BBC Learning English RSS Feeds

BBC Learning English RSS FeedsBBC Learning English RSS feeds provide a quick and easy way to follow a trending topic, listen to an audio or video report about a certain topic, as well as several other benefits such as being able to customize the language content. More people are interested in using BBC learning English RSS feeds because of its many advantages and uses.One of the main advantages of RSS is that it allows you to receive information quickly and easily in an organized fashion. No matter what topic you are looking for, there will be an RSS feed that you can subscribe to. This makes it easier for anyone to get started with a particular topic by knowing what will be coming up next.Another great thing about BBC learning English RSS feeds is that you can customize the content. You can create your own RSS feed if you want to, or you can opt to download them from the site. There are a number of different formats that you can choose from depending on your needs. Some people prefe r using the word press format so that they will have a more attractive site for their subscribers to read.There are plenty of different blogs and media sites that offer these feeds, but they may not always cover the same subject or type of learning English as that offered by BBC. The variety of information on these types of sites can be very overwhelming, and finding one that is great for you may take a little bit of searching. To make things a little bit easier, you can sign up for BBC learning English RSS feeds to stay up to date with all the latest news and topics that are available.People who have struggled with learning English in the past are also able to benefit from BBC learning English RSS feeds. When used correctly, these feeds can improve the level of comprehension as well as listening comprehension. They can also help improve listening skills, as well as helping develop reading skills and vocabulary.If you are looking for something to do with your children or the people that work with you, BBC learning English RSS feeds can help you make new friends and communicate with others. Whether you want to have fun and learn some interesting things, or you are trying to find out how to speak with people from another country, these feeds can help you accomplish this as well. Being able to use a variety of tools at once is a great way to keep everyone working together and learning at the same time.With the popularity of BBC learning English RSS feeds, there is a great demand for people to participate in a particular discussion or event. Having the ability to listen to and read feeds that are related to the one you are participating in can be quite helpful in the learning process. You can be in a large room with people while they discuss a specific topic and feel much more connected than when you were sitting alone at a computer.It is important to note that you can get all of these benefits from a number of different sources, and you may even find that the bes t place to get the most information is to use BBC RSS feeds. As mentioned above, there are a number of different options available, so it is important to take a look at what each option offers before making a decision. If you do decide to use this form of news reading, then it is vital that you take advantage of all of the different choices available.

