Should I Go To University of Notre Dame

Should I Go To University of Notre Dame The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Ashley graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2012 with a Bachelors degree in Biological Science Theology. She currently tutors many subjects in Boston specializing inBiology tutoring, ACT prep tutoring,SAT prep tutoring, Essay Editing tutoring, and more. Take a look at her review of the University of Notre Dame: 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? Ashley: The University of Notre Dame is located in South Bend, Indiana, only a few miles south of Michigan and less than two hours east of Chicago. The campus is gorgeous. It is essentially self-contained, with sweeping lawns, beautiful gardens, patches of woodland, and two lakes (with lovely trails for jogging!). I quickly felt right at home on the University of Notre Dames campus, and it is quite safebesides being set apart from the surrounding neighborhoods, the campus has ample lighting and many emergency call stations. Almost all undergraduates live right on campus, and you can walk nearly anywhere in about 15 minutes. Some students ride their bikes to class, and to get off-campus, most students drive, bike, or take a shuttle bus. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Ashley: Very rarely did I have difficulty getting in contact with professors or advisers at the University of Notre Dame. Particularly for first-year or especially challenging courses, the professors and teaching assistants know that students will need help, and they often hold frequent office hours or tutorial sessions. Academic support in the form of tutoring and advising is also available, with a special focus on first-year students. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Ashley: The University of Notre Dame is well known for its unique dorm life. Almost all undergraduates choose to live on-campus for all four years. The University of Notre Dames dorm life is special because there are no sororities or fraternities. Instead, each single-sex dorm has a distinctive character and community of its own. Each dorm has its own chapel and Mass schedule, as well as a hall council that plans events (liturgical, social, service, etc.) to support dorm life. Students are fiercely loyal to their dormsthey celebrate their dorm mascot (we were the Howard Hall Ducks), play against other dorms teams in inter-hall sporting events (the inter-hall football championship is played in Notre Dame Stadium), and compete for the celebrated title of Hall of the Year. Your dorm is truly your family while at the University of Notre Dame! There are two main dining halls on campus, and both are fantastic (I highly recommend North Dining Halls pasta stir-fry and South Dining Halls make-your-own-pizza). In addition, there are a variety of cafes and smaller dining options scattered throughout the academic buildings and LaFortune Student Center. Most students have a meal plan, which gives them access to three all-you-can-eat meals in the dining hall each day, in addition to Flex Points that can be spent at eateries around campus. 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? Ashley: The University of Notre Dame has a wide variety of majors in the College of Science, College of Arts and Letters, College of Engineering, and Mendoza College of Business. All students begin in the First Year of Studies program, where they take foundational courses that set the stage for their specialization when they declare a major for sophomore year. Most students have at least one minor in addition to their major, and many students double-major. For example, I was a Biological Science major (College of Science) with a second major in Theology (College of Arts and Letters). I loved having the opportunity to learn more about my faith by taking theology classes alongside the science classes in my Biological Science major. Even better, I had many opportunities to take elective coursessuch as Greek, geology, and literatureoutside of my main focus areas. 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? Ashley: The University of Notre Dame is most often described as a family, and this strong sense of community begins with an acceptance letter that says, Welcome home. First-year students are immediately welcomed into their dorm communities, and they can participate in a variety of dorm and inter-hall events specifically designed for freshmen. In addition, the University Notre Dame hosts an event during which all of the campus clubs and organizations are present so students can browse their (nearly infinite!) options and find activities that suit their interests. First-year students also quickly get to experience the great tradition of campus football, and autumn Saturdays are a near-sacred time as everyone cheers on the Fighting Irish. VT: How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Ashley: The Career Center is a useful resource, which I especially used when I needed help developing a resume for the first time. Juniors and seniors often attend the several career fairs offered throughout the year, and the University of Notre Dame also hosts a service fair for students who would like to commit themselves to a service or religious organization for a few years after graduation. VT: How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Ashley: The University of Notre Dames main library is 13 stories high and filled with desks and comfortable chairs for studying. In addition, there are several smaller libraries around campus. Many academic buildings (e.g., the Jordan Hall of Science) have designated study spaces that can be either quiet or social, depending on the atmosphere encouraged by that department. Dorms usually have at least one study lounge on each floor, but these can be louder and more crowded than the library, especially when students are hesitant to walk too far in the winter. I always enjoyed trying out new study spaces, as well as finding interesting, out-of-the-way locations in which to read or write a paper. 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? Ashley: The University of Notre Dame is bordered by suburban neighborhoods, a larger commercial road, campus apartments, and recently-developed commercial streets geared toward students (think Chipotle, campus bookstore, ice cream, trendy restaurants, etc.). Honestly, there is so much to do that most students spend the majority of their free time on campus! The neighboring city of Mishawaka has a ton of stores and restaurants. For students willing to travel, the city of Chicago is easily accessed by bus or train, and the Lake Michigan shore is not too far away, either. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Ashley: There are about 8,000 undergraduates, which was a perfect size for meneither overwhelmingly large, nor so small that it felt constraining. As a Biological Science major, I often had larger lecture-style classes in my first two years, but class sizes decreased for more specialized upper-level courses. My Theology courses in the College of Arts and Letters were generally smaller and included many seminar-style (less than 20 students) classes. I felt that these class sizes, though diverse, were very appropriate given the nature of the courses. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Ashley: My most memorable courses at the University of Notre Dame were my Beginning Greek I and II classes, which I took just for fun (as a science major in a classics course, I was definitely an anomaly!). Learning an ancient language required a skill set and study strategies that were very different from my typical homework assignments (memorizing biological processes, writing lab reports, or writing theology essays). Greek was by far my hardest and most demanding course that yearand yet it was one of the most fun! My professor did an outstanding job of making his lessons engaging and yet incredibly demanding. His high expectations gave us all the motivation to prepare meticulously for each class. Even though Greek was an elective for me, I also treasured the fact that my study of Greek simultaneously informed the other classes I was takinggeology, physiology, and theology are all disciplines with a Greek-based technical vocabulary. Check out Ashleys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Ancient Greeks

Ancient Greeks What Was Life Like in Ancient Greece? ChaptersTimeline of the Ancient Greek CivilisationComing Together After the Dark AgesLife in the Archaic PeriodReligious BeliefsBringing the Archaic Period to a CloseIf we should take an informal poll, it would be a good bet that everyone responding would know of at least one Greek philosopher and at least one mythological tale from Ancient Greece.If we were to stretch the point, surely everyone could name at least one Olympic event from that time: discus throwing, chariot racing... even marathon running has its roots in Ancient Greece.What about Greek architecture?The Parthenon is one of the world’s most recognised structures. So renowned and admired is it that you can visit duplicate Parthenons in Regensburg, Germany, where it is known as the Walhalla Memorial and in the US state of Tennessee, in their capital city.In fact, Tennesseeans must be great admirers of Ancient Greece; they have a host of cities with Greek names: Athens, Antioch, Smyrna, Sparta...And it’s not just Tenn esseeans who commemorate the Greek: the National Monument of Scotland, nicknamed Edinburgh’s Folly, was modelled on Athena’s temple!Much is known about this civilisation that flourished in Antiquity â€" indeed that defined Classical Antiquity!Archaeologists have been hard at work for centuries, uncovering the treasures of Ancient Greece: their poetry and artistry, philosophers and deities.Even if we condensed their findings, this article would be prohibitively long!Instead, let us stipulate that you are familiar with the greatest accomplishment of Greek civilization: that Greek culture became the foundation of western culture overall.Let us further stipulate that you are aware philosophy, politics, language and science, education systems and the arts â€" literature, visual and performing arts, all have their roots in Ancient Greece.If you already know all of that, Superprof undertakes the Homeric task of bringing you a rendering of life for the ancient Greeks. MarkHistory Teache r 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JohnHistory Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarjotteHistory Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErinHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChantelleHistory Teacher 5.00 (2) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyHistory Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterHistory Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SerenaHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsTimeline of the Ancient Greek Civilisation The Acropolis is an excellent example of Greek law and philosophy Image by Jo-B from PixabayIt goes without saying that the region we identify as Greece has been inhabited for a long time, but just how long was it until they established themselves into cities and developed a culture?In other words: what exactly is meant by the designation ‘Ancient Greece’?More importantly: what prompted the dramatic social evolutions that underpin our societies still today?In the very beginning, the people inhabiting that region were hunters. Archaeological finds date human activity to 6,000 BC; in the Neolithic period.While much was accomplished during that time â€" establishing a tradition of pottery and animal husbandry, it still predates the period indicated by the term ‘ancient’, which lasted from 800-500 BC.By then, Minoan art had established its legacy and the Greek Dark Ages (1100-750 BC) were just coming to an end.These Dark Ages cover the time between the fall of the Mycenean civili zation and the resurgence of the Greek written language.While many advances had been made by Myceneans in engineering, military infrastructure and architecture, they could not withstand the attacks of the Dorian, who fought with iron weaponry.The Dorian were a people from the mountainous region of southwest Macedonia. They fought their way through central Greece, effectively bringing about the first decline of Greek civilization.Mycenea’s rigid social hierarchies, strict political systems and regimented economical ventures, driven by a palace-centred leadership fell into chaos, propelling Greece into their Dark Age period.During this time, people lived in small farming villages scattered throughout the region.Although no records have been found of this period, it is estimated that substantial shifts away from palace rule and toward a more decentralised form of socio-economic government permitted the people to regroup and reorganise.Archaeological evidence of emerging nation-states after 800 BC has been found, indicating that Greek civilisation was indeed rebuilding herself.This is the era, sandwiched between the Grecian Dark Ages and the Classical Period (500-336 BC) that is referred to as Archaic, or Ancient.How well-developed was the Egyptian culture by this time?These roughly 300 years saw the foundations of democracy laid, an explosion of intellectual and academic growth and unparalleled artistic expression.Now we look at the living conditions that permitted this growth.Coming Together After the Dark AgesThe phrase ‘the fall of the palaces’ indicates the end of the Mycenaean civilisation, the time when people fled the cities they had built.While some established themselves in small farming communes, others banded together and wandered the land as nomads for a time.The agricultural tribes soon established themselves as city-states or ‘poleis’, built fortifications â€" city walls and defence units, and established trade relations with nearby poleis .Greek poleis gave us our root word for ‘politics’.Indeed, these settlements had to be quite diplomatic: they traded with one another regularly and lived in relatively close proximity but established their own cultures, laws and political structures.Throughout these Greek colonies, the wealthiest citizens were chosen (or elected themselves) as leaders, forming an oligarchy that had the power of a king â€" a rather strange turn of events, seeing that most colonies had recently overthrown their monarchs.The trend continued: the oligarchs were also soon overthrown, this time by tyrants who played on political or economic crises to seize and hold power. Once the crisis situation was resolved, citizens would accuse their tyrant of having illegally taken the reins of power and promptly oust them.This ongoing cycle of oligarchic and tyrannical rule followed by eviction continued for some time and it even spread throughout the land and into Italy.During the 6th Century BC, a new body of government arose: democracy â€" rule by the people.Of course, you have to understand that, at the time, only free men were considered ‘people’. Women, slaves and foreigners had no say in government proceedings which means that, essentially, the oligarchical system simply expanded to include all ‘legal’ males.This new era of politics required a massive system of laws. Arguing them, formulating them and drafting them into the lawbooks was a monumental work, meaning that men once again had a measure of economic stability.With economic stability came population growth. Greek city-states were on their way to becoming metropoli again but small, isolated patches of farmland wouldn’t do.All across the Mediterranean and into Anatolia, a frantic period of colonization ensued.Discover another colonization effort on the other side of the world: the Mayans. MarkHistory Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JohnHistory Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!D iscover all our tutors MarjotteHistory Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErinHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChantelleHistory Teacher 5.00 (2) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyHistory Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterHistory Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SerenaHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLife in the Archaic PeriodFor all of these societies’ political and philosophical advances, they were still largely agrarian. That meant that leisure time was often in short supply â€" especially around sowing and reaping times.The olive harvest brought long hours of heavy labour.Such work included beating the olives out of the trees with sticks, gathering them, processing them either into oil for cooking or lighting, into beauty products or preserving them for later consumption.Likewise with the grain harvest: first the grain must be cu t with a sickle, threshed and then pounded with a pestle to remove husks. And again, the work of storing it.Once all the work was done, if there was a spare moment or if it was a religious observance, Greeks enjoyed certain pastimes. Going to the theatre was a popular pastime in Ancient Greece Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from PixabayLeisure TimeIn times of high celebration or for special occasions, one might catch a play at the theatre.  Even today, Greek tragedies and comedies resonate; in fact, it was the Greek poet Thespis who gave us our first tragedy.Credited as being the world’s first actor, he also gave us the word ‘thespian’.If nothing at the theatre appealed, one might join in discourse with fellows, discussing either politics or philosophy.Other than that, sedentary games â€" dice, checkers and bones attracted a fair share of players. If one wanted a bit of movement, a brisk game of marbles might do.If one was too young to sit through a theatre production or to participate in oration â€" in other words, one was a young lad, he might enjoy playing marbles or, if he is particularly energetic, a game similar to hockey.Such games were usually played in the nude so, naturally, girls were not allowed to join in the fun.What types of games did the Mesopotamian civilization engage in?Life for Women in Ancient GreeceWhile life for females was not exactly one of penury and desperation, it certainly was unequal to being a man in Ancient Greece.For one, women did not have a voice in politics; in fact, they were not considered Greek citizens â€" that title came with the privilege of being male.Women had few economic opportunities â€" selling olive oil or pottery in the market remained forbidden to them although the males in their family could take the oil and pottery the women had made or the cloths they’d woven and turn a profit.Women were not allowed to enjoy the theatre â€" not to act in plays or be in the audience.  To be sure, Greek tragedies certainly had roles for females but they were played by men in costume.Females of all ages were not expected to crave physical exertion as a pastime so, even if the female in question were a young girl who would have loved to run alongside her brother and his friends, that would not have been permitted.Overall, women’s social position worsened during the Archaic period.Records show that, until that time, women in cities like Delphi, Megara and Gortin owned property â€" an indication of wealth and independence.However, in Classical Greece, the period immediately following the Archaic age, records show that women were property; a part of the household which belonged to males.Still, there was one avenue that women could follow to maintain an independence of sorts: she could become a priestess.Read about another ancient society that welcomed women as priestesses...Religious BeliefsIt is important to remember that, even though Greek mythology invokes many of their deities, Greek religion is a completely separate institution from storytelling, although they are closely intertwined.Like many civilisations, the Greek pondered their origins and the meaning of their life. Their existence was given depth and a purpose by the gods they entertained.What we know today as Greek mythology came about through the practice of the ancient Greeks honoring their gods.One way that religion was practised in those times was the telling of stories and seeing those stories recorded in writings. One such narrative, Hercules, is an excellent example of how a human must travail to earn a place among the gods even though he was descended from gods.In Ancient Greece, religion and gods were a part of everyday life.The Incans also believed their gods shadowed their lives...At the dinner table, people would set a place for Hestia, the household goddess and worship at the altar they had set up for her. Religious observances didn’t stop there...In this article’s introduction, we mentioned that the Parthenon was built to worship Athena. Other temples, such as the one on the Attic peninsula, were built in honour of other gods:Zeus: ruler of the gods and god of the skyHera: wife of Zeus; patron city was ArgosPoseidon: god of the se a, second to Zeus in power; father of TritonDemeter: goddess of the harvest whose daughter, Persephone, was abducted by HadesAthena: goddess of war, wisdom, art, industry and justice. Zeus’ favourite childApollo: god of prophecy; twin brother of ArtemisArtemis: goddess of the moon, hunting and animalsAres: god of war; mostly worshipped in ThraciaAphrodite: goddess of love and beauty; wife of HephaestusHephaestus: initially cast down from Mount Olympus, he regained their good graces by forging thrones of gold for all of the gods.Hermes: messenger of the gods, he had winged shoes and hatHestia: the aforementioned household goddessDionysius: god of grapes and wine-making; he was revered everywhere that grapes grewThe more powerful Olympian gods were worshipped everywhere but, in the case of Dionysus, for example, only the people living in the wine regions of Greece would actively and routinely worship him.Besides obeisance to all of the Olympian gods, each city-state had their own de ity to protect them and sometimes the city individual gods favored was named after them â€" Athens being a good example of such.Finally, the ancient Olympic games were conducted as a tribute to Olympian gods.Archaeology finds that the Olympic games got their start around 700 BC, during the Archaic period, apparently as a tribute to Zeus. The games were well-attended but, in spite of a large Macedonian population, only Greek citizens could be present at the games.Women couldn’t attend because they weren’t considered citizens, if you’ll remember.How were women treated in aboriginal Australia? The Archaic Period was when the Greeks started carving human statues to scale Image by Ionas Nicolae from PixabayBringing the Archaic Period to a CloseThis relatively peaceful time in Greek history was all too short-lived; it only lasted for about 300 years, of which only about 160 were truly progressive.The onslaught of Dorians that brought about the end of King Mycenae’s munificence left Greek citizens in the ignoble role of slaving for their Dorian masters.Fleeing the cities that their occupiers now called home, Greeks established themselves initially as small clans, eventually returning to their previous way of life by building up city-states.Even though at that time, the Greek economy was agrarian-based, they nevertheless set the stage for greater academic and civic establishment.Emerging from the Greek Dark Ages, Greece saw unparalleled advances in medicine, art, philosophy and politics, and they were uniquely placed to spread these disciplines throughout the Mediterranean te rritories.It helped quite a bit that they had allies in Rome who would incorporate Greek wisdom and knowledge into their own culture and propagate it throughout their empire.It was during this time that Greek scientists and mathematicians made great advances; you might not know of Anaximandros, who devised an early theory of gravity but surely you would recognise the name ‘Pythagoras’.This was the time that Homer wrote his Illiad and Odyssey and sculptors carved proportionate human figures â€" rather than towering figures of gods.This time of relative peace and productivity that was soon eclipsed by a series of wars: the Ionian Revolt, the Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian War and others all took their toll on the population and resources of Greece.Isn’t it remarkable that, for such a brief period, Ancient Greece had such an amazing impact on the rest of the world?And isn’t it even crazier that, though long-past, it still shapes our societies and beliefs?Now discover other anc ient civilisations that laid the foundation of today’s societies.

10 French Poets to Fall in Love With This National Poetry Month

10 French Poets to Fall in Love With This National Poetry Month Sign up successful 2. Francois Villon Francois Villon (1431 â€" 1474?), born the same year that Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, was little known during his lifetime, but became one of the most popular medieval French poets in the years after his death. He was never rich, and seems to have been involved in criminal activity that led to troublesome legal problems following his graduation from university. Even as a student, despite his later recognition as a poet, he was not very serious, and his pranks, albeit with the help of friends, led to some trouble as well. Following a brawl in 1462, he was sentenced to death in early 1463, and then banished from Paris instead. Little can be found of him afterwards; sources are divided on whether he is thought to have died later in 1463 or some eleven years later 1474. Probably his most well-known work is Le Testament, a collection of twenty-some poems in octosyllabic verse. 3. Louise Labe Photo by Wikimedia Commons Louise Labe (1524 â€" 1566) was born in the early 1520s (1522 or 1524) of a rope-maker and member of the bourgeoisie who educated her in letters and music. She lived in Lyon for most of her life, publishing a collection of works,  Euvres de Louïze Labé Lionnoize  in 1556. She moved to the countryside some time later and died several years after her husband in 1566. She is the most celebrated non-noble  female  French poet of the Renaissance. 4. Jean de la Fontaine Jean de la Fontaine (1621 â€" 1695), born in Chateau-Thiery, lived largely during the reign of Louis IV. He is best-known for his fables in verse, bound first into five volumes and later a complete volume titled Contes Choisies. In some ways like Aesops fables, many of his fables taught or demonstrated practical life lessons. Many of them also indirectly criticized the excesses of the nobility. Later in life, de la Fontaine had trouble with censorship, and one of his later collections of fables was banned. De la Fontaine also wrote a number of plays (which also used poetic verse). He was also elected to the Académie Française in 1683. He turned to religion in 1692 after becoming sick and died three years later. 5. Theophile Gautier Theophile Gautier (1811 â€" 1872) was an art and literary critic, dramatist, journalist, editor, and poet. His travel also influenced his work. He began philosophically and stylistically as a Romantic, but later focused more on “art for arts sake” (lart pour lart). In 1856, he became librarian to Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, the niece of Napoleon Bonaparte. One of Gautiers poems, Le Printemps (Springtime) is especially appropriate for our current spring season. 6. Charles Baudelaire Photo by Ron Rothbart Charles Baudelaire (1821 â€" 1867) is a well-known symbolist and surrealist Parisian poet best known for his collection Les Fleurs du Mal  (The Flowers of Evil). After spending several years in India at his reform-minded familys insistence, Baudelaire spent much of his time in Paris living off his inheritance as a dandy, absorbing the artistic culture and developing his eye as a critic, the latter of which helped him earn some supplementary income. However, his family later went to court to appoint someone to manage his inherited and quickly disappearing fortune. Baudelaire is also known for translating the works of Edgar Allen Poe into French. 