and more Italian grocers are popping up all over the UK, meaning that you can get authentic Italian products for when you start making dishes like they do in Italy.If you decide to take cooking lessons London, you can ask your tutor to help you choose just the right cheese for your dishes! GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5 ) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsRisotto, Italian Cooking’s other StarItalian pasta, cooked al dente, of course, is delicious. However, risotto is also divine.Italy produces more rice than any other country in Europe, and most of that rice is made in the north of the country. The rice used for risotto is round.To make a risotto like they do in Italy, you should opt for carnaroli or arborio rice.Risotto, like many other non-meat dishes in Italy, is often consumed as the  primo piatto or first main course.You should also stock up on dry white wine, onions, and parmesan. Now you’re ready to start making risotto.If you want to make a good risotto, you're going to need the right rice. (Source: F_A)In the same way pasta can be served with pesto, bolognese, or carbonara, risotto also comes in a large variety of flavours:Squid ink risotto (al nero di seppia), which anyone going to Venice should tr y.Goat cheese and limoncello risotto.Fisherman’s risotto, with fish, of course.Porcini or mushroom risotto.Just like with pasta, the only limit when it comes to risotto is your imagination.  Nevertheless, if you want an authentic Italian risotto, you’re going to have to prepare it like they do in Italy:You can’t make a risotto in 20 minutes, you need to be patient.You can’t prepare a risotto in advance.The stock needs to be home-made, this makes all the difference.Brown the onions in butter until they go clear, this is very important.Constantly keep an eye on it while it cooks.Regularly stir the risotto with a wooden spoon.By following these rules, you’ll soon become an expert at making risotto.  You can also cook risotto to go with some of Italy’s most popular veal dishes, ossobucco or saltimbocca.If you prefer breaded meat, why not opt for veal Milanese. Buon appetito!Find out more about cooking tutorials around the UK.Gourmet Italian DessertsDon’t panic! How could w e forget desserts in our list of Italian dishes!?Italian desserts (dolce, meaning sweet) are sacred and mascarpone and coffee tiramisu is probably the most famous of all.  That said, you can get it with raspberry, chocolate, and even shortbread in many restaurants around Europe.While tiramisu is one of the most popular Italian desserts, it's not the only one. (Source: Silviarita)However, there’s more to Italian desserts than just Tiramisu:Panettone, a sweet bread baked with dried fruit and usually eaten during the holidays.Panna Cotta with raspberry coulis, made from cream and vanilla pods.Sabayon, a mousse made from sugar, egg yokes, and white wine.Sfogliatella, an Italian pastry.Colomba di Pasqua, which is eaten during Easter in Italy, is made with icing sugar, egg, flour, and honey.Castagnaccio, originally from Tuscany, is a chestnut flour cake.Panadoro, a yellow alternative to the Panetonne which is made with yeast from beer.Whether sweet or savoury, the Italians know how to w het your appetite.Italian Wines to Go with Typical Italian DishesWhen it comes to Italian cuisine, you can’t ignore the wine! Choosing the right wine can be crucial, and luckily for you, Italy has plenty of good wines.  In 2015, Italy produced more wine than any other country in Europe.So what kinds of Italian wines are we looking for?While Prosecco is often used as a replacement for champagne, there are plenty of other wines worth mentioning:Trebbiano d’Abruzzo is an award-winning white wine.Barolo Riserva is a delicious red wine with an after-taste of cinnamonBarolo Riserva Montofino is a fruity natural wineRadici Taurasi Riserva is an intense wine with raspberry flavoursDon’t forget limoncello, either! This lemon liqueur is often served at the end of Italian meals (as the  digestivo) in the south of the country. The recipe has been around for at least a hundred years and is now starting to appear on dessert menus in the UK.Now we’re going to have a little ristretto coffee as we get to the end of our meal. What about you? Whether you fancy seafood, pasta dishes, or roasted vegetables, you can find something for everyone in an Italian restaurant!Of course, since Italian cooking is best enjoyed at home with your family, you should learn to cook it yourself. If you're a terrible cook, why not consider learning to cook Italian cuisine with the help of a private tutor?

Everything You Need to Know about Japanese Anime Culture.

