Muay Thai Clubs in London

Muay Thai Clubs in London Finding the Best Muay Thai Clubs in London ChaptersA Brief Explanation of Muay ThaiThe London Fight FactoryDiesel GymUrban KingsOur capital city has a well-deserved reputation as a global city: one open to the world and a leader in finance and commerce, in the tech sector and in culture.If you were looking for a night at the theatre, you would have your pick of them. If you wanted a unique dining experience, you are spoilt for choice. For pomp, you can witness the changing of the guard or tour any number of historic sites.You might take in a court case or a debate at Parliament, for that matter.At the risk of sounding like a travel brochure, London does indeed have it all.What about sports? Need you ask?London is the only city to have hosted the Summer Olympics three times â€" granted, that is a statistic that doesn’t necessarily speak to Londoners’ love of sports but it is remarkable.Like the rest of the country, we are mad for football; five of our clubs are in the Premier League. Those are not the only football clubs t hat call London home, either. And we also have two rugby teams and two Test cricket teams.People come from all over the world to run the London Marathon and to watch history being made at Wimbledon. As a global city, London has something for everyone, even Muay Thai boxing Image by David Mark from PixabayPerhaps it is precisely because London is so very sporty that combat sports hardly get a mention.Boxing â€" from bare-knuckle fighting to Savate, the French style of boxing named after old shoes; Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu all get their turn to shine in London arenas, though perhaps not as brightly as the more popular sports.Maybe it’s because they are not as well-known. Or perhaps it could be because of the rigorous training involved; indeed, being a martial artist is a lifestyle, not something athletes do when called upon.With a new year about to dawn, maybe you would investigate a centuries-old fighting style that is rapidly gaining traction in combat sports circles.Perhaps you would like to become a Muay Thai fighter.To get you started, we toured Muay Thai clubs in and around London; now we bring you the best ones. AndreyBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st l esson free!Discover all our tutors KostiaBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LeeBoxing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SajBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KaranBoxing Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThomasBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HaileyBoxing Teacher 4.50 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsA Brief Explanation of Muay ThaiIf you are new to combat sports or have never heard of Muay Thai, or know only vaguely that it is some sort of martial arts fighting, you may need a bit more information about it before deciding it is something you may want to engage in.Today, Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand but, for centuries, it was how the Thai military fought wars.Muay Boran, an umbrella term that encompasses Muay Thai fighting, was a fighting tactic use d in warfare but it was also a form of entertainment. Fighters would face off in temples, generally for festivals and other celebrations.The Thai word ‘muay’ literally means boxer, making the translation of Muay Thai Thai boxing. As a Briton interested in becoming a Muay Thai fighter, you would be designated ‘nac muay farang’, literally ‘foreign boxer’.You cannot be ‘nac muay’ unless you are ethnically Thai. In Thailand, fighters learn Muay Thai techniques at an early age Image by Sasin Tipchai from PixabayMuay Thai is called the Art of Eight Limbs because, as opposed to western styles of boxing that only employ fists as strike points, it permits fists and feet, elbows and knees; eight strike points.Besides kicking, Muay Thai differs from other styles of boxing in other ways. Clinching, prohibited in other combat sports is a ‘legal’ tactic in Muay Thai bouts, as is grappling.Furthermore, the shin is generally used for kicking while the feet are used more as a defensive measure, to push your opponent away. Elbow and knee strikes are particularly dangerous moves both because they are made with hardier body parts and because they can be especially forceful when delivered with the body’s full momentum.A spinning elbow strike is an excellent case in point.To deliver such a blow, the fighter steps into his opponent, pivoting so that his side faces the other fighter. He then finishes the pivot, driving his elbow into the opponent’s ribcage, abdomen or nose.If you can imagine a roundhouse kick with a pointed elbow connecting rather than a foot or a shin, you have the right idea.Other strikes include:Mid-air elbow strike: the fighter leaps up, landing his elbow on the crown of his opponent’s head.Axe heel kick: the fighter kicks his leg up high; on the down-swing, his heel hits his opponent’s head or shoulder.Curving knee kick: same as a roundhouse kick but the knee connects with the ribs rather than the footFlying knee: imagine kneeing someone with force added by a leap upwards.This move can be intensified by holding your opponent in a bent-over position.Knee slap: a good move if your opponent is grappling you; hit him with the inside of your knee.Swan neck: one arm is draped over