Why Learn to Speak English as a Second Language

Why Learn to Speak English as a Second Language Learning ESOL: Why Learn English ChaptersAdvances in TechnologyFilms, Music and PodcastsEnglish, The Language of ScienceIt Makes Sense to Learn in EnglishFind Your English PlaceEnglish is Spoken WorldwideYou have been practicing your English speaking skills ever since you learned your first phrases. You have been hammering away at grammar rules and soaking up English vocabulary like a sponge.Idioms and similes are your forte!You love putting English words together to express your ideas.Is all that of work in vain?The rise of nationalism threatens global growth. In these unquiet times, people everywhere are scrambling to gain an advantage â€" in the workplace, in academics and in financial markets, even as borders threaten closure and citizens of various countries revert to an 'us first!' mentality.Considering all that, should learning English be at the top of anyone's list?Today's technology permits reaching out across the world (Source: Pixabay Credit: Geralt)features. Something the well-to-do or those at the cutti ng edge of society couldn't live without. They were more of a status symbol than a functional part of our existence.Did anyone foresee the dominance smartphones would have over our lives? Everywhere in the world, people are looking for WIFI connections and poring over their small screens. On the bus or the tube, you may have seen people watching movies they'd downloaded. Apps are springing up seemingly overnight.The language pertaining to electronics is overwhelmingly English.Few languages around the globe have created their own words for the phenomenon of digital technology.Iceland has its own technical language but still borrows from EnglishIn Poland, words such as joystick, cartridge and interface have made their way into the language, albeit spelled phonetically in that country's languageGermany borrows from English wholesale: words such as computer, website, software and others remain the same; verbs such as downloading, crashing and booting retain their English root but are co njugated as German verbsDenglish incorporates everyday English vocabulary into the German languageThe Chinese practice a combination of English word adoption and literal word translation to expand their lexicon of technical and common conversation words.France generally resists importing English words; still some terms manage to enter their vocabulary, such as: webcam, boot, reboot and bootable, and email.Because English words are so often borrowed  by other languages, it makes sense to continue to improve your English. Doing so will help you stay competitive in society.Films, Music and PodcastsWhen you think of movies, does Bollywood or Hong Kong cinema come to mind? Or are you picturing Hollywood blockbusters?In fact, the UK is the second-largest film exporter, after America.While it seems that every country except Japan, Mexico and Brazil enjoy British comedy and biopics, American movies rate higher on the international stage.Naturally, these films are all in English.If you need to sharpen your listening skills and improve your reading skills, watching movies with English subtitles is a great way to do it.Do You Enjoy Listening to Music?This branch of the entertainment industry also ranks British and American artists as those who have had the most global sales and downloads in 2016.That is not to say that J-pop and K-pop (from Japan and Korea, respectively) are not worth listening to; in fact, Gangnam Style, by Korean artist Psy topped the music charts in a number of countries, including the UK.China's Little Apple had the same effect, a few years later. It even won the American music award for best international song.In spite of these successes, songs in English consistently top the charts and outsell music from any other country, all over the world.Music is a great way to get familiar with rhyming words and phrases. Singing along can help you with your English pronunciation.Specific Information in Digestible BitesPodcasts fit that description perfectly. T hey are topic-specific  mono- or dialogues, either video or audio-only, that you can download from the Internet and play whenever you like, as often as you like.You can subscribe to a podcast, if its topic interests to you. New installments will be automatically downloaded to your preferred device - phone, tablet or computer as soon as they are available.The British Council hosts a podcast directed at people who are studying English as a second language, as well as those preparing for Ielts.You can subscribe to podcasts that address only business English: how to develop business English vocabulary, proper syntax of business language and how to project competence and enthusiasm while speaking English.You can listen to podcasts that discuss music, movies, sports or politics, presented by a native English speaker, as a way to improve English comprehension.The language of science is English (Source: Pixabay Credit: MasterTux) JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free! Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsEnglish, The Language of ScienceUntil the early 20th Century, scientists held conferences and published new findings in German.Due to great advancements in the world of medicine and physics, as well as the political climate at the time, English became the preferred speech of the scientific community â€" initially in Europe, and soon throughout the world.Today, an estimated 98% of all scientific papers are published in English.Science is no longer the purview of those trained in the discipline. Environmental and health concerns impact everyone and we all bear the responsibility of protecting the future.The more you learn of scientific terms, the more you can participate.It Makes Sense to Learn in EnglishWhether you intend to use the language in your daily life or you are simply interested in studying the speech that more than 1.5 billion people across the globe can converse in, learning English makes sense.Global Trade Will Not Stop OvernightIn spite of news reports hinting at tighter borders and more stringent import laws, international trade companies will continue to ship goods around the globe.The language of business is English, and will remain so for the foreseeable future.If you are studying English as a second language, you might consider developing a business English vocabulary as well, so that you might participate in, and benefit from this lucrative employment sector.Tourism and Hospitality IndustryAccording to the latest reports, people from all over the world are traveling to discover new cultures and lands.The premier language of the tourism industry is English.People of all ages, all over the world are taking English lessons online, if only to be understood when they leave their native land.Employers Like Bilingual EmployeesGlobal industries such as technology, science and fashion are not restricted to any one country, or its native language.Academics are not limited to a single nation's history, culture and politics, either.Teachers, tutors and technicians, even sales professionals who are proficient at more than one language â€" one of them being English, tend to earn more, and enjoy greater competitiveness in the workplace.Learning English will help you find your place on the global stage. (Source: Pixabay Credit: Geralt)Learn how to make English learning easy with our guide to simplifying ESOL courses.Find You r English PlaceIf you are learning English as a second language, let us give you some tips to claim your place on this global, English speaking stage.Learn a few new words and phrases each week and use them often, until they naturally fall into your vernacular.Incorporate some slang and idioms, just to make learning English more funPlay word games and take quizzes onlineLearn how to use verb tenses effectivelyKeeping a diary in English will help you develop your writing skillsTo improve your listening skills, watch movies and listen to musicPractice your spoken English with native speakersSpeak English every day, no matter how poor you think your language skills are.Chances are, you are better than you think!The more you practise, the more fluent you will become which, in turn, will boost your confidence and desire to learn more English.English is Spoken WorldwideAs an English learner, you are among the global ranks of those who study English as a foreign language.Your fluency in En glish can help you secure employment in the most competitive markets.Learning business English could increase your chances of being hired by a multinational corporation.If you prefer, you can put your skills to use as an English teacher in your native country, either through online tutoring or by making podcasts.You can build a tutoring profile at Superprof, offering not only English classes to non native speakers, but also promoting your native language and culture by teaching native English speakers.You can teach English to ESL students in your corner of Britain, helping them gain literacy in their adopted country.Or you could help non native speakers acclimate to their new environment by teaching them a few common phrases, just to get them started on the path to learning British English properly.Volunteer organizations and community centres can always use a hand helping others learn basic English.Whether you choose to demonstrate your proficiency with the English language through employment with a Fortune 500 company, compose theses for a scientific journal or quietly help those around you to learn English, rest assured that you are a member of a large, global, English speaking community.Discover how learning English can give you greater access to higher education and online materials.