Everything You Need to Know about Japanese Anime Culture. A Quick Guide to the World of Anime and Manga. ChaptersWhy is Anime So Popular in Japan?Which are Japan’s Most Popular Anime?And Who are the Most Famous Anime Characters?How to Draw Your Own Anime Character: The Art Style and Techniques of Anime.Manga and anime are perhaps Japan’s biggest cultural export â€" and they make up one of the most recognisable art styles on the planet.Since the nineties, when everyone in the western world was suddenly talking about Pokémon, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Dragon Ball Z, anime has become something of a household term. Something completely associated with Japan and something that has become one of the biggest cultural trends among children and young adults ever since.Yet, the world of Japanese anime is a lot more varied and complex than we in the west might realise. ‘Anime’ only in the west refers to Japanese animation as a whole. In Japanese culture, anime is actually a term for any mass-produced animation, Japanese or non-Japanese.And, importantly, in Japan, anime is not just a culture for kids. Rather, anime series like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Attack on Titan, Death Note, and Cowboy Bebop were all hugely successful amongst adults too. Indeed, many of these series were actually intended for adults â€" developing complex themes and plotlines and presenting three-dimensional and realistic characters.This is the beauty of anime. It can range from the shoujo anime shows such as the ‘magical girl’ series like Cardcaptor Sakura to the poetic and haunting anime movies like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. It’s an incredibly rich culture â€" so let’s take a dive in. Most anime comes originally from the manga series. NanaJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EllyJapanese Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoJapanese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MelanieJapanese Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YukoJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesJapanese Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PippaJapanese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarikoJapanese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy is Anime So Popular in Japan?In the west, we associate anime with Japan and â€" almost â€" Japan with anime. It’s a massive part of their cultural industry â€" and is perhaps the country’s third-largest industry. This makes it, obviously, pretty mega, bringing in nearly twenty billion dollars a year.Yet, the success of anime across the world is one of t he most amazing things about this genre. Apparently, sixty percent of all animated television shows across the world come from Japan. The anime industry in China is absolutely huge, whilst, in the west, various channels and services distributing anime have made it ever more popular.Over the years, channels like Cartoon Network â€" with Adult Swim and Toonami â€" and now anime streaming sites such as Crunchyroll and Funimation have brought this medium to an ever-growing audience. These days, over one hundred thousand people attend America’s annual anime convention.And Anime in Japanese Culture?Yet, so the history goes, Japanese anime was originally marketed incredibly aggressively to a global audience â€" precisely because there weren’t enough anime fans in Japan.But, now, anime is pretty much everywhere in that country. In 2014, 2015, and 2016, six of the ten highest-grossing movies were anime, whilst Spirited Away remains the biggest-selling film in Japan. Seventy percent of Ja panese DVD sales are also anime.Anime is visible everywhere. In adverts, in branding for water and snacks, on trains, school buses, and in airports. It has become a ubiquitous cultural force that has come to define the country itself.Yet, it goes without saying that not everyone likes it. And, even in the world of anime, many people are concerned about the commercialisation of the form. With every successful anime undergoing adaptation into a light novel, a live action film, video games, merchandise, music, and manga, the industry is sort of all encompassing.In the same way that Disney makes a lot of the products that it sells alongside the films themselves â€" there is a Pokémon theme park just as there is a Disneyland â€" anime does the same.And I’m sure you’ll agree that not everyone likes Disney.Find out more about Japan’s relationship with anime! Anime literally is everywhere.Which are Japan’s Most Popular Anime?To identify a best anime, or even a most popular anime series, is a difficult task. This is because there are anime for young girls (known as shoujo anime), anime for teenage guys (shounen anime), and animes also for adults.This is the key to the success of the anime industry in Japan. But it also warns against treating anime like a monolithic thing.However, some anime are easy to point at and identify as extremely popular. Take the films of Studio