your opponent’s neck in preparation for a knee strikeYou might think, by these descriptions, that Muay Thai is a particularly brutal combat sport. To an extent, you are right; the d iscipline started as a series of hand to hand combat techniques.The trick is to avoid these strikes while landing blows yourself. That calls for a fair measure of strategy as well as being in peak physical form.Getting in shape is why most Thai boxers in Birmingham practise this martial art; something you too will do once you start your training.Now we will take you on a tour of London's best gyms and clubs for learning Muay Thai.The London Fight FactoryClose to the Old Street roundabout is one of the city’s most popular mixed martial arts gym.There, you will find a wide array of martial arts disciplines to choose from besides Muay Thai: MMA, wrestling, sambo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu among them.The trainers here are experienced martial artists; Muay Thai coach Nick Forrer is himself an experienced fighter.What we really like about this facility is that they expect you to be totally committed to your art, whether you are learning for self-defense or to compete.Of course, there is pl enty more to like, such as their facility with its matted floors, its full array of heavy bags to work on your kicks and punches; the Thai pads and focus mitts to work on your aim and their strength training area, complete with frames and weights.Finally, we love that they offer a free trial session; we couldn’t find a Muay Thai club in Cardiff that offered the same. A major part of your training as a Muay Thai fighter involves working the heavy bag Image by Khusen Rustamov from PixabayDiesel GymIf you have the impression that Muay Thai is a males-only discipline; this club should disabuse you of that notion: not only does Diesel Gym eagerly welcome female fighters, one of their Muay Thai coaches is two-time world champion Amanda Kelly.Diesel Gym recently relocated to a brand new venue in East London, on Dockside Road, in Royal Albert Docks; that means that everything is brand new and squeaky clean â€" or, at least, in good condition.There, you will find everything you need to train as a Muay Thai fighter, from pads and Muay Thai gloves to heavy bags and skipping ropes to get your heart rate up.You may join your coach or fellow martial artists in the ring for a vigorous bout of sparring or simply watch as others as they engage in fights.We really like that there are Ladies Only Muay Thai classes, as well as classes for every level from beginner t hrough professional fighters.Belfast Muay Thai clubs also have some pretty advanced fighters…Cliff Bura joins Amanda Kelly in coaching, adding his more-than 25 years of experience as an international fighter to her championship record, making them one of the most experienced coaching duos in the country.Add that to their exceedingly reasonable rate of £10 per lesson, and… I wish there were a Muay Thai club near me what had that combination!Urban KingsIf you want more than guts and glory out of your time at the gym, this is the club for you. They have a sauna and a juice bar, a massage suite and nutritional coaching on demand.Still, this is no glitzy franchise gym that wants your membership but delivers little in return. Urban Kings has much to offer once you get past that juice bar.Naturally, we are most interested in Muay Thai but here, you may touch of a variety of disciplines, from kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to yoga and strength training.The coaches at Urban Kings ar e all experienced Thai boxers â€" at least, those who train in Thai boxing, and they welcome every age and level of fighter.They offer a variety of membership packages including an unlimited joint membership for £126 per month, per person. If that seems a bit steep, you might consider their individual membership plan; £85 per month buys you unlimited access during off-peak hours.Try as we might, we couldn’t find such a generous membership plan at Muay Thai clubs in Manchester!Naturally, these are not the only gyms in London where you might practise Muay Thai but they are highly rated among fighters and trainees.If you know of a Muay Thai club that deserves mention, why not let us know in the comments below?Now discover Muay Thai clubs in Glasgow that could give London clubs a run for their money…

What To Expect When Starting a New Job

Introvert Whisperer / What To Expect When Starting a New Job Big vs. Small Companies: What to Expect When Starting a New Job Sarah Landrum July 18, 2016 Career Development, Promotion 4 responses New Job? What To Expect When Starting at a Big or Small Company When choosing to work for a new company, size matters. Aside from having a big name â€" or a not-so-big name â€" to put on your resume, whether you work for a large or small organization can make a difference in how you experience your new job and what you get out of it. If youre undecided about working for an established Fortune 500 company or a relatively unknown with a huge growth potential, heres what you need to know. Pros of Working  for a Large Company Before anything else, lets clear up a few things first. For a company to be considered large, it must have at least 500 employees. As of 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau counted 16,055 large companies in 938 micropolitan and metropolitan areas