Apply These 7 Secret Techniques to Improve Your SAT Test Prep

Apply These 7 Secret Techniques to Improve Your SAT Test Prep 0SHARESShare The Scholastic Aptitude  Test, SAT  is the gateway to the high end college entry- a dream aspired by many high school students and achieved by the tactful. Do you want to be one among the tactful? Read this blog and ascertain your capabilities. College board and sat demand certain strategies to do test preps with perfection to achieve maximum efficiency in doing SAT. What are the techniques to improve your SAT test prep? Know the level of difficulty of questions-easy, medium, and difficult- except reading comprehension questions. Try to answer the easy ones in the first 1/3  part of the question, and then the medium ones in the next 2/3  part of the question. Try the remaining difficult questions at the end, if you have time to do them- the easiest technique to achieve  prep test  scores Follow the process of elimination in answering the questions. Pick out the wrong answers one by one and eliminate them to arrive at the right answer. If you give a wrong answer to the question, you lose ¼ point. Take care of that Don’t rush up with your answers. Relax for a few seconds to come about the right answers, instead of heaping upon wrong ones in your hurry Use the booklet for calculation, diagram, paraphrasing to keep a record of your references. If you are not able to get the answer at once, you can recall them, if time permits In Reading comprehension, get into some clue words to guess the right answers Choose the questions that you know the answer well. Before that, read the questions with attention to be sure of their query Before all, be sure what  college board and sat  are about and what rules they have stipulated. Test prep for SAT is highly momentous to gain an entry into a high ranked college. [starbox id=admin]