7. Paul Verlaine Paul Verlaine (1844 â€" 1896) was a symbolist poet of the 19th century, and is perhaps one of the best-known and most influential French poets of all time. Romances sans Paroles (Songs without Words) (1874) was written while he was in prison, and it was based on his travels with the younger French poet Arthur Rimbaud. Sagesse  (1881) compiles some of his confessional religious poetry, and Amour (1888) focuses on his adopted son Lucien. His works are notably difficult to translate due to their focus on sound rather than meaning. 8. Arthur Rimbaud Arthur Rimbaud (1854 â€" 1891), the younger colleague and traveling partner who helped inspire Verlaines Romances sans Paroles, is recognized as one of the founders of the symbolist movement in France. He wrote most of his works during his teenage years. One of his most well-known works from this time period is an extended prose poem called Une Saison en Enfer (A Season in Hell). By the end of his teens, he was forced to search for more stable work to support his family. Verlaine later published many of Rimbauds works that were not published during his lifetime. 9. Guillaume Appolinaire Photo by Wikimedia Commons Guillaume Appolinaire (1880 â€" 1918) was one of the more influential French poets of the early 20th century, influencing Surrealism, Dadaism, Cubism, and Futurism. After finishing school, he worked as a bank clerk, but  simultaneously  associated himself with many of the Paris-based artists and writers of the day, such as Picasso and George Braques. He died in 1918 of a head wound that he had received two years previously on the front lines during World War I. His two major poetry collections are Alcools: Poemes 1898-1913  and Calligrammes: Poemes de la Paix de la Guerre. 10.  Paul Eluard Early in his life, Paul Eluard (1895 â€" 1952), a Parisian, excelled in English and became familiar with poets such as Rimbaud, Baudelaire, and Appolinaire, in addition to many of the Russian classics. He also served in World War I as a medic. This background and experience would shape his writing. He wrote a number of books during his life, including a poetry collection, Le Livre Ouvert (The Open Book), which was published while France was occupied by the Nazis. During World War II, his poem Liberté was dropped into Europe by the British Air Force as anti-Nazi propoganda. If you love poetry, want to practice or improve your French, or hope to explore some new literature, look up these poets and their works. Poetry can be both more and less difficult than ordinary prose, so be prepared for a new challenge! Carol Beth L. teaches  French lessons in San Francisco, CA. She has her Masters in French language education from the Sorbonne University in Paris and has been teaching since 2009.  Learn more about Carol Beth 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 Feature photo by  G Morel

Get Instant Study Breakthroughs With Geometry Homework Help

Get Instant Study Breakthroughs With Geometry Homework Help 0SHARESShare Your interest in Geometry makes it more interesting Geometry is one of the additionally fascinating branches of mathematics in view of its visual viewpoint and the spatial thinking test it stances to the students. Learning geometry is surely not as extreme as learning variable based math or analytics. Students learning geometry figure out how to compute the territory, volume, space, and edge of the basic geometrical shapes. This includes remembering a bunch of methodologies for each one shape and knowing when to utilize them. Right homework help works wonders Geometry in itself is simple yet inquiries can be precarious and are intended to test how learners can control the data they need to fit the given information. Honing geometry is vital in case you need to do well in it. It is likewise the best approach to realize every one of those equations. Rehearsing math issues have never been the most loved homework action among students particularly when they do not have the right kind of resource for Geometry homework help. Opting for online Geometry solvers is an intelligent move Outlines are a paramount piece of geometry learning that help students figure out how to draw a nice figure. In the wake of drawing different figures, checking the estimations given in the question helps in learning better. Thusly, you have all the information in one spot and you comprehend what you have to figure out exactly. For learners who discover Geometry completely devilish, online Geometry homework help is both advisable and recommendable. Online geometry solvers work with an extraordinary approach to make you learn and enhance your understanding of the subject. You can very easily find out many qualified assistants on math help web destinations at incredibly moderate rates. Online tutors adopt innovative tutoring approaches Online Geometry Assignment  help is greatly advantageous in terms of easier access. Any learner having a personal computer and web connectivity can log into for all the help he or she requires at whatever time of the day or night. Learners will surely have admittance to numerous various types of techniques and worksheets to hone their Geometry abilities. Online whiteboards, amusements and tests, and practice sessions are different purely different approaches that students find highly valuable while learning on the web. [starbox id=admin]

Evaluating exponent expressions word problems

Evaluating exponent expressions word problems A mathematical expression can consist of different variables, numbers and exponents. The exponent is the power of the number or the variables. The exponent tell the number of times the base variable or number is to be multiplied. Evaluating exponent expressions means finding the unknown and solving the given expression. There can be word problems containing exponent expressions. In such questions the word problem needs to be analyzed and further solved. Example 1: Jim was doing his homework and solving for the expression. Find the value of m: 16 = 2 m? Solution: Here the exponent expression is given 16 = 2m. Hence the number can be factorized as 16 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2. (The number 2 is multiplied four times so 2 is raised to the power 4.) Now the number can be written in the exponent form as: 16 = 24. Now equating the number to the given expression: 5m = 24. Since the base numbers for the expressions are equal equate the powers. Hence the answer is m = 4. Question: Multiple choice question (Pick the correct option.) Find the answer to the exponent expression (1/3)0? a) 1/3 b) 0 c) 1 d) None of these. Correct answer: option c. The given exponent expression (1/3)0 has exponent zero. Any number or variable raised to the power zero equal to 1. This rule can be written as a0 = 1. (Here a is any value.) Hence the exponent expression for (1/3)0 = 1.