around the country. That translates to around 17 per area, which isnt much when you look at it from that angle. However, what these organizations lack in quantity, they more than make up for in other aspects: Large companies tend to have solid systems in place, which hold the entire organizational machine together. If you need to take action on anything, chances are theres already a clear-cut procedure outlined somewhere in the company handbook. Large companies offer better compensation and benefits. Since the organization is profitable enough to expand in the first place, theyre probably also profitable enough to retain top talent. Large companies usually wont fall apart because of one major mistake by upper management. In most cases, those mistakes can be resolved without significant impact on overall operations. Large companies provide more opportunities to advance laterally or upward. Should you decide to pursue a career in a different direction but dont want to leave the company, either, you likely can do it without much trouble. Large companies provide additional valuable contacts to add to your professional network. The more contacts you have, the more likely youll find someone wholl tip you off when theres a job opening in the department â€" or company â€" next door.   Cons  of Working  for a Large Company Of course, not everything is rainbows and roses with large companies. The moment you become the proverbial cog in a gigantic machine, you realize that: Large companies can stifle you with their bureaucracy. It can be frustrating to, say, request for supplies you need today when the person who approves requisitions is currently on a one-month vacation. Large companies can make it difficult for individual employees to stand out. Sure, you may be an overachiever by any metric, but if the company is brimming with overachievers, getting your voice heard among them can be a challenge. Large companies can downsize as they please. If they decide to lay off an entire department for any reason, only to realize they need it back years later, they can always rely on the strength of their brand to attract hordes of fresh, bright-eyed talent. Large companies can make you feel disengaged from your work. If what you do amounts to only a tiny contribution to the organization, it can leave you demoralized and more likely to seek other places where youll be acknowledged for your work.   Pros of Working  for a Small Company As of 2010, there are roughly 6.79 million small companies in the U.S. That means your chances of getting employed by them are 423 times higher than that of the larger ones. It also means that, should you get employed by a small company, these are the benefits you can enjoy: Small companies are more flexible in general. For example, if youre in a startup online marketing agency, you may be churning out blog posts one day and building entire websites from scratch the next. Small companies foster camaraderie. Since you interact with everyone else on a daily basis, theres a stronger feeling that youre in this together. Small companies encourage transparency. Because everyone sees what everyone else is doing, theres also a stronger feeling of accountability for everything you do. Small companies have looser rules and regulations. Until management smoothens those out, youre free to do as you please â€" as long as you do whats expected of you and then some. Small companies make you feel more invested in your job. You dont just reap the fruits of your labor â€" you see firsthand how they impact the company as a whole. No wonder 36 percent of small business employees report as actively engaged in their work, as opposed to 29 percent from larger businesses.   Cons of Working  for a Small Company As with larger companies, small organizations have their downsides, too: Small companies often offer inferior compensation and benefits packages compared to larger ones. If you prioritize money over experience, thats obviously a no-no. Small companies can force you to take on heavy workloads and longer hours. Because theyre short on helping hands, theyll make the most of their available employees whenever possible. Small companies are more vulnerable to the influence of toxic bosses. Their actions may cause only a tiny ripple of negative effects in larger organizations, but in smaller ones, these bosses can inadvertently whip up entire tsunamis to swallow everyone whole. Small companies can be stifling for those who have problems with co-workers. If everyone literally works in the same room, theres no point transferring departments to get away from unsavory people. Small companies magnify both your successes and failures. If theres something youve done or shouldve done but failed to do, people will notice and talk about it. Keep in mind that these are generalized characteristics of small and large companies. Its possible for a 300-strong company to offer a compensation package thats miles better than that of a 500-million strong organization. Likewise, as in the case of Google, a corporation can offer flexibility that rivals that of smaller businesses. Regardless of which you choose, always do your homework, assess your suitability for a job and the company offering it, and you can make an informed decision from there. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