Did I Choose the Wrong College

Did I Choose the Wrong College Beginning the college journey is often difficult, and your first semester may be marked by uncertainty and homesickness, as well as a tendency to second-guess yourself. How do you know if your emotions are a sign to transfer schools, or if what you are feeling is completely normal? As you try to answer the question of Did I choose the wrong college? keep the following items in mind. 1. Recognize that everyone has bad days Take a deep breath. There is a strong possibility that how you feel is normal and will diminish with time. Redirect your attention and participate in an activity you enjoy. Read a book in your favorite place on campus, call your best friend or your parents, or go for a run. The first semester of college can be overwhelming. It is important to set aside time for yourself. If you are experiencing more profound or lasting feelings, contact your health services office today. Participating in extracurricular activities can boost your college success, so why not give it a try! 2.Acknowledge that roommates are not a reason to transfer anything but your room Many students transfer because of a horrendous roommate. If you are struggling with your living situation, speak with your resident assistant (RA) or another staff member who can help you come to a better compromise. This may be the first time that you and your roommate are living independently, let alone in a small room with another person. Establish ground rules if you can, or determine whether you can transfer rooms. Horrible freshman roommate stories are plentifuldo not allow that to ruin your college experience or to convince you that you selected the wrong college! Here are some great tips to help you adjust to dorm life. 3. Try new activities Freshmen, and people in general, tend toward those pastimes that are familiar to them. Perhaps you tried out for the lacrosse team because you participated in high school, but you feel uncomfortable on the college squad. Perhaps your entire hall registered for laser tag, but the game does not engage you. No one in college knows what you enjoyed doing in high school take advantage of this fact! Learn a new skill, or find a social niche with friendly students. If you cannot locate an activity you enjoy or a group of people you like, it may be time to consider transferring. Here are some great tips on how to choose your extracurricular activies. 4. Speak with a professional If you are serious about transferring, or you are experiencing more than one major issue with your school, jot down the positives and negatives of remaining at the college, and then meet with a professional who can advise you. If you cannot think of a professor, mentor, adviser, or tutor who you believe you could talk to about this, a counselor is an excellent option. You might also call a teacher or coach from home. Making such life-changing decisions without any guidance is strongly discouraged. Transferring is neither the end of the world nor a solution to all your problems. Whatever you ultimately choose, ensure you make your decision rationally and with the appropriate support. If you find that you did, in fact, choose the wrong college, understand that transferring seamlessly involves forethought and time but given the correct circumstances, it may be a wise decision that leads to your increased happiness.