What Are Caregivers and How to Become One

What Are Caregivers and How to Become One Source: Ginger London Caregiving is a role many people take on when they least expect to do so. Illness, sickness, disability, or tragedy that causes one of these can creep up on a person at any given time and leave family members and friends with the very real responsibility of taking care of them for the rest of their lives. Sometimes, caregiving begins with a major health issue like a stroke. At other times, it begins after a tragic accident such as a car crash. And still, at other times, it is realized at the very start a sibling is born with a disability or a grandparent has severe Alzheimer’s. Whatever the case, life as you once knew it or as you would like to have imagined it stops and begins going down a very different path. You find yourself buying groceries, cooking meals, doing laundry, taking care of prescriptions, and even making hospital or doctor’s runs with your loved ones. It rarely happens the way we think it should. At some point, you realize that it is now a big responsibility to care for someone else in this way. Caregivers can be almost anybody spouses, parents, grandparents, older siblings, adult children, and even friends from church, school, or the neighborhood. If you ever find yourself in this type of role, it is critically important to make sure you own the role. Almost no one is completely ready to be a caregiver when the time calls for it, but to walk into a role of service to another human being is admirable. If you own it and identify yourself as a caregiver, you are more likely to give time and resources to make the extra effort for that person. Without identifying as a caregiver, you won’t be able to seek out the right people for help or search for the resources to use when you need them most. Most caregivers aren’t just caregivers. They also play a host of other roles. For example, you may be a caregiver AND a full-time student, a full-time employee, a weekly volunteer at your church or community charity, and have a host of family and personal commitments. Adding a caregiver on top of all of this can make you feel exhausted. However, when you choose to own the role and take it on wholeheartedly, you will have an easier time asking the right questions, seeking out the proper kind of help, navigating social and medical systems, and advocating for the needs of that person in your care. With that said, here are some job skills and requirements that you should be aware of if you desire to be a caregiver as a profession or if you suddenly find yourself in such a position. Establish your motives: Caregiving is not a job for the faint of heart. Explore whether you possess the interest and the traits needed for caregiving. Then, be sure to ask yourself if you are willing to take the next step and continuously learn in order to be the best caregiver you can be. Love and patience: It is not easy to care for another human being all the time. At times, you will feel like you want to give up and may even feel internally frustrated with the person when it comes to close contact times like feeding, changing, and keeping company. But if you keep in mind that the person you are caring for is a human being who deserves love and respect, you will cultivate patience and love in your heart and ensure it is displayed to them through your actions and attitude. Attention to detail: The person you are caring for may have specific regulations, schedules, and rules that you must follow. For example, they may have a set schedule for taking their medication (2 blue pills at 10 a.m.; 2 red pills at 12 noon; 2 purple pills at 2 p.m.; 1 yellow and 1 orange pill just before bed, and so on and so forth). One missed medication could be the difference between life and death for that individual. You must be mindful of the client’s requirements and be sure to take care of that person the way they want to be taken care of and, more importantly, the way they should be taken care of. Time management: Caregivers must be strict time managers and schedule keepers. If it is in the best interest of the patient, it is imperative that you are able to manage time well. For example, make sure medication is taken on time, clients get to their appointments and check-ups on time or at least ahead of time, they go to bed on time and wake up on time, eat proper meals on time, and so on. While a degree is not always required to be a caregiver, it is helpful to intentionally get all of the training you can. Watch videos online, ask questions, shadow a caregiver or even a nurse if you can, and ask for feedback.