5 Things to Do During Any Job Interview - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Things to Do During Any Job Interview - Introvert Whisperer 5 Things to Do During Any Job Interview OFFICE POLITICS Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

How to excel at learning to play the piano

How to excel at learning to play the piano The Top 5 Tips for becoming a Pianist ChaptersOur first advice for learning to play the pianoHow to learn to play the pianoIs it necessary to learn solfege to play the piano?What are the basic piano chords?How to learn piano scalesLearning to play the piano is far from straightforward.All aspects of piano training â€" solfege, reading sheet music, posture, dexterity, head-hands-feet coordination, method â€" are difficult, technical and process-driven.Although certain student pianists learn quicker than others (remember, we don’t all have the same cognitive and musical predispositions), all beginner pianists go through the same phase of feeling handicapped at the keyboard!To become a fluid player and feel at ease with your piano, you must be motivated, determined, perseverant and strict, while also taking pleasure from playing those piano chords and arpeggios!Here, Superprof presents you with 5 steps to remember as you learn to play piano. You’ll be playing like Mozart in no time! LouisPiano Teacher £40/h1st lesson f ree!Discover all our tutors AlisonPiano Teacher £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErenPiano Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BarbaraPiano Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chi yuenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomPiano Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtiePiano Teacher £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsOur first advice for learning to play the pianoBefore you even touch those keys, you must adopt proper posture for piano playing.Learning proper posture is key to becoming a true pianist.Body postureFirst,  sit in the middle of the keyboard, where the middle octaves are found. Your main benchmark for positioning your left hand is the middle C. Make sure your seat or piano stool is at the right height: not too high or low.The classic posture taught to every beginner pianist to play the piano correctly is as follows:Your elbows: they should be at the same height as the keyboard.Sit on a bench: better than a chair, a bench will allow you to move yourself easily from side to side, towards the low notes or the high notes, whatever the piano song calls for!Your back: it must be straight and not curved forward.Your shoulders: they must be lightly behind you to avoid pain, open up your thorax and allow for easy breathing while you play.Your hands: your 10 fingers should be slightly bent, so that they press the keys with the tip of the phalanx, almost at the nail.The palm of your hand should be somewhat lifted, which will give each hand speed, range and fluidity.Your feet should be placed firmly on the floor, in parallel to each other.To learn to play the piano, begin by playing the keys separately and lightly. Generally, the key of F is played with the left hand (the 5 lines at the bottom of each measure) and the key of G with the right hand.Play the rhythm sep arately from the melody.When you play a piano piece, try to avoid mixing up the steps, and play a song at the speed noted in your sheet music. This will mean that:Your brain will memorize the chord sequences correctlyYou will improve your dexterityYour technique and fingering will get betterYou’ll understand the piece’s nuances, and make it your own!So progressively increase the tempo as you attain a more advanced level. Remember that if you are taking piano lessons, your piano teacher should be guiding you and giving you all these directions.Can you play with small hands?Some people who aren’t blessed with big hands consider themselves unable to play the piano and believe that their physique is incompatible with the keyboard. The same goes for those who think their fingers are too fat for guitar playing. These two misconceptions are excuses! All you have to do is take a glance at the hands of jazz pianist Michel Petrucciani to see that this argument doesn’t hold!Hand size o r finger length and width won’t affect the playing quality of the pianist.  What’s more, having small hands will help you do those chromatic movements (C-C#-D)!Now that you know the right positions, let’s move on to the question of piano courses: can you learn by yourself or are piano lessons necessary?How to learn to play the pianoTeaching yourself, taking private lessons, attending music school, playing on the internet, learning with friends… everything is possible depending on your way of working, your budget and your music experience and level.Teach yourself the piano: it's difficult but possible!Teach yourself to play the pianoIf you are reticent about taking a piano class and prefer to do it on your own for whatever reason, you’ll need to assemble a bunch of resources:A metronomeA manual for beginner pianoA music theory manual to learn solfegeA book of sheet music for absolute beginnersA lot of determination and willThe big advantage of creating a beginner piano meth od when one is self-taught is that one learns to read notes by producing automatic reflexes.A metronome can help you keep time.As you progress you may need to:Purchase more learning materials that correspond to your levelDownload free piano