Are you Being Ignored Professionally - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Are you Being Ignored Professionally - Introvert Whisperer Are you Being Ignored Professionally? Does the boss go to someone else besides you for (__fill in the blank___)?   Is other, less qualified co-workers, getting promotions, praise or acknowledgement? Every wonder why? One of the worst things in our life and career is not to be hated but to be ignored.   Disinterest or disregard means that others simply give you no thought.   It’s almost like you aren’t there.   At least when someone hates you, they are paying attention. If your intention is to grow professionally, being ignored is the kiss-of-death. You can turn this around and it will require your ongoing attention or you risk slipping back into invisibility.   This issue is about your Personal Brand, or the lack of a compelling one. Here are things you can do: Establish your expertise.   While it’s great to be good a many things, make sure you are well known for a couple of very specific things.   If you naturally gravitate to something, go deep and then offer to help people using your specialty. Volunteer to use your expertise.   Don’t wait for someone to ask you to help, step up and volunteer.   When you do you can subtly reinforce your expertise by saying something like “I could help with that project because I have established relationships with those vendors.”   If it’s true, it’s true and now everyone else knows it. Have opinions.   One of the things about us introverts is we think and process, which can make us quiet and easy to ignore.   Deliberately inject your opinion of things in meetings and conversations.   You may also want to add your reasoning to help reinforce your opinion.   Also, when you do this, be pleasant.   Sometimes opinionated people can come across as vehement and someone you don’t want to cross.   Having an opinion makes you more compelling as long as you are nice. Deliberately communicate.   If you are forthcoming with information, you are more apt to be sought out for information.   Funny how that works.   If you’re unclear on what to communicate about, think about the work you do and give status on that work to the boss and others that might want to know.   If you have observations about business or process, share those insights.   You can’t assume others know what you know. Develop relationships.   When you have a warm, friendly relationship with the boss and co-workers you will be sought out.   Having relationships with people at work mean they have gotten to know you as a person and the type of work you.   It’s part of the Know-Like-Trust formula that’s vital to your career. We do best in intimate, one-on-one situations, which makes this task right up your strong suit.   It’s hard to develop any relationships in a group setting.   You don’t have to turn into a suck-up you need to genuinely get to know the other person.   Professional relationships will pay big rewards in many ways. Watch your body language.   You might want to read and study this topic.   If you take up the least amount of space in a meeting or have “closed” body language it signals you aren’t open to interaction.   Your body language can be doing you a disservice.   Watch how other people use their arms and hold their body as a way of learning what you can do. Observe the sweethearts.   Every group has one or two people that are the favorite child and all attention goes to them.   While you don’t have to aim for that same level of attention you can observe and learn some of the things that set them apart.   Convert what you learn to actions you can take to garner more attention by the masses. Don’t think that being ignored has to be your life.   You can establish a strong and well-regarded personal brand that will have the boss and others knocking on your door. Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective. But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will? If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Start watching now: CLICK HERE NOW! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Should I Go To Princeton University

Should I Go To Princeton University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Sanjiv is a graduate of Princeton University with a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering. He is an Austin tutor specializing in SAT prep tutoring, Calculus tutoring, Geometry tutoring, and more. Check out his review of his alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Sanjiv: Princeton is located in the quaint little town of Princeton, NJ. The campus itself is beautiful, with trees lining the sidewalks and gothic architecture overlooking everything. The campus is very safe, and Public Safety can always be seen patrolling the campus spaces. There are very convenient bus lines to take you to nearby malls, and most restaurants are right at the edge of campus, so I knew very few students who had cars or needed one. We have a train station right at the end of campus as well, to travel 90 minutes to NYC. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Sanjiv: Professors and advisors are very available, as the student-teacher ratio is very small. There are usually about 6,000 undergrads at Princeton each year, and class sizes are usually small, around 20-30 students, so you get a lot of attention even before going to office hours. Anytime you want to meet with a professor or TA, they are more than happy to meet with you, and you will often learn as much from an office hour session than the class session itself! VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Sanjiv: It is actually mandatory for students to live on campus for all four years, so you dont need to think too much about housing options! This enables students at Princeton to really get to know each other in their undergrad years. Housing is divided into five to six different colleges (Butler, Forbes, Rocky, etc.), in the same way that Harry Potters Hogwarts is divided into several schools of witchcraft! Each college has its own set of dorms and dining halls, each with its own personality and points of pride. The dorms themselves are very clean and top-notch, and dining options are often tasty. This kind of dorm life is amazing, and your freshman year, you will be absolutely certain to make tons of friends in your dorms. 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? Sanjiv: Princeton is often categorized as a liberal arts school, so its no surprise that its top majors include English, History, and Biology. However, Princeton is very much an undergraduate institution, and does not have many graduate programs; for this reason, you can be absolutely certain that every department is top-notch (for example, the Physics and Math departments are world-famous). I studied Electrical Engineering, because of my interest in robotics. The Electrical Engineering department is great, and is top-10 in the country. Like many departments, it is small (less than 100 students per year), so I was able to get a lot of attention, and have my pick of thesis topics in my senior year. 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? Sanjiv: As a freshman, it is extremely easy to make friends, partly because of the mandatory on-campus housing rule. Everyone is friendly and you soon figure out that the admissions office has brought together people of entirely different and amazing backgrounds, so everyone wants to find out each others story! I highly recommend becoming involved in clubs/organizations/sports as a freshman because you will meet many awesome friends for those four years. There is not much Greek life on campus because fraternities/sororities are not recognized by the university; in place of that are institutions called eating clubs, which are not technically Greek, but serve the same functions (hosting parties, charity events, etc.). VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Sanjiv: The Career Center is helpful in your junior and senior years for preparing for internships and job interviews. However, I would highly recommend the following instead: find an upperclassman or professor who is studying/working in the field you want to work in, and ask their advice on how to get where they are. The Career Center can you give you general advice, but a person in your field of study can give you specific advice on how to pursue that career. Very reputable companies come to recruit on campus in the fall and spring, especially to recruit for internships. Its not uncommon to be recruited for internships as early as your freshman year. Examples include Google, D.E. Shaw, investment banks, etc. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Sanjiv: The study areas are almost always easily available and spacious. Right before exams, many students will be spending the night at certain study lounges in the student union, so its not advisable to wait until the night before to stake out a space! The dorm lounges are a great place to study, as some serve food even late into the night. 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? Sanjiv: The surrounding town of Princeton, NJ itself has many restaurants and clothing shops (J. Crew etc.), but as far as theatres or nightclubs, there are very few. The Princeton social life exists 1) on campus, and 2) in New York City. While there are always lots of fun events to attend on campus, many times, students will head to NYC for the weekend. In your freshman year, the dorms will sponsor group trips and very discounted tickets to see plays on Broadway. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Sanjiv: The student body is quite small, about 6,000 undergraduates, and perhaps a few thousand graduate students. Class sizes were always relatively small, about 20-30 per class, so I could always get help and get my questions answered when needed. One important thing to consider, however, is that because the student body is so small, it can take some time to find your social niche. So, in one respect, bigger schools have that advantage over Princeton. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Sanjiv: Once, in a math class, during a lecture on game theory, the professor mentioned the contributions of John Nash, the protagonist of the film, A Beautiful Mind. A few hours after the class was over, my friend and I were standing in the elevator when Professor John Nash himself walked in. We froze, as we wanted to ask him something, but didnt know what to ask him that would be worth his time. He seemed very engrossed in a paper he was reading, so we didnt ask for his autograph. There will be many times when you dont know whether to treat someone like a professor or a celebrity! Check out Sanjivs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