5 Vegetarian Takeout Options For a Cozy Night In

5 Vegetarian Takeout Options For a Cozy Night In Image via Pexels 1. French Fries: Listen, when it comes to potatoes I don’t discriminate; I will eat them in all forms- mashed, baked, fried, you name it! Though I wouldn’t suggest having French fries as a complete meal, they are a great side dish/appetizer to have alongside something else, and you can eat all the fries you want! Who can resist the delicious, crunchy exterior with a nice, fluffy inside? Of course, there are plenty of fast-food places that offer French Fries on the menu like McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s, etc., so this just depends on your personal preference! For me, I love Chick-Fil-A’s waffle fries, they are just perfection in taste and inexpensive! Image via Pexels 2. Chipotle Sofritas: Chipotle is not just a Mexican food-chain, it is a way of life. When you go to Chipotle, you know you’re in good hands, it’s just  that  good. People often think that because Mexican dishes are usually meat-based that its hard to find vegetarian-friendly options but not with Chipotle! You can add sofritas or Chipotle’s marinated organic tofu, to just about anything you want: tacos, burritos/burrito bowls, etc. On top of this option, if you just aren’t a fan of tofu, you can still get all the fun fill-ins like cilantro-lime rice, beans, corn, salsa, guacamole, etc., which are all amazing by themselves. 3. Pizza: If you know me, you know that at 21 years old I haven’t necessarily grown out of the “pizza is the only food group I need” phase. How can anyone not love ooey-gooey cheese on a soft yet crispy crust with delicious marinara sauce? Though the standard pizza is vegetarian, sometimes you want more than just the norm. Chains like Papa John’s, Domino’s and Pizza Hut all offer vegetarian pizzas and in particular, yummy ones that are loaded with roasted vegetables! Another great thing about ordering pizza now is that you can just about customize it any way you want to, so get creative and get your pizza on! Image via Pexels 4. Chinese/Japanese Food: Every time I get Chinese takeout, all that fills my head is, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” by James Taylor, just because I love Chinese food  that  much. Though Chinese/Japanese food does have a lot of meat-based dishes, there are still plenty of vegetarian options and in most Chinese restaurants I’ve been to, vegetarian dishes are even labeled on the menu to help you decide! There are so many options, like Veggie Lo Mein, egg rolls, tofu, sushi, etc. that you’ll have no trouble picking the perfect dish for you! 5. Veggie Burgers/Sandwiches: Another great meat-free takeout option is a veggie burger or sandwich. There are a bunch of chains that have vegetarian-friendly burgers and sandwiches! For instance, Red Robin has a “garden burger” that is a vegan burger patty and topped with yummy burger toppings. Subway, on the other hand, has a popular sandwich called “the veggie delite” which consists of any vegetables and sauces of your choice, giving you total control of what you want to have on your sandwich! Ordering takeout and food for delivery is a wonderful experience that everyone should be able to have, regardless of their food choices. Though there are a lot more food items out there that have meat in them, there are still plenty of vegetarian options out there that are just as delicious and inexpensive. I only listed a few easy and popular foods to eat out as a vegetarian, but I encourage you to go out and explore what else is out there! Whether its a local, family-owned restaurant or a fancy restaurant, you are bound to find something that can work for you! As always, good luck and enjoy!