music on the internet to learn to read musicLook at piano tutorials on Youtube and DailymotionConsult online piano coursesTrain yourself to play a song that you hear: this will improve your musical ear and help you play by earBut everything has its downside. Here are some disadvantages to teaching yourself to play the piano as opposed to taking a piano lesson:You aren’t structured or supervised, so no one will correct your errorsYour solfege attempts wont be listened to by a professionalYou risk taking up bad habitsThe risk of frustration and discouragement is higherIt’s therefore possible to learn the piano alone, but you don’t have the best chances on your side. Taking music classes is the preferred means of learning and making regular pr ogress on the keyboard.Take piano lessons with an instructorYour private piano teacher will provide a structure for learning, while observing and encouraging you. He or she will teach you how to surmount challenges, something that may also benefit other situations in your daily life! Piano classes are an exchange of positive energy and music appreciation that feed the beginner piano player’s motivation.Different formulas are at your disposal: private lessons (like the ones you’d book at Superprof, for example), a music school or a conservatory for higher education students.And since you’ll be spending a lot of time with your piano teacher, at least an hour per week depending on the method you choose, it’s very important that you get along with one another. So choose a teacher who corresponds to your personality and objectives. And if you don’t find the right match at first, try again!I found my ideal music teacher on Superprof, after several fruitless Internet searches for piano lessons London.Finding the right piano teacher is the key to learning piano. LouisPiano Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlisonPiano Teacher £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErenPiano Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BarbaraPiano Teacher £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Chi yuenPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomPiano Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValtiePiano Teacher £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielPiano Teacher 5.00 (5) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsIs it necessary to learn solfege to play the piano?Contrary to what countless frustrated students think, solfege is not just an evil game devised by piano instructors.It’s a language one must master, and it works for all musical instruments. With solfege you’ll be able to read a piece of sheet music just as you would a novel.Solfege training is a fundam ental aspect of piano lessons: 15 minutes of solfege often precedes playing, as it’s the basis for reading, playing, arranging and composing music.So when and how should you learn solfege?Learn solfege as a child: children learn new things faster than adultsPractice solfege exercises throughout your lesson: at the beginning, a little in the middle and again at the end.Learn solfege to distinguish between different rhythmsSolfege will improve your global understanding of musicMastering solfege will boost your self confidence when you playIf you are comfortable with solfege, you’ll be able to learn other instruments much faster and easier.Learning solfege allows you to truly understand music and speeds up your overall training!What are the basic piano chords?A piano has 88 keys. That’s right, Beethoven’s favorite instrument has 52 white keys and 36 black keys.While we’re on the subject, perhaps you want to know the main piano chords? Why spend time working on all the chords if you’re an amateur pianist who is learning piano songs for beginners? Mary had a little lamb, anyone?The 4 main piano  chords are:A minorC majorF majorG majorAll you need to know to get your first record deal with Universal! Well almost…How to learn piano scalesAll beginner musicians, whether they are pianists, guitarists, or…, must ceaselessly repeat their scales to begin to master their ear training become more advanced.For the piano, this often means repeating the C scale: do-ré-mi-fa-sol-la-si-do-si-la-sol-fa-mi-ré-do and again… and again… and again. We do this for two reasons:So that the musician will automatically recognize the proper sounds of each note.To work on finger placement and movement.The major piano scales are:Scale of C major,Scale of D major,Scale of E major,Scale of F major,Scale of G major, etc…A piano has 88 keys.And while we’re on the subject, the minor scales are: the natural minor scale, harmonic minor scale, ascending melodic minor scale a nd the descending melodic minor scale! You’ll need to learn all these piano basics before you can think about things like chord progressions and improvisation!You’ll also have to think about what music style you want to play. There are different methods for classical piano and others for jazz piano, for example. Or what about blues, pop-rock or variety piano? In every case, you must work with regularity, being even stricter with yourself if you are self-taught! If you are taking piano lessons, tell your music instructor what songs you’d like to play and he or she will guide you on the best method to use to get there.You’ve now mastered your posture, read sheet music, and learned some piano chords and scales. Time to play piano!