Ghibli â€" Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away ­â€" which each in turn was the highest-grossing anime film ever. Until Spirited Away came out in China in 2019, Your Name, of 2016, was the biggest-selling anime film in Japan. So, this could be said to be pretty popular too.Iconic Anime Series.Some of the most iconic, if not the best anime series, have changed the way that anime was consumed and appreciated. And these would be recognised by many people across Japan â€" and the world.Take Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy, for example, from the sixties, which defined the style of anime that we know today.Or else, think of Mobile Suit Gundam, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Neon Genesis Evangelion, which changed the direction of anime for the following decade.These are the classics of the genre. However, they may not exactly be the most popular anime around.The Most Popular Anime?Crudely, we could call the most popular anime those that have sold the most. In this way, Dragon Ball â€" with its famous central character, Goku â€" along with One Piece have both sold over three hundred million manga editions.In terms of anime, the biggest-selling movies are those we discussed by Studio Ghibli â€" plus Howl’s Moving Castle ­â€" as well as titles including Detective Conan and Pokémon.Learn more about some of the most popular anime in Japan!And Who are the Most Famous Anime Characters?The fame of the anime characters is roughly proportionate to the popularity â€" or at least ubiquity â€" of the anime or manga series or film.And, so, Goku will be up there with the most recognised anime characters of all time. So will Pikachu â€" and almost certainly Astro Boy.However, these are not necessarily the most interesting of the characters that can be found in anime. Rather, anime is known for the complexity and depth of its characters. They develop, they show consistency, nuance, and definition, and they are used to convey themes both subtle and important.Shinji.Take Shinji, the main character from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Whilst a lot of popular animated series in the west pivot between two types of heroes â€" the badass warrior dude and the reluctant anti-hero â€" Shinji takes on a much greater emotional depth.Pressured by his estranged father to become a robot pilot to fight against ‘Angels’ threatening humanity, Shinji shrinks from the role â€" showing a vulnerability, apathy, and relationship to his parents which made him a really convincing and engaging character.Spike Spiegel.Or, alternatively, take a character like Spike Spiegel, from the anime aimed at adult audiences, Cowboy Bebop. The whole show is an unconventional animated series, grappling with themes such as loneliness and memory â€" and the struggle of moving on from pain.Spike loses the woman he loved, and his psychological drama revolves around his inability â€" or lack of attempts â€" to get over this.Find out more about these characters and other popular Japanese anime characters! Of course you recognise the anime character, Pikachu!How to Draw Your Own Anime Character: The Art Style and Techniques of Anime.What makes Japanese animation so recognisable is its incredibly distinctive style. Unlike the styles of classic American cartoons such as The Simpsons and Tom Jerry, Japanese anime is instantly identifiable.Even across the dramatically different styles of Tezuka, Hayao Miyazaki, and Toshihiro Kawamoto, there are a number of similarities that unite them. And, if you want to draw your own anime characters, it is important that you know these styles inside out.Eyes.First is the role of the eyes in anime. These are typically large â€" either oval or tightened into straight-lined slits.The role of the eyes is crucial to anime, because this is the place that most of the expressive work takes place. The eyes in anime are hugely dynamic, changing from frame to frame with the emotional content of the scene.And this is also anime’s most characteristic feature. Wit hout this â€" although Miyazaki does not indulge too much in this particular characteristic â€" your characters may not look like anime.Hair.After the eyes, the hair is the most recognisable feature of anime characters. It is large, eye-catching, and dramatic â€" often with spikes, strange styles, and movements.You’ll find that it also comes in strange colours. This is not random â€" as you will find that most of the colour choices correspond to particular symbolisms.The Tropes.The final thing you will need to remember if you are developing your own anime is that, in Japanese animation, the characters’ expressions often follow a particular typology of tropes.So, if your character is nervous, he or she needs to have drops of sweat all over their body. If your character is in pain, crossed plasters and large bulges are required. If you’re character is laughing, they need to screw up their eyes.If you want to learn more about the style of anime drawing, read our article!