STEM Learning - ALOHA Mind Math

STEM Learning So much information is being shared about STEM which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STEM is the initiativeaddressing education policy andcurriculumchoices in schools from kindergarten through college to improve competitiveness in technology development. It has implications for workforce development, national security concerns and immigration policy. In this article, we would like to point out some articles and resources that make STEM that much more appealing for students participating in ALOHA Mind Math programs. In recent articles about jobs that use math read more here and here, we have discussed the importance that math plays in you or your students future. The STEM initiative pushes that even further. Educational systems and states, including our President, have created entire pathways to help students determine a path they may pursue related to the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Illinois is one those visit their pathways site here. A recent article from the New York Times shares a the opinion of most teens that science is dull and boring and that teachers are not prepared. While this perception may be true, there is something to be said about Math and Science being for more than just Geeks. Do you watch the show, The Big Bang Theory? Amy played by Mayim Bialyk is Sheldons girlfriend on the show.Hollywood and science rarely come together as vividly as they have in her life. She has a Ph.D. in neuroscience AND she plays a neurobiologist on the television show. There is an entire series of articles from people passionate about the STEM initiative. In another recent article from INC., the writer shared a statistic from code.org that in 2020, there will be one million more computer science jobs than computer science students. So between the aging of American Baby Boomers causing industry to become more technological, and the lack of properly trained students ready to graduate into those jobs, the world could come to a screeching halt?? While this isnt likely, it causes a concern about who will fill those positions. At ALOHA we are doing our best to improve the math, reading and writing skills of Generation Z to prepare them for those job openings. To find out more about the STEM initiative visit http://www.ed.gov/stem.

Online Chemistry Teacher

Online Chemistry TeacherWith over five hundred students in the online chemistry program at Thermo Fisher Scientific, you will find a lot of students who are qualified to pursue an education in the balance of equilibrium organic chemistry. However, your student has an additional requirement for achieving his education that may not be met by the online science teacher.One of the most requested service by students is online chemistry Tutors. Online tutors are professionally qualified with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. They are committed to academic excellence. They can carry out research, demonstrate their skills to students, and are dedicated to personal knowledge and self-improvement.These online teachers provide service to chemistry professors to teach chemistry classes in the laboratory or in Bio-Solvents lab. They offer invaluable assistance to graduate students. They enhance the learning experience for the students who want to pursue further studies. These tutors are extremely helpful for students who have difficulties with understanding various topics of chemistry.Online tutors are skilled and well trained to give guidance in online Chemistry classes. If you wish to find a suitable balance between professional and personal service, online chemistry tutors will fulfill your need. Their services are worth their price as they are dedicated to meeting the demands of their customers.Online Chemistry teacher is good for your career, because it allows you to work from home. You will be able to attend office hours and avail of great opportunities to find a new job.The tutor will be able to guide you to explore and promote your interests and help you to enhance your understanding. You will be able to advance in your job when you are enrolled in an online Chemistry class. Online Chemistry Tutors are available to provide you insight about the latest technology, the latest methods and trends in Chemistry, and the latest processes that support Science.Tequilibrium o rganic chemistry tutor The advantage of a Science Advisor is that he is a school chemistry teacher as well. He is able to introduce and explain Chemistry concepts to students. There are many other advantages associated with online Chemistry Teaching.