SAT Math An Overview

SAT Math An Overview ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Studying for the SAT can seem like a daunting undertaking, but all you really have to do to master it is break it up and take it one section at a time. Today, we will be highlighting the Math section of the SAT. Overall SAT-Math Format There are actually two parts on the SAT that include math â€" a 25-minute non-calculator section and a 55-minute calculator section. Now, within both of these sections there are two problem types, the regular multiple choice with four answer choices as well as grid-in questions. In the first 25-minute non-calculator portion you will find 15 multiple choice questions and 5 grid-in questions. The 55-minute calculator portion will consist of 30 multiple choice questions and 8 grid-in questions. Question Types Now that you have a general overview of what to expect, let’s talk about what type of math problems to look out for. College Board has broken up the categories into the following: Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, Passport to Advanced Math, and Additional Topics in Math.Heart of Algebra focuses on algebra and linear equations while Problem Solving and Data Analysis measures your overall math literacy. The Passport to Advanced Math section, on the other hand, focuses on more complex math problems including complex equations. The final topic covered within the math section is going to be Additional Topics in Math, which addresses both geometric and trigonometric concepts. Specific Topics What topics should you specifically expect? The Heart of Algebra questions will include: Linear Functions Linear Inequalities Graphical Representations Single Variable Equations Absolute Value Under Problem Solving and Data Analysis you will see: Ratios Percentages Measurement Quantities Scatterplots and Graphs Mean, median, mode Standard deviation Categorical data and probabilities The Passport to Advanced Math will include: Quadratic and Exponential Functions Rational Exponents Quadratic Equations Polynomial Expressions Nonlinear expressions Function Notation Finally, the Additional Topics in Math includes: Volume Formulas Trigonometric Ratios and Pythagorean theorem Degrees and Radians Arc Lengths, Angle Measures, Chord Lengths, Areas of Sectors Congruence Sine and Cosine of Angles Do not get overwhelmed at the range of topics you must master because, in reality, you already know many of these from math class in school. Your first step should be to take a practice test to diagnose what you need to work on and what you have already mastered. Once you take a practice test, look at the questions you got wrong and try to identify which section that was discussed above it falls into. Usually, it turns out that they will group together and all be the same underlying concept, and all you have to do is brush up on your volume formulas and suddenly you are getting 3 more questions correct. Frequency of Question Types Wondering what type of questions make up the majority of the math sections? Most agree thatthe highest percentage involves solving single variable equations, with a frequency of roughly 12%, and the next highest being defining and interpreting linear functions, at a frequency of roughly 11%. The least common skills that appear on the math section include function notation and solid geometry. SAT Official Practice Tests As you may be aware, they recently redesigned the SAT and due to this the number of official practice tests available are limited. However, there are still 8 available, and you should utilize each one to its full potential. Once you click on the following link, scroll down and practice away! The 8 Practice Tests include the questions, answers, as well as explanations to each question. After taking the practice exams, you can compare your results to the average scores at your preferred universities/colleges. ThoughCo. provides a listing here. Last Thoughts As you go forth in beginning to prepare for the SAT, utilize all of your resources and ensure that you take practice exams under test conditions- including timing yourself. College Board also provides an app for your phone that allows you to instantly score your practice exams and it even has a “One Question a Day” feature that makes studying for the SAT a little more fun. Check out the app here! Good luck! About the Author Dhara S. is one of our most experience test prep tutors. Click here to learn more about SAT prep.

Answer Questions Like a Scientist for GMAT Success

Answer Questions Like a Scientist for GMAT Success GMAT MBA Admissions Blog One of the great misconceptions about standardized exams such as the GMAT or the SAT is that they are tests of “Math” or “English.” Rather, these types of tests are tests of analytical thinkingâ€"in short, logicâ€"that require a certain basic level of Math or English to succeed. It’s pretty clear that we need to develop these hard skills: facility with Algebra, English grammar, etc. in order to succeed. What is less apparent is the fact that we must also learn how to ask the right questions of ourselves in order to tackle these exams efficiently. Why? Because the test-writers are literally trying to confuse you. The good news is that they use a very particular system to do this, and it’s crackable. However, this is not any normal sort of confusing writing. Let’s look at three different species of confusing writing; the third is what you’ll see on the GMAT or the SAT. It’s badly written. This is something we’ve all experienced. Something simply doesn’t make sense because its internal logic doesn’t make sense. Not much to say here: this book needs an editor. The information is broken down inaccessibly. Long story short, when a mathematician writes a textbook, it’s easy to forget what it’s like to be learning for the first time. She assumes that the steps taken in order to reach the next line will make sense to the reader. Sometimes this works, but often it doesn’t. There is an internal logic, but it’s not obvious to many readers. To me, this is just a different form of poor writing. The information is all there, but packaged in an intentionally-jumbled way. This is the entire problem with GMAT- and SAT-style standardized exams. All necessary information is there (it must be in order to successfully imply one particular answer!) but it is often presented in a way that seems backward, confusing, or illogical. Yes, that’s on purpose. The SAT and the GMAT give you raw information and force you to interpret it. In Quant, you must know where an equation comes from rather than blindly plugging in: What’s the point of this equation? How would I make any number fit it? How would I prove it? This is a little harder to describe for the Verbal part of these exams, but the best example is high-level questions where hard-and-fast rules break down and you have to make a judgment call based on “style” in grammar-type or “inference” in reading-type questions. For both, the interpretation is a form of inference. Inductive vs. Deductive Logic You’ll need to know this terminology to proceed, so let’s address Deductive and Inductive Logic. Deductive Logic is straightforward “reorganization of information.” It’s like an Algebra problem: all of the stuff is already there on the page; you’re just reorganizing to solve for X. There is no new information created. The most convenient (and crucial) distinction: a computer uses only deductive logic. Inductive Logic is inferential: it requires a guess (and a test). Inductive Logic works from empirical information, recognizes patterns, and makes an “educated guess” based on the information provided. This guess creates new information. Crucial: a computer does not use Inductive Logic. Look at it this way: The GMAT and the SAT are both presented to test your inductive thinking ability as well as your deductive thinking ability. Now let’s take a look at the best weapon in our arsenal. Use the Scientific Method to Break Down Information This might be like taking a Howitzer to a knife fight, but sometimes you gotta bring out the heavy artillery. We’ve established already that the information you’ll be presented on the GMAT or the SAT is given in a jumble. How to make sense of it? Easy: the Scientific Method. The Scientific Method is a brilliant mash-up of both Inductive and Deductive Logic that allows us to bounce back and forth between Inductive and Deductive Logic, guessing-and-checking our way to a reasonable answer. Let’s look at the Scientific Method in its most basic form: State the problem What do you have and what do you need? Hypothesis/Hypotheses about the cause of the problem Got an idea about what’s happening here? Look for that stumbling block. Feel around; try to figure out where it is. Got it? Good. Experiment, testing the hypothesis. Now that you have an idea, what are you going to do about it? Got a technique in mind? Predict results of the experiment See whether that technique works: is that move likely to make the Algebra shake out something useful? Do you think that assumption could clarify the difference between those two answers in Reading Comprehension? Compare the predictions to the actual outcomes Maybe it worked, maybe it didn’t. If it didn’t, throw it out. Conclusions regarding the results Do you have an answer yet? If so, great. If not, then perhaps the hypothesis was wrong. Time to think of something else that might work. If this seems long… Note that, of course, we routinely roll steps 3-6 together. For the moment, though, take it as slowly as necessary. Are you stuck with a problem? Not sure how to shake something loose? The common answer among novice test-takers is “I just don’t know some factoid that I’m supposed to know and if I knew that random thing then I’d be able to solve it.” What’s more likely, thoughâ€"assuming you know your basicsâ€"is that you don’t know how to solve it. Thinking in terms of “hows” is a global approach, assuming that you will plan, prepare, and roadmap a solution to the problem. This is exactly what the Scientific Method guides you through. Next time you’re stuck, give it a little science. See what happens. If you want to read more, I’ve written a 16-page guide going into even greater depth about how to Ask the Right Questions on the GMATâ€"with special emphasis on how developing this skill can help you overcome test anxiety! Link to Guide: https://yourgmatcoach.withcoach.com/free-pdf-guide-how-to-break-down-gmat-questions About the AuthorRowan Hand has worked as a GMAT tutor for students across the globe since 2005. He is the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller (categories: GMAT and Test Prep), Last Minute GMAT Grammar. Rowan has helped over 500 students make their careers at schools such as LBS, Columbia, Wharton, INSEAD, and more. Contact Rowan directly: rowan@yourgmatcoach.com Link to site: www.yourgmatcoach.com

Top Secret 10 Surprising Facts About the U.S. Militarys DLIFLC GLOSS

Top Secret 10 Surprising Facts About the U.S. Militarys DLIFLC GLOSS 10 Facts  You Didnt  Know About the  DLIFLC  and GLOSS Quick! Take 5  from your books, podcasts  and flashcards.You’re in for a treat today.Because today, we’re gonna be talking about a language learning site that is truly in a class of its own.Unlike so many language learning brands that populate the internet, this one’s not backed by angel investors or venture capitalists. It’s backed by Uncle Sam himself.It’s no freemium site with fancy graphics, but if you truly wanna go deep, and I mean really deep in learning your target language, you cant  afford to skip the site we’re gonna talk about here: the DLIFLC GLOSS.DLIFLC GLOSS huh?Well, the acronym stands for Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC), Global Language Online Support System (GLOSS). Now that’s a mouthful!The DLIFLC  is the institution and  GLOSS  is one of its many programs.The DLIFLC is the language school where the U.S. military trains the interpreters that it sends all over the world (cue patriotic music and the entrance of colors).Okay, so now that weve got our letters straight, let’s dig a little deeper and learn what those acronyms are really all about.We’ll start first with some backgrounders on the DLIFLC itself, and then later in the list, we’ll zero-in on DLIFLC programs like GLOSS. 10 Facts  You Didnt  Know About the  DLIFLC  and GLOSS1. It’s DoD territory.The DLIFLC is under the Department of Defense.It is regarded as one of the finest foreign language learning institutions in America. Located in Monterey, California, this premier language provider considers its mission deadly serious.Exactly how serious?Seven  hours a day serious. That’s the length of time students spend in classes, supplemented by 2-3 hours of nightly homework. This continues  for 5 days a week in a 26 to 64-week basic course.Why the intensive course?Well, because this is where America trains the people who talk to the world. The center churns out military linguists who serve on federal agencies like the Federal Bureau of Inv estigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the U.S. Border Patrolâ€"which means you can’t get in the program unless you’re a member of the Armed Forces or are sponsored by a government agency.So think: James Bond meets FluentU.(And by the way, if thats the  first youre hearing of  FluentU, heres what the excitements all about:  FluentU is an online immersion platform that takes  real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.FluentU is designed to get you comfortable  with everyday  language, by combining all the benefits of complete  immersion and native-level conversations with easy-to-read subtitles.)2. The first language it taught was Japanese. (Know why?)The DLIFLC started in 1941, on the eve of America’s entry into World War II. It began as a secret language  school with 60 carefully selected U.S. soldiersâ€"mostly of Japanese ancestry. Why? Because it was a reflection of the realities on the ground. Japan was on a war footing in Asia, and America needed soldiers who understood enemy intelligence.The programs in the center often reflect world affairs. During the Cold War, many programs were geared towards the Slavic languages. Today, in the post 9/11 world, Arabic, Dari and Pashto (Afghanistan) are getting a lot of focus.3. They have their own immersion facility.When you want to immerse yourself in your target language, one of the things you can do is spend a few months abroad and soak in all the learning experiences at your country of choice. Or, if budget and time are not permissive, you get creative and engage in online language immersion  through websites like FluentU.  