Drawing Exercises for Learning to Draw

Drawing Exercises for Learning to Draw Practice Drawing in Between your Drawing lessons ChaptersSharpen Your Visual Memory to Improve Your Drawing TechniqueWork on Your Concentration and PatienceDraw Whenever You CanDon’t Stagnate in Your ArtGo to Museums and Art GalleriesShow People What You Have Drawn and PaintedSome people seem to think that the best way to improve your drawing technique is to just keep drawing as much as possible until divine inspiration rains down from heaven.You couldn’t be more wrong.To be sure, drawing as much as possible will help you progress as an artist, but it is not sufficient unto itself to learning how to draw well.During art lessons, drawing instructors will ensure that certain things become second nature to their students to help them develop their hand-eye co-ordination. But drawing lessons cost money, so you can't necessarily take one every day.So what can you do to improve your craft outside of drawing lessons?Drawing is above all, a passion. There is no fixed “sketching hour”- you should be free to draw whenever you like.Bu t how can you improve your technique without a drawing teacher breathing down your neck?Here are a few to tips to help you become the next Picasso.Go to Museums and Art GalleriesThe British Museum, the Tate Modern, the National Gallery… even if your drawing lessons are outside of London, there is sure to be some sort of museum near you!Take advantage and go visit - learn from the masters or from local artists. Your art teacher is certain to approve! It will help you find inspiration and improve your techniques.Though a lot of wonderful paintings are in private collections, some have escaped this fate and are now housed in the world’s most amazing museums, giving you an incredible window on art.Many museums in Britain are still free, though government cuts are forcing more and more to introduce entrance fees. They are usually easily accessible by public transportation.Looking at art helps you develop a critical eye. Whether you choose a guided tour or not, don’t hesitate to sto p for a few minutes in front of a piece to look at details - especially since a lot of paintings are very large.Take advantage of special exhibitions to broaden you artistic horizons.As you wander through the exhibit halls, you will discover the different artistic periods. Over the course of art history, various styles emerged. Painters took inspiration from their masters, then gave it their own personal twist.This created artistic currents such as:Constable’s RomanticismThe Dada movement with DuchampDewhurst’s Impressionismthe Cubism of William Roberts orMatisse and Fauvism.There are so many radically different styles that one of them is sure to strike a chord.The techniques they used also vary greatly depending on the pieces. Though oil painting is the technique most often associated with art museums, you will find other techniques as well, such as gouache or acrylic painting, and many have galleries and study groups with dry mediums. Study the strokes, their use of layering a nd highlights, the play of light and shadow, their composition and use of negative space.Other artists are inspired by museums, too. Take art lessons from the masters and visit art galleries! Photo on VisualHunt.comBut what is the point of all these paintings?Every one of them has a narrative behind the picture’s simple beauty. Love, violence, war, family, solitude… If you are lacking in inspiration, a little stroll through a museum will do you good.Don’t hesitate to go to special exhibitions and artist’s workshops, watch art films or take art books out of the library. Art is becoming ever more present in our lives - take advantage of it!Culture is an important part of the creative process. It lets you realize what has already been done and expand your horizons.Show People What You Have Drawn and PaintedThe best way to make progress is to meet critics head on!Take your drawings out of their pouches and show them to your friends and family to get their reactions. They will us ually be honest with you and won’t hesitate to tell you when something isn’t working.Critique will improve your drawing fast. But careful: don’t confuse negative critique with constructive critique. Tune out those who wish they could draw like you, telling you everything they would have done differently, and listen to those who actually tell you what parts of your drawing don't work and why. A too-large nose, disproportionate figure, problems of plane or perspective….That way, you will know what to be careful of in your next drawing!But positive feedback is important, too. It tells you what you are doing right - and what you should keep doing.You can also ask other participants in a drawing class to give their advice. Just like your materials exchange sessions, why not organise critique sessions in which everyone presents a work of art for feedback. They will have a more informed eye than someone who doesn’t draw.If you feel up to it, you can also organise your own little exhibition. And if that isn’t in the stars yet, be sure to keep your ears open for critiques during your end-of-year exhibition.Superprof has a range of private tutors to give you drawing lessons throughout the UK:drawing lessons Londondrawing lessons Sheffielddrawing lessons Glasgow