Chemistry in Your Life

Chemistry in Your LifeFrom high school to college, the subject of Chemistry has always been a preferred option for students. Chemists are vital for every society and country because they have the ability to come up with solutions to real problems. And while studying in college, the learning environment of a college or university is very important to keep in mind as Chemistry is an integral part of the course of study and the students are given various options to pursue it.Students are taught by subject matter experts that even though Mathematics is a vital component of any college or university program, it is not the only topic to be studied. For students of Chemistry, the subject choice of course is mainly based on their interests and aptitude. However, students who are drawn towards the field of Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biomolecular and Botany, will more commonly pick Chemistry as a course as it covers almost all the subjects of Biology. The curriculum of Chemistry is n ormally divided into two parts, the upper and the lower division. However, there are various topics which are regularly included in these two parts of the syllabus.The first two years of the curriculum of Chemistry are dedicated to the upper division, and the final two years are devoted to the lower division. In the upper division, the topics that are taught will be Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Nuclear Physics, Quantum Chemistry, Astrophysics, Computational Chemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, and Biochemistry. Some of the topics that are regular are Physics, Astronomy, and Linear Algebra. These topics are selected from the vast amounts of syllabuses available which provide more diversity in the curriculum.In the physics class, students have to solve various equations in order to give the correct answers. Moreover, there are also other topics such as mathematical modelling, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics of liquids, water, atomic a nd molecular physics, elementary particles, atoms, nuclear reactions, free energy, nuclear fusion, solid state physics, solid state and solid semiconductors, radioactive and subatomic particles, nuclear weapons, and gamma rays, amongst others.In the second year of the course, students will be taught about Synthetic Chemistry and the techniques involved in this type of chemistry. While in the first years, they have to learn all the subject of biology and the subjects related to chemistry. So there is more scope for the student to select the topics of his choice.Daltons or Degrees in Chemistry are conferred in many Universities. A student has to take the test (also known as BCQ) before the test can be taken. The degree is required in order to qualify for a Graduate level position in the Chemical Industries, Pharmaceutical Industries, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and so on. However, the Master's degree (MAS) is also required for these positions.The course of study for Chemis try can be taken in most Universities of the country. Students will also need to clear the State exam for admission to the college or university of their choice, as the exams will be given after the official entrance examinations are done.

French Language App Review MosaLingua

French Language App Review MosaLingua Brooke Neuman Are you looking for a fun app to help you practice French in between lessons? Below, French teacher Jinky B. shares her review of the French language app MosaLingua   As a French instructor for students of various ages and proficiency levels, I’m always searching for easy and interactive apps to help supplement French lessons. So when I was introduced to the French learning app MosaLingua, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy and fun it was to use. The science behind  the app  is a formula of timed repetition. After words are introduced and reviewed, they are repeated at specific points in time. This formula allows students to learn French words and phrases quickly. Whats more, the student can see and track progress via visual graphs. Below are some of my favorite benefits the app offers as well as ways students can use the app to learn French effectively. 1. Learn Essential Vocabulary MosaLingua initially provides the student with flashcards. Based on the student’s proficiency level, the flashcards can be increased in difficulty. A clear audio clip is played and then the student repeats the phrase via a recording option. The flip side of the flashcard then shows the French vocabulary word, its English equivalent, and the word(s) in a sentence. I love the recording option. The student can compare the recording to the teacher recording and make any necessary changes. 2. Explore Thematic Vocabulary If students are interested in exploring a specific themeâ€"for example, shopping or travelingâ€"a list of thematic categories is provided. Within each category are more specified lists, such as how to ask the cost of an item or how to ask where something is located. This is a great option if the student desires to quickly learn a set of phrases to use in a certain situation. 3. Listen to Dialogues One feature that I particularly like  is audio of actual dialogue depicting common situations that arise during travel or everyday life. Students have the option to  listen only to the dialogue or to also see the corresponding French and English subtitles. This feature is great for students who are working on their pronunciation skills and oral comprehension. MosaLingua is incredibly user-friendly with various ways to practice French vocabulary. Whether youre a beginner or intermediate student, the app is a great way to practice in between your French lessons. Post Author:  Jinky B. Jinky B. teaches  French lessons in Jacksonville, FL. She has her  Bachelors of Arts in French, French Literature and Psychology from Florida State University and has over five years of teaching experience.  Learn more about Jinky B.  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