3 Ways High School Students Can Improve Their Public Speaking Skills

3 Ways High School Students Can Improve Their Public Speaking Skills Public speaking is often a challenging aspect of academia for many students. While impossible to avoid, public speaking can be a source of anxiety for high schoolers. Luckily, there are tactics students can use to refine their public speaking abilities. Ways high school students can improve their public speaking skills include participating in extracurricular activities, practicing during classes, and learning from others. Looking to upgrade your public speaking skills this semester? Keep reading to learn three ways high school students can improve their public speaking skills. Tip #1 to improve your public speaking skills: join related extracurricular groups One of the best ways to improve your public speaking skills is to practice public speaking. Research the extracurricular activities your school offers, and find ways to get involved. High schools tend to have various activities that can greatly improve your public speaking skills, including: Mock trial Speech or debate team Student council Theatre club. Joining a school-sponsored organization that encourages a fair amount of speaking in front of others can not only improve your confidence, but it will also enhance your college admissions resume. Involvement in organizations such as these allows you to improve your public speaking confidence in a capacity where youre most comfortable. [RELATED: How to Maximize Your High School Extracurriculars] Tip #2 to improve your public speaking skills: increase your class participation If public speaking is a source of stress for you, challenge yourself to participate more in your classes. This is a simple tactic to improve your public speaking confidence. Raise your hand to answer questions out loud in front of your classmates, and practice articulating your thoughts about your coursework. Another way to improve your skills is to take advantage of assignments that prompt speaking in front of the class. When given the option, for example, to write a paper or give an oral presentation, take this opportunity to build your confidence by presenting in front of your classmates. Spend time preparing your presentation and rehearse beforehandboth in front of friends and family and in the space youll be presenting, if possible. Show yourself that if you practice and put your mind to it, public speaking doesnt have to be intimidating. [RELATED: Top 5 High School Study Tips] Tip #3 to improve your public speaking skills: observe other speakers techniques In addition to practicing your public speaking skills, take the time to research other speakers successful techniques. This could involve watching TED Talks and noting the mannerisms that engage you as a listener. It can also be helpful to watch your classmates during class or extracurricular presentations. Note how they organize their speeches, the level of eye contact they make, and how they involve the audience in the presentation. Dont be afraid to ask them what techniques have worked to build their public speaking confidence, and consider incorporating those strategies into your routine. [RELATED: How High School and College Students Can Setand AchieveAcademic Goals] Public speaking can be intimidating. Use your time in high school to build your confidence and improve your skills through school-sponsored organizations, classroom participation, and observing your peers. Additionally, public speaking tutoring can provide you with personally tailored strategies to improve your public speaking skills. Be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses, and strive to find tactics to excel. 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.

Why is Personal Development So Important

Why is Personal Development So Important What Makes Self-Improvement Helpful? ChaptersWhat is Personal Development?How to Start Practicing Self-DevelopmentPick a Personal Development Plan That's Right for YouHow to Tap Into Your Human PotentialIn a world that is clogged up with advice on time management, self-confidence and self-awareness â€" it can be difficult to know what strategy will be best to implement in your life. Personal development is a concept that spans human history, which can make it even harder to sift through all the books, podcasts and data about management skills, communication skills, or emotional intelligence.Whether you’re looking to boost the soft skills on your CV or simply want to enhance your life, personal development is a great starting point. This guide will walk you through some of the most important aspects of sharpening your development skills, from tips and advice to resources you can check out.Find personal development courses with a coach on Superprof.Growth and development is a great personal journey TraceyPersonal develo pment Teacher 4.92 (9) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IsamPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyPersonal development Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelePersonal development Teacher 4.73 (7) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlloydPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliverPersonal development Teacher 4.33 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is Personal Development?Self-development is a subject that has, in the last couple of years, gained a lot of traction both in society and in economics. While the shift towards developing more complex indices of wealth and well-being has been in the process for a while now, many of us are sti ll confused on how to emphasize personal growth in our own lives. The biggest reason for this can be found in the fact that much of society still struggles to define what exactly skills development is.The idea of developing yourself can be easily understood, actually, by looking at the first rule of investing: invest in yourself first. This can take on a wide range of different “investment” ideas, such as:Skills training in subjects you have a passion forPracticing your leadership skills by taking on a personal projectDeveloping an exercise routineLearning a new languageThe basic idea underlying all of these examples is that in actively goal setting for activities that make you happy, you will not only improve your personal skills but also, simply, be happier and healthier.Another great benefit in starting to take some time to develop scientific, theatrical or technical skills is the upgrade you will give to your career development. While personal development can increase your e mployability by heightening your interpersonal skills as well as non-verbal skills, it can also lead you to discover different career options.If you’re still a bit confused on what exactly personal development skills and plans are, you’re not alone. While the traditional vision of personal development seems to only include improving your abilities in effective communication, conflict resolution or verbal