General Tips to Help Your Child With Homework

General Tips to Help Your Child With Homework 0SHARESShare No matter how much time you spend personally with your child doing homework, it matters a lot if you could give them encouraging environment that motivates them to spend more time in study room doing their work. Give good study space Identify your child habits to do their work in better way and give comfortable study space. Slowly and gradually as they grow, form a habit of doing their work in study room. Help your child to be focused Give your child quite place to do their homework. Put off your cell phones and TV set when your child is studying nearby. Keep school supplies close at hand Keep basic school supplies (pen, pencil, eraser, sharper, etc.) close at your child’s hand so that they can access it on their own. Set regular time for homework Set a fix time for your child to do their homework. Keep it either early in the morning or after school hours, but it should be fixed time on regular basis. Like breakfast, lunch or bed time, let your child form habit of homework time and stick to that routine. Spend quality time with your child Try to accompany them while doing homework. Give English help making them understand instructions, QA or problem statement. For theory subjects, offer Social studies and Science help by making them understand question and facilitate to prepare answer. Do not help them directly giving them answers. Review your child work Ensure that your child complete work regularly. Review their homework regularly, correct them in case of mistakes and motivate when they perform well. Build up your child confidence with little care and know how much you take care of them. [starbox id=admin]

Why was English Wikipedia black last week A English Listening Exercise

Why was English Wikipedia black last week A English Listening Exercise Websites, including Wikipedia, that protested last week.Last week, you may have noticed that the English language version of Wikipedia was blacked out last week. Other sites, like Google, The Oatmeal, Craigslist and Wired magazine did similar things to their websites last week, protesting the proposed SOPA and PIPA laws that the U.S. congress was working on.So what was congress doing that was such a problem that Wikipedia, Google and other important websites would protest? The issue is somewhat complicated, but Salman Kahn of the Kahn Academy  does a great job of explaining the bill in the video below. After the video youll find a series of listening questions._____ ____ that youre the owner of some kind of copyrighted material.What is he asking you to do in the previous sentence?What does he say the purpose of SOPA is?What does he say the problem is?What kind of companies within the U.S. might be hurt by SOPA?When does it get creepy according to Kahn?Why does it get creepy?What are some examples of how this law could be misused?What this allows them to do is _____ first and _____ later.What does he mean by the previous phrase?What does he say is the creepiest thing about the bill?Id be _____.