Drawing Manga

Drawing Manga Learning How to Draw Manga ChaptersThe Characteristics of MangaDrawing Faces and BodiesManga Objects and BackgroundsAdvice for Getting Better at Drawing MangaIf you love Naruto, Dragon Ball, and One Piece and have the heart of an artist, you’ve probably already thought about making your own comics using the style from your favourite manga.Of course, it’s not easy; you’ll need to learn all the fundamentals of drawing since a mangaka is nothing like a western comic book artist. From manga anatomy and facial features to inking, there’s a lot of work to be done.In this article, Superprof is going to show you how to start drawing manga and the basics you’ll need to get started. You’ll soon be on your way to drawing like Kishimoto, Toriyama, and Matsumoto! Manga isn't easy, but here's how you can draw it!Find appropriate drawing classes for you here.Think of the big picture first.It’s a good idea to draw the details onto the face after you’ve drawn the body so that the proportions can be respected. A fter you’ve done the outlines for the arms and the legs, you can draw the clothes, making sure to erase the construction lines when you’re done.You can then colour using your chosen medium: coloured pencils, paintbrushes, pastels, markers. It’s up to you whether you want to add colour or not.Finally, try redoing your character in different poses to bring them to life. It’ll take several attempts to create your own Goku, Luffy, or Light.Find out more about making your own comics!Manga Objects and BackgroundsYour manga can’t just be characters floating around in space; you need to create a world. Whether your story takes place in the city or the countryside, you need to learn a few techniques for drawing buildings, trees, the sea, etc.The backgrounds that inspired manga are just as breathtaking! (Source: Kanenori)The natural environment made up of vegetation, grass, dense forest, leafy trees, rocks, and mountains. The important thing about the environment is light and shadow . The lighting will help you add detail to things like rocks and tree trunks.The sea is an almost flat expanse in shades of grey to give an impression of depth. Waves are easier to draw sideways on as they’ll set themselves apart from the rest of the water, especially as they crash against the rocks in little explosions.For urban environments, use vanishing points. Start with a line on the horizon and then place one slightly higher than the horizon for the tops of buildings. You can then add details such as doors, windows, etc.To add more perspective to your backgrounds, use the multiplane technique to add depth of field. Draw the different elements on different pages (from the furthest to the nearest) then bring the sheets together to create a single landscape. Use a dark grey palette for front and white for the back.Finally, practise drawing everyday objects like transportation, which can be difficult to do at the start. Start with vague shapes, then progressively add details ju st like you would for someone’s face. Take your time and be patient.Check out our article on drawing caricatures.Advice for Getting Better at Drawing MangaBecoming a mangaka isn’t all fun and games; you can’t just pick up your markers and create a storyboard. However, you can get started with a few fundamentals.There's a whole genre of manga dedicated to robots and machines! (Source: Samueles)To get started, a simple method would be to look online for something you can’t draw. Whether it’s poses, objects, environments and backgrounds, or visual effects, you can find plenty of reference material online.However, you can’t just copy the original, regardless of what it is. If you want to become the super Saiyan of drawing manga, you need to have your own style, even when you’re struggling to get that eyelid or jawline right.It’s also important to remain open to criticism. Don’t think that your drawings are perfect and you can’t improve because that’s the quickest w ay to plateau. Family and friends might be the first people to show your work to but make sure you take what they say with a pinch of salt because they might just be being nice.When you’re drawing, you might want to take shortcuts, especially when it comes to things like drawing hands and feet. Don’t do it!  It’s better to draw horrible feet and get better at it than to give up altogether.You’ll improve by regularly drawing different types of people. It might be tempting to draw only one type of character but variety will make you a better artist. In Evangelion, for example, the author had a cast of children, adults, giant robots, and aliens.Finally, the best advice we can give you is to not get discouraged. You won’t become a manga master by huffing and puffing every thirty seconds and ignoring any feedback. Enjoy your drawing and try to steadily improve. You can also get lessons to learn more quickly.Now that you’ve had an introduction to manga, get your pencils and dr awing materials and work towards creating something to rival Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, or Dragon Ball Super. You could also learn more with private tutorials from one of the many talented tutors on Superprof.You can learn how to draw animals, still life, simple shapes, one-point perspective, the human anatomy, portraits, or even how to paint with a step by step tutorial from an art teacher!There are three main types of tutorials available: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials, and each comes with its pros and cons in terms of learning and cost-effectiveness. What's right for one student may not be right for another so take your time to find the right kind of tutor and tutoring.Face-to-face tutorials are taught with one student and one tutor and they tend to be the most cost-effective type since every minute in the lesson is spent focusing on you as the student. Additionally, the tutor will also spend time outside of the lessons finding resources and plann ing the time they'll spend with you.Online tutorials are similar to the face-to-face tutorials but take place either on a call or via webcam. Since the tutor won't have the travel costs to worry about and can fit more students into their schedule as a result, online tutorials are usually cheaper than face-to-face tutorials.Finally, group tutorials are classes with one teacher or tutor and multiple students. However, with group tutorials, you and a group of friends could get in touch with a private tutor to plan lessons that you'll all attend together. These tend to be the cheapest per student per hour.