communication â€" this subject also has a lot to do with physical health as well.While it may not be as explicit in a job interview or CV, working on your physical and mental health can have many benefits on your career as well. There are two main routes this can take on: fitness or meditation. Many experts believe that sports combine both fitness and meditation. Included in these are:YogaMartial artsLong distance runningHow to Start Practicing Self-DevelopmentWhile there are many theories on personal development, one of the most popular bodies of thought was established by psyc hologist Abraham Maslow. What became to be known as the hierarchy of needs was originally established by Maslow as a simple representation of how humans develop life skills. While many have responded to Maslow, even delving into more experimental methods, this hierarchy of needs is a helpful starting point in understanding how you can implement self-assessment skills to improve your development progress.Starting at the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy pyramid of needs, any development goals should be met after basic physiological and safety needs have been met. These cover necessities like food, shelter, exercise, security, routine.Development courses can be done individually or with a groupThe next rung on the pyramid deals with love and belongingness. While these two concepts might not seem as concrete as hard skills like programming or fluency in a language, it can actually be an important stepping stone towards accomplishing your personal goals. Feeling a sense of belonging to a g roup, whether that be social, work-related or family, is a vital form a psychological standpoint.This step goes hand-in-hand with the next component of Maslow’s pyramid: esteem needs. Self-improvement cannot be defined without confidence and self-respect. For example, something as simple as working on your presentation skills can be majorly improved by, simultaneously, building up confidence in yourself.Cognitive needs is the third to last element on Maslow’s hierarchy. People crave knowledge, which is why personal development should not be a short-term but long-term commitment. This can include taking development courses, which can be anything related to acquiring new skills. Having a mentor can also be extremely important in developing personal or professional skills. While many do find satisfaction in self-knowledge, or self-teaching, the majority of people enjoy learning from those that are masters in their field.The penultimate step is labeled aesthetic needs, meaning the n eed for order, symmetry and beauty. While accomplishing any of your development goals, such as running a marathon or learning excel, it is also important to develop the environment around you. Actions such as living in a city you enjoy or organizing your home into an personal space can be a major part of your development plan.The last step involves self-actualization, which basically translates into someone accomplishing everything they set out to be. Contrary to popular belief, however, undertaking personal development is something you should implement every day of your life and shouldn’t be viewed as a final destination.Pick a Personal Development Plan That's Right for YouLearning about personal development can often inspire you to start implementing it into your own life. While this is a great way to kick-start you into achieving your goals, relying on this feeling alone will not bring you any closer to improving your personal or employability skills. What will help you, on the other hand, is goal setting.Many of us have been taught from an early age to set goals that are achievable. The problem with this is bit of advice is the fact that many people don’t exactly know how to define what is achievable and what isn’t. While whole swaths of the population simply want to achieve not-binge watching series every weekend, or set vague goals like starting to exercise more â€" these may not be the best ways to expand your skill set.According to studies conducted by professors Locke and Latham, the more difficult and specific your goals are, the more likely you are to work with more determination and for more time. To give one example that can apply from your transferable kills to your stress management, setting a goal with the “do your best” or “try your hardest” mentality isn’t as effective as more concrete challenges like “beat your best score” or “work for two hours more than yesterday.”While this isn’t an exhaustive guide on how to pla n your growth and development, here are some tips on how to get started on formulating a personal development plan.Develop a GoalEvery successful personal and professional development journey begins with those who set goals. Personal development goals should be difficult but achievable targets is an effective way of determining what aspect of your life you’d like to work on.Plan Your DevelopmentWhether you’re taking part in development programs, career planning or personality development â€" development plans should begin by defining each step you will have to take to achieve your goals. This process should involve outlining what resources you will need and how much time it will take for you to accomplish each step.Start the ProcessYou don’t need a life coach to reach your human potential. Whether you’re turning to personal development for career exploration or simply want to learn new skills, don’t wait until tomorrow to start implementing your personal development plans. Time management can provide you with career guidanceHow to Tap Into Your Human PotentialImplementing the new habit of practicing self-help everyday is not an easy one. While you may have the passion to achieve your goals, procrastination caused by a lack of direction can often lead to an indefinite delay of your development process. While this is definitely not an exhaustive list of the advice you can implement during your journey, here are some tips and materials to keep in mind.Develop Self-Care RitualsIt’s not as complicated, nor as pseudo-scientific as it sounds. Personal development can be as simple as prioritizing some time every day to taking care of your fitness, mental health and career. Practicing mindfulness, which is the act of meditation, can take on many different forms throughout your week. Here are some examples on how you can develop yourself personally and professionally with the aim to relieve overall stress.Create a to do list for every day of the weekPartake i n job shadowing for other areas of professional life you’re interested inTry journaling every morning before starting your daySelf-help MaterialsSelf-improvement resources come in a number of different guises, all depending on what kind of development you seek. While the sheer volume of self-help books and courses can be startling, narrowing a couple of materials down can be made easier by picking which aspect of your life you’re looking to improve: professional skills, personal goals or self knowledge.