How to Explain Plagiarism to Your Elementary Student

How to Explain Plagiarism to Your Elementary Student Late elementary school is the time in which students first begin to write longer-length papers and execute more fact-based assignments. These types of academic assignments require students to learn how to identify and avoid plagiarism. Explaining this concept to younger students, however, can be challenging. When describing plagiarism to your elementary student, define the word, illustrate why its important to avoid it, and identify strategies for academic success. Keep reading to learn tactics to utilize when explaining plagiarism to your elementary student. Explain the definition of plagiarism to your elementary student The first step when helping your elementary student understand plagiarism is to define the term. In short, plagiarism occurs when an individual copies the ideas and/or words of another as his or her own work and fails to cite the source of that information. Your elementary student likely understands that stealing something from someone else is bad. It can be easy for a young student to understand that stealing physical objects, like personal belongings or money, is wrong. It can be a bit more difficult, however, to explain that its also possible to steal others ideas or words, and that doing so is just as serious an offense. Its important to find strategies to explain the concept in a way your student can personally relate to and understand. [RELATED: How Parents Can Help Students Setand AchieveAcademic Goals] Explain to your elementary student why its important to avoid plagiarism Make it clear that taking somethingwhether you can hold that item or notfrom someone else is wrong. Help your child understand that ideas and words have value, just like objects. Ask your student to put him- or herself in the shoes of someone who has had an idea or words taken by someone else, and ask how he or she would feel if another person tried to pass off his or her idea or words as their own. Teaching students to properly cite their sources and avoid plagiarism is important, because its an integral way to show respect to others throughout their academic careersand it can also help students avoid academic penalties. [RELATED: How Parents Can Help with Elementary Homework Challenges] Explain to your elementary student how he or she can avoid plagiarism When showing your student how to identify and avoid plagiarism, it can help to give examples. Ask your student to find a passage in his or her favorite book, and have your child summarize the passage without using any phrases from the snippet. Also spend some time reviewing your students class assignments with him or her, and examine the following questions: When mentioning another persons work, does he or she credit the sources used, and if so, were the citations used correctly? Does your student put the authors words in quotation marks? Does your student paraphrase the authors work using words and phrases different from those used by the source? Praise your student for using correct citations, as well. If you do identify plagiarism in your students work, show him or her the correct way to cite others ideas and words. His or her teacher will explain the correct way to cite these various works, and can be a good reference for tips on explaining this concept to your student. [RELATED: 3 Ways to Effectively Communicate With Your Childs Teacher] When teaching your student to avoid plagiarism, praise originality in his or her work. Applaud your student when he or she comes up with new ideas, and show your child how to complement their own ideas with the ideas of others. 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.

How to Successfully Answer a GMAT Sample Sentence Correction Question

How to Successfully Answer a GMAT Sample Sentence Correction Question GMAT MBA Admissions Blog The GMAT is the first and only standardized admissions test designed specifically for graduate business and management programs. Though in recent years most business schools accept the GRE exam, taking the GMAT can set you apart from other applicants. The GMAT measures your critical thinking and reasoning skills, the two most relevant skills to the world’s top graduate business programs. You can learn more about the GMAT exam here. In the video below, we put some of that critical thinking to the test as we tackle a Sample Sentence Correction question, one like you’d find in the Verbal section of the GMAT. Begin by Setting Up Your Scratch Pad: Write the Question number List a, b, c, d, e to represent answer choices, X them out as you eliminate each Draw a line next to the question number to write the error once you identify it Utilize Obvious Easy 2/3 Answer Choice Splits Look for similarities/differences in the answers. In this example, 2 of the answer choices begin with the word “indicate” and the other 3 begin with “indicates.” Spotting this “split” in the answers helps us determine whether to use the singular or plural verb. Read Carefully to Find the Intended Subject Identify the subject in the non-underlined portion of the sentence, this will help you determine if your answer will be in singular or plural form, ensuring subject-verb agreement. Once you determine this, you can eliminate any answer choices by placing an x next to those which are subject verb errors (in the incorrect form). Going back to your scratch pad â€" write out the error you have identified. You always want to evaluate the category of error, not just specific, individual errors. In this case, its subject/verb agreement (singular vs. plural). Go back and read the sentence inserting whichever answer you believe to be correct. Remember, we always want to use the non-underlined portion of the sentence as the answer key to match to the underlined option. About the Author Stefan Maisnier is the Director of Online instruction as well as an expert online GMAT tutor.