A Day in the Life at Yale University

A Day in the Life at Yale University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Elena graduated from Yale University in 2013 with a Bachelors degree in French and the History of Art. She is a New York City tutor specializing in SAT prep tutoring, ACT prep tutoring, Writing tutoring, Literature tutoring, and many other subjects. See what she had to say about her undergraduate experience: 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? Elena: The campus is in the urban city of New Haven! Despite its gritty past, New Haven today feels very safe and the area around Yale is absolutely charming. There are campus buses, but they are often unnecessary as the majority of campus is quite centralized. Science students might want a bike, since the trek up Science Hill can feel arduous. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Elena: The professors, academic advisers, and TAs are incredibly welcoming! All professors have office hours, and students can go and talk to even the most influential of intellectuals. I have had many a coffee date with a professor or TA, and I have been known to email them frantically, receiving a response in the same day with a kind word or two. My academic advisers have written me recommendation letters, and one of them I have known for all four yearswe even met up in Paris when I was studying abroad there! VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Elena: Quite honestly, the best way to describe dorm life at Yale is to relate it to Hogwarts. Hilarious, I knowbut true! Like Hogwarts, Yale has houses; at Yale, these are called residential colleges. Each freshman is sorted into a residential college before arriving on campus. Each of them is meant to be a microcosm of Yale, so they are highly diverse. Your freshman year, ten residential colleges out of the twelve house their students on Old Campus, a huge quadrangle where all the freshman live. The dorms are all suite style. I lived with five other roommates; we shared a bathroom and a common room among us. Your sophomore year, you move into the residential college, where you can stay for the next three years if you would like to. Each residential college has a dining hall, a library, a gym, and tons of other facilities: a beautiful common room, music practice rooms, often extra libraries, and perhaps a dance studio, basketball court, climbing wall, photography dark room, or potte ry studio. Theyre quite amazing; each college also has a central courtyard and many have Neo-Gothic architecture, lending to their resemblance to castles. Each residential college has a lot of pride, but they are also all unified under Yale College, and all undergrads can access the other residential colleges and eat in their dining halls. There is also the main Commons dining hall which is huge (and very Hogwarts Great Hall-like). These automatic communities provide an incredibly easy way to meet people and make friends, not to mention all the extracurricular activities that provide social opportunities outside of the colleges. 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? Elena: Yale has historically been known for its Humanities and Social Sciences programs. These remain incredibly strong, but recently the Sciences have been gaining traction as well. I double majored in French and the History of Art. Both of these programs are one of the best if not the best of their kind in the country. The faculty in both were incredibly strong and welcoming. The French department especially has a very strong endowment, so I received grant money on two occasions to travel for study and research in France. The Art History department was also well supported, and I took an Art History class the fall semester of my senior year; we were able to travel to Italy to recreate the Grand Tour about which we were learning. 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? Elena: As I mentioned when discussing the residential college system, Yale makes it very easy for freshmen to make friends via these built-in communities. All freshmen live together on Old Campus and there are residential college events just for freshmen toward the beginning of the year. I made close friends immediately through my college, and I also made friends through the dance troupe that I joined in September of my freshman year. In the second semester of my freshman year, I joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority in order to expand my social circle. Greek life, however, does not play a huge role on campus, and I later disaffiliated because I felt I had too much on my plate. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Elena:The Career Center is very helpful for people looking to enter into fields with a very set hiring process: banking, consulting, Teach For America, etc. As someone looking to work in the Arts, I did not find it that helpful. The Fellowship Office was hugely helpful for me, though; they helped me become a finalist for the UK Fulbright Scholarship. Many major reputable companies are consistently recruiting on campus, though most are either in banking or consulting. If you want to go into those fields, youll definitely be at the top of the heap in terms of recruiting. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Elena: Yale has a veritable cornucopia or study spaces. As I mentioned, each residential college has at least one library (though usually more), plus a snack bar (called the buttery) with a lounge/common area. There are also computer labs in each college. Beyond that, Yale has the second largest university library system, and it has one massive library (Sterling) plus an underground student library (Bass), as well as tons of specialized libraries for the Arts, Sciences, Medicine, etc. Its library heaven. Since there are so many, spaces are very rarely crowded, and if they are, you can always find another space to go. One of my favorite places is the Sterling Memorial Library stacks, where there are old desks deep in the bookstacks that look out through stained glass windows onto Yales campus. It feels like youre hidden away in academia! 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? Elena: New Havens main attraction is definitely Yale, but there are also great restaurants and bars around campus. Downtown is in fact very close to the campus, so students usually stay in that area to go out at night or for meals. There is also East Rock park where students can hike or go for runs. Its not the most exciting place, but it is definitely far and above a small, boring college town. Its still a hopping city with fun, interesting places. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Elena: The student body at Yale is about 5,300 undergraduates (I believe). It can feel big at times, but it can also feel quite small (often thanks to the residential college system). Class sizes max out at about 200 for the largest lectures, and the smallest class Ive taken was a graduate seminar with two other students, myself, and the professor. As a humanities person, many of my classes were seminars, and I regularly took courses with about 7 people. This close interaction with professors was absolutely incredible; it was probably one of my favorite things about Yale. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Elena: I mentioned the Art History course I took where we travelled to Italy to recreate the Grand Tour: it was taught by a specialist in Ancient Greek art and one in British art specializing in the Grand Tour. When we were in Italy at the Temple of Paestum, an ancient Greek temple, I was struck by what a unique experience I was having: to be standing in front of this ancient temple, discussing it with one of the experts in ancient Greek art, and then to have her British counterpart discussing how 18th century tourists would have viewed the temple. I could not get over how lucky I was to be in situ with these two great minds, viewing layers of history. Check out Elenas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.