When Should I Take the MCAT

When Should I Take the MCAT MCAT Medical School Admissions College in and of itself is a daunting process for most students. Studying constantly for twelve to eighteen hours of course work, juggling extracurricular activities, and trying to maintain an active social life can be challenging. Add in aspirations to attend medical school and suddenly you are overwhelmed. Needless to say, this entire process requires a significant amount of planning. Hopefully by the end of this article you’ll have at least resolved one concern on your list and answered the question of when to take your medical college admission test (MCAT). Evaluate Your Coursework The most important consideration in taking the MCAT is what level of premedical course work you have completed. Pertinent to this is the understanding that the MCAT tests extensively on required premedical courses and additional information not covered in these courses. For example, there is a portion of physiology on the cardiovascular, renal, and genitourinary systems on the MCAT that is not normally taught in premedical prerequisites but might be covered in classes the student takes electively such as anatomy and physiology. Because of the large burden of information, it is ideal to take the MCAT after you have completed all of your required course work and if possible a few extra courses to solidify and deepen your understanding of the content that will be covered on the MCAT. Most schools recommend taking cell biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, and biochemistry to aid with the MCAT as well as the transition to medical school. Some students are particularly adept at t eaching themselves and are able to perform extraordinarily well on the MCAT despite not completing their prerequisites prior to taking the exam. However, this is a small margin of the population of premedical students and not typically advised. Consult the Calendar Another factor to take into account is the timing of the application process. The typical timeframe for application and interviews to medical school is a year. For example, most application systems open in May of the year prior to enrollment and students are admitted up to June of the following year. This requires that the MCAT be taken at latest by May of the year prior to attendance. Backtracking even further, MCAT scores take a month to be released, which means ideally, your MCAT should be taken at latest by April of the year prior to enrollment in medical school. Taking into consideration the fact that many students do not achieve their target score and retake the MCAT means that you should consider having a buffer of time to retake the test if necessary. While this seems a bit tedious or even cautionary, keep in mind that this could cause you to either apply with a noncompetitive score or delay your application by a year. If you do not have a score that meets the standards of ad missions you are investing both money and time in a process that may have minimal or no yields. In addition, you are required to disclose if you have applied to medical school previously which can affect how your application is viewed by an admissions committee. Give Yourself Time Taking these factors into consideration, it is ideal to take your first MCAT in the summer or fall of the year prior to application. For most students this falls in the beginning of their ‘Junior’ or third year of school. Taking the MCAT in the fall allows you to evaluate your score early and make crucial decisions from there. If you end up needing to retake the MCAT this gives you a few months to assess changes to make in your next test preparation period. It also allows you a window to register for the test which can be difficult some years when testing sites are limited and many students are taking the exam. If you end up receiving a score that you are satisfied with, this gives you a good window of time to plan for the application cycle and prewrite essays. This period of time could also be used to address any weaknesses in the student’s application such as volunteer work or extracurricular activities. Be Prepared Finally, realize that the best time to take the MCAT is when you are most prepared and able to perform well on the exam. While most students are anxious to get moving through the long process that a career in medicine requires, realize that a year or two spent working toward your goal will not impact your career in the long run. Put in the time now and perform your best so that you can set yourself up early to do well. About the Author Jordan Salley is one of MyGuru's most accomplished MCAT tutors. Clickhereto learn more!

The 5 best places to save money teaching abroad

The 5 best places to save money teaching abroad Okay, so you’ve made up your mind to teach English abroad and now comes the exciting part: choosing where to go. Some people make this decision based on a lifelong obsession with a certain culture, or just a few breathtaking photos they see online. But for others, choosing where to teach might not be so simple. In fact, it might involve late nights and going so deep down a YouTube hole that there’s no way back. I’ve been there. Choosing where to teach abroad can be a headache and almost the hardest part of the puzzle. It can be overwhelming since the world is massive and the options seem endless. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. If you want to save money while teaching abroad, we’ve rounded up a few countries you may want to consider. 