50 Beautiful Spanish Words For an Instant Mood Boost

50 Beautiful Spanish Words For an Instant Mood Boost Suzy S. There are so many cool Spanish words to choose from, that its hard to narrow it down to just 50! Spanish is a beautiful language, and as you listen to native speakers, youll notice how elegant it can sound. Scientists have even deemed it the happiest language, too! Not only is Spanish a cool language, but it also has a logical structure. Pair that with the many Spanish-English cognates, and you can see why its one of the most popular languages to learn. As you learn Spanish, youll come across many words that stand out whether for the melodic way they roll off your tongue, or their meaning. Check out the infographic below for  some of our favorite, beautiful Spanish words! 50 Beautiful Spanish Words 1. bonita: pretty (adjective) 2. precioso: precious/beautiful (adjective) 3. señorita: young lady (noun) 4. guapo: handsome (adjective) 5. rosado: pink (adjective) 6. amor: love (noun) 7. encantar: to enchant (verb) 8. desear: to wish (verb) 9. sonreîr: to smile (verb) 10. bailar: to dance (verb) 11. cantar: to sing (verb) 12. beso: kiss (noun) 13. vivir: to live (verb) 14. abrazo: hug (noun) 15. novia/novia: boyfriend/girlfriend ( noun) 16. contigo: with you (pronoun) 17. palabra: word (noun) 18. chocolate: chocolate (noun) 19. café: brown (adjective)/ coffee (noun) 20. naranja: orange (noun) 21. dulce: sweet (adjective) 22. ángel: angel (noun) 23. fuego: fire (noun) 24. cielo: sky (noun) 25. zapatos: shoes (noun) 26. corazon: heart (noun) 27. estrella: star (noun) 28. noche: night (noun) 29. caliente: hot (adjective) 30. rica: rich/delicious (adjective) 31. dinero: money (noun) 32. serenidad: serenity (noun) 33. mariposa: butterfly (noun) 34. fuerte: strong (adjective) 35. siempre: always (adverb) 36. seda: silk (noun) 37. favorito: favorite (adjective) 38. mañana: tomorrow (adverb) 39. bienvenido: welcome (adjective) 40. sol: sun (noun) 41. montaña: mountain (noun) 42. azúcar: sugar (noun) 43. mirar: to look (verb) 44. fruta: fruit (noun) 45. medianoche: midnight (noun) 46. luz: light (noun) 47. diamante: diamond (noun) 48. flor: flower (noun) 49. mar: sea (noun) 50. helado: ice cream (noun) SEE ALSO: An Introduction to Spanish Culture How to Use These Cool Spanish Words Want to start memorizing these cool Spanish words? Here are some additional tips to keep in mind as you study these fun vocabulary words. Categorize the words.  Try grouping words together based on their similarities. For instance, each of these pretty Spanish words is related to showing affection  besos (kisses), abrazo (hug), and amor (love). Create multiple lists with different categories to study. Try forming sentences.  When  you create your own sentences, its easier to  remember the definitions of the words because  of the relevant context. Try  writing a few sentences down with some of the words we listed above. Post them around your house. Labeling items around the house is a great way to learn new  words. You can label the chairs, refrigerator, doors, etc. with their corresponding Spanish word. Play vocabulary games. There are plenty of Spanish websites with free games to check out. You can also purchase apps, or make DIY games such as Bingo and charades. Good luck studying these beautiful Spanish words, and have fun along the way! Readers, what other cool Spanish words would you add to this list? Leave a comment and let us know. Post Author:  Breeana D. Breeana teaches Spanish lessons in  Willow Grove, PA. Specializing in Early Childhood and Special Education, she also has a Bachelors in Elementary Education.  Learn more about Breeana here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Student Stress Tips - Private Tutoring

Student Stress Tips BobbiM Mar 20, 2013 The kids at the local high school by my house are taking the SAT Test and the ACT Test this week. Heres the crazy thing: a few of these kids go to my church and I could actually sense a visible and material signs of stress in their faces, voices, and in their mannerisms. In sum, these are some stressed out kids. Now, if you take my experience and multiply that by the tens of thousands of high school kids worrying about the ACT Test and the SAT Test, but also the college students stress from their classes the cumulative effect of all of that stress cannot possibly be good for anybody. Certainly not good. Now, Im an expert on meditation or anything, but I have some experience with stress and have