English Vocabulary for Socialising ?? - Learn English with Harry

English Vocabulary for Socialising ?? - Learn English with Harry In this post you will learn socialising English vocabulary words and phrasal verbs. Socialising with Friends Vocabulary | Image What better way is there to enjoy a coffee or cup of tea than with a friend who drops in on you to spend an hour or so in your company? Catching up with the gossip and chilling out on a Saturday or Sunday morning may just be the tonic you need to get over the week day blues of office politics!Alternatively a scheduled meeting with friends in a city centre coffee shop or even in the gym gives you the chance to find out about the comings and goings of your mutual acquaintances and mates. Learning about old school or university colleagues who you have not come across for a few years is better than traipsing around a shopping mall packed with shoppers. You might even find the time to chat up a new “friend”.In this short extract, which has been written informally, I have used many common everyday phrasal verbs a feature of modern day English. Socialising with Friends Vocabulary - English for Socialising CLOSE KNITa few friends who are special friends who know you and each other well. We can also refer to a tight circle of friends.ex. They were a close-knit group of friends who truly enjoyed meeting and welcoming new people.TO UNWIND FROMto relax and get rid of any stressex. It was the perfect  trip to unwind from the hectic routine.TO DROP IN ONsomeone who visits you or who you visit without making an arrangement or appointment.ex. I was passing his house so dropped in on him to see how he was.TO CATCH UP WITHto find out all the gossip and information. What has been happening since you last spoke or met each otherex. It was good to meet up and catch up on old times and find out the latest news.CHILLING OUTrelaxing in a friendly atmosphere away from the stresses and strains of everyday life.ex. I had a lovely massage in the spa and enjoyed chilling out on the beach each day.TO FIND OUT ABOUTto get the information you were looking for or needed.ex. I spoke to Mary’s father to find o ut about the arrangements for the wedding.TO ASK SOMEONE OVERto invite someone to your houseex. It did seem rather short notice to  ask friends over for  dinner.TO COME ACROSSthis can be used both positively or negatively.I came across his name in an old diary. I had not thought about him for years. OrI haven’t come across him since I moved to another town.This means I have not met him since I moved to another town.TO TRAIPSE AROUND to wander / walk with out any real purpose trying to find something you want or need.ex. I traipsed around every shop in the high street looking for that book but could not find it anywhere.TO CHAT UPto talk casually to someone in a slightly flirtatious way with the hope you might get a date.ex. He chatted up the new secretary last week and is taking her to the cinema this weekend.

How to select the right private tutor for your child

How to select the right private tutor for your child There are many factors to consider when choosing the right private tutor for your child. Depending on your child's specific needs and methods of working, you may find yourself trying out more than one home tutor before finding the one who gels best with your child. However, there are a few basic guidelines that you can follow to make your task more straightforward. First of all, the sex of your chosen tutor is an important area that needs careful consideration. Does your child react better to a male or female influence? Ask your child whether they would prefer a male or female tutor - involve them in the process. Experience is an obvious consideration. If you require a tutor with a certain level of experience in the subject or level they will be teaching, ask for references and verify them. Having said that, experience isn't everything. If you find a knowledgeable tutor with a passion for his/her subject and they strike up a rapport with your child, they could well be an excellent choice. Reputation is important. Gather as much information as possible about the tutor's previous assignments. Do they come recommended from people who have used their services before? Lastly, make sure the tutor you select is located nearby if they are going to be visiting your home regularly. It is no good finding an excellent private tutor if you live in Cornwall and they are based in Manchester. Of course, you could get around this problem by arranging for the tutor to teach your child online. Do you have any tips of your own when it comes to selecting the right tutor for your child?