1. United Arab Emirates You can make more money than you can spend teaching in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), since the country offers some of the most attractive financial packages for teachers looking to work abroad. The salaries in Abu Dhabi and Dubai usually come with benefits like housing, flights, health insurance and an end-of-contract bonus. Some teachers even have their utilities covered (so you can blast the air-con without worrying about bank-balance-crippling bills). Although the UAE is one of the flashier teach abroad destinations, it’s certainly not impossible to save. The excellent compensation means you can live a relatively lavish lifestyle and still pocket a good bit of your wages. Teachers considering this part of the world will be well-positioned for flights to other countries in the Middle East, as well as parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. It’s also home to a large expat community, which can help new teachers settle in faster. Get a feel for exactly what living, spending and saving in the UAE is like with this teacher’s account of budgeting while living and working in the UAE. Amount in USD/month (approx. for 1 person) Salary for teachers in the UAE $2,400â€"$5,700 (tax-free)plus housing, flights, health insurance end-of-contract bonus Saving potential for teachers in the UAE Big savers: $2,500 Moderate savers: $1,500 Light savers: $900 Cost of living for teachers in the UAE (including utilities, transport, phone, groceries, etc.) Big spenders: $2,250 Moderate spenders: $2,000 Light spenders: $1,500 (all excluding rent) Start-up costs for teachers in the UAE $1,500â€"$2,000 (not including flights) 2. China China has always been subject to global curiosity, but it’s only in recent years that the opportunity to teach there has become truly attractive. As the economy continues to grow, the Chinese government is pushing education and investing in the English language. There are teaching positions in China to suit every type of personâ€"â€"from rugged rural villages to sprawling cities. As China’s demand for teachers grows, so do teachers’ salaries. The average teacher manages to save a decent amount of money in China. Although wages are low compared to Middle Eastern countries, the cost of living is much lower. It’s worth shopping around for the right position as benefits can vary and getting your flights and accommodations covered can go a long way towards fattening your wallet. Whether you’re an experienced educator or fresh grad interested in teaching in China, it’s worth checking out the Explore Program for some of the best opportunities. Amount in USD/month (approx.1 person) Salary for teachers in China $1,500â€"$4,500 (tax-free)plus housing, flights, health insurance end-of-contract bonus Saving potential for teachers in China Big savers: $3,000 Moderate Savers: $2,000 Light savers: $900 Cost of living for teachers in China (including utilities, transport, phone, groceries, etc.) Big spenders: $1,200 Moderate spenders: $800 Light spenders: $600 (all excluding rent) Start-up costs for teachers in China $1,000â€"$1,500 (not including flights) 3. Kuwait When people talk about teaching in the Middle East it often seems like the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia are the only countries that come to mind. But there are lots of countries investing in foreign teachers and ignoring them would be a mistake. Kuwait offers pay and benefits that are on par with its famous neighbours, but the cost-of-living is lower, making it an attractive option for families looking to teach in the Middle East. Teachers that make the trip to Kuwait will probably be a little surprised by how different it is to home. Men outnumber women and alcohol is banned (so it’s not exactly a party destination). It’s good news for people that enjoy socializing over food or family-friendly activities, as this is how people spend their free time in this small country. Kuwait is small enough to miss on a map, but world travelers won’t be disappointed as it offers easy access to the rest of the Middle East, as well as parts of Asia. Amount in USD/month (approx. for1 person) Salary for teachers in Kuwait $2,600â€"$4,000 (tax-free)plus housing,flights, bonus, healthcare Saving potential for teachers in Kuwait Big savers: $3,000 Moderate savers: $1,500 Light savers: $1,000 Cost of living for teachers in Kuwait (including utilities, transport, phone, groceries, etc.) Big spenders: $1,600 Moderate spenders: $1,100 Light spenders: $650 (all excluding rent) Start-up costs for teachers in Kuwait $1,000â€"$1,500 (not including flights) 4.South Korea If the Middle East or China seem a bit daunting, then perhaps teaching in South Korea is the answer. A modern country that boasts big cities and idyllic rural landscapes, English teachers have been traveling here in droves to pay off loans and even save for down payments. It’s not uncommon for teachers to go for a year and leave five years later! The quality of life is one of the best in the world and it’s not hard to put aside some serious cash. Budgeting while teaching in South Korea really doesn’t have to be hard. One of the main attractions of teaching in South Korea is that you really don’t have to skimp on experiences to save big. You can hop on a plane and quickly find yourself in Japan, China or Southeast Asia. Amount in USD/month (approx. for1 person) Salary for teachers in South Korea $1,800â€"$2,700plus housing, flights, healthcare and end-of-contract bonus Saving potential for teachers in South Korea Big savers: $1,500 Moderate savers: $1,000 Light savers: $600 Cost of living for teachers in South Korea (including utilities, transport, phone, groceries, etc.) Big spenders: $1,200 Moderate spenders: $1,000 Light spenders: $800 (all excluding rent) Start-up costs for teachers in South Korea $1,000â€"$1,500 (not including flights) 5. Kazakhstan If you fancy going off the beaten track in central Asia, then this might be a welcome option. Offering snow leopards and a doorstep to Europe, Kazakhstan is worth considering for the saving-savvy teacher. If you want a reasonable cost of living, great wages and immersion in a brand new culture, look no further. Stunning scenery and modern cities abound and there is no shortage of things to do and places to see. It’s the most diverse of the central Asian countries due to its unique history and ties to Russia. Tea addicts, bread lovers and shish kebab worshippers will all find what they’re looking for. It'seasy to maintain a high standard of living here. Cost of living can be expensive, but it’s balanced by the impressive wages. Teachers looking to move here will most likely need to be certified teachers at home. Amount in USD/month (approx. for1 person) Salary for teachers in Kazakhstan $3,000â€"$5,000, plus housing allowance, flights