Five Reasons to Try Online Tutoring

Five Reasons to Try Online Tutoring Improving Academic Performance Over the past year, we’ve begun offering online tutoring, in addition to our core in-person tutoring. We’ve noticed something interesting â€" online tutoring seems much less popular among students than it should be (in our opinion). Every once in a while, someone requests an in-person tutor but we don’t have one available, and we thus suggest they try online tutoring. However, in almost all cases, even when we offer free online tutoring for one hour to encourage them to give it a try, they decline to do so and search for a tutor from a different company that they’ll have to pay full price for. However, in the few cases where a student requests an online tutor directly, or in the extremely rare case where a student agrees to try online tutoring when they had originally requested an in-person tutor, the actual tutoring experience seems to go very well. In fact, our online math and physics tutor, Sam, has now done over 15 hours of online tutoring with one particular Calculus 3 student who had originally requested an in-person tutor â€" but this is rare. This suggests to us that, even with all of the incredible technology available today, which makes online tutoring a very real, viable competitor to the in-person tutoring experience, most students aren’t willing to try it out. However, there are five clear reasons why you should try online tutoring: #1 Online Tutoring Platforms Are More Effective, and Cheaper, Than Ever The most important reason to try online tutoring is that technology has reached a point where the experience tends to go very well. With lightning fast internet speeds widely available, you can see or hear your tutor through internet video or audio chat, see a virtual whiteboard, upload PDF homework files, and share screens easily. At MyGuru, we also equip our tutors with electronic pen/tablets, so they can effectively write on the screen, just like they are writing on paper. We even equip some of our students with such tablets. So, both parties can “mark-up” materials they are viewing on the screen (via the annotate feature). At MyGuru, we use WebEx for online math, physics, statistics, and test prep tutoring, but many other programs, such as GlobalMeet, GoToMeeting, and JoinMe, are available. Of course, you can also use Skype or Google Hangouts. We created a video to highlight the online tutoring experience at MyGuru here. At the end of the day, many of the online tutoring platforms, and in particular, the ones that require you to pay a reasonable monthly free, come pretty close to approximating an in-person tutoring experience. #2 Online Tutoring is Incredibly Convenient Consider a situation where you are meeting a tutor just five minutes from your house. You still have the 5 minute commute there and back. Plus, you can’t just show up exactly on time, in case you hit traffic or are otherwise delayed on the way. So, on average, you need to be there 5-10 minutes early. With online tutoring, you avoid all that. Each one hour session probably saves you 15-20 minutes in “travel” time. In addition, when you begin working with a new tutor, you avoid that awkward initial introduction, or the need to let a stranger into your home for the first time. You can get tutored in your pajamas, if you prefer. #3 You Get Access to the Best Available Tutor At MyGuru, I have a particular GMAT tutor who I wish every new potential GMAT student lived closed to, because he’s the best GMAT tutor in Chicago that we have available. I’d like to match everyone with him. Now, if everyone was willing to try online GMAT tutoring, that would be a reality. As it stands, unless you’re comfortable traveling to Lincoln Square for GMAT tutoring, it’s difficult for us to match you with John (the aforementioned expert GMAT tutor). #4 Sessions are Recordable, and Can Be Reviewed Later One of the little known benefits of online tutoring is that many online tutoring platforms (or, at least many of the ones that you pay for) allow you to record each and every session. As a student, this means you can go back and review the session on your own. This is a particularly powerful studying strategy, and reduces the need to vigorously take notes during a session. Instead, you can simply focus on listening to your tutor, and go back to review the session via video if you need to. #5 Online Tutoring is More Cost Effective Finally, at the end of the day, I admit that in-person tutoring is slightly better than online tutoring. You can see your tutor’s face in person, read body language, etc. With in-person tutoring, a glitch in your internet service doesn’t result in a lost audio or video feed, and interrupt the tutoring session. But, that’s why, at least at MyGuru, we price online tutoring at a 10-15% discount to in-person tutoring, saving you money. On balance, we are surprised that more students don’t ask or at least consider online tutoring. What are your thoughts regarding online tutoring? Visit our online tutoring page for more information and to request an online tutor!