8 Extensive Reading Activities for Language Learners Teaching Themselves

8 Extensive Reading Activities for Language Learners Teaching Themselves Uh, oh.  That  book just came out.Cancel all meetings. Postpone all  plans with friends. Hire a dog/cat sitter for several days.Do anything important  now, because once  that book is in your  hands  nothing is going to get done.Everyone has one of  those  books, right?Books that you just cannot put downâ€"no matter how much you try. You fall so deeply in love with the world the author has created for you, that you forget the actual world youre living in.This sort of pleasurable adventure is just as possible in a foreign language as in your native one. If youve been hitting wall after wall trying to drag yourself through a book that you hardly understand, give  extensive  reading a try instead.In extensive reading you should know at least 98% of the words on a page. In other words, it should  feel like reading. You should have that wonderful feeling of being wrapped up in a story, unable to set the book down even to eat.Unfortunately many of us have come to associate learning with unn ecessary suffering. All those late night cram sessions seemed to pay off, so why should it be any different with language learning? Well actually, language learning can be enjoyable  and effective. At least some of the time. Why Extensive Reading Is the Key to Your SuccessReading and being able to understand something is good. Reading and being able to understand something quickly is even better. How do you get faster at reading? Read a lot. One study  carried out by St. Lukes International University showed that students in an extensive reading program were able to significantly increase their reading speeds, while those in an intensive programâ€"who read less but harder materialâ€"had zero gain in reading speed.If thats not enough, extensive reading also has just about every other advantage you can imagine.  Research seems to support the idea that extensive reading can lead to better reading comprehension, a larger vocabulary and a higher level of motivation. That last one is by no means the least important, since motivation is one of  the key factors in how fast you develop.Now, you could just pick up a book (at the appropriate level) and go to town on it. But if you really want to maximize your time spent on extensive reading, there are a few activities that are super effective. Lets look at eight of them:8 Extensive Reading Activities for Language Learners Teaching Themselves1. Prime your knowledgeThis is a very basic activity that will make your extensive reading easier and more effective.First, skim through roughly the amount of text you plan on reading. Maybe a chapter or two at a time. Youre looking for any unknown words, but mostly the ones that appear over and over again. These are the words that are going to make it easy  to understand the basic plot elements of the story or the basic argument of the article. Look up a basic definition for each. Then you can add context and feeling to the definition as you read and see the word in a sentence.Next , read over the dust jacket summary and take a good look at the cover illustration if youre reading a book. If youre reading an article, read the headline and the subheadings. From this information alone, make a prediction about what the story or article will be about. This requires you to gather all the relevant vocab and background knowledge you have of the subject, making it easier to contextualize and understand what youre about to read.2. Write book reports and book reviewsThis one is probably self explanatory. When you finish a book, just write out a simple piece about it, including a basic summary and some of your own feelings about the text.Writing something like this will help to  create a personal understanding of the text by making you reread certain sections of the text to confirm that your understanding of the work is correct. Since this also serves as a test of your ability to recall details of the text, itll be much more likely that youll remember new vocab and gramma r in the long-run.To make sure you really put the effort in to comprehend whats going on, try publishing your review on a site like Goodreads or Amazon.3. Do timed readingsExtensive reading is  already a great way to get your reading speed up, but if youre still not as fast as you want to be, heres how to get better.The simplest task is a timed read. Choose a set number of pages and set a stopwatch for a set amount of time. Of course, texts vary a lot. Sometimes theres a lot of dialogue and you can read it quickly without any problem. Other times  its full of difficult descriptions and you have to struggle to make it to the end. So try to pick a time that would be reasonably difficult but possibleâ€"whatever happens in the text.A tweak on this activity is to pick a section, read it and time how long it takes you. Then when youve finished, reread that section, only now try to read it 20% faster. It goes without saying that you should try to read it quickly the first time, or else the second part of the activity wont be much of a challenge.Theres one other activity thats truly excellent for timed reads, but it can be a bit trickier. Youll have to find a partner whos learning the same language as you and is at about the same level of proficiency. Agree to read a set number of pages and race each other to see who finishes first. The person who finishes first should have to give a decent summary of what she or he read to prove that they really read it.4. Join book club discussionsJust like in your native language, book club discussions can provide great motivation to make sure you actually read what you want to. They also allow you to hear other peoples thoughts on the book that might have never occurred to you otherwise. This can be a wonderful way to go over confusing grammar or just make sure youre reading what you think youre reading. Sometimes its easy to have an existential crisis about whats really on the page when youre reading a book in a foreign language all by yourself.Besides the reasons above, book club discussions can be a great way to roll together speaking and reading practice. If you host your discussions in the language youre learning, youll quickly be able hold a decent conversation about literature. And youll probably have to do some quick scanning for passages you want to use. Being able to switch back and forth between different parts of language is always a valuable skill.To find a book club,  Meetup is always a great place to start. However, since most book clubs around seem to be in English, you can either try to read the book in your target language,  or start a new club where everyone reads in the target language. This is probably easier than you think. Are you a member of a language group already? Do you have friends who are studying the same language? All you need to do is convince two or three people to join you, and you have a book club.5. Create chain storiesThis is another activity that requires a partner at a bout the same level of proficiency as you.You and a partner choose two different books. Its probably more fun if theyre on wildly different topics. Begin by reading the first chapter or a set number of pages from one book and have your partner do the same from the other book. When youve finished, you each to have to summarize what youve just read to the other person as clearly and in as much detail as you can.Now switch books and read the next section. Even if your partner made mistakes, hopefully you can figure them out and have some fun correcting them.6. Work on your creative writingHad enough of summarizing the story? Why not try rewriting it? Creative writing based on what youve just finished reading can be a highly effective tool for solidifying those gains in vocab/grammar that youve made.Perhaps the most fun time to do this is when youre faced with a terrible ending to an otherwise good story. Weve all had this happen to us. Were blissfully turning page after page. We see th at the number of pages is slowly dwindling down, but there doesnt seem to be anything in the narrative that suggests so. And then the story just ends, as if the author had never read an ending themselves. Now is your chance to do what needs to be done. Write what they should have written in the first place.An enjoyable alternative to this activity is to take one chapter of a book and rewrite it in a different genre. Think Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Android Karenina. The result can be hilariously entertaining.And if youve gone through these activities a thousand times, you can always  write a letter to a character in the book about something you agree or disagree with, trying to assume the same tone as the book. Done well, it can give you an entirely new connection to what youre reading.7. Keep vocabulary journalsIn addition to the vocabulary you pulled out from the text in the first activity, you can also keep a vocabulary journal for those words that you inevitably miss whe n youre skimming the text.A vocabulary journal doesnt need to be fancy. When you see a new word or phrase that you think is important, write it down in your journal. If possible, add your own definition based on context clues and an example sentence. That way, when you look it up later you can see it in context again.If youre learning French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese or German, you can also check out the web version of the MosaLingua app, which gives you pre-selected content to learn with, including authentic reading material, and allows you to look up words and phrases instantly with a translator tool. You can also turn vocabulary into flashcards to ensure you dont forget about it.And when youre all finished with what youre reading, go back and try to write a summary that includes all of the words you recorded in your vocabulary journal.8. Skim and scanThese two activities are for those with a dire wish to be able to read as fast as a native speaker.For skimming, pick a chapter and read only the first and last sentence of each paragraph. When youve finished, write out a summary. Then read the text again slowly and see if there are any important details youve missed. If so, what strategies do you think you could use to skim the text more effectively without slowing down? Tinker with how you do your skimming until it seems like you can read anything in no time, and still be able to write the equivalent of a late night school essay.But maybe you dont need to read the whole text. Maybe you just want to be able to find answers to specific questions as quickly as possible. Thats where scanning comes in. For this, its best if you can find readings that come with questions. Often times books that have been marked for book clubs will include questions in the back. Otherwise, you might try generating some of your own questions based on the topic of the book or chapter.You dont have to try every one of these activities. Just grab the ones that stick out to you. Afte r all, theyre to be paired with extensive readingâ€"that wonderfully joyous way to spend a lazy Sunday. Or any other day for that matter. For once, you can let the pressure go and just have fun, knowing that youll be learning all the while. And One More ThingFluentU gives you a chance to practice reading in a foreign language right along with your favorite videos!FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks, and turns them into language learning experiences. Just a quick look will give you an idea of the range of content available:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all t he vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or Google Play store.