meditated through my practice of martial arts. And, keep in mind, I graduated from Brigham Young University in 3 years while I worked 20 hours per week to support my wife and 2 kids. Later, I graduated from a top 5 graduate school while trying to juggle being a husband and dad to 3 kids. I have stared stress in the eyeballs and have won that staring contest! So, here are some suggestions from someone who has dealt with stress and isnt actually very stressed much anymore: Close your eyes and Breathe: Simple, I know. Seriously, turn away from what ever you were doing, close your eyes, and breathe. Breathe for several minutes by inhaling through your nose and exhaling out your mouth. Heres an important tip when you inhale, do not stick your chest out, instead stick your stomach out. Thats how babies breathe. Try it for several minutes. It will help you relax. Exercise and Sweat: For real get up and do something. When you are exercising, you are breathing. And, oxygen in your body is good. And, when you sweat, you are also releasing toxins (dont quote me on that one). Believe me exercise is good. It will help your mind relax. Drink Healthy Herbal Tea: I like chamomile and apple spice, but you can drink any healthy herbal tea. Warm tea will help you relax and the herbs will revive your mind. Go some place high: Go on your roof or on top of a tree or on top of a hill. If you can see the landscape and broad land beyond you, you will gain perspective. And, when you stressed, gaining the proper perspective will neutralize most stressful situations. Pray: If you are religious, then pray to your God. If not, then pray to something higher than yourself. It will bring you a sense of humility and help you realize that theres more to this world than your problems. Give these student stress tips a try. I hope they help you out.

GRE Verbal Strategy Review Text Completion

GRE Verbal Strategy Review Text Completion GRE/MAT Graduate School Blog Of all the different questions that students work on as they prep for the GRE Verbal, none seem to routinely cause as much trepidation as the Text Completion. If you’ve taught the GRE as much as I have, then you know the particular sigh of fear and pre-emptive defeat that students give when they turn to page to see a sentence riddled with long underscores. But why do GRE text completionquestions seem to cause so much more anxiety than the rest of the GREVerbal questions? Part of the reason, I think, is that Text Completion questions wear their difficulty right on their sleevesâ€"you can see, up front, that some are missing just one piece of information, but several of them contain two or even three blanks that you need to fill in. But beyond that, the Reading Comp questions test you on skills that you haveâ€"more or lessâ€"been practicing in your daily life for over two decades. Text Completion questions, on the other hand, require you to do things with texts and with language that you almost never have to do as an adult. In essence, they require you to take a conscious, methodical approach to doing somethingâ€"readingâ€"that you are used to being able to do in a way that is so intuitive it’s almost mindless. Think about it. Most sentences you read in your daily life are relatively easy to understand, and contain all the information you need. You don’t tend to examine sentences like they are crime scenes, scanning first for things like subjects and verbs, before building a hodgepodge understanding of what the sentence seems to want to say. But this is exactly what you have to do with Text Completion questions. If you’re a math person, this should actually be good news. The sentences in these questionsâ€"like all good sentencesâ€"should function with the logic and precision of mathematical equations. Let’s look at a simple Single Completion problem, to see how this works. His musical tastes are certainly ____ ; he has recordings ranging from classical piano performances to rock concerts, jazz and even Chinese opera. A. antediluvian B. eclectic C. harmonious D. sonorous E. dazzling The most glaring formal element of this sentence, to me, is the semicolon. If you’re rusty on why and how semicolons are used, you’ll definitely want to brush up on them before the GRE, where you’ll see as many semicolons as you saw in all of grad school. Here, as in most cases, the semicolon is used in an area where you could otherwise use a period. It separates two independent clauses that could stand on their own as complete sentences but where the