Others watch foreign TV shows, read foreign books or chat up native speakers through Skype.But do you know how Uncle Sam does immersion?Well he builds a whole simulationâ€"furnishing a whole facility with kitchen and sleeping quarters where students can live for 1- 3 days.So for example, if you’re learning German, the DLIFLC immersion program will isolate you in a world that only understands German. Not a word of English will be spoken while you are in the immersion facility. So you may be on U.S. soil, but it will really feel like you’re in Germany. And you’ll be put in real-world situations like bargaining for food and clothing at a market place.How cool is that? You don’t have to get creative with your imagination. The simulation is so real, it’s like you’re there.4.  The GLOSS is unparalleled anywhere else.So at this point, you may be thinking, “What does all this have to do with me? I’m not a member of the Armed Forces, so I’ll never be in that program anyway.”Well, you stand to benefit more than you think.The DLIFLC has an online component which can be freely accessed  by you and me.This is where the “GLOSS” of “DLIFLC GLOSS” comes in. The Global Language Online Support System was especially designed for indep endent online learning.Since  not everyone can go on campus and attend the classes, DLIFLC has developed online lessons for its students.And like I said, that material is  open to anyone. Which means we can participate in the intensive learning program intended for the select language learners of the armed forces of the United States.If that doesn’t make you rejoice, I don’t know what will.5.  There are 7,000 lessons in GLOSS.There are lessons for 40 different languages, including lesser-known tongues like Balochi, Pashto, Hausa and Dari. The lessons are divided into two modalities (Reading and Listening) and seven learner levels.Each lesson contains 4-6 tasks. So for example, in a listening lesson, one of the tasks would be to match an image with its correct audio. Another task might be to type in an answer to an audio  question.GLOSS lessons cover a rich variety of topics that include: culture, economics, environment, geography, military, politics, science, security, society a nd technology.6.  The lessons are interactive (and come with certificates too).GLOSS’s lessons are interactive. Meaning, you’re very much involved in your learning process and you’ll probably be busy doing something at any point in time.So let me tell you beforehand, the lessons are not for the faint of heart. The tasks in GLOSS might just be some of the most challenging ones you can have online. The “beginner” modules here are considered “advanced” in other websites. (You’ve been warned.)Other sites mark the learners’ progress through a “points” system. More points means the further you are in the lessons. The lessons in GLOSS come with “certificates,” which are given to you after every lesson. Certificates  are proof of the hard work you put into learning your target language. You can print them out and collect as many as you can. It will be a nice pat on the back.7.  The audio recordings and conversation examples will set your ears ablaze.DLIFLC is one o f the few language learning sites that gives a fitting nod to the importance of listening in  language acquisition. A testament to this are the GLOSS’s listening lessons themselves.As mentioned previously, GLOSS lessons can either be about listening comprehension or reading comprehension. (DLIFLC focuses on these two because they are the most important skills on the field.)GLOSS is one of the most comprehensive resources of language audio recordings online. Where can you find, for example, 140 audio recordings of Albanian conversations, 69 for Uzbek and 111 for Hindi?In addition, DLIFLC has an accent library for Arabic and Spanish languages. I ask you again, where can you find the same text read in 11 different Spanish accents (eg. Argentinean, Chilean, Columbian, Honduran, Mexican, Peruvian, Venezuelan) or 10 different Arabic accents (eg. Egyptian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Saudi, Tunisian, Sudanese)? Only at GLOSS.8.  Their Online Diagnostic Assessment can take around 1-2 hours.Think GL OSS lessons aren’t challenging enough? Or do you simply want to know what areas need more  work for you?DLIFLC developed the Online Diagnostic Assessment for that very purpose. It will identify your strengths and give you feedback on sticking points.Create an account and you can take the assessment. There will be two kinds of tests. One is for reading comprehension,  and another for  listening ability.  You will read/listen to sets of passages followed by 4-6 questions. The questions will not only test your comprehension of the passages/recordings, they will also test you on vocabulary, sentence structure and text structure.Sometimes you will be asked to give your answer in a multiple-choice format, but most of the time you will be asked to type in your answer.The tests take 1-2 hours per skill and are available for 13 major languages. So if you’re itching to know where you stand on the issue of comprehension, I challenge you to take the assessment.9.  GLOSS actually teaches bot h language and culture.If you take a look at DLIFLC’s other programs, you’ll quickly notice that the center is as serious in teaching culture as it is in teaching language. One can quickly sense this in programs like “Cultural Orientations,”  â€œFamiliarization Modules,”  â€œCountries in Perspective”  and “Cultural Awareness Assessment.”GLOSS, in its listening and reading lessons, espouses the philosophy that you can never divorce a language from its culture. You can never distill language from the people who speak itâ€"their history, experiences and aspiration as a group.You don’t sense this from the other language learning sites. This is one of the biggest advantages of learning in DLIFLC. You don’t get cultural lessons as interesting asides, instead you get heavy doses of it. Because of this, you acquire not only a new set of vocabulary or grammar rules, but an enduring appreciation for the culture that produced the language that captured your imagination.10.  GLOSS champions the concept of “language maintenance.”DLIFLC believes in the importance of maintaining competency in a language. Just because you have already acquired French, for example, doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for you. Nope, you need to continually review, practice  and pile on to your skills. Otherwise you’d slowly backslide and lose those language gains.You need to go back in order to move forward. That’s why for 4 hours a week, DLIFLC allows its analysts and linguists to go into independent study.In line with that belief, the DLIFLC created GLOSS not only as a teaching tool for first time learners, but as a refresher course. It was made available online so that former students, assigned and dispersed in the far reaches of earth, won’t have return to campus to get the highly needed language refresher and reviews.DLIFLC GLOSS is quite unique in that it emphasizes the importance of “language maintenance,” regardless of skill level.So, you now know 10 things about the DLIFLC and GLOSS. I’m sure you can’t wait to give those listening and reading lessons a shot. Enjoy! And One More ThingIf youre digging this resource, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here: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 the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more e xamples 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  or  Google Play  store.