5 things to focus on when looking at the University of California

5 things to focus on when looking at the University of California 5 things to focus on when looking at the University of California Many students will apply to one or more of the schools that make up the University of California. When applying to college, there are a lot of things students should consider before making their final decisions about which schools to apply to. They may be interested in conducting research and going on to graduate school, they may want to work with certain professors, or they may be looking for a well-rounded education before deciding on a major. There are several things applicants should consider while researching potential campuses our Los Angeles college admissions consultants are here to help you apply to college. 1. Size and location Its important for applicants to think about the size and location of the different universities within the UC system. Is the size of the campus manageable? Is the location close enough to or far enough away from home? Are there job opportunities in the area? Students will be spending a good portion of their day for the next four years on campus, so its important they feel comfortable navigating their surroundings as well as living and working in the local area. 2. Fields of study Most UC campuses offer a broad range of major fields of study. However, some universities are known for specializing in one thing or another, so students should consider what they are thinking about majoring in before narrowing down potential choices. Students should also consider how easy it is to change their major if they start to have different ideas once they arrive on campus. Some students know what they want to study before stepping foot on campus and will need to take several different classes in their first two years before settling on a decision. 3. Career options Applicants should also consider potential career choices once they complete their education. Of course, students can move to a different city to look for jobs, but its often easier to gain an entry-level position in their local area. Students may have made connections through internships, classmates, or a part-time job they had over the summer. A graduates individual needs will be based mainly on their chosen career field thus students might find more or less success in different cities throughout California (READ: Tips From a Los Angeles College Admissions Consultant: How to Prep for College Applications). 4. Research opportunities The University of California as a whole is known for its research opportunities. Whether a student wants to focus on undergraduate research and apply for jobs immediately after graduation or wants to apply to a graduate program, the University of California can be a great option. Students are encouraged to look into the individual research opportunities that each campus offers. If students want to work with a specific group of professors, they should take extra special care to make sure that research opportunities are available with that specific person or department. 5. Extracurricular options Its also important for applicants to look into what extracurricular activities are available to them. Some campuses are really big on clubs and organizations while others are known more as commuter schools where students simply attend class and participate in a few social activities. A students interests will greatly determine which campus will be the best fit for them. From improving your GPA to standardized testing, our private Los Angeles college admissions consultants are here to help improve your college admissions competitiveness. Call us today to learn more. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.