writer wants to indicate a closer relationship between them. Oftentimes these semicolons function like equals signs do in mathematical equationsâ€"the two sides of the semicolon may not be expressed in the same terms, but they ultimately contain equivalent information. How does that help us solve problem? Let’s look closer. We can see that the blank comes in the first clause. Why, then, do we even have the second clause? We can see from the answer choices (tip: never be afraid to look at the answer choices for clues about what kind of answer to expect) that the missing word is an adjective. And, looking at the first clause, it’s obvious that the adjective describes “his” musical tastesâ€"whoever “he” is. But, recognizing that, how should we describe his musical tastes? Here we can see the logic of the question at work. Without the semicolon and that second clause, we would have no way of completing this sentence. The first clause contains no information at all about his musical tastes. All that information is to be found by piecing together clues and information from the second clauseâ€"the clause after the semicolon. Many of the Text Completion questions on the GRE function this way. The part of the sentence that contains the blank simply tells us what kind of information fills the blank (e.g. an adjective describing someone’s musical taste). But the information about what word or phrase is actually correct exists elsewhere. So now that we know we need to figure out which word best describes “his” musical taste, let’s look for clues. We see that he has “recordings ranging from classical piano performances to rock concerts, jazz and even Chinese opera.” This is no longer just a verbal/vocabulary question. It’s also sort of a reading comprehension question. We might note that those recordings are all of vastly different genres of music. The clause seems to exist to tell us that there is great variety in his music collection. Therefore, we are going to look for the answer choice that describes the musical taste of someone who has a wide variety of musical interests. Assuming we know what all the words mean (which is its own battle), it’s obvious that the correct answer here is B., eclectic (which is defined as, “deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources”). To summarize, you can use the sentence itselfâ€"as well as the answer choicesâ€"to determine what kind of information the sentence is missing. That is, what kind of word or phrase is missing, and what is that word or phrase doing with the rest of the sentence. From there, it’s up to you go digging elsewhere in the passage to find clues that tell you what word or phrase works best. Here, we first determine that we need an adjective describing someone’s musical taste. From there, we ask ourselves what kind of musical taste he has. Then, we look for the answer to that question in the sentence and, finding it, select the word that best fits. About the Author Steve is a graduate of Northwestern University, scored in the 99th percentile on the LSAT, and has been tutoring LSAT students for many years.

American Community School Beirut

American Community School Beirut American Community School Beirut American Community School Beirut is a non-profit, independent, secular American college preparatory school serving a multicultural international student body in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. ACS provides internationally-enriched, standards-based curricula, preparing students for the International Baccalaureate, the Lebanese Baccalaureate, and the American College Preparatory Diplomas. The school is accredited by both the Lebanese Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA). ACS is aligning itself with the US Department of States AERO Standards to be sure that international education represents the same high quality everywhere. ACS is a member of the group of schools designated by the US Department of State, Office of Overseas Schools. ACS supports teacher growth and provides an opportunity to enhance and challenge both professionals and students in their community. Seminars, conferences and workshops are offered regionally and globally from Amman to Berlin, Istanbul to Dubai. You will have opportunities to work with international peers who share a commitment to excel in overseas teaching. You can attend workshops, conferences and enroll in masters programs - all aligned with your professional development goals - with appropriate financial help from ACS.