health insurance Saving potential for teachers in Kazakhstan Big savers: $3,000 Moderate savers: $2,000 Light savers: $1,000 Cost of living for teachers in Kazakhstan (including utilities, transport, phone, groceries, etc.) Big spenders: $1,500 Moderate spenders: $1,000 Light spenders: $800 (all excluding rent) Start-up costs for teachers in Kazakhstan $800â€"$1,000 Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. What you should consider if you’re looking to teach abroad as a way to save When I was picking a country there were a ton of questions on the tip of my tongue, but a few factors were non-negotiable. So, I stubbornly scoured the internet looking for specific answers in a sea of annoyingly generic information and let’s be frank, some pretty weird YouTube videos about what to expect in different countries. I’m going to save you that hassle by sharing my findings with you. First off, you should probably scribble down what you want from a position and try to focus on a couple of things to narrow down your search. For me, these were the non-negotiables (although I wanted to save, money wasn’t my only priority): a. Proximity to other countries - cheap travel options when teaching abroad I wanted to be close enough to other countries to make the odd country-hop budget-friendly. There was no way I was going to pack my suitcase for a year without getting to tick a couple of places off the bucket list. There are plenty of countries that are close to other places that have a high demand for English teachers. Look no further than Southeast Asia, the Middle East or Europe for a bunch of budget-friendly travel options. Some are cheaper than others, so it’s worth seeing how much flights out of your chosen country would cost you. b. Skimp on costs but not on experiences â€"choose a place that’s so fascinating you won’t get bored For me, the country needed to be rich in culture and have the option of teaching in rural areas. I had a hankering for an off-the-grid, immersive experience. I definitely did not want to end up in an expat community where there was an expensive city for me to blow my wages in. I wanted mountains, the total absence of temptation and an outdoorsy year away. Spending my weekends hiking stunning mountain ranges and exploring hidden temples was definitely a shortcut to saving money. As you search, try to think about what you will actually do on a day-to-day basis. Is having other foreigners nearby a priority? How immersed in the local life do you want to be? What kind of little luxuries do you need in your life? c. Look out for low cost of living, small set-up costs and good wages I spent hours online researching cost of living, anticipated savings, set-up costs and salary. Because sometimes the highest wages, don’t always result in the highest savings. If you’re still not sure where you want to go, download our TEFL Country Comparison Chart. Or why not try our salary calculator and see how your qualifications and experience will add up to?

Become a Productive and Effective Tutor One-on-One

Become a Productive and Effective Tutor One-on-One How do you know if you are taking the right steps to becoming a productive and effective tutor? Your skills may be honed to the level of Ph.D, MA, or BA certification but just because you have the knowledge doesn’t always mean that you can communicate it to someone. Many of the smartest people aren’t necessarily the most effective tutors or teachers. There are many other skills that must be addressed outside of your professional field of study. Some of these include social and communication skills which are extremely important when maintaining effective tutoring practices. These skills are not easily acquired and can make or break progress in tutoring sessions. Tutoring or teaching must be a passion to really achieve effective practice and execution. Each individual has different needs and this is why tutoring curricula must be molded to fit that unique individual. To hone your tutoring skills please review the short list below to see if you are full-filling the suggested requirements for good tutoring practices. Tutoring Guidelines Establish goals with the student and parent, and discuss the reality of their expectations. Make sure you both agree on the goals, put them in writing, and intend to satisfy them by the end of your service. Keep in mind that learning is most often an unpredictable process; don’t guarantee any goals will be accomplished but intend to achieve goals outlined in your initial agreement. Make sure you maximize your time with the student. Arrive on time and ready to make progress in the students learning abilities immediately. Prepare your curriculum and yourself prior to the tutoring sessions. Make sure that you have structure in your lessons and can answer most of the questions a student might have about the material presented. Preparing solutions to problems in advance for subjects like math will most often be a more efficient and effective use of your time and the student’s. Having an appropriate attitude and personality complements your ability to be an effective tutor. An engaging attitude and enthusiastic responses to progress may be just what the student needs to establish a confidence and motivation for learning. Bring yourself to your students level. Maintaining a mutual respect between tutor and student can help establish understanding, patience, and honesty or transparency in the tutor/student relationship. Make sure that the goal is independent learning and you aren’t doing all the work for your student. These guidelines do not encompass all the necessary steps to being a great tutor and if you follow these steps they do not guarantee performance. These steps are only intended to set the tutor on the right path towards effective tutoring practices. Tutoring is a noble service to the community and tutors should have pride in their profession. Whether you tutor math, English, science, or PHP, all your efforts are well respected and we hope these guidelines will help you become an effective and productive tutor. References The University of Queensland Australia MidAmerica Nazarene University Boise State University